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Andy's Wanderings
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Kite159
Veteran Member
Sounds like a good day in SWT land 
andyb2706
Member
No I don't and it kind of feels like a bit of a cheat how I do it though. I've worked on the railway since leaving school and that was in the last days of BR so I still have my free pass go anywhere card as being a safe guarded member of staff.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thanks for pointing that out, after checking my log book the first mention of 390126 for going to London was a typo error. That was actually was a dud as it was 390130. Must of got excited that I had knocked another 390 off.
Updated the log with the correction.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sounds like a good day in SWT land
It was but I still have well over 350 SWT units.
47403
Established Member
Great read Andy, certainly put a hole in the unit requirements and shacks. You dont have to worry about your unit requirements in London, I'm in a very same boat, only difference is, I've lost the oars and the boats sprang a leak too.
Keith Jarrett
Member
Ah, The Edward Rayne - a watering hole that I have used on many occasions on account of its proximity to Raynes Park Station. Hope you enjoyed yourself in the former furniture shop - not aware of many Spoons that are located in old furniture shops. And the nearby Wibbas Down Inn in Wimbledon used to be the local Tesco store.
Back on topic, sounds like you had a very productive day in SWT land. Plenty of DC only stock to keep you out of mischief!
Great read Andy, certainly put a hole in the unit requirements and shacks. You dont have to worry about your unit requirements in London, I'm in a very same boat, only difference is, I've lost the oars and the boats sprang a leak too.
Same here, although my boat has sunk.
47403
Established Member
Techniquest
Veteran Member
A most fantastic time on SWT metals, certainly you had quite the clearout!
I don't have to mention how jealous I am...
I don't have to mention how jealous I am...
andyb2706
Member
Monday 4th January 2016
There is a slight change as to how I now produce my logs as last year I was writing them in a word document and then transferring them to the forum where I then had to re-underline and re-highlight new haulage and new shacks which was so time consuming that I ended up giving up on the reports. So for this year I am doing just a plain report but at the end of the report will be all my new trains and shacks, I will still put these details in the relevant threads as well, so lets get started......
Well the first day of a new year of getting out on the trains has arrived and today I am staying local. So up at a reasonably 0730 and a breakfast of crumpet, baked beans and bacon and I am ready for the day ahead. Today I am staying around Manchester and intend to use the tram/train ticket so I cant start on my adventures until 0930. I plan to start the year as I mean to go on so after a 20 minute walk I arrive at my first new shack of the year Northern Moor were I arrive 4 minutes before the off peak begins and only 5 minutes until my tram so I wait with bated breath for the clock to count down on the ticket machine to buy my tram/train ticket and just hope the tram doesnt arrive before I am able to get the ticket. At 0930 I throw my money into the machine and have time to move down the platform before the tram arrives. While I am waiting to buy the ticket 3069 arrives going to Cornbrook so I whip out the camera and take a snap, this is another thing I am going to try this year and that is to get more photos of the trains I see and get them on Flickr. 3086 eventually arrives to take me on my first leg of the journey for today but only as far as Martinscroft to strike off another shack, there I try to get a photo of the tram I just got off and failed totally, 3078 which was going in the opposite direction was more of a success but 3055 which was my next tram to travel on was another failure, thank goodness we are in the digital age!
At Robinswood Road I depart the tram for another new shack and this time have more success on the photo front with 3086 heading back to Cornbrook and once I checked the photo I noticed I got a wave from the tram driver! A few minutes later 3055 arrives to take me onto my next stop of Manchester Airport for a 319 trip to Manchester Piccadilly. On my arrival I noticed platform 4 was now in passenger use as the TPE 156 service for Blackpool North had just arrived. Manchester Airport is becoming a busy station for the size of it as there was a train on each platform. A few minutes after my arrival my Northern Electrics arrive and is my first red pen of the year formed by 319380...only another 17 to go.
The plan had been that on arrival at Manchester Piccadilly I would have a short wait for the return trip to Manchester Airport on the next Northern Electric.....that didnt take long to change when a TPE service arrived with 185101 on it, my second red pen of the day so I now will pick up the next 319 back to Manchester Piccadilly from the Airport.
Back at Manchester Airport I only have a few minutes to wait for 319386 to arrive which will form my next trip the 1140 to Manchester Piccadilly, while waiting 185143 arrived to work the 1155 to Barnetby? Is this a new service or is it to do with flooding as I have never heard of trains going to Barnetby. As I was leaving Manchester Airport I noticed another 319 stood on platform 1 and upon consulting RTT it was working the Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly stopping service, a plan for an hours time as I still need Gately and Burnage stations on the Styal Line.
Back at Piccadilly I only have a few minutes to wait for the next Northern Electric train formed of 319377, yet another good un for me to take me back to Manchester Airport. At the Airport I have time to go and get my first hot drink of the day at the station buffet and at those prices I wont be having many more. So off to platform 1A to await the arrival of my train on take me to Gately and as was predicted 319367 rolled in which makes it 4 new 319s for me today.
At Gately I take the long walk around to the other platform to wait for my train back to Manchester Airport which was formed of 323236, although none of the Northern 323s are required they are a unit I do like so making the most of them while we still have them up here, so a short hop back to Manchester Airport and only a short wait for a service back to Manchester Piccadilly. Ive worked out now that should I wait for the 319s they are more likely than not start to repeat themselves. Next service back to Piccadilly is a 323236 forming the 1317 to Manchester Piccadilly so I settle down in the seat and settle back.
Now, on my arrival back to Piccadilly I have two choices, I have some friends meeting up in Manchester who are not train spotters for drinks and by the sound of it a visit to the Curry Mile in Rusholme followed by more drinks or for me to carry on jumping on and off trains. Now I have had a crazy month with Christmas and new year and have decided to try and cut back on alcohol and fatty foods as I want to lose 2 stone before the end of April for my holiday and I know for a fact that with all good intentions if I join them and say I am going to be good I wont be, so trains it is. Back at Piccadilly I find a good 150, yes I still need a few Northern 150s too, in 150148 for a ride out to Romiley where I wont have too long to wait for the next train back.
At Romiley there was only a 8 minute wait for the 1413 to Manchester Piccadilly formed of 150210. Back at Piccadilly I had a 5 minute wait for my first trip of the day to Stockport on board a new one for me in the form of 390131.
At Stockport there was a mad dash across to Platform 4 for the next train back to Manchester Piccadilly formed of a dud 150116. I have a plan for my next few moves but an wondering whether I will be beaten by the peak times....I will have to wait and see.
Back at Piccadilly I thought I ha dropped a clanger, as I got off the train I noticed another unit attached to the back and thought that I had ridden on a dud with a good one behind, luckily I immediately checked and found that to be a dud too....Note to self, pay attention in the future.
So now I am back at Piccadilly its shack hunting time. I have two in sight but may only be able to do one of it is the famous squeaky bum time so here goes, I have 15 minutes to wait before I can start my next trip which ever one I am aiming for if I want to get these done before evening peak starts so the choice is made, off to platform 1 for the short trip out to Ashburys on 150137, here is where I have to make a choice. Either to stay on Ashburys station and wait a few minutes for a train along the Hadfield line or walk over to the Velopark tram stop and hope to get a tram back to Piccadilly to pick up a train out to station number 2 that I have in my sight, all will become clear later on. Fingers crossed.
Okay, so it failed. I was 2 minutes from the Velopark tram stop when a tram left, another 9 minutes to wait for the next tram by the time I arrived at the stop so I wont get back to Piccadilly in time for the peak period for the next station I had planned...never mind plenty of Metrolink stops to be getting on with for now.
Dud 3088 arrives to take me back towards the city centre and I decide I have to make something out of this so I sty on the tram to Central Park to knock off another Metrolink stop.
At Central Park I leave the tram and cross over to the other platform and while waiting for the tram back to Manchester I observe 66717 coming off the Brewery Curve with a bio-mass train to Drax and he is on full power and crawling, he is such an heavy train. Anyhow my tram arrives and is my first red pen tram of the day with 3094 to take me to another new shack and that being Exchange Square.
At Exchange Square I decide to wait for the next tram that wasnt the one I had just got off and what a good plan that was when 3105 arrived for the next service to Shaw & Crompton although I stayed on it as far as Monsall.
At Monsall 3070 arrives for my short journey to Victoria where I will change onto the East Didsbury tram. At Victoria I have only 5 minutes to wait for the arrival of 3052 to take me through to West Didsbury, my next new shack for the day.
At West Didsbury I have 1 minute to get to the opposite platform!! This well breaks my 5 minute rule, but I make it, out of breathe but still I do it for a dud 3010 to take me to my next new shack of Withington.
At Withington I have a leisurely 5 minutes to get to the opposite platform so decide to go up onto the road to figure out exactly where this stop is and I recognise it immediately as being Princess Parkway. Back on the platform a double tram arrives, both are dud so I board 3040 to take me to Didsbury Village, my next new shack, here another dud tram arrives in the form of 3012. Im not minding these dud trams because I am rattling off the tram stops and my next stop will be my last one on the South Manchester Line so at Burton Road I disembark and wait for the next tram to take me back to St. Werburghs Road where I then can pick up the tram to take me home from what has been an eventful day. Both the remaining trams were duds.
SHACKS
Burton Road, Central Park, Didsbury Village, Exchange Square, Gately, Monsall, Northern Moor, Martinscroft, Robinswood Road, Velopark, West Didsbury, Withington.
UNITS
3094, 3105, 150148, 185101, 319367, 319377, 319380, 319386, 390131.
There is a slight change as to how I now produce my logs as last year I was writing them in a word document and then transferring them to the forum where I then had to re-underline and re-highlight new haulage and new shacks which was so time consuming that I ended up giving up on the reports. So for this year I am doing just a plain report but at the end of the report will be all my new trains and shacks, I will still put these details in the relevant threads as well, so lets get started......
Well the first day of a new year of getting out on the trains has arrived and today I am staying local. So up at a reasonably 0730 and a breakfast of crumpet, baked beans and bacon and I am ready for the day ahead. Today I am staying around Manchester and intend to use the tram/train ticket so I cant start on my adventures until 0930. I plan to start the year as I mean to go on so after a 20 minute walk I arrive at my first new shack of the year Northern Moor were I arrive 4 minutes before the off peak begins and only 5 minutes until my tram so I wait with bated breath for the clock to count down on the ticket machine to buy my tram/train ticket and just hope the tram doesnt arrive before I am able to get the ticket. At 0930 I throw my money into the machine and have time to move down the platform before the tram arrives. While I am waiting to buy the ticket 3069 arrives going to Cornbrook so I whip out the camera and take a snap, this is another thing I am going to try this year and that is to get more photos of the trains I see and get them on Flickr. 3086 eventually arrives to take me on my first leg of the journey for today but only as far as Martinscroft to strike off another shack, there I try to get a photo of the tram I just got off and failed totally, 3078 which was going in the opposite direction was more of a success but 3055 which was my next tram to travel on was another failure, thank goodness we are in the digital age!
At Robinswood Road I depart the tram for another new shack and this time have more success on the photo front with 3086 heading back to Cornbrook and once I checked the photo I noticed I got a wave from the tram driver! A few minutes later 3055 arrives to take me onto my next stop of Manchester Airport for a 319 trip to Manchester Piccadilly. On my arrival I noticed platform 4 was now in passenger use as the TPE 156 service for Blackpool North had just arrived. Manchester Airport is becoming a busy station for the size of it as there was a train on each platform. A few minutes after my arrival my Northern Electrics arrive and is my first red pen of the year formed by 319380...only another 17 to go.
The plan had been that on arrival at Manchester Piccadilly I would have a short wait for the return trip to Manchester Airport on the next Northern Electric.....that didnt take long to change when a TPE service arrived with 185101 on it, my second red pen of the day so I now will pick up the next 319 back to Manchester Piccadilly from the Airport.
Back at Manchester Airport I only have a few minutes to wait for 319386 to arrive which will form my next trip the 1140 to Manchester Piccadilly, while waiting 185143 arrived to work the 1155 to Barnetby? Is this a new service or is it to do with flooding as I have never heard of trains going to Barnetby. As I was leaving Manchester Airport I noticed another 319 stood on platform 1 and upon consulting RTT it was working the Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly stopping service, a plan for an hours time as I still need Gately and Burnage stations on the Styal Line.
Back at Piccadilly I only have a few minutes to wait for the next Northern Electric train formed of 319377, yet another good un for me to take me back to Manchester Airport. At the Airport I have time to go and get my first hot drink of the day at the station buffet and at those prices I wont be having many more. So off to platform 1A to await the arrival of my train on take me to Gately and as was predicted 319367 rolled in which makes it 4 new 319s for me today.
At Gately I take the long walk around to the other platform to wait for my train back to Manchester Airport which was formed of 323236, although none of the Northern 323s are required they are a unit I do like so making the most of them while we still have them up here, so a short hop back to Manchester Airport and only a short wait for a service back to Manchester Piccadilly. Ive worked out now that should I wait for the 319s they are more likely than not start to repeat themselves. Next service back to Piccadilly is a 323236 forming the 1317 to Manchester Piccadilly so I settle down in the seat and settle back.
Now, on my arrival back to Piccadilly I have two choices, I have some friends meeting up in Manchester who are not train spotters for drinks and by the sound of it a visit to the Curry Mile in Rusholme followed by more drinks or for me to carry on jumping on and off trains. Now I have had a crazy month with Christmas and new year and have decided to try and cut back on alcohol and fatty foods as I want to lose 2 stone before the end of April for my holiday and I know for a fact that with all good intentions if I join them and say I am going to be good I wont be, so trains it is. Back at Piccadilly I find a good 150, yes I still need a few Northern 150s too, in 150148 for a ride out to Romiley where I wont have too long to wait for the next train back.
At Romiley there was only a 8 minute wait for the 1413 to Manchester Piccadilly formed of 150210. Back at Piccadilly I had a 5 minute wait for my first trip of the day to Stockport on board a new one for me in the form of 390131.
At Stockport there was a mad dash across to Platform 4 for the next train back to Manchester Piccadilly formed of a dud 150116. I have a plan for my next few moves but an wondering whether I will be beaten by the peak times....I will have to wait and see.
Back at Piccadilly I thought I ha dropped a clanger, as I got off the train I noticed another unit attached to the back and thought that I had ridden on a dud with a good one behind, luckily I immediately checked and found that to be a dud too....Note to self, pay attention in the future.
So now I am back at Piccadilly its shack hunting time. I have two in sight but may only be able to do one of it is the famous squeaky bum time so here goes, I have 15 minutes to wait before I can start my next trip which ever one I am aiming for if I want to get these done before evening peak starts so the choice is made, off to platform 1 for the short trip out to Ashburys on 150137, here is where I have to make a choice. Either to stay on Ashburys station and wait a few minutes for a train along the Hadfield line or walk over to the Velopark tram stop and hope to get a tram back to Piccadilly to pick up a train out to station number 2 that I have in my sight, all will become clear later on. Fingers crossed.
Okay, so it failed. I was 2 minutes from the Velopark tram stop when a tram left, another 9 minutes to wait for the next tram by the time I arrived at the stop so I wont get back to Piccadilly in time for the peak period for the next station I had planned...never mind plenty of Metrolink stops to be getting on with for now.
Dud 3088 arrives to take me back towards the city centre and I decide I have to make something out of this so I sty on the tram to Central Park to knock off another Metrolink stop.
At Central Park I leave the tram and cross over to the other platform and while waiting for the tram back to Manchester I observe 66717 coming off the Brewery Curve with a bio-mass train to Drax and he is on full power and crawling, he is such an heavy train. Anyhow my tram arrives and is my first red pen tram of the day with 3094 to take me to another new shack and that being Exchange Square.
At Exchange Square I decide to wait for the next tram that wasnt the one I had just got off and what a good plan that was when 3105 arrived for the next service to Shaw & Crompton although I stayed on it as far as Monsall.
At Monsall 3070 arrives for my short journey to Victoria where I will change onto the East Didsbury tram. At Victoria I have only 5 minutes to wait for the arrival of 3052 to take me through to West Didsbury, my next new shack for the day.
At West Didsbury I have 1 minute to get to the opposite platform!! This well breaks my 5 minute rule, but I make it, out of breathe but still I do it for a dud 3010 to take me to my next new shack of Withington.
At Withington I have a leisurely 5 minutes to get to the opposite platform so decide to go up onto the road to figure out exactly where this stop is and I recognise it immediately as being Princess Parkway. Back on the platform a double tram arrives, both are dud so I board 3040 to take me to Didsbury Village, my next new shack, here another dud tram arrives in the form of 3012. Im not minding these dud trams because I am rattling off the tram stops and my next stop will be my last one on the South Manchester Line so at Burton Road I disembark and wait for the next tram to take me back to St. Werburghs Road where I then can pick up the tram to take me home from what has been an eventful day. Both the remaining trams were duds.
SHACKS
Burton Road, Central Park, Didsbury Village, Exchange Square, Gately, Monsall, Northern Moor, Martinscroft, Robinswood Road, Velopark, West Didsbury, Withington.
UNITS
3094, 3105, 150148, 185101, 319367, 319377, 319380, 319386, 390131.
jayalongtheway
Member
- Joined
- 31 Oct 2015
- Messages
- 241
Nice productive local run about Andy. Hoping to get off my bum for first moves of 2016 today. We'll see!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Make sure you do a trip report
I did wonder if you were still doing trip reports, I know how you feel with laborious typing them can be.
A nice and productive local trip there, jealous of the 319s. As for the Starships, I can't wait for them to come south
andyb2706
Member
Tuesday 5th January 2016
So off I go again, up at 7pm and at the tram stop by 7.45 on a dark and cold morning.......why!!!?? That is the question I am asking while stood here typing this waiting for the tram. I have some sort of plan for the day but those who have read my reports should know by now that I dont usually still by them so I am not going to say anymore for now.
I still need 2 of the lower number trams so it would be nice to see one of them for my journey into Manchester as I have no chance at the higher numbered ones as they are not allowed on the Altrincham line. No such luck, just as I finished typing my tram formed of 3037 and 3004 rolled in both duds, so I will have to wait for another time to get them two so disappointingly I board the latter tram and standing room only.
At Manchester Piccadilly I notice something odd, there is no Virgin Trains in the station. That may muck up my plans, anyhow more urgent matters before trains a Greggs bacon roll and coffee to be bought then the train. So with bacon roll in one hand a new a coffee in the other off onto the platforms I go and still no Virgin Train and the next one is due to depart in 10 minutes and is still being shown as on time at 0835, I wasnt expecting at this time of the morning of having to consult RTT but here goes and it is showing the stock to work the 0835 to Euston as being cancelled although it is now under 5 minutes until the service is due and the train is still showing on time and when the station staff are questioned and pointed out that the empty stock that should work it was cancelled they all seemed unsure of what was going on but stated a stock was to be provided and the train would be running and to wait on platform 5, at 0836 a Virgin Trains rolled in on platform 6 and then it was announced that the train on platform 6 was the 0835....typical so everyone was now rushing around to the opposite platform and the train was formed of a dud 390123, reminds me of last year and a similar incident at Birmingham New Street. Railway staff always makes the worst passengers. As we left Piccadilly 7 minutes late we were advised that the train would be diverting via Crewe as the line between Stoke and the main line was blocked by a broken down engineering train.
Not much to note for the journey, made some inputs into my Flickr account of the photos I uploaded last night from yesterdays trip and saw 68014 on the Crewe to Mountsorrel service as we passed through Stafford.
At Euston I headed to the Underground via the gents and I have to say for 30p they were in a very bad state. Half the cubicles were out of use, 4-5 urinals had buckets under them, taps were lose and a couple of the hand dryers werent working! I like a moan at times. So it is now time to head down to the Underground to head over to London Liverpool Street and board my first need of the day with 53563 for the short hop to St.Pancras Kings Cross. On the whole I think it would have been quicker to walk to Euston Square to pick up the circle line however that would have meant missing out on a tube train so I will take the extra mileage. At St. Pancras Kings Cross I join my 2nd requirement for the day with 22328 for the journey to London Liverpool Street. Although I did say the way I did it was the long way round it was well worth it with two in the book.
At London Liverpool Street it didnt take long to find a 315 that I needed, actually two, so a choice had to be made so I closed my eyes, turned round three times and pointed.....I was surprised no one said anything so 315801 will have to wait for another time and I boarded 315811 to start my 315 bashing and stayed on until Seven Sisters where I gave myself a 5 minute leisurely stroll to the opposite platform to pick up a dud 315810 to take me to My next new shack of Stoke Newington for 315802 to head back along the line towards Edmonton Green for a dud 315807 as far as White Hart Lane, I never realised it was this part of London for Tottenham Hotspur FC and it looks like they have started redeveloping the area around the ground because there a big pile drivers on site. My next move is on another new unit for me, 315804 which takes me to my next new shack Silver Street.
At Silver Street I have a 5 minute wait for a dud 315811 to take me Stamford Hill. Here I had an age to wait...a full 10 minutes but there as method behind this madness as I had figured out that the 1249 to Enfield Town was formed of needed 315814 which took me to yet another new station in Bruce Grove.
Here was another 10 minute wait but this time for a dud 315803 to take me to Silver Street.
I returned to Silver Street to pick up a good 315817 to take me to Rectory Road where I had what seemed a decade to wait for my next one but on the bright side as the train I had just got off drew out of the station there on the opposite platform stood a service to Cheshunt formed of a good 315805, so while I was stood there for ever I consulted RTT to see if I could figure out its return journey, also to note that I have now done all the stations between London Liverpool Street and Edmonton Green. So 315814 arrived and took me the short journey to Hackney Downs.
If my time at Silver Street seemed an age, my time at Rectory Road seemed a decade well my time at Hackney Downs seemed like a century, but yet again there was a reason for this and after a 45 minute wait it arrived 315805 for my journey back to London Liverpool Street and I am now down to needing two London Overground 315 units and I am happy with that.
Back at London Liverpool Street I had planned to head over to TfL Rail to grab some of their 315s but on arrival on the next platform was a pair of London Overground 317s due to depart in 5 minutes and both required for haulage....this is too good of an opportunity to miss so a quick run out to Hackney Downs again will clear these two so onto 317710 to Cambridge Heath where I then transferred to 317723 for the final section of the journey to Hackney Downs.
At Hackney Downs I have two options either the 1458 or 1459 to London Liverpool Street so I position myself so on platform 2 at the top of the stairs so I can see the 1458 coming in on platform 1, luckily for me it is a few minutes early and is formed of two units and the rear unit being 315801 that I saw first thing this morning so a mad dash...sprint...run, call it what you like and I was round to platform 1 jumping onto the train panting and nearly enough on my knees, that is now down to one London Overground 315 I need (315808).
Back at London Liverpool Street it is time to start on TfL 315s and the first is a good one for me with 315819 and another one I need was on the next platform and I saw it was the Shenfield service 10 minutes after 819 departs so a run out to Stratford on 315819 and a wait of 10 minutes saw me boarding 315855 for a run to Ilford.
At Ilford I spot a good unit going in the other direction so I do some research to figure out its return journey and then board another good unit in the form of 315826 to take me to Goodmayes where I picked up a dud 315849 to Chadwell Heath where yet again I spot another good un going in the opposite direction. So from Chadwell Heath dud 315829 takes me out to Romford.
At Romford I pick up the good unit I saw at Ilford going into London earlier in the form of 315851 for a short hop to Gidea Park where after a few minutes wait I get a dud 315847 back to Romford to pick up the second decent unit I saw earlier going into London in the guise of 315823 for another short trip to Gidea Park, couldnt go any further as the train terminated here, and a good job too because 6 minutes later a decent 315828 rolled in with a service to London Liverpool Street!! So I jumped on board and headed back into London to call it a day with the 315s as it has been a long day.
The trains were too busy to head off home yet so I spent a bit of time outside of London Liverpool Street doing one of the other things I like to do and that is people watch, is was a drizzling and dark and when you hear of cyclists being killed on the streets of our Capital I have to say Im surprised there isnt more with what I saw. There were hundreds of cyclists and at least 1 in 5 didnt have any lights on, they were cycling on the wrong side of the road, swerving in and out of traffic and of course the usual jumping red lights, now Im not anti cyclist because I cycle as well but people have to take responsibility for their own actions.
After 45 minutes of people watching I head for the tube and catch a good 22103 to St Pancras Kings Cross from and then a stroll to Euston for a dud 390155 back to Manchester.
The journey back was nice and peaceful with chill out time by doing a bit of work on this report and then watching a programme on my phone.....these smartphones are great!!
Not much to report from Piccadilly and the tram back home was another dud with 3041.
See ya all soon.
NEW SHACKS
Bruce Grove, Edmonton Green, Seven Sisters, Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington, Rectory Road, Silver Street, White Hart Lane
NEW UNITS
22103, 53563, 22328, 315801, 315802, 315804, 315805, 315811, 315814, 315817, 315819, 315826, 315828, 315851, 315855, 317710, 317723
So off I go again, up at 7pm and at the tram stop by 7.45 on a dark and cold morning.......why!!!?? That is the question I am asking while stood here typing this waiting for the tram. I have some sort of plan for the day but those who have read my reports should know by now that I dont usually still by them so I am not going to say anymore for now.
I still need 2 of the lower number trams so it would be nice to see one of them for my journey into Manchester as I have no chance at the higher numbered ones as they are not allowed on the Altrincham line. No such luck, just as I finished typing my tram formed of 3037 and 3004 rolled in both duds, so I will have to wait for another time to get them two so disappointingly I board the latter tram and standing room only.
At Manchester Piccadilly I notice something odd, there is no Virgin Trains in the station. That may muck up my plans, anyhow more urgent matters before trains a Greggs bacon roll and coffee to be bought then the train. So with bacon roll in one hand a new a coffee in the other off onto the platforms I go and still no Virgin Train and the next one is due to depart in 10 minutes and is still being shown as on time at 0835, I wasnt expecting at this time of the morning of having to consult RTT but here goes and it is showing the stock to work the 0835 to Euston as being cancelled although it is now under 5 minutes until the service is due and the train is still showing on time and when the station staff are questioned and pointed out that the empty stock that should work it was cancelled they all seemed unsure of what was going on but stated a stock was to be provided and the train would be running and to wait on platform 5, at 0836 a Virgin Trains rolled in on platform 6 and then it was announced that the train on platform 6 was the 0835....typical so everyone was now rushing around to the opposite platform and the train was formed of a dud 390123, reminds me of last year and a similar incident at Birmingham New Street. Railway staff always makes the worst passengers. As we left Piccadilly 7 minutes late we were advised that the train would be diverting via Crewe as the line between Stoke and the main line was blocked by a broken down engineering train.
Not much to note for the journey, made some inputs into my Flickr account of the photos I uploaded last night from yesterdays trip and saw 68014 on the Crewe to Mountsorrel service as we passed through Stafford.
At Euston I headed to the Underground via the gents and I have to say for 30p they were in a very bad state. Half the cubicles were out of use, 4-5 urinals had buckets under them, taps were lose and a couple of the hand dryers werent working! I like a moan at times. So it is now time to head down to the Underground to head over to London Liverpool Street and board my first need of the day with 53563 for the short hop to St.Pancras Kings Cross. On the whole I think it would have been quicker to walk to Euston Square to pick up the circle line however that would have meant missing out on a tube train so I will take the extra mileage. At St. Pancras Kings Cross I join my 2nd requirement for the day with 22328 for the journey to London Liverpool Street. Although I did say the way I did it was the long way round it was well worth it with two in the book.
At London Liverpool Street it didnt take long to find a 315 that I needed, actually two, so a choice had to be made so I closed my eyes, turned round three times and pointed.....I was surprised no one said anything so 315801 will have to wait for another time and I boarded 315811 to start my 315 bashing and stayed on until Seven Sisters where I gave myself a 5 minute leisurely stroll to the opposite platform to pick up a dud 315810 to take me to My next new shack of Stoke Newington for 315802 to head back along the line towards Edmonton Green for a dud 315807 as far as White Hart Lane, I never realised it was this part of London for Tottenham Hotspur FC and it looks like they have started redeveloping the area around the ground because there a big pile drivers on site. My next move is on another new unit for me, 315804 which takes me to my next new shack Silver Street.
At Silver Street I have a 5 minute wait for a dud 315811 to take me Stamford Hill. Here I had an age to wait...a full 10 minutes but there as method behind this madness as I had figured out that the 1249 to Enfield Town was formed of needed 315814 which took me to yet another new station in Bruce Grove.
Here was another 10 minute wait but this time for a dud 315803 to take me to Silver Street.
I returned to Silver Street to pick up a good 315817 to take me to Rectory Road where I had what seemed a decade to wait for my next one but on the bright side as the train I had just got off drew out of the station there on the opposite platform stood a service to Cheshunt formed of a good 315805, so while I was stood there for ever I consulted RTT to see if I could figure out its return journey, also to note that I have now done all the stations between London Liverpool Street and Edmonton Green. So 315814 arrived and took me the short journey to Hackney Downs.
If my time at Silver Street seemed an age, my time at Rectory Road seemed a decade well my time at Hackney Downs seemed like a century, but yet again there was a reason for this and after a 45 minute wait it arrived 315805 for my journey back to London Liverpool Street and I am now down to needing two London Overground 315 units and I am happy with that.
Back at London Liverpool Street I had planned to head over to TfL Rail to grab some of their 315s but on arrival on the next platform was a pair of London Overground 317s due to depart in 5 minutes and both required for haulage....this is too good of an opportunity to miss so a quick run out to Hackney Downs again will clear these two so onto 317710 to Cambridge Heath where I then transferred to 317723 for the final section of the journey to Hackney Downs.
At Hackney Downs I have two options either the 1458 or 1459 to London Liverpool Street so I position myself so on platform 2 at the top of the stairs so I can see the 1458 coming in on platform 1, luckily for me it is a few minutes early and is formed of two units and the rear unit being 315801 that I saw first thing this morning so a mad dash...sprint...run, call it what you like and I was round to platform 1 jumping onto the train panting and nearly enough on my knees, that is now down to one London Overground 315 I need (315808).
Back at London Liverpool Street it is time to start on TfL 315s and the first is a good one for me with 315819 and another one I need was on the next platform and I saw it was the Shenfield service 10 minutes after 819 departs so a run out to Stratford on 315819 and a wait of 10 minutes saw me boarding 315855 for a run to Ilford.
At Ilford I spot a good unit going in the other direction so I do some research to figure out its return journey and then board another good unit in the form of 315826 to take me to Goodmayes where I picked up a dud 315849 to Chadwell Heath where yet again I spot another good un going in the opposite direction. So from Chadwell Heath dud 315829 takes me out to Romford.
At Romford I pick up the good unit I saw at Ilford going into London earlier in the form of 315851 for a short hop to Gidea Park where after a few minutes wait I get a dud 315847 back to Romford to pick up the second decent unit I saw earlier going into London in the guise of 315823 for another short trip to Gidea Park, couldnt go any further as the train terminated here, and a good job too because 6 minutes later a decent 315828 rolled in with a service to London Liverpool Street!! So I jumped on board and headed back into London to call it a day with the 315s as it has been a long day.
The trains were too busy to head off home yet so I spent a bit of time outside of London Liverpool Street doing one of the other things I like to do and that is people watch, is was a drizzling and dark and when you hear of cyclists being killed on the streets of our Capital I have to say Im surprised there isnt more with what I saw. There were hundreds of cyclists and at least 1 in 5 didnt have any lights on, they were cycling on the wrong side of the road, swerving in and out of traffic and of course the usual jumping red lights, now Im not anti cyclist because I cycle as well but people have to take responsibility for their own actions.
After 45 minutes of people watching I head for the tube and catch a good 22103 to St Pancras Kings Cross from and then a stroll to Euston for a dud 390155 back to Manchester.
The journey back was nice and peaceful with chill out time by doing a bit of work on this report and then watching a programme on my phone.....these smartphones are great!!
Not much to report from Piccadilly and the tram back home was another dud with 3041.
See ya all soon.
NEW SHACKS
Bruce Grove, Edmonton Green, Seven Sisters, Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington, Rectory Road, Silver Street, White Hart Lane
NEW UNITS
22103, 53563, 22328, 315801, 315802, 315804, 315805, 315811, 315814, 315817, 315819, 315826, 315828, 315851, 315855, 317710, 317723
jayalongtheway
Member
- Joined
- 31 Oct 2015
- Messages
- 241
A good session with the PEP's Mr Buckley!
I didn't get out Tech. Definitely today! (6th)
Keith Jarrett
Member
Sounds like an excellent day getting some Overground action down in The Smoke. All those 315s along with the Brucie Bonus of a couple of winning 317s to crown a good day makes for a happy man!
I think we've all witnessed the stepping up of Pendolinos at Piccadilly when things go awry. My fastest turnaround is a mere 3 minutes late one evening.
I think we've all witnessed the stepping up of Pendolinos at Piccadilly when things go awry. My fastest turnaround is a mere 3 minutes late one evening.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Sounds like a rather excellent day with the 315s.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
An excellent day in London there, fair dos!
alexf380
Established Member
Good to see that you've returned to the band of merry trip reporters! A couple of good reads there, certainly.
andyb2706
Member
6th January 2016
Well here I am again, standing on the platform at Brooklands waiting to start my day 3 of 3 Spotting trip. Wish could tell you at this moment exactly where I am going but I cant as Im not too sure myself all I know is that I am going out and going to see where it leads me. Anyhow another dud tram into Manchester, I would live to know where the two lowered numbered trams are that I need.
At Piccadilly the usual ritual occurs, a Greggs breakfast before heading to the platform and again boarding a Virgin Train to London. I need to start doing more outside London but my theory is that while I need a lot in London during the winter months when it is cold I want to be jumping on and off trains all day rather than being frozen on stations waiting for a decent train. Anyhow the Virgin Train is required which is a good enough reason, 390128 knocked off the list.
Back in the smoke again and it is straight down to the Underground at Euston and right onto 53613 for a trip to Old Street where I intend to get a few more 313 units scrubbed off as well as hopefully finishing off my stations on the Hertford Loop line.
At Old Street I got extremely dizzy going down the 100 step spiral staircase that links the Underground platform to the Great Northern platform, at least I wasnt going up them! Also the corridors and station require a bit of TLC. A dud 313055 takes me forward to my first new shack on the Hertford Loop line where I leave the train at Enfield Chase and have 20 minutes wait for my next train north so I head over to the other platform where a train is due in 11 minutes, just in case and a required 313030 arrives with a dud 313047 for a short trip back to Grange Park and across to the opposite platform for the train north to take me to Watton-on-Stone where there is only an hourly service. On arriving at Hertford North I notice there is a needed 313024 on the blocks in the bay so I jump off but then notice it is in darkness and hazard lights are unlit so thinking it wasnt in service I jump back on board the train I had just alighted to continue my journey....313024 slowly began to move forward so I thought it was going into the sidings, the train I was on started the audible alarm for the doors to close and just as the does shut the doors on 313024 opened....put your own expletives here.
At Watton-on-Stone new I leave the train and head over to the other platform for a 23 minutes wait for the train to Bayford. Watton-on-Stone new from what I can see I quiet a large sleepy village, very tranquil and rural. Quiet a nice place on first impressions, while waiting for my train 66850 came through the station heading north from Hoo Junction to White Moor Yard. Bang on time a dud 313040 arrives to take me to Bayford for my final station on the Hertford Loop, then I will be heading to Hitchin and heading back down the East Coast to hopefully have more luck with the 313s.
At Bayford I have another 15 minutes wait, my remarks earlier in the report about just hopping on and off trains seemed to have gone up in smoke! And yet another dud, 313053 and I still need 10 more, may have to wait until the rush hour when they are doubled up for a better chance so for the rest of the afternoon I think I will be going for anything Great Northernish once I am at Hitchin.
Here at Hitchin I have 4 minutes to wait for my train to Stevenage and I think my luck may have changed as 365506 arrives and only my 4th new train of the day.
On arriving at Stevenage I leave this train as there is another right behind it so another chance of a new unit and I was not disappointed as 365520 arrived to take me to Welwyn Garden City where I left the train and to my disappointment there was no train towards London for 20 minutes and that was a dud 313. So I noticed there was a train to Cambridge in just over 5 minutes and that it called at Knebworth, a required station so I hopped aboard when it arrived and was pleased to see it was a needed 365529.
At Knebworth I have a wait for 7 minutes, these are so nicely timed for my trip back towards London. Its now time to get serious so I will stay on this train to Finsbury Park to improve my chances of required units and to my delight the train to take me to Finsbury Park was 317340.
Okay, with me you should know by now things dont always go to plan, what I wrote above was the idea...before I pulled into Welwyn Garden City and saw needed 313024 sitting in the platform for a service to Moorgate, too late for me to jump off here so at Hatfield I abandon the 317 and have a 10 minutes wait for the Moorgate service.
Another clanger by me, in the time from seeing 313024 at Welwyn Garden City and it arriving at Hatfield some one decided to stick a dud 313055 on to the rear, so there I am at the Stevenage end of the platform waiting to get a picture, which I do, and then do not have time to get to 313024 so have to jump onto the dud unit and walking through to the front of that unit to be able to change units at Welham Green talk about creating work for yourself!
At Potters Bar I leave the train and have a 12 minutes wait for the train to Finsbury Park hoping for another new unit, hope was all I had as dud 317346 arrived for my onward journey, so as someone once said things can only get better.
On arriving at Finsbury Park it all kicked off with a couple of local ladies getting involved in fisticuffs and a swarm of orange jackets intervening, that was my cue not to hang around long so off to the north bound platforms hoping for a while 313, and I got two 313045 and 313123 formed the 1551 to Welwyn Garden City so onto 313045 for a one stop hop to Haringey where I transferred to 313123 for a trip to Alexandra Palace and with only 4 mintues to wait for my next train I have time to amble across.....and what do they say? Nothing and they all come at once, well sort of. The 1603 was formed of two units one dud and the other good in the form of 313035, another one scratched off which I stayed on until Hornsey so I could have a look at the depot in the gloom of dusk, Hornsey depot is still a work site. While stood at Hornsey I saw something not that often seen, heading north was a VTEC with 91129 on the front with the DOT right behind and then a dead 91104 on the rear of the train. The 1617 arrived and you guessed, one of the two units was a good one with 313027 bringing me down to need another 5, so back at Finsbury Park I wonder if the fighting Id over? Will know in a minute or two.
Finsbury Park is now all at peace, apart from the kangoing going on by the rail staff opposite platform 8, whatever work it is they are doing I havent a clue. So now Ive positioned myself on platform 7 and 8 waiting for the next red pen to come along that I need, first possibility is the 1628 to Huntingdon formed of 2 units, both dud 321s and seeing that 9 of them Im pretty unlucky. So next chance 1631 to Gordon Hill and no both dud 313s, next two 1637 to Stevenage and 1638 to Cambridge are both duds. At long last the 1641 to Welwyn Garden City service proved useful with a dud 313054 but a good 313051 that takes me on a trip to Alexandra Palace where while waiting for my next train a trio of 321s come through, never realised these were still being used, a little while later a dud 313 takes me to Finsbury Park where I pick another dud 365 up to Kings Cross.
At Kings Cross I have a decision to make, call it a day or carry on for a bit longer, only took me a split second to decide....carry on so it was off to get the 1740 to Peterborough which was formed of 3x365 units and 2 of them I needed....result! However, the logistics of then getting home at a reasonable hour without too much faffing around changed my mind and kind of resulted in a better trip. Off to platform 11 for the 1752 to Cambridge formed of 317342 and 317343, both of which were needed so I travelled on the former to Finsbury Park and the latter to Hatfield where I left the train for the 1829 to Welwyn Garden City, which had been stood in the platform next to us at Kings Cross so a good 321419 was got for the short journey to Welwyn Garden City.
At WGC (By this time of day Im fed up of typing Welwyn Garden City) I have a 15 minutes wait for the return journey to Kings Cross with a service from Cambridge. Knowing this I am hoping for 317347 as it would be the last Great Northern 317 I need for haulage but as the time drew near I checked the boards and it stated it was a 4 coach train which meant it was a 365 and not a 317 unfortunately and true enough 365502 arrived but on the plus side this was a need too. As I boarded and sat down I looked out the window and what should have arrived on the opposite platform but 317347 working a service to Cambridge. It was if it was blowing a raspberry at me. Never mind that is there for another trip. With the day coming to an end I cant complain with 6 shacks and 17 red pens, may add to that before I finish the day.
Back at Euston I nipped up to the new level to visit Prime Burger to pick up my tea. Although a bit pricey £10.80 for a Stilton Burger, chips cooked in their skins and a can of pop if it is quality burger you are after and not the Burger Kings or McDonalds of this world you cant go far wrong....they are awesome, at least try it once, enough of the promo as I wont be getting any freebies from them for the plug so it was off to the train (oh!....forgot to say if you are eating in there are plug sockets and USB ports to charge up you phone ☺) and another shock lay in front when I found out that the train home was 390136, another new one. I cant remember the last time I had 2 Virgin Trains on the same day without trying! Could this all bode well for my tram home later?
Okay, back at Piccadilly and I head off straight to the tram stop and as Im going down the stairs I hear a tram screeching into the platform so I put on a bit of a spurt and just drawing to a stand is 3009 and 3022.....wait did I just say 3022!? I can not believe my luck today. 2 x 390s and now one of the two early M5000s that I need, I even took photographic evidence of the interior were the number as prove. Now I only need 3036 and trams 3097 and higher.
NEW SHACKS
Bayford, Enfield Chase, Hitchin, Knebworth, Old Street (LU), Watton-on-Stone
NEW UNITS
3022, 53613, 313024, 313027, 313030, 313035, 313045, 313051, 313123, 317340, 317342, 317343, 321419, 365502, 365506, 365520, 365529, 390128, 390136.
Well here I am again, standing on the platform at Brooklands waiting to start my day 3 of 3 Spotting trip. Wish could tell you at this moment exactly where I am going but I cant as Im not too sure myself all I know is that I am going out and going to see where it leads me. Anyhow another dud tram into Manchester, I would live to know where the two lowered numbered trams are that I need.
At Piccadilly the usual ritual occurs, a Greggs breakfast before heading to the platform and again boarding a Virgin Train to London. I need to start doing more outside London but my theory is that while I need a lot in London during the winter months when it is cold I want to be jumping on and off trains all day rather than being frozen on stations waiting for a decent train. Anyhow the Virgin Train is required which is a good enough reason, 390128 knocked off the list.
Back in the smoke again and it is straight down to the Underground at Euston and right onto 53613 for a trip to Old Street where I intend to get a few more 313 units scrubbed off as well as hopefully finishing off my stations on the Hertford Loop line.
At Old Street I got extremely dizzy going down the 100 step spiral staircase that links the Underground platform to the Great Northern platform, at least I wasnt going up them! Also the corridors and station require a bit of TLC. A dud 313055 takes me forward to my first new shack on the Hertford Loop line where I leave the train at Enfield Chase and have 20 minutes wait for my next train north so I head over to the other platform where a train is due in 11 minutes, just in case and a required 313030 arrives with a dud 313047 for a short trip back to Grange Park and across to the opposite platform for the train north to take me to Watton-on-Stone where there is only an hourly service. On arriving at Hertford North I notice there is a needed 313024 on the blocks in the bay so I jump off but then notice it is in darkness and hazard lights are unlit so thinking it wasnt in service I jump back on board the train I had just alighted to continue my journey....313024 slowly began to move forward so I thought it was going into the sidings, the train I was on started the audible alarm for the doors to close and just as the does shut the doors on 313024 opened....put your own expletives here.
At Watton-on-Stone new I leave the train and head over to the other platform for a 23 minutes wait for the train to Bayford. Watton-on-Stone new from what I can see I quiet a large sleepy village, very tranquil and rural. Quiet a nice place on first impressions, while waiting for my train 66850 came through the station heading north from Hoo Junction to White Moor Yard. Bang on time a dud 313040 arrives to take me to Bayford for my final station on the Hertford Loop, then I will be heading to Hitchin and heading back down the East Coast to hopefully have more luck with the 313s.
At Bayford I have another 15 minutes wait, my remarks earlier in the report about just hopping on and off trains seemed to have gone up in smoke! And yet another dud, 313053 and I still need 10 more, may have to wait until the rush hour when they are doubled up for a better chance so for the rest of the afternoon I think I will be going for anything Great Northernish once I am at Hitchin.
Here at Hitchin I have 4 minutes to wait for my train to Stevenage and I think my luck may have changed as 365506 arrives and only my 4th new train of the day.
On arriving at Stevenage I leave this train as there is another right behind it so another chance of a new unit and I was not disappointed as 365520 arrived to take me to Welwyn Garden City where I left the train and to my disappointment there was no train towards London for 20 minutes and that was a dud 313. So I noticed there was a train to Cambridge in just over 5 minutes and that it called at Knebworth, a required station so I hopped aboard when it arrived and was pleased to see it was a needed 365529.
At Knebworth I have a wait for 7 minutes, these are so nicely timed for my trip back towards London. Its now time to get serious so I will stay on this train to Finsbury Park to improve my chances of required units and to my delight the train to take me to Finsbury Park was 317340.
Okay, with me you should know by now things dont always go to plan, what I wrote above was the idea...before I pulled into Welwyn Garden City and saw needed 313024 sitting in the platform for a service to Moorgate, too late for me to jump off here so at Hatfield I abandon the 317 and have a 10 minutes wait for the Moorgate service.
Another clanger by me, in the time from seeing 313024 at Welwyn Garden City and it arriving at Hatfield some one decided to stick a dud 313055 on to the rear, so there I am at the Stevenage end of the platform waiting to get a picture, which I do, and then do not have time to get to 313024 so have to jump onto the dud unit and walking through to the front of that unit to be able to change units at Welham Green talk about creating work for yourself!
At Potters Bar I leave the train and have a 12 minutes wait for the train to Finsbury Park hoping for another new unit, hope was all I had as dud 317346 arrived for my onward journey, so as someone once said things can only get better.
On arriving at Finsbury Park it all kicked off with a couple of local ladies getting involved in fisticuffs and a swarm of orange jackets intervening, that was my cue not to hang around long so off to the north bound platforms hoping for a while 313, and I got two 313045 and 313123 formed the 1551 to Welwyn Garden City so onto 313045 for a one stop hop to Haringey where I transferred to 313123 for a trip to Alexandra Palace and with only 4 mintues to wait for my next train I have time to amble across.....and what do they say? Nothing and they all come at once, well sort of. The 1603 was formed of two units one dud and the other good in the form of 313035, another one scratched off which I stayed on until Hornsey so I could have a look at the depot in the gloom of dusk, Hornsey depot is still a work site. While stood at Hornsey I saw something not that often seen, heading north was a VTEC with 91129 on the front with the DOT right behind and then a dead 91104 on the rear of the train. The 1617 arrived and you guessed, one of the two units was a good one with 313027 bringing me down to need another 5, so back at Finsbury Park I wonder if the fighting Id over? Will know in a minute or two.
Finsbury Park is now all at peace, apart from the kangoing going on by the rail staff opposite platform 8, whatever work it is they are doing I havent a clue. So now Ive positioned myself on platform 7 and 8 waiting for the next red pen to come along that I need, first possibility is the 1628 to Huntingdon formed of 2 units, both dud 321s and seeing that 9 of them Im pretty unlucky. So next chance 1631 to Gordon Hill and no both dud 313s, next two 1637 to Stevenage and 1638 to Cambridge are both duds. At long last the 1641 to Welwyn Garden City service proved useful with a dud 313054 but a good 313051 that takes me on a trip to Alexandra Palace where while waiting for my next train a trio of 321s come through, never realised these were still being used, a little while later a dud 313 takes me to Finsbury Park where I pick another dud 365 up to Kings Cross.
At Kings Cross I have a decision to make, call it a day or carry on for a bit longer, only took me a split second to decide....carry on so it was off to get the 1740 to Peterborough which was formed of 3x365 units and 2 of them I needed....result! However, the logistics of then getting home at a reasonable hour without too much faffing around changed my mind and kind of resulted in a better trip. Off to platform 11 for the 1752 to Cambridge formed of 317342 and 317343, both of which were needed so I travelled on the former to Finsbury Park and the latter to Hatfield where I left the train for the 1829 to Welwyn Garden City, which had been stood in the platform next to us at Kings Cross so a good 321419 was got for the short journey to Welwyn Garden City.
At WGC (By this time of day Im fed up of typing Welwyn Garden City) I have a 15 minutes wait for the return journey to Kings Cross with a service from Cambridge. Knowing this I am hoping for 317347 as it would be the last Great Northern 317 I need for haulage but as the time drew near I checked the boards and it stated it was a 4 coach train which meant it was a 365 and not a 317 unfortunately and true enough 365502 arrived but on the plus side this was a need too. As I boarded and sat down I looked out the window and what should have arrived on the opposite platform but 317347 working a service to Cambridge. It was if it was blowing a raspberry at me. Never mind that is there for another trip. With the day coming to an end I cant complain with 6 shacks and 17 red pens, may add to that before I finish the day.
Back at Euston I nipped up to the new level to visit Prime Burger to pick up my tea. Although a bit pricey £10.80 for a Stilton Burger, chips cooked in their skins and a can of pop if it is quality burger you are after and not the Burger Kings or McDonalds of this world you cant go far wrong....they are awesome, at least try it once, enough of the promo as I wont be getting any freebies from them for the plug so it was off to the train (oh!....forgot to say if you are eating in there are plug sockets and USB ports to charge up you phone ☺) and another shock lay in front when I found out that the train home was 390136, another new one. I cant remember the last time I had 2 Virgin Trains on the same day without trying! Could this all bode well for my tram home later?
Okay, back at Piccadilly and I head off straight to the tram stop and as Im going down the stairs I hear a tram screeching into the platform so I put on a bit of a spurt and just drawing to a stand is 3009 and 3022.....wait did I just say 3022!? I can not believe my luck today. 2 x 390s and now one of the two early M5000s that I need, I even took photographic evidence of the interior were the number as prove. Now I only need 3036 and trams 3097 and higher.
NEW SHACKS
Bayford, Enfield Chase, Hitchin, Knebworth, Old Street (LU), Watton-on-Stone
NEW UNITS
3022, 53613, 313024, 313027, 313030, 313035, 313045, 313051, 313123, 317340, 317342, 317343, 321419, 365502, 365506, 365520, 365529, 390128, 390136.
jayalongtheway
Member
- Joined
- 31 Oct 2015
- Messages
- 241
Not an area that I've ever frequented but you've whet my appetite. I like the PEP designs and I suppose they have a relatively short future. There are pictures of 313's on flickr on the blocks at the Cross next to Deltics. Say's it all! And more importantly 365's have smiley faces and are cute looking
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Another excellent read good sir!
This burger place, Prime Burger, where exactly is it? I'm not familiar with it but equally it sounds amazing. I need to properly visit one of the catering outlets opposite Cafe Nero one day, I can't recall the name of it but the sample I had when they first opened was stunning. Weirdly I've not spent much time at Euston since the new catering bits opened!
313035 makes me jealous of you as it's my last GN 313 to get for haulage. It failed on me last time I went for it, and everyone else seems to be getting it now!
Congratulations on getting 3022 in the book, you're doing a lot better than the rest of us for Metrolink trams! I still need 77 of them, including up to 3120.
Scoring two winning 390s in one day without trying ie very good going indeed!
This burger place, Prime Burger, where exactly is it? I'm not familiar with it but equally it sounds amazing. I need to properly visit one of the catering outlets opposite Cafe Nero one day, I can't recall the name of it but the sample I had when they first opened was stunning. Weirdly I've not spent much time at Euston since the new catering bits opened!
313035 makes me jealous of you as it's my last GN 313 to get for haulage. It failed on me last time I went for it, and everyone else seems to be getting it now!
Congratulations on getting 3022 in the book, you're doing a lot better than the rest of us for Metrolink trams! I still need 77 of them, including up to 3120.
Scoring two winning 390s in one day without trying ie very good going indeed!
andyb2706
Member
The burger place is on the new upper level on the station concourse overlooking the departure board. As to the GN 313 I still need 4 of them which I think may be tough to get and for the Metrolink trams to be honest when ever I am off into Manchester it is a tram I have to get as there is no trains and I am about equal distance from the Altrincham line as I am the Airport line.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Ooh the new upper level is open? Fantastic news!
andyb2706
Member
Monday 11th January 2016
Got a free day today so decided to head off out and see what I could get. So it was off to Brooklands to pick up a tram into Manchester and for once I was able to walk it without getting wet! At the tram stop I had to choose, do I wait 10 minutes for off peak price or pay peak price, more fool me I pay the peak time price. After doing so I thought I hope my tram arrives before 9.30 otherwise I would be gutted, at 9.29 the tram pulls in (phew!!!) with dud trams 3019 and 3054 so jump on the latter for what turns out to be a prolonged journey because of late running trams and the change of signalling sequence just outside Piccadilly station due to both Portland Street and Mancunian Way being shut to give priority to road vehicles.
At Piccadilly I head up to the main station and go to the booking office to buy a Cheshire Day Ranger not using my staff travel today as I have limited boxes left and have them assigned to trips later in the year. Then it was off to Greggs for the obligatory breakfast before heading to the platforms to find every train that was in the station to be dud and not required for haulage. So I resign myself that the day is not a good start but there is plenty of time for improvement, at 1031 I leave the station on the dud 175007 on the 1030 Milford Haven as far as Crewe.
On arriving at Crewe I leave the train as it is as far as I can go on the ticket and one of the first thing that hits you is how quiet the station is seeing it used to be the hive of the railway network. A few trains arrived while I was there and a few photo opportunities, but very few trains that I needed and the ones I did were going where the ticket wasnt valid. That was until 175116 arrived on the 1130 to Manchester Piccadilly so I headed back towards home already..only as far as Stockport though as checking the timetable I would have a 5 minute wait for a Virgin Train back to Crewe.
Nearly home at Stockport but no where nearly finished for the day, back to Crewe I go on dud 390130 and hopefully with more success on my next run. Not much at Stockport apart from a couple of 156 units working local services.
At Crewe I had a few minutes for my next train and in that time I saw 175101 heading to Manchester, yet another I needed for haulage but not where I was planning to go, typical. Anyhow a minute after that train left my train arrived and luckily it was a needed 350236 to take me on towards Liverpool. Also present was NR 97303 so a photo of that was obtained.
I dont remain on this train to Liverpool but alight at Runcorn for a new shack and to grab a photo of the unit as I plan to get the 1303 VT to Crewe, however this old be my downfall because while I am taking the photo 350244 arrives to go to Crewe and leaves while I am crossing the footbridge and my thoughts go to if I needed that unit and not the Virgin Train I had planned to get, but that would have to wait until I had visited the little boys room. Once refreshed I was glad to find out that the 350 was a dud and not needed as I was typing this 390010 arrived to take me back to Crewe which was another dud, Im beginning to wonder whether it was worth getting out of bed this morning or is it that I have been spoilt with my visits to London? At least Im racking up my route mileage for the 2016 competition.
Back at Crewe I notice something special in one of the south bound bay platforms, 2 Class 387/2s on test 387208 and 387209, of course the obligatory photo was taken although 209 wasnt available because it was right at the end of the platform, hopefully it works as I've attached a thumbnail to this report of 387208, I had a chuckle at the destination blind because it read Folkestone. Its now lunch time and seeing I have only 20 minutes until I plan to be on my next train and that I am doing Weight Watchers trying to lose some weight there isnt much choice on the station so I visit Smiths to see what the had in the chiller cabinet, after much deliberation Im back out on the station and only have 4 minutes to get over to platform 11, just as I am arriving the VT 221 arrives and after checking my list I found yet again I didnt need it...Although I still need over a dozen. So a new plan was needed, noted on the boards was a LM to Liverpool 8 minutes later calling all stations so I wait for that and a good call it was as 350110 arrives and takes me as far as my new shack of Hartford where I have a 20 minute wait for my return train.
On arriving at Hartford I made my way to the opposite platform and continued typing up my report and thought I would try to get some action shots of trains going through the station, the first one was a Virgin Trains 390 total disaster, think I got a photo of the third carriage while the second one was a bit more of a success as a pair of Royal Mail 325 units went through. While here I had a check of my list again to find out I had made a blunder, the 221111 that I thought I didnt need I did. I had looked down at my Virgin Trains 390s which 111 I didnt need....doh!!! So in rolls my train back to Crewe it things are starting to look up as it is my second good one in a row with 350266.
Back at Crewe I immediately check the boards and see a train to Chester is to depart in 1 minute! So with a mad sprint up the stairs to the platform I only have time to pick up the carriage number so once seated I checked ABRail website and checked the carriage number and I could not believe it! After the fiasco earlier on twitch the other 221 this one that I am now sat on and have no choice is a dud 221103, you couldnt have written that.
At Chester 67014 is just pulling out with a rake of ATWS carriages and the next train that I could get on this ticket is a good 20 minutes off unless I jump on the dud 508108 going to Liverpool Central, so sit on a nice warm train or a cold platform....no contest within 5 minutes Im leaving Chester for a journey to new shack of Bromborough and on the way I see 507028 working a service to Chester and figure out its return trip so that I can pick it up.
At Bromborough I leave the train and cross to the opposite platform with a wait of 5 minutes for my next train and when it turns up it is a good 508110, which even in the fading light I dont get a bad photo of. I board the train for my journey back towards Chester to pick up the 507 I saw earlier.
At Capenhurst, which funnily enough is another new shack I leave the train and wait for 507028 to arrive from Chester to take me forward to Eastham Rake.
At Eastham Rake I alight, which again turns out to be a new shack for me. Where I wait for a train back towards Chester, I have a choice here. Either head straight back to Chester or do the few stations I need on the Ellesmere Port branch I notice that a Chester train is due in 8 minutes and then an Ellesmere Port train 7 minutes after. I decide to do the Ellesmere Port branch and that if I need the Chester train for haulage I will travel on that to Hooton then change at Hooton and the Chester service was a good one with 507026 taking me to Hooton where I wait for 7 minutes for another good one 508115 turns up for Ellesmere Port where I need only Little Sutton and Overpool stations and due to trains only being every 30 minutes and if you time it wrong you will get the same unit I decided to get off at Little Sutton-in-Ashfield and walk the mile to Overpool calling in at The Wheatsheaf pub (the local Spoons) to use the facilities and get a coffee, trying to keep off alcohol as I am trying to lose weight and then head off for the 1715 to Hooton. Ellesmere branch complete with the 1715 to Hooton formed of a dud 507029.
Back at Hooton I have a short wait for the train to Chester and decide seeing that the only station I have not done between Hooton and Chester is Bache a visit is called for so 507016 arrives to take me south for the journey to Bache.
At Bache I have 15 minutes to wait for the train to Chester I rush round to the Morrisons next to the station to get some tea and then a mad dash back to the station for the train for a dud 507026 to Chester, on arriving at Chester I did note that it was only 1800 and the rail service seemed poor compared to other parts of the country but I didnt have to wait long for 158823 to take me back to Manchester Piccadilly, not a bad way to end the day .oh, nearly forgot there was the tram home but that was a dud 3044.
NEW SHACKS
Bache, Bromborough, Capenhurst, Eastham Rake, Hartford, Little Sutton, Overpool, Runcorn
NEW UNITS
158823, 175116, 350110, 350236, 350266, 507016, 507026, 507028, 508110, 508115
Got a free day today so decided to head off out and see what I could get. So it was off to Brooklands to pick up a tram into Manchester and for once I was able to walk it without getting wet! At the tram stop I had to choose, do I wait 10 minutes for off peak price or pay peak price, more fool me I pay the peak time price. After doing so I thought I hope my tram arrives before 9.30 otherwise I would be gutted, at 9.29 the tram pulls in (phew!!!) with dud trams 3019 and 3054 so jump on the latter for what turns out to be a prolonged journey because of late running trams and the change of signalling sequence just outside Piccadilly station due to both Portland Street and Mancunian Way being shut to give priority to road vehicles.
At Piccadilly I head up to the main station and go to the booking office to buy a Cheshire Day Ranger not using my staff travel today as I have limited boxes left and have them assigned to trips later in the year. Then it was off to Greggs for the obligatory breakfast before heading to the platforms to find every train that was in the station to be dud and not required for haulage. So I resign myself that the day is not a good start but there is plenty of time for improvement, at 1031 I leave the station on the dud 175007 on the 1030 Milford Haven as far as Crewe.
On arriving at Crewe I leave the train as it is as far as I can go on the ticket and one of the first thing that hits you is how quiet the station is seeing it used to be the hive of the railway network. A few trains arrived while I was there and a few photo opportunities, but very few trains that I needed and the ones I did were going where the ticket wasnt valid. That was until 175116 arrived on the 1130 to Manchester Piccadilly so I headed back towards home already..only as far as Stockport though as checking the timetable I would have a 5 minute wait for a Virgin Train back to Crewe.
Nearly home at Stockport but no where nearly finished for the day, back to Crewe I go on dud 390130 and hopefully with more success on my next run. Not much at Stockport apart from a couple of 156 units working local services.
At Crewe I had a few minutes for my next train and in that time I saw 175101 heading to Manchester, yet another I needed for haulage but not where I was planning to go, typical. Anyhow a minute after that train left my train arrived and luckily it was a needed 350236 to take me on towards Liverpool. Also present was NR 97303 so a photo of that was obtained.
I dont remain on this train to Liverpool but alight at Runcorn for a new shack and to grab a photo of the unit as I plan to get the 1303 VT to Crewe, however this old be my downfall because while I am taking the photo 350244 arrives to go to Crewe and leaves while I am crossing the footbridge and my thoughts go to if I needed that unit and not the Virgin Train I had planned to get, but that would have to wait until I had visited the little boys room. Once refreshed I was glad to find out that the 350 was a dud and not needed as I was typing this 390010 arrived to take me back to Crewe which was another dud, Im beginning to wonder whether it was worth getting out of bed this morning or is it that I have been spoilt with my visits to London? At least Im racking up my route mileage for the 2016 competition.
Back at Crewe I notice something special in one of the south bound bay platforms, 2 Class 387/2s on test 387208 and 387209, of course the obligatory photo was taken although 209 wasnt available because it was right at the end of the platform, hopefully it works as I've attached a thumbnail to this report of 387208, I had a chuckle at the destination blind because it read Folkestone. Its now lunch time and seeing I have only 20 minutes until I plan to be on my next train and that I am doing Weight Watchers trying to lose some weight there isnt much choice on the station so I visit Smiths to see what the had in the chiller cabinet, after much deliberation Im back out on the station and only have 4 minutes to get over to platform 11, just as I am arriving the VT 221 arrives and after checking my list I found yet again I didnt need it...Although I still need over a dozen. So a new plan was needed, noted on the boards was a LM to Liverpool 8 minutes later calling all stations so I wait for that and a good call it was as 350110 arrives and takes me as far as my new shack of Hartford where I have a 20 minute wait for my return train.
On arriving at Hartford I made my way to the opposite platform and continued typing up my report and thought I would try to get some action shots of trains going through the station, the first one was a Virgin Trains 390 total disaster, think I got a photo of the third carriage while the second one was a bit more of a success as a pair of Royal Mail 325 units went through. While here I had a check of my list again to find out I had made a blunder, the 221111 that I thought I didnt need I did. I had looked down at my Virgin Trains 390s which 111 I didnt need....doh!!! So in rolls my train back to Crewe it things are starting to look up as it is my second good one in a row with 350266.
Back at Crewe I immediately check the boards and see a train to Chester is to depart in 1 minute! So with a mad sprint up the stairs to the platform I only have time to pick up the carriage number so once seated I checked ABRail website and checked the carriage number and I could not believe it! After the fiasco earlier on twitch the other 221 this one that I am now sat on and have no choice is a dud 221103, you couldnt have written that.
At Chester 67014 is just pulling out with a rake of ATWS carriages and the next train that I could get on this ticket is a good 20 minutes off unless I jump on the dud 508108 going to Liverpool Central, so sit on a nice warm train or a cold platform....no contest within 5 minutes Im leaving Chester for a journey to new shack of Bromborough and on the way I see 507028 working a service to Chester and figure out its return trip so that I can pick it up.
At Bromborough I leave the train and cross to the opposite platform with a wait of 5 minutes for my next train and when it turns up it is a good 508110, which even in the fading light I dont get a bad photo of. I board the train for my journey back towards Chester to pick up the 507 I saw earlier.
At Capenhurst, which funnily enough is another new shack I leave the train and wait for 507028 to arrive from Chester to take me forward to Eastham Rake.
At Eastham Rake I alight, which again turns out to be a new shack for me. Where I wait for a train back towards Chester, I have a choice here. Either head straight back to Chester or do the few stations I need on the Ellesmere Port branch I notice that a Chester train is due in 8 minutes and then an Ellesmere Port train 7 minutes after. I decide to do the Ellesmere Port branch and that if I need the Chester train for haulage I will travel on that to Hooton then change at Hooton and the Chester service was a good one with 507026 taking me to Hooton where I wait for 7 minutes for another good one 508115 turns up for Ellesmere Port where I need only Little Sutton and Overpool stations and due to trains only being every 30 minutes and if you time it wrong you will get the same unit I decided to get off at Little Sutton-in-Ashfield and walk the mile to Overpool calling in at The Wheatsheaf pub (the local Spoons) to use the facilities and get a coffee, trying to keep off alcohol as I am trying to lose weight and then head off for the 1715 to Hooton. Ellesmere branch complete with the 1715 to Hooton formed of a dud 507029.
Back at Hooton I have a short wait for the train to Chester and decide seeing that the only station I have not done between Hooton and Chester is Bache a visit is called for so 507016 arrives to take me south for the journey to Bache.
At Bache I have 15 minutes to wait for the train to Chester I rush round to the Morrisons next to the station to get some tea and then a mad dash back to the station for the train for a dud 507026 to Chester, on arriving at Chester I did note that it was only 1800 and the rail service seemed poor compared to other parts of the country but I didnt have to wait long for 158823 to take me back to Manchester Piccadilly, not a bad way to end the day .oh, nearly forgot there was the tram home but that was a dud 3044.
NEW SHACKS
Bache, Bromborough, Capenhurst, Eastham Rake, Hartford, Little Sutton, Overpool, Runcorn
NEW UNITS
158823, 175116, 350110, 350236, 350266, 507016, 507026, 507028, 508110, 508115
Attachments
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Wow you didn't have much luck there! A good read of course, reads a bit like a few West Midlands bashes I've had last year!
Shame that you didn't get many winners although I've done worse on a Cheshire day ranger before, the one on the 6th of Jan. I only got 4 winners that day. Although I did go to Holyhead and back on 67014...
It was a great read anyway!
It was a great read anyway!
Kite159
Veteran Member
Sounded like a good day, shame on the lack of winners.
I've done the same thing, I jumped onto a 465/9 thinking it was required however when I double checked it was a dud, I looked at the 375/9 list!
I've done the same thing, I jumped onto a 465/9 thinking it was required however when I double checked it was a dud, I looked at the 375/9 list!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
That 387 just looks weird at Crewe!
It's the right sort of colour!
Kite159
Veteran Member
Imagine in a few years time when the operators of Gatwick Airport decide that the 387/2s are not 'premium' enough for their premium Express service and demands the return of the premium piggies, the 387/2s go to the new "West Coast Connect" franchise operated by Virgin (replacing London Midland). Ironing board seating for all!
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