ACETrainsUK

Photo shows the interior of a Mark 5 carriage. There are four tables in the middle, with the rest of the seating airline style. There is bright lighting on the ceiling, and a information display that says not in service. There is just one passenger in the picture. A TV screen at the end is displaying the Chiltern Railways logo.

First time sampling the "Chiltern Explorer", albeit for a short trip. Definitely a step-up from Mark 3s in noise levels and ambience, and seats are better than IETs/Azumas in my opinion. However, it certainly rides on the rougher side over points! Overall, a nice upgrade, but not everyone will agree

Photo shows Birkdale station facing towards Southport. The station comprises of two platforms with ornate glass canopies above each platform. There is a ticket office on the right hand platform. A signal showing a green light is on the left. There is a signal box and a level crossing in the distance. The weather is sunny with blue skies.

Photo shows Meols Cop station facing towards Southport. The station comprises of a single island platform with a track either side. The plaform has a wide area of grass with shrubs and a waiting shelter on it. There are lamp posts along the middle of the platform. A road bridge crosses over the tracks in the distance. The weather is sunny with blue skies.

Photo shows Roby station facing towards Liverpool. The station comprises of four tracks, served by a central island platform and two outer platforms. There is a ticket office and ornate canopy on the left hand platform. There are basic waiting shelters on the central and right platforms. There are overhead wires above all tracks. The sky is overcast.

Photo shows Eccleston Park station facing towards Wigan. The station comprises of two tracks and two platforms. There is an old wooden ticket office and waiting room on the opposite platform, along with an old brick building. There is a puddle on the left hand platform. A road bridge crosses over the tracks in the distance. The weather is overcast and light is fading, with station lights illuminating the scene.

Another reason for yesterday's outing was to tick off more stations, with 14 in total being ticked off:

Birkdale ✅️
Meols Cop ✅️
Ince ✅️
Hindley ✅️
Westhoughton ✅️
Salford Central ✅️
Urmston ✅️
Wavertree ✅️
Broad Green ✅️
Roby ✅️
Eccleston Park ✅️
Thatto Heath ✅️
St Helens C. ✅️
Rainhill ✅️

Photo highlights:

Photo shows three Northern trains side by side at Manchester Oxford Road. On the left is a Class 769 bi-mode unit. In the middle is a Class 323 electric unit and on the right is a Class 331 electric unit. There is a platform separating the left and middle units. There is a footbridge spanning the two right hand trains. The area is built up with tall buildings in the background. The sun is shining.

Photo shows the front of a Northern Class 331 electric unit at Manchester Oxford Road. There is a red signal immediately in front of the train. There is a sign saying 6 car stop on a post. There are overhead electric wires above the train. There are tall glass towers in the distance. The sun is shining, with a few clouds scattered.

Manchester Oxford Road platform 1 ✅️

It's a full house at Manchester Oxford Road, with three examples of Northern's extensive fleet seen. Engineering work at Piccadilly means that there is an unusual opportunity to score a couple of crossovers and the rarely-used platform 1 at Oxford Road.

Photo shows a Northern Class 150 diesel train departing Southport station. The train is painted in Northern blue and white livery with a yellow front. There is an empty track and platform to the left and a glass roof overhead. The sun is streaming through the columns. There is a billboard to the right, which shows a Tesco advert that says "only the finest", hence the oxymoron as the Class 150 can be an unpopular train.

An oxymoron in a picture...

However, credit where credit is due, it was the cleanest Class 150 I've ever seen!

Photo shows two trains at Wigan North Western station. On the left is a Class 158 diesel unit. There is an empty track in the middle. On the right is a Class 331 electric unit. The sun is rising above the train on the left, casting an orange glow over the scene. The sky is blue.

A tad baltic in Wigan as I await my next train, though the gorgeous sunrise is a welcome sight after weeks of gloom!

Photo shows the front of a Transport for Wales Class 197 diesel train stood at the platform at Sandwell and Dudley station. The train is painted in white livery with a red front gangway door and roof. There is a station sign with Sandwell and Dudley on it. The scene is taken in darkness with the station lights illuminating the train and platform.

A day out on the trains for me, ticking off both stations and track for good measure!

Today starts out a little SAD, so things can only get better from here...

Photo shows the Locomotion railway museum. The museum is a large building with an arched roof and the word Locomotion on the front. Several railway tracks lead into the building. On one of the tracks is a Class 142 pacer train. This is number 001 and is painted in the old purple and blue Northern livery. The weather is cloudy with some blue skies.

A nice wonder around Locomotion and a chance to see the New Hall, which hosts an interesting array of freight-related rolling stock.

After loading up on a decent fish and chips, it's a slow walk back to the station for the return journey, with everyone boarding in just three carriages at Shildon!

Photo shows a HST diesel train arriving at Sheffield station. The lead power car is painted in Romic red livery, whilst the carriages are ex-Crosscountry silver. The buffet car, which is second in the consist, is painted in British Rail white and blue. The train is rounding the curve into platform 1. There are three other tracks to the left. People are taking photographs of the train as it arrives.

First railtour of 2026 for me!

Today sees an outing to Shildon, via almost every line in Yorkshire and the A1 locomotive sidings at Darlington. This is also the first time on the Romic set, with the CrossCountry seating and layout maintained throughout.

Safe to say I won't be visiting the USA ever again, not even to see my family there!

Sorry, enough politics, back to trains now...

Yep, it's 860 in the picture

Photo shows a Chiltern Railways Class 68 diesel locomotive at the buffers at Birmingham Moor Street station. The locomotive is numbered 68015. There is a rake of Mark 3 carriages behind the locomotive. There is a platform canopy on both sides of the picture and an empty platform to the right. The weather is blue skies with sunshine.

Quick spin on this back to Oxfordshire, never know when my last time on timetabled Mark 3s will be, with their demise drawing ever nearer!

For me personally, alighting/boarding a train at the station, as long as it has a different headcode (so trains terminating are fine, as long as they go back out as a new service). I know some people wouldn't even count that, but the beauty of the hobby is we make of it what we want individually ☺️

Photo shows a two car electric train at the summit station of the Gornergrat railway in Switzerland. The station consists of an island platform and a station building. A view of the Alps dominates the background, with the sun setting beyond the Matterhorn.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas! May your day be peaceful and calm

📸 Gornergrat Railway, Switzerland

For anyone who didn't get a chance to say goodbye to the SWR Class 455 yesterday, there appears to be a couple of diagrams operating today as well ☺️

Damn...missed it

Photo shows a CrossCountry Voyager train passing through Cam & Dursley station. The station comprises of two platforms, with waiting shelters on each. There is a ramped footbridge connecting the two platforms. The railway line continues straight into the distance, with a crossover between the two tracks in the foreground. There is a woodland in the distance. The sky is sunny with some clouds.

And there we are, my last day working in the rail industry after 10 years! It's been a real adventure at my TOC and have learned so much about myself and the industry.

Travel passes (begrudgingly) handed back to HR and onwards and upwards! I'm officially back to being a customer once more 🤣

Ah brill, thanks!

Are any of the B'ham - Euston runs booked for these from Dec '25 or will they solely serve Trent Valley and Euston locals please?

Photo shows a Merseyrail Class 777 train at Ormskirk station. The train is numbered 777022. The destination display reads Ormskirk. The tail lights are lit up in the shape of an M. There is a station canopy on the platform to the left. The weather is overcast.

Photo shows a 2 car Northern Class 150 diesel train stood at Ormskirk station. The train is painted in Northern blue and white livery and is numbered 150102. The platform is to the left. The buffer stops separating this platform to the Merseyrail platform sits in front of the train. There are a group of people on the platform that have just alighted the train. The weather is overcast.

After being caught up in the major points failure at Liverpool Lime Street, having sat for an hour on a 323 crawling from signal to signal, a hastily-guessed plan to use a backwater route to Preston via Ormskirk has paid off and will put me back on plan for the rest of the day...phew!

Oh absolutely, another bit of track done, one less to go!

Photo shows a pair of Class 323 trains under the main shed roof at Manchester Piccadilly station. The trains are painted in Northern rail white and blue livery. There is a departure display to the left which reads 05:32, Hadfield, On time. Calling at Ashburys, Guide Bridge and Hadfield. There is a large arched roof over the top of the scene. The picture is taken at night with the station lights illuminating the scene.

Photo shows a Northern Trains Class 323 at Hadfield station. The train is numbered 323241. There is a single platform to the left with an old station building. The scene is taken at night with the station lights illuminating the scene. It is raining heavily and raindrops are seen streaking down the screen.

✅️ Dinting West Curve

A departure at an unholy hour (for some) sees me on the only passenger service of the day to traverse the West Curve at Dinting, avoiding Glossop. Today should see more exploring of the North-West, though we'll see if Storm Bram curtails the expedition!

Photo shows a pair of Northern Class 323 electric trains at Blackpool North station. The pair are painted in Northern blue and white livery with the front unit numbered 323202. The station building is stood at the end of the platforms. Blackpool Tower is stood above the train, illuminated in red and white lights. The scene is taken at night with the station lights illuminating the train.

Time for some premier traction to take me away from Gare du Nord...

Photo shows a TfW Class 197 diesel multiple unit train stood at Llandudno platform 2. There is an empty track and platform to the right. There is a road in between platforms to the left. A glass pointed roof stands over the station at the end of the platforms. There is a building under construction to the right. The weather is bright with some clouds.

✅️ Llandudno
✅️ Every passenger railway line in the UK

Llandudno marks a major milestone in my hobby, being the very last passenger railway line that I hadn't travelled on in the entire UK! There's still a reasonable amount of track to red-pen and stations to visit, but a celebration nonetheless! 🥳

Photo shows two SWR Class 450 trains side by side at Godalming station. There is a platform either side of the trains. There is a footbridge in the distance. The old station building stands to the right. The sky is sunny with some clouds.

Photo shows two trains side by side at Portsmouth and Southsea station. The train on the left is a pair of SWR Class 444 units, with the nearest one numbered 444022. The train on the right is a SWR Class 450 unit, numbered 450118. There is a wide gap between the two trains. The weather is overcast.

Photo shows a view of Bournemouth station taken from the footbridge. The station comprises of two platforms and two tracks, with a wide gap between the tracks in the middle. On the left track is a pair of SWR Class 444 trains. There is a glass roof over the station with iron supports.

Yesterday saw day 2 of the 7-day rover, with a heavy theme of Siemens trains as I travelled along the Portsmouth Direct Line and across the coast to Weymouth. A GWR foray saw me continue up to Swindon and across to Oxford before heading back to the Midlands.

Photo shows a 4-car SWR Class 455 train at London Waterloo station. The train is painted in red and blue livery and is numbered 5701. The destination display reads Weybridge via Hounslow. There are a few people boarding the train further down the platform. It is night time and the scene is illuminated by station lights.

Photo shows three trains at Clapham Junction station. On the left is part of a SWR Arterio train. In the centre is a SWR Class 455 train arriving. On the right is a Southern Class 377 boarding with doors open. The scene is very wet and taken at night time with the scene illuminated by station lights.

Photo shows a pair of SWR Class 455 trains arriving at Earlsfield station. The trains are painted in SWT red and blue livery and the front train is numbered 5721. The destination display reads Woking via Surbiton. There are a few passengers waiting to board the train on the platform to the left. It is night time and the scene is illuminated by station lights.

That was a nice Brucie bonus...

On the way to my hotel for the night, I had not one, nor two, but three separate Class 455 workings! Depending on how quickly they disappear in the new year, this may well have been my last journey on a 455!

Photo shows a Class 180 diesel train at Ely station. The train is painted in EMR white and purple livery with the number 180113 written on the front. There is a track and platform to the right of the train and a container train to the left. The sky is bright but overcast.

Still looking for a forever home...

Ex-EMR 180113 is seen reversing at Ely whilst returning from a stay at Alstom Widnes. The future remains unclear for this unit, with rumours of joining Grand Central's fleet unfounded. This is one of four Class 180s in storage.

Photo shows a Greater Anglia Class 720 stood at platform 2 of Clacton on sea station. The train is numbered 512 and is painted in red and white livery. There is an empty track and platform to the left of the train. There are red buffer stops in front of the train. The weather is sunny with blue skies.

Day 1 of a 7-day All Line Rover...

Today sees something of a 7xx-themed day, with examples of Classes 700, 717, 720, 730, 745 and 755 as I travel around Anglia and the Home Counties.

Here is 720512 stood at Clacton-on-Sea, ready to form a London-bound working.

Photo shows a side-on shot of a heritage mark 1 railway carriage at Birmingham Moor Street station. The carriage has Pullman painted on the side. There are people inside the carriage. Behind the carriage is the iconic Bullring building with silver bubbles on it and a multistory car park, with a walkway linking the two. There is also a skyscraper under construction in the distance.

The old and new at Birmingham Moor Street the other day.

Photo shows a GWR Castle Class HST stood at Dawlish station. The train is painted in GWR green with the number 43042 on the lead power car. There are several people waiting to board the train on the right hand side. There is a station canopy on the platform. The weather is overcast and relatively moody.

Here we go, my final trip on a GWR HST!

Having grown up in the Thames Valley, where these were a regular fixture on my outings to Reading and London, this is an especially poignant moment. It'll be sad to see them go, but it's the right time for retirement. So long and thanks for the memories!

Photo shows Coombe Junction Halt railway station. The station comprises of a single short platform with a shelter. There is a single track that is overgrown in the foreground. There is a footpath leading up to the station on the left. There is a tunnel of trees either side of the railway. Afternoon sunlight is scattered by the trees.

Photo shows an overgrown railway line leading away to Moorswater cement works. The line continues in a straight line under Moorswater viaduct, a tall railway bridge in the distance. There are trees either side of the railway. Autumnal sunlight illuminates the scene.

Photo shows a 2-car GWR Class 150 train departing Sandplace station. The train is rounding a curve to the right. There is a single platform and track. There is a sign pointing to the left that says Way Out. There is a steep hill to the left, lined with trees. The scene is illuminated by autumnal sunlight but the base of the valley is in shadow.

Photo shows Sandplace station, which comprises of a single track and platform situated on a sharp right-hand curve. The short platform has a waiting shelter with a canopy on it. There is a steep hill to the left lined with trees. The hill is illuminated by sunlight and the trees are brown.

✅️ Coombe Junction Halt
✅️ Sandplace

One of the most scenic lines in the UK (in my opinion) takes me from Coombe Junction Halt, served by just 2 trains per day) to Sandplace, a request stop situated on the floor of the steep Looe Valley, offering beautiful surrounds.