30th November 2010 - Devon Day Ranger

Well my initial feelings before I got home were that the day wasn't overly successful but looking back maybe it was!

Started off on the 0925 Voyager from Plymouth to Exeter. It was a dud. In fact my first winner wasn't until a lot later when 220026 rolled in to Newton Abbot, which I took to Exeter. Then up the hill to Central and back again. A winner for Peter going up, but for me coming back down. Whilst waiting for an eventual winning Cross Country HST power car (43301), I  bagged another winning unit in the form of 143603 up to Exeter Central again. We walked back down (via a Whetherspoons!). Then  we grabbed the XC HST to Newton Abbot before I bagged a winning 150128 to Totnes. There was time to head back to Exeter and then back to Plymouth with both trains producing winning FGW power cars. So total millage for the day was 270 and 14210 year to date.

Also spotted 66555 (winner) at Hackney Yard early in the day and the Tavistock Junction fuel train was hauled by 66115 (dud), spotted at Exeter at 1721.

So maybe the day wasn't so bad after all. It was cold though!  

27th November 2010 - Shropshire Monach Mini Tour

Ok! It's my weekend in working but I am on a late so don't start till 12pm. So I was able to get part of this Charter which was running Paignton - Shrewsbury. I got the 0525 from Plymouth to Newton Abbot and met it there. 67006 was hauling so was a winner for sight and haulage. Caught it to Taunton and cost £10. Not bad I think. Great to be in mark 1 stock on the mainline! My first Charter too. Ok not in full but it is a start! Saw three winning 66s in Fairwater yard as well! 66607, 66609 and 66952!

The start of my return produced a winning Super Voyager in the form of 221132 as far as Exeter St David's. From here I took a quick trip up to Exeter Central and back. Grabbed a winning 159 on the return before heading back Plymouth on a dud 220. But the big winner of the day would be 67006!

25th November 2010 - Devon Ranger

Didn't venture outside of Devon today as I got a Devon Ranger (a bargain £6.60 with Devon and Cornwall Railcard!). I met up with Peter at Newton Abbot. Over the course of the day managed a respectable 317 miles (not bad considering there was more waiting than normal to try and get particular services and a good hour and half was spent in a Whetherspoons!). A Class 31 (106) was visiting with a Netowrk Rail train also. Saw one new Class 66 and got nine new winners for haulage!

17th November 2010 - FOSW Rover

Ok. Couple of days left of the rover and this was pretty much my last outing with it. Went to Portsmouth via Salisbury on SWT and then FGW to Portsmouth. New route for me from St Denys to Portsmouth. Headed back towards Southampton Central to meet Peter for 1300ish but got off at St Denys to pop up to Eastleigh and then onwards to Brockenhurst. Then headed to Lymington Pier on the 158 (not been on this route on a 158 before). Then back over to Brockenhurst and then Southampton Central before a quick ride to Southampton Parkway and back. We then went to Romsey via Eastleigh (new route from Eastleigh onwards for me!) before circling back to Southampton Central. Another bash to Parkway and back before heading back to Plymouth via Salisbury on SWT to Exeter St Davids. Saw four new Class 66s, one 08, one 158, one 377 and one 450 for sight. Had 16 new trains for haulage and travelled 462 miles in total. Another good day!

16th November 2010

Bonus spot! Whilst at work and rescuing a home shopping van (which in the end didn't need rescuing!) I saw the Tavistock - Laira fuel train (66065) passing the Embankment alongside the river Plym. New for sight so happy with my work distraction!

Novemebr 12th 2010 - FOSW to Penzance

Little late posting but last Friday i took a trip down to Penzance from Plymouth to catch the sleeper back. Met my dad at Truro. Winning HST power for haulage down and a winning 57603 for haulage back. Total trip 155 miles. Total millage for the year so far 12993!

November 9th 2010 - FOSW to Cardiff

At the moment I have a Freedom of the South West Rover and today I went to Cardiff with my friend Peter. I set out on the 0825 from Plymouth and the Rover kicked in at 0901 as we left Newton Abbot. Was a good day for sight and haulage. Got six new 66s, one new 60 and a new 57 for sight. Also grabbed some haulage action behind the 57 (Cardiff Central to Newport). Also bagged a load of new Arriva Trains Wales units for haulage between Central and Queen Street. All in all a good day.

November 9th 2010

OK. I have decided to start a blog about railway trips that i have made to go alongside my fotopic website,  Steven Booth's Railway Photographs. This will be a rough guide to where i have been and how the trip went. Hope you enjoy!