Rain, snow, sunshine and IT

It may seem as though I've been asleep since I came back from Paddington but I haven't, well not all the time. I have been very busy getting the shops ready for the new season which has now started; among the usual ordering stock and so on we have had another new EPOS system installed (still not working properly) a new company IT server (think it's working) and I have a new super computer for editing and a new version of Sony Vegas (both of which have 'issues').

Any how, I have managed to get out with camera on both the FR and the WHR to capture early spring on the railway. I took a ride on the FR which you can see the fruits of here:

 

Yesterday I chased the WHR trains clocking up nearly sixty road miles. During this journey I videoed in the sunshine and in blizzards. 

 

First shot of the day, cow shit corner

Unfortunately I forgot to take the cameras raincoat with me so I improvised a snow coat with a Tesco bag for life and my Swiss Army Knife.

 

The snow really came down thick and fast while I was waiting at Cae'r Gors but by the time the train came it had nearly stopped and the sun came out.

Last shot of the day, Pant Farm crossing near Hendy

The results of my efforts can be seen here:

 

Travelling in space

Space, that is, if you count getting in a van and driving to London and back and then on a train and going to London and back!

Since my last post I've been to Cardiff to buy new stock for the shop for the forthcoming year and down to London twice to video the unloading and unveiling of Princess at Paddington. All very exciting but it means the paperwork pile was enormous when I finally got back to the office.

The Network Rail people at paddington were very helpful and seemed pleased to have us there even though we caused a bit of a stir dragging the 'old girl' over the concourse with a Landrover winch. The worst thing about the whole expedition was the temperature of the place; it was freezing. My feet still haven't warmed up properly!

 

The first time I went down in the van with Chris Parry and we took loads of goodies with us but the second trip I went by train with the unveiling team. I only stayed for one night the second time and came back by train in the afternoon... which was very slow as some overhead line had come down in the morning so everything was buggered up all day. Chester to bangor was a nightmare, I bet there is more space on Indian Railways trains. I didn't make it into the carriage but was stuck in the vestibule with drunk builders and loud mobile phone users; I really don't know how people put up with it on a daily basis. Urgh.

 



Between the 'get in' and the 'show' on St David's Day I had a couple of days off so I decided to strip out my studio and re arrange it as I haven't been happy with the ergonomics of it. Finally got it all plugged in and working again, now I just need some time to make some muisc.

Anyway back to sunny Londinium I went for the great ceremonial unveiling. Everything went off very well and the main lady of the day looked stunning, her new paintwork shining in the lights on the stand.

 

 

Here is the video of the whole trip. It has been a bit of an epic to get it made because my new computer has arrived and it nearly works... more about that another time once it completely works.