Cheers for a good read and the photos
I've only had a 387 on a ZFD-STP run too, and deary me the seats are the worst! I think they're the same as the 377/7 seats (which I used to get daily) - they become marginally more comfortable the longer you sit in them.
The 442s seem to have quite a following - is this due to the fact they're going to be replaced?
Thanks.
I've always liked 442s.
I've good memories of doing them on the Weymouth services many years ago, unfortunately I didn't record units back then, so now I'm playing catch up.
The fact that they're on their last legs certainly puts the pressure on, but I generally try and avoid becoming a "Doom basher" and after they've gone I'll go back to doing a bit of everything.
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Oh, I almost forgot.
I had a day out yesterday as well.
Myself, 45135 and another mate did 91122 from Doncaster to Newcastle, which was nice as it became my tenth 91 cleared for a thousand miles.
We returned to Doncaster on
66701 and
66736, making it a nice little move
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So, onwards and upwards.
Friday the 14th was the date that I had booked as my monthly annual leave day and so I was off again.
This time, for a change, I thought I would go to London
When booking my tickets I had found a nice cheap first class seat on the 07.28 off Wakefield, a bit later than my usual departure, but I figured it was worth it to go in first.
The problem I would have, I soon realised, was that I would have an issue identifying what was on the rear.
Either I waited until Kings Cross, which would drive me nuts on the journey and then delay me once in London or I could wait at the North end at Wakefield and then leg it down to the front.
That didn’t appeal much, either.
There was however, a third option.
I woke at 04.59, beating the alarm by one minute and meaning that I could turn it off and not disturb Mrs 13 as I got up.
The usual drive to Wakefield followed and I began my trip to London by doing the 06.13 unit to Leeds, this was 150140 and was surprisingly full.
At Leeds, using RTT for the gen, I wondered down platform 8 as the service I was to do is booked in there at 06.45.
When it pulled in I clocked the rear power car (yes folks, it was a HST) and then headed over for the service from Bradford.
I did this for two reasons, firstly I knew it should be a 91 and was hoping for a sub thousand miles example and secondly, it saved a bit of faffing about.
To do the HST would mean travelling in standard to Wakefield and then moving to first.
I had mixed emotions when I saw the loco come in from Bradford.
It was low mileage 91132, so the chance to get another 10 miles on the clock was good.
On the other hand, this was the train I would normally have done and so I was missing out on 172 miles.
91132 is one of four that is still below 500 miles, never mind a thousand!
Anyway, the erstwhile 91023 was done to Wakefield and I mooched down to the first class area to await the HST.
It was power cars 43257 and 43319 that provided the traction.
My journey in first was very enjoyable.
After reading about people’s experiences, particularly with Leeds crews, I was a bit worried.
I needn’t have been.
I was the only person in the quiet coach and got an excellent service, with a grand breakfast to top it off.
Having rid myself of the 321 itch I had something new on my mind and so it was onto the underground for a trip to Paddington.
I have never been on the Heathrow Express before and given that my main aim for this year is to get at least one winner from every class of unit, now was my opportunity.
332014 provided my first experience of the type.
I was expecting it to be fairly quiet, as I’ve read that these trains carry nothing but “fresh air” around.
It was wedged.
I know it’s the school holidays, but many of the people on board had no children with them and weren’t British anyway, judging from the languages and accents I heard.
332014 was taken to
Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3.
On route I passed my last 360 for sight, 360205, on Old Oak Common, so knew that wouldn’t be doing its usual shuttle service.
This was in the hands of
360204 and was taken, naturally, to
Heathrow Terminal 4.
Obviously it was the same unit back again and then on to
Heathrow Terminal 5 on
332011.
I stayed aboard 332011 for its journey back to Paddington.
I thought about getting another couple in but the journey between the various terminals is nothing if not dull.
332011 back at Paddington:
EMU 332011_2015.08.14_2_Paddington by
Phil Wood, on Flickr
Since I was in the area I had something else I wanted to try.
I hadn’t yet had a winning 166 this year and so I took
360201 out to
Hayes & Harlington in the hope of meeting one coming back in.
EMU 360201_2015.08.14_Hayes & Harlington by
Phil Wood, on Flickr
I only needed seven 166s, so wasn’t too hopeful.
Especially as there was a fair chance it would be 165.
My luck was in and
166202 was what appeared, even luckier is that it was on a late running service that I should have missed.
Once back at Paddington it was downstairs and the Circle Line round to Victoria.
Another airport visit was on the agenda.
Having had almost half the 442s by now, I wasn’t too surprised that a dud one, 442406, was the first departure.
Things improved when the next one appeared, required 442411.
Shortly before departure time a double set, dud 442420 and required 442410 arrived.
At the exact second
442411 started to move I realised that I had slightly cocked up.
Once I arrived at Gatwick it would be 442406 waiting to come back, followed by the one I’d arrived on, then the one I needed.
If I’d rejected the first requirement and gone on the second I wouldn’t have had to hang around Gatwick for over half an hour and would have been back at Victoria fifteen minutes sooner.
Oh well, too late now.
The obligatory shot of a 442 at Gatwick:
EMU 442411_2015.08.14_1_Gatwick Airport by
Phil Wood, on Flickr
At least my (admittedly fairly short, even then) fester at Gatwick enabled me to get a shot of 387115, something that I had been unable to manage when it had become my first 387 for haulage earlier in the year.
387115:
EMU 387115_2015.08.14_2_Gatwick Airport_& 387107 by
Phil Wood, on Flickr
442410 was duly roped in, still with 442420 on the London end.
On arrival at Victoria I planned on going over to East Croydon and the next departure, a Brighton service, was another pair of 442s.
Not a service that’s booked them, looking at the frequently requested diagrams thread.
Unfortunately, it was dud pair from a couple of weeks ago, 442418 and 442409.
I’d done them from East Croydon to London Bridge sat in the latter, so this at least gave me the chance to have a run in the former.
I was now heading for London Bridge and so
377157 was taken.
Happily, I didn’t have too long to wait before a train of particular interest to me arrived.
A six car 171 pulled in, booked to work the 17.08 to Uckfield.
Dud 171721 was at the concourse end so I had a wander down.
Excellent,
171805, my last required 171/8, was to lead on the way out.
I boarded and took a seat.
The six car set, which wasn’t overly full, provided a decent run to East Croydon.
It was now time to think about getting back through London and aim for my train home.
I wanted to do a 387 and so decided to hang around for a bit.
It wasn’t too long before
387121 and
387118 rolled in and I boarded for the stagger through the capital.
Going against the flow meant that this train was virtually empty as far as Blackfriars, which was nice.
I intended to go to the winning station at West Hampstead Thameslink, but because it was running late (8 late at East Croydon, about 30 down by Farringdon) I elected to bail at St Pancras.
It’s a good job I did as there was an announcement just as I got off saying that due to delays and cancellations passengers heading South were advised to go via the Victoria Line instead.
I had a bit of time to wander around St Pancras and score a Eurostar for sight (the first for several years) before heading over to the Cross.
My train home was powered by another 91 on less than a thousand miles, 91126, which was a nice way to finish.
My chariot awaits:
91126_2015.08.14_Kings Cross by
Phil Wood, on Flickr
So, another productive day.
With three and a half months to go, I now only need to a winner from classes 172, 175, 357, 375, 465 and 466 in order to achieve my aim.
Now, where will I go on my September trip?
). Maybe room for a music discussion in the relevant part of the forum?