My day's observations started well (my wife lets me 'participate' and she does not knowingly distance herself from me while I am 'participating'), because as well as the now usual standard majority procession of Class 390/0, Class 390/1 and Class 350/X variants, we do occasionally have a locomotive or two negotiating Watford Junction. Literally seconds after arriving on the platform, Class 88 Bo-Bo 88010 'Aurora' enlightened us with its presence on a Tesco Container load duty on the Up Slow (although not so slow in passing through). Note to self: always, always, prepare camera before arriving at a railway station, location, etc. So, immediately the first 'cop' of the day and me now comfortably thinking that this is going to be a good weekend (as you do).

We travelled on the 16.04 LNwR train to Birmingham New Street from Watford Junction to Milton Keynes Central, arriving 16.30 (Siemens Unit 350239 vehicle 61539) and then on the 16.42 Avanti West Coast Super Voyager Unit 221114 (travelled on vehicle 60764) ex-London Euston to Bangor, forward to Crewe. A pleasant surprise was passing Class B1 4-6-0 steam locomotive 61306 'Mayflower' and her associated support coach shunting on the Up & Down Thru' Siding (just northeast of Rugby station on the Up side). After that, it was an effectively uneventful journey until slowing down on arrival alongside Brook Siding No1 of the Arriva Traincare Maintenance Depot (Crewe Carriage Shed [CP] in old money). Two new Stadler Merseyrail Class 777 suburban network Units, 777016 and 014, were stabled (along with a glimpse of many more of these Class 777 Units stored at the rear of the Depot adjacent to the Up & Down Potteries/Potteries Loop lines). Can anyone explain why-o-why the vehicles of these Units are embellished with the seemingly never ending (well, 12 digits) UIC (Union Internationale des Chemins de fer or International Union of Railways) EN (European) numbers?

Having just once traversed the Channel Tunnel route for delivery they are extremely unlikely to operate internationally within their predicted lifecycle. Anyway, reaching Crewe at 17.52, and not wishing to push my luck in any way (regarding 'more observing'), I decided to accompany my wife out of the station smartish and head for our accommodation for the next two nights at The Waverley Hotel, only 10 minutes' walk from the station. Some months ago, we did try to book into the Crewe Arms Hotel for our accommodation during this sojourn but were politely told by Hotel staff that this establishment is closed for refurbishment for the remainder of this year. I learnt very early on the next day, while walking to the station to catch The Royal Charter train that this is not the reason why the Hotel is not accepting guests - but I will not disclose the real reason as it is both nationally political and sensitive combined. [Sorry but BLN 1392.70 revealed all - the Hotel closed 8 Oct 2021 as it was taken over by the Home Office to accommodate people in custody with strict security measures - Ed.]

Incidentally, my first ever visit to the great magnificent (at the time) Crewe station was in the summer of 1965, only to be told by a gathering of fellow number snatchers at the north end of the station, after my immediate arrival, that I had 'just missed a Warship' - Crewe, I have never forgiven you.

So, after depositing our possessions in the Hotel room, we set off to explore the delights of Nantwich Road which included a pint of very black stout beer with coffee bean infusion in the Ebenezer Bar, and then a very agreeable and fulfilling Thai evening meal (accompanied by wine and Tiger beers) in a remarkable local restaurant. And so to bed - a very enjoyable, satisfying afternoon and evening.

Fri 3 Jun 2022: I really do not want to enthuse too much about the train and the voyage in this article, as I believe that the 225 participants know all of this already, and for those that did not but are interested in the journey, will have no doubt researched and/or been informed anyway. Suffice to say, that we arrived on P11 at about 06.30, along with a few other stalwarts ready to board, including noticeably Mr Pete Waterman OBE, President of Railway Benefit Fund. At 07.02 precisely, Class 47/4 Co-Co diesel locomotive D1924 (47810) 'Crewe Diesel Depot' pulled into the platform from the south hauling 'The Royal Charter' train - 10 vehicles and steam locomotive Class 7MT 4-6-2 70000 'Britannia' from Crewe Holding Sidings. Settling down in Pullman Dining Coach 'B' (a good old British Railways Mk1 First Open) Seats 19 and 20, we were off at exactly 07.18 on this prestigious train as part of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, with the very fitting 'Britannia' at the head - built at British Railways Workshops' Crewe Works in 1951 and having a previous Royal connection by hauling the funeral train of King George VI from Wolferton to London Liverpool Street on 11 Feb 1952 for his funeral on 15th.

Having recently returned to service (in Apr 2022) after a lengthy major refurbishment programme, it is of no surprise that Britannia (and D1924) performed faultlessly on both journeys, with all scheduled stopping, watering and timing location points reached exactly as planned (with some early, and therefore subsequent waiting time for departure) The onboard meals and drinks were all excellent, copious and unhurried, the service staff were very competent and polite - all in all, a major credit to Saphos Trains, and I would wholeheartedly recommend travelling again in this fashion.

Additional good points for me personally were new track routes traversed: Up Willesden Relief; Brent New Jn; Willesden Jn (Acton Branch); Down Willesden Relief; Willesden No7 Jn; Up & Down Acton Branch; Acton Canal Wharf Jn; Down Cricklewood and Acton Wells Jn. A major bad point for me for the journey was nothing to do with the organisation, or the train etc, but the amount of unwanted, unmanaged lineside vegetation overgrowth and encroachment.

Having worked and lived away in the Middle East region for almost the past 13 years, and this being my first real mainline train trip of any length back in Blighty (now permanently repatriated), I was appalled to see this aspect accompanying us almost throughout the whole journey. Indeed, not wishing at all to sound like a 'Victor Meldrew' type, on the return the train was 'scraped' by branches many times between leaving Windsor & Eton Riverside and Old Kew Jn. ['I Don't Believe It...']

So, from arriving in Windsor at 13.05 to departing at 18.13, my wife and I (both having visited the town on a few occasions previously), decided not to do the usual tourist thing and visit all the main sights (also obviously because of the Bank Holiday suspected large crowds), but to chill and go and find a nice nearby pub and watch the world go by. No (non-liquid) lunch required as we knew that we were in for a large and sumptuous dinner treat upon our return to the train.

The Bel (sic) & The Dragon did the trick - sitting outside with wine and cider, watching the Dray Horses and Police Horses being pampered rotten by the passing public. We are both dog-lovers, particularly dachshunds, so from my wife's original idea we then decided - for the time that we were in Windsor -to participate in 'dachshund spotting'. Now I know that many aeons ago within the famous 'Observer' range of books, there was an Observer Book of Dogs, and I would be pretty sure that the dachshund breed would be included, but not being in possession of such a publication on the day, I am afraid to report that our 'dachshund spotting' exercise was informal and so no official underlining or 'cops' could be recorded. But I can report that in total, 16 different dogs were observed consisting of smooth-haired, wire-haired, black and tan, miniature and silver dapple types. [No hybrids/bimodes?]

While in Windsor I asked for permission (as you do) to quickly visit Windsor & Eton Central, the 'other' railway station in Western Region territory. This was achieved by purchase persuasion of a coffee and biscuit with a mottled attempt at a historical explanation of the replica steam loco GWR Achilles Class 4-2-2 No3041 'The Queen' (without tender) that has been residing in this particular entrenched location for nearly 30 years. DMU 165105 was observed and photographed.

Sat 4 Jun 2022: After a reasonably late lie in for the morning, we arrived back at Crewe station about 10.00, travelling home to Watford Junction on the 10.22 to Stafford (EMU 390136 vehicle 69536), 10.55 Stafford to Milton Keynes Central (EMU 350104 vehicle 63714) and 12.22 Milton Keynes Central to Watford Junction (EMU 350232 vehicle 61532), and arriving at Watford Junction at exactly 13.00 (everything timed to perfection!). All-in-all, an excellent three days meticulously organised, managed and achieved by all parties involved. This was not quite the end of the story, as on the Milton Keynes Central to Watford Junction train, dachshund No17 was spotted [a spotty dog?] recorded and stroked - a young silver dapple long haired male named Frank! This charity tour, with many Society members on board, raised over £60,000 for Railway Benefit Fund - commendably Saphos Trains (part of Jeremy Hosking's Locomotive Services Limited, based at Crewe of course) provided the train and locos free.