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Yesterday we went to Oxford on a train only we weren't sat anywhere near one another because Neil was driving me! This is the first time that I've been on a train that Neil was driving and it was a very smooth journey there and back. I had an opportunity to take some photos of Neil in his office and thought I'd show them off here.

There he is.
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His weirdo companion driver
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Does anyone else think it looks like he's sprouted a rather dashing handlebar moustache?!
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Being relieved (not like that Andy!) by a fellow driver
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I'm so proud of him 

Great post Lorna. Well done Neil.

And they still won't let us drive on our own ...

I'm out with the "weirdo" guy above all next week while the management think about letting us do the job we've been training a year for!

Hang on in there Neil, it can't be long now before they let you loose !

Oh, I have a special request for you as well, I visit Maidenhead from time to time on business and as you know FGW don't stop there, so could you go a bit slower when passing Maidenhead station? There's been a few times I've nearly been sucked off the platform when your lot go screaming through at full belt

(cue joke from Andy K).

I assume you mean that the FGW high speed services don't stop there, as the Turbos always stop there!

You may have noticed that the down main platform has been extended recently (the one that the fast trains go through towards Reading) in readiness for the new winter timetable which will see the introduction of fast trains making the occasional stop.

Until then I'm afraid we're going to be going through at linespeed which at that point is 125mph in both directions.

Ah ha!

Just had a phone call from the Paddington HSS crew manager, who tells me that shadowing is ON starting tomorrow, which means I can finally drive a train on my own.

About bleeding time an' all.