Back on the platform

[47403]

76 winners for sight, is excellent. Had a few days like that myself in the past. Stafford Nunney and Leicester are not 3 bad places to visit either.
Great read again Mr Train, thanks for sharing.
The burning question is, when your feeling a bit more flush, where next?

 

[The_Train]

76 winners for sight, is excellent. Had a few days like that myself in the past. Stafford Nunney and Leicester are not 3 bad places to visit either.
Great read again Mr Train, thanks for sharing.
The burning question is, when your feeling a bit more flush, where next?

The combination worked quite well and I enjoyed mixing the day up a bit compared to sticking at one place for the day. That said I want my next big outing to be a day at Reading to pick up the GWR stuff and then I have earmarked the North West for a day out (possibly using the Cheshire Ranger) and then the Birmingham area - New Street, Moor Street and Bescot. Not sure when the next outing will be at the moment though

 

[Kite159]

A few hours at Reading will certainly keep you busy

 

[The_Train]

A few hours at Reading will certainly keep you busy

Would it still be better to plan somewhere else into the day or is Reading somewhere that will give me a chance of a day full of winners? (Bearing in mind it will be my first visit into the area)

 

[47403]

Reading West I hear is quite good but not really sure, haveing not been myself.

 

[433N]

Would it still be better to plan somewhere else into the day or is Reading somewhere that will give me a chance of a day full of winners? (Bearing in mind it will be my first visit into the area)

Depends. Splitting a day with Didcot Parkway is always good.

At Reading, you'll miss quite a bit of the Southampton container traffic but you'll see more units (which will undoubtedly start returning if you are there for more than a few hours).

If using RTT, you'll have to keep your wits about you since alot of the freight doesn't register for Didcot Parkway ; you'll need to watch Didcot North Jn too.

When I went last year, I also included Pangbourne just to watch HSTs, 180s and 165/166s thrashing through at speed.
(although there's less of that malarky these days )

 

[Mag_seven]

At Reading, you'll miss quite a bit of the Southampton container traffic but you'll see more units (which will undoubtedly start returning if you are there for more than a few hours).

A couple of weeks ago would have been a good time to visit Reading as most Southampton traffic was using the station due to the Oxford blockade.

 

[Kite159]

Reading West I hear is quite good but not really sure, haveing not been myself.

Reading West will catch the freight services which use the west curve to carry on towards Didcot direction, but for passenger stuff not the greatest

However just remember there ain't no footbridge at Reading West anymore

 

[Kite159]

Would it still be better to plan somewhere else into the day or is Reading somewhere that will give me a chance of a day full of winners? (Bearing in mind it will be my first visit into the area)

Units will start to repeat after a while, so maybe build on a trip to Basingstoke for more SWR units which will keep your books looking good.

 

[Skymonster]

A great third instalment - an entertaining read. In some ways I wish I'd stayed a but longer at NUN last Thursday, not because I'd have got any more winners but I'd have liked to have seen 66413 in its new colours.

As to Reading, here's the thing: It's only half an hour from London, so traffic going into the capital will come back after about an hour and half (half an hour in, a turnround, and half an hour back out again). So after a while those will start to repeat. But there's a lot of the U.K. west of Reading. Some of the westbound traffic turns as near as Worcester so comes back fairly quickly, but other long-distance GWR trains up to London start from as far away as Penzance and Plymouth which means you could still be picking up winners in the afternoon. It's a very busy station and the action is almost non-stop but whether you stay the whole day or go somewhere else too comes down to your tollerance for yet more and more of the same.

Reading will net you a lot of the GWR HSTs and 800 sets of course, along with the newer 387 units on the locals and some of the 165/166s that haven't transferred to Bristol. Don't expect to see the sleepers though, unless you are very early or very late. There's also AXC 220/221s from the north to Southamton that reverse at Reading, and SWT electric units from Waterloo. Freight is not overly frequent, but you'll get a good crack at the Mendip and DBC 59s (plus a few 66s) that work a lot of heavy stone trains to Acton nearer London - definitely try to keep your eye on those as they don't get out and about across the country. Beyond that... Err, not much... Some Freightliner traffic comes up from Southampton but it misses Reading and instead heads west on the GW mainline - it does pass through Reading West, but if you decide to go over there you will miss the high-speed traffic on the main. I see 433N mentioned Didcot: I'm not totally convinced it would yield much more than a mix of Reading / Reading West but if you are travelling that way it might be worth stopping there - there are often a couple of DBC 66s stabled at the junction. I guess the other choice - without getting into London proper - would be to go as far east at Ealing to get the Heathrow Express / Connect units, while still catching the GWR mainline action.

 

[cactustwirly]

Depends. Splitting a day with Didcot Parkway is always good.

At Reading, you'll miss quite a bit of the Southampton container traffic but you'll see more units (which will undoubtedly start returning if you are there for more than a few hours).

If using RTT, you'll have to keep your wits about you since alot of the freight doesn't register for Didcot Parkway ; you'll need to watch Didcot North Jn too.

When I went last year, I also included Pangbourne just to watch HSTs, 180s and 165/166s thrashing through at speed.
(although there's less of that malarky these days )

Didcot isn't very good for HSTs anymore, as it will be 800s most of the time.

 

[The_Train]

A great third instalment - an entertaining read. In some ways I wish I'd stayed a but longer at NUN last Thursday, not because I'd have got any more winners but I'd have liked to have seen 66413 in its new colours.

Thanks Skymonster. 66413 looked good in its new colours, was another annoyance with regards to my phone playing up as I also missed out on a photo of this.

Thanks for all of the info re Reading everyone, good to know that there is a few alternative options should things dry up at Reading. It was the first time I'd mixed a day up doing Nuneaton and Leicester and I really enjoyed it so I think that is definitely the way forward when I start to get out more

 

[Kite159]

A great third instalment - an entertaining read. In some ways I wish I'd stayed a but longer at NUN last Thursday, not because I'd have got any more winners but I'd have liked to have seen 66413 in its new colours.

As to Reading, here's the thing: It's only half an hour from London, so traffic going into the capital will come back after about an hour and half (half an hour in, a turnround, and half an hour back out again). So after a while those will start to become repeat. But there's a lot of the U.K. west of Reading. Some of the westbound traffic turns as near as Worcester so comes back fairly quickly, but some of the long-distance GWR trains up to London start from as far away as Penzance and Plymouth which means you could still be picking up some winners in the afternoon. It's a very busy station and the action is almost non-stop but whether you stay the whole day or go somewhere else too comes down to your tollerance for yet more and more of the same.

Reading will net you a lot of the GWR HSTs and 800 sets of course, along with the newer 387 units on the locals and some of the 165/166s that haven't transferred to Bristol. Don't expect to see the sleepers though, unless you are very early or very late. There's also AXC 220/221s from the north to Southamton that reverse at Reading, and SWT electric units from Waterloo. Freight is not overly frequent, but you'll get a good crack at the Mendip and DBC 59s (plus a few 66s) that work a lot of heavy stone trains to Acton nearer London - definitely try to keep your eye on those as they don't get out and about across the country. Beyond that... Err, not much... Some Freightliner traffic comes up from Southampton but it misses Reading and instead heads west on the GW mainline - it does pass through Reading West, but if you decide to go over there you will miss the high-speed traffic on the main. I see 433N mentioned Didcot: I'm not totally convinced it would yield much more than a mix of Reading / Reading West but if you are travelling that way it might be worth stopping there - there are often a couple of DBC 66s stabled at the junction. I guess the other choice - without getting into London proper - would be to go as far east at Ealing to get the Heathrow Express / Connect units, while still catching the GWR mainline action.

Although a quick trip to Tilehurst will mean travelling past the depot where the sleeper stock & locos will be soaking up the midday sunshine

 

[The_Train]

A flying visit to Stafford - Sunday 5th August 2018

I was meeting the parents off the bus outside Stafford station on Sunday so thought I'd get there a bit earlier to see if anything was going on inside the station. I was checking RTT at home to check what was about when I realised that the 5Z77 0823 Crewe Down Refuge Siding to Birmingham International was a West Coast Railway Company ECS movement. Only problem was the fact it was less than 10 minutes away from Stafford which meant washing the dishes would have to wait as I grabbed what I needed and made a dash to the station just in time to see 57314 and 57313 pass by. Unfortunately I was unable to get a photo but thanks to a check on the TOPS thread I found out they were heading back north the same evening so I ventured back across to nab these pics:
57313 heads through Stafford by The_Train
57314 at Stafford by The_Train

Upon arrival I was focused on getting across the bridge to see the above but I had noticed that there was another West Coast Railway Company train stabled in the goods line having arrived late the night before. It was 47832 with its empty coaching stock looking very elegant as it waited to run back up to Carnforth Steamtown later in the day
WCRC 47832 stabled at Stafford by The_Train

And in the short time I was in the station on Sunday morning there was still time for one more to go into the book of sights as 47727 came through, again with empty coaching stock, running from Crewe H.S. to Birmingham International
47727 at Stafford by The_Train
47727 exiting Stafford by The_Train

The mad dash across to the station was well worth it to add these 4 to the log of winners

 

[Skymonster]

Nice ones - four more in the bag... "Every little helps" as they say!

 

[The_Train]

For the love of DRS - Tuesday 7th August

Having checked RTT this morning I noticed a DRS movement from Daventry to Crewe Gresty Bridge so having received word from the TOPS guys that required 37424 was leading dud 66425 I decided it was worth a wander across to clear another 37 off. So off I went, catching duds 90049 and 90048 heading into Stafford as I walked towards the station and even though 325006 was also a dud, 66571 certainly wasn't as it passed through on its way to Southampton. Not long after, the reason for my visit arrived and to my surprise it was a 3 loco consist and as stated on TOPS it was 37424 at the helm, with its alternative number of 37558 proudly showing on its side, but there was no sign of the other loco that was detailed on TOPS as instead of dud 66425, it was winners 57309 and 66422 accompanying
BR Blue Large Logo 37424 at Stafford by The_Train
66422 at Stafford by The_Train

I went for 37424 and came away with an extra 3 winners so not a bad half hour at all. I'd also noticed there was a flask train running through Stafford this afternoon so I decided to make a late afternoon/early evening visit in the hope I'd get to see some more 68 action. I got down there half hour earlier so as to catch the Toton-Crewe train but this turned out to be dud 66789 running light and as good as it looked with its big BR logo it didn't help the winners log. However, the next 66 did as 66553 passed through with a Freightliner making its way to Ditton before I was pleasantly surprised to see 350265 arriving on route to Liverpool Lime Street to nudge me to within 4 of finishing the LNWR 350 stock. Feeling pleased to have added another 350 to the winners list, I took up position ready for the main event and it soon arrived as 68034 arrived with dud 68002 playing the supporting role
68034 and 68002 pause at Stafford by The_Train

The 68s get better each time I see them and these 2 made a lovely sound as they pulled away to continue their journey. I decided to hang around for a bit to try and nab the latest Crossrail test train and that turned into a fantastic decision as the very next train into the station was the the 1725 XC service to Bournemouth with my final required 220 Voyager, 220026, providing the traction. That was a big bonus and the winners kept rolling in with 66502 being next as it headed towards Trafford Park and this was followed by another 350 winner as 350376 reduced my LNWR 350 arrears to just 3. I also got to tick off another track machine as DR73113 paid a visit as it headed towards Crewe and then 86638 provided another success as it powered north with dud 86627. Another cheeky bonus was thrown my way before I left as Arriva Trains Wales 158834 and 158825 made a trip through unfamiliar territory, with Traksy confirming the service was 1D16 1706 Birmingham International to Llandudno so I assume there were problems somewhere causing this service to divert through Stafford towards Chester
Arriva Trains Wales in Stafford by The_Train

It was left to Crossrail 345047 to complete an eventful hour or so which culminated in 11 winners, taking my total over the two short visits to 15, and the completion of my 3rd full class with the 220s now all ticked off.

 

[Kite159]

Happy days with clearing the 220s plus getting some more new sights into your book

 

[47403]

Congrats on clearing the voyagers, Mr Train, you now safely ignore the damn things, unless of course you get one for haulage.
Bit of a 47 fest there too, I'd have been frothing big time. When you look at 47727s livery to West Coast, it highlights how drab that maroon is.
However another couple of good reads and highly productive days, the ATW 158s passing through was a nice bonus too. 15 cops, is not to be sniffed at. Your knocking most stuff right out the park. Pendos gone, voyagers gone, 3 350s left to hunt out too, pickings on that front are getting slimmer but your locals good for freight, so that should keep Interest up for a good while, don't know if Stafford allows folk on the Station for all nighters but if they do, you could rope the sleepers in too.

 

[palmersears]

Stafford boot you out after the last train I think, though you can still pick things up quite easily from the station car park. That said the 92s can often be seen running light engine during daytime hours to Brush or Crewe, so I'd save your self the sleep deprivation as you'll pick them up eventually. They aren't going anywhere any time soon.

 

[The_Train]

Congrats on clearing the voyagers, Mr Train, you now safely ignore the damn things, unless of course you get one for haulage.
Bit of a 47 fest there too, I'd have been frothing big time. When you look at 47727s livery to West Coast, it highlights how drab that maroon is.
However another couple of good reads and highly productive days, the ATW 158s passing through was a nice bonus too. 15 cops, is not to be sniffed at. Your knocking most stuff right out the park. Pendos gone, voyagers gone, 3 350s left to hunt out too, pickings on that front are getting slimmer but your locals good for freight, so that should keep Interest up for a good while, don't know if Stafford allows folk on the Station for all nighters but if they do, you could rope the sleepers in too.

Thanks Mr 403, considering I'd only gone to Stafford to see the 68s on the flasks it was a nice extra to nail that last 220 and also bring the 350 numbers down. Stafford will be flying visits now based on what I see on RTT as opposed to turning up there for long periods of time as it will all be about the freight now. As Palmersears says, you can't do all nighters on the station as they close up after the last train at around 11pm but there is a vantage point people use in the car park at the north end of platform 1

 

[The_Train]

Stafford boot you out after the last train I think, though you can still pick things up quite easily from the station car park. That said the 92s can often be seen running light engine during daytime hours to Brush or Crewe, so I'd save your self the sleep deprivation as you'll pick them up eventually. They aren't going anywhere any time soon.

I've heard of the 92s heading through Stafford but I've not seen any as of yet. That said the guys in the 92 thread have pointed out a move from Brush to Crewe on Saturday which they think may be a 92 being hauled by a 73. I'll visit for that as that would be firsts on both of those for me

 

[47403]

I've heard of the 92s heading through Stafford but I've not seen any as of yet. That said the guys in the 92 thread have pointed out a move from Brush to Crewe on Saturday which they think may be a 92 being hauled by a 73. I'll visit for that as that would be firsts on both of those for me

Oh OK on the all nighters front. Its a shame you can't do all nighters on all but a few stations these days. Having done all nighters on Carlisle, Crewe, York and Donny in year's gone by.

 

[palmersears]

Oh OK on the all nighters front. Its a shame you can't do all nighters on all but a few stations these days. Having done all nighters on Carlisle, Crewe, York and Donny in year's gone by.

Two best ones would probably be Preston or Carlisle these days, both open 24/7 for the sleepers to call, and enough overnight activity to keep you awake, just. Still not advisable outside of the summer months!

 

[47403]

Two best ones would probably be Preston or Carlisle these days, both open 24/7 for the sleepers to call, and enough overnight activity to keep you awake, just. Still not advisable outside of the summer months!

I've done enough overnighters to last a lifetime, the last, was a few years back on Carlisle, then done the last day of my North West Rover, talk about dead man walking, that day, I think I epitomised the look that day too. I'd say I doubt I'd do anymore but I'm daft enough to do another. If you can hack an overnighter, go for it, I'd say.

 

[The_Train]

I think I'd want to do an overnighter just to experience it, particularly as the railways at night have always grasped at my imagination and I'd like to actually see some goings on. That said, as much as I enjoy spotting by myself in the daytime, not sure I could do an all nighter by myself

 

[The_Train]

Living within a short vicinity of my local station is allowing me to make flying visits when I can and when I see something on RTT worth visiting for and I took advantage of this with a couple of short visits to Stafford on Friday and Saturday. I spotted the appearance of a Daventry DRS to Crewe Gresty Bridge move at lunch time on Friday so got excited at the prospect of this being a 37 or 68 which made my mind up to head across for a look. I got there a little early just in time to see 66788 working up to Peak Forest Cemex having come up from Washwood Heath but I also arrived just in time to be hit by a deluge of rain which didn't create a good look for someone wearing shorts and t-shirt. I wasn't going to let this put me off as I readied myself for the arrival of the DRS move, first watching duds 90049 & 90048 head through, and I soon forgot about the weather when I spotted an 88 making its way into the station. With plenty of spotters hiding under the shelters at the station I dared to head out into the rain as 88008 passed through (apparently it had failed earlier in the day?)
88008 passes Stafford by The_Train

It was back home after that for a bacon butty but I'd already picked out another move of interest later that afternoon. So having changed into an outfit more suitable for the days weather I was back on the platform a few hours later awaiting a move from Southall Wcr to Crewe H.S, hopeful of a good diesel or maybe even a bit of cheeky steam and I soon had my answer as 66172 headed through the fast lines hauling 60009, otherwise known as LNER Class A4 4488 Union of South Africa
66172 hauls A4 60009 through Stafford by The_Train
66172 and 60009 at Stafford by The_Train

Almost straight after this fantastic sight had passed us by, 66075 was passing through to add another winner. There was a little bit of freight activity due so I decided to hang around for a little while and having been disappointed with a few dud 66s I was soon rewarded thanks to 66751 running the Trafford Park-Felixstowe containers
66751 passes Stafford by The_Train

As always lots of 66s were passing Stafford and quite a few were duds including 66779 although it did give me a chance to bag a photo of this locos lovely looking livery
66779 at Stafford by The_Train

My last few sightings for the day churned out a couple more winners thanks to 66569 running to Trafford Park and then 66585 heading in the opposite direction towards Southampton M.C.T.

Having received word of potential class 92 moves between Brush and Crewe on Saturday, I had high hopes but it turned into a bit of a damp squib in more ways than one. The day started badly when I checked RTT when I woke up to find the Brush-Crewe move cancelled and having checked the 92 thread on here I found out the moves were being made south to Wembley. Bloody Londoners get everything
Anyway as I now had nothing to do, I noticed a very late running ECS from Wolverton to Newton Heath so thought I'd head out to see what that was (must be a unit I don't see very often as it's heading to Northern land). I reached the station in plenty of time and watched it's progress on Traksy only to be failed yet again when it was re-routed at Colwich to run direct through Stoke. So my only positive to the day so far was clearing yet another 66 in the form of 66177 which passed through just as I was about to leave heading down to Bescot with a rake of empties
66177 heads through Stafford by The_Train

There was one more move that had tempted me to revisit the station later in the day and having been undecided whether to bother I eventually dragged myself out......just as the heavens opened yet again. I decided to drive the short distance to the station to counteract this and my wariness of being at a train station reasonably late on a Saturday night was proven correct as I arrived to the sight of a very angry man in handcuffs surrounded by BTP officers. The rain was really coming down and the darkness was really drawing in and I couldn't see how I would get a suitable photo, particularly considering I'm using my phone camera and on more than one occasion I considered just giving it up and going home. However, having moved from P5 to P3 and then to P1 (ever closer to the exit and home) I stuck it out to see 86259 looking distinctive as it flew threw the fast lines
86259 flies through Stafford by The_Train

Was nice to see the A4 whilst also ticking off a few more locos, just a shame the 92s didn't materialise

 

[Kite159]

You will get the 92s one day, maybe a trip to London will get you some

 

[The_Train]

You will get the 92s one day, maybe a trip to London will get you some

Yeah I think that will be the best way of chalking some off. Would have been nice to have nabbed one or two closer to home though just to get things up and running

 

[Skymonster]

Bloody Londoners get everything

And Midlanders - sometimes! Glad you managed to tick a few off anyway.

A

 

[The_Train]

And East Midlanders - sometimes! Glad you managed to tick a few off anyway.

A

I've corrected your post above