All that effort to type all those words and David's decision to turn off replies says more than any of the words he typed out

It's a rest day from work and with work slowly gnawing away at my patience (which is limited anyway) there was no other thing to do today than head for my happy place on the railways. 350407 was my steed from Stafford & is the penultimate 350 into the photo album

Nearly got bowled by that Pendolino sneaking away in the distance but managed a swift point & click at a very speedy 66539 destined for Trafford Park

The important stuff at Lichfield is up on the top platform with the solitary pair of units now all we get in the West Midlands. Thankfully, 323221 is back out today, so it's time to head into Birmingham to meet up with my special guest companion for the day 😊

After nearly getting bowled by delays on a pointless hop to University earlier, me and Ted put in a turn of pace across Birmingham to get to Moor Street in time for this beast to take us to Leamington Spa

The answer is simply.....it's a 730 🤣 That bloody thing nearly cost us our CAT from Moor Street 🤬

Required 168215 took us back to Birmingham & then we nearly committed sacrilege by taking 730029 on a time wasting trip to Aston but as ever the 730 was delayed so we bailed to phot mega traction in the form of 158820

It's all a bit too orange and modern at New Street these days 😩 196107 on a Shrewsbury stopper and then 730009/730021 with a Redditch working

😍😍😍 We're finally reunited with the proper trains as 323240 leads 323221 into New Street on a Bromsgrove service

I quite like how this (unintentionally) turned out 😁

Right, you've frozen all the pensioners now get back to work you lazy, work-shy buggers 😉🤣

There is no other way to complete my time on service trains operated by these beauts in the West Mids than a couple of full line runs Centro did the honours to Lichfield before we switched to 240 for the run back to Bromsgrove Only right that Centro was my final run into Brum🫡

The trainfanmatt enthusiast kit! A flatcap, a coffee & chocolate 😁

It's dark, it's cold, it's wet and I'm back to the grind tomorrow so getting home nice and early is a must! Naaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! 👀😁

Finally, 68010 goes into the book for haulage. The "Oxford Flyer" has been tamed and is my 18th winning 68! It was also required for a photo as this loco has done its best to avoid me 🙈😁

A scene:

"yOu CaN't HeAr ThE lOcO iN mK3s" 68010:

As promised it's the turn of 91119 for some throwback pics,in the last pic a remainder that it hasn't always been the INTERCITY beast!

Stourbridge Junction and the often forgotten end of the Mk3 sets, with Class 82 82304 waiting to lead the set into the depot for a well earned rest and then it was over to 172218 to get me back to Smethwick

After a brief pause at Wolves to check on DOTS (Down On The Stour)'s work ethic (still doing bugger all) it was late running 390124 that gets me home Thanks to Ted for joining me for a great day 😁 Have all the lights at Leamington earlier as 68010 slides between a 196 & 168323