It was near impossible to get from Weston to Taunton this morning, due to Wessex Trains somehow messing up the interim Bank Holiday timetable. The mixture of the current Winter timetable, the additional Bank Holiday trains, and the impending Summer timetable obviously proving too much for them, with many services being cancelled. Eventually plumped for a return to Bristol, and a Bristol-Taunton return. Arrived at Taunton in time for 67022 on an Eden Project excursion, and the first of the Virgin operated HSTs. Passed the time chatting until D1015 caught me unawares, flying through on the fast line at full speed.
Waited for the third HST set to pass before heading up to Bristol following a phonecall from Lee. 'Tangmere' had arrived on the empty stock of a Victoria-Bath VSOE and 'Duke of Gloucester' was imminent. Arrived in time for the Duke and the final hired-in HST set of the day. Plenty of people waiting around for the return of 'Tangmere'. Used the time to catch up with the regulars and to sit in the sunshine in my usual spot. 'Tangmere' left in clouds of steam and with a great deal of noise to much appreciation from the assembled spectators.
Waited around in evening sunshine for the departure of 'Duke of Gloucester', which posed briefly with a pair of 66s pottering around from Barton Hill before running around the stock. Temple Meads well and truly steamed up by the Duke, prior to a thundering start. Something of a Steam Gala feel to Temple Meads this afternoon. An interesting and sociable day in the sunshine.
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.
