Plans for 2014

[Techniquest]

Hey all,

Well as we're fast approaching the end of 2013, the last 37 days of the year approaching, who's getting excited about 2014's arrival? I for one can't wait to see what it'll bring, hopefully it'll be better times than much of 2013 brought with it for me.

Tons of stuff I'm planning for 2014, provisional plans include:

Preserved lines around Wales, only done a few of them so far;
Finish shack scratching in West Wales;
Finishing claiming haulage on various classes including 172s, 180s (if not done this year), 168s, 322s and 333s;
Get a start on the 313/2s finally;
Multiple trips to Scotland;
At least one trip to mainland Europe;
Various rangers/rovers to do, including but not limited to Anglia Plus, Tyne and Tees, East Midlands, Kent Rover, Devon Day Ranger, WMDR (no doubt it'll be a few of these ) and more;
At least 2 London trips to have some serious red pen fever sessions and to clear the last of the Metropolitan Line I need;
Making good progress with as many classes as possible;
Finally possibly a railtour or two, not done one since February 2012 hock:

What about anyone else?

 

[sonic2009]

A mainland trip to Europe, possibly Holland, but wouldn't consider it alone having never been.

 

[rm88]

Will your trip to Scotland be on a 350, that is what I am hoping to do, I will wait until May as then I am guaranteed to be on a 350.

 

[Spaceflower]

A couple of trips to mainland Europe

 

[ValleyLines142]

I'm going to Beijing in July!

 

[jnjkerbin]

Next year should be good for me with my first foreign rail trip to Belgium (hoping for some nice loco-hauled trains ), some day roving up north (probably a WMDR or something), hopefully getting most of the tube done and a sizeable chunk of suburban London and also hopefully a foray into Norfolk (time and money permitting).

That said, I'm not wishing December away quite yet as I've got a day in London planned as well as a Devon ranger to finish everything west of the Southampton to Bristol line except Weston SM, Okehampton and Newquay. (EDIT: Oh, and Lymington )

 

[DarloRich]

not getting wound up by idiots and wibbling spotters on here would be a start!

I tend to just go with the flow, life takes you to many different places, often without any warning. Just go with it.

 

[43074]

Time and money permitting, I hope to do some new rover areas in the North, Wales and finish track/loco bashing in the West Midlands. A few trips to London seem likely as well.
Hopefully go abroad - short weekend to the Netherlands or somewhere would be nice if I can persuade someone to accompany me and if I can afford it.
Do the Cally Sleeper or the Night Riviera.

And apart from that I'll have bugger loads of work for A levels to fit all of these trips around.

I predict the weather won't be great next summer either.

 

[ainsworth74]

not getting wound up by idiots and wibbling spotters on here would be a start!

You love us all really




I don't have many plans for 2014 other than scratching off a couple of preserved lines, finally doing one of the Scottish Sleepers and covering the Far North Line and Kyle of Lochalsh. Those are the only firms ones I've got.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

• Bubble-car
• Emerson Park Shuttle
• WLL
• Virgin along the Chiltern Line
• EC along the Tyne Valley
• Virgin along the S&C (If it runs)
• Brigg
• Heart-of-Wessex line
• Cotswold line
• HoW
• Both Sleepers (Caledonian and Riviera)
• Lot's of HST's
• C2C at Liverpool Street
• CR at Paddington

 

[Bob Ames]

In addition to bashing unfamiliar lines, I'm most looking forward to the fact that my regular commute in 2014 will be on a Pendo instead of a stinky Voyager!

 

[Techniquest]

A mainland trip to Europe, possibly Holland, but wouldn't consider it alone having never been.

Boulderdash. Going on your own makes it so much more of an adventure! I went on my own, like I do with the vast majority of my trips, and enjoyed it thoroughly. The only time I'd have enjoyed company is during the time spent in hotel rooms and the like, but the rest of the time I was lovely and busy so quite content.
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Will your trip to Scotland be on a 350, that is what I am hoping to do, I will wait until May as then I am guaranteed to be on a 350.

I'll probably do the trip on a 350 at least once, but I'll be flying to/from Scotland whenever possible as I love flying
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Next year should be good for me with my first foreign rail trip to Belgium (hoping for some nice loco-hauled trains ), some day roving up north (probably a WMDR or something), hopefully getting most of the tube done and a sizeable chunk of suburban London and also hopefully a foray into Norfolk (time and money permitting).

That said, I'm not wishing December away quite yet as I've got a day in London planned as well as a Devon ranger to finish everything west of the Southampton to Bristol line except Weston SM, Okehampton and Newquay.

Plenty of loco hauled trains (and some of them very rateable) can be got, post a thread in the International Rail section and several forum members can advise the best bits, but if I may, I'd make one suggestion over any other. That is, try to do the journey from Liege Guillemins to Luxembourg, it's very scenic and well worth the effort and journey time. It's usually hauled by a CFL (Luxembourg) Class 3000 loco and they're quite enjoyable little beasts. Don't believe me? Watch my video of one (I was slow to get the camera on ) at Kautenbach and see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaPu-DiFxdA It's lovely and scenic anyway, but if the snow's been like it did on my trip, it's even better!

A WMDR, one of my favourite rangers and the one I use the most often. I do a minimum of 3 of them a year, might be doing a couple of them in December this year but I know full well I'll do some more next year for some cheap mileage accumulation trips and red pen fever sessions

That reminds me, I need to do a Zone 9 Travelcard to clear out the last bits of the Metropolitan Line I need too, as well as some London trips on the mainlines too to have some serious red pen fever sessions to fill my books!

 

[jnjkerbin]

Plenty of loco hauled trains (and some of them very rateable) can be got, post a thread in the International Rail section and several forum members can advise the best bits, but if I may, I'd make one suggestion over any other. That is, try to do the journey from Liege Guillemins to Luxembourg, it's very scenic and well worth the effort and journey time. It's usually hauled by a CFL (Luxembourg) Class 3000 loco and they're quite enjoyable little beasts. Don't believe me? Watch my video of one (I was slow to get the camera on ) at Kautenbach and see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaPu-DiFxdA It's lovely and scenic anyway, but if the snow's been like it did on my trip, it's even better!

A WMDR, one of my favourite rangers and the one I use the most often. I do a minimum of 3 of them a year, might be doing a couple of them in December this year but I know full well I'll do some more next year for some cheap mileage accumulation trips and red pen fever sessions

Thanks very much for the advice! Will watch that video next time I have access to Youtube.

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks very much for the advice! Will watch that video next time I have access to Youtube.

Most welcome! Also worth a look at some photos I took whilst on a few bashes over in Belgium (went 3 times this year all in!)

Benelux Interrail: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43002/sets/72157633047944679/

Brussels Bash: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43002/sets/72157632491552206/

The Three Countries Bash: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43002/sets/72157633268098539/

All of which have at least photos of Belgian trains in there, but here's some of my favourites from the Netherlands (included to give you a taste of the joys to be found on the mainland ):


Fyra service arriving at Breda by 43002, on Flickr


NS Class 1700, 1720 at Eindhoven by 43002, on Flickr

As for Belgium...


SNCB Class 18, 1892, at Verviers Central by 43002, on Flickr


DSCN0225 by 43002, on Flickr


DSCN0236 by 43002, on Flickr


DSCN0088 by 43002, on Flickr

Luxembourg's dead easy to get loco-hauled passengers in, let's see if any of these wet your appetite:


DSCN0316 by 43002, on Flickr


DSCN0268 by 43002, on Flickr


DSCN0291 by 43002, on Flickr



EDIT: Let's shove in some more YouTube videos to really get you wanting the days to hurry up and pass by:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Juhh-Yfn3qU - SNCB Class 18 departing Welkenraedt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtOaQK1nTEQ - CFL Class 3000 leaving Arlon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2pRf1u_4gw - SNCB Class 27 departing Brussels Midi (this one is my favourite of the whole lot, think of a BR Class 87 and you'll have a good idea what the noise will be like )

Finally for now, it's worth investigating my trip reports on this forum for hints and tips on what a bash on the mainland is like. A search for "Techniquest's Epic Brussels Bash", "Techniquest's The Three Countries" or "Techniquest's Benelux Interrail" should provide you with links to each trip report from my trips to the continent this year

 

[Temple Meads]

• Bubble-car
• Emerson Park Shuttle
• WLL
• Virgin along the Chiltern Line
• EC along the Tyne Valley
• Virgin along the S&C (If it runs)
• Brigg
• Heart-of-Wessex line
• Cotswold line
• HoW
• Both Sleepers (Caledonian and Riviera)
• Lot's of HST's
• C2C at Liverpool Street
• CR at Paddington

I note you're aiming for lots of diversions and rare-track-for-the-TOC/stock action there, why not FGW via Yeovil and Honiton in late January/February?

 

[Techniquest]

I note you're aiming for lots of diversions and rare-track-for-the-TOC/stock action there, why not FGW via Yeovil and Honiton in late January/February?

That *should* also happen at least a few other times in 2014 I believe, so probably better to try for it in better weather. That said, get it in before it goes attitude is also a good idea sometimes. Just expect a LOT of being held in loops for SWT services or indeed other FGW services to come the other way. And definitely don't expect any decent noise off the power cars going up the bank from St Davids to Central, that was hugely disappointing Trust me, I know from experience of doing it a few years ago. Whilst it was nice to have an HST on unusual territory, it took such a long time. Wouldn't do it again now, only did it at the time as an HST basher!

Chiltern to Paddington, trust me that's beyond dull. I was lucky in that I got to chat with the RPI all the way there after his checks as we were non-stop Paddington to Gerrards Cross, so it didn't take long lol. Otherwise it would have been super boring.

EC over the Tyne Valley, worth doing once but I wouldn't do it again now. Unless it was on one of the 67-hauled trains, then I'd have a 91 to Edinburgh from Carlisle

Virgin over the S+C, personally I'd really not worry so much about that one. No properly rare track to be had there and it really is dull as dishwater. Aside from the Hellifield to Clitheroe bit, the rest of the track is easy enough to do daily anyway, so unless you intend to treat yourself to First Class it's not worth the effort.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

That *should* also happen at least a few other times in 2014 I believe, so probably better to try for it in better weather. That said, get it in before it goes attitude is also a good idea sometimes. Just expect a LOT of being held in loops for SWT services or indeed other FGW services to come the other way. And definitely don't expect any decent noise off the power cars going up the bank from St Davids to Central, that was hugely disappointing Trust me, I know from experience of doing it a few years ago. Whilst it was nice to have an HST on unusual territory, it took such a long time. Wouldn't do it again now, only did it at the time as an HST basher!

I don't know why I didn't put the FGW diversions! I've always wanted to do them!

Chiltern to Paddington, trust me that's beyond dull. I was lucky in that I got to chat with the RPI all the way there after his checks as we were non-stop Paddington to Gerrards Cross, so it didn't take long lol. Otherwise it would have been super boring.

That's just for the stock being in unusual place.

Virgin over the S+C, personally I'd really not worry so much about that one. No properly rare track to be had there and it really is dull as dishwater. Aside from the Hellifield to Clitheroe bit, the rest of the track is easy enough to do daily anyway, so unless you intend to treat yourself to First Class it's not worth the effort.

I'm not after the rare track; it's the stock. I'm after doing the stock over the line, nothing better than a scenic line on a Voyager! One I've wanted to do for ages!

 

[craig87034]

Plan A As every year have every skip for haulage just need 16 & 20 for 2013

 

[fowler9]

Slovakia and Armenia for me hopefully.

 

[Lrd]

I shall hopefully be spending a bit of time in Scotland, quite enjoyed it up there on my ALR. I'm learning to drive at the moment, so when I pass my test, I may drive up to Scotland and rove around on the trains and then drive back. I can see myself doing a lot of driving next year.

Shall definitely be doing another 7day All Line Rover during the Summer.

 

[SS4]

I hope to either go abroad again or do an ALR at home whilst I still have my 16-25 railcard.

 

[Ben.A.98]

My plans for 2014?

- Far North Line
- Kyle Line
- Perhaps an ALR
- A few more preserved railways
- And perhaps a WCRC steam ride at Mallaig
- Cally Sleeper

 

[starrymarkb]

2014 looks like it'll include a lot of coach travel

A few more far flung gigs (just booked to see I Like Trains in London - more NatEx mileage)

23. Wave Gotik Treffen (including BA for the first time and First and Last flights into Tegal as BBI still won't be ready)

Mera Luna (more epic coach mileage)

Looking at moving to London (depending on the Work situation)

Possible Day Trip to Glasgow (from Devon)

Resetting my Tube coverage and hatching a plan to visit every station (which must include passing through the barriers)

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That *should* also happen at least a few other times in 2014 I believe, so probably better to try for it in better weather. That said, get it in before it goes attitude is also a good idea sometimes. Just expect a LOT of being held in loops for SWT services or indeed other FGW services to come the other way. And definitely don't expect any decent noise off the power cars going up the bank from St Davids to Central, that was hugely disappointing Trust me, I know from experience of doing it a few years ago. Whilst it was nice to have an HST on unusual territory, it took such a long time. Wouldn't do it again now, only did it at the time as an HST basher!
.

The Speedlimits on the bank rather kill off any hard revving, it's 15mph, rising to 25 about halfway up then 30 IIRC as you come into the platforms.

 

[Drsatan]

Plans for 2014

Another trip to Scotland, where I'll hopefully complete the Inverness-Kyle of Localsh - Armadale - Mallaig-Glasgow.

Cover the North Downs line from Reading to Guildford, along with Swindon to Didcot, the only part of the GWML I haven't covered.

Cover most of EMT's network, which will require purchasing an East Midlands Rover. I aim to cover Nottingham to Skegness, the MML to Nottingham the Matlock branch, Nottingham to Worksop, the Erewash Valley line, Crewe to Derby, Peterborough to Doncaster via Lincoln, and Sheffield to Cleethorpes via Brigg.

Cover lines in the North of England I missed out on when doing my ALR: in particular I want to cover Huddersfield to Sheffield via Penistone, Leeds to Lancaster Clapham, Blackburn to Preston, the Ilkley branch, the Cumbrian coast line and the Durham coast line.

On ATW's network, I also want to cover Bidston to Wrexham General, along with Crewe to Shrewsbury.

Finally, I'm planning on another Travelcard bash to cover some of the Victoria, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street and Waterloo suburban routes, and attempt to cover any remaining stretches of Tube track.

 

[Clip]

Train wise there is a trip Im still debating on doing, flying to Beijing then train to Lhasa then 4x4 over the mountains into Nepal and maybe onto Bhutan.

Its getting the time off work which is the thorn in my plan though.


Otherwise for the rest of the year Ill just see what life throws at me and maybe angle for a promotion.

 

[bb21]

Train wise there is a trip Im still debating on doing, flying to Beijing

Surely you mean the Trans-Siberian Railway to Beijing.

 

[Clip]

Surely you mean the Trans-Siberian Railway to Beijing.

If I could do that as well as the trip I wanted to do then I would need more than 3 weeks off but also cost would come into too as thats not cheap is it??

 

[bb21]

Well, you can start saving now for 2024.

But yes, time is more the constraint. It's between 5 and 6 days Moscow to Beijing depending on which way you go.

Around £500 each way for a soft berth in a compartment for 4. £600 for the deluxe berth and £400 for the hard berth.

 

[Clip]

Actually those prices are not too bad really but it will have to be another time because of the time off required.. Flying is the much quicker option Though flying back from Kathmandu or Bhutan seems a bit of a pain