CovDriver

We are now about to leave Antwerp and head for a place called Pairi Daisa it's Europe's largest zoo and we'll be staying for one night in the Walrus room. But only three pics railway related for Antwerp sadly Cheers Colin

Well as I'm still off work but I'm actually on Annual leave now until the beginning of May. We have gone away to Belgium for a week out first place to stay is Antwerp and what a railway station it is. I'll get some pics later Cheers Colin

Well it's all gone a bit wrong, I had my company medical on Monday and everything was absolutely fine until the doctor checked my blood pressure. When she said it was a bit high that's an understatement it was extremely high. So I've been taken off trains for the foreseeable future until my BP comes down and it's been checked again. I'm now on medication to hopefully stabilise it. So it looks like the only trains I'll be driving will be on the layout. Cheers Colin

Managed to get a Sunday turn in seen as SWMBO and the little one are in Wales for a week. It was basically New St to Rugby and back a few times. I've got my medical tomorrow in Birmingham so that's an easy day then I'm back in Tuesday on a running turn followed by a safety brief on Wednesday, another running turn on Thursday then that's me until May 2nd but I may make a guest appearance for an additional Sunday turn. Here's a few pics from today's job. Cheers Colin

I'll hopefully be doing the same when I retire or win the lottery as we've got family now in the Blaenau ffestiniog area in particular the little village Trawsfynydd.

That's a very rare occurrence getting consecutive unit numbers. As I wasn't required to work anything at New St I've been told to go home. What a result for today's turn an early finish by 2hrs.

A lovely turn this morning with a book on time of 0510 travel pass to Birmingham international to prep a pair of 350's and run ECS to New St then it should have been New St to Four Oaks and then Redditch and back to New St with a single 323 a short PnB and then a 350 to Walsall and back to New St then pass back to Coventry. But there was an instructor with a trainee taking my turn. So I'm now spare at New St as they are short on qualified drivers. Cheers Colin

Well that's today's turn done after all it was a 0351 book on this morning. Taxi to Birmingham international then prep a couple of 350's run ECS to New st and then work the same pair to Northampton for a well deserved PnB then work another pair to New st followed by a quick trip to Four Oaks and back. Get those 323's in as the time is now running out as I'm led to believe the 730's will soon be coming to the cross city. Only one pic for today to try my camera phone a new Google pixel 8. Cheers Colin

Well I'm almost back to full strength, so it was travel pass to New St uncouple a pair of 350's ànd take one to Birmingham International and back followed by a single class 323 to Redditch then to Four Oaks and back to New St for a PnB. On the way to Four Oaks I picked up @Amnesiac I must say a top team for a single unit to Four Oaks and back. Then I had a double set from New St to Lichfield TV. I hadn't been up to Lichfield for nearly 6weeks I can't believe how quick the new houses are going up. Anyway only one pic from today just a pair of 323's at Lichfield TV. I really must get more pics of the 323 fleet before they go. Cheers Colin

Well that was an interesting 6 days at Rugby I'm all passed out now on the Class 730/0 units. Had my ride out yesterday with a driver manager it was a great day chatting about the old BR and listening to his days at Stratford depot and also learning 306 units... I will probably mostly be on the Walsall - Wolverhampton route from now on until the 730/2 units come into service then I'll have to do a 1 day conversion course as there are some minor differences on these units. As I'm rest day today I might do some modelling work on the layout. Back in tomorrow at 0351 to endure a taxi to Birmingham International to prep a pair of 350's then take the 0613 (1W12) as far as Northampton and have a little nap before bringing back the 0840 from Northampton to New St followed by a trip to Four Oaks and back. Cheers Colin

Hi all, Now that I'm slowly recovering from a severe chest infection/early on set pneumonia I've only just returned to worked I'm not firing on all cylinders just yet. That's the excuse for the last couple of weeks without pictures on this thread. next week I'm on my class 730 course at Rugby for six days I believe there is a few paths for us to carry out training runs between Northampton and Birmingham International but I'm not certain of the times as yet. Cheers Colin.

Yet another mundane turn this morning. First it was a taxi to the yard to prep a pair of 350's which had been stabled with the pantograph's down for 2days. I was expecting pages of faults once I had powered them up but surprisingly no serious faults. Once I walked to the North end of the units I could smell fresh paint. Logged it with Control and sent them some pics to let them decide if it was fit for service. As it was only one vehicle that had been painted our control decided to remove that unit from service once I arrived into Northampton. I was then pass to New St for a PnB then I picked up 350371 for a New St-Wolverhampton- Walsall- Wolverhampton- New St and pass back to Coventry. Anyway here are the pics of the 350 with some additional paintwork.

I was held up outside Northampton this morning waiting for 66701 on the ballast to come through via platform 1 and onto the up/down slow.

Was it you on 4M68 as the signaller wouldn't give me the road as it was running a little early...

Well it was a cold one this morning when I booked on at 0351 it was a taxi to Birmingham International to prep a pair of 350's and run ECS to New St for working 1W12 0613 New St to Euston as far as Northampton for a PnB Then it was the 0840 1Y15 back to New St and a quick trip to Four Oaks and back with a pair of 323's and finally pass back to Canley and walk home. Only one pic today as it was freezing so the cab heating was on full blast. Cheers Colin