So, it's June 16th 2020, and I've ventured out to my local lineside spot of Burbage Common, near Hinckley. It was overcast, and although there was rain forecast, at this particular moment in time, it was relatively dry. I had seen some gen that 37884 Cepheus was taking 3 former East Midlands Railway HST Power Cars; 43052, 43054 and 43066 (not in that order I may add) from Long Marston to Leicester L.I.P, I understand that these HST power cars will eventually be used for high speed testing on the Midland Mainline from St. Pancras to Kettering and Corby.

Anyhow, getting to the location, and walking across to the foot crossing, the weather began to turn, and it began to drizzle, OK not enough to warrant a hasty retreat to the car so I persevered, but as the time went on, and subsequent passage of 66506 Crewe Regeneration working 4M81 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall freightliner, the rain got heavy. Eventually I made the decision to retreat to the car, after all it was literally a stone throw away, and I do mean, I could throw a stone from the crossing and hit my car. By time I got back to the car, it was a full torrent of rain and my T-Shirt was more or less soaked.

I continued to follow the train, which was running as 5M60 due to the barrier coach at the rear, and it was at Water Orton, making good progress Eastwards, I was faced with 2 choices. Do I:

A) Make a retreat back home.

or

B) Just sit in the car and watch it pass.

In the end, I did neither as I decided to bite the bullet, and say "Bugger the rain" and wandered back to the crossing, where I had also left my steps as well, what with the forecast for rain and potential thunder and lightning, I opted to use my steps instead of my pole.

Getting back to the crossing, and the cavalcade was passing Nuneaton, so in the pouring rain, I set the shot up, got my desired settings on my camera and it was a case of fingers and toes being crossed. At this point the sky was clearing to the South but there was no way that the clear sky would reach me in time.

Sure enough, 37884 appeared around the corner in the distance, and I took position on my steps, as soon as they came into the frame it was a case of rapid shooting, by the time I hit the shutter, I was absolutely soaked through, so much so I had to take my T-shirt off and wear an old jacket which I had left in the car boot, itself an old jacket from work as we've recently had new clothing to wear.

So, was I absolutely bonkers for stopping out in the rain??.

No, I more like to call it dedication. However, the real kick in the knackers was, about 5 minutes after I took the shot, the clear sky got to me, the rain stopped, and the local area was lit up in glorious Summer sun.

Still, that's the way the cookie crumbles right?.