For anyone planning ahead for 2081, I can report that the colander approach was only partly successful. I was eventually able to work out that I needed a greater distance from it to the piece of paper I used as a screen in time for the peak eclipse, and the diffusion of light around the edge of the moon diminished the effect of the claimed 90%+ eclipse by increasing the extent of apparent uncovered sun.

Here in the Goring Gap there was a considerable reduction in light levels, and a very welcome dip in the temperature.

 
Just a slight dimming here in Tilehurst. Had  I not been waiting for it, I probably wouldn't have noticed a thing.

 

Special effect graphics worthy of "Eric" on Ask the Family!

 
RMT are moving into dispute with GWR over a breach of Health and Safety regarding 175s.

 
We took a look from the top of the road in an area with 95/96% totality.  The most interesting aspect was the strange quality of the fast fading light but even at only 4-5% of the evening sun, I didn't get dark.  We didn't manage to get any suitable eclipse specs so Sally, my other half, armed herself with a colander from the kitchen and a sheet of white paper which sort of worked. 
Still, enjoyed a conversation with another couple who chose the same vantage point as ourselves and was quite impressed with a the effort made by a considerable gathering of people I spotted on a nearby hilltop....hope it was worth the effort.

 
A route between the GWML eastbound at Old Oak Common, and eastbound on the West Coast Main Line - it physically exists? But perhaps not for passenger use or not cleared for Class 80x for some reason?

Mark

 
Just in case anyone missed it......

 
Well, that was interesting, I thought. 94% was a bit dimmer than I expected, but in terms of quality it was as much a modified dusk as an eclipse. Rather like the sun setting into a thick bank of cloud. I could see the whole thing trough an upstairs window, using my 1999 eclipse specs, and up to the interesting bit standing at the back door (but only because I'd cut down some bits of shrub and tree).

The light afterwards never did really return to being full sunlight, as it was already being modified by dusk. But it did turn off the porch light, which had come on as it thought it got proper dark.

Rather optimistically, I tried to get a photo with my "ordinary" camera and the very very dark glasses. Earlier in the day it was hopeless, as the camera insisted on focusing on the filter. But around gloomax there wasn't enough light on the filter for that, and the geometry was straighter, so I did in fact get a little image of sorts.

 

And the same on Saturday 28th, and no trains using Paddington either day. The EAS, oddly, does not show (that I can see) possessions over all that time to justify that closure, but does have this cryptic note:
WORK DETAILS = MAINTENANCE. HS2 EXTENDED ALB AND 29HR 2TT

I take it that's an HS2 all line block, for something or other, and advantage is being taken of this for extended maintenance possessions. I just can't see any of those, only overnight ones that happen most weekends. Odd.

 
Through an aluminium pinhole on to a white tee-shirt.

 

Looks like it was brought under control before it caused thousands of pounds worth of improvements.

 
Hourly service only TRU - FAL on Thu 13 Aug 2026 due heat related weather disruption.

 
Buses replace trains throughout Thu 13 Aug 2026 due heat related weather disruption.

 
Posting here from my desk in the South-facing study in our house in Nailsea, I can say that I was very underwhelmed at this eclipse.

I noticed a slight reduction in the exterior daylight, and there were just a few squawking birds flying about - but that was about it, really.

Chris from Nailsea.

 

Looking at the generation curves, solar does have a small bite taken out at its right-hand foot. But it has already dropped well down its cosine hump by then, so it would not matter a lot. With so little wind today there is a big CCGT intake in the mix and, with cross-channel, a missing 1 GW or so will barely register.

 
21:20 Westbury to Chippenham due 22:01
An additional bus service has been planned to operate as shown 21:20 Westbury to Chippenham due 22:01.
Further Information

Due   Station   Status
21:20   Westbury   21:20
21:32   Trowbridge   21:32
21:45   Melksham   21:45
22:01   Chippenham   22:01

23:20 Chippenham to Westbury due 00:03
An additional bus service has been planned to operate as shown 23:20 Chippenham to Westbury due 00:03.
Further Information

23:20   Chippenham   23:20
23:36   Melksham   23:36
23:51   Trowbridge   23:51
00:03   Westbury   00:03

 
A look at www.realtimetrains.co.uk shows that on Sunday 29th Nov 2026 a number of trains will be running to / from Euston (rather than Paddington) via Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village, Winslow and Milton Keynes.

 

I can vouch for the volume of volumes on grahame's bookshelves - many railway related, such that they could form a whole case of their own in the British Library. I have browsed through some of them.

CfN.

 

Yes, but I presume that he has an older bomb proof that could still be used.

 

 
Huge fire next to Slough Station, Windsor line is closed and it sounds as if Slough Station may be closing soon, message is stay away.

https://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/26459437.slough-fire-trains-cancelled-due-massive-blaze/?fbclid=IwVERTSATphPxwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHkZoc_3MnSiYL33_QjOVsXwZBBk602QU5TBtRlqdcxkqtyqf9qixgICp5QRN_aem_KSV7HO-zDZOwN1eJR2F1Qw&sfnsn=scwspwa#Echobox=1786550372

 
Sharing for GWR and Network Rail

 

Up and down the country those of us with solar batteries and arrangement to balance the grid are on notice to sell electricity from the battery to the grid between 6 and 8pm tonight!

 
Up and down the country, the owners of gas-fired power stations will be sitting by the phone, willing it to ring...

Mark

 
Yup, eminently predictable and able to be planned for. A useful 'Teachable moment' for consumers close to the start of the era of electricity consumption pricing by the half hour, though.

Mark

 
A genuine question: where does this come back to bite GWR ?

- Shutting down the Didcot stoppers so that Twyford and Maidenhead passengers can only use Elizabeth Line services seems like a win/win as the services run with greater capacity and no pesky stops.
- Delay/Repay can’t be applied to cancelled services because ‘you can just take the Elizabeth Line’, whether that is true or not.
- the season ticket revenue is already banked

 
.................they just keep coming! 

Delays to services at Didcot Parkway

Due to a points failure at Didcot Parkway some lines are blocked.
Train services running through this station may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 17:15 12/08.

Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
There has been a points failure in the Didcot Parkway area. A points failure is a fault with the movable pieces of track that enable trains to change tracks. This affects trains accessing Didcot Parkway from Oxford.

 
It seems to me the traditional act of turning up at a booking office or TVM straight before travelling is about buying a ticket.
But the app-based and web-based systems are about booking a journey.

It's not unusual to see someone buying a ticket on the train mentioning that they had tried to buy a ticket but it was 'too late'. I also see people worrying about catching their 'booked' train, when it turns out they have an Off-Peak Return or whatever; they just think because they bought 'in advance' and have an itinerary attached that it's 'one of those tickets'.

If the big idea is really to replace a significant proportion of the booking office purchases with app usage, the apps need to offer 'buy a ticket now', without messing around with the journey planner. They can pop up a 'not valid until XX' or 'check peak validity' warning when needed, just like a booking clerk can.

 

 
Chiltern have more than halved their service after 1100 tomorrow.

 
Chapter 4 is the concluding section of the travels covering Sofia to Istanbul but there will be a Chapter 5 (see later).

In some ways this is the highlight of the whole trip perhaps giving a vague impression of the (original) Orient Express but without the glamour or dining car! So I caught the tram from my hotel this time but still managed to alight one stop too early. Once again I walked through the whole network of subways. The train departs at 18.50, so I bought some basic supplies and loitered in the cool subway since I had plenty of time. The train initially comprised 3 x Turkish sleepers, 1 x Turkish couchette and Bulgarian seated coaches and we duly set off for the next 14 hours. The sleeper was the best quality on this trip, quite spacious with sink and even a cupboard with fridge. The fridge had a few basic snacks and a sealed cup of water! The compartment was in seat mode at the start, and one has to set up and make the bed later using a pack of clean sheets and a thick blanket. I once again fully paid for this trip at around £70 with single occupation. Turkish Railways do not allow sharing of sleepers with a stranger anyway and a first class ticket is required (eg if using Interrail).

The train stopped at many lampposts in Bulgaria eventually arriving at Dimitrovgrad (named after another Bulgarian Communist big boss). Here the other Turkish couchette from Bucharest was added and probably the seated coaches removed. We then move on to Svilengrad where, as this is a serious border, serious Bulgarian checks take place around midnight. Apparently the Bulgarians used to treat this gently with a simple passport inspection and stamp on the train. With the coming of EES everyone has to alight, form two queues alongside a cabin on the platform and go through the checks. EU citizens get the simple version, I had a politely delivered scan with fingerprints taken again. (Clearly we are a long way from Denmark!). Then one can get back on the train and relax for a while.

The more serious Turkish border inspections are no longer handled at the border station, but instead at Kapikule somewhat further on. The schedule states 01.20 to 03.00. The change seems to be because this station has been modernised and the two trains “pass” at similar timings. So all passengers must alight complete with luggage. Then a simple passport inspection and stamp, followed by a baggage inspection with X-ray. No X ray check this time because I suspect the machine was not working. A wait on the platform follows until all passengers have been inspected. Beware of midges in summer!  Then it is off to Istanbul Halkali arriving on time at 09.56 and I did get some sleep.
Halkali is a modern suburban station at the extremity of the newish Marmaray line linking across the Bosphorus. Regrettably the two classic stations on each side of the water are no longer in (major) rail usage. Naturally most of the trains into Asia leave from a similar modern suburban station on that side but there is at least one early morning high-speed service to Ankara from Halkali through the tunnel. No other sign of main line trains at Halkali.
 
After alighting the sleeper you need to go up to the concourse and buy an Istanbulkart from the machines (multi-lingual) to use the Marmaray and other public transport. It is an Oyster card equivalent and can be topped up as required. Best to use cash (400 lire is a good start) since some foreign bank cards appeared to have trouble. Marmaray trains are modern and frequent. I was staying centrally at Taksim Square which required one change on to the metro and a total journey of ?45 mins. Some of the metro station interchanges are very complex but I did manage to find the perfect exit first time, just opposite my 5* hotel, perfect for some R and R, after the travel stress. Good service with a room (upgraded) provided speedily even though I was well early. Great room, great views over the square and towards the Bosphorus. Taksim Square is the focus for political demos in Istanbul (and also a big tourist hub) so interesting to see the main monument barriered off and lines of empty police buses with water cannon also drawn up along one side. No protests during my stay just a cultural event around the monument!

Whilst the heat had abated slightly in Istanbul, high intensity tourism was not attractive with a pool at the hotel. However, I did venture out to Sultanahmet area with the Blue Mosque etc., explored the waterfront and took a ferry ride across the Bosphorus, as well as eating out. I made good use of the public transport networks using the Istanbulkart. Tram stops have barriers and there are several modern funiculars from the central city down to the waterfront. I had contemplated the typical Red Bus tour but the reviews on service level are not great and my one enquiry offered a departure in 45 mins only.

I flew back from Istanbul by Pegasus Airlines (a Turkish low-cost airline) as the only operator currently doing Istanbul to Bristol. This was from the Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). This is the second airport for the city located on the Asian side. Istanbul now has a new “main” airport to the north and both are accessible by rail/metro but both airports are quite a distance out. I travelled out by Marmaray and metro with a change on the Asian side. I was advised to leave at 08.00 for a flight at 11.55 and journey time was about 100 mins. Amazingly some rain during the morning. SAW is a large modern airport and very busy on a Saturday with domestic holiday traffic. I took a slow approach to the formalities including a checked bag but still completed all these within 30 mins to get airside. Shows it can be done with adequate staff and systems. The flight was good, reasonable legroom and about 80% full. I managed to move to an empty row of 3. I was able to pre-order from a selection of quality cold meals and seemingly the only person to do so. I had a chicken Caesar salad which was good. (Ryanair actually offer something similar through their app. Whilst the hot meals are not inspiring it does mean you get served first before the trolley service). Arrival in Bristol virtually on time, speedy luggage and with First working perfectly to transport me home with no hassle. (I rarely see customs at Bristol but this time there was a whole gang who picked out a guy immediately behind me – heart stopping moment!)

Chapter 5 to follow soon as a conclusion with Interrail advice and a hint of geography.