Pork pie weekend

It is another Grand Prix weekend.

On each weekend where there is a Formula One Grand Prix I buy myself a pack of these as it is a special occasion.

 

These treats seem to be coming thick and fast at the moment. I suppose that is one of the benefits of having 20 F1 races this year. With the messing around with the tv coverage this year, I watched the BBC coverage of the qualifying session a bit ealier. This was not live but about fours hours behind the actual event. The BBC engineers seemed to cobble up the sound balance so although I could see the video, the commentary was almost completely drowned out by the wail of F1 engines. Lewis Hamilton is on pole for tomorrow's Italian Grand Prix from Monza. If you want see the trends taking place in F1 this year you could always take a look at my website www.f1charts.com
I will post the up to date charts soon after the end of the race tomorrow. The chart of Team car reliability for this year clearly shows that Mercedes have consistently led the field in terms of broken cars that fail to finish. I hope that they can improve on this if Lewis is going to join them.

Meanwhile my attempt at creating panoramic photos as easily as possible continues. You can see my latest attempt here. It is the newly revamped Woking Town Square.

Peewit

Steam hauled awayday

I took a trip to the seaside yesterday. I was travelling by steam train to Weymouth.
The weather was lovely at Weymouth and I met a friend from college and work days who I have known for almost fifty years (that is a scary number). We walked along the promenade and had lunch at the Oasis cafe. I had a Portland crab sandwich and it was the best crab sandwich I have ever had.

This loco called Bittern was hauling us down to Weymouth and here it is arriving at Woking where I joined the train.

 

The journey to Weymouth was really enjoyable with some high speed sections and literally thousands of people who had come to take photos along the route. They were at stations, on bridges, standing in fields, at level crossings and hanging out of office windows.

After our three and a half hour journey from Woking we arrived at Weymouth where passengers where queueing up to speak to the driver.

 

The holiday season has started in Weymouth

 

A very pleasant walk along the prom

 

After our three hour halt in Weymouth, Bittern hauled the coaches back into the station. As on departure the train has to ascend the steep climb on the Upwey bank we going to have another loco pulling us with Bittern pushing

 

Sir Lamiel that was built in 1925 was hauling us and would take the train right through to Waterloo

 

Getting ready on the footplate

 

We travelled near Poole harbour. Some passengers were drinking a strange mix of lager and Newcastle brown ale.

 

After a long period of no rain the water had a lot of green on the surface

 

We stopped to pick up water at Eastleigh and many passengers wanted to see what was going on

 

Time for some checks in the cab

 

I thought the water would come from one of those overhead towers but apparently they are long gone, so ours came from a fire tanker

 

They just rememberd to fit up the correct sign

 

Time to oil a few bearings

 

I disembarked at Woking and walked up to see the engine

 

Bye bye as the train continues on to Waterloo

 

Peewit