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gazr's micro gricing reports
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
The south-side bay, next to the Brum-bound through platform? Nope, indeed I think there's no micro-gricing I need at Leamington Spa, same as Stratford-upon-Avon for that matter 
James Wake
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2559 is a possibility, one of the newest trams, the numbers go from 2530 to 2563 (I think that's the highest).
Maybe for a 30 day Britrail you could perhaps stay with relatives or people you know here to cut down on some of the accommodation cost. I agree you need to not just be on sleepers, that will burn you out.
2559...that was it
Thanks for all the input on the Britpass from all the members who have contributed, it's going to be interesting... still haven't pulled the trigger as its a big undertaking.Also wanted to note that I added a link for a couple of photos in my last post. Hopefully haven't messed it all up...please let me know if I have
p.s. the date is the American way...just makes more sense to me!--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
It's on! Booked 30 day Britrail pass 1st class (only doing this once, so may as well pay up). I'm now worried things are not what they used to be... do I now need to pay for a seat on sleeper services? The amount I've seen (if so), is bloody rediculous. Don't they have bog standard seats anymore?
Haven't made any plans, but I believe you're allowed to use this ticket on the Gatwick Express and Heathrow Express/Connect, so there is one day bashing those units
First day was going to be a Sleeper up to Inverness and then to Kyle and back before heading over to Aberdeen for the sleeper back down South...may have to revise things 
James Wake
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- 962
Do the Skye Circular if you get a chance. Do the sleeper to Inverness then:
0855 Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh arr 1130
1338 51A (M-F) or 1341 on Sats to Armadale Pier arrive 1417-1420. (was £4.80 for the fare in 2015)
1430 ferry to Mallaig (was £4.75 for the fare in 2015)
1605 ScotRail down the West Highland line as far as you want to go.
Or if you wanted to catch the sleeper from Fort William, why not take the Citylink coach to Portree then the mid-afternoon bus to Armadale, then catch the 1720 ferry to Mallaig for the 1815 ScotRail to Fort William, in time for the 1950 sleeper south. I believe the guard on the 1815 ex Mallaig works the sleeper down to Rannoch (or wherever the last train from Glasgow to Mallaig passes the sleeper).
If you want the 442s on Gatwick Express duties, be quick as the 387s are coming in quickly. I think you need to have a reservation on the sleeper to be in the seated portion.
Confirmed on the Caledonian Sleeper website here: Sleeper Seat Reservations are free, please contact the Guest Service Centre if your require only a seat reservation.
0855 Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh arr 1130
1338 51A (M-F) or 1341 on Sats to Armadale Pier arrive 1417-1420. (was £4.80 for the fare in 2015)
1430 ferry to Mallaig (was £4.75 for the fare in 2015)
1605 ScotRail down the West Highland line as far as you want to go.
Or if you wanted to catch the sleeper from Fort William, why not take the Citylink coach to Portree then the mid-afternoon bus to Armadale, then catch the 1720 ferry to Mallaig for the 1815 ScotRail to Fort William, in time for the 1950 sleeper south. I believe the guard on the 1815 ex Mallaig works the sleeper down to Rannoch (or wherever the last train from Glasgow to Mallaig passes the sleeper).
If you want the 442s on Gatwick Express duties, be quick as the 387s are coming in quickly. I think you need to have a reservation on the sleeper to be in the seated portion.
Confirmed on the Caledonian Sleeper website here: Sleeper Seat Reservations are free, please contact the Guest Service Centre if your require only a seat reservation.
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
Yep, mandatory but free seat reservations on the Cally Insomnie I'm afraid. Looking forward already to hearing about the adventure!
Heathrow Express isn't included AFAIK on an ALR but might be on a BritPass. Best get in touch with them to check first. Gatwick Express and Stansted Express you're fine on though.
Heathrow Express isn't included AFAIK on an ALR but might be on a BritPass. Best get in touch with them to check first. Gatwick Express and Stansted Express you're fine on though.
adrock1976
Established Member
A good time had along the GOBLIN.
I have 6 out of the 8 Class 172s, which I did on a Sunday morning in 2014. I only require 172007 and 008.
I griced Platform 1 at Leamington Spa back in 1989 on a Snow Hill - Leamington Spa service, which was operated by a Class 115/116. I also did Platform 1 on a Stratford upon Avon - Leamington Spa service during the big school holidays on a Midline Day Ranger plus an additional ticket to cover the leg outwith the WMPTE area.
I have 6 out of the 8 Class 172s, which I did on a Sunday morning in 2014. I only require 172007 and 008.
The south-side bay, next to the Brum-bound through platform? Nope, indeed I think there's no micro-gricing I need at Leamington Spa, same as Stratford-upon-Avon for that matter
I griced Platform 1 at Leamington Spa back in 1989 on a Snow Hill - Leamington Spa service, which was operated by a Class 115/116. I also did Platform 1 on a Stratford upon Avon - Leamington Spa service during the big school holidays on a Midline Day Ranger plus an additional ticket to cover the leg outwith the WMPTE area.
A new record for me...up at 3.15 am!! So early in fact, that it was a night bus to start the day to Clapham Junction. The 5.09 from Clapham Junction pulls in slow line and things are looking good...then it pulls in East Croydon platform 5 (booked in 3). The train was then booked to go to the UFL wrong line to Couldsden North GF, where it regains the Down QL. Nope!!!! Stay on the slow all the way. Only interesting bit was center road at Redhill.
A look at RTT revealed all. Between 1am and 5am, any train from Victoria was cancelled. Two trains from Bedford to Brighton were screwed!! According to RTT, one was 212 minutes down leaving East Croydon after arriving RT!! Me thinks Network Rail forgot someone to operate the ground frame! Can't say I was too pleased, but bailed at Horley and the return working did the UF-US at Earlswood South Junction, which was a bonus. Also covered UBS to UBF @ Battersea Pier.
Stayed on at Victoria to go back to Purley (only a +8). This covered DBF to DBS @ Battersea Pier and East Croydon platform 5 to DF. A plus 30 a Purley (still early!), for a short trip to East Croydon to get UF to platform 4. Time to move on, so up to London Bridge and then tube to Southwark (Waterloo East) and into Charing X. Long story short, down to Dartford and Crayford, scoring a whole bunch of crossovers on the London end. Back from Dartford to Victoria and straight to Spoons for a late breakfast and much needed energy boost.
Next on my list was Maidstone West. Due to all the engineering I asked at St. Pancras if I could use HS1 to Ashford and go back to Maidstone (using London Terminals to Maidstone Stations Plus HS1 ticket), and he said this was acceptable...much cheaper than buying a London-Ashford ticket?! Even got my ticket checked between Ebbsleet and Ashford and nothing was said. Happy Days Ashford to Paddock Wood crossing from platform 5 to UF at Ashford. Paddock Wood to Maidstone West. Retraced this route back to London, covering the crossover at Maidstone West and DF to platform 6 at Ashford.
Almost pee'd myself a little when checking RTT on the Ashford - St. Pancras service when it showed a red platform change at Ebbsfleet to 3 (always 2). Sadly nothing came of it and have idea why this one service showed this.
So, that was my day...left at 4am and got home around 7.30pm...knackered
A look at RTT revealed all. Between 1am and 5am, any train from Victoria was cancelled. Two trains from Bedford to Brighton were screwed!! According to RTT, one was 212 minutes down leaving East Croydon after arriving RT!! Me thinks Network Rail forgot someone to operate the ground frame! Can't say I was too pleased, but bailed at Horley and the return working did the UF-US at Earlswood South Junction, which was a bonus. Also covered UBS to UBF @ Battersea Pier.
Stayed on at Victoria to go back to Purley (only a +8). This covered DBF to DBS @ Battersea Pier and East Croydon platform 5 to DF. A plus 30 a Purley (still early!), for a short trip to East Croydon to get UF to platform 4. Time to move on, so up to London Bridge and then tube to Southwark (Waterloo East) and into Charing X. Long story short, down to Dartford and Crayford, scoring a whole bunch of crossovers on the London end. Back from Dartford to Victoria and straight to Spoons for a late breakfast and much needed energy boost.
Next on my list was Maidstone West. Due to all the engineering I asked at St. Pancras if I could use HS1 to Ashford and go back to Maidstone (using London Terminals to Maidstone Stations Plus HS1 ticket), and he said this was acceptable...much cheaper than buying a London-Ashford ticket?! Even got my ticket checked between Ebbsleet and Ashford and nothing was said. Happy Days
Ashford to Paddock Wood crossing from platform 5 to UF at Ashford. Paddock Wood to Maidstone West. Retraced this route back to London, covering the crossover at Maidstone West and DF to platform 6 at Ashford. Almost pee'd myself a little when checking RTT on the Ashford - St. Pancras service when it showed a red platform change at Ebbsfleet to 3 (always 2). Sadly nothing came of it and have idea why this one service showed this.
So, that was my day...left at 4am and got home around 7.30pm...knackered
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
That was a long day, that's for sure! Even though there were some bits that didn't happen, you got a lot done
Kite159
Veteran Member
I can't really imagine a 395 going into platform 3 at Ashford International, on grounds that the platform is a tad on the low side.
Good way to enforce a set-down only call through
Good way to enforce a set-down only call through
Kristofferson
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- 23 Nov 2012
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Shame you're leaving the UK scene but the 30 day pass will be a good send off!
As much as you enjoy the hardcore micro gricing and we enjoy reading it, make sure you appreciate the journeys not just the track on your BritPass
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
As much as you enjoy the hardcore micro gricing and we enjoy reading it, make sure you appreciate the journeys not just the track on your BritPass
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Kite: it was platform 3 @ Ebbsfleet (down platform), not Ashford. Platform 3/4 @ Ashford you need to go through customs to get on? (even though RTT shows platform 4 in use all day yesterday instead of 6).
Also reminded me I did the shuttle from St. Pancras to Ebbsfleet (terminating in Platform 5) using the XO closest to the station before going to Ashford...another reason to pay the extra for HS
Looking forward to the mega ALR...seriously need to go shopping this week
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I think I must be cursed! Wake up this morning to find Scotrail on strike next Tuesday Can anyone in the know tell me how bad this will affect services in Inverness, or is this an all out strike by drivers/guards/etc? May have to change plans and head South Monday night!
Also reminded me I did the shuttle from St. Pancras to Ebbsfleet (terminating in Platform 5) using the XO closest to the station before going to Ashford...another reason to pay the extra for HS
Looking forward to the mega ALR...seriously need to go shopping this week
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I think I must be cursed! Wake up this morning to find Scotrail on strike next Tuesday
Can anyone in the know tell me how bad this will affect services in Inverness, or is this an all out strike by drivers/guards/etc? May have to change plans and head South Monday night!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I thought ScotRail said they weren't going to strike! Might be wrong, only caught the last bit of a BBC News piece on it. Besides, I believe last time this happened the strike was cancelled late notice.
The sleeper is in the hands of Serco so you should be safe. Play it by ear for now.
The sleeper is in the hands of Serco so you should be safe. Play it by ear for now.
Well, it's been a long while since I've posted on here and I have a 30 day Britrail pass still to type up; tbh it was mostly a blur of sleepers and running up and down the east and west coast...not well planned.
Anyhow. Today I was up bright and early and got triple 465s (11, 01 and 16) off Wimbledon to Waterloo; doing the jiggle from US-UF-Staff Halt-US. At Waterloo, the orange army were busy lifting the two sidings closest to the slow lines. Went into P4 with a train RA at P3 so a run across for 5721+5906 to Vauxhall. For some reason it crossed DMS-DMF just before Vauxhall; not common. As it turns out, this train was heading for Hounslow with Queenstown Road the next stop. If I had not done the move from DMF to DW on the BLS tour in January, I would be kicking myself as this is definitely rare.
Not to worry though and the PW @ Waterloo took sudden possession of the slow lines and my next train from Vauxhall to Waterloo (5868 + 5870) crossed UMS - UMF @ West Crossings; another unusual occurrence. Another couple of back and forth to Vauxhall with 5863+5742 and 5862+5918 before a mad dash to St. Pancras for the main event.
Arrive at St. Pancras after what seemed like a mile walk from the Victoria Line to P3 for 222005 to Luton Airpirt; booked via Down Hendon Loop...which is freaking failed to do after waiting in the tunnel for the Up service to come off the loop! Noting a large section of track missing on the US @ Hendon, I knew engineering was severely overrunning. Turns out Thameslink opened the fast platforms from Hendon up to St.Albans, so I decided to platform scratch the whole lot, stopping at Cricklewood, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Radlett, and Elstree fast platforms (last time these platforms saw booked use?).
Not feeling 100%, I decided to head back to London and then decided to keep going on fast line platforms that don't see much use by going down to Chislehurst and back. Could have done the DF-DS-REV at Chislehurst but the next stop was Otford, and I didn't feel like paying for the privilege (plus it's in use again in a couple if weeks with other bonuses). That was pretty much it for the day. Lots of shacks stratched off completely (must visit every useable platform by arriving or departing) and did score some small bits of track too. Not a bad day.
Anyhow. Today I was up bright and early and got triple 465s (11, 01 and 16) off Wimbledon to Waterloo; doing the jiggle from US-UF-Staff Halt-US. At Waterloo, the orange army were busy lifting the two sidings closest to the slow lines. Went into P4 with a train RA at P3 so a run across for 5721+5906 to Vauxhall. For some reason it crossed DMS-DMF just before Vauxhall; not common. As it turns out, this train was heading for Hounslow with Queenstown Road the next stop. If I had not done the move from DMF to DW on the BLS tour in January, I would be kicking myself as this is definitely rare.
Not to worry though and the PW @ Waterloo took sudden possession of the slow lines and my next train from Vauxhall to Waterloo (5868 + 5870) crossed UMS - UMF @ West Crossings; another unusual occurrence. Another couple of back and forth to Vauxhall with 5863+5742 and 5862+5918 before a mad dash to St. Pancras for the main event.
Arrive at St. Pancras after what seemed like a mile walk from the Victoria Line to P3 for 222005 to Luton Airpirt; booked via Down Hendon Loop...which is freaking failed to do after waiting in the tunnel for the Up service to come off the loop! Noting a large section of track missing on the US @ Hendon, I knew engineering was severely overrunning. Turns out Thameslink opened the fast platforms from Hendon up to St.Albans, so I decided to platform scratch the whole lot, stopping at Cricklewood, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Radlett, and Elstree fast platforms (last time these platforms saw booked use?).
Not feeling 100%, I decided to head back to London and then decided to keep going on fast line platforms that don't see much use by going down to Chislehurst and back. Could have done the DF-DS-REV at Chislehurst but the next stop was Otford, and I didn't feel like paying for the privilege (plus it's in use again in a couple if weeks with other bonuses). That was pretty much it for the day. Lots of shacks stratched off completely (must visit every useable platform by arriving or departing) and did score some small bits of track too. Not a bad day.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Welcome back to the GB
Would have been 456s rather than 465s in SWT
I would imagine the fast line platforms at those stations sees semi-regular use during engineering works which close the slow lines at weekends, probably similar to the fast line platforms on the WCML.
Would have been 456s rather than 465s in SWT
I would imagine the fast line platforms at those stations sees semi-regular use during engineering works which close the slow lines at weekends, probably similar to the fast line platforms on the WCML.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Using every platform before counting a station fully? Good luck with Grand Central in New York then! 
Lots of weird and wonderful little moves there!
Lots of weird and wonderful little moves there!
Using every platform before counting a station fully? Good luck with Grand Central in New York then!
Lots of weird and wonderful little moves there!
If you're dedicated enough it's not hard haha!
In the entirety of Newcastle and it's associated bridges of operational track, I need one connecting line onto the Forth Banks Branch, a slip, a X/O at Manors and a X/O at St James' Bridge Jn (which I think is OOU anyway).
And that includes the thunderbird siding which is dud
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