It wasn't easy coaxing my creaking joints to leave my nice warm hotel room in Ealing Common for an 06:11 start this morning. The official last day of Winter looked a bit grey and misty as I trudged over to Ealing Broadway, and happily found the little coffee shop open for business already. Waited on the platform with a growing crowd of what were very obviously Branch Line Scoeity members. It's hard to explain, but there is a look - and we're not talking anorak stereotypes or NHS spectacles secured with elastoplast - this is more of a hungry, desperate stare. Something that says "I'm going to get that stub of a siding if it kills me". BLS members are far from the usual image of inarticulate and socially inept platform-enders too. They appear to be frighteningly sharp - almost accountant-like in their grasp of complexity and happy to discuss it with you in exhaustive detail. The stock, headed by 66093, was predictably late arriving from Old Oak Common after some signalling confusion. However, some very slack timings between Acton Wells and Dudding Hill Junctions, and spending much of the journey to our pick-up stops at St Albans and Kettering on the Down Fast saw us on-time as we took the Corby line. Amazingly, this bit of track was once an almost unattainable holy grail to me - now it seems to crop up in every other railtour! From Corby to Derby via Syston East to North - another location where they should be issuing me with frequent flyer points. At Derby we gained our last few passengers for the day, along with an additional loco, 66009 on the rear of the train.

With our full contingent on board, it was time to take stock of the differences between a BLS tour and others I've been on. Essentially there wasn't much - many of the same faces, a couple of real ales on offer and a day of interesting locations you wouldn't normally get to. The difference was perhaps the obscurity of these locations. Once out of Derby we headed towards Sheffield, waiting time in platform 1 before heading off towards the east via Woodhouse Junction and taking the short stretch of line to Beighton Junction on the 'Old Road'. Here we passed over the former mainline and into the day's first destination - Westthorpe Run Round. Essentially just a stub of a former colliery line, we crawled up a bank beside the line to Tapton Junction until we could go no further. Suddenly, and rather unexpectedly there was a stampede for the front of the train - which happened to be just a couple of seats behind me. Somewhere at the head of this crush, headed by none other than the indomitable BLS Hon. Sec. Mr 'Gas' Hill people were jostling to get as close as possible to the end of the line, whilst others poked cameras out of the droplights clicking wildly to get a shot of the buffer stops. I don't mean to sound disparaging - new track is new track, and it's why I was here too. I was just a little overwhelmed by the sudden surge!

After just a short wait we reversed back along the siding and retraced our route to Sheffield. From here we headed south to Dore Station Junction, and along the wonderfully scenic Hope Valley. A little spring sunshine had been threatening it's presence throughout the Midlands and here it blossomed into a splendid hazy morning - ideal for railtouring. Climbing away from the Hope Valley line at Hazel Grove High Level Junction saw further new track for me, as we made fairly swift progress as far as Northenden Junction where we paused for some time to allow service trains on the Chester to Manchester route to pass. From here we crept cautiously over Skelton Junction and onto the stub of the Partington Branch. And a stub it truly was. The atlas shows a substantial run of line out towards Glazebrook, falling short of the River Mersey and turning north to it's terminus. However, a little beyond the bridge carrying the Metrolink (formerly the electrified line to Altrincham) beneath us, the train crept to a halt. A glance out of the window saw gates and an unlit signal ahead. We'd gone as far as we could, and our driver - apparently of a similar mind to the passengers - had pushed the loco as far as he dared. Curiously, I found this thwarted attempt at Partington oddly compelling, and it reminded me of the attraction of line collecting - particularly in this cost-reducing age of aggressively mothballing unused track at a furious rate. Would anyone ever come back here? Would the track be gone next week, next month, next year?

Another reversal, back to Northenden and then to Stockport. Over the always impressive viaduct, we snaked across the West Coast Mainline at Heaton Norris onto the route of the 'ghost train' to Guide Bridge via Denton and Reddish South. At Guide Bridge we headed back east, then southwards at Hyde Junction. Our next destination was the short branch to the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority's refuse transfer station at Bredbury. Once over Woodley Junction and onto the freight-only line, we slowed to a crawl. Finally we crept forward, to much consternation leaving the GMWDA line to our left as we crawled along the Tilcon Stone terminal line. It has to be said that I now saw the ugly side of line collecting - there was some unashamedly boisterous behaviour and frothing going on. Someone claimed to have done the entire tour for the GMWDA branch and demanded a refund. The never cowed 'Gas' Hill was forced to make an announcement explaining the tricky decision he'd had to make to switch branches at the last moment. As a bonus Network Rail had allowed us as far along the line as possible, almost as far as the loading hopper. 'Gas' invited any dissatisfied customers to 'discuss it further' with a vaguely challenging air. I'm not certain anyone did. For me at least, this was incredibly rare track, and Mr Hill's notorious knowledge of the system along with his capacity for copious rhetoric would have easily defeated me.

With various oddities of the system visited, it was time to head for our ultimate destination. First we negotiated the line via Ashburys and Philips Park Junctions into Victoria. Again new for me, and originally due to be covered in two ways gaining the rare south to east curve too. However this was shelved when the timings were published, and I was content to get the bulk of the line then to storm over Miles Platting and into Victoria practically on time. Here we lost our original locomotive, and after a short delay set off via Bolton for Preston. Finally, just a little south of the station we slewed onto the goods lines and disappeared down a terribly steep bank into a brick-lined cutting. Having never visited the Preston Docks branch before, I didn't know what to expect as we plunged downwards seemingly forever, finally heading into Fishergate Tunnel before arriving on the flat between the River Ribble and some very expensive looking dockside developments. Next, some highlights of the tour - first, the acutely diagonal crossing of the busy Strand Road with a huge queue of normals backed up as we crawled along the street. Then, the swing-bridge over the docks, where rail and road share the same span with some Weymouth-style on street running arrangements. Crept into the Ribble Steam Railway site at the docks a few minutes late. I'm sure there are some great pictures of our multimodal trip to the docks out there online, but I've lost the location just now.

After a pleasant hour poking around the museum in the fading light, we boarded for the long hike back to Ealing. Again booked via the Hope Valley but avoiding Belle Vue, I scored a little new (but fairly standard) track between Woodley and Romiley, and also the uncommonly used curve between Dore West and South which took us back onto the Midland Mainline and on our way to Derby once more for our first set-down. A fairly sleepy and uneventful journey back, broken only by a mindless act of vandalism in the southern suburbs of Manchester which saw us come under attack from stone-wielding chavs. One broken window and some very distressed passengers, but thankfully no injuries or delays. After a quick run back to Kettering and St. Albans we finally took the curve back into the maze of lines at Acton. As we passed, signal boxes shut for the night and contractors took possession of the line for engineering. We were literally the last train of the Winter.

I truly enjoyed this tour, despite its great length, early start and late finish. Creeping into my warm hotel bed just a few moments before midnight, I though how the BLS were a fine and much misunderstood bunch of folk. Even if they spend a lot of time visiting rubbish terminals. I'm proud to reckon myself among their ranks.

Here's to the next one...

There was a fair amount of railway activity happening today, but with a big trip next week and the prospect of a rather uncertain time afterwards, I decided to stay local. By far the closest, and perhaps most unusual event today was the use of a Virgin Voyager on the shuttle service to the West Somerset Railway at Bishops Lydeard for their Spring Steam Gala! Unlike the First Great Western offering in October, the Voyager was to work down from Bristol as a passenger service, and thus I found myself heading for the 0633 from Highbridge to get there in time to retrace my steps completely!

Off platform 4 at Temple Meads on time, 220024 had ample time to make Weston-super-Mare with around 15 minutes to spare before departure. Not a huge contingent on board, and none of the local suspects it seemed. Away from Weston a minute or so down to let an up service arrive, and off to Taunton through a hazy and rather warm springlike morning. A few more boarded at Taunton, but it still wasn't jammed. Perhaps a good argument for using a longer set for this sort of event! Some locals on board meant enterainment as far as Bishops Lydeard. Noted Virgin's top brass on board too, in the form of Chris Gibb and family. After crawling across the line at Norton Fitzwaren, made good time to Bishops Lydeard where the 0920 service to Minehead was waiting for passengers.

Elected to stay on for the journey back, then a change at Taunton for a service back to Highbridge to meet my nephew and uncle on the platform. Despite positive messages about both the rugby specials and the gala, was content to lounge around fixing things here for much of the day. However, took a call a little after 1700 to say North Star had been seen passing Norton Fitzwarren on it's return from Laira. Chanced it was coming this way, and headed to the station with only a few minutes to spare before it thundered by with a pair of barrier wagons in tow.

I can't help but think it will be a terrible shame when this fine locomotive ends up rusting away on the rather anti-diesel WSR. Still, it was very good to see it performing on the mainline once again.

It's been a long day. For the first time in a long time I've been out on service trains rather than on organised railtours. I really enjoy the time I spend anonymously using the railway network - the opportunities to people-watch, the ever-changing scenery and most of all the chance to discover odd little corners of this country, which is in a sense what set me off on these journeys over a decade ago. Today I was accompanied by another local crank who had expressed an interest in a jaunt to the northwest. The events of last Friday didn't directly affect our plans, but there was a sense of quiet on the network - particularly in the Virgin services we used - presumably because people heading north of Lancaster were travelling by other means rather than mass desertion of the network due to safety concerns. My objective was Blackpool South. Not glamourous and not exciting - but it's needed doing for many years and today was to be the day.

Stumbled blearily onto the platform at Highbridge to catch the 06:33 as far as Weston. This meant an easy interchange with the 06:59 which today was going as far as Preston. Sought out a comfortable seat in the quiet coach and settled in for the journey northwards. Even having done the trip to Glasgow less than a month ago, I still enjoyed the ride. There is something special about the journey from here to the Midlands and the West Coast Mainline for me - perhaps it's to do with the transition from rural south west to industrial north west, and then into the strange and desolate Pennine landscape? Perhaps it's just because it was so inaccessible and distant when I first began tramping around the network? In either case, managed to snooze and chat through the journey to Birmingham, arriving via Camp Hill and passing 40145 on its' trip to mid-Wales as we crept into New Street. A photograph would have been impossible, but it was a pleasure to see the gleaming locomotive in the glorious sunshine which had developed as the morning wore on.

Running about 25 late now due to a driverless freight back at Bristol Parkway, we seemed to make better time north of Stafford and were soon passing Basford Hall Yard and the other remains of Crewe's railway history. The familiar run through Warrington, Wigan and to Preston has always enthralled me . Much of the line seems to march on high viaducts over the flood plain of the Mersey, with wide views of the industry which crowds around the estuary to the west. In particular, Fiddlers Ferry Power station dominates the scene. Arrived in Preston a little later than planned, where platform 5 seemed to be operating as the terminus for all Cross Country services.

Once my colleague had stopped salivating over seeing his first 185, immediately up to the ticket office and after a brief panic about change for the ticket machine, rebooked for Blackpool South. These services only run once each hour and I didn't intend to miss this opportunity to cover the track. Down to platform 1 in time to watch a Transpennine 185 depart for Blackpool North. Amazed to see how many people had flagged this for the much slower South service, but soon realised that this was the first train which arrives after opening time at the Pleasure Beach which also explained why we were some of the oldest people on the train. The rather tired looking Northern 156 coped admirably with the crowds though, and I didn't feel anywhere near as claustrophobic as I have on some of the local units in the south west at peak times. Most of the train bailed as predicted at Pleasure Beach, and things were much more comfortable for the last three quarters of a mile, except for those sitting near where an over-excited teenager had vomited profusely in the aisle. Welcome to Blackpool!

I've made no secret of my dislike for the north's premier family holiday spot. Despite needing this relatively simple-to-get piece of track, it's taken me ten years or so to come back and visit. My last visit, also in March as I recall, was damp and grey. I'd also managed to book myself into a Christian B&B - and when I went to the cinema to cheer myself up ended up watching the less than life-affirming Trainspotting! The place still looked and felt tired, tattered and vaguely menacing - even after the allowances I make having grown up partly in a seaside town. As we set out to walk to Blackpool North, things appeared to be pretty much unchanged here. After pausing for the 'Engineering Tram' to pass by, we set off on a half-remembered route northwards towards the Tower. Navigating around seaside towns is simplified greatly by their linear topography and the fact that many of them were built to late Victorian geometric patterns of town planning. Despite the angry motorists, got us to the town's busier station in time for a fast train to Preston. Here, my travelling companion discovered a 'feature' of the new style ticket machine popping up over the network: if the machine has no change available, it wisely won't accept notes, but should you tender coins in excess of the value it spits the whole lot back and forces you to start again! A few more hilarious moments as pockets were delved and coins shuffled to produce exactly the right fare back to Preston. We made the train with moments to spare, and were soon enjoying the comfort of a 185 on a fairly quick run back.

Spent a couple of hours trying to get some shots at a fairly quiet Preston station. The low but powerful sun made this fairly tricky, and the problems further up the line meant far fewer services were passing this way. Entertainment provided by a steady stream of units in a motley collection of liveries, then just time to grab a bite to eat before heading for our Voyager back to Birmingham. Everything ran smoothly until Wolverhampton, where we were unexpectedly diverted via Bescot, returning to the Stour Valley Line at Soho. No explanation was offered, but it made us just late enough to miss our booked connection. Made the trip upstairs to get our tickets endorsed by Virgin, then back for the 17:40 to Bristol. Predictably this arrived in Bristol just minutes after the train home, and we had an hour or so to wait. It was a pleasant enough evening for it, and I was happy enough watching goings on at Temple Meads. My colleague however became quite frustrated by the wait, and eventually wandered off leaving me to contentedly lounge with a coffee, before snagging a prime 'ex first class' seat on the unit when it arrived.

A strange day in the north, but track scratched and nice weather means I'm happy enough. Might think twice about travelling with certain others in future though, as I clearly cause them distress with my erratic ramblings and strange notions!

I'd completely forgotten this tour in the preparation for last weeks jaunt. A couple of weeks ago I checked my calendar and noted that in fact this was on the 17th February and not March as I'd for some reason been convinced. With a difficult transport situation presently down here this necessitated staying a couple of nights in Bristol which I wasn't looking forward to at all. Dragged myself up here late last evening and checked into the City Inn - a hotel I've walked past many times. Really quite a smart place, if a bit more expensive than I'd have liked. Slept fairly badly last night, having caught a cold from my nephew during the week, and found it a struggle to get to Temple Meads for the 06:26 departure this morning.

However, once under the roof at Temple Meads the unmistakable sound of Class 37s woke me up. 37425 and 37411, fresh out of warm storage at Margam were to head the train. Mercifully, the coffee stand was open and I got a much needed beverage before locating my seat. On walking to the back of the train noted 37422 also hanging around, having brought the stock in from Old Oak Common during the night. Settled in to the almost far too warm coach for our first leg - up to Birmingham New Street, picking up along the way, before heading out to Water Orton and via a bit of PSUL track I've yet to cover, via Whitacre and Kingsbury Junctions. I'm assured that this was in fact the original route of the Birmingham to Derby railway. After Kingsbury Junction we took the branch line towards the former Birch Coppice colliery, now a fairly huge containerised freight depot, where our front loco ran around, meaning the 37s were now operating top and tailed.

Next, we headed back towards Birmingham, but instead of calling into New Street again, pressed on southwards to Tyseley and then to Stratford-upon-Avon. A chance for an early lunch break here, whilst the stock shunted from platform 1 into platform 2, by virtue of a very strange track layout which prevents trains from arriving in platform 2! Back on board, and around the curve at Bearley Junction towards Hatton. Here our only real farce of the day occurred. Put simply, when this part of the Chiltern Line was resignalled it was assumed that only the usual maximum of four or eight car units would use the line. Our train was stranded on the Down Passenger Loop, trying to cross onto the Up Leamington but the signal allowing us access would not come off as our train measuring thirteen vehicles was still apparently occupying the curve from Hatton West Junction. A Stratford to London unit was also occupying the single line behind us, so a retreat would not help! Eventually, a helpful (and somewhat embarrassed I think!) Network Rail person cranked and clipped the points, and we were soon away.

Once underway again we made excellent time through Banbury towards Oxford, where we reversed and took the line to Bicester Town. I remember coming here soon after resuming my travels in 2004 very clearly, as it was one of the trips which rekindled my interest in covering track. That day I was hugely frustrated that we couldn't pass the level crossing gates and head further along the line. Today, I finally got the chance. With much hooting and the flash of a fair number of cameras, our train passed over the crossing and made it's way to Claydon. Another reversal, and onto the last stub of the old Great Central still in service to Quainton Road - now occupied by the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. Struck by the clean, straight layout and simple but elegant engineering of the line and its various bridges. Arrived at Quainton Road with an hour or so to explore.

The centre is fairly busy with preservation activity, but is in an incredibly remote location. It feels like when the 'Metroland' effect crept along the branches of the Metropolitan Railway from London they stopped far south of here, despite some local housing being visible along the approach road. Aside from its demonstration line and miniature railway the centre has a neat little cafe, museum and a gift shop from which I purhcased a gift for my nephew before boarding the train for the trip back. Firstly into Aylesbury, from where there is talk of extending the suburban services north towards Quainton Road once again. Here we took the single line via Little Kimble to Princes Risborough. Again, many years since I've been this way - and indeed a long time since a loco-hauled passenger train has been along this route! A reversal at Princes Risborough took us to Banbury where our tail loco, 37411 ran around to double-head the train back to Bristol. Whilst we were waiting in the cold 47853 and 47839 sped through southwards on the return leg of another tour. A long and tiring trek back, with very slack timings meaning we ran early, despite being sent wrong line at Barnwood Junction to let a late running Voyager pass (rather like on the Western Heights tour back in September 2005). Despite arriving at Temple Meads a good while before time, the signaller doggedly held us outside until 22:33.

After last week, this was always going to feel like a low-key affair. In the end though, it was a fine tour covering some very unusual routes in style with a couple of celebrity locomotives. Time to start planning the next trip in earnest...