Trip Report Community 2016 Review

[Iskra]

Quite simply, use this thread as an opportunity to share how your year has been, any milestones achieved, your highs and lows and absolutely anything else that takes your fancy! Feel free to make up your own categories, as we all chase/spot different things ie shacks, classes, coverage etc.

It's been a very productive year for me:

New Coverage

Chesterfield-Nottingham
London St. Pancras-Brighton
Aberdeen-Inverness
Newcastle-Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough-Saltburn
Darlington-Bishop Auckland
York-Leeds via Harrogate
Shipley- Bradford FS
Shipley-Ilkley
Ilkley-Leeds
Lostwithiel-Carne Point (Freight only)
Plymouth-the old Southern Railway Plymouth station via Laira depot (Freight only)
Exeter-Okehampton
London Waterloo-Guildford
Guildford-Fareham
Fareham-Bath Spa
Newport-Chester
Chester-Crewe
Darlington-Thornaby
Middlesbrough-Whitby
Scarborough-Doncaster
London St. Pancras-Margate-Ramsgate-London St. Pancras
Glasgow Central-Gretna Green via Kilmarnock
Woking-Honiton
Bath Spa-Bristol Temple Meads
Craven Arms-Swansea via Llandovery

So this year I've now completed most of the North of England, made decent inroads into Scotland and Wales and finally made some progress in the South/South East of England. Still lots to do mind, but a good year.

New Traction

Class 377
Class 442
Class 387
Class 444
Class 395
Class 159
Class 73
Class 66

Most of my new traction has come due to venturing into the South. It was good to get 442's before they get scrapped. 159 and 66 were big gaps that I really needed to take care of and the 73 was just very lucky.

Mainline Loco-haulage

HSTx lots
91 x lots
73x1
67x3
90x1
37x1
66x2
47x2
Black 5

A decent mix there I think. 37 and 47 were welcome due to not having them for a while. 73 a nice bonus and Black 5 on the mainline was immense.

Preserved

KWVR- WD 2-8-0
NYMR- Class 26 & Black 5
Dartmoor Railway

International

Amsterdam-Alkmaar
Bergamo-Milan
Milan-Venice
Venice-Florence
Florence-Salerno
Naples-Salerno via the coastal route
Salerno-Lamezia
Regio Calabria-Locri
Naples-Pompeii

Highs

Fabled 442 haulage before they vanish
Double Headed class 73 and 67 on the Caledonian Sleeper. Diversion down the ECML.
Class 26 Haulage on the NYMR and then mainline Black 5 Action down to Whitby from Grosmont which was awesome.
My first proper railtour and a very enjoyable one courtesy of UKRailtours in 1st class dining giving me class 66 haulage.
A couple of good trips on the ATW Premier Service.
Travelling Italy on the rails.

Lows

RRB- my first for a long time- between Middlesbrough and Darlington
Steam Dreams/Cathedrals Express- no steam traction available and then the tour was a joke with poor food and bad driving.
The Naples Circumvesuviana light rail system- it's a bit grim.
Getting stranded at Honiton on a SWT train due to flooding, leaving an annoying coverage gap Honiton-Exeter.

2017

My aims for 2017 are to continue getting as much new coverage and Loco-hauled turns as possible, and any new haulage I can. I would really like to get some 20's, 60's and 92's in this year but they are some of the more difficult classes to get.

Finally, happy new year and thank you to everyone on RailUK for the support, tips and advice that's helped me along the way. I wish everyone a productive 2017.

 

[Segedunum]

Well then:

New Coverage- Mainline only

Kilwinning-Largs
Aston-Rugeley Trent Valley
Aston-Lichfield Trent Valley
Stafford-Wolverhampton
Water Orton-Nuneaton
Yardley Wood-Whitlocks End
Bromsgrove-Gloucester
Gloucester-Bristol Temple Meads
Haddenham-Oxford Parkway
Peterborough-Ely
Ipswich-Gidea Park
Colchester-Clacton and Walton on the Naze, both via and avoiding Colchester Town
Sudbury-Marks Tey
Witham-Braintree
Shenfield-Southend Victoria
Gordon Hill-Stevenage
West Ealing-Greenford
Woolwich Arsenal-Slade Green
Lewisham-Barnehurst
Peckham Rye-Lewisham
Nunhead-Bromley South
Purley-Tattenham Corner
Sutton-Epsom Downs
Sutton-Horsham via Epsom and Box Hill
Leatherhead-Guildford via Bookham
Raynes Park-Ewell West
Motspur Park-Chessington South
Kingston Loop
Strawberry Hill-Shepperton
Gunnersbury-Willesden Junction
St Pancras International-Ashford International
Ebbsfleet International-Faversham
Sittingbourne-Sheerness
Otford-Ashford International
Tonbridge-Ashford International
Tonbridge-Hastings
Hastings-Ashford International
Strood-Paddock Wood via Maidstone West
Woking-Havant
Woking-Salisbury
Salisbury-Southampton Ctl
Brockenhurst-Southampton Ctl
Southampton Ctl-Havant
Lymington Branch
Alton Branch
Farnham-Ash
Twyford-Henley on Thames
Reading-Redhill
Wivelsfield-Lewes
Hayes and Harlington-Penzance via Westbury
Reading-Bristol Parkway
Castle Cary-Exeter Central via Yeovil Pen Mill
Filton Abbey Wood-Cardiff Central
Radyr-Coryton
Barry Island-Cardiff Central
Cardiff Bay branch
Penarth-Grangetown
Cardiff Central-Pengam
Radyr-Cardiff Central direct
Keyham-Gunnislake
Truro-Falmouth
St Erth-St Ives

New Traction- UK

Class 172/1
Class 456
Class 700

Mainline Loco Haulage

Class 37 x1
Class 43 xlots
Class 67 x2
Class 68 x7
Class 90 x2
Class 91 xlots

International- New Track

Germany

Dusseldorf Airport-Dusseldorf Hbf
Dusseldorf Hbf-Cologne Hbf via Neuss/other routes
Dusseldorf Hbf-Duisburg Hbf-Essen Hbf-Bochum Hbf-Dortmund Hbf
Dortmund Hbf-Hagen Hbf-Wuppertal Hbf-Cologne Hbf
Cologne Hbf-Siegen-Dillenburg-Giessen-Frankfurt Hbf
Cologne Hbf-Remagen-Koblenz-Boppard-Mainz
Cologne Hbf-Aachen Hbf-Monchengladbach Hbf
Monchengladbach Hbf-Pulheim-Cologne Ehrenfeld
Stolberg Hbf-Stolberg Altstadt
Mainz Hbf-Frankfurt Hbf via Frankfurt Airport
Frankfurt Hauptwache-Frankfurt Hbf Low Level

Spain

Fuengirola-Malaga Centro Alameda
Sevilla Santa Justa-Osuna-Alora-Malaga Maria Zambrano
Sevilla Santa Justa-Cordoba-Malaga Maria Zambrano (AVE High Speed Line)
Sevilla Santa Justa-El Canamo/Cartuja
Sevilla Santa Justa-Jardins del Hercules
Sevilla Suburban Loop line C-4
Entire Seville and Malaga Metro systems

Portugal

Lagos-Faro-Vila Real de Santo Antonio
Albufeira-Porto Novo-Lisboa Entrecampos
Santa Iria-Lisboa Oriente-Lisboa Entrecampos-Sintra
Lisboa Santa Apolonia, Lisboa Rossio and Alcantara Terra branches
Cascais-Cais do Sodre

International- New Classes

Germany

Br111 Electric Loco
Br114 Electric Loco
Br143 Electric Loco
Br146 Electric Loco
Br420 EMU
Br422 EMU
Br423 EMU
Br425 EMU
Br427 EMU
Br429 EMU
Br430 EMU
Br440 EMU
Br442 EMU
Br460 EMU
Br829 EMU
Br1440 EMU

Spain

Serie 104 High Speed EMU
Serie 446 EMU
Serie 464/465 EMU
Serie 598 DMU
Serie 599 DMU
CAF Urbos 2
CAF Urbos 3

Portugal

Serie 5600 Electric Loco
Serie 0450 DMU
Serie 2300 EMU
Serie 2400 EMU
Serie 3150/3250 EMU
Serie 3500 EMU
Serie 4000 Pendolino

Highs

ALR!!
Visiting new countries for the first time and associated rail networks
Trying the Sleeper to Cornwall
Every loco hauled journey

Lows

Heat related disruption
An almost Penalty Fare on the Seville Metro
The track deciding to set on fire in Lisbon

2017

Clear the Northern 142s
Clear all shacks London Zones 1-9
Actually clear Cramlington because it's literally 10 minutes from you, you utter muppet.

 

[TC60054]

Here we go:

New Coverage - NR
Crewe to Stoke on Trent
Chester to Hooton
Chester to Warrington BQ
Helsby to Hamilton Square via Ellesmere Port
Liverpool James Street to New Brighton
Liverpool Central to Hunts Cross
Hucknall to Mansfield Woodhouse
Rugby to Milton Keynes via Weedon
Watford Junction to London Euston
Birmingham Snow Hill to Stourbridge Junction
Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town
Bridlington to Seamer
Brough to Micklefield
Peterborough to Ipswich via Ely
Peterborough to London Kings Cross
London Victoria to East Croydon
London Victoria to Beckenham Junction
London Bridge to East Croydon
St Pancras Thameslink to Wimbledon
Norwich to Ipswich
Norwich to Great Yarmouth via Acle
Norwich to Sheringham
Norwich to Lowestoft
Norwich to Cambridge via Ely
Birkenhead North to West Kirby
Bolton to Wigan North Western
Dewsbury to Sowerby Bridge
Todmorden to Burnley Manchester Road
Knottingley to Goole
Salford Crescent to Wigan Wallgate
Kiveton Park to Worksop
Crewe to Stafford (direct)
Stoke on Trent to Stafford
Belper to Matlock
Langley Mill to Kirkby in Ashfield
Warwick Parkway to Banbury
London Liverpool Street to Stratford
London Liverpool Street to Tottenham Hale
Tottenham Hale to Stratford
London Fenchurch Street to Limehouse
London Cannon Street to Grove Park
Grove Park to Bromley North
London Bridge to Waterloo East
London Waterloo to Clapham Junction
Finsbury Park to Moorgate
Worksop to Lincoln Central
Retford to Barnetby
Habrough to Barton on Humber
Moorthorpe to Church Fenton
Rose Grove to Colne
Blackburn to Bolton
Wigan Wallgate to Southport
Deighton to Halifax

New Coverage - Light Rail/Metro
Rochdale Town Centre to Victoria (Metrolink)
Eccles to Cornbrook (Metrolink)
Finsbury Park to Victoria (Victoria Line)
East Croydon to Beckenham Junction (Tramlink)
New Addington to Wimbledon (Tramlink)
Victoria to Tower Hill (H&C)
Tower Gateway to Royal Albert (DLR)
Royal Albert to Canning Town (DLR)
Canning Town to London Bridge (Jubilee)
Victoria to Bury (Metrolink)
Victoria to Exchange Square (Metrolink)
Random bits within NET depot
Birmingham Grand Central to Wolverhampton St Georges (Midland Metro)
Kings Cross St Pancras to Tower Hill (Circle)
Shadwell to Bank (DLR)

New Traction
CAF Urbos 3 (Midland Metro)
CR4000 (Tramlink)
Variobahn (Tramlink)
S Stock
96 stock
09 stock
DLR things
Class 90
Class 139
Class 159
Class 171
Class 313
Class 317
Class 365
Class 375
Class 376
Class 377
Class 379
Class 387
Class 442
Class 444
Class 450
Class 455
Class 456
Class 465
Class 466

Mainline Loco Haulage
Class 37 x2
Class 67 x2
Class 90 x2
Class 91 x many

2017
Stockport to Stalybridge. Fifth time lucky hopefully.
Clear Northern 142s.
Plus whatever else I dream up through the year.

 

[cactustwirly]

New Traction
Class 700
Class 143
Class 315
Class 90
Class 153
Class 507
Class 508
Class 350
Class 323
Class 390
Class 139
Class 68
Class 168
Class 321

Variobahn (Tramlink)
CAF Urbino 3 (Midland Metro)

New Track

Swindon to Carmarthen via the Severn Tunnel
Knottingley to Goole
Pontefract Monkhill to Wakefield Kirkgate
Moorgate to Hadley Wood
Stratford to Willesden Junction
Highbury & Islington to Canada Water
Streatham to Wimbledon via Tooting
Liverpool St to Gidea Park
Bruce Grove to Liverpool St
Stratford to Barking
Liverpool Lime St to New Brighton
Liverpool Lime St to Wavertree Technology Park
Liverpool Lime St to Liverpool South Parkway
Liverpool Central to Kirkby
Sandhills to Blundlesands & Crosby
Birkenhead North to Manor Road
Birmingham New Street to Liverpool Lime Street
Birmingham New Street to Banbury
Birmingham Snow Hill to High Wycombe
Stourbridge Town to Jewellery Quarter
Birmingham International to New Street
Birmingham New Street to Cannock
Birmingham New Street to Lichfield City
St Pancras to Leicester
East Croydon to Clapham Junction
Blackfriars to East Croydon via Herne Hill
London Charing X to Lewisham
Lewisham to Victoria via Peckham Rye
Bromley South to Victoria via Herne Hill
Clapham Junction to Shepherds Bush
West Ealing to Greenford
Romford to Upminster
Bristol Temple Meads to Clifton Down
Exeter to Umberleigh
Westbury to Bath via Bradford-on-Avon
Mitcham Junction to Wimbledon (Tramlink)
Birmingham New Street to Jewellery Quarter (Midland Metro)

2017

Southern Day Save concentrating on East Coastway
Start on Cardiff Valley Lines
More GW HSTs
Start on EMT units

 

[Iskra]

Well then:


The track deciding to set on fire in Lisbon

2017

Clear the Northern 142s
Clear all shacks London Zones 1-9
Actually clear Cramlington because it's literally 10 minutes from you, you utter muppet.

Great work. How exactly does the track set on fire?

 

[Iskra]

Here we go:


2017
Stockport to Stalybridge. Fifth time lucky hopefully.
Clear Northern 142s.
Plus whatever else I dream up through the year.

Some great new coverage there. What happened on the previous 4 attempts at Stockport-Stalybridge? And, if you don't mind me asking, how come you've only just got class 90 haulage for the first time this year?

 

[Segedunum]

Great work. How exactly does the track set on fire?

It was about 41 degrees and I assume it was something in the trackbed or the four foot rather than the rails spontaneously combusting

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

 

[55013]

I managed 385 new haulages and 285 new shacks, comfortably achieving my goal.

Highs include my three day trip to Kent, getting lots of winners and a bit of track in.
Doing what may well be my last Southern Daysave is up there as a highlight.
Really getting into the swing of this shack scratching lark has been most enjoyable as well.
Lows - nothing too spectacular, really.
I prefer to ignore any downsides and concentrate on the positives
All my moves have produced something enjoyable.

In 2017 I hope to further reduce my number of required stations as well as working on getting my required units, especially the electric ones, to a reasonable level.
I'll be mainly concentrating on the older types but will deviate to newer stuff when the mood takes me.

My current stats look like this:

139: needed 0/total 2
142: 0/94
143: 0/63
144: 0/23
150: 13/135
153: 7/70
155: 0/7
156: 23/114
158: 14/182
159: 12/30
165: 34/76
166: 6/21
168: 1/28
170: 13/119
171: 2/20
172: 3/39
175: 1/27
180: 0/14
185: 0/51
220: 4/34
221: 18/44
222: 2/27

313: 10/64
314: 0/16
315: 13/61
317: 41/72
318: 6/21
319: 44/86
320: 3/29
321: 79/110
322: 0/5
323: 16/43
332: 12/14
333: 0/16
334: 6/40
350: 47/87
357: 52/74
360: 20/26
365: 29/40
375: 70/112
376: 29/36
377: 164/239
378: 41/57
379: 24/30
380: 23/38
387: 64/75
390: 29/56
395: 12/29
444: 27/45
450: 112/127
455: 96/137
456: 13/24
458: 24/36
465: 118/142
466: 31/43
483: 0/5
507: 8/33
508: 8/43

It's perhaps worth mentioning that I've re-graded the units previously classed as "second choice", ie ones that I had before I recorded such things properly.
These are now added to my needs list as they bugged me more than the ones I actually needed.
So, it looks like London will be seeing a bit more of me next year

 

[TC60054]

Some great new coverage there. What happened on the previous 4 attempts at Stockport-Stalybridge? And, if you don't mind me asking, how come you've only just got class 90 haulage for the first time this year?

Last couple of times I was intending to do Stockport-Stalybridge I've either been ill when I've planned to do it, or I've had more important things to do.

I've not been into an area where 90s work on passenger trains before this year.

 

[43074]

New Coverage
Darlington & Northallerton - Saltburn & Whitby via Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough to Newcastle via Hartlepool
Hamilton Square - West Kirby
Chester - Stockport
Manchester Piccadilly - Crewe via both the Airport and Stockport
Salford Crescent - Bolton
Bolton - Wigan Wallgate, Preston & Blackburn
Leamington Spa - Stratford-upon-Avon
Coventry - Leamington Spa
Norton Bridge Flyover
Hereford - Newport
Patchway - Bristol Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads - Avonmouth
Mansfield Woodhouse - Worksop - Gainsborough Lea Road
Cleethorpes - Hatfield & Stainforth & Barton-on-Humber
Goole - Knottingley
Drem - North Berwick
Acton Town - Ealing Broadway (LUL District Line)
Green Park - Acton Town (LUL Piccadilly Line)
Norwood Junction - London Blackfriars via Crystal Palace

Mainline Loco-haulage
37s (x3) and 68s (x5) - mostly on East Anglian locals
HST power cars (x8) and 91s (x6) - mostly off a 4 day North East Rover in June which was epic, but I was more concerned with getting required track so therefore didn't get as much loco haulage as I might have liked

Highs

A North East rover in June, which produced many winning miles of track and haulage, I'm planning another for the end of the month with the emphasis on haulage this time
Doing a couple of Anglia Plus Rovers in the Summer, which went well into the evening with some glorious sunsets over the Fens & Broads.
Going to the London Transport Museum Depot in London for the first time, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so much so that I'm planning to go to the next event in the Spring
The various HST40 events which were fantastic

Lows

None really, although my financial state wasn't as good as perhaps I might have liked, so not enough trips out?

2017

More haulage and better haulage (with the emphasis on HSTs and 91s, oh dear however will I cope )
To start in Glasgow, Kent and the Cardiff Valleys, money permitting, and to finish what's left in the North (Ellesmere Port, York - Sheffield via Pontefract, Sheffield to Worksop and the rest of Tyne & Wear Metro).
I've set a goal of 10,000 miles for the year, so will probably have fewer single day rovers and more multi-day rovers, which I tend to find allow me to achieve more faster and more affordably because of the larger area they tend to cover.

 

[Techniquest]

I have nearly (honestly!) nearly finished my Rolling Review 2016, which I intend to link to when it's posted. It's just the financial data which I need to put together which stops it being posted. I really should deal with that tonight, put 2016 behind me and totally focus on 2017.

I could post the review's final part, but I want to know the final cost of 2016's bashing for myself. If it's cost me less than 5 grand I'll be amazed.

All in all though, 2016 was an amazing year. To re-post all the highs and lows etc in this thread would take some doing though, so let's just say I'm over the moon with the scores I had. Despite failing to clear Metrolink's shacks, with several attempts, which was my biggest downside of 2016 I intend to go to war with my shack requirements this year. How dedicated am I to that objective? Well I'm going to Scotland this month! Let's just hope for no major storms like last time!

EDIT: Here's my 2016 scores, before I rip them out of my forum signature...

Winners: 785 Shack scores: 379 New sights: 872 Mileage 14,600