I've always sort of regarded the South Devon Railway as my 'local' preserved line. Yes, there are some closer, but the attitude of some lines to diesel traction leaves something to be desired. Somehow, this neat little line with two active diesel preservation groups always manages to turn out a good showing - and their gala weekend is always entertaining. So, onto the first train south for a fairly quiet trip to Totnes. The weather brightened, and I enjoyed a pleasant walk from the mainline station to Littlehempston for the first working of the day - a special using the line's Class 122 railcar taking us to Buckfastleigh in time for the first loco-hauled service back down the line. A good, noisy start to the day's proceedings with the staff clearly enjoying the trip just as much as the few early-bird punters!

This time around, the South Devon had elected to use just their home fleet. This meant plenty of action for their pair of Class 20s, and the next trip down saw 20110 handling a set of clean, tidy and comfortable stock with no problem at all. Plenty of people seemed to be arriving too, which gave proceedings a little more atmosphere. Real Ale bars on both active sets was a nice touch too. The big event of the weekend though, was the return to traffic of 33002 'Sea King' which had recently returned from display at Eastleigh 100 following four years of extensive repair and refurbishment. Still looking pristine in 'Dutch' livery, 33002 joined the train at Buckfastleigh and made a speedy and noisy departure. Fantastic entertainment and bound to produce some interesting photographs from the many lineside camera-folk.

Settled into a pattern of heading up and down the line, enjoying a bite to eat and coffee, and generally enjoying the day. Still somewhat bewildered though, by the vast collection of garden gnomes which cluster on the embankment shortly after leaving Totnes! Gnomes appear in various spots around the railway, but not nearly in such an abundance as here. I'm not sure of their significance at all. In any case, the timetable was arranged perfectly, allowing the discerning enthusiast the opportunity to travel on all of the various combinations of stock and loco, including the DMU which did some in-fill services to Staverton. The loco changes were accomplished very swiftly, and delays were kept to a minimum despite the tight turn-around times. After the less effective arrangements at the Mid Hants a couple of weeks ago, this was a refreshing change. Managed a trip along the line on all of the participating locos, including D7612 and the absolutely storming D6737 which has provided many entertaining runs on the South Devon.

As some serious looking clouds were drifting over, decided to call it a day after a few last pictures at Totnes. Soon back to the station and heading homewards on a busy Voyager full of holidaymakers. Another excellent day on my favourite preserved line - but most importantly the staff were fantastic, interested and not at all snobbish about the diesel weekend displacing more family steam heritage traction. Add the decent weather for most of the day and the rather good food served on-board, and you have a recipe for the perfect gala. I'm much looking forward to the next diesel event, where they hope to feature some guest locos too.

Realised with some surprise that I only really have a couple of spare weeks left this summer where I haven't planned some sort of trip or event in advance. No bad thing in many ways, but even so it's nice sometimes to make some sort of spontaneous trip to unexpected parts. Using another set of the cheap tickets First Great Western have made available to season ticket holders, decided to head for London. Specifically I wanted to head into North West London - revisiting the Chiltern Lines and covering bits of the Metropolitan Line which has always lain in the mysterious 'extra zones' which made Day Travelcards so expensive!

To maximise the value of the day in the capital, we set out on the 05:50 and travelled via the customary change at Weston onto a London-bound HST. Diverted again via Filton and Hullavington as per last week's trip. A fairly quiet, uneventful journey spent trying to puzzle out exactly what FGW buffet staff had been told they could hand out to First Class passengers these days! On arrival at Paddington, straight on to the Underground and a slow journey to Baker Street. Started to think my guess at getting the 09:18 from Marylebone was a little optimistic. In the event, made it and rebooked and dashed for the gate in time to settle into the rather comfortable Class 168 seconds before departure. Having been pretty consistently rained on since leaving the house this morning, noted things seemed to be clearing a little as we headed into the suburbs and eventually began to speed through open country. Next stop was Princes Risborough where we changed for the short single-line branch to Aylesbury. I recalled very little of my previous visit here, and not much more from a railtour which did this branch in reverse on a pitch dark evening back in February 2007. Sadly, Chiltern Railways aren't using their bubble car on this part of the network anymore. However, as we curved towards Aylesbury a line up of no less than five departmental numbered bubble cars, presumably acquired for spares and training, were lined up near the station.

A brief wait and a refreshment stop at Aylesbury as we awaited the next service to Aylesbury Vale Parkway. This station, opened in 2008 on a loop off the line to Quainton Road, was little more than a shell and a platform when I last saw it photographed. Happily, the modular building has taken shape and now a buffet counter, toilets and ticket machines are in evidence. The station and it's vast car park were perhaps unsurprisingly deserted on a Saturday morning. It was so quiet that the member of staff on duty was opening the automated doors for passengers as they walked in, and the buffet staff appeared to be greeting everyone individually. Felt somewhat uncomfortable in this very isolated spot! Eventually back on board for the run back towards London, this time using the branch which is shared with the Metropolitan Line from Amersham onwards. Stayed on the train as far as Harrow-on-the-Hill, where some confusing mucking about eventually saw us back on the platform, Oyster card's duly swiped and heading for the next Uxbridge train. These branches off the Metropolitan confuse and intrigue me in equal measure. Having done a little research into their origins and service patterns I was even more curious. A pleasant surprise too to have my memory jogged on arriving at the wonderful art-deco period train shed at Uxbridge. Could happily have spent some time examining the place, still packed with authenticity - including it's hanging globe lighters. Hard not to imagine Betjeman stalking these halls, and I'll confess to a little quotation being uttered, much to others' disdain.

Back to Harrow again, then on to a Watford train. A rather too warm, lazy trip to a terminus practically in the middle of nowhere. Whilst it could have been possible to walk to Watford Junction, the journey seemed extremely pedestrian unfriendly. Hence reboarded, and headed back to Moor Park to complete the plan by visiting Chesham via a change at Chalfont & Latimer onto a four-car Metropolitan set departing from the short bay platform here. On route, managed to finally figure out which were fast trains, and after the briefest of visits to the rather neat old station with it's signal box, made our way back to Moor Park, then onto a fast train making only a couple of stops before Baker Street. Another TFL line completed!.

Having struggled through the amazingly large crowds blocking platforms on the half-closed Circle Line, finally found my way to Euston. Here the plan was to head out on a fast train and back by the slower DC lines. Booked a ticket and just made the 16:24 which made short work of the WCML and soon deposited us at Watford Junction. Watched trains for a while at the busy and always interesting spot, before boarding a Class 313 heading back to Euston. After the curve out to the High Street (and the former Croxley Green line, perhaps one day to become the Croxley Link) the lines closely hugged the WCML, crossing underneath a little before Wembley Yard. Soon back in Euston, and heading for the Underground once again.

Again caught the 17:00 Taunton train which brought me directly home, after an expected diversion via the Berks & Hants line. Interesting to watch a micro-soap opera developing with a small group of apparently very drunk young women on board - which included theft, break-ups, money and men. Otherwise, the journey was pretty odd - with a malformed HST set including coach B locked out at the end of First Class and a missing buffet. Indeed the buffet steward didn't want to budge from Coach A at all and practically announced this! A relaxing trip nonetheless, after a busy and tiring day.

I wonder if those girls ever made it to Exmouth last night?

Following some fairly well-documented issues, the Mid-Hants Railways stopped having diesel galas around four years ago. It was encouraging to see then, an announcement that an event would be held this weekend. Having watched a fair amount of commentary on the web over the last few weeks, it was fair to say that some doubted the sincerity and the commitment of the line's management to a diesel based event, given an outspoken preference not to get involved in such things in the past. The lack of involvement of those in the industry who had previous supported the organisation of diesel events was also notable. However, having not been to the line since a brief end-to-end trip in 2006, I was keen to visit and to see how things worked out for myself. In particular, the reported presence of both 56098 and 37905 from Shackerstone were a huge bonus, having been elsewhere during the Battlefield Line's own gala earlier in the year. So, set out on the early train, connecting at Weston into the 06:24 in the time-honoured fashion and travelled as far as Reading, unusually via Filton Bank and Hullavington. A quick leap here onto a Gatwick-bound 166 as far as North Camp where we made the short walk to Ash Vale and a 450 into Alton.

As we arrived it was clear that the Mid-Hants organisation had likely underestimated the patronage. Already, there were queues building for tickets, and notably the glossy and well-produced programme and timetable had been reduced from £5 to a more reasonable £3. Even more surprisingly, the first train off Alton's platform 3 was to be formed of the line's single car Class 122 bubblecar! We crammed in, but others decided to flag this for the following departure. They displayed some foresight in doing so, as on arrival at Medstead & Four Marks our train was declared a failure with an air leak. Off the train with some difficult due to the number of out-of-use doors on the unit, and time for a coffee in the bright sunshine while we awaited 56098 and 33053 which were following.

Things seemed to go awry here, and to be honest never really recovered. Our plan had been simple - try to get some haulage behind each of the locomotives on offer, and ensure that we managed to end up on a service using the rare track into the Cattle Dock at Alresford along the way. In the event, just finding trains to run up and down the line on became an exercise in itself. Stayed on the 56 hauled set for a full run back to Alton, then via a solo run with 33053 managed a switch onto the impressively noisy 37905 somewhere along the way. With mounting delays, the timetable and roster were apparently discarded in favour of letting people watch the various demonstration freight trains passing by. Frustratingly, we spent more time on platforms at the admittedly well-kept stations with their very good facilities, than we did on trains. Spotting one of the DMUs lurking outside Ropley station we bailed and soon found ourselves onboard the now working bubblecar once again, which managed the required track into the Cattle Dock. Time for a few pictures of an impressive departure from 37905 too.

Perhaps watching this departure rather than hopping on board wasn't the correct plan however, as it soon became apparent that there was no hope of anything hauled by the two Class 73s from this end of the line now. A long, but not unpleasant wait eating ice-cream and drinking ginger beer followed, before 33053 crept out of the sidings with the stock of the 15:20, delayed by well over an hour. We boarded as a desperate move to get back to Alton, literally not knowing when the next train might arrive if we didn't!

Finally back at Alton to find 73201 arriving suspiciously quickly after us. No hope of a complete round trip now before the close of the event, and a risky change at Medstead didn't feel at all sensible. Instead, flagged the train for a wander into Alton, and eventually the 17:44 train back to Ash Vale which seemed to be conveying mostly expectant-eyed young clubbers heading for Waterloo! Another quick move on foot to North Camp for a relaxing run into Reading. From here, another diverted HST home, this time via the Berks & Hants and Hawkeridge Junction to reach Bristol.

Despite things not going to plan, today was a decent day out - helped of course by some fine guest locomotives, stunning weather and the pleasant surroundings of the Watercress Line. However the organisation, and some of the staff with their clear anti-diesel sentiments, let down the MHR badly. The proliferation of non-passenger workings, the lack of contingencies when failures occurred and the quite oddly constructed timetable made for a frustrating day which just wasn't good value - even when compared to more expensive events elsewhere. It's a 'must try harder' from me for this weekend - but I sincerely hope they do, and that there are future diesel events worth visiting on this otherwise interesting preserved line.

After what seemed a fallow period for Depot Open Days, the last year or so has produced some interesting events - in particular, Tyseley and Carnforth last summer. With Eastleigh Works officially closing a while back, it seemed that a centenary here would be marked only symbolically in 2009. However, the amazing turn around which Knights Rail Services have performed at Eastleigh meant that this weekend's event was very much an open day at an open depot. Having anticipated crowds, I'd stayed in the area yesterday evening. Arriving at the site early today this was proved to be a sensible approach, with Campbell Road bridge creaking under what had become an impromptu viewing gallery for the aftermath of a minor derailment of an intermodal service a little outside the station. 66181 and around eight of it's container flats sat a little south of the station, while a group of orange suited staff prodded at the rest of the train. To add to the disruption that the loss of a platform was causing, a fatality at Bradford-on-Avon was severely delaying services from Bristol. As the sun rose high above the site, I predicted a pink face and thanked my foresight which for once appeared to be working.

It was a relief to get into the site - traffic management on the narrow road was a little hit and miss, and we managed to get in a little early due to these concerns. Once through the largely pointless bag search, we had the run of the outskirts of the site until 10:00 when the barriers came down. This allowed some shots of the locos lined up outside the sheds in relative calm. The stewarding staff inside the even proving to be much more helpful and sensible than the security types outside. The first priority was to make a swift reconnaissance trip to see what was around and get pictures before the inevitable wait for people to wander out of shot began. Overall though, the placement of the exhibits was excellent - a lot of thought had gone into allowing space to move around the site, to take pictures, and into some very photogenic line-ups of locomotives.

As the Bristol trains started running and Spitfire's tour arrived, the site began to get very busy - but still there appeared to be plenty of space. Managed to sustain a bit of camera damage in a 'friendly fire' incident, but this didn't affect things too much thankfully. The organisers must be congratulated on the range and quality of stalls too, with lots to see and spend money on. Contented myself with a chat with the Spitfire folks while sheltering from the now extreme heat outdoors. Back out in time to watch 50135 being rededicated as 'Ark Royal' by the Captain of it's namesake ship. The loco looked splendid in Load Haul black and orange, but there are sure to be purists who won't agree! A few units also in evidence in the yard, representing almost every phase of the Southern story. Also much in evidence were Class 73s, with no less than five examples on site.

Finally managed to get over to the steam area, with a fair number of Southern Region locos fired up and making plenty of noise. Lots of interest in these too. Heard a few grumblings about no Freightliner locos and some missing guests, but having followed the efforts to get this weekend organised, these were very small and apparently unavoidable omissions. With the site still busy, and people apparently still arriving, we left a little before 15:00 to explore possible views outside the station and to head back into Southampton for our homeward connection, taking us via Reading back to Bristol. The station was still busy with enthusiasts, much as it had been yesterday evening too. Great to see people of all ages, behaving relatively sensibly and enjoying what can be a sociable enough hobby at times like these. While the exhibits might have invoked nostalgia in many, it was great to see the younger visitors really enjoying the chance to see these locos up close. Overall a fantastic day out and hopefully a success for the charities involved.

Settled down on to a bench at Southampton to watch people and trains whilst resting my feet, aching from walking on ballast for hours. Things don't get much better than this!

The inevitable photo gallery is here.