Thursday 9th. 4L02 at Gospel Oak with 66724 Drax Power Station in charge

The commuters awaiting LOROL trains pay no attention.

The 7Z98 produced Robin of Templecombe and a leased 47805, which was a nice surprise.

Later in the day 56312 approaching Redhill from the east on the 4Z91.

The ex SER is almost straight for much of its length, the train is entering the curve which will take it into Redhill station to join the Brighton mainline. It normally sits outside Redhill for 15 minutes or so, awaiting its path behind the 13:21 to Charing Cross

The delay gave me enough time to walk back to the station and catch it passing through the station...

...at the start of the ascent to the summit of the North Downs in Merstham Tunnel.

Saturday. The day started dull and cold, with the promise of better to come. The latter hadn't materialised when I caught 66530 on the 4R98 Tilbury to Felixstowe at Levington.

At Morston Hall a kestrel was keeping a beady eye on proceedings.

Approaching Morston Hall from the Felixstowe direction 66731 and 66719 on the 4A03 empty flats to Parkeston Quay.

It was followed a few minutes later by a late running 4M87, the clouds were starting to break up allowing a few shafts of sunlight through.

A chaffinch in winter garb.

The 4L95 from Ditton approaching Morston Hall crossing.

Branch passenger service was in the hands of this tin rocket, 153309, still in Anglia livery and seen here at Thorpe Lane, Trimley St Martin.

As expected the 4L02 was in the hands of 66724, seen on Thursday at Gospel Oak.

66517 approaching Felixstowe North Terminal on the 4L83 from Leeds

Plenty of warning to keep off the track.

The pocket wagon is a sure sign of a Leeds train as the route to and from Leeds via Ely and the ECML is not yet passed for 9'6" containers.

This came as a surprise. I was waiting for the 4L89 but the sound of a labouring 66 heralded the appearance of a 4R41 behind 66517, which had only just arrived on 4L83.

The undergrowth is quite thick on Clickett Hill nowadays, maybe next time I'll take some gardening tools.

66572 on the 4L89 approaching Trimley...

...and taking the North Terminal track...

...whilst the 13:56 from Felixstowe approaches

Some 10 minutes later 66095 climbs from Felixstowe South on the 4E45, the whereabouts of this train became something of a mystery.