With next week looming in something of a 'Sword of Damocles' manner after the last week of frustration and work-related awfulness, decided I had to get out and about this weekend. Spent yesterday trying to decide what to do, and finally settled on some more aimless local wandering.
Purchased a Wessex Rover which I have little chance of completely using, but was determined to get value from its slightly higher 'Summer Season' price. Off to Bristol, then decided to hang around for the 0828 Weymouth train. It was 31601 and 31452, so went with it as far as Westbury. I could have gone further, but didn't fancy another long hot trawl back from Weymouth today. Onto a Cardiff bound and very wedged 158 at Westbury. Finally got a seat at Bath, and enjoyed a rather quicker than last time spin around the Filton diversion to Newport.
From Newport to Cheltenham. Engineering works near Birmingham meant some disruption which was being complained about extremely loudly by a family near me. Only effect on my journey was that Central Trains were using a filthy 158 instead of the (sadly, for their age equally shabby) 170s.
A short stay at Cheltenham, where the rain started, and onto a Virgin service for Paignton. I seriously considered remaining on this to Weston, but rallied when I thought of the extra six quid I'd paid for my ticket! So, around the diversion in the other direction in a ten-car Super Voyager. Back at Bristol, noted a Southampton bound service across the platform, so grabbed refreshments and hopped on. A quick consultation of the timetable showed if I was careful, I could get a service via Melksham to Swindon, a rare enough event. Could probably have changed at Westbury, but to be sure, got off at Trowbridge.
Had a really quite unpleasant wait for the 1645 service, surrounded by Trowbridge kids in the rain. Arrived just a couple of minutes late, and off we went. As we pulled away, someone began shouting about not being able to get off. Seems an unfortunate passenger had been slow in unloading their luggage and had managed to get carried away having left some of her bags on the platform. Felt quite sorry for her, and that perhaps I could have done something to help - then however when discussing the situation with the guard she revealed she'd "left three more down at Westbury when I changed there!". Have people forgotten the concept of a timetable? Having checked later, it seems all her bags were safe, and she turned around with the train at Swindon and got back to Trowbridge a little late!
Sun out at Swindon, so waited for a direct service to Weston and wandered, watching people and trains. Turned out to be a pleasant if uneventful day in Wessex!
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
