It's a tad frosty in the land of the third rail rail this morning. This is the fireworks show provided by an icy conductor rail when you are the first train of the day along the line.

An obligatory visit is completed, so it's time to head back down south....

Heading north to "Gods Own County". I think I'll take the one on the left this time....

Making good use of my Cover shift tonight by updating my diary with the new shifts from mid December. Noted up to January 2027, and yes I know it will probably change next May and December, but the rest days won't change , just the actual shift times.

Nottingham Station - Clifton South ✅ That completes the Nottingham Express Transit system for me.

In my quest to ✅ off the longest scheduled journey on each rail/metro/tram operator, it was the turn of the Docklands Light Railway. 0816 Bank to Woolwich Arsenal At 8mi 73ch it's not vast by any means, but it's still the longest, and that's what matters.

Today's longest TOC journey was with Hull Trains. 1A92 0753 Beverley - London Kings Cross 213mi 43ch With 802303 to Hull, and the 802303+802304 to London Two journeys each way, Monday - Saturday, one return trip on Sunday's.

Spent the day expiring the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram system. Branches to Phoenix Park, Hucknall and Toton Lane all ticked off. I'll leave Clifton South for another day.

Hellifield - Clitheroe ✅ Finally managed to clear this stretch of track, available as two round trips from Rochdale to Ribblehead on Saturdays only on the “Yorkshire Dales Explorer”. This would be so much better as a daily service. A much quicker route From Manchester to the Dales then via Leeds

Couple of wins today. Glenrothes with Thornton to Thornton South Junction 2K08 0750 Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh (only one service each way on weekdays via Kirkcaldy). Followed by:- Thornton North Junction to Leven

Finally got to ride the "Clockwork Orange" Full loop, inner and outer circles on a very busy Sunday in Glasgow. Surely there is a business case for this running beyond 1830 on a Sunday?

Never forgotten....

It's a triple Faversham - St Pancras shift, and I've 395011 for the whole day..... It would appear that it is as shocked as I am.....😮😁 #HighSpeed

Little, and I mean little, track bash using the curve from Harbour City to Broadway means I've completed the Manchester Metrolink (Bee Network) tram network. Had to wait months for the city centre roadworks to be completed as everything went via MediaCityUK instead.

ScotRail 158702 crosses the Clachnaharry Swing Bridge over the Caledonian Canal on the 1831 Inverness to Wick

Wick ✅ The long journey back to Kent begins.... #TrackBash

Thurso✅ Time for a quick hop to Wick. #TrackBash

Never thought I'd say this but, CMAC to the rescue.... #IFYKYK

Raw power, albeit asleep, either end of a test train in the sidings at Doncaster

Brilliant night - just brilliant!

Due to disruption, we ran nonstop through Stratford International this evening. Not something we do very often when in service. 1J61 1849 Margate - St Pancras

The Inspiration Train at Margate yesterday

I'm armed with a coffee, so it's time for a quick trip on ECS to Gravesend before we go in service to Maidstone West. 395017 5T95 0648 St Pancras - Gravesend Then..... 1T96 0712 Gravesend - Maidstone West 1T95 0754 Maidstone West - St Pancras #HighSpeed #OBM #TrainLife

1L15 0622 Faversham - St Pancras via Ramsgate and Dover. 395003 provides the power. #HighSpeed #OBM #trainlife

Today's little track bash was on BeeNetwork trams from:- St Werburgh's Road - Manchester Airport Just one little curve left to finish the whole network, which will have to wait until the city centre roadworks are completed.

Can't believe I've just been asked to turn down the Aircon on the train as it's too cold!!!!! 🥶 I think the look on all the other passengers said it all....🥵😯

I'm back at Maidstone West again this morning, and it's already too hot 🥵 395017 is my chariot for 1T95, with my soon to be Eurostar driver at the helm. I'm shadowing my colleague again today as part of their return to work plan. #HighSpeed #OBM

Morning from Ramsgate! Today I'm shadowing a colleague who's been off work for a while. So I'm here to help out with queries they have and help them get back into the routine of working a train. 395016 on the 1L23 0908 Ramsgate to St Pancras (via Dover)

It's not even 8am, and yet this is my fourth working of the day! Morning from Maidstone.... 395014 "Dina Asher-Smith" 1T95 0754 to London St Pancras #HighSpeed

www.waterstones.com/book/rail-at... Ideal for your rail travel nerd Dad this Fathers Day…

Oh my God!!!! I'm in heaven..... Of course, in the UK on Sunday, this would be a replacement bus 😁🚂🚌

A plethora of various units, operators and colour schemes on show at Praha Hlvani Nadrazi this afternoon. My favourite has to be the steam loco decal on the electric loco.

When you want the Sunday Roast, but also the Pie 🥧 I've found a pub that does a compromise - Pie Roast!

Today's tipple.....

Looks like my Mum has gone viral on the care home TikTok page….. Not bad moves for a 91yr old with dementia!

Mornin' from Maidstone #HighSpeed

Our highspeed Javelins are looking better than ever as the final train to complete its interior refresh returns to customer service today This is part of £27m fleet upgrade delivering #BetterJourneys in partnership with @eversholtrail and @HitachiRailENG http://spkl.io/63322f2iLw

A few more Scottish branch lines fell to the red 🖊️ today Ardrossan South Beach to Ardrossan Harbour ✅ Port Glasgow to Wemyss Bay ✅

This mornings early doors PSUL track bash was on:- Scotrail’s 2Y76 0548 Motherwell to Edinburgh This is the only service that runs via Holytown and uses the stretch from Mossend South to Mossend East junctions

A bit of Scottish track bashing yesterday! Craigendoran Jct to Helensburgh Central Dalmuir to Hyndland via Yoker

Today's little, and I mean little, track bash Ely North Jct - Ely West Jct via the Ely West Curve (which involved a ride from Thetford to Peterborough) Thanks to the singular Sunday only service that is:- 1M80 1554 Norwich to Manchester Piccadilly East Midlands Railway 158780 at Thetford

I promise I didn't tell them my name...

A word to the wise…… If you’re going to apply a railcard discount to your ticket, and you don’t have a railcard, make sure you don’t select the 16-17 Railcard when you are actually in your late 40’s……. It’s a bit of a giveaway….

A little track bash on the Bee Network system today Pomona - The Trafford Centre ✅ @beenetworkgm.bsky.social

As it's Easter, it's time for a ride on a class of train that has risen once again after a rather untimely demise. 379029 leads 379023 on 1Q09 0745 Letchworth Garden City to London Kings Cross

Did the "Hidden London" tour of the disused platforms at Charing Cross underground station. Interesting insight into its construction and use as a film set. Unfortunately, you're not allowed to slide down the escalator like Daniel Craig in Skyfall....

A day of reflection at Scotney Castle @nationaltrust.org.uk

Back at the cathedral that is Paddington

Well this may cause a problem. I was intending to do the full route through to Penzance, but we may* only go as far as Plymouth (bugger!) I guess we can only wait and see if they can find more crew from Plymouth.

Heading north to the granite city. A mere 7hr trip compared to what tomorrow has instore