Long Marston Open Day is an opportunity to visit the former MOD site and have a wander round the stored rolling stock and give number one son the change to underline some Class 86 and 87s before they are exported to Bulgaria of somewhere similar.

 

The plan was simple out via Didcot to Honeyborne and return from Stratford on Avon with a brief blast down the Stourbridge Town branch and the Parry People Mover (Class 139s) operated by London Midland than back home.

 

Sunday travel is always risky as you do not know where the railway is being dismantled and if it is going to be back together again in time for the passing of the first train. My doubts were unfounded as the outward journey was faultless. We stood at Honeyborne and waited for our preserved bus to arrive. Two minibuses turned up. Never mind better than nothing.

31439+31301+37898 Long Marston 07/06/09

 

The Open Day was very good, would liked to have gone for a trip on the train round the site but did not have time otherwise the rest of the trip would not be possible.

 

Back on the other minibus to Stratford and await the arrival of the 150. Arrived and departed on time and took us directly to Stoubridge Jn. I had not been down the branch for about 20 years and I seem to remember the last time it was a Tyseley bubble car. Excitement was mounting about the arrival of the shuttle until the 153 arrives round the corner. Doh.

 

Never mind last chance to go down the branch in a "real" train, the PPMs will be there for a while.

153365 Stourbridge Jn 07/06/09

 

Number one son not impressed has always wanted to see the Class 139s as there is only two of them in the book and they look very strange. Situation improved on continuing our journey towards Worcester as the 139s are spotted through the windows on the garage like construction at the end of the branch platform. Phew that was close.

 

A very uneventful trip home and all on time.

 

Traction Log
Neath - Didcot Parkway	43163+43017
Didcot Parkway - Honeybourne	43030+43036
Stratford on Avon - Stourbridge Jn	150012
Stourbridge Jn - Stourbridge Town & Back	153365
Stourbridge Jn - Worcester Shrub Hill	150013
Worcester Shrub Hill - Gloucester	150243
Gloucester - Cardiff Central	170520
Cardiff Central - Neath	175106