Tracked
Established Member
I Suppose it should be; Coast and Peaks Rover plus a travelmaster for the Doncaster-Sheffield part of the journey, but that would be too long. Just got to the end of the 1st three days with a final one at the weekend.
Monday 8th
The Stainforth business has at least made it easier to get a seat on the Manchester Airport services, and it's a punctual ride on a 185 to Stockport, where I change for a 390 to Crewe.
I get a window seat, though there is a bit of a toilet smell reminiscent of an XC voyager to meet the Holyhead train, which turns out to be 2 221's running a couple of minutes late which they make up by Holyhead. A few knackered looking EWS 90's were in the sidings it was noted, as well as the 221 smelling less toilet-y than the 390.
After a quick sandwich it's back onto an ATW 158, which looks either recently refurbished or just as though it had a good clean recently. I caught this back to Bangor and changed for a 175 to Shrewsbury after an hour or so's look round.
The 175 is a bit noisier than the ones I've been on before, and the one I catch from Shrewsbury that's running slightly late, if it hadn't been I could've caught the Liverpool-Norwich service and missed being caught in the points chaos around Ardwick on Monday night. The 185 is around 10 minutes late, though some services were around half an hour late, and makes a bit of this up by Doncaster - it also goes via the old line avoiding Swinton.
Walk home, as bus just gone and no more for half an hour, find out that Thatch is dead and must've missed the street party.
Tuesday 9th
The metro sudoku was easier this morning, it's another 185 and this time it's into Manchester Picadilly itself. I'm on the next platform to the train i want, which turns out to be a Northern 142 with 3+2 seating that could best be described as "bloody awful". We bounce along to Chester, a spot of sightseeing and it's off to Liverpool St James' on a 507, where another look around on the off chance of a street party is had - only saw Noel Gallagher looking through the bins outside the Cavern Club though ...
Decided to go to Wigan and have a look at the pier, so got a 156 to North Western past the abandoned wagon north of Bryn station. Saw the pier, saw a load of druggies in the high street, Wigan looked like Wakefield with a pier ...
Caught a 156 from Wallgate to Manchester Airport via Bolton, decided to either look around the airport or catch the Doncaster train from there where it might be less full up. Success, it is less full and just about to go, the 185 gets back to Doncaster in time for me to have a Steak at Wetherspoons and also make the 322 back to Bentley.
Wednesday 10th.
Didn't get the really difficult sudoku today, and went to Picadilly again to catch the 175 to Shrewsbury, a good ride and another good ride follows on the 170's to and from Telford - going to the limits of my ticket.
Another 175, 3 car this time & someone (not me) on board is heard whistling "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead", to Wrexham General and a quick dinner on the way to Wrexham Central for the 150/2 to Bidston . Quite liked the route until Shotton when it hits the industrial wastelands, and Bidston station itself doesn't look that inviting.
Caught a 508 into Liverpool Lime Street, and then decided to get a 350/2 to Stafford, the 3+2 seating makes an unwelcome return, London Midland got the seating right on the 170 this morning but not here.
220 vestibule riding from Stafford to Stoke, but many people get off so I don't bother rushing over to the 323 that's due out just after us and no doubt doesn't smell of toilet. Catch the 185 to Doncaster and it gets held outside for about 10 minutes so I miss the bus again, though it goes via the Swinton avoiding line again
Monday 8th
The Stainforth business has at least made it easier to get a seat on the Manchester Airport services, and it's a punctual ride on a 185 to Stockport, where I change for a 390 to Crewe.
I get a window seat, though there is a bit of a toilet smell reminiscent of an XC voyager to meet the Holyhead train, which turns out to be 2 221's running a couple of minutes late which they make up by Holyhead. A few knackered looking EWS 90's were in the sidings it was noted, as well as the 221 smelling less toilet-y than the 390.
After a quick sandwich it's back onto an ATW 158, which looks either recently refurbished or just as though it had a good clean recently. I caught this back to Bangor and changed for a 175 to Shrewsbury after an hour or so's look round.
The 175 is a bit noisier than the ones I've been on before, and the one I catch from Shrewsbury that's running slightly late, if it hadn't been I could've caught the Liverpool-Norwich service and missed being caught in the points chaos around Ardwick on Monday night. The 185 is around 10 minutes late, though some services were around half an hour late, and makes a bit of this up by Doncaster - it also goes via the old line avoiding Swinton.
Walk home, as bus just gone and no more for half an hour, find out that Thatch is dead and must've missed the street party.
Tuesday 9th
The metro sudoku was easier this morning, it's another 185 and this time it's into Manchester Picadilly itself. I'm on the next platform to the train i want, which turns out to be a Northern 142 with 3+2 seating that could best be described as "bloody awful". We bounce along to Chester, a spot of sightseeing and it's off to Liverpool St James' on a 507, where another look around on the off chance of a street party is had - only saw Noel Gallagher looking through the bins outside the Cavern Club though ...
Decided to go to Wigan and have a look at the pier, so got a 156 to North Western past the abandoned wagon north of Bryn station. Saw the pier, saw a load of druggies in the high street, Wigan looked like Wakefield with a pier ...
Caught a 156 from Wallgate to Manchester Airport via Bolton, decided to either look around the airport or catch the Doncaster train from there where it might be less full up. Success, it is less full and just about to go, the 185 gets back to Doncaster in time for me to have a Steak at Wetherspoons and also make the 322 back to Bentley.
Wednesday 10th.
Didn't get the really difficult sudoku today, and went to Picadilly again to catch the 175 to Shrewsbury, a good ride and another good ride follows on the 170's to and from Telford - going to the limits of my ticket.
Another 175, 3 car this time & someone (not me) on board is heard whistling "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead", to Wrexham General and a quick dinner on the way to Wrexham Central for the 150/2 to Bidston . Quite liked the route until Shotton when it hits the industrial wastelands, and Bidston station itself doesn't look that inviting.
Caught a 508 into Liverpool Lime Street, and then decided to get a 350/2 to Stafford, the 3+2 seating makes an unwelcome return, London Midland got the seating right on the 170 this morning but not here.
220 vestibule riding from Stafford to Stoke, but many people get off so I don't bother rushing over to the 323 that's due out just after us and no doubt doesn't smell of toilet. Catch the 185 to Doncaster and it gets held outside for about 10 minutes so I miss the bus again, though it goes via the Swinton avoiding line again
Last edited:
