Reading Observation Evening
RCTS Solent Branch – Reading Observation session – 19/07/23 (15:00-19:30)
The Solent Branch held an observation at Reading station with four branch members attending along with a representative from the Thames Valley branch and a member from the Watercress Heritage Railway.
We were blessed with fine and warm weather and assembled at the London end of Platforms 8 & 9.
During the course of the session, the following were observed:
Locomotives:
59104/59201/66019/66556/66558/66604 all on stone workings including 59201 & 66558 double heading. In addition, 70014 was noted on a container working.
GWR Class 800 units:
800001/03/06/07/09/10/12/13/15/17/19/20/22/23/25/30/32/33/34/35/36
800301/05/06/07/08/09/11/13/14/18/19/20/21
802001/03/10/16/17/18/19/20/21
802101/02/03/04/08/09/11/12/13
GWR Class 387 units
387142/43/47/48/50/51/52/53/57/58/59/61/62/64/65/66/67/68/69/70/71
Elizabeth Line Class 345 units
345001/12/18/26/32/35/37/40/46/49/60/63/64/65/67
A number of SWR units together GWR Class 165 and Cross-Country units were observed but not recorded.
The afternoon was particularly successful for the Branch Chairman who managed to score 19 units whilst the Branch Secretary was beaten to his last(?) GWR Class 800 (800306) by some 10 seconds due to the Chairman sighting and scoringit approaching Reading from the west ahead of its arrival into the platform!
Whilst not scoring any railway items, one member managed to score three aircraft departing Heathrow!
All in all, a good session enjoyed by everyone with plans discussed for next years’ all-day event based around Cardiff,making use of the Explore Cardiff & Valleys rover ticket. The Chairman will no doubt exceed his score with all the new units to be seen in the area!