backontrack's railway musings

[backontrack]

Hello, I'm Techniquest and I'm here to show you my new thread. :P

Well, I'm not actually Techniquest. You will be able to tell that because my new project is a little different from the usual 'trip reporting'. Here's how my thread works:

You see, I really enjoy travelling on trains. I know that you guys do, and I know that you like to share your travel stories with each other. But I don't do any 'bashing', or 'spotting'. I use trains to go to places, and they're never the main attraction, but my chosen method of conveyance. I also don't go on 'trips' because I'm starting to get a heavier workload. Having polished off about 50% of my French GCSE, I've got quite a load remaining and I will need to work for them in the next two years. However, this Christmas has been a period with no work to do, so...

...I decided to fire up this thread. But what should I put in it? Well, I thought that I would put up journey reports from when I travel on trains. I'll basically just write about the rail journeys I have when I have them. And this thread is also a place for me to put my photos too.

The big problem is that updates won't happen that much. But hey, this is only an experimental concept anyway. And hopefully, it will give me the chance to attempt to write my own semi-reports, without too much rambling, flippancy or patronisation. It'll be fun to try, and fun to share with you guys (patronisation already!).

There are two caveats, though:

1). Only the railway parts of my trips will be described. As nice as I'm sure you all are, it's quite nice to keep somethings to family and self. I don't wish to share everything on the internet.

2). Please excuse the fact that I won't be very good to start with (and possibly not at all). I'll try my best. Honest.

So, there we are! Hopefully, not too boring an idea to work.

 

[FQ]

I like the idea. Welcome to the trip reporters!

 

[Kristofferson]

Welcome! Sounds like my trip reports - they're rail journeys with accommodation reviews purely because I don't get the time to go out bashing...

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

1) The idea sounds good - be nice to see how your writing style is

2) I'm bemused by the fact I am twice backie's age

 

[backontrack]

1) Yes, it'll be nice to try it

2) That's not too bad, I'm only Quinn's age

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

2) That's not too bad, I'm only Quinn's age

If that is true, why are you doing your GCSEs at his age? Surely it is at least another 2 years

 

[backontrack]

We do French GCSE in Year 9 (we started it last summer). It takes a lot of work because of the 'controlled assessments' - you create a large wodge of text (over 350 words) and have to memorise it all before either writing it down or speaking it at the exam. They take ages. And I don't really get to go on 'trips' anyway.

You're right in that the rest of my GCSEs won't be for another year or two - I have changed the original post to reflect this.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

We do French GCSE in Year 9 (we started it last summer). It takes a lot of work because of the 'controlled assessments' - you create a large wodge of text (over 350 words) and have to memorise it all before either writing it down or speaking it at the exam. They take ages. And I don't really get to go on 'trips' anyway.

Really? How odd - where I come from it is done in Year 10/11. Mind you, they may have changed it since I was last at school - back then, backie, you would have been watching the Teletubbies and Thomas

 

[backontrack]

I hope not! Even when I was 1 I found Teletubbies boring. :P

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I hope not! Even when I was 1 I found Teletubbies boring. :P

I didn't and I was ten when it came out - although I was watching it more for the modelling work

 

[FQ]

I'm only 13 at the moment and I'll be taking my first GCSE (Environmental Management) in May, although I will be 14 then. Then I'll be taking Geography, Maths and English in November, along with Piano grade 5, the equivalent to a Music GCSE.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I'm only 13 at the moment and I'll be taking my first GCSE (Environmental Management) in May, although I will be 14 then. Then I'll be taking Geography, Maths and English in November, along with Piano grade 5, the equivalent to a Music GCSE.

*shakes head*

Never had this "Environmental Management" fanciness when I was at school... To be honest, I took mine at 16 which was the accepted thing back then - I didn't realise you could take the exams at a younger age.

To get backontrack... I mean back on topic,

When might your first report be ?

 

[backontrack]

I don't know...it may depend on when this thread gets forgotten. Then I'll remind you all again.

Not many people seem to have read this thread yet, though, so some more feedback would be welcome. The first trip has been had - only requires writing up!

I didn't know you played piano, Quinn! I've done grade 2 only so far. Music GCSE I am considering - although it involves that stupid Moby song.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

You've always had the opportunity to do exams early.

I did English Language, Maths and French o-levels in 1981, aged 15.

***

Looking forward to the more tourist-style reports idc. And also to the amusing bickering between the Northern and Eastern fringes of Howdenshire...

 

[FQ]

You can take GCSEs as early as you want if you're home educated!

I'm pretty good at piano, and I'm taking G5 in March. Not sure which Moby song you mean. Although there is a song that I really like that is by Moby. It's called Extreme Ways and is in the Bourne films, a brilliant few.

 

[backontrack]

I'm not home educated. I'm taking most of my GCSEs in Yr11, though French does come earlier and I may be able to do English early.

I'm talking about the song 'Why does my heart feel so bad?'. We've already been looking at it in music lessons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJQcCkcPEg4
A friend of mine (Wow! I have friends! :P) went onto the YouTube video and typed in the comments section: "Maybe you have heartburn."

Anyway, now I'm a 'trip reporter', you'll all have to forget about this joke post I made:

How about trainspotter language?

'So we went bashing down the ECML from Donny on a Dusty Bin. However, we needed to be on time at Leeds for our connection onto the Nodding Donkey. Out of Donny we passed the forlorn Darth Vaders and even the Flying Banana. Earlier on, further south down the ECML, we'd seen Happy Trains and more Dusty Bins, in addition to a tour led by a Deltic and a Brush loco. Earlier on we'd seen a 319 at St Pancakes still in WorstGroup Barbie livery, and at Victoria a Plastic Pig that used to belong to the Rebel Alliance. At Marylebone we spotted gricers taking the numbers of Networker Clubmans, and cats steaming ahead towards Snow Hell. We boarded an Unspeakable Horror to Sandwell and Dudley, which was a shack scratch. The Pendolino was a winner for haulage (though not for sight), as it was 390154 leading dud 390156. We then returned to New Street ready for our rides on my last XC tram and a starship, which involved shack attacks at Erdington and Tamworth Low Level. We also saw an EWS skip (which had great thrash and clag) and a Bubble Car, as well as a Baby Deltic. I'm looking forward for Red Pen 2016 and my next ALR.'

That was before I knew what all this stuff meant.

 

[FQ]

Love the joke!

 

[backontrack]

Great! I was worried that you'd take it personally as it's near you. But it wasn't based on anyone in particular; it was a big melting pot of stereotypes.

Incidentally, I passed through Doncaster twice yesterday. I made sure the first time that I looked out of the window to see if I could locate the Costa.

 

[FQ]

Heading to York? Oh, and I didn't actually visit Frothbucks on my North East. Just costa for creamy coolers (drool...)

 

[backontrack]

You'll see

Frothbucks sounds like what Lord Tech would call it. :P

As for Costa, I've just realised that I've got them mixed up again. I always meant Costa.

 

[FQ]

It is what Tech calls it! Something that I nicked. I hope you don't mind Lord Quest!

 

[backontrack]

I don't mind it at all. I know you're referring to Kite159.

 

[ooo]

You can take GCSEs as early as you want if you're home educated!

I'm pretty good at piano, and I'm taking G5 in March. Not sure which Moby song you mean. Although there is a song that I really like that is by Moby. It's called Extreme Ways and is in the Bourne films, a brilliant few.

May I ask where you will sit your GCSEs if you are home schooled?

 

[backontrack]

You can take GCSEs as early as you want if you're home educated!

Oh, you mean that you're...I understand now.

 

[FQ]

May I ask where you will sit your GCSEs if you are home schooled?

There are several exam centres located across the country for each different subject, most with more than one. The one that I've chosen is a great one in Coventry.

Now, sorry Backontrack for hijacking your thread!

 

[krus_aragon]

I didn't and I was ten when it came out - although I was watching it more for the modelling work

Scenery modelling rather than fashion, I hope? hock:

 

[backontrack]

Not at all! You can't go off topic on other threads, but you're allowed to here.
Unless you want to talk about Hull.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Scenery modelling rather than fashion, I hope? hock:

Actually, staying on topic is fine, thanks!

 

[Kite159]

I don't mind it at all. I know you're referring to Kite159.

Bit slow on the uptake I be tonight

(Although that has nothing to do with some lovely 150 thrash from Brighton to Romsey earlier)

 

[backontrack]

It was a joke about identity. I am glad that Lord Kite of Salisbury and Wilton enjoyed the journey.

 

[Techniquest]

It is what Tech calls it! Something that I nicked. I hope you don't mind Lord Quest!

Yes it is what I call it, and no not at all Lord Fish, carry on using it quite happily. It is, after all, how dialect changes, people spreading it!

I know where the Costa is at Donny, used it myself before. Bit small but it does the job.

As for all the basher speak posted, it was a great read and shows just how much jargon we use in our hobby! Darth Vaders, wow that's not a name you hear too often for 460s. I miss them...

So we might get a 'journey' report from you soon? My apologies for the delayed reply, you'll understand once you're old enough to be a fully fledged member of The Grafter Society...

Sounds like me and HMS Ark Royal are about the same age, which is a nice surprise!