Back at Epping, I discovered the hitherto unknown (to me) Epping Signalling Museum, also with the former locomotive L11. This was a great and informative tour, and I would recommend it to anyone!

Some parting shots from North Weald, it seems a well run railway and hopefully they can open up a platform at Epping in due course.

20227 in its non-standard but nonetheless very smart London Underground livery is seen awaiting the right away at Ongar.

GWR 6989 Wightwick Hall is seen at North Weald and at Ongar. It is at the Epping & Ongar Railway for the next month or so. It will hit the small screen (or other streaming devices!) at the end of 2026 pulling the Hogwarts Express.

Not my usual mode of transport - I'm sure someone will know all about it, but to me it's "old bus"!

With just 2 weeks until the end of the ORR station usage reporting period (Apr 2025 - Mar 2026), I wonder whether one of these stations will be below Bordesley in the next stats to be West Midlands least used? Obviously over a full year they will far surpass many existing West Midlands stations.

Looking forward to the possibility of a Pineapple Road to Strawberry Hill journey in a couple of weeks or so!

Just no!

I took a walk down to Folkestone Harbour while passing through the area. Sadly I never got here when it was open, but they have done a great job of repurposing it as a focal point for visitors, with stalls and food outlets behind one of the platforms.

375704 has just arrived at Westenhanger with a service to Charing Cross. Interesting location, the constant drone of the adjacent motorway blights what would otherwise be a tranquil spot, but the chance to see Eurostars at full speed is unforgettable.

#Avanti and #Northern often get a bad press, but I've got to give them credit today, my entire day's itinerary has gone like clockwork (and an assist with 1st and last trains of the day by #Crosscountry as well). 158861 is pictured at Lancaster.

The Windermere branch was just as scenic as expected; Burneside was a lovely tranquil spot and a pretty village as well.

I had no expectations prior to today of Bare Lane being anything other than a basic unstaffed station, but it turned out to be the gem of the Morecambe/Heysham branches. A community group clearly looks after it and it is beautifully presented.

The station at Heysham seems to have an identity crisis - a lot of information boards en route as well as on train announcements refer to it as Heysham Harbour, but the actual signage at the station says it's Heysham Port. 156419 brings me in and out with the once-a-day service.

Having changed at Wigan NW, realised there were hordes of football fans heading for their local derby at Blackpool. They were pretty chilled though and 331111 took me to Preston, where I changed onto 195132 to Lancaster. Morecambe and Heysham are the next targets.

Today's chariot to whisk me to the North-west is 390117. Recent experiences with Avanti have not been great, so I'm hoping they can improve my perception of them today.

Same here!

I was also pleasantly surprised to find there were diverted trains to Stratford from here, via Primrose Hill.

Momentary calm on the WCML at South Hampstead, but a Chiltern Line passes over in the middle distance on its approach to Marylebone.

Paddington

I have that problem with Luton, although my friend at work says that's a blessing, not a curse!

A station I always forget exists when doing tube map challenges online, but today is my destination to watch Cheltenham Town away at Barnet.

At least it's still running. Cross Country would have cancelled it, and the five following trains as well.

Good news in itself, but unless they run longer trains, and stop towing empty units around due to lack of traincrew, I think the passenger experience will be much the same.

That's a great one to finish with, congratulations Sam. I've only just passed 800 in about the same amount of time, so to do the lot is a great achievement!

Station number 800 for me is the unremarkable Marsh Barton. It would be a pleasant spot if not for the constant rumble from the adjacent incinerator! It is a pretty standard unstaffed new-build station.

For people of a certain age, Some Might Say this is an iconic (former) station building.

The single line token is returned to the machine at Amber gate as 170506 prepares to rejoin the main line. Unusually, the platform shelter faces the car park rather than the platform.

A bird's-eye view of a former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp showing a wide dirt pathway flanked by parallel rows of barbed-wire fences. Groups of visitors walk along the path, surrounded by the remnants of brick structures and barracks, now reduced to foundations. Green grass contrasts with the somber history of the site, as the path leads toward a guard tower in the distance.

Auschwitz was at the end of a process. We must remember that it did not start from gas chambers.

This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.

Auschwitz took time.

Journey's end at Matlock as the rain resumes. The Peak Rail platform is on the left, but no services there now until the February half-term!