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Rambling Roebuck... (Trip Reports)

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FQ

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Holy moly!
 

D841 Roebuck

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86 winners out of 94 today, 48 new shacks and failure x 4 on PSULlages.

(One caped train, one late runnung crank who overindulged in full English, one attempt to turn up on the wrong day:oops: and one worked ecs vice passenger).
 

D841 Roebuck

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That isn't good :(

Ah well, they're there for "Ron". Or three of them are, the fourth being clawed back this morning....:lol:

Another 21 shacks today, currently homeward bound...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Today's stats: 36 winners (171 over 3 days).
21 new shacks (99 over 3 days)..
 

FQ

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Neither can I!

And I agree, a new red pen will be needed after that!
 

D841 Roebuck

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Cheers gents.

Due to pure idleness aka sore feet aka wanting a pint aussi vite que possible, I gambled on the one-armed metrolink bandit from Rochdale station to the Town Centre. AND WON. Winner stat above adjusted +1 :)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
London trip sight scores

While I don't tend to do spotting trips per se, the following new ones were noted en passant:

66765/767/771/772
171729
172002/003/005/007/008
313027/030/043/045/050 (4 left, 2 GTR/2 Southern
315804/820/828 (4 left)
317665 (11 left)
319001 (7 left)
365517/535 (10 left)
373101
375617/810/904/906/925
376007/010/012/013/017/021/027/031/032
377102/419/512/514/516/517/601/602/620/703/708
378135/146/151/152/204/208/214/215/217/221/224/257
379001/008/009/010/013/024/028/029
387115/117/124/206
450103
455823/842 (now down to 1 left)
465047/178/193
466013/015/022
700108 :) (A genuine "WTF is THAT moment at Blackfriars...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A Capital Time Day 1 - 8/3/2016

This trip started in the same way as my Lincolnshire trip the other week, on the 0652 from Rochdale to Halifax. This week's pair for the journey were 150112+158905. At Halifax, a coffee was acquired, then deja vu struck with a vengeance as 180107 rolled in on the 0804 to Kings Cross. No bailing at Doncaster today, though! A pleasant, fast run to Kings Cross ensued.

On arrival, I girded my loins, acquired an Oyster card and started scoring nutrax, shacks and units. First objective was the Piccadilly Line, nutrax north of Kings Cross. I decided to do a linear bash, but leaving out some shacks for a future occasion. The route taken was Kings Cross, Holloway Road, Manor House, Wood Green, Southgate, Oakwood, Cockfosters for a smoke break, then back to Arnos Grove and Bounds Green. Although I had been on other bits of the Piccadilly Line several times, I hadn't recorded the units. So 136, 143, 101, 156, 142, 191, 243, 866, 110, 157, 219, 170, 103, 183 and 246 were, inevitably, winners!

Time now for network rail action and some grub. I'd pre-researched the location of a spoons, but wanted to arrive at 2pm for the cut-price fish and chips. So I made the short walk to Bowes Park, then joined 313041 for a run to Gordon Hill, then 313029 back to Palmers Green, then a nice walk to the William Herring for sustenance.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Back to the station, it was time to head for some nutrax again. So 313051 + 313038 were taken to Haringay for a longer-than-anticipated and dullish walk to Haringey Green Lanes. A change to diesel traction here, as 172003 took me to Walthamstow Queens Road, then 172007 onwards to Wanstead Park. A much shorter walk took me to Forest Gate, thence 315828 + 315853 to Maryland (didn't look particularly American) and 315825 + dud(!) 315856 to Stratford, for a pnb in the shopping centre across the road.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Now for some nutrax. First up was the DLR to Stratford International, on 092 + 027, then some linear leaping via Star Lane, West Ham, London City Airport, Pontoon Dock and Woolwich Arsenal, which scored me 118, 109, 057, 080, 129, 131, 136, 137, 107, 114, 124 and cleared the track beyond King George V. Upstairs to the big railway, and more new track, with 376016 + 376022 taking me round to Barnehurst via Slade Green (all new track), before 466015 + 465037 took me on to Peckham Rye (new track to Eltham, and between Lewisham and Nunhead.)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
By now, I was feeling somewhat tired, and needed to head for my accomodation. So a linear leap was done on the Overground, with 378135, 378221, 378153, 378151 taking me to Rotherhithe, Shoreditch High Street, Canonbury, Highbury and Islington for shack scores. Down to the Victoria Line, and a thoroughly wedged 11005/06 took me to Seven Sisters.

Back upstairs and 315802 soon appeared to take me to White Hart Lane, where a sandwich and crisps were sourced from the local off license, before 317890 rolled in for the last trip of the day to Edmonton Green and the Travelodge. A shower, then to bed and a programme on the tv about the Darjeeling Railway whilst eating my supper.

A long and enjoyable day :)
 

FQ

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An excellent day out of it by the sounds of it! And loads of winners too!
 

D841 Roebuck

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A Capital Time - Day 2 (9/3/16)

Despite being short on sleep, I somehow pre-empted my alarm by two hours, being wide awake again at 04:10. Location, Location, Location was on the telly (just about acceptable) but then Jeremy "oxygen thief" Kyle came on, so I thought I might as well set off for the day.

Across the road to the station, and first up was to take me north to Southbury. Apparently this line was mothballed from the 1920s until electrification, but no sign today of the stationmaster"s washing being dried between the tracks. Instead, newly dud 315802 with 315808 soon appeared to take me through to London Fields. A short wait here, then 317891 + 317883 took me back down to Rectory Road, before 315801 and dud-for-yonks 315805 returned me to Hackney Downs.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Time for a change here, via the new footway to Hackney Central. This appears to have been designed by the same firm who did the power station in Crash Bandicoot, so dodging the TNT and collecting Wumpa Fruit, I headed for the Overground. My idea was to cover the 0759 PSUL move from Woodgrange Park to Willesden Jc (didn't need the Gospel Oak avoider, but did need the curve to Willesden Jc low level). So a spot of linear leaping was called for, and 378224, 378204, 378217, 378215 took me to Camden Road, Hampstead Heath, Finchley Road and Frognal, Kensal Rise respectively. Here, an announcement was made - the 0759 had been cancelled :(

By now, I was starving and a touch bored. I looked up spoons, but then bashing fortitude reappeared, and I decided to walk to Kensal Green, hopefully dining enroute. And I was rewarded. Joseph's Cafe at Kensal Rise (turn right out of the station, 30 yards on right) does a full English which poos all over JDWs for quality and quantity. So good was this, that I overfestered in the cafe, putting my planned move for the 10:04 PSUL from London Bridge in severe jeopardy. And the walk seemed further than it looked on my A to Z (proper maps that beat google all ends up).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Arriving at the station and checking the Bakerloo timetable, I realised I was goosed. Nevertheless, full of bacon and eggs (and sausage, hash brown, beans and toast), I decided to do a circuitous move to Paddington for the 11:00 PSUL to West Ruislip. The first leg of this was Sou-Easterly, with 387228, 3238 + 3531, 3268 + 3558, 3265 + 3574 taking me to Queens Park, Warwick Avenue, Edgware Road (Bakerloo) and finally Oxford Circus. Changing here to the Central Line it was Westward Ho!

And another cockup - I'd forgotten that the Central is operated by four x two-car units, rather than two x four-car. Hence some red ink was inadvertently saved. 91103 + 92254 + 91027, 91025 + 91238 were recorded to Bayswater and White City, where I walked toWood Lane, and joined 21303 + 21304 to Paddington. And discovered that the Ruislip PSUL doesn't run on Wednesday! :(
 

FQ

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I'm enjoying the read so far. Shame about the PSUL problems though!
 

Techniquest

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Bad fortune on the PSUL moves! I never knew that about the line through Southbury though. Certainly you did well on the winners!
 

D841 Roebuck

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March 9th continued

So I find myself at Paddington. Thiught the PSUL wasn't running, due to incompetent timetable reading. Heathrow Express is in a mess. The temptation to buy a Thames Valley ranger and bale out to Reading on an HST was getting stronger. So I boarded dud 165128 on the Greenford service, baling a West Ealing for the shack. And the service back was cancelled. Outside for a smoke and a look at the bus stop, then.

And hope returneth. There's a regular and frequent bus service to Ruislip. So I duly board the E7, which is vehicle DE1694 (YD09FLH). And discover a new joy - following an unfamiliar bus route on your A to Z. A pleasant half hour later, and I'm deposited at Ruislip.

Back on track, 21077/78, 21065/66 take me to Ruislip Gardens, West Harrow respectively. I expect to walk to North Harrow, but rhe 183 bus (NY59RYC, I think) takes me on a literal bus stop bash. Now for some nutrax. 21037/38, 21111/12 take me to Northwood Hills, Watford Met, scoring the branch (but not the PSUL curve).
 

D841 Roebuck

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9/3/2016 continued

Having just booked my next jaunt, I'd better get on with this!

Returning back down the Met, and with OMD's "Metroland" turned up high on the mobile moshpit, 21027/028 took me to Pinner for a Pnb, then newlyduds 21037/038 on to Harrow-on-the-Hill.

Here, I exchanged OO gauge for HO gauge, and embarked on a small orgy on the nort end of the Jubilee Line. The gory details are as follows: 96093/034, 96107/104, 96094/071, 96084/109, 96102/029, 96015/110 taking me in that order to Dollis Hill, Neasden, Kingsbury, Queensbury, Stanmore, Canons Park. Time for another bus ride, and LK07BBO aka SEL750 soon appeared on the #73 to take me the short hop to Edgware.

And a less frenetic tube bash, of the linear variety, this time on the Northern Line. The details: 51679/80, 51631/32, 51609/705, 51701/601, 51638/39, 51502/03 taking me to Colindale, Golders Green, Chalk Farm, unrequired Camden Town, Finchley Central and Mill Hill East. Another bus (L57UTC) then took me through the gathering rush hour traffic to New Southgate, where I finally rejoined Network Rail.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Pairs of 313s had appeared on the GNR services for the evening peak, so some more gratuitous scoopery and shackage (not to mention nutrax beyond Finsbury Park) was enjoyed, with 313052 + 313060, 313049 + 313031, 313042 + 313063, 313032 + 313030, 313037 + 313059 taking me to Alexandra Palace, Hornsey, Drayton Park, Essex Road and finally Moorgate. Time now for food, and the local Marks & Sparks obliged with a prawn sandwich.

Next on the agenda was an irritating missing shack, so 21053/054 were taken to Barbican, then 21523/24 onwards to Farringdon. Changing back to Network Rail yet again, I decided on a longish run, for butty consumption purposes. So 377209 + 377215 were done to Tulse Hill, then455823 for the short hop to Streatham Common. Here, 377703 soon appeared to take me to Kensington Olympia.

And another PSUL failure. The District Line service to Earls Court was cancelled (although appeared to be running ecs). Buggrit! 378214 was consolation round the Latchmere curve into Clapham Junction (Windsor Side) - which I thought might be nutrax, but closer reflection after the event decided me that it had to be dud from a Farnborough Airshow (I think) ADEX in 1982 or thereabouts, which must have gone that way from Wimbledon to Willesden.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Now for a late lashing of linearity. 455868 + 455712, 455714 + 455731, 455850 + 455851 took me respectively toEarlsfield, Raynes Park and Motspur Park, before 455853+455730 appeared on a branch scratching mission to Chessington South. A long fester here so I wandered out for a moke, and cast an idle eye on the bus stop.

A-Ha! There was a useful service (#71) reported as running every 10-12 minutes, which could take on me (or even take me on) to Chessington North, provided it appeared within 9 minutes. It did, so I did, and scored the shack.

Homeward bound now, and 455730 + 455853 soon reappeared to take me on my longest leap of the day, to Vauxhall. Down to the tube, and 11051/052 took me to Seven Sisters before last winner of the day 315814 onwards to Edmonton Green. Here I sourced some food from the Henry Ford Takeaway (anything you like, as long as it's chickenburger and fries and retired happily to my lodge.

A long but productive day, with some disappointments on the way, but good fun nonetheless.
 
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FQ

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Shame about the PSUL failure again but you got lots of winners there and you were very lucky with the bus appearing!
 

D841 Roebuck

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10/3/2016. London Day 3

Packed, and having ingested caffeine, I headed to Edmonton Green. 315813 was a nice first unit of the day, to Seven Sisters, then downstairs for 11041/042 to Tottenham Hale. I needed the track from here to Stratford, but there was time in hand for a quick shack scratch. So 317665 was done to Northumberland Park, then 317510 + 317669 through to Stratford via Lea Bridge.

Still with time in hand, I opted for the DLR, with 155 + 110 to Abbey Road, 129 + 139 to Stratford High Street and 134 + 118 to Canning Town, descending here to the Jubilee Line. The platform screen doors here prevented me from identifying a couple of units on the subsequent linear scratch and sniff moves, which involved ? + 96041, ? + 96037, 96046 + 96011, 96016 + 96059 to the new shacks at North Greenwich, Bermondsey, Southwark and dud London Bridge.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
At London Bridge, I was in plenty of time for my planned PSUL move. Which came off! :) 455829 + 455841 duly took me to Streatham Hill, via the historically scenic and beautiful Leigham Spur. A short wait, and 455846 + 455804 (seemed to be getting more duds today) trundled me on toBalham.

Out of the station and across the road to the tube shack, and the duds continued, with 51502/503 having evidently escaped from the Mill Hill East branch to take me to Clapham South. Fortunately, 51561/562 were behind, taking me to Stockwell. A quick change here, and 11017/018 took me to Brixton, thus completing the Victoria Line.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Upstairs and round the corner to the NR shack, and it was time to head Kentwards to clear some track. 465156 was taken to Shortlands, then a walk up the hill for a bus, LX58CBY aka ST36320 on the #354 to Bromley North. I had a Pnb here, and acquired a tuna baguette from the pleasant cafe at the station, before clearing the branch via a trip to Grove Park on 466013. Crossing the footbridge, 465006 + 465187 took me the short hop toHither Green.

Now for some track clearance. I'd done the Barnehurst line two days ago, and Lewisham to Greenwich 40+ years ago to see the Cutty Sark. So the first job was the Bexleyheath line, accomplished via 465247 to Bexley, for 465047 round the corner and along to Greenwich. Reversing here, 465158 took me back to Charlton, then 465018 + 465020 through the tunnel to Blackheath and finally 465163 all the way in to Cannon Street.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
As I needed the underground shack at Cannon Street, it seemed rude not to head downstairs. Veterans 7108+7033 were a pleasant bonus to Mansion House, whilst the new guard in the form of 21445/446 took me on to Blackfriars. Upstairs again, and brand new 700108 was spotted stabled in one of the bays. However my train north from Kings Cross was due in about an hour, so I just did a linear leap along the Thameslink core, in the hope of winners.

And these arrived. 377516 + 377202 to City Thameslink, 319214 + 319442 to Farringdon and 377517 + 377213 to St Pancras. I then walked across to the Cross, with fingers crossed for James Herriot to appear on my train.

Not a chance. 180107 inevitability reappeared, and took me north in a fair degree of comfort, albeit including a delay at Retford due to the Adelante being a tad unwell. We eventually got to Halifax about 10 minutes late, and 153358 + 155359 teamed up to take me back to Rochdale.

One last bonus here. On leaving the station, there was a tram due in 4 minutes down to town. I gambled, invested in a ticket and was rewarded by one last winner in 3103 :)

A thoroughly enjoyable trip, and I'll be back in the smoke again soon (this Friday, actually).
 
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FQ

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Sounds like one hell of a good time in the capital! Bad Inadiqualantes misbehaving! Score the final winner to Rochdale town though!
 

D841 Roebuck

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Sounds like one hell of a good time in the capital! Bad Inadiqualantes misbehaving! Score the final winner to Rochdale town though!
It was a good, if tiring, time.

Back to London this weekend. Rough plan is as follows:
Friday. Up at sparrowfart for the first Leeds train. Then down to Peterborough and across to the MNR gala. Evening to London via Stansted, staying at E Croydon Travelodge.
SatTravelcardMolesey zonal bash on Oyster, including a break for the monthly quizzing grand prix at East Molesey.
Sunday. Spa Valley Gala and clear the Uckfield branch. Set off home in time for a pint when arrived.<D
 

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I see I wasn't the only one to employ the use of the bus between Canons Park & Edgware ;)

Sounded like a productive few days in London, I guess you are down for the challenge on Saturday?
 

D841 Roebuck

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I see I wasn't the only one to employ the use of the bus between Canons Park & Edgware ;)

Sounded like a productive few days in London, I guess you are down for the challenge on Saturday?

Nope. Quizzing Grand Prix (satellite event) at East Molesey British Legion on Saturday. Gonna get thumped by the usual Eggheads/Former Mastermind champions, etc...:D
 

Keith Jarrett

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It was a good, if tiring, time.

Back to London this weekend. Rough plan is as follows:
Friday. Up at sparrowfart for the first Leeds train. Then down to Peterborough and across to the MNR gala. Evening to London via Stansted, staying at E Croydon Travelodge.
SatTravelcardMolesey zonal bash on Oyster, including a break for the monthly quizzing grand prix at East Molesey.
Sunday. Spa Valley Gala and clear the Uckfield branch. Set off home in time for a pint when arrived.<D

Good read as ever, sir. You certainly did well in and around The Smoke. All those shacks, winning units and a couple of PSUL moves must make the books look healthier.

I might even make it to the Spa Valley on Sunday. All depends whether my last but one available Ped (31289) is running. Then, apart from 31018, the remaining Peds that I need have all met with their maker and are now razor blades.
 

Techniquest

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A rather decent time had down in London, clearly! Looks like you've got the bug now, everyone seems to be going down to get London cleared!

Don't envy the silly o'clock start on Friday, but then I'm off to work so I know which I'd rather out of the two.
 

FQ

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Literally everyone :lol:! I'm heading down on Saturday too!
 
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