Andy Bye

Siemens Desiro, Class 444s. Unit 444019 'Pride Train', waiting to lead out, unit 444040 'The D-Day Story'; both joined to make a 10 car train.

Siemens Desiro, Class 444s. Unit 444019 'Pride Train', waiting to lead out, unit 444040 'The D-Day Story'; both joined to make a 10 car train.

While waiting for my next working, @ London Waterloo, Tuesday evening. (I'm glad mine hadn't appeared yet; it was meant to be in that empty platform space).

And passing through Basingstoke station.

Class 69, 69007 - 'Richard Travethick'. GBRF, BR blue livery. Passing through Woking station. Yesterday 14/05/2025. She held up my Pass train to Basingstoke and my working train at Basingstoke. 🤣

Alton's always a good place on a turnaround, but today was even more exceptional.

Merchant Navy class, 'Canadian Pacific' 35005,was out and about on the Watercress Line. 😀

And then I went back to reality in a Desiro. 🤣

455707, which was coupled to 455703. (My actual 1st solo train). Woking to Waterloo.

450010, as rear unit for Waterloo to Haslemere, waiting left waiting for the driver and I. It was joined to leading unit 450074.

450010 & 450074, my middle job. Waterloo to Haslemere, then back to Guildford as empties. They went forward to my depot, without me. 450010 came back as a single 4 car unit, for my last job.

Permissive working, view of 450028, from my last job's unit 450010. Guildford platform 6.

The end of my 1st day independent working.

(I was cover yesterday and saw no train action).

455707, which was coupled to 455703. (My 1st independent job). Woking to Waterloo.

450010 & 450074, my middle job. Waterloo to Haslemere, then back to Guildford as empties.

450010. Guildford to Farnham.

73963 'Janice'. Woking UP Yard.

73962 'Dick Mabutt'. Woking UP Yard.

Two of my hero locos. GB Railfreight, Class 73s, 73962 'Dick Mabutt' & 73963 'Janice'.

Woking UP Yard.

Bad pictures, through the passenger window of a Desiro, whilst going over the top of Woking Junction.

I was always really envious of these, growing up. [We had slam door VEPs until 2005 round our way. (I was never really a fan)]. These 455s are solid as & a pleasure to work. I do realise customers don't necessarily share that view; we love working them though. If only they had toilets though.

This week has mostly been 455s. 455731 being the unit where the photos of the other 2 were taken and also 1 of my assessment units.

455862 would have been going UP on the Chessington branch - right at Effingham Jn, where my depot sadly doesn't do.

'New Guildford Line'.

I'm back onto Desiros now.

PS: They'll have been 2 other 456 units attached the other ends but their identity is lost to history and the fact I was simply walking past, not paying much attention really.

Here's a blast from the past: Aldershot 2017. Class 456s.

Last of the South West Trains days & before the Desiros came to town in abundance & so full on.

Google photos, just reminded me. 456008 & 456019. 24 built & scrapped.

(Until my current employment, I don't have many train pics).

Starting my last route learning, tomorrow. Woking - Guildford - Haslemere. We don't get to to do the extra bit of fun, down to Portsmouth at my depot.

I haven't actually ever made to Haslemere yet; something always goes wrong. Even my Desiro training train got CAPED, then the points failed x 2.

There she went, at 09:40 on the dot: 2Z34. Class 37, 37418 - 'An Comunn Gaidhealach', with 'Caroline', the observation car. Departing from Guildford station today, heading to Derby.

(Thank you for having a meeting at that exact time, Guards Managers). 🤣

Upon my arrival for work at Guildford today. 2Z34 - 09:40, pre-departure: Class 37, 37418 - 'An Comunn Gaidhealach', with 'Caroline', the observation car.

Name the band... (If you know, you know).

The Down route set for 2C15, 08:23, Staines to Ascot, earlier today.

GWR - Unidentified Class 800 approaching Platform 9 at Reading, this morning.

GWR - Class 387, 387169 this morning at platform 8, Reading.

CrossCountry - Unidentified Class 221 Super Voyager, at Reading platform 8, this morning.

I'm really enjoying learning this route. Staines to Reading. So much variety the Reading end too.

GWR, CrossCountry, Elizabeth Line and SWR.

Of course our SWR, Siemens Desiro Class 450, being the greatest thing there today. 😉

I've probably got about 17 days left of route learning left now.

Class 455, 455868 'Golden Spanners'. Woking Platform 3, today.

Class 455, 455868 'Golden Spanners'. Woking Platform 3, today.

In Class 455, 455868 'Golden Spanners'. Hampton Court Junction, on the UP Slow line.

Hello 455868 'Golden Spanners', we meet again. It would have been rude not to have been provided with her for Woking to Clapham route learning. 😉

I'm gutted, I had to get a different train from Surbiton, and I'm also gutted that my depot doesn't do to Hampton Court station itself, coming back down.

I'm normally a 06:54er from Farnham, 1A16, myself, tbh. There would be a riot if they sent a 5 car at that time. 🤣 We're not normally in the area until the 12 cars come back down. They sent a 4 car one day in December; it was anarchy. 🤣

Thanks for the slice of life incite. 😀

Desiro, Class 444 444040, 'The D-Day Story' at Alton Platform 1, this morning. 1A11

Desiro, Class 444 444040, 'The D-Day Story' at Alton Platform 1, this morning. 1A11

Desiro, Class 444 444040, 'The D-Day Story' @Alton, this morning. 1A11, Plt 1.

I felt very honoured to have her for a route learning trip, even if she was only operating as a single 5 car unit. (One normally expects a 10 car 444, or 12 car 450).

The Waterloo guard was a very nice chap, too. 😀

Class 59, Hanson livery: Westbury Tarmac to Woking UP yard reception. 6O02 to eventually reach Day Aggregates. I didn't catch her info, but if I had to guess, it would be 59103 Village Of Mells.

I was only there for the signals and junctions, but when in Woking and in the presence of a Class 59....

1 route assessment done: GLD to AHT to ACT, ACT to AHT to GLD.

I was slapped for an early formed bad habit / assumption at Frimley. I won't make the same mistake again.

WOK to AON to WOK, WOK to BSK to WOK, tomorrow onwards.

PS: Fab peeps can be found at Guildford Depot. Nice messroom, too. 😀

My route learning commenced today, after what's felt like an eternity.

Starting with: Guildford to Aldershot to Ascot. I've only ever worked 12, 10, and 8 car trains; so 4 will feel strange. I say that as if I've worked loads of trains, I haven't. 🤣

Then: Woking to Basingstoke and Woking to Alton.

1L29 - Class 159, 159020 at Waterloo platform 7, today 11/02/2025.

1L29 - Class 159, 159020 at Waterloo platform 7, today 11/02/2025.

1L29 - Class 159, 159107 leads 159020 at Waterloo platform 7, today 11/02/2025.

It'll probably be the 1st, last & only time I ever get to work on a Class 159. Grabbed that opportunity with both hands today.

"Ticket Tuesday" on the commercial course.

1L29 159107, led 159020 from Waterloo to Basingstoke, it went on to Exeter St Davids. A Salisbury guard did the traction.

Welcome to the team, Sam. Our customers have certainly hit the jackpot with your knowledge. 😃 Massive congrats! 🥳

Alton FebEx 2025, here we come! My 6 year old daughter has been talking about it since 2024's; she's even packed a Snickers bar, her diary, an SWR water bottle, and £50.

I've created a monster. 🤣

Ah, thank you so much; that's a relief. 😀 I wasn't quite sure which one this was, as I only ever saw her from the side. I had a nasty feeling this was 458533 in Wimbledon (pic from Wimbledon last Thursday); every shoe was tied up.

458533 must live still then, too, (haven't seen her since December).

Ex-class 460, Gatwick Express coach, which makes the 458/5, what it is. The windows are fully sealed on this coach only. All the other coaches' windows can be keyed open if the aircon fails.

This is inside the coach that makes these 458/5s different from the 458/4s, btw. (Other than the 458/4s all being refurbished and painted, of course).

Acquired from the Gatwick Express Class 460s & resulting in my childhood 'heroes' being scrapped. (The Class 442 5WES fleet). Hasn't biased me. 🤣

1st official day at depot tomorrow; then I've mutually chosen to burn 2 days holiday before the commencement of next week's 2 week commercial course. That course is apparently the part where I question this life choice. Then I start route learning, after that.

The time is absolutely flying by.

Class 458530 leads a 10 car into Guildford, with 458536 trailing.

Class 458536 leads a 10 car into Waterloo, with 458530 trailing.

One of the most common cosmetic faults with the 458s. (This'll be off a 458/4). The bin facias let go eventually.

Last day of 458/5 traction training today.

Different day, different units. 458530 & 458536 today.

Still only my 4th fave traction (that I'm trained on), but they've grown-ish on me.

I have actually seen all 5, 5 car units now. 458533, shoes sadly tied up (probably for good, at last sight).

Class 458/5, 458529, platform 2, Waterloo. Today, 27/01/2025.

Class 458/5, 458535, coupled to 458529, to form a 10 car train, platform 2, Waterloo. Today, 27/01/2025.

Class 458/5, 458529, platform 2, Waterloo. Today, 27/01/2025. Today, 27/01/2025.

Today's traction training units. Juniper Class 458, 458529 & 458535. 1 of only 2 pairs left. These will never be made into 458/4s.

The wheelchair ramp is easy. That's about the only thing they have going for them, from a guards point of view. I'd rather take the Class 455 455591 next to it.

Class 458/5 traction training today and tomorrow. This could be the first, last, and only time I get to work one. I haven't seen a serviceable example in ages.