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Sometimes there is a little bit of branchline is one you keep missing out doing for any number of reasons or you just plain forget. There is also a bit of line you intend to do and just never get aroound ot. This trip tried to address both.
An early start (aren't they all?) from East Croydon started my day.
9R04 East Croydon to Farringdon 700007 [12m 11ch].
Once at Farringdon it was a walk down to the Elizabeth line and over to Paddington.
345053 [3m 44ch].
At Paddington I had a few minutes so I grabbed some food and a drink to keep me going and then it was on to a slightly earlier train to head out to Wiltshire.
1C03 Paddington to Swindon 802101 [77m 18ch].
Swindon is not the place it once was. While my wife and daughter did go there once to the shopping centre on the site o the old works I have never left the station. Indeed this time I didn't leave either. I hung around the platforms looking for old items if the railways past to pnotograh. Sadly there is not a lot there. I did try and get some photos of the trains but it was strangely quiet. Then if was time for my next trains so I waited by the stops of the bay platform (platform 2) for the train. In rolled my next train and the next leg of my trip.
2M22 Swindon to Westbury 158766 [32m 41ch].
The train left and headed through Chippenham and then passes over Thingley Junction and on to the single line through Melksham.
Thingley Junction to Bedford Junction ✅
After passing Trowbridge I aligted at Westbury. While it is not as busy as it used to be with that said a class 66 was shunting some wagons around. A number of passenger trains passed through and I did get a few photos around the station. The call of a new line beckoned and I boaded my next train.
2O74 Westbury to Weymouth 166220 [58m 79ch].
After leaving Westbury the train takes the little loop line through Frome. A lovely looking station with an old world charm.
Clink Road Jn to Blatchbridge Jn via Frome ✅
Afterwards the train stops at Bruton then platform 3 at Castle Cary. Castle Cary has the old cream and brown colouring of the old GWR.
Then it is off down the Heart Of Wessex Line. This part of the lne is just over 39 miles lone and is mostly a single track. There is a loop at Maiden Newton station which allows trains to pass and thus provide a more frequent service. There is also two platforms at Dorchester West station. There are three request stops on the line; Thornford, Yetminster and Chetnote.Tehre was a delay on the day at Clink Road Junction which caused me to arrive in to Weymouth seven minutes late.
Weymouth seems nice. I took a walk from the staion to the nearest 'Spoons as I was really hungary by this point. A walk along the seafront to the pub. Weynouth FC were at home to local rivals Poole FC. Tehre was a lot of supporters at the ub but I got a seat and a meal easily then on to the other 'Spoons and a quieter pint.
Weymouth was famous (in the railway world) for its Harbour Tramway. Just to the north of Weymouth station is a junction that took the line through the streets to a station build especially for passengers for the boats.
Opened in 1865 the last trains ran in 1987 in normal service but after this an occasional 'Special' train ran until 1999. On my visit a lot of the old trackwork was covered by road but sections remain and it's fun trying to walk to old line. Near the station a section is still in situ and even has working signals. All too soon it was time to head home.
1W64 Weymouth to Bournemouth 444031 [34m 62ch]
1W64 Bounemouth to Clapham Junction 444031, 444028 [104m 05ch].
The journey up to London was ok until Bournemouth when it became busier and around the Southampton area it picked up a delay but was not too bad by the time I arrived inton Clapham Junction.
2O55 Clapham Junction to Selhurst 377703 [6m 60ch].