Well, it was attempt 2 at a Great Escape - the first one being substituted with a West Midlands Day Ranger after a small muck up with the Great Escape vouchers...
Nevertheless, the day started somewhat earlier than I would have liked, heading for the 07:06 TPE service from Dewsbury to Manchester, on which I was to meet starmill, who was to join the train earlier (I guess I can't complain too much about an early start then!) The day had an interesting start in so much as the PIS had failed at Dewsbury, though I was informed by the staff member in the ticket office that it was a bigger problem, not least because we would have to endure her announcements!
As advised by the staff, 185119 arrived promptly and we made our way through patchy fog towards Piccadilly, noting that the boards had also failed at Huddersfield and Stalybridge, followed by a swift hop on to 220003 on the 08:07 XC service towards Paignton.
We were to have 45 mins in the wonderful(!) city of Stoke-on-Trent, so having purchased the GE tickets, we headed out to have a wander round the area - namely the rather dead university campus - one of the few notable things nearby. Despite being a recent student at the uni, I was based on the sister campus in Stafford, so I think this wander round was the most I had ever seen of the place!
Back at the station, and a little time to watch a few other workings and ponder which parts of the platform were extended to take the longer Pendos, before the 350 Pioneer, 350101 arrived on the 09:28 to Euston. Such a slow drag down the WCML compared to the VT services I was used to when on this line regularly, but we make good time and have quite a while to wait at Rugby. As we headed down the line via Weedon, it became quite clear when we hit the 110 mark...I think fidgety would be the word to describe it!
We bailed at Milton Keynes Central, another place I had the (mis)fortune to associate myself with as I was here on placement for a year, and the first time I had returned since. A quick look across the platforms and the walls opposite was enough to remind me what the place looked like, and it was time to head across to platform 1 to meet the 11:12 service to Euston (a service we overtook as we went via Weedon). This service was to take us to the metropolis that is Berkhamsted, and was worked by the interesting combination of 350115 and 350248. Boarding the back of the front set, it appeared there was no way between the units (the guy trying looked to be struggling), but after an announcement from the guard, he found his way through, followed by us. What followed was a little bit of hanging around in this rather spacious area, where one can take rather more interest from the workings of the cabs than the scenery of the WCML at 80mph! As an aside, the cab of the /2 had a blue seat (obvious swift swap going on there!) and the cab of the /1 was showing quite a bit of wear and tear! Back in the saloon, this time of 248, starmill noted that, as we stood at Leighton Buzzard, there were no door sensors inside, which the /1 had. We later discovered that there was no direct pattern as we saw some later in the day with them, and others of the same subclass without. Jumping forward, I'm sure 185's also had them, but my 185 back home in the evening also didn't...odd!
Berkhamsted is somewhere I briefly visited whilst living in MK (the talk of Pendos at full pelt and full tilt had to be investigated!), so I half knew what to expect. As the double 350 pulled away, we headed down and out of the station, as was suggested by some of the forum members, though we opted to head left at the foot of the stairs. We noted a ticket machine, but lack of ticket office - seemed odd, but we continued anyway. Not a huge amount to see, we walked straight through and out where we found the ticket office, and a rather pleasant station frontage where the services passing can be seen. We seemed to hit a quiet time, as nothing really passed, as we headed back to the platform. Our half hour there was mainly filled with the expected assortment of Pendos and Super Voyagers on the fasts, and Desiros on both the fast and slows. A freight also passed on the down slow - a 66 with 60 and a lengthy rake of wagons behind and the sight of London Midland's fantastic allocations as a 350/1 full of air was on the all shacks to Tring (I also understand the first LM of the morning from Crewe to Euston was a /2...) excellent work LM!
It was all too soon time to leave and 350263 pulled into platform 3 (at 12:23) to take us up to Leighton Buzzard, where my overriding memories are of fences to block the fast line platforms, that stop half way along the platform, and the acrid smell of electrical burning every time a service passed on the Up Fast, though still a useful split to reduce our wait at the next station, Bletchley, where we were soon on our way to courtesey of 350113 on the 12:42 to New St.
Arriving at Bletchley, we headed straight across to platform 6 to the welcome sight of a refurb 150, on the way to which I did my good deed for the day and assisted a passenger with a pram down the stairs. Here came about another musing of the day - accessiblility at some of these stations (and others later too). Berkhamsted appears to be currently gaining lifts, where currently only the island has step free access, Leighton Buzzard appeared to have no stair free access from the bridge and Bletchley platform 6 appears to completely inaccessible unless via the steps from the bridge. 150105 awaited, and the opportunity was taken to get a few snaps of this new livery...very smart they look too. Sadly, the look isn't continued inside where the seating arrangements are still the awful 3+2 layout they always carried.
Nonetheless, we headed off towards Bedford, and really I have to say that sadly the journey wasn't much to shout about - not a bad line but nothing exceptional. That said, some of the stations on the line look pleasant, including the mural at Woburn Sands and what I can only assume is the old station building at Ridgmont. At the latter, the view was somewhat marred by the "scrapyard" next door which looked chaotic at best. There are also points of interest in the numerous level crossings on the line, some of which look like they belong to long disused production facilities. En-route some of the Community Rail Partnership people came through distributing timetables. In looking out for the various sights, however, we did apparently completely miss the passing of the service in the opposite direction...how, I have no idea! Bedford St Johns aparently is as hideous as the image on Wikipedia suggests and is on a very very tight curve!
We soon screeched round into Bedford Midland and off into light rain. Before having a wander round FCC's finest, we look round for a board to check the departure time. Only one appeared to be anywhere near the bay platform 1a, where we were, but it showed a terminating arrival on the through platform 1. It appears they figured that LM didn't need one...
. Luckily a quick check on RTT did suggest we had the 15-20 mins as planned, so a quick wander was had, myself to see what outside the station was like, and starmill to the ticket office to purchase a ticket for later in the day. A couple of EMT services passed on the fasts whilst we were there and a few 319's were in the slow platforms. A mobility scooter also flew past me on the platform heading for the Bletchley train and the guy on it certainly wasn't taking any prisoners! The time soon came and we reboarded 150105, though remained at the doors until time to watch proceedings - namely a service from platform 2 departing and crossing in front of that on platform 1. The journey back provided another opportuty to look out for the better sights from the line and this time we saw the working heading the opposite way (a 153 I think). Also, this line actually appears to be quite lucky in being largely double tracked.
We intended on a quick change at Bletchley to the 14:43 Northampton service, but it being delayed by about 20 minutes or so, we found ourselves on the service behind. 350250 rolled in on the 14:50 to Birmingham New Street, a unit we would now be on all the way up to Birmingham...we wondered whether we would experience anything else interesting that day...though never say never! Very little to say really - just over 90 mins rolled by on this service with 3+2 seating layout without much of note happening. Approaching New St, there was now a little rain in the air and we decided that we wouldn't attempt a filler move to Duddeston on account of it, instead opting for a quick move to M&S SImply Food on the station before catching the slightly delayed 16:43 service to Redditch. A very packed platform greeted us, but as 323208 rolled in, the masses jammed onto the front coaches whilst we made haste towards the back of the unit which was virtually empty! Interest over for the day? Most definitely not! We pretty much slipped and slided all the way to Redditch, with the leaves and fine rain playing havoc with the grip we could get on the rails and we constantly had wheelslip taking power and wheelslide under braking. To further amusement, a Hereford double 172 passed us on the "fasts" on the way, as we slowed for a station - however, once we were able to take full power from the station, we went flying past it once more and flew past it! Understandably we lost a little more time on the way as the driver took things very gingerly meaning we arrived at Redditch a few minutes late, and after we were supposed to have left, so we had a quick wander down the platform to stretch our legs, whilst the crew swapped ends. Passing the driver, starmill remarked "Tad slippery?" and got "Just a little!" in reply!
After possibly one of the quickest turnarounds possible, we had a substantially less lively ride back towards Birmingham, this time bailing for a shack scratch at Kings Norton. We had half expected that the RT ex Hereford service may pass us sometime before here, but it didn't, and shortly after the 323 left, an announcement came over asking passengers to stand clear of the platform edge as the next train didn't call here. A Class 170 soon passed (at relatively low speed) through the platform line, much to my surprise. By this point starmill had disappeared to investigate the rest of the station and came across a cat (well, kitten) who we can only guess was local and not a station cat as such. 10 minutes at Kings Norton was more than enough and 323218 arrived on the 17:57 and we completed a slightly uninspiring journey to New St once again. We were again to have about half an hour here, before our service from Platform 4c, but arrival on platform 4 gave us some interest in a 350 just arriving on top of another 350 (one /1 and one /2). A fellow passenger (either well informed or an enthusiast...not sure which!) advised that the two were going together for the journey south. 350118 was already boarding as a result of those alighting, whilst the /2 had crowds round it. I noted at this point that 350118 rather unusually had both headlight, markers and tail lights on too! The guard on opening up the cab of the /1 to sort out the lights dropped his key down the side of the train, which he clearly wasn't too chuffed about! It was fairly promptly retrieved, however, with the use of an ill-fitting hi-viz vest and much to the amusement of the fitter at the helm of the 350/2!
Of course, they eventually got locked up and the inevitble chaos ensued as expected, with passengers frantically pushing door buttons and banging on windows as the unit moved, before they were finally together and opened, much to the reief of the waiting passengers! The whole episode had taken so long now, that it was almost time for our service, the 18:36 service to Crewe, which we were to take to Stafford. Located on the usual Platform 4c, today it was formed of 350266, though luckily, this comparatively short hop isn't as arduous as some on a /2. Half an hour back in my uni town and it is again nice to be back, only if for half an hour. Just enough time fr a quick wander round/out and a photo opportunity of the additional station signs, "Staffordshire University, The Home of Great Minds"...so I guess there's a reason I'm not there anymore then
Our time here was soon up and it was on to our last London Midland servce of the day, the 19:39 towards Crewe (17:46 ex Euston), which we were to take as far as Stoke, a journey I have undertaken more times than I care to remember, though mmost often on XC, rather than LM, so 350237 makes a change (just noticed, another /2 on a Project 110 service!). Arrival at Stoke is prompt, but we already knew the deoarture wouldn't be, with a few delays. We let one XC go (as starmill was on an Advance) at about 20:20, and we were unsure whether the folowing XC or the RT Virgin service would get out in front. Much to our surprise, XC didn't get shafted by the signallers and 221127 rolled in less than 10 minutes late, a unit which took the "Vomiter" alternative name for these trains to a whole new level, since that's what our carriage floor contained...lovely! Still, as one of the few services today with onboard power, it was a chance to recharge phones as were able to get seats with free plug sockets
Manchester Piccadilly arrived, where little/none of the time lost earlier had been recovered, where I left starmill to head for home, onboard 185148 forming the 21:42 service across the Pennines.
A few images of mine from the day below:
Nevertheless, the day started somewhat earlier than I would have liked, heading for the 07:06 TPE service from Dewsbury to Manchester, on which I was to meet starmill, who was to join the train earlier (I guess I can't complain too much about an early start then!) The day had an interesting start in so much as the PIS had failed at Dewsbury, though I was informed by the staff member in the ticket office that it was a bigger problem, not least because we would have to endure her announcements!
As advised by the staff, 185119 arrived promptly and we made our way through patchy fog towards Piccadilly, noting that the boards had also failed at Huddersfield and Stalybridge, followed by a swift hop on to 220003 on the 08:07 XC service towards Paignton.
We were to have 45 mins in the wonderful(!) city of Stoke-on-Trent, so having purchased the GE tickets, we headed out to have a wander round the area - namely the rather dead university campus - one of the few notable things nearby. Despite being a recent student at the uni, I was based on the sister campus in Stafford, so I think this wander round was the most I had ever seen of the place!
Back at the station, and a little time to watch a few other workings and ponder which parts of the platform were extended to take the longer Pendos, before the 350 Pioneer, 350101 arrived on the 09:28 to Euston. Such a slow drag down the WCML compared to the VT services I was used to when on this line regularly, but we make good time and have quite a while to wait at Rugby. As we headed down the line via Weedon, it became quite clear when we hit the 110 mark...I think fidgety would be the word to describe it!
We bailed at Milton Keynes Central, another place I had the (mis)fortune to associate myself with as I was here on placement for a year, and the first time I had returned since. A quick look across the platforms and the walls opposite was enough to remind me what the place looked like, and it was time to head across to platform 1 to meet the 11:12 service to Euston (a service we overtook as we went via Weedon). This service was to take us to the metropolis that is Berkhamsted, and was worked by the interesting combination of 350115 and 350248. Boarding the back of the front set, it appeared there was no way between the units (the guy trying looked to be struggling), but after an announcement from the guard, he found his way through, followed by us. What followed was a little bit of hanging around in this rather spacious area, where one can take rather more interest from the workings of the cabs than the scenery of the WCML at 80mph! As an aside, the cab of the /2 had a blue seat (obvious swift swap going on there!) and the cab of the /1 was showing quite a bit of wear and tear! Back in the saloon, this time of 248, starmill noted that, as we stood at Leighton Buzzard, there were no door sensors inside, which the /1 had. We later discovered that there was no direct pattern as we saw some later in the day with them, and others of the same subclass without. Jumping forward, I'm sure 185's also had them, but my 185 back home in the evening also didn't...odd!
Berkhamsted is somewhere I briefly visited whilst living in MK (the talk of Pendos at full pelt and full tilt had to be investigated!), so I half knew what to expect. As the double 350 pulled away, we headed down and out of the station, as was suggested by some of the forum members, though we opted to head left at the foot of the stairs. We noted a ticket machine, but lack of ticket office - seemed odd, but we continued anyway. Not a huge amount to see, we walked straight through and out where we found the ticket office, and a rather pleasant station frontage where the services passing can be seen. We seemed to hit a quiet time, as nothing really passed, as we headed back to the platform. Our half hour there was mainly filled with the expected assortment of Pendos and Super Voyagers on the fasts, and Desiros on both the fast and slows. A freight also passed on the down slow - a 66 with 60 and a lengthy rake of wagons behind and the sight of London Midland's fantastic allocations as a 350/1 full of air was on the all shacks to Tring (I also understand the first LM of the morning from Crewe to Euston was a /2...) excellent work LM!
It was all too soon time to leave and 350263 pulled into platform 3 (at 12:23) to take us up to Leighton Buzzard, where my overriding memories are of fences to block the fast line platforms, that stop half way along the platform, and the acrid smell of electrical burning every time a service passed on the Up Fast, though still a useful split to reduce our wait at the next station, Bletchley, where we were soon on our way to courtesey of 350113 on the 12:42 to New St.
Arriving at Bletchley, we headed straight across to platform 6 to the welcome sight of a refurb 150, on the way to which I did my good deed for the day and assisted a passenger with a pram down the stairs. Here came about another musing of the day - accessiblility at some of these stations (and others later too). Berkhamsted appears to be currently gaining lifts, where currently only the island has step free access, Leighton Buzzard appeared to have no stair free access from the bridge and Bletchley platform 6 appears to completely inaccessible unless via the steps from the bridge. 150105 awaited, and the opportunity was taken to get a few snaps of this new livery...very smart they look too. Sadly, the look isn't continued inside where the seating arrangements are still the awful 3+2 layout they always carried.
Nonetheless, we headed off towards Bedford, and really I have to say that sadly the journey wasn't much to shout about - not a bad line but nothing exceptional. That said, some of the stations on the line look pleasant, including the mural at Woburn Sands and what I can only assume is the old station building at Ridgmont. At the latter, the view was somewhat marred by the "scrapyard" next door which looked chaotic at best. There are also points of interest in the numerous level crossings on the line, some of which look like they belong to long disused production facilities. En-route some of the Community Rail Partnership people came through distributing timetables. In looking out for the various sights, however, we did apparently completely miss the passing of the service in the opposite direction...how, I have no idea! Bedford St Johns aparently is as hideous as the image on Wikipedia suggests and is on a very very tight curve!
We soon screeched round into Bedford Midland and off into light rain. Before having a wander round FCC's finest, we look round for a board to check the departure time. Only one appeared to be anywhere near the bay platform 1a, where we were, but it showed a terminating arrival on the through platform 1. It appears they figured that LM didn't need one...
. Luckily a quick check on RTT did suggest we had the 15-20 mins as planned, so a quick wander was had, myself to see what outside the station was like, and starmill to the ticket office to purchase a ticket for later in the day. A couple of EMT services passed on the fasts whilst we were there and a few 319's were in the slow platforms. A mobility scooter also flew past me on the platform heading for the Bletchley train and the guy on it certainly wasn't taking any prisoners! The time soon came and we reboarded 150105, though remained at the doors until time to watch proceedings - namely a service from platform 2 departing and crossing in front of that on platform 1. The journey back provided another opportuty to look out for the better sights from the line and this time we saw the working heading the opposite way (a 153 I think). Also, this line actually appears to be quite lucky in being largely double tracked.We intended on a quick change at Bletchley to the 14:43 Northampton service, but it being delayed by about 20 minutes or so, we found ourselves on the service behind. 350250 rolled in on the 14:50 to Birmingham New Street, a unit we would now be on all the way up to Birmingham...we wondered whether we would experience anything else interesting that day...though never say never! Very little to say really - just over 90 mins rolled by on this service with 3+2 seating layout without much of note happening. Approaching New St, there was now a little rain in the air and we decided that we wouldn't attempt a filler move to Duddeston on account of it, instead opting for a quick move to M&S SImply Food on the station before catching the slightly delayed 16:43 service to Redditch. A very packed platform greeted us, but as 323208 rolled in, the masses jammed onto the front coaches whilst we made haste towards the back of the unit which was virtually empty! Interest over for the day? Most definitely not! We pretty much slipped and slided all the way to Redditch, with the leaves and fine rain playing havoc with the grip we could get on the rails and we constantly had wheelslip taking power and wheelslide under braking. To further amusement, a Hereford double 172 passed us on the "fasts" on the way, as we slowed for a station - however, once we were able to take full power from the station, we went flying past it once more and flew past it! Understandably we lost a little more time on the way as the driver took things very gingerly meaning we arrived at Redditch a few minutes late, and after we were supposed to have left, so we had a quick wander down the platform to stretch our legs, whilst the crew swapped ends. Passing the driver, starmill remarked "Tad slippery?" and got "Just a little!" in reply!
After possibly one of the quickest turnarounds possible, we had a substantially less lively ride back towards Birmingham, this time bailing for a shack scratch at Kings Norton. We had half expected that the RT ex Hereford service may pass us sometime before here, but it didn't, and shortly after the 323 left, an announcement came over asking passengers to stand clear of the platform edge as the next train didn't call here. A Class 170 soon passed (at relatively low speed) through the platform line, much to my surprise. By this point starmill had disappeared to investigate the rest of the station and came across a cat (well, kitten) who we can only guess was local and not a station cat as such. 10 minutes at Kings Norton was more than enough and 323218 arrived on the 17:57 and we completed a slightly uninspiring journey to New St once again. We were again to have about half an hour here, before our service from Platform 4c, but arrival on platform 4 gave us some interest in a 350 just arriving on top of another 350 (one /1 and one /2). A fellow passenger (either well informed or an enthusiast...not sure which!) advised that the two were going together for the journey south. 350118 was already boarding as a result of those alighting, whilst the /2 had crowds round it. I noted at this point that 350118 rather unusually had both headlight, markers and tail lights on too! The guard on opening up the cab of the /1 to sort out the lights dropped his key down the side of the train, which he clearly wasn't too chuffed about! It was fairly promptly retrieved, however, with the use of an ill-fitting hi-viz vest and much to the amusement of the fitter at the helm of the 350/2!
Of course, they eventually got locked up and the inevitble chaos ensued as expected, with passengers frantically pushing door buttons and banging on windows as the unit moved, before they were finally together and opened, much to the reief of the waiting passengers! The whole episode had taken so long now, that it was almost time for our service, the 18:36 service to Crewe, which we were to take to Stafford. Located on the usual Platform 4c, today it was formed of 350266, though luckily, this comparatively short hop isn't as arduous as some on a /2. Half an hour back in my uni town and it is again nice to be back, only if for half an hour. Just enough time fr a quick wander round/out and a photo opportunity of the additional station signs, "Staffordshire University, The Home of Great Minds"...so I guess there's a reason I'm not there anymore then
Our time here was soon up and it was on to our last London Midland servce of the day, the 19:39 towards Crewe (17:46 ex Euston), which we were to take as far as Stoke, a journey I have undertaken more times than I care to remember, though mmost often on XC, rather than LM, so 350237 makes a change (just noticed, another /2 on a Project 110 service!). Arrival at Stoke is prompt, but we already knew the deoarture wouldn't be, with a few delays. We let one XC go (as starmill was on an Advance) at about 20:20, and we were unsure whether the folowing XC or the RT Virgin service would get out in front. Much to our surprise, XC didn't get shafted by the signallers and 221127 rolled in less than 10 minutes late, a unit which took the "Vomiter" alternative name for these trains to a whole new level, since that's what our carriage floor contained...lovely! Still, as one of the few services today with onboard power, it was a chance to recharge phones as were able to get seats with free plug sockets
Manchester Piccadilly arrived, where little/none of the time lost earlier had been recovered, where I left starmill to head for home, onboard 185148 forming the 21:42 service across the Pennines.A few images of mine from the day below:
- Yep...they really were rather broken!
- I moustache if we can go to Buxton....(sorry :P)
- Yep, sums up the place...time to go to Berkhamsted!
- Berkhamsted station, once we found the proper entrance!
- Fly Virgin Trains?
- Unknown Pendo tilts its way through Berkhamsted on the Up Fast
- Repainted 150105 waits at Bletchley to work to Bedford. A Southern 377 sits in the background
- 350121 calls at Bletchley on a southbound service
- 350118 trying to rival the Blackpool Illuminations!
- Staffordshire University at Stafford station
Not usually one for thrashing and suchlike but it is strangely energising to stand 2 metres from something moving so fast. Speeeeeeeed!