Today, I set out to complete the final push on my long-awaited update of Plymouth to Exeter – The Southernway. This classic railway journey video, originally filmed with my dad back in 1996. I have been giving it a full modern makeover with updated footage, fresh music, and new modern footage.
I’d planned to head to Exeter Central and Exeter St Davids to capture some high-quality station shots, including drone footage and 360-degree photos. These would give viewers a proper look at what the stations are like today, especially for those who aren’t local. I had fully charged my cameras and drone, the weather was bright and sunny, and everything felt ready for a productive day of railway filming.
Then reality hit. I arrived at my local station, Yeovil Junction, only to check my phone and discover that the 12:40 train to Exeter had been cancelled due to a signal failure. I spoke with a member of staff who was also hoping to catch the same service — he confirmed the bad news. No problem, I thought — I’d just catch the next one.
I grabbed some lunch and returned an hour later… only to find the 13:40 had also been cancelled.
At that point, I admitted defeat, headed home, and put in a refund request for my tickets. (On a positive note, I’d apparently had the good sense to add travel insurance when I booked.)
The Irony
As Morpheus so perfectly put it in The Matrix: “Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony.”
I set out to film trains at a station, and the trains decided not to show up. While chatting with another stranded passenger, we both had a very British moment of acceptance — shaking our heads and agreeing it was peak UK rail experience.
The most frustrating part? Those final Exeter shots would have let me upload the completed Plymouth to Exeter – The Southernway video this coming Monday. Instead, it’ll have to wait for the next trip.
Still, every cloud has a silver lining. I enjoyed a very decent cup of tea at the Yeovil Junction station café while I waited, so the day wasn’t a complete loss.
Another filming adventure awaits — and I’ll be better prepared next time!
