Devonman 2015's trips

[Kristofferson]

Quite enjoyed reading that - "old fashioned" spotting is certainly different to going after trains for haulage!

Looking forward to a railtour report

 

[Techniquest]

Definitely, purely spotting is a totally different ballgame. I suppose, in a way, bashing is a more advanced level of the game!

 

[Devonman2014]

OK so firstly yes Techni you are right it was the 315 you said !! lol typo error.....

Anyway it is now 5.30am on Saturday 12th and with a train at about 20 past 6 i get my skates on, shower, pack last of my bits and I'm out the door at 6.10.
2 min walk across to road and through the barriers I'm boarding315840 for the now standard hop to Seven Sisters and onto the Victoria line for the 1 stop hop to Finsbury Park.
At Finsbury park at 6.30 there are a few people milling around obviously there for the railtour....a quick mail to Kite gets me the reply he's on his way !
Shortly before 7am in rolls 66047 leading a rake of stock and 66003 on the rear, an on spot departure at 07:14 sees 047 leading on a speedy trip up the ECML through Welwyn then Peterborough where multi coloured 66720 is seen and then out onto the Lincoln line. during the trip i get to meet Kite who is sat 2 coaches down the rake from me and after a short chat he heads back to his seat.
A trundle through to Barnetby sees a short break being taken and i purchase a few cans lager although i never got off the train i retake me seat.
A on spot departure sees us entering the impressive immingham complex of which Kites report details the route and the highlights, 60002 in colas livery being a bonus and a couple 66's and few 60's are dotted about the complex.
We arrive into Cleethorpes after a 5 hr trundle around immingham spot on time where food (Sausage and chips) is gained a 15 min stretch of the legs and I'm back on board.
66003 now leads us homeward with 66047 still attached for the straight run home although a small delay is incurred when the unit in front of us reports hitting an object on the line, turns out was a mammal as opposed to a human (luckily).
Heading southwards sees the train empty and a 10 min (i think) late arrival into Finsbury Park sees the end of the rail tour.
Victoria Line to Seven Sisters sees me onto a delayed 315829 to Edmonton and the end to a nice day with only 12 cops in the bag but the day out was the aim of today as opposed to cops.

Sunday morning now arrives and had i known what was to come id have stayed in bed ! A lay in sees me leave the hotel at half 9 to Edmonton to find a bus replacement service, getting onto a bus (Sorry didn't take reg or type of bus but was a red double decker lol), Taking a pic of Spurs ground as we passed by on the bus I get to Seven Sisters for the Victoria Line to Highbury & Islington with the intention of getting more 378's knocked off.
378151 then takes me off to Surrey Quays where i disembark to only realise i have lost my phone (iPhone 6+) DISASTER !!!
Reporting the loss to the station ticket clerk My concern now is getting to a EE shop to get the phone cut off and start the insurance claim.
3 hours later i carried out the aforementioned task and I ave a 1990's bog standard loan phone (no email, internet etc just phone and text ! but no numbers stored so i rely on people calling me).
Anyway with me fuming with myself i decide to not waste time and records show underground is taken to Padd where i cop 360203.
Underground is then taken to Willesden High level where i sit at the Stratford end of platform on High level to get the 378's on the Euston - Watford line as well as the NLL units.
After an hour or so and seeing 66058 on a empty steel carrier train i get aboard 378252 to Harrow & wealdstone passing 57307 at Wembley in that direction.
A plus 10 sees me onto 377703 which i take through to Clapham for a plus 15 onto 378141 and back to Surrey Quays,
An hour later and all my 378/1's and only 2 378/2's required i head aboard 378152 to take me to Highbury & Islington for Underground to Tottenham Hale.
Clearing as many 379's as possible is my aim (needed 14 when arrived and 2 hours later I'm down to 1)
379013 is taken into Liverpool St where in the tunnels is a 66 on engineers (couldn't get it) for the underground to Kings Cross (still looking for 313030 and 365529) but to no avail, aim now is to get to Euston to see the 2 sleeper rakes with 86101 and 87002 on the buffers and 92044 on the Highland sleeper, no 92 on the Lowland when i leave.
Now being late i head underground to Kings Cross for Victoria Line to Seven Sisters for an unidentified 315 to Edmonton with a total cop of 42 for the day.

A good nights sleep is now order of the day and I'm in bed by 11 ready for Monday and my last day in the smoke.

 

[Techniquest]

A good day had on the tour, what a nightmare on the Sunday morning though! Thank Goodness you were able to get a actioned and fast. It's surprisingly difficult to use one of those basic phones after using a smartphone isn't it!

Worth getting all your main numbers and writing them into a small notebook to take with you in case this sort of thing happens again. I really should do the same myself actually!

 

[Kite159]

Doesn't the iPhone save your contacts in the 'cloud' so when you get a new phone, all you do is sign in using your apple account and the contacts are downloaded to the phone?

I only knew the route we took as I borrowed a pen to mark it down, was an interesting day out.

 

[noddy1878]

That tour (which several people have talked) about sounded great. Using a non smart phone I would imagine is a nightmare when you're used to one. iPhone contacts are in the cloud but its only any good if you've told it to do it and you are able to access the internet.

Hope you got you phone issues sorted out quickly through the insurance.

 

[Kristofferson]

The tour (and the rest of the day!) sounds interesting - not sure I could take 5 hours of one, but an hour or two sat behind a 66 with some decent scenery would do nicely.

A real shame about the phone - make sure the insurers pay out!

 

[Devonman2014]

Hi Peeps

Firstly many apologies for it being so long for the last days details (work and family commitments and a hectic social life)and thanks for all your comments - For info new phone came Tuesday (When was home) and all contacts, details, text messages and even pics were all on cloud so was all restored

Anyway

Its now Monday morning and awaking at 6 i gather the last of my bits together and leave the Travel lodge for the last time.....
Taking 315813 for the short hop to Seven Sisters and the underground to Blackhorse Rd sees me at the station shortly before 7 am, 172006 arrives after a 10 min waitto whisk me off to a very sunny and warm Brking station, rush hour spent at Barking sees me clear 25 of my 30 required 357's and with everything repeating its time to leave, but not before a very nice full english at cafe opposite the station.
Food gone and back to station and onto the underground to Waterloo for a 450 (didn't take No) and a hour at Clapham sees the cop total hit 42.
I now decide to head for Southern metals and hop aboard 377111 toEast Croydon passing a quote full Stewarts Lane and a packed Selhurst depot sees me at East Croydon about 11:30.
Its now my last afternoon when i leave and 387121 & 387125 arrive on a Thameslink so i thought why not and went through to Kings Cross.
its now approaching 2 o'clock and a Mc D's sets me up for the next few hours, staying at Kings Cross (was now feeling the tiredness with late nights and lots of walking plus being totally p****d off with myself over the phone) till 4 pm I join the masses on the underground to get me to Waterloo for my train home.
Joining my train at 5 and spot on at 5:20 my train departs and finishes off a manic 4 days in London with a tour thrown in and with 354 cops over the 4 days is a good end to a good trip.

 

[Techniquest]

Understandable with the delays, we've all been there in that situation where everything else needs attention!

An exceptional result from the trip there, I should imagine your books must be looking pretty good now from that lot!

So when are you out and about next?

 

[Devonman2014]

Understandable with the delays, we've all been there in that situation where everything else needs attention!

An exceptional result from the trip there, I should imagine your books must be looking pretty good now from that lot!

So when are you out and about next?

Was this fri and sat just gone on a WMDR .... Report to follow later tonight

 

[Techniquest]

Sweet, I look forward to it! You've been in my backyard while I've been away!

 

[Devonman2014]

OK so its Friday 15th May 2pm and having a bad day at work i take the very short notice decision that bugger it I'm off away for the weekend.....
4:00 i finish work for the 15 min drive home, bite to eat and a shower, Now its shortly past 5 and although i know i want to go away question is where.... Checking railrover.org i decide its going to be a WMDR so 5:30 bags packed i leave home.
Filling up with petrol sees me on the M5 at just before 6 with Stafford the destination.
Standard motorway drive sees me parked at Stafford railway station by 8:50 and on the platform by 9.
A few hours spotting later and I'm booted off the station and back to the car for a few hours nod which is interrupted amongst other things by 92044 on up sleeper (Lowlands i think) 66050/250 and 034 L/E north and a couple car trains in hand of 66's.
Eventually i nod off at just after 1:30

4:55 Im awake and walk to the Tesco's 24 hr store, pick up various bits for the day ahead and of i go

5:25 and I'm on 158831 from Stafford (ex holyhead??) and arrival into B'Ham spot on time with about 25 mins to get to Moor St.
Heading over to Moor St i hop aboard 172219 to get to Stourbridge Jctn with 2 items on the agenda - 1st is to see 2x37's on Pathfinder Tour to Carmarthen and 2nd is my first 68 for haulage......pulling into Stourbridge 67014 and 68014 sat on the sidings.
5 min after arrival in comes 37606 and 667 on the tour and a couple pics are taken whilst 139001 is on the town shuttles.
6 min later 68011 appears on the 07:12 Kidderminster to Marylebone, aboard the train phone on charge I'm pleasantly surprised by how clean and quiet they are as well as comfortable - Well done Chiltern !!
The move as sure some you know is off 68 at Warwick P'way for unit (172103 with 168003) to Snow hill followed by 2nd unit (172343) to Smethwick Galton Bridge and a plus 10 for 68 back on 09:12 ex Kidderminster.
On the journey in I pass 70008 on a liner and 66710 on a bridge over the line just north of Tyseley on network rail ballast wagons.
68014 rolls in (yayyyyy not been bowled by 67014) for the nice trip back to Leamington Spa....
On time running sees us pass D9009 , pullmans and 67005 on a Victoria to Kidderminster charter just a couple miles before Leamington.

Anyway off the 68 at Leamington and a plus 45 sees me join 121123 which was jam packed on a Reading - Newcastle for what was supposed to be a run into B'Ham New Stbut i bail at Coventry for a 5 min later Pendo to B'Ham...390121 does the honours and i sit back and relax for the travel into B'Ham

Gen online sees 2x66's parked at Lawley St and a 47/60 Combo L/E due to go from Washwood Heath towards Derby so aboard 170102 sees me heading to Tamworth and getting the 2 required 66's and passing Washwood Heath the 60 and 47 are running and ready to go.
20 min is all thats required at Tamworth before going 43207 & 43266 (I think) to take me back to New St.....

Now beginning to feel tired (its 4:00 and in 36 hours i have had 4 hours kip) i decide to head stafford and spend a few hours there, Sat afternoon was surprisingly busy for freight, engineers and even a L/E move (Wembley-Crewe) with 57310,68012 and 57312 with numerous 70's, 66's and 66/5's doing the honours on other freights.

6pm now and i decide my last couple moves are going to be a pendo to Crewe (390123) with a plus 35 for a pendo back to Wolverhampton (Non stop through Stafford) and a long wait at Woverhampton for Pendo number 3 (Didn't get number) back to Stafford arriving shortly before 21:00.

Realtime trains shows in 15 min after arrival one of the last freights through was a liner from Ipswich and 70017 appears , turns out the final loco seen is last cop f the day

Total cops for the day was 56 and arrival at Travel lodge in stafford before 9:45 sees me checked in and in bed before 10:30 for a well deserved sleep.

40 and a half hours with 4 hours kip and a few nods on trains i definitely needed it

For info Sunday i was back on road to Exeter by 7:15 getting home at 10:15 so all in all not a bad trip.

Now for my next bash in August seeing me do London, Doncaster, 3 days in Scotland and a GBRF tour is in planning - Anyone want info on plans as they stand ?

 

[Kite159]

17:20 from Waterloo, isn't that the one which omits Woking?

I guess you mean 221123 (and I had always assumed the ones from Reading towards the North East go via Warwick and not call at Coventry/International)?

Sounds like a busy day out in the west midlands

 

[Devonman2014]

17:20 from Waterloo, isn't that the one which omits Woking?

I guess you mean 221123 (and I had always assumed the ones from Reading towards the North East go via Warwick and not call at Coventry/International)?

Sounds like a busy day out in the west midlands

Hi Kite

The 17:20 from memory did not stop at Woking but i was tired and more than likely dozing off

Yes was 221123 and i joined at Leamington for the 10 min or so 1 stop hop to Coventry........Next stop was International and then New St, Tamworth etc etc although due to how busy train was i bailed after the one hop !!!

 

[Techniquest]

Ouch to the long day after such a tiny bit of sleep, I'm not surprised you needed some doss on the trains! 3 hour drive home wasn't bad by the looks of it, considering it's a fair ol' way from Exeter to Stafford.

Looks like you had a good time, that's for sure. Certainly you'll have had a better Saturday than I did, although I was grafting so not like there was much competition!

Some decent trips lined up there, fingers crossed they're going to be productive too!

 

[Devonman2014]

Ouch to the long day after such a tiny bit of sleep, I'm not surprised you needed some doss on the trains! 3 hour drive home wasn't bad by the looks of it, considering it's a fair ol' way from Exeter to Stafford.

Looks like you had a good time, that's for sure. Certainly you'll have had a better Saturday than I did, although I was grafting so not like there was much competition!

Some decent trips lined up there, fingers crossed they're going to be productive too!

Yeah was definitely not feeling the love Saturday evening i can tell you.....

Anyway my next trip :- subject to cheap ticket prices and cheap hotels

Tuesday 04th August
Leave Exeter on up sleeper to Padd for a day in London heading for a later evening train to Doncaster for overnight B & B in Doncaster

Wednesday 05th August
Day in Doncaster heading on late evening train to Edinburgh or Glasgow (Depends on cheap accom to make base)

Thursday 06th - Saturday 08th
3 Day Central Scotland Rover to get as many 170's (need 90% of them) 334's (Need all of them) and 380's (Need all of them) but don't need any 150,156,158, 314 or 320's !!! lmao

Sunday 09th
GBRF charter from Glasgow - Carlisle - Newcastle - Doncaster - B'Ham via Toton - Crewe via Bescot and Stafford.
using 2x47 , 2x66 and 2x20 although is all subject to confirmation and availability etc etc
with hotel in Crewe

Monday 10th
Days rover from Crewe (won't be a WMDR !!) before late PM train home to Exeter.

so my questions

1) Any one know of any cheap accommodation in Doncaster, Edinbugh / Glasgow, Crewe ?

2) Best places in central Scotland for units mentioned above ?

3) Any places to avoid ?

4) Any good places for freight in Scotland ?

All hints gratefully received

 

[Techniquest]

Charing Cross Guest House in Glasgow's usually well priced, comes recommended by both Kite159 of this forum and myself. Within 10 minutes walk from Charing Cross (Glasgow), although said walk takes in a very steep hill for a short distance.

Can't recommend a base camp elsewhere, except to recommend avoiding Merith House Hotel, Leith, Edinburgh! Dreadful stay had there and not worth the effort looking at.

Stirling's good for DMUs, off the top of my head. I'm falling asleep so not able to focus on the rest right now, shall try again tomorrow!

 

[Kite159]

Agreed with Charing Cross. Another one in the Glasgow area is Belgrave, 5 minute walk from Kelvinbridge station on the Glasgow subway.

Although you might find it hard to get decent prices. I would avoid Edinburgh hotels due to the festival

 

[Kristofferson]

That's some hardcore spotting there! Sounds fun though

 

[Devonman2014]

Another trip and another london visit , all be it at short notice !

Tuesday 26th and its 2pm and I'm working away hard and realise I hadn't had my flexi day for May and if you don't take it you lose it basically....
Check of weather for Wednesday - Hot and sunny across Southern England so a look on SWT website sees me able to get a £12 return to London on their promo.

Excellent

3 hours later Id called my sister and booked 2 nights B & B in yeovil so its not so much a long drive following morning

So Wednesday and i have decided to call my bash a clear area's bash (see later) where my aim was to :-

Clear last GN 313 and last GN 365's so no units out of Kings X required
Clear my last Albellio 321, Two 360's and single 379 so no units out of Liverpool St required
Clear my last 3 London Overground 378's
Clear my last GOBLIN 172
Attempt to clear my last two 165's out of Marylebone

So 08:47 and I'm on 159108 working the 08:47 Salisbury to Waterloo having drove the hour from Yeovil and the train is quite busy with families on day trips etc.

An uneventful trip up sees me leave the train at Clapham Jctn and after an hour i decide to head Willesden 378220 getting there shortly after 11:10.
By 12:40 59204 on a mendip stone, 66136 on a ballast 70001 dragging 86607 on a freight liner and 66846 paired with 66585 on a engineers had all passed through as had 2 of my last 378's and with them all repeating i decided my last one must been south of the river so a plan was formulated.
378201 is taken from Willesden to Gospel Oak passing 70001 (off the drag) going L/E along the line towards Stratford.
Gospel Oak 172004 is taken towards Blackhorse Rd where as we depart Gospel Oak the inward was 172005 - my last one so one of the 5 tasks now competed.
At Blackhorse Rd the Victoria underground to Tottenham Hale is the order of the day, 2nd 379 seen (379010) clears my last 379 so partway to one of my tasks....
Take 317714 from Tottenham Hale to Stratford passing Temple Mills and 374405 is noted parked up with 373211 and 212.
A number 321's (one which was required (321310) so now over halfway completing task 3
Hour and half later and both my last two 360's have been noted at Stratford ! Yayyyyyy task 3 completed but still looking for one 378 and the 313 and 365.

A post is put on the TOPS thread on here asking for info but i meantime make my way to Canada Water on the Jubilee Line to link in with the overground.

Hour and bit later its 3:45 pm and still no sign of the dreaded last 378 (231 required) so i hop on 378214 heading towards Sydenham with the aim of rush Hour at East Croydon...

Get to Sydenham and i get the mail to the TOPS request telling me (Its now 4pm and I'm in Sydenham) that 313030 is working Moorgate Services and 365529 is on the 17:10 Kings Cross to Cambridge and my last 378 is out of service ! So i spent 2 hours looking for a out of service unit

Anyway 16:12 I'm on the train from Sydenham to London Bridge, 16.35 I'm in London Bridge, a dash on underground and 17:05 I'm on Kings Cross platform 12 and theres my 365 so just 313 to get !!!
317348 takes me to Finsbury Pk and 30 min later 313030 appears from Moorgate and I'm soon back on 365503 into Kings Cross....
4 out of the 5 tasks completed

Down onto the Thameslink I take 319214 to Blackfriars for an hour to waste (was to late to get to Marylebone) before the underground to Embankment and a mad dash into Waterloo for the 19:20 home to Salisbury and car to Yeovil

By end of the day i'd cleared my GN units, Albello Anglia units, GOBLIN 172's, got my 378's from 3 to 1 and copped 50 other items of stock so a good day out in the sun

 

[Kite159]

Did you change trains to alight at Clapham J?
Or did the 8:47 call additional at Clapham J (Would form the 8:59 from Grateley which IIRC doesn't call at the junction)

Sounds like a busy day

 

[Techniquest]

A very productive day indeed there! Not bad value either fair dos, considering it's not an insignificant amount of mileage from Salisbury to London.

I had a lieu day to use up last year, in my case I used it to get all prepped for my Sweden adventure! I wonder what this year's one will get used for...

Bet your book is filling up quite nicely after that trip!

 

[Devonman2014]

Did you change trains to alight at Clapham J?
Or did the 8:47 call additional at Clapham J (Would form the 8:59 from Grateley which IIRC doesn't call at the junction)

Sounds like a busy day

No Kite was straight through, Don't know if was an additional stop or if scheduled..... but it stopped and a lot people got off !!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Techniquest

Yeah was a nice day out and very soon be trip to Smiths for new note pad lol

 

[Kite159]

No Kite was straight through, Don't know if was an additional stop or if scheduled..... but it stopped and a lot people got off !!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Techniquest

Yeah was a nice day out and very soon be trip to Smiths for new note pad lol

Must be due to the train coming up from Exeter.

Good to know as I might be on that train tomorrow, saves doubling back from Waterloo to get onto LOROL land

 

[Devonman2014]

Well its been a while and with the Virgin Ticket sale (£15 Euston - Glasgow can't go wrong) on I have decided on a trip to Scotland....

Bookings are as follows on Thur 23-07-15 be going Exeter - Padd , Euston - Glasgow leg costs £42.50
Then on Monday 27-07-15 Glasgow - Euston, Padd - Exeter on the down sleepers cost £47 so for a nice price of £89.50 got 3 full days in Scotland to do a rover
and have a few beers

The hotel cost is £158 for a single en suite room...

So all in all £300 all in for 5 days away i didn't think was to bad...

Anyway I digress :-

I Plan to do the 68's on the Fife circle on the Friday and spot to clear as much as i
can on the Sat, Sun and mon so pointers where to sit for a few hours be very welcome ....

Class 170/4's need 90% of them (Guessing Edinburgh ?)
Class 314 - Need one (203)
Class 318 - Need one (264)
Class 334 - Need all but 3 of them
Class 380 - Need all of them

Then literally a couple weeks later I'm back again for a couple of days to end up doing the Glasgow - Carlisle - Newcastle - Birmingham - Crewe GBRF charter (09-08-15) so will hopefully mop up anything i may miss....

Looking forward to any comments / tips etc

 

[Kite159]

I would say Haymarket leaps for the 170s, however I believe the Winchburgh Tunnel works finishes on the 26th July so the numbers of movements will be reduced.

Best place for that remaining 314 & 380s will be at Glasgow Central. Probably the best place for the 318 & 334 will be at Hyndland.

 

[Techniquest]

Agreed with Kite, can't think of anywhere better!

 

[47403]

Very productive that day in London and a great read too, looking forward to reading the Scotland bash.

 

[Devonman2014]

Well folks the time has arrived, currently sat on the 6.52 Exeter to padd ...

In my 4 hours I'm in London before 13.43 Euston to Glasgow I'm going to be sat @ Marylebone.

Then the 4 hrs something run Euston - Glasgow !!!

Will update later , maybe tomorrow

Say hi if up there ..... Or even better if on the Euston - Glasgow train
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well the day is going surprisingly well, ended up going direct to Euston from Paddington where it was chaos due to signalling problems causing delays.

Got on 13:43 Euston to Glasgow which disappointingly is a pair of voyagers (is it booked as such or a pendo stand in ?)

Anyway it's now 15:32 and we are approaching Wolverhampton ...

Next update will be report of day 1

 

[Techniquest]

Hope it's gone well today, nice bit of mileage there!

Not sure if it's booked 221 or not, but I have a sneaky feeling it is.