Given fairly steady progress at work, sneaked in an impromptu day off today. The plan was to meet up with a couple of others and head for Rugby. I always seem to end up there around this time of year, and its relaxing to spend a day just watching trains on the always busy West Coast mainline. Despite a damp start from Highbridge things improved markedly in the Midlands, and on arrival at New Street the sun was out. A quick switch to a fairly grubby 321 as far as Rugby, and into the familar spot on platform two.

A quiet morning, with only the odd freight to break up the tide of passing Pendolinos. However, as the afternoon arrived so did a pretty startling array of different liveries and workings which wouldn't be seen back home. During the course of a couple of hours, both of the remaining GBRf Class 66's from the recent new batch which I hadn't seen passed through the station.

Noted several DRS workings, including the infamous 'Malcolm' train at the usual hour. Also pleased to see Fastline's 56302 pass through - albeit on a very empty container train! Having first seen this at Doncaster, it was good to finally get a photograph.

Stayed on a little later than usual, and has a fairly busy last hour or so, with a procession of interesting workings. Finally departed on the 17:47 Pendolino for Birmingham realising that I'd managed to go bright pink in the sun - the closest I ever get to a tan. An otherwise quiet journey back through an amazing sunset was interrupted by some troubling phonecalls. But today was still a relaxing and unexpected break.