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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Break over and I have a 455 set waiting for me on P1 at Waterloo. 455721 & 455720 will form 2D23 down to Guildford via Epsom today.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Time to leave the seaside. There’s a brisk northerly down here, making it rather chilly. I’m out on P5 at Portsmouth Harbour now with 444008, ready to work 2P94 all stations to Woking and then fast to Waterloo.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Down on P5 at Guildford to begin service this morning. 444004 is my first unit, ready and open now to work 2P03 to Portsmouth Harbour.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Morning world! Day 3/5 is here, I signed on at 04:44 and I have job 4 - the “First Pompey” - today. Off to the seaside, stopper all the way back to Waterloo, down Epsom and a Farnham shuttle. Who turned the heating off?

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Morning all. Sorry, forgot to check in to social media today!! Signed on for day 2/5 at 06:45 and I am a spare driver today. Due to engineering works, there is only one line in and out of Guildford (the New Line) so there are few trains and fewer opportunities to do favours.

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a close up of a man 's face with the words he waits below him

ALT: a close up of a man 's face with the words he waits below him

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Last bit. It’s getting a little gloomy now, so I have switched to night lights. Can’t remember the last time I used nights at the end of my shift! 450058 & 450013 are on P5 at Guildford, now boarding if you want 2P50 to Waterloo. I’ll be relieved at Woking as my job ends there.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Change of stock at Waterloo. 450013 & 450058 are now with me for the rest of my day. We’re on P12 now, ready to work 2P43 back down to Guildford, this time with Clapham Junction & Worplesdon thrown in for good measure.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Break over and time for bigger trains and faster speeds. Enough of the 15/20/25mph stuff, let’s do 90! 450054 & 450027 are turning back on P5 at Guildford with 1P40 fast to Waterloo next on my sheet.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Someone evidently heard me moan! Now on P2 at Aldershot, my last bit with 450004 is 2J23 back to Guildford and my break.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Now on P3 at Ascot (I can’t escape P3s, can I?), 450004’s next role is 2N23 to Aldershot. Once there, it will magically transform back into a 2J!

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Turning round on P3 at Aldershot, next on the list for 450004 is 2N26 to Ascot. Fog still hasn’t lifted…

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Change of scene-ish now. Still with 450004 on P6 at Guildford and our next working is 2J14 but only as far as Aldershot this time. Once there, the unit turns into an Ascot service.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

And now on P1 at Farnham, back we go to Guildford with 450004.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Right-o! 450004 will be with me for the whole of the first part of my job today. Now on P6 at Guildford, we have 2J08 to Farnham first on the agenda. Some fog around right now but it looks like it should lift later on.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Morning all! 07:28 sign on for day 1/5 and it’s special turn 8007 today. Lots of trundling around for the first half and then some fast blasting for the second. Here we go!

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Turning back on P2 at Alton, next job for 450001 is 1A38 to Waterloo. I will be relieved at Woking on this one for cushions home.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Break over and back to the Desiros. A sport model 4-car this time. 450001 will make the run down to Alton as 1A25 today. The most excellent Alain is in the back so we’re just waiting on time and signal.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Next up is 1D07 down to Dorking. As it was late in, we are having to run fast to Raynes Park to recover service. 455873 & 455870 will do the honours.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

2/2 Apologies for the issue today, if you were delayed by 15 minutes or more because of this, you may be eligible for Delay Repay. You can claim here: www.southwesternrailway.com/contact-and-...

southwesternrailway.com

Delay Repay for Delayed & Cancelled Trains | South Western Railway

Delay repay is a compensation that you can claim when your train is delayed or cancelled. Claims can be made up to 28 days after your journey.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

1/2 OK, this is what happened: overrunning engineering works meant that the stock to form my 2D06 couldn’t get out of the sidings, nor could it run via Effingham Junction. We were re-allocated stock & ran up the Main, stopping at Woking & Surbiton then Raynes Park then as booked.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Problem with our first service: there is a line block at Guildford and the train can’t get out of the sidings. Will post more when I get it.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Morning world! Day 3/3 is here, I signed on at 04:30 for job 2. Up Epsom, a Dorking, down to Alton and back to Woking today. Another Red day.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Live near Woking, Staines or Wimbledon? Fancy a shot at the best job in the world? Get in quick!!!! careers.southwesternrailway.com/jobs/search?...

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

So sorry, I discovered a fault with the train so it has had to be cancelled (and 2G34 back up, I suspect). If you have been delayed by 15 minutes or more due to this, don’t forget you can claim Delay Repay here: www.southwesternrailway.com/contact-and-...

southwesternrailway.com

Delay Repay for Delayed & Cancelled Trains | South Western Railway

Delay repay is a compensation that you can claim when your train is delayed or cancelled. Claims can be made up to 28 days after your journey.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Break over and now out on P4 at Waterloo with 450032 & 450112 which are my units for the rest of my day. Next on my card is 2G23 down to Guildford via Cobham.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Woke up the other night needing a pee (as usual), looked at my watch and it was 21:30!

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Seems like only yesterday that I was here. Hang on, it WAS only yesterday! 450019 & 450012 now on P1 at Chessington South awaiting time to depart for Waterloo as 2M18.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Turning back on P4 at Waterloo, 450012 now leads 450019 as we head on down to Chessington South as 2M11. Bit nippier today.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Prep done (NFF) and shunt into P2 at Guildford complete and we’re ready for service. 450019 & 450012 are my first set today, now open if 2G12 to Waterloo via Cobham is the one for you.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Morning all! Day 2/3 started at 05:10 for job 6. A walk out to North Box to grab my first set and then most of the day is all about the Cobham road, with a Chessington South added in for good measure.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Back to Guildford we go! 450064 is now on P1 at Farnham, ready to work 2J23.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Back on a short one at Guildford. P6 currently hosts 450064 with 2J20 to Farnham its next working.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Break over and I’ve got a big train now. 444036 & 444007 is on P15 at Waterloo. 1P23 to Portsmouth Harbour fast for this one but I’ll be relieved at Guildford as I have other work to do from there.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Down at Chessington South now on P1. 450013 is back in the lead with 450058 behind and 2M14 is next up.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

A bit slippery but we were nicely on time into Waterloo. 450058 will now lead 460013 out of P2 and down to Chessington South as 2M07.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Prep done (NFF) so we are ready to start service. 450013 & 450058 are now open on P1 at Guildford if you want to ride on 2D08 to Waterloo via Epsom this morning.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Morning all! Day 1/3 is here, I signed on at 04:40 for job 1. Platform prep on my first set, up Epsom, a Chessy, blast back to Guildford and a shuttle today.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Six years ago today, at about this time, I walked out to P1 at Guildford to take the 13:58 up to Waterloo via Epsom. My first productive run. Where has all that time gone?

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Nope, we’re away. F1 driving simulator experience.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Last run. Been into the Tip Road with 450080 and back out again and we are now on P1 at Farnham awaiting time and signal to go back to Guildford as 2J29. Once there, that’s the end of my day and my week.

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Chris the Driver @christhedriver.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Last bit coming up. Back on the Desiros now with 450080. Now boarding on P6 at Guildford, we’ll head off to Farnham as 2J26.

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