BlythPower
Member
Back last year when Pathfinder announced the Buffer Puffer 11.0 and 11.1, one of the highlights was the rare opportunity to take the curve from Metropolitan Junction into Cannon Street. As this stretch of tracks banned to locos, it unsurprisingly got pulled from the itinery. The disappointment hasnt lasted too long, however, as due to the ongoing engineering works at London Bridge, shuttles have been running on recent Sundays between Charing Cross and Cannon Street using that very curve.
So, how to get down to that London on a Sunday? Normally, I go from Coventry with London Midland providing the best combination of price, flexibility and journey time. With LM having later arrival times due to engineering and no decent advances left for Virgin, it meant taking a look at Chiltern from Leamington. Thankfully, being a weekend, a Super Off Peak Travelcard was available for a very reasonable £34.
The next question what to else to do when down there? I wanted to bag further new track if possible. After exploring a few options, it became clear that due to the engineering work there wasnt much else available. In the end I settled on the Hounslow Loop which could only be done in two stages because of engineering work.
I set off from Leamington on 1H33 09:25 to St. Mary-le-Bourne only the second train off the day and formed of 168215. Being four coaches it was lovely and quiet all the way down. Chesterton windmill was visible on the skyline heading through south Warwickshire. The Chiltern route offers less railway interest than the WCML but makes up for that with being more scenic. Banbury brought 165002, my penultimate 165/0 for sight then it was a case of sitting back and enjoying the spring landscape - apart from the blot on that landscape that is High Wycombe.
At Ruislip, its like someones flicked a switch and suddenly everythings massively urban. No 165s at Wembley, but the 67 + Mk III sets were out in force with 67012/017/018 and 023 being present. 82306 and 309 were seen for the first time with their new numbers.
On arrival at Marylebone, it was a case of checking out the 165s to see if 015 was present. It wasnt, so off down the Bakerloo to Charing Cross. Its a ruddy long walk from Charing Cross Bakerloo to the main station Consecutively numbered 465037/038 and 039 were there on Cannon Street shuttle duty and I headed off onboard 465039 on 2Z35 11:15 to Cannon Street (the front unit a first for haulage, with 037 at the rear). After a stop at Waterloo East where traces of the through line into Waterloo itself can still be seen, 465039 continued on my first (but by no means last) journey on the line from Metropolitan Junction into Cannon Street. After arrival, I bagged the 375s and 465s for sight and then made the short hop to London Bridge on board 465235 (first time haulage). London Bridge was by far the quietest Ive ever known it with few passengers or trains. After a brief wander around with some 465s, 377s and a single 455 bagged, I headed off to the Jubilee Line and Waterloo.
I made the long walk along the Waterllo concourse to platform 19 for 2Z33, billed as the 12:09 to Virginia Water, but actually going to Hounslow for onward bussing. Yup, that engineering work again. 450087, a double winner for sight and haulage took me to Clapham Junction for a spot of platform ending during which I netted a couple of new 159s, the previously unseen centre car of 159101, some 377s, a 378, some 450s, a couple of 455s (very few of those left to see now), 8007 (only 8006 now left for sight) and best of all, 67301, my last 455/9 vehicle for sight.
Next up, part one of the truncated Hounslow loop with 2U35 12:54 to Hounslow on board 450019 (a haulage winner). From Barnes to Richmond was new track and again from Twickenham to Hounslow. After a pause at Hounslow, the train set off again, this time as 1S38 13:36 to Waterloo with me in the rear unit 450101 (a double winner). Back on the Jubbly Line from Waterloo to London Bridge and a mare finding my out of the Underground station. I ended up on a late running 2K40 14:37 to Cannon Street on board double winner 466019.
Now for some serious shuttle action. Firstly, 465170 on 2Z70 14:45 to Charing Cross. Next, its partner 465002 on 2Z75 back to Cannon Street and finally 465170 again as 2Z74 to Charing Cross. Four trips in all from Metropolitan Junction to Cannon Street. Two each way and sat on different sides each for maximum track/sightseeing. I know, I know
So, the long underground walk from Charing Crosss mainline platforms back to the Bakerloo and then up to Marylebone for 1R52 16:06 to Moor Street. The usual Marylebone trick of a late platform announcement as an earlier service was using the same platform. 168219 (new for haulage) provided an inadequate three cars and quite a few people had to stand in the vestibules. An uneventful but on-time journey brought me back to Leamo.
So, how to get down to that London on a Sunday? Normally, I go from Coventry with London Midland providing the best combination of price, flexibility and journey time. With LM having later arrival times due to engineering and no decent advances left for Virgin, it meant taking a look at Chiltern from Leamington. Thankfully, being a weekend, a Super Off Peak Travelcard was available for a very reasonable £34.
The next question what to else to do when down there? I wanted to bag further new track if possible. After exploring a few options, it became clear that due to the engineering work there wasnt much else available. In the end I settled on the Hounslow Loop which could only be done in two stages because of engineering work.
I set off from Leamington on 1H33 09:25 to St. Mary-le-Bourne only the second train off the day and formed of 168215. Being four coaches it was lovely and quiet all the way down. Chesterton windmill was visible on the skyline heading through south Warwickshire. The Chiltern route offers less railway interest than the WCML but makes up for that with being more scenic. Banbury brought 165002, my penultimate 165/0 for sight then it was a case of sitting back and enjoying the spring landscape - apart from the blot on that landscape that is High Wycombe.
At Ruislip, its like someones flicked a switch and suddenly everythings massively urban. No 165s at Wembley, but the 67 + Mk III sets were out in force with 67012/017/018 and 023 being present. 82306 and 309 were seen for the first time with their new numbers.On arrival at Marylebone, it was a case of checking out the 165s to see if 015 was present. It wasnt, so off down the Bakerloo to Charing Cross. Its a ruddy long walk from Charing Cross Bakerloo to the main station Consecutively numbered 465037/038 and 039 were there on Cannon Street shuttle duty and I headed off onboard 465039 on 2Z35 11:15 to Cannon Street (the front unit a first for haulage, with 037 at the rear). After a stop at Waterloo East where traces of the through line into Waterloo itself can still be seen, 465039 continued on my first (but by no means last) journey on the line from Metropolitan Junction into Cannon Street. After arrival, I bagged the 375s and 465s for sight and then made the short hop to London Bridge on board 465235 (first time haulage). London Bridge was by far the quietest Ive ever known it with few passengers or trains. After a brief wander around with some 465s, 377s and a single 455 bagged, I headed off to the Jubilee Line and Waterloo.
I made the long walk along the Waterllo concourse to platform 19 for 2Z33, billed as the 12:09 to Virginia Water, but actually going to Hounslow for onward bussing. Yup, that engineering work again. 450087, a double winner for sight and haulage took me to Clapham Junction for a spot of platform ending during which I netted a couple of new 159s, the previously unseen centre car of 159101, some 377s, a 378, some 450s, a couple of 455s (very few of those left to see now), 8007 (only 8006 now left for sight) and best of all, 67301, my last 455/9 vehicle for sight.
Next up, part one of the truncated Hounslow loop with 2U35 12:54 to Hounslow on board 450019 (a haulage winner). From Barnes to Richmond was new track and again from Twickenham to Hounslow. After a pause at Hounslow, the train set off again, this time as 1S38 13:36 to Waterloo with me in the rear unit 450101 (a double winner). Back on the Jubbly Line from Waterloo to London Bridge and a mare finding my out of the Underground station. I ended up on a late running 2K40 14:37 to Cannon Street on board double winner 466019.
Now for some serious shuttle action. Firstly, 465170 on 2Z70 14:45 to Charing Cross. Next, its partner 465002 on 2Z75 back to Cannon Street and finally 465170 again as 2Z74 to Charing Cross. Four trips in all from Metropolitan Junction to Cannon Street. Two each way and sat on different sides each for maximum track/sightseeing. I know, I know
So, the long underground walk from Charing Crosss mainline platforms back to the Bakerloo and then up to Marylebone for 1R52 16:06 to Moor Street. The usual Marylebone trick of a late platform announcement as an earlier service was using the same platform. 168219 (new for haulage) provided an inadequate three cars and quite a few people had to stand in the vestibules. An uneventful but on-time journey brought me back to Leamo.
), how does the centre car of 159101 work there? Surely if you've seen 159101 you've seen the whole thing? I'm probably missing something here...
Aye it's a long walk from Bridge to the Tube station, confusing as anything too and those dang shops/stalls en-route really get in the way with people stopping at them unexpectedly. Want to browse shops? Get the fudge out of the station and bugger off up the road to the shops there, you're in my way! Not that I get irritated on the Tube, not at all...
