Welcome to the month of July, in Welsh mis Gorffenhaf, or Summer's End. As it turned out July 2022 was exceptionally dry and, on two days at least, exceptionally hot as well with both the Wales and UK temperature records broken. The heat had an immediate effect on the railways, trains were subject to speed limits which lengthened journey times for both passenger and freight services, in turn resulting in cancellations. It was a fraught few days.

On Monday 18th, the first of the two really hot days I took myself off to Cwmbargoed where, at 1200', the temperature was a bearable 29C (it's normally 29F). The following day I rode the train from Abergavenny to Severn Tunnel Junction, it was exceptionally hot but I had sufficient water, a hat and sun block so was equipped for the conditions. Virtually everything was running late, the GW services from London to South Wales were some of the worst affected as they were limited to 60 mph instead of 125 mph. But at least they ran, as did GW's Cardiff to Taunton / Plymouth / Penzance trains. Portsmouth Harbour services were only running too and from Bristol, necessitating a change for anyone too or from South Wales. By and large all the passengers I saw seemed perfectly relaxed about the disruption and at least the railway was functioning. It's likely that these sort of extreme weather events will become more common which will mean the railway infrastructure will probably need upgrading to be able to cope. I'd like to be at the meeting between the Department of Transport and the Treasury when that comes up!

July ended with a visit to Wiltshire for my father-in-law's 99th birthday, which gave me the opportunity of spending Friday afternoon along the B&H between Bedwyn and Crofton. Nothing unusual ran, just the normal scheduled loaded and empty stone trains and the empty tanks to Robeston. It was very hot though.