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FQ's trips around the globe
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backontrack
Established Member
Both of you really have. You should be knighted or something for 'services to the Trips Reports' forum. I can picture it now, the Queen holding a massive drinks straw from Costa Coffee and saying "I dub you Sir Quinn of Leamington". :P
We could send Techni lots of photos of the event, but he wouldn't be able to view the attachments on his phone.
Shame, as 'Sir Techniquest of Nowhere Heath' has a nice ring to it. :P
We could send Techni lots of photos of the event, but he wouldn't be able to view the attachments on his phone.
Shame, as 'Sir Techniquest of Nowhere Heath' has a nice ring to it. :P
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
Nowhere Heath 
Kite159
Veteran Member
And as your 1000th post gift, have a pair of tickets to Devon.
And spend your time avoiding pacers & voyagers
And spend your time avoiding pacers & voyagers
backontrack
Established Member
Thank you Mr. Kite! I will leave this Javelin for the Hammersmith & City Line, then make haste for an HST.
You've made the Trips & Reports forum a better place as well, so you get an e-cookie!
You've made the Trips & Reports forum a better place as well, so you get an e-cookie!
backontrack
Established Member
But anyway, back on topic...
I could type the textual version of the trip whilst you do the image version, if you like. If you PM'd me a few notes, of course.
I could type the textual version of the trip whilst you do the image version, if you like. If you PM'd me a few notes, of course.
backontrack
Established Member
Whatever you'd prefer. I've never typed up a report before, so it would be fun to do. But hey, I could always go nag help someone else!
backontrack
Established Member
In that case, I'd like to do it (if it's no trouble). 
August Big Bash day 5: My longest day
Well ok then. If you’re going to be pedantic then this isn't actually my longest day. That honor goes to the 23rd of October 2014 when I woke up at about 07:30 and got to bed at about Midnight thirty. Before taking an 8 hour time difference from Vancouver BC to Birmingham airport into account (so in effect I was up for 25 hours minus the 4 hours I was asleep after about 16:00/17:00). But that's enough about that. This is the longest day of my North East Rover and the day I got the most different turns in (15 for reference).
My day started like Monday and Wednesday at 07:15 with no breccie because this time I was certain that the cafe at Malton was open (I had done some research on that.) It was nice to have a glass of orange juice with Granny before heading off to the bus stop again ready for the stupidly early bus again. It was another double decker but beyond that I have no idea what it was (I dislike buses) except that it got me to Malton bus station in good time for a sausage and egg butty which was absolutely brilliant and well worth the money. I ate it on the bench while watching the Scarborough train roll in about 10 late (for the 3rd time out of 3) before the 09:13 to Lime Street arrived about 5 late with winner 185136. Has anyone noticed that most of my moves between Malton and York are throwing out winner diesel dezes? Not that I'm complaining! I was first on (in my coach anyway) and I made sure of that because I needed to have a plug socket to charge my iPod (my phone had been done the night before). Luckily there was a bay of 4 free so I took it and out my virtually dead iPod on charge while waiting for the diesel dez to enter the city of York where I left the train 25 minutes later, surprised at how well my iPod charged in the short time.
I currently had no plan for the day but decided to view the northbound Grand Central to see if 43468, 43480 (seen earlier in the week) or 43484 were on it. Yay! Dud 43467 was leading winner 43480 on the 09:58 to Sunderland. 43467 had previously been had as 43167 from Newcastle to York one afternoon in 2004 (if you remember, that was my 2nd ever tram turn and it was with 43319). The journey was ok and after a quick phone call to dad I knew what my plan for the day was. This meant that after a 10 minute wait at Northallerton (I never got further north than that on a GC tram), which included a Cross Country tram screaming through, I was heading north again, but this time on some traction that I only really used for the trips to Malton and back and a few York-Leeds trips. Yep, a 185. This was the 10:29 to Newcastle and was formed of winner (yay) 185108, one which I remember for some strange reason as 'the pink one'. At this point in time, I can't for the life of me think why. Anyway, I got a seat for the short hop to Darlo before crossing platforms and waiting for a couple of minutes for my Milkfloat back to York to arrive. It rolled in perfectly on time and my first words were 'yay' when I saw the loco. Winner 91129. I planted myself down in a free seat and turned my I-pod on making use of the free wifi for the 44.25 mile journey south.
20 minutes at York and I was getting ready to open the door of a mk3 on 'The Northern lights'. I stood in the vestibule as double duds 43309 and 43295 thrashed away on the 11:54 to Aberdeen. It was nice to do a bit of 125mph window hanging again and it was even better because I knew what I was meant to get back from Darlington. So after a brisk half hour run (not me, the tram), I was waiting at the end of the platform for a certain tram to arrive. Hello dud 43312 and winner 43206! It was nice to get another VTEC tram in the book, bringing my required number of East Coast ones down to eight (274, 296, 300, 302, 315, 316, 320 and 367). This is half the amount it was at the start of the trip. Another bit of thrash before baling again at York, ready for an hours lunch break. 3 guesses where I went...
A £3 meal deal was sourced from the nearby Sainsbury's local in the form of a chicken triple sarnie (which I haven't seen in any Sainsbury's for ages *whimper*), a big bottle of water and a pack of Kettle chips. Then I set up camp at the station while eating my lunch, waiting for the tram to arrive on the northbound Chieftain. I knew this tram could be one of two (based on Dad's help along with my timetables. There was no gen today so 206 was found out using basic deduction from the fact that it ended up at Craigentinny the night before.) The 2 options were 43311 with a different power car to when I had it on my first rover day. It would be 43300 (if you remember, that was one of the 8 I need) with 311 or, if I was very lucky, 43316 and 43320 together. So either way I would get at least 1 winner although it has to be said that I was slightly disappointed to see that it was dud 43311 leading the train even though winner 43300 was pushing at the rear. This is because I knew the alternative. But still, it's a low mileage one and a winner so how can I complain?
Soapy tram heading north by fishquinn1, on Flickr
Darlington came too soon and again, I had to get off for the 14:29 back. I knew which one this would be so I wasn't disappointed when duds for the week 43318 and 43277 pulled in. I had no fixed plan after York and I couldn't think of anything else to do, so I decided to see if any winner milkfloats were floating around (pun intended) Leeds. A quick look at my TPE timetable told me that there would be a diesel dez leaving York at 15:15 heading over. Normally I would try and go via Donny but since I was getting the 14:29 from Darlo (which arrives at York about 14:55), it would be a half hour fester for a milkfloat as the stopper goes from Newark at this hour so there isn't a 15:02 to the Cross. So after saying by to my set, I headed upstairs to Costa to by a...
Moving on.
I headed back to platform 3 in time for my Leeds bound cart which arrived 2 down at 15:16 with winner 185115 providing power. I hopped aboard securing myself a seat for the trek through the houses of Leeds. Neville Hill scored me my last Bugeye for sight (yay!) but that didn't stop me from being first off at Leeds and sprinting across the bridge to the Kings Cross train. I boarded it at 15:46 (thanks to our train being 4 late arriving), 1 minute after it had left. For a moment I thought it was to let the passengers from 185115 off but I then realized that it wouldn't be a valid connection even if the diesel dez had arrived right time. The Milkfloat eventually pulled away at 15:52, probably throwing my connection at Wakefield out the window. I also had to remember to get the loco number off my train at Wakey too but that didn't stop me from sprinting like mad onto another Milkfloat that was pulling in slightly late, heading towards Leeds. I remembered to get the number of the one that I had just came on from Leeds as we left, dud 91125. Oh well, you can't have them all. I then realized that I hadn't actually got the number of the loco pulling me back either! Another thing to get at 'Bugeye' central. This meant that I have to walk the full length of the train, as I needed both the DVT and 91 on this service! I headed to the front first to find that it was the 1st 91 that I had ever had (on 01/01/13), 91128. I then headed to the back and found out that it was the same DVT number as it was on the first day of 2013 too, 82210! It's obviously changed since 2013 but it's strange that when I get 91128 for the second time, it has the same DVT! Anyway, after getting off my slightly late train, I saw the other Kings Cross train leaving... With a winner on. That is the moment I just got thoroughly annoyed at Leeds and ran over the bridge, leaping onto winner 185151 on the 16:43 away from Leeds.
York came fairly soon and I got off, formulating a new plan. Then it struck me. The 17:54 from York (16:00 Kings Cross-Aberdeen) would be the only Neville Hill chuck out that I hadn't seen that day. 43316 and 43320. So if there wasn't a set swap during the day, a 50 minute wait at York would get me a double winner tram set! I spent the time at York doing a bit of spotting and closing tram doors for station staff. Then, 17:50 came so I ran over to platform 9 and watched a tram set roll in on the Aberdeen train. I got ready to leap in the air but instead of going up, I went down to the floor after seeing that the front powercar was freaking dud 43313! That meant that dud 43307 was at the back. Easy to say that I was extremely miffed, but I got on anyway because it is a tram and what else would I do if I stayed. I sunk down in a seat on the train before turning my pod of I on and making use of the free wifi to go on the forum for a bit. I knew it would be a 91 back from Darlo and I was very much hoping that it would show a winner and was even more annoyed that I currently was to see mega dud 91126 pushing the train. This was one that I had had 2 times this week already and spoiler alert, it wasn't the last time I got it. But the darn thing did a good enough job of giving me a 45 minute wait at York for the next Scarborough train. My hope was still slightly up because I knew the luck that I had been having with the 185s, but it fell off a cliff when dud for the day 185115 rolled in. Blinking hell! I begrudgingly got on board and evaluated the day. It started off brilliantly with 3 tram winners, 1 milkfloat winner and 4 Diesel Dez winners. It then dropped down with only one of those winners (a diesel dez) being in the second half. But I'll call it a successful day and that's what I thought for the rest of the day after being picked up at Malton station by Granddad (too late for any busses).
Well ok then. If you’re going to be pedantic then this isn't actually my longest day. That honor goes to the 23rd of October 2014 when I woke up at about 07:30 and got to bed at about Midnight thirty. Before taking an 8 hour time difference from Vancouver BC to Birmingham airport into account (so in effect I was up for 25 hours minus the 4 hours I was asleep after about 16:00/17:00). But that's enough about that. This is the longest day of my North East Rover and the day I got the most different turns in (15 for reference).
My day started like Monday and Wednesday at 07:15 with no breccie because this time I was certain that the cafe at Malton was open (I had done some research on that.) It was nice to have a glass of orange juice with Granny before heading off to the bus stop again ready for the stupidly early bus again. It was another double decker but beyond that I have no idea what it was (I dislike buses) except that it got me to Malton bus station in good time for a sausage and egg butty which was absolutely brilliant and well worth the money. I ate it on the bench while watching the Scarborough train roll in about 10 late (for the 3rd time out of 3) before the 09:13 to Lime Street arrived about 5 late with winner 185136. Has anyone noticed that most of my moves between Malton and York are throwing out winner diesel dezes? Not that I'm complaining! I was first on (in my coach anyway) and I made sure of that because I needed to have a plug socket to charge my iPod (my phone had been done the night before). Luckily there was a bay of 4 free so I took it and out my virtually dead iPod on charge while waiting for the diesel dez to enter the city of York where I left the train 25 minutes later, surprised at how well my iPod charged in the short time.
I currently had no plan for the day but decided to view the northbound Grand Central to see if 43468, 43480 (seen earlier in the week) or 43484 were on it. Yay! Dud 43467 was leading winner 43480 on the 09:58 to Sunderland. 43467 had previously been had as 43167 from Newcastle to York one afternoon in 2004 (if you remember, that was my 2nd ever tram turn and it was with 43319). The journey was ok and after a quick phone call to dad I knew what my plan for the day was. This meant that after a 10 minute wait at Northallerton (I never got further north than that on a GC tram), which included a Cross Country tram screaming through, I was heading north again, but this time on some traction that I only really used for the trips to Malton and back and a few York-Leeds trips. Yep, a 185. This was the 10:29 to Newcastle and was formed of winner (yay) 185108, one which I remember for some strange reason as 'the pink one'. At this point in time, I can't for the life of me think why. Anyway, I got a seat for the short hop to Darlo before crossing platforms and waiting for a couple of minutes for my Milkfloat back to York to arrive. It rolled in perfectly on time and my first words were 'yay' when I saw the loco. Winner 91129. I planted myself down in a free seat and turned my I-pod on making use of the free wifi for the 44.25 mile journey south.
20 minutes at York and I was getting ready to open the door of a mk3 on 'The Northern lights'. I stood in the vestibule as double duds 43309 and 43295 thrashed away on the 11:54 to Aberdeen. It was nice to do a bit of 125mph window hanging again and it was even better because I knew what I was meant to get back from Darlington. So after a brisk half hour run (not me, the tram), I was waiting at the end of the platform for a certain tram to arrive. Hello dud 43312 and winner 43206! It was nice to get another VTEC tram in the book, bringing my required number of East Coast ones down to eight (274, 296, 300, 302, 315, 316, 320 and 367). This is half the amount it was at the start of the trip. Another bit of thrash before baling again at York, ready for an hours lunch break. 3 guesses where I went...
A £3 meal deal was sourced from the nearby Sainsbury's local in the form of a chicken triple sarnie (which I haven't seen in any Sainsbury's for ages *whimper*), a big bottle of water and a pack of Kettle chips. Then I set up camp at the station while eating my lunch, waiting for the tram to arrive on the northbound Chieftain. I knew this tram could be one of two (based on Dad's help along with my timetables. There was no gen today so 206 was found out using basic deduction from the fact that it ended up at Craigentinny the night before.) The 2 options were 43311 with a different power car to when I had it on my first rover day. It would be 43300 (if you remember, that was one of the 8 I need) with 311 or, if I was very lucky, 43316 and 43320 together. So either way I would get at least 1 winner although it has to be said that I was slightly disappointed to see that it was dud 43311 leading the train even though winner 43300 was pushing at the rear. This is because I knew the alternative. But still, it's a low mileage one and a winner so how can I complain?
Soapy tram heading north by fishquinn1, on FlickrDarlington came too soon and again, I had to get off for the 14:29 back. I knew which one this would be so I wasn't disappointed when duds for the week 43318 and 43277 pulled in. I had no fixed plan after York and I couldn't think of anything else to do, so I decided to see if any winner milkfloats were floating around (pun intended) Leeds. A quick look at my TPE timetable told me that there would be a diesel dez leaving York at 15:15 heading over. Normally I would try and go via Donny but since I was getting the 14:29 from Darlo (which arrives at York about 14:55), it would be a half hour fester for a milkfloat as the stopper goes from Newark at this hour so there isn't a 15:02 to the Cross. So after saying by to my set, I headed upstairs to Costa to by a...
Moving on.
I headed back to platform 3 in time for my Leeds bound cart which arrived 2 down at 15:16 with winner 185115 providing power. I hopped aboard securing myself a seat for the trek through the houses of Leeds. Neville Hill scored me my last Bugeye for sight (yay!) but that didn't stop me from being first off at Leeds and sprinting across the bridge to the Kings Cross train. I boarded it at 15:46 (thanks to our train being 4 late arriving), 1 minute after it had left. For a moment I thought it was to let the passengers from 185115 off but I then realized that it wouldn't be a valid connection even if the diesel dez had arrived right time. The Milkfloat eventually pulled away at 15:52, probably throwing my connection at Wakefield out the window. I also had to remember to get the loco number off my train at Wakey too but that didn't stop me from sprinting like mad onto another Milkfloat that was pulling in slightly late, heading towards Leeds. I remembered to get the number of the one that I had just came on from Leeds as we left, dud 91125. Oh well, you can't have them all. I then realized that I hadn't actually got the number of the loco pulling me back either! Another thing to get at 'Bugeye' central. This meant that I have to walk the full length of the train, as I needed both the DVT and 91 on this service! I headed to the front first to find that it was the 1st 91 that I had ever had (on 01/01/13), 91128. I then headed to the back and found out that it was the same DVT number as it was on the first day of 2013 too, 82210! It's obviously changed since 2013 but it's strange that when I get 91128 for the second time, it has the same DVT! Anyway, after getting off my slightly late train, I saw the other Kings Cross train leaving... With a winner on. That is the moment I just got thoroughly annoyed at Leeds and ran over the bridge, leaping onto winner 185151 on the 16:43 away from Leeds.
York came fairly soon and I got off, formulating a new plan. Then it struck me. The 17:54 from York (16:00 Kings Cross-Aberdeen) would be the only Neville Hill chuck out that I hadn't seen that day. 43316 and 43320. So if there wasn't a set swap during the day, a 50 minute wait at York would get me a double winner tram set! I spent the time at York doing a bit of spotting and closing tram doors for station staff. Then, 17:50 came so I ran over to platform 9 and watched a tram set roll in on the Aberdeen train. I got ready to leap in the air but instead of going up, I went down to the floor after seeing that the front powercar was freaking dud 43313! That meant that dud 43307 was at the back. Easy to say that I was extremely miffed, but I got on anyway because it is a tram and what else would I do if I stayed. I sunk down in a seat on the train before turning my pod of I on and making use of the free wifi to go on the forum for a bit. I knew it would be a 91 back from Darlo and I was very much hoping that it would show a winner and was even more annoyed that I currently was to see mega dud 91126 pushing the train. This was one that I had had 2 times this week already and spoiler alert, it wasn't the last time I got it. But the darn thing did a good enough job of giving me a 45 minute wait at York for the next Scarborough train. My hope was still slightly up because I knew the luck that I had been having with the 185s, but it fell off a cliff when dud for the day 185115 rolled in. Blinking hell! I begrudgingly got on board and evaluated the day. It started off brilliantly with 3 tram winners, 1 milkfloat winner and 4 Diesel Dez winners. It then dropped down with only one of those winners (a diesel dez) being in the second half. But I'll call it a successful day and that's what I thought for the rest of the day after being picked up at Malton station by Granddad (too late for any busses).
backontrack
Established Member
A great trip report! I bet mine won't be able to live up to the quality of yours, however at least your photos will be there!
Also great to see a fan of Kettle Chips! What's your favourite flavour? Mine would have to be their Mature Cheddar and Red Onion. I've also had Mozzarella and Pesto before, OK but definitely better not as crisps...
Also great to see a fan of Kettle Chips! What's your favourite flavour? Mine would have to be their Mature Cheddar and Red Onion. I've also had Mozzarella and Pesto before, OK but definitely better not as crisps...
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Shame the quantity of winners fell off a cliff in the afternoon, but you were certainly still busy racking up the mileage!
I hioe you've got a Costa Coffee Club card for the amount of drinks you bought in there! Getting as bad as me, possibly the forum's chief Costa fan!
Enjoyed the read as always!
I hioe you've got a Costa Coffee Club card for the amount of drinks you bought in there! Getting as bad as me, possibly the forum's chief Costa fan!
Enjoyed the read as always!
backontrack
Established Member
Have you managed any/all of the Grand Central trams yet?
Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,132
After giving up the daily commute/London grind, I've been fighting the temptation to get out on the rails all week!
As I'll be spending a lot of time on GWR/the Chieftain/a railtour over the next couple of weeks, I decided not to go out so as to avoid getting bored of rail travel again... But reading your reports makes the wait seem very long indeed. Cant wait to get back on a proper train
As I'll be spending a lot of time on GWR/the Chieftain/a railtour over the next couple of weeks, I decided not to go out so as to avoid getting bored of rail travel again... But reading your reports makes the wait seem very long indeed. Cant wait to get back on a proper train
Getting out on the rails is indeed fun! I'm not heading out this week (not even on an afternoon spin to Brum like I do most weeks. This is because Dad is in Chippenham this week). But I will have a week long (or couple of weeks) trip coming up shortly after my birthday on Jan the 8th and then 10 days later a FOSS based out of Chippenham! Right into the zones!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I haven't been on the rails ror nearly two weeks, nor will I be again for another 2 weeks, so by the time I get back to the raols I'll be more than keen to get going!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Not a clue how I'll cope to be honest! I wasn't feeling the train love this morning, had something of a cold earlier so decided to stay in. Knew there was a good chance of it as I hadn't got anything ready! So a lazy day at home has been had, which has saved me about £40 which also makes Christmas far more affordable!
Aye next Monday I'm unavailable for a bash as it's my Mum's birthday, then my own birthday bash is the week after. 21st December we're expecting chaos at work so will almost certainly be called in for that, then the following Monday is my brother's birthday!
Aye next Monday I'm unavailable for a bash as it's my Mum's birthday, then my own birthday bash is the week after. 21st December we're expecting chaos at work so will almost certainly be called in for that, then the following Monday is my brother's birthday!
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Are you feeling better now? At least it saved a lot of cash though!
Looks like your Mondays are pretty full! Do you have any idea where you plan to go for your birthday yet? My Mondays are currently looking like work right until Christmas (when we are going to head out on the boats).
Looks like your Mondays are pretty full! Do you have any idea where you plan to go for your birthday yet? My Mondays are currently looking like work right until Christmas (when we are going to head out on the boats).
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I am a bit, although still sweating away in a room with minimum heating! Aye that extra money in my bank is going to be hugely welcome, shall finish most of my Christmas shopping by the end of the week, except for the trip to the ATM for the money family members want!
I'm due to pop into a certain city and Chiltern territory for my birthday bash, you'll find out what exactly in 15 days time!
HMS Ark Royal
Established Member
Well if the city is Hull, I'll buy you one
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Not Hull I'm afraid! It is London, but the Chiltern bit will remain untold just for now
backontrack
Established Member
Oxford Parkway and I claim my cookie.
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