55013's Contemporary Trip Reports

[45135]

You done it, then?
I tell you what, the next time I'm down that way, I'm going to be sorely tempted.

Nah, just looked it up. The other one that sprang to mind was Manchester Piccadilly-Oxford Road, but there doesn't seem to be a first class fare available for that journey.

 

[Kite159]

I've found an even shorter 'leap' where a first class is available.

For the sum of £3.90 for an Anytime single (or £4.30 for a day return) you can sample the delights of first class between Brighton & London Road (Brighton), all 57 chains of it

Beats the leap between Exeter Central & St Davies by 5 chains

 

[55013]

I've found an even shorter 'leap' where a first class is available.

For the sum of £3.90 for an Anytime single (or £4.30 for a day return) you can sample the delights of first class between Brighton & London Road (Brighton), all 57 chains of it

Beats the leap between Exeter Central & St Davies by 5 chains

Fantastic!
I wonder how many people are so desperate to avoid the proles that they plump for this ticket

 

[Kite159]

Fantastic!
I wonder how many people are so desperate to avoid the proles that they plump for this ticket

And end up on a 313

I think I've found an even shorter leap with a 1st class ticket. Charing Cross to Waterloo East @ 61 chains, will cost you a mere £4.20 each way

 

[55013]

I think I'll Give that one a miss.

 

[Kristofferson]

Agh more 68s... Jealous. I have the opposite problem to Mr Techniquest... Can I buy some time from someone please??

Some brilliant photos there and yes, I did read the reports as well always a pleasure

 

[55013]

Many thanks.
I was out and about again yesterday, so there'll be another one coming soon

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Well, Mrs 13 has got a mate over and as they're both currently giggling in the kitchen, I've had time to knock this out

In order to prevent a nervous breakdown I have taken to booking one Friday a month off work to have a railway move.
I’ve been on moves for the last few months, as evidenced by my reports and have found the therapy works wonders when it comes to stress

Anyway, I had booked Friday the 10th of July off and as I know 45135 has been fancying a North Wales 67 bash suggested this as a date to do it.
Unfortunately, he was unavailable, so I had to think again.

My original plan had been to sate my desire for some 314 action, however when I saw that required 321411 had been taken to Doncaster I got in a bit of a flap.
My understanding is that when they go to Scotland 321411 – 321417 will lose their trailer coaches.
I have been trying to get a run on each of these vehicles before the units are split up and had so far managed to get no more than two of the seven.
This unhappy state of affairs couldn’t be allowed to continue and so I looked on-line to see what deals I could get.
My usual train, the 07.13 off Wakefield, was too expensive at this late stage and so I thought about abandoning the move and reverting to plan A.
Then I had a thought, I looked up some splitting moves and then settled on doing the 06.18 from Wakefield to Peterborough and then I got a Great Northern only anytime Peterborough – Kings Cross single.

The 06.18 was an HST, formed of 43208 and 43290 and the journey to Peterborough passed without incident, although I did see 321411, taunting me, at Doncaster and then scored 66763 for sight at Decoy Yard.

I had a plus 6 at Peterborough and made it with ease.
365538 and 365507 were my power for the 76 mile run to London, arriving 3 minutes before my regular train arrived, meaning I was back to my usual schedule.

The Victoria line was taken to Euston and winning pair 350127 & 350243 took me to Harrow & Wealdstone.

In a carbon copy of my move two weeks previously, the first pair of 321s arrived with a required unit leading a dud one, this time it was 321413 on the front and 321415 on the rear.
As before, I flagged this set and waited for the next one half an hour later.
This was a dud pair, 321412 leading 321416.
Although I had enjoyed a few runs on 321416 prior to today, I’d not been in the trailer, 71964, so that was where I went.
I had no intention of letting 321413 get away and so it was back out on 350369 to Bushey in order to meet the pair coming back South (the second pair arrives at Euston 4 minutes after the first pair heads back North)

Trailer 71961 of 321413 was duly roped in, meaning that I’ve now had four of the seven.

321413 at Euston:
EMU 321413_2015.07.10_2_Euston_& 378230 by Phil Wood, on Flickr

With 321411 gone that leaves me 321414 and 321417 to try and get before they come off lease.

I toyed with the idea of getting a Bushey – St Albans Abbey return to see what was on the branch, but in the end decided a change from the WCML was in order.

I recently worked out that I need a mammoth 1500+ EMUs for haulage, of which about 1340 work within the London Travelcard area.
This realisation has caused me to reach two conclusions, 1) I’ll never get them all and 2) I need to do more London moves.
Due to conclusion 1, I have decided that I’m going to give up the quite monotonous short leaps and do fewer moves, travelling further and visiting lines that I’ve rarely/never been on before.

My previous London trips this year had seen me heading south of the river but this time I was staying to the North.
I took the Metropolitan line to Liverpool Street and jumped straight aboard 379015, which was paired with 379024.
This was my first experience of a 379.
I took these to Tottenham Hale

My first 379s depart Tottenham Hale:
EMU 379015_2015.07.10_2_Tottenham Hale_& 379024 by Phil Wood, on Flickr

After a short wait it was 317649 back to Liverpool Street and another new line.
315810 was sampled out to Chingford
I was pleasantly surprised to find 317708 trailing dud 317890 on the next train South.
This was another first for me, a 317/7.

317708 before departure:
EMU 317708_2015.07.10_Chingford by Phil Wood, on Flickr

I certainly appreciated the air conditioning, with 317708 being the only unit all day that was actually cool on board.

I’ve yet to score a 360 this year, so my next move was 315829 and 315852 out to Romford.
After a short wait 360113 appeared.
Dud!
I’ve only had three.


Nevertheless I took this back to Liverpool Street as my time on the great Eastern was coming to an end.

It was down to the Metropolitan line again for a short run to Moorgate and some 313 action.
Winning pair 313050 and 313061 were taken to winning station Alexandra Palace, followed by 313028 and 313040 to Hadley Wood.

313058 was then taken all the way back to Moorgate. This had dud 313044 for company and I swapped from one to the other at Moorgate for the short run to Finsbury Park.

It was nearly time to think about heading back to Kings Cross but I had time for a trip to Moorgate and back on required 313018, working on its own and very, very wedged from Essex Road to Finsbury Park.

Happily, I wasn’t finished with the winners just yet.
321406 leading 321405 arrived to take me to the Cross.

More Dusty Bins:
EMU 321406_2015.07.10_Kings Cross_& 321405 by Phil Wood, on Flickr

My haulage home was 91108, which was nice as it was on 647 and a bit miles before the move and so has edged that bit closet to the magic thousand

 

[Techniquest]

I wonder what will happen to those trailer coaches now, once they get removed. Quite, the cynical side of me (don't get me started on how often I've seen it pop up later) has me thinking that they won't bother or, more likely, renumber all the 321s that go up! Only one way to find out what happens.

I'm not as fussed with the trailer coaches going, my aim when on a 321 (or 313, 315, 317, 318, 320 and others) is to jump into the motor coach for the noise. No point having a fantastic trip down the WCML and not getting to enjoy the thrash!

Looks like you had a fantastic trip all in there, and I like the idea of booking a Friday off every month for a trip. I'd love to do the same, but I'd have to book a Saturday off too to make it worthwhile. I'm lucky in that I have Mondays off at the moment, although sadly the funds are lacking for a decent bash too often. Difficult enough to fund even a fairly basic trip every 2 weeks!

If it helps you feel any better, these are my counts of requirements:

DMUs: 248
EMUs: 834
Locos: 47 (not including non-passenger locos)
LU: 1,275 (including D-stock sets, not long for this world, and S7/S8 half sets not yet built)
Light rail: 294

So yeah, just a bit for me to go hunting, so I do sympathise with your EMU counts!

Some good photos there, like the one of the 379s especially. I too have bad luck with 360/1s, 360118 is everywhere I am when a 360/1 is out it seems, and the ones I see working I need always hide after that initial observation!

As always a good read, and I look forward to seeing what you get up to next month!

 

[55013]

I'm guessing that the 321s will be renumbered to 320323 - 320329, or something similar, as once they're overhauled they will be identical to the current 320s.

I must confess to being a little obsessive about these things.
The 321s have been around for a long time without me giving them a second thought, then I find out the fourth coach is being removed and I think "I'll have a ride in one or two of them before they go".
Next thing I know, it's "Got to get them all, got to get them all...."
What can I say?
It keeps me out of mischief

 

[Techniquest]

I can't comment really there, I get irritated by gaps in my NREA!

It took me a long time to discover the fun of 313s, 315s, 317s, 318s, 319s, 320s, 321s, 322s and many others, so I know what you mean about the 321s in your situation. I just wish I'd taken more time to enjoy the Networkers before they got re-motored. That sound, it was just brilliant!

I know too I won't get all of the EMUs I need (466s in particular I know I'll never clear), and I keep telling myself I need more London bashes but I don't seem to get there very often. Too much to go for across the country!

 

[55013]

Aye, tell me about it.
It comes back to not having enough time.
I've decided that I'm going to aim for "A decent amount" of each class of unit.
Exactly what constitutes a decent amount is not something I've worked out yet, though.

You might have noticed a couple of 315s in my report, the first ones I've done for a few years.

 

[Techniquest]

I did see some 315s in there, good lad. I need to get to that side of things when I come down to London on 3rd August, but there is just so much to do even just on the Underground...

A reasonable amount will vary by class I'd imagine. I'd say at least 25% of a class should be the target, anything above that is a bonus.

 

[Kite159]

Sounds like a busy day in London

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Good to see you getting some therapy in The Smoke. Must have done wonders for you. And a good variety of traction in the mix. The repainted 317 does look smart. I'm surprised that LOL are repainting them given the short life but I suppose it's all about image.

I wonder whether the mc321s will get renumbered to 320xxx. And how much work will be done to them before they enter traffic with Scotrail? Surely it's going to be a full refurbishment and possibly even a toilet as per the 320s. Not forgetting the obligatory relivery to Spotrail colours.

As for stress management, if I am away from the rails for more than about a week to ten days, I feel like a caged lion so well done on managing to keep the old stress levels down with only monthly outings.

Unless you are totally crazy (like me) don't feel obliged to get everything although your approach is a novel one I'm trying to get every coach. I used to go around with a guy who did that and while it was OK on short distance trips, on long distance ones we'd be moving coaches every stop. I once did Paddington to Swansea with him and yes, he got every single coach in during the course of the journey. I just hate to think what his haulage log looked like. And we had to do the same coming back......

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Over 25% of EMU classes has a predictable regional bias for me. When I checked, 322, 323, 333, 390, 507 and 508 had, as expected, reached this level. More surprisingly, so had 314/318/320/334 - must have done more nedding around than I remember in the land of flat sausages...

319s aren't far off, either - must sample a few on Manchester Airport services!

 

[Techniquest]

As for stress management, if I am away from the rails for more than about a week to ten days, I feel like a caged lion so well done on managing to keep the old stress levels down with only monthly outings.

I like your analogy, it must be said. I know exactly how you feel there, I tend to go 2 weeks between trips as I usually find it doesn't have the special feel (difficult to describe) if I go on a bash every week. That being said, it's also because of money shortages and by the end of the 2 weeks I'm ready to scream!

he got every single coach in during the course of the journey. I just hate to think what his haulage log looked like. And we had to do the same coming back......

Oh no, I couldn't do that. One coach per move, regardless of 1 or 1,000 miles, is my rule.

 

[55013]

Good to see you getting some therapy in The Smoke. Must have done wonders for you. And a good variety of traction in the mix. The repainted 317 does look smart. I'm surprised that LOL are repainting them given the short life but I suppose it's all about image.

I wonder whether the mc321s will get renumbered to 320xxx. And how much work will be done to them before they enter traffic with Scotrail? Surely it's going to be a full refurbishment and possibly even a toilet as per the 320s. Not forgetting the obligatory relivery to Spotrail colours.

You can't have too much train therapy

I'm guessing that the 321s will be renumbered, as far as I'm aware the overhaul will basically change them into a 320, so a new identity seems likely.

As for stress management, if I am away from the rails for more than about a week to ten days, I feel like a caged lion so well done on managing to keep the old stress levels down with only monthly outings.

I've booked one weekday a month off for railway moves, but that's on top of any booked weekend moves.
Weekday ones tend to go down better at home as the wife's at work so they don't count

Also, I commute on the train, so I get a run out most days.
It was this that prompted my idea of getting every coach of Northern's DMU fleet.
I like having something to aim for and this keeps it interesting.
Only this week I had 52111 of 150111 to work, leaving me with one 150 and eight 142 coaches to get to clear Northern's fleet (excepting 156s which don't work this side of the Pennines anymore, sadly).
I generally get a 150 to work and a 142 home, so it's definately achievable.
I've no idea what I'll do to keep my commute interesting after I've got them all.

Unless you are totally crazy (like me) don't feel obliged to get everything although your approach is a novel one I'm trying to get every coach. I used to go around with a guy who did that and while it was OK on short distance trips, on long distance ones we'd be moving coaches every stop. I once did Paddington to Swansea with him and yes, he got every single coach in during the course of the journey. I just hate to think what his haulage log looked like. And we had to do the same coming back......

Good God, no!
Moving through a long train to get every coach seems too much like hard work to me
I have been known to change from one coach to another on a two/three car DMU, but usually when there's a decent stop, for example when the train reverses at Temple Meads, or when it's a Northern 156 at Piccadilly, and the latter is more to do with wanting to get all the Northern DMU's cleared.
I'm not really going to chase EMU vehicles (At risk 321 trailers excepted), needing 1500+ units outright means that I have other priorities, however if I've no choice but to do a dud one, I'll definately look to go in a coach I've not ridden in before.

My future EMU based moves will generally be ones where I (hopefully) get a winner or two from one class and then move on to something else.
I don't expect to clear many classes and will always try to avoid too much journey repetition.
Having said that I have got a Southern Daysave coming up and that will involve lots of green 313s

Over 25% of EMU classes has a predictable regional bias for me. When I checked, 322, 323, 333, 390, 507 and 508 had, as expected, reached this level. More surprisingly, so had 314/318/320/334 - must have done more nedding around than I remember in the land of flat sausages...

319s aren't far off, either - must sample a few on Manchester Airport services!

That's not too disimilar to me.
Oh and flat sausages are hellfire, hmmm

 

[Kite159]

Green 313s are funky

 

[55013]

I hope so

 

[Techniquest]

You might find it a trifle odd to see a 313 in Brighton, it sure looked weird to me the first time!

As for ideas of how to make the commute more interesting once you get all the coaches done, you could try what I did a few years ago. For your local route, aim to have each and every 142, 150 or whatever else turns up on it. I simply marked the route on an A4 sheet of paper (I was doing this for 175s on the Milford Haven to Manchester route, I also did it for HSTs between Swansea, Hereford and Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington) and the relevant numbers, crossing them out as and when I got them. Hope that makes sense!

 

[55013]

Yes, it does make sense
I already do it, starting afresh on 1st of January each year.
I'm hoping Northern get some more 150s from down South when electrification progresses enough.
Not holding my breath, though.

 

[Kristofferson]

Enjoyed the read sounds much more fun "keeping it fresh" and trying new units/lines than doing endless small leaps.

 

[55013]

Enjoyed the read sounds much more fun "keeping it fresh" and trying new units/lines than doing endless small leaps.

Thanks.
It's certainly much more enjoyable not doing multiple short runs.
You might get more winners that way but there's more to life than winners
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Anyway, just for completeness here's a summary of my last outing.
I did the Wensleydale diesel gala last Sunday with 45135 and there's no point writing a report as we didn't do much other than head up and down on some fine locos, including a winning Shed.

Our moves were:

37674 Leeming Bar - Northallerton West
37057 Northallerton West - Finghall Lane
56098 Finghall Lane - Leeming Bar
31162 Leeming Bar - Remire
66761 Redmire - Leeming Bar
56098 Leeming Bar - Remire
66761 Redmire - Leeming Bar

A grand day out, with 31162 being the star of the show for me

66761:
66761_2015.07.19_5_Redmire by Phil Wood, on Flickr

56098:
56098_2015.07.19_2_Leeming Bar by Phil Wood, on Flickr

 

[55013]

When Mrs 13 was invited by an old friend to stay with her in Long Eaton for a few days I immediately knew what I had to do – a railway move.

As has often been the case this year, London beckoned.
Although I decided to vary the trip by doing a Southern Daysave on the second day in order to rake in some nice green 313s.

Wednesday the 29th was my start date and I began in time honoured fashion by driving to Wakefield Westgate and leaving my car in the long stay car park.

When I was booking this trip I had looked at my normal service to the smoke and found that it had none of the cheaper fares left, so I had plumped for the earlier, HST worked, service that leaves Wakefield at 06.18.
Today this was in the hands of 43309 and 43295.
I usually go for a 91 worked service, but on this occasion the choice proved to be the right one.

After arriving at Kings Cross, somewhat earlier than normal, it was my usual trip to Euston.
The earlier train meant that I could make it across in time to make the 09.05 service to Tring.
Useful for me as this is booked a pair of 321s.
As regular sufferers of my reports will know I’ve been trying to get all the LM Dustys for haulage before they go up to Scotland and the trailers are removed.
I won’t achieve this as 321411 went off lease before I could bag it (it was still sat at Doncaster, in the same place it was a few weeks ago, when I headed South. Taunting me).
However, two examples, 321414 and 321417, were still required of the remainder.

When I reached Euston it was nearly time for the train to depart, the rear unit was 321413 and I had to rush to check out the front one.
Result!
321417 was on the front and I leapt aboard a few seconds before departure.
One to go.
I bailed at Bushey, the limit of my zones 1-9 travelcard, and then had a bit of a wait for the other set coming South.
Being a pessimist I was certain both units would be dud and so I started thinking about whether a return to St Albans Abbey might be in order.
No need!
When it arrived, the set was formed of 321414 leading 321415.
Lovely
Some of the gloss was taken off by the fact it was full, although not as wedged as it had been when I had been forced to reject it several weeks previously.
Stood in trailer 71962 I congratulated myself and started to make plans for the rest of the day.

Got you:
EMU 321414_2015.07.29_Euston by Phil Wood, on Flickr

One of my objectives for this year is to get at least one winner from every uncleared class of unit working wholly on the mainland (ie not Eurostars or Isle of Wight units) and so I looked to get a new type in for the year, a class 376.

Up until now I had avoided South Eastern as Mrs 13 and I are having a holiday in Kent later this year and I know their units will feature then, however I don’t think 376s get as far out as Whitstable and so I figured now was my chance.

I jumped aboard a Northern line service and bailed at London Bridge.
The train I intended to make was pulling into the platform as I made my way up the ramp, which was cutting it a bit fine for my liking!

Winning pair 376001 and 376035 were the traction and I took them to my first winning station of the move, Sidcup

376035 at Sidcup:
EMU 376035_2015.07.29_Sidcup by Phil Wood, on Flickr

It wasn’t a lengthy wait before 376012 and 376022 arrived to whisk me back to London Bridge.

I knew a 171 would be due to depart for Uckfield soon and so I mooched over to have a look.
Excellent.
171726 was taken out to East Croydon and I hung about for one of its sister units going in the other direction.
Sadly, this was dud 171804 but I did it anyway as I was starting to make plans to head to my hotel just round the corner from, er, East Croydon.
Obviously, I never head in a straight line when a convoluted route is available

Once back at London Bridge I hopped aboard 455807 and 455817 which I took to Peckham Rye, from there it was 378136 to Clapham Junction.

More 455s, in the shape of 5866 and 5725 were done into Waterloo.
My plan now was to head out to Wimbledon and sample the tram across to East Croydon.
The same pair of 455s were utilised for this trip.

Upon arrival at the land of the Wombles my plans changed when I spotted a 455+456+456 set going in the other direction.
I like a bit of 456 action and so RTT was consulted.

The train could be made at Waterloo, so that was decided.
5859 and 5703 took me back to the blocks and I stepped straight off that and on to 456010.
The other units on the set were 5734 and “second choice” 456024.

The set was on a Hampton Court service but that was a dud station, having been scored with the wife a few years ago when we visited the palace, so I chose to bail one stop out at Thames Ditton.

A winning unit at another new station:
EMU 455734_2015.07.29_Thames Ditton by Phil Wood, on Flickr

It’s not far from there to the end of the line and it wasn’t too long before the same set reappeared and I boarded 5734.
This was taken to Waterloo and then a run on 456024 was enjoyed to Wimbledon.

The reason I had taken this route was to have a run on the Croydon Tramlink.
I had never done this before; in fact I had only previously seen one of their trams.
Unfortunately, it turns out that Wimbledon tram stop is closed for rebuilding and so a ten minute walk is required to Dundonald Road.
My first ever Croydon tram was 2549 and I took this to East Croydon.

For those unfamiliar with this network, the tracks split West of the centre, with the East bound line going off via West Croydon station and the line in the other direction taking a completely different route.
The two lines then meet back up just before East Croydon station.

Croydon tram, notice the ominous clouds in the sky above:
Croydon Tram 2549_2015.07.29_2_East Croydon by Phil Wood, on Flickr

Literally seconds after I took the above photo, the heavens opened and I, like everyone else, got soaked to the skin.
I knew from my prior research that my hotel was next to one of the single lines and so I trudged off, whilst most people took any shelter they could.
I had the exact address on my phone, but the rain was proving a problem.
I found some shelter and tried to have a look but my phone was so wet that I couldn’t slide the screen saver up!

Naturally, the downpour stopped at the exact same time I managed to find the Travelodge, having initially followed the wrong track!

My original plan had been to dump my baggage and head back out but my jacket was so wet that I nipped to the nearby Sainsbury’s for supplies, then retired to my room and hung it up to dry!

So that was day 1. Day 2 to follow once it's written

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Just as the mention of Freedom of Severn and Solent tickets has brought back memories for certain forum members, likewise the mention of Croydon Central Travelodge has done so for me. Especially the struggle to identify it after baling at Wellesley Road the first time I stayed!

A very useful place to stay for a London bash - East Croydon station and Wetherspoons both five minutes walk away.

That idea of sampling one of every differet type of unit/train in service is a good one. Might give it a go next year, even if it does mean a guaranteed non-winner on a third visit to Stourbridge Town!

Looking forward to the rest of your report when its up.

 

[55013]

Thanks.
The most annoying thing about the Travelodge is the lack of protruding sign, which meant that I sheltered from the rain BY THE FRONT ENTRANCE and didn't realise it.
I then walked right round to the rear, car park, entrance!
I must say, though, that it is a very good place to stay, both because it's conveniently situated and also because it was nice and quiet.

Trying to get a bit of everything keeps my trips from getting too samey, although I do keep getting distracted by doing things on a whim such as trying to get all the possibly doomed 321 trailer cars.

Anyway, on with the show.

The second day of my adventure was Thursday and this was the day I had decided to go 313/2 hunting on the South Coast.
I had purchased a Southern Daysave, but they aren’t valid until 10am, far too late for me to be leaving Croydon.
To get round this I had purchased a Thameslink only anytime single from East Croydon to Brighton.

After eating my fill at the Travelodge breakfast bar I strolled round the corner to the station.
No Travelcard today, so a short hop on the tram wasn’t an option.

I hoped to have a run down on a 387 as my only previous experience of this new class was a short run from Farringdon to St Pancras and I fancied a longer trip.
I wanted to be sure, however, that I didn’t lose sight of my original goal and so I decided to wait at East Croydon until either a Brighton bound 387 arrived or the 08.58 service pulled in.
This latter service gets to Brighton at 09.48 and so seemed a reasonable train to get me into position.

Lots of 387s pulled into East Croydon whilst I was there, but sadly they were all going North.
I ended up doing the 40 mile run to Brighton on 377523, which was the filling in a sandwich, with 377517 and 377514 being the bread.

The service reached Brighton more or less on time and I was ready to get some PEPs in.
Before this trip I only actually needed nine of the nineteen units, however no less than six of the remainder were on my second choice list.
In other words, they were done before I started keeping records of my unit haulages and therefore I had no idea when or where I had them.

The first 313 that departed after 10am provided a nice winner in the shape of 313203 on a Portsmouth service.
I did this to Worthing and was looking anxiously out of the window on arrival as I only had a plus one for another back.
I was happy that the other unit wasn’t in sight and I could stroll over to the platform 2.
I was less happy when I saw on the PIS that the service was cancelled due to lack of train crew.
Bah.
A few minutes later there was an announcement telling people to stand back from the edge of platform 2 as the next train didn’t stop.
313208 crawled into the platform and stopped.
Eager punters marched towards the doors.
A Southern employee jumped out of the staff door and the train moved off.
Double bah.
It seems that (required) 313208 was the unit that was supposed to have worked the cancelled service and the lack of a guard had caused it to go ECS to Brighton to pick up its diagram there.
I hoped I would get it in later on.
Eventually second choice unit 313210 arrived and this was taken back to Brighton.

On the way, 313208 came past on a Portsmouth service and so I could now work out when it would be coming back, staffing permitted.

I had plenty of time so nipped out to Hove on the shuttle service that was in the hands of 313212.
After getting a couple of snaps I did the same unit back and set off in search of 313208.

I did the trip in two legs, firstly taking 313205 (another one of the annoying six finally recorded) to Lancing on a West Worthing service and a few minutes later boarding dud 313217, which I took to Chichester.

I only had a few minutes to wait before the object of my chase arrived and 313208 was finally captured.

I did this all the way to Brighton and then swapped to the other side of the station to see what was working towards Lewes and Seaford.

The fourth winning 313 of the day, 313213 was taken for the enjoyable run through to Seaford and then back to Newhaven Harbour

313213 leaving Newhaven Harbour:
EMU 313213_2015.07.30_3_Newhaven Harbour by Phil Wood, on Flickr

A third “Second choicer”, 313207 was then roped in, back to Seaford.

The next part of my plan was to take 313207 to Lewes in order to cover the shuttle service from there to Brighton.
On the way I had a look at RTT and realised that a 171 was due at Lewes a few minutes after the shuttle departed.
What’s more it reached Brighton shortly before that unit was due to come back.

I hung around the platform waiting for the 171 and the guard from the 313 stuck his head round the corner and told me that the 313 was the next train to Brighton.
I thanked him but said I didn’t want it.
It was the right choice as it was 171728 that produced.

The turbo pulled into platform 6 and the Lewes service, worked by dud 313220, was on platform 7.
I jumped off the former and strolled over to the latter, passing a puzzled looking guard on the way!

A nice line up, consisting of three of the day's attractions:
DMU 171728_2015.07.30_2_Lewes_& 313213 & 313220 by Phil Wood, on Flickr

I still had one Seaford 313 to get and, although I had passed it several times, it was thus far unidentified.

Obviously I hoped for a required one and was very happy to see doyen of the class 313201 pull into Lewes.
As you may have noticed, I was in the mood for some shack scratching today and so I bailed out at Bishopstone.
I noticed that Seaford station can be seen from the platform there, so not much lost mileage

It wasn’t too long before 313201 was back and I took it all the way back to Brighton as my 313 adventure was over.

313201 working hard on the climb from Seaford to Bishopstone:
EMU 313201_2015.07.30_3_Bishopstone by Phil Wood, on Flickr

I now had something else on my mind.
Some lovely 442 haulage.
Having perused the frequently requested diagrams thread on this forum I knew that there were several pairs booked to work up to London of an evening and so I resolved to wait for a winning two-some and do them all the way.

Happily, the very first service, the 18.49, fitted the bill nicely and so it was 442406 and 442416 that were employed for my journey to Victoria.

The last haulage of the day was 377446 and 377473 which I did to East Croydon and my bed.

So that’s day two over, the third and final instalment to come at some unspecified point in the future (probably tomorrow).

 

[Techniquest]

Two very good days there, I take it that they are definitely announced as Southern services out of Brighton on the 442s? Might come in handy when I'm down there next.

I daresay you've noticed they're working on a second Tramlink platform at Wimbo, hence the services temporarily stopping at Dundonald Road. Hopefully it's well signed from Wimbo, at least it's not a long walk.

I need to find that Spoons next time I'm in Croydon, which is the late evening/early morning of 31st August/1st September. Can't remember if my base camp there included breakfast or not, if it doesn't Spoons is good for breakfast and the Lavazza coffee is good enough for me. Mind you so is the filter coffee, and for 99p (based on The Last Post, Paisley) the filter coffee is a bargain!

I really need to get down that way and crack on with some of the areas you did, SWT especially! Certainly the cogs are turning and moves are being planned, might do a spell of London cranking on 1st September before I head home.

Also, you could have used a Contactless Payment Card for a leap on the tram, but in all fairness it's less than 10 minutes stroll to East Croydon from the Travelodge so not worth it.

As always an enjoyable read, and I look forward to the final part!

 

[55013]

Two very good days there, I take it that they are definitely announced as Southern services out of Brighton on the 442s? Might come in handy when I'm down there next.

Oh yes. According to the frequently requested diagram thread on this very forum there are 8 Southern departures from Brighton to Victoria between 18.49 and 22.19 that are booked 442s.
If I'd been gripped (I wasn't) and the guard had said it was a Gatex service I would have started my argument by pointing out that it didn't stop at Gatwick Airport

I daresay you've noticed they're working on a second Tramlink platform at Wimbo, hence the services temporarily stopping at Dundonald Road. Hopefully it's well signed from Wimbo, at least it's not a long walk.

Oh aye, I've noticed alright.
To be fair it's not a long walk and is quite well signed.
I'll have to go back, just to get the bit from Wombledon to Dundonald Road!

I need to find that Spoons next time I'm in Croydon, which is the late evening/early morning of 31st August/1st September. Can't remember if my base camp there included breakfast or not, if it doesn't Spoons is good for breakfast and the Lavazza coffee is good enough for me. Mind you so is the filter coffee, and for 99p (based on The Last Post, Paisley) the filter coffee is a bargain!

Also, you could have used a Contactless Payment Card for a leap on the tram, but in all fairness it's less than 10 minutes stroll to East Croydon from the Travelodge so not worth it.

As always an enjoyable read, and I look forward to the final part!

Cheers.
I wouldn't know about the Spoons, I'm afraid.
It's an easy stroll from the Travelodge to the station, which beats cramming on to a tram for a few hundred yards, so I'm not complaining.

I'm about to start on the third part, so barring interruptions it should be out tonight.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

OK, here we go, it took me less time than I expected.

Friday was my third and final day.
As usual, I had a couple of vague ideas about what to do but nothing too concrete apart from a plan to get a couple more 442s and the continued hope that I could get a decent run on a 387.

I knew that there was a London Bridge turn that was booked a 442, thanks to the gen providers on this forum, and so that’s what I intended to get.
This leaves East Croydon at 08.28 and so, following breakfast, I had a bit of time to get some trams in.
After purchasing my Travelcard I boarded 2551 and this took me to Wandle Park before next in the series 2552 took me back to the station.

Now for some piggy action.
442418 and 442409 were the much appreciated pair.
It had been nice to sample some away from the usual Victoria to Gatwick turns, but that was it for this move.

London Bridge pig:
EMU 442418_2015.07.31_London Bridge by Phil Wood, on Flickr

I had decided to head back to East Croydon in search of that elusive 387 haulage and so I took double duds 171730 and 171804 back to my starting point.

I didn’t have time to wait for a 387, though, as required pair 171806 and 171801 pulled in on a service from Oxted.
It was back to London Bridge on these and then some more 171 scoring.
171723 followed the pair in on an Uckfield train and so I had to do this back out.
I was particularly glad to see this unit as it was my penultimate mainline registered DMU for sight.
Just its sister 171727 to get now.
Hope I see it before a new load of requirements gets introduced!

I still had 387s on my mind, but as long as Southern were throwing winning 171s at me I was going to keep catching them.
No surprise, then, that my next trip was back to the Bridge on 171803 and dud 171721.

I didn’t fancy doing an unrequired unit back out so it was back to electric traction and 377440
Southern had evidently decided that I’d had enough 171 fun for one day as the next one was dud and so it was up the ramp, across the bridge and down to where the 387s would hopefully be appearing.

After failing to get one yesterday I was pleased that I only had a short wait before 387108 and 387129 pulled in and I could get my first decent experience of Thameslink’s latest toys.
By, but them seats are hard.
Strangely, as the train made it’s less than rapid journey through places like Elephand And Castle, I felt they became more comfortable.

I was now at St Pancras, just across the road from where my train home would be leaving from.
I like to get to the station in plenty of time, but seven and a half hours was pushing it, even for me.

I decided to get a couple of stations in and so headed out to Finsbury Park on 317346.

I think I'm in time for the 20.05:
EMU 317346_2015.07.31_Kings Cross by Phil Wood, on Flickr

I don’t need too many 313s now so was pleasantly surprised when 313036 arrived to take me to my first winning shack, Hornsey.
Hornsey was also my last winning shack, for a while at least.
I decided that I couldn’t face doing several hours of short leaps and so jumped aboard another winner, 313031 and took this to Highbury and Islington.

I mooched upstairs and boarded 378137 which I took all the way to Clapham Junction.

Back South of the river:
EMU 378137_2015.07.31_Clapham Junction by Phil Wood, on Flickr

My plan was to do a full circle but the first departure via Kensington Olympia was dud and the next one was a four car unit.
I decided to do required 378145 back the way I had come.
This was the right decision as when the train passed the four coach set, which was due to leave a few minutes later, it was packed to the gunnels!
Once back at Highbury & Islington I reversed my earlier mooch and resumed my shack scoring.
Dud 313035, with equally dud 313057 for company, was taken to Harringay and then another unrequired pair, 313061 and 313025 were done to Hadley Wood.

A further non-winning pair, 313046 & 313040, were then sampled to my last new station of the move New Southgate

New Southgate PEPs:
EMU 313046_2015.07.31_1_New Southgate_& 313040 by Phil Wood, on Flickr

Further unrequired 313s, 313058 and 313122 (I said I don’t need too many now, didn’t I) took me back to Hadley Wood.

It was now time to start my journey home.
I was very pleased to get a couple more winners in when the next Moorgate service arrived made up of 313027 and 313048.
I sat in the former to Moorgate and then the latter back to Finsbury Park.
Eight GN 313s to go.
The last units of the move were dud for the day 313040 and 313046, which were obviously taken to Kings Cross.

I was hoping to finish on a high note by getting a 91 home that was on less than a thousand miles, but sadly I was thwarted by 91102, which is now a stone’s throw off 1500.

So all in all, a very good three days, with several new lines visited, 13 new shacks, 6 DMUs (all 171s), 39 EMUs and 3 Croydon trams.

 

[Kite159]

Busy couple days in Southern land & London

I agree, the route Thameslink units take from East Croydon towards Elephant & Castle is one of the slowest possible.

 

[Techniquest]

A good time had there, and you had two of my last GN 313s, 035 and 061. I hope to fix that when I'm down there next time on either a morning or evening peak, with the aim of fixing those 3 gaps (035, 055 and 061), not moving from Drayton Park until the peak is over!