Saturday 23rd August 2025

I assumed that most railtours passed through Dover, from one direction or another. So, when the Kent Conundrum was announced, double headed by class 50 "Hoovers", I thought about places round here to get the best shots.

Coupled with the late release of the timings, if was only Friday night I realised it was coming nowhere near Dover, and Margate was as close as it got.

So, Saturday morning was using GSV to travel over every overbridge crossing the north Kent coast line, seeing if the bridge was safe to stand on, and to find what the view was like.

I thin saw there was a foot crossing outside Birchington, with good parking nearby. From Google maps it looked perfect, but I would have to visit it first to make sure it wasn't restricted by vegetation or something.

Happy with that, and the fallback to go to Birchington station of needed, we had breakfast, and then I made sure the batteries were charged and the camera settings.

At half ten, I set off for Thanet, along the Sandwich Road, so to avoid the port traffic and the seaside jams at Deal.

I called in at the butchers for some steak for Monday, then carried on to Hoath to do a church, but really I didn't have high hopes as this has been closed the last couple of visits. As it was this time, too.

Seems friendly enough, in a small village, but the porch was open, the main door not.

So, on to Birchington.

The Sex Pistols, The Stranglers and Buzzcocks were playing in Margate, I found out late last night, so I though the traffic might be heavy, but off Thanet Way and into Birchington it was OK.

I stopped for a brew and breakfast in Birchington, but breakfast finished at half eleven and lunch service did not start until midday.

It was 11:31.

I ordered a brew and a slice of chocolate cake, and watched the couple on the next table finish their huge and delicious-looking breakfasts, apparently ordered before half eleven.

It was a short drive to the crossing, a path lead between two houses, and a style leading to the crossing itself.

I went to look at midday, and found clear views into the haze along the dead straight line for several miles.

I would have plenty of notice of the tour's approach.

Just before the tour's arrival, I was joined by a young guy who came to i phone it. By then the locomotive could be seen in the haze, forming as it got closer into the recognisable shape of a large logo class 50.

It mounted the light rise from where the Wantsum Channel used to be, and the rails began to sing of the train's approach.

Then it was on us, I switched to a video at the last moment, recording its closest moments, then swung round as it thundered towards Birchington and Margate.

I walked back to the car, then turned the car round and headed for home.

Not much to report, which was soundtracked by the previews of the afternoon's games and updates as Tottenham beat Citeh in Manchester. Once home we have lunch of Cornish pasties and lemon puffs with a fresh brew.

Being Saturday, there's always football. And so to the disappointment that comes after the raising of expectations as Norwich lose to Middlesborough 2-1, and have a player sent off.

Sigh.

I cooked dinner between the end of the main batch of games and Arsenal kicking off against Leeds. That ended 5-0, while Craig spun tunes on the wireless.

Not a bad day.