Andy's Wanderings

[Techniquest]

As would I, been many a year since I last did one. Might be 9 years this year, it might be 10 or 11, I really can't remember. I know I was doing them in 2005, and there were times I was combining one with a Freedom of South Wales 3 in 7 (memories much...), back when the two didn't officially meet up at Gloucester as they do now...

Hmm, I think this actually needs investigating...

 

[47403]

As would I, been many a year since I last did one. Might be 9 years this year, it might be 10 or 11, I really can't remember. I know I was doing them in 2005, and there were times I was combining one with a Freedom of South Wales 3 in 7 (memories much...), back when the two didn't officially meet up at Gloucester as they do now...

Hmm, I think this actually needs investigating...

Now theres an idea Lord Tram. Dont think there'd be enough hours in a day:cry::cry:

Everyones making me wish I could get out again and also wish money grew on trees to afford them all.

 

[Techniquest]

You and me both, I have tons of grand plans for 2016 but affording them all is proving a challenge! Just got time off granted for August for a trip I'm not sure I'll be able to afford yet, but working on that slowly.

If only I had a better paying job...

 

[andyb2706]

Spurred on by Techniquest having completed the WMDR area earlier this month I’m going to give a good damp try to do the complete the Lancashire Day Ranger before the end of 2017. I know that is a long timescale but some of the stations have hourly train services so a bit of time may be spent at some of them. Plus, I do not want to spend the entire year on the one area and neglecting the rest of the country.

So it was of to Brooklands tram stop after the peak period on a beautiful crisp sunny winters morning and thought that the day was going to go the proverbial up the wall to begin with as there were delays due to the icy conditions, however my worries were for nothing as I only waited for 7 minutes for a pair of dud trams in 3013 and 3049 so I boarded the latter but due to delays it was standing room only on both trams.

On arriving at Deangate-Castlefield I had to change trams as I wanted to get to Manchester Victoria, but on arriving at Deangate-Castlefield I decide to walk across because the trams are being so slow (we were stood outside Cornbrook for 5 minutes) I did not want to miss the 1046 to Southport. Plus, it was a glorious morning for a stroll across the city.

At Victoria I purchase my LDR and head to platform 6, no time to buy a tea as I only have 6 minutes to spare. At platform 6 I board one of the few remaining Northern 142’s I need in the form of 142056, never realised until now how rubbish the seating is on the 142 units. This one has the seats that have a grab rail on each seat and you feel like you are sat on the floor with your knees pressed hard against the seat in front of you...this is going to be a long journey!

At Southport I leave the 142 after a tedious journey. I don’t think I will shed a tear when these units are withdrawn and I do wonder if there will be some lunatic wanting to do a farewell tour with a 142 or will they just disappear silently to the scrap metal yards?

I don’t have long to wait or far to travel for my next train as it is standing on the next platform so a few steps I was boarding a needed 507004 and a wait of 5 minutes before the train departed which I stayed on until Hillside. I’d like to point out, I did have my moves planned out before I started...but as usual they did not remain so for long.

At Hillside I left the train and spotted a decent 507 going back to Southport, although unable to get it I checked RTT to see when it should be back and to pick it up sometime on its trip back to Hunts Cross. What I am going to say now may astound you. I have found a TOC that is far worse than Northern for unit swaps because throughout the day nothing tied up with what RTT said should be working what, so here goes with the remainder of the day at Hillside I board a dud 508136 to Ainsdale where from there I board another dud 508139 to Freshfields, while all the time the units going in the other direction appears to be decent units.

I decide to change tact and head back to Birkdale on decent unit 507020 (at long last) to surely pick up some decent units towards Liverpool. Just glad I need the shacks! At Birkdale I wait for just over 10 minutes for a dud 508110 (where have all the decent units gone?) and I remain on this train until Hall Road.

At Hall Road I have a 15 minute wait for the next train and again change tact so that I am popping back and forth instead of waiting 15 minutes at each station to take me on to the next stop, when the train arrives it is a dud 507020 (copped it earlier on in the day) which takes me as far as Bootle Oriel Road with a quick stroll to the opposite platform I only have 3 minutes to wait for my train to Seaforth and Litherland which again is dud 508139, again at Seaforth and Litherland it is just a pop across the island platform and another 5 minutes leads to another dud 508111 to take me to Bank Hall.

At Bank Hall I do have a 15-minute wait for a train to take me back to my final station on the Southport section of the Northern Line which is Waterloo. Bank I find the most interesting of the station, firstly I’m sure I got a whiff of a brewery as I stepped of the train, it brings back the memories of the old days at Manchester Victoria when Boddington’s had their brewery next to the station. Also the strange quirky stones that are on the platform surrounded by railings, no information as to what they are they are just there. Time flies while I am updating this and the next thing I hear is my train pulling in and when I look I have party poppers going off in my head as a good 507032 arrives in the platform to take me to my next stop on the line.

At Waterloo my next train is just arriving in the opposite platform of the island platform so as the doors open on my train I just pop across and onto my next train and things are looking up as it is another good one in the form of 507025, two in a row I will be expecting more of this. Well that’s all the stations now complete of the Southport section of the Northern Line and although on the haulage front it has not been great on the plus side I have scored a heck of a lot of shacks, now at 1500 it is off to Sandhills, where I still have a few shacks to score on the Ormskirk and Kirkby lines and more chance with more units.

I arrive at Sandhills and watch a few trains come and go and they are all duds so I decide to do some shack hunting on the Ormskirk line and board the first train for Ormskirk which is formed of dud 508140 to take me to another new shack which is Old Road, here I disembark and have 3 minutes to change platforms for my trip to Orrell Park on board a good 508114.

At Orrell Park I have another 3 minutes to get to the opposite platform, or so I think, I arrive on the platform in plenty of time and a few minutes after it is due a train blows his horn and goes sailing through and I look up at the boards and the train has disappeared so I speak to one of the locals who says it is a regular occurrence that Merseyrail cancels trains and do not announce it or put it up on the boards so I was straight on Twitter to voice my displeasure, not that the train was cancelled but the fact that no information was given and the fare paying passengers just ha to guess. Still waiting for a response. Footnote: Finally got one, unit developed a fault, that didn’t bother me it was the lack of information that was annoying. Anyhow a 3 car train turned up with 6 cars worth of passengers, anyone fancy playing sardines? And to top it all it was a dud 508134 to take me to Aughton Park, where I leave it for a new shack only to know I will be getting on it again in 5 minutes time to take me to my final stop on the Ormskirk branch which is Walton.

At 1640 I leave the train at Walton and having already having a done a recce via Google maps I know it is only a 5 minute walk to Rice Lane where I can pick up a train to my last Northern Line station, but moreover I have been on the go since 1030 and in need of a pee and coffee and I noticed that there is a McDonald’s next to Rice Lane station, it all fitted together perfectly an I have to say McDonald’s do a nice coffee plus now with this coffee I have enough coffee beans for a free coffee next time.

So back at Rice Lane I have 8 minutes to wait for my train to take me to my final Northern Line shack having done the southern branch to Hunts Cross in previous trips. Dud 507012 arrives to take me towards Kirkby.

At Fazakerley, my last Northern Line station, have I already mentioned that? I leave the train and have a 10 minute wait for the train to return to take me to Sandhills where I plan to spend a little time having some fun unit bashing...I hope! As predicted dud 507012 arrived bang on time to take me back to Sandhills.

Back at Sandhills I watch for any useful units and after 20 minutes and no luck I begin to think I’ll give it another 10 minutes as I’m starting to freeze my nether regions off and head back to Liverpool and as if on cue a good 508141 arrives on a Hunts Cross service which I jump on as far as Liverpool Central where I transfer to the Wirral Line and board dud 508103 to James Street.

James Street is the last Merseyrail station I need on the LDR and I almost get lost as the signage to get from platform 3 to platform 1 in almost non-existent until you start to follow the way out signs, after arriving on platform 1 a dud 507029 arrives to take me back to Liverpool Lime Street where I have a decision to make.

Decision made.....got a tea from Costa with my points card and headed for platform 2 for the 1847 to Warrington Bank Quay to do a bit more shack copping and boarded dud 319366 to take me the short hop to Edge Hill.

At Edge Hill I leave the train and think why? It was a dark and dank station apart from when I found the shelter and it was a new one lit by LED’s. The plan is now to get the Wigan train as far as Wavertree and wait there or the Victoria train and if RTT is correct the Victoria service 1 I’ll be a good 319382 as I saw it working into Liverpool. Bang on time a dud 319377 arrives working the Wigan NW service which I board to travel to my next stop.

At Wavertree Technology Park, my final new shack for the day I leave the train and have a 20 minute wait for my train back to Manchester Victoria, ample time to have some dinner and update this log, then on the train I can get my head into my book. Luckily it is 319382 so I end the day on a bit of a high as I head back to Manchester.

NEW TRACK
Appley Bridge to Southport

NEW SHACKS
Ainsdale, Aughton Park, Bank Hall, Birkdale, Bootle Oriel Road, Edge Hill, Fazakerley, Freshfields, Hall Road, Hillside, James Street, Old Road, Orrell Park, Seaforth & Litherland, Walton, Waterloo, Wavertree Technology Park.

NEW UNITS
142056, 319382, 507002, 507004, 507020, 507025, 507032, 508114, 508141

 

[Techniquest]

I wondered why you went that way to Southport, then I saw your summary at the end, didn't realise you needed it. It took me until the beginning of February 2011 (5 years ago, jeez I feel old now...) to get it scored myself.

Personally I'd have got on and started the shacks in the Lancashire Day Ranger area outside Merseyside first, but I am slightly biased I guess, needing only one of the Bootle shacks (Oriel Road I think), the first one out of Bidston towards Wrexham and Meols Cop (the first one out of Southport towards Wigan) in Merseyside. You can tell I haven't got my Baker to hand eh?

I know how you feel regarding trying to clear certain areas without neglecting everywhere else. I've tried doing a bit of this, that and the other so far this year as you might have seen, so I can tackle everywhere. It's more finding the money and time to do everything though.

Another excellent read, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes McDonalds' coffee. I filled my collector card up at the end of January but have yet to use it. No doubt it'll happen on my next bash somewhere!

 

[Kristofferson]

Northern Line, Waterloo, Bank, what? lost track of what city you were in for a minute there!

Aye I don't think many people will shed a tear when the Pacers go, but there will most likely be a farewell tour for nutters who want to spend 8 hours on one!

 

[noddy1878]

At platform 6 I board one of the few remaining Northern 142’s I need in the form of 142056, never realised until now how rubbish the seating is on the 142 units. This one has the seats that have a grab rail on each seat and you feel like you are sat on the floor with your knees pressed hard against the seat in front of you...this is going to be a long journey!

At Southport I leave the 142 after a tedious journey. I don’t think I will shed a tear when these units are withdrawn and I do wonder if there will be some lunatic wanting to do a farewell tour with a 142 or will they just disappear silently to the scrap metal yards?

FGW did a tour using a pair a few years ago when the ones they had from Northern went back. Another good read. I'll be hoping to clear some more 507/508s next week when I'm up that way. I still need a whole load of the Merseyrail shacks too.

 

[Kite159]

I'm sure there will probably be some sort of farewell tour for the delightful pacers.

Good luck getting some of those shacks on the Southport line, as some are only 2 hourly

 

[55013]

Some good stuff there.
142056 is an ex Merseyrail 142 and therefore has seating much worse than the other members of the fleet (I believe even Merseyrail admitted their choice of seating for these units was bad).
I like 142s, but that batch (142041 - 142058, except 142050) are not fun.
I must get back to the land of 507s and 508s soon.

 

[andyb2706]

I'm sure there will probably be some sort of farewell tour for the delightful pacers.

Good luck getting some of those shacks on the Southport line, as some are only 2 hourly

I have a plan for them. I'm into my walking (but not done much recently because everywhere is just so waterlogged) and the plan is to get these type of stations I will plan a walking route from one station to the next and do them on a walking day and not a planned spotting day

For example, on the Bolton to Blackburn line trains can be hourly if you do not time it right so my plan for one day next week is to get the train to Bromley Cross and walk to Entwistle alongside some of the reservoirs up there...and maybe just call into the Strawbury Duck for a pint, or two depending if I miss my train. The pub is only 50 metres from the station at Entwistle, highly recommended if you are in the neighbourhood good real ales (not been for a while but they used to do 3 1/3 pints, if you have not heard of this it is what it says on the tin. You get to chose 3 different real ales and they have 1/3 pint glass of each of the 3 and you get it for the price of a pint) and good food.

 

[Techniquest]

That pub sounds brilliant, I need to remember it!

 

[andyb2706]

Do, you always know a good pub when it is popular with the walking community, I do think we do the walking as an excuse to visit good pubs.

 

[Techniquest]

Certainly a good excuse to go walking, I need to take up walking

 

[Kite159]

And IIRC there is a pub near New Lane station

---

Regarding the pub at Entwistle, isn't that the one where Mr Porty stayed at for his great railway trip?

 

[47403]

Funny that, I like walking to the pub too, can never understand why the house always seems further away on the way home though

Another good read Andy, I won't comment on 142's, I think my opinions well known on them.

 

[55013]

Another good read Andy, I won't comment on 142's, I think my opinions well known on them.

You won't be impressed with my latest trip, then

 

[47403]

You won't be impressed with my latest trip, then

Each to their own 55013, I make no bones about my reluctance to ride them myself but I have had a fair ole few of HT's 142's for haulage(normally when I visit family on Wearside, especially when all the metro's became duds) and when they were here in the North East, I had all the 143's, when they were numbered 143001-025 and a vast majority when they renumbered them to the 143/6's, before the rest escaped from the North East to the South West.

Yeah, ok it's no secret of my dislike for them but I love reading everyones trip reports and if they're winning units for folk, I'm honestly glad they've ticked em off their list. A case of, I dont mind reading about folk riding on them, I'm just not keen on riding them myself.

 

[andyb2706]

Morning Guys!

Right it has been too long since I was last out (okay, in reality it was only 5 days ago!)so trip planning for my 7 days off have been formulating for a little while now.

My original plan of an overnight in Cardiff on the 29th February for the commencement of my planned 3 Capitals trip has had to be put back for a week, so instead the plan now is to do a 3 in 7 Heart of England Rover, with an addition as some guys at work have suggested a drinking trip to Knaresborough and York on the 1st March using a our free pass which means I have 48 hours worth of free travel to use from the 1st March. So the plan is to use the 2nd 24 hours on the 2nd March and head down to London and do a stretch of stations I have never visited on the Southern section of the West Coast Main Line with London Midland (might be a bit groggy for this but I will give it a go)

With me covering the Heart of England area, hopefully travelling on a lot of required London Midland and East Midland trains while visiting London Midland and East Midland trains there is only one hash tag I can use on twitter for this week.

#midlandsmayhem

The days I am planning to do these trips are:
Thursday 25th February
Saturday 27th February
Monday 29th February (have to go out today, its not every year I can use this date)
Wednesday 2nd March

Hope you can follow me.

 

[Techniquest]

I'll be following, don't worry about that! I'll be working most of those days, but I am free on the 29th. However I have no idea on my moves for that day yet, I'm waiting on a payment to go in on Friday before I can book owt.

Good chance I'll also be on my local turf while you're in the area

 

[FQ]

I've just caught up! Sounds like you had a good time in Merseyrail land there! Shame about the load of set swaps at the start of the day that denied you winners! But at least you got quite a few in the end!

 

[andyb2706]

Alarm went off at 7am and I wondered what I was doing getting up at this time? Yes okay it is 90 minutes later than the last four days but that was due to work. I put the kettle and prep a coffee for faster my shower only to find the milk had gone off and my plans for porridge and coffee had gone out of the window.... could do a Greggs porridge but I know that would end up with a bacon roll so banana sandwich was consumed before leaving, will have to wait for a hot drink until I get to Manchester.

I leave the flat for a 20-minute walk to the tram stop and on the way there realised I have forgotten my cordial drink I had put in the fridge the night before. Oh well, water will have to bought as well. So a brisk 20-minute walk to Brooklands on what is a beautiful crisp winters morning with clear blue sky was what was needed to brush the cobwebs away.

At Brooklands I purchase a weekly ticket for £22 as I plan to use the tram every day for the next 7 days. That’s not a bad price taking into consideration that if I bought a ticket every week a day and a weekend ticket for Saturday and Sunday it would have cost me £33.50, I don’t have one to wait for the arrival of a double tram and all I saw to begin with was a number 6 as the last digit of the leading tram. Could it be the elusive 3036? No it was 3006, can anyone provide photographic proof that 3036 exists as I beginning to doubt it. So the trailing tram was also dud in the form of 3053 so I jump on board that tram as it is less crowded but to be honest it is not as busy as I thought it was going to be. On passing the site of the new St. Peter’s Square stop...which I have just realised I am going out have to do again, work seems to be coming on well. Track is continuing to be laid but also the site walls of one of the platforms is nearly completed and I am still not too sure where I am going to start off with the Heart of England Rover!

At Piccadilly I get my priorities sorted, usually this means food first but this time it is to get my tickets and time to make my mind up. A Return to Stoke and a Heart of England Rover and then it was off to get a bottle of water and a Costa Coffee where I notice they do porridge so one of them with Jam is purchased. The porridge along with the Banana sandwich earlier on will set me up for the day. I have to say though when I looked at the porridge when it was mixed it didn’t look too appetising but when I added the jam and tried it was really nice. Anyhow back to the matter in hand train wise there was not much of interest in the station a 150, a 185, a 390 still with the poppy on its nose (390103), a couple of 323 units and a dud 220004 to take me on towards Stoke. I’ve not yet decided whether I will get off the train at Stoke or continue to Birmingham, I’ll decide thus en-route.

Decision made, I remain on the dud 220004 as far as Stafford as after consulting RTT it appears if I want to head towards Derby I would have a 50-minute wait, too long for a dud station and so much to do as with Stafford I would only have to wait 8 minutes. At Stafford I leave the service and remain on the same platform for my next train. With the glorious weather I take he camera out to get a few shots, not too happy with them with the shadow buy I will see what I can do with them when I get a chance to go on the computer, pick of them I hope will be 66503 on an unknown service. My train arrives and is formed of 350375, all I am going to say about this unit is that I need all the units numbered between 350370 and 350376 for haulage.... except one, can you guess which one? I’m only doing a short hop on this train anyway.

At Penkridge I leave the train for my first new shack of the day and have a 30-minute wait for my next train. I thought I might be able to get some decent photos of the trains whizzing through the station but I couldn’t read the numbers so there was no point, no data connection so I can’t do Twitter either. So update this log, plan some moves and read the book I have with me. That should pass the time, as typing this a 350 has just gone the other way and I was able to read the unit number (the first train I tried it with was a Voyager so that might explain why I couldn’t read the number) photos might be back on the agenda. About 7 minutes late my next train arrives and seeing I still need 50 London Midlands 350’s for haulage you would have thought I would have been in with a good chance of copping one, so you can imagine my disappointment when dud 350265 arrives.

On arriving at Coseley I bail off the train for my second shack of the day, at least if I am not getting the units I am getting the stations and I like this station, a proper brick shelter with glass windows and whooshing doors to protect you from the elements. Here I have a 20-minute wait for my train heading towards Birmingham and I am no disappointed as my first copped unit pulls in in the form of 350371 which I stayed on as far as Smethwick Galton Bridge, which is a dud station but the plan is to head up top for a Snow Hill line train to Birmingham Snow Hill.

On arriving at Smethwick Galton Bridge my plan has changed, after consulting RTT it would have a 15-minute wait for the train on the Snow Hill line which would most likely be a dud 170 as I do not require any of them, however a 4 minutes wait on the platform I have Ustinov alighted onto would see a Liverpool-Birmingham London Midlands service formed of course be a 350 of which I still need 49, so that is what I do. Unfortunately, it is formed of a dud 350114 but given over caring, I have 4 days in total to hammer the London Midlands fleet although my plan for today is to head towards Oxford and possibly Worcester.

At Birmingham New Street I leave the train, although I have little choice as this is were the train terminates and head up top to have a quick mooch around and I think I have found the location to get my dinner when I notice a LEON, they serve quite healthy food, anyhow it is off to Moor Street with a quick stroll across the city and I am there. Present is a dud 68010 so I head off to the through platforms were I let the first train go as it is a LM 172 to Whitlocks End and as I don’t need any LM 172 units no any of the stations to Whitlocks End I thought it would be a fruitless exercise, although I don’t have to wait long for a Chiltern train to Marylebone which I can take to Banbury to change for an Oxford train and a good 168219 arrives to take me on.

At Warwick I leave the train, yep you heard me right. I changed my plans en-route as it is turned midday and having spent a bit of time playing between Stafford and Birmingham I thought it was getting a bit late in the day to have a productive trip to the Oxford area, I have another two days so I decide to play on the Chiltern Main line for a while so I get off at Warwick and decide to have a wander as have a bit of time here, nearly an error as I just jump aboard my next train as the door closing alarm starts for a short hop on good 168003 to Warwick Parkway.

Here at Warwick Parkway I have just over 10 minutes to wait for the dud 68010 to take me to dud station Leamington Spa, I’m doing this run to pick up a train to Hatton which is a required station. At Leamington Spa I just have to cross the platform for the waiting and required 007, I65007 (sorry, was only just watching a Bond movie last night) to take me to Hatton.

At Hatton I have about a 5-minute wait and it is now mid-afternoon and I am stood in the nice warm winter sun, and it is warm and I’m now regretting putting on my Base layers today as I am getting a tad warm. While waiting I am looking at my next move and fancy a trip to Lapworth but the service is awful, I could once I get to Leamington Spa on my next train and remain on it for its return journey to Lapworth but then I would have over an hours walk to Dorridge as this would be quicker than waiting for the next train, I’ll see how I feel at Leamington Spa as there is another option of a 1427 to Birmingham Moor Street. Anyhow a good 165004 arrives to take me to Leamington Spa, not doing bad with my Chiltern trains today.

At Leamington Spa I head to the platform for the 1427 to Birmingham Moor Street to see what is on it before I make my choice as I would have time to return to the other platform.....68013 arrives, Lapworth can wait or another time as I board the 1427 and am able to scratch the logo from my required list, of course I position myself in the carriage behind the locomotive to listen to that wonderful noise from the engine I can never stop saying it is years since we had a new locomotive that sounded so good.

Back at Birmingham Moor Street I say good bye to Chiltern trains for the day and head back over to Birmingham New Street to knock off some London Midland station and trains and find the first available train that had a chance of being good was at 1512 to Rugeley Trent Valley in 8 minutes’ time, so it looks like I’m going to be shocking the Chase Line for the afternoon. I arrive on platform 7 with about 5 minutes to spare and await the arrival of hopefully a good unit....and two turn up at once with 153356 coupled to 170516 so I board the former and sit, uncomfortably with my legs pressed hard up to the seat in front (so glad it is not just Northern) for a trip to Bloxwich where I transfer to the 170 via the platform so that I can score it and find myself more comfortably seated on 170516 as far as Cannock. What I have noticed about these stations is that there is no way you can do a 2-3 minute connection as it is a long path from one platform to the other! I cross to the opposite platform and only have to wait 5 minutes for a good 170511 to take me to Bloxwich North.

At Bloxwich North I have about 8 minutes for my next train which turns out to be just enough time to cross to the opposite platform for another decent 170502 to take me to Hednesford, where on my arrival the train going in the opposite direction was just arriving....no chance was I going to get it so I took a gentle stroll across to the opposite platform and had a 25 minute wait for my next train. You may remember me saying that at Hatton I was feeling a tad warm in my base layers, well I’m now glad I have them on as it is now freezing! After a 25-minute wait dud 170502 arrives, knew it was going to be this unit to take me to my next station.

At Landywood I leave the train for a new shack and cross to the opposite platform for about a 15-minute wait for my next train to take me to Rugeley Town, dud 170511 arrives to take me forward.

At Rugeley Town I leave the train to mark off another shack and wait for the same train to return from Rugeley Trent Valley to take me back to Birmingham as I think it is now time to head off home. I can’t complain 10 new units and 11 new shacks in a day is not too bad.

Back at Birmingham New Street I have 20 minutes until my train back up North so as mentioned earlier it was of to LÉON for a healthy dinner and took it down to the train to find a dud 221139 to take me home. So while I ate my food I carried on watching another Bond movie, food was good and could recommend LEON to you. Journey was okay but it was a Voyager.

Back at Manchester I head straight for the tram and have timed it so that it is half time at Old Trafford so won’t be affected by the ramble at throwing out time and still no sign of 3036 so have to settle for dud 3049.

Midlands Mayhem day 2 will be on Saturday.

NEW SHACKS
Bloxwich, Bloxwich North, Cannock, Coseley, Hatton, Hednesford, Landywood, Penkridge, Rugeley Town, Warwick, Warwick Parkway

NEW UNITS
68013, 153356, 170502, 165004, 165007, 168003, 168219, 170511, 170516, 350371.

 

[Kite159]

Good little day in the West Midlands

Lapworth is a bit of a pain to try and get in the book, it being normally 2 hourly with a good hour fester for the same 165 to return, I managed it one evening when 168s were calling (gave me a +15, which is plenty for a station in the middle of nowhere)

 

[Techniquest]

I only had a +45 or so when I did Lapworth from the south a few years ago, if it's a nice day it's fine because you can get some decent enough photos. Jack squat around the station mind, so take supplies with you.

Another excellent read Andy, even though it didn't go to plan it was still a productive day. Worcester to Oxford is mostly 180s with the odd HST as well (they're marked on the timetable) but if you want some 166 mileage the 0821 Paddington to Hereford and 1209 return is booked 166. The former working is booked a pair to Worcester Shrub Hill, where the rear one splits off to do something else and leaves the other 166 go solo to Hereford and solo all the way back too. Mind you that's weekdays so Saturdays would be different again!

Looking forward to your tweeting tomorrow, I'm on an all day one so will only be checking them out at breaks.

 

[andyb2706]

Thanks Guys,

I don't know whether it was me but Lapworth seems better served on a Saturday, okay still a 45 minute wait but they seem more frequent.

So for tomorrow on my to do list (hopefully) is Lapworth AND Bordesley!!

As to Oxford and Worcester I need to head off there first thing so with the playing I did first thing it was getting a bit late to make it worth while, so plan for Monday is to buy a return to Stoke and board the 0827 to Bournemouth and by the time we depart Stoke at 0907 my Heart of England rover will be valid to head straight down to Oxford on the same train, although I am thinking to get all the stations along the Oxford to Worcester route I am going to have to do the HoE rover again and stay down there to maximise the time in the day.

Off to get a couple of local shacks today by doing a walk so a quiet and shorter day for me, but looking forward to tomorrow as no morning peak.

 

[47403]

Cracking read so far Andy, keep it coming. Looking forward to the net installment
Have to agree regarding the 68's, I love em to bits, shame we dont see more in the North East of England.

 

[sprinterguy]

Lapworth is a bit of a pain to try and get in the book

I've used Lapworth station several times and find it quite useful, but that's because I live in that neck of the woods and it's a very pleasant ten mile or so walk down the canal from the Shirley area.
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Jack squat around the station mind, so take supplies with you.

The Navigation pub on the canalside, a five minute walk (if that) down the road from the station, is superb though (if a little pricey). I'm rather fond of it, not just because it is very conveniently sited to while away a couple of hours after finishing a walk before catching one of the infrequent trains back towards Birmingham, but because it can always be relied upon to serve a decent pint of Wadworth's 6X.

The substantial lock flight on the canal is also worth a look, particularly if there's a couple of boats going up or down it.

 

[andyb2706]

The Navigation pub on the canalside, a five minute walk (if that) down the road from the station, is superb though (if a little pricey). I'm rather fond of it, not just because it is very conveniently sited to while away a couple of hours after finishing a walk before catching one of the infrequent trains back towards Birmingham, but because it can always be relied upon to serve a decent pint of Wadworth's 6X.

The substantial lock flight on the canal is also worth a look, particularly if there's a couple of boats going up or down it.

Thanks for that info sprinterguy I will bear that in mind about the pub. 10 minute round trip leaves about 30 minutes, should be long enough for a pint.

A little report from todays jollies, not a spotting trip really but I went for a 5.5 miles walk which just so happened to start from a station I've no been to and ended at another station I have not been to and unfortunately the Strawbury Duck, which is a very good pub was shut (which is usually a sign of a very good pub because it does not have to be open at lunch on weekdays). So that is Bromley Cross and Entwistle knocked off from the Lancashire Day Ranger map.

But more importantly I finally got Metrolink 3036!!!! ON my return to Manchester Victoria I saw it heading to Bury which meant it would be back in about 50 minutes so a quick visit to Starbucks (no Costa available ) and back to the stop after 40 minutes I did not have to wait long for it to arrive and stayed on it to Cornbrook. Remaining Metrolink trams required for haulage are 3097/99/101-103/106-120. Not many to go now.

 

[FQ]

Huge congratulations on tram 3036! It sounds like you had a great day in Brum!

Sprinterguy - I agree, the Stratford canal is a lovely stretch of canal.

And whats all of this 'Lapworth is a hard station to get' malarky?! I've had it easily on a 165 from Lapworth to Brum for a 172 back from Solihull later. Just because that's where the boat was at the time...

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Who mentioned a decent pint of 6X? That in itself is a good enough reason to temporarily suspend bashing hostilities.

Your first day of the Heart of England sounded quite fruitful - here's hoping that the remaining days are equally kind to you. BTW, congratulations on getting your annoying Metrolink unit - that's something I need to pay attention to this year as I've only got seven!

 

[andyb2706]

Who mentioned a decent pint of 6X? That in itself is a good enough reason to temporarily suspend bashing hostilities.

Your first day of the Heart of England sounded quite fruitful - here's hoping that the remaining days are equally kind to you. BTW, congratulations on getting your annoying Metrolink unit - that's something I need to pay attention to this year as I've only got seven!

You've got a good enough reason to only have 7 ....its called "188 miles by train", myself it was just getting so frustrating I thought it didn't exist recently and there was no way I was going to head of home seeing I knew it was out and about.

Looking forward to tomorrow and day two with day three to follow on Monday.