Tag Archives: Aldermaston Wharf

Autumn colours along the Kennet & Avon Canal in West Berkshire

24th October 2020 Armin Grewe 4 Comments

Having decided not to travel to Islay because of the Covid-19 pandemic this year I had a two week staycation at home in West Berkshire. Unfortunately the weather didn’t turn out as nice as I had hoped, so I didn’t get out for walks as much as I had thought (I ended up visiting a Swedish furniture store and completing some home improvements I had thought about for a while instead). Still, I managed to squeeze in a few short sunny walks along the Kennet & Avon Canal allowing me to take a few nice autumnal pictures (click on the pictures for the full size gallery):

Picture of two trees in their autumn colours next to a canal, seen from a window overlooking the canal — (1) Colourful trees from the window

Picture of two trees in their autumns colours reflecting in the water of the canal — (1) Colourful trees from the window

Except for the first picture (which is from my flat overlooking the canal in Aldermaston Wharf) all the pictures are from the towpath from Aldermaston Wharf walking west towards Woolhampton. Some really nice autumnal colours around, especially over the second week. All the pictures were taken with my large wide angle zoom lens (14-24mm, mostly towards the 14mm), allowing me to capture some big views of the trees and their autumn colours.

I hope you’ll enjoy the pictures and the colours.

Pictures, Thoughts

Steam Train passing Aldermaston Station

28th July 2019 Armin Grewe 2 Comments

After the (luckily short) heat wave this week it was pleasantly cool this Saturday morning, also a bit damp as it had rained most of the night and still hadn’t fully stopped by the time I decided to leave for the train station. For it was time to watch and photograph another steam train passing Aldermaston Station.

(1) Steam train approaching from Reading
(2) Steam train under the A340 road bridge
(3) Steam train clearing the A340 road bridge
(4) Steam train passing through Aldermaston station
(5) Steam train close up
(6) Steam train has passed on its way to Newbury

Since the electrification of the line watching steam trains passing through isn’t the same any more, but then again some progress is necessary and I certainly prefer the electric trains over the old stinking and noisy Diesels we had before.

I haven’t bothered looking up the details of the steam engine pulling the train today, I hope you’ll still enjoy the pictures without that information. If you do know more about the locomotive feel free to leave the information in the comments.

Pictures

Electric Steam Train in Aldermaston Wharf

26th May 2018 Armin Grewe 2 Comments

No, of course there is no such thing as an electric steam train. But the headline made you curious, I hope. The reason for it is that the local rail line is currently in the last stages of the line electrification and the overhead power lines we put up about a month ago. While more environmentally friendly than the old diesel trains we currently have it’s not so nice for taking pictures of the steam trains passing through here every once in a while. Today we saw the first steam train coming through since the cables went up.

The train was the ‘Quantock Intruder’, pulled by SR Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 no 35028 maintained by Clan Line. Here are the pictures I managed to take:

Picture of a steam train approaching in the distance — (1) First sight of the steam train

Picture of a steam train approaching — (2) Steam train approaching

Picture of a steam train at a road bridge over the rail line — (3) Steam train at the A340 road bridge

Picture of a steam train passing under a road bridge — (4) Steam train under the A340 road bridge

Picture of a steam train passing a station platform — (5) Steam train at the platform

Picture of a steam train passing at a small train station — (6) Steam train passing Aldermaston station

(click on the pictures for the larger versions and captions)

Pictures

Steam train 60009 Union of South Africa passing Aldermaston

19th August 2017 Armin Grewe 15 Comments

At varying intervals steam trains travel on the line past Aldermaston Wharf, passing through Aldermaston Station. Last weekend a steam train came through which I missed, luckily it returned this weekend for another pass. This time I was ready with my camera to take pictures of the 60009 Union of South Africa, here’s a selection of my favourite views: