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Thanks, I am glad you enjoyed it.

Yes it probably was especially during June and July when it was particularly cold and wet for the time of year. It appears to have wiped out large numbers of adults and also early stages at a critical time.

Well spotted, it certainly did and the passengers had a bit further to walk. Strangely enough back in the 80s I was on a 3 car dmu and it forgot to stop at this station on this same platform. The brakes were applied very suddenly and you could feel all the fatigue creaking in this clapped out old unit. Unfortunately it just passed the AWS ramp when it stopped and the train had to continue to Bath Spa. Fortunately I didn't have long to wait before a train calling at Oldfield Park arrived on the opposite platform.

There were a few delays and cancellations in this period but this was due to a shortage of train crews rather than being weather related.

A mixed bag down here and I expect there was a lot more up in the west midlands. Most of the snow cover is over the high hills of North Somerset and it was certainly quite deep on top of the Mendip Hills.

@@thefakewasp503indeed Graham

Thank you for your comment and I am very pleased that you enjoyed it.

Well that was the aim of the video (with a little stretch of the imagination). Thanks for watching.

Well I would love to answer that question. I suspect numbers will be still right down for most species but strange things can happen as being insects some species could multiply at a rapid rate if conditions are favourable.

@@thefakewasp503really mate

@@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329 Hopefully it won't be any worse than the 2024 season.

No, there used to be a few with locos such as 70000, 70013 and 61264. There was one a couple of years but with a Black 5, 44932. The station is a lot busier now so I don't expect there will be many more if any now.

@@thefakewasp503there was one not that long ago on the 14th July with 44871 and 47802 at LLS station

​@wolfexpress5577Yes, but that tour originated from Liverpool Lime Street rather than London Liverpool Street.

@@marksamuel130 ah ok sorry I miss read that I’m. I’m used to hearing Liverpool Street when talking about lime street

No worries, it confuses me at times.

Thank you for your kind remarks. It was quite good fun putting it together. I agree that it is totally amazing that there are people who make such events happen.

It certainly was. That is why I thought it would have been better to swap TANGMRER with MAYFLOWER working out of Victoria on the same day.

@@thefakewasp503yes

A work of art, dedication and history! Thanks for sharing this collection of iconic shots & wistful reflections. You & your family can surely say “I was there”

Thank you Peter for watching it as it is nearly an hour long. I don't know if this video of steam's second coming gives much of a feeling of how these stations were in the past but it is so pleasing to see that the return of steam to these places has actually happened. I remember travelling with my parents to Paddington by diesel in November 1965 and was dismayed to find there were no longer any steam locomotives there as they once had been on past trips..

Thanks Dan, I have been steadily putting it together for over one year. It does last 55 minus so it is quite long but contains plenty of action.

Thank you for your comments. I agree it is not the greatest heritage railway as it is one which is centred in the middle of the route rather than having a meaningful end to end run. The rolling stock is comprised of industrial steam locos but the diesel fleet does contain several Ex-BR examples. One positive point is that the cycle track enables assess to the whole length of the line with the more scenic part along the southern section. Despite existing for 50 years the railway has not expanded much in recent years as has been rather cash strapped which has also restricted the hiring in of locos. Nevertheless it is now well run after suffering badly from the pandemic and it is the nearest one to where I live.

It has given plenty of years reliable service.

@@thefakewasp503yeah I know

Exactly.

I have travelled through this station to Evercreech and Bournemouth on the Pines Express when I was a young child. Bath Green Park sheds were absolutely amazing.

@@thefakewasp503yeah and look how much this station on a former Somerset and Dorset joint railway has changed since the closure of the line

@@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329 Midsomer Norton (South) station has been authentically restored to late 50s/early 60s BR era. The signal box and greenhouse needed to be constructed from scratch but are 100% accurate. What has changed is there are now lots of talk trees surrounding it now when back ion running days there were none.

@@thefakewasp503yeah and I’m glad that midsomer norton south has been saved for preservation on todays Somerset and Dorset railway heritage trust

@@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329 Apart from the Green Park Station building (now a covered market) there is the North Dorset Railway which is a lovely S&D railway centre although no passenger trains are running yet.

The damp atmosphere certainly made the steam hang in the air and reduced visibility further. It should be clear in March but Cranmore is a chilly place high on the Mendip and was nicknamed "Siberia" by railway men so who knows what the weather will be like then. Thank you for you kind message and I wish you all the very best this Christmas and a Happy New Year.

It was a busy day at Victoria that Saturday with two specials. The steam worked four specials on Friday and Saturday only. It looked a proper Southern terminus and Euston looked like a LMR terminus with a Black 5 although obviously rebuilt.

@@thefakewasp503yeah

It looked quite good on one side of the loco as PE 1225. The left hand side was still as 44871 with the smoke box plate blacked out and the large headlight fitted. I was hoping it would note break down as this loco is doing so much at present.

Yes, they are nice well proportioned locos. 44871 is cutting in a hell of a lot of work at the moment.

Yes I was there to witness the transition although it happened early in Bath and I only took a casual interest as all steam disappeared by March 1966 (apart from SR scrap trains in 67/68). I was fortunate that my parents took me on holiday a couple of times up north so I did witness some steam close to the end in the north west. But as you gave pointed out, it does seem most strange and remarkable that there has been a second coming of mainline steam and it is wonderful to see locomotives back in their old appropriate London haunts.

Well it is a shame the round Robin only went on for Friday and Saturday only. Have a lovely Christmas Peter.

@ Thanks, Graham, and to you & yours…. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for watching it. I did see your video of it there and it was very impressive so I pressed like.

@@thefakewasp503 You're welcome and thank you.

Sure is!

There are not many running on the mainline at present and there is only 1 unrebuilt (once it is repaired).

It certainly is and fortunately there are a few more.

Yes, they are elegant yet very powerful. Hopefully they will be running on the mainline for years to come.

It certainly was and it was a break for 35028 from working out of Victoria with the Pullman cars. It does seem strange that the steam did not work through to Bristol and return like it normally does but I was told that it was the tour operator wanted the steam to come off at Salisbury.

@@thefakewasp503yep mate

The wind was blowing from the North East and I knew it would cover the front part of the train most of the time but it did look good although the early sunshine had disappeared by then.

It was also a hat trick for Britannia with the Bath Xmas Market specials. Black 5 just once but Clan Line never got as far as Bath.

Thank you for watching it Richard and I am pleased you enjoyed it.

It did turn out to be BRAUNTON as expected arriving a few minutes early.

@@thefakewasp503yeah and sadly royal scot has reached the end of its boiler certificate she’s now withdrawn from service for an overhaul

@@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329 That is one less main liner for now. I have seen several videos of the farewell run.

@@thefakewasp503have u Graham

Thank you once again Henry. I very much enjoy watching your videos you record in the London area.

@@thefakewasp503 You're welcome and that's great to hear, Thank you.

There is another Bath Xmas market special this Friday and I have been told it will be BRAUNTON.

@@thefakewasp503so braunton is taking charge of the tour this time

@@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329 Well a couple of guys seem to know it will be BRAUNTON on Friday but LSL have the habit of switching locos late in the day?

@@thefakewasp503really

@@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329 It is still advertised as 34046 on the Steam Dreams website.

I don't know what that was about but it is on the nearby main A4 road and not too far from the Bath Royal United Hospital. 😢

@@thefakewasp503yeah I heard it

You are right but I am not sure if any rebuilt ones took ever took part at KX and the ECML. Belgian Marine comes to mind but I don't think it was rebuilt at the time. 34046I does look ridiculous there and 70000 would have looked much more appropriate.

@@thefakewasp503yeah

Thank you Peter for pointing this out. I was tired when I put it together but the mistake is now corrected. I am pleased you enjoyed watching it.

Graham, we all get tired. But not all ‘watchers’ commit to gathering and making interesting content. Well done with all you and your able assistant make and share!

@Pjs75 Bless you Peter, I do enjoy making these videos but if they give pleasure to others it makes it even more worthwhile.

Thanks! Will do!

@thefakewasp503 ur welcome

Thank you for watching it Henry, at least you got some extra steam mileage in on this trip.

Thanks very much indeed for your kind comment and subscribing. I am pleased you enjoyed watching it.

@@thefakewasp503 put a vid up of it myself at newport

Thank you very much and I'll will have a look at you video.

I don't know too much about it but I wish I knew more as I would not have driven to South Wales.

@@thefakewasp503yeah

It is the worst flooding in recent years.

@@thefakewasp503yeah absolutely

Well the city is but there were coal mines in the fields at Newton Meadows in Victoria times and the embankment is actually made out of the spoil. .

Earlier example of recycling?

@Pjs75 Yes, it is.

Yes, it does look very smart.

@@thefakewasp503yeah

I'm glad you enjoyed it despite two of the steam locos not being able to continue on Sunday afternoon as well as no freight workings on the 3rd. At least 1450 put on a great show both days which made it such an enjoyable gala.

I am glad you enjoyed the railway. Like most other railways, the only thing that is coming up in the near future are the Santa and Mince Pie specials if you intend visiting soon although the GWR tank will probably have long gone.

I must admit I hadn't noticed it. Thanks for pointing it out and very well spotted.

@@thefakewasp503yes I noticed that it locked up