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THURSDAY 30TH MARCH 2006

The day started bang on time and we were assisted up to London Waterloo by a Basingstoke guard who was 'on spare'. The train we boarded would take about 45 minutes to complete it's journey and because it was still part of the rush hour the three of us (fellow student Matthew, spare guard and myself) hid away in the back cab of the Class 444 unit to keep seats free. Of course I made sure I blagged the comfy driver's seat!

Upon arrival we were taken up to the various offices by climbing up a spiral staircase looking over the many platforms. When we reached the top the guard who had escorted us from Basingstoke went off and we were taken over by a London based non-commercial guard. He gave us a short tour of the upstairs and then around the station in general. We visited a variety of train cabs (photos of each in the photograph gallery). These were:

• Class 455/8, 5848 (un-refurbished).
• Class 455/7, 5719 (refurbished).
• Class 442, 2421 'Wessex Electric'.
• Class 159, 159017 three car unit.

We were originally going to have a look around the WICC (Wessex Integrated Control Centre) but a meeting with one of the South Western franchise bidders (GNER/Sea Containers) was in progress which stopped us doing so. It was decided for us to go to Wimbledon and possibly have a look around the depot.

After receiving some brand-new high visibility vests the three of us boarded a train to Wimbledon. We first had to locate the control room there. We asked someone who directed us to the correct place. We were warmly welcomed and were sat at the front and watched a camera operator operating the CCTV cameras and answering the 'help point' phone calls. He took us to a room called the 'evidence room'. This is where they gather evidence of crimes recorded on CCTV. On the wall outside are photos of various criminals caught in the act on CCTV cameras. Some of these have accompanying newspaper clippings featuring the trials of the various people that South West Trains have had input into. One set of images on the wall that shocked me was a four-part series of shots. The first one showed a lady on the platforms, then at the edge of one, then jumping off the platform edge and the final shot just showing the Class 444 - terrible stuff for all involved.

After going back to the monitors we spotted a Class 455/8 at Motspur Park, South London. We then followed it on each of the intermediate station's CCTV cameras (as well as on a route diagram) all the way into London Waterloo. It then decided to head off but when we got out of the room we thought the underground concourse area was awfully quiet. We looked up the stairs and saw that we were on the other side of a cordon! It turns out there was a signal failure further up London Underground's 'District line' which ultimately stopped us getting to Wimbledon Park District line station for the depot.

From Wimbledon we parted company. Our very friendly guard went back to Waterloo whilst Matthew and myself boarded a Guildford via Cobham train as far as Surbiton where we changed for the Basingstoke stopper which also called at Farnborough (3 minute cross-platform connection). Once we pulled into Woking I alighted but Matthew continued on. Why you may ask? Well, 960012 (SWT's route learning bubble car) was ticking over in the bay platform with one of the three SWT electro-diesels (73235) over the other side! I got pictures of each of those and made my way two stations on home to Farnborough. If only I had waited for 10 more minutes and I would've not only seen two Class 66s but also the ex-Virgin Class 47 that delivered the second refreshed Class 442 to Bournemouth the previous day! Luckily, though, I did manage to see it pass by so that was at least something. Just one more day to go now though - if only work experience was longer!

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