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Cowley

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Interesting trip there. Tonbridge yard looked busy. That footbridge over the yard looks very handy, where does it actually lead to, is it houses on the other side of the railway?
 

Dhassell

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Mega ouch to the farce on the Victoria line! An enjoyable day otherwise :)

Was a bit annoying, but yes was a good day!

Interesting trip there. Tonbridge yard looked busy. That footbridge over the yard looks very handy, where does it actually lead to, is it houses on the other side of the railway?

Both ends of the bridge end up in residential areas. Perfectly nice residential areas I should add! Very Posh houses! Follow Google maps directions and you can't get lost!
 

Dhassell

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Cardiff and the Valleys 18/3/17

I was up a bit later than usual, a 7am wake up and I start walking towards the station at 7:45, for the 08:05 train. I pick up a day return to Cardiff and jump onboard 150221 all the way to Bristol Temple Meads, the plan was to take this train all the way to Bristol Parkway and risk a 4+ onto a onwards HST, but I thought this was too risky and made a 2+ at Temple Meads onto
dud 158950 to Bristol Parkway, this gave me 10 minutes until the 09:09 serviced formed of dud 43128 and required 43125 all the way over to Newport. Once at Newport I spend an hour and a half watching a railtour shunting around with a pair of 97's on front before at 1100 joining dud 175007 for the ride over to Cardiff Central.

Pathfinder Railtours, The Heart of Wales Wanderer, 97301 + 97302, Newport Stn 18.3.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I already had a Valley Line day ranger on me, as I had ordered it online with GWR a week before hand. I head straight over to the Valley Line platforms and join the 1121 service formed of winner 142002 to Cardiff Queen St
before crossing platforms and joining winner 143622 around to new shack Ninian Park, after a 5 minute wait I now rejoin required 142069 back to Cardiff Central. I speak with a friend on the station for 10 minutes and watch the DB Cargo Class 66 convoy pass before at 12:11 joining double winners 143602 + 143605 to new shack Llandaf.

143605, Llandaf, 18.3.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

From Llandaf, I join required 150241 back to Cathays, I had a 2+ connection here at Cathays and thought it would be simple enough, until now I did not know there was a gateline here! There were around 10 people squeezing through two gate lines and I sprint across the footbridge with seconds to spare as dud 150281 rolls in to take me up to another new shack, Radyr. I had a 10 minute fester at Radyr before dud 150213 rolls in to take me all the way down to Cardiff Queen St.From Cardiff Queen Street, I take required 153362 all the way down to Cardiff Bay before heading over to the closest bus stop and catching the Baycar service all the way back to Cardiff Central, It was a nice change to have a bendy bus!

From Cardiff Central, I jump on double duds 143601 + 142006 to another new shack, Grangetown, a quick connection puts me on winner 150279 to Cardiff Central. I next jump on dud 143622 for the second time today for the ride up to shack, Heath Low Level and make the walk over to Heath High Level, before joining dud 142073 and required 142076 back down to Cardiff Queen Street. From Queen Street, I jump on the next train down to Central formed of double winners 143604 + 143624. For my next move I jump onboard winner 142075 for the ride down to Penarth, I alight at Penarth for 5 minutes before jumping back onboard 142075 all the way to Grangetown. A 5+ connection leaves me onboard required 143609 to another new shack, Eastbrook. I have a 10 minute fester here before joining double duds 143602 + 143605 back to Cardiff Queen Street. The time is now 15:30 and I have one hour left, I thought the best thing to do now was to clear as many units as I could on hops to Queen Street and back. Firstly I took winner 150231 to Central before winner 142085 to Queen Street and then winner 150236 back to Central before jumping on dud 150253 back to Queen Street, finally I end the day by jumping on board double winners 143623 + 142080 to Central.

143609, Eastbrook 18.3.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I decide to get an earlier train and spot people walking down the stairs at platform 1/2, I run up and see required 150255 is on the platform and is heading towards Newport so I jump on winner 150255 to Newport before alighting and having a 20 minute chat with a friend who happened to be there. I board the 16:40 service formed of duds 43154 + 43069 to Bristol Parkway and end the day in a table of 4 onboard 150221 for the second time today back home to Weston!

Winning Units: 20
Shacks cleared: 8

Winning Units YTD: 171
Shacks cleared YTD: 39
 
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Techniquest

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You sure did sleep in late, getting up at 7pm! Obviously I knew you meant 7am :lol:

A rather good clearout there, and a trip into nostalgia for me as I was reminded of the time I needed ATW 142s and 143s. Good memories :D
 

Dhassell

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You sure did sleep in late, getting up at 7pm! Obviously I knew you meant 7am :lol:

A rather good clearout there, and a trip into nostalgia for me as I was reminded of the time I needed ATW 142s and 143s. Good memories :D

Edited the time! :p:lol:

Was a good day! Cleared out more than I thought I would!
 

FQ

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Too many pacers ;)

Sounds like a good day in the valleys!
 

Cowley

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Looked like a good day out. Plenty of winning units as well.
 

Dhassell

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Sheffield and a bit of Supertram 25/3/17

So it was 05:30 as usual on a saturday morning and I fancied a change after going to London every 2 weeks for about two and a half months.
I head down to the station at 06:00 and pick up some split tickets to Derby, I head down to my normal coach in F and notice a out of place first class coach, I jump in and see all the '1' have been crossed off and assume its declassified and sure enough it was, annoyingly the guard decided to invite about 10 others from a standard class coach into the declassified one! Oh well! We depart on time 06:24 with double duds 43183 + 43069 leading the way as far as Bristol.

At Temple Meads It was a quick sprint to pick up some breakfast and jump onboard winner 221126 on the 07:00 service as far as Birmingham New Street! From Birmingham I planned to attempt a 5+ onto the 08:30 bound for Derby, I was lucky enough to see the 08:30 formed of dud 220013 sat on the parallel platform at Birmingham so it was a short walk to board this before setting off on time. I knew my luck would eventually come to an end,
we brake hard as we pass Wilnecote as we get stuck behind a late running Cl170 all the way to Derby. We arrive into Derby only 4 late due to slack timetables and I head over into the ticket office to buy the next ticket for onward travel which would be a Derbyshire Wayfarer! I only had a short amount of time to do this (10 minutes) but I soon purchase them and head back onto the platform for the 09:25 to Sheffield formed of winner 222010. Due to a door fault on its last journey it arrives into Derby 13 minutes late and we soon catch up to a slow Northern Service on the approach to Sheffield which makes us arrive 23 minutes late into Sheffield! Sheffield also happened to be a new shack!

Sheffield Supertram 118, Park Square 25.3.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
EMT 222012 Derby 25.3.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I head down to the end of platform 2 and collect some Northern Units for sight for an hour as well as a pair of Colas Rail Class 67's on a test train to Hull. I headed out the back of the station and over to the tram lines where I walked along the path along the tracks back to the City Centre collecting trams as I went. I spent 15 minutes stood on the triangle where all trams pass before heading into the centre, I walked past shacks, Fitzalan Sq, Castle Sq and Cathedral! I pick up a mid morning sandwich in Greggs before at
11:43 boarding my first tram of the day which was 103, I take this as far as Nunnery Square to see what units I can spy in the depot! I pick off only 399201 from this end and board tram 109 back to Cricket Inn Road. Another quick connection here leaves me on 112 for the journey all the way to new shack Meadowhall Interchange. From Meadowhall, I bought a return ticket for national rail back to Sheffield and boarded the first unit in which was winner 144005 back to Sheffield! At Sheffield, I grab a bite to eat and head over to the bus station for a few photos before returning and boarding 158905 back to Meadowhall. Now my next move, I know this was a bit sneaky, but my outward ticket had not been punched so I boarded winner 144001 all the way back into Sheffield.

Northern Rail 144005 Meadowhall Interchange 25.3.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

From here, I boarded tram 123 all the way up to Manor Top! I didn't realise how steep and how high up the trams climb and they made it look easy! I quick pop into the ASDA at Manor Top and I walk across the road to join tram 120 to Arbourthorne Road, another 7 minute wait puts me onboard winner tram 104 back to Fitzalan Square! From here I board dud tram 103 to required shack Woodbourne Road to see what I could pick up on the other side of the depot, It passed to quick to see and I decided to walk back to Nunnery Sq to see what I could see, I picked up trams 116, 117 and 101 for sight which left me with one left to find to complete the fleet for sight! (I had started with 0 today). I walked back to Nunnery Sq and joined triple dud 103 back to Fitzalan Sq, I alight and what's the first thing I see? It's bloody tram 114! That makes the old supertrams cleared for sight in a day! Not bad! I get deafened as I cross the road by 103 blowing its horn and jump onboard winner 114 all the way to Hyde Park, before jumping on dud tram 109 back to Fitzalan Sq and finally winner 105 back to Sheffield Station! That's enough trams for one day!

Sheffield Supertram 112, Nunnery Square Depot 25.3.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr


I head back onto the station at 15:15 and notice the next train back to Derby is at 15:29. I collect a few final Northern Units before joining winner 222006 back to Derby! I have a 15 minute wait at Derby before jumping aboard double winners 153326 + 153385 for a hop to Long Eaton, I 10 minute wait at Long Eaton leaves me onboard winner 156410 back to Derby! I collect some locos at R.T.C and decide to head back to Birmingham with the time now being 16:45. The next train back into Birmingham was the 16:53 and it kept getting later and later! It finally arrived 17 late at 17:09 formed of winner 220014! That made the delay a little bit better! I arrived into Birmingham at 17:45 still 17 minutes late and head shopping for Mother's day for 20 minutes before purchasing a pasty and making my way down to platform 4 for the 18:42 back to Bristol formed of another winner voyager! 221134!
The train arrives into Bristol on time at 20:05 and I walk over to platform 15 to board double duds 43031 + 43182 back to Weston arriving on time at 20:35!

Winning Units: 18
Shacks cleared: 11

Winning Units YTD: 190
Shacks cleared YTD: 50
 
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Techniquest

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A very productive day for you there! Nice work getting the old trams all cleared for sight in one day, it took me years to get my last one and now I need the 399s!
 

FQ

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Clearing all of your old trams for sight in one day certainly isn't bad going! It sounds like a good day in Sheffield there, a place that I'll be making a return visit to rather soon.
 

Dhassell

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A very productive day for you there! Nice work getting the old trams all cleared for sight in one day, it took me years to get my last one and now I need the 399s!

I was very lucky to clear them all in the day! I had a funny feeling my final one would be hidden in the back of the shed but clearly not!

Clearing all of your old trams for sight in one day certainly isn't bad going! It sounds like a good day in Sheffield there, a place that I'll be making a return visit to rather soon.

I quiet liked Sheffield, will definately do back!
 

Cowley

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I've not been on the tram system in Sheffield although I've driven through and seen them, I think I remember it first being built actually. Interesting stuff DH. :)
 

Dhassell

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London 8/4/17

Another saturday morning and another early wake up call at 5:30! I headed down to the station at the normal time of 6am. As usual I picked up some split tickets to London and made my way onboard the 06:24 GWR service to London! Today the train was diverted via Bristol Parkway due to Engineering works at Bath, but this wouldn't add any time onto the journey! Today the train was formed of double duds 43190 + 43124 and I take these as far as Reading. We arrive 5 late after being held outside Parkway for a late Swansea Train! As usual I waited the 08:28 towards Paddington, I last minute journey change luckily only meant moving over to the next platform along, double winners 166211 + 165135 roll in to take me onwards to Paddington! The train rolls into Paddington ontime at 09:00 and I make my way down to the Bakerloo Line platforms!

I jump on double winners 3259 + 3546 as far as Regents Park, which was also a new shack, before jumping onboard 3239 + 3555 all the way down to Waterloo. I head over to Waterloo East and board double winners 375706 + 375816 for a non-stop run to Orpington. 5 minutes later and dud 465004 and winner 465243 roll in to take me as far as new shack Hither Green. Another 5 minute wait here puts me onboard double winners 465906 + 465188 all the way back to London Bridge. A 3 minute wait here puts me onboard dud 375708 and winner 375605 back to Waterloo East!

Southeastern 375628 Orpington 8.4.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I head back down into the standard Waterloo station and make a 3+ onto winner 5725 to Vauxhall before joining 5913 to Clapham Junction. I take a few pictures of a pair of 47's stood in the yard with 707009 + 707010 behind before joining winner 5719 back to Vauxhall and then double winners 5912 + 5730 all the way to Wimbledon! A quick connection here leaves me onboard winner 700027 to new shack Wimbledon Chase, and two minutes later winner 319428 rolls in to take me back to Wimbledon! A quick supply run in Tescos in Wimbledon is made before half an hour later joining winner 700017 all the way around to new shack Sutton! I jump off here for 2 minutes before
joining now dud 700017 to continue around the Sutton Loop as far as new shack Mitcham Junction! I wait 5 minutes here for dud tram 2550 to take me to new shack Therapia Lane before joining dud 2534 back to Wimbledon direct! This little stint clearing a lot of track in this area!

Thameslink 319428 Wimbledon Chase 8.4.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

It's now back onto South West Trains, I board double winners 5855 + 5864 back to Clapham and then winner 5715 and dud 5852 back to Vauxhall! I take a few photos of buses in the bus station before joining winner 11027 + 11028 to Euston. Next I catch LT766 on Route 91 to Kings Cross before jumping on board 365509 + 365510 to Finsbury Park! The plan was to do a bit of Cl313 bashing, I had a 5+ connection onto a so called "On-Time" train. An announcement went out saying to ignore the board and the next train had failed and the train would try to start from Finsbury Park 5 late. I wait around 10 minutes before giving up and heading back to the Kings Cross platforms. The 15:56 arrives and just as it approaches the platform there is an announcement saying there is a platform alteration! A mad rush with 20 other people starts to reach the other platforms to make it onto double duds 365517 + 365534 back to Kings Cross!

London Kings Cross Panoramic 8/4/17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I next head over to St Pancras to join winner 700036 as far as West Hampstead and then dud 700027 to Hendon! A 5 minute wait puts me onboard dud 319447 back to St Pancras, Another 5 minute wait then puts me on winner 700045 to Blackfriars and finally I take 700046 back to Farringdon! I head over to the Sub-Surface platforms and a quick run over the bridge puts me onboard double winners 21057 + 21058 to Baker Street! I walk down to Marylebone to clear off some units for sight before jumping onto the bakerloo line and take double duds 3538 + 3247 back to Paddington before finally taking 43003 + 43136 back home! The journey home got eventful from Bristol! as some drunks were singing some quite rude songs which pretty much cleared the coach out! They were pretty friendly though, handing out beers to anyone who wanted one, wasn't for the faint hearted though!

Winning Units: 29
Shacks cleared: 6

Winning Units YTD: 219
Shacks cleared YTD: 56
 
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Dhassell

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Freight Day In Tamworth 12/4/17

A little trip out yesterday to watch freight trains pass through Tamworth from 11:15 until 18:50. Trains follow before.

08:33 Weston-S-M to Birmingham New Street onboard winner 220029
10:49 Birmingham New Street to Tamworth onboard dud 170520
18:48 Tamworth to Bristol Temple Meads onboard winner 221123
20:55 Bristol Temple Meads to Weston-S-M onboard dud 158950!

Two winner voyagers! Not bad! This leaves the YTD totals as...

Winning Units YTD: 221
Shacks cleared YTD: 56

Edited 16/4/17

A return trip to Bristol today brings the voyager count down by 1 as I cleared 220001 on the outward journey, double duds 158766 and 150121 on the return though!

Winning Units YTD: 222
Shacks cleared YTD: 56
 
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Dhassell

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Only A quick update today. Today I was able to fully clear my GWR 153's .

153305 was sourced to take me to Worle which now clears GWR 153's
dud 150123 was taken back to Weston afterwards. So updated totals are...

Winning Units YTD:
223
Shacks cleared YTD: 56
 

Dhassell

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Oxford and the Bubblecar 19/4/17

For once, it wasn't saturday, and it wasn't 6am in the morning! It was a Wednesday and 9am, much nicer! I walked down to the station and picked up a £25 quid return to Oxford, where I would spend the majority of the day
watching freight go by, but first I had to get there! I boarded the 09:29 service to Swindon, which went via Bristol Parkway due to engineering works in Bath, this was formed of double duds 43182 + 43009. I have to alight at Swindon as this train doesn't stop at Didcot and my tickets where marked "Not Via Reading", my next train was delayed by around 11 minutes due to being held behind a late Freightliner container train and at 11:11 double duds 43172 + 43174 roll in to take me as far as Didcot! This delay did make the fester shorter here as I only had 5 minutes until winner 180106 rolled in to take me to Oxford!

GWR 180106, Oxford 19.4.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

Once at Oxford, I spent around an hour and a half photographing passing units and freights before heading into the centre to photograph some buses, I return to the station at around 15:00 and pick up another ticket from Oxford to Aylesbury. At 15:13 dud 220024 rolls in to take me as far Banbury, where a 20 minute wait is had before jumping onboard winner 165001 for the 30 minute ride to new shack Princes Risborough! There was a 40 minute wait here for my next move!

As you probably have guessed by the title, the purpose of this trip was to ride the Bubble Car before they are phased out in a month or so! At 16:53 winner 121034 rolls in to work the Aylesbury shuttle! The train departs on time at 17:00! I was expecting the train to only have a few other enthusiasts on board, but it was rammed and there were no seats remaining! A very nice journey was had at at 17:16 the train arrived into new shack Aylesbury! Me and the rest of the people onboard alighted to take a few photos before reboarding now dud 121034 back on the 17:26 service to Princes Risborough!

Chiltern Railways Bubblecar 121034, Princes Risborough 19.4.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
Chiltern Railways Bubblecar 121034, Aylesbury 19.4.17 [2] by DSH Trains, on Flickr

Another 40 minute wait is had at Princes Risborough, The bubblecar was stood in the platform for 20 or so minutes, with the driver allowing an open cab approach to anyone who wanted pictures! At 18:24 my train rolled in slightly late to take me back direct to Oxford! Which would also clear the new line between Bicester and Oxford station via Oxford Parkway, this was onboard double winners 168003 + 168216. We arrive into Oxford 11 late, blocking the platform my next train was due to arrive in on, but we departed 5 late onboard winner 165111 back to Didcot! The next moves where generic, double duds 43125 + 43192 take me all the way back to Bristol Temple Meads. At one point we were 6 early but ended up 7 late after 950001 ahead managed to break down! Once at Temple Meads it was a quick jump onboard 150124 back to Weston-S-M!

Winning Units: 6
Shacks cleared: 2


Winning Units YTD: 229
Shacks cleared YTD: 58
 

FQ

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A couple of enjoyable reads there. The bubble car on the 19th was very busy because there was about 15 forum members on board for a forum meet. It's a shame that you didn't know, as you could've joined us otherwise.
 

Dhassell

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A couple of enjoyable reads there. The bubble car on the 19th was very busy because there was about 15 forum members on board for a forum meet. It's a shame that you didn't know, as you could've joined us otherwise.


Ohh :p:lol: I assume you were on it then?
 

FQ

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I was indeed.
 

FQ

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Towards the middle heading towards Aylesbury, in the very back seats on the way back. I then got off at Princes Risborough, got photos, and headed onto the other platform for 68009 to Bicester.
 

Techniquest

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Some gorgeous weather for a bash there! Looks like it was a good time, along with a decent amount of winners got on the way to/from the main event :)

I've got the need to go back to Oxfordshire now!
 

Dhassell

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Towards the middle heading towards Aylesbury, in the very back seats on the way back. I then got off at Princes Risborough, got photos, and headed onto the other platform for 68009 to Bicester.

If i am right in thinking who you are you had someone else with you? If so this dark image should have you in it! (attached)

Some gorgeous weather for a bash there! Looks like it was a good time, along with a decent amount of winners got on the way to/from the main event :)

I've got the need to go back to Oxfordshire now!

It was a good day! Very much like that area as well as very much liking Chiltern!
 

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