My AllLine Rover Report

[postye]

So - seeing as I've now become redundant (by mutual consent) after 19 years of loyal service to my employer,I thought I'd treat myself to something I'd wanted to do for years - a 1st class All Line Rover. This is my trip report which I will try to upload daily - time and wifi dependent.

WEDNESDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER

I cursed my alarm as it went off at 4am, I'm not really one for early starts, but it had to be done to get me into London early enough to make the plan.
The days plan was to ride behind all 5 class 67's on Chiltern before they change over to 68's soon, and also to ride on the bubble car between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough.

So the day started with a brisk walk to the station to find 465004 at the front of the 0500 to Charing cross, it's surprising how many people are on the go at this time of the morning!
At London it was a hop on the Bakerloo Line to Marylebone to get the 0633 to Aylesbury, this morning in the hands of 165029

Dawn had just broken as we left London. It's an interesting route up to Aylesbury with the mix of Victorian infrastructure around Marylebone followed with the modern buildings as you leave London, followed by the industrial areas around Neasden and the very modern Wembley arch giving way to suburbia with the 1930's semi's before heading into rural Buckinghamshire.

Arrival into Aylesbury was on time giving me 15 minutes for the Princes Risborough train, which pulled in as 121020. The trip down to princes Risborough is very retro with rural landscapes and slam door trains. As we arrived at Risborough 168106 was waiting in p2 with the marylebone train, though I let that pass in favour of a cup of tea and jumbo sausage roll from the lovely buffet at a very reasonable £2.20, highly recommended!

67023 pulled in RT at 0818 with 82305 and the blue set for the run down to London.
67008 & 67027 were stabled at the far end of Wembley depot along with 82306, 12610 &12094 as I passed.

Upon arrival I noted that my next schedule was the 1015, so seeing 168219 in p6 with a Stratford upon Avon train I decided to have a run up to South Ruislip to notch another unit or 2 instead of hanging around. 165014 Was on the return working before I boarded the 1015 behind 67014 as far as Banbury.
Whilst waiting at Banbury 66516, 66738 & 70014 all passed at speed with freight before 220025 pulled in with the Newcastle service. I boarded the voyager for a short hop to Leamington Spa before rejoining the plan when 67010 pulled in with the ex 1045 myb train. As we were leaving Warwick Parkway 168111 pulled in on the opposing platform with a London train - Result - needed that one for sight - now just 1 Chiltern unit needed.

After leaving the train at Snow Hill I boarded 172344 down to Stourbridge to see what was on the shuttle, and my luck was running, it was 139001 so I had a trip down to the town and back. After jumping on and off a few 172 units for haulage I noticed 67018 in the bay at Moor St alongside 67027. By my reckoning 018 should have been the diagram that spends all day in Wembley Depot. However it was running a football special and looking at the possibility on RTT it looked as though the diagrams would be swapped at London, so instead of going down to London on the 1555 (67027) I went as far as Bicester then a couple of units back up to Leamington to meet the 1715 from Marylebone in the hope it was 018. Relief as I saw the red loco come around the corner - that's haulage all 5 67's in service today and one of the bubble cars - aim achieved.

Alighting at Moor St I took the brief walk over to New Street. What a change since I was last there, it's a lot further to the station entrance now, but it is much brighter and welcoming and as an added bonus you can see the ends of the 'a' platforms as you pass, where 220014 was noted waiting with a Bournemouth train, another winner for sight and down to just 1 voyager needed now, will 004 turn up somewhere in the next 2 weeks?
I had half an hour at New Street so had a hunt around looking for 170509 but to no avail. 220025 rolled in with the service to reading - already had that 1 today, then at reading I changed onto 43093 for the run into Paddington.

Time for a bite to eat and a swift pint while waiting for the sleeper stock to arrive, which was tonight pulled in by 08836. A long time since I've witnessed an 08 in Paddington - although I'm sure it must have happened loads of times. Yellow 57305 is to provide power for tonight's sleeper.

It's been a long but enjoyable day and now I'm sitting in the lounge car with a a glass of wine awaiting departure.

CHEERS!!
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Day 2 - Thursday 4th September

Aim of the day - cover all the Cornwall and Devon branch lines Between Penzance & Exeter.

After waking at around 0630 I had my sleeper breakfast of a bacon roll & cup of tea in the lounge car watching the Cornish countryside pass until arrival at St Erth.
Over the footbridge to plat 3 and there were 150239&150221 waiting to take me the few miles down to St. Ives.
There really is some Beautiful coastal scenery down here on the Atlantic Coast, especially with the sun rising over Carbis Bay.
A quick turnaround and we're heading back all the way to Penzance. 08410 is on Long Rock with a few spare sleeper coaches.

A 6 minute connection in Penzance takes me back up the line towards Truro with 43128 &43145, and Truro is reached on time. With around 25 minutes to wait for the Falmouth train I head off for a cuppa and pleasantly surprised to see 150123, required for sight, roll in with a Bristol TM - Penzance service. Not sure I'd want to do that sort of distance on a 150/1 though!
0948 comes round and the Falmouth train rolls into platform 1, 150266 another required for sight, with a bit of luck, I might get my FGW units into single figures today.
I had a stroll around Falmouth - not really sure what to make of the place.
Back to the station and the winners just keep rolling in, 153369 needed for sight and brings me down to single figures for sight.

On arrival back at Truro 150123 has completed its round trip to Penzance and forms my 1125 move up to Par, where 153318 is the Newquay shuttle today. Other than an unidentified shed in St Blazey the run up to Newquay is rather uninspiring, except maybe on the final approach to Newquay - but at least it's in the book and I won't need to do it again in a hurry. It's almost like somebody is trying to hide the railway away behind trees and shrubs.

Back at Par and 150244 turned up about 4 mins late for the move to Liskeard, and I was concerned that I might not make the connection onto the Looe branch, but fortunately it was held for us. It seemed strange getting on a London Midland liveried unit in Cornwall, but 153325 was in charge of the branch line today.
Looe looked spectacular and it's a wonderful run into the station with the estuary beside.

Back to Liskeard and onto Plymouth with 43192/193 where I had 40 mins to grab a bite to eat before my connection to Gunnislake. I'm starting to think I'm being stalked now as 150123 rolls in.
I've never been up the Tamar Valley line before and after leaving Plymouth and passing the MOD compound that looks like a prison with railway tracks, I'm pleasantly surprised. From the collection if historic carriages and tank engines at Bere Ferrers, to the stunning views down the valley from Calstock. This is definitely one to come back to.

Back to Plymouth and onto the 1825 XC with 220034 with the plan to alight at Newton Abbott and do the Paington branch. However with tiredness creeping in and the fact that I'm only on day 2, I concede that the sensible thing is to head to my hotel at Exeter. Mixed emotions as we pulled out of NAB as 143617&143612 were pulling in with my intended 1911 train to Paington. 617 is required for sight so a small consolation. Upon arrival into Exeter 150247 was noted on a local service, another needed for sight so now down to just 7 FGW units.
Time to check into my hotel for the night and relax with dinner and a pint, followed by some much needed sleep ready for tomorrow.

The aim of the day was to complete 6 branch lines and the main line south of Exeter, achieved 5/6.

 

[Dave1954]

Great reading and well put , looking forward to day 3
regards Dave1954.

 

[yorkie]

Do you have an itinerary for the rest of the week? If you're changing trains at York, I'll say hi if I'm free.

 

[Minilad]

Probably just a typo but you said 220035 on the 1825 off Plymouth.
It was 220034 yesterday

 

[postye]

Probably just a typo but you said 220035 on the 1825 off Plymouth.
It was 220034 yesterday

Thanks for that -
Yes it was a typo, I had it written correctly in my notes but my fingers are obviously fatter that the keyboard keys.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Unable to post last night as there was no wifi on the Pretendolino.

Day 3 - Friday 5th September

Aim of the day - ride all three Crosscountry HST's and the pretendolino.

After a comfortable night at the Great Western Hotel in Exeter I was raring to go again, batteries all re-charged for the day ahead. The hotel is a bit dated but importantly it's clean and comfortable and only minutes walk from the station so a great location for exploring Devon.

I arrived at Exeter St David's to catch the 0816 to Exmouth, 150131 rolled into P1, another winner for sight. Alighting at Exmouth I went for a stroll around the town then back to the station where 150248 was waiting with the 0923 to Exeter. The weather is a bit grey this morning and the bay is a bit misty so there's not much to see unfortunately, the view from the other side last night was quite spectacular in the sunshine.
Back to Exeter, and I didn't fancy this 150 all the way to Paington, so I bailed out at Exeter and caught 43005 & 43088 on the merchant venturer down to Newton Abbott. First class was very well loaded with very few seats available now that it has been reduced by 1 carriage, although I assume the FGW managers & directors in first would have given up their seats if fare paying passengers had boarded. But in any case it was just nice to stretch my legs after the 150.
At Newton Abbott I changed back onto 150248 for the 18 minute ride into Paington. Fortunately now the sun has decided to shine and the glimpses across Tor Bay with the sea shimmering are bringing back memories of childhood holidays.

All the local business owners are hoping the forecast of an Indian summer throughout September and into October are accurate to extend the summer season. The high street in Paington was certainly very busy with shoppers and tourists.

Over the rickety temporary footbridge to platform 2 to the waiting HST made up of 43023 & 43098 forming the 1106 to Paddington. 158861 passes us at Torquay with the Cardiff Central - Paington service.

I'm back in Exeter with around 80 minutes until my next planned train but unfortunately not enough time to make it to Barnstaple and back, so that branch will have to wait for another day. Maybe there will be some cheap SWT advances I can grab, or if they do another £15 go anywhere return sometime soon.

There's chaos at Exeter as the 1304 to Paddington has a standard class coach missing, and is reported full & standing at Newton Abbott, so passengers without reservations are being told not to board and anybody with luggage to stow it in the guards van. I'm glad I'm not on that one.

My train, 1S51 Plymouth - Glasgow pulls in and is an HST, with 43303 leading and 43304 on the rear. It's quite well loaded but nothing like the chaotic scenes on the train before.

As I arrive at Bristol I see 153305 (along with an un identified 150) was about to pull out of platform 1 with an Avonmouth service, that's another one sighted. 37608 & 37609 were stabled at the north of the station with a network rail train and 37402 pulled into plat 11, with observation coach Caroline (975025) and departed around 10 mins later(can't see the path on RTT). Also there was what looked like a blue cl47 sitting outside the station, but it hadn't appeared by the time the 0632 Dundee-Plymouth pulled in, my next ride, with 43207 & 43378 doing the honours. It's back to Exeter again on this one, and I've been tipped off that there is a steam loco supposed to be in Exeter - will have to keep an eye out on the approaches. I was looking the wrong way on the way into Exeter, but fortunately I had my eyes mostly open on the way out. There appeared, to be three locos, one was definitely 34046 Braunton, and I'm almost certain another was 34067 Tangmere which was being manoeuvred about in the sidings by 47237. It was almost like the paparazzi at Exeter station with anything from iPhones to lenses a foot or more long, and even 1 bloke who appeared to have a still camera, a video camera and a big furry mic all mounted on a pole! Seriously!
Anyhow I escape Exeter for the final time on this adventure with the third and final HST diagram of the day, 1E63 Plymouth - Leeds behind 43301 with 43357 pushing.

Bristol was made a couple of minutes late, but as I had an hour there this wasn't a problem. Since my last visit just a couple of hours ago a rake of coaches had appeared in the middle road between plats 3&5, they appear to be for the Torbay Express which I assume is tomorrow.
One this I have noticed today is that both the 150/9's are running around with only 2 cars, I thought they were 3 car units.
Nothing new for me at Bristol this time, so I board 220001 on the 1830 to Leeds as far as Birmingham where I hope the Pretendolino is running - the ECS from Wembley certainly ran so here's hoping.
Another winner spotted at Bristol Parkway where 66957 is in the avoiding road.

Arrival into New St was on time so I went for a hunt to see what was there, it's an awkward station as the sight lines across it are terrible, however my luck continued and 170509 was noted on the 2005 Shrewsbury along with 170513.

I looked on RTT and the inbound working from Euston was running late and getting later so I presumed this was a good sign and it would be the loco & coaches, and so it turned out to be when it finally arrived at 2037 behind 90034.
RT departure away from New St although the night has fallen quickly on the last hour so won't be much to see from now on, so it gives me time to sit back and write up my notes over a glass of beer, Cheers!

So to recap the day - all three HST's done, Pretendolino done, 2/3 of the remaining SW branch lines done and down to 5 FGW units required for sight.

 

[Techniquest]

A thoroughly interesting read so far, and it looks like you're ticking off your objectives well so far! Others have said they're returning to the Gunnislake branch as well, I can't honestly remember it being that worthy of a return trip personally. Granted, my trip up there was a long time ago, September 2005 so almost 9 years ago to the day which would explain why my memory fails to tell me what's so magical about the branch!

Glad you got 170509 for sight eventually, I was going to comment how I saw it with 513 on the 4th. Surprised it was still in that pair when you saw it, although it might be booked to be like that to leave a 170 up there in Abbey Foregate for the next morning.

Jealous you got both 67023 and 121020, both are requirements for me and both are ones I've wanted to get out of the way for quite some time. Hopefully 023 will come up to the Midlands next time I'm about on the Snow Hill lines!

A nice bit of variety in terms of routes and motive power, that's for sure. Looking forward to the rest, and sorry to hear you've been made redundant.

 

[FQ]

Hopefully 023 will come up to the Midlands next time I'm about on the Snow Hill lines!

It only ever works with the slam door/Banbury set so very unlikely. You are better off heading to the Chilterns for a day and get to Bicester North for 23 back down to Banbury. There is a connection of about 5 minutes from platform 1 to platform 2 onto a Kiddy bound 67.

 

[Techniquest]

It only ever works with the slam door/Banbury set so very unlikely. You are better off heading to the Chilterns for a day and get to Bicester North for 23 back down to Banbury. There is a connection of about 5 minutes from platform 1 to platform 2 onto a Kiddy bound 67.

I believe it's been up to Brummagem before, just when I'm nowhere near it!

However I'll try your suggestion one day, maybe even try for 121020 on the same day

 

[PHILIPE]

Could Postye please check 158861 on 08 00 Cardiff to Paignton in his report, please. This is a Northern one.

 

[Techniquest]

Could Postye please check 158861 on 08 00 Cardiff to Paignton in his report, please. This is a Northern one.

I suspect this will be a typo, 158961 no doubt. Very easy to miss these things when typing up a trip report, as I should well know

 

[postye]

Day 4 -Saturday 6th September,

Aims for the day - Settle and Carlisle line, 3 points in football and crossing the border.

An early start again, but it was nice to sleep in my own bed. Dud 465236 rolled in on the front of the 0604 to Charing Cross which I'll take to London Bridge before hopping on the Northern Line to Kings Cross, as there's no Thameslink due to more engineering works on that side of the line this weekend. However engineering works usually means loco's, and not to be disappointed 70807, 70809 & 66712 are noted with engineers trains, 70809 is a winner

The 0703 to Leeds is already boarding as I arrive at Kings Cross and I get a seat in the 1st quiet coach. The standard weekend fayre of croissant & fruit is provided as we head north through Hertfordshire.

After leaving Peterborough 66122,66729,66756,66727 were visible in the yard. Then came the fog - and the rain. If this doesn't clear I wonder how much will be seen on the S&C. Shortly after departure from Doncaster the train ground to a halt - trespasser on the line between here &Wakefield. I'm a little concerned as I've got 23 minutes for my connection to Carlisle, how late will we be? What will be the bigger problem, fog or delays?
Fortunately we began moving fairly soon, although at a slow speed due to other trains queued in front, and we finally reach Leeds 12 mins down. No time really to look around or get supplies for the train, so I'll have to manage with the remains of my complimentary water and the biscuits left over from yesterday.
There's a huge crowd around the train, and curiously seat reservation labels on a number of seats, which surprised me as I thought this train was un reservable - or that's what they told me at Kings Cross when I attempted a reservation. Almost 3 quarters of 1 coach (of a 2 coach 158) is reserved for a group booking, surely they could have stuck a 153 on the front if they knew they had that level of passengers. We leave Leeds full and standing. On the bright side - the fog appears to be lifting, just need to deal with the rain now.
We pass 144023&153332 at Shipley and a few of the class 332 units, haven't a clue which ones - I hate how the numbers curve round at the front.
As we leave Skipton the rain has stopped - I suppose it's too much to hope will we see any sun but at least it's clear, if grey.

There's a long line of old mail carriages that look like they're rotting away in the undergrowth just before we reach Long Preston.
As we approach Settle some of the cloud hasn't risen as much and just obscures the top of the hills on the landscape. Settle station looks like something still in the sixties with wonderful character and is teeming with people and cameras - I'm guessing there may be another charter sometime later.
We cross the Ribblehead viaduct and then climb up to pass through Dent, the highest mainline station in Britain, 1150ft above sea level if I read it right as we went through. A 66 passes us with an EWS freight just before the trolley passes with refreshments, must have got on at Settle. They don't miss a trick either - they've got souvenir Baseball caps, tote bags etc.
All the stations are impeccably looked after, I'm guessing that's probably due to a friends of S&C or similar, long may it continue.

Once at Carlisle it was off to Brunton Park to meet some friends old & new and to enjoy the hospitality provided before watching Wimbledon take on Carlisle United. As this is a railway forum I won't dwell to much on the football, but it was a very entertaining 4-4 scoreline.

After the match it was back to the station where winner for sight 158903 was attached to 153301 for the trip down over the S&C and dud 156436 was about to depart with the Glasgow via. Dumfries. Whilst waiting for my Glasgow bound train winner 156454 pulled in with the arrival from Barrow in Furness and dud 156443 appeared on the Newcastle - Whitehaven. My double super voyager to Glasgow Central approached platform 1 with 221104 leading 221110. 221104 was my last virgin needed for sight, so naturally I chose to ride to Glasgow on that unit.
47802, 37218, 37606, 66422& 68003 are all noted in the DRS depot (amongst others that I couldn't note) along with 66061 and 66104 in the yard to the north of Kingmoor depot.

On approach to Glasgow Central the winners just keep coming, 380008 spotted with 380115 on what might have been an ECS to Corkerhill/shields road.

So a reasonably successful day and looking forward to a day bashing track and units in Glasgow tomorrow.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Could Postye please check 158861 on 08 00 Cardiff to Paignton in his report, please. This is a Northern one.

I suspect this will be a typo, 158961 no doubt. Very easy to miss these things when typing up a trip report, as I should well know

Apologies - yes it was a typo - and as Techniquest rightly guessed it should have been 158961, I missed that when I proofread.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A thoroughly interesting read so far, and it looks like you're ticking off your objectives well so far! Others have said they're returning to the Gunnislake branch as well, I can't honestly remember it being that worthy of a return trip personally. Granted, my trip up there was a long time ago, September 2005 so almost 9 years ago to the day which would explain why my memory fails to tell me what's so magical about the branch!

Glad you got 170509 for sight eventually, I was going to comment how I saw it with 513 on the 4th. Surprised it was still in that pair when you saw it, although it might be booked to be like that to leave a 170 up there in Abbey Foregate for the next morning.

Jealous you got both 67023 and 121020, both are requirements for me and both are ones I've wanted to get out of the way for quite some time. Hopefully 023 will come up to the Midlands next time I'm about on the Snow Hill lines!

A nice bit of variety in terms of routes and motive power, that's for sure. Looking forward to the rest, and sorry to hear you've been made redundant.

I'm glad people are enjoying reading it, it's quite an enjoyable thing to write up, you get a sense of what you intended and how you achieved it. Coming from a planning background there was quite a bit of work went into planning to the point where I have contingency plans for my contingency plans - just in case!

 

[Kite159]

Corrour is higher than Dent (1339 ft), but I believe Dent is the highest in England.

Sounds like you are having a good time so far, September is a good time to do a bash, weather is still mostly good, days are still longish with the advantage of kids back at school.

If you can get cheap advances down to Axminster on SWT, than you can let the Devon Rover do the rest from there to Barnstaple. SWT dislike stations west of Salisbury for their promotions (although you could spilt, Waterloo to Salisbury and then Salisbury to Axminster (with a spilt at Gillingham))

 

[Techniquest]

Another interesting read there postye, sounds like you enjoyed your trip up the S+C. I had 56312 on a charter to cover the line but I was right at the back so didn't hear much noise going up the epic banks.

Dent is indeed the highest in England, in Scotland I believe there's a part of the Leadhills and Wanlock Railway (I might be slightly wrong, not got the atlas to hand) that's way higher than Dent or Corrour.

Won't be online for a few days now so I'll read the rest next weekend

 

[NottsPhil]

A thoroughly interesting read so far, and it looks like you're ticking off your objectives well so far! Others have said they're returning to the Gunnislake branch as well, I can't honestly remember it being that worthy of a return trip personally. Granted, my trip up there was a long time ago, September 2005 so almost 9 years ago to the day which would explain why my memory fails to tell me what's so magical about the branch!

I think Gunnislake is my favourite of all the Devon/Cornwall branch lines. Looe and St Ives are justly famous, but the Tamar Valley offers equally good scenery (and for longer) - underneath the Tamar crossings then alongside the River, across the Tavy, up to the lovely station at Bere Ferrers, reversal a Bere Alston then Calstock Viaduct and the twists up to Gunnislake. OK, it has that feeling of not really going anywhere significant, but that helps make it more unspoilt and means there is (in my experience) a good choice of seats!

 

[Kite159]

I agree, the Tamar Valley line does offer some rather good scenery, the slowing down for the ungated crossings, makes it a nice slow journey once off the main-line.

Although when I did it, the unit was a dreadful 150/1.

 

[sprinterguy]

I believe it's been up to Brummagem before, just when I'm nowhere near it!

The Banbury commuter rake, with 67023, has been up to Birmingham on a Sunday at least once while the Watford blockades have been on. I don’t know whether this is a regular feature at the moment, but I presume that Chiltern must be running additional loco-hauled services at the weekends for the duration of the blockades.

 

[postye]

Day 5 - Sunday 7th September

Aims for the day - track coverage on Glasgow suburban routes and getting some 156's red-penned.

Since I've been keeping my current records, I haven't ridden a single scotrail 156 - so that needed changing fast. So after breakfast I left my hotel and pitched up at Glasgow Central in time for the 0921 down to Kilmarnock 156436 was doing the honours today. We passed the 0857 Kilmarnock-Glasgow at Barrhead which was 156456, one of my 4 remaining 156's for sight so a good start to the day. I Had a look to see what is visible at Wabtec, but other than a couple of small blue shunters that are just in the wrong place to see numbers, there's nothing doing. Heading back to Glasgow and I realise that on a Sunday only 1 running line is in use bi-directionally so I will still need to do this one again to get the northbound track through stewartston & Dunlop. However the disappointment is tempered by the sight of 156508 at Pollockshaws West - another sight required 156.

Back at Glasgow it's a dive onto the low level and 320311 with 320301 to Partick, quickly followed by 334006 on the Milngavie. Now I'm actually a bit ahead of schedule, as I want to get the 1151 from anniesland to queen street, so I calculate that I've got time to bash 2 units on an Anniesland-Anderston return, 320319 & 334033 fit the bill. Arrival back at Anniesland gives me 4 minutes to cross over to the waiting for the required for sight 156485. That's 3 out of 4 needed - a very good start to a Sunday morning.

Into Queen Street and it's a quick hop over to P2 and onto the Oban/Mallaig train which I'll take as far as Dumbarton Central 156445, 486, 500 although 500 seems to be fully reserved, a very busy train. As we are ready to depart the required for sight 158701 pulls in along side us with 170450 on the 1214 arrival from Aberdeen.
The approach into Dumbarton is quite surreal, a beautiful loch on the left, rolling hills on the right, and just in front of them a couple of high rise tower blocks - I bet there's a good view from up there though. Alighting at Dumbarton Central I wait for the 1251 to Balloch I which turned up with 318255&320321, which I take for the quick return to cover that branch
Back to Dumbarton and under the subway to the platform for the 1330 to Helensburgh on 334007.

I stopped off at Helensburgh for lunch, fish @ chips on the harbour just can't be beaten! Looking out from the pier is another of those magical sights and with the sun being out it was like the loch was shimmering brightly. Another place that will stick in my memory for some time to come.

Back to business and 334005 pulled in and attached to 008 for the run to Edinburgh which I took as far as Dumbarton to pick up the Oban/Mallaig working back into queen street, operated 156492/474/493. As we passed cowlairs I spotted a couple of 156's and 170's in Eastfield and, the way my luck was this morning I couldn't resist taking the 1530 Edinburgh to see if my 1 missing 156 was there. It wasnt, but my last remaining 170, 170406 was so it was worth the trip to Falkirk and scored me 170393 & 170429.
Back to Queen st and the next train on the low level was in 2 minutes, so rather than walk to Central I took 334018 to Partick and 318258 to Central.

Once at Central I wanted to try and get down to some of the SW Glasgow lines, I already had Ayr but needed the rest. There was a train almost straight away to Ardrossan Harbour, and as it was a Sunday limited service i took advantage & jumped aboard 380018 for the trip down. It's quite interesting how the landscape goes quite quickly from the industrial bits between Glasgow and Paisley, then straight into very rural countryside until Kilwinning which is more urban, then finally to Coastal as Saltcoats.
Other than the Arran Ferry and a plethora of pleasure craft, there is absolutely nothing at Harbour station, so as I had 20 minutes until the return working I walked to Ardrossan Town station, although I must've missed the town unless it was the Asda and a dozen or so shops I walked past. Anyhow, 380018 came back and picked me up and took me to Saltcoats where I was going to change onto the 1823 to Largs. That gave me 20 odd minutes, so I thought I'd walk into town and see if anything was open to get a snack - only the pub was open so I headed back to the station. 380113 arrived to take me to Largs, it's a very scenic run, climbing quite high to give a really good view over the bay especially as the sun was setting. Passing an industrial place (not sure what it was) between West Kilbride and Fairlie.
A quick 5 min turnaround at Largs and it's back to Glasgow ready to get the sleeper, changing at Kilwinning to cop another 380, 380013 on the Ayr service.
Sleeper was boarded at 22:00 with 90018 on the back and 90020 in charge for the run down to Euston. After checking into my berth it was off to the lounge car for a nightcap before bedding down for the night.

A good day overall, covered a number of lines, got a few 156's in the book and scored 7 winners for sight.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Day 6 - Monday 8th September

Aims for the day - 442's & 444's.

I was woken at just after 6 by a knock on the door from my cabin steward with breakfast. It was going to be one of those days, I had a pounding migraine and hadn't slept well. I had ordered the hot breakfast, that was a mistake - it was probably the worst breakfast I think I've ever had. A few of beans were dried and clinging(congealed) to the side of the plastic tub, possibly trying to escape drowning from the amount of water swimming around in the bottom which I assume came from the 2 small pieces of mushroom. There was a sausage that was just about edible and some white stuff that could possibly have been something eggy - although it was entirely tasteless so I cannot confirm. It also has a few pieces of meat at the bottom that were probably bacon. Next time I think I'll try the continental option.

A quick dash on the tube over to Victoria and onto the 0715 gatwick express aboard 442417. Despite living in London I've only been on 2 442's since I re-started keeping records as they generally don't go anywhere that I normally go, so I'm hoping to change that today. Arrival at. Gatwick is a minute or 2 late, but fortunately the next one back is on the adjacent platform so it's a hop over to P4 and onto 442405 back to Victoria, noting 66169 at the cement plant at Purley. Again at Victoria it's another hop from 14 to 13 and 442421 on the 0830.

However at this point I realise that neither my phone nor my tablet took a charge last night on the sleeper, and I am critically low own power on both, and of course there's no power sockets on the 442's. I change plan and decide to head for Clapham Junction, via Victoria on 442407 & 377609 to get my first 444 of the day on the 1012 Clapham - Weymouth. Again 444's are rarely used so only 3 in the book prior to today. Disappointed at Clapham when I find out my sprint from P15 to P9 yields a 450 on the Weymouth - and a dud (450100) at that. At least there's a power socket and I can start re-charging. My head is still pounding and I need a PNB so I bail at Basingstoke to take something to get rid of this headache. Arriving back at the platform just before 1100 I see 70013 heading north with a container train, possibly the Southampton - Ditton Fliner, before 444006 pulled in on a Portsmouth service.

66140,66001,66020,66008 & 60091 were all in the yard north of Eastleigh along with 73109, 73207 & the required 70809 in the station yard. Off at Eastleigh 66416 passed southbound on a lawley st - Southampton containers, and 66060 pulled into Eastleigh yard with a service from Westbury. Then just before the 1200 Poole train was due to pull in, 220004 went past on the 1146 Southampton - Newcastle. Get IN! That was my last XC needed for sight, well maybe today's not as bad a day as it could've been, just wish I could shake of this headache.
444004 pulls in with the Poole stopper which I'll take as far as Southampton before changing onto the Weymouth fast. 158798 is noted at Southampton on the 1210 to Cardiff and 150123 on the 1227 to Great Malvern before 444011 pulled in on the 1224 Weymouth.
Passing Southampton container depot 66589,66502,66503,66505,70020,&66545 were all noted along with 08530 and another 08 that I couldn't see the number but was named Terri. Two 56's were noted a bit further along, one was definitely 56 103 and the other could have been 301 or 311 but there was a post obscuring it.

I had planned to go to Poole then start working backwards, but something in my half-conscious told me to get off at Bournemouth, and by the time I'd realised my error the train doors were closing. No point waiting for the next one to Poole because that was the one I got off at Southampton, so I hotfoot over the platform to 450015 to brockenhurst, where if I was thinking straight I should have gone over the other side and picked up the 1338 to Weymouth - but I wasn't. 158881 was on the Lymington shuttle before 444002 pulled in with the 1345 to Southampton.
A change at Southampton sees 66599 on a Southampton MCT bound train and me into Costa for a much needed caffeine boost. Southampton is absolutely swarming with people with sleeping bags, camping gear and wellies! on their way back from a festival somewhere.
444025 pulls in for the run into Waterloo, and checking RTT when we get to Woking there's a Portsmouth fast due in a few minutes afterwards, so I'm going to gamble that's a 444 and change there. Gamble pays off and 444017 pulls in for the 1526 to Waterloo. My mood (and the headache) is easing, so I decide to have another bash at getting some more 442's in at the end of the day, so I get 450009 WAT-CLJ & 377321 CLJ-VIC just in time to make the 1615 Gatwick Express on 442419. At. Gatwick it's a quick hop over to the new platform 7 for the 1650 return working on 442422, also noting 59206 has arrived and appears stabled at Purley.
Cross platform again at Victoria and onto 442404 down to Gatwick, and finally 442418 back to Victoria on the 1820. The run back was painfully slow after East Croydon due to a signal failure at London Bridge that seemed to cause more congestion into Victoria than it did London Bridge.
At Victoria it was finally onto 377404 down to East Croydon, however there was one more twist to the day, just after passing Balham 377704 was noted, that's my 377's down to just 1 (377706) for sight.

So despite feeling rough all day, it didn't turn out too bad, I bagged 8 x 442's, 6 x 444's, my last XC voyager for sight, 6 winning locos and my penultimate 377.

Having spend yesterday in Scotland where all of the newer trains have wifi fitted, and even where trains don't have wifi, most of the stations have free wifi. Strange that none of the trains in the supposedly affluent South East have wifi and a supposedly flagship service, the Gatwick Express does not have power sockets, even in first class. I suppose the operators are happily mopping up the subsidies handed out and have little incentive to make the passenger experience better.

Finally home and a night in my own bed, hopefully I'll awake refreshed and raring to go tomorrow.

 

[sprinterguy]

I was woken at just after 6 by a knock on the door from my cabin steward with breakfast. It was going to be one of those days, I had a pounding migraine and hadn't slept well. I had ordered the hot breakfast, that was a mistake - it was probably the worst breakfast I think I've ever had. A few of beans were dried and clinging(congealed) to the side of the plastic tub, possibly trying to escape drowning from the amount of water swimming around in the bottom which I assume came from the 2 small pieces of mushroom. There was a sausage that was just about edible and some white stuff that could possibly have been something eggy - although it was entirely tasteless so I cannot confirm. It also has a few pieces of meat at the bottom that were probably bacon. Next time I think I'll try the continental option.

My commiserations that you braved the Caley sleeper “cooked” (I use the word in the loosest possible sense) breakfast. I’ve never dared the full thing myself, but the soggy sandwich of sadness purporting to be a bacon sarnie that I ordered once was more than enough to convince me that the full breakfast offering would not be worth the attention!

It’s worth noting for future reference that the continental option is, indeed, far more satisfying and filling.

 

[postye]

My commiserations that you braved the Caley sleeper “cooked” (I use the word in the loosest possible sense) breakfast. I’ve never dared the full thing myself, but the soggy sandwich of sadness purporting to be a bacon sarnie that I ordered once was more than enough to convince me that the full breakfast offering would not be worth the attention!

It’s worth noting for future reference that the continental option is, indeed, far more satisfying and filling.

Yes, I suspected that afterwards. I will not be making that mistake again - the next trip will be the continental

 

[Techniquest]

Quite the variety on those two days, it must be observed! I also need several 442s but not that many 444s fortunately.

Glad I've never suffered that breakfast you did, I'll have to remember that!

 

[postye]

Day 7 - Tuesday 9th September

Aims for the day - The 67 hauled Fife Circle and covering the North Berwick & Fife Circle lines.

The 0530 alarm goes and it's time to get down to the station for the 0613 to Waterloo East with 465923&465909, then a bus to Kings Cross.

Arrival at Kings cross was with 15 minutes to spare before joining the 0722 Hull trains as far as Doncatser. Alongside us in Kings Cross is the 0751 Grand Central (my back up plan to get north as I can't use East Coast until 1000) and it's the rake of coaches that have so far eluded me - so that's Grand Central cleared for sight - a good start to the day. 67029 is on thunderbird duty.
After leaving kings cross the breakfast orders are taken, and I opt for the bacon baguette in the hope of restoring my faith in breakfast after yesterday's appalling offering. Hang on - this isn't like on train food at all, it is really nice, the bread tastes like it's freshly baked and the bacon is done to perfection, the only snag is the wifi isn't working.
In the yard at Peterborough as we pass I note duds 66743,66733,66706,66756 are in attendance along with 66701 a bit further along.
66744 & 66750 are noted in the yards on the approach to Doncaster whilst 66047 pulled in to the loop on a container train. 91130 was also parked up in the yard and I'm sure I saw that one there on Saturday on the way to Leeds so I assume it's waiting for attention to something.
91111 & 82204 pull in with the 0910 to Edinburgh and I hop on this one as far as York.
As we arrive I see 66424 is stabled alongside York station, 185128 leaves with a TPE to Liverpool while 185132/126 pull in with a Scarborough - although the rear unit is detached on arrival.
91119 arrived with the 0950 to Edinburgh which I jump on and take my seat and no sooner than we leave I'm offered more breakfast rolls - sausage or bacon. We'll as I'd already sampled Hull trains bacon, I thought I'd do east coasts sausage roll and it wasn't bad. After we pass the Siemens depot, 31432 is in the yard north of York along with another UID 31 and a freight liner 66. Heading further north 142026 is sitting in Darlington Station and Tyne Yard produces 66025 &66524, not many winners out there so far today.
Newcastle is reached on time and produces 156481, 67005 & 185139 - still no luck. Then just as we're readying to depart in pulls 142079 on (I think) 2W22 from Nunthorpe. Nothing to see at Heaton as a passing train obscures the view, and an uneventful run up to Edinburgh.
At Edinburgh it's over to the barriered platforms and onto dud 170434 for the run to Glenrothes via Kirkaldy. Being a fantastic day weather-wise there's some great views from the Forth Bridge, and it looks like they've started painting bits of it again after stopping a while back. Round past Dalgetty Bay and you can see North Berwick the other side of the water.
Arrival into Glenrothes was a couple of minutes early, so there was a 5 minute wait before the train continued on back to Edinburgh via Dunfermline.
I had a 13 minutes connection at Edinburgh, so enough time to grab a sandwich before boarding 158707&158715 for the run down to Newcraighall. There's absolutely nothing there - except a huge car park, although I guess that's where a lot of people use for P&R into Edinburgh.
Back to Waverley and walk the length of the station from platform 11 to 4 for 380113 - dud because I had it Sunday night to Largs - for the return run down to North Berwick. It looks like a pretty enough little place, although my limited time didn't seem to offer anything to do there.
I returned to Waverley, still nothing of note on EC, and we pull into P9. I've got 6 minutes to get over the footbridge to Platform 20 for the 1708 fife circle. They've got a revenue block on each access point to this platform but it doesn't slow me down and I'm onto the train. I read somewhere that they had new hired in coaches on the circle, but today they were back to the original ones I saw last time. What was different this time was the motive power - 67009 - bingo! I needed that for sight too, now just three 67's still needed for sight, and I'm hoping to see at least 1 of them when I do the wag later in the week. So round the loop the other way behind 67009, having the occasional listen/look/smell out of the window as she pulled away from stations, and i forgot about changing at inverkeithing onto the fast train, but the upside is I now have that loop just south of the station in the book too. That's it for tonight, so it's off to the Travelodge in Waterloo Place for the night and finding somewhere to get some grub and a pint.

A good result, all the days aims achieved - got the loco-hauled service in, the fife circle both ways and the branches to Newcraighall and North Berwick and a quite relaxing day as well.

I'm now at the halfway point on my trip, and so far it's been very productive, I've travelled on 77 different units, behind 11 different loco's & on 8 HST sets, and with a rough calculation covering just over 3400 miles, an average of around 500 miles per day. Let's see if I can keep that up in week 2.
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Day 8 - Wednesday 10 th September

Aims for the day - Coverage of the lines Stirling - Dundee - Aberdeen - Inverness & hopefully cop some of my last 6 158's required for sight.

Up a bit later than planned, but only cancelled the move to Haymarket and the visit to pumpkin for a sausage roll & tea, so I have to settle for a boots sandwich and miss the cup of tea, fortunately I still have most of a bottle of water I nabbed from East Coast yesterday.

Onto the 0803 Dunblane service on 158741 which I'll take as far as Stirling. Nothing of interest on Haymarket, but Copped tram 255 just past Murrayfield.
There's a very unusual looking church spire just as we approach Linlithgow, it's sort of made up of what looks like white timber beams which are glinting in the morning sunshine. A quick google suggests that it's St. Michaels, that's one that's going to need visiting when I've got more time.
Arrival on time at Stirling gives me a 12 minute wait for the Aberdeen train which arrives in the form of 170433. I take my seat and am swiftly offered tea and biscuits - you've no idea how much I needed that cuppa, and the next one that was offered en route around Dundee. Shortly after departure from Stirling the weather changed dramatically from the lovely autumn sun to thick fog, although there was quite an amazing sight not long after Dunblane - just as I looked out of the window I saw something hit the water in a stream, then up went a heron complete with fish in mouth, I bet he was happy with that cop!
We Passed 66622 on the approach to Perth with the oxwellmains - Aberdeen Craiginches FHH, then trundled through Dundee and up the East Coast where the fog had started to lift on the coastal side but was still quite thick on the inland side. The sun seemed to be desperately trying to come out though and was glorious when it did. We approached Aberdeen on time and as I was waiting to get off I noticed a 158 coming into view in the platform next to us - 158725, down to 5 Scotrail 158's for sight now.

With 40 minutes until the Inverness train I decided to have a stroll around the town, and it hasn't changed much since I was last here about 20'years ago, the only thing that's different is the shopping centre sandwiched between the rail and bus stations.
Back to the station and my train is advertised on 6S, and to my delight it's 158717, that's 2 down - 4 to go! I boarded 158717 and took my seat for the run through the Aberdeenshire countryside to Inverness. It's mostly single track all the way, but we pass 170409 at Insch and 158704 at Elgin before arriving into Inverness.
67021 was sitting outside the depot, I assume waiting to work the sleeper later tonight.

158708&158715 were in Inverness with a service for Aberdeen whilst 170451 was waiting to take the service to Glasgow Queen Street. As there was only 1 arrival due, which should then work the 1529 Aberdeen which would be my next move, I went for a stroll around the town to grab some lunch. The sun was back out strongly and Inverness is an enchanting place with all the small streets and arcades. I'm trying to talk the mrs into a long weekend up here so I can get the far north line in.
Anyway back to the station and I'm delighted to find 158709 in platform 4 to take the Aberdeen train, another required. That leaves me with 2 Inverness (705/710) and 1 Haymarket (868) left to see.

The trip back to Aberdeen was uneventful - except for the number of people that were unable to recognise the difference between first and standard class, even with loads of seats vacant throughout the train.

Nothing new at Aberdeen, so I visit the first class lounge whilst waiting for the 1818 East Coast service to board and help myself to some cheese and pate.

67007 was sitting in the yard at Aberdeen atop a rake of sleeper coaches for later as we departed. The sun started to set around Dundee and there were some fantastic images along the route with the low sun lighting up lakes and rivers.

It was too dark to see much in Haymarket, so that's pretty much it for Scotland on this trip, I still need those 3 158's and 156457 for sight. Time to grab something to eat and a pint or 2 before boarding the Edinburgh-Euston sleeper behind 90021, ordering the continental breakfast as I board - not making that mistake twice!

 

[Kite159]

The 1st class seats in the Inverness based 158s are quite nice. Passengers probably get confused as they are used on the Far North/Kyle line with the 1st class area classified

 

[47403]

been a cracking read, look forward to the next installment, my last Scottish 156 is 457 too, its hiding somewhere up there.

 

[Techniquest]

Some good luck had on sighting 158s I don't think much of the First Class seats to be honest!

Hope the continental breakfast was more appealing!

 

[postye]

Day 9 - Thursday 11th September

Aims for the day - Javelin bashing and - err - I've lost my notes with my schedule on.

I woke briefly at around 4ish and a quick check on RTT suggested the sleeper we were on had just past Stafford and running 12 early - not bad, but i need to try and get another 2 hours kip in otherwise I'm going to be knackerred like on Monday. I have however found the nightlight switch and temperature gauge to see if that helps . Next thing I remember the steward was knocking on the door with breakfast and the news that we are now running around 20 late, so it obviously did. Another check on RTT shows somehow between Rugeley and Tamworth we managed to lose 57 minutes in a section that should've only taken 24 mins - not sure what went wrong, but some spirited driving meant we made up most of the time and were only 4 minutes late arriving into Euston.

The cold breakfast of fruit and croissant is far superior to the cack I was served up last time!

At this point I realise I've not got my planned schedule anywhere!

I knew I was planning to bash Javelins for a couple of hours, predominantly between Stratford and Ebbsfleet and cover the chord onto the classic lines between Ebbsfleet & Gravesend. I made it to st pancras for the 0725 and managed to ride on 10 units, including the required for sight 395002, and also saw 395001 - I hadn't seen it before it attempted its Tom Daley impression at Ramsgate a while back.

Finishing up at St Pancras at 1140 I could have gone back home and picked up my schedule - although that would taken me 2 hours and I know I need to be home by 8 as it's the brother-in-laws birthday and we're meeting him for a meal, so I thought I'd improvise and just go wherever things take me, so as there was an EMT service to Sheffield due shortly I thought I'd head north and see how things panned out from there, so I boarded 222006 on the 1158 to Derby.

66039 was noted just outside st Pancras and 66753 north of Bedford.
Passing Leicester I noted 56006, 56069, 56106 along with another that was half obscured and a 37 that might have been 906 but I'm not certain, although none of them looked like they'd moved in a while.

The usual large number of locos and research vehicles were in the RTC (I've got most of ot on voice recorder which I'll get back to later) and there were 2 pairs of class 20's in the station - 20096, 20107, 20118 & 20132. 153308 had just arrived from Crewe and I was summing up my next move when I noticed the next arrival was the XC to Plymouth via Burton on Trent. Now I can't remember ever going down this line before so it seemed like a good idea, so when 220007, the one that did an impression of a barbecue at Eastleigh recently, turned up and I jumped on it as far as Birmingham.

As we approached Birmingham there were a few locos that I didn't catch, so I thought I'd see how long the next train back that way would be, 20 minutes - that'll do nicely then, so I jumped aboard 221137 on the 1430 to Newcastle.

66076, 66057, 66540, 66642, 08762, 08588 were all duly noted along with a number that I missed, there is loads of freight along this route, some flashes by too quickly and others are just out of eyesight.
As we approach derby a new underground train can be seen in the distance in the works.

As I'm quite happily munching away on a complimentary sandwich at this point I think I'll go as far as Sheffield then make a call on where to go next, although looking at RTT I notice that there's a +4 at Doncaster onto a Grand Central, another I service I haven't sampled as yet, up to London so I think I'll give that a go.
142084, 158903 & 142022 are all noted at Sheffield as we pass through, and at Swinton we pass 158850, another winner.
At Roberts Road depot they seem to have a knack of managing to obscure locos with wagons, there are about 5 (look like) new 66's there, but the only one I can identify is 66751.
Up until this point everything was looking rosy, we were running a couple of minutes up, but on the approach to Doncaster we were held at a signal check resulting in a 2 min late arrival, just late enough to see the Grand Central pull out as I was about to dive down the stairs. Oh well, it could've been worse, I could've run all the way and then find it pulling out!
The next London train is approaching, but as it's the stopper, I'll hang about for the ex-Leeds at 1646 and see if anything else turns up. 66708 powers through with a freight and a couple of 185's pass through (can't remember which ones and can't find my notes, but I know neither was 185108 which continues to elude me.

My train pulls in with 82209 leading and 91108 pushing for the run down to London with a comedy guard Who Talks Really Slowly With Really Long Gaps In Between Words, and once everybody's finished their sandwiches the guard comes along and clears away the plates. I suppose it makes a change from EMT where the catering staff were doing the ticket checks in 1st, and had never heard of an all line rover and didn't think it would be valid on intercity trains, the concept of ALL LINE just wasn't there - maybe they should stick to what they should be doing.

Anyway arrival into London on time and I crossed via the Northern Line to London Bridge to get my train home, only to find all the alarms going off and the station in the process of being evacuated due to an incident. "Your tickets will be accepted on London Underground or High Speed" they tell us - helpful, my nearest underground station is 6-7 miles away and the nearest High Speed would need a connection onto a London-bound service - that aren't running. I managed to squeeze onto a Southern train to Peckham, then another train and a bus from there, what a nightmare all because some idiot left there rucksack on the platform.

Never mind, I got 10 javelins bashed and got the Derby to Birmingham line in, although I was 40 minutes late for. Dinner!
Having had a chance to check my original plan I should've done the branches from the WCML, I.e Bedford - Bletchley, Nuneaton -Coventry and Watford - St. Albans, I wonder if I can get away with another day out on a great escape?
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Day 10 Friday 12th September

Aims for the day - travelling Chef & WAG

I can't believe I'm 2/3 of the way through already!
Anyway, I've heard good things about the travelling chef and always wanted to try it, and as it looks like FGW will be withdrawing it soon, now seemed the opportune time, so I planned to get the 0730 Penzance train. I arrived before 7 at Paddington so had plenty of time to kill so looked at what was on the sleeper arrival, 57305 had brought the sleeper in and 57605 was waiting to take it back to old oak common.
I nipped into the first class lounge for a cuppa and a croissant while waiting for boarding to commence.

We'd barely got out of the station before the first trolley of drinks came round, saw 66181 & 66204 in Acton Yard, and once the chef was ready a "Great Westerner" was duly ordered. It's not cheap at £8.50, but it is quality food and very tasty. I had initially thought of getting of at Swindon and doing the line to Westbury from there, but as I had barely finished my last mouthful as we pulled into Swindon I opted to bail out at Bath and head down to Sailsbury from there instead. 150249&150221 pulled into Bath as I arrived, but instead of rushing across I opted to wait for the 0907 SWT service on 159001. I jumped off to see what was in the yard at Westbury, 66074, 66150, 66186, 70801, 70805 and another UID 70 were present, but in all honesty I could've stayed on and seen all of that, but at least I got another unit for haulage in 158958 down to Sailsbury.
Time for a cuppa and I took 159006 back to Temple Meads where 150261 was sitting in the bay at the south end of the station, another FGW unit down.

I hung about a bit at Bristol in the hope of seeing 150126 or 153329 but neither appeared, knowing my luck they were in deepest Cornwall somewhere.

I hopped on 158955 to cross the border into Cardiff, noting 47847 and steam 5029 nunney castle in the depot as we left Bristol.

Arrival into Newport produced winner for sight 175003, and once we'd finally got to Cardiff 175005, another winner, was in the platform ahead of us with a service to Milford Haven, which I thought I'd jump on to Swansea and back. However, there was a bridge strike, apparently a lorry was wedged under a bridge somewhere between Cardiff & Bridgend, which meant currently nothing could move west of Cardiff so I abandoned that plan and decided to stay around Cardiff - as I was doing the WAG tonight I couldn't risk getting stranded in deepest darkest Wales.

The decision quickly turned out to be the right one, as my last 2 pacers for sight, 143616 & 142002 pulled into Cardiff together with the 1451 Treherbert train. I decided to do a round trip to Ninian Park to see if I could see anything on Canton, another great decision as both 153320&153367, my last ATW 153's for sight were on depot.

56113, 56303, 60087 & 08499 were all noted on Canton, whilst 66199 & 66098 with freight & 66079 light engine passed through.

Finally at just after 5pm, Gerald arrived into P2 behind required 67002 (with 82307 on the rear) for the trip to Holyhead. From tonight's menu I choose the Mackerel to start, followed by the lamb, then the cheese. I'm not generally a fish person - but the mackerel was surprisingly good, and the lamb was just perfection.
And as for Drinking a good bottle of wine whilst munching cheese heading through Herefordshire was just perfect.

A little while after Hereford and just before we go into a tunnel, there is a place on the left hand side with a huge marquee called the railway - not sure if it's a bar or B&B but look worth investigating at some point.

Arrival into Shrewsbury produced an UID ATW 150 just before the station near the fantastic old signal box, 170511 in the platform on the right and 150 229 in platform 3

The sun is now starting to set onto the landscape as we make our way towards Chester - where we are invaded! There must be a hundred or more people on the platform waiting the train - Chester races I'm reliably informed by our stewardess who is currently being serenaded at the buffet counter.


A very productive day, 7 out of my 11 required ATW units seen and my last FGW 150/2 seen, as well as travelling chef and the WAG done from start to finish. I'll get to see Holyhead in the light tomorrow I hope.
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Day 11 - Saturday 13th September

Aims for the day - North wales Coast branches & football (again)

So I woke up to a shard of sunlight shining through a tiny gap in the curtains. Sunlight at 05:45? Something was drastically wrong!
Unfortunately for me either the alarm didn't go off or I turned it off instead of the snooze button - I do have a vague memory of aiming for the snooze button.
Whatever the problem it is now gone 7am and my intended train left 30 minutes ago, and the next train was in 10 minutes - I may be able to see the station but getting there in 10 mins - no chance. I have to say these new comfort mattresses that Travelodge are introducing are much better than previously - maybe too comfortable!
A shower and half a cup of tea then down to the station to catch the 0755 Virgin service to Euston on 221111. 175110 was in platform 2 ready for the following Newport service.

Looking at RTT there was no way I was going to be able to to the blannau Ffestiniog line along with making the plan to watch the football this afternoon. Maybe it was somebody telling me something, because I had been thinking to myself that it would be a shame that I wouldn't be able to take in the steam railway at the same time. Now I will have to plan another visit and do the circular rover and take in the branch along with Llandudno, although I'm still furious with myself for oversleeping.

The run along the North Wales Coast it quite scenic, I didn't realise just how much I was missing in the dark last night. It is much more rugged, but has its moments and a character of its own.

As a consolation i decided that I'd try and do the Ormskirk branch from Preston, as I'd previously only done Ormskirk from the Liverpool direction.

So I changed at Chester onto 175109 as far as Warrington, noting 09106 & 60010 on Arpley and then the very dud 390119 from Warrington to Preston where I find 153328 was on the branch today.
It's not a bad branch line - mainly cutting through farmlands, although there is a picturesque bit where it passes the Canal and the narrowboat marina.

Back at Preston I note required for sight 150135 and 150139 on trains to Hazel Grove and Colne respectively before managing to dump my bag off at my Preston hotel before catching 158759 on the York service as far as Accrington. As we approach Accrington 150220 is also noted heading towards Blackpool - another for sight, maybe today isn't too bad after all.

I spoke too soon - The less said about the football the better, and this is a railway forum. Back to the station after that shambles and onto 158872 for the trip back to Preston wishing I'd done Derby 175 or anything else instead. That'll teach me!

As it was only just gone 5.30 and I'd done the Ormskirk branch earlier I decided that I'd try and get the Kirkby branch in as well, so headed down to Wigan NW on a pendolino ( in the company of Jack Straw MP on his was home from Blackburn) that I didn't log the number of, then walked to Wallgate and jumped aboard 150218 to Kirkby. Whilst at Kirkby 507012 pulled in with a service from Liverpool - one of my three remaining merseyrail units, another winner!
Back to Wigan on 150218, then the short walk back to North Western to catch 350402 for the trip up to Preston, my first ride on a TPE 350, and they aren't bad, especially in 1st.

That's it for today - not one of my best days but I suppose if that is the only thing that's got drastically wrong so far it can't be too bad, and I did get 4 units for sight.

 

[Kite159]

Everybody has bad days when out on travels every now and then.

But still getting the miles in

 

[Techniquest]

I'm beyond jealous still, this trip report shows just how much variety you can have on an ALR!

That marquee you mentioned heading north on the WAG-Ex (Dinmore Tunnels, just for reference, which are as it suggests two tunnels, one for the northbound line and one for the southbound line), I'm not totally sure what that place is which is a little embarassing as I live in the relevant county!

Also, talking of Dinmore Tunnels, you'll have raced under Queenswood Country Park, which if you're ever in the area (it's easiest to get to if you drive though) is definitely worth spending a few hours in

Severn Bridge Junction signal box (the Shrewsbury one) can't be long for this world now, although I think NR are still a couple of years off resignalling the Marches route. It is however an impressive sight

I have a hunch you're going to come down with holiday blues after the ALR is over. I sure did after I finished my 14 day one in 2012, and that was in Standard so with a First Class one I'd be gutted to finish it!

 

[PHILIPE]

Just wondering, Mr Postye, if it was 150261 you saw at Bristol TM. This unit went to Wolverton in January with body corrosion and one car returned recently to PM and which will have to return to Wolverton again. .

 

[postye]

Just wondering, Mr Postye, if it was 150261 you saw at Bristol TM. This unit went to Wolverton in January with body corrosion and one car returned recently to PM and which will have to return to Wolverton again. .

Ah, interesting gen there. I didn't look at the end number as I was convinced that I'd seen both side numbers correct as 52261 & 57261. Attention was specifically drawn to it as it was in a plain dark blue livery (similar to the 166 at reading 221?) and didn't have any of the writing on the sides like the others do.

However if it cannot have been in Temple Meads station on Friday then I must've been mistaken.

If anybody out there is able to confirm either way I'd be obliged.
(Is there a DMU gen group out there similar to HST gen and Modern EMU?)

 

[Kite159]

Try asking in the TOPS request thread in the allocations part of the forum.