FoSS Advice

[47403]

Its a fair bit away, June 6th-9th, base camp in Weston Super Mare. Tickets down to London KX are already bought, with about 4hrs to kill in the smoke, Im planning a thrilller filler with the Cats out of Marleybone, 13.10 up to High Wycome and back on the 14.10 Cat, is anyone the wiser if these will change after May 16th? Before going over to Paddington and hopefully having a quick whizz and back to Ealing Broadway before moving to base camp at Weston around 16.00 ish, just waiting for a bit to source some cheaper advances on GWR.

Wheres best for freight movement, Im guessing, I can't really go wrong with Newport, Westbury Millbrook and Eastliegh but I'm sure there'll be other places.

Obviously I need an absolute boat load of units in that area the FoSS covers, as you all know, well maybe you don't, I'm not into shack scratching, it's about filling gaps in the NREA with a bit of bashing, thrown in for good measure.

Also do the skips, still do the Bristol-Weymouth, summer turns(not sure if thats where they went, a friend said they ran skips somewhere but wasn't sure where or if it happened every summer)or has that not happened for ages.

Any advice would be very gratefully appreciated.
Mnay thanks
47403

 

[306024]

I thought Geordie was hard enough to comprehend but could anyone please provide a translation? I'm struggling to understand your banter old chap.

 

[47403]

I thought Geordie was hard enough to comprehend but could anyone please provide a translation? I'm struggling to understand your banter old chap.

Im looking for advice on a freedom of severn and solent young sir.

 

[noddy1878]

The Skips haven't done the Weymouth Summer turns for a while. Best place for freight is, as you stated, Newport (or Cardiff) and Eastleigh. There is some at Westbury but its not like it used to be.

 

[CC 72100]

The Skips haven't done the Weymouth Summer turns for a while.

You may however get the Weymouth Wizard HST, depending on what dates that will be running this year.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

You should be able to skip it on the evening WAG from Cardiff to Newport.

You'll find plenty to do and should knock a big hole in the GWR 150s and 158s. The FoSS is also good for cranking GWR HSTs (not sure whether you want any of those). You'll also run into XC 170s on the Cheltenham - Cardiff axis as well as Arriva stuff such as 175s Newport - Cardiff.

Then when you get towards the South Coast, you'll run across plenty of SWT stuff including 158s, 159s (Kite-mobiles), 444s and 450s. Also, you can have fun winding up the Southern guards on their runs out of Southampton.

Already looking forward to the trip reports as we don't seem to get many from that part of the world although I partook of a FoSS last Spring

 

[47403]

Thanks for them pearls of wisdom folks. Much appreciated.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You should be able to skip it on the evening WAG from Cardiff to Newport.

You'll find plenty to do and should knock a big hole in the GWR 150s and 158s. The FoSS is also good for cranking GWR HSTs (not sure whether you want any of those). You'll also run into XC 170s on the Cheltenham - Cardiff axis as well as Arriva stuff such as 175s Newport - Cardiff.

Then when you get towards the South Coast, you'll run across plenty of SWT stuff including 158s, 159s (Kite-mobiles), 444s and 450s. Also, you can have fun winding up the Southern guards on their runs out of Southampton.

Already looking forward to the trip reports as we don't seem to get many from that part of the world although I partook of a FoSS last Spring

Yeah the WAGs on The agenda for the Tuesday Keith, hopefully 67013 will be out playing on it.

Good shout with the 175's(aka-techs rockets), hopefully knock off a few of CF's 142's 150's and 153's, too, hopefully maybe a few for haulage(NOT the 142's though)if they go through to Newport too ofcourse. Never gave the 170's a thought, forgot they get that way too.
GWR and SWT units will be major gap fillers, hence the trip really.
On the loco front for sight, the 59/1's and Colas 70's are very high on the agenda too. Im guessing Westbury and Eastlirgh best bet for those?

 

[FQ]

You should have a few bettys (70s) and 59s in Westbury yard and maybe a few in Eastleigh yard as well.

My advise for a FoSS and it's probably fairly familiar. Flag the units, bash the trams! Queen Street hops are pretty good for the 150s and 153s as less of them go to Newport by far and it's a longer run so you would be getting less of them in an certain time period.

 

[221129]

My advise for a FoSS and it's probably fairly familiar. Flag the units, bash the trams! Queen Street hops are pretty good for the 150s and 153s as less of them go to Newport by far and it's a longer run so you would be getting less of them in an certain time period.

Except Central - Queen St isn't valid on a FoSS.

 

[headshot119]

Except Central - Queen St isn't valid on a FoSS.

That is true.

A 7 day season ticket can be good for a days hopping between Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street, comes in at a whole £7.70. (£10.30 if you want to get the 153 on the Bay line). Or a Valley Lines Day Ranger at £11 is also good value.

If you are in to shack scratching then Pilning should be top of your list, but you' d need to do a Saturday to get that.

 

[47403]

You should have a few bettys (70s) and 59s in Westbury yard and maybe a few in Eastleigh yard as well.

My advice for a FoSS and it's probably fairly familiar. Flag the units, bash the trams! Queen Street hops are pretty good for the 150s and 153s as less of them go to Newport by far and it's a longer run so you would be getting less of them in an certain time period.

Thanks for that fishquinn Each to their own I suppose.

Yeah I'm hoping some Colas 70's will be present at both Westbury and Eastlrigh.

 

[CC 72100]

Plenty of 70s at Westbury - a good 5/6 when I've been down there over the last fortnight. You probably couldn't get all the numbers from the running lines though

 

[55013]

I'm struggling to understand your banter old chap.

Cabbage crates over the briny?

When I did a FOSS last February I did do a couple of HSTs but I think the most entertainment was Westbury and places South of there.
I really enjoyed doing a few 444s, but obviously I was chasing new haulages rather than sightings.
I get bored festering anywhere for too long, but there's no doubt Westbury's worth a visit.

 

[47403]

Cabbage crates over the briny?

When I did a FOSS last February I did do a couple of HSTs but I think the most entertainment was Westbury and places South of there.
I really enjoyed doing a few 444s, but obviously I was chasing new haulages rather than sightings.
I get bored festering anywhere for too long, but there's no doubt Westbury's worth a visit.

I do too to be honest 55013 but if it keeps producing then I get an inclination to stay a little longer, I will spend a bit time at Millbrook too before goig to Eastleigh, then taking a ride down to Pompey too. I've only seen a handful of kites rides too and they were either at Victoria or Clapham Jct, so I'll be on the look out for the SWT 159's and 158's, either for sight or for haulage, anywhere between Westbury, Bristol, Sailsbury etc.

Any Depots or Sidings I should be on the look out for, when travelling round, theres obviously Phillips Marsh at Brizzle, wondering if there'd be a gronk kicking about in there. Any hints are greatfully recieved, no matter how small. Its an absolute dogs age, since i was in the area and that was via coach, as told in my Nostalgic look back in my, early years thread. Yes folks it is that long.

 

[221129]

Any Depots or Sidings I should be on the look out for, when travelling round, theres obviously Phillips Marsh at Brizzle, wondering if there'd be a gronk kicking about in there. Any hints are greatfully recieved, no matter how small. Its an absolute dogs age, since i was in the area and that was via coach, as told in my Nostalgic look back in my, early years thread. Yes folks it is that long.

You can't see SPM from the train I don't believe.

 

[47403]

You can't see SPM from the train I don't believe.

cheers for that, excuse my igorance, I was looking at it from the roadside from a coach with bino's the last time.

 

[FQ]

SPM isn't viewable from a train unless that train is going into the depot. You also have Stoke Gifford at Bristol Parkway, which houses Heavyhaul 66s and 70s mostly. I suggest taking bino's and walking under the railway after exiting the station, coming up at the other side to get numbers if there is stuff behind the thousands of coal wagons. That's if you're not to busy bashing trams .

 

[47403]

SPM isn't viewable from a train unless that train is going into the depot. You also have Stoke Gifford at Bristol Parkway, which houses Heavyhaul 66s and 70s mostly. I suggest taking bino's and walking under the railway after exiting the station, coming up at the other side to get numbers if there is stuff behind the thousands of coal wagons. That's if you're not to busy bashing trams .

cheers for the other info fishquinn, many thanks for that

 

[backontrack]

You enjoy posting in 'my style', 47403. Actually, on second thoughts, you have a style all of your own.

 

[Devonman2014]

Any Depots or Sidings I should be on the look out for, when travelling round, theres obviously Phillips Marsh at Brizzle, wondering if there'd be a gronk kicking about in there. Any hints are greatfully recieved, no matter how small. Its an absolute dogs age, since i was in the area and that was via coach, as told in my Nostalgic look back in my, early years thread. Yes folks it is that long.

Regarding depots and sidings :-
Tiverton to Taunton to pass Fairwater yard where you have between 3 and 5 freight liner 66's
Bridgewater to Bristol to pass bridgewater yard and poss a couple DRS 37's on the flasks and Bristol freight liner terminal to south of Temple Meads
Westbury , Bristol parkway & Eastleigh has stabling sidings for locos....
Newport - Cardiff to pass Newport Alexandra dock Jctn yard
Southampton to Salisbury passes Millbrook sidings for freight liner 66's and 70's
Eastleigh to Southampton passes the EMU depot (forgot name) for the 444 and 450's.
EMU sidings at Fratton as well

Think that's the lot from memory doing FOSS last year

 

[Techniquest]

A lot of what I could advise on has already been said, but I will offer a more in-depth post by tomorrow.

175s being Tech's Rockets would be nice, I don't get on them very often these days. 170s are more my most frequent class these days, not a ton of choice when heading to Birmingham after all!

 

[306024]

Cabbage crates over the briny?

Glad someone got the banter reference It would be most amusing for the Monty Python team to recreate that sketch using 'enthusiast speak'.

 

[47403]

Regarding depots and sidings :-
Tiverton to Taunton to pass Fairwater yard where you have between 3 and 5 freight liner 66's
Bridgewater to Bristol to pass bridgewater yard and poss a couple DRS 37's on the flasks and Bristol freight liner terminal to south of Temple Meads
Westbury , Bristol parkway & Eastleigh has stabling sidings for locos....
Newport - Cardiff to pass Newport Alexandra dock Jctn yard
Southampton to Salisbury passes Millbrook sidings for freight liner 66's and 70's
Eastleigh to Southampton passes the EMU depot (forgot name) for the 444 and 450's.
EMU sidings at Fratton as well

Think that's the lot from memory doing FOSS last year

Many thanks for those, the ones in bold, especially, the others I was aware of but all very much appteciated thanks for sharing, devonman and everyone else too.

 

[221129]

Many thanks for those, the ones in bold, especially, the others I was aware of but all very much appteciated thanks for sharing, devonman and everyone else too.

Re the first 2, Locos can be hard to see at Fairwater if they are behind the HOBC equipment and often there can be nothing there at all.

Bridgwater Flasks only run once every few weeks so pot luck if anything is there.

and Bristol FLT is very often empty only seeing 2 trains in daylight.

 

[47403]

Anyone ever used these Freedom Travelpass between Weston Super Mare and Bath Spa. Seems decent value for the coverage, just for my 1st evening before the FoSS kicks in on Tuesday.

 

[Dhassell]

SPM isn't viewable from a train unless that train is going into the depot.

Have to disagree there! You can see the shunters if you are lucky at SPM and heading to Bath. But you need good eyes and for them to be in the right spot!

Anyone ever used these Freedom Travelpass between Weston Super Mare and Bath Spa. Seems decent value for the coverage, just for my 1st evening before the FoSS kicks in on Tuesday.

Suprisingly being local to Weston I haven't but yes from people I have spoken to it is a good value for money ticket! and im sure WSM will be more than happy to find and sell you one

 

[47403]

Have to disagree there! You can see the shunters if you are lucky at SPM and heading to Bath. But you need good eyes and for them to be in the right spot!



Suprisingly being local to Weston I haven't but yes from people I have spoken to it is a good value for money ticket! and im sure WSM will be more than happy to find and sell you one

Well that's me knackered my eyesights crap

Many thanks for the info on the Freedom Traveloass kind sir, very much appreciated.

 

[Techniquest]

Done the moves between WSM and BTH many times, you'll have no problems as the guards seem to actually recognise that rover!

 

[D6975]

Unless I've missed it, nobody's mentioned 08516 which lives at Barton Hill depot, Bristol.
You sometimes get other locos there too between doing stock deliveries on/off overhaul, there was a 31 there a short while ago and a 56 before that. In the summer the kettles off the Torbay Express are kept there too.

 

[47403]

Unless I've missed it, nobody's mentioned 08516 which lives at Barton Hill depot, Bristol.
You sometimes get other locos there too between doing stock deliveries on/off overhaul, there was a 31 there a short while ago and a 56 before that. In the summer the kettles off the Torbay Express are kept there too.

many thanks for that little nugget.