The North Sea at Whitley Bay this morning. A bit on the rough side

159107 at Gillingham station this morning to form 1Z13, the 09;17 Gillingham to Exeter service. For the first time this week I've escaped London services 😆

159107 at Gillingham station this morning to form 1Z13, the 09;17 Gillingham to Exeter service. For the first time this week I've escaped London services 😆

This week so far at work has been quite wet, only Wednesday has it not rained. 2 more early shifts to go before some time off. ☔ At least driving into Salisbury at 4am there is little else on the roads. Anyhow have a Network Rail 153 stabled at Salisbury

Yesterday I had a little stroll from Ladywell station towards Beckenham Road tram stop following the Waterlink Way path. Quite nice to get out after a couple lazy rest days. I hope this week will be better than the last.

I've just uploaded a new blog post of my trip to Scotland & Yorkshire last weekend: kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2026/01/21st...

Today was a little break to Edinburgh, where I made use of the dry weather to nearly reach Newcraighall (😉) with 170429 to Brunstane to walk the Innocent Railway path, featuring some nice views of Salisbury Crags and a tunnel.

It's a little bit damp in Glasgow this evening ☔ 803003 rests at Glasgow Queen Street after arriving from London Kings Cross.

158884 at Gillingham to form the 16;18 service to Waterloo, before the rain arrived.

I've just uploaded a new blog post from trips in the first half of January kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2026/01/trip...

Quite wet outside today, headed to Basingstoke for some bits & bobs, and a couple of trains when I was awaiting for the 159 back home.66518 at Basingstoke Station

A bit chilly this morning with 222019 at Lincoln on a St Pancras service & 170513 at Matlock where I had a little stroll towards Rowsley.

Nottingham to Lincoln via Sleaford & Peterborough. Randomness of an EMR service on the Sleaford avoider coming up. First experience with a refurbished 170, it's a decent job.

Good evening Miles, time for a little spin on something purple to waste time before needing to return to Lincoln for my overnight stay

I've been busy catching up with my blog the last few days as my writer's block has finally cleared. kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2026/01/colo... kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2026/01/nove... kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2026/01/trip... kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2026/01/trip...

Yesterday I had a little trip to Carlisle, solely for the novelty of doing a 805 via the scenic S&C route, made even more scenic in places with the snow. Finished the evening with a trip to Bromsgrove on 196010. This morning, I had a stroll along the Tame in Perry Barr before the Chiltern 68.

DVT 82305 leads the 13;45 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone service with 68013 on the rear giving a good push. A change of scenery from the usual WCML.

Good to be back in Waterloo for the first time this year with 159016 & 159107 to work the 23;39 train back to Salisbury. Who needs 455s for classic BR era engineering lol

158886 waits time at Romsey before forming the 23;11 service to Salisbury via Southampton. Happy New Year everybody, what will 2026 hold for the Salisbury based sprinters I wonder.

Platform 7 for the 19;20 to Exeter St Davids. Last train beyond Honiton for 2025. 159104 & 158890 doing the honours for my last visit to London this year. 🎇 Very busy heading into London due to a cancellation of the previous London train from Salisbury

On my last day trip of 2025 (before returning to 6 late shifts to take me into 2026), I just pottered around the suburban network looking out of the window, ticking off the Shepperton branch for 450 coverage as a bonus.

I've not had a good day with a couple of paths within South Wales being closed unexpected & and without warning. Grr Porth to Maerdy closed at Tylorstown Caerphilly to Senghenydd closed at Abertridwr.

Monday was a day in London, featuring a stroll from Twickenham to Feltham via a path alongside the River Crane (Via Mereway Nature Park & Crane Park) before heading underground with a spin on the DLR

Tuesday was a gentle stroll along the Tarka Trail from Great Torrington to Bideford, some nice views of the river Torridge. Afterwards had a stroll towards Exter St Thomas to see the river Exe running high

Today was a bit of a lazy day, where I ended up having a stroll along the Capital Ring between South Kenton & Hendon (via Fryent Country Park & Welsh Harp Open Space). Back to work tomorrow for a run of 6 early shifts

Using a day of ad-hoc leave (better start using it or else I will lose it), I had a little trip to the Peak District to walk another section of the Peak Forest Canal, from Hyde to New Mills. Although one section was closed (grr!) with a muddy detour. Not a bad way to spend one's anniversary.

Today I had a stroll along the recently opened Lichfield to Brownhills Greenway path along the route of the former South Staffordshire line. One Mr @railwaysquirrel.bsky.social would like no doubt

Day 1 of my long weekend saw me heading to the Peak District to have a gentle stroll along the Sett Valley Trail, a mixed used path along an old railway branch line. Very pretty with the autumn colours and I had a fitting bus for the time of year.

I've just uploaded a new blog post from my adventures last weekend, visiting the remains of the South Staffordshire Railway, Chasewater, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal & the Bingham Linear Park kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/10/trip...

On Sunday I had a little visit to the Chasewater Railway in Staffordshire, nice little heritage railway.

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.

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?).

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.

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.

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)

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...

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...

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)

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...

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 ☀️

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

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...