Day 6 : Friday 31 August 1999

Another grey day, but at least it's not raining in Glasgow at the moment!

[1999I074] 101692 at platform 13 at Glasgow Central.
[1999I075] 47634 at platform 11 at Glasgow Central, ready to take the sleepers for servicing.
[1999I076] 303188 arriving at Glasgow Central.
[1999I077] 86236 "Josiah Wedgewood" at platform 2, Glasgow Central with the 08:40 to Penzance.

47634 "Holbeck" is ready to take the sleepers out. 86244 "The Royal British Legion" brings in the stock for the 08:40 to Penzance. Freshley painted 86236 "Josiah Wedgewood" is on the rear. We pace 101684 out of the station until it is halted at a red for 303004 to head in. An 86 and an 08 at Polmadie, together with the sleeper stock. We are halted at signals at Rutherglen West Junc. While our driver is on the phone 101693 arrives. We get a green, but only head south for a short distance until we are halted again at Rutherglen East Junc. This time, we draw alongside 314211. We get a green after a minute or so and we're finally off. Low clouds and rain at Carstairs, but it lifts again shortly afterward, so I am able to enjoy the scenery over Beattock, with high cloud and only a few showers. Heavy rain again north of Carlisle - it's not possible to see the Solway Firth, nor the hills of the Lake District. Only 20's on Kingmoore today and a 56 (114?) heading past northward. I chat to a lady travelling to Bristol between Carlisle and Preston. Here, 86236 is replaced by 47817.

[1999I078] 86236 "Josiah Wedgewood" uncoupled from the 11:33 to Penzance at Preston.
[1999I079] 86236 "Josiah Wedgewood" light engine at Preston after arriving on the 11:33 to Penzance.
[1999I080] 86222 "Clothes Show Live" arrives at platform 4 at Preston with the 11:53 to Bournemouth.

The 11:53 to Bournemouth arrives at 11:51 with 86222 "Clothes Show Live" on the front. The train needs fitters' attention, so doesn't depart until 12:02. The problem was with the ETS from the loco. Wigan is bathed in sunshine through a gap in the clouds. It looks very dark toward Manchester though. Lots of remains at Springs Branch. 56057 and 66152 are stabled in the north end bay at Warrington. 92026 is at the south end. 60058 is waiting to take an MGR south. "Blue Peter" is in light steam as we pass the heritage centre at Crewe. 90034 heads north light engine through platform 1. We're right time departing Crewe. The castle and the M6 herald Stafford. A couple of boats are locking down at Wolverhampton. I wonder about changing my plan - I had planned to take this to Southampton, but decide to change at Banbury and take a Chiltern train to Marylebone - I've not been along that route and I've not been to Marylebone either.

[1999I081] 86222 "Clothes Show Live" at platform 5 at Birmingham New Street after arriving with the 14:06 to Bournemouth.
[1999I082] 47854 at platform 5 at Birmingham New Street with the 14:06 to Bournemouth.

At New Street, 86222 is detached and 47854 replaces it on the front. Banbury station is covered in scaffolding. I take a few photographs before boarding the 15:51 (165030).

[1999I083] 47854 leaves platform 3 at Banbury with the 15:03 to Bournemouth.
[1999I084] 66039 southbound through Banbury with a metals train.
[1999I085] 165017 arrives at Banbury with the 15:27 to London Marylebone.
[1999I086] 165020 arrives at Banbury with the 15:14 to Stratford-upon-Avon.
[1999I087] 165030 at Banbury with the 15:51 to London Marylebone.
[1999I088] 47801 "The Lion of Vienna" arrives at Banbury with the 15:40 to Glasgow Central.

We depart just a rain shower comes over. The first stop is Kings Sutton with its picturesque church on the hill. We come to a halt after leaving the Oxford line at Aynho Park Junc. but before getting on to the single track. There are rainbows over Bicester, High Wycombe and commuter land. Across the canal just after Denham - very wide and straight here. Over the 6 tracks of main lines from Euston, and then running parallel with the Underground tracks from Neasden. We overtake a Jubilee line train. The Midland Main Line is briefly visible just before West Hampstead before we drop down, turn south and into tunnel. Over the lines from Euston again and into more tunnel to arrive in Marylebone.

[1999I089] 165030 at platform 2 at Marylebone with the 17:18 arrival from Banbury.
[1999I090] 165034 at platform 3 at Marylebone with the 17:30 to Bicester North.
[1999I091] 43025 "Exeter" (right) at platform 1 with the 18:15 FO "The Bristolian" to Plymouth. 43002 "Techniquest" (left).

As it's a pleasant evening, I decide to walk to Paddington, which is packed. 43177 "University of Exeter" is at the rear of the 18:15 to Plymouth "The Bristolian". 43025 "Exeter" is on the front. The train is busy too.

Lines of withdrawn locos at Old Oak Common. 60's, 58 and 59 at Acton yard. A Stoneblower just east. We overhaul 165110 just before Langley and was that 66089 (that I saw passing through Banbury earlier)? We pass another two 165's before Reading, where 47758 (EWS) and 47765 (RES) are heading east with a parcels train. A Paddington-bound HST is in the station as we go straight through. 08804 has lots of wagons for company in the west yard.

37's, 58's and 60's in the yard at Didcot. 60038 heads light engine through the station and paces us for a short while as we both accelerate. Almost a full moon reflects off the surface of the sea as we pass between Dawlish and Teignmouth. Then it's the lights of Laira shining across the river and into Plymouth. 08410 is coupled to the solitary sleeper.

[1999I092] 66125 stabled in the bay platforms at Plymouth.
[1999I093] 09008 has shunted the mail into the east-facing bay at Plymouth.

Day 7 (Saturday)

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Text and photographs Copyright J.D.Coleman 1999.