North West Rover advice

[47403]

After contemplating many a trip, I've plumped for a North West 4 in 8 rover, starting Mon 5th Oct (base camp Preston) mainly because I've left it far too late to get a reasonable price for accomodation in Anglia, my preffered destination, if totally honest. However that could be Junes 2016, 3 day jaunt on the radar.
The aim, is to knock off as many of NH units, as I can see, I really dont intend to bomb around on 142's, unless I really really have to, just scratch of the ones required for sight. Theres a few spaces in the NREA for 175's and Nortern starships to underline(cant wait to get re-aquainted with the starships again) and bashing some, along with some of Northern's 319's and if I can manage to scratch off any of the 9 re-numbered pendo's I need for sight too, that'll be a huge bonus. Obviously bashing will be part and parcel too, mainly anything bar the bouncey castles and voyagers. I'm not one for shack scratching, my utmost respect to you all who do, it makes very interesting reading too but I've got enough on my plate getting lines in the book for sight and haulage, without starting that malarkey as well. Should 37401 and 409 be given a rest by KM, I'm sure the 37's on the Cumbria Coast, will get my attention too, even if they aren't I doubt I'll be able to resist a ride behind either one or both., however money permitting the last day could have a bit of a twist but I'll leave that to the trip report and to see if I can do it too.
However folks, I'd like to pick the good folk on heres brains and any helpful hints will be greatly appreciated but when it comes to these things, haven't I always:roll: May seem stupid questions but a)excuse my ignorance on some things and b)I like to double check things, sorry its habbit.
Firstly, Mersey Rail, it looks like the Rover covers the network, is that the case? Last time I was on Mersey Rails Units, I didn't take the numbers and I dunno if they'd be still around if I did, it was the mid 80's after all:roll::roll:, also for a 1st time race around, what would you say/reccommend the best route to take on them, aiming ending up at Lime St to finish.
Secondly, is the 1D31 16.50 Man Picc-Llandudno still skip hauled, says till 12 Dec 2015, in the Frequently asked Diagrams thread, so I'm assuming it still is the case? If so has anyone know what skip is currently presiding over it.
Any other info please feel free share, though Im not a stranger to the North West, its a dogs age since I went at it like this, 86, 87 and 90's hauled trains up and down the WCML then.
Many thanks in advance.
47403

 

[rick pike]

According to the Rail rover web site the north west rover does cover all Mersey rail.
AFAIK its been 67014 on the Manchester loco haul for the past few weeks.

 

[crehld]

Your rover is valid in Merseyside, but I advise you to take a print out of the map with you and just be prepared for a bit of hassle from Merseyrail staff on the gatelines if you choose to get off at one of their stations. Personal experience and stories on this forum indicate their knowledge of rover validity is notoriously poor.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I've never had an issue with Merseyrail staff and I've done plenty of NW rovers over the years. The tickets don't tend to work the automatic barriers, which can cause some issues, but that isn't restricted to Merseyrail. Rovers don't seem to work many barriers at Northern-operated stations, so you'll quickly get used to having to find the person to let you out.

In terms of route, I normally try and plan it so that I either start or end at Shotton, to tick off the Borderlands line, making sure I don't have much of a wait (it's a grim place to wait for a train).

 

[ash39]

When I did the ATW loco hauled last December on the same rover you're planning, I also fancied trying a Merseyrail journey for the first time.

I did Liverpool-Chester on Merseyrail and then joined up with the afternoon Holyhead-Manchester with 67001.

Might be worth a look? If you like the loco hauled you could do it back out to Chester again and still have plenty of time to get back to Preston.

 

[47403]

According to the Rail rover web site the north west rover does cover all Mersey rail.
AFAIK its been 67014 on the Manchester loco haul for the past few weeks.

oh god i hope thats still on, its one of my last 2 required for sight and many thanks for clearing that up too..

ash39 said
When I did the ATW loco hauled last December on the same rover you're planning, I also fancied trying a Merseyrail journey for the first time.

I did Liverpool-Chester on Merseyrail and then joined up with the afternoon Holyhead-Manchester with 67001.

Might be worth a look? If you like the loco hauled you could do it back out to Chester again and still have plenty of time to get back to Preston.

many thaks I will bear that in mind, sounds a bit more like common sense, than I'd probably use.

crehld said
Your rover is valid in Merseyside, but I advise you to take a print out of the map with you and just be prepared for a bit of hassle from Merseyrail staff on the gatelines if you choose to get off at one of their stations. Personal experience and stories on this forum indicate their knowledge of rover validity is notoriously poor.

Very handy to know crehid, many thanks for that.

 

[Techniquest]

Rover's definitely valid on MerseyRail, never had a ticketing issue on them personally.

67014 was on the NWC turns last Friday, looked out of place in Holyhead in its silver livery!

Perhaps go from Preston to Wigan, walk around the corner to Wallgate, up to Southport then down to Sandhills, change for the Kirkby and Ormskirk branches then back into town? You will certainly need a full day to do it all, takes a few hours to do just the Wirral lines.

Don't forget there's no facilities on 507s and 508s, so utilise the ones at Chester, Hooton, West Brighton and a few other places I'm forgetting.

The main thing to say is to have a fantastic time, I loved my North West rover in July, and I'm sure you will too!

 

[47403]

Rover's definitely valid on MerseyRail, never had a ticketing issue on them personally.

67014 was on the NWC turns last Friday, looked out of place in Holyhead in its silver livery!

Perhaps go from Preston to Wigan, walk around the corner to Wallgate, up to Southport then down to Sandhills, change for the Kirkby and Ormskirk branches then back into town? You will certainly need a full day to do it all, takes a few hours to do just the Wirral lines.

Don't forget there's no facilities on 507s and 508s, so utilise the ones at Chester, Hooton, West Brighton and a few other places I'm forgetting.

The main thing to say is to have a fantastic time, I loved my North West rover in July, and I'm sure you will too!

Im looking forward to attacking it, 7 days of graft to go, out on the 06.46 to Dumfries on the Monday, start the rover from one of the most notherly points, whilst getting a view of kingmoor, there and back too.
Thanks for the info on the Mersey Rail, especially on the toilet situation, more info to bear in mind.

 

[Techniquest]

The amount of options you've got is unreal. Something to go for is Heysham Port if you've not already done it, around 1130 I believe from Lancaster.

Ridiculously jealous of you, bet you're getting excited!

 

[47403]

The amount of options you've got is unreal. Something to go for is Heysham Port if you've not already done it, around 1130 I believe from Lancaster.

Ridiculously jealous of you, bet you're getting excited!

Jealous, you of me, Give over lad, I know what you mean though, you'd jump at the chance to do another. No need to be jealous though, Im after stuff for sight what you and many others on here just maybe need for haulage :roll:, I'm sure the mileage would raise you up in the mileage table, by the way, there's some very impressive stats among you lot on there, very impressive indeed. Think, I'm only about 8 THOUSAND+ miles short of your total for this year tech, regular contributours to this thread, postye Kite and Richard, rg177, fishquinn and yourself WOW!!!! WELL DONE LADS, Still 3months to go to. I maybe wrong but I think Kites bike may even have eclipsed my mileage . May give the Heysham Port a look into, it really depends whats working on the Cumbria Coast and wether I can resist another ride behind a 37, I have my doubts also if a certain skip materialises on the Man Picc-Llandudno turn. If its 67014, that'll be a major gap filler and just leave 013 to clear the class for sight, whoooo!!!, I can hear the whisper of Insect I'm trying to find out boths wherabouts, anyone the wiser?.
The Northern 319's are a target too, hopefully some Northern Starship action, as well as trying to put a hole in NH's 142 and 150's for sight, if I can get the couple of AN's 156's that are needed too, I'd be delighted. Hopefully I can knock them off and get extremely lucky with 156457 at Carlisle, I can but dream, that'll leave me just a few EMT and all but 1 of the Anglian 156's to chase, to knock the 156's on the head too.
The pain in the ass of re-numbered Pendo's, is up there with the EC HST's re-numbering, as totally frustrating, I'm after 9 of them Pendo's now, even though I had all but TWO required, before they had the infinite wisdom of giving them an extra coach, which they should've had anyway and not content with that, they stuck that bloody 1 after 390(nurse bring the pills quick lol), in fact had they not re-numbered them, I'd have cleared them on my HoE Rover:roll:(oh I'm bitter, can you tell:-x).The upside/downside is I have to travel West to get em, whereas East Coast were obviously on my door step. Still I suppose it keeps the excitement(term used very loosely) of looking at them in hope, alive and kicking.
Still need a load of 175's for sight, hoping to ride a few hippo's and scratching some of those off too, you must be close to, if not having them all for haulage, surely?. A small venture onto Mersey Rail lines, they're all definitely required for sight, plus a bit freight at Carlise, Preston, Warrington. So yeah it should be a very eventful trip indeed.
My last big outing of the year too, Xmas is upon us and my daughters WISH list from Santa(probably her last year of believing in him too) is HUUUGGGEE!!!!! not to mention the rest of the family.
Sorry bout that, feel free to add any hints or tips into the mix, all info very much appreciated.

 

[Techniquest]

No gen on the 67s I'm afraid, it's been a long time since I last saw 67013.

I cleared my 175s for haulage in 2006, after much chasing them for months. 175106 is an enormous irritant as I've not even had 100 miles off it yet, it just never turns up for me!

Just a few things to aim for then when you're away!

 

[FQ]

If its 67014, that'll be a major gap filler and just leave 013 to clear the class for sight, whoooo!!!, I can hear the whisper of Insect I'm trying to find out boths wherabouts, anyone the wiser?.

67014 was on the Mancc diagram still on Wednesday. 67013 was at Crewe EMD at 19:00 last night, but it might have moved when you do it. I will try and post where it is nearer the time. I'm not sure if you know this already, but it is no longer in silver: it's in DB red.

 

[47403]

No gen on the 67s I'm afraid, it's been a long time since I last saw 67013.

I cleared my 175s for haulage in 2006, after much chasing them for months. 175106 is an enormous irritant as I've not even had 100 miles off it yet, it just never turns up for me!

Just a few things to aim for then when you're away!

A boat load tech, a fair old coverage on the rover too. I could even venture out to Yorkshire. there's plenty 185's I need for haulage, so I could at least avoid the bouncey castles.
I found out where they are last night and as fishquinn said 67014 on the Man Picc-Llandudno turn and 67013 at Crewe, be surprised if 013 is still there by the time I'm relatively close.

fishquinn said-I'm not sure if you know this already, but it is no longer in silver: it's in DB red.

Yeah fishquinn you told me sometime last week.

 

[Bevan Price]

The Cumbrian Coast locos today (26 Sept.) were 37401 and 37402, both operating in push-pull mode with both DBSOs now being back in service. Other Cumbrian Coast services are a mixture of 142, 153 and 156.

Carlisle - Newcastle is a mixture of 156 and 142 - Scotrail 156s operate all the Glasgow - Carlisle - Newcastle services. Don't forget the NW rover is valid from Carlisle to Dumfries, and passes the DRS depot at Carlisle if you need any of their locos.

The best place to see (& ride) the most Northern 319s is anywhere between Liverpool Lime St. & Huyton. Lime St to Warrington & Preston/Blackpool services are almost all dmus at present, but many of the Prestons are expected to be converted to 319s during October.

ATW 175s can be seen at Manchester Piccadilly on both North & South Wales services, although in midweek, one North Wales diagram is booked for class 158 (but occasionally produces a 150)

 

[47403]

The Cumbrian Coast locos today (26 Sept.) were 37401 and 37402, both operating in push-pull mode with both DBSOs now being back in service. Other Cumbrian Coast services are a mixture of 142, 153 and 156.

Carlisle - Newcastle is a mixture of 156 and 142 - Scotrail 156s operate all the Glasgow - Carlisle - Newcastle services. Don't forget the NW rover is valid from Carlisle to Dumfries, and passes the DRS depot at Carlisle if you need any of their locos.

The best place to see (& ride) the most Northern 319s is anywhere between Liverpool Lime St. & Huyton. Lime St to Warrington & Preston/Blackpool services are almost all dmus at present, but many of the Prestons are expected to be converted to 319s during October.

ATW 175s can be seen at Manchester Piccadilly on both North & South Wales services, although in midweek, one North Wales diagram is booked for class 158 (but occasionally produces a 150)

Thanks for the info Bevan, unfortunately the Rover wont kick in till my return journey down from Dumfries, as Im on the 06,46 from Newcastle to Glasgow Central, the reason Im going that away was to have to a) get a view of Kingnoor and b) start from one of the Rovers, most Northerly point too.
What has surorised me, was that it's actually 50p cheaper (I know it's buttons) to just buy an anytine return New-Car and get a single to Dunfries on the train, rather than advances, mind you if I got the later train at 08.24, an advance is only £4.50, a fair chunk old cheaper but I wanna get out and on it early, plus that train is guaranteed a 156 too.
Wouldn't mind 37402 on the Cumbria Coast, Tech said it was hellfire, when he had it and it'd be a winner for haulage too. Love the look of 37401 and I'm eternally grateful they're available to bash behind again but a change of loco would be nice.
Definitely going for some 319 action, never had any on jaunts to London, most others but not the 319's, if they're anything like the Starships, I'm in for a treat.
I may give the trams a go in Manchester too, theyre all required, so a sojourn on the tram over to Victoria, might get a few in for sight and haulage. Have to admit I'm non plussed on these, so any advice regarding these would be very handy too.
Well in the final planning stages but starting to get a tad excited, Rover will be purchased tomorrow alongside the tickets to Carlisle, another planned trip has been shelved on the last day and changed to Tuesday, as has the run to Dumfries, at the minute!!, Thursday's due to missing last train home from Carlisle, The Wednesday and Thursday promise to be a killer, with an overnighter planned at either Carlisle or Preston, yes I'm doubting my sanity too:roll::roll: but has anyone done an overnighter at Preston recently and know if the loo's at Preston are locked from a certain point?, I know Carlisles are, if they are I may have to buy a long coat and stock up on lucozade bottles

 

[FQ]

67014 is still on the Mancc diagram. 67013 is now working on the Rugby world cup specials from Paddington to Cardiff.

 

[47403]

67014 is still on the Mancc diagram. 67013 is now working on the Rugby world cup specials from Paddington to Cardiff.

marvelous news on 014, cheers fishquin, be there and therabouts monday. Lets hope it stays there.

 

[Bevan Price]

I may give the trams a go in Manchester too, theyre all required, so a sojourn on the tram over to Victoria, might get a few in for sight and haulage. Have to admit I'm non plussed on these, so any advice regarding these would be very handy too.

Your rover is not valid on Metrolink trams, but they do a day rover ticket. You will see a lot of trams at Manchester Victoria, but you will see more by standing close to the triangular junction near Piccadilly bus station.

 

[47403]

Your rover is not valid on Metrolink trams, but they do a day rover ticket. You will see a lot of trams at Manchester Victoria, but you will see more by standing close to the triangular junction near Piccadilly bus station.

Thanks for that little gem, was aware of the Rover not being valid on the trams but certainly wasn't aware of the junction triangle, so that little gem, willl come in very handy indeed, may just take a bit time out to do that, many thanks for that indeed.
Less than 24 hours till it all begins, kid on Xmas Eve springs to mind.
Hoping the WCML is running on time tomorrow morning have a tight conection to make at Preston, quick whizz round, check in, get out and make my way to Warrington and Manchester, few leaps around there, hopefully seeing skip 014 in the process. Bit fester round Warrington before returning to base.
Tuesday will see the mornings shenanigans over and towards the Liverpool area before an afternoon heading North, for a bit of scratching another itch. All will be revealed in the trip report.
Wednesday and Thursday involves the overnighter:roll:, the morning starting with a move over to the Leeds area, taking in the pennine route, over to Bradford, then back via the Leeds-Blackpool to Preston, then up to Carlisle for the overnighter.
Is anyone any the wiser if the toilets are locked in Preston when on an overnighter? because if they aren't I could just stay there. Thursday I will flee here and there, probably hitting the cumbrian coast 37's, long trip=bit kip before going home to Newcastle on the 21.25, no doubt dying on my ass with a big grin and a few cops in the NREA.
Heres hoping.

 

[Techniquest]

I think Preston is locked at night except for the overnight TPXs but don't know for sure.

Sounds like some really good plans there all in, nothing I can really add. Piccadilly Gardens will get you a ton of trams for sight, which is where the triangular junction someone mentioned is. Really nice area on a nice day for tram spotting, not so when raining lol.

Hope it's a fantastic trip, I'd too be like a kid on Christmas Eve if I was about to set off on a massive adventure!

 

[47403]

I think Preston is locked at night except for the overnight TPXs but don't know for sure.

Sounds like some really good plans there all in, nothing I can really add. Piccadilly Gardens will get you a ton of trams for sight, which is where the triangular junction someone mentioned is. Really nice area on a nice day for tram spotting, not so when raining lol.

Hope it's a fantastic trip, I'd too be like a kid on Christmas Eve if I was about to set off on a massive adventure!

yeah cheers tech, much appreciated shame your not close enough to join me on the overnighter
Wondering if anyone knows what times the Northern 319's work? Realtime got the Liverpool Lime Street workings out of Wigan as pacers or sprinters. Any help on these workings would be greatly recieved.

 

[Bevan Price]

yeah cheers tech, much appreciated shame your not close enough to join me on the overnighter
Wondering if anyone knows what times the Northern 319's work? Realtime got the Liverpool Lime Street workings out of Wigan as pacers or sprinters. Any help on these workings would be greatly recieved.

Almost all Liverpool to Wigan & Liverpool to Manchester Vic services are booked for 319s - normally just a handful of dmus in use. (Although last saturday, 3 Oct., Wigan services were all (or most) dmu, due to some (unspecified) "engineering work" said to be happening)

Not yet sure how many Liverpool - Preston services will become 319s after this month's timetable changes.

 

[FQ]

Did you manage to get 67014?

 

[47403]

Did you manage to get 67014?

when I do the trip report you'll find out

ssssshhhhh!!!!!!! don't tell anyone but yes!!!!

 

[Kite159]

Congrats

 

[47403]

Congrats

cheers kite.

 

[FQ]

Well done! Thats the best shovel done then!

 

[47403]

Well done! Thats the best shovel done then!

just need to see 013 and theyre all done for sight, if it wasn't for work, I'm sure I'd have seen them all, when they done the mail trains out of Tyne Yard. However we all have a similar tale of woe to tell, just keeps the hobby interesting looking for stuff.

 

[55013]

Well done! Thats the best shovel done then!

13 is my favourite, never had a bad run off that beast.
Any connection between 67013 and my username is entirely coincidental

 

[47403]

13 is my favourite, never had a bad run off that beast.
Any connection between 67013 and my username is entirely coincidental

I'll have to take your word for it 55013, As I haven't even seen itAnyone know if its still plodding round between London and Wales?