just got in, brilliant day was had, many thanks to EVERYONE for their advice and help, will try and write something remotely interesting tomorrow, completely booshed but happy.
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Part One
The alarm goes off at 4am, I curse the damn thing, I trudge from my pit to the bathroom, 45mins later I'm dressed and in the garden enjoying a cuppa. my bags packed and double checked, half an hour later I head out down the old mineral line footpath,for the 10min walk to Pelaw Metro, for the first metro which arrives at 05.38. 4070/4071 take me to Central Station.
I get to Central for just after quarter to 6, the barriers open, I make my way to the end of platform 2, to see what HST is on the platform opposite and to see if the thunderbirds changed from 67015, it hadn't:roll:, the HST was none other than the "menace", as it's known to me, 43320/251. I see them every visit I make to Central and recently I had a ride out to Darlington to see a mate, these took me there too. 185129 was on platform 4 and over the back wall, the far platform, 156484 was stood for the first trip to Carlisle. Nowt ever changes here I thought to myself, when I see one of Grand Central's 180's come into view by the Castle Keep, 180101, snaked its way over the back of the Central and away to Sunderland via the King Eddie bridge. As i walked up the platform my train rolled in and completely bowled me from seeing the GB coal train that had sneaked in.
91104 was the culprit and my chariot to the Scottish capital, a total dud in more ways than one.
Passing Heaton, I witnessed 37606 and 610 parked up on a test train, Heaton's shunter actually moving, I think its 502, though don't count me on it, damn thing went behind two pacers before I got a chance to I.D it, there was also a GB shed on network rail ballast wagons their too but that parked behind an East Coast 91 hauled set.
The rest of the trip was a blur and it wasn't till Berwick I awoke and found a chinese lady sitting opposite, who certainly wasn't there when we left Newcastle. At Dunbar the morning commuters packed the train out, no doubt a damn sight better than those who get a 142 from Durham and Chester le Street into Newcastle each morning. Craigentinny is always a welcome sight, as I know we're only a few mins from my first destination and somtimes produces a loco or two, not today, 08472 was the only thing in view, their other 08 wasn't about at all.
I was glad when the doors opened to get a blast of cool air, I had 24mins before my train to Queen St, so when I crossed the bridge, I noticed the stock was there from the Caledonian sleeper, so I swerved through the throng of commuters down the stairs, 90019 had dettached from the stock, I got the stock plus 90026 and 67026 from the bays, unfortunately they were all duds, however the units were a different matter, I quickly noted a few of the units around, 380106 was on the North Berwick turn and 158732 and 158712 were also off somewhere off Platform 6, before I went through the barriers for my train but not before I picked off the surrounding units, 158's, 170's and 334's in multiple, certainly done the trick, the Hot Chocolate song, Everyone's a Winner, sprang to mind, seeing that's what my quest to Glasgow is for, I'd say it was a good start
170396 and
170415 formed the 08.30 to Queen St, I took a seat right at the back of 396 in a small compartment, very nice indeed. My first hauled trip on a ScotRail 170 and though I'm no big fan of units, I have to say, these are quite nippy and very comfortable too. At Haymarket station I manage to pick off a couple more units for the winner list and the Fife Circle skip, which is 67016 a dud for sight. Passing Haymarket Depot I do my best to pick off units with my dictaphone and it gets me thinking, the last time I rode this line, it was a bastion of ScotRail's push pull 47/7's. Them days are well gone, no class 20's,26's, 27's or 47's just units, it was the same when we passed which was arguably one of England's and certainly Scotland's BEST Depot, Eastfield. I guess tats progress, not always for the best in this nostalgic old fools book.
As we come through the tunnel into Queen St we're passed by a duo of 156's, all I could think of was I hope they aren't two of the trio I'm after up here. We pull into Queen street and its chocker with 156, 158's and 170's, the one on the far platform draws my attention instantly, I get off 170396 and do an about turn, result
156453, its partner is covered, so I pick off the others as I walk down the platform and up towards the far bay, where the 156's are waiting to depart, a shrill blast on a whistle makes me start a bit quicker, much to my relief, its for the 158's,
158713 and
730 on the other platform. I could barely believe my luck, it's
156456, down to one Scottish 156, let's hope 457 isn't so elusive too. After half an hour or so I purchase my Roundabout ticket and head to the low level for the hop to Partick and then Hyndland for about an hour or so.
By now it's starting to get warm, I pick up a few EMU's before I jump aboard
320320 for the hop to Partick, the blast of cool air, its arrival caused was a relief to all down there. I had 20mins at Partick picking of more Units before I jumped aboard
318250 for the short trip to Hyndland. The 318, my first trip behind one, was unlike the 320, it was an old school EMU, made plenty racket, safe to say I enjoyed the ride. At Hyndland I quickly went off the station, for a quick smoke but close enough to see the units come and go, back onto the Station, it was as busy as I'd been told it would be and more, with the sun now bleaching down, it made for a rather enjoyable visit, albeit thirsty work, however I'd neglected to bring a cap and my bald head would surely look like this
by the end of today's proceedings.
Next up is Glasgow Central and like Queen St, its another station I haven't visited since loco hauled services up the Sou Western and WCML were halted, it's quite sad really, cos as Stations go, its bloody busy, especially if almost ALL but a few are required for sight, the plan was have an hour then whizz off to Paisley Canal for a look at Shields Road and Corkerhill but I got talking to a like minded soul who was there from Rugby solely to pick of as many of the 380's as possible, plus a few other EMU's, so I passed on the advice given to me about Hyndland, save you walking to Queen St too I told him. After roughly 2hrs at Central, things started to repeat themselves, so I made for the low level again and made for Motherwell and Coatbridge Central, having put Paisley Canal on the back burner in hope of seeing some freight trains and Mossend Yard,
I boarded
320317 and serd off to Motherell for the Cumbernauld train that would take me to Coatbridge, in search of freight trains.
I get to Motherwell and an announcement comes over to move away from the edge of the platform as a fast train is approaching, oh good I think to myself, maybe a Tesco model or coal train, no I was sadly disappointed as a Voyager came whizzing through
, I decided now was as good a time for a food break, flask out, coffee and sarnies sitting on the wall in the Sunshine on Motherwell station, not exactly the Boston tea party but welcome non the less,not long after I'd chomped my way through sarnies crisps and some short bread(when in Rome and all that:roll
,
318267 done the honours up to Coatbridge Central, passing another decent depot in decline, in its day, Motherwell, apart from a couple of snow ploughs and flat wagons theres nothing, not even a gronk, maybe they borrow Mossends. I remember a visit their on a coach trip on New Yrs day many moons back, the depot and surrounding area had well over 50 locos, in fact when they re-numbered some of the 37's for the Grangemouth coal trains, between Grangemouth and Motherwell we got everyone of them 37's. Mossend was sparsely populated too, two red sheds, you couldn't see down the bottom end, two freightliner 86's parked side by side at the buffer stop, the one nearest on view was kindly blocked by a clearly newly painted in red DB livery 08632 and 92037.
I get to Coatbridge and find 3 guys on the station two at the top end of the station and one near where i bailed 318267, I ask if there's been much through, you've just missed the Alcan's, I'm told, 66735 was on it's way to Fort William, it would have been a dud but after a touch of Unit blindness, anything would've done
I ask whats due through, a pair of 86's on a liner, then nothing till after 5
, and seen as its was only around quarter to 3 and one train an hour, I used what i thought would be the better part of valour, common sense and depart, your best off going to Holytown I'm told.With that in mind I jumped aboard the returning 318267 back to Motherwell.
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Part 2
I arrive at Motherwell and theres nothing to get excited about, only a voyager whizzing northwards, so i look for the next train out of there, theres a train to Lanark, that goes via Holytown, that'll do, I make my way to platform 4 and a few mins later
320321 and
318259 pull in and take me the short hop to Holytown, I wander over the bridge and take a seat, awaiting a deluge of freight trains. It's quiet, so I decide nows a good time, to start transferring my sightings from dictaphone to notebook, one thing for sure, it was HOT, damn hot, I'm totally lost in my own world until I'm startled by the screech of brakes, I look up to see 86607 and 86613, had meandered round from Coatbridge and were no more 30yds away from me, ok they're both duds but it's a pleasure to see them none the less. The 86's looked battered round the edges but they plough on regardless and after a signal check they disappear towards the WCML.
With nothing else to see, I jumped aboard
318252 to Glasgow Central, mainly to get out the heat and also to check and see if that elusive 156 had materialised at Central yet.
After having about 20mins or more picking up more EMU's on the low level, I wandered upstairs and have another look round the platforms picking off the units and the pendolino, before making my way back down to the low level via a shop for an Ice Cold drink.
320302 and
318252 take me off to Hyndland. The journey along the River Clyde with its Tall Ship, look a spectacular sight in the summer sun but its gone in flash and before I know it, I'm off at a rather bustling Hyndland, After around 20mins there, I make my final EMU journey off the day,
320309 and
320326 take me to Queen St low level, I stand and watch them disappear before, making great strides upstairs, for the last 50mins before my train to Edinburgh departs.
Units in multiples are fine by me, theres a fair few clicks amongst those coming and going. I had to feel sorry for those commuters awaiting the train to Alloa, their train pulls in, 170396, only for it to be cancelled, before they're allowed through the barriers, apparently, some idiot punching a window because the doors closed before he could get on, must've been some punch too because it was shattered to the point a fitter knocked it completely out and taped the outside window up and together with 170418, they left ECS to presumably Eastfield or Haymarket Depot. The guard was summoned to see the two BTP officers awaiting his train as soon as he got off.
Sadly that elusive last ScotRail 156 remained just so but I couldn't complain but Waverley was last chance saloon, as I sat waiting for the 19.30, one of the station staff came over and had a chat, asking if I was taking the numbers, where I'd come up from and where I'd been and how I certainly certainly picked a good day for it, we laughed and joked about the Scottish weather, I know he was just wondering why I was wandering round the Station but the way he approached it, I thought, showed a lot of professionalism. Certainly a lot friendlier than a lady at one of the barriers at Glasgow Central but hey, everyone has a bad day, I'm sure she's normally a decent person.
All too soon I was boarding
170453 back to the Scottish Capital, I'd have roughly 40mins to kill in Edinburgh, which I did to the max, making sure I got every unit in the North end of the Station before going through the barriers. No sooner had I got through when 66601 came through with a mixed rake of cement wagons. I quickly sped down the opposite end of the platform, mainly to see what 380 was on the North Berwick turn, 380114, if your interested, before walking up the ramp, up to Princess St, for a quick smoke and see if I could pick off at least one of Edinburgh's new trams. With 5mins to spare I got 252 and legged it for the 21,00 HST home, I got quite a scare too, a 156 was in one of the North end bays, that wasn't there before, it ended in 7, I also seen a 5, I was just about singing "Hallelujah", when I saw and 0 in the middle 156507, damn and drat.
.
About a minute later my train home approached, now I had all these HST's, then someone decided, when we re-engine these, we may as well re-number them too
as a result i need about 8 of the renumbered ones now, so I'm hoping its at least one or possibly two I need on this train, Imagine my delight when a 47 with 8 mark II'air cons pull into the platform
, I bloody wish, I'm kidding ofcourse
, it was the bloody "Menace" again,
43320 and
43251 , the very first loco's I'd seen on the day. As we pass Craigentinny 08472 is shunting some HST stock, the power cars hvee been taken off and are stood singly which makes for quite odd viewing, also parked up there is none other was 37518, which made for a surprising sight indeed.
An enjoyable day was had and again, I can't thank you all for your help, advice and general info, it was certainly much appreciated. In total I got just over 3 figures in winners on the day and put a huge dint in the Scottish units. I'll definitely go back sooner rather than later.
