6977 , " Grundisburgh Hall " heads a down fast parcels on the " Down Slow " through the magnificent Sonning Cutting , between Reading and Paddington , probably heading for the Bristol line.
This location featured in so very many of the wonderful photographs by the late Maurice Earley , whose pictures from Sonning Cutting could fill volumes , and were instantly recognisable.
This is how the lovely Sonning Cutting used to look in days gone by , with well trimmed and carefully tended banks on either side of the " Two Up " and " Two Down " slow and fast roads and no discarded litter anywhere , just some working materials neatly stacked in a scene so often captured by the railway cameramen of the day , especially the late Maurice Earley whose many pictures from this location could fill volumes.
I wish I had paid a visit here , but didn't manage it , and today the scene is completely marred by overgrowth and bushes everywhere , and a general feeling of neglect with uprooted and dead trees on the banks , only to be made worse when the overhead electrification of this stretch of line is completed.
Scenes such as this one have gone forever , but thankfully we still have the photographs.