Number 9

Not the best of shots as they both needed cropping, but reflective of my morning.  Today 'Union of South Africa', a Gresley 'A4' No. 60009 was travelling up through Bedford to York.  It is the same type of engine as 'Mallard', which set the world speed record for steam engines of 126mph in 1938 and which has never been beaten.  It is almost certainly the last time I'll see it in steam and certainly the last time on  the main line, as its boiler certificate expires this month.  It may do one or two runs on preserved railways but its owner has decided rather than fund another expensive overhaul it is time to retire the locomotive to his private museum in Scotland.

I took the shots from a footbridge over the line; to my right was a small nature reserve, Froghall Wood.  I was conscious of some movement in a group of trees and realised that some dog walkers had frightened a herd of deer.  They were so well camouflaged that I could only make them out when they moved but I managed a shot on full zoom of around half of them which I've added as an extra.  I think I got nine of them in shot but I estimate there were about 20-25 of them in total.