And Suddenly, A Stream Train
There's been a few chances to see stream trains going about their business in London in the last few weeks, and it always worked out that it happened when I wasn't there.
This morning I was off to London to finish present shopping and was getting the 11:32 to Liverpool Street. I got to Cambridge Station a bit early (before the train did) so I had some time to mill around. In doing so I noticed that we now have a service that goes to Stratford. I also noticed that everything was in a bit of a disarray. Train platforms kept getting swapped. There was a Stanstead train parked at platform one, which was causing all the King's Cross trains to be moved about. Hmm what were they tying up platform 1 for?
After a while the Stanstead train cleared off and then there was an announcement that the delayed 11:07 special service to King's Cross will be arriving at platform 1. Special service eh? Hmm it didn't take much to work out what was about to happen, so I dig out my camera from my bag and grabbed a spot along the platform.
Off in the distance, I could see a hulk of an engine with a puff of black smoke coming out the top. Yes! Finally a steam train! But drat, it's now 11:29 - my train leaves in 3 minutes.
It was the Sir Nigel Gresley, which has been busy lately. I got to snap a few shots of the train approaching and the above video of it going by me before having to run to catch my train. I contemplated missing mine for a chance of a better photo, but it would chew up too much of my afternoon. When I got onto my train, I headed for the front carriage so I could at least get a look as we pulled away. I got a few blurry shots...
... to go along with the few I got from the platform:
Compare & Contrast
A couple of videos from the past week.
First the quiet calm of King's College Chapel in Cambridge -
Direct Link
And in contrast, the buzz of the Climate Camp demonstration in the City of London -
Direct Link
Platform 4
At this rate snow is going to become common place again. When the Liverpool Street train arrived at platform four a few minutes later, I was the only one in the my carriage as I was the only one who would walk out to the uncovered part of the platform.
Remember Remember…
...the fith of November. Photos from last night's bonfire night at Midsummer Common are up on Flickr. I feel all the more English now for crowding around a rather large and intense blaze of wooden pallets!
What’s all this then?
Flickr Photos
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