This is the final pylon hunt for 2023. The days are getting short and the season bleak. The low sun casts long shadows. After much wrangling with colour balance and dynamic range …
Pylon hunt 25 is the follow-up to pylon hunt 18, to capture two additional tower types from the J L Eve 0.175 tower suite, specifically the D30 and DT90. The latter is found at Lye Green Grid substation, where there is also an asymmetric Eve 0.4 DT. I was just making use of what little good weather was left, taking advantage of the sunshine.
Due to the distance between Berkhamsted railway station and Lye Green (on the edge of Chesham) there wasn’t time for much photography, and the village of Ashley Green isn’t included at all.
Based on the timings of the previous walk, Coronavirus walk no. 183, I discovered that I had time to take a more scenic route to the station:
Berkhamsted station. This is one stop before Tring:
Having left the train
A very quick glimpse at Berkhamsted; there was little time for anything more. The bright sunlight and huge shadows require more sensor dynamic range that I have available.
Grand Union Canal, Berkhamsted, with the Berkhamsted Totem Pole in view; this was a very quick shot without any attempt to set the levels, but I doubt there was much more I could have done with a 1/2.3″ sensor anywaySt Peter’s Church BerkhamstedJust some houses and flats High Street, Berkhamsted (the shops are the other way)Heading out of Berkhamsted towards Lye GreenDistant sheep grazing in a field. Note the elevation: I got my workout from this walk as boy is this place hilly.
Now the route heads towards the fields.
Looking out over Hemel Hempstead. Note the sneaky pylon. (Yes, -stead not -sted …)Looks like more sheepCrossing over the A41I wouldn’t want to live in a landscape without treesThe first Eve tower is in sight; this is one of the D30 towersI was expecting to have no time to take scenic photos and to be underwhelmed by the countryside, but I was pleasantly surprised.A sneaky D30Heading down the hillScience and Industry Museum Archives Manager Jan Hicks once described pylons as “climbers roped together, marching across the land”.Close-up of an Eve 0.175 D30 angle tower, the first of my two goals for this walk. D10 is identical except that the crossarms are symmetrical. The one I found last time was too far away to get a good shot.Line tower (D2)
With the D30 covered, onwards towards Lye Green.
Looking back to Bottom FarmThis public footpath is called Mount’s Hill …… and the woodland is called Heathen Grove.Houses along White Hill; I had to snap a shot looking back, despite being in a huge hurry!
Finally here …
The first glimpse of Lye Green Grid substation. Eve 0.4 DT on the left, Eve 0.175 DT90 ahead. The wood pole line is 33 kV and although I prefer the other style, these are properly braced so they don’t lean! Shooting into the sun, hence the washed-out sky in this shot and various others.A PL16 DT splits the two circuits from Piccotts End out; one passes to a DT90 where it terminates and the other bypasses the substation entirely and continues to WatfordThe first day that I’ve seen frost in the shadows. Winter is coming :-(Higher-capacity Eve 0.4 line from Lye Green to Watford; the towers are D30 (foreground) and D60 (background)Gynandromorphic Eve 0.4 DT; these DTs are designed to be customised in various ways and in this case one side is fully extended and the other is minimal width.The substation has a lot of trees around it and I was not clear what sort of a view I might achieve. Here I was doing my best with the Eve 0.175 DT90 …… but fortunately I was able to get some much better views.Lye Green Grid 132 kV substation
Having used up more time than I even had available, it was something of a dash back to the station so as to not miss my train.
Houses on the edge of CheshamThe Chesham sign quickly snapped on the way outLast glimpse of the substation
I decided that I just had to walk back through this wood as I had planned. This is just after Ashley Green but I was so short on time that I skipped photographing Ashley Green entirely!
Trees illuminated by the setting sunI was not disappointed by this place, and I must return again one day when I have more timeThe direct sunlight didn’t reach far into the wood, and most of it is barren now (so I didn’t photograph any more of it), but this place will look superb in the springtimeEntrance to the wood or, in my case, exitLooking back down the lane away from Berkhamsted
Finally, passing back through Berkhamsted to the station.
A tall tree catching the last of the sun at the edge of BerkhamstedAn “interesting” place … Lots of nice houses here but I was in a tearing hurry at this point to get back to the station!Disneyland Berkhamsted? In reality, Berkhamsted’s elegant water tower.
Back to Berkhamsted station. My plan was to arrive a good half hour early in case of train delays or cancellations, but I used up much of my time “buffer” and thus it was fortunate that my train came in right on time.
Sun setting out of viewShut happens! (Cafe or something, Berkamsted station)Heading home after an arduous walk. British Rail Class 350—Siemens Desiro UK—is now my favourite unit. It’s got the feel and comfort I associated with rail travel before the advent of the ironing board seats era!
(In fairness I don’t find the modern “ironing board” train seats uncomfortable in themselves, so much as their inability to smooth out passing over pointwork and irregularities in the track. Other factors such as track condition and suspension play a factor too.)
