185143-Trip Publishing Expected?

[Techniquest]

What a day of mixed events for you, but nice work with the red pen, especially with clearing the 333s!

 

[Kite159]

It was nice to meet up again to say hi before you dashed off on a 158

I believe that you can reserve seats on Leeds - Carlisle services, as I have seen seat reservation labels for a coach party placed. Congrats on clearing the 333s and sounded like a bit of a farce heading home but at least you made it

 

[185143]

It was nice to meet up again to say hi before you dashed off on a 158

I believe that you can reserve seats on Leeds - Carlisle services, as I have seen seat reservation labels for a coach party placed. Congrats on clearing the 333s and sounded like a bit of a farce heading home but at least you made it

They'll do it for groups-but ordinarily not. I'll keep my opinion of Northern reserving an entire coach of a single 158 for a coach party aside for now

 

[Kite159]

They'll do it for groups-but ordinarily not. I'll keep my opinion of Northern reserving an entire coach of a single 158 for a coach party aside for now

At least it was only one coach party, could be worse, it could have been 2 groups

 

[roversfan2001]

Apart from the Wigan fans dissing - a good report. Certainly got more use out of a Northern F&F ranger than I did at least.

 

[185143]

Runcorn to Manchester-the (very) long way round 17/06/2017

The day started at about 05:00-about 10 minutes later than intended due to my alarm not going off (explains a lot!). I woke up and went downstairs for breakfast. We left about 20 minutes later for Runcorn, as I had an advance on the 06:03 Pendo to Stafford. I made a balls up of buying my onward ticket from Euston (which I’d only realise on the 390). Winner 390115 produced for the 30 minute move. I went to the onboard shop for a drink (which I’m sure was chingier than the last time I used VTs onboard shop!) (Or maybe it was because the crew were from Liverpool...)

I bailed at Stafford to go and get an excess (zero fare) which was issued without problem. I also took the opportunity to buy a piece from Hove to West Worthing. Dud (from a bloody South Parkway leap!) 350127 arrived to form the 06:48 Stafford-London Euston. I could have stayed on the pendo-but I’m far too tight to pay Beardy Branson’s ching! I was asked for my £5.95 advanced pretty much as soon as the train departed. I’d managed to get the table to myself too! The journey was pretty uneventful until Rugby where a fellow enthusiast boarded and we spent the remainder of the journey talking about our plans for the day. (Hello if you’re reading!)

We briefly went our separate ways, but ended up walking into the Underground together. He was off to London Bridge and I was heading for Victoria-so we wished each other a good day and got on our trains. My train was winners 11069+11070, which I bailed out of at required shack Warren Street. After waiting for TWO WHOLE MINUTES, winners 11011+11012 were taken to Oxford Circus. After a more standard 30 second wait, duds 11083+11084 whisked me to Green Park, making a lovely noise as they did. I bailed at Green Park and picked up winners 11045+11046 to Victoria. My ticket was routed ‘Any Permitted’ to Brighton (Well, Hove) I’m not sure if it’s a loophole so I’m deliberately not naming it. I was surprised that it rejected in the ticket barrier, and I must confess to being slightly disappointed that I was let through without issue. It genuinely seemed hard to believe I was at the same gateline you read of on here so frequently!

I boarded a surprisingly busy required 387221 to Gatwick Airport and... if I’m truly honest... I was quite impressed! It was my first time on GTR’s Gatwick Express and we got a good run. I couldn’t help but smile at the friendly OBS’s guard badge-the kind a preserved railway guard would have, as well as the official GTR ‘OBS’ name badge. Tourist con excepted-it genuinely felt like it had the potential to be a very good service. (If any senior GTR management are reading-and want to thank me for being so nice about your scam rip off con farce service, feel free to do so!)

I bailed at Gatwick, where the train terminated, and waited 15 minutes for the next Tomato Gatwick Express down to Brighton, flagging a pair of GTR Southern 377s in the process. Taking a table for myself at the front of Fresh Air Carrier number 387203 with 387204 tagged along for the ride, both winner obviously. Arrival into Brighton, which felt a bit like a much busier Inverness, was on time.

I headed over to Platform 1 for winner 377437 for the mega mileage move to Hove-where I bailed after hearing an announcement from the driver. Those of you who are anti-DOO-let this sink in:

‘If there is an OBS onboard, can you please contact the driver.’

Err... what do you mean ‘IF’?! Surely you should already know! As it turned out, there was an OBS but that is NOT the point!

I bailed out onto a tropical Hove station for a 15 minute wait, where I had one thing on my mind: a cold drink. My excess didn’t open the barriers-I had no idea whether it would or not, but I was let out no problem. I headed to a petrol station near the station and got 2 drinks for £2. One of them didn’t even make it back to the station it was so hot and I was very thirsty! Expecting a 313, I was disappointed when a well loaded 377453 pulled in. I boarded and stood by the door for the short hop to Portslade. As the train was a few minutes late (on GTR Southern, no way (!)) I had about 3 minutes to wait.

Remembering the doors don’t open automatically (thanks Kite159!) I boarded winner 313208 to Fishersgate. I sat down momentarily on a very familiar seat, and listen to some very familiar thrash! The only things that were different from what I’m used to on Merseyrail were the windows aren’t stupidly restricted like they are on 507s and 508s (clearly the people of GTR Southern land are trusted not to throw bottles out of their PEPs!) I was the only person to bail at Fishersgate for a 30 minute fester for the next PEP. The fester went quite quickly-and I managed not to melt before boarding 313206 to Southwick. One thing I’d noticed was the OBSs seemed to set up their own little ticket offices and stay in the same point throughout the journey-which seems like a good idea.

The worst thing about being on a safe, Guard operated train is not knowing where the guard will be. (I’ll stop now or else it’ll sound as though I approve of GTR’s conversion of the Safety Critical Guard into a sham OBS role...)

I picked up winner 377136 to Shoreham by Sea, where I decided to pop (pun intended) into the coffee shop for an ice cream. I’d be disappointed there, but I did come away with an cola ice pop-for the massive sum of 20p. I spent the next 10 minutes having a chat with the friendly shop owner-she couldn’t quite believe why I was there! She wished me luck on my travels and I returned to the platform for winner 377436 one stop up the line to Lancing. I wanted to go to the Asda at Lancing-but I would have missed 313215 to East Worthing. I had another 30 minute fester at East Worthing-so I went and relieved a local shop of 2 bottles of Pepsi Max for £1.50. I returned to the very warm shack and read the free local paper. The wait dragged here for some reason, and I wasn’t very impressed to see 313208 return, especially as it would be forming my train from West Worthing too!

I bailed at Worthing and made a quick trip to the gents before taking 377142 (imagines pacers on GTR Southern...) to West Worthing. As I boarded, I’d had a tweet from every Southern user’s saviour, @SouthernMalachi, asking if I was on a DaySave. I alighted at West Worthing, the furthest point I’d reach for today and crossed over to the other side to await 313208’s return from the turnback. A dud 377 arrived working a London Victoria service, which was flagged for the 313.

I stayed on the 313 as far as Angmering, where I had another same direction half an hour fester-about half of which was spent talking to a normal with her dog, who seemed fascinated by what I was doing! We boarded a well loaded 313206 (hello you) back to Brighton-where it was time to head to GTR’s Thameslink branded service to Preston Park. I was sat in the Declassified First Class of winner 700106 for about 20 minutes before it’s booked departure time of 14:35. 14:35 comes and goes, we’re still at Brighton. The dispatcher tells us we’re waiting for a driver...

The train departed at 14:49-NOT FUNNY GTR! 1 minute from qualifying for delay repay. GRR! It reduced my fester at Preston Park to around 15 minutes though-so it wasn’t all bad. Winner 700007 formed the next Thameslink branded service, which I took to Hassocks. And that’s where it all went Tango Uniform...

I had a 30 minute fester for the 15:45 Thameslink, as the GTR Southern at 15:36 annoyingly didn’t stop at Burgess Hill. Literally JUST. AS. THE. 377s. DEPARTED: ‘Thameslink are sorry to announce that the 15:45 Thameslink service to Bedford has been cancelled’ after muttering a lot of swear words about GTR, I headed to a very cold Sainsbury’s Local for something to do, coming back with a drink.

Eventually, a well loaded 700016 arrived and took me to Burgess Hill. I quite like the 700s actually-they’re excellent at shifting hundreds of people! At Burgess Hill, I had to hastily re-plan my bash-as the original plan was unrecoverable (Eff you Thameslink). I took a Southern branded train, winner 377439, to Haywards Heath.

I helped myself to a few Network maps from the waiting room and waited for the Bedford train. It was a pair of Thameslink branded 377s. Taking a seat in winner 377520, I plugged my phone in for the 7 minute trip through the 700 depot (as it feels) and into Three Bridges. Dud 377519 had tagged along for the ride too. I ran over to an opposite platform as a pair of GTR Southern 377s were arriving. I jumped on the nearest door-and was rather unamused to see I was on dud 377450! The rear unit was winner 377465. I bailed at Gatwick Airport to get the Gatwick Express branded train into Victoria. Again, I wasn’t too impressed to see dud 387221 working the service! I boarded and plugged my phone in, and waited for the train to leave.

Departure was about 3 minutes behind schedule, which the OBS did a good job of apologising for, and announced he was doing a ticket check, and therefore asked everyone to have tickets ready. I heard the OBS requesting a couple of people to pay the excess to the route any permitted tickets... the journey went without problems until the East Croydon area. We slowed down ‘As we were stuck behind a slower Southern train’. We seemed to stop at every signal into Victoria, and I was starting to get a bit nervous about my connection. We eventually arrived at 18:14, 14 late (Again, GTR, NOT FUNNY.) Which, to be fair, both the OBS and the Driver apologised profusely on behalf of ‘Gatwick Express’ (whoever they are?) for.

I headed to the Underground very quickly, and walked straight onto duds 11075+11076 to Euston. Due to the delay, I didn’t have time to get a drink or any scran for the journey home, which was annoying. However, all of that was forgotten when I walked onto the platform. I picked up some money, ID’d the units and boarded. I needed 12 350s: I had double winners 350370+350108-on a mandatory move too. Score!
The Journey back oop nowf was alright, no Brummie veg to talk to this time though. We were held at Stafford to let a late running Pendo through, where I realised that we were taking the Norton Bridge flyover-and it was winner track! The 2 hour 44 minute journey eventually came to an end at Crewe, where I headed for some long awaited Starship thrash! (Can you tell I’m tight?) back to Manchester Piccadilly.

323231 certainly made some nice noises that’s for sure! That was a great run up to Manchester, and it didn’t feel like it took 50 minutes which is never a bad thing. I got some much needed scran from Sainsbury’s, and went up to platform 14. 185108 provided the thrash on the 23:07 Liverpool service, which I took back to Birchwood. As the last bus had departed, the long day was concluded by walking home.

Heavy Rail Shacks:17
LU Shacks:1
Winners (Heavy Rail):20
Winners (LU):6

 

[roversfan2001]

Nice report - what was the cock up with the ticket? I'm surprised you weren't on LM&Southern only Liverpool-Brighton Advances too - can't be that tight!

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a good day in Southern land

And remember "This is the Southern service to..."

 

[Blindtraveler]

2he truly rubbish GTR strikes again. Good day though!

 

[185143]

Nice report - what was the cock up with the ticket? I'm surprised you weren't on LM&Southern only Liverpool-Brighton Advances too - can't be that tight!

They are VERY restricted! Bought the ticket to Brighton instead of Hove

 

[185143]

Sounded like a good day in Southern land

And remember "This is the Southern service to..."

It's 'This train is the Southern service to...' actually!

 

[alexf380]

Sounds like a good day in a part of the world I've yet to visit. Hopefully the 313s can stay around for a wee while yet.

 

[Techniquest]

That was a long and busy day! I rather fancy a spin on Southern 313s now mind.

Ouch to the delays on the way home though, that sucks travelling home while hungry!

 

[185143]

We are Spontaneous! (A Summer Sunday Special) 18/06/17

This bash was very spontaneous-and in fact I’ve borrowed the title from Arriva Rail North’s own advertising! I’m sure they won’t mind as I’m advertising their network in a way... (If anyone from Northern wants to thank me with some free tickets-that’d be lovely!)

I woke up on the living room sofa with a sore head, but decided (unlike a fellow trip reporter on an ALR ) that I was going out anyway. I set off walking to the station and boarded the 10:06 to Manchester, armed with a Northern Family and Friends ticket. I’d hastily crafted together a decent plan on the way to the station. 142005 bounced me to Deansgate, where my plan was to go to the shop just outside the station and get a bite to eat and a drink-but it had shut down! Hungry and thirsty, I boarded double duds 150103 (with a lighting failure in the front coach) and 150228. The service to sunny Southport was rather busy, but I managed to squeeze into a seat. The thrash of this thing up to Wigan was rather good!

Normally of course, I would take the micky out of Wigan, however their strange obsession with pies was something I appreciated-I had 20 minutes to change trains, and a pie barm (no, I’m not making that up sadly...) would go down well. Unfortunately, I saw something that has never been seen in Pieland before: the pie shop opposite the station was closed! Thankfully the rather nice cafe next door was open, so a cheese and ham toastie was (literally) the order of the day. The toastie went down rather well, and I headed to Wigan North Western, flagging a Scotland service, which felt... odd. 156466 provided some very good thrash on the 11:30 Blackpool North service. Perhaps I should elaborate on my plan: I would take this 156 to Preston, have 9 minutes to get the Barrow to Lancaster, have about 30 minutes there, over to Skipton and up the S&C.

Unfortunately... the signaller had other ideas.

We stopped outside Preston station for 7 minutes and, due to the amount of people alighting with luggage, I was on the footbridge when I heard 185 thrash. Well that had totally buggered my plan! I headed to the waiting room for a delay repay form and to decide my next move-whilst feeling as though my ticket had been a bit wasted. I ventured onto platform 4 at about 12:40 to look for someone in a red jacket-I’d missed a perfectly valid connection and the next Northern train to Lancaster wasn’t for 2 hours. The advantage of a crew change at Preston is that you get more time to explain the issue to TMs, which for a basher with complicated journeys is always good!

The sympathetic Train Manager kindly said aye to my request, so I boarded a nice and cool 390141 for the journey to Carlisle. I took a table seat in the middle of Coach U and carried on typing up Saturday’s trip report. I’d noticed a towel left on the table and, as we slowed for Lancaster, I found out why. Water was pouring out of the roof! The journey over Shap was, quite frankly, amazing given the weather outside-it really is hard to imagine you are on one of the countries busiest long distance routes! The pendo made light work of it, however we somehow lost 5 minutes en route. As I had over 3 hours to use, I headed over to platform 5 for some 156 thrash on the Tyne Valley. I’d forgotten just how nice this route is (especially at the Carlisle end)-and 156469 seemed to fly along! I alighted at Wylam some 51 miles and 70 minutes later to await the Carlisle service.

156438 pulled in a few minutes later to take me back to Carlisle. I was glad to see the train arrive as the sound of the River Tyne near the station was making me need a PNB! I boarded the train at the end where the bog isn’t, of course, so I headed to the other end of the unit to use the facility-showing my ticket to the guard first. (I hate boarding trains and diving straight in the bog-as a young person it just screams of avoiding the guard!) This train was much busier than the Eastbound, but I still found an empty table somehow. This train stopped at all shacks, yet the journey seemed to pass even quicker than the outward!
Arrival into Carlisle was on time at 16:44, so I headed to the chippy before boarding the 17:00 Leeds service, which I was glad I checked as in my head I had it departing at 17:20! A very nice fishcake and chips was devoured and I found a table on 158757. The air con did appear to be working-just. It was a slight draft at best. Whether it was the temperature onboard or the intensity of the sun shining through the window, I don’t know-but I just couldn’t get comfortable. At Appleby I noticed, annoyingly, that there was a later Blackpool service. Of course! Dalesrail! I therefore decided I was getting that. I bailed out at Ribblehead and walked over to the other side of the viaduct in order to film the last Northbound 158 pass over. Seeing the last Northbound S&C train depart a remote S&C shack was starting to bring bad memories back...

I walked back to the shack and, thankfully, hadn’t misread the timetable this time as there were several walkers waiting for the train, and 158901 arrived bang on time at 19:22. I hadn’t yet decided where to take this unit to-Blackburn was ruled out quite quickly due to a poor connection, Preston was ok, and Blackpool had a good connection (13 mins) onto the Manchester Airport service. To the seaside! This unit was much cooler as all the windows were open! Turning right at Hellifield was a little unusual, and it was quite a slow run down to Clitheroe where we arrived about 3 early. The Clitheroe branch was quite a bit more scenic than I remembered, and the train got quite busy at Clitheroe. We lost a few minutes at Blackburn as the ex-Leeds (158906) was late. Pausing briefly at Bamber Bridge and Lostock Hall to let a lot of hikers off (think it’s the first time I’ve called at those stations on a 158) felt odd. There was a mass exodus with just three other passengers in my carriage for the trip to the coast. It’s been a while since I’ve been to Blackpool on the train (I went on the bus last time I went) and I’d forgotten how nice the line is! The jointed track on the approach to BPN was a nice surprise that I’d forgotten about. I need to do the VT Vomiter up here at some point, that’s saved for a Lancs Day Ranger-whenever I can be bothered to do one again.

On arrival into Blackpool North, I had to walk past my unlocked Manchester Airport train and go and stand on the concourse behind a locked door for 10 minutes. Eventually the doors were unlocked and all 8 of us waiting took our seats onboard 156466. The service was diverted to avoid Bolton, and was running non stop from Preston to Deansgate! As you’d expect, there were people onboard treated to an unexpected thrash-tastic run to Manchester... the guard didn’t announce it twice at Blackpool and twice at Preston at all...

Due to the non stop run, we arrived into Deansgate at 22:46, 5 early. The last Cheshire Lines stopper was at 22:47. I decided to go for it...

After a very fast run under the station, I made it over to Platform 2 in time to jump onto 150223 through the Guard’s local door for a boring mundane trip home after a long day on the rails. I’d normally conclude with how many winners and shacks I’d had-but I didn’t win anything! I wasn’t bothered though-I wanted a spontaneous, unplanned day out-and I certainly got it!

 

[Blindtraveler]

See, it is possible to go bashing with a bad head, drink related or otherwise.


What time does that last blackpool service depart Carlisle of a Sunday evening? Hatching a plan to go do it.

The doors/other such nonsense situatuion at BPN is just maddening, esp if your trains in and unlocked. preston to Deensgate non stop sounds fun too. Thanks for sharing this

 

[185143]

See, it is possible to go bashing with a bad head, drink related or otherwise.


What time does that last blackpool service depart Carlisle of a Sunday evening? Hatching a plan to go do it.

The doors/other such nonsense situatuion at BPN is just maddening, esp if your trains in and unlocked. preston to Deensgate non stop sounds fun too. Thanks for sharing this

17:57 CAR-BPN. Not running the next two weeks though-and finishes something like October 10th.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Due to engineering work I assume?

 

[alexf380]

I'm just never going to live that down, am I?

A good, varied day seeing many parts of the north.

 

[roversfan2001]

Sounds like a good day was had - even with the delays en route. I've done Deansgate to Preston non stop on a couple of late evening Saturday services...well I say 'non stop', we've been held at a signal at Wigan NW both times!

 

[185143]

I'm just never going to live that down, am I?

A good, varied day seeing many parts of the north.

Nope!

 

[Blindtraveler]

I'm just never going to live that down, am I?

Hell no!

And if you get married and book the disco with yours truly at very reasonable rates I may add then I will iether mersylessly joke about it all night or worse still tell the best man! On the other hand I do do bribery!

 

[alexf380]

Hell no!

And if you get married and book the disco with yours truly at very reasonable rates I may add then I will either mercilessly joke about it all night or worse still tell the best man! On the other hand I do do bribery!

Would a first class trip to Pacer land be good enough for you?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Sold, to the man in the Icecream shop!

 

[Kite159]

Would a first class trip to Pacer land be good enough for you?

Will probably need to be to Exeter for proper Pacers on the direct XC service

 

[Blindtraveler]

Na just a VTWC First Advance

 

[alexf380]

As soon as tickets become available for December 2019 let me know. It'll take me that long to save up for them!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Know what you mean!

 

[Techniquest]

Another top read there 185143, a nice bit of variety had

 

[185143]

‘I’ve got winners on my mind!’- 03/07/2017

Yes, I know this report is very late. I had issues with my tablet and it had to be repaired, then I forgot all about it... so here it is!

I started the day by getting a lift to Manchester Victoria, so that I could catch the 09:48 to the wrong side of the Pennines. Yep, it’s Northern Family and Friends time again! I’d requested gen on some units, some of which were gettable, so I decided to head for those. Dud 158759 formed the first leg of my journey, but I wasn’t too bothered at that point-I’ve learnt not to expect anything from positioning moves. But it was on this train that the aforementioned tablet problems would strike. I got it out of my bag to spend the 80 minutes working on my Rail Miles Spreadsheet, but the screen refused to switch on. However the tablet was on as the volume buttons were working. Hmm... As such I put my tablet away and enjoyed the scenery instead, which is very nice, although as Roversfan2001 said in his report, a bit slow! (You’ve got a PM heading your way for details on that Leeds ticket btw)

The train arrived into Leeds on time, and I bailed after what was quite a nice journey. I was still winging it at this point, so I just looked around for winners-knowing I needed to head to South Yorkshire later. ‘Later’ would become immediately-as winner 322485 was waiting to work the 11:21 to Doncaster. This left me with just one more Northern EMU to get...

It was a nice thrashy run to Doncaster, and I’m sure I don’t need to tell you where I was sat! Arrival into Doncaster was on time and again, my plan was to wait for a winner. After nearly an hour, a winner arrived (admittedly I wasn’t looking at XC and VTEC), but it said ‘East Midlands Trains’ on the side. Knowing that the 14:25 Lincoln-Scunthorpe was a required 153, I asked the guard, sorry Senior Conductor(!), if I could board, and was given permission to do so.

Therefore, 153381 was given the red pen treatment for the rather long (well, longer than I remembered it being) journey to Lincoln. I wandered into the City Centre for a supply raid and returned to catch the 14:25 to Scunthorpe, which was.... a pacer! On it’s own. And a dud one too. I frustratedly boarded 144003 for the long slog to Sheffield. Wow, that was slow and boring!

I was more than happy to bail at Sheffield! I needed to head back to Leeds, and had a +4. The signaller decided to be kind and hold my pacer at a signal outside Sheffield and sent a required 158 past me. Great, I’ll get that later! ‘SCARBOROUGH’ was the destination shown on the back. Ok, maybe not!
Another unit passes, a required pacer going to Lincoln. Really not appreciated! The Leeds was formed of dud 158816 with the awful Chapman seats, which wasn’t too much of an issue, as I didn’t actually have one! I bailed at Barnsley, along with most of the train for a chippy move.

As much as I highly rate deep fried Mars bars, I draw the line at deep fried CREME EGGS! One day I will... But today I handed over £1.15 for a mars bar. I returned to the shack to await the next Leeds service to find a required 144 in the Sheffield platform. I could take that to Wombwell and still get to Leeds! ‘Buzz buzz’ then thrash told me otherwise! The Leeds stopper was dud (I can see the looks of disbelief in your eyes here(!)) So I waited for the express which was formed of high mileage dud 158849. I’ve got to say, hopefully someone from Northern will pick up on this, the unit was absolutely filthy! On top of that, several seats (including the entire bay of 4 across from me) had absolutely no seat covers at all! Even by Northern standards, it was very, very poor.

Despite my issues with the train, it arrived into Leeds on time at 17:16. And what did I see departing? 153304 on the Goole! The one I was after on that bloody Lincoln-Sheffield! It literally felt like that gameshow (I forget the name of it-Peter Kay mentioned it in one of his shows) where it was as if Northern were pushing units past me like ‘Here’s what you could have won!’

Anyway, arriving in time to board the Goole service would have left me between a rock and a hard place, as there was a good reason I was back in Leeds... I headed over to Platform 4 (I think) to board the 17:26 to Skipton, bailing at Shipley International. I didn’t think I’d actually manage to board, but managed to squeeze into the front coach somehow. I seem to recall reading on here a while ago that this was the busiest train from Leeds all day? 333008 was certainly very cosy! I bailed at Shipley to await the arrival of the Ilkley train around 15 minutes later. This, amazingly, had not been swapped! 322482 arrived to take me over to Guiseley. Last Northern EMU scored! MYLORDZ!

It’s been a while since I’d covered the line through Baildon, and after what felt like no time, it was time to bail at Guiseley. I had a 10 minute wait or so, so I parked myself in the waiting room to wait for the Leeds train. I knew it’d be dud, but there was little I could do about that! I took a seat on 333010 and resisted the temptation to avail myself of Northern’s free wifi due to my dwindling phone percentage.

Next task when I arrived at Leeds: Huddersfield for my last Northern 150, 150134. I’d got the gen from Northern for earlier in the day (but it’d have meant a fairly time consuming detour from my Calder Valley 158). I worked out it’s diagrams and realised I could get it back across the Pennines on the Huddersfield-Man Vic stopper. I wandered around, but couldn’t find any winners. I knew the guard on a Liverpool TPE who let me travel to Huddersfield on 185114 for some much needed phone charge.
I had over an hour at Huddersfield until the 20:15 Man Vic stopper so, after noticing the Penistone line pacer was dud, I decided to head to Slaithwaite for some more mileage on my last Northern 150. Dud 150132 did the honours to Slaithwaite-I was more than happy to get off that one, having previously had it from Sheffield to Filey...

I eventually found the other platform, having gone the wrong way initially, and it was a 7 minute fester for my last Northern 150! Or not...

The Huddersfield service arrived, a 4 car 150-the leading unit being 150141 and the rear one being 15014...2! I took a seat onboard muttering more than a few choice words towards Northern’s allocater. A quick tweet to Northern told me it was on the way to Clitheroe-and I wouldn’t be able to get it. Great. Being in dire need of a drink, and point blank refusing to pay the prices on the station, I wandered out to Sainsburys... which was closed! That was the least of my problems now. I got back to the station to find a lack of 150s. I’d managed to miss the train somehow! I briefly considered jumping on the Retford train as a fill in move, but bailed it for some electricity instead.

At 21:10, I wandered outside to find yet another rancid 150 on the Huddersfield-Man Vic stoppers-this one being 150103. Remember how I said I saw a winner pacer at Barnsley earlier-but couldn’t get to it in time? WELL GUESS WHAT WAS SAT ON PLATFORM 1! This had become way beyond a joke by now-I quite frankly was sick of trains and just wanted to go home. And I’ve *never * said that before!

The journey to Manchester was quite peaceful-until Greenfield, where a group of people got on and seemed to be playing a game, presumably entitled ‘Who can say the word F*** the most between Greenfield and Stalybridge?’ At least once they F***ed off (couldn’t resist it!) It was again a not too unpleasant journey to Manchester. Waiting for the last Cheshire Line stopper was effort, so I took the 22:09 Liverpool to Newton-le-Willows and got picked up.

The Liverpool train was a pair of 319s, 319361 and 319371 providing some much needed, and highly appreciated motor noise across the Moss. Interestingly, despite the rear unit being locked out, the station PIS at Victoria, Eccles and Newton all showed the train as having 8 carriages! I begun to take back my earlier statement of ‘I’m sick of trains, I just want to go home’-I could have stayed on that freezing cold 319 with all the windows open, listening to the motors at 90mph all night!

I was glad that I’d managed to get my last 2 Northern EMUs, don’t get me wrong, but it was without a doubt the worst bashing day I’ve had in a while. Quite frankly, I wish I’d saved my Family & Friends Voucher and gone Merseyrail vegging! I know I hear some of you saying ‘but you didn’t get any winners that Sunday you went to Wylam’-that would be true, but I hadn’t set out with winners on my mind then... (I’ve changed the title of this report to that actually!)

There won’t be another report for about 4 weeks now-I’m in America for 3 weeks from Sunday, spending a couple days recovering from the overnight transatlantic flight then I have something big planned...

 

[Kite159]

Bullseye

Congrats on your last 2 Northern EMUs for haulage, but harsh on getting bowled out several times with unit swaps. Always a risk at Manchester Victoria where it seems to happen quite a bit.

Which part of America be you heading off to?