It was a strange sensation, waking lazily on a Sunday morning after a little too much beer at yesterday's festival, and knowing that later that afternoon I'd be heading off on a railtour. It meant much of the day was spent in fairly aimless tidying, time-wasting and anticipation. Finally headed off on the 17:37 to Temple Meads, where a few other locals had already boarded down the line. Grabbed a coffee at Bristol in the hope it would keep me awake, and followed the tell-tale cart of the Real Ale supplier to the platform in preparation for arrival of the tour stock. In perhaps the first indication that this would be an eventful couple of days, the stock arrived and stopped short at the 'St. Andrews Cross' indicator with many of the coaches trailing off the platform. Soon rectified, and 66174 ran around to lead us off into the night. Boarded, found my seat for the next day or so, and tried to settle in despite the novelty of the situation.

The first part of the route was a fairly routine slog up to Crewe with a slight deviation via Worcester, presumably to path the train correctly. Disappointingly, the gloom descended early and by Shrub Hill it was black out of the windows. We continued with our pick-ups, eventually arriving at Crewe a little early. This first locomotive change had been the subject of more debate and pages of blather on the internet than was strictly healthy. The original Fastline Class 56 (and indeed it's Hanson replacement) had long since fallen by the wayside and now a pair of 37s was booked. If rumours were to be believed even these were in jeopardy, with the dwindling fleet in various states of repair seemingly scattered all over the place. An absolute joy then to scramble out of the train to stretch already tired legs at Crewe to hear 37417 and 37422 rumbling away in the platform. Particularly good to see the recently reinstated 422 as I'd last been hauled by this as long ago as 2003 on a typically damp run to Rhymney. Watched the engine change and attempted pictures but gave up given the crowds and the dark - given the amount of food, drink and other kit I'd needed to pack to make a couple of days on a train less uncomfortable a tripod would have been a cumbersome luxury.

Back on board for the overnight leg of our trip, wondering how long I'd manage to stay awake...

Another in the occasional series of photographs of unusual or notable workings on my doorstep. It's true there isn't much variety in terms of locations here, but I do enjoy the wanders down to the platform end when there is something interesting happening. This time it was Advenza Freight's 57005 which was swapping First Great Western power cars between Laira and St. Phillips Marsh.

It's unusual for me to be able to capture weekday workings, and I hope there are others while I'm on leave.

It's unusual for me to take annual leave during the summer, and even more so at what's been a fairly fraught time. Despite needing to be in the office on Monday, there was an 'end of term' feeling about today. With too much to finish and too little time, I felt stressed and rushed in the build up to today's trip. Had a strange ride up to Wolverhampton yesterday, dogged by stupid authorisation problems with my bank card and the need to trudge across a menacingly chav-infested town centre after hours to stock up on provisions for the trip. So, it felt pretty good to be on the platform this morning despite all the distractions and problems, waiting for the stock to appear. Just a little later than planned, the thunderous sound of 37059 rounding the curve into the station heralded the start of the day's entertainment. Such a contrast to last December when the 'Electric Scot Farewell' tour failed to turn up - and good to see things working out for Spitfire today.

We were soon off, passing Oxley and picking up at Telford and Shrewsbury, where we unusually used platform 3. The pair of 37s weren't playing well together at this point, and we appeared to be running on one loco for much of this leg. Despite this we made good progress along the crucially timed single line section to Chester and then via Helsby and Warrington to Manchester Victoria. Here, someone sensibly slipped into the cab of 47712 which was providing the train supply, to give us a bit of a shove up Miles Platting bank. Suddenly, a little before we entered Standedge Tunnel, the 37s started to work in multiple and the change in performance was evident! Enjoyed a very quick run via Healey Mills and Castleford before turning south to join the ECML via Gascoigne Wood, Hambleton and Temple Hirst Junctions. Must say a word about the excellent rolling stock too - Spitfire were using the all First Class former Stobart Pullman rake, which belongs to DRS. Most of the branding had disappeared (except oddly, that in the toilets) but what remained was a clean, comfortable and very well appointed rake of Mk 3 stock. Following a very slackly timed run via Grimbsy and a wait at Barnetby, arrived at a rather gloomy Cleethorpes pretty much on time.

I hadn't given much thought to what to do in Cleethorpes for four hours. Some folks planned a walk or bus down the coast for the Light Railway, others had scoped out various pubs. Decided to wander and find old haunts from my last visit here on an All Line Rover in 2005. Did a circuit of the town centre, finding the Comat Hotel up for sale and the surly-staffed Agrah Indian restaurant still apparently operating. Resisted the temptation to head for the Fisherman's Arms where I'd listened to a local telling stories of shipwrecks, and headed instead for the Good Beer Guide listed No.1 and No.2 Refreshment Rooms at the station, sampling the beer at both and watching the Olympic 100 metres final with the locals and sharing their disbelief at Usain Bolt's turn of speed! Joined in the seaside spirit with some pretty mediocre fish and chips before heading back to watch the stock arrive back at the station with 47712 leading.

Another impressive start, and a slight diversion from our outward route travelling via Hebden Bridge and Rochdale to reach a damp Manchester in the dark. Retraced our steps again, but held outside Chester for a right time arrival after an announcement that a lineside fire was causing heavy delays at Wolverhampton. This didn't seem to put the driver off however, and the start from Chester was possibly one of the loudest and most impressive performances I've ever witnessed from a pair of locomotives. Made steady progress back to our drop-off points, despite the heavy rain. No obvious sign of any problems as we cruised into Wolverhampton a few minutes before time. Soon discovered what was up as we stumbled out of the train into a smoke-filled station. Not immediately clear what was on fire. Braved the rain and made the dash under the subway and along the colonnade back to my hotel at the former low level station sight. Looking back, noted the derelict Miller's building next to the station burning. Slunk through a hotel reception full of angry rail passengers. A storming trip in comfortable surroundings, and a great start to a few weeks of interesting trips. Also good to be on a Spitfire tour at last!

In the absence of any plan today I decided to take advantage of First Great Western's 'Take A Mate' offer for season ticket holders. This meant I could get anywhere I wanted on the FGW network (and back) for £20 travelling first class. A second passenger could get the same offer too, but having no mates to take today, I settled for a return to London Paddington with a loose plan to explore the Croydon Tramlink network and to see where I ended up afterwards. There are a few tell-tale white spaces in my Baker atlas around south east London, and if time was available I should be able to fill some of this in. So, feeling much better than this time last week I left on the early train in a surprisingly bright sunrise, changing onto the London bound HST at Weston and settling in for a quiet and smooth journey to the capital.

Negotiated the busy concourse at Paddington and wandered down to the the District Line platforms, flagging a couple of trains before a direct service to Wimbledon arrived. Again a nice easy journey in warm, bright sun once we were out of the tunnels and heading south over the Thames. At Wimbledon, attempted to negotiate the transfer between Underground and Tramlink using an Oyster Card. I consider myself to be a seasoned user of public transport and have been fairly successful in negotiating my way around cities around the world - but the mess of different readers to touch in or out at made things totally unclear. Made my best effort including an attempt to get the reader on the platform to notice my card, and boarded the waiting tram for New Addington in my quest to cover the whole of the system.

The line from Wimbledon follows the alignment of former British Rail metals to Mitcham Junction where it leapfrogs the heavy rail line and heads into Croydon town centre where the line swings northwards to come alongside the railway again at West Croydon where interchange is possible. Here a revenue inspector came on board and told me in no uncertain terms that my attempts to validate my Oyster Card had failed and that I was technically due to pay a penalty fair. Haven't felt quite so foolish since a similar incident in St Louis in 1994 - but at least this time the RPI wasn't carrying a firearm. Pleaded utter confusion and ignorance and kindly, he relented, stepped out and validated the card at West Croydon and told me always to touch in - even when I changed tram. Good advice - as I planned a fair few changes. Proceeded through the centre, past the busy frontage of East Croydon station and eventually out into the suburbs and the seemingly pleasant village centre at New Addington. After agonising about whether I should touch out - and correctly figuring out I shouldn't despite no clear advice on the signage, found a much needed drink and waited for the next tram back to Wandle Park which covered the other side of the circuit around the town centre and deposited me in a sudden rainstorm.

Switched platforms here and made the short leap back to Reeves Corner, then walked to the nearby Church Street stop. This allowed me to change lines and get a tram back around the town centre loop covering the third side of the triangle here, and out to Beckenham Junction passing the former alignment of the Addiscombe branch on the way. So another Tramlink terminus and a chance to change for the Crystal Palace train. This bit of track remains unmarked in my Baker, but stayed with the plan and doubled back on the tram to Arena with a minute to spare before the short hop to Elmers End, the final Tramlink branch to cover. Deposited in a bay on the National Rail station, found myself in an excellent position to cover the 12:07 to Hayes on this equally untravelled branch line. Rebooked, and caught the almost empty eight-car train to Hayes, amazed at how well the times were working out.

Back to London Bridge, covering the rest of this quiet (at least on a Saturday morning) backwater using the Ladywell Loop and the New Cross Spur which is carried on its own viaduct as the lines approach London Bridge. Here there was a choice - I hoped to cover the Caterham and Tattenham Corner branches, and now had the added possibility of the Beckenham Junction service. Instead, and despite the now fairly heavy rain, set off for Tattenham Corner on a trip I'd thought of doing a number of times. The premise was simple - train from London Bridge to Tattenham Corner, a brisk walk to Epsom Downs and a train back to Victoria. Unpacked my coat as the rain was now steady and unrelenting and set off via East Croydon, peeling off the mainline south of Purley and curving west and north to the station on the edge of the downs and close to the impressively large and surprisingly uneven Epsom Racecourse. Here, with only a vague idea of the route I became almost instantly confused. There were roads, but few paths aside from those worn into the grass of the downs. All seemed quiet, rural and desolate. Struck out in what I hoped was the right direction, wishing my GPS would find a signal!

I was getting increasingly wet as I trudged along the deep ruts. I realised this wasn't working well - my stride was wider than the ruts and I resorted to walking through the long grass. Despite being wet, cold and very confused I was actually enjoying this. I haven't been lost for a long time, and the feeling of being out of my depth in countryside in the midst of a massive city was appealing. Crossed a road which led back to the racecourse grandstand and struck out on a rough path beside a golf course. My GPS kicked in just in time to tell me I was near the turning into what seemed to be a fairly innocuous housing development. Clambered back onto the road and plunged into a jungle of a different kind - one of outwardly pleasant but horribly silent, large houses. Two or three cars outside each and not a soul in site. I trudged, soaked and covered in grass, through the tiny cul-de-sac serving all these houses and at the end of the road, found my goal - Epsom Downs station with a train in the platform. Made a dash and got on with seconds to spare before the 14:35 departure. A good thing as the service appeared to be only hourly on weekends. Dried out as I passed on a fairly indirect route via West Croydon, Selhurst and Clapham Junction.

Via a packed Circle Line back from Victoria to Paddington and time for coffee before a relaxing run on the 17:00 to Bristol with a few odd glances at my grass stains and damp ankles in first class! A fine old day of travelling new lines, with a few left for a future trip. The fact that £20 and a travelcard covered the lot is even better.