The Cross Keys

A Walk to Great Bedwyn from Wooton Rivers

On Thursday 25th October 2012 four of us, 3 Rhodesians and an Englishman, walked from Wootton Rivers along the Canal to Great Bedwyn. There we met another English friend and enjoyed a superb lunch at the Crossed Keys Pub. This is a record of the walk - in wet and muddy conditions. The total distance was around 10 miles.

1A96 Taunton to Pewsey in 360º (View in 4K)

(Watch in 4K for best quality)

Travel on the 1A96 from Taunton to Pewsey in full 360 degrees! From Taunton, we soon dive under Cogload junction flyover (taking trains from Bristol and the North, South) and head along the Berk & Hants route through Castle Cary station. At Fairwood junction we diverge off the Westbury avoiding line, cross over Westbury South Junction which brings trains from Salisbury and the south coast, through the freight yard and into Westbury station. On leaving Westbury, just after passing under the first bridge, we have Westbury Power Signal box on the right. 1A96 accelerates hard as we eventually rejoin the diversionary route at Heywood Road Junction. Finally, we pass Pewsey station at speed before meeting a Class 59 and an empty aggregates service heading back towards Merehead Quarry.

On desktops, use the mouse or keys A, W, D and S to scroll around.
Just move mobile devices to move in the desired direction. You can also pause at any time to look around.

All filming was undertaken after speaking with the Train Manager and adhering to all restrictions and conditions they stipulated.

This video does not condone hanging from or placing things out of train windows as this is extremely dangerous. No responsibility is taken for any similar activities.

This video was shot for historical reference of a practice and experience that, whilst very dangerous and actively discouraged, has been enjoyed by thousands and is soon to all but disappear across the British rail network.

If you like what you see and would like to help fund the next planned journey (Kings Cross to Hull) then please visit my gofundme page at

Thanks and enjoy.​

Mr Rural Spoc has a hard-on for my suspected crimes

This is a real letter, no joke... from Mr or Mrs SPOC ;-)
Telling me that I am under suspicion of some unspecified something.

Beam engine | Wikipedia audio article

This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:



00:01:09 1 History
00:04:09 2 Rotative beam engines
00:05:08 2.1 Marine beam engines
00:05:45 3 Compounding
00:07:29 4 McNaught engines
00:08:23 5 Preserved beam engines
00:14:39 6 See also



Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.

Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain

Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.

Listen on Google Assistant through Extra Audio:

Other Wikipedia audio articles at:

Upload your own Wikipedia articles through:

Speaking Rate: 0.9009673663571106
Voice name: en-GB-Wavenet-C


I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.
- Socrates


SUMMARY
=======
A beam engine is a type of steam engine where a pivoted overhead beam is used to apply the force from a vertical piston to a vertical connecting rod. This configuration, with the engine directly driving a pump, was first used by Thomas Newcomen around 1705 to remove water from mines in Cornwall. The efficiency of the engines was improved by engineers including James Watt, who added a separate condenser; Jonathan Hornblower and Arthur Woolf, who compounded the cylinders; and William McNaught, who devised a method of compounding an existing engine. Beam engines were first used to pump water out of mines or into canals, but could be used to pump water to supplement the flow for a waterwheel powering a mill.

The rotative beam engine is a later design of beam engine where the connecting rod drives a flywheel, by means of a crank (or, historically, by means of a sun and planet gear). These beam engines could be used to directly power the line-shafting in a mill. They also could be used to power steam ships.

Rotative beam engine | Wikipedia audio article

This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:



00:01:05 1 History
00:03:52 2 Rotative beam engines
00:04:48 2.1 Marine beam engines
00:05:22 3 Compounding
00:07:02 4 McNaught engines
00:07:52 5 Preserved beam engines
00:13:44 6 See also



Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.

Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain

Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.

Listen on Google Assistant through Extra Audio:

Other Wikipedia audio articles at:

Upload your own Wikipedia articles through:

Speaking Rate: 0.9673541149460153
Voice name: en-US-Wavenet-C


I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.
- Socrates


SUMMARY
=======
A beam engine is a type of steam engine where a pivoted overhead beam is used to apply the force from a vertical piston to a vertical connecting rod. This configuration, with the engine directly driving a pump, was first used by Thomas Newcomen around 1705 to remove water from mines in Cornwall. The efficiency of the engines was improved by engineers including James Watt, who added a separate condenser; Jonathan Hornblower and Arthur Woolf, who compounded the cylinders; and William McNaught, who devised a method of compounding an existing engine. Beam engines were first used to pump water out of mines or into canals, but could be used to pump water to supplement the flow for a waterwheel powering a mill.

The rotative beam engine is a later design of beam engine where the connecting rod drives a flywheel, by means of a crank (or, historically, by means of a sun and planet gear). These beam engines could be used to directly power the line-shafting in a mill. They also could be used to power steam ships.