The great joy of summer railtours is starting out in daylight. Even at 05:30 on a damp morning in Crewe, there is a little light in the sky and perhaps a promise of better weather to come. Slunk about sleepily for a while, waiting for the stock to arrive. It was a strangely busy day here yesterday, and for the first time in a long time I had the chance to spend some time at the end of a platform just watching the railway working. On a much quieter morning I was more concerned to get on board, curl up in my seat and let the day get underway. Eventually the train arrived and preparations were made to run the locos around for our departure. As promised 37401 and 37670 were on the train - the latter particularly poignant as 'St Blazey TMD' was going home to the depot after which it was named for the first time in many years. Found my spot in a comfortable Mk II carriage and prepared for the long trip southwards.

I'd decided when this tour was originally announced that I wanted to do it from Crewe, despite it making pick-ups nearer to home. I always enjoy the run down the West Coast Main Line, and rarely get the opportunity to do it behind decent traction. Oddly, with last weeks tour diverted this way, I ended up making the journey for the second time in seven days. After a speedy start we made good progress towards Birmingham where the curve to the Camp Hill line gave us a first glimpse of the locos hauling the train. On to Cheltenham, where a signalling mix up saw us head off a little early surprising at least one passenger! This saw us looped on the bidirectional line near Gloucester Yard Junction, before heading off again at speed for Bristol. One last pick-up here before we headed non-stop to Plymouth. Took the opportunity to poke my head out of the window carefully around Highbridge, and spotted a local taking pictures at the platform end. Not sure which of us was more surprised.

We didn't appreciate at the time just how many disasters this tour avoided during our outward trip. Firstly, checked briefly at Taunton before roaring off southwards, we had no idea that the huddle of Network Rail and British Transport Police vans at Fairwater Yard were in fact dealing with a serious incident involving someone brandishing a gun. Nor did we realise that the mainline through Devon had been blocked by a fallen tree at Ivybridge until a little before we passed by, likely the first train to pass without delay this morning into Plymouth. A rather special moment next as we passed over the Royal Albert Bridge, just a couple of weeks after it's 150th birthday celebrations. Now into Cornwall proper I relaxed and enjoyed the scenery as we wound along the mainline to Burngullow Junction, where we peeled away from the mainline and performed a run round at Blackpool China Clay dries. Now top and tailed and with 37670 leading, we tackled the steep gradient on the branch to Parkandillack. The loco, despite it's rather dilapidated appearance put in a sterling performance, and we were soon at the end of the branch. A chance to consider the plan mooted back in the 1990s to make this the mainline to Newquay in preference to the long and convoluted run currently undertaken. Soon off again, and heading for Par where we disembarked and watched the train disappear onto St Blazey depot.

Faced with an hour in the rather small town of Par, I headed out into the warm afternoon. A quick dash down the path, past the chippy, and on to the level crossing leading into the depot. The nose of 37401 could clearly be seen poking out of the foliage. Walked further, into the neighbouring industrial estate but found no photo opportunities. Pressed on around the depot perimeter, noting a slumbering 66115 in the gloom but little else beyond stored wagons. A shame to see a once busy depot looking so empty. Decided to walk back around the other side of the depot to the station in time to be caught in a huge rainstorm. Decided to press on as it was as far back as forward, and found shelter on the platform with a sizeable crowd of cold, wet tour passengers! The return of our stock from the depot with 37670 leading for the return was a special moment, with several current and former St Blazey drivers watching with evident pleasure. Back on board and soon speeding into the now very warm and sunny afternoon.

Another high speed dash through my home station, before a quick leap at Bristol. Dashed over to the 19:53 back to Highbridge which was unusually leaving from platform 15. Strange to be covering the same track again in a much more sedate and less salubrious surroundings. New track, impressive locos and a grand day out with excellent on train service. This trip was worth the wait!

I'd wondered what to do to fill the spare time I'd have at Crewe today. As it happened, I need not have worried. In fact the station was much busier than its been for some years during my visits. Firstly, as I arrived 47727 was waiting to head for the Carriage Sidings with a line up of electric locos painted and prepared for export. Despite making the dash over to platform 12, missed them by seconds. Managed to get a picture of 47727 as it briefly revisited the station on route south.

Class 47s were much in evidence with a large number of Riviera's locos stabled on the Diesel Depot, and 47805 shunting stock - including a generator van and kitchen car destined for tomorrow's tour! Just when it seemed rather like the Crewe station of old, a further Class 47 drew into the station on a Carnforth-Norwich ECS working for a trip tomorrow. After a brief pause, the engine roared into life and took the rake towards Stoke.

A few more light loco movements were topped by the convoy being tripped from Gresty Road to the Heritage Centre for static display at their gala tomorrow. An example of classes 20, 37, 57 and 66 lashed together and after a brief stop, powering out of the station with the 37 leading. If I hadn't such an early start, I might have stayed up for the line of class 57s coming from Wembley. As it happened, it was cancelled and ran very much later. Resolved to see this tomorrow, and to get some sleep.

There is a school of thought that railtours which go to plan are boring affairs. I've never really agreed with this - the idea of turning up on time at the final stop, having done all the track and accomplished all the planned variations of traction as published is an attractive one. Years of experience to the contrary has taught me to look out for the silver linings when the clouds start to descend, and today's trip demonstrated just how this can work.

It all starts very early, checking out of a very good hotel with a great view of the station, and wandering on a rather chilly morning over to Temple Meads which was just being unlocked for the day. The stock was waiting on platform 3, with the platform end already crowded with people attempting a shot of 50044 'Exeter' in the gloom. Found our seats and settled in for the first part of the day - a swift dash along the Great Western Mainline, picking up at Bath, Chippenham and Swindon before taking the rather unusual west curve at Foxhall Junction just outside Didcot. From here we headed north to call at Oxford and Leamington. A brief stop here turned into rather a long wait, initially for no apparent reason. It soon became clear that quite a bit of attention was being paid to 50044 which was steaming gently at the head of the train. However, after a coolant top up we were underway again - somewhat late, but running well via Kenilworth and Stetchford to avoid Birmingham by passing Bescot, looking rather empty of locomotives today - just when it seemed we might need one! Heading west again we made short work of the run to Shrewsbury. A short break here meant an opportunity to watch 97301 (formerly known as 37100) being attached to the front of our train for the rest of the journey to Aberystwyth.

With a hint of black clouds over the hills of central Wales, we set off onto the Cambrian mainline. With 97301 and 37676 on the front of the train we made excellent progress, managing the 'easy' side of Talerddig with no problem at all. Marvelled at the reconstruction work at remote Dovey Junction, where the often flooded former platforms have been built up, and on the Aberystwyth line extended by many times the length of the trains which normally call there! We soon arrived in the resort and univeristy town, where there was little time for a photo stop as we needed to dash for the Vale of Rheidol Railway platforms where our special charter was waiting. Tiny steam No.8 led the train of very packed coaches out, parallel with the mainline at first, but then curving away and ascending the steep valley. We passed a descending train at Capel Bangor, and then things began to feel very quiet and isolated as we climbed further and further up the valley, with cliffside views reminiscent of 'The Italian Job' to the left! After a long, rather slow climb we arrived at Devil's Bridge - a small village famous for it's waterfall and bridge. No time to stop and investigate however, as our train was due to head back down soon. Opted for the open-sided observation coach for the ride back. This was fine until the rain started. At first, the rather ineffective guttering directed the stream of water onto the thick, absorbent fleece of the passenger in front of me - but after a while he realised and moved, meaning I caught the worst of the soaking! Despite the rather chilly wind and rain, the views along the misty valley were truly spectacular and well worth the trip. The tiny railway, the last bit of British Rail steam to operate, seems to be incredibly well maintained despite it's inaccessibility. By the time we were back on the coast, the rain had disappeared and the sun was out once again. Time for coffee and to watch our train shunting into the platform once the unit for Birmingham had departed.

The plan was for 50044 to lead us back to Abbey Foregate, where we would drop off 97301 and head home by our outward route. All seemed to go well with a storming ascent of Talerddig - although we suspected from the noise outside the window that at least one of the 37s was helping out! The afternoon had turned out warm and sunny, and I soon dozed off, awaking as we arrived back in England. A brief announcement indicated that 50044 was still not working quite right, so we would head into Shrewsbury to effect a reversal, letting 37676 lead. Happy to have a few more miles behind this veteran of my last Spitfire tour back in February. With 97301 off the train and growling into the distance, there was no reason why we shouldn't be off soon. However, we waited...and waited...eventually notching up around an hours delay while outside people seemed to be dashing rather worriedly to various trains. News soon began to circulate that the line to Wolverhampton was blocked by a failed unit. Some sort of single-line working seemed to have been instituted, but there was no room in this plan for us. Eventually it was decided that we'd head north to Crewe and thence via the West Coast mainline to Wolverhampton. A round trip of over 70 miles in fact, with the ailing 50044 leading!

Off into the now bright evening sunshine, and some fantastic running by 50044 with 37676 assisting. A fair line up of locos at Gresty Bridge to greet us too as we arrived in Crewe. A short stop here, setting down passengers who needed to make connections, then reversing again, to head south towards Wolverhampton with 37676 leading. Typically I'd booked next week's trip from here in order to enjoy Class 37s on the West Coast Mainline, and here I was with 37676 doing the honours a week earlier. A thoroughly enjoyable run south, regaining our booked route at Wolverhampton. From here, we were around two hours late - not bad given we'd spent nearly an hour languishing at Shrewsbury. We even managed to make up time with some speedy running south, and a very swift dash west through Swindon. Our eventually arrival in Bristol was a little under 90 minutes later than planned. Overall, a very successful day out despite the rather unexpected bonus mileage. I hope that the charitable element of this tour was as successful as last time the folks from Bristol Panel ran a tour in aid of The Railway Children - because the railtour was certainly run just as well, and turned out just as entertaining. The failed unit between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton finally moved around five hours late!

Arrived in Bristol on the Class 67 hauled service to find the stock for tomorrow's tour had already arrived. A variety of sources on the net had indicated that 50031 was involved, but certainly by the time we arrived, only 50044 and 37676 were in evidence.

Reminisced with a wander around the city centre - which I don't see much of these days - and a Pellegrino's fish supper before retiring in anticipation of tomorrow's early start to proceedings. It almost feels like a proper holiday!