T
Tom
Guest
All in all, a pretty good day out was to be had on the annual Pembroke Dock meet with 9 members being on the train joining from various stops. Perhaps the downer of the day was that our train was a double MTU – but fortunately our choice of coaching stock was LA set 30 with a declassified TF in the formation, with no reservations meaning comfortable seating on the return run from the Dock.
With Dennis, Jim, 960012, 73109 and myself joining at Reading – we soon noticed that our train was a booked HiDensity set with all our tickets showing airline yet we had tables all the way to the dock! Joining at Bristol Parkway was GM59002 and Ascot, and at Cardiff Central, yorkie, James Palmer and Carl (not sure if he’s a member??). On the return, everyone except the Reading joiners bailed at Bristol Parkway with Julian Whitby and heart-of-wessex (I think!) joining us in the TF as far as Swindon.
Anyway – a right time run all the way to the dock ensued with a fleet of HST power cars being made in the quiet (or should I say, not so quiet…) coach from Severn Tunnel Junction onwards. In the end we had a fleet of 6 Valenta power cars, 1 which disappeared later in the day presumably gone to Brush for an MTU refurb(??) and a Mk3 coach in the formation. I’m sure 960012 and Ascot will come with the photos as and when they want to.
Needless to say – in Pembroke Dock the traditional seminar photo was taken and someone else will be along with the pictures later tomorrow or Monday without a doubt. metcam was resisting having his photo taken but he was soon forced as he fell down in front of 43135, one of our trusty steeds (or not so trusty as the case may be) in the middle of everyone. Our other power car was 43179, most famous for blowing up at any old opportunity somewhere on the Great Western mainline. I think our cardboard power cars are more reliable than any of that MTU rubbish…
Anyway, on the return we were bang on time as far as Tenby and we were awaiting our favourite friend to appear with a PRIV – sadly he didn’t. Perhaps he was dodging around the ‘one’ area instead in order to get that one last bash of route in (people who know me should get that one …). Anyway, 150259 on the next Pembroke Dock service was running late causing our HST to be late. Some spirited running resulted and we ran at high speed between every single station stop on our journey through to Swansea where we departed 9 down. Being in the TF – there were no adverts about the coach being declassified and hence many passengers walked in and were “oh” before walking straight back out again of the coach!
Meanwhile in Wales – Mark and Trower pulled a girl on the other side of the platform having given their numbers to her while she awaited a train. The boy sitting on the same bench seemed very embarrassed with Mark showing them all page three from the Saturday Sport (no surprises there then…). I think I can safely say that everyone was enthused by the copy of the Saturday Sport and become topic of much discussion all the way to Newport where the Severn Tunnel “challenge” took place with three people doing heads out all the way through the tunnel. No naming any names of course!!!
As I sit on the crap 444 writing this post – there are many people around me. One is either 777fred or looks highly alike to him, likewise with Fredmaster who is currently playing on a white PSP. A rather nice girl is sitting on the other side of the coach from me playing Pokemon on a Nintendo DS (honestly people, what is the world coming to?). Just departed Totton, having started this passage near Winchester, I bring myself onto the six hundred and eightieth word on this passage of good faith – however I must bring myself to end it as we approach the New Forest village of Ashurst, with their station known as Ashurst New Forest – and previously Lyndhurst Road. Why they changed it we shall never know the proper reason – whether we see sanity in this world (such as the Brockenhurst stop swapped out with Beaulieu Road every other hour, teehee).
Anyway I finish this passage of speech on my seven hundred and seventieth word so I bid you all farewell and good bye – oh and sleep well. I don’t!
With Dennis, Jim, 960012, 73109 and myself joining at Reading – we soon noticed that our train was a booked HiDensity set with all our tickets showing airline yet we had tables all the way to the dock! Joining at Bristol Parkway was GM59002 and Ascot, and at Cardiff Central, yorkie, James Palmer and Carl (not sure if he’s a member??). On the return, everyone except the Reading joiners bailed at Bristol Parkway with Julian Whitby and heart-of-wessex (I think!) joining us in the TF as far as Swindon.
Anyway – a right time run all the way to the dock ensued with a fleet of HST power cars being made in the quiet (or should I say, not so quiet…) coach from Severn Tunnel Junction onwards. In the end we had a fleet of 6 Valenta power cars, 1 which disappeared later in the day presumably gone to Brush for an MTU refurb(??) and a Mk3 coach in the formation. I’m sure 960012 and Ascot will come with the photos as and when they want to.
Needless to say – in Pembroke Dock the traditional seminar photo was taken and someone else will be along with the pictures later tomorrow or Monday without a doubt. metcam was resisting having his photo taken but he was soon forced as he fell down in front of 43135, one of our trusty steeds (or not so trusty as the case may be) in the middle of everyone. Our other power car was 43179, most famous for blowing up at any old opportunity somewhere on the Great Western mainline. I think our cardboard power cars are more reliable than any of that MTU rubbish…
Anyway, on the return we were bang on time as far as Tenby and we were awaiting our favourite friend to appear with a PRIV – sadly he didn’t. Perhaps he was dodging around the ‘one’ area instead in order to get that one last bash of route in (people who know me should get that one …). Anyway, 150259 on the next Pembroke Dock service was running late causing our HST to be late. Some spirited running resulted and we ran at high speed between every single station stop on our journey through to Swansea where we departed 9 down. Being in the TF – there were no adverts about the coach being declassified and hence many passengers walked in and were “oh” before walking straight back out again of the coach!
Meanwhile in Wales – Mark and Trower pulled a girl on the other side of the platform having given their numbers to her while she awaited a train. The boy sitting on the same bench seemed very embarrassed with Mark showing them all page three from the Saturday Sport (no surprises there then…). I think I can safely say that everyone was enthused by the copy of the Saturday Sport and become topic of much discussion all the way to Newport where the Severn Tunnel “challenge” took place with three people doing heads out all the way through the tunnel. No naming any names of course!!!
As I sit on the crap 444 writing this post – there are many people around me. One is either 777fred or looks highly alike to him, likewise with Fredmaster who is currently playing on a white PSP. A rather nice girl is sitting on the other side of the coach from me playing Pokemon on a Nintendo DS (honestly people, what is the world coming to?). Just departed Totton, having started this passage near Winchester, I bring myself onto the six hundred and eightieth word on this passage of good faith – however I must bring myself to end it as we approach the New Forest village of Ashurst, with their station known as Ashurst New Forest – and previously Lyndhurst Road. Why they changed it we shall never know the proper reason – whether we see sanity in this world (such as the Brockenhurst stop swapped out with Beaulieu Road every other hour, teehee).
Anyway I finish this passage of speech on my seven hundred and seventieth word so I bid you all farewell and good bye – oh and sleep well. I don’t!
:roll: