It's a long time since I last saw a locomotive in the bay platform at Weston-super-Mare. I couldn't date the occurrence, but I have a picture of it. Taken with my ancient camera which leaked light and with my shaky hands, I have a picture of 37055 close up against the buffers. I recall seeing my first 66 in the UK too at Weston, but that was as I recall on one of the through platforms, making its characteristically odd sound. Since then, it's been nothing but yellow plant machines in the bay, and very rare visits by locomotives on the through lines.

So I was surprised to read that for some reason, one of Colas Rail's 47's had made the trip to Weston and set back into the bay. I wasn't sure how long for so I made a dignified excuse for an early lunch, and found it at the extreme end of the siding, apparently shut down but seemingly ready to leave at any moment. I captured the moment for posterity - struck by the thought that 'phone cameras were barely dreamed of back when I'd snapped 37055 with a dodgy film camera!

When I went to catch my train home tonight, 47727 had already gone. I wonder if this will be a regular visit? Maybe one day we'll even see passenger trains in the bay again?