Took advantage of being just about on target at work for a day off, in order to use the final day of my rover on what was an historic day - the last working of the Wessex Class 31's to Brighton.

Late start from Weston, with some time to wander around at Temple Meads and to pick up a copy of the new timetable. Decided that I would try to see the journey all the way through just once, so rebooked to complete the trip to Brighton and back.

Started four minutes late, but soon made up time and miraculously by Salisbury we were slightly early. Train very busy throughout, and I can only imagine what it will be like with a 158 in the coming weeks. Onto the south coast, with an increasingly party-like atmosphere in the front coach which was predominantly cranks. As ever, kept quiet and watched the fun develop! Explained the reason for the wake to an older passenger sitting beside me reading 'The Tablet'. After looking rather bemused she said "I though trains were something you were interested in when you were 10?". Soon convinced her of the merit of Peds on the basis of overcrowded units and the fact that is universally accepted by pensioners - that anything old must be good! Paid my respects to Southwick as we passed - scene of a farce on a similar trip back in February! Finally rolled into platform 1 at Brighton in darkness, pretty much on time.

Quick exit into town for some shopping, then back to the station for a swift look around before boarding an already filling front coach behind 31601 for the return leg. Again, solidly wedged for much of the journey. All went to plan timewise too, until Bathampton where a bridge strike at Keynsham had everything stopped and queueing for entry to Bath Spa.

Arrived at Bristol around 30 late. Lots of folks heading over to Cardiff for the very last bit of the trip. Saw them off before boarding the absurdly long six-car unit home to Weston, no doubt a stock movement to Exeter. The irony is, next week 1V96 will be an overcrowded two- or three-car unit and there will be coaching stock languishing at Westbury. A sad day, but a cracking run.

Set out to wander locally, once again on a Wessex Rover. Planned to start at Newport and maybe head over to Westbury or up to Gloucester depending on how things progressed. Time for much needed coffee at Temple Meads, and onwards to Newport, where I joined quite a crowd at the end of the platform. Ended up staying all day...

In the first hour or so, lots of activity - mainly Class 60s on a variety of workings. Lots of movement on and off Godfrey Road too. Kept busy dashing around to see everything.

Around lunchtime, some more familiar faces arrived. Settled in for the afternoon and had a pleasant and sociable time. Finally saw 158961 - the three car hybrid Wessex Trains unit, along with several of the newly repainted First Great Western power cars inherited from Midland Mainline earlier in the year.

Resolved to head back on one of the numerous diverted Voyagers we'd been seeing all day. Spent a little longer at Bristol before heading back to Weston behind yet another newly repainted power car. A friendly driver was also very keen to show us the cab and instruments of the Class 180 he was about to take off to the depot. A busy and pleasant day all in all, despite not getting very far from home.

Despite having to endure a lot of questioning and related ridicule when explaining why, managed to square things with colleagues to sneak out for an early lunch today. Arrived at the station just in time to see 67002 arriving with the empty stock of the Dunster by Candlelight railtour courtesy of Past Time Rail. Last time I saw 'Special Delivery' it was arriving at Inverness with the sleeper from London Euston. Its rare enough to see anything different at Weston during the winter, and it was pleasant to see a tour operator considering Weston as a starting point. With the attractive place settings for lunch on board, I was only sorry I'd soon be returning to the office.

Back to work and resigned to the remainder of a rather dull and irritating day. Got one or two bits of policy work approved which was heartening, and a major IT job hopefully finished. Time will, of course, tell. Headed home expecting a quiet night.

But then noticed messages on SWRG about 37896 heading from Barton Hill to Taunton as 0Z33 to help 67002 which was low on fuel. Watched the situation develop before heading out around 2200 to see what was happening. Friendly station staff confirmed situation on TRUST. Eventually, 37896 thundered in with 67002 dead in tow.


Seems even the least promising of days can have interesting endings...

The first week for a while where I haven't had somewhere specific to be at the weekend. It had been an odd week too - as ever, a rollercoaster at the office - so I hadn't really managed to sit down and work out what to do today. As it happened, there seemed to be quite a bit happening out on the rails not a million miles from here.

So, out onto the 0829 Voyager to Bristol. I'd bought a ticket for Newport with the intention of popping over to see what was happening later in the day. First though, was the departure of City of Truro on a one-way trip to Plymouth with the bonus of BR Green 37261 following close behind in case of problems. Arrived at Temple Meads to find 37261 in the bay having shunted the stock in. Finally, after some confusion City of Truro steamed in from the North to join the stock, which was then shunted around to platform 3 by both locomotives.

I'm still uncertain why passengers couldn't board the stock whilst it was in the bay. Soon after City of Truro's departure, the unmistakable sound of a Tractor from the other end of the trainshed heralded the coming of 37261, which passed at speed and stormed southwards with lots of noise and clag!


Next part of the plan was to head over to Newport, and hope to spot Wessex's newly formed three-car Class 158 en route - the first of eight such sets intended for the Cardiff-Portsmouth route. Easier said than done, as everything heading towards the tunnel was wedged solid. Finally settled for the 1120 Milford Haven service, which also filled to bursting point a minute before departure.

Not much of note at Newport, so after a quick look at Godfrey Road decided to head back on nicely refurbished 158749. Still no three-car 158, but noticed a convention of Freightliner 66's at Kingsland Road. Arrived back at Temple Meads in good time for the afternoon's main event - 73096 on the Cathedrals Express. Lots of familar faces out and about. Chatted to a few of them whilst waiting. 73096 suprised us by arriving slightly late on platform 7.


Lurked for a while longer, resisting the temptation to wander up to Barton Hill. With the sky darkening I decided to head back to Weston, feeling strangely sleepy. Refreshing to stay local after a few weeks of being busy elsewhere.