5029 Shrivenham (Ashbury Crossing) 17 July 1994

I think we can see that all is not well here! Castle Class 4-6-0 5029 Nunney Castle is clearly in trouble as it darkens the sky at Shrivenham on 17 July 1994 whilst hauling the Didcot to Worcester 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour. After the tour had passed I spent an hour or so watching the local fire brigade putting out the fires on the side of the cutting just up the line at Bourton. This and further lineside fires in the Golden Valley resulted in Railtrack imposing a steam ban for the southern half of the country.