If you’re a Doctor Who fan who doesn’t want to know anything about the new series, avert your eyes now!

On Wednesday evening last, tipped off by reports on the Outpost Gallifrey forum, I set off by train down to Barry Island. I was wearing the leather jacket I recently bought, which entirely coincidentally, is rather like the costume Christopher Eccleston, the new Doctor Who, wears in the new series!

The train pulled in to Barry Island, and I got out, on the same platform as the one on which Doctor Who was filming, since the Railway Heritage Centre is just a short distance further along the same track and platform as the mainline, though unfortunately seperated by barriers. I left the station and walked up the hill where a gigantic floodlight was illuminating the filming, casting strange shadows on the streets and houses.

From the road, there were good views of the station except for some bushes in the way. There were a number of people peering over to have a look. Walking along the tracks were people in period costumes, wearing gas-masks. They spent a lot of time standing around waiting, but after a bit they’d start filming. Then, the crowds would begin to walk slowly forward along the track, their faces hidden by the sinister masks, while smoke billowing across the scene.

As I walked further round, I couldn’t see down into the dip in which they were filming. There was, however, a camera being set up by the road on top of a ladder/tripod thingy to capture the explosion. I circled round and walked round the other side, and saw people from the fire service connecting a hose to a water pipe outside someone’s house, ready for the big bang. By the entrance, a local woman was asking the security guards if she could come in with her little boy to have a look. I carried on round, looking for the best place to watch, and walked through the park and up onto the railway bridge, where a small crowd had gathered.

I walked back up to where the camera was set up by the road, and discovered the explosion was set to happen in a minute. I rushed around trying to get a good view. Shortly after there were two big explosions. The fire and smoke exploded up out of the dip. I tried to take a picture of it; alas, I wasn’t quick enough.

I did try taking some pictures of the station, but they didn’t come out either – it was too dark for my cheap camera to catch anything! After that, things seemed to be finishing off, so I hung around for a bit before heading back to the train station.

What I saw didn’t give away any of the plot, the crowds of people shuffling through a strange fog and big dramatic explosions are all very intriguing and served as a wonderful teaser for me for when this story appears on screen!