Kite

159020 at Yeovil Junction on the 06:49 Yeovil Junction to London Waterloo (1O24)

159015 in the Waterloo Sunshine having arrived on the 07:23 Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo (1L32)

After a long weekend, it was back into work this morning for day 1 of 6 early shifts, involving 1O24 to Salisbury (been a while since I last visited Frome in the daylight), before 1L32 & 1L33 to London & back.

Wyrley and Essington Canal aqueduct over the South Staffordshire Railway (McClean Way)

Remains of the South Staffordshire Railway near Brownhills (McClean Way)

Chasewater reservoir, near the terminus of the Wyrley and Essington Canal at Anglesey Basin.

Today I had a little canal stroll from Tame Bridge towards the Chasewater reservoir, coming across the remains of the South Staffordshire Line at the eastern end of the McClean Way path, near Brownhills (a path I believe is getting extended towards Lichfield?).

Spa Trail (former railway line) between Horncastle & Woodhall Spa

170512 at Metheringham Station

Cooling towers of Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station overlooking the station at East Midlands Parkway

Soar Navigation between Sutton Bonington & Zouch.

I've just uploaded a new blog post of various day trips in the 2nd half of September. Scary how it's nearly October!
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/day-...

Back to work after 3 days of walking with day 1 of 6 (switching to late shifts). A double Waterloo was on my sheet today.

Remains of the 'mothballed' Stoke to Leek railway line on a couple of the bridges where it crosses the Caldon Canal. Looks like it's a mysterious path not shown on the map.

91106 at London Kings Cross.

DVT 82214 at London Kings Cross

Today I'm making the most of the sunshine to head towards Lincolnshire for a short (around 7 miles) disused railway line walk. Onwards to Newark with the 09;06 LNER service to York for my first trip behind a 91 since Sept 23.

159020 at London Waterloo on the 13;20 service to Yeovil Junction. Day 7 complete, time for some sleep.

Brough Park in Leek

Shropshire Union Canal between Tyrley Locks & Goldstone Wharf

323210 departing Godley Station

Godley Old Railway Turntable

I've just uploaded a new blog post from my long weekend based in Crewe, slowly catching up with myself again
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/4-7t...

"To leave the train at Tisbury you must be in the front 3 coaches"
(Taken during a 5 minute dwell)

River Wreake (Between Rothley & Syston) (part of the Soar Navigation)

222104 passing Barrow upon Soar Station

British Waterways Building overlooking the Nottingham & Beeston Canal in Notingham

River Medway between Eldridge Lock & Tonbridge

Slowly catching up with my blog again with a new blog from a few little day trips in the 2nd half of August:
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/augu...

Work for the day

158885 alongside 158760 at Romsey.

Back to work this morning with day 1 of 7 (those 03;15 alarms are never easy). Picking up a trip to Yeovil & a Rounder from morning cover.
Delayed departing Romsey on the return due to a late running GWR.

Braved the changeable weather to have a gentle stroll along the Shropshire Union Canal from Brewood towards Gnosall in Staffordshire. Only had to stop the once hiding under a tree due to a large downpour.

I've just uploaded a new blog post from my various exploring at the start of August:
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/08/augu...

170509 departing Barrow Upon Soar (must be a good few years since I last called here on a train)

Old Mountsorrel Railway viaduct over the River Soar, Mountsorrel

222011 at Leicester on a Sheffield Service

River Wreake (Between Rothley & Syston) (part of the Soar Navigation)

Last rest day before a run of 6 'middle' shifts, so I headed to Leicestershire to have a gentle stroll along the Soar Navigation from Barrow Upon Soar to Leicester, something to clear my head. 170509 departing Barrow Upon Soar (must be a good few years since I last called here on a train)

Bank holiday weekends? What are those ;)

I've just uploaded a new blog post with a summary of various trips within July (quite far behind with myself):
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/08/trip...

150122 departing Cherry Tree on a Preston service.

Junction between the Leeds & Liverpool canal and the remains of the southern section of the Lancaster canal (on the left)

323224 departing Adlington (Lancashire rather than the one in Cheshire)

This morning I had a slightly damp (unexpected drizzle) walk from Adlington to Cherry Tree station via the Leeds & Liverpool canal.
Means I can say Leeds & Liverpool canal ✅ 😄

It's a tad warm in Burscough as 150225 passes 769442 at Burscough Bridge.

444007 bringing up the rear of a Weymouth service at Clapham Junction earlier today.
Bond... Desiro Bond, licenced to carry many passengers to the beaches at Bournemouth ☀️

Nice bakery by all accounts at Bramley

A Pendo to the north of Rugby Station

Lichfield Trent Valley Junction Signal Box

165023 at Birmingham Moor Street

Railway line from the Edstone Aqueduct

I've just uploaded a new blog post of my little trip to the Midlands last Sunday + Monday: kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/06/22nd...

150001 alongside 399202 at Rotherham Central

Steam 41241 at Oxenhope Station on the KW& VR

185118 at Cleethorpes

150228 near Rotherham

I've just uploaded a new blog post from my long weekend in Yorkshire (with a little detour to Lincolnshire)
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/06/12th...

220012 crossing the Lapworth Link on a Reading service

DVT 82305 crossing the Lapworth Link on a London service

220012 & DVT 82305 on trains crossing the Lapworth Link (between the Grand Union & Stratford-on-Avon Canals) earlier today

121034 at Cholsey

121034 at Wallingford.

08123 at Wallingford

121034 at Cholsey

I had a little visit to the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway with a spin on 121034 on the short heritage line to Wallingford.

185118 at Cleethorpes.

333014 at Saltaire.

47714 at Keighley.

Steam 41241 at Oxenhope station.

Today was a little trip to Oxenhope on the Worth Valley heritage line, followed by a failed attempt with the Shipley Glen Tramway before heading to the seaside at Cleethorpes.

331007 at Bradford Forster Square

Bingley Five Rise locks

Leeds & Liverpool canal

158849 at Skipton

Making the most of the dry weather when it lasts, I had a gentle stroll along the Leeds & Liverpool canal from Skipton towards Shipley. Taking in some beautiful views of the countryside & the Bingley staircase locks before heading to Bradford

Blackpool Tower

Blackpool Tram 15 at Tower

Cuerden Valley Park

Dog Kennel Wood

Anyhow caught up with my blog again with a new post of last weekend's trip to Blackpool:
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/05/25th...

Stagecoach Poppy Bus in Preston

Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Adlington

A Northern 156 crossing the Leeds & Liverpool canal in Wigan

View from the High Peak Trail

I've just uploaded a new blog post from my trip to the North West a couple of weekends back when the sun was shining.
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/05/15-1...

159010 at London Waterloo

View from back cab between Vauxhall & Waterloo.

Back to work today with the first of 6 late shifts and a double Waterloo (14;47 from Salisbury, 16;50 back to Salisbury, 19;24 to Waterloo & 21;20 back).

158749 heading away from Exeter St Davids on an Okehampton train (taken during the layover in the New Yard)

159002 at Exeter St Davids on the 09:25 to London Waterloo

Salisbury Avon Riverside Walk

Day 6 (of 6 early shifts) saw me heading towards Exeter on 1L03 (06;15 from Salisbury) and back to Salisbury on the 09;25 (1L36). Last day of my current run of shifts with 3 rest days, where will I end up this time.