FQ's trips around the globe

[backontrack]

I'm guessing either parlies or a bubble car bash.

 

[Kite159]

My money is on a nice non-stop Cat run, in the evening peak from Marylebone to Leamington Spa

Or is that just one thing on my wish list for the new year

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

A whole day on the Drain

 

[backontrack]

Don't you mean 'Southam and Itchington Parkway'? :P

 

[FQ]

That would be nice!

 

[Techniquest]

A whole day on the Drain

Hmm, no, no I'm not quite that insane, yet...

You guys can guess all you want, you'll just have to follow the tweets on 14th December and read the trip report

 

[FQ]

Here is the Friday of my North East. Enjoy!

August big bash day 6: Almost over...

The clue is in the title. This was one of my last 2 proper rover days, with it being Friday. I had arranged something with Dad for the next day and it involved coming back on the Sunday instead of the Saturday even though I had advance tickets to get back. This meant that when I got to Malton at 08:35 (after an uneventful bus ride), my first port of call wasn't the cafe; it was the booking office to see if I could get a refund on my advance tickets. I got the answer I was expecting, 'I'm sorry but advance tickets can't be refunded'. Oh well, I guess I can try at York later and see if I get a different answer.

At the cafe, I just got a juice to pass the time until the train. The person behind the counter recognized me from the week I had been there so I sat and chatted with him for a bit until scurrying outside again and watching the late running (as always) Scarborough train arrive and leave before the 09:13 to Lime Street came in with winner 185103. My iPod needed charging so I grabbed myself a table seat and put it on, just watching the countryside roll past for the journey. There was no gen from Dad today so I what no idea what anything would be on but it goes without saying that my main aim for today would be 43316 and 43320. Thanks to Wensley on RUK, I knew that my required pair would have ended up at Craigentinny overnight, meaning that they would come south on 1E05, 1E07 or 1E09 (or be stopped at Craigentinny for the day). It was a few months later that I found out that 1E07 is ex 1S01 (from Newcastle) so it couldn't be that either but that didn't really effect me. Read on to find out why...

With no plan, except wanting to view those 3 mentioned turns, I had to choose something to do. With the northbound 91 being a dud, I decided to go for the Grand Central again, but not before viewing the 09:55 to Kings Cross (1E05). This was 43257 and 43319 so there were only 2 other turns that it could be (well actually 1 but I didn't know that). So it was decided. I sauntered across to platform 3 and leaped aboard double duds 43465 and 43423, ready for the 125mph dash up the East Coast Main Line to Northallerton where I had a half hour wait. I called Dad to say hi but still had ages to wait for my Milkfloat. Like most waits at not-very-busy-with-decent-stuff stations it was a tedious wait but I was able to confirm that 1E07 didn't have my pair on either. This meant that it was either stopped at Craigentinny or working 1E09, the service that I was meant to get back from Darlo in less than an hour! Eventually 10:55 came and I headed to the loco stop board as dud 91124 rolled in. A seat in the quiet coach was got and I was getting really exited at the journey progressed. I might get another 2 tram winners in a few minutes! I ran across the island platform at Darlo and stared at the track outside the station, waiting for a tram to appear on the 11:28 to the Cross. The leading powercar thrashed passed me and I couldn't stay quiet as I...

Leaped into the air! Welcome to the book 43316 and 43320! 6 VTEC trams left (43274/296/302/308/315/367) so I was very happy. I swung a door open and immediately leaped on (there was no-one waiting to get off) and secured myself the right hand side vestibule window. Thrashtastic (is that a word? If it isn't then it should be! Please can someone notify the Oxford English Dictionary? ) is the word that I would use to describe the absolute sprint up the ECML.

From now one I had no plan but if it was possible I would like to fall into 43296, the only other of my required Virgin trams out and about today. I had no idea where it had ended up the night before so there was pretty much no chance but it didn't stop me from trying! I watched the Northern Lights leave York just before we arrived (no, it didn't have 296 on!) but it did put that option away. This meant that my train of choice was the 12:03 from York to the Cross, worked today by double duds 43318 and 43277. The guard made a lot of passengers laugh upon departing York with her announcement. It was 'Hello everyone and welcome to the 12:03 Virgin Trains East Coast service to London Kings Cross. Calling at Doncaster, Retford, Newark Northgate, Grantham, Peterborough, Stevenage and every other lamppost on the way to Kings Cross.' I gave my folks a call again before retiring to a seat for the journey south.

During the journey to Donny, I referred to my timetable and decided to head up to Leeds on the 12:42, giving me a chance to get some lunch from Frenchgate Shopping Center. I then remembered that the 12:42 should be the EMT set so I knew I was most definitely going to get a thrashy ride if it produced, although I knew it would be a pair of duds. So after leaving the tram set that I had been on from York, I headed over to Frenchgate taking a look at what food options were available. In the end I went for the cheap and tasty option: Greggs. I admit that I did go for 2 chicken bakes and a custard slice but that is because I needed a boost since I didn't have a creamy cooler . I sat and ate my chicken bakes and since the Leeds bound tram was late I got to finish them before double duds 43075 and 43073 pulled in. The rear tram, 43073, is one of Nathan's last 3 needed so I am way ahead of him on that particular power car. I headed up front and got some mega thrash from the leading powercar, window hanging all the way to Leeds where I left the train and called Dad to see what he suggested doing next. The conclusion was the same that I had thought of too. Wait for the EMT set to head back out! So, after half an hour of spotting at Leeds I was back on the same set that had taken there and thrashing away towards Wakefield.

There would be no point in getting off at Wakefield (it would probably be a dud milkfloat back to Leeds for a cart over to York), so after a check of the timetable, I came up with a good solution getting me a winner shack. The shack was Retford and since I was planning to get the 15:04 from Donny anyway, I could get a Milkfoat south for the tram back up to York, giving me a +8 at Retford. Or so I thought. My tram arrived at Donny on time at 14:17 in platform 1 so after watching it leave, with a musical horn from the driver, I headed over to platform 3 to check how the 14:25 to the Cross was doing, the service I was meant to take south on the ECML. Imagine the look on my face when it displayed the words (or numbers) 14:25 to London Kings Cross expected 14:34, a whole 9 minutes late. Since my connection was a +8 and I wasn't familiar with the layout of Retford station, I had to flag dud 91116 and I let it race away from Donny without me. Still, I only lost out on another 91, loco mileage, a winner shack and a photo so it could be worse.

Since I now had over half an hour to kill before my tram to York, the Doncaster ticket office was visited and, like Malton, I tried to get a refund on my advance tickets. I got the same response that I had earlier in the day so with that annoying note, I thanked the ticket clerk for her time and headed to the platforms to do some spotting. I got no winners but it was nice to watch the milkfloats and other assorted locos/units pass before the 15:04 to York pulled in (the same service that I had got on the Wednesday) with double duds 43319 (recognize this number Lord Quest? ) and 43257. Surprising that the 2 times I get this service, it has 319 on! And 43257 is obviously low mileage because I haven't had it since Monday when I got it from Wakefield to Donny.

The journey went smoothly and all to soon I had to leave the tram set and walk across to the other platform for an unknown milkfloat. My plan was a return trip to Darlo to fill the time, although that would leave me with a 45-minute fester at York and getting home an hour later than I otherwise would (and meaning that Granddad would have to pick me up). With the Doncaster option, I could have a plus 10 at York I watched the Edinburgh train leave with 91101 on, one of the few that I wanted to get this week (due to the special livery). Easy to say that I wasn't a happy bunny when dud 91110 came in on my Donny train. I reluctantly boarded it and grabbed myself a seat for the 32 mile journey. We whizzed off along the ECML, eventually arriving at Doncaster on time. This gave me a very easy connection onto the 16:10 back up, which had winner 91103! At least I managed to get 1 winner milkfloat today then! This was the last loco that I would be traveling for the day so I savored the long moment(s) of the ride in the quite coach, having to leave at York less than half an hour later.

Since my train was running slightly late, we ended up chasing the diesel dez that I was to get to Malton from Colton Junction, but with us having a much higher speed, it was an unfair race with 91103 arriving at York platform 9 before dud 185122 pulled in on platform 5. Oh well, at least most of my 185s have been required! It was surprisingly full but I managed to get a seat despite it being next to someone. From there it was headphones over head, iPod on and pick some music for the bounce (it's bouncy track. I'm not on a Nodding Donkey) along the Scarborough branch - once a very busy (with passengers) branch line during summer, now a basic commuter line with few passengers and an hourly 3 coach dez. And that is expected to go over to a 150/158 sometime soon! Oh, how lovely!

Lots of passengers (and myself) alighted at Malton where it was cold so I headed to the ASDA to get in the warmth for a bit before heading to the bus stop and watching the 840 arrive as a double decker and, as usual, I went for the top, front seats. Then it was the iPod on again to listen to some tunes for the hateful ride back. Hateful? It took us 20 minutes to do a bit of road that should take 3 and another 10 to get back up that bit of road (it turns around at the bottom). And then on the approach to Pickering, the traffic was hell again and we eventually arrived at the bus stop about 25 minutes late (after an on time departure from Malton). That is about 100% longer than usual! I had let Granny and Granddad know that I would be slightly late and they kindly waited for me before having dinner, another brilliant meal. I then spent the evening chilling out and it included Skyping Mum and Dad. Dad had booked an advance ticket up to York for Saturday so he could come back with me. That would be nice. The next report will explain what happened...

 

[Kite159]

Sounds like a good day on the ECML

 

[FQ]

It most definitely was.

 

[Techniquest]

I did indeed recognise that number Lord Quinn, and my phone received the Secret Salute as I read that bit! Not at all jealous that you got one of my last two VTEC power cars, no not at all...Jammy so and so!

A decent day indeed there, that decent run on the EMT set must have been ridiculously welcome!

 

[Kristofferson]

A good day out indeed Mr Fish the EMT HSTs still have Valentas, right?

 

[FQ]

Tech: lol! It definitely was a great ride. I don't even care that it wasn't one of my last 4 EMT ones.

Kristofferson: It was indeed. The EMT one do still have Valentas, but a sort of rebuild on them I think.

 

[sprinterguy]

Kristofferson: It was indeed. The EMT one do still have Valentas, but a sort of rebuild on them I think.

The VP185 (fitted to EMTs' power cars) engine is the successor to the Valenta: It has a smaller cylinder bore and stroke than the Valenta, and a greater cylinder bank angle (90 degrees versus 60).

I've also seen it stated that the VP185 engines fitted to EMT power cars are derated to 2,100hp, rather than the 2,250hp common across all other HST power cars.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

the EMT HSTs still have Valentas, right?

The only HST power car currently fitted with a genuine Valenta engine is the prototype, 41001.

 

[Kristofferson]

There we go thanks muchly!

 

[FQ]

And the Saturday is here.


August big bash day 7: North and south

As you may recall from the last trip report, Dad was coming up from Birmingham today (Saturday) in order to head home with me on Sunday. He had booked an advance ticket on 1S51, the 16:03 from the Bat Cave (a tram. Dad, like me, will never travel on a 220/221/222) and I had a surprise for him. I told Dad that it was highly unlikely for me to meet him at any stations before York (where he would be getting off anyway) but I had been planning to get to Sheffield for it as a surprise. I still needed to work out times from Donny to get there but I was adamant to do it. Read on to find how it went with all the ups and downs of the day included in this deluxe package (photos sold separately ).

As it was a Saturday, my Rover had no morning restrictions so I had arranged to get an earlier bus in so I could be on the rails sooner. How sooner you ask? Only an hour but that would still give me time for a return trip to Darlo before I would be at York, had I started on the 09:13 from Malton. So I was up at stupid o'clock and ready for my day out which started at the bus stop for the number 840. I can't for the life of me remember what time it left Pickering but it must have been early as I was at the station with plenty of time before winner 185107 appeared on the 08:11 to Liverpool. It was lightly loaded (for this route) so I got myself a table seat and put my phone on charge before listening to some tunes.

There was no gen again today, so I formulated a plan while on the diesel dez, beginning with the 08:55 Milkfloat to Darlington. My Tinpot Express unit arrived at York a few minutes late (like always, it was held for the late running Scarborough train) but this still gave me loads of time to get the numbers of everything at York and then get to platform 9 for the unknown 91. Surprise surprise, it was 91126, my Milkfloat stalker. It was a lightly loaded service so I got another table seat and let my phone finish charging as we charged (pun intended) northward, getting to Darlington bang on time. It was now that I had to say bye to 91126 for a while, as I didn't actually get it again on this trip so after having 153.50 miles with it in the space of 7 days, I bade it farewell and headed to the other through platform ready for some tram thrash. Just on cue, 1E05 rolled in with double duds 43307 and 43313, the set with the EC exterior and EMT interior. I got myself a window for the majority of the journey so I could get some thrash and on the route back I saw... Absolutely nothing that I hadn't yet seen that day (just 47237 and D9009 at the NRM.).

From now on, I didn't have any plans of what to do and since I had just missed the 09:55, I headed to the boards to check out when the 09:58 to Sunderland was due in. I was wandering why because I hadn't yet seen it and it was just past 10:00. I couldn't find the 09:58 but there was the 10:19 to Sunderland, so I guess they put the times forward 20 minutes on Saturdays. It rolled in 10 minutes before it was due to leave as well, this time with duds 43467 and 43480 on. I got a seat on board and gave dad a call saying how things were going and my plans on from here. He thought it was a good idea so I went with it and 35 minutes later I was standing on the platform of a wet Northallerton station watching the train that I had just got off cross the mainline and onto the Eaglescliffe branch.

66728 had passed us just before the tram arrived at Northallerton and we chased 66723 from the York area so I also saw that head on the lines below the station. Thankfully, it was only a 10 minute fester here before the 10:55 to Edinburgh appeared so, following my plan, I leaped aboard and winner 91120 powered me away and towards Darlington. This service is due to arrive at Darlo for 11:08 meaning that for the next part of my plan (which I named mission North when writing this), I had a plus 13 onto the 11:21... To Newcastle! I popped into the WH Smith so I could take a look at the magazines while waiting and before I knew it, the 11:21 (currently about 5 minutes late) to Edinburgh was being announced. I headed up front and watched winner 91104 roll in on my service north (I've been waiting to say that at Darlington!). I climbed aboard, grabbing a seat but the moment the doors locked I regretted my actions. 47843 was rolling in on a charter that stopped at York and Darlington (I think it was a staff charter but if I was waiting on the platform for a tram back to York and a brush arrived, quite frankly I wouldn't care that it wasn't a regular passenger train or not!). I tried to open the doors but it was at that moment that 91104 pulled away and into the County Durham countryside.

Although the journey between Darlington and Newcastle is shorter than between Darlington and York, it is longer but it definitely didn't feel it, probably because it is more interesting, even with Tyne Yard being blocked by that stupid flyover. This made me miss a few locos but they were probably all duds so I moved passed that. My Milkfloat eventually arrived in Newcastle at 11:55, meaning I should have only had a plus 5 onto my tram back south. I didn't though because, while checking which platform the 12:00 to Kings Cross was due in on, I saw that it was 10 minutes late. Since I wanted to visit the chippy that fellow forum member 47403 had suggested, I was very glad at this. I headed out of the barriers, which my ticket didn't work, and took the directions that 47403 had given me to get to the chip shop where I bought a small doner. I then took it back to the station, just in time to see that my train had somehow lost another 7 minutes. And what is worse is that I had been gone less than 7 minutes! At least it gave me a chance to eat my doner, which tasted excellent, and head over to one of the bay platforms to get a photo of a Scotrail 156, 156510, in there. It was then time to get over to the original platform, ready to get my train, which arrived 20 minutes late with 43309 and 43295. The guard on the train actually announced the times that we would arrive at the stations en route, instead of the times they were scheduled to arrive, unlike most guards that I had seen. After hearing the end of the announcement, I called Dad and told him that I was currently on the tram back from Newcastle. I was planning to take it straight through to York but since Dad had the laptop handy, he saw that I could get off at Darlington for a plus 5 onto an unknown Milkfloat for the remainder of the journey and he also gave me a plan for the rest of the day, which started with the Chieftain to Newcastle for a Milkfloat back to York. I wasn't going to take the Chieftain to Newcastle because if I did, I couldn't get down to Sheffield in time for 1S51, but I was going to take it to Darlington. I obviously didn't tell this to Dad because it would ruin the surprise so I profusely thanked him and hung up, getting a seat for the remainder of the journey to Darlo.

Eventually, the tram arrived at Darlington and I leaped off, setting up camp in WH Smith again, waiting for my York train. Unfortunately, another brush didn't come along before my train but I wasn't expecting one (obviously). I would have stayed on 309 and 295 if I knew which Milkfloat would be working my service back as it was dud 91129 working the 12:57 to Kings Cross. This was a Northallerton stopper so it took slightly longer to get to York but I didn't really notice because I was, once again, making use of the free wifi to check the forum and check train times from Donny to Sheffield and found the 16:42 Diesel Dez would arrive in Sheffield at 17:08, giving me a plus 15 onto 1S51, ample time for a connection there. Eventually 91129 arrived at York, just a few minutes late, still giving me 15 minutes until the Highland Chieftain. I headed to the ticket office with my advance tickets again to try one last time to get a refund on them. Like both Doncaster and Malton the previous day, the ticket office staff at York said that I couldn't get them refunded so I gave up and headed to platform 9 for my next train, hoping beyond hope that it would be 43314 and 43296 (or any other pair that included one of my winners.). Unfortunately not as the longest tram journey in the country arrived with duds 43305 and 43306 and 9 mk3s. It's all mileage though and this move pushed 43306 past 100 miles. It would also have done 43305 but that had already had 100 miles and after this run to Darlington, it was just over 151 miles. My train back from Darlington was the 09:52 from Aberdeen and, having seen the trams that ended up at Aberdeen overnight, I could pretty safely say that it would be 43312 and 43206 on my train back to York. So after some thrash from 305 and 306, I crossed to the other platform at Darlington and boarded, as expected, 43312 and 43206 after they arrived. I got a vestibule window to get thrash as they left but retired to a seat for the rest of the journey, eventually emerging from the seat after we passed the NRM.

I now had a 40-minute fester until the 15:31 to Kings Cross, the service that I had to be on in order to get the 16:42 from Doncaster as there aren't any York stoppers on Saturdays. I spent that time spotting with a ****** ****** to drink, which involved getting a load of photos of a test train with 67003 and 67016 on.
The race is on. by fishquinn1, on Flickr
I also got a photo of a GC tram, which you could easily guess where it was taken.
Where am I? by fishquinn1, on Flickr
I made sure that I was on platform 5 in good time for my train to Donny. I recognized the DVT number, which wasn't good as it meant that it was a dud. And it was indeed as it was 91125 that had pushed the train from Waverley. Only just under 200 miles to go! It was a very fun ride, because I knew that this was actually my last loco move of the trip solo! That and my only other trip between York and Doncaster would be with Dad on the Sunday. After getting to Donny station, I was in desperate need for a drink again and, knowing that it costs loads to get a drink at the station, I headed into Frenchgate in search of a WH Smith. It took me ages to find one, but when I did I got 2 orange and carrot Juice Bursts for £3 and headed back to the ECML with loads of time until my diesel dez, which the boards said as 'on time'. I was glad at this because it meant that I had a big chance of making my connection onto the first cross country train of the week (170109 was on Saturday the week before).

So after another half hour of watching trains race by, I scurried over to platform 3 and eagerly awaited the arrival of my TPE service. Score! Another winner, this time in the shape of 185118, which would whisk me across to Sheffield. I had my eyes on the station clock as the diesel dez (which I had a right hand side table seat on) left. 16:41:52. We are in business!

47727 and 56113 were sat just outside the station, which was absolutely brilliant! I couldn't hold the word 'hellfire' in when I saw them, that's for sure. I could only get the number of 66725 in Roberts Road and unfortunately didn't see any more locos on my ride. All was going brilliantly until we came to a stop at Mexborough station. This worried me because I really couldn't afford to miss this connection at Sheffield. The reason we were waiting is to let a Cross Country 'Unspeakable horrible thing' pass and I got worried again as I saw a 142 approaching. Luckily it stopped just as we pulled away just under 5 late. Still plenty of time at Sheffield I thought. Until we came to a stand at a junction a few minutes before Meadowhall and waited there for at least another 4 before continuing, stopping at the station. We made up 1 minute between the junction and Meadowhall station, where I got a winner tram for sight (road, not rail). This gave me a little more confidence of making the connection, which was currently a plus 6. But that then dropped away a couple of moments later when we came to a stop in the tunnels of Sheffield just before the station.

I tensed up again. I couldn't afford to be much later at all, seeing as if my train had got a clear run from Meadowhall I would only have a plus 6 anyway. After minute 1, I was tapping my foot. After minute 2, I was staring out the window, foot still tapping. After minute 3, I tried to call Dad to get him to hold the door (it went straight to voice mail). After minute 4, I was pacing up and down the vestibule. During minute 5, I was having a blind panic and doing all of the above. And then we moved forwards, entering the furthest platform away from the main concourse. One thought was in my head. Run! And I did, sprinting up the stairs, taking them 3 at a time before flinging myself down onto the platform that the tram was due on. To see a moving Cross Country Mk3. I almost sunk to the ground...

I didn't want to look up at it, knowing what I would see, but I forced myself to and it was at that moment that I leaped in the air yelling! It was braking, not accelerating! It was late! I had left 185118 at 22 minutes past, the same time that 1S51 was due to leave, so I had just assumed that it was leaving. Nope! I knew dad would be in standard so I climbed aboard one of the rear coaches, a 1st class one meaning that it was in reverse formation and walked through checking every seat and vestibule as I went. Then, at the very front coach vestibule I saw a familiar figure with his head out of the window. Only one thing to do now and that is poke him in the cheek! He spun round quicker than I would turn around after seeing a 220 on my train when it was a scheduled tram to see me, grinning from ear to ear. "Hi Dad". "Did you miss me?"

He was very, very surprised to see me and after hugging, we headed to his 2 seats for a min so I could drop off my coat and bag. We made sure that we were back at the window in time for the tram to leave though. He said that he had been hanging for most of the journey and that it was and absolutely brilliant run from Brum, where it left about ten minutes late, being pretty much on time by Chesterfield. It was a stunning run from there to but the tram got held just before Sheffield for about 3 minutes, hence the delay (not saying that I'm unhappy about it!) And he was most definitely right about the driver being brilliant behind the controls as we were off like a shot, absolutely screaming through Meadowhall. Dad hadn’t yet written down the tram powercars and I didn't get the numbers at Sheffield so they would have to be got at York, which at this rate would only be about 5 minutes (exaggeration mode off - we hadn't even passed Wakefield at this point). We briefly went to sit down and we both got Kit Kats from the trolley when it passed by. We then ate them while chatting before heading back to the vestibule for more tram thrash. The guard didn't care at all and just nodded at me when he was there. Dad said that we should miss a pair of brush at York by about 5 minutes, one of them being 47843, the one I had seen earlier in the day. The other remained a mystery but they should have been working in multi up the ECML to Glasgow apparently. The stop at Wakefield was brief and a few moments later we were zooming to towards Leeds where it left just 2 late. Both Dad and I were on the correct side and the moment after I saw the number of something in there, I couldn't help but burst out laughing. It was Dad's last EMT powercar required for haulage, 43081 (he has had it now)! It was the only loco in there, except 43058, which was on the other end. Both are now dud for me (081 was a winner then though). From there, it felt like only a few minutes until we were pulling into the station that I had visited most over my North East Rover - York. This was pretty much the end of my rover except the cart between York and Malton (and back the next day) and a positioning move to Doncaster, which I would just buy a regular ticket for if I didn't still have a valid North East Rover. It started brilliantly and ended brilliantly and I finally found out at York that my trams from Sheffield to York were 43357 and 43321.

357 and 321 had arrived at York on time and we were greeted by the sight of a brush facing southbound behind a load of coaches. This was 47843 meaning that it was running late. I couldn't see another loco at the end so assumed that it was ready to leave after 843 had came on the front. I was wrong. We had ample time to cross over the footbridge from platform 10 and get to platform 5 so I could get a few photos of the leading loco, 47815, before it sounded the horn and pulled away, with 47843 dead on the back. What an end to a brilliant day but I guess it still wasn't over yet. There was still the 18:40 to Malton to go and to cap off a brilliant day, winner 185119 appeared so after a phone call to Granddad to say that we were on our way to Malton, I chatted with Dad and the journey north felt like it was the quickest I had had all week.

Granddad was waiting on the platform for us as 185119 rolled in and after saying hi, we all headed off the car, this time with me in the back with Ellie, one of the 2 dogs. It was a pleasant enough journey back and dinner was one of Granny and Granddad's absolutely brilliant macaroni cheese dinners. Absolute heaven and (I feel like I have said this a lot) a great way to end the day! I hope you understand the title now though. North and south refers to the points I got to today. Newcastle was the furthest north that I got (and that was today), and Sheffield the furthest south (again today.). Homeward bound tomorrow though and back to work on Monday. Hopefully it will be a nice journey back though!

 

[Iskra]

I've not had time to read the report yet (will do over the weekend), but from the photo's alone it looks like a good day was had!

 

[backontrack]

I think you should rename Class 91s from 'milkfloats' to 'creamy cooler floats'. :P

Good trip, lucky that you made it to Sheffield. I don't know where you took that photo either, but my guess is Northallerton. Or, if the signage has been changed, perhaps Thirsk? You should submit that photo to Guess the Station, they'd never be able to guess.*

All in all, it looks like you had a good trip with lots of winners (and trips to WH Smiths, to boot!).

Just kidding. I know it's Malton really.

 

[FQ]

Love it!

I don't know where that photo was taken. It could be Malton. Or maybe, the more likely Newcastle ?

I agree that it was a good trip and I'm very glad that the connection at Sheffield was made!

 

[backontrack]

Thinking about it, it's most likely the closed station at Gateshead West. :P

 

[FQ]

Or maybe Long Itchington and Southam!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
2 in one day? What the heck is going on?

August big bash day 8: Back to Brum with a bang from some bombs!


Ok. The final day of this big bash had come after what seems so much less than the 9 days that it had been (I'm including the day that I spent in Pickering). We had the morning to spend with Granny and Granddad as the train Dad and I had to be on to get to York didn't leave Malton until 13:16. Our first 2 trains were the 13:16 and the 14:24 tram from York to Donny. Then the move after that was something that you will find out about later in the report. So as I said, we had the morning to spend with Granny and Granddad and we ended up in town where I got some brilliant ice cream from one of the cafes there. It was a shame to leave so we said bye to Granny and got in the car. Granddad had something to do near Malton so he said that he could drop us in Malton for about 12:20. This gave us lots of time to spend until the train, which meant that I could choose a birthday present for my brother, who’s birthday was the 10th, so the next day. I was also hoping to get coffee and cake during the break and Dad wanted to get the new Trains magazine (one about the US and Canada mostly). Torin (my brother) was first on the agenda so Dad and I decided on something for me to get him. There wouldn't be much in Malton but he did get a treat ball and all of the sweeties in it had been eaten. This seemed like a good thing to get him, so I headed over to the Asda next to the station and grabbed him £5 worth of skittles and M&Ms before we headed into town in search of a cafe that would do take away. One was found after about 5 minutes of walking and we each got a slice of cake, with dad getting a latte too. None of the drinks really appealed to me as I wasn't in a hot chocolate mood and don't like anything fizzy so I popped into the newsagents next door and walked out with a summer fruits oasis and the latest edition of Trains, the latter of which I gave to Dad for a read. Both were bargain prices to, compared to most places that I get magazines or drinks from!

We walked back over to the station and still had a little time to eat the (brilliant and bargain) cakes that Dad had kindly bought us. The Scarborough train had a winner 185 on and I was obviously hoping that the Liverpool would to but no avail as it was dud 185127 on the 13:16 from Malton. It didn't occur to me at the time but that would be my last time using Malton station for a while so it was nice to have some great company, great cake and great reading material (both on the station and on the train). We played a game with the magazine while on the diesel dez where I had to say which state each photo was in from the caption, which usually just gives the 2 primary letters. This is kind of like the station codes but with 2 letters instead of 3 and the letters are actually parts of the State name that matter. Not like SWI for Swindon (surly it should be SDN) or BHM for New Street (it should be BNS). The journey flew by and we both remembered to look over at 47237 and D9009 for one last time this trip, although the latter wasn't viewable. Now, we had a 40-minute wait until our train left to Doncaster. What. To. Do.

The first thing we did was wader round the station letting me pick off all of the unit numbers there. Dad has a zero interest in units of any kind so he didn't write any of those down. In fact, the first thing that he written down was 43320 and 43316, which were working 1E13, what should be the Highland Chieftain but isn't because it comes from Edinburgh (which explains why 43305 and 43306 weren't on it). The ex inverness is 2 hours later than on Weekdays/Saturdays and leaves Inverness at 09:40, getting to York at 15:59. The northbound Cheiftain was running slightly late but it eventually arrived (this one does go to Inverness at the same time as on weekdays) with 43313 and 43307. After watching this leave, it was time to head over to platform 3 for the 13:15 from Newcastle, which is a booked tram. Both Dad's face and my face showed annoyance when we saw that it was a DVT coming around the corner, vice tram powercar. We got on in the buffet coach and, with the Milkfloat usually at the northern end of the train; we had no idea which one it would be. Just to rub the salt in the wound though, the guard apologized for there being no coach J and that it was because of a last minute set swap. Coach K is replacing it. Neither one of us were amused at this but we enjoyed the journey anyway and I couldn't stop thinking that it was the last train that I would be using my North East Rover on. This meant that when I got to Doncaster, my rover was truly over. I watched winner 91109 howl away toward Kings Cross, glad that it had been a winner taking me from York. Dad didn't have so much luck, with 'Sir Bobby Robson' being dud for him but he did have something at Donny to please him because sat in the sidings right next to platform 8 was 67012, his favorite shovel (but definitely not the best shovel. That is Thomas Telford).

We headed to the Northern end of platform 8 and watched the trains roll past, which included 91126 on a Leeds train. I wasn't on it this time though! I agreed to get a coffee and drink for us and headed down the platform to Costa where I got dad another Latte and myself a BCCC (I don't think I need to say what that is ) before wandering up the platform, handing dad his coffee and grabbing a photo of a Milkfloat and Dusty Bin side by side (not a real Dusty. This was a 322) along with a few more shots of just the Dusty.

Clashing colours by fishquinn1, on Flickr

It surprised me how much actually passed in the short time we were there (just under an hour with at least 11 locos which is pretty good for a Sunday) and we spent a bit of time chatting with a fellow rail enthusiast who had come down to Donny to see the train that we were heading south on. And from then, it wasn't long until it arrived on platform 8, ready for a loco change from 66701 and 66736...


If you don't yet know what train we were getting back to Brum, then it is the GBRF charity railtour 'The Noah's Ark' (complete with headboard) from Glasgow to Crewe. This train is split into 3 different 'legs', those legs being Glasgow-Newcastle (via Carlisle) with a pair of brush, Newcastle to Doncaster with a pair of Blue Deaths and then Doncaster-Burton/New Street/Crewe with some traction that was about to couple to the front after the 66s had come off. GBRF occasionally run charity tours to raise money for certain charities. These are usually after GBRF staff charters because the stock would have to get back base somehow so drivers and stewards volunteer to work for the day and GBRF can then run what would be an ECS as a way to make some money for a charity. And with £20 a leg it is also an absolute bargain! I got on and got Dad and I a bay of 4 near the back of the train, as you're definitely not going to get a seat near the front while Dad got himself a beer and watched the blue deaths head over to Roberts Road and the traction that had gravitated loads and loads and loads of enthusiasts onto this tour come on to the front. This was my first 2 of the class for haulage on the mainline so I was really looking forward to the journey with winners 20096 and 20107! Now that's a way to head home in style!

A couple of people sat down opposite the seat that I was occupying, after asking if any were taken of course. Dad came along shortly after that saying that the bombs had attached to the front ok and that we should be on the move in a minute. I'll mention now another reason why this tour was so full as well (at least from Doncaster) now. 2 words. The. Route. Sheffield was shut meaning everything between the 2 at Doncaster was a bus. Of course, via Sheffield is the most direct route between the two so what route were these bombs going to take to get to the bat cave? All will be revealed further on in the report.

I headed to the only free vestibule window a few minutes before departure ready for my first mainline bomb trash and away from the rover zones. And I felt a jerk forward and heard some mega thrash as the pair of brilliant locos pulled a trainload full of enthusiasts away from the platforms of Doncaster I headed back to the seat to get some soche with Dad and we entered Doncaster Down Decoy before stopping again. And that's where we stayed. After about 10 minutes Dad suggested to me that they had forgotten to get someone to man a certain signal box but he checked RTT and saw that we were actually waiting for a late running freight train to clear the branch that we were about to go down. Then, after about 20 minutes of waiting, 60015 rolled past and we eventually moved again, about 35 minutes late and onto the Maltby freight only branch line for some whopper bomb thrash along their old stomping grounds. This was winner track for both Dad and me so it was nice to get some and we were both up at one of the free windows in the next coach about 10 minutes after going onto the branch. We spotted loads and loads of footballs and he held my hand out of the window quite a few times to get hit by leaves and twigs coming as well. Good times.

The tour eventually cleared the Maltby branch and came onto the Sheffield to Lincoln line for a few moments to get some more winner track and trash through Shireoaks station before it took a right turn and onto a freight only curve which led onto the Robin Hood line. Both the curve and the Robin Hood line are (surprise surprise) winner track. The bombs continued pulling the 11 coaches down through Whitwell, Creswell and Langwith Whaley Thorns and dad and I continued getting some mega thrash and we hadn't sat down since getting up after Donny. It was so informal on the train; nobody cared that all of the windows were down, admittedly all with enthusiasts hanging out of but imagine the look on the faces of some normals if they were on a service train and people were doing that! It would be priceless! We screamed through Shirebrook, a shadow of its former self (where the depot used to be) and continued through the Mansfield stations, Sutton Parkway and Kirkby in Ashfield before taking a left onto another bit of winner track in the form of another freight branch. This one connected the Robin Hood line and the line between Chesterfield and Nottingham so once we joined that bit of passenger line; I was on my first bit of dud track since Doncaster! And it didn't stay dud for long because after the tour had passed Langley Mill, it was only a short stretch to Trowell Junction where instead of turning off towards Nottingham, we continued straight. This was the point I head to ready the back of my train-spotting book as Toton Yard was rapidly approaching. When I pass busy yards on trains, I always flick to the last few pages of the book so you can just write what you see and don't need to put commas or make sure it is neat. You just scribe. And that is exactly what I did, making my focus the stuff which moves, so not the things that I had already had. I managed to ID 19 locos in there and of course, with it being Toton and us doing the line speed past it, I missed loads and loads and loads of locos in there. Although I was very glad to have got a winner red death in there, 66226 (which is a visiting Euroshed).

The bombs raced on after Toton and we were now only running about 5 late (if that) and we headed right again at the 'Trent triangle' and onto the winner track again in the form of the freight only line to Stenson Junction. We are booked to wait at Stenson Junction for 20 minutes but due to both excellent running and the timetable being quite lax, we were on time again so they just sent us onward from Stenson where we went up to full speed to the mainline romp to Burton-on-Trent, the first stop on this service (if you look at it as a service starting from Doncaster. If you see it starting at Glasgow then it is the 5th stop, which is still 10 stops better than the passenger service with a direct service between the 2). We passed a freight train at the station, which was in the first part of the 2-part loop. We occupied the station as it was time to drop lots of people off who wanted to get back up north and didn't want to risk a plus 14 at New Street onto the 20:04 from there. It was currently about 19:00 and after leaving Burton station, we immediately got looped for a Cross Country UHT to pass. This was a booked stop so after about 7 minutes of waiting for the 221 to clear the route, we set off again in front of the freight that had got there first. The thrash was monstrous heading onto the mainline because the bombs could wind up to full speed easily and just thrash away down this stretch of track. We were RA Tamworth, which was nice for a change and all to soon we were joining onto the line that I had been on just over a week before. The Leicester to New Street line. Both of us were feeling hungry now so Dad got his phone out to check if there were any chippys nearby. There was one that was quite a walk away but we decided to try it anyway and after a fantastic ride from Doncaster, we were sad to get off the coach that had been having us for 104 miles. But what surprised me the most was both how crowded the platform end at New Street was. Picture rush hour on a 3 coach Reddich train with 1 coach out. Now take that picture out of your head because this was nothing like it. This was absolute chaos! But a good kind of chaos. The second thing I noticed was how short a time the bombs were in the platform for. It was most definitely under 2 minutes before all the doors were closed and 20096 and 20107 gave a final horn and thrashed away like crazy into the New Street tunnels, ready for a non-stop run to Crewe.

Just before the 20s had left, I saw my last 2 locos of the trip arriving on the platform opposite. This was 43301 and 43285, which were forming the 20:04 to Leeds. Probably the port of call for most people who got off at New Street. But not us. We just walked straight up the main road towards where the chippy was meant to be. But what did we find? Something that looks like some tacky fast food place and a sad excuse for a proper Fish and Chip shop. Neither of us really needed to say anything to the other as it was obvious what we were thinking. And we both spun around and began the walk to Birmingham Snow Hill. Dad said that in the time we had left, the only other thing that we could really do for tea would be McRansid's. I said no to that right away and we both agreed that we could get a cheese toastie or something when we got home. This was fine with Dad so we headed through the open barriers at Snow Hell station and onto the train waiting on platform 2, the last one of my trip. This was the 20:12 to Marylebone and had 168005 doing the honors of taking us both the 23.25 miles back to Leamington, stopping at Solihull (KMN), Widney Manor (KMN), Dorridge (KMN), Warwick Parkway (KMN), Warwick (KMN) and finally Leamington where we both got off after one of, if not the best railtour that I had ever been on and a fully terrific week away! Well done GBRF and I would like to thank Granny and Granddad for having me, and Dad for coming up and Mum for picking both Dad and I up from Leamington. It was an amazing week away and definitely a supreme way to end the brilliant trip.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Both days were a great read, but I am confused a little by something on the first post

Just on cue, 1E05 rolled in with double duds 43307 and 43313, the set with the EC exterior and EMT interior.

Is it actually on loan to VTEC or cascaded?

 

[FQ]

I'm guessing it's cascaded because the interior of the set is all EMT but the exterior is painted in East Coast silver with East Coast branding.

 

[backontrack]

What, no creamy coolers?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

What, no creamy coolers?

That sounds like something you can get from certain parts of Soho

 

[Techniquest]

What a fantastic couple of days! Jealous of the 20s as I've never had one on the mainline, and what a bargain tour fare you had!

I see you had a cooler at Donny, Belgian Chocolate I take it? I'm a bit boring as I normally only have americano at Costa. I treated myself to a mocha recently for a celebratory coffee mind!

Bet it was strange getting home after so long away, and loved the KMN thing for the Chiltern stops at the end there! Brum has no decent chippies anywhere, although apparently Dorridge has one!

 

[FQ]

It most definitely was.

It was a Belgian Chocolate one at Donny yep.

It was very strange getting back into work again at home, that's for sure. Thanks for the feedback!

Dorridge does have a chippy very close to the station. It's basically exit the station cross the road and then walk down the road for about 10 seconds.

 

[Iskra]

I'm guessing it's cascaded because the interior of the set is all EMT but the exterior is painted in East Coast silver with East Coast branding.

I once asked a guard on that set, he told he it was 'borrowed' from EMT.

Great report and wow, the 20's sounded amazing fun. GBRF are planning a 4 day railtour next September so I might have to indulge to try get some class 20 haulage! Although I've never done a long railtour (only York-Scarborough with 4472) so not sure what to expect or how well I'd endure it!

 

[FQ]

I will try and get on that one but only really on a bit with 87002/86101 or if there are any bits with brush in my neck of the woods. Thanks for the gen on the EMT set.

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like an amazing time

 

[47403]

Top effort young fishquinn, great read indeed, certainly finished it in style with a pair of choppers, insanely jealous of that move, especially passing Toton.
I used to and from time to time, still do exactly that, with the back of my notebook, when passing yards/depots, however 99.9% of the time I use a dictaphone, when out and about on the rails, much better for getting coaching stock and is ideal for busy yards/depots, maybe worth thinking about in future.
Glad the advice came in handy for the chippy, no problem at all, if you'd been older, I'd have told you about Tilley's, Bodega's and the Red Star for a decent pint or in Tilleys and Bodega's case, some quality Real Ales or the nearest Wetherspoons.