FQ's trips around the globe

[Tw99]

Well done for making the the effort to trek over to Sweeney's for lunch - it's a Reading landmark !

 

[backontrack]

When are you going to catch up with reports ? We've just had one from October from you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgn6atwwdJQ

 

[Techniquest]

Shame it had to loose its name (I'm sure Tech would agree with me!)

Yes I would! Although I disagree about 129 being better than 002, whether in MTU or Valenta days! I do have other favourites, some have been renumbered now:

43006 (Chieftain, 2007)
43007 (XC HST via the world, 2008)
43008 (Chieftain, 2007)
43053 (Cheltenham to Newquay and back, 2008)
43054 (York to Newquay and Newquay to Plymouth, 2006)
43058 (York to Newquay and Newquay to Plymouth, 2006)
43064 (Leicester to Scarborough and back, 2008)
43065 (GC Kings Cross to Sunderland and back, January 2010)
43084 (GC Kings Cross to Sunderland and back, January 2010)
43184 (XC HST via the world, 2008)
43193 (last FGW power car to get, May 2008)

All of which could generate an amazing few nostalgic trip reports! No doubt plenty of others I've missed mind. I might have done trip reports for some of these over the years, can't remember! I'd include the ones from a Manchester Piccadilly to Newquay move, but I can't remember the numbers, same for the Project Rio moves...

Anyway, as for the trip reports catch up, that's fair enough. I do understand being busy, I'm busy a lot of the time too. I wish you the best of luck with the exams!

 

[FQ]

They sound like some excellent moves!

Thanks!

 

[backontrack]

The only episode I've seen of TBBT is 'The Adhesive Duck Deficiency', where Penny falls in the bath and Sheldon drives her to hospital. I've never seen the whole thing, though.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Sounds like an epic day bashing the HSTs up and down the Thames Valley. You seemed to be quite lucky getting a return trip in every hour - a succession of +3s is almost certain to end in failure sometime. You sure got some variety in power cars as well...

So I am not the only one to do HST power cars (along with DMU & EMU) for the Century - my aim is to record a trip with everything at least once since 1/1/2000. You'll often see me referring to long term absentees (as I call them) in my trip reports.

And it took me an unbelievable amount of time to round up all my HST power cars with three having to wait until 2008 (43316), 2010 (43088) and 2011 (43086) before I cleared them. That has to be set against scoring 43002+43003 new back in 1977!

 

[backontrack]

Looks like you had a good trip, now that I've read the report! Starbucks and creamy coolers, fruity ones too!

You should have called it 'The Big Tram Theory' or something. :P

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Sounds like an epic day bashing the HSTs up and down the Thames Valley. You seemed to be quite lucky getting a return trip in every hour - a succession of +3s is almost certain to end in failure sometime. You sure got some variety in power cars as well...

So I am not the only one to do HST power cars (along with DMU & EMU) for the Century - my aim is to record a trip with everything at least once since 1/1/2000. You'll often see me referring to long term absentees (as I call them) in my trip reports.

And it took me an unbelievable amount of time to round up all my HST power cars with three having to wait until 2008 (43316), 2010 (43088) and 2011 (43086) before I cleared them. That has to be set against scoring 43002+43003 new back in 1977!

Even longer then 20 years to clear Class 142?

 

[FQ]

Agreed! A return trip an hour is very good.

You'll need to see more TBBT Backontrack!

 

[backontrack]

Where should I start?

Also, do you like The Simpsons?

 

[alexf380]

Another great (if rather long) read there Quinn! Do you know how much the Thamesline rover cost? I'd quite like to know for future reference but can't find any info online.

 

[FQ]

I'd say to start at Series 1, episode 1 and make your way up to the last episode in Series 8

The Simpsons is excellent but we don't have any of the DVDs so I don't get to see it very often.

The one day one for a child is £9.70 (adult £19.45) and is known as a 'Thames Branches day ranger'. The multi day one is £23.05 for 3 days and 40.45 for 7 days (child). Adult is £46.10 for 3 days and £80.90. I suggest you look at GB railrover.
http://www.railrover.org

 

[backontrack]

OK, will do.

Well, for The Simpsons I'd recommend starting at Season 4. From there, choose seasons 5 or 6.

 

[FQ]

Ok then, will do!

 

[Minilad]

Yes I would! Although I disagree about 129 being better than 002, whether in MTU or Valenta days! I do have other favourites, some have been renumbered now:

43006 (Chieftain, 2007)
43007 (XC HST via the world, 2008)
43008 (Chieftain, 2007)
43053 (Cheltenham to Newquay and back, 2008)
43054 (York to Newquay and Newquay to Plymouth, 2006)
43058 (York to Newquay and Newquay to Plymouth, 2006)
43064 (Leicester to Scarborough and back, 2008)
43065 (GC Kings Cross to Sunderland and back, January 2010)
43084 (GC Kings Cross to Sunderland and back, January 2010)
43184 (XC HST via the world, 2008)
43193 (last FGW power car to get, May 2008)

All of which could generate an amazing few nostalgic trip reports! No doubt plenty of others I've missed mind. I might have done trip reports for some of these over the years, can't remember! I'd include the ones from a Manchester Piccadilly to Newquay move, but I can't remember the numbers, same for the Project Rio moves...

Anyway, as for the trip reports catch up, that's fair enough. I do understand being busy, I'm busy a lot of the time too. I wish you the best of luck with the exams!

My favourite is 43091
First one I ever drove. (with 180 a close second as that was on the back!)

 

[Kristofferson]

Making progress there, young sir

I lost count of both the winners and puns!

 

[FQ]

Luck of the draw

Dad and I had our eyes on a few of the West Coast tours, one of them the Hereford to the Slate city: Blaenau Ffestiniog. The date for the tour was Saturday the 10th of October but a condition had to be met for us to do the tour. Double brush. We hadn't yet had our 'brush on the mainline for the year' yet, something that both dad and I do, so we were both really hoping that a pair of 47s would appear on the tour. Dad has had a brush for haulage on the main since the late '70s (I think) and a year has never gone by when I haven't had one (since I was alive that is. It'd be a bit hard to get one in the 1980s for me unless I find a little blue box on a street corner somewhere). 47802 and 47826 were booked on it but 826 failed the fitness to run and it was 47851 that took its place on the ECS to Hereford. So, on the Friday evening, dad called WCRC up and booked tickets for the two of us from Barnt Green for the next morning. Early rise me thinks!

The alarm went off at the ungodly hour of 05:00 and after getting dressed, I went over to get dad and we headed out at about 05:40. Why so early if we're just going to Barnt Green? Well, dad and I were talking the night before (after booking) and we decided to go to Droitwich for them instead. The reason for this is so we can get a brush up Lickey incline again and obviously more mileage. So we set off in the car and headed towards the M5.

Brekky was calling at a service station on route (I can't for the life of me remember which one) and the good thing was that it had a Subway. Mega Melt calling! We parked and headed in, noting that Subway was open so we headed over and waited for someone to appear at the counter...

And waited. And waited, and waited and waited. For over 5 minutes we were waiting for someone to appear before just turning around and heading to Frothbucks to get brekky. An all day breakfast warm roll each was sourced for the two of us, me heading over to the Smiths opposite to get a drink as it was much cheaper than Starbucks. Dad (surprise, surprise) got a coffee and we headed back to the car, ate breakfast and hit the road again. It's no surprise that there is road rage if people are coming out and hitting the road. It deserves to get back at some people . Droitich was reached about 20 minutes before the tour was due in so we parked up and just sat in the car for a bit before going onto the freezing platform. You could hear the brush before you could see them and then the headlights lit the platform up as 47851 arrived. We were booked in coach G so we were expecting it to be in the center of the train but we were very happy to see that coach G was the half brake right next to 802, which was dead on the back. We took our seats in the half brake (a bay of 4 next to the doors) and planted ourselves down...

When I found out that I'd left my trainspotting books next to the computer at home! Luckily I always keep loads of spare pens in my bag and a bit of paper in case this happens so it was put into action for the first time in ages and 'locos' written at the bottom with 'units' at the top so I knew which book to put them in. Since we were right at the back, I didn't reckon that 851 would be audible climbing Lickey but I was wrong and it was great to get some brush thrash again! After the stop at Barnt Green, where we were put out in front of the Reddich stopper that was already in the platform (On a railtour? Surly not!) and continued on greens for a while before swinging over at Kings Norton to take the Camp Hill line. It continued on, crossing over 'Lucky Bridge', the bridge on the line to Moor Street. It's nicknamed Lucky Bridge by me, my dad and Nat because back in October 2013 (when I named it), dad and I were trying out the new 172s out to Solihull for a shovel back to Moor Street. On the way out on the 172 from Snow Hell, we saw 86217 being hauled by the best brush, 47786 over the un-electrified bridge and on the way back with shovel 13, 60054 was spotted! Since then I've seen Bettys, 66s, tractors and many other excellent classes there so I think the name that I gave it works! But yea, we continued over the bridge and then towards the junction to join on with the New Street to Tamworth and Nuneaton line. But we had to wait or time before joining the junction, with our coach right under the bridge for the Westie. There are worse spots to wait for 25 minutes (I know right! 25 stupid minutes!) I guess. None spring to mind though.

Eventually 851 began pulling us forward but we had to begin listening to a bunch of moaning old ladies after it did. 'It's freezing! Why can't they turn the heating on?' This was said AFTER one of the stewards had apologized that the heating was out in the rear coach and that the driver could go under the train at Crewe to sort it out. 'It's so cold!' Then put your jumpers on you stupid normals! Then an old man who was sat with them looked at his phone and said something hilarious. 'According to my phone, it's 0'c out there'. That's total rubbish. Maybe the temperature in Hereford the night before but it's definitely not the temperature now. 'I need a warm drink to warm up now'. I'm freezing.' Come on. You're not that freezing for goodness sake. The rest of the coach isn't complaining and they're in just a tee shirt. You lot are in a jumper too but if you are cold them PUT YOUR COATS ON! They continued moaning and moaning as the train took a left at Castle Bromwich junction and onto the freight only line towards Walsall. About half way down the line, it came to a stand to wait time again. Then, 10 minutes later, we were moving again and arriving at the last stop, Walsall. Lots of normals for our coach got on here but none of them occupied either of the seats next to dad or me.

After leaving Walsall, they were still complaining so one of the stewards came through with the trolley and offered everyone in the coach a free drink. One of the complaining normals asked for hot water and when the steward asked what kind of tea bags that she had (I'm guessing that he gets asked for hot water a lot by people with special tea bags) she said that she didn't have any and just needed something to warm her up fast. Absolute rubbish! Anyway, the tour turned right at Pleck Junction, instead of left, the route that all of the passenger trains take to get to Brum and continued on avoiding Wolverhampton and joining back onto the main at Bushbury Junction. From here, 851 opened up and you had some audible thrash as it raced along through Penkridge before slowing for Stafford. We got to the station at the same time as a Liverpool bound Pendo that stopped so the question was when would it overtake us? We were routed on the slows but since the top speed on them is 100 here, we could still race along at top speed. Emphasis on the could. We were staggering until Norton Bridge before finally accelerating. The pendo had passed us before Norton Bridge because of the stagger but at least it finally got up to some speed in the end.

The wait at Crewe in platform 12 was for about 5 minutes while someone came under our coach and turned the heating on. Dad and I had a quick bet sort of thing to see how long it would be before the normals started complaining that it was too hot. My guess was Chester . We continued down the line towards Chester, where a 7-minute wait was booked. A Ludo bound 175 left just before we arrived but there was no hanging around as after about a minute stopped at the station, we were on our way again. This wasn't exactly good news though. It meant that we would be staggering along the coast stuck behind some staggering cart that would stop at pretty much every station. It was annoying but the scenery along the coast made up for it (along with the decent company of course) and soon the set was arriving at Llandudno Junction where the annoying normals from earlier got off in order to go to Llandudno for the day. I think that almost all of the train got off here in order to go up to the 47 that would be taking us from here to Blaenau, 47802. I should mention now that both the brush we had that day were duds for me. Anyway, dad got his work phone out to get lots of photos, me the little blue digi one and we got lots of photos before the thousand people congregated around the brush were asked by the stewards (who were also taking photos) to get back on the brush as we were going to be leaving slightly early. We got back in our seats, me now in the left hand side backwards facing one (it was right hand side, forwards facing until now) and got ready for the new track, all of which was winner for dad too! Something quite rare, that's for sure (not as rare as say Tech's but pretty rare anyway).

A couple of minutes after entering the single-track section of the Conwy valley, the trees vanished and were replaced with the amazing river Conwy with mountains in the distance. A couple of moments after this, we rolled though the first station, Glan Conwy, which was situated right next to the river. Our train rolled through non stop (obviously) and continued along the river passing through several more of the request stops. We were running ahead of time and stopped somewhere before the next little station. We then began to move forward again and came to a stand at North Llanwerst station. The stewards said that we had to wait for the Arriva unit to clear the single-track section ahead and that we should be moving in about 30 minutes. They also said that people could get off and take photos/have a leg stretch if they didn't go to far. Most of the enthusiasts on the train piled off and got cameras out in order to take loads of photos of 802 here, dad and I included.
No need to request for the train to stop by fishquinn1, on Flickr
I also got a photo of the PIS board on the other platform showing that the next train was due at 12:20 (the one that we were waiting to get to the passing loop at North Llanwerst) with the next one not being for three hours and eleven minutes at 15:31. So much for a frequent service!
Long wait if you miss! by fishquinn1, on Flickr
So after thousands of photos, everyone got back into the stock and waited for 150237 to come in. Then the 150 and the 47 left at the same time, us heading for Blaenau, it for Llandudno. I think I know which one I'd prefer to be on!

This tour doesn't just go to Blaenau, it also stops at Betws-y-Coed to drop passengers off wanting to go there for a few hours. Nathan had been here on a Geography field trip with his school and I was thinking that it would be a passing loop for some reason but was proven wrong when we rolled in. Quite a few people got off here and it was mostly bashers who continued down the line towards Blaenau. As we passed these stations, it occurred to me how hard it must be to shack scratch most of them without really long festers or walks. Roman Bridge, the last one before the end of the line, would be one of the fairly easy ones to get because according to Google maps it's only a two mile walk down the A road to get to the station one closer to Llandudno, easily done with the time the 150 takes to get to the end and back up. I was just thinking of that as we passed though, wondering how the last stretch of the line would be scenery wise. The answer? Fairly dull. Most of the 5-mile journey is in a very long tunnel through a mountain, which emerges just before Blaenau station with a huge slate mountain. The approach is just brilliant and a few minutes later, the brush were arriving at the only heavy rail platform at Blaenau. 47851 had also been pushing from the back since Betws in order to help 47802 up the hill but it would be very hard to calculate the mileage because sometimes it was powering, sometimes it wasn't.

Dad had been to Blaenau once before but had driven on that occasion so he hadn't had the line from Ludo. He didn't really like it on his last visit, one reason because it was raining (and that he didn't think that it was a nice place) but that was ages ago so he had hoped that it would have changed.
Finally arrived by fishquinn1, on Flickr
We walked down the road after exiting the station to look for somewhere to get lunch and after about 5 minutes of walking, we came across a cafe that did lunches. It wasn't a Costa (if it was then I wouldn't even need to say what my choice of drink would be) but a nice sit down privately run cafe. We went in, got a seat and decided what to go for. In the end, I went for gammon, egg and chips, dad for fish fingers (or is it fins?), chips and beans. A waitress was there about 3 minutes after we had sat down and was very chatty, asking why we were in Blaenau and stuff (in a non security guard or army person kind of way). Once we said and told her what we were planning to do after lunch (take a nice walk), she popped out for a moment and came back with lots of helpful leaflets for what we were planning. We already had an OS map but it's never bad to have more info (unless it's bad info, which this wasn't). I went for an apple juice to drink, dad going for the usual (coffee) and after a short wait, two huge plates of food appeared. Dad's fish fingers weren't tacky ones at all and were two really long ones that tasted brilliant (yes, he let me try some). My lunch was also absolutely brilliant but we still both had room for pudding. Two Apple and blackberry crumbles with custard appeared a short time later and after paying, we left, knowing what a great cafe it was.

Walkies time (please, don't tell my dogs that I said that. I won't hear the end of it if you do.)! We followed the route that we were meant to and began climbing and climbing to get a great view of the valley below. And great it was. Cameras out, photos taken, view looked at and down we go, towards the valley. The ground was uneven and the path narrow. In other words, it was absolutely brilliant! I mean, walks in the flat of Warwickshire (or Lincolnshire or loads of other places) are nice but I much prefer it in the mountains up high with good views. Another of the great things in our Canada/America tour the year before. And when I say a year before, I mean a year before. On the 10th of October 2014, we were in an RV trekking through Washington, along the Columbia river. We visited the American 'Stonehenge', which is quite literally lots of stones piled up in a neat pattern. Anyway, thousands of miles away and a year later, we were on foot through the mountains of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

2014:
October 10th 2014 by fishquinn1, on Flickr
Up close and personal by fishquinn1, on Flickr

2015:
Beautiful Blaenau by fishquinn1, on Flickr
Beautiful Blaenau by fishquinn1, on Flickr

It was a very pleasent walk and at the end of it when we had to turn back, there were lots of small ponies around. OK. Tell me I sound like a 7-year-old girl. 'After that we collected flowers and got on the magical pony's back in order to get to the pink unicorn'. No. That's not me. One of the ponies was very soche and came up to me to be stroked. Dad unfortunately couldn't say hi because he's allergic to them, something I didn't actually know until that day! Anyway, we turned back after about 5 minutes and kept our eyes out for a path that was marked on the OS map...

...But just wasn't anywhere. So after looking in the place that it should have been, we concluded that it wasn't there anymore and headed back towards town, still taking a different (highly uphill) route from when we had come down. This led right onto the pavement of the well-kept Blaenau roads and we walked down, over the bridge that carries the railway, getting the rare sight of 5 locos/units in the station. A 150 (150237, the one that we passed at Llanwerst earlier), two brush and a couple of kettles working on the Ffestiniog line stuff. According to the timetable that we had looked at earlier in the day, they weren't due off for another 20 minutes (I ould get the numbers then) so we decided to pop into a little shop, which had lots of stuff about Blaenau in and things. We didn't buy anything there but it was a nice little place to spend 5 minutes, heading back out to see the model shop across the road shut. Oh well, it's not like there isn't anything else to do here! Dad really wanted a coffee again at this point so he decided to get one to take on the train in his thermal mug and another to have right now. We decided to head across to the station to get the numbers of the kettles before they left first and got there to find just a load of irritated normals. Irritated because the train had been caped and had left about 20 minutes early! Oh well! Sure, it would have been two winners but there's always next time. We headed to the coffee shop opposite the station, after getting another shot of the brush to get dad his required coffee.
Brush amongst the slate by fishquinn1, on Flickr

A very simple request was made at the coffee shop. Please could you get me two coffees, putting one in this (points to thermal flask)? Oh, and please could you put some hot water in the flask first while the coffee is being made? Apparently this was very difficult and I couldn't help but laugh at dad as he left the coffee shop with a coffee in the smallest take away cup you've ever seen and another one, the same size in his thermal mug. Why is this funny? Well, the barista didn't know how to put it in the thermal mug so dad had to do it! The coffee was an absolute rip off and dad wasn't very impressed but we still headed over to the Tesco to get something for dinner later. It took a while to decide what to get but we chose in the end and headed over to the brush that were preparing to leave (they were due off at 16:06 and it was currently about 15:45). A couple more photos were taken and we climbed aboard, taking our seats again and waiting for it to fill up. A couple of enthusiasts boarded again and sat in the bay of four next to us and we began chatting, making the wait until we left bang on time seem much quicker than it actually was. 47851 was giving some mega thrash up front and it was a cracking run to the first stop, Betws-y-Coed where loads more normals joined the service shortly after we were on the move again. Both dad and I were hoping that the 'Marches Moaners' from the outward journey would miss the train from Ludo Junction (OK. I know that's a little extreme but they are so freaking annoying) but no such avail as they got on the train during the 40 minute fester at Ludo junction. We headed to the back of the train for a few piccies of 851 and then wandered back down to get a few more of 802.
Brush and cart by fishquinn1, on Flickr
Where am I? by fishquinn1, on Flickr

They let several carts pass before us (they could have sent us right behind the first one without holding up any of the others) but eventually 47802 began powering the train once again and we began heading back along the coast. At Colwyn Bay, dinner came out, four cheese-topped rolls (two each), a little pack of cooked chicken (to put in the rolls), three jam donuts (two had somehow vanished after leaving Blaenau leaving us with three so one each and then fight for the last one later) and a pack of crisps each. It went down really well and the brush were still doing really well, giving a great non-stop run down through Rhyl and Prestatyn. We were booked to wait at Chester for a minute or two but that didn't happen and we came through non-stop, another new station for nonstoppage! We then headed down the Crewe line and dad, who was really shattered, began to fade and ended up asleep about 10 minutes after passing through Chester. I decided to get a bit of brush thrash in the night towards the Westie. Not forgetting that I was less than a coach length from the leading loco, the sound emitted from it really was something. There was due to be a half hour fester at Crewe (I really hate Network Rail for their railtour pathings) but I was hoping that they would just send us straight away. Unfortunately not as we ground to a halt in platform 12 and the steward came down the train saying that we were due to wait for 30 minutes here so there is time for a leg stretch if anyone wants it. Dad was still asleep so I just grabbed the digi camera and got a few really blurry phots of 802. The digi one is terrible at night, that's for sure. This is the best that I got!
Blurry brush by fishquinn1, on Flickr

Anyway, after a good time listening to the brush sounds, I clambered back on board and got in my seat, really annoyed that we were here for another 10 minutes. That's because the only train that would occupy the slow lines (the ones that we eventually went down) left about 5 minutes after we arrived. They could have probably sent us ahead of that one or right behind it if need be. But no. We had to wait for freaking ages! Anyway, eventually it pulled away and dad woke up as we did, slightly better for his short sleep. A stagger through Stafford (as per usual if you're going towards Penkridge) and soon we were peeling away from everything and heading towards Walsall where loads of normals left, only a few continuing in our coach (including the 'marches moaners') towards Barnt Green and Droitwich. Dad had fallen asleep again after Stafford and I was beginning to fall asleep after Walsall. Jam donut to the rescue! I asked dad before taking it and it kind of failed at waking me up. Window hanging to the rescue! Oh, we're not doing enough speed at the moment. Dad's coat to the rescue! And by the time that we joined the 170 lines to New Street, I was asleep. But only for a short while as I was up and about again at Lucky Bridge and as we joined the Cross City line, leaving it again at Barnt Green. Then onward, arriving at Droitwich at about 23:45 (give or take). So after watching 47802 hammer away into the distance, we headed back to the car for the hours drive home, getting there just before 01:00 on the 11th of October. So, a great but long day, that's for sure! And I highly recommend Blaenau Ffestiniog to anyone wanting a great day out!

 

[47403]

No surprises, i guess, when I say I enjoyed that read. Thank you for sharing.

 

[backontrack]

Wow, the force has certainly awoken on this thread! Another great report, and a beautiful photo of your 'brush amongst the slate'. I'd enter that on POTW (once you get the right category, of course) if I was you - it could probably win Photo of the Month, if not Photo of the Week.

Continuing the Star Wars-y theme, I'm calling you Qui-Gon Quinn from now on.

I'd be ChewbaccaOnTrack, are there any others? :P

 

[Kristofferson]

A long old day but an excellent read and some cracking photos the WCRC 47s certainly don't disappoint as far as I rember!

 

[backontrack]

How about rg1172-D2, or HMS Arkiller Base? Or reyalongtheway, or 5501-3PO? :P

 

[Techniquest]

Another excellent read young sir! I must admit I'm surprised you didn't do a drive to Hereford for maximum mileage and thrash! 47851, I'm sure I've had that but not 802. Not that I'm super fussed of course, now if it had been 57001 I'd have been well jealous for the score!

Long day that mind, not surprised your dad needed a fair amount of coffee! When did the pensioners start moaning about it being too hot then?

 

[jayalongtheway]

I feel like I'm repeating myself keep saying how good these reads are but it's true. Great stuff. Can't beat a Sulzer! With or without a snout, eh 47403?

 

[55013]

Some more good reading there.
I still need the Blaenau branch, but one day.....

Also, nice to see some 47802 action, this was the first loco I cleared for a thousand miles

 

[FQ]

Thanks guys! We didn't drive to Hereford because that would mean being up at about 03:30 (probably earlier) and getting back at about 04:00. Just too long me thinks! At least I got a winner shack out of Droitwich though! If it had 57001 on then we wouldn't have been on it though

You definitely can't beat a Sulzer, mini or not!

Vote Brush!

 

[47403]

I feel like I'm repeating myself keep saying how good these reads are but it's true. Great stuff. Can't beat a Sulzer! With or without a snout, eh 47403?

Dont push it jay

 

[backontrack]

The Lord Spoon Goon of the Tyne has as much wisdom as Obi-Wan Kenobi (or Obi-Wan the Geordie). :P

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

The Lord Spoon Goon of the Tyne has as much wisdom as Obi-Wan Kenobi (or Obi-Wan the Geordie). :P

I thought he was Obi-Wan Kanoodle

 

[backontrack]

Well you're HMS Arkiller Base...

I'm ChewbaccaOnTrack...

...any others? I've thought about Qui-Gon Quinn and reyalongtheway. And, instead of Yorkie, the forum owner is now Wookie. :P

 

[FQ]

I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

Why would I think I'm crazy? Well today, Monday the 26th of October, I had a West Mids Daytripper planned...

...Taking the 06:26 in with dad. It'll save mum having to drop me off for 10:04 and I'll be in the zones much earlier. And the crazy part (no, not crazy. I can't be. My mother had me tested). I like getting up early to go out on the bash. So I ran my plans past mum and dad and they were both fine with it so come the morning, I was up at 05:30, getting my bag packed. Unlike when I did my FOSS, I decided not to pack sarnies, as there is no shortage of places in Birmingham to get stuff. So, with everything done, dad and I headed for the car and towards the first train of the day. Today was the day of the Chiltern timetable change and also the day of the Oxford Parkway opening meaning that the Chiltern 170s from TPE should have entered service and the 13:12 to Marylebone should be a unit (what the heck am I saying? It shouldn't be a unit. It should be a loco. But it's booked a unit), with the cat being on the 12:12. Anyway, on with the carts!

Dad had to renew his monthly season ticket today so he kindly bought my single to Snow Hell (for £3.35) while getting that and we both headed up onto the platform, seeing 66568 and 66570 pass at almost the same time before my first train, winner 165027. We got on and got the bay of two up front, so not in the grotty part of the unit (any part except the bits at the very end of the unit, passed the doors) and waited for movement. Sure enough, at 06:24, it began moving and giving us a nice race to Brummingham.

Nothing much to note of the journey except seeing 168322 in Dorridge passenger loop as we passed and Hairball just before Moor Street. As usual, we continued through to Snow Hell and waited there for a couple of minutes before DVT 82301 showed itself. We then waited for the early morning ex Kiddy to leave with Avenger powering it at the back. Hellfire! After that, it was the usual routine in heading to Glasgow, sorry, New York, nope! I mean London. No, damn, I don't! Subway, the sandwich shop, not the transport system. I always get them muddled up. "Hi, do you want to go to the subway just across the pond soon?" "I'd love to, but I think that New York is a bit far for me to go this afternoon. I've got this platypus to make" (sorry, wrong excuse). "No, the Subway shop just over there" *points over the duck pond*. "Oh, ok. Maybe in a bit. How about Glasgow?"

Anyway, we headed over to Subway and got some breakfast (two mega melts) and headed to dad's work to eat them. I had no plan so just decided to head out at 07:55 and see what was floating around so after saying bye to dad, I wandered down to New Street and got my Daytripper with a Leam add on. The barriers were open; the first time that I've seen that there, so I just headed onto the platforms and up onto Navigation Street footbridge, the best one for viewing. I was stood watching a 170 with a 153 arrive and the number of the 170 immediately caught my eye. 170508! My penultimate LM one for haulage! I immedietly ran over to the platform that it was arriving on and ran to the A end of the platforms to see what it was forming next. 'Empty to depot'. Rats! That's one that I won't be getting today then. I plodded back up to the footbridge and taken a look at the departure board. It told me that there was an 08:15 to Edinburgh (nothing that I didn't already know but it did a good job at reminding me) due so I went to look at what was forming that. Upon seeing that it was winner 390117, I just had to take it so I got on board and plonked myself in a seat in coach B, seeing the 08:12 to Plymouth leave before us. Always good to start the morning with two gherkins, two cats and a tram set, 43207 and 43303 in this case. Anyway, 117 started moving and it was time for me to decide where to head to. I wasn't really in the mood to get attacked by wolfs this morning, or football players for that matter so Wolverhampton was out of the game, leaving me with one option. The good beach that will almost always give you duds. This is the long name for Sandwell and Dudley. I knew that there is a +10 here onto either a dez on starship back to New Street but I've never actually had this service on time. Lets see if today changes that! The answer? No. Dud (told you) 350241 came in 7 minutes late on the 08:34 to Walsall and it was very full. I guess that's what you should expect on a fairly early stopping service from Wolverhampton to Brum in the morning peak. A quick check of RTT showed that there was an ex Liverpool that stopped at Galton Bridge right behind us (as in being delayed by us) so trying my chances for a winner, I leapt off here and waited for about a minute before the 08:41 rolled in with dud 350239 on. Oh well, at least I could get a seat on this one. This was taken through the tunnels to New Street, where I decided to go for another wander after seeing that no winners were out and about, and none due for quite a while. The 08:23 from Leam to Snow Hell and 09:12 back were a 168 and a 172 but I was wondering if the 172 was replaced with a 170 now because they're the same amount of coaches and probably more suitable for the job on the longer distance runs. Only one way to find out!

I decided to stroll over to Snow Hell and take it from there to Moor Street just to get whichever unit was on it. If 321, 324 or 325 appeared then it'd be a winner but if 322 or 329 was on it then it would be a dud because I've had them as TPE units. But, even if 322 or 329 appeared, I wouldn't really mind because both were sub 10 miles. Anyway, I got there, headed down onto platform 2, the one that it'd leave from and was confused for a moment. There were no units there at all. I then heard an announcement saying that passengers wanting the 09:12 to London Marylebone should take the 09:07 to Moor Street, where it would leave from. I did as instructed by Plastic Polly and it was 172342 forming the service to Whitlocks End. The first thing I saw at Moor Street was a white Chiltern unit in platform 3. So it is still a 172 then.
Boring! I was about to turn around and go back to New Street when I heard the announcement 'Platform 2 for the delayed 08:54 Chiltern Railways service to Birmingham Snow Hill'. I turned around and saw a 168 approaching and it had a two coach something on the back. A two coach something in Chiltern silver! A Chiltern 170. The doors didn't unlock on the rear unit, dud 168329, but they did in the front one, 168109. I got on board 109 and took a bay of four. It was surprisingly full for a service that was last stop Snow Hell but I guess some of the commuters on this service had sense. Go forward one station and you'll be leaving Snow Hell at the same time you'd be leaving Moor Street, with the queues at the barriers there. 5 minutes of being sat blocking the through roads at Moor Street could annoy anyone and the moment the guard came over the PA and said that there was a little problem with the train and that we were hopefully going to be moving in the next 10 minutes made everyone on the train rise to there feet and leave here (I don't think anyone stayed on). No way am I waiting ten minutes for 0.75 miles on a dud 168 with a dud 170. The stupid barriers at Moor Street wouldn't accept my ticket so I had to get the gateline staff to let me through and I was on my way back to the bat cave. So much for my time on the Chiltern side of things!

I got back to the bat cave at about 09:25 and immediately scanned the platforms to see what was about. A 170 number in the platform caught my eye. 170510! My penultimate 170! There must be a glitch in the Matrix! Lots of Deja vu here! Anyway, I immediately headed over to the platform (please don't let this bit be deja vu!) and saw that the PIS said that it was meant to form the...

...09:49 to Hereford! Not wanting to miss it, I boarded and got a seat for the short hop to the Uni, leaving on time. I saw a required dez leave on a service to Walsall not long before we left. Because of this, I formulated a plan in order to get it in later while on the 170. 170510 arrived at the Uni a few minutes late. This meant that I missed the 170 back so 323212 had to do the job on the 10:05. This wasn't taken to where you'd expect as I decided to go for a shack score in order to get the winner dez back. So this was taken to my first winner shack of the day, Duddeston. A simple island platform here and I didn't wait here for long before winner 350245 appeared, working the 10:22 back to New Street.

When the dez got back to the bat cave I, once again, had no plan. A check of the departure boards showed that there was nothing that I could take that would likely give me a winner so I had three choices.
Number 1. Get a really numb neck after beheading myself because of a really long wait at New Street for a winner.
Number 2. Get a really numb backside by going for some Midland Metro trams with their really uncomfortable seats.
Number 3. Go to see what cat is working the 10:55 to Marylebone and take it to Solihull.

Guess which one won.

I could hear a cat and I ascended the steps up to the Bullring in order to walk from New Street to Moor Street avoiding the subway. It seems a strange place to see a stray one like that, amongst all of the shoppers, but I didn't have time to say hi to it as I wanted to get across to the other kind of cat, which I could hear as I came down the steps from the Bullring. I still had no idea which one but that all changed when I walked into the lovely concourse of Moor Street. Get in there! Hello again Gingertom! I headed straight through the barriers and got a seat in the rear coach, closest to 68014 to get some mega thrash from the best ever cat. It left bang on time and it was time to decide where to go.
Solihull - It's Gingertom. Don't be stupid. I've got to go further than that!
Warwick Parkway - Come on. I'm not Nathan.
Leamington - Now we're talking!

The journey all the way was fun and, unlike Nathan when he gets the 10:55, I didn't get off at Warwick Parkway for a +17 onto the cat back and instead continued to Leamington for what I thought would be a +3...

...But turned out to be a +1 due to the timetable change. RUN! The cat back arrived at the same time as us so I had to leap on the back coach and walk forward to the front in order to make it. But at least I did and got an extra 6.50 cat miles out of it, unlike Nat when he takes it. Anyway, later on I found out that it was Custard taking me back to Birmingham. I spoke to dad whilst on the train and we arranged to meet for lunch, me heading over to his work after arrival. 68011 arrived at Moor Street right time and without looking back, I headed through the barriers and towards dad's workplace. I gave him a ring when I got there and a few minutes later, he was with me and we were both in the Sainsbury's local opposite his work. Two meal deals were sourced with an extra packet of crisps, both of us going for the one of the special 'Christmas' sarnies (it's freaking October!). Dad had to get to Duddeston for work this afternoon so he'd decided to aim for the 12:27, the plan being that I'd join him on it to eat lunch. We both wandered down to New Street again and it rolled in at the same time that it was meant to leave with a dud dez. I had another thing that I wanted to do today and a perfect opportunity had appeared to do it but it would mean flagging the Walsall train with dad. He said that I should go for the winner and after arranging to meet for coffee and cake later in the day, I headed upstairs and to the TVMs to buy my next ticket. A child 1st class single to Birmingham International, the sole purpose to try out the 1st class lounges at both destinations. It was fairly cheap and after purchasing, I headed straight to the lounge, where a friendly person checked my ticket and let me in. I've only ever been in the Donny 1st class lounge before so this one came as a huge shock and it was brilliant. Comfy seats, a drinks fridge, and little biscuits were just a few of the things that it offered so during my nice wait, I got myself a small bottle of water and a little piece of Rocky Road (and that's just what I remember). All to soon my time was up in the 1st class lounge and I had to descend to the foul part of the station and board winner 390107, on that I'd seen arrive just before Dad's train left. I sat in the 1st class bit (obviously) and a couple of moments after departure a ranting normal came into the coach, really annoyed that she'd got on the wrong train for Leamington. To start, you didn't just get the wrong train, you also got the wrong station and even if you wanted to take a Cross Country rubbish, then all you have to do it get off at International or Coventry and wait there! I came in 1st class for peace and quiet (actually, that isn't entirely true) and do I get it? No! I get a stupid, swearing normal! And no 1st class service on the 10-minute journey! No, not even a drink! I should take this to my MP .

Anyway, ranting finished. At International, where we arrived about 5 minutes late, I immediately headed onto the other platform to see what the service straight back to New Street was. It was a dud pendo so I flagged it and instead headed up to the lounge here. It's one of the ones that you have to show your ticket to the camera and they buzz you in but after showing my ticket to the camera the lady at the other end of the speaker asked if I had a ticket back. I said no, not pointing out the freaking obvious and saying that it's a single to International so I'm unlikely to have another single back when I can just get a return just to be told that I'm not allowed in if I don't have the ticket back. The VT website says that you can enjoy the lounge up to one hour after travelling. I said this just to be told that without and adult I wasn't allowed in. Stuff that then. I walked back to the platforms and just decided to take the next thing out that isn't a 22x and was annoyed to see what it was. 323207. I got a seat and heard that it is all shacks except Marston Green so I wasn't expecting much of a run. But at speed, even the LM Starships can do well, sounding pretty good too. Still, after a less than successful trip to International, I was back at New Street. I had decided that it was time to do some trams so went to check what was on the 13:25, to Holyhead, which was delayed by about 10 minutes. Winner 158818 was on it! Get in there! I got a seat on board and waited for departure. And waited. And waited...

...To hear the guard coming over the PA and saying that there was a problem with the line ahead and that we couldn't continue until it was fixed after being checked over. Is it me or does this seem to be happening a lot to me today? With no idea how long it would take to fix, I scrapped the idea of the 158s (I had to add the words 'idea of' so it didn't sound like I was introducing them to a place called Rotherham. Not that I'd object to them being scrapped!) and just walked over to Snow Hell and got on the first thing towards Jewellery Quarter, the 14:03 formed of 172333. Why not just go on the trams from Snow Hell? Well, because of the work that extends the Midland Metro to Bull Street (and probably half a millennia later, New Street), Snow Hell tram stop is closed with trams currently terminating at St Pauls before Bull Street opens. Because of this, I had to go out to either Jewellery Quarter or The Hawthorns, the former of which was picked.

Winner tram 35 was the first one up, heading to St Pauls, so I decided to take that for the winner shack. The turnaround time at St Pauls was about the same amount of time as it would take the tram to have got from Wolverhampton to Brum in the first place but in the end we were moving again. A winner crossover was scored between St Pauls and Jewellery Quarter so we were back on the left hand rails for the journey to The Hawthorns. I had noticed that the one following 35 to Wolves would also be required so after a short wait, winner 30 arrived to take me to Trinity Way. A quick change of platforms gave me winner 24 back to Kenrick Park, where another platform change put winner 31 on back out to Trinity Way. From here, dud 33 was taken back to The Hawthorns and it ended the little Midland Metro bash that I ha, mostly because as 33 was arriving, a 172 was arriving so a mad dash got me onto what I thought was a pair of 172/2s but actually turned out to be 172222 and 172338, the latter of which was currently working as a two car. This pairing was on the 14:47 from The Hawthorns and I was just on it for the short ride to Moor Street, where a phone call was made to dad to ask what the plans were. He was now back at the office but had lots of work to get done so probably couldn't leave until about half past three so there wouldn't be time to head to the usual coffee shop that we go to. Because of this, I just walked across to New Street again and got a creamy cooler from Costa (no prizes for guessing which one), which I drank in the concourse. After finishing that, I looked around the concourse for a recycling bin but couldn't find one at all! Typical modern station! Instead, a member of station staff at the barriers was approached and I asked him where a recycling bin was to hear that there weren't any bins, let alone recycling bins in the area! He said to leave the now empty creamy cooler with him so I did, getting through the barriers at the same time. It was now about quarter past three so, with time to spare, I headed back in the 1st class lounge, taking a seat and getting two mini Bakewell tarts and one mini rocky road so dad could try both and I could try the Derbyshire town. After a little chill out time, I decided that it was time to head out and meet dad. A short walk later, I was outside his work for the third time and a few minutes later, he appeared and we both walked to Moor Street together.

The centaury lounge was visited for a piece of white chocolate and raspberry tiffin (the thing we always get when here) and a coffee (for dad. I'm like Sheldon and don't do drugs ) before going and joining the best cat, 68014 on the 15:55 to Marylebone, which had now just changed headcode from 1H69 to 1H62. We got a bay of four in the rear coach and ate the freebies that I'd got at New Street and the brilliant White Choc and Raspberry tiffin while Gingertom gave a brilliant performance at shoving us back to Leam.

All in all, I think it was an excellent day, with a good 45.5 miles from the best cat and 9 winners for haulage (including trams) not including some great company for parts of the day and (exaggeration mode on) a nice little hop in 1st on a Pendo (exaggeration mode off).
Thanks for reading!