Kite
@kiteexplores.bsky.social
Enjoys to explore the various parts of GB, either by train, by bus or by foot. Train Guard by day (and by night if on a late shift lol)
Yesterday I had a little trip to Carlisle, solely for the novelty of doing a 805 via the scenic S&C route, made even more scenic in places with the snow. Finished the evening with a trip to Bromsgrove on 196010. This morning, I had a stroll along the Tame in Perry Barr before the Chiltern 68.
January 6, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Yesterday I had a little trip to Carlisle, solely for the novelty of doing a 805 via the scenic S&C route, made even more scenic in places with the snow. Finished the evening with a trip to Bromsgrove on 196010. This morning, I had a stroll along the Tame in Perry Barr before the Chiltern 68.
DVT 82305 leads the 13;45 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone service with 68013 on the rear giving a good push. A change of scenery from the usual WCML.
January 6, 2026 at 2:50 PM
DVT 82305 leads the 13;45 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone service with 68013 on the rear giving a good push. A change of scenery from the usual WCML.
Good to be back in Waterloo for the first time this year with 159016 & 159107 to work the 23;39 train back to Salisbury.
Who needs 455s for classic BR era engineering lol
Who needs 455s for classic BR era engineering lol
January 3, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Good to be back in Waterloo for the first time this year with 159016 & 159107 to work the 23;39 train back to Salisbury.
Who needs 455s for classic BR era engineering lol
Who needs 455s for classic BR era engineering lol
158886 waits time at Romsey before forming the 23;11 service to Salisbury via Southampton. Happy New Year everybody, what will 2026 hold for the Salisbury based sprinters I wonder.
January 1, 2026 at 12:24 AM
158886 waits time at Romsey before forming the 23;11 service to Salisbury via Southampton. Happy New Year everybody, what will 2026 hold for the Salisbury based sprinters I wonder.
Platform 7 for the 19;20 to Exeter St Davids. Last train beyond Honiton for 2025. 159104 & 158890 doing the honours for my last visit to London this year. 🎇 Very busy heading into London due to a cancellation of the previous London train from Salisbury
December 31, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Platform 7 for the 19;20 to Exeter St Davids. Last train beyond Honiton for 2025. 159104 & 158890 doing the honours for my last visit to London this year. 🎇 Very busy heading into London due to a cancellation of the previous London train from Salisbury
On my last day trip of 2025 (before returning to 6 late shifts to take me into 2026), I just pottered around the suburban network looking out of the window, ticking off the Shepperton branch for 450 coverage as a bonus.
December 28, 2025 at 6:47 PM
On my last day trip of 2025 (before returning to 6 late shifts to take me into 2026), I just pottered around the suburban network looking out of the window, ticking off the Shepperton branch for 450 coverage as a bonus.
I've not had a good day with a couple of paths within South Wales being closed unexpected & and without warning. Grr
Porth to Maerdy closed at Tylorstown
Caerphilly to Senghenydd closed at Abertridwr.
Porth to Maerdy closed at Tylorstown
Caerphilly to Senghenydd closed at Abertridwr.
December 27, 2025 at 6:54 PM
I've not had a good day with a couple of paths within South Wales being closed unexpected & and without warning. Grr
Porth to Maerdy closed at Tylorstown
Caerphilly to Senghenydd closed at Abertridwr.
Porth to Maerdy closed at Tylorstown
Caerphilly to Senghenydd closed at Abertridwr.
Monday was a day in London, featuring a stroll from Twickenham to Feltham via a path alongside the River Crane (Via Mereway Nature Park & Crane Park) before heading underground with a spin on the DLR
December 17, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Monday was a day in London, featuring a stroll from Twickenham to Feltham via a path alongside the River Crane (Via Mereway Nature Park & Crane Park) before heading underground with a spin on the DLR
Tuesday was a gentle stroll along the Tarka Trail from Great Torrington to Bideford, some nice views of the river Torridge. Afterwards had a stroll towards Exter St Thomas to see the river Exe running high
December 17, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Tuesday was a gentle stroll along the Tarka Trail from Great Torrington to Bideford, some nice views of the river Torridge. Afterwards had a stroll towards Exter St Thomas to see the river Exe running high
Today was a bit of a lazy day, where I ended up having a stroll along the Capital Ring between South Kenton & Hendon (via Fryent Country Park & Welsh Harp Open Space). Back to work tomorrow for a run of 6 early shifts
December 17, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Today was a bit of a lazy day, where I ended up having a stroll along the Capital Ring between South Kenton & Hendon (via Fryent Country Park & Welsh Harp Open Space). Back to work tomorrow for a run of 6 early shifts
Using a day of ad-hoc leave (better start using it or else I will lose it), I had a little trip to the Peak District to walk another section of the Peak Forest Canal, from Hyde to New Mills. Although one section was closed (grr!) with a muddy detour. Not a bad way to spend one's anniversary.
December 5, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Using a day of ad-hoc leave (better start using it or else I will lose it), I had a little trip to the Peak District to walk another section of the Peak Forest Canal, from Hyde to New Mills. Although one section was closed (grr!) with a muddy detour. Not a bad way to spend one's anniversary.
Today I had a stroll along the recently opened Lichfield to Brownhills Greenway path along the route of the former South Staffordshire line. One Mr @railwaysquirrel.bsky.social would like no doubt
November 9, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Today I had a stroll along the recently opened Lichfield to Brownhills Greenway path along the route of the former South Staffordshire line. One Mr @railwaysquirrel.bsky.social would like no doubt
Day 1 of my long weekend saw me heading to the Peak District to have a gentle stroll along the Sett Valley Trail, a mixed used path along an old railway branch line. Very pretty with the autumn colours and I had a fitting bus for the time of year.
November 7, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Day 1 of my long weekend saw me heading to the Peak District to have a gentle stroll along the Sett Valley Trail, a mixed used path along an old railway branch line. Very pretty with the autumn colours and I had a fitting bus for the time of year.
I've just uploaded a new blog post from my adventures last weekend, visiting the remains of the South Staffordshire Railway, Chasewater, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal & the Bingham Linear Park
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/10/trip...
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/10/trip...
October 18, 2025 at 10:27 AM
I've just uploaded a new blog post from my adventures last weekend, visiting the remains of the South Staffordshire Railway, Chasewater, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal & the Bingham Linear Park
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/10/trip...
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/10/trip...
On Sunday I had a little visit to the Chasewater Railway in Staffordshire, nice little heritage railway.
October 14, 2025 at 7:33 PM
On Sunday I had a little visit to the Chasewater Railway in Staffordshire, nice little heritage railway.
After a long weekend, it was back into work this morning for day 1 of 6 early shifts, involving 1O24 to Salisbury (been a while since I last visited Frome in the daylight), before 1L32 & 1L33 to London & back.
October 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
After a long weekend, it was back into work this morning for day 1 of 6 early shifts, involving 1O24 to Salisbury (been a while since I last visited Frome in the daylight), before 1L32 & 1L33 to London & back.
Today I had a little canal stroll from Tame Bridge towards the Chasewater reservoir, coming across the remains of the South Staffordshire Line at the eastern end of the McClean Way path, near Brownhills (a path I believe is getting extended towards Lichfield?).
October 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Today I had a little canal stroll from Tame Bridge towards the Chasewater reservoir, coming across the remains of the South Staffordshire Line at the eastern end of the McClean Way path, near Brownhills (a path I believe is getting extended towards Lichfield?).
I've just uploaded a new blog post of various day trips in the 2nd half of September. Scary how it's nearly October!
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/day-...
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/day-...
September 28, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I've just uploaded a new blog post of various day trips in the 2nd half of September. Scary how it's nearly October!
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/day-...
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/day-...
Back to work after 3 days of walking with day 1 of 6 (switching to late shifts). A double Waterloo was on my sheet today.
September 26, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Back to work after 3 days of walking with day 1 of 6 (switching to late shifts). A double Waterloo was on my sheet today.
Remains of the 'mothballed' Stoke to Leek railway line on a couple of the bridges where it crosses the Caldon Canal. Looks like it's a mysterious path not shown on the map.
September 24, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Remains of the 'mothballed' Stoke to Leek railway line on a couple of the bridges where it crosses the Caldon Canal. Looks like it's a mysterious path not shown on the map.
Today I'm making the most of the sunshine to head towards Lincolnshire for a short (around 7 miles) disused railway line walk. Onwards to Newark with the 09;06 LNER service to York for my first trip behind a 91 since Sept 23.
September 23, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Today I'm making the most of the sunshine to head towards Lincolnshire for a short (around 7 miles) disused railway line walk. Onwards to Newark with the 09;06 LNER service to York for my first trip behind a 91 since Sept 23.
159020 at London Waterloo on the 13;20 service to Yeovil Junction. Day 7 complete, time for some sleep.
September 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM
159020 at London Waterloo on the 13;20 service to Yeovil Junction. Day 7 complete, time for some sleep.
I've just uploaded a new blog post from my long weekend based in Crewe, slowly catching up with myself again
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/4-7t...
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/4-7t...
September 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I've just uploaded a new blog post from my long weekend based in Crewe, slowly catching up with myself again
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/4-7t...
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/4-7t...
"To leave the train at Tisbury you must be in the front 3 coaches"
(Taken during a 5 minute dwell)
(Taken during a 5 minute dwell)
September 17, 2025 at 1:19 PM
"To leave the train at Tisbury you must be in the front 3 coaches"
(Taken during a 5 minute dwell)
(Taken during a 5 minute dwell)
Slowly catching up with my blog again with a new blog from a few little day trips in the 2nd half of August:
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/augu...
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/augu...
September 16, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Slowly catching up with my blog again with a new blog from a few little day trips in the 2nd half of August:
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/augu...
kitespotterings.blogspot.com/2025/09/augu...