A bit tongue in cheek, here, but it could spark off a new subject for discussion/ridicule. It may even be of interest to some
...In another post, I mentioned to Peter that I sometimes use the GPS on my iPad to follow my progress on google maps while I'm at 'work' on the train. During my journey last night from Cardiff to Bristol I took a screenshot to illustrate it and realised that the setting might actually be of greater interest. The blue dot is the position of my train when I took the screenshot (well, it was actually ON the rails
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Patchway junction is actually a group of junctions creating the diamond shape on the right of the piccy. The curved track to the NE is the South Wales branch of the Great Western main line from Paddington, heading NE towards the Severn Tunnel and Wales. My train has come through the tunnel on the Up Tunnel line and has now branched S on the Up Bristol line, passing Patchway Jcts Nos.2 and 1 and approaching Filton Jct. The E to W line running through the middle of the junction is a disused freight line from Bristol Stoke Gifford depot to Avonmouth docks.
Of course, the main point of interest is Filton airfield - birthplace and burial site of Concorde. You can see Concorde just S of the runway. I watched her land - the very last ever landing of a Concorde so I always give her a wave as I trundle past. The factories in the shot are Rolls Royce and other aerospace manufacturing units but I couldn't tell you which is which. Out of shot to the SE is the MoD's Abbey Wood procurement centre and one of the biggest employers in the SW. Filton Abbey Wood is one of our busiest stations. As well as civil service employees we get a high percentage of uniformed officers from all 3 services using the station - I assume they come with shopping lists (helicopters, tanks, aircraft carriers) and leave with a promissory note
Ian
