Back on the platform

[Skymonster]

Thanks for the info on the 20s and also Midland Road. I assume your rights and lefts are based on facing direction of travel?

Always happy to help when I can. And yes, as you travel into Leeds, Midland Road will be on your right based on you facing the direction of travel. The first clues are the rows of wagons in the Leeds Freightliner Terminal on the left (there may be a loco in there too) soon after the train enters the suburbs, and almost immediately to the right will be the depot.

 

[The_Train]

Right guys, I've plotted the following with an early start from Stafford using an Anytime Return to Stockport and then the South Pennines Day Ranger from Stockport onwards.....

OUT
0637 Stafford-Crewe 0657
0710 Crewe-Stockport 0735
0854 Stockport-Sheffield 0933
1145 Sheffield-Leeds 1246*

There is an 1118 train to Leeds which I would jump on if the RHTT arrives early enough to allow me to. This gets into Leeds at 1214

RTN
1803 Leeds-Sheffield 1900
1911 Sheffield-Stockport 1952
2004 Stockport-Stafford 2046

I've decided to go out via Crewe as it gives me a chance to a) avoid Voyagers and b) to check out Basford Hall/Arriva Traincare again (if it is light enough). The RTN can be flexible, I've picked these out purely because the 2004 is a direct Pendolino service to Stafford but it's not overly important and my departure from Leeds could be later if 5 hours there wouldn't be enough time

 

[palmersears]

You'll be ready to go after 5 hours of almost constant walking around Leeds!

A note as well that there will more than likely be a couple of FL 66s at Earles Sidings on the Hope Valley line. Right hand side when travelling from Stockport to Sheffield, just before Hope station. Chance they might be obscured by a row of cement wagons in front but you never know.

EDIT: I see you've gone for an hour or so in Stockport. If so then Manchester end of platforms 1/2 is a decent vantage point.

 

[Skymonster]

I think if I were you, for variety, I might be tempted to return via Manchester rather than Sheffield. It'll be dark by 18:00 and you won't get much out of SHF or the journey through the Hope Valley at night. Maybe 18:06 TPE from Leeds to Manchester Piccadilly arrive 19:08 and then 19:55 Piccadilly to Stafford which is the same Pendo as in your plan. If nothing else it would give you 45 minutes to pick up some Northen units on the west of the Pennines.

 

[The_Train]

You'll be ready to go after 5 hours of almost constant walking around Leeds!

A note as well that there will more than likely be a couple of FL 66s at Earles Sidings on the Hope Valley line. Right hand side when travelling from Stockport to Sheffield, just before Hope station. Chance they might be obscured by a row of cement wagons in front but you never know.

EDIT: I see you've gone for an hour or so in Stockport. If so then Manchester end of platforms 1/2 is a decent vantage point.

Yeah I was going to ask about vantage points at Leeds but as my train arrives into platform 281R (or something like that anyway) I assume it's going to be a case of a lot of roaming up as opposed to picking a spot and settling?

Good shout on the Hope Valley 66s, hopefully they are on show as I get the impression whatever is there will be required.

Thanks for the heads up on Stockport. Thought I'd make a full day of it as it may be my final outing for the year but it does mean killing time before the rover kicks in at 0845. That time could either be spent at Crewe or Stockport and having spent time at Crewe recently and checking the activity at Stockport on RTT it seemed that I may benefit more at Stockport. Obviously another option was to go all the way to Piccadilly but I'd prefer to save that for my Cheshire Day Ranger

 

[The_Train]

I think if I were you, for variety, I might be tempted to return via Manchester rather than Sheffield. It'll be dark by 18:00 and you won't get much out of SHF or the journey through the Hope Valley at night. Maybe 18:06 TPE from Leeds to Manchester Piccadilly arrive 19:08 and then 19:55 Piccadilly to Stafford which is the same Pendo as in your plan. If nothing else it would give you 45 minutes to pick up some Northen units on the west of the Pennines.

Good shout to be fair. I had considered the darkness of the evening but never thought of Piccadilly. I plan to finalise things this evening so will add this to the equation

 

[Skymonster]

Last time I went past Earles on the Hope Valley there were 4 Freightliner 66s present (all /6 if I remember correctly). I haven't seen it there but others have, so if you are really lucky you might even see the 20 that trips the wagons up to the main line.

The western end of P6 (used by the LNER turnarounds) isn't bad for monitoring a lot of Leeds but you'll need to move around regularly to cover the various bays and the east end of the station. Sadly there are very few seats in useful locations either.

 

[Skymonster]

Obviously another option was to go all the way to Piccadilly but I'd prefer to save that for my Cheshire Day Ranger

You'll get quite a bit in Stockport and I understand you wanting to 'save' Manchester. But - didn't you just know there would be a but - if you go up to MAN you'll probably get more, and you'll ride past Longsight in the light which might yield the depot shunters and a TPE loco hauled set or two.

The downside is your planned Stockport-Sheffield leaves MAN at 0843 so presumably doesn't qualify for the rover, but there is an 08:49 Northern service following it out of MAN at 08:49 - you might even get a Pacer on that one - or the 09:19 TPE to Cleethorpes goes via SHF and still gets you in an hour ahead of the RHTT. Two hours at SHF may be overdoing it given you've been there before.

The thing is you'll eventually need more than one day in the Manchester area to make serious inroads into Northern - and so maybe taking a first short bite of the cherry now, while an opportunity presents itself, would be worthwhile? It will also enable you to get the feel of the place. I'm not trying to confuse or criticise your plan - just suggesting alternatives that might be worthy of consideration.

 

[palmersears]

You'll get quite a bit in Stockport and I understand you wanting to 'save' Manchester. But - didn't you just know there would be a but - if you go up to MAN you'll probably get more, and you'll ride past Longsight in the light which might yield the depot shunters and a TPE loco hauled set or two.

The downside is your planned Stockport-Sheffield leaves MAN at 0843 so presumably doesn't qualify for the rover, but there is an 08:49 Northern service following it out of MAN at 08:49 - you might even get a Pacer on that one - or the 09:19 TPE to Cleethorpes goes via SHF and still gets you in an hour ahead of the RHTT. Two hours at SHF may be overdoing it given you've been there before.

There's nothing that goes through Stockport that doesn't go through Manchester, so it's definitely a better place to kill an hour or so. There's two shunters on Longsight, but there's usually only one visible from the mainline.

The 0849 is the local stopper, goes through my local (), and then up the Hope Valley. Almost certain to include at least one 142. Indeed it's usually a 142 double. I'd recommend the 0919 though, far quicker, and not usually that well loaded. Depends upon how keen you are to take a Railbus!

 

[The_Train]

Please @Skymonster don't worry about finding alternatives for my plans. It's why I post them on here prior to my trips because these little tweaks that you guys offer are things that have made my previous outings so good and worthwhile. I will never take it as a criticism, only as help and support.

So it's safe to say that Piccadilly is a better option than Stockport for my hour or so fester in the morning. The rover becomes active at 0845 so no the 0843 would be no good (if the 0843 was late and left after 0845 would my rover become valid on it?) but maybe a trip on a Pacer wouldn't be a bad thing to experience again as it's been a long time since I did and the opportunity to do so will not be there forever. Will both the Northern stopper and TPE semi fast head up the Hope Valley?

 

[Skymonster]

if the 0843 was late and left after 0845 would my rover become valid on it?

Short answer - no. The official restriction for the South Pennines Day Ranger is "Not valid on trains timed to depart after 04:29 and before 08:45." The critical bit in this repsent is 'timed to depart' which means if the train runs late the ticket still isn't valid.

You'll almost certainly get more more out of an hour at Piccadilly than at Stockport - as @palmersears says everything that goes through Stockport goes to Piccadilly, but there are some trains at Piccadilly that don't go through Stockport. And yes, both Northern stoppers and TPEs to Sheffield go through the Hope Valley past Earles Sidings where you should pick up a few 66s (right hand side, direction of travel). If you go up to Piccadilly in the morning rather than stay at Stockport, Longsight depot is also on the right.

If you stay platform side at Piccadilly and head up to the end of P10/11 (use the bridge at the southern end of the covered area to move between platforms rather than the northern end where there are barriers) you should get almost everything although Pacers heading into P1/2 might need you to take the car numbers rather than the unit numbers which are a bit small. It's actually a much easier station to cover all of than the likes of Leeds.

 

[The_Train]

Short answer - no. The official restriction for the South Pennines Day Ranger is "Not valid on trains timed to depart after 04:29 and before 08:45." The critical bit in this repsent is 'timed to depart' which means if the train runs late the ticket still isn't valid.

I thought that would be the answer but thought I'd double check.

You'll almost certainly get more more out of an hour at Piccadilly than at Stockport - as @palmersears says everything that goes through Stockport goes to Piccadilly, but there are some trains at Piccadilly that don't go through Stockport. And yes, both Northern stoppers and TPEs to Sheffield go through the Hope Valley past Earles Sidings where you should pick up a few 66s (right hand side, direction of travel). If you go up to Piccadilly in the morning rather than stay at Stockport, Longsight depot is also on the right.

I think Piccadilly is a certainty thanks to the information supplied by yourself and @palmersears. Hopefully I can nab a couple of TPE 68s at Longsight as well. Just need to decide whether to enjoy the thrill of a Pacer ride now!

If you stay platform side at Piccadilly and head up to the end of P10/11 (use the bridge at the southern end of the covered area to move between platforms rather than the northern end where there are barriers) you should get almost everything although Pacers heading into P1/2 might need you to take the car numbers rather than the unit numbers which are a bit small. It's actually a much easier station to cover all of than the likes of Leeds.

I've never really spotted at Piccadilly before - even as a child it was only somewhere I visited when connecting to trains to the north east - so this information is great. I will certainly make use of the southern bridge to move between platforms if and when necessary

 

[47403]

Couple of good reads there Mr Train. Nice to see the locals still throwing out winners too.
I agree Man Picc would be a better alternative to Stockport, there's a bit freight goes through to and from Trafford Park too. The suggestion to pass Longsight is a good one too. As is the advice to go past Midland Road, also keep an eye out left, sometimes there's locos parked on the Container Terminal. If you ain't got a dictaphone for passing Midland Road, put your phone on video and just read the numbers out as you pass, hey presto an impromptu dictaphone. Certainly easier than writing them down.

Leeds is a bloody awkward station, as has been said, you have to be on the move almost constantly but it will prove very profitable indeed. You may also get to see the 90 on hire too, if they still hire one in. Please excuse my ignorance, its been a while since I was last out on the rails. Also If you can spare the cash, a ride up to Garforth n back, will take you past Neville Hill, you might get you their two gronks too and anything on shed.

If I was you I'd skip getting on a bouncing bomb too. Get on a 150 or 156 instead, a damn sight less irritating and damn sight more comfortable. Well in my opinion they are.

Congrats on inadvertently clearing the 170/1s, I too have done something similar. I've decided to move with modern times and log stuff onto a free spotting app on the tablet. Don't worry though, notebooks, dictaphone and platform 5s are not redundant. However, whilst I've been transferring 3yrs worth of trips onto the said app, I noticed a certain unit, had been noted and somehow overlooked, when I was cross referencing, to see what was good and what was dud, from notes to the book of sights. On the 27th October 2018, I eventually cleared my bouncing bombs for sight, clearance cannons went off like Bonfire Night fireworks, sad thing is 142057 was actually seen on the 7th October 2015 at Manchester Piccadilly Meaning after I'd seen 142052 at Man Vic in July this year, I'd been incessantly watching 142s come and go out of Man Pic, Vic and Occy Road in hope of seeing a bouncing bomb I'd already seen Maybe it's the bouncing bombs way of getting me back, for constantly berating them and calling them worse than crap.
Lastly, happy hunting Mr Train, have a good day and I look forward to the trip report

 

[The_Train]

Couple of good reads there Mr Train. Nice to see the locals still throwing out winners too.
I agree Man Picc would be a better alternative to Stockport, there's a bit freight goes through to and from Trafford Park too. The suggestion to pass Longsight is a good one too. As is the advice to go past Midland Road, also keep an eye out left, sometimes there's locos parked on the Container Terminal. If you ain't got a dictaphone for passing Midland Road, put your phone on video and just read the numbers out as you pass, hey presto an impromptu dictaphone. Certainly easier than writing them down.

Thanks Mr 403. Liking the suggestion of turning my phone into a dictaphone, never considered that before so I may give that a go tomorrow.

Leeds is a bloody awkward station, as has been said, you have to be on the move almost constantly but it will prove very profitable indeed. You may also get to see the 90 on hire too, if they still hire one in. Please excuse my ignorance, its been a while since I was last out on the rails. Also If you can spare the cash, a ride up to Garforth n back, will take you past Neville Hill, you might get you their two gronks too and anything on shed.

Yeah I get the impression that I'm going to be getting a bit of exercise tomorrow but hopefully it will be worth it for the rewards. Nabbing a 90 has been in the back of my mind if they are still running as I missed them at Donny but not sure if that's the case or not. I may well do the Garforth trek while I'm that way, just a shame it isn't covered by the rover.

If I was you I'd skip getting on a bouncing bomb too. Get on a 150 or 156 instead, a damn sight less irritating and damn sight more comfortable. Well in my opinion they are.

It would only be for old times sake and to experience them one last time, not because I actually enjoy them. Probably won't decide until the time actually comes tomorrow

Congrats on inadvertently clearing the 170/1s, I too have done something similar. I've decided to move with modern times and log stuff onto a free spotting app on the tablet. Don't worry though, notebooks, dictaphone and platform 5s are not redundant. However, whilst I've been transferring 3yrs worth of trips onto the said app, I noticed a certain unit, had been noted and somehow overlooked, when I was cross referencing, to see what was good and what was dud, from notes to the book of sights. On the 27th October 2018, I eventually cleared my bouncing bombs for sight, clearance cannons went off like Bonfire Night fireworks, sad thing is 142057 was actually seen on the 7th October 2015 at Manchester Piccadilly Meaning after I'd seen 142052 at Man Vic in July this year, I'd been incessantly watching 142s come and go out of Man Pic, Vic and Occy Road in hope of seeing a bouncing bomb I'd already seen Maybe it's the bouncing bombs way of getting me back, for constantly berating them and calling them worse than crap.
Lastly, happy hunting Mr Train, have a good day and I look forward to the trip report

Chasing a unit for 3 years that you'd already seen is pretty impressive Guess it goes to show that no matter what technology comes our way, it's always the books that we can rely on

 

[Skymonster]

Nabbing a 90 has been in the back of my mind if they are still running as I missed them at Donny but not sure if that's the case or not.

A DBC 90 did a Leeds turn when I was up there a few weeks ago - mid afternoon if I remember correctly. Happy hunting tomorrow - suspect you are destined for another three digit haul!

 

[The_Train]

A DBC 90 did a Leeds turn when I was up there a few weeks ago - mid afternoon if I remember correctly. Happy hunting tomorrow - suspect you are destined for another three digit haul!

Thanks for that Mr Monster. As long as I make some headway into the Northern stuff I'll be happy

 

[The_Train]

Wednesday 31st October 2018 - Doing the D B and C

I decided to warm up for tomorrow's outing (and to get out of the way of potential trick or treaters....I really hate Halloween) by heading to the local for a couple of hours earlier. The main reason was to check out the Crossrail test run having received word from @Skymonster that the latest unit had made its way north for testing. I'd already bagged a winner earlier in the day whilst walking back from town just as DBC 66012 headed through the station approach as it worked a fully loaded rake of car wagons south to the docks and I timed my wander to the station well to catch the Arpley Sidings to Bescot afternoon engineers train which was being hauled by yet another winning DBC shed in the form of 66111. Things were looking up and next amongst the many number of dud Pendolinos, Voyagers and Desiros was Crossrail 345052 to make it my 12th Crossrail winner, all of which have been sighted at the local. An interesting movement had now appeared on RTT and was exciting a few photographers as something had left Crewe Gresty Bridge destined to terminate at Stafford before returning back to Gresty Bridge. Unfortunately it was dud 37407 which I'd seen back in July but it's always a nice sight to see a classic loco in a classic livery
37407 at Stafford by The_Train

68004 also ran light as it headed towards Toton and there were duds aplenty from GBRf and FLR but DBC were keeping me well looked after and it was 66087 that went into the book next as it worked north to Halewood. The final winner of the day made it 4 successful DBC sheds as it was 66136 that was working the 6K50 1513 Toton to Crewe Basford Hall engineers train, a GBRf working so DBC must have done them a favour and me as well as I'm 4 locos closer to finishing the DBC stock than I was when I woke up this morning......still a long way to go though.

Another 5 winners at the local and a good setup for tomorrow's venture into the Pennines

 

[xotGD]

Leeds - as of this morning there were still 9 70s in the line, plus two others coupled together at the east end of the depot. At the station I would suggest the end of platform 6 as a vantage point.

Also, look out for the track machine thingamies at Wakefield Kirkgate and at Holbeck.

 

[47403]

Yeah chasing a unit I already had was a bit galling to say the least, thing is though, if i hadn't decided to log my local and trip books onto the Trainspotter app on me tablet, I'd still have been chasing, well, chasing is probably not the word, maybe, slightly more eager to get the damn thing seen Good news is I don't have to look at another ones number ever again unless I'm extremely unlucky enough to have to get one for haulage.
Sure the TOPS thread would probably verify what turn the 90 is on. That way you could meet it at Wakefield Westgate and have it for haulage too. Can't see a return to Garforth being too expensive, check times, I'd hate to reccommend it and you had a lengthy fester there.
You should put a big hole in your 185s too.

 

[The_Train]

Leeds - as of this morning there were still 9 70s in the line, plus two others coupled together at the east end of the depot. At the station I would suggest the end of platform 6 as a vantage point.

Also, look out for the track machine thingamies at Wakefield Kirkgate and at Holbeck.

Thanks for the info xotGD

 

[Far north 37]

Thanks for the info xotGD

70002 10 and 15 are back in the operational pool now so theres a chance they will be back out on the network soon.

 

[The_Train]

70002 10 and 15 are back in the operational pool now so theres a chance they will be back out on the network soon.

It's interesting that you should say that as 70s were noticeable for their absence this evening. There are usually a couple of workings through Stafford between 1700 and 1800 between Trafford Park and Southampton that are normally always 70 hauled but they were 66s tonight. Got me wondering whether there was another full class 70 hibernation due

 

[Far north 37]

It's interesting that you should say that as 70s were noticeable for their absence this evening. There are usually a couple of workings through Stafford between 1700 and 1800 between Trafford Park and Southampton that are normally always 70 hauled but they were 66s tonight. Got me wondering whether there was another full class 70 hibernation due

The class 70s seem to be very rare in london now as well although i think there working to felixstowe and london gateway a bit more recently im still after 7 of them myself only one of them gettable at the moment.
With the darker days coming in and working all week with little freight at weekends going to be a struggle to find winning locos.

 

[palmersears]

The class 70s seem to be very rare in london now as well although i think there working to felixstowe and london gateway a bit more recently im still after 7 of them myself only one of them gettable at the moment.
With the darker days coming in and working all week with little freight at weekends going to be a struggle to find winning locos.

There's 10 operational at the moment, most working to/from Southampton or Felixstowe. You do get the odd one to London Gateway, but it's a rarer occurrence.

Have fun today, Train! Weather is a bit grim in Manchester as I type but nothing that won't brighten up later. Plenty of Pacers knocking about, just remember their carriage numbers on the side have absolutely no connection with the unit number, so you'll need to cross check on trainlogger (you can search by carriage number in their search function) to get unit numbers in full.

 

[Skymonster]

70002 10 and 15 are back in the operational pool now so theres a chance they will be back out on the network soon.

70015 was on Leeds-Southampton Wednesday

 

[The_Train]

There's 10 operational at the moment, most working to/from Southampton or Felixstowe. You do get the odd one to London Gateway, but it's a rarer occurrence.

Have fun today, Train! Weather is a bit grim in Manchester as I type but nothing that won't brighten up later. Plenty of Pacers knocking about, just remember their carriage numbers on the side have absolutely no connection with the unit number, so you'll need to cross check on trainlogger (you can search by carriage number in their search function) to get unit numbers in full.

There were 3x 70s at Basford Hall this morning awaiting trips south with containers.

I've been using the side numbers of pacers as can't see the front ends without moving about. Are you saying these numbers won't necessarily relate to the unit numbers?

 

[palmersears]

I've been using the side numbers of pacers as can't see the front ends without moving about. Are you saying these numbers won't necessarily relate to the unit numbers?

Yes. For example, 142014 (my ride this morning) is formed of 55555 & 55605, so you can't immediately tell the unit number unless you look it up. By contrast, the 150s, 155s (Leeds only) and 156s are much easier as they use the 52xxx & 57xxx format (xxx being the last three digits of the unit number). For example, 150128 is formed of 52128 & 57128, and 156440 formed of 52440 & 57440.

 

[Skymonster]

I've been using the side numbers of pacers as can't see the front ends without moving about. Are you saying these numbers won't necessarily relate to the unit numbers?

The Pacers operate in fixed formations, so although the carriage numbers don't correspond to the unit numbers, if you get the carriage numbers you can look up the unit numbers in an app or your book.

 

[Skymonster]

The nine 70s in the line at Midland Road are: 70013, 70016, 70018, 70017, 70004, 70009, 70001, 70019, 70011

70002, 70010 and 70015 were on the depot earlier in the week too but 15 (at least) has since re-entered service as I saw it working yesterday.

 

[The_Train]

Yes. For example, 142014 (my ride this morning) is formed of 55555 & 55605, so you can't immediately tell the unit number unless you look it up. By contrast, the 150s, 155s (Leeds only) and 156s are much easier as they use the 52xxx & 57xxx format (xxx being the last three digits of the unit number). For example, 150128 is formed of 52128 & 57128, and 156440 formed of 52440 & 57440.

The Pacers operate in fixed formations, so although the carriage numbers don't correspond to the unit numbers, if you get the carriage numbers you can look up the unit numbers in an app or your book.

I get you now. I thought you meant that I wouldn't be able to trace the unit number from the coach numbers but I see what you mean now. I usually just input the coach number into SpotLog and it locates the unit number from that.

Finished my morning stint at Piccadilly and although I don't know winning numbers yet (I've gone old fashioned with pen and paper) there was plenty to see. Wasn't much at Longsight except for a gronk which I couldn't ID and a Mk5 set without a loco.