Making my Great Escape on London Midland Part 1

[Kite159]

First time at a report

I've been rather busy today making use of the London Midland Great Escape promotion, £9.90 with my network railcard for anywhere on their network.

Early start for me, alarm set for 5:30, got up, packed my sandwich into my travelling bag (saves having to stop somewhere to get lunch), had a quick drive to the station (I could have walked, but it was a bit chilly and dark).

Arrived to pick up the ticket for the car park parking, plus the pre-booked Grateley to Waterloo Winter Smiles ticket, plus a Bedford to St Albans pre-booked ticket. Nice 5 minute wait before the first train of the day (159006) sneaked up as best it could, no platform announcements as it was 5:59.

Rather uneventful trip into London, arriving around 7:19, made my way to the underground station, using my rarely used Oyster (which I put an extra £10 on the previous weekend) to go up the Northern line to Euston, the train was already on the platform so no chance to get the number. Out at Euston underground, upto the main station to find the 7:46 LM service to Crewe (350122) was departing from platform 8, arrived at platform 8 and it was only at 7:43 the doors were allowed to be opened, managed to get a table seat on the Right hand side(going forward).

Nice run up the fast lines of the WCML, stopping at Milton Keynes, Rugby and then Nuneaton, where I got off, crossed the platforms to platform 1 (I think), where I was waiting for the 9:15 Nuneaton/Coventry service to pull in. When it arrived, I was happy as it was my first 153 (153375). Arrived into Coventry, passed the largely unused Coventry football ground (does it get used at all since Coventry FC got kicked out by the owner?). Picked up a copy of the I newspaper and a sausage bap from the station shop and crossed over to the required platform for the 9:50 service (350107) to Birmingham New Street.

My first time into New Street (I've used Moor Street a couple times on cheap Chiltern tickets (the 25p each way ones), first thing I noticed is that how dark and gloomy it is, I'm guessing there is a building on top which prevents the platforms getting natural daylight? Crossed over to platform 8 for the 10:25 service (323212) to Lichfield Trent Valley, nice run, although to those 2 ladies who decided it was Lichfield City they wanted to get off at just as the doors were closing, doh!. Nice platform over the main-line platforms, and easy enough to get to platform 1 to await the 11:17 service (350121) to Rugeley Trent Valley, nice short 8 minute hop up the line.

Rugeley Trent Valley station is a bit bare-bones, no ticket office, and only a couple seats under-cover, wasn't long until the 11:45 service to Wolves, 170638 rolled in. Another quick hop, towards Tame Bridge Parkway, passing the sidings for an old power station (between Rugeley TV and Rugeley main). Changed at Tame Bridge Parkway to the 323217 service heading towards New Street via Aston.

At New Street, had a couple minutes wait before the platform for the 13:14 service to Euston (350102) got put up. Highlight was 2 ladies forcing there way onto the train when it pulled in around 13:05, against the flow of the people coming off just to sit down at a table sit, couldn't they wait? :roll:

The 350s get a bit uncomfy after a while, as I stayed on until 14:45 when it pulled into Bletchley, beautiful countryside, around Northampton, all those lovely train sets in the depot between Long Buckley and Northampton, mostly 350s but I did spot a 321 set. Arrived into Bletchley to find the 15:01 Bedford service (made up of a 2-car 150 set, 150109). Passed an old power station along the route? Wouldn't some of those stations on that line be better served as request stops as they seemed to be in pretty remote areas, with spilt platforms over a level crossing?

Arrived into Bedford for 15:43, allowing me time to jump across the platform (via the stairs) to get to Platform 2/3, where I had the choice, go on a First Capital Connect service which was sitting waiting (using an ex-Southern 319 set on the rear as it was still in Southern colours) or jump onto a East Midland Trains service and change at Luton to another FCC service to save a couple minutes at St Albans. When the 15:47 EMT service pulled in, it was 222007, first time for me on a 222.

I was naughty and sat in a reserved seat (person who reserved it must have either moved or didn't catch the service), I was surprised that it was running on diesel rather than getting the power from the overhead lines. The 222 pulled into Luton, where I 'dashed' from platform 3 to platform 1 to get on a 8 car 319 set made up of 319423 & 319372 (16:03), no onboard announcements. It arrived into St Albans City, where I got off and went for a little walk.

Although my phone decided it didn't want to connect to the national rail site to get the postcode of the Abbey station, and Google Maps decided to take a short-cut along a muddy river path (pretty though). Arrived at the Abbey station 20 minutes later, to await the 16:52 service to Watford Junction, made up of 321411. I had a quick laugh at the age of the London Underground map (dated from 2000).

The 321 seats don't line up with the windows, which was slightly annoying, but the sun was slowly setting, as it pulled into platform 11 of Watford Junction. Quick move to platform 8, where it was rather busy, to wait for the 350 sets (350113/350242), front couple cars had empty seats, the rear couple cars were standing, can't people move up the train?

As the sun was setting, I spent the 15 minute journey to Euston playing cards on my tablet. Arrived into Euston around 17:38, so annoyingly it meant I would miss the 17:50 service to Salisbury from Waterloo. Northern Line train got busy at Tottenham Court Road (must be all the shoppers or football fans), arriving into Waterloo around 17:55.

This is where I made a mistake, I should have stayed at Waterloo for 25 minutes for the 18:50 to pull in (normally arrived at ~ 18:20), to get a seat and relax, instead I made out for the 18:05, 10 car service to Bournmouth and Weymouth, made up of 444001 & 444012), and it was rammed, I tried the usual trick of walking up the platform to the cars at the front, as they are sometimes quieter than the rear cars, but they were rammed, although the passengers were doing what they do and hanging around in the door ways and not moving down to stand in the aisles :roll:

The guard was funny with his announcement that he could be found in the middle of the train, and that the refreshments trolley probably wasn't going anywhere. A pick up at Clapham Junction arrived with more passengers getting onto the train, I ended up standing all the way to Basingstoke.

Once at Basingstoke I had 40 minutes to kill, so I went down to the Sainsburys to try and pick up something to eat, failed as they had no sandwiches left. Arrived back onto the platform, sat and carried on playing cards. The fast Weymouth service thundered pass, 444 set at the front, 450 set at the back. At 19:36, 159019 and 159006 pulled in, I went up on 006 and I'm came back on 006 Busy again, and I think I annoyed a posh lady by asking her to move her handbag from a spare seat so I could sit down.

Arrived back into Grateley at 20:06, on time for a change, crossed the footbridge to the Platform 2 car-park, and came home.

I'm slightly tired, I will work out the distance travelled, but it must be a good few hundred miles.

Onto HS1 tomorrow (maybe), but part 2 of my Great Escape continues next weekend, with a sleep-over in the "Birmingham Central Backpackers" hotel. And also I need a new travelling bag as my lovely 2 year old bag has stayed to rip at the bottom

Lots of lovely tickets:
http://oi62.tinypic.com/ypaa0.jpg

 

[sonic2009]

Nice report there, regarding the Ricoh Arena it only get used at the moment for exhibitions in the jaguar hall and music concert. Rumour is that its going to be rented out to a non-league football team from the city next season.

 

[Techniquest]

First time at a report

You've done a decent job of it, I must say before I carry on and comment on certain bits!

no platform announcements as it was 5:59.

That never used to stop the PA at Swansea at 03:15 in the morning!

I was happy as it was my first 153 (153375)

What did you think of your first trip on a Tin Rocket/Dogbox/insert favourite 153 nickname? I regret not sitting in 153354 on my way home from Birmingham to Hereford on Monday, opting instead for some reason to blast some tunes into my ears on 170511.

I'm guessing there is a building on top which prevents the platforms getting natural daylight?

Bingo. It's part construction site (for the rest of the new concourse) and part The Pallasades shopping centre. Part of the construction work will allegedly bring more light into parts of the station, but probably only into the concourse area. So New Street will forever be a grim and gloomy place. Sunderland station was also like it a fair bit until a refurbishment took place there. Still no natural light but it looked and felt safer than it had done before!

an old power station (between Rugeley TV and Rugeley main)

That'll be Rugeley Power Station, very much still in use and served by Freightliner Heavy Haul with trains from Portbury (west of Bristol) via the Marches line at the very least.

The 350s get a bit uncomfy after a while, as I stayed on until 14:45 when it pulled into Bletchley, beautiful countryside, around Northampton, all those lovely train sets in the depot between Long Buckby and Northampton, mostly 350s but I did spot a 321 set. Arrived into Bletchley to find the 15:01 Bedford service (made up of a 2-car 150 set, 150109). Passed an old power station along the route? Wouldn't some of those stations on that line be better served as request stops as they seemed to be in pretty remote areas, with split platforms over a level crossing?

No gen on what that power station is/was, or even if it was that, but I suspect it'll be the same industrial bit I passed when I covered that line in late 2011. That depot is the main base for LM's 350s, and yeah the 321/4s do also find themselves there too. I'd agree about making the stops on the Bletchley to Bedford line request only for most of them!

I was surprised that it was running on diesel rather than getting the power from the overhead lines.

Yes, the 222s are DEMUs only I'm afraid. There was a plan to get them, as well as the 220s and 221s, a coach which would enable the 3 classes to use the overheads where possible, however I believe Operation Thor is dead in the water.

I had a quick laugh at the age of the London Underground map (dated from 2000)

Jeepers, I wonder how very different it must have looked compared to one from 14 years later!

This is where I made a mistake, I should have stayed at Waterloo for 25 minutes for the 18:50 to pull in (normally arrived at ~ 18:20), to get a seat and relax, instead I made out for the 18:05, 10 car service to Bournemouth and Weymouth, made up of 444001 & 444012), and it was rammed, I tried the usual trick of walking up the platform to the cars at the front, as they are sometimes quieter than the rear cars, but they were rammed, although the passengers were doing what they do and hanging around in the door ways and not moving down to stand in the aisles :roll:

Done a similiar thing many times before, getting an earlier train but being no better off after all!

I will work out the distance travelled, but it must be a good few hundred miles.

Very much a good few miles there, I'd be surprised if you didn't get at least 350 miles all in. I'd look it up myself, but I'm being lazy

Glad you enjoyed your trip around the LM empire, and that you'll do more trip reports in the future

 

[Crossover]

Nice report there. Honestly can't say you've missed much having never been to New St before!

As for the 222's, whilst they are under the wires down in this part of the country, once they get up towards Leicester and beyond, there are no wires, hence being run as diesels throughout.

 

[Kite159]

For the short time I was on the 153 it was ok, I will need a longer trip to get a better idea. Nice of the in-car display to read "BR Class 153".

One thing I didn't mention is that when the morning service pulled into Basingstoke (would have been around 6:27), another 159 unit pulled up onto platform 4 which puzzled me.

 

[Kite159]

Managed to do the 2nd part of my great escape this weekend, staying overnight in Birmingham, I'm a tad knackered!

Still need to do the New Street to Tame Bridge non-stop part (run by the New Street to
Rugeley Trent service), Moor Street to Galton Bridge (the station where the snow hill lines cross the WCML), Stourbridge Town branch, and the 2 lines into Worcester Scrub Hill.

I'm up that area again later in the month going into Stafford on Avon on Chiltern and making my way upto Moor Street to come back later that afternoon so I might try and get a "Network West Midlands Daytripper" ticket which gives me an excuse to do the tram as well

Report later in the week

 

[Crossover]

I'm guessing that is Stratford upon Avon, rather than Stafford :P

 

[Techniquest]

Still need to do the New Street to Tame Bridge non-stop part (run by the New Street to
Rugeley Trent service), Moor Street to Galton Bridge (the station where the snow hill lines cross the WCML), Stourbridge Town branch, and the 2 lines into Worcester Scrub Hill.

Yes you're right on the New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley services using the Soho East to Perry Barr West section, normally 170s but you do also get 170+153 combinations on that line.

Moor Street to Galton Bridge is ridiculously easy to do, at least 4 trains an hour, normally I think it's 6 or 8 through there. All 172s, with one or two exceptions as there are one or two extra trains that use 170+153 combinations to deal with the school rush in certain places.

Technically, the line from Droitwich Spa separates just after Rainbow Hill Tunnel (Worcester), with one branch to Shrub Hill, the other to Foregate Street, with a third side of a triangle of lines linking Foregate Street and Shrub Hill. The LM depot is in the middle of the triangle, but daytime services go past with nothing stabled whatsoever, as it empties in the morning and gets filled again quite a bit by 2000.

I'm up that area again later in the month going into Stafford on Avon on Chiltern and making my way upto Moor Street to come back later that afternoon so I might try and get a "Network West Midlands Daytripper" ticket which gives me an excuse to do the tram as well

Report later in the week

Do enjoy your trip over the North Warwickshire line, and indeed the run through the Chilterns. A lot of services to t'Avon are in the hands of 165s, both 2 and 3 car varieties, but some are 168s. If you're after superior comfort, I'd go for one of their Silver Trains on a Birmingham service and alight at Leamington Spa for an onward connection. After all, it's a long way on a 165 and not the most comfortable ride, I should know having had 165029 solo all the way from t'Bone to Snow Hill (then back to Moor Street on a time killing move) hundreds of moons ago.

The Daytripper (a bargain at £6.60 when I did one last year) is valid from Earlswood on the Stratford-upon-Avon line, and valid as far out as Dorridge on the Leamington line, which may make things work out slightly cheaper for you

 

[Crossover]

The Daytripper is £6.20 - I bought one a couple of weeks ago

The 168's aren't bad units if one can't get a Silver Set - they have free WiFi too

 

[Kite159]

I'm guessing that is Stratford upon Avon, rather than Stafford :P

Yes I do.


----

Sadly I've already purchased a ticket from Stratford to Birmingham Stations, I will try and get a day-tripper ticket on the train to save time. I only wished I had booked the return service a bit later, even 30 minutes.

Chiltern is advanced tickets (09:09 to Stratford from Marylebone) and 15:55 from Moor Street, 29th March.

 

[bb21]

the train was already on the platform so no chance to get the number.

Now that's just lazy, cos the numbers are at the end of each carriage (inside).

The fast Weymouth service thundered pass, 444 set at the front, 450 set at the back.

I was led to believe that this was quite unusual, as my understanding was that 444s and 450s are not supposed to form mixed sets in passenger service, but it would seem that I remembered wrong.

 

[455driver]

When they were introduced Siemens said they couldnt because of the different swing on corners but they do work fairly regularly, in fact there was a booked 9 coach job a few years ago.

 

[sprinterguy]

No gen on what that power station is/was, or even if it was that, but I suspect it'll be the same industrial bit I passed when I covered that line in late 2011.

I'd hazard a guess at it being the brickworks at Stewartby.