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Day 4 : Wednesday 29 August 1999

Breakfast at 06:30. 08663 "Plymouth" is attached to the single sleeper from Paddington. It's dark and raining heavily. The 07:00 arrives at 07:02 with 43124 on the front and 43003 on the rear. We're soon climbing up into low cloud. A fitter wanders back through the train after we pass Ivybridge, and forward again as we pass Totnes. It's slightly brighter when we've dropped down again to Newton Abbot. There's a patch of lighter sky to the south as we run along the sea front after Teignmouth. The sea is slightly choppy - no-one is out on the front here nor at Dawlish. At Dawlish Warren, we turn inland, past the extensive moorings on the River Exe. Exmouth is just visible on the far side. The river view soon gives way to fields - some of which look almost as wet.

Arrival in Exeter is 4 down. We arrive at platform 5. Across the platform at platform 6 is the 08:27 to Paddington, a rake of Intercity liveried Mark II's with an FGW liveried brake and 47830 on the front. I notice that the level crossing barriers at the north end only stop vehicles - the odd pedestrian crosses when they are down! The rain is heavy again as we depart at 08:28. I have the whole of the first coach to myself. It's a slow start until we've passed Riverside yard. We're checked just before Tiverton Parkway (we're not scheduled to stop here) - presumably we've caught up the HST that left Exeter just befor us. Surprisingly, the windows in the end doors are clean, so it's possible to see into the cab of the 47. The rain has eased as we near Taunton - there's even a brief gap in the low cloud which reveals higher cloud and the sun shining through. Another brief glimpse of the sun at Taunton, shining on the plants and the weeds on the disused island platform. Into Castle Cary at 09:24 - only light rain here.

The 09:40 to Bristol is showing as "Expctd 1005". However, the 09:45 to Weymouth arrives and departs on time. The 09:40 will have to cross this at Pen Mill, so probably won't arrive until about 10 past. 10:07 and trains are signalled both east and westbound. The westbound HST charges through at 10:08 and 37407 pulls into platform 3 just after. We depart at 10:10 but have to wait just east of the station for the eastbound HST to pass. The delay was because the signalman at Dorchester was taken ill, and there was a delay finding a relief so the southbound service had had to wait at Dorchester West.

Just past Frome, the next southbound service is held at the end of the double track east of the station. Westbury, the white horse visible on the hillside to the east. It's grey again here after patches of blue sky and sunshine around Frome. 08947, 58027 and 66051 in the yard. We're 32 late leaving and it's slow run after Westbury. We're checked almost to a stand just before Bradford on Avon, and we leave 35 late. We get a red at Bathampton Junction. A westbound HST heads past on the main line (presumably the 11:11 from Bath - 09:45 Paddington to Weston Super Mare). 39 late off Bath. It only takes us 10 minutes for the 11 miles to Bristol though, including a slow approach, so we arrive 34 down at 11:29.

I take a few photographs around the station as the sunshine alternates with showers. 47806 is the 12:10 to Newcastle. Across the stub of the Midland line to Bristol and Bath, and then sharply left and down to join it. As we head north, parts of the Cotswolds are blotted out by heavy rain. It's not overly bright to the west either. As expected, we slow down substantailly going up the Lickey Incline but recover and then slow again for the curve at Kings Norton. We must be following a local, as we crawl round the curve and through Bourneville. One narrowboat is heading south, and a motor and butty hotel boat pair are heading north. It's slow all the way into Birmingham, we're running on double and single yellows all the way. We come to a stand between Canal and Holiday Street tunnels. We've been running slightly early, so we arrive only 2 minutes down. We leave 2 minutes down as well.

Among the usual assortment at Saltley, D9000 is visible with engines running. The last remnants of the steam shed are being demolished. 60092 is by itself at the sidings at Kingsbury. A slow run from Burton. A two-tone green Freightliner 47 is stabled at the back of Derby station. We leave there 4 late. A tram is just arriving at Meadow Interchange as we pass. 60035 is taking empty steel wagons south at Mexborough East Jn. We're held opposite Hexthorpe sidings, and as we arrive in Doncaster, an HST whizzes through (the 14:00 Kings Cross to Aberdeen). When we arrive at York, the HST hasn't left - it leaves at 15:55 and we leave at 15:58, 1 down. We pass a 47 on a freightliner immediately preceeded by a 60 on MGR's just south of Northallerton. 60084 is at Ferryhill on a southbound tanker train (from Jarrow?). Arrival at Newcastle is 6 early - not surprising with a scheduled 20 minutes from Durham. I watch the 17:15 to Chathill depart (my normal train home) and then take a few photographs while the light lasts. I talk to a couple of enthusiasts.

The 18:51 comes in across the High Level Bridge, thus reversing the formation. 43120 is now at the rear, and 43095 at the front. It had started to get cold as I waited at Newcastle, with an easterly wind blowing. As we head north, I see that this has brought in a thing fog. There was fog on the coast this morning too. By the time we reach Morpeth, visibility is down to about 200 yards. We arrive in Waverley on time after a good run. Carmine and cream liveried 156506 is the 20:03 to Glasgow Central. It gets less misty as we head west. This route is slow with lots of stops, until we leave Cambuslang for the higher speed run to Glasgow Central. We are halted on the approach. I see that 90032 is at the head of the sleepers as we come in. 47634 "Holbeck" is at the platform end, having brought the stock in.

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Day 5 (Thursday)

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Introduction Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Timetable Mileages

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Text and photographs Copyright J.D.Coleman 1999.

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