Just found this post on FB and it got me wondering about 2 things. 1/ why? 2/ who wore it better? The Capri, or 35164? 😂😂

Early arrival into Basingstoke only to find my relief is lost somewhere in a taxi 🤦🏻😂 Heavy Haul Rail 66590 on loan to Freightliner, with a service from Southampton to Leeds where it will come off hire and return to HHR.

More from my trip to Exeter depot a couple weekends ago, on the 5th July. They have a large fleet of aging Optare Solos, I personally prefer the look of these over the SR bodied ones. Opinions? @anthonyf2024.bsky.social @alitrains114.bsky.social

Cross Country 220006 leads 220005 into Reading with the first southbound service from Birmingham New Street to Bournemouth. And then seen at Winchester while changing for a service to Eastleigh.

66618 "Railways Illustrated" arriving into Reading this morning.

Sunrise at Newport (South Wales) just before the first of three trains arrive to get me back to Eastleigh.

57604 "Pendennis Castle" at the head of tonight's Riveara Sleeper service. Seen in Platform 7 at Reading. I'm awaiting my train to Wentloog to arrive.

Taken outside Newport (South Wales) station yesterday morning while I waited for my train back to Eastleigh. Newport Bus 436 (former abellio London 9842). Newport Bus seems to have a small fleet of Tridents, both ALX400 & President bodied, 51 plate through 52 plates still in revenue service.

66572 & 66501 "Spirit of '65" at Wentloog this morning. 572 having just arrived with me from Southampton and 501 came in from Gateway a little earlier.

Having recently driven 10772, I finally had a reason to get this model 😁 modelled on 10770 in Stagecoach Gold and branded for Aldershot route 1.

Exeter training fleet 😁

Just a small selection of the many photos taken at Exeter depot yesterday. Both 18384 & 19002 being new to Manchester and made a nice pair to see side by side. Former Coastliner & Portsmouth based Scania 15604, which I used to drive way back when & Dennis Dart training bus 34689.

Couldn't see, but it was one of their MMC400s

Ended up in Basingstoke today due to an incident on the railway and as luck would have it I managed to get a better photo of 18387. @alitrains114.bsky.social @anthonyf2024.bsky.social

After arriving into Maritime from Nuneaton, all I had to do was work one to Eastleigh and finish. Well I got to Eastleigh just fine... early in fact! However, the powers that be decided I needed to take the train to Winchester due to disruptions causing delays to my relief.

66523 at Banbury with a service for Southampton Maritime, waiting for a late running Cross Country to pass.

A photo from yesterday. 66540 "Ruby" waits to depart with 4E65, 66505 atill sporting the older name tags was ahead of my train as far as Eastleigh and in the distance is 66511 waiting to work 4S59

Some photos of yesterday's trip from Wentloog to Southampton. DRS 68008 'Avenger' next to my loco 66517 inside Wentloog terminal. 66517 then seen at Lawrence Hill and Bradford On Avon stations Also, I wasn't expecting to drive through torrential rain and a thunderstorm in the Bristol/Bath area ⛈️⛈️

Bit of running around today. 26207 Portsmouth - Guildford 27651 Guildford - Chichester 26208/09 Chichester - Guildford 27650 & 828 Guildford- Winchester 27568 Winchester - Chichester 11231 Chichester - Winchester 26208 & 27828 were driven by another driver.

66513 is the loco on my train north this evening (seen here at Maritime before departure). I will hand over at Nuneaton before bringing one back to Eastleigh in the early hours.

The beginning of another long night.

66507 waiting to depart from Southampton Maritime last night. I would take it through to Nuneaton before returning in the early hours with 66509.

66509 'Freightliner Retirement Association' at Nuneaton in the early hours this morning. Leading my train back south to Eastleigh, having already worked a train up to Nuneaton with 66507 late last night.

Same here 😭🥲 Here's a photo of me departing Eastleigh in March 24 (photo by MJDS photography)

Bit of time in Basingstoke this morning after coming back from Cardiff and finally managed to get 18503. Seen arriving outside of Basingstoke Railway station. @alitrains114.bsky.social @anthonyf2024.bsky.social

Looking back through some old photos (albeit rather poorly taken ones). Some of the Volvo Olympians I had the pleasure of driving, the only one I didn't get a photo of was 16745 😭 16269 - Sept 14 16292 - June 14 16747 - July 13 16787 - June 14 @alitrains114.bsky.social @anthonyf2024.bsky.social

A couple more photos from Ramsgate depot today. 19135, 36505 & 19405 and an unidentified open top. Training e200 36311, 19248, 15403 & 19406. 19251 & 26239 parked outside the depot as I leave for the railway station to get a train back home.

Delivered safe and sound to Ramsgate depot, even if a little wet. Sunny all the way until I joined the M2, with a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder, the heavens opened up ⛈️🌧⛈️

Today's mission (because I accepted it) is go topless! Returning 17529 from Portsmouth to Ramsgate today. Currently having a quick break at Cobham services. Lunch on the top deck with a good view for some spotting 👀 even if it is 701s 🙄🤢