The Swindon and Cricklade Railway diesel gala, Sat April 15th 2023
TC’s fast car with 2 more of Bedford’s finest aboard picked me up in Leighton around 8am on a damp morning. Near Newton Longville as we crossed the rebuilt Oxford – Bletchley line we were suprised to see top and tail Freightliner sheds on an engineer’s train.
We arrived at a sunny Blundon (North of Swindon) to see 03022 pass us on the 1000 departure. A fast moving ticket queue, stamping Edmonsons being much quicker than programming some computer! We joined the vintage set with Taff Vale coach 73 impressing us all with it’s leather upholstery. PWM 651 thrashed nicely at times taking us to South Meadow Lane the current Western limit of the line, tail engine 03152 an old Landore machine powering us back.
Later the impressive 4 coach Mk 1 rake was joined at Hayes Knoll for the Eastward run through Blundon to Taw Valley Halt where the power 73003, then later 03022 ran round. Perhaps the highlight of the day when we were hanging round Hayes Knoll station watching proceedings and hoping for a depot tour when we were invited aboard vintage partly restored Railbus W79978 for an atmospheric run down the headshunt at Hayes Knoll and back.
03022 on the Mk I’s again finished off our trip with nice afternoon sun helping matters. A superb little line (approx 2.5 miles long) , nice stock and power, very sociable volunteers, a cracking day out!
Cranks look on as 03022 leaves Blundon for Taw Valley with the 1000 departure
A long term Radyr resident PWM 651 at Blundon with the 1115 to South Meadow Lane
Looking the part 73003 arrives at Blundon with the 1120 Taw Valley – Hayes Knoll
73003 at Taw Valley Halt after working the 1153 from Hayes Knoll
03022 at Taw Valley Halt with the 1353 from Hayes Knoll
03022 stabled at Hayes Knoll between turns
Vintage Railcar W79978 looking and sounding good working the headshunt at Hayes Knoll
03152 at Blundon after working the 1532 ex South Meadow Lane
Nice late afternoon light as 03022 brings the 1620 Taw Valley – Hayes Knoll into Blundon
My Moves
PWM 651 1015 Blundon – South Meadow Lane BL-SM
03152 1032 South Meadow Lane – Blundon SM-BL
PWM 651 1045 Blundon – South Meadow Lane BL-SM
03152 1055 South Meadow Lane – Blundon SM-HK
03022} 1055 South Meadow Lane – Blundon HK-BL
03152}
73003 1120 Taw Valley H – Hayes Knoll BL-HK
73003 1153 Hayes Knoll – Taw Valley H HK-TV
73003 1220 Taw Valley H – Hayes Knoll TV-HK
Consist – 13233, 35043, 25869, 13303@
@ – coach 13303 was in the consist of E3106 1M35 1315 Glasgow – Euston on 240266.
73003 1153 Hayes Knoll – Taw Valley H HK-TV
73003 1220 Taw Valley H – Hayes Knoll TV-HK
73003 1253 Hayes Knoll – Taw Valley H HK-TV
73003 1320 Taw Valley H – Hayes Knoll TV-HK
03022 1353 Hayes Knoll – Taw Valley H HK-TV
03022 1420 Taw Valley H – Hayes Knoll TV-HK
79978 1510 Hayes Knoll headshunt shuttle HK-HK (1/3 MILE)
97561 1515 Blundon – South Meadow Lane HK-SM
03152 1532 South Meadow Lane – Blundon SM-BL
03022 1620 Taw Valley H – Hayes Knoll BL-HK
03022 1653 Hayes Knoll – Taw Valley H HK-BL
end
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