Tag Archives: Aldermaston Wharf

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:

Picture of steam locomotive 60009 Union of South Africa approaching — 60009 Union of South Africa approaching

Picture of steam locomotive 60009 Union of South Africa getting closer — 60009 Union of South Africa getting closer

Picture of steam locomotive 60009 Union of South Africa blowing the whistle — 60009 Union of South Africa blowing the whistle (top of the locomotive in front of the funnel)

Picture of steam locomotive 60009 Union of South Africa at the platform — 60009 Union of South Africa at the platform

Picture of steam locomotive 60009 Union of South Africa in a close up view — 60009 Union of South Africa in a close up view

Picture of the steam locomotive 60009 Union of South Africa name sign — 60009 Union of South Africa name sign

Picture of the steam locomotive 60009 Union of South Africa passing — 60009 Union of South Africa passing

Picture of passengers on the train pulled by steam locomotive 60009 Union of South Africa — Passengers on the train pulled by steam locomotive 60009 Union of South Africa

Click on the pictures for the larger versions.

Pictures

Sunny August Sunday morning walk in West Berkshire

13th August 2017 Armin Grewe 10 Comments

As I’m writing this it’s cloudy in West Berkshire, quite please that I went out for a sunny Sunday morning earlier today in the morning. I used a route I found last weekend, taking me north from Aldermaston to the outskirts of Beenham. Then turned west passing north of Douai Abbey to Kiff Green. Here I turned south and walked to Upper Woolhampton, from where I continued to Woolhampton. In Woolhampton I crossed the Kennet and Avon Canal, which I then followed along the towpath east back to Aldermaston Wharf. I saw a variety of things, here are some of them in a picture gallery (click on the pictures for the larger versions):

Picture of a Yellowhammer bird — A Yellowhammer (I believe)

Picture of a number of cattle walking, both young and old — Cattle approaching

Picture of five calves standing close together — Five calves in a huddle

Picture of a Deer hiding in a field — A Deer in a field

Picture of a Blackbird on the ground — Blackbird on the ground

Picture of a Robin hiding in a tree — A Robin hiding in a tree

Picture of a Rook on a fence post — Rook on a fence post

Picture of a Willow Warbler in a tree — Willow Warbler in tree

Picture of a butterfly feeding on a flower — A butterfly feeding on a flower

Picture of a butterfly of some nettles — A butterfly of some nettles

Picture of a paraglider in flight — A paraglider flying over West Berkshire

The map used for this walk was:

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Pictures

Sunny summer Sunday morning walk in West Berkshire

4th June 2017 Armin Grewe 9 Comments

With some nice early morning sunshine and clouds forecasted for late morning and the afternoon I decided to head out for an early walk today. What was originally planned for a 1-2 hours stroll turned into a 3 hours walk as the sunshine held up longer than forecasted and I discovered a few footpaths I hadn’t used before. My route took me from Aldermaston Wharf via Mill Lane to Home Farm near Padworth College. I then followed the road south until the junction before backtracking to Upper Church Farm, where I took the footpath west towards Aldermaston. Reaching the road a short stretch along the road, then turning north again on the footpath towards Fisherman’s Lane. On Fisherman’s Lane back towards Padworth Mill. A short stretch on Mill Lane before taking the footpath over to Padworth Lock. Then back to Aldermaston Wharf along the Kennet and Avon Canal. A few impressions from my walk: