On Monday 18 March 2019 I set off to see my dear friends Kevin and Liz in Bickley, Kent, and on Tuesday 19 March was able to visit the civilian airport which was once RAF Biggin Hill, a vital part of defending Britain against the Luftwaffe in the 1940 Battle of Britain . Changing stations in CAPITALS, haulage in bold.

I left Gloucester at 0932 aboard GWR green liveried 150 232 to SWINDON. Here I noted 66 040 and 800 306 before boarding 800 028 at 1030 for PADDINGTON. 57 603 Tintagel Castle and 165 124 were noted at Reading.

Once at PADDINGTON, Circle Line train 21447 took me east to EDGWARE ROAD before I changed to 21461 as far as FARRINGDON. Thameslink EMU 700 058 then took me south to BLACKFRIARS where I noted Siemens built Class 700 units 036, 026, 122, 030, 154 before boarding 700 149 at 1226 to BICKLEY. 375 302 was noted at Bromley South.

WEDNESDAY 20 MARCH 2019

A trip from BICKLEY via BROMLEY SOUTH and LONDON VICTORIA to SOUTH KENSINGTON for the Science Museum – featuring the original Gloster Whittle E28/39 yielded 465 174 and 375 315 as haulage northbound with 700 056 and 465 154/003 noted at BROMLEY SOUTH.

THURSDAY 21 MARCH 2019

700 018 was noted at BICKLEY before catching 700 036 to FARRINGDON at 1210. 700 010 was noted at Ravensbourne, 700 056 at Bellingham and 66 769 at Crofton Park. Like 66 113 later seen at Peckham Rye, this Co-Co was heading south with a rake of grey bogie hopper wagons. 700 123 was seen at Blackfriars, 378 136 and 700 003 having been noted on the way there. Hammersmith and City Line train 21471 took me to PADDINGTON to catch the 1336 to GLOUCESTER formed by 802 109.

Also noted on the way home were 800 310, at Reading 220 012, 165 110, 57 602 Restormel Castle, and at Swindon 802011.