Once again, it was one of those days where I didn't really know where I was going to end up. I'd tried throughout the week to come up with some sort of plan, but a fairly relentless time at the office combined with sheer laziness at home meant I had nothing planned until late last night. The idea was to mop up a few bits of track in the Manchester area which I'd neglected over the years, which should make for a diverting day out.

So, the usual routine to start with - the first train out, and a chance to compare notes with the locals about today's specials - most of which I won't see of course. A swift change at Bristol Temple Meads onto 1S42. A chance for a little nap and plenty of reading on a fairly quiet service. Possibly the most relaxed I've felt all week in fact. Arrived in Crewe a little early and noted some interest in one of the Salop facing bays. Wandered over to find 47245 which had brought in the stock of a steam tour, presumably from Carforth.

It should have been easy from here. Arriva's 10:30 to Wilmslow for an eight minute connection to the airport. Noted the 10:30 late and getting progressively later. Hedged my bets to be ready for a platform change, then much as expected noted the service cancelled. Dashed over to Platform 1 to try to find a seat on the next Northern stopper before a Pendolino full of football fans descended on the train en route to Old Trafford. Soon off, around half and hour behind time but still optimistic. All began to crumble however, when a timetable check indicated a wait of over thirty minutes at Wilmslow for the next Airport unit. Nothing much I could do but board the waiting 323 which was at least some shelter for the rain now pelting down. The sooner the replacement signalling on this strategically important piece of line is fully commissioned, the better.

Arrived at the curious and rather modern airport Station and dashed onto the concourse to rebook for Rose Hill Marple, on the basis it might just be possible. Back onto the platform in time for the 12:27 Windermere train, which got me into Piccadilly, but not quite in time for a Rose Hill train. Toyed with the idea of the line via Hag Fold to Wigan, but that too was a little too long for the time remaining. Even considered the Metrolink to Altrincham, but that wouldn't have left me in a strong position. Decided to go for a wander and a look in the Ian Allan shop instead, and walked squarely into a row of fairly serious looking Welsh BTP officers. The station felt edgy and fairly uncomfortable, but I think that was in part due to the massive Police presence. Slunk back into the station, having narrowly avoided spending money, trying to look as innocent as possible. I've been here so often this year they probably recognise me.

Bought a couple of CDs and decided to park myself at Starbucks where I could relax and get out of the way. Watched a few 185s come and go, and even managed to sneak out and grab a picture of one of them. Having not really managed to salvage much of my plan, boarded the 14:54 a little early for the quick and event free journey back in First Class. After a change at Birmingham, straight through to Weston where there were a fair number of people crossing the bridge for 2G25! Turned out that due to a security alert at Reading, the 18:15 HST had terminated at Bristol, with everyone trying the route I often use here. Aside from the plan falling to pieces early on, a decent enough day in and around Manchester.

A summer bank holiday is not a time to venture out in these parts. Stayed local, and had an early morning wander down to Taunton to watch Pathfinder's 'Whistling Pixie' tour, headed up by 40145.

It sped through the station about 12 minutes early, catching all of us unawares. Just about managed a shot as it passed. Brought back memories of last years trip to Holyhead!

Woke early, just as some of the noiser inhabitants of the Travellodge were going to bed. A rather damp and dreary Warrington scene outside the window. The plan was to get the first service northwards to Preston to pick up the tour from its start. It would mean a few more miles, and because I was scheduled to board at Warrington, a seat in a very quiet carriage for a little while. Varied the route of my increasingly familiar cross-town walk and arrived at Bank Quay in good time for the 0645 Glasgow service. Boarded, and was pleased to find the buffet open. Sipped coffee and enjoyed the view whilst listening to the gossip of the on-train staff.

Preston was a little busier, with a fairly high number of cranks already in evidence. Most of them seemed to be engaged in hoovering up breakfast items from the food concessions on the station. Elbowed my way into the queue and secured my own share. Back onto the platform and almost immediately heard the tell-tale sound of 'choppers' as the train crept into the platform with all three locomotives at the front. Dashed up for a quick shot before retiring to watch the locos run around - happy to see all three would lead.

Boarded the entirely empty carriage and settled in to eat breakfast and relax for the run down the West Coast. Started, and stopped almost immediately with a coffee-spilling lurch. Noted my own coach hadn't really left the platform, and as passing rumours about cancellations and failures drifted past, wondered how to record the distance for haulage purposes? Soon enough however, we were back on our way and snaking across to the Up Fast line. Later discovered that a TPWS fault on the middle loco had been the problem. Made excellent progress between our pick-up stops, and by the time we reached Birmingham the train was almost entirely full.

From here, the route became more interesting with several rather unusual freight-only branches to be visited. Noted we were doing the route in reverse of the original plan, which meant not getting to travel between Whitacre Junction and Kingsbury Junction - but with plenty more going on, not a great loss. Started out of Birmingham noisily and took the line towards Bescot. Once through the expanse of yards, swung south and east at Ryecroft Junction onto the Sutton Park Line - the first of today's treats. In fairness, its a bit of pretty ordinary suburban railway which now lacks a passenger service. Lots of rows of low but pleasant little houses, followed by expanses of parkland. Rejoined the mainline a little west of Water Orton, heading towards Nuneaton. Following the line on a neighbour's 1990 edition Quail noticed how much had changed. Not least at Nuneaton where we took the flyover, pausing briefly at the new high-level platforms. Pressing on eastwards, at South Wigston we took the very rare south curve, joining the Midland Mainline for a quick run in to Kettering where a break was scheduled.

We set out northwards from Kettering, traversing the Corby line. This has been used for diversions for years, but I've almost never been around at the right time. My early start began to catch up with me here, and a lack of detailed recollections from this part of the journey means a 'power-nap' might well have been taken. Didn't see the site of Corby station, resurrected briefly in the 1990s with Local Authority support but soon abandoned leaving Corby the largest settlement in Europe without a railway link. Came to my senses somewhere near Syston where we were due to take the Up & Down Slow passing Leicester. Already a few minutes down here, we lost a little longer as the driver queried our route. Once past the junction noted a Central stopper at Syston occupying the line we would have taken. Some talk of a crossing at Humberstone Lane, but we finally took the station avoiding line at Leicester North and it appears the signaller promptly forgot about us entirely for a while. Much to the amusement of the passengers waiting at the station who thought some sort of error had marooned us in the yard. When we did move off we were inexplicably crossed onto the Down Main where we waited for endless trains to pass before being switched into Knighton Loop. More waiting here whilst the locos ran around once again for our reverse.

On leaving Knighton we crossed onto the final significant line of the day. Older editions of Baker show a number of proposed stations on the line, at sizable settlements like Coalville, Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Moira, and its possible to imagine a fairly useful service operating. Chatted about this around the table, and no-one really seemed to remember when the Ivanhoe Line plans disappeared. Already around 40 late, we made fairly slow progress on the rather uneven track here. Had more than a few close encounters with trackside foliage too, which seemed determined to come in from the cold. Noted that FM Rail are already starting to make use of their facilities at Mantle Lane, with a couple of 56s and a fair selection of coaching stock already at the Coalville site.

Soon enough, the cooling towers of the abandoned Drakelow 'B' power station appeared, and we joined the mainline just south of Burton at Birmingham Curve Junction. After a short run past Bombardier's 'Central Rivers' depot, swung west again and onto the Lichfield City line at Wichnor. Our train must have been a fairly startling sight to locals waiting for their stopping EMU to New Street! Had thought about continuing to Crewe for the mileage, but now we were running fairly late decided to cut my losses and bail at Birmingham. Up to the front of the train to listen to the amazing sound of three 'choppers' emerging from under the roof at New Street. Retired happy to my lodgings for the night. Some interesting and rare new track covered, in remarkable style!

Finally did something I've considered doing for years - wandered down my road, through the site cleared for our new Asda, and onto Springfield Road foot crossing. I've watched people taking pictures of the Torbay Express here, when I've been up on the bridge by the station for the past couple of years and always wondered how accessible the location was.

Because no one ever seems to tire of steam pictures, and because it turned out rather well, here's yet another shot of 6024 thundering past Highbridge, taken from Springfield road. I wonder whether this shot will be possible when the new supermarket is built?