![main photo](i/16-D-2650.jpg)
A Cunning Plan
59.102 led 7C76, the 14:40 Acton - Whatley Quarry stone empties along the Down Main through Sonning Cutting on 18 July 2016. Several westbound stone empties were booked to cross from the Down Relief to the Down Main at Twyford West after the completion of the Reading station re-modelling. It was a great idea on paper, the empties would arrive at Twyford West, just after a West of England HST had passed, cross straight over and follow the HST through Reading and down the B&H. The problem was that the HST was often late or the freight early or there was an Up HST in the way. By the time that the freight had got the road, got its train moving and crossed over, it was already delaying the following HST. Canny signallers often kept the empties on the relief where they usually got a clear run through Reading without delaying anything.
PHOTO DATA FOR IMAGE 16-D-2650
camera : Nikon D610
lens : 70-200mm f/2.8
focal length : 100.0 mm
shutter : 1/800 sec
aperture : f/10.0
ISO : 400 ISO
original : Digital: 24MP NEF
SUBJECT DATA
Loco / Unit : 59.102
Train : 7C76, 14:40 Acton T.C. - Whatley Quarry stone empties
Location : Sonning Cutting
Line : 125 Paddington - Reading
Country : United Kingdom
Date & Time : 18/07/2016 15:46