Kent bashing advice

[Techniquest]

Hi all,

As those of you who know me on Facebook and Twitter should already know, I'm off to Kent at the end of July. With not much longer to go, I need to start planning moves to get as much done as possible, hence this thread.

I've already started on stations in Kent, although I still need a lot of them yet! However that's not my query, I need motive power advice!

375s, in particular the 375/7s. These are proving a pain in the rear to get, I rarely see them anywhere on my admittedly infrequent SET trips. So my question here is this: Where am I likely to find these? Without my books to hand, I believe I need all of them for travelling on so it would be handy to find them!

Leading on from that, advice on any particular places to find any sub-class of 375s would be welcome

465/9s next. While they're not as dire as my 375s, I'm struggling to find my last one for sight, 465930. Any advice on particular routes/services to try to get them in on would be really appreciated!

466s, just Sheerness line I expect these can be found on?

395s are counted as normal services beyond Ashford correct? Sure that was the case in 2012 on my last visit to the area, but worth checking.

Any other advice on best moves to go for (any 12-car workings etc) would go down a storm too! All routes are covered, including the PSUL bits, so it's mostly motive power I'm after although scoring a ton of stations wouldn't hurt, indeed it'll be most welcome

Thanks in advance all

 

[yorkie]

...I'm off to Kent at the end of July....

A lot of people seem to be visiting Kent, perhaps something to do with the tickets from Yorkshire (valid via the West & East Midlands) at 1/10th of the normal price

395s are counted as normal services beyond Ashford correct? Sure that was the case in 2012 on my last visit to the area, but worth checking.

What would be abnormal about them?!

If you're asking about 'High Speed 1', SouthEastern services only use HS1 west of Ashford.

 

[Techniquest]

That offer's still going?! I need to look at that then, unless a suitable fare comes up to get to London on an HST that is when I can book the travel to/from Kent on 25th July

That's what I meant about Ashford, glad to hear it's still the case

 

[Peter Mugridge]

375/7s - I've seen rather more at Ashford than I would have expected on an equally random chance; I believe they also turn up on the Charing Cross - Hastings line rather more frequently than a purely random mix would generate.

465/9 - at least two an hour at Ashford, so again that could be a productive location for you.

466 - If it's a Saturday fewer are out but Sheerness and Bromley North should produce; there may also be a few on the inner suburban routes as well. If it's a weekday, then concentrate on the inner suburban routes, especially at London Bridge.

 

[yorkie]

That offer's still going?! I need to look at that then, unless a suitable fare comes up to get to London on an HST that is when I can book the travel to/from Kent on 25th July

No, the "offer" (!!) was only available for about a week, but rail tickets can be bought online up to approx 5 months in advance on Thetrainline and upto a year in advance from stations, so some will be around for a while yet.

But I'm amazed there weren't many more sold than there were!

 

[user15681]

I'm away at the moment and on my phone until Saturday, so it's hard to write a detailed reply. But I will when I get back if it's not all answered before then.

For 375s - the /6 /7 and /8 are all diagrammed as one, so any could turn up. There is no way of telling what a /7 will work in particular, it's equally likely to be a /6 or /8 I'm afraid. The /9s are diagrammed slightly separately and mainly used on peak morning and evening services. If it's a week day, then anything morning peak into Cannon Street from outer reaches of Kent will likely be a 12 car and have a /9 in it. Same goes for evening peak out of Cannon Street. Although they can be found elsewhere. If it's a weekend, the /9s don't get out as much.

465/9s - most likely to catch them on Victoria to Ashford, Victoria to Gillingham and Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells services, although one or two of these are 375s.

466s are almost a certain on Bromley North to Grove Park shuttle and Sheerness branch, but they do also make 6 cars with a 465 on metro services.

12 car workings most likely in peak periods.

If you plan a schedule (some like to, some don't), I'd be more than happy to look up what stock it's diagrammed as and any subclass if possible.

Edit - oops Peter beat me to it with a lot of it!

 

[Techniquest]

No, the "offer" (!!) was only available for about a week, but rail tickets can be bought online up to approx 5 months in advance on Thetrainline and upto a year in advance from stations, so some will be around for a while yet.

But I'm amazed there weren't many more sold than there were!

I think I was more than a little skint at the time, whenever that was now, and I think I was trying to make sense of it at a time when brain capacity was very low, so I didn't take advantage of it. It just seemed wayyyyy too good to be true to be honest as well!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

375/7s - I've seen rather more at Ashford than I would have expected on an equally random chance; I believe they also turn up on the Charing Cross - Hastings line rather more frequently than a purely random mix would generate.

465/9 - at least two an hour at Ashford, so again that could be a productive location for you.

466 - If it's a Saturday fewer are out but Sheerness and Bromley North should produce; there may also be a few on the inner suburban routes as well. If it's a weekday, then concentrate on the inner suburban routes, especially at London Bridge.

Fantastic stuff, most appreciated!

Two 465/9s an hour at Ashford, well if I can't find 465930 there I've no hope then!

Looks like my 375 cranking is going to be a bit like playing bingo, you never know what's going to turn up!

I'm due to be out and about on Thursday 31st July, Friday 1st August, Saturday 2nd August. Spa Valley diesel gala Sunday 3rd August, coming home from the biggest trip of 2014 on Monday 4th August to rest up, get some bookwork done and get ready to return to reality (ie, work) the day after. So I'll be getting a bit of weekday action in as well as a bit of stuff at the weekend.

Fingers crossed then I score some 466 action on the Sheerness line, I have had one once on a Tonbridge to Strood service but that was a couple of years ago now.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

For 375s - the /6 /7 and /8 are all diagrammed as one, so any could turn up. There is no way of telling what a /7 will work in particular, it's equally likely to be a /6 or /8 I'm afraid. The /9s are diagrammed slightly separately and mainly used on peak morning and evening services. If it's a week day, then anything morning peak into Cannon Street from outer reaches of Kent will likely be a 12 car and have a /9 in it. Same goes for evening peak out of Cannon Street. Although they can be found elsewhere. If it's a weekend, the /9s don't get out as much.

That was very, very helpful I must say, so I can expect a 12-car working on, say, an evening peak Cannon Street to Ramsgate? I should imagine that'll split somewhere though?

Maybe, just maybe, I'll finally find 375901 for sight and get that done as well (having recently got my penultimate one, 829, on my London trip). I had a 375/9s back in September 2005 on a weekend (a Sunday possibly, I can't remember now) from Canterbury to London Victoria, and I might have had one on March's Red Pen Fest but I'm not sure now. Either way I know I see them most infrequently.

465/9s - most likely to catch them on Victoria to Ashford, Victoria to Gillingham and Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells services, although one or two of these are 375s.

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about Gillingham workings! Looks like I could be well in luck, only time will tell...

466s are almost a certain on Bromley North to Grove Park shuttle and Sheerness branch, but they do also make 6 cars with a 465 on metro services.

12 car workings most likely in peak periods.

Looks like I'll be staring out of the window keenly on the approach to Sittingbourne every time I pass through then just in case! I'll have to get some focus on the SET Metro stuff next time I do a London bash then, might have to book a week off to do all the stuff I want to do down there!

If you plan a schedule (some like to, some don't), I'd be more than happy to look up what stock it's diagrammed as and any subclass if possible.

Edit - oops Peter beat me to it with a lot of it!

I'll try to remember to let you know if I have any sort of proper plan, but I'm one of those who prefer to go with the flow on the day, much more fun that way!

Thank you all for the help, looks like I'm going to have a very busy few days! I expect it'll take a while to type up the trip report too!

 

[185143]

That offer's still going?! I need to look at that then, unless a suitable fare comes up to get to London on an HST that is when I can book the travel to/from Kent on 25th July

No, the "offer" (!!) was only available for about a week, but rail tickets can be bought online up to approx 5 months in advance on Thetrainline and upto a year in advance from stations, so some will be around for a while yet.

But I'm amazed there weren't many more sold than there were!

So how would I get the offer then, book through the Trainline?(can't believe I've just said that!)

I'm assuming it was a mistake!

 

[Techniquest]

So how would I get the offer then, book through the Trainline?(can't believe I've just said that!)

I'm assuming it was a mistake!

Pretty confident of that, it was an outrageously cheap price compared to what it should have been! I'm sure yorkie will PM you details

 

[Keith Jarrett]

If you were to join the Yahoo ukmodernemu group, there's a copy of the current carriage working book (CWN) for the whole of the southeastern in the files section and that will give you all the booked workings.

465/9s also inhabit some of the Charing Cross-Tunbridge Wells workings - the balance are single or pairs of 375s. Monday to Friday there's an interesting one which seems to be out most of the day formed 465/9-466-465/9. Yes, the 466 is in the middle of the 10 car formation! Workings include the 13:30 ex Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells. And there's always the chance of 465/9s being swapped onto Metro work and I understand that there are a couple of booked metro workings as well, again the SE CWN will help identify those.

If you are after any 375/3s, remember that the Medway Valley line takes up three units - the remainder are used to strengthen London to Kent coast services.

375/7s always seem to be common for me but that's probably the luck (or lack of it on my part) of the draw. It's the 8s that I seem to have trouble with. The 375/7s are relatively easy to identify - no grey skirt and no pantograph

I see a few SE workings each day on the daily grind (sorry, commute) so feel free to PM me nearer the time with specific units that you want help with. And keep the questions coming.

 

[Techniquest]

I am on UKmodernEMU already, I must remember to look at the files section then

So no 466s on Tonbridge-Strood services any more? If so I'm glad I did that on the 2011 (or was it 2012?) ALR!

I'm going to point out to you, same as to samuelmorris, the 'Trains you've seen working' thread. Even if it's just the daily commute, it would be nice to have regular input from more people. Besides, you never know when said gen could prove useful to other people! Link is in my signature

Thanks though for the incredibly helpful post, I'll have a look for that CWN later

 

[telstarbox]

From London via Tonbridge, 12-cars only run as far Ashford international and Tunbridge Wells because the stations further east/south have shorter platforms.

You can see splitting and joining taking place at Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Ashford Intl.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm going to point out to you, same as to samuelmorris, the 'Trains you've seen working' thread. Even if it's just the daily commute, it would be nice to have regular input from more people. Besides, you never know when said gen could prove useful to other people! Link is in my signature

Without going too OT, the probability of someone putting in a train and someone else needing the same one are very small (24,000 trains run in Britain every day) so is it really worth the bother?

 

[Techniquest]

You never know, it's part of the fun and has proved useful to other people before.

Cheers for that gen, all very useful

 

[jnjkerbin]

So how would I get the offer then, book through the Trainline?(can't believe I've just said that!)

I'm assuming it was a mistake!

The offer (well, mistake) was only around for a day or two, it's what made my trip to the Pennines on Saturday so cheap!

 

[Lrd]

Just out of curiosity, what tickets are you using in Kent? The absurdly priced rovers or single/return tickets?

 

[GatwickDepress]

I've seen more /6s and /7s down Hastings way than the other subclasses. The last time I travelled past Hastings station on a 377, I had 905 and 625 jotted as seen. I hope you enjoy your trip and hope the staff don't give too much bother.

But I'm amazed there weren't many more sold than there were!

By the time I got a PM about it, the offer had expired.

 

[Kite159]

If anybody is around Kent on the 19th/20th July I might bump into you on my little trip around on a Kentish rover

 

[steamybrian]

I shall be at the Spa Valley Railway Diesel Gala on all three days August 1st,2nd and 3rd

 

[185143]

What was the date the mistake/offer was released?

 

[Techniquest]

Just out of curiosity, what tickets are you using in Kent? The absurdly priced rovers or single/return tickets?

Kent Rover. It doesn't seem too badly priced at a little short of £40 (I swear it was £36 earlier in the year...)

Singles/returns would cost way before, without a doubt.

 

[Kite159]

3 day rover at just under £40, probably was £36 before the last price rises

Not as good value as other rovers (owing to the smaller coverage), but still can provide a good day or 2 out in 3rd rail land

 

[D841 Roebuck]

I did a 3 day Kent Rover in 2010. Covered some new lines and the K&ESR gala.

I stayed in rather a pleasant B&B in Folkestone.

From memory, this is my approximate itinerary:
Thurs: Castleton-Shrewsbury-Marylebone-Charing Cross-Swanley-Tonbridge-Ashford-Ramsgate-Folkestone.
Fri: Morning on the RH&DR, then Folkestone-Minster (psul)-Ramsgate-Sittingbourne-Sheerness (Beer/Curry break) - Newington (Psul)-Faversham-Dover-Folkestone.
Sat: Out and back to Headcorn for the gala. Was going to do Paddock Wood-Strood but was bustituted soddidn't bother.
Sun: As it was a glorious day, booked in for an extra night and spent the day on the beach and watching Germany tater England.
Mon: Chinged out for as HS1 service to St Pancakes, then home via Shrewsbury.

 

[D6975]

Kent rover currently £39.50 - did one a few weeks ago to fill in some missing track.
Good value at just over £13 a day.
I went out via St P to get the high speed line in. A Bristol - Canterbury advance single was about £5 cheaper than the cheapest St P - Canterbury ticket available.

 

[30907]

466s, just Sheerness line I expect these can be found on?

6-car (465+466) combinations seem quite common on Vic-Orpington

 

[eastwestdivide]

For weekend 466s, keep your eyes peeled at the stabling sidings at Slade Green, Dartford and Gillingham (and probably others too).

 

[bb21]

What was the date the mistake/offer was released?

Around the middle of May. Yes, you did have to book via TTL unfortunately if you wanted a ticket beyond the 3-month timescale as they are the only online retailer to do it. They sell walk-on fares for the next 27 weeks.

The Kent Rover is poor value for Railcard holders in a way as it offers no Railcard discount.