Woke up feeling groggy after a fairly late night celebrating my last day of work - as ever, only two of us managed to make the distance and now I was suffering a little. Hasty preparations, then down to the station around 06:00 with a fairly big crowd of fellow travellers already waiting. Exactly on time, 67001 and 67016 led the train into Weston. Found seats in a part of Coach G apparently reseved for Westonians, and settled in for the ride to York.
Speedy running throughout, keeping mostly to time with a few early arrivals at pick-up stops. The pair of 67s made short work of the Lickey, and we soon traversed the first bit of new track for the day - the short section between St Andrews Junction and Landor Street Junction which we took in order to avoid Birmingham New Street. Onwards to Derby, where a small line-up of Fragonset locos greeted us. Somewhat bumpy ride from here, with some quite aggressive braking. Turned right for the 'Old Road' at Tapton Junction passing Barrow Hill Roundhouse and a welcome handful of 56s at Ferrybridge.
Soon after arrival, noted the Network Rail New Measurement Train arriving. Having messed up a shot of the front power car, waited at the platform end to get a shot of the whole train. Surprised to find that there was no rear power car on the set! Completely failed to get a picture, such was my confusion!
Headed immediately for the National Railway Museum which I hadn't visited in nearly ten years. Only a short visit as others in our party had been there more recently, but good to see some new exhibits. Short trip into the yard behind shunter 08911 just for fun, then a quick look around new parts of the complex. In the works, noted 4472 Flying Scotsman and the (in my opinion ) far more impressive Duchess of Hamilton. Also noted a complete Class 71 loco surrounded by all kinds of junk in the sort of open archive/store room facility! Good to look in at the NRM again, and I think it may be worthy of another visit soon.
Into the city next, and for me a bit of a trip down memory lane. After a quick bite to eat, explored The Shambles and the bizarrely named but unimpressively tiny Whip-ma-Whop-ma-Gate. Lots of surprising memories of my last visit, which must have been around 1998 by my calculations. Return to the station via the Minster and a welcome pint of Black Sheep at The Maltings - a favourite watering hole when I've been here.
Back at the station, we were taken by surprise when 47197 crept almost silently under the famous roof returning from its earlier outing on 7Z51 hauling scrap wagons from Basford Hall to Tees Yard. Spent the last hour or so in fantastic sunshine watching HSTs and lots of Transpennine 158s coming and going. Also noted 60001 coming off the avoiding line - realising it was the first of the diminshing class 60 fleet I've seen in some time, though it seems some of them are now coming back into traffic.
Away on time from York at 17:22, heading for Doncaster, then once again via the remains of Rotherham Masborough and Barrow Hill to Chesterfield. Feeling extremely sleepy in the evening sunshine. Despite running top and tail with 67001 on the front, braking continued to be quite a lively experience. Held at Tapton Junction for some time, which left us about ten minutes down but we made up most of this north of Birmingham. Amazing sunset over the Malvern Hills and a bottle of Spitfire to round off the trip. Arrived on time at Weston, and headed straight for my bed.
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.
