On Sunday evening, we had important customers arriving at Bristol airport, and although we're only 30 miles or so from there the public transport options are dreadful - so a pickup run was called for and we took the afternoon to go via the  East Somerset Railway



This is only a short drive from Frome - alas, no regular passenger rail connection evene though it's just off the Merehead branch.

It's, frankly, a sad sign with much decrepit stock.  The old slamdoor coach that we were in was in sever need of restoration and while I'm sure it was safe at 25 m.p.h. I would question it at mainline speeds.  And the USA tank loco was fine but most / all of the others looked like mouldering wrecks.   A long cry from the days when there were major locos based there.   Does anyone know what happened?