2. Leg 2, Rugby-Stafford (51mi)

During an hour or so at Rugby awaiting validation of our Day Ranger tickets, we captured plenty of freight. Whilst the station has lost much of its atmosphere over the years it remains a busy location with much to interest the enthusiast. Unfortunately, the orientation of the station makes photography tricky in strong summer sunshine. The journey to Stafford was taken on a rather late-running London Northwestern Class 350 that curtailed our plans onward from Stafford a little. The cause of the delays was put down to signalling issues in the Watford area affecting all services. A travelling team of revenue protection officers were much in evidence on this train catching three travellers in our coach with no valid tickets.