Loco hauled around Havant

[Sun Chariot]

Taking inspiration from railway magazines of the mid-1980s, plus this excellent thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/lostwin-br-in-the-mid-80s.255736/
My next challenge (to myself), is to capture a human angle on the railways in my locality - the employees, passengers, enthusiasts - whatever I notice during these months of little sunlight and much rain.

Today's captured during (yet another) south coast monsoon. The 158 shot, I've made "contrasty", to bring out the earnest face of the driver.

 

[lostwin(m)]

Taking inspiration from railway magazines of the mid-1980s, plus this excellent thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/lostwin-br-in-the-mid-80s.255736/
My next challenge (to myself), is to capture a human angle on the railways in my locality - the employees, passengers, enthusiasts - whatever I notice during these months of little sunlight and much rain.

Today's captured during (yet another) south coast monsoon. The 158 shot, I've made "contrasty", to bring out the earnest face of the driver.

These look a promising start. If you will allow me to provide a little critique - I particularly like the composition on the first picture and the differential focusing that helps emphasise the importance of the people in the image. The level crossing shot is also good, there is a very clear cause and effect between the people and the train. Perhaps this is also why the middle two images are a little less strong for me, as it's harder to correlate what the people are doing with the action of the train. For instance, the 3rd picture has the passengers filing to the exit, perhaps if you had the train disappearing further in the distance this would create a slightly clearer narrative.

Apologies for going all David Bailey on you there - feel free to reciprocate on my thread!

 

[Sun Chariot]

These look a promising start. If you will allow me to provide a little critique - I particularly like the composition on the first picture and the differential focusing that helps emphasise the importance of the people in the image. The level crossing shot is also good, there is a very clear cause and effect between the people and the train. Perhaps this is also why the middle two images are a little less strong for me, as it's harder to correlate what the people are doing with the action of the train. For instance, the 3rd picture has the passengers filing to the exit, perhaps if you had the train disappearing further in the distance this would create a slightly clearer narrative.

Apologies for going all David Bailey on you there - feel free to reciprocate on my thread!

Many thanks for those tips. The shot that I am happy with is, coincidently, the one you first mention - the gents, the curve of the pillars and the train beyond depth of field. I've had that composition in mind awhile.

The others here were very much "see what it comes out like".
- The shot with a lady making eye contact: I like it but it's a bit "busy" - lacks an obvious reference point for the image.
- The cl.158 shot, those people are hurrying through a heavy deluge, to board the train - and I was trying to not get utterly soaked! I had a composition in my mind, where the only face forward is the driver's. I'll try alternative compositons for that - such as taking it on the same platform so that it's clear to see people boarding.

That's the joy of this forum - ideas shared, tips offered, hobby improved and enjoyed!

 

[lostwin(m)]

Many thanks for those tips. The shot that I am happy with is, coincidently, the one you first mention - the gents, the curve of the pillars and the train beyond depth of field. I've had that composition in mind awhile.

The other three examples were very much a "see what it comes out like". The shot with the lady making eye contact - I like but it is a bit "busy".

That's the joy of this forum - ideas shared, tips offered, hobby improved and enjoyed!

Thanks for taking in the spirit intended. I look forward to seeing more, cripes i'm even thinking of getting my own camera out of retirement...

 

[Sun Chariot]

cripes i'm even thinking of getting my own camera out of retirement...

My trusty old Canon EOS 1v film camera still rests in the loft. Shame on me because those lenses aren't getting used either.
All this thread's photos taken with a little digital compact - I find it less unwieldy (and far less intrusive) than my old kit.

 

[Sun Chariot]

On Chichester platform, an orderly queue awaits a London-bound arrival.
And at Cosham high street, a slightly less orderly queue awaits the crossing gates.

Can you spot Chichester's signalman, on his phone, on the signalbox's verandah? He's just above the arriving train. A signalman who can't get a signal?

 

[lostwin(m)]

On Chichester platform, an orderly queue awaits a London-bound arrival.
And at Cosham high street, a slightly less orderly queue awaits the crossing gates.

Really nice November light on these. Maybe a slower shutter speed at the level crossing to blur the train a little? There is definitely promise at that location.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Maybe a slower shutter speed at the level crossing to blur the train a little? There is definitely promise at that location

If I can find a way to slow the darn shutter, on this too-clever digi compact There's an aperture-priority mode, so I'll try it next time I'm at that location.
Cosham high street crossing is a regular snarl-up so, if I get some morning sunlight, I'll try the shot again.

 

[Sun Chariot]

My current photo "challenge", to capture the human factors of the railway, is a great way to look differently at the scene. This trio:

"Observation": rear coach travellers are captured watching me, watching them.

"The photographer": freezing fog does not deter this hardy soul, momentarily frozen by the smokebox of the speeding Black Five.

"The last passenger": this gent looks a little impatient and I hope he's not been waiting since Nationalisation...

 

[lostwin(m)]

Excellent, love these. The dynamic on the Black 5 shot is especially good.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Excellent, love these. The dynamic on the Black 5 shot is especially good.

Many thanks. I wanted to do something I'd not done before.
At Bedhampton station this evening, I was pleased to find an ideal human subject standing right there!

 

[Sun Chariot]

(A brief return to my "loco hauled" scope) Winter Solstice less than 2 weeks away:

A Network Rail inspection 153 unit covers local routes. Unlike June's visitor (post #4), this still bears East Midlands livery.

10 minutes later, an unusual service down Portsmouth Direct Line: a Freightliner 59/2 hauled stone working, returning from Woking to Merehead (the service was curtailed at Westbury).

 

[Sun Chariot]

This week saw a new freight path along the West Coastway: a weekdays (but as required) stone working, from Westbury (Tarmac) to Crawley (Yeoman). The trip back to Merehead quarry, is under the cover of darkness.

The initial week's workings produced examples from 59/0, 59/1 and 59/2.

 

[75A]

I wonder if that's Crawley itself - between Horsham & Three Bridges, or Crawley New Yard which is on the Brighton main line near Salfords? the latter I'm guessing as that's had a long history of aggregates, we used to take a train their from Newhaven in the 80's.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I wonder if that's Crawley itself - between Horsham & Three Bridges, or Crawley New Yard which is on the Brighton main line near Salfords? the latter I'm guessing as that's had a long history of aggregates, we used to take a train their from Newhaven in the 80's.

The service is pathed via Hove and the Crawley (Yeoman) destination is close to Three Bridges. RTT info attached.

Last Friday's Woking to Westbury stone, via Portsmouth's Direct Line, still intrigues me. No booked path this Friday. I guess last Friday's was a one-off; but I've not unearthed its rationale.

 

[75A]

The service is pathed via Hove and the Crawley (Yeoman) destination is close to Three Bridges. RTT info attached.

Last Friday's Woking to Westbury stone, via Portsmouth's Direct Line, still intrigues me. No booked path this Friday. I guess last Friday's was a one-off; but I've not unearthed its rationale.

Thanks

 

[Sun Chariot]

The sunshine belies near-zero conditions, for the third and fourth workings of 2024 on the Westbury to Crawley stone.

The 59s have held near-monopoly on this working, since mid-December's commencement of the service. It is a refreshing change, from "Sheds with everything"!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Murky winter weather returns for today's Class 3 (third rail de-icer, up and down Portsmouth Direct Line) and Class 6 (Eastleigh to Hounslow) workings.

 

[Sun Chariot]

(With apologies to Dickens) A tale of two Mereheads

West Coastway's two aggregates workings from Merehead. This is the first occasion of both running on the same day.

The 59-hauled service for Crawley stone terminal accelerates east.
The service for Chichester stone siding is readying the return empties to Merehead. The 66 runs round, along the erstwhile LBSCR route to Lavant, shortly before departing westward.

 

[Sun Chariot]

(A flit back to my "human factors" scope)

A motorist's patience is tested by a lenghty wait, before the passage of a pair of NR multi-unit rail grinding sets, en route from Cardiff to Paddock Wood.

As with post #69's Black Five, motion blur  is intentional!

 

[75A]

Unusual sight.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Unusual sight.

Certainly unusual at 5pm yesterday. I've not looked to see if any are pathed during night hours

 

[Sun Chariot]

A brace of 59s in West Sussex.

The two Merehead aggregates workings, pathed along the West Coastway, are today both in the care of 59s.

The Crawley-bound working passes the already-unloading Chichester service.
"GM" 201 still has its US-style bell - and it seems someone forgot to finish applying the cabside's white cantrail stripe!

 

[D6130]

A brace of 59s in West Sussex.

Excellent photos, as always! I realise that there are far fewer freight/ballast/test train workings....but do you ever go photographing up the Portsmouth Direct (Rowlands Castle/Petersfield/Liss/Liphook/Haslemere areas? There are some very scenic locations up there.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Excellent photos, as always! I realise that there are far fewer freight/ballast/test train workings....but do you ever go photographing up the Portsmouth Direct (Rowlands Castle/Petersfield/Liss/Liphook/Haslemere areas? There are some very scenic locations up there.

Many thanks. Remote/hybrid working has its advantages! It does however limit how far I can "abscond" on weekdays

Thread's post #72 is my only capture of a revenue freight on the Portsmouth Direct Line, albeit at the bottom of that route.

I've used the Rowlands Castle - Emsworth road's overbridge, when the blackthorn was at its best; albeit only to catch the last few SWT liveried Desiros last year.

I have a few locations to try, once weather conditions and my time permit - such as near Buriton, on the northern climb; and by Liss Forest level crossing. There's a fabulous, very narrow, brick arch bridge near there, which begs to be photographed.

 

[Sun Chariot]

A shout-out for a local photographer. Here's his photostream:

Stephen Stubbs

Explore Stephen Stubbs’s 3,779 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

We sometimes pick the same location. Compare his shots, linked here, with mine on posts #1 and #18

6V07 - 15 June 2023

6656 6V07 13.41 Chichester to Merehead empty stone at Havant Tuesday 15 June 2023

www.flickr.com

A short lived location

Following the massive vegetation clearance around Bedhampton, this shot will probably only be on until early spring next year. Seen from the Bedhampton water works peripheral path, 73961 and 73965 head the 4 week frequency 1Q52 Eastleigh East yard circular on the Littlehampton to Portsmouth...

www.flickr.com

 

[Sun Chariot]

Shades of green - now featured on post #99

 

[Sun Chariot]

The last member of the original ARC 59 fleet,.leads today's Merehead-Crawley turn.

With 59 101 now adorning Heidelberg Materials garish green, I wonder how long its classmates' Hanson livery will last. Similarly, what time remains for the Mendip Rail branding on the wagons.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Yet more heavy rain all of this week - let's get flood photos!

This time, near Liss. The first time I've seen a flooded level crossing - it caught several drivers unawares, too.
Those reflections begged for a "motion blurred" train shot.

 

[Sun Chariot]

This week, Network Rail is updating the track infrastructure at Portsmouth Harbour - replacing the old jointed rails, fixing base plates to track and installing new sleepers.

(Day 1)
Having deposited its trainload of material, the locomotive - a commendably clean (from its naming ceremony, four weeks ago) former European example, taken into GBRf fleet - starts a circuitous route returning to Eastleigh: running north on the Portsmouth Direct Line and then via Woking and Winchester.

(Day 3)
A murkier day and with a grubbier locomotive - coincidently, another former European example - brings more material via the same route but the opposite direction.