1. Knighton-27.02.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 10. GWML-27.02 & 03.03.15 > 1. Knighton-27.02.15
On a glorious winter's morning, I stopped off at Knighton just east of Uffington.
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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

43017, GW 07.30 Camarthen-London Paddington (1L42), Knighton crossing SU276890 With the low winter sun creating some lovely dappled shadows, 43017 'Hannahs discoveringhannahs.org' leads the 07.30 Carmarthen to Paddington through the Oxfordshire countryside. The train is seen passing the site of the former Knighton level crossing located between Uffington and Watchfield. This power car carried another name when it was in its Executive livery, then it was named 'HTV West' after the local independent dual television franchise that I grew up watching living near Bath. Keywords: 43017 07.30 Camarthen-London Paddington 1L42 Knighton crossing SU276890
43069, GW 07.40 Paignton-London Paddington (1A12), Knighton crossing SU276890 A strange timetabling querk is the 07.40 Paignton to Paddington 1A12 service as seen here. Rather than travelling via Berks. and Hants. route it is timetabled to go via Bristol and Swindon. It is seen passing the site of the former level crossing at Knighton in west Oxfordshire with power car 43069 leading. This classic indigo First Great Western livery looks very smart against the pretty colourless winter background. Keywords: 43069 07.40 Paignton-London Paddington 1A12 Knighton crossing SU276890
43149, GW 10.00 London Paddington-Paignton (1C09), Knighton crossing SU276890 The winter sun has not quite come round enough on this lovely winter's day so as to illuminate the front end of 43149 'University of Plymouth' but it does help create quite a striking image. The HST is working the 10.00 Paddington to Paignton that is routed via Bristol rather than the expected Berks. and Hants. line. It's sobering to consider that views of the GWML such as this one, at the site of the former Knighton level crossing, will be transformed over the coming two years as the electrification masts and wiring arrive. Keywords: 43149 10.00 London Paddington-Paignton 1C09 Knighton crossing SU276890
43150, GW 09.55 Cardiff Central-London Paddington (1L46), Galleyherns Farm foot Crossing SU273888 Closer examination of the driver's cab of this HST reveals the driver leaning out of his seat with both thumbs up and a comedic grin on his face and bearing an uncanny resemblance to Ozzy Osbourne; it's nice that there is still a human side to our modern railway! The driver is at the controls of HST power car 43150 that is leading the 09.55 Cardiff Central to Paddington. It is seen at full line speed passing a remote footpath crossing of the GWML in west Oxfordshire that leads to Galleyherns Farm, use the six-figure grid reference of SU273888 to find it, but take your walking shoes! Keywords: 43150 09.55 Cardiff Central-London Paddington 1L46 Galleyherns Farm foot Crossing SU273888
43070, GW 10.15 London Paddington-Cardiff Central (1B22), Galleyherns Farm foot crossing SU273888 The sign says it all! The footpath crossing leading to Galleyhurns Farm between Uffington and Bourton on the middle section of the GWML in west Oxfordshire. This incredibly rural spot affords great views of the line in both directions but they will be totally spoilt when the electrification paraphernalia arrives in the coming year or so. That is if the crossing remains open as it seems like a classic example of the type that Network Rail has an obsession with closing. Power car 43070 'The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers' leads the 10.15 1B22 Paddington to Cardiff Central past this lovely spot. Keywords: 43070 10.15 London Paddington-Cardiff Central 1B22 Galleyherns Farm foot crossing SU273888
43129, GW 10.30 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington (1A13), Knighton crossing SU276890 Having walked back to the former level crossing at Knighton, I heard the sound of a distant HST somewhere west of Swindon through the still winter air. 43129 leads the 1A13 10.30 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington past the site of the level crossing that was closed in the early 1970s with an under bridge replacing it. This road passing under this bridge is often subject to flooding during periods of heavy rain forcing drivers on a long diversion in order to avoid it. Keywords: 43129 10.30 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington 1A13 Knighton crossing SU276890

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