ZainOnSWR

Changed from the Bakerloo Line 🟤 at Baker Street in favour of the faster Jubilee Line 🔘 which meant I could just about make 450095 and 450102 from Waterloo as they prepare to work 2L69 to Basingstoke. At Woking, the pair will split, and 450102 will work 2A69 to Alton.

After a short hop on a pair of 172s I’m now at Worcester Shrub Hull where 800310 arrives in working 1P77 from Hereford to London Paddington. Thankfully it’s a 9-car IET this evening! 😅

Had an absolutely fantastic two days attending the Severn Valley Railway 2025 Spring Diesel Gala!

Despite some rather hefty delays on both days, it was still a brilliant experience to see and be behind many fabulous and hellfire locos.

Here’s a thread of some of my favourite snaps:

A full and standing 800026 arrives into Reading working 1W17 from Paddington to Great Malvern. I’d think my plans for the weekend are becoming increasingly obvious…

Really baffles me why GWR didn’t order more 9-car IETs, because everyone I’ve been on a 5-car it’s always rammed!

Next, 450045 and 450006 working 2C15 from Waterloo to Reading.

450045 was my last ever 450 I ticked off for haulage, and I finally got it done on June 2nd last year!

Whenever I start the day using platform 3 at Aldershot, it normally means something interesting is in store, and today is no exception…

450108 prepares to depart to work 2N18 up to Ascot, my first of four trains this morning.

Anyone want to guess where I’m headed 👀

Exactly right, hence why we chose Newcastle. One day I will book long enough in advance to actually stay in Scotland 😅

Earlier on it was human excrement, and now it’s someone’s bare feet on the seats. Absolutely vile, don’t be like this person! 🤢🤮

Made it back to Waterloo in very good time for some photos before departure. 450006 and 450077 prepare to depart to work 1A75 down to Alton. Saw this pairing of units many times today, so seems appropriate that I’m riding them home.

Very tired and exhausted now!

The same units as earlier, 802305 ‘The Humber Bridge’ and 802301 ‘Amy Johnson’ prepare to depart Kings Cross to work 1H08 up to Hull. Was a bit of an unpleasant surprise to discover human excrement in the vestibule of coach A, but thankfully the staff are taking care of it.

Been a very good day showing @astroareus.bsky.social and @profmcmouse.bsky.social around some of the SWR network, travelling on some of the best traction and even taking them to visit the Alton line and Aldershot!

802301 ‘Amy Johnson’ and 802305 ‘The Humber Bridge’ arrive into a very sunny Retford working 1A92 from Hull down to Kings Cross. I’m taking a few mates down to London for a day with an SWR rover, so they can see some of the superior lines and traction running on the network!

Back on Hull Trains for the first time since June 2024! 802302 ‘Jean Bishop (The Bee Lady)’ prepares to depart Kings Cross to work 1H01 up to Hull. Usually I would be going up to Doncaster, but that isn’t the case today…

Now for a faster service up to Waterloo in the form of 1P14 worked by 450018 and 450110. This should give me an extra 6-7 minutes which’ll be extremely valuable in getting across London to the next terminus station. Any guesses?

Time for another Saturday of travelling, although today not so further afield. 450010 and 450058 arrive into Aldershot working 1A12 from Farnham to Waterloo, but only on these to Woking in favour of a faster service up to Waterloo which is rather necessary for a tight connection.

450071 and 450117 arrive into the dark Clapham Junction working 2L77 from Waterloo down to Basingstoke and Alton. At Woking, 450117 will detach and work 2A77 to Alton.

Been an excellent couple of days doing some serious mileage, but I’ll be very happy to get home now 😅

I may have told a lie… 390114 wasn’t, in fact, the penultimate train of the trip. That title now goes to 455912 and 455730 as they take me on the short hop from Vauxhall to Clapham working 2D73 from Waterloo to Epsom.

Vauxhall really does look great at night time 😍

meant to post hours ago but forgot…

As the sun sets over Crewe this marks the end of this fantastic two day trip around the country. 390114 is the penultimate train of the weekend as it works 1A72 from Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston. Should hopefully be a very pleasant ride down the WCML.

I didn’t realise it was the only refurbished EMR 170 when I travelled on it yesterday!

Opted to walk from Kings Cross to Euston instead of the Tube which I regret as I may or may not have fallen down on the pavement in front of a load of people….

Anyway! Evero 805008 prepares to depart Euston to work 1D76 to Holyhead. Very happy to be back on an Evero again!

Heading back down to London in first class luxury onboard MEGA traction as DVT 82214, NL15 and 91110 ‘Flying Scotsman’ prepare to depart Leeds and head down to Kings Cross on 1A37.

Time for some mega Civity haulage now, onboard 195008 working 2T23 from York to Leeds. Last time I did this line was onboard the Aberzance Voyager last month.

Time to AZUMA back up the East Coast Mainline! 800102 prepares to depart working 1W16 up to Inverness, but we’ll only be going as far as York today. One day I will do that full run 😅

Good morning from Newcastle! Not hanging around long as 803003 prepares to depart and work 1Y80 to London Kings Cross. The plan for today is in the process of being altered due to late notice engineering works affecting the previous plan. Should still be a very exciting day!

After a brilliant day in Scotland, it’s time to head back down to England for our accommodation for the night.

801217 prepares to depart Edinburgh to work 1E29 to Newcastle. Been too long time since I’ve travelled on an AZUMA.

Spent a nice half hour or so spotting at Kirkcaldy and now it’s time to board our last ScotRail service of the day in the form of 158724 and 170404 as they work the last bit of 1L88 from Perth to Edinburgh. Been an excellent day travelling on ScotRail, and I hope to be back soon.

Sadly, our final Inter7City for the day from Dundee back to Edinburgh has been cancelled due to issues with the brakes, so this Turbo will have to do! 170430 prepares to depart Dundee to work 1L26 to Edinburgh. We’ll be off at Kirkcaldy for a bit of evening spotting.