47403 The Early Years, 2 Trips to Crewe

[47403]

Just a thread of old trips, from when times of loco hauled trains ruled the roost and I was a young un.
My Frst Ever Big Trip Away
I was around 11 and I'd been badgering my dad to take me somewhere during the 6 weeks holidays, he'd taken me to the NRM one weekend a few months previous with a couple of my cousins and I was eager to get there again or go to Edinburgh, for a day out looking at trains, Dad said, he'd do his best and try and get some time off work and to leave it with him.
One afternoon, my dad shouted me in the house and said, I've got some news for you about going trainspotting but you need to ask a friend too, I was talking to Alan last night in the club and he wants to know, if you and a friend would like to go to Crewe with him and a few of his mates, I gleefullly said yes, then said, where's Crewe and are you coming too, he said no and its 4 weeks time, your going through the night, to Carlisle and down the West Coast, Carlisle, I said, its supposed to be brilliant there and overnight. Excitement wasn't the word.

If you want go you'll have to save your pocket money for your spending money, I had to choose a friend to go, there was only one place, so my 2 cousins were ruled out, there was only one option, my Tyne Yard companion, I nearly took his door off the hinges knocking to ask if he wanted to go. My Dad was told to go and explain to my friends parents and it was on, he could go.
In the 4 weeks leading up to the trip, any bit of pocket money, spare change and odd job money earned at grandparents houses went into a big jar in the kitchen. Alll changed to notes on the day at the post office and my grandparents added an extra tenner to the fund.
At 4 o'clock and like cats on a hot tin roof, my Dad, obviously sick of us being totally hyper told me and my mate to make ourselves scarce for a bit but be back in time for a bath and a change of clothes.

Where else would we go for a couple of hours? Tyne Yard ofcourse, stopping at the paper shop for new notebooks and enough pens to sink a ship and on the 10 minute walk to Tyne Yard, we spoke of seeing our first Electrics, we looked in our battered locosheds, hoping to see namers likes of Royal Scot, City of Lancaster, Peter Pan etc, excitement was fever pitch among us both.
Returning home, it was bath, ready, bag packed and sitting on the step for what seemed like an eternity, probably around about 45mins, waiting for my dads friend to pick us up, when he did, I just shouted, Alan's here, see ya , before being told to come back here and getting the speech about being respectful, thankful etc and have a good time, before adding, Alan if he works himself, give him a clip. Bet there's not many say that these days.

We all met at Central station, a few went for a beer off the Station, whilst the rest, accompanied my friend and I, taking the numbers down, marvelling how we were on Central so late.

After a while we boarded a 101, for the last train to Carlisle, it was then, my mate and I found out, why we'd been invited on this trip a) because Alan knew us and that we took notice but more importantly b) were needed for the railcards.

To be fair, Alan and his friends were brilliant with my mate and I, explaining what was planned and where we were going, a visit to the works planned on Saturday afternoon, then off to Chester, jump on the merseyrail to a depot called Allerton, then back home on the Liverpool to Newcastle, we learned a great deal from those lads on that trip.

At Carlisle the very first loco we saw is etched in my mind it was 37003, a Gateshead stalwart, we'd seen it at Tyne Yard in the afternoon:roll::roll:, we had an hour or so at Carlisle to kill, our eyes darted everywhere, our first electrics were a pair of 86's on a modal, an 08 was shunting mail vans and my mate and I went over an asked if we could cab it, the shunter driver an old guy, said hop aboard and asked what we were doing out of bed at this hour, we explained to him it was our 1st time in Carlisle and we were going to Crewe, I don't know if it was oiur excitement or our story but credit to that old fella, he said, shut that door son, I duly did as I was told and before we knew it, we were moving, we'd got our 1st cab ride in that 08, one of Alans mates took a photo of me and my mate looking out the window of the 08 in the middle road of Carlisle Station, I wish I'd got a copy, it'd be a prize posession these days.

Have to say if we'd went home there and then, I'd have been a happy bunny indeed.

Our first ever electric hauled train wasn't an 86 or 87 but on other than 81013 to Preston, as we went over Shap, Alan pointed to the angle of the windows, I was quite gobsmacked at the time

At Preston, the Police asked us all what we were up to on the station and asked to look at the tickets, probably baffled why a motley collection of Geordies would be standing in Preston at god knows what hour, all the time, more electric hauled freight trains whizzed through, we couldn't(my mate and I) comprehend why they all were double headed but certainly weren't complaining.

85022 took us from Preston to Wigan, then after a very brief stay there, it was another 81, this time 81004 to Warrington, I was looking forward to an 86 or 87 for haulage, mainly because most were namers but was told by Alan, these are rarer, there'll be plenty time to be hauled by the 86/87's, I wasn't convinced. after a good hour and a half if not more at Warrington, which was an amazing for freight of all types both Electric and Diesel, it seemed everything we'd saw was a cop, truly fantastic. The next electric for haulage to Crewe was 86240, at last we'd got one.

Crewe was chocker block, we spent ages picking off loco's on Crewe Diesel and around the platforms, picking off the units and other passenger turns, both electric and diesel, my mate and I were on over 2 hours writing stuff down, evetually with our feet killing, we sat down on one of them parcel barrows taking stock of what we'd seen so far, this was trainspotting as good as it gets.

We took a wander to the Station shop and bought a copy of Rail Entusiast and as I was walking away I saw a spotters book and seen as we'd saved up for this and our locosheds were battered to bits, we decided to purchase the brand new Platform 5 loco, DMU and EMU books and all with new blue plastic covers to boot, my mate bought one of them labelling guns too and we labelled our books, so we knew which one was which, we were as happy as Larry, whoever he is. I didnt want to leave the station but with the works visit planned, we did and the wether it was the excitement or just the walk, getting to the works, seemed to take bloody ages.

The works was nothing like what I expected, but in a good way, definitely more interesting, than just getting the numbers. They were building the last 3new 56's then too, the numbers were chalked on the shells, seeing them repairing crash damaged loco's, can't remember if it was that visit or the open day, a few years later, when I saw 47452 there, 47452 had crashed on Morpeth curve and my mates and I saw it being dragged past Tyne Yard by a 31, 47452 was half covered in a tarpaulin. At the works, there was no tarp and we got to see the full extent of the damage to it, I asked then, will 47452 get fixed or withdrawn and was told it looks worse than it really is and it should get to run again, it was great news for this 47 fanatic.There was also electrics to pick off with binoculars off Crewe Electric, which we did rather succesfully

Back to Crewe for the next move, this time to Chester, even then, I was always been a 47 fanatic, so when a Peak took the place of the electric for the journey to Holyhead, to say I was disappointed, would be an understatement, only to be told again, you know how often peaks do this run?

I didnt really want to know but the journey was a laugh, with one of Alan's mates telling me some funny tales of the days, when he used to drive Claytons for the NCB. We bail at Chester and clamber straight aboard a merseyrail unit and off to Allerton.

At Allerton , I've never seen so many shunters in one Depot, mainly 08's but I'm sure the was an 03 and a couple of 37's too. Back on the Merseyrail to Lime Street, then it was a short hop on a DMU, I think one of lads wanted it for haulage but we did pass Edge Hill for and picked off the shunter there, then from Manchester to Newcastle it was 47422 home.

I had my head out the front window next to the loco as we left(bet thats a shock) but I decided to take a seat and promptly flaked out, till about Leeds, we all tried to pick off as much as we could at Neville Hill and York but I was too shattered but had the biggest grin ever, we got off at Newcastle and got the numbers of whatever was knocking about jumped in a taxi, got home and bored my dad to death before i was sent for a bath then bed after my supper. I waited till the next day to mark everything up in my new books an arduous task a one I still hate doing.

A sneaky move in the 80's

Another trip back in time around the summer of 1987, the 6 weeks hols, was always a fest of Footy, Tyne Yard, Central Station and the local turns.
we always planned one trip for the start and one for the end of the school hols. A few of my friends and I we're planning a trip somewhere and seen as the start up one had seen us trip up to Scotland for the day, mainly to scratch off as many of the 47/7's as we could in a day, the plan was to venture South, we tried to convince our parents to let us go overnight to London but were all met with an emphatic, NO!!!

So as we sat at Tyne Yard, whinging about our London jaunt scuppered, awaiting the possibility of seeing a Class 25 or 26 on the Millerhill freight, we were discussing where to go in a couple of weeks time, a friend and I said, Crewe was good, there's Carlisle to take in, plus Warrington, throw some Leccy bashing in too. Then the brains of the group said, comeback via Manchester and hook up with the Liverpool-Newcastle home, yeah thats the trip sorted then.

Thats when it got a bit devious, now we'd been allowed to do an overnighter on Carlisle, due to numbers of us but after the London jaunt had went sour because of the distance, we were dubious wether it may go the same with Crewe, so we'd tell our parents that we'd decided Carlisle's better than nowhere. mainly so we could use the previous overnighter as a bargaining tool, telling our parents, well the last time we went overnight to Carlisle it was fine and we all came back unharmed. So after a 47 rolled in from Millerhill, we set off for home and We all agreed unashamedly, we'd tell our parents we were going to Carlisle but the whole plan was to go to Crewe. The subject had to breached quickly, because we had to make sure we had our rail riders vouchers topped up and savings to raid, not least parents pockets too.

My Dad was fine, who's going AND how much will this cost me, I suppose you'll want bait and a new flask too seen as you bust the last one. With parents humming and harring, who's going and your going overnight, I'll ring his mother and ask if she's letting him go mind, they all eventually agreed, so our plan worked a treat.

We all agreed to meet at a certain Bus Stop, so prying eyes couldn't be watching or hear any of us let the cat out the bag. We took the 2nd to last DMU over to Carlisle, it felt good handing over a ticket to Crewe to the gripper(guard), dunno why but 6 15yr old lads sat with huge grins on their faces all the way over Tyne Valley, the talk was of breaking the journey, like a friend and i had done previously but this time without adults.

Arrival in Carlisle has us cranning our necks to pick off a couple of loco's on wapping sidings and then to see what was round the back of the Station, result, theres a 26 and an 85, we stayed there picking of the freight trains when 86101 came in, 1st loco of the trip, we took it to Preston.

Again more freight passed before a member of staff came over and asked where we were off to and asked to look at our tickets, not so long after 87019 arrived, the gripper didnt even come down the train and before we knew it we'd bailed at Wigan anyway.

More freight trains were bagged, not all copped but more than our fair share were, Wigan was bloody freezing too and it was starting to get light, undaunted we pressed on, we were all looking forward to Warrington, as much as we were Crewe. next up was 86208. WarrinGton was amazing there seemed to electric and deisel loco's in equal abundance, class 20's on coal trains were a novelty to us, we were used to 37'S and 56's at Tyne Yard. Those couple of hours in Warrington, just flew by and all of us were happy as pigs in the proverbial. All too soon, we jumped aboard 86258 to Crewe.

Ever since my first visit, Crewe was my epicentre of trainspotting heaven,my 2nd visit merely confirmed it now, we were trying to pick off as much as we could off Crewe Deisel, whilst trying to watch for everything else going on, the rest of the lads, who were making their 1st visit, were saying, its blinding here, theres more loco's on Crewe Deisel today than a weeks worth at Gateshead

After things calmed down and us, we decided to purchase some tickets to ride the Euston-Holyhead, from Crewe to Chester, here the ELectric loco was removed and replaced by Diesel. 47490 was had to Chester, the 1st Deisel loco we'd had for haulage, since the DMU over the Tyne Valley, though then, we never counted that as a loco. We picked off the suff round Chester, which included a few merseyrail units(what their numbers were were I'll never know) before 47539 took us back to Crewe, disappointment rained, the gripper got us, we'd hoped to make at least a couple of moves on those tickets.

However time flew on and with our notebooks fit to bursting, we decided to head for home, we wearily jumped aboard a train bound for Manchester Pic hauled by 86223, from here we had to get to victoria, none of us knew the way, so we split up into 3's and jumped in a taxi, after we'd had good butchers round the station first ofcourse, at Victoria we made our way to the platform where we waited for our last bash of the day, 47503 pulled in and took us home to Newcastle, we sat down and reflected on what we had seen and what we had pulled off, our parents all thought we were in Carlisle. one by one we all dropped off to sleep, exhausted but happy, we got home around 10pm. a big dent in our pockets but a helluva bigger dent in the underlines in our Platform 5's.

The fact we got away with it just added to the excitement, it wasn't till many years later we confessed at a New Years Eve Party what we'd actually done.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Ah, those illicit trips from the youth. They were the best. I think that we all sneaked in the odd one in our younger days. I certainly did with the first one being from Bristol to Cardiff. My mate had told his parents of our plans but I knew the reaction if I broached the subject of going further than Bristol so just kept quiet. Whether the two sets of parents ever conversed, I'll never know. But it was worth it as I think we saw over 50 Welsh 37s that day and every one was a score!

 

[FQ]

Both excellent reads, I do like old trip reports from the 1980s!

What happened at that New Years Eve Party?

 

[47403]

Both excellent reads, I do like old trip reports from the 1980s!

What happened at that New Years Eve Party?

We were about 19 or 20, by then, we were just laughed at basically, my dad said, I had a feeling you lot had went further than you were letting on but he also said,, Your gran said, by they're away a long time, he said, trust me, if anyone was gonna spend all night and all day, hanging round Carlisle or whizzing between Carlisle/Dumfries or Penrith, on trains, then it'll be him. :roll: He wasn't wrong.
Another time we tried to go to, one of the lads Aunts house in Gloucester, he was nicknamed Mavis, basicslly cos his surname was Riley, he rang his aunt, they call them land lines now, no mobiles them days fishquinn, if he could come down to visit with a few friends, his Aunt hummed and harred, worried about where to put up his friends, she thought 1 maybe 2, when Mavis, said, err, no there's 6 of us Aunty Doris, or whatever she was called, we had to stifle our laughs in the kitchen, you could quite clearly hear her shout, 6!!!! Its not a bloody guesthouse. When Mavis came off the phone, shaking his head, Cal said, I take it that was a No then.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Keep these kind or reports coming, I love to hear about bashing back then!

 

[47403]

Keep these kind or reports coming, I love to hear about bashing back then!

I'll do my best.

 

[FQ]

Lol! I'm allowed practically anywhere in the UK now (exceptions being most of Scotland and London at the moment.) But probably not for overnighters.

 

[55013]

By, that takes me back, excellent nostalgia.
I remember my first trip to Crewe in 1981 or 82, the most stirring memory is doing the DMU (unrecorded, tsk!) on the Stalybridge - Stockport shuttle and passing the rows of withdrawn 76ers at Guide Bridge.
At Crewe we scored 08737 for haulage, shunt releasing a 33 that had arrived on a service from Cardiff into one of the bays that now doesn't have any track down.
A couple of 83s were stabled on what is now the down through line but was then a headshunt.
On the way back we bailed at Guide Bridge, walked round to the depot, found the staff in a portacabin and asked if we could have a look round.
"Don't get yourselves killed" was the reply.

Ah, memories.

 

[Techniquest]

Some fantastic reads there, so very jealous of the Roarer haulage!

All this talk of all-nighters is reminding me of my own trips through the night. Somehow a 185 from Manchester to Middlesborough during the night doesn't quite match an 81 from Carlisle to Preston!

 

[47403]

Some fantastic reads there, so very jealous of the Roarer haulage!

All this talk of all-nighters is reminding me of my own trips through the night. Somehow a 185 from Manchester to Middlesborough during the night doesn't quite match an 81 from Carlisle to Preston!

Aye maybe tech but at least you have a bit more youth on your side
Pray tell why you were going to Boro through the night for?

 

[Kristofferson]

The railways were a very different place "back in the day". I've only ever known the crap-tastic underinvestment of the 90s (hated trains and rail travel then) and the modern period starting in 2000 or so!

A truly interesting read, more please

 

[47403]

The railways were a very different place "back in the day". I've only ever known the crap-tastic underinvestment of the 90s (hated trains and rail travel then) and the modern period starting in 2000 or so!

A truly interesting read, more please

Thank you Kris.
Just a short one, bit of a prequal in fairness

How it All started

i remember the first time i went lineside to watch trains, I was aroud 6 or 7yr old on the Newcastle-Sunderland line, I'd been invited by my 2 cousins, a short walk from the house, up to the Old Signal Box, sadly no longer there, it'd have been about a 100 yards away from where the Stadium of Light metro Station is now.

Off we set armed with pen and paper, writing down the numbers of old class 101 DMU's and being totally confused why they had an E before the number, yet when the odd freight trains went by (usually 37's to Sunderland South Dock and Wearside Colliery) they didn't.
Also there were some sidings, where there'd be a couple of shunters parked up and on a Saturday they'd sometime park up the football specials there too.

A visit to my cousins one day, everything changed for good, I walked in and seen my cousin sitting at the table with a book and a ruler, asking, what you up to? he told me all the trains, he'd seen were in this book, you find the number and then underline it, then you know which ones you have and ones you don't. I'm told the books called Locoshed, the price and where to get one. I certainly needed one, instantly, well at least as soon as.

Almost as instantly, I'm dragging on my Mam's arm, saying, Mam, I need a locoshed book, my uncle told my mam, you get them in WH Smith's.
As soon as I got home, I duly raided my piggy bank and handed over my pocket money to her, she said. I'll get you one, after I finish work.

Bless her, the next day I was waiting by the front door, watching for her coming in from work, when I saw her at the top the street I ran down, saying, did you get it, did you get it? I was crestfallen, when she said, she didn't have time to go, I'm told, tomorrow, I promise.
After school the next day, my mam picked me up from my Gran's house and I heard my Gran saying to her, I hope you have that book, he's been telling me all about it, since we left school, I never heard the reply but when she came in the living room and handed my book to me, it was like Christamas come early.

I sat staring at the rafts of train numbers in it, bewildered and transfixed at the grainy pictures of the loco's around in the late 70's, I'd yet to even see. The book only heightened the interest even more, fair play to my gran, she used to take me for half an hour after school to watch trains, whizz by the signal box, if it wasn't too cold. By this time I went train nuts.

As time went by, I started plaguing my mother and dad, to go elsewhere to see trains. Dad got handed the job, I told my cousins Dad was taking me out to watch trains and I invited them, before even asking my Dad if it was ok to, I asked my Dad, in front of everyone if my cousins could come too, he didn't have a prayer, everyone looked, we looked at him, my cousins and I and he confirmed we could all go.

A short walk from home to Seaburn, the old wooden Platform, waiting for the train to Newcastle. We got on the 101 or the multi as I'd been told they were to be called now and all i remember about that journey to Newcastle was how bouncey the seats were. Now Newcastle Central Station isnt what I'd call a huge station, but to a nigh on 8yr old by then and my 2 older cousins, it was a railway mecca, my cousins and I came home with badges off the drivers, window stickers, drivers old timetables you name it, I thought I'd see my first steam engine, however it turned out to be, just an 03, my first Deltic too, where we asked the driver if we could have a look inside, my cousin said, it's called cabbing and as I told me mam that night, I even got to sit in the seat where the driver sits.

A few yrs later Mam and Dad split, my hobby kept gathering speed too. I used to visit dad on school holidays, he'd moved to Gateshead by this time and I'm sitting bored as hell in my Dads gaerden, when a family friend of his said, I'm taking the bairn down the lines, you think yours will want to come with us, my ears went like satelite dishes, My dad said, go!!!!, show him the way and he'll beat you there, by all means go with them if you want. I was off like a greased weasel on a pipe.

Dad gave me a pencil, notepad and some money for sweets and pop and along i tagged, happy as a pig in ****, for the very first visit to Tyne Yard.

Now at that time, I thought Newcastle was my railway mecca, imagine the sheer delight, when not only did I get to see passenger trains roaring by but loads of freight trains too, Tyne Yard to me was heaven, then the next day i went with my new best friend and his dad to Gateshead shed and back to Central Station, I couldnt believe it, when I got home I showed my cousins my notebook, they were a bit jealous but not as much as I was, when I heard my uncle had taken them to York for the day, during their holidays at Filey.

A few years later I moved to live with my Dad and Tyne Yard. Central Station and Gateshead shed were like an extension to my world, in fact if anyone came for me, ny Dad used to say, if hes not playing footy over the field, try Tyne Yard

 

[Blindtraveler]

Interesting indeed, many thanks for this.

 

[noddy1878]

They sounded like two awesome days! Great read.

 

[Techniquest]

I can only imagine the fun you could have back then!

The trip to Boro, 2008 it was. I was on my way to cover the line to Whitby, but what else I was doing up there I'm not sure. I need to find my 2008 diary/contacts book where the notes are to see. I must have gone to do Saltburn when I was up there, but there was something else ehich escapes my memory.

 

[FQ]

Brilliant read. I'll look forward to more.

 

[47403]

A Different way of Doing things
In the late 80's something new turned up for the lads and I, we still used to go out bashing and spotting but slowly the trips became less regular, some of the original lads, fell by the wayside of the railway scene, Cal's visits to Tyne Yard got less frequent and the master of the timetable, slowly drifted off the scene altogether. Mavis moved away because his Dad got a good job down South, much to WH Smith's delight no doubt, we were gutted to lose our friend but it also meant, we had to pay full price for platform 5 books and Rail Enthusiast magazine:roll::roll: but we'd seemingly recruited a few new lads, who again drifted by the wayside, but 3 of the original 6, still remained.

However one evening at Tyne Yard, Glen arrived and said, lads I've got this to show you, the usual jokes ensued, if its green go and see the doctor, I'm not looking at that, put it away etc but Glen showed us a list of trips, roughly 1 a month for the year, visiting depots, stations, works and stabling points over every point of the Country, however this was by coach, from a Friday evening till late Saturday and the bigger trips included 2 nights with a Bed n Breakfast. The fares were a damn sight cheaper than Rail, we were pouring over this list, one stood out immediatley, to us 3. The Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire trip, this took in, Thornaby(hillside), Knottingley,Doncaster Station, Worksop, Shirebrook, Coalville, Barrow Hill, Derby Works, Toton, Tinsley, Healey Mills(bank side) Holbeck, York, (the siding next to the NRM). Glen had hit a home run here alright, we agreed we'd book up, if we got permission, ofcourse.

Being as our usual haunts were obviously Tyne Yard,Gateshead Shed and Newcastle Central, with trips to Carlisle, York, Leeds, Sheffield and Edinburgh among others, the lines in our platform 5's with these new fangled Class 58's, were largely anonymous. as were many units south of York. For us, this trip certainly ticked a fair few boxes, not least for getting amongst the bones, in their natural haunt of Notts. As usual I went and sought permission from my Dad to book a place, My dad was his usual self, I'll give you some spending money but you pay for the trip, I said your on. John and Glen were on too, Glen booked us all on, I had roughly 3 weeks to save. Then 2 nights after booking my Dad said to me, that trip you booked for, (inside I was screaming, don't you dare pull the plug on this) I went, yeah, what about it? He said, well you know Alan who you went to Crewe with, he helps organise them(inside again, jesus dad dont do that and pheewww!!!!) hes going too. He says, you have to be at Central Station for 7.30, bus leaves at 8pm.

On the day, we got to Central about 6 and just stood on the Station watching stuff come and go and at 7.30, we walked off the station and went to one of the bus stops outside Central and awaited the coach, whilst talking to some other cranks, who were also booked on the trip. The coach arrrived we told our names and climbed aboard, at 8pm we left bound for Stockton and Thornaby to pick up others and the bankside at Thornaby.

Meeting like minded souls on the coach, swapping a bit gen and local knowledge, also having a bit laugh, helped pass the time, before we were off the coach on Thornaby bankside, for roughly 10mins, where I snared a few class 8's(08's) and a couple of TE's 20's, before we were back on the coach, where Alan asked if I copped owt?, couple of shunters and a couple of 20's, I gleefully said, well its a start he said.

The organisers and those up front of the coach certainly knew their stuff and had a myriad of stuff to bribe depot foreman, up and down the country, from trays of cat food, the odd backhander for the lads Xmas fund, where we'd pay a couple of quid each to get round, a full coach could see over a £100 go in their kitty, trays of beer, brand newe playboy calendars done the trick too, in fact those gents could just about sell snow to the eskimo's. On the way to the next stop the domino card came round, winner gets half the kitty were told, the other half goes into the permit fund. John, Glen and I bought 2 each and vowed to split it 3 ways, if we won, which we didn't but we weren't fussed.

We arrived at Knottingley around 11.30pm, 2 lads got off and went to see the foreman, no-one off the bus until the lads come back, 5mins later, it was ok everyone off, we'd got permission to go round, it was heaving with 56's, I snared a few of them and a couple of much needed 58's, as well as a few 08's. John, Glen and I just looked at each other and went this is amazing.

Then a quick peak round Doncaster station, where we snared the shunter, a couple of locos on the west yard and a few units in the platforms, before seeing a couple of unrequired 47's on frieghts. John and I had a ciggy and got back on the bus and promptly fell asleep

Glen woke us up in the early hours of Saturday morning, to tell us the lads the lads had managed to sweet talk/bribe our way round Worksop, snaring a fair ole bit including about half a dozen 58's. During them early hours of Saturday morning, between sleep and being woke up, them lads at the front, managed to get us round the lot of what, my mates and I called the 58's stamping grounds, Shirebrook, Barrow Hill and although it was winding down Coalville. The sense of getting round a depot was amazing, we were copping boat loads, shunters, were big gains alongside the 58's. My remaining 20's were biting the dust as quick as I was seeing them, as were my 56's too. Surprisingly the night had flew and all of those Depot's and stabling points, were done by around 8am, where we stopped off at a truck stop for a good hour, for a well earned cuppa and breakfast.

Suitably refreshed, stuffed and a ciggy break, we had a day to really look ahead too, the 3 of us, spoke of the visits ahead of us, with permits for Tinsley and Toton, we couldn't wait for these. Excitement replaced any need for sleep. We all hopped back on the bus, Tinsley, bound. I spoke to John and Glen and we all had to admit, we wanted lines in our books for the Class 13's, We'd seen pics of them at Tinsley and were eagerly awaiting to get em scratched off.

Arrival into the car park there, I looked and said, jesus, look at this lot, Tinsley was heaving, the lines of locos in the shed was staggering, I scratched off a load, yet more shunters gained, knocking the 13's off was very pleasing indeed, some 20's, 31's, the odd 37, and a huge quantity of their 47's were all snared, I'd imagined Tinsley being good but not this good, this was awesome.

After a hour or so, everyone assembled in the Car Park, I was having a ciggy when my Dads mate, Alan came over and asked, John, Glen and I, how it was going? bloody amazing so far, before adding, This place was heaving, Aye he said, theres a fair bit on today alright. So, will you lads travel again then?, oh aye definitely we emphatically said. Oh good, I'll see the main man, he'll get your addresses and put you on the mailing list, for future trips, cracking, cheers Alan, we'd all said. he left knowing full well, we'd be back and tell other lads about future trips.

The main man did come and see us too, we'd barely left Tinsley's Car Park, when he came up the bus, asking if we'd got much, how we were enjoying ourselves and asked what we thought of the itinerary? Excellent so far, we've copped a load, especially at Tinsley, that was chocker, when he said these immortal words, If you think thats good, wait till you get to Toton. I think I just gawped at him, after that. He said Alan, said you want to go on the mailing list, oh yeah we all said, we gave our addresses and he walked away with a grin, as wide as the Tyne.

I'd dropped off to sleep on the journey between Tinsley and Toton and was woken, as we got through the sercurity gates at Toton, despite my grogginess, my eyes went as wide as saucers at the sheer numbers of locos outside the place, jesus, the main man wasn't joking, I used the F word and Me after it, look at this lot, I shouted at Glen and John, who's faces, like mine no doubt, probably spoke a million words without opening their mouths.

We ran off the bus and were told to wait for our guide, after about 15mins our guide arrived and took us into every nook and cranny of the place. just about every diesel class of loco running at that time was in there, notable exceptions being 26,27, 33, 50 and 73, they didn't live that way. I lost count of what I scratched off in Toton. we spent a good 2 hours in the place. I know I'd managed to go from having seen just 1 class 58 before boarding the coach, after visiting their stamping grounds and their home shed, I was now up to having seen 32 now. It was and still is THE BEST EVER Depot visit, I ever had the pleasure to do. We got back on the bus and were grinning from ear to ear, saying how amazing was that. I put a huge dint in my class 20 requirements, I was down from needing about 50 in total, to nearly wiping all but 4 of Toton and Tinsley's 20's, the rest were all Scottish ones, I think I needed 16 after this trip and gronks, were snared at rapid rates too.

By now its about 3pm, next stop Derby Station, was shouted up the bus, a chance get a bit down time, a bit time to pick of some units and more importantly a bite to eat. We hammered the stations buffet, coffee, crisps and Mars Bars done the trick, after the hour or so at Derby Station, we left to visit Derby Works but apart from a few shunters and a couple of loco's stabled close by, there wasnt much else to see really, we seemed to be in and out in half an hour, I vaguely remember, at the time, they were building some new units but I can't for the life of me remember which ones they were.

I have to admit after the works I truly zonked on the bus, I was only half awake on that bank side at Healey Mills, my mate was calling out numbers picked up with bino's and I was on auto pilot just writing them down. I climbed back aboard the bus, had what seemed like 5 more mins shut eye before my mate John was shaking me awake saying, haway man, we're getting round Holbeck. I mouttered something incoherently but rapidly got off the bus to see an an old guy resembling Alfred Hitchcock, shouting, with a thick Yorkshire accent, get t numbers of t locos you see and get away before t'other foreman comes on.

We did just that and to be fair there was a canny bit on too, I saw a 47 with a white roof and 1st thing that comes into my mind is, please be 47579, it was among the last of my last 4 SF 47's I needed, I picked off what was on view in front of me and walked round the back of the front line of loco's, to see what was behind, especially the one with the white roof, 4 7 5 7 and 9, whey hey bingo, John called me a jammy so and so, I didn't care, don't you need it too, I asked, he replied, rather industrially, no, you know I'm after 580, oops sorry mate I forgot, I laughed.

Holbeck proved to be the last visit of the trip too, with everyone tiring the decision to hit York was scratched and it was straight home after dropping off some lads on Teeside.

It was an exhausting 24+ hours but very wortwhile, it was the first of many of them coach trips and even though i went to all four corners of the UK and between, I always fondly remember that trip.

 

[sprinterguy]

Thank you Kris.
Just a short one, bit of a prequal in fairness

How it All started

i remember the first time i went lineside to watch trains, I was aroud 6 or 7yr old on the Newcastle-Sunderland line, I'd been invited by my 2 cousins, a short walk from the house, up to the Old Signal Box, sadly no longer there, it'd have been about a 100 yards away from where the Stadium of Light metro Station is now.

Would that be the old 'box at the end of Forfar Street/top of Sutherland Street? I grew up not twenty yards from its' site (though it had been demolished by the time that I came into the world!). Had a grandstand view of the Durham coast route essentially from birth, which I have little doubt is almost entirely to blame for my interest in railways to this day.

I too was around seven or eight when a family member, in my case my Gran, first started to take me through to Newcastle Central station for a few hours' spotting. You're not wrong that it seemed like a real railway mecca at such an impressionable age: It felt almost like a foreign country to my young eyes with all those glamorous Intercity trains (The ECML electrification and the striking 225 trains were a fairly new feature when I started being taken through to Newcastle, so I was some years behind your good self!). It still holds a special place in my heart whenever I pass through because of those many happy hours spent there as a kid.

I was in my teens when I started making regular trips to Tyne Yard (though my Dad had taken me there a couple of times when I was younger): I'd cycle out from Sunderland for a days' spotting on Saturdays and during school holidays (and on vacant weekdays during college a little later on).

Thanks for the memories, I always appreciate reading others' accounts, historical and recent, of my native north east, and it's nice to wallow in a bit of nostalgia (be it from my own era or from somebody else's ) from time to time!

 

[47403]

Would that be the old 'box at the end of Forfar Street/top of Sutherland Street? I grew up not twenty yards from its' site (though it had been demolished by the time that I came into the world!). Had a grandstand view of the Durham coast route essentially from birth, which I have little doubt is almost entirely to blame for my interest in railways to this day.

I too was around seven or eight when a family member, in my case my Gran, first started to take me through to Newcastle Central station for a few hours' spotting. You're not wrong that it seemed like a real railway mecca at such an impressionable age: It felt almost like a foreign country to my young eyes with all those glamorous Intercity trains (The ECML electrification and the striking 225 trains were a fairly new feature when I started being taken through to Newcastle, so I was some years behind your good self!). It still holds a special place in my heart whenever I pass through because of those many happy hours spent there as a kid.

I was in my teens when I started making regular trips to Tyne Yard (though my Dad had taken me there a couple of times when I was younger): I'd cycle out from Sunderland for a days' spotting on Saturdays and during school holidays (and on vacant weekdays during college a little later on).

Thanks for the memories, I always appreciate reading others' accounts, historical and recent, of my native north east, and it's nice to wallow in a bit of nostalgia (be it from my own era or from somebody else's ) from time to time!

it was indeed sprinterguy, that very signal box.
Thank you for the kind words, very much appreciated, just glad I evoked similar memories to those of my own.

 

[Techniquest]

Wow that sounds like an amazing, if shattering, trip! Such a shame these things can't be done now

A fascinating insight into a world unknown to me, so I too thank you for sharing it!

 

[47403]

Wow that sounds like an amazing, if shattering, trip! Such a shame these things can't be done now

A fascinating insight into a world unknown to me, so I too thank you for sharing it!

cheers tech, much appeciated.
It is a huge shame tech, however the Health and Safety goons have gone mad these days. Like I said we went all over and got round 90% of the planned depots, Bescot, Tyseley and Saltley were depots, we always got round in the early hours and for years, I'd never seen any of them in the daylight
Great shame because imagine how popular trips like ths would be these days.

 

[Techniquest]

They'd be immensely popular, even if it is just 66s mostly now! Kingmoor open days are good though at least, was when I did it at least. Nice mix up there. Crewe Works in 2005 was just amazing though!

 

[Kristofferson]

Wow, what a time you must have had! Spotting books in Smiths, a family-wide interest in trains, and backhanders to the depot foreman... Seems totally alien to me, and I almost wish the world still worked that way

 

[fowler9]

A brilliant read so far mate, am half way through the thread so far. I grew up (And still live) down the road from Allerton. Back in the day we used to just to turn up and ask the duty manager (Or whatever their title was) if we could have a look around and climb on things. They would always say yes. Got in the cabs of all kinds of stuff. We also used to go down to the sidings which head down to Garston Docks where you would get other locos stabled. Same thing. The staff there knew us and didn't have a problem. God knows it would never happen now and I understand why. Different times.

I remember my first overnight, it was with my secondary school which fortunately had a railway society. We went up to Preston late on then got the sleeper up the West Highland. Spent some time knocking around Glasgow on the way back with visits to Eastfield and Motherwell.

My next overnight was the Valiant Thunderer railtour. Happy days. Was lucky enough to be allowed out on Network Northwest day rangers riding up and down on whatever was about as well.

Cheers for the stories mate. Much appreciated. Crewe was one of my favourite haunts growing up.

 

[47403]

A brilliant read so far mate, am half way through the thread so far. I grew up (And still live) down the road from Allerton. Back in the day we used to just to turn up and ask the duty manager (Or whatever their title was) if we could have a look around and climb on things. They would always say yes. Got in the cabs of all kinds of stuff. We also used to go down to the sidings which head down to Garston Docks where you would get other locos stabled. Same thing. The staff there knew us and didn't have a problem. God knows it would never happen now and I understand why. Different times.

I remember my first overnight, it was with my secondary school which fortunately had a railway society. We went up to Preston late on then got the sleeper up the West Highland. Spent some time knocking around Glasgow on the way back with visits to Eastfield and Motherwell.

My next overnight was the Valiant Thunderer railtour. Happy days. Was lucky enough to be allowed out on Network Northwest day rangers riding up and down on whatever was about as well.

Cheers for the stories mate. Much appreciated. Crewe was one of my favourite haunts growing up.

Wow, a school with a Railway Society, we couldn't even get back in the school after dinner, even if it was chucking down outside NOT that we ever wanted to anyway.
School trips to Eastfield and Motherwell and a trip on the sleeper, I'd sign up for them trips now if it was possible
Thank you for the kind words though, very much appreciated.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Happy New Year!!!!!
Just continuing on, the theme of the last post but theres a huge back story to it, my apologies, if it's like my autobiography
About 2 or 3 weeks after, we'd been on the Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire trip, as expected we all got a delivery in the post, it was the trip list from the organiser of the bus trips.

I poured over these and ticked the ones I fancied, unfortunately family holidays away for all of us, at different points, meant for a couple of months, we just mooched around locally on the local loco hauled stuff, there was also footy matches on Saturday's too, this meant money and now it was tight, my milk round and paper round was no more, I'd left school by this point and enrolled in college, mainly to do some resits and find some sort of career path but I also got a job in a fruit shop to suuplement college, which played havoc with time to see anything or do anything.

However after 2 months I was bored rigid in college, so I went to see a careers officer and before I knew it, I was on one of the new fangled YTS scheme and was working in an Artist Shop, getting a weekly wage plus expenses, however board money kicked in then too, so a tenner a week off my wages was handed over to my dad, christ wish that all I was handing out nowadays you never know how lucky you are when living at home.

I spoke to John about the trip list and seeing as it was approaching, the end of October now,(quite ironic, Im typing this up) we agreed to see what come us up after Christmas and I see if I could arrange some holidays at work. After a natter to Glen, he was of the same opinion too.

Sometime in December another trip list for the new year arrived, 2 sprang out immediatley, a 2 dayer in June, that included Westbury and the Welsh depots and stabling points, with some down time at Cardiff Central on the Saturday night and a b n b stay in Barry Island, the next day, was planned as a trip into Devon and Cornwall's depots and stabling points. That got a huge tick from me. The other was only a few weeks away, the Scottish depots, them Scottish 20's I needed, plus the little matter of a few McRats(26's, unfortunately the 27's were all but withdrawn, shame becuse I loved the 27's) I still required about 5 or 6 of the little beasties too, not to mention more than a fair share of Scottish units and Gronks, also the newly renumbered 37/3's, to say it ticked boxes, was an understatement.

I left the trip list on the kitchen table and went to work and went and seen my boss about some holidays for the new year, she said, you can have a week off after Christmas and New year, I could've kissed her, if you'd seen her you'd have realised why too, you want them, err Yes please!!!, that was sorted. After work I went and saw John and rang Glen, Glen couldn't do it but John said he'd be up for it. So I asked Dad if I could use the phone this time because my sister had went nuts on it, ringing all her friends and whilst my 2 brothers and myself were, largely innocent at racking up the phione bill, we all got it in the neck regardless, Aye but hurry up was Dads response and who you ringing, I said, Im ringing to book John and me on the January trip, he went puse, no, put that phone down but Dad man, no put it down. I was gutted, I'll get John to do it, adding stuff you and stormed out the house to John's before he even had a chance to speak.

I told John and he went to ring to book us on the trip and was met with get off that phone too. I said, christ almighty, they must've had a whinging session accross the street today about phone bills. John said, howay lets go over Central, so we hopped on the bus and made ourselves scarce.

I walked in the house and was immediatley confronted by my step mother, I thought here we go, she said, your Dads away to work but he wants a word before you go out to work, suppose I'm gonna get in the neck am I, just listen to what he says and don't give him any lip, she told me. I was bricking it to be fair.


Next morning after getting up and having a shower for work, I went down to confront my Dad, I got in first, I apologised for shouting at him and said I just wana book up that trip for John and I, he said, apology accepted son but I couldn't let you or John book up, why? i pleaded are we going somewwhere? No he said, you left the trip list on the table, so I went to see John's mam and dad, yeah about the phone bloody bill, which by the way I had nowt to do with, she wouldn't let him use the phone neither, my Dad and stepmother broke out into laughter, I wasn't in the mood for laughing, No, he eventually said, I spoke to them saying you'd left this on the table and seen as your birthdays after Christmas and John's is in June, I rang Alan and we've agreed to pay and booked you both on the January one, for Xmas and Junes trip is your Birthday present and John's Birthday present for June. It was meant to be a surprise on Christmas Day but we had to tell you cos we know, you'd have went to Glen's and booked it, that's where we thought you'd went but Glen's mam, said you hadnt been and Alan was to tell you it's fully booked if you went to see him.

(have to finish it off later, work calls)

 

[Techniquest]

No apologies needed on the backstory, it's an interesting insight into a forgotten world. None of these mobiles, no unlimited call plans, no Internet, no text messages, none of it. I still remember adverts in magazines when SMS first started about the new service, it's proved to be one of the most useful ideas of the modern age!

I bet that was one heck of a relief when you discovered you weren't going to get rollocked at the end there!

 

[fowler9]

Brilliant. Reminds me of those days. God knows how we managed. I used to get all kinds of gen about none eth locos on the Cardiffs, Manchesters, Prestons etc. from Liverpool. It was mostly one particular mate who got it, no mobiles, no e-mail, no wi-fi. I'd get home from school sharpish and there would be a message left with my mum from this mate who went to a different school about what was about. It was a like a secret code to my mum but all made sense to me. Ha ha. She knew it was nothing dodgy.

The school Railway Society was all thanks to a very good music teacher who I am still in touch with. It wasn't a massive society but am still in touch with most of the members. We had several trips a year. Bashing 50's, double head 73's out of Waterloo heading to Southampton, visits to various depots.

 

[sprinterguy]

Wow, what a time you must have had! Spotting books in Smiths, a family-wide interest in trains, and backhanders to the depot foreman...

I don't know whether things have changed recently, but perhaps 3-4 years ago I recall seeing the Platform 5 pocket books on sale in WH Smiths.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

They'd be immensely popular, even if it is just 66s mostly now!

It's a sad state of affairs that, as well as the homogenisation of traction, the vast majority of the famous depots from those days have all sadly gone now.

 

[47403]

sorry for the latest installment being late, wont go into why, also sorry about the length of it too.

A Happy New Year continued.....

Oh sweet jesus, i stood there and felt like the most selfish little git in the world, I'd lost my loaf because I thought my Dad was gonna put the block on it and I was so wrapped up in missing out, I hadn't even seen the big picture at all.

I thanked the 2 of them and apologised even more but there was a catch, I wasn't allowed to tell John, I had to tell him, the trip was fully booked, tell him and I'll pull both trips, I mean it. Errr ok, Looks like I aint got a choice then. I felt like a traitor, I had, you tell him and we'll pull both trips, running through my mind, as I went to work. That night, I told him that trips fully booked mate, been sold out since October apparently, John went, ah bollocks, where we gonna go then?, I couldnt look him in the face and said, I'm working mate, he kept saying oh haway, lets go away for the day, I used every excuse under the sun, not to go anywhere to keep my money and more importantly I had, tell him and we'll pull both trips running through my mind.

Christmas Day, I was sitting playing some board game with my 2 brothers and sister, when John knocked on the door, I heard, oh come in John and I walked in the kitchen, to meet him and wished him a Happy Xmas, in front of my step mother and Dad, he said, yeah Happy Xmas to you too you lying b"!%^&ds, we all broke out laughing. My stepmother told him, we had him over a barrel, so blame us. John says, I couldn't believe it I got this card, no money or anything in it, then I read the card, it said, ticket for 2, see you in Scotland on Jan 1st and 2nd. Love Mam and Dad. It didn't click, I said, well wheres the tickets, It didn't click at first, then I realised what it was, I was gonna run straight up but was told not to, in case I spoilt the surprise, then me Dad said, you knew for a while.

We went down to Tyne Yard for our annual, lets see if we can get round on Xmas Day, if we failed we always tried New Years Day. Today the foreman, just said, go on and be quick lads, no climbing in the engines and let me know, you've gone. We cheerily said, cheers and ofcourse, Happy Christmas, 10mins later we said cheerio, there was about 12 locos on, nowt we needed but we got round again, John wanted to ride down and try Gateshead shed, I said I can't be bothered, plus I'm starving, I want me Xmas Dinner.

A week later, we got picked up near where we lived, the bus obviously picked up on Teeside 1st and en route, at 8pm, the bus made for Carlisle and we were on it and Alan and the lads joked, you cant get on its fully booked. I wished everyone a happy new year as I walked up the bus, to which Alan shouted, stuff you!!!, obviously my Dad had told him the tale and it didn't take long to get round the rest but it was all good fun.

We walked onto Carlsle Station about 10pm, we had a couple of hours here, some of the blokes, went to the nearest pub, while we picked off the units and loco's in the station, I think there was some stuff went through but not a lot, there was 3 loco's on Wapping and 2 lads went round and somehow managed to get the loco's, to this day I dunno how but they did.

Everyone got back on the bus at midnight and 20mins later, we were walking round Kingmoor, a nigh on fit to bursting Kingmoor too, I clicked 1 of my 26s, almost immediatley after walking in, a couple of 31/4's and the biggest surprise was seeing one the ETHEL's inside the depot, ETHEL 2 that was a massive click.

After an hour or so, we were back on the bus, making way to the next destination of Ayr Depot, we sat on the coach for good 15-20mins outside Ayr depot, The main man, said this isn't loooking too good, we were resigned to being knocked back, when one of the lads waved us off the bus, what took so long I asked, the foreman was on a break Im told, Ayr wasn't a big depot but by god there was a fair bit on, there was 20's, 26's and 37's a plenty, I managed to snare a few of my scottish 20's here, the gronk was also needed and 26015, added to 26008 from Kingmoor, left me needing 26010 26039 and 26042 to clear them for sight, with Eastfield and Haymarket yet to visit surely I had a chance.

Back on the bus and one of the bus load was celebrating his last Scottish Gronk, he was clearly very happy about it, cos he bellowed its a Happy New Year indeed.

I said to John, it will be if we get some of them 37/3's in Motherwell. We arrived at Motherwell, it must've been about 4 in the morning and whilst stood outside, looking at the bright orange EMU's nearby, you could see there was a helluva lot on. John said, I hope we get round here, one of the guys beside us said, oh we will, I saw them take a tray of some sorts in with them, it usually does the trick. Around half an hour later we're in, there was about 4 gronks in and around the place, all required ofcourse, 2 lines of 37's, and the odd 47, a fair few 20's and a a line of 4 26's, I copped a fair bit out of them not least 26010, down to 2. However no sign of the 37/3's, someone asked the lad showing us round if there was any on the depot, aye I think so, he replied, he then shouted, to one of the nightshift lads, tell John Thompson to bring me the keys for here, after a short while, I presume, John Thompson arrived, opened a door and we walked in, there was an audible gasp, here were ML's crown jewels, every single one of them, locked away, everyone walked off that depot, brimming, I'm not kidding when I say there was between 35-50 loco's on Motherwell that morning, John and I must've snared just under half of what was on there.

We went off to Polmadie next and got round there too but apart from copping a gronk, an 87 and a fair bit coaching stock, there wasn't much else on. After Motherwell, unless we'd went straight to Eastfield, anywhere would've been an anti climax.

Off next to Shields Road, where we'd been told, we're going on an off chance to try and get round, apparently they were notorious for saying no, so hopes were low, as expected, despite the best efforts of the negotiating party, the answer was No, however we did manage to pick off some EMU's before departing on the bus.

We took a 45 minute break, allowing us to get a ciggy and a bite to eat, albeit from our bait boxes, it was around 8, 8.30, John and I were pouring over the loco's we'd seen and copped. I told John. I'm only after 2 26's now, he said, surely you must see them, unless they're in Inverness and started laughing, I replied with oh cheers mate. he then said, I'm only after 3 20's now mate, really, which ones?, I asked, 066, 211 and 212, there's a chance with them, unless they're in Inverness, with my 2 26's, I said and we both started laughing.

After the break we made for Glasgow Works, the new playboy calendar and £2 a head got us round the works, loco wise, there wasn't a great deal, plus I think they were scaling the work back there then, there was a few units in, a couple of the works gronks which I obviously needed, the odd 37 and 47, a 26 and a few scrappers but not a great deal of my requirements, I hoped for more but the gronks done nicely.

As we boarded the bus, the main man collared me and John and asked, hows you doing then?, bit of a result with the 37/3's at Motherwell, your not joking I said, John asked where we off next, Eastfield next then Grangemouth. we've got to get a move on after Grangemouth, the permit for Haymarket for 3 O'clock, its after 10 now. We made our way through Glasgow noting the steel cage things inside some of the shops. We were pulling into the entrance to Eastfield, were we seen two guys, picking off stuff with binoculars, the main man stopped the bus and said something to the guys, some money exchanged hands and they followed us up the car park.

Eastfield was a depot we'd passed on the shoves, whilst bashing them between Waverley and Queen St, always wondering what it'd be like to go round, today that wish was going to come true and boy, it was chocker block, It was like Tinsley, on the previous trip but amongst the loco's outside, there was DMU's too, we were on a winner here, the negotiating party went up to see the foreman with the permit and after 10mins two guys came down, we split into 2 groups and we followed our guides.


Quite simply it was brilliant, we snared majority of the gronk, my more elusive 20's showed up too, 26042, left me need just 1 more, a few 37's and 37/4's were added to my cops list, as well as few units too, inside the shed, we walked up the ramps past 20212(1 away from one of my required 20's) and 211, oh, just 1 now mate, I said to John, before kissing my fave shove, 47715 Haymarket, getting a dirty face in the process, John looked and laughed, saying your bloody mental about them things, I said, can you imagine what Cal would've said? Sad git, probably. Before I heard yessss!!!!, I turned and looked and he was pretending to hug the bonnet of 20066. Nice one mate, cleared. Celebration for me too, I needed that 1 as well. After a glorious 2 hours, we were told, back on the bus as soon as lads. We bode fairwell to the 2 who joined the party, they shook hands and thanked the main man, we all boarded the bus and set of for Grangemouth. Word spread John had cleared his 20's and the lads on board were saying well done lad, congrats etc, John was happy, albeit blushing like hell.

I asked the guy behind me, whats Grangemouth like?, I'd never really knew much about it to be honest. Never been before mate was his reply but a lad opposite said, should be a fair bit on, there usually is on weekends and it being a Scottish Bank Holiday, I'm expecting similar. John and I looked at each other and thought, oh well, thats promising. we were summarising what we'd saw and were now needing, he'd also put a huge dint in his 26's, telling me, he was now after 4, he was after 26039 too, but also 26001 26026 and 26041. i was after 3 20's now. 20213, was one I knew for sure but couldn't remeber the other 2. John and I, at that point, had each copped over a 100(combined) loco's and units. We were knackered but enjoying it so much, we barely slept.

WE arrived at Grangemoouth and were told, were really pushing time, so get in and get out, if we're allowed on, half an hour max, the foreman took a shipment of a tray of broon ale and a playboy calendar and were on it like a rash, there was a good 20 loco's on, John snaffled 26001 and 26026, almost immediatley and I got a couple of gronks a couple of 37's and we both needed the 2 gronks, John got one of the few scottish NB 47's, he needed too and much to my delight, I got 20148 and 20185, leaving 213 to find of the scottish 20's. It wasn't there but now I was excited 1 20 and 1 26 to find. Anyway we got off sharpish, leaving others behind and much to our joy we found a chippy, so John and I ran in, he got fish and chips and I got scotch pie and chips, they were delightful, a few others bailed in there too.

We now had just under an hour and half to get to Haymarket, I got on the bus with John and after what seemed like 20mins crashed out, only to be woke up about 25mins later and told we're here. I was half asleep wandering round Haymarket Depot, I clicked a few on here too, more units than locos but there were a few 47/7's to keep my interest, looking for the errrant 47716 from my collection, John needed it too, plenty 26's and 20's but them elusive 2 I was after, weren't there, we did however catch up with 47716 and got 47640 and 642 much to both our delight, john scored again though, 26041 was there meaning we both needed 26039 to clear them. Haymarket was a good depot and after an hour and half in the place I was booshed, I was happy, I'd still scored a fair few but was hoping my last 20 and 26 were there, cant have it all, I was getting greedy.

We jumped aboard the bus,when it was announced that Millerhill would be the last port of call, Craigentinny wasnt worth the effort. I just needed kip, John was confident that we'd find 26039, I said, I think your right, it's in Inverness mate, I hope theres 20's there I said, still hope of getting 213 at least.

We got into the car park at Millerhill and were told, stay here let the lads do their bit, I was crestallen no 20's on, well that rules out them then, theres a few 26's on though, the lads arrived and waved us off the bus, foreman says, we've got 20mins max, then we have to go. We went round, snared a few more gronks, my last of the original 308 37's, 37114 was on, result. John snaffled a couple more, we set about finding the 26's, plenty about, we seemingly went round the houses with them, john was in front of me and went round a line that comprised of a couple of 26's 37 and 47's, making his way up another line of locos, i was just passing 37080 when John shouted, it's f'in here, its here, what is?, I shouted? he shouted back, 26039 its here, I shouted, if your winding me up I'm gonna kick you right in the nuts, honest, its here man look, I ran towards him, we just went nuts, it was like hitting the winner in the cup final. John clicked another NB 47 and we walked off on onto the bus, delighted. As we got on the bus, Alan said, whats with you two, I said, we needed 26039 to clear the 26's, he said, oh is that all, then laughed and said, hey lads they both got their last 26, we got ribbed, wonder why them too were screaming hugging and kissing, thought they'd found love or something, much to the hillairity on board the bus. We went a rather shade of purple, we didnt find love, nor were we hugging or kissing but we did get a tad over excited, I'll admit that for sure. John bellowed and a Happy New Year indeed.

We conked out on the journey home, we jumped off the bus about 3hrs later and got dropped off near home, we were absolutely knackered but what a time. I got home had a shower, some tea and went to bed happy. It had been a great start to the new year, A Happy New Year indeed.

 

[FQ]

A brilliant end of the report. That was most definitely a successful trip for you both!