big jim

one thing i do know is you cant collect nectar points after the franchise change! ive got a 1st class ticket booked for the family for 22nd dec to go to london, be interesting to see if there are any changes to the customer service side of things, we normally go on a virgin family ticket which is £110 for 2 adults and 2 kids return crewe to london however i managed to get a 1st class family single for £100 and the return trip (on the quicker virgin service) for £30 for the 4 of us, worth the extra £20 to have a treat on the way down there (cant afford both ways!), it would be a shame if first were to get rid of the likes of the family ticket as it is very good value (although my eldest is 16 next year so we wont be eligable for them!)

ive put the k+n on the cooper as well as fitting a double din headunit, easier said than done as it only has a hole for a standard size stereo, had to set to it with a razor saw and drop the heating and switch controls down but it went in nice and easy as the h/u has a shallow depth single din rear!

flying ryanair to brum, enjoy the short connecting bus ride from bristol then!

A final farewell video from virgin trains (complete with stereotypical trainspotter)

yep, namely remembered for these particular pants

beat me to it!

Already covered with colas, did fort William and mallaig in 2016

Another last minute call in, same as last night Conducting from Stockport to Stafford But this time on an intermodal service same again tonight but on a Stone train again

I’ve got tickets to see him next week in whitchurch, really looking forward to it

there was talk of them being put back on the GB locos

And there it was gone! I’ll try and get a better pic but my wife grabbed This one as we were passing earlier sad to see the whole factory end wall gone, I can only assume the bottom is Either staying up and will be finished and tidied up properly or they will leave it up until the house construction is complete then pull down the last bit (saves them putting up temporary fencing)

Last minute call in to conduct a Stone train from Stockport to Stafford as the driver didn’t sign via Macclesfield 66714 In Stockport and into Stafford nice easy job, doing it again Friday morning

I think I’ll be going for DRS 602 and Europhoenix 608 as I’ve driven both of them in the last few years both will go nice with NR stock

Yeah had that one a few times, had it for a couple of week solid on the Iport job

Just 2 from tonight before I go to sleep shrewsbury to derby with a pengam to stourton Stone train abbey forgate Derby and thats me until Saturday morning where I’m doing a rare coal train from Nottingham I nto ratcliffe power station and back to Doncaster

Dominic picked up ‘Charlie’s angels’ for the ps2 For 50p in a charity shop over the weekend purely as he’d heard there was a glitch in the game which prevents you progressing beyond the 2nd level and he wanted to see if it’s true!

Dominics horse is still missing on RDR2, it ran off 6 months ago and has never been seen since!

funnily enough it was in a room with a mock chimney the kids could climb up (and slide back down through another exit)

more than likely, we did the high level at Willesden a couple of times then the DCs to Watford, I remember passing something GBRF around headstone lane

I really wanted to get it done last weekend for remembrance Sunday but didn’t have access to the jet wash, finally got it sorted today though, I’m certainly aching now!

Yeah, certainly got to some strange places last week! some from this morning, had a few hours to spare at bescot so gave 66775 a wash, scrubbed it with truck wash then jet washed it off before After 60001 and away to Macclesfield via rugby, also went via Stafford today too rugby Macclesfield And that was that, stone train tomorrow night

As it happens the first of the class is sat next to me in bescot at the mo

went to Sudbury hall earlier and the museum of childhood, this was in one of the displays........

normally it’s a couple of days static training then handling turns, assessment and pass out, sign off the paperwork and they can drive on their own, this week the driver I had with me already had class 37 experience so I let him drive as I am an instructor/assessor and we did a Traction refresh, sorted the paperwork out and got him re-certified on them some from last night Heading back to derby ferme park We then went onto the north london line, over to south Acton where we changed ends Back to cannonbury where we changed ends again And headed all the way to oxford via the north london line, Ealing, Greenford, the chilterns and Bicester village Back to Bicester and changed ends again And all the way to derby, changed ends on chaddesden curve and into the RTC in tomorrow for the RHTT, stone train Monday night then a week of rest days so having some time off

Some from last night, back along the LTS to Upminster and over to grays to record the single line through ockenden then the Watford DC lines ferme park Grays Watford Jn DC line platforms And back to Ferme park tonight it’s Ferme park to derby via the Chilterns and oxford (east west link) and into lodge for the RHTT on Sunday!