anthony263
Established Member
Hi all here is the report from my trip yesterday to Bristol & Newport
Visit to Bristol (13/01/2012)
My day started out well after waking up at 05:20.
After a shower and getting changed I sat down for some breakfast ( Kellogs crunch nut) and a cup of coffee while I was watching Sky News.
After leaving my house at 06:30 and making my way down the street which none of the street light were on so it was a bit dark. Stopping at my local Lloyds TSB cash machine to withdraw £25 before I continued to the bus stop where I arrived at 06:42 having just missed the 06:38 to Bridgend.
After checking I had my plusbus ticket and my railcard and train tickets to Bristol and then consulting my copy of the timetable for service 63/63B I noticed the next bus was at 07:03 so a 25 minute wait. Luckily I didnt have to wait to long even though it was freezing cold a marshal bodied dart turned up (sadly not an Optare solo or plaxton bodied dart) after boarding and showing my plusbus ticket and then chatting to the driver who I know very well we were on out way.
After about 12 minutes we passed the Mc Arthur Glen out near Sarn and dropped off a few people going to work there and at Sainsburys I noticed there were a good number of people waiting at the coach stop so I am guesing they were waiting for the coach to Heathrow/Gatwick wich was due at around 07:30.
Eventually we arrived into Bridgend bus station ( still very nice 9 years after it re-opened) at 07:30, after wishing my freind a good day i then took a walk through Bridgend town centre and on the river walkway which goes over the river which runs through the heart of Bridgend town centre. As it was still pretty dark the walkway was lit up which was very nice.
I eventually got to Bridgend station at 08:00 and made my way through the barriers and saw a class 150 pass through empty stock ready to crossover to the Maesteg branch and reverse back into platform 2 at Bridgend to work the 08:07 Bridgend -Ebbw Vale service, a class 158 turned up sadly my camera was acting up and I was unable to get a photo or take notes but it was 1 of the unrefurbished units in ATW colours with white doors (that should narrow it down).
I took note of the new footbridge complete with lifts which was being built, work seemed to be progressing well. 60054 then came thrashing through Bridgend at 08:38 with the tankers to Westerleigh and eventually my hst arrived at 08:59.
Departing at 09:01 and deciding to hang part of my head out the window i spotted the 3 class 50's at Pulman rail and the class 121 poking its head out of the shed at Canton depot. pulling into platform 1 at Cardiff central at 09:21 1 minute early.
I then made 1 way onboard 158859 which was on the 09:30 Cardiff -Portsmouth Harbour service and we left ontime arriving into Newport at 09:41 I was surprised as I thought the journey took a lot longer so it would be interesting to see how long an EMU would take. We then arrived into Filton Abbey Wood where I spotted a good number of revenue protection officers (This I have heard is now regular) some of whom boarded this service.
Arriving into Bristol Temple Beads at 10:16 I then intended to go have a wander when I spotted 158763 pulling into Platform 1 to work the 10:31 service to Avonmouth. I have never done the Severn Beach line on a 158 so it was a bit of a treat.
I got off at Avonmouth to get some photos of 158763 and then get the next service from Bristol which would be working to Severn Beach. 150120 turned up at 11:40 and then things desended into a bit of a farce and the signal wouldnt change even though the barriers at the level crossing had come down, it took some time to sort this out and we eventually departed 13 minutes late.
A quick turn around was had at Severn beach and we departed Severn beach 10 minutes late. Once we arrived at Bristol TM I noticed that they had cancelled the 12:34 service to Avonmouth which should have been worked by 150120 most likely to regulate the service and get things back on time.
I then had some lunch before heading up to Filton Abbey wood and then Bristol Parkway to get some photos. I then noted that the 13:09 service to Portsmouth was worked by a very overcrowded class 150 whith a few being left behind at Filton Abbey wood. however later on in the day I found out a class 158 had been attached at Bristol TM.
I did a bit of bus spotting/photography at Bristol Parkway including a bus ride to Shirehampton and back.
I then headed on a service down to Bath spa and spent about 35 minutes there before I got back to Bristol TM and then going to Parson street.
I got back to Bristol TM around 16:30 and I noted that the next service to Avonmouth had about 30 people waiting to board so this just showed how buy this line is during the peaks. I boarded crosscountrys 17:00 Manchester service which I travelled on as far as Bristol Parkway.
I did a bit of night photography there before I boarded the 17:41 Swansea service as far as Newport where I did some more night photography.
Eventually I boarded the 18:31 FGW service to Swansea as far as Bridgend arriving at 19:10 where I then got the 19:23 Pembroke Dock service to Pyle which departed at 19:24 and arrived in to Pyle at 19:30.
I then made my way to the local bus stop and got the next bus which was 1 of first cymru's small fleet of Optare solo's and got home at 19:46.
So overall a good day out with the highlight being a trip over the severn beach line on a class 158.
Some shots also attached including 1 or 2 night or near night shots and at least 1 photo of a bus for variety.
Visit to Bristol (13/01/2012)
My day started out well after waking up at 05:20.
After a shower and getting changed I sat down for some breakfast ( Kellogs crunch nut) and a cup of coffee while I was watching Sky News.
After leaving my house at 06:30 and making my way down the street which none of the street light were on so it was a bit dark. Stopping at my local Lloyds TSB cash machine to withdraw £25 before I continued to the bus stop where I arrived at 06:42 having just missed the 06:38 to Bridgend.
After checking I had my plusbus ticket and my railcard and train tickets to Bristol and then consulting my copy of the timetable for service 63/63B I noticed the next bus was at 07:03 so a 25 minute wait. Luckily I didnt have to wait to long even though it was freezing cold a marshal bodied dart turned up (sadly not an Optare solo or plaxton bodied dart) after boarding and showing my plusbus ticket and then chatting to the driver who I know very well we were on out way.
After about 12 minutes we passed the Mc Arthur Glen out near Sarn and dropped off a few people going to work there and at Sainsburys I noticed there were a good number of people waiting at the coach stop so I am guesing they were waiting for the coach to Heathrow/Gatwick wich was due at around 07:30.
Eventually we arrived into Bridgend bus station ( still very nice 9 years after it re-opened) at 07:30, after wishing my freind a good day i then took a walk through Bridgend town centre and on the river walkway which goes over the river which runs through the heart of Bridgend town centre. As it was still pretty dark the walkway was lit up which was very nice.
I eventually got to Bridgend station at 08:00 and made my way through the barriers and saw a class 150 pass through empty stock ready to crossover to the Maesteg branch and reverse back into platform 2 at Bridgend to work the 08:07 Bridgend -Ebbw Vale service, a class 158 turned up sadly my camera was acting up and I was unable to get a photo or take notes but it was 1 of the unrefurbished units in ATW colours with white doors (that should narrow it down).
I took note of the new footbridge complete with lifts which was being built, work seemed to be progressing well. 60054 then came thrashing through Bridgend at 08:38 with the tankers to Westerleigh and eventually my hst arrived at 08:59.
Departing at 09:01 and deciding to hang part of my head out the window i spotted the 3 class 50's at Pulman rail and the class 121 poking its head out of the shed at Canton depot. pulling into platform 1 at Cardiff central at 09:21 1 minute early.
I then made 1 way onboard 158859 which was on the 09:30 Cardiff -Portsmouth Harbour service and we left ontime arriving into Newport at 09:41 I was surprised as I thought the journey took a lot longer so it would be interesting to see how long an EMU would take. We then arrived into Filton Abbey Wood where I spotted a good number of revenue protection officers (This I have heard is now regular) some of whom boarded this service.
Arriving into Bristol Temple Beads at 10:16 I then intended to go have a wander when I spotted 158763 pulling into Platform 1 to work the 10:31 service to Avonmouth. I have never done the Severn Beach line on a 158 so it was a bit of a treat.
I got off at Avonmouth to get some photos of 158763 and then get the next service from Bristol which would be working to Severn Beach. 150120 turned up at 11:40 and then things desended into a bit of a farce and the signal wouldnt change even though the barriers at the level crossing had come down, it took some time to sort this out and we eventually departed 13 minutes late.
A quick turn around was had at Severn beach and we departed Severn beach 10 minutes late. Once we arrived at Bristol TM I noticed that they had cancelled the 12:34 service to Avonmouth which should have been worked by 150120 most likely to regulate the service and get things back on time.
I then had some lunch before heading up to Filton Abbey wood and then Bristol Parkway to get some photos. I then noted that the 13:09 service to Portsmouth was worked by a very overcrowded class 150 whith a few being left behind at Filton Abbey wood. however later on in the day I found out a class 158 had been attached at Bristol TM.
I did a bit of bus spotting/photography at Bristol Parkway including a bus ride to Shirehampton and back.
I then headed on a service down to Bath spa and spent about 35 minutes there before I got back to Bristol TM and then going to Parson street.
I got back to Bristol TM around 16:30 and I noted that the next service to Avonmouth had about 30 people waiting to board so this just showed how buy this line is during the peaks. I boarded crosscountrys 17:00 Manchester service which I travelled on as far as Bristol Parkway.
I did a bit of night photography there before I boarded the 17:41 Swansea service as far as Newport where I did some more night photography.
Eventually I boarded the 18:31 FGW service to Swansea as far as Bridgend arriving at 19:10 where I then got the 19:23 Pembroke Dock service to Pyle which departed at 19:24 and arrived in to Pyle at 19:30.
I then made my way to the local bus stop and got the next bus which was 1 of first cymru's small fleet of Optare solo's and got home at 19:46.
So overall a good day out with the highlight being a trip over the severn beach line on a class 158.
Some shots also attached including 1 or 2 night or near night shots and at least 1 photo of a bus for variety.
Just a couple of issues to discuss...
On the other hand, if it was on a SPA1, you can have a halo for a present. Having seen this though has reminded me of something - I've still never taken a pic of a bendy, and I've been using them for nearly 30 months! Not to mention I will need one for a presentation due on March 1st...