Techniquest
Veteran Member
Hi all,
Not doing all this in one go, due to the sheer fact I've got 9 and a half A4 sides to work through. So expect a bit to go up now and the rest to follow. This was my last big bash of 2011, so after this trip report all I've got to write up is my planned Techniquest's Review of the Year 2011. Here we go then:
25th November 2011 - The Epic 4 Day Bash, Day 1
Having got up somewhat earlier than planned, I utilise the time to get a coffee and catch up on the forums, e-mails and so on. Mum gets up and cooks up a slap-up breakfast, which went down brilliantly. After some chores, I get ready for work and jump on board the usual stallion on this working, YJ05 WCW and a spot of Christmas shopping is done before a 5 hour shift. Which got extended by 15 minutes but no biggie since I had plenty of time before my train. Tea is formed of the usual meal from McDonalds, got to stop doing that as it's hitting my bank account hard! 170511+170501 are on the 2054 to Worcester Shrub Hill, rejected in favour of a change of clothes and for the 2129 to Birmingham New Street as booked. 66169 rolled in on a southbound train of EWS Construction-liveried wagons, and we leave on time on 170635. Not had this one for a while now, all welcome mileage since I'm not even a quarter the way to clearing it. Let's not go there though, if you're at all interested you can see my 170 mileage here: http://techniquest.railmiles.org/tractionlist/170/
Plan for the 4 days then is to get to Birmingham International now for the Travelodge tonight, then off on a Chiltern ranger tomorrow which will be coupled with a bit of bashing on FCC, before coming back to Birmingham International for a second night at the Travelodge, then on Sunday it's covering the diversions via Lichfield City on XC before heading to Stoke for a bus to Newcastle-under-Lyme for my final Travelodge stay of the trip. Finally, on Monday it's a Cheshire Day Ranger before returning home with ATW. By 2203, I'm getting quite tired having been up and about after less than 6 hours sleep. I'll be lucky to get that much tonight, so hopefully Saturday or Sunday night will result in a good sleep! Arrival into New Street is at p6b at 2255, 5 minutes late and 66096 made a surprise appearance on a short rake of auto-ballasters which got a clear run through! 390052 produces on the 2310 to London, and we leave 11 minutes late due to waiting for a late-running Voyager from Edinburgh. Surprisingly, it takes us 12 minutes to do the 8 mile sprint to Birmingham International.
A farce brewed, in that Birmingham Airport Travelodge is actually nowhere near the airport. With not much hope if any of making the last route 900 bus, it was a taxi or nothing. When I found out the cost, I was beyond shocked. £11! So shocked I didn't really note the reg too carefully, DY55 XWV I think. I check in, still fuming, and make sure I check the bus times for the morning carefully. A check in with home and I attempt to chill out, which as I wrote this at gone 0200 on the 26th that obviously didn't work out too well! A few stats then:
Mileage for the day: 63m23c
Highest mileage: 55m05c on 170635
Lowest mileage: 8m18c on 390052
Best bit: Seeing 66096 at Birmingham New Street (I had to really think of one!)
Worst bit: The farce with getting from the airport to the Travelodge.
No random quotes heard.
26th November 2011 - Day 2, Chiltern Ranger and FCC Network Completion
Sleep finally came at 0310 or so, and the alarm went off at 0600. So rude! Preparations for the day complete, I leave at 0618 or so. The next bus is at 0644, which gave me plenty of time to plan the day's moves. Travel West Midlands (oops, National Express West Midlands now I see) produces 4519 for this turn on route 966, and a mere 4 minute journey sees me reach Birmingham International. Bit nippy this morning though! 350107 turns up on the 0705 to Birmingham New Street, which starts the day off well as it's required for haulage. 17th 350/1 for such, and we arrive at p4a at 0721, 5 minutes late. Straight to Moor Street to get my ranger, with a planned stop at Subway across the road for breakfast. That went out of the window as it was closed. Every time I want to use it, it's closed! I get the ranger, and was slightly amused by seeing "Secret Sale" on the till's display. I consider getting breakfast from the centenary lounge, but see 168108 on the 0733 to Leamington Spa. I decide to check if it's required haulage and it is. A rush to the barriers then, and I jump on with not much time to spare.
Just as well I did this move anyway, as there was an unexpected micro-grice with us getting put in the Up Passenger Loop just before Dorridge to allow a Voyager to pass. Bonus! We reach Leamington 4 minutes early at 0813, which gives me plenty of time to get my breakfast from Pumpkin. Glad I wasn't doing the London one that came from Kidderminster, as not only was it dud 168005 but was full and standing. Stand all that way from Leamington to London, no thanks! I flag it to get my train of choice, the 0828 to London for a station grice at Kings Sutton, which was just as well as required haulage came in with 168110. Three winners in a row this morning, love it. Three more 168s to go too [I just checked RailMiles to see what my highest mileage one was, out of curiousity, and I see I had 168108 in 2007! Oh well! Same for my last 168/1, 168112. Interesting, just 168002 and 168003 to get then! - Ed].
Tunes get going for the first time since before Birmingham last night in a bid to get myself waking up a bit, boosted by the large coffee of course! Not seeing 165005 yet as we arrive at Banbury, damn it. But as we leave, I spy a number that looks familiar on a 165 on the south side of Banbury yard. I don't believe my eyes for a few moments, but sure enough it's 165005! My last 165 for sight, finally! 0853 sees us arrive 1 minute late randomly at Kings Sutton, and 220034 is filmed passing through before I get dud 168219 back to Banbury. I phot and film 165014+165038 leave the un-numbered bay platform for a shunt move, and eventually a delayed XC clears the way for them to arrive into platform 3 to work the 0925 to London, that is after 66104 gets looped on a southbound container train. We leave 5 minutes late, and both 165s are required haulage. Going quite well on Chiltern today! This move was chosen especially to do the crossovers at each end of High Wycombe, so as for a Birmingham to London service to fly by. Sure enough, that's what happened and we arrive at 1027, 3 down. Much flicking through the timetable planning moves ended up with my deciding to go with the flow.
165031 produces for yet more required haulage on the leap to High Wycombe, which was another required station grice and to do the next train out of the bay platform. 165032 does that, red-penned it in on the 1053 to London, which randomly left 7 minutes late and finished the passenger track in High Wycombe. I bail at Denham, and 66019+66001 are filmed and photted passing with a RHTT to London. Dud 165033 is on the next Princes Risborough train, which I got to Denham Golf Club for yet another station grice, where James rings to fill me in on his day thus far. I get 165031 to London, which as we pass Wembley depot I observe 172101, 102 and 104. Where's 103 I wonder. All 172/1s were needed up to this point anyway, so now leaves just 172103 to get to finish the Chiltern fleet for sight! We arrive at p2 at 1209, and I walk to Kings Cross as I don't have my Oyster with me. It takes me 35 minutes, partly due to waits at traffic lights and partly because of the heavy holdall I've got with me on this bash. 313026+313028 produce two red lines in my NREA on the 1256 to Hertford North, so I get on for the leap to Finsbury Park. It's there when I see it's actually a pair, I thought it was single 313s on weekends. No matter, I'm not complaining!
Coffee time now, and I settle for a large white coffee from the place on platform 5. £2.45, but it has to do. Not as large as those from Pumpkin, but it's cold today and I've not had any drink since before Banbury! 365517 is red-pen and I get it to Potters Barr for a station grice. We pass top and tail 67s on Virgin MK2s just before Harringay, what were they and what were they up to? On Hornsey depot, I remember to check the side numbers of the 321/4s there and see 78096. Yes! 321402, finally got the thing for sight! Just one more 321/3 and one more 321/4 on the Eastern and those are all done! 10 minutes later, and we arrive there at 1321. I can't taste the brown sugar in my coffee annoyingly, when will these places learn to provide white sugar for coffee as well as the tasteless brown nonsense? Also, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?! Since when did FCC get any 313/1s? Didn't know of that until 313123+313039 rolled in the 1311 Kings Cross to Welwyn Garden City, both dud too. Out of all the ones I need, I get a pair of dud 'uns! Unless I hear better tonight, the Random Quote for the day has to be "Green man, safe, safe" heard from some norm at a pedestrian crossing somewhere between Great Portland Street and Euston.
We reach Welwyn Garden City 1 early at 1350, and 8 minutes later we head back to London. Bring on the flyover! Why the fuss over this bit? For one, it's annoyed me for years and for two, it was my last bit of the FCC network to do! At long last, it's all done! FCC joins the list of TOC Networks Completed, the 9th addition to that list now The stations at Brookmans Park and Welham Green are griced, with 313064+049, the latter required, bashed between the two. I see some people with cameras at Welham Green, who tell me of a steam tour due through. Sadly, it doesn't come through before the next stopper towards Hatfield, which produced 313025+313122, the former being red-pen. Hatfield is the last station to grice to clear Welwyn GC to Kings Cross for stations visited, and I get required 317343 back to London on the 1455 to Kings Cross. Not had a 317 for a while, a 317/3 for some years now! We use the fast lines just after Hatfield, and we reach Kings Cross at 1515 after a nice fast run. A walk to Marylebone nearly goes horribly wrong when I trip on the pavement somewhere just after Baker Street, had some nice tourists ask if I was OK and helped me up which was nice.
I had planned to do the 1557 to Aylesbury for some station gricing up that route instead, but dud 165026 was on it so went with required 165009 on the 1603 to Princes Risborough instead. So much flicking through the timetable for the best moves, and I eventually settle on the 26 minute fester at Seer Green and Jordans. That's going to be fun...NOT! Now where did I put those Skittles, I'm starving! I'd forgotten I hadn't been over Northolt Junction since a supposed layout change, but it all felt and looked the same to me. Tiredness suddenly strikes, it's been an exhausting but good day, which tempts me to get the 1800 back from London later and be done with it, as a lack of coffee and food is starting to drive me mad. Not found a convenient Burger King all day which is most unusual. Surprisingly, the fester at Seer Green and Jordans went quickly, picking up some leaflets about travel in Europe there randomly. Required haulage yet again with 165030 for a leap to Gerrards Cross, where I see the Tesco is really close by so get a meal deal from there. The chicken and stuffing sandwich was less than satisfactory, but I needed something. Subway had been considered, but I can get Clubcard points from Tesco so that won. The Twirl bar and can of Coke can wait until later, and I make it back for the next southbound train formed of 165010. Required haulage and my 20th 165/0 for such, so just over half way through the 165/0s now!
Arrival back at London after a non-stop run was at 1739, 1 up. 168216 is dud on the 1800 to London, and that sandwich filled me up a bit which has spurred me on to carry on and wipe out that gap in my Baker, the last station I need between and including Small Heath and Denham. I still need West Ruislip, South Ruislip, Northolt Park and the Sudbury Hill stations, but they can be done on a Travelcard another time. A nice and fast run on this 168 is had, although I wonder what's going on when we have a sharp stop just before Haddenham and Thame Parkway. I had considered alighting at Princes Risborough, but the 25 minute fester there was too long compared to the +11 or so at Haddenham and Thame Parkway, plus it meant some extra mileage. A clear winner there then! Alighting off the 168, the brakes smell quite a bit, but we thankfully arrive thereabouts on time. The next train back, one that arrives at Saunderton with a reasonable wait for the next one out of there hence this move, is 4 minutes late which cuts into the +7 at Saunderton quite a bit! Thankfully, we arrive off dud 168217 at 1906, leaving a +4. Dud from the morning, 165038 arrives with the 1910 onwards to Stratford-upon-Avon. With the stations now done, next time I'll be focusing on getting the Amersham route ones done as well as Little Kimble. I have my can of Coke for a celebratory drink to celebrate getting the FCC network done and a frightfully good day all in.
This train is booked a 8 minute fester at Banbury to allow a following Birmingham train to overtake, but since that one's late I wonder what we'll do. We use platform 1 as booked, and Banbury 'box did what they were supposed to and put the Birmingham in front. I need the rest of platform 1, but that'll wait until another time. In rolls 168108 and I jump on with no option but to stand to Solihull, where I alight to get a bus to base. I forget I needed a cash move for tomorrow, so I have to get the bus to Birmingham International first for one back. If I'd thought about it, I'd have gone into the town centre at Solihull first then get the bus I needed, but too late realising that when I'm on the bus I needed! 4656 is on the 966, and we reach Birmingham International at 2134, 18 minutes after leaving Solihull. A quick ATM move is had and a visit to Subway gets me a cookie for 50p, necessary to get some change. Have to wait until 2200 for route 900 now, and 4625 is on it. I find the nearest stop I could to the Travelodge and get back to base. Checking in with home took a 17 minute call, then it was time for a decaff coffee before chilling out and watching I, Robot on E4. Day's review: Excellent! I did all I went out for and got loads of required haulages, and getting that last 165 for sight was a massive bonus! One more 172 to get for sight and that's that lot finished. Loads of mileage and station grices too mean a rating of 9/10. Some stats then:
Mileage for the day: 352m05c
Highest mileage: 45m63c on 165038+165014
Lowest mileage: 0m72c on 165033
Best bit: Finishing the FCC network, tied with getting 165005 for sight!
Worst bit: Falling on the pavement near Baker Street, tied with the fester at Seer Green and Jordans
Random quote: "Green man, safe, safe", heard during the first walk.
Random quote 2: "The Jubilee line doesn't stop at Larbert", I must have mis-heard that one, imagine the journey times to Central Scotland!
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Days 3 and 4 then, having had to stop for tea and a break from the laptop
27th November 2011 - Day 3, Burton and Stoke Bash
Up and about again at 0930 after a really good sleep, and it's quite the nice day outside. De-rancification, coffee and preparation for departure sees me leave at 1030, and just in time for a 966 to Birmingham International. In such a rush that I didn't get the number of the NXWM bus before or after getting on
A single was £1.60, not too bad at all compared with a taxi! En-route to the station, flybe's G-ECOK and First's 20457 were spotted. Somehow I trip on the escalator, leaving me with some nasty cuts on my right hand. They're still there as I type this up, work is going to be fun until they heal properly...Ouch is the easiest and only way to describe that incident, could have gone terribly wrong!
350115 eventually turns up on the 1052 to Birmingham New Street, super dud. I could have had a Voyager to New Street, but I'm getting enough Voyager mileage later as it is. The sheer numbers of people getting off for some show at the NEC and a fair number of us getting on means we finally leave 6 minutes late, and I'm standing all the way. Even First Class is full!
hock: We arrive 10 minutes late at 1113, and I see the 1130 to Edinburgh is showing as using all of platform 8. That can only mean one of two things, that it's either an HST or a pair of Voyagers. Neither as it happened, as 221132 rolled in on p8a. Stupidly huge number of passengers getting off and loads of us getting on, I forced my way on for a seat and we leave 8 late at 1138. Seems really strange going on a Voyager up the Cross City North! Roll on the required track north of Lichfield Trent Valley, the whole point of this part of the trip. We arrive at 1218, just a couple of minutes late, and we were charging up the freight-only line. I was expecting a dull as hell journey on that bit.
What to do until 1343 I wonder, and head into town to actually see the town for the first time. I end up at the local Wetherspoon, The Lord Burton, and have a roast beef lunch with chocolate fudge cake and a pint of Guiness. £7.98, so not exactly cheap, but extremely needed as it was the first thing I've eaten since last night. A Subway breakfast and a meal deal from Sainsburys (the other option I'd see in Burton) would have been at least £7, so I reckon I've done better here as neither of the other outlets serve what could be called proper food. It's also my first (and as it turned out only) alcoholic drink of the trip, a nice bonus. After an extremely rateable meal, I head back to the station and get there at 1327. The 1343 is to Reading and announced as a "CrossCountry HST". Yeah right, sure enough it was a Voyager. Absolutely heaving, and I squash my way on and we leave on time. Just as well I'm getting off at Lichfield City then! Arrival there into the fresh air was more than welcome at 1401, and I get 323220 on the 1405 to Redditch. I change my mind loads of times as to what to do with the afternoon, but decide eventually that more, more, more Starship mileage is required.
After we accumulate a random 3 minute delay at Erdington, we reach Aston at 1436. A nice and tidy +7 onto the next northbound 323, and I film 221139 passing on a Plymouth service before 323203 arrives with the 1443 to Lichfield Trent Valley. The journey passes super fast, before I know it we're at Lichfield City again. I see nothing near the station worth looking at, so return to the platforms where I see a 221 passing northbound. Still need to pass Lichfield City, but to do that I'd have had to pay an extra £3.50 to get to Derby and check my times carefully. Plus I'd have not got my Starship mileage in! 1535 and we leave Lichfield City again on 323203. The next XC service was a Reading so bound to be a Voyager. The Glasgow, well I saw it passing us as we returned south and that was a Voyager too! I start reflecting on how awesome November has been, pity December will not be as good. If 2012 starts as well as November has gone, it'll be awesome! Before I know it, we're back in Birmingham New Street where we arrive at 1612, bang on time. There's not much else worth doing, so I head into town for a slow wander around the shops.
I pass Baguette World, and have to pop in. A cheese and ham baguette for 99p, I'll have that! I'm officially making it a landmark of any visit to Birmingham, I'll be going there again next time I've got time and assuming of course it's open. Coming out of there, on some speakers/PA system the national anthem is playing. Nowt like it to make one feel patriotic, it sure left me with a smile on my face! Gamestation gets a visit as does Tesco Express, from where I get quite the bargain. A 4 pack of highlighters (sadly only one green one) for 30p! Doubt I'll ever get one that cheap again. A big bottle of Tesco Cola and some chocolate-topped doughnuts are also got for tomorrow and later respectively. I get back to the station at 1650, and end up in the waiting room on p4b. Time's dragging a bit now, so I get on with updating my books and have a quick spot. Eventually the Voyager appears not to be moving and definitely the one on the 1731 to Manchester Piccadilly, so I find my seat on 221141 and decide it's tea time and tuck into that baguette.
We arrive at Stoke-on-Trent at 1821, and the wait for a bus to Newcastle-under-Lyme is super short, as I find First's 66841 with people queuing up to get on on route 25. We leave at 1827, I get my single for £1.90 and 12 minutes later we arrived after a smooth journey at Newcastle-under-Lyme Bus Station. I get a tad lost looking for the Travelodge, but I find it and arrive about 12 minutes after arriving in the town. After checking in, I find nothing of interest on the TV and end up flicking through stuff, as well as popping out later on to check the times of buses back to Stoke for the morning. Day's review then: Pretty good all in, although tripping on the escalator and standing on that wedged 220 was nasty. Having those 323s was awesome though, and that bus journey was good value. Day's rating of 8/10, and some stats:
Mileage for the day: 136m70c
Highest mileage: 44m30c on 221141
Lowest mileage: 8m18c on 350115
Best bit: 323203 and 323220 on the CrossCity
Worst bit: Tripping on that escalator and 350115 to New Street
No random quotes noted, despite having my ears open for almost all day.
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Right, day 4 now then:
28th November 2011 - Day 4, Cheshire Day Ranger and trip home
7 hours or so of sleep was managed before the alarms at 0730. Having de-rancified last night, as well as doing most of the preparations for departure last night, a coffee and getting ready to leave was all done by 0745. The bus station is reached about 9 minutes later, and First's 66852 does the honours of returning me to the mainline on the 0759 from N-u-L Bus Station after another £1.90 single. Lots of people joining the bus and buying commuter tickets means we don't reach Stoke station until 0824, having left 3 late and the journey only taking 10 minutes longer than last night. I left this early to allow for such a thing, as well as traffic and time to buy a ticket. As it happens, the queue for the ticket office virtually didn't exist, I was seen straight away. I get a map for the ranger in case of it being queried, and join 390051, dud on the 0848 to Manchester Piccadilly. A voucher for 50p off hot drinks on any Virgin service had been picked up at Stoke, so I took advantage of it and got a coffee for £1.45.
Thank Goodness I didn't flag this 390, as when we pass Cheadle Hulme I see a number on the side of a 142 that looked familiar. Out with the NREA and YES!!! 142003, I've finally found my last 142 for sight! Now to find 150141 and the other ex-LM 150s to finish the rather ginormous Northern fleet for sight. We arrive into Manchester's p7 at 0928 or so, and I make my way to p14 from where I got 185115+185141 on an insect leap to Manchester Oxford Road, as 185141 was required for haulage. From there, I dump my plan to get over to Liverpool with Northern and jump on EMT's delayed 0941 to Liverpool with 158774+158858, the latter being red-pen. Just as well I went this way, as on Trafford Park was 66150, 66717 and 66741, 66741 being required for sight, bonus! I suddenly remember after Widnes that I need that bit from the former Garston platforms to Hunts Cross West Junction, so I alight after a rush to get ready at Liverpool South Parkway at 1026. I just miss the 1027, so have to wait for the 1042. 508134 is scooped for sight on the 1039 to Southport, also photted and filmed. Dud 508104 turns up on the 1042 to Hunts Cross, and the track for both the Baker and Quail is done as I returned to Liverpool South Parkway.
Fortunately, I make it with a bit of a run onto 350106 on the 1059 to Liverpool Lime Street, required haulage. We arrive at Liverpool at 1109, and I have a swift walk to p4 for the 1113 to Manchester, which was 156429 and the first of several 156s I got for required haulage during the day. I bail for a station grice at Wavertree Technology Park for the following train to Warrington Bank Quay, formed of 156487 also needed for haulage. 156429 was quite dull, whether it's down to it being refurbished or not I don't know as 156487 and the other 156s were unrefurbished and much more hellfire! Required track comes in the form of Huyton Junction to Earlestown South Junction, the reason for doing this move. We arrive at 1200, 1 up and I see the 1139 to Birmingham is about 32 minutes late. I await the arrival of it in case 221108 or 111 show up, alas no it's 221102. No required haulage there then, and I re-join 156487 on the 1222 to Liverpool. Earlestown is a required station, so I alight and hope to make the Manchester train, however that's already gone so it must have used the Down Slow as we travelled up the reversible Up Slow, never mind at least I've got all the relevant crossovers at Earlestown South now. I film 156462 pass through to Manchester Airport, then wonder what to do.
I go and look for an ATM to get some cash, and find Tesco so get a sandwich meal deal. Back at the station, I eat the Snickers bar out of my meal deal and chat to the Merseyrail staff doing a passenger/ticket survey, who are amazed at the validity of the ranger. 1304, and a nice surprise with ex-LM 150110 turned up. That'll do me nicely, required for sight! I'm only on it to St Helens Junction for a station grice and a +5 onto the next train to Patricroft, but it was nice as well as strange to be on a 150 that was previously down my way. Required haulage again with 156483 on the 1314 onwards to Stalybridge, and the journey to Patricroft passes super quickly. It's not long until 156491 turns up on the 1321 Stalybridge to Liverpool Lime Street, and we leave on time at 1349 with yet more required haulage. At some stations at least, we have smoke coming up from underneath the 156, but after a while it seemed to stop. Concerning, but didn't affect us thankfully. We arrive at p2 at 1443, on time despite being held in the tunnel for what felt like forever.
Just as well that I got to Liverpool at this time, as an incident had occured in Rock Ferry and no trains were running between Birkenhead and Rock Ferry. Required haulage on Merseyrail, wahey, in the form of 508138 takes me to a dud station at Birkenhead Hamilton Square. Direct buses running to Rock Ferry thankfully, and I'm treated to Happy Al's V353 JMB for the 9 minute or so journey, it was quite hellfire too! 507016 is the next southbound train, and we leave at 1512 from platform 2. That was an unexpected micro-grice, and at Bebington we're informed of a 10 minute wait due to our running out of pattern or some such. Apparently we were due to wait for 20-odd minutes originally, but thankfully control got back in touch with the driver and we went after about 5 minutes. The driver made an announcement to the tune of "on behalf of Merseyrail Electrics 2002 Limited, I am deeply, deeply sorry for the delay caused to your journey". Rather different on all counts! Services were expected to be back to normal within half an hour, whether that happened or not I don't know.
We arrive at Ellesmere Port at 1546 or so, after Hooton the track was required which I'd almost forgotten! Confirmation from the driver was that a unit had derailed during an ECS shunt into the bay platforms in the early hours. Photos and video got of course, as Hooton to Ellesmere Port was the last bit of the Merseyrail network I needed! The 10th TOC on my list then, and I can't help but chant "Another one bites the dust" 150214 arrives from Helsby, and we leave 1 minute late at 1605. Epic wheelslip from most stations on the way to Warrington, never had such a rough journey on a 150! We arrive at Warrington Bank Quay at 1635, 1 minute late. 60010 makes a surprise appearance on northbound HTAs, filmed it as soon as I heard that familiar silenced growl I leave Warrington on 175104 on time at 1651, devoid of any coffee as it was £2.24 for a small one. Get stuffed! Plans for the final part of the evening are made, and that is to get this to Piccadilly and get Levenshulme in the book. After we arrived at Piccadilly at 1728, 2 minutes early I head for the main platforms. I was about to join the 1738 to Crewe for the Levenshulme grice, but saw something better. I dived to the ticket office for a timetable, alas I found no useful one. I jumped on anyway and hoped for the best. Why the fuss? 150141 was on the 1732 to New Mills Central, a required grice at Ashburys was available and 150141 was my last non ex-LM 150 to get for sight. Having spent years getting it for sight, I wasn't letting it go now without getting it in the book!
Fortunately, the guard tells me there's a 1748 back to Manchester, that'll do just fine. 150141 is photted and filmed at Ashburys, as are 150274 and 323234. 323230, dud, is on the 1748 back to Manchester, which left 4 minutes late but arrived at 1756 so on time at p2 in Manchester. Time for tea now then, and my first visit to Burger King all trip! The usual is had for £5.67 and I go to p8 to await the arrival of my 175 home. 175011 eventually rolls in at 1820, and there's a lot of people getting off! I force my way on for a table seat and we leave at 1830, on time. The 1730 had been cancelled, so lots of people are on here. We're quite the stopper tonight, all stations after Crewe to Shrewsbury! I take advantage of the time to get my books updated, and find my Baker is not actually up to date from other trips. That gets done and took me forever, the other surprise was that my drink from Burger King last over 90 minutes and run out at Wem! My MP3 player is in my coat, which is in my bag in the space behind my seat, and there's no room to spread out and get to my bag anyway. Grr!
I see plenty of Christmas decorations up on houses around here, far too early! By somewhere between Craven Arms and Ludlow, my books are all up to date, couldn't believe how long it took to do! The passenger next to me alights at Ludlow, finally there's some room to spread out and get to my bag. I'm surprised my ticket hasn't been checked at all, much like my Advance from Birmingham last night, but hey. For £8 last night and £13 today, I did quite well. Eventually, we reach Hereford at 2101, 8 minutes late. Some epic wheelslip had caused some massive amount of that delay, stopping everywhere didn't help mind. I head to the bus station to get the bus home, and Y876 PWT turns up on the 2117 home. On the way home, I tot up the cost of the bash. Just for travel costs, it was £105, which was quite eyebrow-raising. Including the cost of accommodation, food, drink and whatever else, the cost rose to a jaw-dropping, eye-popping £249.14!hock: hock: hock: Good thing the adventure was a bloody good time eh? I enjoy some tunes for the first time since before Stone last night. Day and trip's review then: Overall, pretty damn decent! Did almost all I wanted from this trip, getting Buxton done was about the only objective not cleared. Some unexpected little bonuses have cropped up, as have some moments that were eye-popping, that taxi being the most major one. Plenty of required new haulages, 25 of them, quite a few new sights, 15 of them. 20 required station grices and tons of mileage. Just a shame that the year's pretty much over in terms of bashing though! Rating of 9/10, and for the final time until my annual review some stats:
Mileage for the day: 311m43c
Highest mileage: 114m53c on 175011
Lowest mileage: 0m43c on 185115+185141
Best bit: Finishing the Merseyrail network
Worst bit: 508138 from Lime Street to Birkenhead, was quite full and just so dull
Random quote: "It's a bit small ain't it", of which I have no idea what the rest of the conversation was about, but that was as good as I could hear! And finally:
Total mileage for the trip: 863m61c.
Not doing all this in one go, due to the sheer fact I've got 9 and a half A4 sides to work through. So expect a bit to go up now and the rest to follow. This was my last big bash of 2011, so after this trip report all I've got to write up is my planned Techniquest's Review of the Year 2011. Here we go then:
25th November 2011 - The Epic 4 Day Bash, Day 1
Having got up somewhat earlier than planned, I utilise the time to get a coffee and catch up on the forums, e-mails and so on. Mum gets up and cooks up a slap-up breakfast, which went down brilliantly. After some chores, I get ready for work and jump on board the usual stallion on this working, YJ05 WCW and a spot of Christmas shopping is done before a 5 hour shift. Which got extended by 15 minutes but no biggie since I had plenty of time before my train. Tea is formed of the usual meal from McDonalds, got to stop doing that as it's hitting my bank account hard! 170511+170501 are on the 2054 to Worcester Shrub Hill, rejected in favour of a change of clothes and for the 2129 to Birmingham New Street as booked. 66169 rolled in on a southbound train of EWS Construction-liveried wagons, and we leave on time on 170635. Not had this one for a while now, all welcome mileage since I'm not even a quarter the way to clearing it. Let's not go there though, if you're at all interested you can see my 170 mileage here: http://techniquest.railmiles.org/tractionlist/170/
Plan for the 4 days then is to get to Birmingham International now for the Travelodge tonight, then off on a Chiltern ranger tomorrow which will be coupled with a bit of bashing on FCC, before coming back to Birmingham International for a second night at the Travelodge, then on Sunday it's covering the diversions via Lichfield City on XC before heading to Stoke for a bus to Newcastle-under-Lyme for my final Travelodge stay of the trip. Finally, on Monday it's a Cheshire Day Ranger before returning home with ATW. By 2203, I'm getting quite tired having been up and about after less than 6 hours sleep. I'll be lucky to get that much tonight, so hopefully Saturday or Sunday night will result in a good sleep! Arrival into New Street is at p6b at 2255, 5 minutes late and 66096 made a surprise appearance on a short rake of auto-ballasters which got a clear run through! 390052 produces on the 2310 to London, and we leave 11 minutes late due to waiting for a late-running Voyager from Edinburgh. Surprisingly, it takes us 12 minutes to do the 8 mile sprint to Birmingham International.
A farce brewed, in that Birmingham Airport Travelodge is actually nowhere near the airport. With not much hope if any of making the last route 900 bus, it was a taxi or nothing. When I found out the cost, I was beyond shocked. £11! So shocked I didn't really note the reg too carefully, DY55 XWV I think. I check in, still fuming, and make sure I check the bus times for the morning carefully. A check in with home and I attempt to chill out, which as I wrote this at gone 0200 on the 26th that obviously didn't work out too well! A few stats then:
Mileage for the day: 63m23c
Highest mileage: 55m05c on 170635
Lowest mileage: 8m18c on 390052
Best bit: Seeing 66096 at Birmingham New Street (I had to really think of one!)
Worst bit: The farce with getting from the airport to the Travelodge.
No random quotes heard.
26th November 2011 - Day 2, Chiltern Ranger and FCC Network Completion
Sleep finally came at 0310 or so, and the alarm went off at 0600. So rude! Preparations for the day complete, I leave at 0618 or so. The next bus is at 0644, which gave me plenty of time to plan the day's moves. Travel West Midlands (oops, National Express West Midlands now I see) produces 4519 for this turn on route 966, and a mere 4 minute journey sees me reach Birmingham International. Bit nippy this morning though! 350107 turns up on the 0705 to Birmingham New Street, which starts the day off well as it's required for haulage. 17th 350/1 for such, and we arrive at p4a at 0721, 5 minutes late. Straight to Moor Street to get my ranger, with a planned stop at Subway across the road for breakfast. That went out of the window as it was closed. Every time I want to use it, it's closed! I get the ranger, and was slightly amused by seeing "Secret Sale" on the till's display. I consider getting breakfast from the centenary lounge, but see 168108 on the 0733 to Leamington Spa. I decide to check if it's required haulage and it is. A rush to the barriers then, and I jump on with not much time to spare.
Just as well I did this move anyway, as there was an unexpected micro-grice with us getting put in the Up Passenger Loop just before Dorridge to allow a Voyager to pass. Bonus! We reach Leamington 4 minutes early at 0813, which gives me plenty of time to get my breakfast from Pumpkin. Glad I wasn't doing the London one that came from Kidderminster, as not only was it dud 168005 but was full and standing. Stand all that way from Leamington to London, no thanks! I flag it to get my train of choice, the 0828 to London for a station grice at Kings Sutton, which was just as well as required haulage came in with 168110. Three winners in a row this morning, love it. Three more 168s to go too [I just checked RailMiles to see what my highest mileage one was, out of curiousity, and I see I had 168108 in 2007! Oh well! Same for my last 168/1, 168112. Interesting, just 168002 and 168003 to get then! - Ed].
Tunes get going for the first time since before Birmingham last night in a bid to get myself waking up a bit, boosted by the large coffee of course! Not seeing 165005 yet as we arrive at Banbury, damn it. But as we leave, I spy a number that looks familiar on a 165 on the south side of Banbury yard. I don't believe my eyes for a few moments, but sure enough it's 165005! My last 165 for sight, finally! 0853 sees us arrive 1 minute late randomly at Kings Sutton, and 220034 is filmed passing through before I get dud 168219 back to Banbury. I phot and film 165014+165038 leave the un-numbered bay platform for a shunt move, and eventually a delayed XC clears the way for them to arrive into platform 3 to work the 0925 to London, that is after 66104 gets looped on a southbound container train. We leave 5 minutes late, and both 165s are required haulage. Going quite well on Chiltern today! This move was chosen especially to do the crossovers at each end of High Wycombe, so as for a Birmingham to London service to fly by. Sure enough, that's what happened and we arrive at 1027, 3 down. Much flicking through the timetable planning moves ended up with my deciding to go with the flow.
165031 produces for yet more required haulage on the leap to High Wycombe, which was another required station grice and to do the next train out of the bay platform. 165032 does that, red-penned it in on the 1053 to London, which randomly left 7 minutes late and finished the passenger track in High Wycombe. I bail at Denham, and 66019+66001 are filmed and photted passing with a RHTT to London. Dud 165033 is on the next Princes Risborough train, which I got to Denham Golf Club for yet another station grice, where James rings to fill me in on his day thus far. I get 165031 to London, which as we pass Wembley depot I observe 172101, 102 and 104. Where's 103 I wonder. All 172/1s were needed up to this point anyway, so now leaves just 172103 to get to finish the Chiltern fleet for sight! We arrive at p2 at 1209, and I walk to Kings Cross as I don't have my Oyster with me. It takes me 35 minutes, partly due to waits at traffic lights and partly because of the heavy holdall I've got with me on this bash. 313026+313028 produce two red lines in my NREA on the 1256 to Hertford North, so I get on for the leap to Finsbury Park. It's there when I see it's actually a pair, I thought it was single 313s on weekends. No matter, I'm not complaining!
Coffee time now, and I settle for a large white coffee from the place on platform 5. £2.45, but it has to do. Not as large as those from Pumpkin, but it's cold today and I've not had any drink since before Banbury! 365517 is red-pen and I get it to Potters Barr for a station grice. We pass top and tail 67s on Virgin MK2s just before Harringay, what were they and what were they up to? On Hornsey depot, I remember to check the side numbers of the 321/4s there and see 78096. Yes! 321402, finally got the thing for sight! Just one more 321/3 and one more 321/4 on the Eastern and those are all done!
10 minutes later, and we arrive there at 1321. I can't taste the brown sugar in my coffee annoyingly, when will these places learn to provide white sugar for coffee as well as the tasteless brown nonsense? Also, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?! Since when did FCC get any 313/1s? Didn't know of that until 313123+313039 rolled in the 1311 Kings Cross to Welwyn Garden City, both dud too. Out of all the ones I need, I get a pair of dud 'uns! Unless I hear better tonight, the Random Quote for the day has to be "Green man, safe, safe" heard from some norm at a pedestrian crossing somewhere between Great Portland Street and Euston.We reach Welwyn Garden City 1 early at 1350, and 8 minutes later we head back to London. Bring on the flyover! Why the fuss over this bit? For one, it's annoyed me for years and for two, it was my last bit of the FCC network to do! At long last, it's all done! FCC joins the list of TOC Networks Completed, the 9th addition to that list now
The stations at Brookmans Park and Welham Green are griced, with 313064+049, the latter required, bashed between the two. I see some people with cameras at Welham Green, who tell me of a steam tour due through. Sadly, it doesn't come through before the next stopper towards Hatfield, which produced 313025+313122, the former being red-pen. Hatfield is the last station to grice to clear Welwyn GC to Kings Cross for stations visited, and I get required 317343 back to London on the 1455 to Kings Cross. Not had a 317 for a while, a 317/3 for some years now! We use the fast lines just after Hatfield, and we reach Kings Cross at 1515 after a nice fast run. A walk to Marylebone nearly goes horribly wrong when I trip on the pavement somewhere just after Baker Street, had some nice tourists ask if I was OK and helped me up which was nice.I had planned to do the 1557 to Aylesbury for some station gricing up that route instead, but dud 165026 was on it so went with required 165009 on the 1603 to Princes Risborough instead. So much flicking through the timetable for the best moves, and I eventually settle on the 26 minute fester at Seer Green and Jordans. That's going to be fun...NOT! Now where did I put those Skittles, I'm starving! I'd forgotten I hadn't been over Northolt Junction since a supposed layout change, but it all felt and looked the same to me. Tiredness suddenly strikes, it's been an exhausting but good day, which tempts me to get the 1800 back from London later and be done with it, as a lack of coffee and food is starting to drive me mad. Not found a convenient Burger King all day which is most unusual. Surprisingly, the fester at Seer Green and Jordans went quickly, picking up some leaflets about travel in Europe there randomly. Required haulage yet again with 165030 for a leap to Gerrards Cross, where I see the Tesco is really close by so get a meal deal from there. The chicken and stuffing sandwich was less than satisfactory, but I needed something. Subway had been considered, but I can get Clubcard points from Tesco so that won. The Twirl bar and can of Coke can wait until later, and I make it back for the next southbound train formed of 165010. Required haulage and my 20th 165/0 for such, so just over half way through the 165/0s now!
Arrival back at London after a non-stop run was at 1739, 1 up. 168216 is dud on the 1800 to London, and that sandwich filled me up a bit which has spurred me on to carry on and wipe out that gap in my Baker, the last station I need between and including Small Heath and Denham. I still need West Ruislip, South Ruislip, Northolt Park and the Sudbury Hill stations, but they can be done on a Travelcard another time. A nice and fast run on this 168 is had, although I wonder what's going on when we have a sharp stop just before Haddenham and Thame Parkway. I had considered alighting at Princes Risborough, but the 25 minute fester there was too long compared to the +11 or so at Haddenham and Thame Parkway, plus it meant some extra mileage. A clear winner there then! Alighting off the 168, the brakes smell quite a bit, but we thankfully arrive thereabouts on time. The next train back, one that arrives at Saunderton with a reasonable wait for the next one out of there hence this move, is 4 minutes late which cuts into the +7 at Saunderton quite a bit! Thankfully, we arrive off dud 168217 at 1906, leaving a +4. Dud from the morning, 165038 arrives with the 1910 onwards to Stratford-upon-Avon. With the stations now done, next time I'll be focusing on getting the Amersham route ones done as well as Little Kimble. I have my can of Coke for a celebratory drink to celebrate getting the FCC network done and a frightfully good day all in.
This train is booked a 8 minute fester at Banbury to allow a following Birmingham train to overtake, but since that one's late I wonder what we'll do. We use platform 1 as booked, and Banbury 'box did what they were supposed to and put the Birmingham in front. I need the rest of platform 1, but that'll wait until another time. In rolls 168108 and I jump on with no option but to stand to Solihull, where I alight to get a bus to base. I forget I needed a cash move for tomorrow, so I have to get the bus to Birmingham International first for one back. If I'd thought about it, I'd have gone into the town centre at Solihull first then get the bus I needed, but too late realising that when I'm on the bus I needed! 4656 is on the 966, and we reach Birmingham International at 2134, 18 minutes after leaving Solihull. A quick ATM move is had and a visit to Subway gets me a cookie for 50p, necessary to get some change. Have to wait until 2200 for route 900 now, and 4625 is on it. I find the nearest stop I could to the Travelodge and get back to base. Checking in with home took a 17 minute call, then it was time for a decaff coffee before chilling out and watching I, Robot on E4. Day's review: Excellent! I did all I went out for and got loads of required haulages, and getting that last 165 for sight was a massive bonus! One more 172 to get for sight and that's that lot finished. Loads of mileage and station grices too mean a rating of 9/10. Some stats then:
Mileage for the day: 352m05c
Highest mileage: 45m63c on 165038+165014
Lowest mileage: 0m72c on 165033
Best bit: Finishing the FCC network, tied with getting 165005 for sight!
Worst bit: Falling on the pavement near Baker Street, tied with the fester at Seer Green and Jordans
Random quote: "Green man, safe, safe", heard during the first walk.
Random quote 2: "The Jubilee line doesn't stop at Larbert", I must have mis-heard that one, imagine the journey times to Central Scotland!
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Days 3 and 4 then, having had to stop for tea and a break from the laptop
27th November 2011 - Day 3, Burton and Stoke Bash
Up and about again at 0930 after a really good sleep, and it's quite the nice day outside. De-rancification, coffee and preparation for departure sees me leave at 1030, and just in time for a 966 to Birmingham International. In such a rush that I didn't get the number of the NXWM bus before or after getting on
A single was £1.60, not too bad at all compared with a taxi! En-route to the station, flybe's G-ECOK and First's 20457 were spotted. Somehow I trip on the escalator, leaving me with some nasty cuts on my right hand. They're still there as I type this up, work is going to be fun until they heal properly...Ouch is the easiest and only way to describe that incident, could have gone terribly wrong!350115 eventually turns up on the 1052 to Birmingham New Street, super dud. I could have had a Voyager to New Street, but I'm getting enough Voyager mileage later as it is. The sheer numbers of people getting off for some show at the NEC and a fair number of us getting on means we finally leave 6 minutes late, and I'm standing all the way. Even First Class is full!
hock: We arrive 10 minutes late at 1113, and I see the 1130 to Edinburgh is showing as using all of platform 8. That can only mean one of two things, that it's either an HST or a pair of Voyagers. Neither as it happened, as 221132 rolled in on p8a. Stupidly huge number of passengers getting off and loads of us getting on, I forced my way on for a seat and we leave 8 late at 1138. Seems really strange going on a Voyager up the Cross City North! Roll on the required track north of Lichfield Trent Valley, the whole point of this part of the trip. We arrive at 1218, just a couple of minutes late, and we were charging up the freight-only line. I was expecting a dull as hell journey on that bit.What to do until 1343 I wonder, and head into town to actually see the town for the first time. I end up at the local Wetherspoon, The Lord Burton, and have a roast beef lunch with chocolate fudge cake and a pint of Guiness. £7.98, so not exactly cheap, but extremely needed as it was the first thing I've eaten since last night. A Subway breakfast and a meal deal from Sainsburys (the other option I'd see in Burton) would have been at least £7, so I reckon I've done better here as neither of the other outlets serve what could be called proper food. It's also my first (and as it turned out only) alcoholic drink of the trip, a nice bonus. After an extremely rateable meal, I head back to the station and get there at 1327. The 1343 is to Reading and announced as a "CrossCountry HST". Yeah right, sure enough it was a Voyager. Absolutely heaving, and I squash my way on and we leave on time. Just as well I'm getting off at Lichfield City then! Arrival there into the fresh air was more than welcome at 1401, and I get 323220 on the 1405 to Redditch. I change my mind loads of times as to what to do with the afternoon, but decide eventually that more, more, more Starship mileage is required.
After we accumulate a random 3 minute delay at Erdington, we reach Aston at 1436. A nice and tidy +7 onto the next northbound 323, and I film 221139 passing on a Plymouth service before 323203 arrives with the 1443 to Lichfield Trent Valley. The journey passes super fast, before I know it we're at Lichfield City again. I see nothing near the station worth looking at, so return to the platforms where I see a 221 passing northbound. Still need to pass Lichfield City, but to do that I'd have had to pay an extra £3.50 to get to Derby and check my times carefully. Plus I'd have not got my Starship mileage in! 1535 and we leave Lichfield City again on 323203. The next XC service was a Reading so bound to be a Voyager. The Glasgow, well I saw it passing us as we returned south and that was a Voyager too! I start reflecting on how awesome November has been, pity December will not be as good. If 2012 starts as well as November has gone, it'll be awesome! Before I know it, we're back in Birmingham New Street where we arrive at 1612, bang on time. There's not much else worth doing, so I head into town for a slow wander around the shops.
I pass Baguette World, and have to pop in. A cheese and ham baguette for 99p, I'll have that! I'm officially making it a landmark of any visit to Birmingham, I'll be going there again next time I've got time and assuming of course it's open. Coming out of there, on some speakers/PA system the national anthem is playing. Nowt like it to make one feel patriotic, it sure left me with a smile on my face! Gamestation gets a visit as does Tesco Express, from where I get quite the bargain. A 4 pack of highlighters (sadly only one green one) for 30p! Doubt I'll ever get one that cheap again. A big bottle of Tesco Cola and some chocolate-topped doughnuts are also got for tomorrow and later respectively. I get back to the station at 1650, and end up in the waiting room on p4b. Time's dragging a bit now, so I get on with updating my books and have a quick spot. Eventually the Voyager appears not to be moving and definitely the one on the 1731 to Manchester Piccadilly, so I find my seat on 221141 and decide it's tea time and tuck into that baguette.
We arrive at Stoke-on-Trent at 1821, and the wait for a bus to Newcastle-under-Lyme is super short, as I find First's 66841 with people queuing up to get on on route 25. We leave at 1827, I get my single for £1.90 and 12 minutes later we arrived after a smooth journey at Newcastle-under-Lyme Bus Station. I get a tad lost looking for the Travelodge, but I find it and arrive about 12 minutes after arriving in the town. After checking in, I find nothing of interest on the TV and end up flicking through stuff, as well as popping out later on to check the times of buses back to Stoke for the morning. Day's review then: Pretty good all in, although tripping on the escalator and standing on that wedged 220 was nasty. Having those 323s was awesome though, and that bus journey was good value. Day's rating of 8/10, and some stats:
Mileage for the day: 136m70c
Highest mileage: 44m30c on 221141
Lowest mileage: 8m18c on 350115
Best bit: 323203 and 323220 on the CrossCity
Worst bit: Tripping on that escalator and 350115 to New Street
No random quotes noted, despite having my ears open for almost all day.
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Right, day 4 now then:
28th November 2011 - Day 4, Cheshire Day Ranger and trip home
7 hours or so of sleep was managed before the alarms at 0730. Having de-rancified last night, as well as doing most of the preparations for departure last night, a coffee and getting ready to leave was all done by 0745. The bus station is reached about 9 minutes later, and First's 66852 does the honours of returning me to the mainline on the 0759 from N-u-L Bus Station after another £1.90 single. Lots of people joining the bus and buying commuter tickets means we don't reach Stoke station until 0824, having left 3 late and the journey only taking 10 minutes longer than last night. I left this early to allow for such a thing, as well as traffic and time to buy a ticket. As it happens, the queue for the ticket office virtually didn't exist, I was seen straight away. I get a map for the ranger in case of it being queried, and join 390051, dud on the 0848 to Manchester Piccadilly. A voucher for 50p off hot drinks on any Virgin service had been picked up at Stoke, so I took advantage of it and got a coffee for £1.45.
Thank Goodness I didn't flag this 390, as when we pass Cheadle Hulme I see a number on the side of a 142 that looked familiar. Out with the NREA and YES!!! 142003, I've finally found my last 142 for sight! Now to find 150141 and the other ex-LM 150s to finish the rather ginormous Northern fleet for sight. We arrive into Manchester's p7 at 0928 or so, and I make my way to p14 from where I got 185115+185141 on an insect leap to Manchester Oxford Road, as 185141 was required for haulage. From there, I dump my plan to get over to Liverpool with Northern and jump on EMT's delayed 0941 to Liverpool with 158774+158858, the latter being red-pen. Just as well I went this way, as on Trafford Park was 66150, 66717 and 66741, 66741 being required for sight, bonus! I suddenly remember after Widnes that I need that bit from the former Garston platforms to Hunts Cross West Junction, so I alight after a rush to get ready at Liverpool South Parkway at 1026. I just miss the 1027, so have to wait for the 1042. 508134 is scooped for sight on the 1039 to Southport, also photted and filmed. Dud 508104 turns up on the 1042 to Hunts Cross, and the track for both the Baker and Quail is done as I returned to Liverpool South Parkway.
Fortunately, I make it with a bit of a run onto 350106 on the 1059 to Liverpool Lime Street, required haulage. We arrive at Liverpool at 1109, and I have a swift walk to p4 for the 1113 to Manchester, which was 156429 and the first of several 156s I got for required haulage during the day. I bail for a station grice at Wavertree Technology Park for the following train to Warrington Bank Quay, formed of 156487 also needed for haulage. 156429 was quite dull, whether it's down to it being refurbished or not I don't know as 156487 and the other 156s were unrefurbished and much more hellfire! Required track comes in the form of Huyton Junction to Earlestown South Junction, the reason for doing this move. We arrive at 1200, 1 up and I see the 1139 to Birmingham is about 32 minutes late. I await the arrival of it in case 221108 or 111 show up, alas no it's 221102. No required haulage there then, and I re-join 156487 on the 1222 to Liverpool. Earlestown is a required station, so I alight and hope to make the Manchester train, however that's already gone so it must have used the Down Slow as we travelled up the reversible Up Slow, never mind at least I've got all the relevant crossovers at Earlestown South now. I film 156462 pass through to Manchester Airport, then wonder what to do.
I go and look for an ATM to get some cash, and find Tesco so get a sandwich meal deal. Back at the station, I eat the Snickers bar out of my meal deal and chat to the Merseyrail staff doing a passenger/ticket survey, who are amazed at the validity of the ranger. 1304, and a nice surprise with ex-LM 150110 turned up. That'll do me nicely, required for sight! I'm only on it to St Helens Junction for a station grice and a +5 onto the next train to Patricroft, but it was nice as well as strange to be on a 150 that was previously down my way. Required haulage again with 156483 on the 1314 onwards to Stalybridge, and the journey to Patricroft passes super quickly. It's not long until 156491 turns up on the 1321 Stalybridge to Liverpool Lime Street, and we leave on time at 1349 with yet more required haulage. At some stations at least, we have smoke coming up from underneath the 156, but after a while it seemed to stop. Concerning, but didn't affect us thankfully. We arrive at p2 at 1443, on time despite being held in the tunnel for what felt like forever.
Just as well that I got to Liverpool at this time, as an incident had occured in Rock Ferry and no trains were running between Birkenhead and Rock Ferry. Required haulage on Merseyrail, wahey, in the form of 508138 takes me to a dud station at Birkenhead Hamilton Square. Direct buses running to Rock Ferry thankfully, and I'm treated to Happy Al's V353 JMB for the 9 minute or so journey, it was quite hellfire too! 507016 is the next southbound train, and we leave at 1512 from platform 2. That was an unexpected micro-grice, and at Bebington we're informed of a 10 minute wait due to our running out of pattern or some such. Apparently we were due to wait for 20-odd minutes originally, but thankfully control got back in touch with the driver and we went after about 5 minutes. The driver made an announcement to the tune of "on behalf of Merseyrail Electrics 2002 Limited, I am deeply, deeply sorry for the delay caused to your journey". Rather different on all counts! Services were expected to be back to normal within half an hour, whether that happened or not I don't know.
We arrive at Ellesmere Port at 1546 or so, after Hooton the track was required which I'd almost forgotten!
Confirmation from the driver was that a unit had derailed during an ECS shunt into the bay platforms in the early hours. Photos and video got of course, as Hooton to Ellesmere Port was the last bit of the Merseyrail network I needed! The 10th TOC on my list then, and I can't help but chant "Another one bites the dust" 150214 arrives from Helsby, and we leave 1 minute late at 1605. Epic wheelslip from most stations on the way to Warrington, never had such a rough journey on a 150! We arrive at Warrington Bank Quay at 1635, 1 minute late. 60010 makes a surprise appearance on northbound HTAs, filmed it as soon as I heard that familiar silenced growl I leave Warrington on 175104 on time at 1651, devoid of any coffee as it was £2.24 for a small one. Get stuffed! Plans for the final part of the evening are made, and that is to get this to Piccadilly and get Levenshulme in the book. After we arrived at Piccadilly at 1728, 2 minutes early I head for the main platforms. I was about to join the 1738 to Crewe for the Levenshulme grice, but saw something better. I dived to the ticket office for a timetable, alas I found no useful one. I jumped on anyway and hoped for the best. Why the fuss? 150141 was on the 1732 to New Mills Central, a required grice at Ashburys was available and 150141 was my last non ex-LM 150 to get for sight. Having spent years getting it for sight, I wasn't letting it go now without getting it in the book!Fortunately, the guard tells me there's a 1748 back to Manchester, that'll do just fine. 150141 is photted and filmed at Ashburys, as are 150274 and 323234. 323230, dud, is on the 1748 back to Manchester, which left 4 minutes late but arrived at 1756 so on time at p2 in Manchester. Time for tea now then, and my first visit to Burger King all trip! The usual is had for £5.67 and I go to p8 to await the arrival of my 175 home. 175011 eventually rolls in at 1820, and there's a lot of people getting off! I force my way on for a table seat and we leave at 1830, on time. The 1730 had been cancelled, so lots of people are on here. We're quite the stopper tonight, all stations after Crewe to Shrewsbury! I take advantage of the time to get my books updated, and find my Baker is not actually up to date from other trips. That gets done and took me forever, the other surprise was that my drink from Burger King last over 90 minutes and run out at Wem! My MP3 player is in my coat, which is in my bag in the space behind my seat, and there's no room to spread out and get to my bag anyway. Grr!
I see plenty of Christmas decorations up on houses around here, far too early! By somewhere between Craven Arms and Ludlow, my books are all up to date, couldn't believe how long it took to do! The passenger next to me alights at Ludlow, finally there's some room to spread out and get to my bag. I'm surprised my ticket hasn't been checked at all, much like my Advance from Birmingham last night, but hey. For £8 last night and £13 today, I did quite well. Eventually, we reach Hereford at 2101, 8 minutes late. Some epic wheelslip had caused some massive amount of that delay, stopping everywhere didn't help mind. I head to the bus station to get the bus home, and Y876 PWT turns up on the 2117 home. On the way home, I tot up the cost of the bash. Just for travel costs, it was £105, which was quite eyebrow-raising. Including the cost of accommodation, food, drink and whatever else, the cost rose to a jaw-dropping, eye-popping £249.14!
hock: hock: hock: Good thing the adventure was a bloody good time eh? I enjoy some tunes for the first time since before Stone last night. Day and trip's review then: Overall, pretty damn decent! Did almost all I wanted from this trip, getting Buxton done was about the only objective not cleared. Some unexpected little bonuses have cropped up, as have some moments that were eye-popping, that taxi being the most major one. Plenty of required new haulages, 25 of them, quite a few new sights, 15 of them. 20 required station grices and tons of mileage. Just a shame that the year's pretty much over in terms of bashing though! Rating of 9/10, and for the final time until my annual review some stats:Mileage for the day: 311m43c
Highest mileage: 114m53c on 175011
Lowest mileage: 0m43c on 185115+185141
Best bit: Finishing the Merseyrail network
Worst bit: 508138 from Lime Street to Birkenhead, was quite full and just so dull
Random quote: "It's a bit small ain't it", of which I have no idea what the rest of the conversation was about, but that was as good as I could hear! And finally:
Total mileage for the trip: 863m61c.
!