FQ's trips around the globe

[Techniquest]

It took me ages to find my last LO 172, hopefully the CH ones won't be so bad. At least I can say I've had a CH 172 on LO territory!

 

[FQ]

172101 and 172104 I think for my requirements on CH 172s. Didn't you know LM had 150s and used them most days on the Hereford to Birmingham route? I'd love to have a 150 on my local route again!

Same 2 as me then!

I knew LM had 150s but to use them on the Hereford trains when there are free 170s at Tysley seems absurd.
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It took me ages to find my last LO 172, hopefully the CH ones won't be so bad. At least I can say I've had a CH 172 on LO territory!

Are 172101 and 172104 your last 2 172s?

 

[Techniquest]

Those 170s usually are on TS from the morning peak and will be back out in force during the evening peak. Anything left there then is on exam, the 150s are needed during the day to make this happen.

172101 and 172104, if they are indeed ones I need (I haven't looked at my NREA to check), are the last 172s I need yes.

 

[FQ]

Hi all,

I will be off the forums for about a week as we are heading out on the boats for christmas.

It should be fun!

Hope you all have a great Xmas!

 

[FQ]

The plan for the trip is a Northern based bash, including Liverpool, Preston and Manchester.
The dates are the 29th, 30th and 31st of Jan.
Here is a vague plan.

D1
Leamington Spa-Birmingham Moor Street-Birmingham New Street-Crewe-Liverpool Lime Street-Bidston-Penyffordd

D2
Penyffordd-Bidston-Liverpool-Ormskirk-Preston-Warrington Bank Quay-Chester-Wrexham General

D3
Penyffordd-Bidston-Liverpool Lime Street-Manchester Piccadilly-Crewe-
Birmingham New Street-Birmingham Moor Street-Leamington Spa

Should be fun!

 

[FQ]

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[Techniquest]

Sounds like an excellent day all in, plenty of ticks in the book for sight!

Agreed on Coventry station, although I prefer the railway station to the bus station!

 

[FQ]

The big bash begins in just 2 days, 20 hours and 25 minutes! I can't wait!

 

[Techniquest]

Hope it's an excellent time, looking forward to the trip report and photos

6 days, 15 hours and 13 minutes until my trip launches!

 

[FQ]

Thanks!

Hope you have a great time and get loads of winners!

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks!

Hope you have a great time and get loads of winners!

Thanks, I'm hoping for that too! Going to be harder to get a lot of winners in Kent following 2014's epic spree, but we'll see

 

[FQ]

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[Kite159]

Sounds like an enjoyable day

 

[Kristofferson]

Bargain ticket for those journeys!

A decent variety of trains too, sounds like a good day on the rails. Not sure I could stomach that many Metro trains in one day - I'd imagine it'd be like riding the S Stock for hours! hock:

 

[Techniquest]

Nah, riding the 507s and 508s is MUCH more fun than riding around on S stocks all day! Well, as long as you're in the motor coaches it's great fun. Trust me, I've spent enough on Merseyrail in 2014 to know

You might think that fare is outrageous fishquinn, don't forget that for me that WMDR is £24.80, much more than you'll have to pay for a while! Seems a waste of a WMDR just doing LMS > CRE one way though!

Very productive day for the young enthusiast, even though he only did the Liverpool Loop. Much more enjoyable ride on a long and faster run!

 

[FQ]

Nah, riding the 507s and 508s is MUCH more fun than riding around on S stocks all day! Well, as long as you're in the motor coaches it's great fun. Trust me, I've spent enough on Merseyrail in 2014 to know

You might think that fare is outrageous fishquinn, don't forget that for me that WMDR is £24.80, much more than you'll have to pay for a while! Seems a waste of a WMDR just doing LMS > CRE one way though!

Very productive day for the young enthusiast, even though he only did the Liverpool Loop. Much more enjoyable ride on a long and faster run!

I guess I won't need to pay as much for it as an adult, but I don't think it should have gone up 50p! I don't think it is a waste of a WMDR to do LMS-CRE single, as an anytime single is £21!

I decided to just do the loop because I was mainly after winners and wanted quite a lot of time on the heavy rail and not risk missing my train to Bidston. Although I did do a little of the Northern Line on the Friday, even though it was just to Sandhills, but the trip report is coming!

Nathan, who isn't allowed to go solo to Liverpool yet (even though he is 15 in early March) is heading up with his dad on the 14th and he has invited me along, mainly for the Merseyrail stuff as he has only seen 2 507s and 2 508s, but he also wants the winner track. Lots of it is required for me too, so it works out well with a few long runs.

 

[Techniquest]

Fair enough, makes sense in that case

Looking forward to the rest when you've got time to do it

 

[FQ]

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[Techniquest]

At least you didn't have the same issues I had with 150235

Quite a few Merseyrail EMUs in the book by the looks of it, as well as a handful of Northern's lot. Sounds like the ex-LM 150s have got quite nasty since they left my patch

Looking forward to a continued good read, although I'm curious how you define your Super Duds. I count a train as Super Dud if I've travelled in all coaches of it (which means it'll take a while to make 377/6s Super Duds!), I'm interested in your way of counting trains as Super Duds though

 

[FQ]

At least you didn't have the same issues I had with 150235

Quite a few Merseyrail EMUs in the book by the looks of it, as well as a handful of Northern's lot. Sounds like the ex-LM 150s have got quite nasty since they left my patch

Looking forward to a continued good read, although I'm curious how you define your Super Duds. I count a train as Super Dud if I've travelled in all coaches of it (which means it'll take a while to make 377/6s Super Duds!), I'm interested in your way of counting trains as Super Duds though

Yep, the Northern 150/1s are terrible now. I never tried them when they were LM though, so unfortunately can't compare.

I count a unit as a super dud when I have traveled on it the amount of times it has the number of coaches.

Eg: A 390/0 will be a super dud when I have traveled on it 9 times and a 507 will be a super dud when I have traveled on it 3 times.

A loco is counted as a super dud when I have traveled on it 3 times.

 

[Techniquest]

Don't get me wrong, they weren't amazing down here but the image in my head from your experience on 150111 indicates they've been neglected

Fair games on the Super Dud method, same as mine although I record which coaches I do, if that makes sense. I still haven't worked out for sure locos and power cars, although I am leaning towards having to get a thousand miles off them first.

 

[FQ]

Don't get me wrong, they weren't amazing down here but the image in my head from your experience on 150111 indicates they've been neglected

Fair games on the Super Dud method, same as mine although I record which coaches I do, if that makes sense. I still haven't worked out for sure locos and power cars, although I am leaning towards having to get a thousand miles off them first.

Once I get 1000 miles off a loco, I consider it as 'cleared'.

The last day should be here soon!

 

[Segedunum]

The ex-LM 150s are in a horrible state. From what I could tell when I last used on a month ago from Wigan, they'd basically been given Northern seat covers and been left to decay. The 150s are a weird mixed bag with Northern as both sub classes have their highs and lows.

 

[FQ]

The ex-LM 150s are in a horrible state. From what I could tell when I last used on a month ago from Wigan, they'd basically been given Northern seat covers and been left to decay. The 150s are a weird mixed bag with Northern as both sub classes have their highs and lows.

Agreed.

Northern are putting up these posters saying 'You want better trains, we are listening' and then giving a picture of a 319 being refurbished, but while they do these 319s, the 150/1s are still rotting away. Why not refurbish them next, to a 156 standard?

 

[Techniquest]

Probably not the money for it yet. They'll have to be done eventually for DDA compliance, plus you've got to fit in with the time the works have for them I guess too.

Doesn't excuse their rancidity in the meantime enough but worth considering.

 

[FQ]

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[Kite159]

Sometimes it helps getting the rover code & name up on BR Fares as it gives some ticket sellers something to look for.

Sounds like a busy day

 

[Techniquest]

A very busy day for the young enthusiast! Plenty of winners in, and I'm jealous with 507019 as it's one of just two 507s I need for sight (one of three for haulage)!

Well done on clearing your 185s for sight, awesome feeling isn't it when you clear a class not local to you!

Glad you had a productive day there, any more trips in the near future?

 

[FQ]

Thanks for the advice Kite!

Techniquest - What is the other 507 you need for sight and what is the other you need for haulage? It did feel great when I saw the number of that 185!

I went out yesterday so there will be another trip report soon. I will be out again on Thursday and again on Saturday (for the West Mids Challenge) and then on the 28th (going to the MNR).

 

[Techniquest]

Not sure what the 507s I need are without referencing my NREA, which is not to hand at this time. 507026 comes to mind but not sure.

Looking forward to the next trip reports, and hopefully there'll be some good results for you on your West Midlands Challenge and to the MNR!