Chris the Driver
@christhedriver.bsky.social
Hello, I am a driver for SWR. All views my own and don't necessarily reflect those of South Western Railway. DM always open.
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.
November 17, 2025 at 10:52 AM
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.
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.
November 17, 2025 at 7:28 AM
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.
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.
November 17, 2025 at 5:06 AM
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.
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?
Who turned the heating off?
November 17, 2025 at 4:45 AM
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?
Who turned the heating off?
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.
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.
November 15, 2025 at 3:55 PM
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.
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.
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.
November 15, 2025 at 2:41 PM
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.
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.
450054 & 450027 are turning back on P5 at Guildford with 1P40 fast to Waterloo next on my sheet.
November 15, 2025 at 1:15 PM
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.
450054 & 450027 are turning back on P5 at Guildford with 1P40 fast to Waterloo next on my sheet.
Someone evidently heard me moan! Now on P2 at Aldershot, my last bit with 450004 is 2J23 back to Guildford and my break.
November 15, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Someone evidently heard me moan! Now on P2 at Aldershot, my last bit with 450004 is 2J23 back to Guildford and my break.
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!
November 15, 2025 at 10:51 AM
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!
Turning round on P3 at Aldershot, next on the list for 450004 is 2N26 to Ascot. Fog still hasn’t lifted…
November 15, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Turning round on P3 at Aldershot, next on the list for 450004 is 2N26 to Ascot. Fog still hasn’t lifted…
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.
November 15, 2025 at 9:23 AM
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.
And now on P1 at Farnham, back we go to Guildford with 450004.
November 15, 2025 at 8:32 AM
And now on P1 at Farnham, back we go to Guildford with 450004.
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.
November 15, 2025 at 7:50 AM
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.
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!
November 15, 2025 at 7:38 AM
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!
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.
November 12, 2025 at 12:12 PM
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.
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.
The most excellent Alain is in the back so we’re just waiting on time and signal.
November 12, 2025 at 10:21 AM
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.
The most excellent Alain is in the back so we’re just waiting on time and signal.
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.
November 12, 2025 at 6:53 AM
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.
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.
Another Red day.
November 12, 2025 at 4:36 AM
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.
Another Red day.
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.
November 11, 2025 at 10:31 AM
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.
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.
450019 & 450012 now on P1 at Chessington South awaiting time to depart for Waterloo as 2M18.
November 11, 2025 at 8:32 AM
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.
450019 & 450012 now on P1 at Chessington South awaiting time to depart for Waterloo as 2M18.
Turning back on P4 at Waterloo, 450012 now leads 450019 as we head on down to Chessington South as 2M11.
Bit nippier today.
Bit nippier today.
November 11, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Turning back on P4 at Waterloo, 450012 now leads 450019 as we head on down to Chessington South as 2M11.
Bit nippier today.
Bit nippier today.
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.
November 11, 2025 at 6:32 AM
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.
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.
November 11, 2025 at 5:16 AM
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.
Back to Guildford we go! 450064 is now on P1 at Farnham, ready to work 2J23.
November 10, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Back to Guildford we go! 450064 is now on P1 at Farnham, ready to work 2J23.
Back on a short one at Guildford. P6 currently hosts 450064 with 2J20 to Farnham its next working.
November 10, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Back on a short one at Guildford. P6 currently hosts 450064 with 2J20 to Farnham its next working.