by Left home at 06:30 and caught the train at Spalding at 07:00. Arrival at Peterborough was at 07:25. Waited for the train to Birmingham New Street, which should have arrived at 07:52. The train was cancelled due to staff shortages, which meant an hours wait for the next train. It arrived on time and was soon on its way to Birmingham New Street. Arrival was at 10:44. A quick trip across to Birmingham Moor Street to catch a train to Kidderminster which arrived at 10:59. Arrival at Kidderminster was at 10:39. The steam train was due to leave at 10:40, but it was still there when I got across to the station. Got on the train, formed of Blood & Custard Mk1s, which had 43106 on the rear, and a diesel locomotive on the front, which was D8188 (Class 20 in black livery). The train left at 10:45, and towed the steam locomotive to Bridgnorth. It was later confirmed that 43106 had suffered a partial dropped brick arch. Arrival at Bridgnorth was at 11:58, and after photographs were taken of the steam locomotive and also the running round of the Class 20, I made my way off the station. I made my way to the far end of the station and saw the frames of Class 3 locomotive, 82045. Photographs were taken of the progress so far. I went back onto the station, and saw the departure of the train I had got, after the arrival of a private dining train, hauled by 42968. The locomotive left the front of its train, and waited for a clear path to run round its train. A diesel shunter left the yard, and made its way down to the end of the other end of station to collect a coach. 42968 ran round its train and attached on the other end ready for departure. The shunter and coach came through the station, and parked up in the yard to await arrival of the next passenger train. Soon, the passenger train arrived, hauled by CR828 and 4566 hauling a rake of LNER teak coaches. Once the train had arrived, the shunter attached the coach on the end of the rake. This was a 1957 Experimental Open coach, which was a Mk1 coach with a different style of seating. The diesel then pulled the complete rake out of the station to release the train locomotives for access into the yard for water and coal. After the locomotives were in the yard, the train was pushed back into the station and passengers started to board. The CR828 was lead locomotive followed by 4566. Departure was at 15:05 and I made my way back to Kidderminster. Photographs and video were taken en-route, and arrival at Kidderminster was at 16:14. Photographs of CR828 and 4566 were taken at the station, and then it was time to leave the Severn Valley Railway and make my way home. The return journey was back via the same route as the outward journey. Arrival at Spalding was at 21:00, and I got home at 22:00.
More photographs at http://www.flickr.com/photos/16521384@N ... 895595165/
