I'm attempting to puzzle out my new camera. The manual is as thick as some novels I've read.

Over the past few months of trying to improve the pictures I take, particularly in terms of railway photography, I realised that my Olympus C160 was not quite what I needed. Firstly, I missed the optical zoom which my previous (and rather ancient) Kodak DC210 had. I also felt that as I improved in my abilities, I would need more control over the setup - which is not possible on the smaller compact cameras.

So I settled on the Fuji Finepix S7000, which seemed to be versatile without being hugely expensive. So far, it seems easy to use - but with lots of clever tricks and low-level settings to tweak once I begin to understand them.

Off to Willesden Junction for some field tests tomorrow!

Today started out along much the same pattern as yesterday. First to Bristol in glorious sunshine, then onto a Birmingham-bound Voyager towards threatening clouds. Changed for an all-stops Walsall unit at New Street, and soon alighted at a very wet, cloudy and muddy Bescot Stadium. Wandered alongside the yard - no easy photographs within my limited camera range, so headed onto the footbridge. Pretty quiet, with a few arriving Class 66s and some shunting moves on the depot.

Attempted a walk along the riverside path, but gave up due to muddy conditions. Appeared only to be the distinctive 37402 lurking at the back of the shed anyway. Watched 86628 storm through the station, before heading back to New Street.

Wandered into Birmingham for the first time in a good few years. Amazed at the way the Bull Ring and surrounding areas have changed. Got quite lost, despite only being a few yards from the station entrance. Briefly stopped into a couple of shops, and picked up the new Wedding Present single, before having a coffee and heading back into the station.

Since I'd spent less time at Bescot than planned, decided to head for Stafford which always seems busy with enthusiasts. Arrived to find 47840 playing Thunderbird today.


Spent some time chatting with local (and not so local) folks, and watched 57010 pass through on a Freightliner, followed by 92010 and 92011 in turn. Just before I left, 57316 arrived from Oxley, reversed and departed via the Trent Valley.

Arrived back at New Street in good time for the 17:12 Voyager, which threatened to be extremely busy. Time to look around the station a little more, stumbling across 87030 awaiting departure for Euston.


Miraculously, got a comfortable seat easily enough on the Voyager with only a minimum of pushing and shoving. Quick, and slightly early run straight back to Weston.

First day of my now annual 'trying to use up annual leave' week, which traditionally seems to occur in February. Having planned ahead a little, was able to get reasonably cheap tickets for a trip to Crewe. Despite a promising start to the day, the sun disappeared around Bristol. Quick change onto a four-car Voyager which was booked for a five-car set, and a crowded and fractious run, with lots of angsty students refusing to pay. Surprise sighting of a convoy of five Virgin 57/3 Thunderbirds heading down the Trent Valley at Stafford.

Arrived at a damp, misty Crewe station. I've passed through a few times, but I think I'd probably not set foot on the station since 1999. Not much had changed, and the glass canopies were in even worse repair. Relived memories of the mainline Deltic workings - happy days! Explored a bit, got binoculars out for a look at the scrapline, then settled in to see what happened.

As most freight avoids Crewe via 'The Muck Hole', it was down to interesting passenger workings along with whatever arrived in the station. Started promisingly with 67005 visiting whilst shunting into the Carriage Shed. A similar move from the shed also produced a pair of DRS Class 20s and some track machinery.



Soon after we were treated to the sight of EWS liveried 92031 leading 90028 and 92027 into platform 12, shunting around and leaving once again. 47810 and 47840 also visited, with 'North Star' remaining on the station for the rest of the afternoon. A steady stream of Pendolinos and Voyagers throughout the day - including 221102 - my final sighting for the class. Too dingy for much more photography, and increasingly misty as the afternoon wore on. Just as I was giving up and heading for platform 1, 57304 passed heading south.

Despite the weather, the crowded journey up and aching knees, it was fantastic to get back to an old haunt which really hadn't changed too much.

With extended jaunts planned for next week, stayed very local today. Out on the 0830 Voyager to Bristol Temple Meads to watch the arrival of 6024 'King Edward I' on 'The Devonian' tour to Plymouth which could be seen steaming away at Barton Hill in the distance. Started out a very pleasant morning, but soon clouded over. This didn't stop the steam enthusiasts however, and there were large crowds in the usual spots at the London end of the station as the tour arrived with 67022 in charge.

A little while later 6024 shunted a support coach onto the stock, and after quite a delay passed through on the middle line to join the front of the train. Very impressive crowds at the country end - with a few people wandering down who were travelling and had become caught up in the excitement.


The tour departed about 12 minutes late by my reckoning, with a fast, noisy and steamy start from platform 4. Waited for 67022 to pass through again towards Barton Hill before heading for the coffee stall and a train home.