Nathan
Member
- Joined
- 30 Jun 2005
- Messages
- 1,050
With the 07:45 off Parkstone on 444 017, I was already clearly content with myself and yet only 5 minutes on a 444 was enough to excite me. Unfortunatly not as much as Tom would be when arriving at Bournemouth, he was on 444 019 which became the front 5 of the now 10 car set. Soon after quickly finding Tom sitting in a seat that perhaps dwarfed his size the traditional and unsurprising arguement about how Pigs are better than Desiros and vice versa. To be precise at 08:45 just some 40 minutes later we arrived at a very quiet Southampton Central, sadfully watching the happy couple leave the platform we photted the pair and mentally ticked them off in our competition to 'score them all'. Again another quick trip on a 444 took us past Northam traincare depot where we saw 444 043 later waiting to be shot by us at St Denys. A passing freight train promted the arrival of Damon who accompanied Tom on the bridge for the second freight to follow. I was adamant I would remain on the platform to avoid capturing the same shot between the three of us and perhaps proportionally incase they spoke over my video .
Tom's bordem got the best of him and photting Desiros and 158s caused for a change in location. A small walk for us down the road brought us to the bridge above the mainline overlooking the curve. Only problem was, Tom being the shortest of us could not reach over the bridge let alone fit his telescopic lense being to large to fit between the mesh, I was having other problems my video camera for one on a tripod not having enough zoom between the gap in the wire. Damon was ever so kind to seek a hole cut neatly in the wire which i swiftly placed myself, if anything other than having to change batteries he had no problems. Weirdly enough while Tom and Damon were placed on the opposite side of the road, i seemed to be standing on the most popular side of the road for members of the public. Some smiled, others laughed but one stoat in particular came to stop for a grueling chat. At this point i think its best to admit that this person wasnt the most presentable of figures to approach or be approached by, plenty of facial hair, and old clothes with a few tatered rips a tesco bag and a half scottish, half foreign accent.
Having just taken a cheese sandwich out of my bag for a bite to eat, the one thought running through my head as i knew he was approaching was "bolloks he wants my sandwich - eat faster". Ten minutes on the go and i missed 444 043 as a i modestly kept my cool, knowing that Tom had just scored one over me. It was an interesting one sided conversation from me as i agreed with him throughout, went a little like this:
Stoat - What... are you doing... fishing?
Nathan - Im taking photos of the trains (what else!)
Stoat - Ohh yes... trains - i think you... picked a good day... the day is... hot and quiet.
Nathan - Yes... (your point?)
Stoat - Its half term... for the little children
Nathan - (ohh god) yes we're all on half term too *indicates to Tom and Damon that are shifting as far away on the other side*
Stoat - The children destroy the railway... like when... pub closes
Nathan - Well its safe now, we dont destroy the railways.
At this point thank goodness a 444 was at my saviour and as i turned on my cameras he bid me fairwell. after seeing another 66 i crossed to see Tom and Damon, where after a couple more 444s and 450s we soon had enough and went back to the station. Vegging on the corner of the platform all sitting down with our cameras ready, It was by now quite hot (either that or the walk made Tom sweat ) and he surprisingly took of his coat, a first for Damon and Tom spotting became the agenda for us all to pass the time. Our location was ideal because we were lazy and we didnt need to move at all, just mearly swivel to the right or left and shoot. I think so much time had passed weeds were growing in our shadows and the grass never looked taller. Again another freight passed us before we got onto 158 that Damon had previously arrived on, through Southampton we stopped at Millbrook. Seeing another 66 ready to depart from the sidings meant we all had to run to the end of the platform. Lounging around on the platform to ourselves wasnt the most thrilling of times, seeing a 158 and fast 10 car 444 was about it. Walking back to Southampton took us to a bridge which tom always loves, there we stayed for perhaps more than an hour waiting for a freight. In between that we saw the same unit three times and dejavu played our minds, Toms planning wasnt quite up to scratch. Standing on the bridge in the height of the day was the worst time to be photting. There were barley any trains and it was blisteringly hot. jumpers, coats jackets all came off we had so much time even to do a seminar shot, twice. The last freight for my day finally came and once again the "fresh air express" was actually loaded proving Tom wrong once again. A shorter walk to southampton brought me back an hour earlier than planned and instead i went home and as a result voted to write a report of our day.
Tom's bordem got the best of him and photting Desiros and 158s caused for a change in location. A small walk for us down the road brought us to the bridge above the mainline overlooking the curve. Only problem was, Tom being the shortest of us could not reach over the bridge let alone fit his telescopic lense being to large to fit between the mesh, I was having other problems my video camera for one on a tripod not having enough zoom between the gap in the wire. Damon was ever so kind to seek a hole cut neatly in the wire which i swiftly placed myself, if anything other than having to change batteries he had no problems. Weirdly enough while Tom and Damon were placed on the opposite side of the road, i seemed to be standing on the most popular side of the road for members of the public. Some smiled, others laughed but one stoat in particular came to stop for a grueling chat. At this point i think its best to admit that this person wasnt the most presentable of figures to approach or be approached by, plenty of facial hair, and old clothes with a few tatered rips a tesco bag and a half scottish, half foreign accent.
Having just taken a cheese sandwich out of my bag for a bite to eat, the one thought running through my head as i knew he was approaching was "bolloks he wants my sandwich - eat faster". Ten minutes on the go and i missed 444 043 as a i modestly kept my cool, knowing that Tom had just scored one over me. It was an interesting one sided conversation from me as i agreed with him throughout, went a little like this:
Stoat - What... are you doing... fishing?
Nathan - Im taking photos of the trains (what else!)
Stoat - Ohh yes... trains - i think you... picked a good day... the day is... hot and quiet.
Nathan - Yes... (your point?)
Stoat - Its half term... for the little children
Nathan - (ohh god) yes we're all on half term too *indicates to Tom and Damon that are shifting as far away on the other side*
Stoat - The children destroy the railway... like when... pub closes
Nathan - Well its safe now, we dont destroy the railways.
At this point thank goodness a 444 was at my saviour and as i turned on my cameras he bid me fairwell. after seeing another 66 i crossed to see Tom and Damon, where after a couple more 444s and 450s we soon had enough and went back to the station. Vegging on the corner of the platform all sitting down with our cameras ready, It was by now quite hot (either that or the walk made Tom sweat ) and he surprisingly took of his coat, a first for Damon and Tom spotting became the agenda for us all to pass the time. Our location was ideal because we were lazy and we didnt need to move at all, just mearly swivel to the right or left and shoot. I think so much time had passed weeds were growing in our shadows and the grass never looked taller. Again another freight passed us before we got onto 158 that Damon had previously arrived on, through Southampton we stopped at Millbrook. Seeing another 66 ready to depart from the sidings meant we all had to run to the end of the platform. Lounging around on the platform to ourselves wasnt the most thrilling of times, seeing a 158 and fast 10 car 444 was about it. Walking back to Southampton took us to a bridge which tom always loves, there we stayed for perhaps more than an hour waiting for a freight. In between that we saw the same unit three times and dejavu played our minds, Toms planning wasnt quite up to scratch. Standing on the bridge in the height of the day was the worst time to be photting. There were barley any trains and it was blisteringly hot. jumpers, coats jackets all came off we had so much time even to do a seminar shot, twice. The last freight for my day finally came and once again the "fresh air express" was actually loaded proving Tom wrong once again. A shorter walk to southampton brought me back an hour earlier than planned and instead i went home and as a result voted to write a report of our day.