"The poorly green engine that's sleeping" - as my daughter describes South Devon Railway's 3205. Before usually adding "ssshhh" and "can we give him some coal?" Here he is sleeping in Buckfastleigh yard yesterday.

I thought this looked weirdly like the train equivalent of a 'barn find' - a bit of damage to South Devon Railway's PLOG shed revealed Glendower and D7541 peeping out on Saturday

Yellow + grey + green DMU: progress with the Cl.117 that came to South Devon Railway a year or two ago

Enjoyed 5542 at Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, West Somerset Railway & South Devon Railway in the 10 years I've been back into trains but think this is its last week before overhaul. Here it is at Buckfastleigh on Thurs (surprising me by being in BR green now!), with cameos from D7612, 33002, Thomas and 6430

My daughter loved meeting this celebrity at South Devon Railway on Thursday. Hope everyone there to see him this weekend has fun! (And if you're not there for the characters, it looks like it's a 7-coach set with ex-Austerity Thomas top/tailing with a cl.25, which will sound great)

I thought going to South Devon Railway the day before a Thomas event would mean some interesting stuff was going on and it was a good call. Pre-Sodor shunting at Buckfastleigh on Thurs included D7612 with an under-repair ex-Paignton Mk1 + the visiting vintage GWR coach from Bodmin

Don't know any details about the loco but fun to see steam back on South Devon Railway's miniature railway on Thurs. It's a hidden gem of a line through the woods at Buckfastleigh and is my daughter's 2nd favourite thing to do there after a picnic by the loco shed.

Back to South Devon Railway again this morning at my daughter's request! Intrigued to see work happening on Lady Angela - which has been on display by the cafe at Buckfastleigh so many years.

Our first railtour in 28 years! BLS Fixtures' Ore No More at Bognor Regis with The Fifty Fund's 50007 Hercules. Off to... most of the south coast next.

.BLS Fixtures' Ore No More has reached Brighton. Brilliant day so far - civilised tour, very well run, and most importantly very decent noise from The Fifty Fund's 50007 Hercules at our end

Now at Eastbourne on BLS Fixtures' Ore No More with 50008 Thunderer after visiting the derelict but intriguing Newhaven Marine then Haywards Heath. Nice bit of faster running on the last leg, and 50007 sounded particularly ace through Lewes tunnel earlier.

With family heritage around the Marsh Link, I did like the original plan of Ore/Hastings for BLS Fixtures' tour today but Cannon St with 50008 Thunderer + The Fifty Fund's 50007 Hercules is both novel and felt a little reminiscent of 50s into Waterloo in a lovely way

Growing up near the Waterloo-Exeter in the 80s meant every day out began and ended with a 50 hammering through the countryside, the window at our table as wide open as it would go. Thanks BLS Fixtures, The Fifty Fund, @slcoperations & Hanson&Hall rail Services Solutions Ltd for taking me back there yesterday.

Driving past Moors Valley Railway very early on Sat morning reminded me that 1) I haven't been there in 10 years and 2) my daughter would definitely love it given her fondness for Pecorama. Better do something about that soon. Meanwhile, here's Offa in summer 2012.

Always love seeing the westward leg of Railway Touring Co.'s Great Britain, great to have it back. This is 6233 Duchess of Sutherland coming out of Taunton this morning heading from Cardiff to Penzance.

47802 of West Coast Railways is support loco for Railway Touring Co.'s Great Britain this year. This is it coming out of Taunton this morning running light from Barry to Exeter so it could pull 6233 and the stock back into Riverside yard during the break in the journey down to Penzance

Free day in Cornwall for Railway Touring Co.'s Great Britain passengers today but 6233 Duchess of Sutherland and its helper 47802 have been up to Plymouth to turn on the Laira triangle

Bank holiday Devon Diesel Society beer festival at South Devon Railway had a jubilee garden party twist this year. I made a quick beer-free visit for 6430 on a GWR set and 33002 Sea King on blood/custard Mk1s, both gorgeous in different ways

A 50 hammering up the hill from St Davids into Exeter Central then off towards London... so synonymous with my childhood I feel quite emotional about seeing it happen again just now with The Fifty Fund's 50007 Hercules on UK Railtours' Devon Pullman. Sounded perfect.

Really looking forward to booking myself on a couple of these later in the year - brake van rides on freights on selected Sundays (mix of steam and diesel) at South Devon Railway all year. This is 33002 Sea King near Staverton with one of today's.