Bank Holiday Monday. A good day to get out of Weston, but no idea where to go. Even thought about going nowhere and conserving funds. Got up, had coffee and read mail. Noted that the Summer National Railway Timetable was out. Thought about a run out to Bristol to collect it, perhaps extended to Reading or Banbury. Up and out of the house in time for the eerily quiet 0829 which is normally a jammed 221, but today was a sparsely peopled 220.
No sign of the timetable at Bristol. No problem, would hop on the 0910 to Reading and check there. Weather changed from filthy to utterly disgusting. No timetable at Reading either, but I was assured they had it at Paddington.
Decision time - checked price of a One-Day Travelcard, which was pretty reasonable. Weighed up against the odds of finding a timetable at Banbury or Oxford - which were slight. Headed for Paddington again!
On arrival, the weather had unbelievably worsened. To add to my miseries, no timetables at WH Smiths. The weekend Circle Line possession was still in force, so hopped a Hammersmith & City and headed for Farringdon. I had only vague plans now. Maybe exploit the Travelcard on some of the lines out of London Bridge? Lucked out with a Thameslink via London Bridge (getting the curve south of Blackfriars as a bonus!). Rain really chucking down now. Out to Plumstead via Lewisham, and back via Greenwich. Stumbled here, thought about getting to Victoria or Bromley South - but no clear idea. Back to Lewisham - missed the Victoria service by minutes. Couldn't bear half an hour in soggy Lewisham.
So, new plan - onto the DLR - first ride of the Lewisham Extension. Lots of curved concrete tunnel, a shame the old V-shaped Island Gardens station is gone, it was always a pleasant oasis for lunchbreaks! Change at Canary Wharf for Stratford, then a gruesome 315 to Liverpool Street. Still no timetable!
Back on the H&C to Kings Cross St. Pancras. Strange security alert which no-one seemed to be bothered about! At last, WH Smiths have stacks of timetables. Quickly purchased one, and headed out to the St. Pancras Interim Station.
I was unprepared for the sight of the shell of Barlow's trainshed surrounded by building site - I was equally stunned by the brutal concrete and steel Interim Station. Wandered in, and up to the platforms. All pretty bleak. Left when security took too much of an interest in me. Didn't fancy explaining myself to the large, angry and bored looking goon! Back to Kings Cross Thameslink, then to Cowcross Street for a coffee - and a chance to fill in the card to get a free timetable update in September! The sun decided to come out now.
Headed back to Paddington a little earlier than I'd planned. Despite the change in the weather, I was tired and a bit bemused by my own random wanderings. I had lots of ill-formed plans and not enough time or energy to fulfil them - a truly London feeling. Decided I needed more time another day. Headed back via a brief stop at Reading. Once again, didn't get a seat on the 180 - but Anthony Head (of Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Little Britain fame) did - in first class of course - much to the delight of a procession of female fans who found repeated excuses to wander by. For information ladies, he got off at Bath Spa.
Awoke to moody skies. Decided against an early start, but still aimed for a hastily planned trip to Maidstone. Telephoned for news from Taunton. Today even the medics were a little bit positive - the first time they have really been anything but concerned and rather grave in their view. The last few days seem to have seen a series of tiny improvements, with equally tiny setbacks. Today they seem to be balancing more on the favourable side. Took heart and set out for my trip a feeling a little better.
From Reading, rebooked via London but took the scenic route across country. On a Gatwick bound service as far as Redhill, then on to Tonbridge. Here, it was a couple of short hops - one to Paddock Wood, then another to Maidstone West. However, it began to fall apart! The Tonbridge-Ashford service was delayed nearly 10 minutes, and according to the on-train announcements this was due to a derailment. I've not found any mention of this anywhere else since. We finally set off, and ran very slowly - arriving at Paddock Wood two minutes after the Maidstone service left!
Stranded! An hour until the next service, so I set out to explore a bit. Paddock Wood is a strange little place - one street, with a bunch of charity shops, bakeries and newsagents. Not much else. Lots of people seemed to be around but not really going anywhere. Turned a corner and found the one single pub I spotted in the whole place. It wasn't clear if it was open so I stayed away. Popped into the rather overscale Waitrose supermarket - a huge and rather pricy store for a small and not apparently very affluent 'village' - suppose this is the commuter belt after all. Bought materials for improvised sandwiches. I'm sure I spotted a relative in the shop too - an auntie. Perhaps I stared a little too hard, and the woman looked quizically back at me - further convincing me I knew her. I have no idea why this particular branch of the family would be anywhere near Kent, let alone sauntering around the local supermarket browsing for cooked meats!
On the rails once more, and a pitifully dilapidated 508 to Maidstone West. Slow going. Arrived, and set off immediately for Maidstone East on foot. What can I say about the town? It's a strange, rather confusing place. The pedestrianized zone was thronged with shoppers, the usual chain stores, endless 'alternative' kids spitting obscenities at passers by, and too many shops selling cheap tat. As I ascended towards the top of Week Street the character changed, and the shops became all manner of restaurants and dodgy looking pubs and clubs. Suddenly, down a side street, the station appeared, looking very welcome - in fact both stations had been quite pleasant little places. I was only sorry I had trusted my map, because it seems that a few more moments on the train to Maidstone Barracks would have made for an easy transfer via a footbridge over the River Medway, avoiding the entire town. I was not sorry to leave Maidstone.
Slammer as far as Bromley South, where I changed for a Blackfriars bound service via Catford, just for some new track. Got a really filthy and rather odourous 465, but enjoyed the new scenery. Realised at Bromley there were a couple of other new routes to try. On arriving at Blackfriars remembered the Circle Line was out of use. Set off on foot on a mapless, straight line wander north through the city. Felt very good indeed to be back on familiar ground. I'm never happier than when I'm pounding Corporation pavements. Absolutely exhilarating, rather speedy walk. All too quickly I was at Farringdon.
After the strangeness of the past week, it was good to get away - I know I'm lucky to be able to, but frankly I've been no use to anyone lately. Here's to more of that positivity which seems to be floating around today...
I'd sort of decided not to blog about this, but the weird mixture of awe, impatience, fear and love I'm experiencing has to come out somewhere. This evening, I met my nephew Vinnie for the first time. He was born late on Monday evening, and has not had the easiest start to life so far. I'm so incredibly proud of my Sister and her husband, who are both showing unbelievable strength and patience. I was also really impressed by the staff at Musgrove Park Hospital who have, it seems, been frank, honest and caring - and have done everything possible to help two very scared parents.
Managed also to get trapped in Taunton following signalling trouble in Teignmouth and a cancelled inbound service. Wessex Trains staff showed great kindness in sorting things out, getting people moving and me into a taxi home!
In the meantime, unbelievably and rather surreally life continues. Work has had some blips and niggles today, perhaps partly down to my reduced reistance to bullshit at present. In any case, got little useful work done and managed to get myself offended by something pointless and innocuous. It will blow over, naturally. People are being great, actually.
Saw Canada's finest, Barenaked Ladies too - they were really, really good. Very rock and roll - more so than when they supported the (frankly apalling) Beautiful South in Exeter some years back. Lots of silliness and great songs.
Booked my Summer break - a Literary London conference at the University of London School of Advanced Studies, Belle and Sebastian at Somerset House and a few days of topographical tumbling through the capital. July seems a long way off...
Trying to look forward to the near future, steam trains in Bristol and more rambling around. Trying hard just to look ahead.
Up late last night, trying to decide what to do today. Not much inspiration on offer. Finally decided to travel to Horsham, via Epsom - a previously elusive new bit of track for me. This route would take me via Box Hill where Gissing visited Meredith, and Dorking where Gissing lived for a time. I needed to do a bit more research before wandering Dorking, but a quick pass through would be interesting.
Despite the late night, and a rude awakening when some neighbours had a vehicle returned by a breakdown truck at 1:30am, managed to get up for the 0640. For reasons of economy, travelled on a Cheap Day Return to Reading and rebooked - something I recommend to anyone visiting somewhere in the South East for a day. Shaping up to be a very pleasant day as we zipped along through misty fields towards Reading. Once there, changed for the next Paddington service arriving in London only 15 minutes later than the through service. Found the Underground in disarray, with no Circle to Victoria and queues everywhere. Hopped on the District, originally planning to go to Wimbledon, but decided to change at West Brompton for the West London Line. This seems a very different place from my last visit, eight years ago. Now, the regular Willesden to Clapham Junction service is supplemented by Rugby to Brighton trains, and Silverlink services from Watford Junction. Spent a pleasant few minutes on the tidy, refurbished platform in warm, bright sunshine.
My longer than planned interchange meant a bit of time at Clapham Junction. Arrived on Platform 17 - which only serves the West London Line through trains, a new one on me. Explored the station a bit, enjoying the atmosphere of "Britains' busiest railway station". Finally caught the 10:39, which made a slow start, crawling along to Sutton, then picking up pace into the countryside to Dorking and Horsham.
Changed platforms at Horsham - was tempted by a London Bridge service, but its calling points didn't betray much detail about its route, so played safe and headed for East Croydon on a very comfortable pair of Victoria bound 377s. Since the weather was pleasant and time not pressing, waiting awhile at East Croydon for a London Bridge (via Crystal Palace) stopper was no great hardship. Again, a crawl to Norwood Junction, then a pleasant trundle through South London, which always seems so benign and interesting in good weather, but takes on a wholly different character in less clement periods!
I find London Bridge a strange, magnetic, rather mysterious place for some reason and want to spend more time exploring - perhaps an exploration of the South Eastern suburban services will give me the chance soon? Realised I'd just made the same journey in reverse that the newlyweds make in the "Io Saturnalia" chapter of Gissing's "The Nether World" (London Bridge to Crystal Palace).
Quick change onto a pair of 465s to Waterloo East, and the long trudge onto the main station concourse. Grabbed some refreshments, and just about made the late running 1452 to Reading. It was a pair of slammers - 423s to be exact, which was a pleasant change - this trip has always been 455s or 458s for me. A long, slow journey punctuated by signal checks.
While waiting for the 1610 to Bristol at Reading, noticed a London bound service which had just left had stopped, fouling the points. Lots of orange jackets running around on the track. The 1600 Penzance slipped omionously from 'Expected 1603' to 'Delayed'. More people ran around. The 1610 also became 'Delayed'. An announcement spoke of 'Operating difficulties'. Finally the orange jackets climbed back onto the departing service, and things started moving. Later discovered it was a lineside fire - perhaps the secrecy was down to some residual twitchiness after last weeks serious bomb alert?
Finally got home, still in blazing sunshine, on a packed 143 from Temple Meads. A long and rather warm, but very pleasant day.
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
