1Z27 The Severn Coast Express 30.5.09

[curly42]

Seems like the whole world was out to photograph this,so I couldn't get to any of my favourite spots,but I did manage to get these -

http://david-j-smith.fotopic.net/p58598084.html Tornado at Broadoak.
http://david-j-smith.fotopic.net/p58598083.html Passing Broadoak.
http://david-j-smith.fotopic.net/p58598085.html 66170 as a bonus.

Not the location I'd have chosen but very little choice.

 

[2030720310]

Seems like the whole world was out to photograph this,so I couldn't get to any of my favourite spots,but I did manage to get these -

http://david-j-smith.fotopic.net/p58598084.html Tornado at Broadoak.
http://david-j-smith.fotopic.net/p58598083.html Passing Broadoak.
http://david-j-smith.fotopic.net/p58598085.html 66170 as a bonus.

Not the location I'd have chosen but very little choice.

Well they're very good pictures anyway

 

[SuperVoyager]

Great pics, saw Tornado at Bristol TM and Taunton.. Could barely walk around it was so packed, looked like they were all going to push each other on the the tracks!

 

[mumrar]

Great pics, saw Tornado at Bristol TM and Taunton.. Could barely walk around it was so packed, looked like they were all going to push each other on the the tracks!

Never underestimate the popularity of steam. Plenty of trespassers along the Estuary at Purton, all the service train drivers were constantly on the horn at them too. Why do they feel it necessary when the train is covering such a massive distance? Especially as they were shooting straight into the sun anyway? Tornado may represent a bygone era, it doesn't mean we can start behaving like it's pre-1968 again, this loco has had it's fair share of idiocy surrounding it already I just hope these type of people don't ruin it getting a good run at the Lickey in November.

 

[curly42]

I did consider going to Purton for a shot including the river but as you say,against the light.I don't mind against the light shots but there were far too many people,including a fair few all over the line,and the lanes were totally jammed with traffic.
I don't think I saw any photographic locations that didn't have a few dozen people fighting for prime position.I'm glad I settled for Broadoak in the end,it's not perfect but the shots came out o.k.ish.
Looking forward to the Lickey but finding a vacant spot is going to be a challenge.

 

[anthony263]

It was very crowded at Cardiff Central, but i dod supect that newport would have been more busier, mind you the railway staff and 1 member of the BTP were also photographing tornado as it came in.

I also know that staff had to remind people not to step over the yellow line a few times but all staff were very freindly and i think a good time was had by all of us.

 

[SuperVoyager]

Yeah they kept on about standing behind the line at bristol even though knowone acctually was, lots of kids running up and down the platforms though racing hst's as they departed... not so sensible ::roll::

"May i have you attention please... Customers who have come to view the special steam service are advised that this service is expected to pass through Platform 4 in approximatly 13 minutes.
In the interest of safety, you are requested to stand well back from the edge of the platform when the train approaches."

 

[TGVDUDE]

In Cardiff they were reminding people to not stand over the edge, every 20 seconds to my count! and those kids are just being kids! lol

 

[mumrar]

I've yet to finish getting my shots done, but I was at Sharpness shooting across the estuary due to lighting issues and from there I could see (and hear drivers repeated horn warnings) lots of trespass along the walled section. I find it totally ridiculous that people seem to think they can do so just because a special is coming through.

 

[curly42]

I passed quite a few locations along the South Wales line and at pretty much all of them people were on or about the track - and we're not talking young kids here,these were older,supposedly more responsible enthusiasts (??).Every one of them desperate to get that unique shot.
It's been like that every time Tornado goes out we're led to believe - how long before someone goes too far and loses their life.It's pretty much a good bet that someones going to spoil it for everyone else.

 

[mumrar]

I passed quite a few locations along the South Wales line and at pretty much all of them people were on or about the track - and we're not talking young kids here,these were older,supposedly more responsible enthusiasts (??).Every one of them desperate to get that unique shot.
It's been like that every time Tornado goes out we're led to believe - how long before someone goes too far and loses their life.It's pretty much a good bet that someones going to spoil it for everyone else.

They already are spoiling it for us because it gives the BTP and Network Rail the wrong blanket opinion of how we behave, like football hooliganism did. It was grown men I saw and it makes me think they are doing just cos the loco makes them feel like little boys again.