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FQ's trips around the globe
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I thought that you'd hate it! Still employing it? You haven't had any need to go anywhere near there since it came into play
.It didn't stop us later in the rover but it sounds like we were lucky then. I guess I was lucky to get the second 185 - shame it wasn't a winnerLucky the GC guard didn't try and charge you for York - Northallerton (or Thrisk) due to the technical non validity of the rover (I believe they carry "As Advertised"
Bit of a farce at the end of the day, but at least you got extra 185 mileage
Cheers and I certainly agree that it was bad luck towards the end!Loving these write-ups! Was a shame about the delays throughout the latter part of the day though, extremely bad luck.
Cheers! They certainly are!I loved it too. Your family sound great FQ
185143
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Surprised the GC Guard even knew it wasn't valid tbh!Lucky the GC guard didn't try and charge you for York - Northallerton (or Thrisk) due to the technical non validity of the rover (I believe they carry "As Advertised"
Bit of a farce at the end of the day, but at least you got extra 185 mileage
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
The strike on the north day 5: To cut a long story short
A title from one of Spandau Bullet's songs - To cut a long story short. This will be an easy trip report then! To cut a long story short, day 5, the Wednesday, of our rover scored me two winners and was a good day that didn't really go wrong. Oh, you want the long version (at least I hope that's what you were thinking - I'd not really want you to be thinking 'oh, thank god, I don't need to read this report'). Well, this is it!
We started the day at the same time as the previous one, getting up at 07:30. Breakfast was got downstairs with Nat and Granny again and Granddad was soon downstairs to take us to Malton. Again, no problems encountered en route and we were soon getting to the station with 25 minutes until our diesel dez. A bench was taken at the York end of the platform and I called my folks, letting Nat do the same (remember that he forgot his phone?). Then it was a bit of chatting and timetable planning until the late running Scarborough arrived, obviously delaying our Liverpool service as it had every day so far. Once that was out of the way, we heard the bell that signaled a train approaching and saw that it was one of the two 'new' TPE liveried ones approaching. I was hoping for 185123 as it's the only one of the two that I need but, alas, it was dud 185108 taking us to York.
Quite a few people were standing but, once again, both Nat and I got seats away from each other. Some music was put on to help the journey feel quicker and we were soon arriving at York. We wouldn't be going for the GC today and would instead be going for the mileage move on 'E09, from Newcastle to York. This being said, our first loco of the day would be a milkfloat to Newcastle (pulling Tech, not pushing). We waited on the platform for this, the 09:53 to Edinburgh, and soon saw a red milkfloat approaching. I was very glad to note that it was my first winner milkfloat of the trip, 91119. This was a refurbished set and it wasn't busy by any stretch of the imagination, with loads of empty bays of 4 in the front coach. We got one and had a nice chat for the ride north to Newcastle, getting there a couple of minutes late but with enough time to change platforms for 1E09.
We were arriving at the same time as 'E09 and Nat groaned the moment he saw the front powercar. I hadn't been able to see it so got my hopes up that he was groaning because it was my last VTEC powercar, 308 (which was dud for Nat). I immedietly asked him which one and got a reply saying...
...
...
314. Hellfire, but not what I was looking for! We ran over to 43314, with 43318 still providing power on the back. This was the same set that had been on 'E09 the day before but I most certainly wasn't complaining as it put 314 even closer to clearence, being at 911 by the time we reached York.
This was a busy service so we had to stand along with a couple of other people on departure from Newky but managed to get a vestibule without anyone else in so didn't disturb them with the bits of windowhanging that were done. At Darlington, loads of people joined the train and loads of people were stood in every vestibule so we just left the window down slightly to get tram thrash as we headed south from there. We got a good pace up but just before Northallerton there was a brake application and we started staggering. I put my head out of the window to see if there was anything obvious and immediately got accused of being dangerous by a lady behind me who claimed to be from Network Rail's safety department. This OFFDUTY person said that if we did it again then she'd report us. Oh, the dangers of having your head out as far as the door lock lights on the side of a coach at 25mph - I'm surprised that we're still alive :roll:.
We swung over to the slow lines here and went really slowly for a while, seeing engineering works taking place on the southbound fast line for some reason. We continued like this for ages and eventually crossed back onto the fasts at Tollerton Junction for a speedy run forward to York. We were planning to get the 12:03 from York to Retford (again) but try 3 to get to Retford went as well as the first two - it was gone by the time we arrived.
As we were arriving at York, we put our heads back out of the window slightly and were immediately told by the same stupid lady to stop leaning out of the window. We hadn't even spoke about what we were thinking but we found out after getting onto the platform that we were both thinking the same thing - I'm sorely temped to ask the lady when the doors unlock how to open the door without leaning out of the window as that's 'dangerous'
. We did resist the temptation though!
The same move north as last time - the 12:35 to Darlo'. Lunch was got from the Sainsbury's once again and we were soon back at the station watching another milkfloat roll in from the south. I saw the nameplate as it came round the corner at platform 9 and was immediately very happy as it was another winner, 91107! This was also a score for Nat (as was 119 earlier) so he was also kept happy on the 44.25-mile journey up to Darlington, arriving on time.
We'd fall onto the southbound chieftain from here, which we'd viewed heading north with one of Nat's winners the previous day. It was very relieving to confirm that it was the pair we thought as 43300 and 43317 arrived, 300 being the score for Nat. This was surprisingly quieter out of Darlo' than 1E09 but we still didn't get seats so decided to go for the tram thrash from the vestibule back south to York. Unlike the previous day, we were bang on time arriving at York, with the northbound chieftain being a few minutes late. Because of this, we walked over to platform 9 and waited for the arrival. Nat was very happy upon arrival of the chieftain as one of his winners, 43305, was leading! 43307 was on the back so I still hadn't scored 308. We were, once again, in the vestibule for this one but it was a pleasant enough journey, overtaking 66779 en route. Due to the delay out of York, we didn't think that we'd make the ex Aberdeen tram out of Darlo' but it hadn't passed us by the time we arrived so we jumped off. I ran down the platform to see a departure board and found out that the ex Aberdeen was running a good half an hour late itself so we'd be waiting about 25 minutes for it. This wasn't worth it so we just quickly hopped back on the chieftain for the ride through to Newcastle.
We arrived at Newcastle about 10 down but easily had enough time to change platforms for the milkfloat on the 15:30 to Kings Cross. I decided that it was time for a creamy cooler after we arrived so wandered over to the costa and asked for my usual medium BCCC (you can't get a large one because the amount of calories is apparently too high). I paid the usual price and when I got it, the barista said that, as they didn't have any more medium cups, she'd done me a large one! Excellent! I was very happy at this and thanked her before wandering out and over the footbridge to the platform for our last loco of the day, another milkfloat (but, much to Tech's horror I'm sure, pushing). Sure enough it was a milkfloat but, although it was a dud for both of us, Nat was happy enough as it was his favorite milkfloat, 91110. Just like the last time we got this service, seats weren't hard to find and we easily got decent ones in the back coach for the long slog back down the ECML to York, arriving on time.
It was a good run (cue screams from Tech) but it felt like such a long one for some reason, something that doesn't happen on a tram. We were glad to get off at York, but not so glad at our next thing. This was our train back to Malton, the 16:40, and I knew that it would be a dud, having seen one of its earlier workings. As expected, 185144 was soon arriving at York and, much to our disgust, it was the '51' coach leading (the one with 1st class), so the awful dropdown seats had to be used in the very front. After only 10 minutes on these, my whole lower half had gone numb. I really hate them!
We were most certainly glad that there was no delay this evening so we didn't keep granddad waiting at the station. I'd called him as we left York this time so unless something went wrong between York and Malton, which is highly unlikely, he wouldn't be kept waiting. This was completely fine with him and we had a pleasant ride back from Malton in the car, filling him in about the day.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, we had a good day!
A title from one of Spandau Bullet's songs - To cut a long story short. This will be an easy trip report then! To cut a long story short, day 5, the Wednesday, of our rover scored me two winners and was a good day that didn't really go wrong. Oh, you want the long version (at least I hope that's what you were thinking - I'd not really want you to be thinking 'oh, thank god, I don't need to read this report'
). Well, this is it!We started the day at the same time as the previous one, getting up at 07:30. Breakfast was got downstairs with Nat and Granny again and Granddad was soon downstairs to take us to Malton. Again, no problems encountered en route and we were soon getting to the station with 25 minutes until our diesel dez. A bench was taken at the York end of the platform and I called my folks, letting Nat do the same (remember that he forgot his phone?). Then it was a bit of chatting and timetable planning until the late running Scarborough arrived, obviously delaying our Liverpool service as it had every day so far. Once that was out of the way, we heard the bell that signaled a train approaching and saw that it was one of the two 'new' TPE liveried ones approaching. I was hoping for 185123 as it's the only one of the two that I need but, alas, it was dud 185108 taking us to York.
Quite a few people were standing but, once again, both Nat and I got seats away from each other. Some music was put on to help the journey feel quicker and we were soon arriving at York. We wouldn't be going for the GC today and would instead be going for the mileage move on 'E09, from Newcastle to York. This being said, our first loco of the day would be a milkfloat to Newcastle (pulling Tech, not pushing
). We waited on the platform for this, the 09:53 to Edinburgh, and soon saw a red milkfloat approaching. I was very glad to note that it was my first winner milkfloat of the trip, 91119. This was a refurbished set and it wasn't busy by any stretch of the imagination, with loads of empty bays of 4 in the front coach. We got one and had a nice chat for the ride north to Newcastle, getting there a couple of minutes late but with enough time to change platforms for 1E09. We were arriving at the same time as 'E09 and Nat groaned the moment he saw the front powercar. I hadn't been able to see it so got my hopes up that he was groaning because it was my last VTEC powercar, 308 (which was dud for Nat). I immedietly asked him which one and got a reply saying...
...
...
314. Hellfire, but not what I was looking for! We ran over to 43314, with 43318 still providing power on the back. This was the same set that had been on 'E09 the day before but I most certainly wasn't complaining as it put 314 even closer to clearence, being at 911 by the time we reached York.
This was a busy service so we had to stand along with a couple of other people on departure from Newky but managed to get a vestibule without anyone else in so didn't disturb them with the bits of windowhanging that were done. At Darlington, loads of people joined the train and loads of people were stood in every vestibule so we just left the window down slightly to get tram thrash as we headed south from there. We got a good pace up but just before Northallerton there was a brake application and we started staggering. I put my head out of the window to see if there was anything obvious and immediately got accused of being dangerous by a lady behind me who claimed to be from Network Rail's safety department. This OFFDUTY person said that if we did it again then she'd report us. Oh, the dangers of having your head out as far as the door lock lights on the side of a coach at 25mph - I'm surprised that we're still alive :roll:.
We swung over to the slow lines here and went really slowly for a while, seeing engineering works taking place on the southbound fast line for some reason. We continued like this for ages and eventually crossed back onto the fasts at Tollerton Junction for a speedy run forward to York. We were planning to get the 12:03 from York to Retford (again) but try 3 to get to Retford went as well as the first two - it was gone by the time we arrived.
As we were arriving at York, we put our heads back out of the window slightly and were immediately told by the same stupid lady to stop leaning out of the window. We hadn't even spoke about what we were thinking but we found out after getting onto the platform that we were both thinking the same thing - I'm sorely temped to ask the lady when the doors unlock how to open the door without leaning out of the window as that's 'dangerous'
. We did resist the temptation though!The same move north as last time - the 12:35 to Darlo'. Lunch was got from the Sainsbury's once again and we were soon back at the station watching another milkfloat roll in from the south. I saw the nameplate as it came round the corner at platform 9 and was immediately very happy as it was another winner, 91107! This was also a score for Nat (as was 119 earlier) so he was also kept happy on the 44.25-mile journey up to Darlington, arriving on time.
We'd fall onto the southbound chieftain from here, which we'd viewed heading north with one of Nat's winners the previous day. It was very relieving to confirm that it was the pair we thought as 43300 and 43317 arrived, 300 being the score for Nat. This was surprisingly quieter out of Darlo' than 1E09 but we still didn't get seats so decided to go for the tram thrash from the vestibule back south to York. Unlike the previous day, we were bang on time arriving at York, with the northbound chieftain being a few minutes late. Because of this, we walked over to platform 9 and waited for the arrival. Nat was very happy upon arrival of the chieftain as one of his winners, 43305, was leading! 43307 was on the back so I still hadn't scored 308. We were, once again, in the vestibule for this one but it was a pleasant enough journey, overtaking 66779 en route. Due to the delay out of York, we didn't think that we'd make the ex Aberdeen tram out of Darlo' but it hadn't passed us by the time we arrived so we jumped off. I ran down the platform to see a departure board and found out that the ex Aberdeen was running a good half an hour late itself so we'd be waiting about 25 minutes for it. This wasn't worth it so we just quickly hopped back on the chieftain for the ride through to Newcastle.
We arrived at Newcastle about 10 down but easily had enough time to change platforms for the milkfloat on the 15:30 to Kings Cross. I decided that it was time for a creamy cooler after we arrived so wandered over to the costa and asked for my usual medium BCCC (you can't get a large one because the amount of calories is apparently too high). I paid the usual price and when I got it, the barista said that, as they didn't have any more medium cups, she'd done me a large one! Excellent! I was very happy at this and thanked her before wandering out and over the footbridge to the platform for our last loco of the day, another milkfloat (but, much to Tech's horror I'm sure, pushing). Sure enough it was a milkfloat but, although it was a dud for both of us, Nat was happy enough as it was his favorite milkfloat, 91110. Just like the last time we got this service, seats weren't hard to find and we easily got decent ones in the back coach for the long slog back down the ECML to York, arriving on time.
It was a good run (cue screams from Tech
) but it felt like such a long one for some reason, something that doesn't happen on a tram. We were glad to get off at York, but not so glad at our next thing. This was our train back to Malton, the 16:40, and I knew that it would be a dud, having seen one of its earlier workings. As expected, 185144 was soon arriving at York and, much to our disgust, it was the '51' coach leading (the one with 1st class), so the awful dropdown seats had to be used in the very front. After only 10 minutes on these, my whole lower half had gone numb. I really hate them!We were most certainly glad that there was no delay this evening so we didn't keep granddad waiting at the station. I'd called him as we left York this time so unless something went wrong between York and Malton, which is highly unlikely, he wouldn't be kept waiting. This was completely fine with him and we had a pleasant ride back from Malton in the car, filling him in about the day.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, we had a good day!
roversfan2001
Established Member
Yet another great report! Good work on the creamy cooler too getting a large; I really like them but haven't had one for over a year!
Kite159
Veteran Member
Sounded like a good day going up and down the ECML
Thanks! You'll need to get one on Saturday (I don't think you'll be the only one...)
It certainly was!
roversfan2001
Established Member
185143
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- 5,349
I quite like the tipdown seats on 185s (well, in comparison to other tip downs). Have done Birchwood to Huddersfield on them no trouble. York to Manchester was pushing it though.
Thing to remember when sat on them:It's more comfortable than standing!
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Thing to remember when sat on them:It's more comfortable than standing!
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
I've done Manchester Oxford Road to York on a tipup seat because every table seat was taken and I needed a socket! It was the 20:11 from there so to be honest I don't think I cared where I sat
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Another excellent read FQ, and yes I was shaking my head at you getting 91 pushage! All journeys on 91s feels long!
185108 I believe is required here!
185108 I believe is required here!
I'm gladd to added the 'in comparison to other tip downs'! I agree that it's certainly more comfy than standing!
Thanks!I really enjoyed that report FQ, looking forward to the next one.
Hell... That sounds dire!I've done Manchester Oxford Road to York on a tipup seat because every table seat was taken and I needed a socket! It was the 20:11 from there so to be honest I don't think I cared where I sat
I thought you might be! Hopefully you'll get 108 soon - I saw it leaving Sheffield earlier, delaying my tram to New Street in the process!
185143
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Now sat on a pendo tip down, if you can get the ones in the wheelchair spaces (and therefore get half a table). They are very pleasant. I've travelled from Carlisle to Warrington on them before no problem.
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
At least there'll still be railtours!
They're alright and I've used them a few times too. Where are you off to?
backontrack
Established Member
I've vestibuled from Euston to Wigan before. We were stuck outside the disabled loos, and there were 3 of us taking turns on 2 tip-downs.
I've also done KX to York half-balancing on a suitcase (ours, thankfully) in a luggage rack. I was numb.
I've also done KX to York half-balancing on a suitcase (ours, thankfully) in a luggage rack. I was numb.
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backontrack
Established Member
We got seats after there, never fear. I wouldn't have wanted to continue like them that to Carlisle!That can't have been fun, the latter especially (although the former does mean that you were going to Wigan so I'd say that that was worse
But yeah, as a Yorkshireman I'm inclined to agree
Euston to Llandudno Junction on Friday night on a Super Voyager was fun though 
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ATW Alex 101
Established Member
National Rail Child-rate photocard. Take along a passport sized photo and your passport to a manned station, they should issue one free of charge.
When I was on child fares I had to show it a good few times!A 221 to Ludo Junction from Euston?! A 221 to Ludo Junction from... Ludo Junction is enough (by far)We got seats after there, never fear. I wouldn't have wanted to continue like them that to Carlisle!
But yeah, as a Yorkshireman I'm inclined to agree
!Ah, I never thought of that! I actually have a photo card for when I got a weekly season just over a year ago but it wasn't a child rate one (just a photo of me and the number really). It might be worth a try but I don't have any passport photos left now.National Rail Child-rate photocard. Take along a passport sized photo and your passport to a manned station, they should issue one free of charge.
I round up/down to the nearest .25 . It gains me mileage sometimes and loses it in others (for example, one of my most traveled routes is Leamington to Snow Hell at 23m29c but gets called 23.25, losing the 9 chains there).
. It gains me mileage sometimes and loses it in others (for example, one of my most traveled routes is Leamington to Snow Hell at 23m29c but gets called 23.25, losing the 9 chains there).I round up/down to the nearest .25
I can see why you do it FQ and I used to do that as well myself, but I decided in around July last year to go for recording exact mileage instead so I can get a more accurate overall total each month/year.
185143
Established Member
- Joined
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National Rail Child-rate photocard. Take along a passport sized photo and your passport to a manned station, they should issue one free of charge.
I used to get told all the time on Network Warrington buses that meant nothing as 'we're not trains'. Some of the attitudes I got from their drivers was, at times, disgraceful. Most eventually accepted it and let me on. One driver wouldn't and was insistent I paid the adult fare, so I said goodbye and walked home
I've had RPIs before convinced that I was over 16 and nearly have a heart attack when I've produced a perfectly valid photocard!
In some ways turning 16 was nice as it meant I could travel without being accused of fraud
The strike on the north day 6: A planned lateness
Unlike two days previously, the 18th of August was planned to be back on the 18:40 from York to give us a longer day (we just ended up on the 18:40 two days before because of TPE's problems). We'd be starting on the 09:13 again so an 07:30 alarm was set and the morning process that we'd done the last two days was gone through before heading off to the station, getting there with 20 minutes to spare.
The Scarborough was late as usual so our train was arriving pretty much just after it had left.
Heading to the coast by fishquinn1, on Flickr
This led to confusion. We were both looking down the platform as it approached to see if it was the new livery or not. It went like this today: old livery, nope, new livery, nope it's the old one, no, it's the new one, nope, that can't be the new one, it's the old one. Then it was, eh, what the hell? Eh, what livery's that? We were both very confused when winner 185104 rolled in. It had a front end that was pink (OK, fine. Excluding the windscreen, yellow bit, coupling area and the very top bit). We shrugged this off, guessing that it must be advertising something. It turns out that after further looking at York that it was advertising Manchester pride. Really not needed as Mancc has enough pride already (and well deserved pride, being one of, if not my favorite cities in the UK). Anyway, it was an uneventful run through to York, where a couple of photos were taken of the unit.
185104 by fishquinn1, on Flickr
185104 by fishquinn1, on Flickr
It was then a walk over to the footbridge to check our options.
The moment I saw which milkfloat was on the 10:03 to Kings Cross, I knew that I wanted to be on it. 91118 had annoyed me on day two of the rover (day 4 of the trip) when it raced through Doncaster non-stop and it was now one of my last 8 required milkfloats. I asked Nat if it'd be all right with him to go for that and, as he needed it too, he was happy with it. We waited for the slightly late 09:53 to Edinburgh to arrive first to confirm that it wasn't a winner, seeing 43480 leading the GC to Sunderland at '58 as expected. As we knew that 484 was on the back, we didn't check it and instead wandered over towards the front of 91118's set and got on board. That's the point that I froze. I saw the number of the powercar on the back of the GC set and turned around slowly before telling Nat that we weren't going to be going for the milkfloat and telling him to run before sprinting off the train and down the platform. He took a moment to follow, checking the powercar himself before following...
At a slow pace! That git!
I got over to platform 10 before the doors had been shut and ran over to the one nearest. Instead of getting on, I simply held the door waiting for my stupid friend who had WALKED most of the way. He thankfully ran the last bit after seeing that it was possible to make and got to the top of the footbridge just after the signal had gone yellow. He made it onto the platform just in time and got on board before I slammed the door. Why didn't I just get on board? He didn't have his phone! If he had then I would have just got on (and he would probably still have made it) and if he missed then just call to say to be on the milkfloat that I'd be on from Northallerton. Anyway, that doesn't matter as the connection made onto 43480 and my last GC powercar, 43468! Score and a half!
There were no problems regarding tickets today and, once at Northallerton, we had yet another half-hour fester.
GC to Sunderland by fishquinn1, on Flickr
It went by reasonably... slowly... and we were soon watching the brake dust from another milkfloat that we both automatically recognized due to a symbol on the front. Score winner for both of us 91101! This wasn't too busy and it was a short ride up to Darlington, where we bailed for 1E09, a service that we'd got every day so far.
The 91 kettle by fishquinn1, on Flickr
We were both rather ticked off once again to see a DVT leading as, just like on Monday, it was vice! Today it was dud from yesterday 91119 taking us back to York.
It was an uneventful ride south, arriving at York a couple of minutes late. Our plan was now to take the 12:03 to Doncaster to get the EMT hire in set to Leeds and back as it was something that Nat wanted to do (and I wasn't complaining!). Even though we could have made the northern lights as it was running about 10-late, we changed over to 43206 and 43299 on the excellent EC64, which I'm now calling 'the pocket set'. We got comfy in the front Standard class coach and were on the move a couple of minutes late at 12:05. This is where Nat got really annoyed. We saw the Northern Lights arrive as we were pulling out with 43319 on the front. This made us think that 311 would be on the back, as it was when we last saw it. Nope, one of Nat's winners, 43277! Damn!
Other than that the journey didn't have many problems except waiting for a platform at Doncaster, arriving 5 late.
'The pocket set' by fishquinn1, on Flickr
It was then to the front powercar for a quick photo before watching it leave and heading for the platform that the 12:42 to Leeds was booked out from.
Tram heading south by fishquinn1, on Flickr
We then had a short wait until our tram, during which we went to the Greggs in the shopping centre next to the station, before heading to the platform to wait for our service, which was running about 5 late...
With a stalker milkfloat! We were pretty ticked off - what do you have to do to avoid vice turns? We flagged it and decided to head to York on the 13:05 milkfloat instead. Dad was called and a creamy cooler got and we didn't have too long until we could see our train approaching...
With an EMT powercar leading! Score! We were both happy enough with duds for both of us 43059 and 43061. We got on board another EMT style set and got in the front coach, windowhanging for the excellent noise from the VP185 engines as they screamed away from Donny before getting a seat again for the race up the ECML to York. While en route, we decided to take the EMT set back out at 14:02 to try Retford once again as more mileage from this hellfire pair was too hard to resist. We didn't have too long to wait at York before departure again, seeing 251 and 296 head north on the Chieftain, before departing on time towards London. All going OK so far - will we make it to Retford on try 4 (if I haven't yet lost count)?
All went fine until just before Donny when we were signal checked and we arrived a minute or two late. +9 at Retford, this will be easy! Or not. After about 6 minutes of waiting, the guard came over the PA to say that we were just waiting for a police attendance at the end of the train and that we'd be on the move shortly. Oh, for goodness sake!
We got off and the tram moved forward again about 5 minutes later, making the connection at Retford a -4. It was good that we'd flagged it too as the connection was running only 1 late and it missed. This is a booked tram so we were sorely hoping for one and not another vice. Luckily it went well this time and we could soon see a tram set approaching. Nathan was very happy after seeing the front powercar as it was one that hadn't been out all week, 43306. It seems that this had swapped with 274 as it was 43272 on the back. We easily got seats on board and relaxed for the MTU thrash back up the ECML to York. We decided to try for Retford yet again as it'd put us onto another tram back to York so we were wondering how it'd go wrong this time as we left York once again on the same pair at 16:02, running on time. We got up to speed quickly once again and were soon racing along the ECML to Doncaster, getting a platform right away. We had a decent bay of 4 to chill out in and we soon heard a whistle and the doors locked before we moved forward out of Donny a minute or so late. Retford here we come!
Books at the ready to scribe stuff at Donny, we managed to get quite a lot. Just before everything ended though, we wrote down a number of a red death and it took a couple of moments before Nathan blurted out '084; of course'! This was a red death that I recognized too and he'd worked it out a couple of seconds before me. 66084 was Nat's last required red death in the country and had been stored at Hither Green for just under a year! We didn't know that it'd been released and he'd kind of forgotten about it due to not being able to get it. Score!
We got to Retford, a shack score, not long after and we both alighted and changed platforms without difficulty, watching the tram set accelerate away towards Kings Cross. We then turned our attention to the PIS which displayed '16:49 York on time'. Brilliant! We didn't know which tram set would appear so we were hoping for a decent one but were thoroughly ticked off when we saw the rubbish front end of a milkfloat come off the junction and into the station. What made it was that it was dud for the trip 91125. What made it even worse than that is that the one turn we'd had this milkfloat on was a vice too! Stupid thing!
We were still annoyed as we got on board and headed towards Doncaster but I looked at options on RTT anyway for what we could do after getting to York, with just over an hour until our train back to Malton. I located a move to Northallerton and back on milkfloats so we decided to do that, and got to York on 125 not too long later. We had a platform change and short wait here before dud for both of us (and the trip, having had it from Newcastle to York on the first day of the rover) 91129 arrived for the ride up to Northallerton, getting there on time. It was now a short wait after changing platforms before our one back. While here, a bee was helped get the right way round again (it was on the platform with its legs facing the air and couldn't get the right way round) and the fester didn't feel too long before we saw our train back approaching. Nat waited fairly far up the platform, leaving me to get the milkfloat, which was dud for both of us 91114. It said hi, Kite.
Not long after getting on board, we were back at York with a short fester before the 18:40.
Durham cathedral moved to York? by fishquinn1, on Flickr
This was going to be a busy service and wasn't aided by the fact that the '51' coach was leading, so we both had to stand on 185126 back through to Malton, where granddad was waiting to take us back. Another excellent day on the rails!
Unlike two days previously, the 18th of August was planned to be back on the 18:40 from York to give us a longer day (we just ended up on the 18:40 two days before because of TPE's problems). We'd be starting on the 09:13 again so an 07:30 alarm was set and the morning process that we'd done the last two days was gone through before heading off to the station, getting there with 20 minutes to spare.
The Scarborough was late as usual so our train was arriving pretty much just after it had left.
Heading to the coast by fishquinn1, on FlickrThis led to confusion. We were both looking down the platform as it approached to see if it was the new livery or not. It went like this today: old livery, nope, new livery, nope it's the old one, no, it's the new one, nope, that can't be the new one, it's the old one. Then it was, eh, what the hell? Eh, what livery's that? We were both very confused when winner 185104 rolled in. It had a front end that was pink (OK, fine. Excluding the windscreen, yellow bit, coupling area and the very top bit). We shrugged this off, guessing that it must be advertising something. It turns out that after further looking at York that it was advertising Manchester pride. Really not needed as Mancc has enough pride already (and well deserved pride, being one of, if not my favorite cities in the UK). Anyway, it was an uneventful run through to York, where a couple of photos were taken of the unit.
185104 by fishquinn1, on Flickr
185104 by fishquinn1, on FlickrIt was then a walk over to the footbridge to check our options.
The moment I saw which milkfloat was on the 10:03 to Kings Cross, I knew that I wanted to be on it. 91118 had annoyed me on day two of the rover (day 4 of the trip) when it raced through Doncaster non-stop and it was now one of my last 8 required milkfloats. I asked Nat if it'd be all right with him to go for that and, as he needed it too, he was happy with it. We waited for the slightly late 09:53 to Edinburgh to arrive first to confirm that it wasn't a winner, seeing 43480 leading the GC to Sunderland at '58 as expected. As we knew that 484 was on the back, we didn't check it and instead wandered over towards the front of 91118's set and got on board. That's the point that I froze. I saw the number of the powercar on the back of the GC set and turned around slowly before telling Nat that we weren't going to be going for the milkfloat and telling him to run before sprinting off the train and down the platform. He took a moment to follow, checking the powercar himself before following...
At a slow pace! That git!
I got over to platform 10 before the doors had been shut and ran over to the one nearest. Instead of getting on, I simply held the door waiting for my stupid friend who had WALKED most of the way. He thankfully ran the last bit after seeing that it was possible to make and got to the top of the footbridge just after the signal had gone yellow. He made it onto the platform just in time and got on board before I slammed the door. Why didn't I just get on board? He didn't have his phone! If he had then I would have just got on (and he would probably still have made it) and if he missed then just call to say to be on the milkfloat that I'd be on from Northallerton. Anyway, that doesn't matter as the connection made onto 43480 and my last GC powercar, 43468! Score and a half!
There were no problems regarding tickets today and, once at Northallerton, we had yet another half-hour fester.
GC to Sunderland by fishquinn1, on FlickrIt went by reasonably... slowly... and we were soon watching the brake dust from another milkfloat that we both automatically recognized due to a symbol on the front. Score winner for both of us 91101! This wasn't too busy and it was a short ride up to Darlington, where we bailed for 1E09, a service that we'd got every day so far.
The 91 kettle by fishquinn1, on FlickrWe were both rather ticked off once again to see a DVT leading as, just like on Monday, it was vice! Today it was dud from yesterday 91119 taking us back to York.
It was an uneventful ride south, arriving at York a couple of minutes late. Our plan was now to take the 12:03 to Doncaster to get the EMT hire in set to Leeds and back as it was something that Nat wanted to do (and I wasn't complaining!). Even though we could have made the northern lights as it was running about 10-late, we changed over to 43206 and 43299 on the excellent EC64, which I'm now calling 'the pocket set'. We got comfy in the front Standard class coach and were on the move a couple of minutes late at 12:05. This is where Nat got really annoyed. We saw the Northern Lights arrive as we were pulling out with 43319 on the front. This made us think that 311 would be on the back, as it was when we last saw it. Nope, one of Nat's winners, 43277! Damn!
Other than that the journey didn't have many problems except waiting for a platform at Doncaster, arriving 5 late.
'The pocket set' by fishquinn1, on FlickrIt was then to the front powercar for a quick photo before watching it leave and heading for the platform that the 12:42 to Leeds was booked out from.
Tram heading south by fishquinn1, on FlickrWe then had a short wait until our tram, during which we went to the Greggs in the shopping centre next to the station, before heading to the platform to wait for our service, which was running about 5 late...
With a stalker milkfloat! We were pretty ticked off - what do you have to do to avoid vice turns? We flagged it and decided to head to York on the 13:05 milkfloat instead. Dad was called and a creamy cooler got and we didn't have too long until we could see our train approaching...
With an EMT powercar leading! Score! We were both happy enough with duds for both of us 43059 and 43061. We got on board another EMT style set and got in the front coach, windowhanging for the excellent noise from the VP185 engines as they screamed away from Donny before getting a seat again for the race up the ECML to York. While en route, we decided to take the EMT set back out at 14:02 to try Retford once again as more mileage from this hellfire pair was too hard to resist. We didn't have too long to wait at York before departure again, seeing 251 and 296 head north on the Chieftain, before departing on time towards London. All going OK so far - will we make it to Retford on try 4 (if I haven't yet lost count)?
All went fine until just before Donny when we were signal checked and we arrived a minute or two late. +9 at Retford, this will be easy! Or not. After about 6 minutes of waiting, the guard came over the PA to say that we were just waiting for a police attendance at the end of the train and that we'd be on the move shortly. Oh, for goodness sake!
We got off and the tram moved forward again about 5 minutes later, making the connection at Retford a -4. It was good that we'd flagged it too as the connection was running only 1 late and it missed. This is a booked tram so we were sorely hoping for one and not another vice. Luckily it went well this time and we could soon see a tram set approaching. Nathan was very happy after seeing the front powercar as it was one that hadn't been out all week, 43306. It seems that this had swapped with 274 as it was 43272 on the back. We easily got seats on board and relaxed for the MTU thrash back up the ECML to York. We decided to try for Retford yet again as it'd put us onto another tram back to York so we were wondering how it'd go wrong this time as we left York once again on the same pair at 16:02, running on time. We got up to speed quickly once again and were soon racing along the ECML to Doncaster, getting a platform right away. We had a decent bay of 4 to chill out in and we soon heard a whistle and the doors locked before we moved forward out of Donny a minute or so late. Retford here we come!
Books at the ready to scribe stuff at Donny, we managed to get quite a lot. Just before everything ended though, we wrote down a number of a red death and it took a couple of moments before Nathan blurted out '084; of course'! This was a red death that I recognized too and he'd worked it out a couple of seconds before me. 66084 was Nat's last required red death in the country and had been stored at Hither Green for just under a year! We didn't know that it'd been released and he'd kind of forgotten about it due to not being able to get it. Score!
We got to Retford, a shack score, not long after and we both alighted and changed platforms without difficulty, watching the tram set accelerate away towards Kings Cross. We then turned our attention to the PIS which displayed '16:49 York on time'. Brilliant! We didn't know which tram set would appear so we were hoping for a decent one but were thoroughly ticked off when we saw the rubbish front end of a milkfloat come off the junction and into the station. What made it was that it was dud for the trip 91125. What made it even worse than that is that the one turn we'd had this milkfloat on was a vice too! Stupid thing!
We were still annoyed as we got on board and headed towards Doncaster but I looked at options on RTT anyway for what we could do after getting to York, with just over an hour until our train back to Malton. I located a move to Northallerton and back on milkfloats so we decided to do that, and got to York on 125 not too long later. We had a platform change and short wait here before dud for both of us (and the trip, having had it from Newcastle to York on the first day of the rover) 91129 arrived for the ride up to Northallerton, getting there on time. It was now a short wait after changing platforms before our one back. While here, a bee was helped get the right way round again (it was on the platform with its legs facing the air and couldn't get the right way round) and the fester didn't feel too long before we saw our train back approaching. Nat waited fairly far up the platform, leaving me to get the milkfloat, which was dud for both of us 91114. It said hi, Kite
.Not long after getting on board, we were back at York with a short fester before the 18:40.
Durham cathedral moved to York? by fishquinn1, on FlickrThis was going to be a busy service and wasn't aided by the fact that the '51' coach was leading, so we both had to stand on 185126 back through to Malton, where granddad was waiting to take us back. Another excellent day on the rails!
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cactustwirly
Established Member
I had both 91114 and EC64 when I went to Leeds in August
Nice report Mr Q. I like your nonchalant mate. He wouldn't have looked so cool if the door had shut in his face with you on the inside though
Got a question: When you watch EMT 125s on YouTube they sound quite meaty, are they louder than the MTU engined ones?
Got a question: When you watch EMT 125s on YouTube they sound quite meaty, are they louder than the MTU engined ones?
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Aside from all the dud 91s, not a bad day at all! Are you not bored stiff of Doncaster to Darlington now though?
Kite159
Veteran Member
91114 will be mine one of these days, hopefully the next time I'm in Leeds a 91 won't pull the wires down around Doncaster :P
I wonder if the 387s out of Paddington will be on Quinn's banned list on grounds that they are not HSTs?
I wonder if the 387s out of Paddington will be on Quinn's banned list on grounds that they are not HSTs?
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