andyb2706
Member
Well I have just commenced my first stage of my trip down to Torquay. Left Brooklands about 2 hours ago on the Altrincham Metrolink line and have just arrived at my B&B in Chester for the night, and before anyone says it is a weird way to get to Torquay then you are right!
and will be explained later on.
With knowing how hit and miss Metrolink can be at times and with the Altrincham line still being in the dark ages (not fitted up with TMS so not knowing when the next tram is going to be) I left home an hour before my train from Altrincham. But as is usual when I am on a timescale I get stopped by three neighbours to have a chat and a lost motorist and then I get to the Metrolink to find instead of a 6 minute service there is only a 12 minute service due to no trams running through to Bury because of engineering work!!What is the saying, it never rains but it pours.
Anyhow while stood at Brooklands 3020 + 3027 was noted heading to Piccadilly and after waiting what seemed an eternity (tick tock) 3029 + 3041 turned up to fly me to Altrincham, unfortunately neither were needed for haulage
While passing through Timperley 3050 + 3026 were seen going to Piccadilly. It appears all trams are formed of double units today due to the lack of the Bury service. To be honest I arrived at Altrincham with 15 minutes to wait for the train to Chester so all in all I was worrying over nothing. I was wondering what would turn up a 150 or a 156 when it turned up it was 142014, which in fairness was good as this was one of many 142's I still need for haulage as I try to avoid them and also the ride to Chester wasn't all that bad. On arriving in Chester we had a race into the station with ATW 150241 and it won! And was abke just to glimpse 508125 pulling out of the station.
Now time for me to get ready to meet up with some friends to go for a curry and a ghost tour around Chester which is the reason for me being here. So I will try and further update this tomorrow so for now I hope you all have a great evening.
Ciao
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well after a hearty breakfast it was off to Chester station on a bright and sunny morning for my long trip to Torquay, having not really travelled on a Sunday in the past I was surprised at how busy the train was for a Sunday morning. Was happy to find that the ATW train doing the shuttle to Crewe was 158834 one of my two traction types that for some reason I have a soft spot for. Anyhow Chester to Crewe was an uneventful trip as was the trip from Crewe to Birmingham New Street on 350243, wish the same could be said for the 3hr 14min trip to Exeter, the only consolation is that this was an HST formed of 43321 + 43378 which so happens to be the other traction I have a soft spot for. From boarding the train and for the first 1hr 20min of the journey there was a malfunction on the P.A and every 19 seconds (yes, I timed it) the following message repeated it self:
Will a member of the on train team please go to Zone A, will a member of the on train team please go to Zone A. Thank you
I will never complain again about being put on hold on the phone and receive a recorded message!!
A few 60's and 66's where seen at Westbury and Taunton along with 56312 at Taunton.
On reaching Exeter I had 20 minutes wait for my next train and was able to log a few 159's and 143's and also noted in the depot 153325 + 153333 which were sporting the London Midland livery with First Great Western titles. 153305 + 143612 turned up for my train to Torquay and seeing I have never had haulage on a 143 the decision was easy.
and will be explained later on.With knowing how hit and miss Metrolink can be at times and with the Altrincham line still being in the dark ages (not fitted up with TMS so not knowing when the next tram is going to be) I left home an hour before my train from Altrincham. But as is usual when I am on a timescale I get stopped by three neighbours to have a chat and a lost motorist and then I get to the Metrolink to find instead of a 6 minute service there is only a 12 minute service due to no trams running through to Bury because of engineering work!!What is the saying, it never rains but it pours.
Anyhow while stood at Brooklands 3020 + 3027 was noted heading to Piccadilly and after waiting what seemed an eternity (tick tock) 3029 + 3041 turned up to fly me to Altrincham, unfortunately neither were needed for haulage
While passing through Timperley 3050 + 3026 were seen going to Piccadilly. It appears all trams are formed of double units today due to the lack of the Bury service. To be honest I arrived at Altrincham with 15 minutes to wait for the train to Chester so all in all I was worrying over nothing. I was wondering what would turn up a 150 or a 156 when it turned up it was 142014, which in fairness was good as this was one of many 142's I still need for haulage as I try to avoid them and also the ride to Chester wasn't all that bad. On arriving in Chester we had a race into the station with ATW 150241 and it won! And was abke just to glimpse 508125 pulling out of the station.Now time for me to get ready to meet up with some friends to go for a curry and a ghost tour around Chester which is the reason for me being here. So I will try and further update this tomorrow so for now I hope you all have a great evening.
Ciao
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well after a hearty breakfast it was off to Chester station on a bright and sunny morning for my long trip to Torquay, having not really travelled on a Sunday in the past I was surprised at how busy the train was for a Sunday morning. Was happy to find that the ATW train doing the shuttle to Crewe was 158834 one of my two traction types that for some reason I have a soft spot for. Anyhow Chester to Crewe was an uneventful trip as was the trip from Crewe to Birmingham New Street on 350243, wish the same could be said for the 3hr 14min trip to Exeter, the only consolation is that this was an HST formed of 43321 + 43378 which so happens to be the other traction I have a soft spot for. From boarding the train and for the first 1hr 20min of the journey there was a malfunction on the P.A and every 19 seconds (yes, I timed it) the following message repeated it self:
Will a member of the on train team please go to Zone A, will a member of the on train team please go to Zone A. Thank you
I will never complain again about being put on hold on the phone and receive a recorded message!!
A few 60's and 66's where seen at Westbury and Taunton along with 56312 at Taunton.
On reaching Exeter I had 20 minutes wait for my next train and was able to log a few 159's and 143's and also noted in the depot 153325 + 153333 which were sporting the London Midland livery with First Great Western titles. 153305 + 143612 turned up for my train to Torquay and seeing I have never had haulage on a 143 the decision was easy.
Know what you mean about waiting ages for a Metrolink tram, I've stood on Market Street for ages in the cold for one before now and it's really not helpful having no idea when it's coming. I'm informed TMS has helped solve that problem, but I've not been on the Metrolink system for quite some time now so I can't comment fairly on that.