Strange and much too warm day spent mostly with family. Discovered that Pathfinder's Lakeland Express tour is cancelled due to double-booked coaching stock! That's blown a hole in my schedule for the week-after-next, but I have a plan B of sorts. Consoled myself later with a trip to the station to watch Compass Tours Lichfield-Paignton charter heading homeward.

Having hardly left home except to work for an entire month, I can hardly describe how much I was looking forward to getting away on this trip. So excited that I didn't even mind the fact it meant an 0500 start and a night in Bristol before the trip! The weather was not expected to be great, and the howling wind and driving rain which greeted me on checking out of the hotel was evidence enough that for once the forecasters seemed to be right. To add to the general feeling of trepidation about the trip, I walked to Temple Meads to find a large crowd of miserable looking cranks locked out of the station. Clearly things don't start this early on Bank Holidays. Once finally in, we watched the stock shunt from the Up Through road into platform three with 59203 at the head of the train. Found my seat in the freezing cold stock and settled in for the run up to New Street - which is always a chance to doze and daydream. The 59 performed rather well, with some impressive starts betraying it's capability to deal with far heavier trains than ours. Informed after Cheltenham of a freebie coffee-trolley deal for genuine first class passengers on the basis that some of the stock in use meant that standard class passengers had first class seats for free. Much advantage was taken of this throughout the day. After sailing uneventfully up the Lickey we arrived at Birmingham New Street with a chance to stretch legs and watch our first locomotive change of the day.

With 60024 attached and the weather looking a little better, we set off towards Derby and our final pick-up of the morning. The final timings showed us taking travelling via Tamworth instead of Lichfield, and the route was further amended at the last minute by an over-eager signaller, as we missed out the section via Whitacre Junction in favour of a dash along the Up Fast. We seemed to be holding to time exceptionally well, and following a couple of minutes in Sheffield, we were soon taking the tight curve at Nunnery Main Line Junction and heading for Worksop. Much confusion about where we would finally stop here, with South Sidings in the timings but fairly obviously not going to happen. We crept along the sidings north of the running lines, finally coming to a halt somewhere on the Up Reception No.1 line by my reckoning. Our next loco was nowhere to be seen, but soon appeared behind the train and may well have been lurking on the South Yorkshire Joint line which was our next destination. A quick loco change saw 56303 on the front - a new one for almost everyone on board I'd guess and a popular choice.

Soon after setting off we turned northwards at Brancliffe East Junction and headed onto the South Yorks Joint Line. This line which provides a freight route bypassing Doncaster was new track to me. The weather being a little better here, and sitting with a fellow traveller who had a good knowledge of the area made for an interesting trip - even if much of the narration seemed to be a tale of colliery closures and declining traffic. Passed the lines into Maltby Colliery which is still open and remains served by rail - something of a pleasant relief after all the tales of closure and cutbacks. After passing over the East Coast Main Line we skirted Hatfield and Stainforth station, preparing for our reversal just short of Thorne Junction.

Here we plunged into the mass of fascinating but (to me at least) confusing lines in West Yorkshire. Firstly we traversed the freight-only line from Stainforth Junction to Applehurst Junction, taking the curve to Joan Croft to very briefly join the ECML as far as Selby Canal Junction where we took the also rather unusual curve to Selby West. Further progress to Gascoigne Wood where we swung left and joined the line to Ferrybridge, where lines converge from almost every direction. After passing the modern but apparently almost abandoned Diesel Depot here, we took the curve to Pontefract Monkhill and rejoined more familiar passenger lines for a run into Leeds via both Wakefield stations.

Somewhere during our break in Leeds I realised that I felt pretty grim and suspected hayfever. Shopped for lunch and wandered around the immediate environs of the station. Its a while since I've ventured out into the city - a place I liked very much when I first visited some years back. The station itself remains a pleasant spot - a light and airy concourse with an interesting and frequent flow of trains. Found a vantage point and watched events, including a visit by one of Transpennine's 170s which have been strangely painted to resemble their 185s! Back to Platform 11 in time to watch 40145 arrive with the stock, confusing a large crowd of normals awaiting a southbound Virgin service. A bit of an altercation ensued between on-train staff and Network Rail managers, and we lost a few minutes here - but after a storming start and a clear run we were soon making good time.

The routes across the Pennines have always fascinated me, and in my case Copy Pit is the road less travelled. Enjoyed the pleasant scenery and improved weather as we sped west. 40145 made a brave assault on the climb, breasting the summit at a little over 28mph! An exciting performance from a well-maintained locomotive which is a credit to it's owners. This leg of the tour was the highlight for many, and the reason they booked - not perhaps for me, but in the event I thoroughly enjoyed the performance! Downhill into Lancashire from here, passing through the rather gloomy Accrington and Blackburn before our last bit of unusual track of the day - the curve from Lostock Hall to Farrington Junction which took us onto the WCML and a high speed run into Crewe.

A much swifter loco change at Crewe than usual - perhaps because we were blocking platform 1 which is used by terminating Manchester services! Our new traction, 92030 didn't really get a chance to stretch it's legs as we followed a stopping unit (with an enthusiastically gesturing driver!) onto the Stoke-on-Trent line, and as a consequence staggered fairly slowly along much of this leg. We kept time however, and the 92's solid performance meant a timely arrival at New Street. Feeling pretty grim now, I realised I'd picked up a summer cold rather than just a nasty bit of northern pollen! Struggled out to view 59203 rejoining the train before settling in for the run back to Bristol.

No farce with signalling either at Gloucester or Bristol which broke the tradition for railtours, but meant arriving in good time for the train back to Highbridge. Despite ending up feeling pretty sick, an enjoyable and varied day revisiting some old haunts and discovering some new track into the bargain. Looking forward to the next Pathfinder spinner with interest.

Frustratingly, given that this is the first update for a long time where I've managed to get out and about, there are no pictures - due to some technical problems and very little spare time to sort things out. It's been an unusual couple of weeks - with family members descending due to a confusing house move, and lots of work related tribulations. I'd been looking forward to this trip for quite a while - a local start, decent mileage and a pair of Class 47s being the attractions. No particularly difficult track to score this time, but a few hours in York is always welcome. This would be my first trip with Hertfordshire Railtours, and the first operated by newcomers Victa Westlink Rail.

Set off with a lift from my sister to Taunton station. The tour commenced at Minehead and made slow progress over the West Somerset Railway, until Norton Fitzwarren where it joined the network and arrived on time. Spent the wait chatting with a few locals about the day ahead, and confirming the arrangement - double-headed with 47847 up front and 47815 tucked inside the train. The plan was to turn the train during the ECS move after York, with the same arrangement heading back. Once onboard, noted the SRPS stock which had been borrowed by the WSR was in very good shape compared to some of the Riviera rakes - but strangely not particularly comfortable. It was also incredibly hot, with the train heat blasting out unnecessary amounts of hot air. It was already shaping up to be a bright warm morning, and the people in the compartment stock further along the train looked pink and overheated already!

We made steady progress northwards, with stops at Weston-super-Mare, Bristol Temple Meads and Parkway, with the first real excitement occurring on the Lickey Bank. With only one loco running at this point and a load of nine Mk1s and a dead 47, there were moments when it all felt slightly impossible, and a great deal of noise and clag appeared to be coming from 47847. Moving at a relative crawl we reached the summit at Blackwell and began to accelerate once again. Took the Camp Hill line at Kings Norton, then avoid New Street entirely via Landor Street Jcn. Noted some impressive speeds between Water Orton and Derby - reminding me of some spirited Cross Country runs down here in similar circumstances a decade or so ago. After Chesterfield, took the Old Road via Barrow Hill to avoid Sheffield, and again made fine progress, having to wait time at the depressingly derelict Rotherham Masborough station. Once onto the East Coast at Doncaster, set out quickly before being briefly looped at Arksey. Rolled into a sweltering and bright York bang on time.

Another couple of tours had targetted the city today - including a luxury dining tour from Tonbridge and a steam hauled trip from Tyseley. Rood Ashton Hall was steaming gently in the station on our arrival at the adjacent platform. After the obligatory photo stop, set out for the city centre and a pint at The Maltings. Very busy - standing room only in fact, but cool and pleasant nonetheless. Wandered a little further into the city before re-crossing Lendal Bridge and walking along the City Wall back towards the station. Decided to retrace the route it used to be necessary to take to the National Railway Museum, along Leeman Road and under the railway. Not much had changed at the museum since my last visit, but a quick check in the yard saw Rood Ashton Hall being serviced for it's return trip. Made my way back to the station with the intention of getting a bite to eat and whiling away an hour or so on the platform.

After watching the departure of the 47 hauled Tonbridge trip and then the steam, wandered over to our platform for the return of our stock. Rumour has it that this went as far as Tyne Yard to be serviced - but that's not confirmed. Some early misinformation that this would happen with passengers allowed to remain on board was immediately denounced as 'utter rubbish' - appropriately by the man collecting the litter! Set out on time, and even after 17:00 the sunshine was still strong enough to make the carriage almost uncomfortably hot! Retraced our outward route, missing out Worcester, to Weston-super-Mare where I bailed to face the wait for the final stopper of the evening.

The Intercity Merrymaker format is interesting and good value, but I can't help but feel that some extra touches might have made the day run a little more smoothly - not least better buffet and trolley provision, although the SRPS folks did a fair job in the restricted space available. I can't honestly complain - 500 miles plus of large-logo 47 mileage for a reasonable price can't be bad.

The haphazard approach to getting out and about continues, and with nothing planned for the long weekend, decided to take advantage of the various interesting photographic opportunities available locally. Things started badly - I misjudged the timings of a couple of the early southbound workings and completely missed 47840 hauling ECS to Laira and the Penzance-bound diesel hauled leg of The Great Briton. Both were coming back in some form later, but I kicked myself for letting an opportunity slip on an already fairly dull weekend. Heard that 47840 was returning early from Laira, so timed a mid-morning shopping trip to coincide with it's passing Highbridge in fantastic weather.

The plan for the day was to potter around home, doing bits of computer and website maintenance, then to head out for the return working of the two diesel engines which had hauled The Great Briton to Penzance, followed by the steam hauled return leg of today's part of the tour. Met some of the Bridgwater contingent heading for the station and passed on the news that the light engines were very early. Down to the station early to find a prime spot for the evening's entertainment.

A fair crowd had gathered at the station for the double-headed steam locomotives, and we though a few 'serious' steam types might elbow us out of the way. Managed to hold our spot, with a fair bit of hazy light left as the headlamp of 6024 appeared in the distance. The last couple of shots I'd taken had been a little dull, so decided to tweak the camera settings at the last moment - this stupid mistake, along with a case of fat finger syndrome saw me hit the button late and get a dreadful shot. Another opportunity missed. Cursed myself and headed for the pub! Strange day, but good to spend a sociable afternoon on the end of the platform.