Not sure whether this should be in this thread or 'Trip Reports'....but I had a very enjoyable day out on the Marches Line on Monday and things seemed to be running fairly well. I took 1D75, 11 31 from Hebden Bridge into Manchester Victoria, arriving about five minutes late owing to a track circuit failure on Miles Platting bank. As there was no suitable tram on the horizon, I made a swift march to Piccadilly in the pouring rain to find that 1V42, 12 30 to Cardiff was expected to depart five minutes late. The incoming working - 82226/67 015 - eventually arrived at 12 35 and we departed eleven late with the loco leading. As we left Manchester behind, the weather cleared-up quickly and by Shrewsbury it was bright sunshine. I alighted at Ludlow, and as the train pulled out a Northbound service arrived with 67 025 propelling an ex-GC set and providing an excellent video opportunity. After a couple of hours looking around the lovely town centre I returned to the station and joined 67 008 - until then required for haulage - propelling 82229 on 1V46, 14 30 from Manchester. Alighting at Hereford, I had a brisk walk to - and a swift pint in - Barrels Alehouse - before an even brisker walk, in a heavy shower back to the station to pick up 67 017, propelling ex-GC 82227 on 1W23, 16 49 from Cardiff. Up to and including this service, there had been no catering provision on any of my trains....so I alighted at Shrewsbury to await 1W96, 17 14 Cardiff-Holyhead, which rolled in on time with 67 015 and 82226. This time there was a full buffet and first class dining service - obviously a priority on the 'Gerald' service - and I managed to assuage my hunger before arriving at Chester. I had a conversation with the very pleasant Holyhead-based chef about the lack of catering on the Manchester services and she said that there was to be a meeting next week about a new recruitment drive to counter TfW's chronic shortage of chefs and stewards. The last leg of my journey was with 195 024/015 on 1E78, 20 29 Chester-Leeds back to Hebden Bridge, arriving at 21 49.