47403
Established Member
Firstly my apologies for not posting this much sooner, time has barely been my friend these last couple of months, work, moving, house parental responsibilities, the Xmas period etc.
I'd taken 4 days off to move, my flat mate was moving in with his girlfriend, I was gonna keep the flat on but I got asked if I wanted to move into somewhere else, with a good mate of mine, who, lets just say, has had a bit of a change in circumstances. It made economic sense for both of us, so I readily agreed. Instead of 4 days, I'd packed and moved in 3, mind you the weekend before, I finished work and went straight to the now old flat and had 2 nights, till close to midnight, clearing stuff. So after unpacking, I thought, well, I have a whole day to myself tomorrow, what will I do. After a quick ciggy and a large coffee, I parked my arse on the settee, hooked up with the wifi and see if I could find a cheap advance anywhere to inspire a day out on the rails somewhere. All the time being serenaded by Brian Johnson and ACDCs Back in Black album. Hence the hash tag too.
As expected the night before, a search for a cheap advance remotely anywhere South, proved so fruitless, the man from Del Monte, would have looked me up and down and said, Are you taking the ****? So onto my other favourite site instead, the GB Railrover guide, I did think of combining two Rovers to get further but instead I just plumped for a North East Round Robin, with an add on, add on being a return ticket to somewhere in hope of scoring more for sight. If truth be told, I did think Manchester for more than a few reason's but on this day I declined because there's a window of opportunity to get in April for a couple of days, rather than just one.
Im up around half 6 the following morning, bags packed the night before, meant only the ablutions and get dressed, cuppa n a ciggy to do and by 7.35 I was in a taxi to Central. After getting the Rover and add on tickets, I nipped over to Greggs got 2 bacon Sarnies and a coffee. grab a quick ciggy and head over to the North End of Platform 3, a quick sweep of the platform reveals nothing startling. After seeing not a great deal bar a voyager, all of a sudden Central turned into a thriving metropolis .66717 came through on its way to North Blyth, no sooner had that gone, when 66553 came from the North with a Network Rail engineers train, comprising of those Theruer and Plasser track machine things, its huge, 2400 tonnes worth (according to RTT) snake there way past the Castle Keep and round the back road at Central onwards towards Tyne Yard, 66953 brings up the rear. 66953s barely out of sight when, 66711 then comes through, heading North light engine. All that within 6 or 7 minutes, I've saw me stand there for a couple of hours, just trying to find my last few members of the VTEC Mark 4s and not seen 1 freight movement at all.
I stand and eagerly anticipate 08.40 Aberdonian. why?, you may ask Well, everytime I head out on the 08.59, the 08.40 has 1, sometimes both, are winner power cars for haulage, whilst the 08.59 continues to throw up duds, today I'm hoping a bit of reverse psychology might come into pay, if they're duds on the 08.40, maybe I'll be in luck on the 08.59. Imagine my disgust as a winner in 43306 was leading dud 43319. Bang goes my reverse psychology theory in a huge plume of MTU smoke. The 08.59 popped its nose out from beside the Keep and snaked its way towards me, the first power car was a very dud 43320 with an equally dud 43305, not the most auspicious of starts but whats the chances of seeing numerical power cars like that.
Anyhow I got a couple of airline seats on the right to myself and sat by the window, as we were leaving, I noticed a winner 185, stood on platform 9 on the 09.10 Liverpool turn, I thought to myself, that'll come in handy at York.
Just after Low Fell Junction, 66703 passed on its way to Tyne Dock and at Tyne Yard, 66953 was visible along with my locals new super shunter, 60017, which has replaced 08752, which apparently left on a back of a lorry, to where I don't know. The journey to York, well after Tyne Yard and Durham, is a very tedious journey, apart from seeing 66708 at Ferryhill, there was absolutely zilch of note till York Yard and outside the NRM.
At York, a quick sweep of the platforms, reveals nothing of note, hopes were raised briefly when I saw a lone 144, coupled to a couple of 150's, in the Harrogate bays, could it be 015, my last 144 for sight or even a required NH 150 would do. Alas it was 144006 and the 150s were of no use neither. Nothing in the parcel bay neither, there'd been required Cats in there lately too. Dud 185127 came in from Scarborough, so I flagged it knowing full well, there was winner on its way from toon, just as well too because I snagged my last required Grand Central HST stock set, for the first cops of the day. Not long after winner 185125 arrived to take me to Leeds, where hopes were high of snagging 144015 and the 2 errant 333's, 008 & 011.
As we pass Neville Hill, seeing anything on the depot is almost impossible, due to a rake of Oil Tanks, blocking the view, to make matters worse, there's not even a loco at either end, there was some 333's over the back but too far away to ID, I sincerely hope they weren't my 2 I'm after.
I bail the 185 at Leeds, I'm looking for any of my 3 NL requirements, I wander aimlessly up and down the myriad of weird numbered platforms, for well over an hour, watching for 333's and my last 144, unfortunately nothing materialises, even the VTEC coaching stock is all duds. Slightly disappointed, I make my way over the bridge, to use my add ons, stopping to get a large coffee, I can't remember which one it was but it hit the spot, I meandered over to platform 17b on the 12.06 to Nottingham, which I'd take as far as Sheffield, passing Midland Road on the way. Winner 158793 was my chariot, it was lightly loaded and found a table seat to myself, without any problem. I sat back and let 158793 take the strain, whilst I tweeted Northern, to ask of the whereabouts of 144015.
As were coming up to Midland Road, the first thing I see is a 90, I wasn't expecting one of those here, we soon pass and it's unrequired 90041 but its coupled to cop 70017, woo hoo, that made up for Leeds for sure. Other than 66420 being also present that was as much as I could ID, so I sat back and chilled reading Railways Illustrated, till we got to Meadowell, where I had my eyes peeled for the Trams.
Bailing at Sheffield, I made my way to the way out, checking the 2 Meridians present to see if their numbers were either of the 2 I need, unfortunately they weren't. So I made out for a ciggy, by the tram stop and clicked no fewer than 3 more for sight, I returned back downstairs and was aghast to see the two EMT 158's off to Liverpool were duds for sight, I need 13 of the swines too. I walked up the platform to nip to the loo, suitably relieved, I walked out to see my chariot arrive for the next bit of the add on.
Winner 222006, awaits gurgling away in the platform, so I climbed aboard, another lightly loaded service, found a table seat, put the phone onto charge, get my sarnies out, a bottle of coke and proceeded to have lunch, waving goodbye to a young bairn, who was waving frantically, with Nana and Grandad, to all on board as we left. I seriously can't make my mind up, as to wether I actually like the Meridians or not. They're a more throatier version of the Voyagers granted but that's the problem, they're just voyagers with a sore throat. However they're more airy and the interiors are much nicer, so they're passable, in my book, for now anyway. I'm not sure I could hack one to St Pancras yet, I don't need to worry about that today, as I'm only going as far as Derby, which for now is probably long enough.
to be continued
I'd taken 4 days off to move, my flat mate was moving in with his girlfriend, I was gonna keep the flat on but I got asked if I wanted to move into somewhere else, with a good mate of mine, who, lets just say, has had a bit of a change in circumstances. It made economic sense for both of us, so I readily agreed. Instead of 4 days, I'd packed and moved in 3, mind you the weekend before, I finished work and went straight to the now old flat and had 2 nights, till close to midnight, clearing stuff. So after unpacking, I thought, well, I have a whole day to myself tomorrow, what will I do. After a quick ciggy and a large coffee, I parked my arse on the settee, hooked up with the wifi and see if I could find a cheap advance anywhere to inspire a day out on the rails somewhere. All the time being serenaded by Brian Johnson and ACDCs Back in Black album. Hence the hash tag too.
As expected the night before, a search for a cheap advance remotely anywhere South, proved so fruitless, the man from Del Monte, would have looked me up and down and said, Are you taking the ****? So onto my other favourite site instead, the GB Railrover guide, I did think of combining two Rovers to get further but instead I just plumped for a North East Round Robin, with an add on, add on being a return ticket to somewhere in hope of scoring more for sight. If truth be told, I did think Manchester for more than a few reason's but on this day I declined because there's a window of opportunity to get in April for a couple of days, rather than just one.
Im up around half 6 the following morning, bags packed the night before, meant only the ablutions and get dressed, cuppa n a ciggy to do and by 7.35 I was in a taxi to Central. After getting the Rover and add on tickets, I nipped over to Greggs got 2 bacon Sarnies and a coffee. grab a quick ciggy and head over to the North End of Platform 3, a quick sweep of the platform reveals nothing startling. After seeing not a great deal bar a voyager, all of a sudden Central turned into a thriving metropolis .66717 came through on its way to North Blyth, no sooner had that gone, when 66553 came from the North with a Network Rail engineers train, comprising of those Theruer and Plasser track machine things, its huge, 2400 tonnes worth (according to RTT) snake there way past the Castle Keep and round the back road at Central onwards towards Tyne Yard, 66953 brings up the rear. 66953s barely out of sight when, 66711 then comes through, heading North light engine. All that within 6 or 7 minutes, I've saw me stand there for a couple of hours, just trying to find my last few members of the VTEC Mark 4s and not seen 1 freight movement at all.
I stand and eagerly anticipate 08.40 Aberdonian. why?, you may ask Well, everytime I head out on the 08.59, the 08.40 has 1, sometimes both, are winner power cars for haulage, whilst the 08.59 continues to throw up duds, today I'm hoping a bit of reverse psychology might come into pay, if they're duds on the 08.40, maybe I'll be in luck on the 08.59. Imagine my disgust as a winner in 43306 was leading dud 43319. Bang goes my reverse psychology theory in a huge plume of MTU smoke. The 08.59 popped its nose out from beside the Keep and snaked its way towards me, the first power car was a very dud 43320 with an equally dud 43305, not the most auspicious of starts but whats the chances of seeing numerical power cars like that.
Anyhow I got a couple of airline seats on the right to myself and sat by the window, as we were leaving, I noticed a winner 185, stood on platform 9 on the 09.10 Liverpool turn, I thought to myself, that'll come in handy at York.
Just after Low Fell Junction, 66703 passed on its way to Tyne Dock and at Tyne Yard, 66953 was visible along with my locals new super shunter, 60017, which has replaced 08752, which apparently left on a back of a lorry, to where I don't know. The journey to York, well after Tyne Yard and Durham, is a very tedious journey, apart from seeing 66708 at Ferryhill, there was absolutely zilch of note till York Yard and outside the NRM.
At York, a quick sweep of the platforms, reveals nothing of note, hopes were raised briefly when I saw a lone 144, coupled to a couple of 150's, in the Harrogate bays, could it be 015, my last 144 for sight or even a required NH 150 would do. Alas it was 144006 and the 150s were of no use neither. Nothing in the parcel bay neither, there'd been required Cats in there lately too. Dud 185127 came in from Scarborough, so I flagged it knowing full well, there was winner on its way from toon, just as well too because I snagged my last required Grand Central HST stock set, for the first cops of the day. Not long after winner 185125 arrived to take me to Leeds, where hopes were high of snagging 144015 and the 2 errant 333's, 008 & 011.
As we pass Neville Hill, seeing anything on the depot is almost impossible, due to a rake of Oil Tanks, blocking the view, to make matters worse, there's not even a loco at either end, there was some 333's over the back but too far away to ID, I sincerely hope they weren't my 2 I'm after.
I bail the 185 at Leeds, I'm looking for any of my 3 NL requirements, I wander aimlessly up and down the myriad of weird numbered platforms, for well over an hour, watching for 333's and my last 144, unfortunately nothing materialises, even the VTEC coaching stock is all duds. Slightly disappointed, I make my way over the bridge, to use my add ons, stopping to get a large coffee, I can't remember which one it was but it hit the spot, I meandered over to platform 17b on the 12.06 to Nottingham, which I'd take as far as Sheffield, passing Midland Road on the way. Winner 158793 was my chariot, it was lightly loaded and found a table seat to myself, without any problem. I sat back and let 158793 take the strain, whilst I tweeted Northern, to ask of the whereabouts of 144015.
As were coming up to Midland Road, the first thing I see is a 90, I wasn't expecting one of those here, we soon pass and it's unrequired 90041 but its coupled to cop 70017, woo hoo, that made up for Leeds for sure. Other than 66420 being also present that was as much as I could ID, so I sat back and chilled reading Railways Illustrated, till we got to Meadowell, where I had my eyes peeled for the Trams.
Bailing at Sheffield, I made my way to the way out, checking the 2 Meridians present to see if their numbers were either of the 2 I need, unfortunately they weren't. So I made out for a ciggy, by the tram stop and clicked no fewer than 3 more for sight, I returned back downstairs and was aghast to see the two EMT 158's off to Liverpool were duds for sight, I need 13 of the swines too. I walked up the platform to nip to the loo, suitably relieved, I walked out to see my chariot arrive for the next bit of the add on.
Winner 222006, awaits gurgling away in the platform, so I climbed aboard, another lightly loaded service, found a table seat, put the phone onto charge, get my sarnies out, a bottle of coke and proceeded to have lunch, waving goodbye to a young bairn, who was waving frantically, with Nana and Grandad, to all on board as we left. I seriously can't make my mind up, as to wether I actually like the Meridians or not. They're a more throatier version of the Voyagers granted but that's the problem, they're just voyagers with a sore throat. However they're more airy and the interiors are much nicer, so they're passable, in my book, for now anyway. I'm not sure I could hack one to St Pancras yet, I don't need to worry about that today, as I'm only going as far as Derby, which for now is probably long enough.
to be continued
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