Heard a rumour from fairly reliable source that one of the problems with the 5 car units is coupling two sets together.

Due to the streamlined nose the driver loses sight of the coupler on the set he's approaching so has to guided with hand signals.

The problem with auto couplers is they have to be given a fairly hard bang to couple but hard enough  to cause damage  or too soft not to couple properly.

Heard a rumour from fairly reliable source that one of the problems with the 5 car units is coupling two sets together.

Two historic carriages - ex-GNR teak corridor composite No. 2701, and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Collett corridor third No. 1146 – were sprayed with graffiti over the Christmas period, causing thousands of pounds’ worth of damage.

SVRCT director Shelagh Paterson said: “The speed and generosity of the response we’ve received shows us just how shocked people were when the news of this awful incident broke. It also shows the depth of their passion for the Severn Valley Railway, and everything it stands for. Keeping our heritage alive and accessible is clearly very important to the wide range of people who’ve come forward to add their support.

“With the exception of a handful of larger amounts, most of the donations we received were between £10 and £25. Each one was a vote of confidence in the sterling skills of the SVR’s restoration volunteers and staff, and we are so grateful to everyone for their support.”

Work to restore the teak-bodied 1922-built No. 2701 is well underway in the SVR’s Kidderminster paint shop. A team of volunteers spent three days removing the spray paint by hand. The gold leaf lettering and painted lining on the carriage was badly damaged but is now being painstakingly restored. The team will then apply several fresh coats of varnish to finish things off. Paint removal will begin in the next few days on the second vandalised carriage, the metal-skinned No. 1146.

The unscheduled work to restore these two important carriages has meant a delay to this month’s scheduled projects, including the conversion of a vehicle to provide first class dining accommodation, suitable for wheelchair users and their companions.

Although the initial appeal target of £10,000 has been reached, further contributions to carriage restoration are needed, and donations can be made online at www.svrtrust.org.uk or by phoning 01562 757940.

The incident at Nailsea & Backwell seems to be a murder investigation in a nearby house.

A murder investigation has been launched and a rail station closed after a woman was found fatally injured at a house near Bristol.

The 27-year-old was found with serious injuries inside a house in Brendon Gardens, Nailsea, Somerset, shortly before 07:00 GMT.

A 45-year-old man was arrested at Nailsea and Backwell railway station at 07:30 and is being treated in hospital.

The station has been closed and a cordon is in place at Brendon Gardens.

Police said paramedics tried to save the woman but she died at the scene.

Her next of kin are being supported by officers.

Det Ch Insp James Riccio said: "This investigation is at a very early stage and we are doing everything possible to determine how the woman died.

"We're aware this will have an impact on the wider community and I'd like to reassure people we believe this to be an isolated incident."

Anyone with information is urged to contact Avon & Somerset Constabulary.

So that's now just one round trip down by one carriage.   

At least if we're playing with two balls carriages and one gets dropped, we can go on playing with one ball carriage

Runs via Westbury leaving Paddington later at 10.35. And no it won't return to running via Bristol.