60063 emerges from Patchway Short Tunnel on 19 July 2016 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. This picture is taken with a long lens from Cattybrook footbridge, and clearly shows the difference in gradient of the two separate lines. The up line tunnel is one continuous bore, but the down line has one long and one short tunnel, which explains the vegetation that is just visible inside the tunnel above 60063. Due to the extreme heat (33.5°C at Brize Norton) causing problems with GWR's timetable, this train was running 22 minutes early, not having had to be held at Bristol Parkway, and had a clear run through the Severn Tunnel. The HST that should have overtaken it at Bristol Parkway was an hour late! |