I almost wondered if I really wanted to go out for the Virgin 67's today, having done so every Saturday for weeks - but since it was the last week, and since I don't know when we'll get any decent haulage around here again, sentimentality overcame idleness! Glad it did, since it turned out to be a varied and interesting day.

Started with the customary jaunt down to Exeter, via a change at Taunton. Quick dash over the bridge and onto 1M89 for 67028 - one of three required locomotives out today.

Uneventful run back to Bristol, and the usual photography session - including some shots of 67011 on 1E99 - which I also needed, and hadn't been expecting today. A spot of lunch, and then a bit of time to lurk before 1V15. During this slack time, noted a plume of steam on the line from St. Phillip's Marsh. Soon saw 5051 which was out from Barton Hill being turned for tomorrow's Torbay Express. After running towards Bedminster, it reversed through the station on the up through line.


A late platform change nearly tripped a couple of us up, but made it over in time for 67026 - another new one for me, previously seen from a distance on the first week I did these services. Set off in improving weather for Exeter once again. It was about now strange messages and rumours began to circulate about 1M25, being the Newquay-Manchester HST running for the holiday season. All kinds of things were mentioned, since it seemed that an ailing power car was causing problems, and something was likely to drag the service back. First concrete information was that 37425 had left Newport for Bristol to haul the service forward from Temple Meads. Quick calculations and timetable checks to ensure I'd get to see this later in the evening. Also noted that the Train Manager on 1V15 uncannily resembled minor British celeb Abi Titmuss!

Later, more news - 37425 was now heading for Plymouth to drag the service to Birmingham, and would be passing Exeter soon. Revised my plans, and settled in for a long wait at Exeter. Considered pressing ahead to Newton Abbot , but decided that there was likely to be more action at St. Davids. Thankfully, there was quite a bit going on - firstly watching 37425 go by light engine to Plymouth (after a helpful cry of 'yer tis!' from the level crossing staff). Next 67014 on 1V19, and finally 5A15 and 5A19, the two top-and-tailed sets of empty stock from today's 67 hauled services on their way back to Old Oak Common. Also ate too much and read a great deal whilst waiting.


The service finally arrived at 1859, with 37425 storming into Exeter, approximately 100 minutes late. A very speedy run indeed, with a noisy start at Taunton which could be heard a couple of coaches away! Amazing, bright evening sunshine on the way back too, with a brilliant sunset somewhere around Highbridge. Other photographers along the way took some fine shots before the gloom set in.

Lots of activity at Bristol. Watched 37425 depart before heading over to catch the 2030 service back to Weston. A long, but eventful day in the south west - and a fitting end to a summer of 'real trains'.

A Bank Holiday is a time to get out of Weston, or to be swamped by day trippers. Having a day left on my Rover, it was just a case of where I would end up today. Set out early enough to leave me a few options, with a quick run to Bristol on a Voyager which was quiet but seemed to be heavily reserved from Bristol onward. Decided to head for South Wales, and found myself practically the only passenger on a Cardiff-bound unit.

Alighted at Newport and found old friend 'Nunney Castle' in attendance hauling the 'Carmarthen Cavalier' railtour. Lots of spectators, and plenty of steam. Enjoyed the sunshine and photo opportunities.

Next, a quick and pleasant trip alongside the Wye and the Severn to Gloucester. Dangerously short of reading material, I took the opportunity to wander into the city and buy something else from my list. Again, enjoyed stress free atmosphere of Gloucester's shopping areas.

Onto a Swindon bound Adelante, starting out in bright sunshine but heading into the clouds by the time we arrived. Swindon very quiet - in part because of the much altered timetable due to engineering works between Reading and London. Not much heading west within a reasonable time, so opted for a service back to Bristol Parkway, and thence a solidly packed Voyager into Temple Meads.

Considered calling it a day here, but that would have been too easy! Over to Platform 15, and the Class 31's on the 1428 to Weymouth. Very slow running, regulated to allow a late-running Portsmouth service to pass seconds after leaving the station, and by Westbury we were twelve minutes down. During the trip heard gossip that one of the other pair of 31's was likely to head back to Derby during the week for urgent attention. Disembarked at Westbury and looked at options for getting home. Heading to Taunton would mean a long wait there for a Weston service, so headed back on the 1607 to Bristol, along with some incredibly rude and annoying cyclists. Made a quick change for the 1655 to Weston on arriving at Temple Meads.

The crowds of Bristolian day-trippers had just started to trickle back to the station at Weston, and security had just arrived for the evening. Purchased supplies, and battened down the hatches...

Despite arriving home tonight to scenes of disturbance on the station, despite even seeing tides of already semi-inebriated youths heading for town on my walk home, I had a strange urge to get out and about tonight.

So, after the decidedly nerdy and antisocial activities of adding up my mileage and updating my move book, I set out to wander in Weston. I wasn't disappointed by the experience. Not a hundred yards from my door I was offered my first fight by a young Welshman, urging me to insult his friend so that they could "take my head off" - naturally I declined.

Into town, and it got worse - as I passed the front of one public house a number of utterly incapacitated young women were ejected, falling in a heap on the pavement. I politely stepped around them. I immediately changed course, swung into back streets and thought about visiting one of the few bearable pubs remaining in town. I haven't actually socialised in Weston in months, and I'm not sure what made me think of it now. I suppose it has been a long and strange week...

In the end, after the truly odd walk out, I couldn't bear the thought of even a decent pub. Even being hailed by a friend who spotted me passing by couldn't persuade me otherwise, and I turned for home with some relief.

I'm not sure where my oddly Victorian view of the world has come from. I'm not prudish, and I normally take a decidedly liberal view of life - however, Weston in the summer takes it's toll on all of us residents, it seems.

Set out on an initially almost identical mission to last week. Having received the allocations this morning, realised that I only needed one of the 67's out today. 67016 was on 1E99 which I could have picked up later at Weston, but decided instead to head south and board at Exeter. All went smoothly, with a change at Taunton on what was shaping up to be a bright but chilly morning. After finally working out the optimum spot to stand to get the number of an approaching Voyager, myself and other waiting enthusiasts were perplexed to find one with no number at all, even in the usual awkward spot! Took the name instead to check up later. Arrived at Exeter St. Davids in time to watch 67018 depart on 1M89.

67016 set off promisingly, but began to get checked at signals between Tiverton and Whiteball. Very slow running in places for much of the journey. Despite the incredibly slack timings of this train, we arrived late at Weston and had managed to mop up most of the huge amount of standing time at Bristol too! Got customary pictures, then went in search of much needed refreshments.

67003 arrived in plenty of time on 1V15. Boarded and found a pleasant seat on the correct side for the sea as I'd not yet decided whether to see this one through to Paignton or not today. Quick running again as far as Whiteball, where it seemed all was not well, signalling-wise today! Having examined the timetable, decided that since I'd seen enough of Paignton and as 1V19 wasn't a required locomotive (being 67015 today) I would have a spin on the resurrected Virgin HST. These HSTs, not required since the all-Voyager timetable arrived have been rescued from an MoD storage site and pressed back into service for the summer, albeit in some slightly odd formations. So, boarded the only slightly busy 1M78 (hauled by 43153 and 43098) at Exeter and decided on a longer trip as far as Cheltenham. Must have done hundreds of undocumented miles on these CrossCountry HST sets back in the mid 1990s when I had a Young Person's Railcard - pleasant to be back on one, even if the air conditioning seemed to have failed.


Plan for a speedy Voyager off Cheltenham went wrong, as the Penzance service was running late. Coffee time, then opted for a Wessex stopper back to Bristol, formed of ex-Central Trains 158782. On arriving back at Bristol, found the 1800 to Weston fortunately running 11 late. Home in time to watch British Transport Police attending Weston station, as the usual crowds of daytrippers stumbled drunkenly back to the station. Welcome home.