DH Trip Reports

[FQ]

Shame about the lack of success at East Croydon and not getting a 700 but it sounds like a good day!

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a good day in London, bar being bowled out by the lack of 700s

 

[55013]

Good stuff.
I like 20142 in that livery, the NSE unit in the background (a class 487 from the Waterloo & City line?) looks interesting as well.

 

[Dhassell]

Shame about the lack of success at East Croydon and not getting a 700 but it sounds like a good day!

Sounded like a good day in London, bar being bowled out by the lack of 700s

Always Next time for the 700!

Good stuff.
I like 20142 in that livery, the NSE unit in the background (a class 487 from the Waterloo & City line?) looks interesting as well.

The 20 I love, The Class 487 in the background, The paint job was good, But the front still needs some work to like new!

 

[Techniquest]

The 700s will be everywhere on TL soon so no real rush needed for them!

A nice day out in London there, darn it I want to go there again!

 

[Dhassell]

8/10/16

So, You might recall from my last trip report that 2 weeks ago I was unsuccessful in getting my first Class 700 for haulage!
Well its two weeks later and im back on the 0624 towards London Paddington! This time the aim is to clear as many 700s as possible for sight
and atleast 1 for haulage.

The train makes its same scheduled stops as normal before slamming on the brakes at Heathrow Junction. The slow lines are shut due to signalling problems
and a Slow Thames Turbo is pushed in front of us! The train arrives into Paddington 10 late at 08:50.
The plan from here was to get a tube to Kings Cross today formed of 21355 + 21356. Once at Kings Cross the plan was to try and get as many Class 313's as possible
for haulage. I jump on my first winner of the day, 321405 to Finsbury Park! At Finsbury Park I head over to get my first class 313 of the day! the 0947 to Hornsey,
but theres once hitch! Its cancelled! I didn't really fancy spending time hanging around so I planned to head to Drayton Park and back to at least get two units
The 0950 to Drayton Park was also 5 late which would mean the connection back into Finsbury Park will be at least 20 minutes so I decide against it,
and jump on the late running 317348 (Also a Winner) Back into Kings Cross.

317348 Finsbury Park 8.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
321405 London Kings Cross 8.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr


Once back at Kings Cross, I walk over to St Pancras and up to the Top Level platforms to see what Eurostars I could see for sight, 1 new set and 2 old awaited me.
I headed down to the low level platforms. I wanted to go past Cricklewood Depot and see how many 700's I could pick off from the train.
I board the 1024 towards Hendon formed of 377508 unfortunately this was dud from two weeks ago and it wouldn't be the last time I see it today!
700110 was in the south end of the yard with 700015, 700006 and 700018 being in the north end. I alight at Hendon and spend about
40 minutes here photting units, luckily another 2 class 700's passby!

Thameslink 700112 Hendon 8.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
EMT 222004 Hendon 8.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr


I walk over the footbridge and catch winner 319452 on the 11:16 back into St Pancras. At St Pancras I wait for the next
train to Farringdon, 387101 and 387108 (Both Winners) roll in to take me one stop.
After alighting at Farringdon there is another 10 minute wait for the next train to Blackfriars and surprise surprise its triple dud 377508!
After checking out the diagrams earlier in the day I found out a 700 was due to work the 1218 departure off Blackfriars and at 1215 700108 rolls in to
take me to East Croydon! At last!

Thameslink 700108 Blackfriars 8.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I spend an hour around Croydon claiming trams for sight and Southern EMUS for sight, a little extra was 73128 and 73107
passing by on an RHTT train for London Victoria.
Its back to claiming for haulage now, as 377610 and 377706 take me to Clapham Junction!
I spend some more time here claiming SWT and Southern EMUS for sight and once again seeing the RHTT pass before boarding
Double Winners 450025 and 450083 to London Waterloo! After checking my notes later I find that I had seen all but 2 class 377/6's today alone!
GBRF East London RHTT 73107 8.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

From London Waterloo I head over to Waterloo East and board 375914 and 375602 to London Bridge!
I spend a couple of minutes photing here before boarding 465005 and 465001 to Lewisham! From here I quickly head down to the DLR
platforms and pick up 56,78 and 36 to Limehouse (Front Seat as well!). Its a great way to clear DLR'S travelling on them!
Once at Limehouse the plan was to get the 16:26 to Barking and then the 16:44 towards Liverpool Street but this didn't go to plan!
The 16:26 was 10 minutes late and wouldn't give enough time for the connections! I still boarded the 1626 formed of 357039 and 357211 but only as far as
West Ham, There I boarded Jubilee Line 96083 to Stratford where I then picked up the C2C I would have had from Barking, 357025 and 357013!

Once at Liverpool Street, There are tonnes of units parked in the platforms due to Engineering works so I walk up each one collecting two units at a time!
I head down to the Circle line to get the S stock 21315 + 21316 to Paddington.
I had been tipped off that 43185 would be in Paddington and would be departing at 18:06 so I rushed to Paddington to see it and decided to get onboard to Reading!
So 43185 and 43148 took me all the way to Reading before I alight and 10 minutes later I board the 18:59 to Weston
formed of duds 43092 and 43020!
[END]
GWR 43185 'Great Western' London Paddington 8.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
GWR 43185 'Great Western' Reading 8.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

 

[Techniquest]

Wow 43185 looks awesome in InterCity Swallow livery!

Quite a productive spin around London there, you've got more 700s for sight than me now. This cannot stand...

 

[FQ]

Lots of success with the 313s then
Score on the 700s - you've had more for sight (and haulage) than me too - I really want to get to London again soon!
I love the photo of 43185 at Reading by the way!

 

[Dhassell]

Quite a productive spin around London there, you've got more 700s for sight than me now. This cannot stand...

Not for long I bet!

Lots of success with the 313s then
Score on the 700s - you've had more for sight (and haulage) than me too - I really want to get to London again soon!
I love the photo of 43185 at Reading by the way!

The 313's where a bit of a pain that day and 43185 defiantly looks good!

 

[FQ]

Just arranged when I'm next heading to London - Wednesday

 

[Dhassell]

Just arranged when I'm next heading to London - Wednesday

Have fun!

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a good day getting some units into your book for spotting

 

[Dhassell]

22/10/16 East Midlands

2 Weeks after my last trip it was time for the walk to the station for the 0624 once again to Bristol Temple Meads.
The light mornings and nights are now coming to a close and it was dark out until the approach to Bristol.
The train arrives at Bristol at 0656 and the train towards Birmingham is due to leave at 0700, It is normally on the
other side of the station but luckily for me today it is running on the lines parallel so a quick move onto platform 5 for await
221133 towards Birmingham New Street!

221131 Birmingham New St 22.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

Once at New Street, I have 20 minutes (enough time to get a cup of tea) to make my way over and to find the 0852
towards Leicester, This today formed of winner 170113 which I took all the way to Leicester!
I went to the end of the platform to see what locos where in the yard before heading over to Platform 2 to board the
1026 towards Nottingham formed of 43054 and 43049. I alight at East Midlands Parkway and wait for the Nottingham
service behind formed of winners 153374 and 153379!

153379 + 153374 East Midlands Parkway 22.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr


There was no plans from here on in so I bought a day ticket for the Nottingham Tram Network.
I decided because it was a nice day I would make my first visit to Toton yard to see what Class 60's and
DBS 66's I could spot. The first tram I caught was 216 the first of the new trams for Nottingham, This took 31 minutes to get
down to Toton Lane via Beeston!

Nottingham Express Transit 216 Toton Lane 22.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

From here I took a 20 minute walk through the farmers field before arriving at Toton Bank. I had never seen so many locos in the same
spot in my life! There must have been around 35 Class 60's and 15 Class 66's. 37608 and 37611 pass for a Test Train towards Derby R.T.C
and I spend about an hour searching the bank seeing how many hidden Class 60's I could pick out!

Class 60 Death-Row Toton 22.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
325012 Toton Bank 22.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/MB21q1] 60012, 60041, 60033, 60008 Toton Bank 22.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I walk back to Toton Lane and Focus on clearing some trams for Haulage. I take Tram 234 on the stint back to Nottingham Station before
catching 208 to Old Market Square then taking 212 to Nottingham Station and 229 to Lace Market Before walking down to Market Square and
taking 213 to Nottingham Station. I head back into Nottingham Station and look for the next East Midlands Train service to Derby.
The 15:20 to Matlock (Via Derby) was advertised as platform 4A so I head over and await the service. There is a platform alteration
and everyone makes our way over to Platform 3 where we are once again told by staff that the train will go from platform 4!
Once back at Platform 4 the we are once again told the train will go from platform 3! It is now 1518 and everyone is running back over to Platform 3 to
catch winners 153313 and 153318 to Derby!
Derby R.T.C is full of locos which are all collected at a rather slow pace before the train arrives into Derby 2 late after waiting for a HST to pass at the junction just before Beeston!
37884 and 47815 are stood in the Sidings at Derby awaiting to work a charter train operated by Rail Operations group the next day!

Rail Operations Group Rail tour ECS Derby 22/10/16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
Rail Operations Group Rail tour ECS Derby 22/10/16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

After a Quick walk to the town and back I board the 17:10 towards Birmingham New Street formed of 170115. At New Street I walk down to Corporation Street and Collect some Midland Metros for 10 minutes before
jumping on the 1842 towards Bristol Temple Meads (Formed of 221129). The train arrives into Bristol at 2015 and I miss my train to Weston by 5 seconds! I have to wait at 20:54 to Weston finally arriving home at 21:37!

 

[Cowley]

Was interesting to see Toton again. I used to have a walk around the scrapline in the 80s except instead of 60s it was a huge long row of 45/0s, the odd 46 and a few 25s. Much of the old infrastructure was still there, the old marshalling yard buildings etc although all the windows were broken, is it all still there in the undergrowth?
Great report by the way.

 

[Dhassell]

Was interesting to see Toton again. I used to have a walk around the scrapline in the 80s except instead of 60s it was a huge long row of 45/0s, the odd 46 and a few 25s. Much of the old infrastructure was still there, the old marshalling yard buildings etc although all the windows were broken, is it all still there in the undergrowth?
Great report by the way.

Blimey Didn't really pay attention on buildings but I posted more photos of Toton Bank here
There where a couple of sheds about but none of them looked too old.

 

[FQ]

Sounds like a great time there except for the voyagers and missing the connection at Bristol on the way home!

 

[Dhassell]

Sounds like a great time there except for the voyagers and missing the connection at Bristol on the way home!

Was good to get some Nottingham Trams in the bag, Was also happy with the 4x 153's. Bristol TM is not the best place on a saturday night :roll:

 

[Cowley]

Blimey Didn't really pay attention on buildings but I posted more photos of Toton Bank here
There where a couple of sheds about but none of them looked too old.

I had a look through the photos. It'll be interesting to see what gets uncovered if and when the area gets cleared for HS2. I'd love to know what's under all those trees.
Pretty sure when I first went it had all the remains of the hump yards still plus derelict control towers, lighting gantries etc. Very interesting

 

[Dhassell]

26/10/16 London Via Salisbury

So, after some research the day before and after I have picked up my tickets from the Ticket office, It was time to attempt
my first ever weekday trip to London! I was looking forward to having more trains to choose from but wasn't sure how well I would cope with
the busier trains and stations!
I had found the cheapest tickets to London by adding "Via Salisbury" to the search engine and a return to London (With Travelcard) only cost £34!
I woke up at the same time as usual and made my way down to the station for the 0636 to Bristol Temple Meads.
A good sign to what was to come! Winner 150102 to Temple Meads.
Once at Temple Meads, I had 10 minutes to join the 0722 towards Salisbury formed of another winning GWR unit 158961!
A couple of locos where spotted at Westbury (Missed a Colas 70 though!) and I was well on my way to London now.
The train arrived into Salisbury 2 minutes early and I head over to the Pumpkin to pick up a cup of tea.
I head back over to platform 2 and watch my train (The 08:47 to London Waterloo) pull into the platform. Winner 159022 and Dud 159008 arrive to take me
onto Waterloo. On the way towards Waterloo, I spot many Class 456's working towards Waterloo! That is a good sign as I need all of them for haulage and sight!
The train arrives into Waterloo at 1019. I had spent some time researching Class 456 diagrams before I left and I knew that the 1033 to Guildford should be ran by double 456's!
So I make my way over to Platform 2 and sure enough winners 5916, 456018 and 456020 are on the platform awaiting to depart for Guildford.
I quickly take a photo and jump on for the short hop to Clapham!

456020 London Waterloo 26.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

Once at Clapham, I spend around an hour here collecing numbers and photting 387's and a rare 455 on the Southern fast lines, before Heading over to the South West platforms and awaiting the next train to
Waterloo. 458514 rolls in but the departure board on the oppsite side says the next train is an 8 car so I wait for the next train 2 minutes behind and sure enough and 8 car rolls in, two winners, 450099 and 450111 take me into Waterloo.
Once at Waterloo, I walk down to the Waterloo and City Line and board 65503 + 65504 towards Bank. Once at Bank I take the long walk around the whole station to the DLR platforms and board winner DLR 62, 82
and Dud 37. I alight the DLR's are Limehouse and walk over to the C2c platforms to await the next train to Barking. The 1245 to Southend rolls in with Dud 357325 to take me to Barking past the East Ham Depot where
about 12 Class 357's are outside and visible! After a quick toilet break at Barking, I board the 1309 back to West Ham, formed of winner 357313!
From West Ham, I head over to the Jubilee Line platforms where 96017 rolls in to take me one stop to Stratford. I head up to the TFL Rail platforms where I join once again two winners!
315833 and 315349 on the 1327 to London Liverpool Street.
I head over to the London Overground platforms and jump on the 1345 towards Chingford, formed of another winner 315808! I alight at Bethnal Green and stand on the platform for a bit photting passing trains
before jumping on the 1407 back into Liverpool Street and once again another winner which is 315811! I head down to the Circle lines and pick up 21036 and 21035 to Farringdon. I alight perfectly to take the staircase down
to the Thameslink levels before jumping on the 1414 towards Sutton, formed of 319012 and if you hadn't of guessed another winner!
I only take this train a stop to City Thameslink before and alighting and making my way to the Other platform for the next train back to West Hampstead Thameslink. The board says the next train is 12 coaches long,
a possible 700? Sure enough at 1426 700113 rolls into City Thameslink and takes me to West Hampstead Thameslink.

700113 West Hampstead Thameslink 26.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

From West Hampstead Thameslink, after last months success in Cricklewood Depot, I catch the next train to Hendon formed of Winner 319443.
700110, 021, 006, 010 and 111 are in the sidings in Cricklewood! Well worth the pass!
On arrival at Hendon, I head back over to the other platforms before jumping on the 1514 to St Pancras once again formed of double winners! 319439 and 319215.
I head up to the High-Level platforms at St Pancras and collect the East Midlands, SE High Speed and Eurostar sets I can see before heading over to Kings Cross, picking up another tea and
heading over to platform 9 to catch the 1622 towards Finsbury Park, It must be my lucky day! More double winners, 321418 and 321420. At Finsbury Park, I make a quick platform interchange before picking up
even more Winners of 313029 and 313030 to Harringay before heading over the footbridge and catching winner 313025 and dud 313050 back to Finsbury Park.
The time is now 16:45 one hour until my train departs Waterloo. I jump on the Victoria Line (14090) to Oxford Circus before jumping on the Bakerloo Line (3265 + 3560) to Charing Cross.
From Charing Cross, I board the 1714 to Waterloo East formed of double winners 375922 and 375913.

313025 Finsbury Park 26.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
375913 London Charing X 26.10.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I head down the Waterloo and with the assistance of RealTimeTrains find out the 1750 to Salisbury is on Platform 6! I head over to get a picture of the 158 on the buffer stops before boarding and getting a good table seat!
Todays final winners where 158883 and 159006 all the way to Salisbury! (*Waves at Kite as the train passes Grateley*)
The train arrives into Salisbury at 1920 and I have until 1940 until my train so I make the quick walk around to Salisbury depot to see what 159's I can pick up for sight, only a couple of 158's are visible so I wander back
and get to the station at 1938 for the 1940 formed of 158798 to Bristol Temple Meads. Something that I hadn't seen before was the stopping prodecure for Dilton Marsh (Request Stop)
The guard stands by the front door of the train and tells everyone to head to the front door for the station, He looks down the train to make sure no one is coming before giving the two bells to the driver, We slowly come to a stop at Dilton Marsh as one lone
chap is waiting to board before we slowly set off again for Bristol. We arrive into Bristol 10 late and I board the final train of the day the 2117 towards Weston formed of 43070 and another on the rear I couldn't collect!

 

[Kite159]

I bet the 17:50 was a bit cosy on departure.

Sounded like a good day in London, lots of new units into your sight books

 

[Dhassell]

I bet the 17:50 was a bit cosy on departure.

Sounded like a good day in London, lots of new units into your sight books

Even forgot to mention it was short formed

 

[FQ]

Sounds like a great day in London but I hate your routing there and back!

 

[Dhassell]

Sounds like a great day in London but I hate your routing there and back!

I still need some 159's so that was a positive but it was a bit of a drag considering if I went my normal route I could have left half hour later and got home an hour earlier!

 

[Techniquest]

Jammy so and so, 319215 is one of my last 319s to get!

Looks like a good trip there, and you handled the peak time well enough by the looks of it too, so happy days

Curious though, if Weston to London via Salisbury is £64 with Travelcard, I wonder how much it would have cost you to go to London on GWR!

 

[Dhassell]

Curious though, if Weston to London via Salisbury is £64 with Travelcard, I wonder how much it would have cost you to go to London on GWR!

The Via Salisbury Ticket has restriction code Q9 which means you have to arrive into London after 10 which is no problem.
Paddington does not have this and an Any Time Return would be £184 for the same sort of times :roll:

 

[Techniquest]

Woah that is madness! I see why you went via Salisbury

For curiosity, I had a look how much it would cost me to do a weekday London bash on the same sort of times you did. Not that I can make any of the morning HSTs, but leaving on the 0450 or 0528 I can get an Anytime Day Travelcard Route Evesham for £95.30. Get the 0642 or later, Off Peak Day Travelcard Route Evesham £73.20. I've never taken advantage of this surprisingly good deal as I can't get to the station that early or get back from the station when the first evening HST is due back. Still, quite a difference compared to your GWR fare!

 

[Dhassell]

19/11/16 London

After a short walk to the station, I collect my tickets and board as usual the 0624 towards London Paddington! No winning power cars on this as 43180 and 43149 are provided. I alight for a break as the train is not due to depart Bristol until 0716 and I walk to the end of the platform to watch Ian Riley’s Black Fives depart for Chester! They get about 15 metres off the platform before grinding to a halt! I re-board my HST set and soon enough overtake them stood outside Temple Meads (In the end they ended up 61 late). After Bath Spa, my train takes a diversionary route, instead of going via Swindon we start heading towards Trowbridge and Westbury. The first bit of required track of the day was the Curve of track between Hawkeridge Junction and Westbury East Loop Jn, which was used today. The next section of track required to me was from Westbury East Loop Jn all the way along to Reading via the Berks and Hants. We approached reading using the Reading Feeder Mainline which was also required!


LMS 5MT 44871 + 45407 Bristol Temple Meads 19.11.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr


The train arrives into Paddington half hour later than usual and due to the train being overcrowded I had missed the 387’s parked up in North Pole yard! I head over to platform 12 and board the 0933 to Ealing Broadway formed of winner 360204 before a quick run over the footbridge for the delayed 09:42 back to Paddington formed of dud 360203, (387134,133,132 and 137 where parked up in the yard). Once back at Paddington, I headed to Victoria, but due to Engineering works on the Circle line I had to jump on District Line 21532 + 21452 to Earls Court before changing platforms and boarding 21363 + 21364 all the way to Victoria. From Victoria, I boarded the 1043 service out to Clapham Junction formed of winner 455826.

Once at Clapham I spent an hour at Clapham clearing units for sight before jumping on the 1216 from Clapham to Vauxhall formed of 5852 + 5703 before jumping on the next train to Waterloo formed of 5901. I head to Ian Allen to have a browse at the new Platform 5 books before heading to Waterloo East and boarding 375803 and 375615 to London Bridge before deciding to catch Northern Line winners 51635 + 51636 to Camden Town. I go and get some food at Camden Market before jumping back on the Northern Line on another pair of winners 51612 + 51613.

I alight at Kings Cross and head for the 1505 departure to Finsbury Park formed of 317342. Before making the quick interchange onto 313039 + 313043. I alight at Hornsey and make use of the 10 minutes to see what units I could pick of the depot. I walk back to the platforms and jump on 313042 + 313060 to Drayton Park before making another quick connection back onto 313027 + 313041 back to Finsbury Park. From here I jump on board 365518 + 365521 for the quick ride to Kings Cross. I head over the road to St Pancras for a bit of Thameslink bashing.

Great Northern 317342 Finsbury Park 19.11.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr


First up is 319453 + 319217 to Farringdon before watching for the next train to City Thameslink formed of 700003 it stops half way up the platform with everyone down the one end sending us all running to get on! From City Thameslink, I jump on 377211 to Blackfriars. I spent some time at Blackfriars watching a couple of 700’s passing before jumping on board 319451 back to City Thameslink and then 387103 + 387105 to Farringdon. The final main move of the day is 319422 back to St Pancras where I board Met Line 21090 + 21089 to Euston Square and finally 21469 + 21470 (forget to get the number) back to Paddington.

700003 City Thameslink 19.11.16 by DSH Trains, on Flickr


I arrive back at Paddington at 1815 for my train back to Weston. I board the 1857 back via Newbury formed of 43094 and 43015!

In total 33 haulage winners and some nice bits of track to clear off the main bit of the Berks and Hants!

 

[Kite159]

An excellent day in London

 

[Techniquest]

You scored a winner on the way home? Nice one!

Quite a good day all in all, and just like that I want to go to London on an extreme, intense bash!

 

[Dhassell]

You scored a winner on the way home? Nice one!

Quite a good day all in all, and just like that I want to go to London on an extreme, intense bash!

Still got quiet a few HST Power-cars from GWR to clear off! I love bashing in London! Always something running