Central Scotland Rover report

[postye]

Day 1 - Monday 26th January 2015

So the morning has arrived for my first proper bash of 2015 - I must've been subconsciously worrying that I'd oversleep as I was awake minutes before the 5am alarm.

I'd decided that I fancied doing a Central Scotland Rover as these seem exceptionally good value at £36.30 for a 3in7. The only problem was getting a train from London at a decent time/price to make the most of it, withe the 0630 ex KGX something like £75 for an advance seemed crazy, so I looked up BA and got a good price flight from London City - Edinburgh for only £50, with the added bonus I'd get a ride on a tram from the airport, so having checked in online yesterday it was airport bound for the 0750 flight.

So down to The station for the 0552 to Lewisham with 465043 leading, this is one of my lowest mileage networkers so the chance to add a few more miles is welcome, though still not cleared for 10 yet. A change of trains at Lewisham produced duds 465005, 465249 & 466004 to Woolwich arsenal where I changed for the DLR TO CIty Airport on unit 143( along with 149/137).

Arrival in plenty of time for the obligatory queue through security and onto my BA Embraer 170 craft for the 65 minutes flight to Edinburgh. Flying BA certainly has it's benefits and a reasonable breakfast was served once up in the air and no sooner than I'd finished eating it the pilot said we were on the approach to Edinburgh.
Right time arrival into EDI and no baggage to collect so I was onto my first Edinburgh tram - 257 - within 20 mins of touch down.

One of the advantages of the tram is that it passes the side of Haymarket depot that you don't normally get to see, which produced a great result for me with 158710 stable on one of the roads, now down to 2 SR 158's for sight.

After purchasing my good value rover from Haymarket, I was going to buy online, but then I got £21 of delay repay for a delay recently so that was put towards the rover to make it even better value, and down for my first train of the day.
One of the main aims of the 3 days is to try and get the 9 170's that are due to go off lease before Southern get their hands on them and probably convert them to 171's. The rumoured units are four from the 170415-424 batch as they are off lease at different times to the rest so that's what I'll concentrate on doing, as well as chasing my last 3 SR units.

BINGO - no sooner had I got to the platform than 170417 pulled in on a Queen St so I rode that as far as Falkirk High (a station that would be familiar ground over the next three days) before hot footing over the bridge to board 170431 on next one back to Edinburgh. I alighted at Haymarket and stood in the warm overbridge to see what would be coming next, just as 170422 came through the tunnel on a Queen st - that's 2 down quite quickly. As an added bonus as we passed HA I noted 158868, another required for sight to leave me just looking for 158705 & 156457. Also noted was 56105 in a siding just past Linlithgow .

Alighting at Falkirk the next Edinburgh bound train was 417 that I was on earlier so I decided to wait for the next Queen St train formed of 170404. Keeping my eyes peeled as we entered Queen Street but no signs of any sight winners or units in the target range, so I hopped onto 156439 to Camelon via Cumbernauld - a new line. Checking RTT there was a 7min connection onto a Dunblane so getting my exercise it was over the bridge to await 170408. Another check of RTT showed there should be a freight following us into Stirling, and from previous reports 68's have worked on this one, so off I got at Stirling. Sure enough the freight came round the corner and it was a 68 - yes - except it was 68003 - one of only 2ive previously seen.
I swerved dud 170456 in favour of 170457 on the 1343 back to Queen St.
Upon arrival 170423 was in one of the platform, but not being advertised so I hung about for a bit grabbing a sandwich and visiting costa for my daily caffeine fix to try and work it out. It appeas that it's on an Inverness service, and that it will almost follow the Stirling stopper then call Dunblane - so I jumped on 170395 to Stirling - and as sure as eggs is eggs 170423 pulled into platform 2, which I took to DBL.
170460 was my chariot back to Haymarket, where with a bit of luck I'd see the 67 hauled diagram. The lights of a 67 came through the tunnel and into platform 2, dud 67009. To compound matters I saw 170421 disappear off to Glasgow at the same time!

By this point my bag was beginning to feel very heavy and I needed to get the weight off my back but it was to early to finish so I hopped on 334015 into Waverley so I could check into my hotel (travelodge Waterloo Place) and get the weight off my shoulders. The advantage of a centrally located hotel and a reasonable price of £30 per night.

Lightweight again back to Waverley to see if I could catch up with 421 on its return working so a leap to Haymarket on 170459 to get another winner, quickly over from P2 to P4 to catch 170455 to Falkirk High. In pulled the 1834 return, but it was 170454 instead - I obviously didn't work that one out right. Never mind - still a winner. Arriving back in EDB showed why I was wrong - 421 was sitting in P13 with a Queen St, so problem solved another one down.
Now just as we were departing I noted 170418 sitting in P17 with an Inverness - and it stopped at Haymarket - would it be possible? I decided to set myself up for a Burrow Bash through the Tunnels, 170421 to Haymarket, run up and down stairs to just make 170396 running a couple of minutes late, and a dash round the platform ends to P17, just made it onto 418 to Haymarket, then 170425 back to Waverley. Phew!

Well not a bad start to my bash, at the end of day 1 that's 2 158's for sight, 18 haulage winners, including 5 from the target batch of 9, some new track through Cumbernauld and around 309 miles for the day.

 

[Techniquest]

Not a bad first day at all there! That flight was a good buy by the looks of it, free food included must have been welcome after an early start!

I'm not the only one who gets worried he's going to sleep through the alarm then! Always a concern if you've got inflexible tickets and/or plans, that's for sure. I'd love to be able to board a train at 0552 in the morning, the first one I can board anywhere from my way, after making the long bus journey, is the 0753 going north (if the bus is on time!), 0811 going south and 0849 heading east.

Bargain Travelodge there, and I think I know the one you mean, it is indeed well placed for both tram and train bashing

Fingers crossed the rest of the trip was equally productive!

 

[postye]

Not a bad first day at all there! That flight was a good buy by the looks of it, free food included must have been welcome after an early start!

I'm not the only one who gets worried he's going to sleep through the alarm then! Always a concern if you've got inflexible tickets and/or plans, that's for sure. I'd love to be able to board a train at 0552 in the morning, the first one I can board anywhere from my way, after making the long bus journey, is the 0753 going north (if the bus is on time!), 0811 going south and 0849 heading east.

Bargain Travelodge there, and I think I know the one you mean, it is indeed well placed for both tram and train bashing

Fingers crossed the rest of the trip was equally productive!

I frequently wake up before the alarm if ive got a long journey planned - always worried i'll miss that early train.


Day 2 almost typed up . . . . .
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Day 2 Tuesday 27th January

Another early start - although with the alarm at 06:15 that's over an hours extra kip than yesterday.
Fortunately my hotel is literally a stones throw from Waverley so after a cup of tea and a shower it's off to get the 0710 Glenrothes which I'll take as far as Dalmeny on 179412. The single to Falkirk throws the guard until he realises I'm doing the once a day (each direction) chord from Dalmeny-Linlithgow. A second cup of tea from 'Dalmeny Deli' (it's a tea bar! deli! /rant) and over the bridge for the 0741 to Queen St in the hands of 170471. The dawn is just starting to break as we slowly wend our way along the curve with the lights of Edinburgh blaring on one side, and the headlights of the cars on the M9 motorway on the other. The only problem with trips at this time of year is the lack of light.

I alighted in Linlithgow as I wanted to check out an unusual church spire I'd seen when doing my ALR last September. St michaels church sits next to Linlithgow Palace, which I'd never even heard of before today, but apparently it was the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and there are plaques all down the wall leading to the castle showing the family chain to our current Queen Elizabeth II. I might gave to try and persuade the mrs to have a holiday up here ( and possibly another bash for me! )

Anyway Back to the trains and I make my way back to the station and onto the 0827 (158729) to Falkirk where I'll break for breakfast until my rover is valid.

Refuelled with a bacon roll and another cup of tea I head back to Grahamston and onto 158739 on the 0923 to Queen St via Stepps (why did a dodgy pop group name them selves after a suburban Glasgow Station?) to get the new track i did northbound yesterday both ways.

As I arrive at Queen street That seems to have been a sound move, as 170419 is in P7 with an Edinburgh so I'll take this as far as Falkirk High. The next one back to Glasgow is in just over 10 mins so gives me a bit of time to make a couple of calls to avoid disrupting people on trains, and as a Brucey-Bonus the return to Glasgow is 170420, another of the target batch. Trying to catch the numbers of passing units I don't find easy from a 170 as the windows never really line up with seats and are too deep, but nothing looks like 416 or 424 so I carry on to Edinburgh to try my luck there. As we arrive yesterday's winner for sight, 158710, was waiting to take out a Cowdenbeath service, so carefully checking RTT, I reckon I can get to North Queensferry and a +5 back to EDB.
As we pass I note there's a load of 158's at the back of Haymarket - I'm tempted to think about doing a short hop on the tram to see if 705 is in there, but decide not to.
158870 brings me back into Haymarket where I am just in time to see 170416 pulling in on a Glasgow Run, so a brisk walk down the stairs onto P4 for the run to Falkirk, another one down!
170410 was running around without a set number on one end, I saw the guys in Haymarket masking something up for a part spray/repair job yesterday - maybe it was this unit. Back to Waverley again - racking up the mileage (I think - can't do online mileage checks as railmiles is down so it's reference to timetables and atlases to try and get distances)
I thought I'd have a go at the Shotts line, never been down it before so I thought I'd look at doing something like half way and back from this end then do the same next time I'm in the Glasgow area. 156432 was just about to pull away when a double 158 arrived from Inverness and I thought the rear one might have ended with a 5 - could it be my last 158 (705)? I abandoned the Shotts idea and alighted at Haymarket and got 170406 back to Waverley to check out the 158's, but just my luck they pulled out ECS to HA before I could get around to see what they were. I should've just waited at Haymarket!
I cursed myself, not only did I not see those two I'd also knocked the chance of Shotts. Seeing however as I was doing a good job off knocking off shacks without even realising it I decided to have a trip up to South Gyle and back as there was a +9 connection back. 158709 & 158871 duly obliged.

Upon arrival at Waverley and having re-fuelled with some lunch I jumped aboard 170416 on the Glasgow, thinking it was a winner because I hadn't checked my notes from earlier!

I alighted at Croy and let dud 170454 go on an EDB in favour of winner 170394 for the run to Queen Street. Double duds 170425/433 greeted me for the 1645 to Edinburgh, so I decided to take winners 156495/513 to Larbert. I would've done Stirling, but I wanted to do the Linlithgow - Dalmeny chord the other way tonight and with a +1 connection at Stirling it was too risky, but at least Larbert has a decent waiting room, and another shack.
20 minutes passed before 170478 arrived to take me to Polmont (another shack scratched) before 170418 arrived with the Markinch train to do the chord the other way to complete that section of track. I had a short leap to Haymarket on 418 last night but at least now it's got some decent mileage.
Shortly after departing Linlithgow the driver announces a delay due to a points failure at Haymarket. I wasn't sure exactly where we were as it was so dark, but the failure is causing real chaos apparently with some other trains diverted via Dalmeny to Edinburgh so we're in a queue and eventually around 15 minutes late into Inverkeithing, I thought this would mean I missed the 67 hauled train, but that was delayed also, although it was still 67009 on the front so I decided to wait to see which unit was following it with the Inverness-Edinburgh. Not the hoped for 705, but a winner no less in 170403 to end another 12+ hour day.

Another reasonable day track wise with the Dalmeny-Linlithgow line covered both ways and the Westbound Stepps line. Over 300 miles, No winners for sight, but the red pen takes a hammering with 20 new units to underline, and I now have 8 of the 9 rumoured transferee's - just 424 to get and I saw it going the other way yesterday so hopefully it will appear tomorrow.

 

[Techniquest]

An action packed day there! Loved the Steps reference, right made me chuckle!

Ah yes that curve, done it both ways on 40145 in June 2007 here. I've seen it in daylight, not that exciting!

Mileages, RMME is due back soon, and RM4 launches at the end of February, so we'll all have our spreadsheets up to date and I'll finally see RM4 (as a subscriber), been waiting on that for a long time.

Hope you had a good third day up there, and looking forward to reading about it

 

[noddy1878]

Wow! Small world! I was also up in Scotland from the 26th also doing a Central Rover. I added Strathclyde Day-tripper to one day and a roundabout to another as it opened up options of what i needed to do. About to start my report too. I too noticed the 170 running around without the set number on one end!

 

[postye]

Day 3 Wednesday 28th January

I'd gone to sleep earlier than anticipated last night as 2 days of early starts had taken their toll, so it was a surprise to be awake an hour earlier than the alarm was set. Being awake I thought I may as well just set off rather than waste time in the hotel room, and I could always try an see what was in and out of EDB before my rover became valid at 0915. A quick scoot around Waverley but nothing really of note so I thought I'd take a walk along to Haymarket where the glass buildings enable a good view of what's running without being cold.

Once the biting Scottish winter wind hit me outside the station I decided the tram would be the far warmer option so jumped aboard 262 to Haymarket. Just before Haymarket tram stop I spotted a Greggs, so decided to avail myself of one of their excellent value breakfast offers, Bacon roll and a cup of tea - £2, Bargain and quite tasty too.

As I ate my bacon roll I watched trains in and out of Edinburgh - 67009 was on the loco-hauled diagram again this morning (does it ever change?) - then all of a sudden I notice 170424 going into Edinburgh! Right I thought - I'll wait for that to come back - and sure enough it did - as ECS TO HAYMARKET! Damn, blast! Oh well I won't get that till much later today if at all, so I went over to P4 to wait for the 0934 Queen St with winner 170414 as far as Falkirk High.

The next Edinburgh was a dud (forgot to note number) so I waited for the next Glasgow which turned up 170421, another that I had a Haymarket leap on the other day so a chance to get some decent mileage on this one as well.
On arrival into Queen Street winner 170432 was noted with an Aberdeen run so I hopped on as far as Stirling. When the guard came round checking tickets I was surprised that he seemed to have an issue with the ticket. He took the wallet from me, took the ticket out of the wallet, examined the boxes as if trying to find a problem with the ticket before announcing "that's not valid on this train as were going to Aberdeen". After explaining that he may be going to Aberdeen, but I am going to Stirling where this ticket is valid to, he decided that Central Scotland rovers are only valid between Glasgow & Edinburgh and that he would need to speak to his control to find out what to do and come back to me. Needless to say he didn't come back! I guess there's always one as every other guard I encountered were pleasant and happily acknowledged the rover.

Anyhow, after arrival at Stirling we were in a heavy snowstorm, so I was forced for the first time on this rover to use my bite card in Pumkin, only because it was too cold, wet & snowy to venture out of the station for refreshments.

66138 was seen powering through the station with the 0818 Hunterston H.L. Ews to Longannet P.S. whilst waiting for my next move, 170396 on an Edinburgh - Dunblane train as far as Bridge of Allen to score the shack, then fortunately only a few minutes wait in the now very heavy and settling snow for the following Glasgow - Dunblane to score the terminating platform.

By now it was snowing even more heavily so I was glad to see 396 running back into the southbound platform to form the 1158 to Edinburgh. A quick check of RTT suggested that the Glasgow-Alloa was running a few minutes late, officially there is an impossible -4 connection at Stirling but it was due into an adjacent platform so maybe. Unfortunately my luck was out and somehow it made up 3 minutes between Larbert and Stirling leaving RT from Stirling. The next Alloa was almost an hours wait, so I decided to shab that line, I've got to leave something to target next time out!

I stayed on 396 as far as Edinburgh Park to score that shack, noting the handily placed Costa literally a stones throw away so headed over for my daily caffeine fix before returning to board 334040 along with 334018 into Haymarket.
My next plan was the 1330 Shotts line, however on passing Haymarket there seemed to be a load of 158's although this was the exact moment my ticket was inspected and I missed the lot. Quickly checking RTT suggested if I got the 1312 Milngavie there was a +4 at Edinburgh Park and another +3 at Haymarket which would still get me on my planned Shotts. Duds 334033 + 011 & 170475 did the honours but still no sight of 158705, it must be up in Inverness because other than 701 I think I've seen most of the low numbered ones over the last couple of days.

Anyhow, as I awaited the 1330 to Glasgow Central I got exited as I saw it appear, was it 156457? Nope just my eyes playing tricks - 156467. I've never been down the Shotts line before so this was all new track, and once out of the suburbs it was a very scenic line, especially with all the snow everywhere ranging from a view flakes to a centimetre in places. At Shotts there was a +12 onto the return so I carefully traversed the footbridge visited the local shop and awaited 158703 for the return as far as Livingston South where I'd worked out I could cross over and get the 1458 back to West Calder (156431) then back again for 156437 on the 1510 to Edinburgh.
A short delay at Midcalder Junction to allow the late running 350402 to Edinburgh to pass ahead means a 7 min late arrival into Haymarket.

As we arrive in Haymarket I think I just see 170424 disappear into the tunnel, it sticks out having a yellow covering over its coupler, so I'll loiter here for a while and see if it comes back. As the 1620 to queen st came into view it certainly had the cover on - and yep - there she was finally, 170424 red penned in the book and more importantly tears all 9 off lease in April red penned incase Southern muck about and turn them into 171's.

I changed at Linlithgow onto another winner 170458 for the run back into Waverley, where with a bit of luck I should be in time to see the loco-hauled, although it was still 67009 (I'm sure that loco is surgically attached to those coaches) I took it to get back to Haymarket. After 67009 pulled away 158718 pulled in behind it, it would be another winner but I'm wary of going too far as I can't miss the last EC back to London (well it wouldn't have bothered me too much but I don't think the mrs would be too impressed) so I change at South Gyle and onto dud 158709 on the 1727 back to Haymarket. I was considering a series of micro moves between HYM & EDB but there seems to be heaps of delays, so My final scotrail move of the night was 156496 into Waverley.

As I managed to grab a bargain in the EC sale recently I'm 1st class back to London so I make use of the EC lounge to try and warm myself up a bit with a cup of tea before boarding the 1830 Edinburgh to Kings Cross with 82230 & 91111.

The weather is no better on the run back to London with a severe hailstorm at Doncaster which left platforms and track ballast completely white!

So to sum up, the trip has provided 48 winners for haulage including all 9 from the target batch, new track between Dalmeny-Linlithgow, Camelon-Queen st via Stepps, and Haymarket-Shotts. Approximately 850 miles on the rover, fantastic value at £36, with a further 400 miles back home.

Now to plan my next jaunt - I've got a couple of Northern tokens if I can find cheap advances up there, and news is coming in of a Great Escape from LM so I can feel a 350 bash coming on very soon.

Hope everybody has enjoyed reading the report as much as I had writing them - roll on the next adventure!!

 

[Techniquest]

Thoroughly enjoyed the read, as always! Jealous of your trip, starting to think I should have headed north of the border with my week off next week! That said, if the weather forecast is to be believed it's probably a good thing I didn't book that

48 winners is not a bad haul at all, I strongly doubt I'll ever manage that in 3 days up there again, as my requirements aren't that high now. Well, actually the lists on my phone tell a different story, 32 EMUs let alone the DMUs so I suppose it is possible!

850 miles on the rover's very good indeed, I can't remember what I got on mine last year but it was also a lot.

Yes a Great Escape is indeed coming soon, it's somewhere on the LM website. I would love to do one of those Northern trips, might have to do one next time it becomes available!

 

[47403]

cracking read. 156457 is my last and elusive ScotRail 156 too.

 

[Kite159]

Sounds like a good time

 

[crispy1978]

Sounds like a good trip, and very good value!!

 

[postye]

Glad you enjoyed it. The Central Scotland rover is exceptionally good Value at £36 for 3in7, and with the assistance of the EC Sale, the BA sale, a discount voucher from Travelodge and some Delay Repay vouchers the whole trip cost under £200 including food and beers!

Onto planning the next trip now!