I've not posted on here before but, as most of my bashing trips tend to be with ollieb, several of my journeys have already been featured in ollieb's reports from the rails. 
My trip reports on RailUK Forums will be for some occasional solitary trips. If you'd like to read more about my travels, as well as discussions of other rail-related issues, I also have a blog called Wandering Windowgazer.
Yes, I am female. Yes, I enjoy travelling by train and ticking off new lines. No - shockingly for some, maybe - I don't keep track of unit/powercar numbers so you won't find any here, sorry.
FOSS Circular Day Trip
The first trip I'd like to tell you about is from the final day of our week-long trip in July 2015, which used a combination of the 3-in-7-days Freedom of Severn and Solent, and the 4-in-8-days Explore South Wales Flexipass. ollieb returned home but we still had one day left of validity on the FOSS and I wanted to make the most of it.
I left Tiverton Parkway on the 1013 HST, intending to alight at Westbury at 1103 in time for the 1111 train to Southampton. However, my train was delayed in Taunton for half an hour.
Luckily my plan still ran smoothly once I altered the individual trains I would get. I caught the 1201 from Westbury, which I think was a 158, and reached Southampton Central at 1304. I didn't have long to wait before the 1324 train to Brockenhurst. Arriving at 1337, I headed straight across the platform onto the 1342 to Lymington Pier. The view from the window was very scenic in the sushine, and I could see New Forest ponies grazing.This was the one section of the day's route that ollieb hadn't already done, so I got there first.
I came straight back on the same unit, alighting at Brockenhurst at 1408. I then ate my sandwiches on the platform while I waited for the 1438. After an enjoyable journey along the coast, I arrived at Weymouth at 1600, which gave me plenty of time to explore, paddle in the sea, and buy food before the delayed (I think it left at 1745) 1730 service up through Dorset to Castle Cary, where I arrived at around 1836. At least that was the scheduled time - and I remember that the train made up for its lateness so I still had a while to wait.
Having now rejoined the London line and completed my circle, I went for a short walk up the hill beside the station before catching the 1919 service back to Tiverton Parkway.
I have attached photos of Lymington Pier station, the Lymington Branch Line train at Brockenhurst, the beach at Weymouth, and my final train of the day as it arrived at Castle Cary.
Everything except the Tiverton Parkway to Westbury main line was completely new to me, so overall this was a very rewarding and productive day.
My trip reports on RailUK Forums will be for some occasional solitary trips. If you'd like to read more about my travels, as well as discussions of other rail-related issues, I also have a blog called Wandering Windowgazer.
Yes, I am female. Yes, I enjoy travelling by train and ticking off new lines. No - shockingly for some, maybe - I don't keep track of unit/powercar numbers so you won't find any here, sorry.
FOSS Circular Day Trip
The first trip I'd like to tell you about is from the final day of our week-long trip in July 2015, which used a combination of the 3-in-7-days Freedom of Severn and Solent, and the 4-in-8-days Explore South Wales Flexipass. ollieb returned home but we still had one day left of validity on the FOSS and I wanted to make the most of it.
I left Tiverton Parkway on the 1013 HST, intending to alight at Westbury at 1103 in time for the 1111 train to Southampton. However, my train was delayed in Taunton for half an hour.
Luckily my plan still ran smoothly once I altered the individual trains I would get. I caught the 1201 from Westbury, which I think was a 158, and reached Southampton Central at 1304. I didn't have long to wait before the 1324 train to Brockenhurst. Arriving at 1337, I headed straight across the platform onto the 1342 to Lymington Pier. The view from the window was very scenic in the sushine, and I could see New Forest ponies grazing.This was the one section of the day's route that ollieb hadn't already done, so I got there first.
I came straight back on the same unit, alighting at Brockenhurst at 1408. I then ate my sandwiches on the platform while I waited for the 1438. After an enjoyable journey along the coast, I arrived at Weymouth at 1600, which gave me plenty of time to explore, paddle in the sea, and buy food before the delayed (I think it left at 1745) 1730 service up through Dorset to Castle Cary, where I arrived at around 1836. At least that was the scheduled time - and I remember that the train made up for its lateness so I still had a while to wait.
Having now rejoined the London line and completed my circle, I went for a short walk up the hill beside the station before catching the 1919 service back to Tiverton Parkway.
I have attached photos of Lymington Pier station, the Lymington Branch Line train at Brockenhurst, the beach at Weymouth, and my final train of the day as it arrived at Castle Cary.
Everything except the Tiverton Parkway to Westbury main line was completely new to me, so overall this was a very rewarding and productive day.
), it's 158884. 
