51. Bradford-on-Avon-23.08.14

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2014 > 51. Bradford-on-Avon-23.08.14

I had business to attend to in Wiltshire with relation to my late father’s house. On the way I took a short break near Bradford-on-Avon at one of my old stomping grounds. With First Great Western diverting their services due to preparatory electrification works taking HSTs were using the Avon Valley route.

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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

158956, GW 09.00 Brighton-Worcester Shrub Hill, Bradford-on-Avon number 2 crossing
158956 accelerates away from Bradford-on-Avon working the 09.00 Brighton to Worcester Shrub Hill service. This 1V94 is a bit of a curiosity with its two hundred mile journey starting in Sussex and ending in West Midlands taking a circuitous route that includes two reversals, one at Bristol and the other at Gloucester.
Keywords: 158956 09.00 Brighton-Worcester Shrub Hill Bradford-on-Avon First Great Western

43172, GW diverted 10.33 London Paddington-Swansea (1B28), Bradford-on-Avon number 2 crossing
The diverted 10.22 Paddington to Swansea HST service passes along the Avon Valley near to Bradford-on-Avon taken from one of two foot crossings to the west of the town. The HST is being led by power car 43172 one that I have photographed a number of times since its introduction as part of the third tranche of these iconic trains to operate on the northeast to southwest route.
Keywords: 43172 diverted 10.33 London Paddington-Swansea 1B28 Bradford-on-Avon First Great Western HST

150239, GW 10.41 Gloucester-Weymouth (2O89), Bradford-on-Avon number 1 crossing
150239 slows on the approach to Bradford-on-Avon taken from a foot crossing just west of the station. It is working the 2O89 10.41 Gloucester to Weymouth service. As a young spotter in the 1970s, I spent many hours collecting numbers at this and a number of other locations close to Bradford-on-Avon.
Keywords: 150239 10.41 Gloucester-Weymouth 2O89 Bradford-on-Avon First Great Western

158952, GW 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central (1F14), Bradford-on-Avon number 2 crossing
Revisiting this location some forty years on from when I did as a schoolboy spotter back in the 1970s has revealed how the rampant growth of lineside vegetation has completely changed it. It used to be the case that the bank to the right was completely clear of growth enabling photographs to be taken from it, for example, see….. https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/25511222404/x47055-parcels-bradford-avon-foot In this 2014 view looking the other direction 158952 leaves Bradford-on-Avon working the 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central.
Keywords: 158952 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central 1F14 Bradford-on-Avon First Great Western

43187, GW diverted 11.00 Cheltenham-London Paddington (1L50), Bradford-on-Avon number 2 crossing
The 11.00 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington HST service, led by 43187, is off-route passing through the Avon Valley on the approach to Bradford-on-Avon being diverted due to electrification works on its usual route. I stood in a very similar spot back in 1977 photographing a Class 31 on a Bristol to Portsmouth Harbour train, see….. https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/23615754204/x31223-ambles-past-one-bradford-avon but this time not on the track even if it was at a foot crossing!
Keywords: 43187 11.00 Cheltenham-London Paddington 1L50 Bradford-on-Avon First Great Western HST

43161, GW diverted 11.12 London Paddington-Cheltenham (1G29), Bradford-on-Avon number 2 crossing
The lush green Wiltshire vegetation has really taken over at this location near Bradford-on-Avon as made clear in this view at a foot crossing that leads down to the town’s Barton Farm country park. 43161 leads the diverted 11.12 Paddington to Cheltenham First Great Western service away from the town to continue its diverted journey along the delightful Avon Valley to Bathampton Junction. Here it will head west along the Great Western mainline to North Somerset Junction where it will then head northwards taking the Midland route to its destination.
Keywords: 43161 diverted 11.12 London Paddington-Cheltenham 1G29 Bradford-on-Avon First Great Western HST

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.