A Bank Holiday is a time to get out of Weston, or to be swamped by day trippers. Having a day left on my Rover, it was just a case of where I would end up today. Set out early enough to leave me a few options, with a quick run to Bristol on a Voyager which was quiet but seemed to be heavily reserved from Bristol onward. Decided to head for South Wales, and found myself practically the only passenger on a Cardiff-bound unit.

Alighted at Newport and found old friend 'Nunney Castle' in attendance hauling the 'Carmarthen Cavalier' railtour. Lots of spectators, and plenty of steam. Enjoyed the sunshine and photo opportunities.

Next, a quick and pleasant trip alongside the Wye and the Severn to Gloucester. Dangerously short of reading material, I took the opportunity to wander into the city and buy something else from my list. Again, enjoyed stress free atmosphere of Gloucester's shopping areas.

Onto a Swindon bound Adelante, starting out in bright sunshine but heading into the clouds by the time we arrived. Swindon very quiet - in part because of the much altered timetable due to engineering works between Reading and London. Not much heading west within a reasonable time, so opted for a service back to Bristol Parkway, and thence a solidly packed Voyager into Temple Meads.

Considered calling it a day here, but that would have been too easy! Over to Platform 15, and the Class 31's on the 1428 to Weymouth. Very slow running, regulated to allow a late-running Portsmouth service to pass seconds after leaving the station, and by Westbury we were twelve minutes down. During the trip heard gossip that one of the other pair of 31's was likely to head back to Derby during the week for urgent attention. Disembarked at Westbury and looked at options for getting home. Heading to Taunton would mean a long wait there for a Weston service, so headed back on the 1607 to Bristol, along with some incredibly rude and annoying cyclists. Made a quick change for the 1655 to Weston on arriving at Temple Meads.

The crowds of Bristolian day-trippers had just started to trickle back to the station at Weston, and security had just arrived for the evening. Purchased supplies, and battened down the hatches...

Set out on an initially almost identical mission to last week. Having received the allocations this morning, realised that I only needed one of the 67's out today. 67016 was on 1E99 which I could have picked up later at Weston, but decided instead to head south and board at Exeter. All went smoothly, with a change at Taunton on what was shaping up to be a bright but chilly morning. After finally working out the optimum spot to stand to get the number of an approaching Voyager, myself and other waiting enthusiasts were perplexed to find one with no number at all, even in the usual awkward spot! Took the name instead to check up later. Arrived at Exeter St. Davids in time to watch 67018 depart on 1M89.

67016 set off promisingly, but began to get checked at signals between Tiverton and Whiteball. Very slow running in places for much of the journey. Despite the incredibly slack timings of this train, we arrived late at Weston and had managed to mop up most of the huge amount of standing time at Bristol too! Got customary pictures, then went in search of much needed refreshments.

67003 arrived in plenty of time on 1V15. Boarded and found a pleasant seat on the correct side for the sea as I'd not yet decided whether to see this one through to Paignton or not today. Quick running again as far as Whiteball, where it seemed all was not well, signalling-wise today! Having examined the timetable, decided that since I'd seen enough of Paignton and as 1V19 wasn't a required locomotive (being 67015 today) I would have a spin on the resurrected Virgin HST. These HSTs, not required since the all-Voyager timetable arrived have been rescued from an MoD storage site and pressed back into service for the summer, albeit in some slightly odd formations. So, boarded the only slightly busy 1M78 (hauled by 43153 and 43098) at Exeter and decided on a longer trip as far as Cheltenham. Must have done hundreds of undocumented miles on these CrossCountry HST sets back in the mid 1990s when I had a Young Person's Railcard - pleasant to be back on one, even if the air conditioning seemed to have failed.


Plan for a speedy Voyager off Cheltenham went wrong, as the Penzance service was running late. Coffee time, then opted for a Wessex stopper back to Bristol, formed of ex-Central Trains 158782. On arriving back at Bristol, found the 1800 to Weston fortunately running 11 late. Home in time to watch British Transport Police attending Weston station, as the usual crowds of daytrippers stumbled drunkenly back to the station. Welcome home.

Not, as I mistakenly thought, the penultimate week of the Class 67 hauled Virgin Holidaymaker specials. I had never intended that these workings become a weekly event, or a minor obsession. They do however release me from the need to imagine up new journeys every Friday evening. Also, they are a nice easy option when the railway is chaotically busy, overcrowded and hot here in the southwest during the Summer months. Along with the Weymouth and Brighton Class 31s they have maintained my sanity during the most frustrating and busy periods of the work year too. Perhaps the hypnotic effect of boomeranging back and forth between Bristol and Exeter is soothing to the soul of the troubled clerk?

So, set out in the opposite direction to usual. Decided to get a ride on 67022 which was working 1M89 - the morning service to Preston which doesn't call at Weston. This involved a unit to Taunton, and a change for a Voyager to Exeter. During the pause at Exeter, a pair of Castles (5051 and 5029) steamed through on 'The Devonian'. Arrived at Exeter to find 1M89 standing at Platform 6 - swiftly over the bridge and aboard for Bristol.

Arrived a little earlier than usual, and hung around to watch 1E99 arrive - my usual ride into Bristol these days! 67026 in charge - another required locomotive for me, one of three out today. I could only manage two out of these however, as 1M89 and 1E99 are mutually exclusive options.

Got refreshments, and enjoyed the sunshine at Temple Meads. Whilst waiting, noted the pair of Voyagers which I'd done from Taunton to Exeter this morning, and luckily got the number of the leading unit, which I'd missed in my hurry to get over the bridge, and was then obscured by an arriving HST! Some unexpected (and multiple!) platform alterations followed, which meant missing the arrival of 67018 on 1V15, but I easily made it over to Platform 15 in time for the departure to Exeter. Front coach aircon working for the first time in weeks, and some speedy running at least as far as Taunton, where things got a little sluggish.

Exeter St Davids busier than this morning, with some truly wedged services from Newquay passing through! Heard that 67005 was on 1V19, but decided that since it wasn't required a wander home on the curious combination of a Valley Lines 143 and a Wessex 150 which was working the Paignton-Cardiff would be interesting.

One thing which struck me today, perhaps rather oddly given the amount of times I've passed that way, is how impressively 'English' the countryside is around Cogload Junction just outside Taunton. Found it inspiring on my several passes in pleasant sunshine today - perhaps it was the rural element of my reading matter which persuaded me?

Since it was no longer necessary to attend court today, I took advantage of the remaining day of a rover ticket for some of the usual Friday fun! Out on the 1134 from Weston which was unusually held at Parson Street Junction. Didn't spot any obvious activity on the Portbury branch to warrant this. On arrival at Temple Meads, spotted 31452 and 31106 on the up through, waiting to head out south, and back into Platform 15. Finally got a better picture of 31106, showing its lack of headcode box - hence the 'skinhead' appellation.

Left Bristol on time, and made good progress in rather wet conditions. About two minutes down at Salisbury. Had thought about a wander around the cathedral, but given the weather decided to press on to Southampton. Decided to head back on the Wessex Cardiff/Penzance service which splits at Westbury. Hugely crowded, and some confusion about which part of the train people should be in - despite very clear announcements. From Westbury, stayed aboard 158865 for Taunton.

Long cold wait at Taunton for the 1756 back to Weston. Lots of platform switching going on to accomodate late running Virgin and Great Western services. During all this 66052 arrived with 6V70. My record of trying to get pictures of freight workings is pretty appalling, but this one was moving just about slowly enough to catch it.


Back to Weston on a heavily loaded 143611, which mercifully didn't pull its normal trick of failing when I'm anywhere near it!