11:30.

I’ve had a leisurely morning at home sorting out some paperwork and chores so there’s been no early start today, much as that would have been tempting in order to make the most of the improving weather. But now I’m on the move again, heading from Halifax to Leeds before taking a trip down the East Coast Main line to London.

Leg one was far less glamorous. I took a trip on this old thing which is working the Huddersfield to Bradford Interchange shuttle.

 

Now I’m on something a little more modern in the shape of a CAF built Class 195. It’s running slightly late but no big deal as I wasn’t planning to get to Leeds before 12:00 anyway.

12:45.

Getting to Leeds was in fits and starts dues to my train being delayed by late running services (often a problem at Leeds, a station with too many trains and no spare capacity) however, it didn’t stop me making the Harrogate-Kings Cross service, whose departure was also delayed for the same reason! We’re now speeding South towards Doncaster. I expect the few minutes we’ve lost should be made up along the way, unless something dramatic happens on the ECML. This trains a 9-Car ‘Azuma’ and reasonably quiet, so I’ve been able to colonise a table bay in order to set up the mobile office and start the task of editing all the past few days pictures…

13:45.

Time’s flying! I’ve had my head buried in my laptop as I edit pictures and declutter my email inbox. I’m now signed up to several press events that’ll see me rather busy at the beginning of May. These include a press trip to Germany and some more HS2 visits (watch this space). The picture editing’s gone well too. So much so that I’ve ony just noticed how the fields of rape along the railway have burst into bloom. The countryside’s dotted with yellow, marking the change of seasons. It’s ages since I’ve been able to get out to photograph at the lineside this time of year. Will I find time in 2024? I hope so, but blue skies remain elusive. There’s the odd patch here South of Peterborough but hardly wall to wall.

14:05.

I was right about making up time. Say what you like about the ‘Azuma’ trains but they can’t half shift. Our 2 minute late departure from Leeds has morphed into passing Hitchin 2 minutes early! Shame the weather’s not been as scintillating as we seem to be heading into a mass of clouds…

17:15.

S’cuse the gap but it’s been a hectic few hours. I didn’t hang around for more than a few minutes at Kings Cross. only long enough to grab a couple of pictures before making my way across to Waterloo via Thameslink and London Bridge, thence SoutheEastern to Waterloo East. The reason for my haste was that the ‘celebrity’ BR blue liveried Class 455 was in traffic and due to pay a visit on the country end of a service. Here it is.

I didn’t stay for a ride, instead I caught an earlier service to Clapham Junction so that I had a second bite of the photographic cherry.

Frustratingly, the sun remained hidden behind clouds until the last few minutes before I had to leave. What a difference a bit of sunshine makes.

Now I’m heading to Farnham on a packed 17:02 off the Junction. Today’s obviously not the day people are working from home!

20:20.

And relax!

I’m now at Platt mansions in Tilford and it’s time to relax with Dawn for the evening. Tomorrow we drive back to Yorkshire so there’s no trains for me – although there may just be chance to take a look at an HS2 worksite on the way back. We’ll see…

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