It’s always the way; you wait for an article featuring a certain locomotive and then several come at once!  Featured last Saturday (click here) was an article on the Nene Valley Railway and several shots of BR standard 7MT class 70000.  They were taken in 1997, the last time I saw the locomotive in action until this Wednesday. 

Fortuitously this Wednesday, Mrs Locoyard and I had a lovely day trip to Blenheim Palace, near Oxford and on the way back I had a brief visit at Didcot Railway Centre, home of the Great Western Society.  The last time I visited the centre was in 1995, so it was great to be back.  Two locomotives were in steam; 70000 Britannia and pannier tank 8750 class 3738.  The centre is fantastic and I shall be writing more and sharing lots of photographs of the visit in due course.  For now, here are a set of pictures of the magnificent machine; Britannia, an appropriate locomotive to look at whilst we celebrate the achievements of Team GB in the 2012 Olympics.  Enjoy!