Abingdon lock, Tuesday
Sitting back with my cup of breakfast tea, I chanced to look out of the window, towpath side, where I saw a full grown foxhound. He was not alone as there about 30 couple in total with the huntsman! I have never seen any on the towpath before: Roger, the lock keeper had never seen them either.
Martlet Derbyshire, the blog that is first with the news. We stopped on our way into Abingdon to watch a squirrel removing the case from a conker; he was better at it than I ever was.
We went to Didcot for the Great Western Railway centre; on the way we consider ourselves fortunate in being present when a Thames Travel bus was subjected to a test to destruction by speed humps. It was a close thing, but complete destruction was not achieved, for which my back was grateful.
The Railway centre was a pleasure to visit; the staff were friendly and the freedom to wander around everywhere using common sense to avoid hurting yourself really took us back years. It made me realise just how restrictive blind adherence to 'Elf and safety' can be in spoiling everyday life.
One engine was in steam giving 'Steam Experience' rides along the demonstration track which provided the correct smell of hot oil and coal fumes - wonderful!
There were two breakdown cranes and an engine shed full of locos, some in working order and some awaiting overhauls of varying severity. King class loco 6023 King Edward II was in the engineering shop nearing completion, it will be outshopped in BR blue livery before Christmas. This is one of the engines that I think look good in that colour, you need a good size boiler to carry it off well. Wake up Clare!
There is a signal box and level crossing well restored and providing a touch of nostalgia; much nicer looking than the automatic barriers (and safer) .
I have included a picture of a double slip point especially for Mick Jones (ex Foxton lock keeper), the poor, deluded man is under the impression that the Great Western knew how to run a railway. Yes, that sort of person that would shoot a fox. (In mitigation, he is a very skilful railway modeller and Meccano constructor).
We arrived back on board in time to watch one Anglo Welsh hire boat hit another one very hard in the back end as it was trying to moor up; all life is here on the river.........
