The Various Random Mutterings of Kite

[Kite159]

Hopefully the weather will improve, otherwise it will be some long(ish) festers at rural Welsh stations, hiding from the rain in whatever shelter I can find.

 

[FQ]

Sounds like a fun trip on HS1. It is good fun racing down the line at 140mph. Good luck in Wales too.

 

[Kite159]

Following the successful day on the Cambrian, I've turned my attention to the Borderlands line, which I believe will require a Zone F & Zone W North Wales Rover.

I'm having a play with BR Fares to see if I can try and find something for my local ticket office to locate to save a job for me at the weekend, and I'm stuck. Is it worth the risk of trying to purchase on the train as I believe Chirk station is unstaffed (and that is where I will be starting from)

 

[Cowley]

That was a lot of reading to catch up on. Talk about prolific.
Well done on your Northern achievements Kite, some excellent reports and pictures there, especially the one of 37401 at St Bees Gees...

 

[Kite159]

Just when Mr Cowley thought he had caught up..

Beware the following report features many 158s (I apologise in advance if I have mistyped any of the Welsh stations)

11th August – Cambrian Coaster, Day 1

A little background, the Cambrian Coast line runs from Dovey Junction to Pwllheli, it has many little rural stations which are request stops (just stand at Birmingham New Street to listen to the announcements), mostly 2-hourly. My original plan had me staying in Aberystwyth, however when doing some playing on booking.com I found a cheaper place in Barmouth which made my life a bit easier when it came to planning. The Cambrian coast is easier to plan for than say the Cumbrian coast as the departures are mostly clockface, and there is only 4 passing loops (Tywyn, Barmouth, Harlech & Porthmadog) with everything else being single platforms (with evidence of former platforms overgrown opposite).

Anyhow, as it takes roughly 7 hours by train to reach Barmouth I booked the Friday off work (which fulfilled the wish of upper management to force all us minions to take at least 5 days off during summer leave season). I was on several split tickets for this trip, so it was to Grateley for the retimed 08:54 service to Reading, normally this is the 08:59 to Waterloo and is normally quite busy (for it be the first off-peak service into London and starts from Exeter), however I was surprised how quiet 158887 & 159103 were. Probably scored a crossover at Worthing Junction from the Up Fast to Up Slow to arrive at platform 4 at Basingstoke where a GWR guard joined the service for the remainder of the journey to Reading where it terminated into platform 3.

With roughly 30 minutes to kill at Reading I purchased my ranger from the ticket office (having failed to do so the day before as Andover ticket office closed early), plus some supplies before boarding a busy 220032 (with added failed reservation system), sadly where I had a seat against a window, the window had condensation on it so my view was rubbish. Eventually the Voyager reached Banbury where due to my Gold Card not being valid on XC north of Banbury I had to change (I know, so annoying), spotting 172101 randomly on platform 1. That voyager departed rather crowded, so I was happy when 68009 rolled in (DVT 82302 on the rear) on the next Birmingham Moor Street service, with the leading coach being nice and quiet, to listen to the sound of Titan working hard (which I’m sure Mr Quinn will pop up saying something like “Mmm 68 thrash”).

An on-time arrival into Birmingham Moor Street, as I ignored my literary which suggested changing at Smethwick, and walked across to New Street via Tesco, the theory being it would probably be easier to board and find my reserved seat at New Street than at Smethwick. However it did appear reservation labels hadn’t been put out as I took a seat in the Pwllheli portion of the 12:25 service formed of 158827 leading 158832. I managed to get a good table seat for the long trip towards Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury before reversing to join the main Cambrian line, saying farewell to lineside signals & double track. Some nice scenery on this route, with 158832 splitting up at Machynlleth, leaving just 158827 to carry on up the coast, emptied out a bit at Aberdovey/Penhelig, with a short wait at Tywyn for a late running southbound service before carrying on along the coast (which is a beautiful line as it hugs the sea front in places, with mountains on the other side). I alighted at my first new shack of the day at Barmouth, where I headed to my guest house to check in, dropping some weight from my bag (and saves a job for later).

Thankfully the rain had stopped, but it was windy, however with checking in being smooth, I had time for a little walk across the wonder of engineering known as the Barmouth Bridge to reach the former Barmouth Junction station, now known as Morfa Mawddach. The first of my request stops of this trip, would give excellent views of Barmouth had it not been for the low cloud. A short wait before 158819 rolled in running mostly on time as I decided to risk the connection at Tywyn, a nice little town with a little narrow gauge line, we arrived pretty much bang on time which allowed me to cross over the barrow crossing (located at the southern end) to board 158829 forming the next northbound service. I could put plan “B” to one side (which was to walk to Tonfanau had I missed that connection).

158829 was reasonably loaded, as I learnt a trick at putting the station names onto my phone to say to the conductor “I’m not even going to try and pronounce the name, but can I have ...” which worked as roughly 50 minutes later I alighted at the tiny platform of Llandanwg, local door only here and not a lot around (some houses and that is about it). It wasn’t a long wait before 158827 rolled in to take me back down along the line, requesting to call at another station in the middle of nowhere, this time Tonfanau. It was a nice wait with the sound of birds singing away, as I flagged down 158821 to take me north. Normally the services pass at Harlech, however this service passes the last southbound service at Porthmadog. I was originally going to stay on board to Minffordd but I was hungry and spotted a little shop near Harlech which was visited for a homemade pulled pork baguette, plus some meat-balls (these bashes are not the healthiest!).

Anyhow, there be a footbridge at Harlech, plus a barrow crossing at the southern end of the platforms, Harlech castle overlooked the platforms, as I munched on dinner reading a newspaper (I tend to save up a couple days worth of newspapers before any big shack scoring bashes to give me something to read during my festers) before 158829 rolled in, where I decided to bail at Fairbourne instead of the next one down the line on grounds that it was better to avoid request stops during darkness (as that service pretty much ran non-stop from Harlech to Barmouth). Nothing open around Fairbourne, and after a quick look at the Fairbourne Railway station, it was back to the station to discover my first major delay of the day; the final northbound service was running around 15 minutes late due to being held at Machynlleth for a late running Aberystwyth service, eventually 158827 returned to take me back across the viaduct to reach Barmouth, where a short walk took me to my hotel for a nice sleep.

Anyhow some pictures (click for larger versions)
158887 at Reading 172101 at Banbury 68009 at Birmingham Moor Street by Kite, on Flickr
158827 at Barmouth Barmouth Station Barmouth Bridge by Kite, on Flickr
View from Barmouth Bridge View from Barmouth Bridge View from Barmouth Bridge by Kite, on Flickr

View from Barmouth Bridge View from Barmouth Bridge View from Barmouth Bridge
Morfa Mawddach Station Morfa Mawddach Station Morfa Mawddach by Kite, on Flickr

158819 passes 158829 at Tywyn 158819 passes 158829 at Tywyn Tywyn by Kite, on Flickr
158829 at Llandanwg 158829 departs Llandanwg Llandanwg Station by Kite, on Flickr
158827 departs Tonfanau Tonfanau Station 158821 at Harlech by Kite, on Flickr
Harlech Castle 158829 departs Fairbourne Station by Kite, on Flickr

 

[Blindtraveler]

Got me looking forward to my booked 68 thrash a week tomorrow. Nice work on them stations also, envy all that 158 milage.

 

[Cletus]

Barmouth (and the bridge) is one my favourite places in the UK - even though I haven't been there yet

Next year when I do get there, my plan is to print off the Day Ranger map and point to the names to save embarrassing myself with pronunciations

Going to take much longer than you to clear all the stations though!

 

[Segedunum]

Sounds like a good first day on the coast.

Can empathise with your lack of desire for request stops in the dark. When I did Wrenbury on the 23:49 service off there, I ended up shining my phone torch into my hand to give a good amount of illumination so as to avoid being stranded in Crewe overnight!

 

[Cowley]

Another one! Nice area that, had a few great holidays around there over the years.
I don't know how you do all these trips Kite, I'm sure you work for the Lonely Planet Guides UK railway travel department...

 

[Kite159]

12th August – Cambrian Coaster Day 2

It was a bit of a later start than normal for me this morning, as I wanted to get onto the 06:45 service which starts from Barmouth, so after an excellent sleep waking up to some beautiful views of the bay, I made my way to the station via the Co-Op to purchase some bits and bobs for lunch (and breakfast). Back across the level crossing to board 158822 which unsurprisingly wasn’t that busy for the short run across the viaduct, requesting the remote Llwyngwril. Which features some lovely knitted bits and bobs, a well cared for station.

One which has good views of the sea, but my time was short before 158829 rolled in to take me nearly to the end of the line. I think after Porthmadog I had a private train as it was local door only at the remote Abererch. If you had a bike or was a very fast walker you could head back one stop as these two are quite close, but sadly too close to make a reasonable connection. Anyways, I had a quick walk past the caravan park and onto the beach for some pictures before heading back to the short platform, being joined by a couple families from the caravan park. 158829 returned as I put my request in, with the train getting reasonably busy as time went on.

Next stop for me was the tiny Tygwyn (one which I put “The one before Harlech” just in case the guard through I meant Tywyn), like Abererch it was a tiny platform and another if you had a bike or a fast walker you could probably head back up the line. Nothing much to report other than a busy road and some straight track as I saw 158827 coming back north a good couple minutes before I flagged it down (having a level crossing is handy). Another busy service, as I made my request and took a seat back across the water to alight at Penychain, formally Butlins Penchain for the prison camp, sorry I meant holiday camp (now a Haven holiday camp).

Another station without that much around, evidence of the former platform in the undergrowth, one large waiting room with some nice pictures (a feature of this line with pictures at the waiting shelters from local children), it was quite busy (I’m guessing holiday makers making their way home) with 158827 returned from Pwllheli. Once more I put in my request as it got busier as time went on (I dread to think how busy these services would be once at Aberdovey), as I alighted at Talsarnau, just as the rain started. Thankfully there is a nice waiting shelter (sadly with a bar style seat), but it wasn’t a long wait before the next northbound service, as 158823 decided to pop up to my first non-request stop of the day, in the shape of Criccieth.

Finally a station with stuff nearby, as after a quick photo of an old bay platform (so many lines in this area got closed in the 1960s), before heading to a nearby post office for a newspaper and something cold to drink, a pleasant enough little station with a nearby Pub (which smelt like they did nice food). The sun had finally decided to show up as 158823 returned, as I put in another request, this time at the rebuilt Llandecwyn station. Cast your memories back a few years when this part of the line was closed due to a replacement to the Pont Briwet bridges being built, a new alignment for the railway was formed and the platform extended so that it could hold a 158.

Anyhow, there isn’t anything around, however this time I could do a station walk, walking back across the new road bridge to reach Penrhyndeudraeth, noting that the next northbound service had picked up some delays along the way between Shrewsbury & Dovey Junction (and like the Far North Line, once one train is heavily delayed it causes other services to get delayed as well). A nice little station with the noise of steam engines (from the Ffestiniog Railway I assume), reasonably busy as well as I waited for the delayed 158830 to pop up to take me the short distance to Porthmadog.

A reasonably sized town, with a Tesco which was visited for some more supplies (sort of a late lunch/early dinner, plus a sandwich for later on), noting that the level crossing had manually operated cables (similar to the one in Barmouth, the train stops before the crossing so that the driver can operate the barriers before continuing). There be a pub on the station, and one I will be revisiting at some point to do the various narrow gauge lines. Soon 158830 had returned as I said farewell to the northern end of the line (for the time being as you might have noticed I’ve missed one out), pausing at Harlech for around 10 minutes for a northbound service to arrive before carrying on to the long platform at Talybont.

Time for another short walk, pavement most of the way passing several little cafes (and some public toilets for a quick PNB), passing a little Spar shop (opposite a garage), down a country lane and across a manually operated level crossing to reach the platform at Dyffryn Ardudwy, near a caravan site (certainly had a few movements with that level crossing, which features a Network Rail person to lock it when a train is due). The day had turned out to be beautiful weather as I relaxed waiting for 158838 to roll in to take me a couple stops north to Pensarn. Like a couple others, if you had a bike you could ride back one stop as the next one was around a mile away; however walking will be tight, with the added bonus of having an (unbarriered) level crossing.

It was a risk time, as 158828 rolled in I located the door where the guard was located in order to request the next stop, another tiny platform in the shape of Llanbedr. Another station located in the middle of nowhere (although there was a nearby airfield judging by some runways) with some campers. It was time for my longest fester of the trip, 90 minutes. Thankfully the sun was shining, the station having a nice bench seat, as I took a seat and relaxed, the end of the line was in sight (for this is one I had planned to do on the Sunday, but due to getting Morfa yesterday I changed my plan around). The level crossing gave warning when the next train was due as 158840 rolled in to take me back north, back across the bridge to reach Minffordd, where to exit the station you walk along the platform for the Ffestiniog line, with a bus stop outside.

I didn’t have long (trains pass at Porthmadog), so it was back down to the curved platform, with a decision to make, should I do the final station tonight for a late evening walk along the sea-front to reach Barmouth or do it as planned in the morning. My decision was made based on that it was a glorious evening and when 158838 rolled in I requested my final request stop of the line. None of the other request stops were called at, but the train rolled in and stopped at Llanaber, another local door only station, my mission for the weekend was complete. Llanaber platform gives excellent views of the sea, as it was a steep hill to reach the road for around a half mile walk (I had my phone torch & high viz jacket on for the pavement section), turning right down another hill across the railway line to reach a car-park before I decided to walk along the sea-wall itself (rather than along the promenade).

Truth be told, that is probably one of my best walks, once away from the car park area which had some families, it was walking along the wide wall with streetlights lighting the way, the only noise was from the waves crashing against the wall. The wall eventually gave way into stones before turning into harden sand, before cutting across some heath to reach the road where my hotel was located, for a nice shower and relaxing time, listening to the sound of the last northbound service going past.

All together an excellent day, various pictures below:
The view from my hotel window - Llwyngwril - 158822 departs Llwyngwril - The view from Llwyngwril -

158829 departs Abererch - Abererch Station - The beach at Abererch - Abererch Station -
158829 departs Tygwyn - Tygwyn Station - 158827 departs Penychain Station - Penychain Station -
Penychain Station - Talsarnau Station - The view from Talsarnau - 158823 departs Criccieth -
Old bay platform at Criccieth - Criccieth Station - 158823 departs Llandecwyn - IMG_20170812_141520658 -

The view from Pont Briwet - The view from Pont Briwet - Overlooking the new Pont Briwet bridges - Penrhyndeudraeth -

Penrhyndeudraeth Station - Penrhyndeudraeth Station - The view from Penrhyndeudraeth - 158830 at Porthmadog -

Manual level crossing at Porthmadog - Porthmadog Station - 158830 departs Talybont - Talybont -

Dyffryn Ardudwy - Dyffryn Ardudwy - 158838 departs Pensarn - Pensarn Station -

158828 departs Llanbedr - Llanbedr Station - Llanbedr Station - Minffordd Station -
Minffordd Station - Minffordd Station - Minffordd Station - Minffordd Station

158838 at Llanaber - 158838 departs Llanaber

 

[Cowley]

Beautiful. I shall be checking the spellings later in my 'Acme Big Book of Welsh Station names'.
Nice photos. I love the way the narrow gauge lines cross and then re-cross the standard gauge line around Porthmadog. I walked a bit of the Welsh Highland in the middle of the night with a mate when they were rebuilding it ten years ago, but that's another story.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Wow. Quite a weekend there.well done on shack clearance and glad you had fun. Assume your return home was rerun of the outbound?

 

[Kite159]

Looking at that picture of Minffordd Station, makes me wonder if it was originally double track under that bridge, but since singled with the platform extended. I know doing Llanaber was madness that time of night, but was a nice walk

Might as well do the 3rd day when I’m in the typing mood

13th August – Cambrian Coaster Day 3

It was a nice late start for me this morning, the first service not due into Barmouth until 11:03 on summer Sundays (outside summer, you get one service each way on Sundays) so alarm set for 09:00, with being slow to get up as there wasn’t any rush, thinking what to do (original plan had me walking to Llanaber, but I didn’t need to do that), eventually deciding that as the weather was beautiful to walk back across the Barmouth bridge. After swinging via a local cafe for a sausage roll, a little Spar shop for a meal-deal and Iceland for a carton of Apple Juice, I set off on a repeat of Friday afternoon, and what a difference the weather makes (in terms of the scenery from the bridge).

I recommend walking across that bridge if you ever up in Barmouth, watching as some Network Rail men check the track with a metal checking device, dodging the various idiotic cyclists who can’t read the “cyclists must give way to pedestrians” signs by riding at some speed swearing when they have to slow down to pass groups of families. Anyhow I soon reached Morfa Mawddach with all its disused platforms, listening to the sound of the Fairbourne railway (damn, missed a trick not carrying on to try and get that line into my book for coverage), before 158838 rolled in to take me north to Minffordd along the scenery of the coast. A short wait at Minffordd before 158826 rolled in, reasonably busy with failed AC (boo), but I managed to get a seat on the right hand side for the enjoyable run down the coast, watching the many people out on the beaches, or out walking.

I bailed from this 158 at Dovey Junction, to enjoy some peace and quiet for 15 minutes before 158820 rolled in from Aberystwyth, I managed to get my reserved seat as the unit was held for a late running service to Aberystwyth (which I think looking at RTT would have been 158826, but as RTT doesn’t show the ECS moves to/from the depot I am unsure). At Machynlleth I don’t think we ran into another unit (didn’t feel anything), and as this unit got quite busy (I think I made a good call in bailing at Dovey Junction to board before the holiday-makers from Aberdovey). Sadly the unit lost some more time on route arriving into Shrewsbury a good 7 minutes late, some passengers weren’t happy as an Euston 221 was pulling out as we were rolling in.

A unit ran into the front of us at Shrewsbury (another 158, which I found out to be 158821 once at Birmingham), as the service went towards Birmingham calling at the usual stations apart from Smethwick (why doesn’t ATW serve Smethwick Galton Bridge on Sundays?), a few minutes late into Birmingham New Street (I think we got caught up with that 221 which had got caught up with a late running 390 from the depot). I was surprised that the barriers were in operation at New Street (yet Moor Street was wide open), as I took a short walk across to the best Birmingham station, sadly no 68 for me today, instead a busy 168106, which got busier at Leamington due to a Stratford service arriving beforehand.

As usual I bailed at Banbury and waited for a delayed Reading bound XC service (got caught up in the trespass incident at Darlington) which was a surprisingly empty 220016 for the fast run to Reading (I even got a table seat, as I was thinking this service would be busy as it was running just in front of another XC service to Bournemouth). Sadly a highly unlikely connection to a Basingstoke stopper didn’t pull off (it was pulling out as the 220 was arriving into Reading), so over the footbridge to platform 8 where the Bournemouth service arrived. 220007 was leading 220033 (I know a rare double 220!) for the fast run to Basingstoke (all this speed felt nice after a slow day yesterday).

Swinging via the Pizza GoGo for a pizza (and the Londis for a cold can of Pepsi), it was a bit tight, but I made it back to Basingstoke station with time to spare to board 159003 working a Basingstoke – Salisbury extra service to take me back to Andover, getting a lift home to save hanging around for 35 minutes for the next Exeter bound service to take me back the short distance to Grateley.

A very relaxing day, covering a beautiful line, giving me ideas of how to spend next Saturday (as I’m in Birmingham Friday night, with the thinking now being on a North Wales Rover to ‘board or alight from a train’ at the stations on the Borderlands Line, plus getting Ruabon & Chirk into my book.

Anyhow some pictures, mainly of the views from the Barmouth Bridge (and what a different it makes being sunny):
Barmouth Bridge - Barmouth Bridge - View from Barmouth Bridge -
Barmouth Bridge - View from Barmouth Bridge - View from Barmouth Bridge - ]

View from Barmouth Bridge - View from Barmouth Bridge - View from Barmouth Bridge -

View from Barmouth Bridge - View from Morfa Mawddach - Morfa Mawddach Station -

Minffordd by Kite, on Flickr 158826 departs Dovey Junction

 

[Blindtraveler]

A bit heavy on voyagers and droaning 168s but nice day there.

What takes you to Birminghamnext Weekend?

 

[Kite159]

Voyager to Banbury, then I'm toying with the idea of ditching a 68 for the " 1624 London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill" service from Banbury to score the track north of P1 at Banbury, plus also the connection north of Hatton (as it gets looped there).

RTT suggests it be timed for 75 mph which seems to suggest it will could be a 165 [yes I know timing load on RTT doesn't always reflect on what is allocated, but seems odd it is for 75 when most other services are 100], with the theory being it should be quieter than the 68 service in terms of loadings (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P25220/2017/08/18/advanced)

At the moment my rough idea is for some 323 action to Redditch, stepping back a service to head back to Birmingham (as I have nothing to hunt in the West Midlands )

 

[Blindtraveler]

Sounds good.

 

[Turbo004]

I enquired tonight with a colleague at Chester Booking Office about the ticket you may need for this journey. To purchase at Chester you would buy a ticket from Chester to Nth Wales zone F. This would bring up a ranger ticket for Zones F and W. It does this as Chester is already in Zone W. What I can't remember is if my colleague did this within the Rangers and Rovers section of the machine or within the anywhere to anywhere section of the website. Hope this helps. I'll have a look at your recent travels on the Cambrian next.

 

[Kite159]

Thanks for that Turbo004

Seems to load on the BR Fares site under the regular Point to Point page.
http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=CTR&dest=J437

Might pay a visit to the ticket office at Andover at some point this week to try and confuse them (probably to find it closed), failing that try and confuse the ticket office at Reading/Birmingham on Friday afternoon

 

[Turbo004]

Best of luck buying the ticket. Something worth bearing in mind with the Borderlands line is when things go pear shaped which can be quite often train due to the very tight turnarounds, trains run Wrexham Central - Shotton and don't run through to Bidston.

 

[Kite159]

Thankfully the stations I need the visit are all south of Shotton

 

[Cowley]

Looked like an excellent trip to Wales. Impressive spelling too Mr Kite.

 

[palmersears]

Some stonking scenery there, Kite. Congratulations on the Cambrian clearance as well! Might have to see if I can convince Mrs Palmer of a few days in that part of the world in September.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Kite, if you still need that ticket when in Birmingham go to the office at BMO, they are good and got me a sleaper reservation at short notice once so should manage this. New Street are hopeless.

 

[168lover]

Voyager to Banbury, then I'm toying with the idea of ditching a 68 for the " 1624 London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill" service from Banbury to score the track north of P1 at Banbury, plus also the connection north of Hatton (as it gets looped there).

RTT suggests it be timed for 75 mph which seems to suggest it will could be a 165 [yes I know timing load on RTT doesn't always reflect on what is allocated, but seems odd it is for 75 when most other services are 100], with the theory being it should be quieter than the 68 service in terms of loadings (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P25220/2017/08/18/advanced)

At the moment my rough idea is for some 323 action to Redditch, stepping back a service to head back to Birmingham (as I have nothing to hunt in the West Midlands )

The 1624 is booked as a 168/3 although I have seen it run with a 165 a few times and once with a 168/1 but 9 times out of 10 a single 168/3

 

[Kite159]

The 1624 is booked as a 168/3 although I have seen it run with a 165 a few times and once with a 168/1 but 9 times out of 10 a single 168/3

Boo, was hoping for some 165/0 noise rather than Turbostar noise

 

[Kite159]

I enquired tonight with a colleague at Chester Booking Office about the ticket you may need for this journey. To purchase at Chester you would buy a ticket from Chester to Nth Wales zone F. This would bring up a ranger ticket for Zones F and W. It does this as Chester is already in Zone W. What I can't remember is if my colleague did this within the Rangers and Rovers section of the machine or within the anywhere to anywhere section of the website. Hope this helps. I'll have a look at your recent travels on the Cambrian next.

Many thanks, ticket purchased without any issues from my local ticket office for Chester to "Nth Wales Zone F". Saves a job on Saturday morning

[Bit of a shame the first Birmingham - Shrewsbury service fails to officially connect with a Cardiff - Holyhead service, I might try it regardless as worst case I have an hour fester at Shrewsbury before the Birmingham - Holyhead service pops up

 

[Kite159]

18th August – Prelude to the Border

After last weekend went without any issues, I had myself a free Saturday staying overnight in Birmingham on the Friday (the idea of being able to head back to the Cambrian Coast if so required), however after my original plan went into the bin (due to not being able to count!), I decided to bring forward a line which I was going to leave until the bitter end.

In all fairness I had no idea what to do this Friday evening, my requirements in the West Midlands being a trio of 168/3s needed for renumbering (so not on my hit-list as I had them all as 170s), eventually deciding on a rough plan to revisit Redditch for wanting some 323 action. After doing some random odds & sods around home I set off with a walk to the station (thankfully the rain showers held off long enough for my walk, making use of the new pavement over the road bridge), the first service of the day was 158882 & 159018 for the trip to Reading, noting that a Plymouth bound HST departed looking rather full & standing.

I was expecting the worst with the 17:15 XC service to Manchester, however 221121 wasn’t that bad (at least in coach D), got a bit busier after Oxford but it was a speedy run to Banbury where I had to do my usual switch over to Chiltern. I had two options, either wait around 5 (or so) minutes for a 68 set to Kidderminster, or step across to platform 1 where a nice empty 168322 was sat (for it was working a stopping service from Marylebone to Birmingham having a 15 minute layover at the borderline). I needed the northern end of platform 1 so it was a good time as ever to get the micro-grice into my book.

As I was comfortable, I decided to remain on board (I think I can hear Dan screaming ), mainly to get another little micro-grice, this time at Hatton, where the 168 has a 5-minute pause to allow 68010 to roar past [which did look busy in all fairness] to rejoin the main-line using the northern connection, one final bit of odd track was a crossover south of Moor Street as the 168 crossed over to run into platform 1. Anyhow I soon exited the former 170302, passing the open ticket barriers for a quick march over to New Street, once more the ticket barriers were wide open [it seems Virgin can man the gates at 6am, but not 6pm], going down to the platform level.

5 minutes (or so) later 323240 rolled in, sadly already a high mileage 323, but it gave a good performance for the long run to Redditch, picking up some good speed south of Longbridge, sadly it had started to throw it down so the windows were closed. The last time I was in Redditch was in March 2014, on a late evening trip, departing on the same train, one thing I noticed that the passing loop around Alvechurch was longer than expected, but this time I had no choice but to exit the station in the rain as 323240 returned to Birmingham as ECS. Bearing the time of night most of the shops in the shopping centre were closed, eventually picking up some cash before returning to the station, dodging out of the way of the rain as low mileage 323219 rolled in to form the next Lichfield service, or fare-dodgers express.

Sadly all good things must come to an end, and soon enough I was alighting from the 323 (must say the WiFi is quite good), as after swinging via Tesco for some food, I made a foolish mistake. For some reason when booking accommodation back in May I through I had booked into the Moor Street Travelodge, but after arriving and checking the email confirmation found out I was in the wrong hotel (doh!), it wasn’t Moor Street but Newhall Street, which is a pain to find if using Google Maps (especially when it goes into “Night Mode”) as the building it points to is near the hotel but is the back entrance, eventually I found the front entrance to the hotel, checked in and headed to the room for some rest.

Usual Travelodge room with my usual half-sleep (seemed to be a pub nearby so a bit noisy at kicking out time), but no low AC noise like I had in Moor Street, for reference it is around 10 minutes from New Street, near Snow Hill. The main report will begin later, but for now I shall leave you with a couple pictures:

158882 at Reading
323240 at Redditch

 

[Blindtraveler]

I think given the interesting Micro grycing that I shall moderate the volume of my screams, cranking it back up full upon learning that a fellow sufferer has, like me this week had a travelodge bed experience!

You have my sympathies Sir! Oh and nice work on the starship

 

[Kite159]

19/8 – Onwards to the Borders

After a semi-reasonable sleep, I was out of the hotel by around 05:50 for the short walk towards New Street, swinging via Tesco Metro to grab something for breakfast and something for lunch later on (in case I couldn’t find anything on the Borderland Line itself). Surprise number 1 was that the gateline was in operation (Virgin can man it at 6am but not at 6pm), however judging by a couple ticketless passengers there must have been a gap in the security [as I think this time of day there is nothing arriving, only departing].

To platform 4B where a voyager was waiting, with 158824 hiding on top of it nearer the bay platform end of the platform, reasonably loaded for the first Aberystwyth service (I didn’t note before that there appears to be some unreservable seats on an ATW 158 near the cab). The connection at Shrewsbury to a Holyhead service is unofficial, however thankfully the 158 rolled in a minute or two early [I think there is a difference between what is shown on the public timetable to what is on the Working timetable], to allow me (and someone else) to do a fast walk from platform 6, outside the station and up the staircase to reach platform 3, jumping onto the Holyhead 175.

Tight connection 1, tick. A lightly loaded 175107 was taking me north to my first shack score of the day in the shape of Chirk, with appears to have footbridges at both ends of the platform. My original plan was to have a short walk to look at the viaducts, however it was raining so I took the option to jump onto 158821 for the short hop to Gobowen, visiting the little Co-Op for a newspaper before taking up a seat underneath the canopy on the northbound platform, noting that the platform was getting busier as time rolled on waiting for the first Birmingham – Holyhead service, which was formed of 4 coaches.

Which was a good thing as 158838 & 158828 was quite busy, a few odd seats here and there but having the usual groups of 2/3 standing in the doorways because they couldn’t find seats together. Some good 158 thrash was had to Wrexham General where I bailed, and after swinging via the toilet for a quick PNB, headed over to the former Wrexham Exchange station, now known as platform 4, noting the existence of an disused platform on the opposite side of this annex of a platform, standing under the cover of the canopy as 150257 rolled in for the short trip to the shopping centre known as Wrexham Central.

I changed ends of the 150 for the trip back out to Wrexham General where most of the other passengers boarded, as I decided to get my 2nd tight connection of the day out of the way. It was the first time on this line for nearly 3 years and I can’t say there is must to shout about it at the southern end, lots of vegetation & basic looking platforms. A few small viaducts and a freight line branching off before I reached Hawarden. On a standard pattern the trains are timetabled to pass here within a couple minutes of each other, and 150257 was on time so it was over the footbridge (front carriage rear door, a barrow crossing is also available at the Wrexham end of the platform), to wait for the other 150 to roll in. A sign of things to come as low mileage 150251 (previously only ever had on a Cardiff Central – Grangetown bus stop leap) rolled in a few minutes late [and with the tight turnarounds, it would keep that delay for most of the day unless control decided to turn it short at Wrexham General instead of Central].

Anyhow it was back down south to reach Gwersyllt, another station with a barrow crossing at the northern [for reference Bidston end] with a road bridge at the Southern end, a nearby Lidl was spotted along with a little convenience store. Basic bus shelters were provided with a single bench on the Bidston platform [nothing of note on the Wrexham platform], it was only a short wait before 150251 returned from the shopping centre for the run to Buckley, featuring some nice flower pots and a barrow crossing at the Bidston end. My time here was short before 150257 returned from Bidston for the run back south as I alighted at Cefn-y-Bedd, another basic looking station with a barrow crossing. With Google Maps fired up it was only a short 0.8 mile walk along the road to reach Caergwrle (afterall a trip to Wales wouldn’t be complete without a walk between stations!).

Worth to note that there isn’t a barrow crossing at Caergwrle, instead to access the other platform involves using a road underpass, a half smashed up waiting shelter with an old bench was made use of for the short wait for 150257 to pop back up to take me to Quinn’s semi-local of Penyffordd (or Pen-Y-Ffordd), nothing of note here other than a signal box and a road crossing at the southern end of the station, the station being on the edge of the village. The rain had returned from earlier and 150251 rolled in around 7 minutes late to take me back one stop to Hope to clear the line.

I had roughly 30 minutes here at Hope, a barrow crossing at the southern end, the PIS seemed to be stuck on repeating the security message, the little bus shelters were smashed up, no seats with the platforms on an embankment above a little lane. Only good thing is the views of some hills from the holes in the fence, but Hope isn’t somewhere I would want to spend that long at. Eventually 150251 returned running 8 minutes late which meant my bonus connection at Shotton would be shot, however it appeared the Manchester – Llandudno was also running late so my luck would be in as I bailed at Shotton High Level for the fast walk to Shotton Low Level with 5 minutes to wait before the Llandudno train.

A busy* 175112 eventually rolled in, standing in the doorways but once more it was groups unwilling to be split up as I found a seat in a bay of 4 in the leading coach (I say busy but when I alighted it looked like the rear coach had several empty seats in). A short run along the North Welsh Coast line to take me to Flint, where I turned down the Manchester bound 175 to head to Tesco Express to pick up a bite to eat for later [and something cold to drink]. Flint was a bonus score but it meant I had clear Flintshire, a nice looking town with an old castle, but soon my time was up as I headed back to the station with 175103 on a Holyhead – Maesteg working.

The 67 hauled set was spotted in Chester, alongside a pair of voyagers as the 175 reversed in the bay platform and carried on heading south. I note that the new double track is finally getting used, with a couple confused passengers thinking this was the Holyhead train (they got put off at Wrexham and told to wait for the next northbound service which would take them direct to Holyhead), I stayed on and alighted at Ruabon, another basic shack, with a footbridge which I’m guessing used to lead somewhere else as part of it is fenced off with the flooring removed. Anyhow as a time wasting “stay out of the rain” move I jumped onto 158841/158824 for the run back to Chester, leaping across the platform to board 158837 working the next Birmingham service.

This is where things went wrong; we were on time until Shrewsbury where we were due to attach to another unit which was detaching from the next Holyhead service. That Holyhead service was running a few minutes late, so we lost 5 minutes before attaching to low mileage 158835 (I can’t have that many other ATW 158s sitting below 800 chains now), losing more time due to kickball fans boarding at Wolverhampton, so any remote hope of making an unofficial & tight connection to a Reading bound XC service was lost, so with time to kill I headed over to Moor Street for the next Marylebone service, formed of 168321 & 168328. 168328 was required as a 168/3 (also as a mileage requirement as 170308 was only in my book for a bus stop leap from Grimsby to Cleethorpes).

Both New Street & Moor Street had barriers wide open, and the run to Banbury was mostly OK, things went wrong again as the next Bournemouth XC had been caught up in some LM related delays on the Coventry corridor, with the signaller deciding to put the Marylebone bound 168/0 ahead of it at the junction at Leamington so 220014 rolled in 10 minutes late. I managed to get a decent seat with a hopeful fast run to regain some of that lost time, only to get caught behind a stopping service after Didcot (as the 220 was routed onto the relief lines) for a painfully slow run, eventually reaching Reading 25 minutes late. A fast reversal as the next Reading terminator was waiting on the viaduct for us to clear out of the way, rolling into Basingstoke platform 2 for a 45 minute wait before the next West of England service (as the Basingstoke – Salisbury shuttles had already finished for the day leaving a hour gap where the 20:36 would normally fill).

The 20:20 Axminster was caught up in some delays out of Waterloo which meant it was around 10 minutes late into Basingstoke, a nice touch with the “Goodbye from South West Trains SWT 1996-2017” messages on the platform displays as the Stagecoach era has come to an end. Eventually a solo 159016 rolled in, as expected it was quite busy, but I managed to get a seat for the run back to Grateley, my final SWT operated service.

A nice walk home got me indoors for 10pm which compared to normal is early, but a productive day with 10 more ATW shacks into my book leaving most of the Heart of Wales, Shrewsbury to Crewe & everything west of Flint (apart from Llandudno Junction) to clear ATW. Some pictures:

175107 departing Chirk - 158828 departing Wrexham General - 150257 departing Hawarden - Hawarden Station -
150251 at Gwersyllt - Gwersyllt - 150251 departing Buckley - Buckley Station -
Buckley Station - 150257 at Cefn-y-Bedd - 150257 departing Cefn-y-Bedd - Caergwrle Station -

Caergwrle Station - 150257 at Penyffordd - Penyffordd - 150251 at Hope -
150251 at Hope - 150251 departing Shotton - 175112 departing Flint - Flint Station -
508110 departing Chester - 175103 at Ruabon - Ruabon Station

Farewell SWT (1) - Farewell SWT (2) - 159016 departing Grateley


-----------

Not really a report as such for the Sunday, more of a trip to Devonshire for some lines of rediscovery, my first South Western Railway service falling to 159006, attaching to 159105 at Salisbury:

- 143611 at Exeter Central - 143612 & 143611 at Exeter Central
- -

An enjoyable day, although my attempt at alighting at Lympstone Commando was foiled by the station being closed due to the camp being on summer leave, a task for my next Devonshire trip probably in September time.

Next weekend is a crazy trip to conquest the Heart of Wales line, maybe it will see the return of an old friend

 

[Cowley]

I think I saw those shiny 143s at St David's just after you. Made me do a double take I must say, they actually look really good in that livery I think. Shame about Lympstone Commando, looks like another trip down is due?
Nice touch on the displays about South West Trains, a real end of an era.