-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
FQ's trips around the globe
- Thread starter FQ
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
There most certainly is a reason to pay a little more money to avoid them!
Kite - I know that you will go for them happily but you like 159s so...
Cactus - 2 hours?! You're crazy!
96tommy - I'm not over the top with it! Trams are trams because they had driving cabs at each end. Milkfloats are milkfloats because they kind of sound like them.
Kite - I know that you will go for them happily but you like 159s so...
Cactus - 2 hours?! You're crazy!
96tommy - I'm not over the top with it! Trams are trams because they had driving cabs at each end. Milkfloats are milkfloats because they kind of sound like them.
I do think you *could* have been a little more economical with that move (I'm sure the following 1S53 is an HST) and done something like got on the platform and claimed to feel ill, getting yourself endorsed onto the next service and disappearing into the toilet for a moment before turning up miraculously better ready for the 17:03 [emoji38]
That said, I require Wolverhampton to Stafford so probably wouldn't have minded going via Manchester myself. Especially with cheap TPE fares at my disposal.
Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk
That said, I require Wolverhampton to Stafford so probably wouldn't have minded going via Manchester myself. Especially with cheap TPE fares at my disposal.
Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk
Ouch. Good call on the Manchester route then. I'm not the biggest fan of Voyagers and do tend to flag any ones substituting an HST where I have a choice, like I did with the ALR for as long as I possibly could!
I see absolutely nothing wrong in what you did.
The time will come when you are paying the bills and are having to work out if you can afford a move or have to give it a miss in order to pay the insurance.
Once you reach that point you might be a little less cavalier.
You'll have plenty of time to worry about that later, for now enjoy the benefits of being young - these are times that will stay with you for life, so make the most of them and do what you want (within reason!).
The time will come when you are paying the bills and are having to work out if you can afford a move or have to give it a miss in order to pay the insurance.
Once you reach that point you might be a little less cavalier.
You'll have plenty of time to worry about that later, for now enjoy the benefits of being young - these are times that will stay with you for life, so make the most of them and do what you want (within reason!).
Indeed, at your age (that sounds VERY weird considering I'm not even 18 yet!) I tended to opt for the best train I could get, so that would normally mean an East Coast (back in the day!) service. Nowadays it's about the cheapness so my bashes normally always start with a 185 or 220/221 move (believe it or not, XC can be cheap on the Newcastle to York flow!)
Indeed, I've been sat in Frothbucks since 7:55 waiting for my girlfriend because I nabbed a £5.10 fare on the 6:03 off Newcy that was too good to miss [emoji38]
Indeed, I've been sat in Frothbucks since 7:55 waiting for my girlfriend because I nabbed a £5.10 fare on the 6:03 off Newcy that was too good to miss [emoji38]
Last edited:
The fact that I've never had one and the fact that they got rid of the brush and loco hauled stuff on the XC will never stop me flagging them. I've spent lots of money in my time avoiding them and that isn't going to stop!
185143
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2013
- Messages
- 5,347
Nowt wrong with a 159 and, as much as I wouldn't flag a Voyager (certainly not one with advances), I'd rather have a 142!
Out of interest, would your seat reservation have existed on the voyager?
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
backontrack
Established Member
Agreed. You can't have it your way all of the time. Get on a Voyager, and you might get a winner at the other end...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
You've never even had one! How do you know what they're like?
I doubt that it would've existed but it might have - I wouldn't know!
What would you rather have, a 142 or a 68?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
So not going to happen! I would only have got one winner by taking the UHTs (the one from York to Malton) but I ended up getting 3 by going via Mancc!
I've answered the 'how do I know' question many times but the main reason I refuse to travel on them is what they replaced. Then you go into the smell that you can get from the platform, the horrid drone of them, the fact that they always seem to be delayed and make better things late, the overcrowded nature of them and many more things!
alexf380
Established Member
A good read indeed young Fishquinn, however I have to agree with the majority of people up-thread. At least you had the choice to avoid the Voyagers, some of us have no option with where we come from!
Great read. I remember someone in the 80s that I knew sleeping on a bench in Penzance for the night just to avoid a 50 on the sleepers. At the end of the day it's personal preference in this hobby and as 55013 said just enjoy being young and having the freedom to make the decisions you want to make.
It's a game with no set rules, and twenty-five years ago I would have seriously considered taking one of the other benches at Penzance that night just to show my disgust. I'd give anything to have a fifty on the up midnight now though and a few years ago a friend and I did a pair on a railtour to York and I absolutely loved it.
Maybe you'll be doing a tour to York on a pair of Voyagers in twenty-five years time (repainted in historic XC livery) telling anybody that can be bothered to listen "I didn't used to like these you know, but that toilet smell is so evocative"
It's a game with no set rules, and twenty-five years ago I would have seriously considered taking one of the other benches at Penzance that night just to show my disgust. I'd give anything to have a fifty on the up midnight now though and a few years ago a friend and I did a pair on a railtour to York and I absolutely loved it.
Maybe you'll be doing a tour to York on a pair of Voyagers in twenty-five years time (repainted in historic XC livery) telling anybody that can be bothered to listen "I didn't used to like these you know, but that toilet smell is so evocative"
Thanks guys!
Alex - I agree that I'm lucky to be able to avoid them!
Cowley - One of dad's friends did the same thing at Liskeard to avoid a log on one. I personally quite like them. I don't think I'd appear on a UHT railtour as I'm sure whatever replaces them will be much better! A 142 would be better (I can hear 185143 cheering now)!
Alex - I agree that I'm lucky to be able to avoid them!
Cowley - One of dad's friends did the same thing at Liskeard to avoid a log on one. I personally quite like them. I don't think I'd appear on a UHT railtour as I'm sure whatever replaces them will be much better! A 142 would be better (I can hear 185143 cheering now)!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Hopefully it turns up aye!
I'm going against the flow and agreeing with you, if I didn't have to suffer them ever I'd be well away. I can't believe I used to enjoy them...
roversfan2001
Established Member
Great write-ups FQ!
Have to say though, paying a fair bit of money and wasting advances just because it's a Voyager seems rather wasteful, each to their own though I guess.
Have to say though, paying a fair bit of money and wasting advances just because it's a Voyager seems rather wasteful, each to their own though I guess.
185143
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2013
- Messages
- 5,347
I would MUCH rather have a 142 than a 68! Currently stopped outside Liverpool South Parkway on a pair of 142s btw
What coach was your reservation in? (I may be Slightly[\B] more sympathetic if it didn't exist!
Last edited:
Techniquest
Veteran Member
68s over 142s, no question!
Thanks Tech! No idea what coach at the moment and I'm not sure if I still have the reservations! If I do then they'll be buried in a very large box filled with tickets though so I can't be bothered going to find them.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Depends what the 68s are hauling
A 68 hauled 142 would be better than a 68 hauled 442!
You're crazy!
My gast has been well and truly flabbered by the gen that someone chose a bench over a 50.
50s are brilliant, my second favourite class.
My mates and I did many a Friday night drive from Yorkshire in order to be in position for a Saturday on 50s.
50s are brilliant, my second favourite class.
My mates and I did many a Friday night drive from Yorkshire in order to be in position for a Saturday on 50s.
I don't know, you might like to stand back and watch! A powerful 68 hauling a tin foil 142 would probably shake it apart and ready it for Booths [emoji38]
I think it was familiarity breeding contempt i.e. 50s were everywhere. Of course looking back now anything with a loco on would be nice in my eyes.
Personally I didn't mind 50s but I preferred to bash 47s as they were harder to clear. I'd cleared the 50s pretty early on anyway including 006 (a beast) and 011.
Reminds me of something a few of my dad's friends did back in the day to avoid a 50. The brush failed close to Oxford where the only available loco was a 50. After hearing that they opened the doors, dropped down onto the track, crossed them and went to the pub
.--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The strike on the north day 3: The right beginning
Day 3? Day two was the Sunday and all we did was chill out at the house and head to the NYMR for an afternoon spin to Whitby and back (alas on a kettle), meeting up with Yorkie and Starmill for the journey back to Pickering. Day 3 was the Monday and the first day of our North East rover and we were very much looking forward to it. I'd set my alarm for 07:00 and we got up to boiled eggs for brekky - excellent! We had a nice chat with granny over brekky before heading to the bus stop at 07:45.
The bus to Malton arrived on time (shock horror!) and we got on and prepared to buy our weekly season tickets but, as I didn't have any cash, the driver said to get them at Malton (it's 2016 and they don't have any card machines on the bus!). We went to the top deck of the double decker and tried to relax on the awful bus for the ride to Malton, getting there with 48 minutes until our train (no kidding - they've updated the timetable since last year!). We went to the ticket office here but apparently he can't issue weekly seasons! This is just appalling! I went to get some cash out from a cash machine and then went back to the bus station where a bus had just arrived. We went to the driver to get our season tickets but he said that he couldn't issue us child tickets because if you're over 11 you need freaking ID! What 14 year old carries ID, let alone an 11 year old?! I asked if it was a new rule as I had no problems last year buying singles and returns but apparently it had been in action all the time! That's just... rubbish! There's no way I'm paying for the adult fare!
We left the 'chingliner' bus station and walked over to the station where we took a seat for the rest of our fester. The 09:13 to Liverpool was delayed by a few minutes because the Scarborough was late (as always) but it could soon access the single platform at Malton. This was my first dud 185 of the trip, 185131 and we just managed to get seats on this service with people standing on departure. This was our first move on our North East Rover and the 25-minute journey felt quite quick with some tunes and we were soon arriving at York.
The plan we had for today at first was to wait until the 09:58 Grand Central to Sunderland and take it to Northallerton. Both Nat and I needed two GC powercars, us both different ones (I needed 468 and 484, Nat needed 467 and 480) so it was fairly likely that one of us would score one. We went over to the platform for them and were soon watching dud for both of us 43423 arrive with...
Score for Nat 43467. This is a pair of duds for 100 for me but at least Nat managed to get one. We easily got a bay of 4 on board this fairly empty service and relaxed for the 30-minute race up the ECML, stopping at Thirsk on the way. Northallerton was our stop so we got off and slammed a few doors to get the tram on its way before waiting 30 minutes for our next train. 30 minutes at Northallerton isn't fun but it was better than last year because I had some company. We soon saw a milkfloat in the distance, barely visible in loads of break dust, and got ready for a ride to Darlington. I wasn't very happy with the milkfloat on the front as it was my stalker the year before, 91126. Nat was happy enough though as he needed it. We got on board the leading coach and easily found a bay of 4. It was my first refurbished milkfloat set, which was nice, and it's certainly an improvement on the old interior but I still don't like MK4s.
We left 126 at Darlington, as we'd get onto 1E09 from here, a southbound tram. We watched the milkfloat leave and I got a couple of photos before it buzzed away along the line.
Darlington milkfloat by fishquinn1, on FlickrThen it was over to the other platform for a short wait until 'E09, the 11:28 to Kings Cross. We were both thoroughly annoyed to see a DVT approaching on this but we went for the vice set anyway. We were both even more annoyed to see the pushing milkfloat was 91125, a dud for both of us. We got on board the busy service and endured the jerky milkfloat ride back to York, arriving just under half an hour later. I immediately noticed that the northern lights to Aberdeen had only just arrived when we got there so we ran down the platform and over to platform 9, managing to get onto the incredibly busy service with duds 43257 and 43290, the former of which was required for Nat. We couldn't get seats so instead enjoyed some window hanging on our first VTEC tram on the North East rover.
We left York a few minutes late and lost a few more minutes in the Northallerton area before thrashing forward again. We would have missed the connection at Darlington so continued on this pair forward to Newcastle, making up a couple of minutes en route. Both powercars were cleared for 100 by Newcastle too.
At Newcastle, we were arriving at the same time as the southbound tram set so we had to run. The moment I saw the rear powercar I was into sprint mode. I was well ahead of Nathan as I headed across the footbridge and down onto the platform in time to get on board. Nat made it too and we were both happy, knowing that we'd both scored a powercar. No kidding! It was my penultimate VTEC powercar pushing, 43296! Dud for both of us 43251 was leading and I was glad to get it again as it was on 705.5 miles so another 80.25 would do good. We got seats on board as we headed back over the big bridge and were soon winding around the curves of County Durham. The journey through to York was nice enough and we were soon passing the NRM once again, getting there before the Highland Chieftain had left. We had to run for it but made it onto double duds 43299 and 43206. Nat needed both and I needed both for 100, something that was rectified by the time we bailed at Newcastle.
The connection onto the southbound milkfloat here missed so we got a couple of photos and watched the tram leave before exiting the station and heading over to the chippy that 47403 had let me know about the year before.
Newcastle tram by fishquinn1, on FlickrA doner and chips was got and taken back to the station, where we had a short wait before the 15:30 to Kings Cross. This was another booked milkfloat (there aren't any southbound trams at this sort of time) and arrived on time with one of my milkfloats just shy of 100 miles having had it twice on my North East last year. This was 91129, which was also a score for Nathan, and we easily managed to get ourselves a bay of two in the very rear coach for the bounce back to York in the MK4s.
We got back to York on time an hour later after a journey that felt much longer than it was, even with music. I'm not keen on milkfloats or MK4s, that's for sure! We only had 10 minutes to wait at York before the service that we'd be getting back to Malton, the 16:40. I knew that it'd be quite busy from experience and today was no exception to the rule as dud 185105 was very busy upon departure from York. I was very glad that it was the 1st class coach at the back as it meant that we could get seats on board without any problems. Well, more me. Nat had the option to take a seat but didn't because he didn't want to wedge someone out! He just stood in the vestibule for the journey and then moaned to me that he didn't have a seat! I was not sympathetic!
When we got to Malton we had a little while to wait at the bus station before our bus back to Pickering, which was oddly a hire in. We got on and asked for our child seasons to Pickering but were told that we'd need ID for them so the driver said that she's simply sell us singles to Pickering instead. We said this and she said that it'd be £4.20. I knew this to be the price of 2 child singles so we paid and it was confusing by the fact that both Nat and I handed money over so we had no idea what the other person handed over before going to the top deck and checking change. I'd called dad in my disgust about the season ticket and he said that he'd look into it (it isn't even advertised in the timetable where they have a list of fares!). We then checked change and saw that we'd most certainly been charged over the £4.20 advertised! I went back down to the driver and queried it and she said that you need ID for any child fare, not just a season ticket! To say I was thoroughly ticked off is the understatement of the centaury. I furiously went back up to the top deck and called dad to say and he said that he'd call the customer services at the awful bus company, now known to Nat and I as 'Chingliner'. Believe it or not, that £4.20 is just an adult single for the few miles to Pickering, the return is even more and just the single was 25% of what we were going to pay for our season ticket!
We got off the bus at Pickering and took the short walk back to the house and let granny and granddad know what had happened when we got there. They both thought it absolutely ridiculous and insisted on taking us to and from the station each day! This was incredibly kind and we both offered the cash we would've given to chingliner for the season ticket but they declined. We were both incredibly grateful and I was very happy knowing that I could cast a metaphorical hammer down on something else. Coastliner is banned.
After a cracking dinner made by granddad, we decided to wander down to Pickering station to watch 37264 arrive. We were just to be out for a short time but got to the station in good time to see 37264 arrive with a load of coaches from Grosmont, uncouple and thrash to the reversing point before thrashing out of Pickering to New Bridge. It was an excellent thing to hear and I got a few photos too.
37264 at Pickering by fishquinn1, on Flickr
37264 at Pickering by fishquinn1, on FlickrA great end to a great day (obviously except the buses)!
Sounds like a good day, though the exclusively 43/91/185 haulage would have had me yawning, mainly because I've cleared all three classes (well, at least the XC/GC/VTEC HSTs) [emoji38]
However, I'd still be partial to some nice long runs on the HSTs, and indeed the GC ones probably need a mileage boost on my part.
As for the buses, it's insane but a common requirement. However, it should be advertised, so next time you do use a bus (which I can imagine being a long time away [emoji38] ) I'd be prepared with something to show. It used to be the same up here but it's recently changed to £1 single any distance for under 19s with no ID required. I think the exception is the X9/X10 Newcastle to Middlesbrough express which is £2, not bad though considering that it rivals the train for journey time!
Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk
However, I'd still be partial to some nice long runs on the HSTs, and indeed the GC ones probably need a mileage boost on my part.
As for the buses, it's insane but a common requirement. However, it should be advertised, so next time you do use a bus (which I can imagine being a long time away [emoji38] ) I'd be prepared with something to show. It used to be the same up here but it's recently changed to £1 single any distance for under 19s with no ID required. I think the exception is the X9/X10 Newcastle to Middlesbrough express which is £2, not bad though considering that it rivals the train for journey time!
Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk
- Status