Ethan Whitford
@ethan46441.bsky.social
Train / travel enthusiast who likes to go out and explore predominantly the UK, with trips to places further afield interspersed amongst all this.
Also enjoy motorsport, with touring car championships and F1 being my primary interests
Also enjoy motorsport, with touring car championships and F1 being my primary interests
Time for a weekend away in London. It's going to be a hot one by the looks of it, but I should get to tick off a new railway in the process
August 15, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Time for a weekend away in London. It's going to be a hot one by the looks of it, but I should get to tick off a new railway in the process
The lighting at Gloucester this evening was fantastic and made for some great photo opportunities during the water stop on the return leg to Birmingham
July 5, 2025 at 9:28 PM
The lighting at Gloucester this evening was fantastic and made for some great photo opportunities during the water stop on the return leg to Birmingham
Having turned on the triangle, 45596 'Bahamas' (with some assistance from 37240) climbs through Llansamlet heading for Port Talbot where the train was serviced
July 5, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Having turned on the triangle, 45596 'Bahamas' (with some assistance from 37240) climbs through Llansamlet heading for Port Talbot where the train was serviced
45596 'Bahamas' sits on the blocks at Swansea after an excellent run from Birmingham
July 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
45596 'Bahamas' sits on the blocks at Swansea after an excellent run from Birmingham
After some brisk running along the Severn Estuary, we've made it to Newport for our water stop.
Not only is it not raining yet, but the sun has come out!
Not only is it not raining yet, but the sun has come out!
July 5, 2025 at 10:07 AM
After some brisk running along the Severn Estuary, we've made it to Newport for our water stop.
Not only is it not raining yet, but the sun has come out!
Not only is it not raining yet, but the sun has come out!
Last pick up completed at Gloucester. Time to head along the Severn Estuary to Newport and our water stop
July 5, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Last pick up completed at Gloucester. Time to head along the Severn Estuary to Newport and our water stop
With 45596 'Bahamas' having brought the stock in, we're underway to Swansea.
37240 is on the rear as expected and we're already through Bromsgrove heading for Worcestershire Parkway
37240 is on the rear as expected and we're already through Bromsgrove heading for Worcestershire Parkway
July 5, 2025 at 7:52 AM
With 45596 'Bahamas' having brought the stock in, we're underway to Swansea.
37240 is on the rear as expected and we're already through Bromsgrove heading for Worcestershire Parkway
37240 is on the rear as expected and we're already through Bromsgrove heading for Worcestershire Parkway
Time to get my day to Swansea underway, as 172344 and 172216 take me towards Birmingham.
All being well, I should be heading towards Swansea behind 45596 'Bahamas'
All being well, I should be heading towards Swansea behind 45596 'Bahamas'
July 5, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Time to get my day to Swansea underway, as 172344 and 172216 take me towards Birmingham.
All being well, I should be heading towards Swansea behind 45596 'Bahamas'
All being well, I should be heading towards Swansea behind 45596 'Bahamas'
After a surprisingly stress free trip down the WCML (fortunately, the freight train which broke down was going the opposite direction to me), I've made it to Kidderminster for my mini weekend away.
Tomorrow, I head to Swansea from Birmingham New Street with Vintage Trains
Tomorrow, I head to Swansea from Birmingham New Street with Vintage Trains
July 4, 2025 at 8:14 PM
After a surprisingly stress free trip down the WCML (fortunately, the freight train which broke down was going the opposite direction to me), I've made it to Kidderminster for my mini weekend away.
Tomorrow, I head to Swansea from Birmingham New Street with Vintage Trains
Tomorrow, I head to Swansea from Birmingham New Street with Vintage Trains
Well, what a brilliant day that turned out to be, with 5029 'Nunney Castle' returning to the mainline after its current overhaul, with 57002 and 57311 ferrying between Basingstoke and Taunton each way.
5239 'Goliath' was also in fine form, with a storming run over the Dartmouth Steam Railway
5239 'Goliath' was also in fine form, with a storming run over the Dartmouth Steam Railway
June 21, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Well, what a brilliant day that turned out to be, with 5029 'Nunney Castle' returning to the mainline after its current overhaul, with 57002 and 57311 ferrying between Basingstoke and Taunton each way.
5239 'Goliath' was also in fine form, with a storming run over the Dartmouth Steam Railway
5239 'Goliath' was also in fine form, with a storming run over the Dartmouth Steam Railway
Good morning from Basingstoke, where having battled a chaotic rush hour yesterday evening due to trespassers at Clapham Junction, here's hoping for a more relaxed day as Steam Dreams take me to Paignton and Kingswear
June 21, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Good morning from Basingstoke, where having battled a chaotic rush hour yesterday evening due to trespassers at Clapham Junction, here's hoping for a more relaxed day as Steam Dreams take me to Paignton and Kingswear
Having braved the temperatures (and traffic) on the walk between Tattenham Corner and Epsom Downs, made it to Balham for a drinks top-up.
Now it's time to head for Sutton via Carshalton and Sutton on my final pair of 377s. I can only hope the Thameslink and SWR air-con are just as good as the 377s
Now it's time to head for Sutton via Carshalton and Sutton on my final pair of 377s. I can only hope the Thameslink and SWR air-con are just as good as the 377s
June 20, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Having braved the temperatures (and traffic) on the walk between Tattenham Corner and Epsom Downs, made it to Balham for a drinks top-up.
Now it's time to head for Sutton via Carshalton and Sutton on my final pair of 377s. I can only hope the Thameslink and SWR air-con are just as good as the 377s
Now it's time to head for Sutton via Carshalton and Sutton on my final pair of 377s. I can only hope the Thameslink and SWR air-con are just as good as the 377s
With the pride 700 having departed, it was off to Upper Warlingham, before a walk down the hill to Whyteleafe to head for Caterham and some lunch.
Sun's finally out now and it's starting to warm up now, which may result in a walk being abandoned, but I'll make that decision in about an hour or so
Sun's finally out now and it's starting to warm up now, which may result in a walk being abandoned, but I'll make that decision in about an hour or so
June 20, 2025 at 11:34 AM
With the pride 700 having departed, it was off to Upper Warlingham, before a walk down the hill to Whyteleafe to head for Caterham and some lunch.
Sun's finally out now and it's starting to warm up now, which may result in a walk being abandoned, but I'll make that decision in about an hour or so
Sun's finally out now and it's starting to warm up now, which may result in a walk being abandoned, but I'll make that decision in about an hour or so
After a couple of excellent days at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway with my Dad, time to head for Basingstoke in readiness for a charter train on Saturday, taking in various London commuter lines across the day
June 20, 2025 at 6:04 AM
After a couple of excellent days at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway with my Dad, time to head for Basingstoke in readiness for a charter train on Saturday, taking in various London commuter lines across the day
It's even more nuts when you get a steam charter through here. This is a shot I took of 131 arriving from Rosslare prior to taking me back to Dublin back in May 2023
June 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
It's even more nuts when you get a steam charter through here. This is a shot I took of 131 arriving from Rosslare prior to taking me back to Dublin back in May 2023
After a tremendous round trip on the @worthvalley.bsky.social with 78022 and 75078, time to start working my way back home
June 7, 2025 at 5:22 PM
After a tremendous round trip on the @worthvalley.bsky.social with 78022 and 75078, time to start working my way back home
Having seen 60163 'Tornado' at Carlisle on a delayed Northern Belle service and a trip over the S&C with 158797, time for some fun with the KWVR BR Standards as 78022 and 75078 take me for a return run between Keighley and Oxenhope
June 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Having seen 60163 'Tornado' at Carlisle on a delayed Northern Belle service and a trip over the S&C with 158797, time for some fun with the KWVR BR Standards as 78022 and 75078 take me for a return run between Keighley and Oxenhope
With 156471 having come off the depot at Barrow, time to head along the Cumbrian Coast Line to Carlisle for some lunch prior to a southbound run over the S&C to get me to Keighley
June 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM
With 156471 having come off the depot at Barrow, time to head along the Cumbrian Coast Line to Carlisle for some lunch prior to a southbound run over the S&C to get me to Keighley
Time for a day out on the trains with Northern and their £10 day rover. The 16:00 off Keighley to Oxenhope is the ultimate aim for the day, but we've got a lot of mileage to cover before then.
With 323234 having brought me to Preston, it's now onwards to Barrow-in-Furness with 195128
With 323234 having brought me to Preston, it's now onwards to Barrow-in-Furness with 195128
June 7, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Time for a day out on the trains with Northern and their £10 day rover. The 16:00 off Keighley to Oxenhope is the ultimate aim for the day, but we've got a lot of mileage to cover before then.
With 323234 having brought me to Preston, it's now onwards to Barrow-in-Furness with 195128
With 323234 having brought me to Preston, it's now onwards to Barrow-in-Furness with 195128
With the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Diesel Gala timetable now up on the website, I've found out what will be taking me and my Dad to Oxenhope on the 08:00 Goods Train.
50021 'Rodney' will be working the train solo from Keighley to Oxenhope, before picking up 47714 at Haworth on the return trip
50021 'Rodney' will be working the train solo from Keighley to Oxenhope, before picking up 47714 at Haworth on the return trip
June 3, 2025 at 6:22 PM
With the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Diesel Gala timetable now up on the website, I've found out what will be taking me and my Dad to Oxenhope on the 08:00 Goods Train.
50021 'Rodney' will be working the train solo from Keighley to Oxenhope, before picking up 47714 at Haworth on the return trip
50021 'Rodney' will be working the train solo from Keighley to Oxenhope, before picking up 47714 at Haworth on the return trip
if you see this, post the most recent photo of yourself from your camera roll, no cheating
May 7, 2025 at 8:55 PM
if you see this, post the most recent photo of yourself from your camera roll, no cheating
Also had a leisurely explore of Salisbury and its cathedral during our 2 and a bit hour layover there while Clan Line was serviced
April 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Also had a leisurely explore of Salisbury and its cathedral during our 2 and a bit hour layover there while Clan Line was serviced
What a wonderful first day aboard the Great Britain XVII.
Scored 35028 for haulage for the first time ever (indeed, this is only the second time ever seeing Clan Line), and she performed flawlessly, with 57314 doing very little work once she got going and plenty of noise on the Portsmouth Direct
Scored 35028 for haulage for the first time ever (indeed, this is only the second time ever seeing Clan Line), and she performed flawlessly, with 57314 doing very little work once she got going and plenty of noise on the Portsmouth Direct
April 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
What a wonderful first day aboard the Great Britain XVII.
Scored 35028 for haulage for the first time ever (indeed, this is only the second time ever seeing Clan Line), and she performed flawlessly, with 57314 doing very little work once she got going and plenty of noise on the Portsmouth Direct
Scored 35028 for haulage for the first time ever (indeed, this is only the second time ever seeing Clan Line), and she performed flawlessly, with 57314 doing very little work once she got going and plenty of noise on the Portsmouth Direct
After a trip to Slade Green and checking into my hotel back in central London, I went to Barnes Bridge for an evening stroll between there and Chiswick
April 25, 2025 at 7:56 PM
After a trip to Slade Green and checking into my hotel back in central London, I went to Barnes Bridge for an evening stroll between there and Chiswick
Have to say the NSE inspired livery on 465908 looks even better than I thought it was going to. Also nice to see 69014 trundle through Dartford as I waited for 465908 to arrive
April 25, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Have to say the NSE inspired livery on 465908 looks even better than I thought it was going to. Also nice to see 69014 trundle through Dartford as I waited for 465908 to arrive