August is shaping up to be a rather odd month - with lots going on at each end but very little in the middle weeks. After a busy week with a jaunt up to London and family visits, I was looking forward to a fairly gentle day out today. Also, given what promised to be an expensive few months ahead, conserving funds appeared to be a sensible strategy. Started out with the usual first train off Highbridge and subsequent connection into a London service at Weston. A nice, quiet and rather sleepy trip - disturbed only by a bunch of odd teenagers who boarded at Chippenham and attempted to strip the antimacassars from the carriage I was in. They were soon removed from the train at Swindon with no delay. Arrived a little early into London, only to remember I hadn't checked for engineering on the Underground. Discovered that as I feared, the Circle Line was out and thus wasted precious minutes getting to the bus stop for a service to Charing Cross. Missed one by seconds in fact, but my dodgy knee wasn't up to the dash - and would be needed for the walk across Tunbridge Wells later! Finally on board for a quiet trundle through the West End. Arrived in good time for my planned train, but couldn't help feeling I could have made it earlier if I'd been a bit more alert last evening and checked as I'd planned. The rest of the journey into the Kent countryside was quiet and uneventful, and we rolled into Tunbridge Wells exactly on time.

The walk across town wasn't quite as bad as I'd thought and the place seemed very well-to-do and rather busy with a market and some very upmarket shopping going on. The West station now appears to be a large wild west theme pub, with the locomotive shed across the access road to a large Homebase now providing the facilities. Arrived to find the next service out was the 11:08 - using the line's resident Oxted thumper unit. This was also departing from the non-preferred platform two. Not much of a platform in fact, as steps were required to get up to the doors! Soon away and making a huge racket as we chugged and thumped our way to High Rocks. The operation at this station is odd - with the train guard unlocking a gate to let passengers in and out, and then closing and padlocking it after them. This effectively ruled out nipping out for a quick photograph, as staff were keen to clear the platform swiftly and get the train moving. This occurs I understand because High Rocks station is at the foot of a pub beer garden, and the risk of people straying on to the railway is high. Pressed on and eventually arrived at Groombridge where this service terminated and headed back. Here too, the original station and alignment seem to have been sold - with the station in new use, and the former alignment built on. The new station is a simple affair with a shed acting as a very neat little refreshment stall. The line actually heads on further to Birchden Junction where it comes alongside the Uckfield branch, then proceeds to Eridge station - however this section remains out of use at present for work to make this a regular part of the line's operation.

Headed back to Tunbridge Wells West and settled into a pattern of hopping trains to try to get the best out of the day - with a double-headed service using the Spa Valley's E6047 (73140) and 33063 next. These services called at Groombridge then headed a little further to the loop at Groombridge Junction to return to the station top-and-tailed, before working back to Tunbridge Wells West. Visiting 20110 from the South Devon Railway lead a trip next, performing extremely well as ever. The timetable began to slip pretty badly here, with around a 20 minute delay. This meant arriving back to find that the shuttle to High Rocks with 15244 hauling the Thumper was packed to the gills already. Decided to flag this, get a drink and relax in the bright sunshine and pleasant surroundings. My aim was to get at least one trip involving 37254 - another resident, and this became more and more doubtful as the delays mounted. Finally, the time came for a double-headed run with 20110 and 37254. These were quickly and expertly hooked on to the front of the train and we were off. Both locos were working hard and we made some very fast getaways from station stops. A quick run around took place, but another delay in setting off meant plenty of pressure on the crews of the top and tailed locos. Shouldn't have feared, as they again worked the locos brilliantly, and the sound of both the 20 and 37 echoing past High Rocks was very memorable. Spent much of this trip happily with my head out of the window in the sunshine, listening to the engines!

Mindful of needing to get a bus across London in the much busier afternoon, I made a dash back to the mainline station after hopping off this service. Made it in good time for a slightly earlier service than planned, despite limping much of the way. In fact, I've developed a sort of 'fast limp' over the past few weeks which was put to good use today. Pleased to be in the cool of the air-conditioned unit, and had a productive ride back to Charing Cross with a good few units spotted on route! The bus was, as expected, pretty packed. Found myself becoming increasingly annoyed with tourists during the trip - which was rather hypocritical because I was one too, so to speak. However, I'd never turn up in another country without have done some basic research on how to get around. Disembarked at Paddington with about 45 minutes to grab a bite to eat whilst waiting for the 19:00 which took me directly home. A fine, uncomplicated day out on a small but well-run railway. Definitely due another visit when the full extent of the line is available.