Some cool hope images:

67008 and 67024 bring new Hope from Dollands Moor to Wembley 6B34

Image by train_photos
Hope Construction Materials signed an agreement with VTG to hire 48 new JPA cement wagons built by Feldbinder in Wittenberg, Germany. The aluminium bodies are described as lightweight and are fitted with "state of the art, track friendly bogies". They will be used for transporting cement and ready-mix concrete.

According to Petrolea numbers of the wagons being hauled were 7093160049, 7093160205, 7093160171, 7093160155, 7093160072, 7093160098, 7093160056, 7093160213, 7093160239, 7093160221, 7093160031, 7093160023, 7093160247, 7093160114, VTG 7093160130, 7093160197, VTG 7093160106, 7093160189, 7093160064, 7093160122, 7093160080, 7093160015, 7093160163 and VTG 7093160148.

According to Realtime Trains the route and timings were;
Saltwood Junction……………1417……….1415……….2E
Ashford International T…….1426………1429……….3L
Maidstone East [MDE] 1……1448………1452 1/2….4L
Otford Junction[XOT]……….1511………..1512…………1L
Swanley [SAY] 1………………..1521………1523……….2L
St Mary Cray Junction………1527………1528………..1L
Bickley Junction[XLY]………1528……..1529………..1L
Shortlands Junction…………1536 1/2..1537……….RT
Bellingham [BGM]…………….1542………1542………RT
Nunhead [NHD] 1………………1550……..1550………RT
Crofton Road Junction…….1555……..1553………2E
Denmark Hill [DMK] 1………..1556 1/2..1555………..1E
Voltaire Road Junction…….1600……..1601…………1L
Latchmere Junction…………1610 1/2…1609………..1E
Kensington Olympia ………..1619………1614……….5E
North Pole Junction………….1624………1617…………7E
Mitre Bridge Junction………1625……..1619……….6E
Willesden West Ldn Jn…….1626 1/2..1621……….5E
Wembley Eur Frt Ops Ctr…1644………1629……..15E

Miki & Hope

Image by -gigina-

Glimmer of hope

Image by VernsPics
I must admit that with the projected forecast I didn’t hold out much chance for us summiting Mount Elie De Beaumont this year. But with the pilots positive outlook on tomorrow a slight glimmer of hope returned.

Our thoughts: If we flew up tomorrow then we would be ready for a summit attempt the following day, our only window of opportunity. Sundays forecast: a few centimetres of snowfall in the morning with reducing cloud cover and winds easing to 40kmh later in the day. Not a perfect day but the best available.

My mind constantly turned to what tomorrow might bring. It was hard sitting and waiting and not knowing but for now that was all we could do, that, and check the updated forecast every hour!

There were times when the valley appeared to open up, but the ever present clouds over the range and the high winds blowing streaks of snow from the peaks above us was a constant reminder that though it appears calm in the valley, it is was anything but that in the mountains.