Woodhose Wanderings

[woodhouse122]

long timer reader of this section ,but never had the guts to start my own thread but here goes
Spirit of scotland railpass pre day -July 9th 2017
Started off at sheffield and caught the 1249 service to london st pancras worked by a pair of 222s (222017 was my unit) got a 1 day travelcard as my oyster was left at home and did the tube to vauxhall and after a quick nip into Waitrose for a few snacks got on 458526 to Clapham junction and bailed to get another 458 for a return run to Houndslow as i needed the line and i thought i'd better get in in whilst it was still a SWT service (will be a new operator when i do my 14 day ALR in september).Returning to clapham Jct i was in 2 minds about going to McDonalds but decided against it and did a move to Wilsden Junction than a bakerloo line tube train to South Kenton ,one of my fave stations for a hour of filming/Photing then another tube to harrow &Wealdstone and then a 350 back to Euston for the main move of the day- the 2057 caledonian sleeper to Inverness and my first experience of a sabin (last time i did the caledonian it was on the seats) so after a trip up the escalators to the first class lounge to get a drink,use the wifi i returned to the platform to discover my loco for the run up to Edinbrugh-92033 and to check into my sleeper berth.Departure from Euston was bang on 2057 ,The berth was fine but the coach in which i was in was out of use which was very inconvienient, did'nt bother having any food as Lamb cassarolet or Haggis didn't appeal to me at 10pm so i had a hot choocolate and buiscuits around 11pm and went for a sleep- all fine up to edinbrugh waverley were the train split and 67018 was hooked up for the rest of the journey to Inverness (never got fully back to sleep as the change i direction put me off a bit ) but i managed to have a few more hours kip until the knock on the door for breakfast -Porridge with scottish honey,a orange marmalade muffin,orange juice and tea

My 222 to London


A horrid bakerloo line tube at South Kenton


the 350 i scorded for haulage from Harrow & Wealdstone


My first 92 for Haulage (was run by class 90s the times i did the sleeper before!)

My sleeper berth for the night (with Arran Aromatics pack,Magazine and towel!!)

 

[55013]

Welcome to the trip writers club.
An interesting report.
It's been many years since I last did a sleeper (June 2006 I believe), I must do one again sometime soon.

 

[woodhouse122]

Spirit of scotland railpass day 1 -July 10th 2017
67018 did a good job arriving at Inverness bang on time ,i went to buy my rover then chilled out in the inverness sleeper lounge for a while (was going to have a shower but there were about a dozen backpackers waiting so i left it til i got back to my hotel later in the day). the lounge at inverness was very nice with a good selection of Compllementry drinks and snacks -had a tea and some Buiscuits and a bottle of coke and a caramel wafer (first scottish snack of the trip!!!) the plan from inverness was to do a run to wick and clear the line but i opted to do a 170 to edinbrugh instead which was absolutly wedged luckily i got one of the seats next to the wheelchair spaces,then at Edinbrugh it was another 170 to glasgow Queen street to check into my hotel for the week (The queen street travelodge).after checking in ,having a shower and brewing up it was back out to clear a few glasgow suburban routes-First up a 334 to Balloch and as i was hungry the first fish supper of the trip then another 334 to Dalmuir and yet another 334 to Glasgow central for a run to Kilmarnock on 156485 after a fe pics i got back on the unit and bailed at Barrhead for a half hour before returning to glasgow central on 156506,went onto the low level and had a ride on 318256 to partick (was going to bo back to dalmuir but it was getting a little late) went to the subway ticket office and got a single fot a trip on car 108 to Buchanon street and went back to the travelodge for the night
67018 at inverness


My 170 from Edinbrugh to Glasgow queen street


334023 at a wet balloch


156506 at Barrhead


SPT Subway 108 at Partick

 

[woodhouse122]

Spirit of scotland Railpass day 2 - July11th 2017
After a good night sleep (unusual for a travelodge with thier matresses!!) and a shower i went downstairs for breakfast,just finished and about to finish my tea when the fire alarm went off -We were all turfed out and marched off to the asembly point and 4 of Cowcaddons finest fire engines attended the incident about 20 minuites we were allowed back in but had to walk up the stairs as the lifts were in lock down mode,when i got to my floor there were gallons of water gushing through a missing tile on the ceiling nowhere near my room so i thought nothing about it.then off to queen street and a 158 to dundee,but i bailed at perth to get a tea from the buffet on the concourse only to find that it was closed due to it being took over by a costa,so i took a few pics around the station before getting on a 170 for a run up to Aberdeen for a bit of sight seeing and to get some bus pics.After a couple of hours it was back to the station and the same 170 that i had earlier,i had planned to get this to Edinbrugh waverley but i got off at Arbroath for a look around ,after a nice walk into the town and around the harbour it was back to the station for the VTEC HST to Inverkeithing just in time for the Loco hauled Fife circle run (68004 was the winning loco for the Journey) so i dit it all the way back to edinbrugh waverley ,a quick trip to McDonalds and then a 334 back to Glasgow QS via Bathgate.Got back to the travelodge room and all my stuff was gone (suitcase,laptop-everything) went back to the desk to find out they had emptied all of my floor and moved the residents around so i found myself on the 11th floor with all my stuff arranged as it was earlier

170433 at Aberdeen (had it from dundee to abberdeen and back to Arbroath)


Arbroath seafront


HST arriving at Arbroath (43305 &43367)


68004 arriving at Inverkeithing

 

[55013]

Great stuff.
A nice bit of 68 action as well

Am I the only person in the world who likes the Travelodge mattresses?

 

[woodhouse122]

Spirit of scotland Railpass day 3 - July12th 2017
Day 3 was a non bashing/spotting day ,the weather was Lovley.After breakfast the first move of the day was a 380 from Glasgow central to Ayr for a quick look around before returning to the station for another 380 to Killwinning and yet another 380 to Ardrossan Harbour (got a little sick of 380s that day even though i like em ) then it was a trip on the ferry from ardrossan to Broodick on the isle of arran,the Caledonian Isles is a excellent boat and has a great resturant and a decent bar ) . Got back to ardrossan about 1530 and got the next glasgow bound train and bailed at ardrossan South beach for a walk to the seafront for a ice creaam and look around then got back to the station for a ride to largs and the second island of the day-the short crossing to the isle of Cumbrae (managed to get both ferrys that work the service - Loch Riddon and Loch Shira) on returning to largs it was off the the chippy for another fish supper and after a quick trip round morrisons it was another 380 to Paisley Gilmour street for a ride to gourock and back to glasgow central to clear the line and back to the travellodge with a few cans of tennants (well i was in scotland ) and some crisps!!

380015 at Ayr


Calmac boat caledonian Isles at broddick harbour,Arran


380005 at Ardrossan harbour


Loch Shira between Largs and Cumbrae

 

[woodhouse122]

Great stuff.
A nice bit of 68 action as well

Am I the only person in the world who likes the Travelodge mattresses?

they are a liitle bit hard for my liking

 

[woodhouse122]

Spirit of scotland Railpass day 4 - July13th 2017
Day 4 and i tried to get in as many moves as i could, starting off at queen street with a 170 to Haymarket the a 350 back to england (was going to bail at lockerbie as i need the station but stoped on to carlisle for a pendo back too glasgow then straight back out on a 318 to Newtom and then a 320 to Hamilton central for some supplys and a short spot of bus photoing before being given the warning to stop by a SPT Jobsworth back on another 320 to Larkhill and back to clear the line then a ride to Motherwell on yet another 320.After a look around motherwell town centre it was back on another 320 back to Glasgow central and a 314 to Neilston, a quick pic and the same 314 back to cathcart and then another 314 move to central and a run from the low level to Milngavie on yet another 320 by this time the rains came so it was straight back to partick for a trip to morrisons and a run to Anniesland on a 318 to catch the 156 to queen street

318252 at Newton


320411 at Motherwell


314203 at Neilston


314202 at Cathcart


156433 at Annieland

 

[djpontrack]

Some very good trips around Scotland there and a very interesting selection of units and locos. It was nice to see the photo of Loch Shira as that was the ship that myself and Mrs djpontrack went on in 2012 when we did the Largs to Cumbrae ferry.

 

[woodhouse122]

Spirit of scotland Railpass day 5- July14th 2017
Day 5 was another day trip to Aberdeen-This time nice and sunny instead of the wet day i had earlier in the week.first up was a 158 from queen street to stirling then 170451 up to aberdeen (suprisingly easy to get a seat even though it was a friday ) after a nice walk round aberdeen town centre-one of my favourite cities in scotland it was back to the station to do the VTEC HST to inverkeithing again to do the fife circle loco hauled -this time worked by 68007.at Edinbrugh i got the VTEC 91 service to Glasgow quuen street (91111 worked it and looking at my books i only had it once before between doncaster and retford ) at glasgow central 86401 had just brought the sleepers in and i went up to the gateline to get a pic and the nice chap at the barrier let me onto the platform to get a pic of both the loco and the nameplate then another fish supper to take back to the hotel and another couple of cans of tennamts to wash it down with

158712 at Stirling


68007 at Edinbrugh Waverley


91111 at Glasgow central


86401 at Glasgow Central

 

[woodhouse122]

Spirit of scotland Railpass day 6 - July 15th 2017
Day 6 was a bit of a disaster as i slept through my Alarm (perhaps last nights cans relaxed me more than i thought ) so no time to do the fort william/malliag run so i ended up going to edinbrugh waverley on a 170 to clear the tweedbank line (last few times in scotland i've only done a central scotland roverand they are not valid after newcraighall) it was a pair of 158s so i did the front unit to tweedbank and did the other half back to Galashiels. after a quick look round the town it was off to the bus station to check out the times for the bus to carlisle (the railpass was valid but the service has changed hands to borderbus after first pulled out of the area) i had just missed the bus so it was another 158 back to waverley.After a trip to the KFC it was off on a 380 to North Berwick for a walk on the beach and a pint in the golfers rest it was back again to waverley on yet another 380.From edinbrugh it was a trip to Perth on a 158 (it was going to be a trip to dunbar run but i missed the 158 scotrail service and did'nt feel like doing a XC voyager) and from Perth it was a 170 to queen street

158710 at Tweedbank


380108 at North berwick


158782 at Perth

 

[Cowley]

Well Mr Woodhouse I certainly enjoyed reading that and thought the photos were great too. Well done for taking the plunge and posting it. Personally I'm a massive fan of Scottish railways and always enjoy reading about any trips up that way. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[woodhouse122]

Spirit of scotland Railpass day 7 - July 16th 2017
had breakfast in the travelodge and went back to my room so get my bag just i n time for the fire alarm to go off yet again, having to walk down 11 flights of stairs wasn't fum,never had a fire evacuation in all my years of using travelodge and premier inns,so to have 2 false alarms in a week was poor going yet again the same 4 engines from Glasgow cowcaddon attended the incident before quickly departing ,having had my name ticked off the checklist it was off to queen street for a day out to Oban.156466 was the machine that took me there and back.did oban a few years ago and it's one of my favourite rides with some stunning views from the train window,after arriving at oban it was time for a visit to wethersppoons for lunch and a walk round the harbour and town (sadly not enough time for a ride out to Mull 0n the calmac boat) so it was back to the station and 156466 back to queen street,was going to bail at dumbatton central to do a few more moves but it was getting late so it was straight back to the hotel

One of Cowcaddons finest machines attends the travelodge inferno


156446 At Crianlarich


156446 and 156447 at Oban

 

[woodhouse122]

Spirit of scotland Railpass day 8 - July 17th 2017
Day 8 and the final day of my railpass,so after breakfast and checkout it was off to central for a 158 to edinbrugh via shotts service,got off at Haymarket for a hour long session of photing and videong then got on a tram to york palace and then a run to the airport and back (handy that the spirit of scotland is valid on the trams and finally after a trip to sainsburys in the waverly centre for some supplys it was back home on the 1400 VTEC service to doncaster (91132) and a 185 back home to sheffiel.All in all a great week with plenty of line clearage,cleared units and locos and some great sightseeing-deffinetly going to do another one next year.so my first trip write up finished-next up the big one-the 14 day all liner at the begining of september including old oak common open day (maybe there will be enough cash and time for a coast and peaks rover in august if i'm lucky )

158708 at Haymarket


Tram 255 at York Place,Edinbrugh


91132 at Edinbrugh Waverley


more pics from my scotland trip can be seen here https://www.flickr.com/photos/woodhouse122/albums/72157686097485885

 

[Techniquest]

Oh dear Kite159 will be jealous as I believe you got his last tram!

Welcome to the Association of Trip Reporters! That was a most enjoyable read, although I winced when I saw you did a 170 to Edinburgh straight after the sleeper to Inverness. That cannot have been fun whatsoever!

2 fire alarms in one week in Travelodge isn't good, but I think it was 3 consecutive nights (with multiple soundings of alarms on each night) in easyHotel Croydon that nearly stopped me ever going back. So I sympathise with you there, although they could have let you know they had moved your room. I'm very much not a Travelodge fan, so getting a good sleep in one shocks me somewhat!

Overall it looks like you had a great trip, and your forthcoming 14 day ALR has me even more jealous!

 

[Kite159]

Ah tram 255 actually exists and isn't a Christmas Tree in the depot

Sounded like a good week holiday in Scotland

(I did have a longer reply but northern's WiFi decided to kick me out)

 

[Blindtraveler]

Aggg to many 170s! Otherwise good stuff, other than the travelodge, not a fan iether here and its nice to have to my slightly suspect jen about that tram confirmed, it was VOR for a while and had a garbled report it was back again.

 

[Blindtraveler]

An yes Kite I had been going to let you know!

 

[woodhouse122]

Well sadly my plan for a 14 day ALR in september has had to be cut to a a 7 day one due to a hospital appointment so i had a bit of spare cash to do a rover in August so it's off to Wales
Explore South Wales day 1 - August 7th 2017
A good start to the trip as i had 158847 from sheffield to manchester piccadilly,one of EMTs refurbished 158s with USB charging sockets ,after a quick nip off to greggs for some food and loading myself up with free Lucozade (ended up with 6 cans ) it was off to cardiff central on 175011.At cardiff it was time to check in to my hotel-Cardiff queen street travelodge,then straight out from queen street to barry Island for a quick walk round and fish and chipos then back on 142069 to barry for 150284 to brigend via Rhoose and then my second 175 of the day to Maesteg and back to cardiff central for another 142 back to queen street.i was then going to bo back to the travelodge but winner 153362 was working the cardiff bay shuttle, so a quick trip to the bay for a look at the millenium centre and a walk round the fair and then back to the lodge

175011 at cardiff central


Barry Island


150284 at Bridgend


The Millenium Centre

online uploader

 

[woodhouse122]

Explore South Wales day 2 - August 8th 2017
Tuesday was the day for the valley lines ,The weather was shocking in the afternoon but lukily as i was on and off trainsall day i managed to stay dry .the day started out at queen street with a trip on 150253 up to Rhymney and then back.i bailed at heath high level just in time to catch 153320 at heath low level up to coryton and back to queen street. next up it was a pair of 150s to Treherbet,150251 up and 150229 back to pontypridd from there it was a trip up to Mether tydfill on 150230 and after a trip round tescos for supplys and a walk round the town centre it was back to the station for a unit to Abercynon which was worked by a pair of 142s (i had 142010 ) after a soaking at Abercynon it was time to get a unit to aberdare (150217) and then back to cardiff central by this time the weather had improved so it was time for another move-to penarth on 150261, i was going to walk to the seafront at penarth for a walk on the seafront but cardiff city were at home so i got back on another unit to queen street and another ride on the cardiff bay shuttle (another winner -153353) so i managed to clear the valley lines -Mission Acomplished

150253 at rhymney


153320 at coryton


142010 at Mether tydfill


150261 at Penarth

bbcode image link

 

[woodhouse122]

Explore South Wales day 3 - August 9th 2017
day 3s first move of the day was a ride to swansea on the 0949 GWR HST from london (43017 & 43158- a pair of winners ) then it was the 1105 service to Milford haven after a very quick dah to the tescos across the road it was back on the 175 to llanelli for yet another ride on 153362,this time for a 3 and a half trip on the heart of wales line to shrewsbury -a great ride but a shame that there are so few services that there is no chance to have a quick stop off for a look around (going to have a trip round llandrindod wells on my next explore south wales rover next year ) at shrewsbury it was another 175 back to cardiff but i bailed at hereford for a trip for some KFC and then got another 175 back to cardiff

43017 at swansea


175005 at Milford haven


153362 arriving at llanelli

 

[woodhouse122]

Explore South Wales day 4 - August 10th 2017
tenby
day 4 started off at cardiff central on platform 0 with a ride up to Ebbw vale town with a 150/153 combo -so it was 150213 to ebbw vale and 153312 back to cardiff central,then it was some more HST milage with the 1149 to swansea (43181 & 126) after an hour walk round swansea it was time to catch the 1337 to carmarthen then it was a run to pembroke dock on 150235 and after a quick walk around and some fish & chips it was back on the 150 to swansea (which was rammed after tenby!!,surely ATW could have stuck a 153 on the back ) then another HST ride to cardiff central (43151 & 43086) arriving just in time to see the IEP passing through on its way up to swansea. then i caught up a line i missed on tuesday -the line to Radyr via ninian park (143604 )then back to queen street on 142080

150235 at pembroke Dock


800005 passing through Cardiff central


143504 at radyr

 

[Blindtraveler]

Sounds like fun that, valleys very much required here. Thanks for sharing.

 

[PHILIPE]

Very good reports. Just a couple of points, picture of 153362 not at Merthyr Tydfil as they are not cleared there and the picture is elsewhere but unable to place. Stick a 153 onto Pembroke Dock ? Where would ATW get it from ?

 

[woodhouse122]

Explore South Wales day 5 - August 11th 2017
day 5 was the last day of my trip,so it was back to cardiff central for the 0949 to swansea (43088 & 43171) for the fishguard harbour train which was sadly not the 158 that usually works the service but 150230, on arrival at fishguard the platform was loaded with passengers and it was full and standing all the way back to cardiff central (even the trolley woman had to stand all the way) from cardiff it was a run up to chester on the 1521 holyhead service,i was going to wait for a few hours and do the loco hauled service but i did'nt feel like hanging around ,then it was a 158 from chester to manchester piccadilly ,had a 15 minuite wait at piccadilly for my train home to sheffield and managed to seee 3 frieghtliners (2 class 70s and a 66 ) passing through.so all in all a great few days,i managed to clear all the lines in the area i needed and will deffinetly be doing another one next year (i concentated on clearing lines this year ,next time it will be more shacks and more units cleared)

150230 at fishguard Harbour


175107 at Chester


70003 at Manchester Piccadilly




More pics in my flickr album https://www.flickr.com/photos/woodhouse122/albums/72157684011443202

 

[woodhouse122]

Very good reports. Just a couple of points, picture of 153362 not at Merthyr Tydfil as they are not cleared there and the picture is elsewhere but unable to place.

153 is at Llenelli, i taggedi it wrong

 

[Kite159]

A busy few days in Wales

 

[woodhouse122]

A busy few days in Wales

Yeah -i think i got my 69 quids worth out of the rover

 

[Techniquest]

Sorry to hear you've had to put your ALR on hold, trust me when you do get onto one you'll love it. I've now done 3 (7 day in 2011, 14 day in 2012 and 7 day in 2017) and I do recommend them to everyone who's yet to do one. Yes they are an endurance test in places, but when they're over it's an incredibly sad event and it takes a few days to recover.

Anyway, I'll cover all that and far more useful advice nearer the time if you want any hints and tips before doing one. I'm hoping to do a First Class ALR one day, just for the experience. Note to anyone reading this post, this is NOT the place to discuss the merits of one, I've had lengthy discussions about it with Blindtraveller who tried to put me off one and failed miserably!

You sure had a busy 4 days on my stomping grounds of 2005, I couldn't resist a big smile when I saw the photo at Swansea, where it all started for me. Certainly a busy session on the Valleys, and some nice memories for me on that too. It's been nearly 12 years since I did the Rhymney branch, longer still for ones like Treherbert.

I noted of course too that you visited my local shack of Hereford, and lots of 175 mileage is always a good thing in my eyes! The more I see the 800 Series sets the more I like the look of them. I'm hoping they produce a decent ride too, but that I'm not confident on. Still, I expected the same when the current seats went into the HSTs on the Western, and I found them quite good straight away. Only one way to find out, roll on the autumn when they finally start entering service on the GWML!

You certainly got your money's worth out of that rover, £69 is a very good price! While the Heart of Wales is a nice line, please do take it from me that there isn't that much to see in Llandrindod Wells and I wouldn't recommend a special trip just for it. Quite, I'm checking the memory banks to find anything worth a trip there for, but there's not much. A few shops, a couple of supermarkets, a decent size park a 15 minute fast walk away, a couple of pubs hidden away, but not much else!

No, if you're going to do that, I would recommend perhaps allowing a couple of hours to walk around (I once walked around the centre of town slowly in less than 15 minutes, although granted this was around 0645 in the morning) and explore fully, but then do a bus journey on the T4 to Newtown for some more of Wales' scenery. It's a nice and fast run and cuts through some modestly reasonable scenery. Of course, it's nothing compared to the rest of the Cambrian west of Newtown!

As always, a good read and I look forward to the next one!

 

[55013]

Some good days there, you remind me that it's been too long since my last trip to that part of the world.