A Charing Cross to Tonbridge via Redhill stopping train on the descent from Merstham Tunnel

A brief shaft of sunlight illuminates a Southampton/Bognor to Victoria semi-fast entering Merstham Tunnel.

On time the 4Z91 roars through Merstham and over the M25 on the climb to Merstham Tunnel

56312 was in good voice as it climbs the 0.38% grade. There aren't many places in the UK where the sound of a 56 on a heavy train are still experienced on the national network.

The tail of the train trails into Merstham Tunnel

Tuesday. A lunchtime trip to Earlswood to catch the 7Y36 and, if possible, FCCs 377/5s. But first a trio of Southern trains. From Left to right; a Portsmouth Harbour and Bognor to Victoria semi-fast, a London Bridge to Horsham stopper and, on the Quarry Line, a Brighton to Victoria fast.

7Y36 on time with the breeze catching the light sand in the first few box wagons. The fields on the North Downs behind Redhill have just been harvested. Strange seeing a tractor pulling a trailer full of grain in the streets of what is, after all, a London suburb.

No 377/5s just a pair of 319s coming off the Quarry Line through the redundant fast line platforms at Earlswod. They were removed when the curve was eased in readiness for the Gatwick Express.

A 377 passes a Gat Ex set as the latter accelerates out of the 80 mph speed restriction.

From Monday 17th Grand Central introduced a new later departure from King's Cross at 19:18. On Tuesday the empty HST set makes its way down the Up Goods towards King's Cross from Alexandra Palace

A few minutes later 180 113 in Hull Train's Dynamic Lines livery approaches Ally Pally on the 18:50 from King's Cross

Southern normally keep their 377s in tip top condition but unfortunately the vandals have made a mess of this unit, leaving Gatwick this morning.

At last. Not sure what the train was, it is not a First Capital Connect service I normally see at Gatwick between 08:19 and 08:25, whilst changing trains. 377 512 and 377 509.

And later in the day yet another new Bombardier product, this time London Overground's 378 005 leaving Gospel Oak en-route to Stratford

Catch of the day?. 56311 approaching Harringay Green Lanes on the 7Z99...

...running in the approximate times of the old 7O81...

...and passing two other rail fans out for the show.

Thursday; an FCC 377/5 emerging from Quarry Tunnel. Between London and Brighton there are six tunnels in 51 miles; Quarry, Redhill, Balcombe, Haywards Heath, Clayton and Patcham. And up to the 1960s there was also the Cane Hill Covered Way, an artificial tunnel which hid the 'new' Quarry Line from the patients of the Cane Hill Mental Hospital in Coulsden. Total length is about four and a half miles, a greater % underground than any other mainline.

From feast to famine. Within minutes a pair of 377/5s on a Brighton to Bedford train climbing towards Quarry Tunnel. The train is crossing the M25, the houses are in South Merstham.

the 13:20 Gatwick to Victoria formed of a pair of 442s passing a couple of track workers on the Quarry Line.

66138 makes a welcome return appearance on the 7Y36 from Cliffe to Crawley. The train carries three different types of aggregate of varying degrees of 'fineness', the sand is in the first few wagons and accounts for the haze.

And finally Friday; 66707 Sir Sam Fay - Great Central Railway on the Kensal Green spur on the 4L02 to Felixstowe.

The old and the new; 378013 on a Stratford service passing a 313 heading for Richmond.

This is what I was at Willesden for, 47739 on the first 7Z98, Colas (for SNCF) operated Ford train from Valencia. Those expecting 56313 were in for a disappointment, but it was a very light load, I counted 11 flats