I've made a few early starts from Glasgow Central over the years, and just like always there was only one place open for coffee this morning. After a walk along a surprisingly dry Argyle Street to the station, I joined the snake of people straggling back from Cafe Ritazza in the hope of an early caffeine fix, with one eye on the clock. It always amazes me when Pathfinder run these bi-annual Scottish tours that so many of the usual faces make the trip north. For me of course, it's never been an issue - just another excuse to be in Glasgow. After last night's gig at The Captain's Rest though, I was feeling perhaps just a little more sluggish than usual - and this kept me in the queue for as long as it took, before dashing over to platform 10 where 37601 and 37607 were rumbling away on our short train.

As ever on these trips, the main attraction was the track. After the visit back in 2007 for the McBuffer Puffer and one or two trips since, there is very little track I needed in the Glasgow area. This tour however focused on points south and west of the city, including some very unusual bits of the once complex network of colliery related lines in Ayrshire and Galloway. After a swift reversal alongside Shields Depot, we reversed via the Burma Road and headed for Kilmarnock where we picked up additional passengers. After a brief break, we proceeded south through the station and left the mainline to head west to Riccarton. The vegetation on this and other branches was pretty overgrown and clearly made of pretty solid stuff as it thwacked it's way along the coaching stock. We pressed on to the Network Rail limit on the line, before reversing and heading back to Kilmarnock for a few passengers who's plans had altered after the confirmed timings for this trip came back much earlier than planned. With everyone on board, we headed off once more, taking the curve towards Barassie.

As we headed for the coast, I was surprised to see the sun coming out. As it goes, my customary February trips to Scotland have often had decent weather - but as we passed through Falkland Yard on one of the reception lines I was struck that today promised to be pretty special. After a brief wait for time we headed through Ayr and took the branch towards Mauchline. I've wanted to cover this track for some time, and was foiled recently when another tour covered it. However today we only made our way along around half of it's length to Annbank, where we headed south onto the twisting line to Killoch Washery. A swift reversal here took us back through Ayr and into Falkland Down Goods Loop where we again reversed. Retracing our steps through Ayr we headed a little further south before again heading east onto the long curving branch to Waterside. Here, a small preservation group own a stretch of the formerly extensive network, and we were greeted by their industrial loco shuttling back and forth alongside our train on their short section of track.

Back to Ayr for a slightly longer break in the now surprisingly strong sunshine. Took the opportunity to get some pictures and to get a decent coffee, whilst the normal punters marvelled at the odd train in the platform. Soon off again, as far as Girvan where we waited to pass another service. Another break here, and the chance to watch a little local football as Girvan took on Ashfield beside the line! One brave passenger dashed down to purchase a programme, to claim the field for their attempt to visit all of them! Off again, for a long but absolutely stunning trip to the extremity of the network at Stranraer. With remarkable views both out to sea and across the lowlands, I was spoiled for choice, and the gradients truly tested the locomotives. As we arrived, the sun was just beginning to sink and a golden glow fell across the bay. Wandered around chatting and getting some pictures of the train and the station, before boarding again for the final leg of the trip. This took us north again into the Glasgow suburbs, and using the connections around Shields Junction, we surfaced on the Cathcart Circle, following it anti-clockwise, then taking the line to Newton and on to the Hamilton Circle. Crossing the mainline at Motherwell, we headed north to Whifflet, using the connection at Langloan Junction to regain the mainline and head back into Central Station, arriving pretty much bang on time.

A quick shot of the loco on the blocks took me back to 2007 and the first of these now regular tours. A lot had changed since then - not least my take on the city. It was good to be back, and great to be on the rails around one of my favourite places once again. The weather had helped in making a very special trip even better, and as I plodded back to my digs, I couldn't imagine how I'd rather have spent a day in Glasgow.

With a heavy heart checked out of my hotel and prepared for my train home. Time for breakfast and a chance to watch the city go by first though, in my old haunt on Renfield Street and via a walk around George Square. All too soon I was on board the 10:10 to Penzance, having for a change been allocated just the right seat on my reservation. A fair morning, with good views over the Clyde in both directions as we started out southwards.

A fairly relaxing and uneventful journey compared to the trip up here last week, with a smooth connection at Bristol which saw me stepping out on home turf bang on time. Forgot I'd tidied the flat extensively before leaving, so felt like an intruder in someone else's home on walking in! Since I arrived early, decided to attend the local CAMRA meeting which for a rare change took place close by at the Royal Artillery just on the outskirts of Highbridge. Lots of the usual faces in attendance meant a fair bit of gossip. Didn't really attend the meeting so much as 'stand nearby' drinking, though it sounds like sensible decisions were made! Also had the chance to sample RCH's Santa Fe and the infamous blend with Double Header known as B5.

Staggered home, and need to sleep very soon! It's been a long day...

Since Thursday evening, I've been offline thanks to British Telecom. I'd decided to upgrade my internet connection to Demon's new Homeoffice 1000 1mbps offering. All seemed to go well, and Demon contacted me with new settings and suchlike. On Thursday, a restart due to needing to open the case meant reconnecting. But it wouldn't. It seems Demon had done their part in moving my account over, but BT had yet to do theirs. Talked to support for a while.

Talked to support again in the morning, and then used their live 'web support' function to chat with a Customer Services guy from my office PC. Very helpful, and would try to sort it - but as all British people know, BT sort of do what they want, when they want. Otherwise, Monday was likely to be the day. Decided to update DNS for the new IP in advance to save time.

Woke this morning to find things working fine, and the connection whizzing along. Very pleased with the service, and the short downtime really wasn't so bad - the hardest part was knowing just when it would be back, and knowing I was relying on BT to get me back online.

Celebrated by doing a few things I'd meant to do for ages, and that changing the power supply reminded me about - adding another 512Mb of memory, and also an additional fan in the case. I didn't realise until the sun began to set that the fan I hastily picked up from the shelf of the computer store gave off an unearthly green glow in the dark! Interesting.

It is comforting to be back on line, and having the machine work a little quicker is nice too.

Again, stayed local today - since we had some celebrity visitors due at Temple Meads. Engineering works almost everywhere prevented much else. I planned to get to Didcot before heading back to Bristol at lunchtime, but the timings of replacement bus services made getting back very unlikely. Brief trip into Swindon, with the sky overhead alternating between bright sunshine and thunderous clouds.

Back at Bristol, passed the time in my usual spot, taking the opportunity to try out more complicated settings on the new camera. Chatted to a few fellow enthusiasts and waited for the main event - a pair of Cotswold Rail 47s on the 'Cotswold-Severn Caper' railtour from Wolverhampton. One of the locomotives, 47828 was freshly painted and would be named 'Joe Strummer' at Bristol Temple Meads. Lee and David also arrived, back from spotting 59s and chasing BBC chartered Class 50's at Westbury.

Watched the pair of 47s arrive, double-headed into platform 4, then dashed over to watch the naming ceremony where Joe's wife unveiled the plates and gave a brief speech. A good crowd of railway enthusiasts and Joe's fans alike made for a rousing round of applause for Joe's widow Lucinda. A bit of an open day atmosphere on the platform, with a photocall and cab visits being offered.


Back over to get pictures of 47316 running around and a hellfire start as the tour headed off to Newport, and to spot Lee meeting a new young ladyfriend just in time for St. Valentines day - who ever said the railway hobby was unromantic? Quick exit on the next Taunton stopper to get back to Weston before the shops closed.