heart-of-wessex
Established Member
Hello all,
Welcome to my first trip report for 2012, which was my first bash in 2012, planned last year in December. Also you may note my avatar has now changed, which is a mod of a logo I saw on a Nescafé box at work that had 'new 16g recipe + extra froth'...I could not help but to take a close up photo and mod it for an avatar!! My signature now also shows my railmiles update summary (thanks to Jules for the help) and my last bus move.
Anyway the report. The name was going to be something like 'Feeling Kentish' or 'The Gardens Bash' (which you would think I did a National Trust bash or something) or something to do with Kent, but Kentish Rover won it, as it was also designed to make you think 'eh?? A rover around Kentish Town??'...no, it's Kent-ish rover
So my day was as follows:
02 January 2012
Starting at Trowbridge at 0644 on my Advance ticket (shame the 0604 was a planned cape today), I set off up the Avon Valley on super dud bog 150263.
A storming run through the pitch black saw us arrive into Bath 20 minutes later at 0704.
First epic fallout of the day was the usual coffee place being shut...great...now I need a loan to afford one on the HST!
Still, it wasn't a long wait until the 0713 Padd service came in with MTU 43071 proving the lead power to the Dump..Sorry! Capital I mean...
After we left right time, I headed to the buffet for a coffee, to which they could only sell instant, didn't mind me and cost less at £1.85, a price not even on the board :?. I've noticed some places that if you ask for a coffee, they just give you one at some cheaper price than any on the board, but is not listed...as if they just come up with a random fare.
The usual trip had nothing to note, done the line more times than I've changed my underwear so need a new line to do to London more often!
By the way, the underwear bit is a joke before you ask!
However, Reading looks very odd now! Platform 7 track completely gone, and coming into the old platform 5, which is now Platform 8, is something I'll have to adjust to.
What amused me more is that P6 is now P16!!! 16!? There isn't even a 11, 12, 13 or 14 so why the London Bay platform jumped to 16 I have no idea!
Also saw the new South side bay platforms too which are now in use, new track now required at Reading.
Coming into London there was not much to see, A rake of MRL wagons at the stone terminal of Acton was there but nothing visible in the way of Wagons and nothing in the transfer yard at all. Old Oak had 57605 and a power car in view and that was all. Very dead elsewhere.
Arrival into the GWR Terminus of Padd was 2 early, and I got off to see what the rear powercar was, 43176 was the one.
I went to the middle stairs and headed straight for the High Level tube platforms, as I said before it's much better than Praed Street station for heading east. I got to the platforms in time for a circle line service (that's not currently doing a circle!) to KXSP...possibly the quickest time I have ever arrived and left at Paddington, as the whole process of stepping off and stepping on was practically no more than 3-4 minutes!
I doing the 50 mile walk from KSXP to the main concourse to see that the Thameslink Tunnel was open!
hock:
Still as tempting as it was for a 319, I had a ticket to go onwards so up to the Domestic side saw me arrive there at 0905 which is around 20 minutes after leaving Padd.
I jumped on the 0910 Dover service with 395013 solo on the turn today. In the other platform was 395020 and 015.
Departure was right time and we bombed over to Stratford. After there I got to see the HS1 in daylight, as the last time I went to Ebsfleet was on an ALR in the pitch black so I never really saw any of it, but it doesn't look or feel like 140mph probably as the scenery is further away. You only really notice it when the OHLE posts flash past under a second each time.
We left Ebsfleet to carry on down the CTRL which is now new track for me (dud for when I do a Eurostar now though!) to just before Ashford where we crossed over to the domestic line into Ashford International/Ashford Domestic/Ashford Kent or whatever you want to call it.
The Pan was dropped and we switched for 3rd rail power. My ticket ended here though, I had a super bargain AP of £12 from Trowbridge to Ashford, and a £12 one back, both booked HS1...better than the walk up fare on HS1 alone!!
I did say to the guard that I'd like to have a return to Dover, which he would sort out after Ashford as his machine was in the back cab.
Now by this point, I got accustomed to going at 140mph, so as we carried on out of Ashford to Dover on the local lines, it felt like we just crossed onto a preserved line running at 25mph all the way! Gosh it feels sooooooo slow after!!!
We called at the two Folkestone shacks then headed on to Dover past the beautiful white cliffs and the seafront.
We arrived into Dover at 1018, quite a descent time actually, 1hr and 8mins from London! Pre-HS1 it probably would have taken an hour to do Victoria to Grosvenor Bridge
So, Minster was the target but the timetable was saying no to my plan...next one 1101, or I could just do the 1024 London Local on 375912. Well it was required so how could I saw no (well even if I did I would have got on it anyway!)
after calling at all shacks to Ashford, we got there at 1053 and I noted a 16,400hp (IIRC) EMU on the International side (A Class 373 of course) and I wondered weather to watch it go or not. It was there for a fair bit of time, and I saw there was an 1103 Minster service and I need to get a single yet!
I gave up waiting and headed for the stairs and just as I did, I heard a Star bomb over the flyover heading to France, so it was more likely sitting in the platform waiting for that to bomb by.
I got my £6 single with my 16-25 card, and headed back up to see the 373 had completely gone....oh well! 375902 was split off at Ashford P2 to work the Minster, a required electrostar by the way. I sat on the Hitachi depot side so I could get numbers, since it's easier to get on this route. 466011, some un-ID 375s and an FCC 377 was there, and 395003/008/021/026 were in the sidings.
Not much to see after, just the usual countryside, so to make it more entertaining, I tried imagining what I would be on if this was 1981...a slammer of course. This morning I would have been on a 1st gen DMU to Bath, a 253 to Padd, an unrefurbed C stock to Kings cross then....oh yeah no HS1 back then though if it was, it could have been a 140mph Class 87 with coaching stock!!!
Anyway we got held outside of Minster and I wondered if we would use the crossover into the station. Not long after a Class 375 left for Ashford and sure enough we crossed over to the other line, bonus! I bailed at Minster for the station grice. I noticed there was no PIS screen at all here, just a shelter and a footbridge to the exit, so I had no idea what was going to Dover!
As I went up the footbridge, I nearly fell back down again as I saw some blue Olympian outside the station!hock:! Unfortunately as I was walking over the bridge it buggered off but I did see the reg as it left, and my eyes popped as I saw it was an E reg!! Was this on RRBs? Seems odd how it disappears just a minute after the train arrives but then I saw a V reg ALX400 trident with Southeastern Rail Replacement on the digital blinds, so that must be the one off to Ramsgate. Shame because I nearly changed my plan and dived onto the E reg Olympian if it was on offer!!
I note the one and only PIS screen on the other sign showing 'refer to timetable' (if I knew where that was!) but there was 2 SET staff at the entrance/exit, and they said the Dover was on the other platform (i.e 375902) leaving in about 8 minutes. OK no issue with that, means it uses Minster curve of course! Looks like SET are going merry-go-round services today...just on a larger scale to what an actual merry-go-round freight layout is
So back on 375902, I noted that we left at 1150, weather that is booked time I had no idea but either case Minster Curve was successfully done, as was the crossover at the other end so that's those two crossovers done.
Again, not much to see on the way to Sandwich but at least after then the stations weren't far apart. As we came into Deal, I did immediately think of a rubbish joke 'Deal or No Deal...that is the question'...........yes I know, rubbish!
We soon plunged out of Guston Tunnel on the downhill 1 in 71, but I didn't know the line was this high up!! No wonder it's a steep fall! You can see right over Dover and across to the sea, fascinating view!
We then snaked our way down slowly, probably with the brakes in overdrive mode, then we arrived into Dover Priory after 12 (didn't note the time stupidly, I was busy celebrating the fact that I scratched in the crossover into P3!)
So two lines done, what could I do now? Well, I did think about doing the Sheerness branch, so I could at least try whilst there is time, so I got a super off-peak return to Chaversham and got the 1233 Victoria service which was formed of 375620.
The line is dud for the baker but I have done it in the other direction, so I need it to Faversham for the Quail so a bonus there. I also noted at Shepherdswell that the EKR looked shut for the day, shame as I was wondering weather to go there later.
At Chaversham/Faversham I exited in a hunt for some food, since all the plumpkins in the area were shut. Faversham was pretty much shut down too, even the major stores like Boots were closed but there was plenty of chavs on bikes and that looming around swearing every nanosecond. I did find a Chippy though so I used that instead...won't be going there again though, chips were left to be desired!
Back at the station I managed to get some gen that the Sheerness was every hour...was this by Sheer chance? HAHAHAhaahaaa....aaa....*ahem*
So I could just about make it with a +3 at Sittingbourne off the 1443 St Pancras, which I didn't mind as it should be another 395 done in the book.
Up at the platform, I went to see the number and....hang on is that what I see??? On closer inspection yes...395013! argh, is this my personal Javelin Taxi of the day or something!?!
I may have been bowled out but still I had a chance of a required 466 on the Sheerness stagger...maybe.
However...we were still in the station at 1400...oh come on. At 1402 the signal shot up to green and we were on the way 4 late...damn balling bloody argh! No chance of the connection unless we hurry up!
*saves what I have typed in case of power trip*
We got held outside Sittinbourne where a 395 passed us and we got in eventually at 1413 with no shuttle in sight on P1, probably as we had to wait for it to leave before we could go in as I'd imagine there's an overlap lock.
So the plan went charging out into space and beyond, and now it was for Plan B...not that there was one! In the end I opted for the 1443 Canterbury East service as there seemed to be nothing to Dover any time soon! Well the half hour wait felt like a bloody age, didn't help that there was nothing to see and the Plumpkin of course was shut, I could do with a hot drink really!!
Eventually Networker 465922 came in on the Canterbury on time, first time I have had a DC Networker outside of the M25!
We left Boringbourne and headed for Chaversham where I bailed to wait for something over to Dover (oh that rhymes!)
There was indeed one 10 years later at 1521 for Herne Bay/Dover. I did wonder weather to go to Herne Bay since I need the line (but then I need the rest anyway) but there was no crossover in passenger use, just ECS shunts. But I could go over for the station scratch then get the Stagecoach Triangle 4/6 over to Canterbury or Sturry, but I don't know what the times are like on a Sunday, assuming they were running today.
I also found a poster saying about the closures which was for resignalling work across the network, which is due to have the LED signals...I bet NOMAD are making a mint out of these signal schemes at the moment!!
In the end I decided to use the return portion of my Dover ticket and got 375305 on the Charing Cross via everywhere in Kent first. I read my Buses magazine to pass the time and then we got to Dover on time.
I then decided I did what I could today and started to make my way over to Ashford, though I had some time spare, so I got the 1624 London service with 375610 and bailed at Folkestone West for the station scratch. What a dump the site is today though, boarded up station with one PIS screen in use that had the wrong time on (1608...did we just step off a DeLorean or something??)
Some chavs were on the Dover side so I didn't get too close but they weren't that bad, just talking about drinking and selling weed :roll:
It was freezing though which didn't help, but I did wonder what the station was like back in the day when 73s ran with parcels, or at a time before that when boat trains went through daily...all vanished into the modern world.
375813 came in on the Dover, and I took the very short leap to Folkestone Central (another dump) where there seemed to be even more kid chavs scattered everywhere.
Still it wasn't a long wait for the 1656 HS1 service which was formed of 395010 and I took this all the way back to London.
It was getting dark now so I read the rest of my magazine practically all the way back. I did look up at Dollands Moor where a 373 was slowly overtaking us on the CTRL1 line which looked funky, even more so when you can't see the CTRL flyover in the dark so as it started raising up and flew over us, it was as if it went so fast it launched off the track and flew in the air!
After Ashford onto the HS1 proper, we did have a 373 pass us at full pelt which sounded pretty beast whooshing past!! A huge gust of air followed on after, banging against the doors and leaking through. No surprise with a combined passing speed of around 326mph! (assuming we were at 140 and the Eurostar was at 186, if not then it is around 300mph say)
Also this modification to stop the rattling in the tunnels didn't seem to work on this unit as we charged through the Thames Tunnel and wobbled around through most of it. I gave up trying to read and wobble from side to side at the same time, it was like trying to read a magazine whilst on a bouncy castle, or trying to read whilst sitting on wobbling jelly!
Still, St Pan was reached at 1752, and I had time to spare before my train home, so I opted for a short Travelcard bash and got one at the TVM..however the TC Z1-2 fare was the same as the TC Z1-6 fare for some random reason, so I got the latter as it was only £5.60 either case. now....off to the FCC station!!!
Soon they will know be by name at this rate! I was here of course for my 319 fix....need to change my title under my username to 'a right 319 ned' I think!
However FCC rewarded me today for my first try at copping a 319, as 319374 rolled in on a Sutton service (guaranteed for 319s) so I scooped it for the short leap to City Thameslink. I might get bowled by a 377 later though!
On arrival into City TL, I had a +0 for the Bedford formed of 2 319s, no chance. I waited the 5 minutes for the next one which was dud, so I waited again and 319434 showed. Stuff this, I'm off to Farringdon to cross over and try there instead. I made a tight +1 onto a Brighton which had dud 319442 up front but I bailed at Bridge to see what the other unit was...446 also dud. bah!
Well I decided to stay on to make use of my TC and have a proper run on a 319 rather than a stagger in the tunnel, so I headed for Croydon. All other passing trains at this point were 319s, not a FCC 377 in sight!
At Croydon I crossed over to P1 where I saw a pair of 442s come in on a Brighton, shame it's going south! I got 377459 up to Clapham where I tried some luck with SWT's Box Machines. The first one was dud but the second, 455713, was a pure requirement so I took it to Vauxhall, where I waited for the southbound one, which had 455750 on the job...dud.
In the meantime, a 458 passed P7 heading to Waterloo with passengers on...what the heck was this on the slow line for!
Next 455 came into P8 with a dud number on the front (didn't note it down but was a number not on my need to bash list) so I flagged that and just couldn't be bothered hunting down southbound ones, so I decided to head off to Paddington to get my food move in and get on the 2035 before anyone else.
In the meantime I saw a trio class 159 set idle up to the station, which thrashed out on full power under the canopy...all that was in my mind at this time was 'DIESEL TRAIN!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!' first time I have heard that sound felt like an eternity ago from this morning!
455726 showed up on a Waterloo, so I got on that (even though it was dud) and took it to journeys end where I then headed down to the Oven Line for the trip to Paddington, but the heat was most welcome this time...doubt I'd be saying that in 6 months time!
I then proceeded to WHsmith for a copy of Raiway Magazine for something to read on the HST home, then headed to KFC for a 2 piece meal, and also saw someone with some bumper meal that looked like there was 1,001 chicken pieces on the tray or something!
Back at the terminal, I saw 3 HST's there, one had just arrived into P1, the Great Malvern was on P3 so the only one left on P2 must be the Plymouth. I headed over to the HST to see the Plymouth cards in the window, and the seat reservations confirmed it was the 2035, good! I took my seat in coach C (required coach for sight too) and then strolled over to the front to see that 43182 is leading us over the B&H.
We left on time without a fully loaded coach (seemed odd that compared to what loadings I'm used to seeing!) and headed off in the dark so I read my copy of RM to pass the time.
On the approach to Newbury, someone mentioned that we 'might be crossing over as there should be a train in front...I'm sure I have been on this train before and there is one in front'....I'm there thinking 'are you sure? What is there a Turbo shoved at the far end of P1 and we nudge in behind it!? I doubt that!'
Though his wording of 'crossing over' made sense now, as I discovered that we were coming into P2 as there is a Turbo sitting on P1, well that is a bonus for me as I need the crossover from the up to the down after P2, finally got that in! Unsure if that is a booked move, but I assume so from what the passenger was saying.
Westbury was reached in time and I waited to watch the HST leave to see what the rear powercar was, and it was 43132. The only trip I know off by heart that I have done it on was Trowbridge to Minehead and back on the charity tour, leading there and shoving back IIRC.
It was only a short wait for the 2211 to Cardiff, which is actually the 2210 but it re-timed by a whopping whole 1 minute today!
Real 3 car 158798 was my taxi home for the 4 mile leap to Trowbridge where I then walked home to end a descent day out!
Much enjoyed scooping in the new track, seeing HS1 in daylight and copping a lot of 375s in, and of course doing the FCC moves!
Look out for a trip report on Sunday with another booked trip out, via the leisure-commute trip on the GWML Swindon route to London....again!
Don't know much for future plans for bashing atm, been told today (Tuesday 3rd) that we are being made redundant so will be out of work at the end of January, but still have tours and trips I have already paid for after the date so there will be some more after.
Anyway, stats as always:
Mileage altogether - 539m 17ch
Highest Mileage on one train - 106m 66ch on 43071/176
Lowest Mileage on one train - 0m 32ch on 319434
Best part of trip - Bombing along HS1, and doing Minster Curve finally
Worst part of trip - The long wait in the cold at Sittingbourne and missing out on Sheerness (was NOT going to wait an hour for it!)
Random Quote no.1 - "Well he was happy that my ticket had the wrong date on so..."
Random Quote no.2 - "No I don't want Rochester...I forget where I live now..."
And RM log:
http://james143611.railmiles.org/
Hope you enjoyed
James
P.S - Still using the same keyboard as I have for all reports so far!
Welcome to my first trip report for 2012, which was my first bash in 2012, planned last year in December. Also you may note my avatar has now changed, which is a mod of a logo I saw on a Nescafé box at work that had 'new 16g recipe + extra froth'...I could not help but to take a close up photo and mod it for an avatar!! My signature now also shows my railmiles update summary (thanks to Jules for the help) and my last bus move.
Anyway the report. The name was going to be something like 'Feeling Kentish' or 'The Gardens Bash' (which you would think I did a National Trust bash or something) or something to do with Kent, but Kentish Rover won it, as it was also designed to make you think 'eh?? A rover around Kentish Town??'...no, it's Kent-ish rover
So my day was as follows:
02 January 2012
Starting at Trowbridge at 0644 on my Advance ticket (shame the 0604 was a planned cape today), I set off up the Avon Valley on super dud bog 150263.
A storming run through the pitch black saw us arrive into Bath 20 minutes later at 0704.
First epic fallout of the day was the usual coffee place being shut...great...now I need a loan to afford one on the HST!
Still, it wasn't a long wait until the 0713 Padd service came in with MTU 43071 proving the lead power to the Dump..Sorry! Capital I mean...
After we left right time, I headed to the buffet for a coffee, to which they could only sell instant, didn't mind me and cost less at £1.85, a price not even on the board :?. I've noticed some places that if you ask for a coffee, they just give you one at some cheaper price than any on the board, but is not listed...as if they just come up with a random fare.
The usual trip had nothing to note, done the line more times than I've changed my underwear so need a new line to do to London more often!
By the way, the underwear bit is a joke before you ask!
However, Reading looks very odd now! Platform 7 track completely gone, and coming into the old platform 5, which is now Platform 8, is something I'll have to adjust to.
What amused me more is that P6 is now P16!!! 16!? There isn't even a 11, 12, 13 or 14 so why the London Bay platform jumped to 16 I have no idea!
Also saw the new South side bay platforms too which are now in use, new track now required at Reading.
Coming into London there was not much to see, A rake of MRL wagons at the stone terminal of Acton was there but nothing visible in the way of Wagons and nothing in the transfer yard at all. Old Oak had 57605 and a power car in view and that was all. Very dead elsewhere.
Arrival into the GWR Terminus of Padd was 2 early, and I got off to see what the rear powercar was, 43176 was the one.
I went to the middle stairs and headed straight for the High Level tube platforms, as I said before it's much better than Praed Street station for heading east. I got to the platforms in time for a circle line service (that's not currently doing a circle!) to KXSP...possibly the quickest time I have ever arrived and left at Paddington, as the whole process of stepping off and stepping on was practically no more than 3-4 minutes!
I doing the 50 mile walk from KSXP to the main concourse to see that the Thameslink Tunnel was open!
hock:Still as tempting as it was for a 319, I had a ticket to go onwards so up to the Domestic side saw me arrive there at 0905 which is around 20 minutes after leaving Padd.
I jumped on the 0910 Dover service with 395013 solo on the turn today. In the other platform was 395020 and 015.
Departure was right time and we bombed over to Stratford. After there I got to see the HS1 in daylight, as the last time I went to Ebsfleet was on an ALR in the pitch black so I never really saw any of it, but it doesn't look or feel like 140mph probably as the scenery is further away. You only really notice it when the OHLE posts flash past under a second each time.
We left Ebsfleet to carry on down the CTRL which is now new track for me (dud for when I do a Eurostar now though!) to just before Ashford where we crossed over to the domestic line into Ashford International/Ashford Domestic/Ashford Kent or whatever you want to call it.
The Pan was dropped and we switched for 3rd rail power. My ticket ended here though, I had a super bargain AP of £12 from Trowbridge to Ashford, and a £12 one back, both booked HS1...better than the walk up fare on HS1 alone!!
I did say to the guard that I'd like to have a return to Dover, which he would sort out after Ashford as his machine was in the back cab.
Now by this point, I got accustomed to going at 140mph, so as we carried on out of Ashford to Dover on the local lines, it felt like we just crossed onto a preserved line running at 25mph all the way! Gosh it feels sooooooo slow after!!!
We called at the two Folkestone shacks then headed on to Dover past the beautiful white cliffs and the seafront.
We arrived into Dover at 1018, quite a descent time actually, 1hr and 8mins from London! Pre-HS1 it probably would have taken an hour to do Victoria to Grosvenor Bridge
So, Minster was the target but the timetable was saying no to my plan...next one 1101, or I could just do the 1024 London Local on 375912. Well it was required so how could I saw no (well even if I did I would have got on it anyway!)
after calling at all shacks to Ashford, we got there at 1053 and I noted a 16,400hp (IIRC) EMU on the International side (A Class 373 of course) and I wondered weather to watch it go or not. It was there for a fair bit of time, and I saw there was an 1103 Minster service and I need to get a single yet!
I gave up waiting and headed for the stairs and just as I did, I heard a Star bomb over the flyover heading to France, so it was more likely sitting in the platform waiting for that to bomb by.
I got my £6 single with my 16-25 card, and headed back up to see the 373 had completely gone....oh well! 375902 was split off at Ashford P2 to work the Minster, a required electrostar by the way. I sat on the Hitachi depot side so I could get numbers, since it's easier to get on this route. 466011, some un-ID 375s and an FCC 377 was there, and 395003/008/021/026 were in the sidings.
Not much to see after, just the usual countryside, so to make it more entertaining, I tried imagining what I would be on if this was 1981...a slammer of course. This morning I would have been on a 1st gen DMU to Bath, a 253 to Padd, an unrefurbed C stock to Kings cross then....oh yeah no HS1 back then though if it was, it could have been a 140mph Class 87 with coaching stock
!!!Anyway we got held outside of Minster and I wondered if we would use the crossover into the station. Not long after a Class 375 left for Ashford and sure enough we crossed over to the other line, bonus! I bailed at Minster for the station grice. I noticed there was no PIS screen at all here, just a shelter and a footbridge to the exit, so I had no idea what was going to Dover!
As I went up the footbridge, I nearly fell back down again as I saw some blue Olympian outside the station!
hock:! Unfortunately as I was walking over the bridge it buggered off but I did see the reg as it left, and my eyes popped as I saw it was an E reg!! Was this on RRBs? Seems odd how it disappears just a minute after the train arrives but then I saw a V reg ALX400 trident with Southeastern Rail Replacement on the digital blinds, so that must be the one off to Ramsgate. Shame because I nearly changed my plan and dived onto the E reg Olympian if it was on offer!!I note the one and only PIS screen on the other sign showing 'refer to timetable' (if I knew where that was!) but there was 2 SET staff at the entrance/exit, and they said the Dover was on the other platform (i.e 375902) leaving in about 8 minutes. OK no issue with that, means it uses Minster curve of course! Looks like SET are going merry-go-round services today...just on a larger scale to what an actual merry-go-round freight layout is
So back on 375902, I noted that we left at 1150, weather that is booked time I had no idea but either case Minster Curve was successfully done, as was the crossover at the other end so that's those two crossovers done.
Again, not much to see on the way to Sandwich but at least after then the stations weren't far apart. As we came into Deal, I did immediately think of a rubbish joke 'Deal or No Deal...that is the question'...........yes I know, rubbish!
We soon plunged out of Guston Tunnel on the downhill 1 in 71, but I didn't know the line was this high up!! No wonder it's a steep fall! You can see right over Dover and across to the sea, fascinating view!
We then snaked our way down slowly, probably with the brakes in overdrive mode, then we arrived into Dover Priory after 12 (didn't note the time stupidly, I was busy celebrating the fact that I scratched in the crossover into P3!)
So two lines done, what could I do now? Well, I did think about doing the Sheerness branch, so I could at least try whilst there is time, so I got a super off-peak return to Chaversham and got the 1233 Victoria service which was formed of 375620.
The line is dud for the baker but I have done it in the other direction, so I need it to Faversham for the Quail so a bonus there. I also noted at Shepherdswell that the EKR looked shut for the day, shame as I was wondering weather to go there later.
At Chaversham/Faversham I exited in a hunt for some food, since all the plumpkins in the area were shut. Faversham was pretty much shut down too, even the major stores like Boots were closed but there was plenty of chavs on bikes and that looming around swearing every nanosecond. I did find a Chippy though so I used that instead...won't be going there again though, chips were left to be desired!
Back at the station I managed to get some gen that the Sheerness was every hour...was this by Sheer chance? HAHAHAhaahaaa....aaa....*ahem*
So I could just about make it with a +3 at Sittingbourne off the 1443 St Pancras, which I didn't mind as it should be another 395 done in the book.
Up at the platform, I went to see the number and....hang on is that what I see??? On closer inspection yes...395013! argh, is this my personal Javelin Taxi of the day or something!?!
I may have been bowled out but still I had a chance of a required 466 on the Sheerness stagger...maybe.
However...we were still in the station at 1400...oh come on. At 1402 the signal shot up to green and we were on the way 4 late...damn balling bloody argh! No chance of the connection unless we hurry up!
*saves what I have typed in case of power trip*
We got held outside Sittinbourne where a 395 passed us and we got in eventually at 1413 with no shuttle in sight on P1, probably as we had to wait for it to leave before we could go in as I'd imagine there's an overlap lock.
So the plan went charging out into space and beyond, and now it was for Plan B...not that there was one! In the end I opted for the 1443 Canterbury East service as there seemed to be nothing to Dover any time soon! Well the half hour wait felt like a bloody age, didn't help that there was nothing to see and the Plumpkin of course was shut, I could do with a hot drink really!!
Eventually Networker 465922 came in on the Canterbury on time, first time I have had a DC Networker outside of the M25!
We left Boringbourne and headed for Chaversham where I bailed to wait for something over to Dover (oh that rhymes!)
There was indeed one 10 years later at 1521 for Herne Bay/Dover. I did wonder weather to go to Herne Bay since I need the line (but then I need the rest anyway) but there was no crossover in passenger use, just ECS shunts. But I could go over for the station scratch then get the Stagecoach Triangle 4/6 over to Canterbury or Sturry, but I don't know what the times are like on a Sunday, assuming they were running today.
I also found a poster saying about the closures which was for resignalling work across the network, which is due to have the LED signals...I bet NOMAD are making a mint out of these signal schemes at the moment!!
In the end I decided to use the return portion of my Dover ticket and got 375305 on the Charing Cross via everywhere in Kent first. I read my Buses magazine to pass the time and then we got to Dover on time.
I then decided I did what I could today and started to make my way over to Ashford, though I had some time spare, so I got the 1624 London service with 375610 and bailed at Folkestone West for the station scratch. What a dump the site is today though, boarded up station with one PIS screen in use that had the wrong time on (1608...did we just step off a DeLorean or something??)
Some chavs were on the Dover side so I didn't get too close but they weren't that bad, just talking about drinking and selling weed :roll:
It was freezing though which didn't help, but I did wonder what the station was like back in the day when 73s ran with parcels, or at a time before that when boat trains went through daily...all vanished into the modern world.
375813 came in on the Dover, and I took the very short leap to Folkestone Central (another dump) where there seemed to be even more kid chavs scattered everywhere.
Still it wasn't a long wait for the 1656 HS1 service which was formed of 395010 and I took this all the way back to London.
It was getting dark now so I read the rest of my magazine practically all the way back. I did look up at Dollands Moor where a 373 was slowly overtaking us on the CTRL1 line which looked funky, even more so when you can't see the CTRL flyover in the dark so as it started raising up and flew over us, it was as if it went so fast it launched off the track and flew in the air
!After Ashford onto the HS1 proper, we did have a 373 pass us at full pelt which sounded pretty beast whooshing past!! A huge gust of air followed on after, banging against the doors and leaking through. No surprise with a combined passing speed of around 326mph! (assuming we were at 140 and the Eurostar was at 186, if not then it is around 300mph say)
Also this modification to stop the rattling in the tunnels didn't seem to work on this unit as we charged through the Thames Tunnel and wobbled around through most of it. I gave up trying to read and wobble from side to side at the same time, it was like trying to read a magazine whilst on a bouncy castle, or trying to read whilst sitting on wobbling jelly!
Still, St Pan was reached at 1752, and I had time to spare before my train home, so I opted for a short Travelcard bash and got one at the TVM..however the TC Z1-2 fare was the same as the TC Z1-6 fare for some random reason, so I got the latter as it was only £5.60 either case. now....off to the FCC station!!!
Soon they will know be by name at this rate! I was here of course for my 319 fix....need to change my title under my username to 'a right 319 ned' I think!
However FCC rewarded me today for my first try at copping a 319, as 319374 rolled in on a Sutton service (guaranteed for 319s) so I scooped it for the short leap to City Thameslink. I might get bowled by a 377 later though!
On arrival into City TL, I had a +0 for the Bedford formed of 2 319s, no chance. I waited the 5 minutes for the next one which was dud, so I waited again and 319434 showed. Stuff this, I'm off to Farringdon to cross over and try there instead. I made a tight +1 onto a Brighton which had dud 319442 up front but I bailed at Bridge to see what the other unit was...446 also dud. bah!
Well I decided to stay on to make use of my TC and have a proper run on a 319 rather than a stagger in the tunnel, so I headed for Croydon. All other passing trains at this point were 319s, not a FCC 377 in sight!
At Croydon I crossed over to P1 where I saw a pair of 442s come in on a Brighton, shame it's going south! I got 377459 up to Clapham where I tried some luck with SWT's Box Machines. The first one was dud but the second, 455713, was a pure requirement so I took it to Vauxhall, where I waited for the southbound one, which had 455750 on the job...dud.
In the meantime, a 458 passed P7 heading to Waterloo with passengers on...what the heck was this on the slow line for!
Next 455 came into P8 with a dud number on the front (didn't note it down but was a number not on my need to bash list) so I flagged that and just couldn't be bothered hunting down southbound ones, so I decided to head off to Paddington to get my food move in and get on the 2035 before anyone else.
In the meantime I saw a trio class 159 set idle up to the station, which thrashed out on full power under the canopy...all that was in my mind at this time was 'DIESEL TRAIN!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!' first time I have heard that sound felt like an eternity ago from this morning!
455726 showed up on a Waterloo, so I got on that (even though it was dud) and took it to journeys end where I then headed down to the Oven Line for the trip to Paddington, but the heat was most welcome this time...doubt I'd be saying that in 6 months time!
I then proceeded to WHsmith for a copy of Raiway Magazine for something to read on the HST home, then headed to KFC for a 2 piece meal, and also saw someone with some bumper meal that looked like there was 1,001 chicken pieces on the tray or something!
Back at the terminal, I saw 3 HST's there, one had just arrived into P1, the Great Malvern was on P3 so the only one left on P2 must be the Plymouth. I headed over to the HST to see the Plymouth cards in the window, and the seat reservations confirmed it was the 2035, good! I took my seat in coach C (required coach for sight too) and then strolled over to the front to see that 43182 is leading us over the B&H.
We left on time without a fully loaded coach (seemed odd that compared to what loadings I'm used to seeing!) and headed off in the dark so I read my copy of RM to pass the time.
On the approach to Newbury, someone mentioned that we 'might be crossing over as there should be a train in front...I'm sure I have been on this train before and there is one in front'....I'm there thinking 'are you sure? What is there a Turbo shoved at the far end of P1 and we nudge in behind it!? I doubt that!'
Though his wording of 'crossing over' made sense now, as I discovered that we were coming into P2 as there is a Turbo sitting on P1, well that is a bonus for me as I need the crossover from the up to the down after P2, finally got that in! Unsure if that is a booked move, but I assume so from what the passenger was saying.
Westbury was reached in time and I waited to watch the HST leave to see what the rear powercar was, and it was 43132. The only trip I know off by heart that I have done it on was Trowbridge to Minehead and back on the charity tour, leading there and shoving back IIRC.
It was only a short wait for the 2211 to Cardiff, which is actually the 2210 but it re-timed by a whopping whole 1 minute today!
Real 3 car 158798 was my taxi home for the 4 mile leap to Trowbridge where I then walked home to end a descent day out!
Much enjoyed scooping in the new track, seeing HS1 in daylight and copping a lot of 375s in, and of course doing the FCC moves!
Look out for a trip report on Sunday with another booked trip out, via the leisure-commute trip on the GWML Swindon route to London....again!
Don't know much for future plans for bashing atm, been told today (Tuesday 3rd) that we are being made redundant so will be out of work at the end of January, but still have tours and trips I have already paid for after the date so there will be some more after.
Anyway, stats as always:
Mileage altogether - 539m 17ch
Highest Mileage on one train - 106m 66ch on 43071/176
Lowest Mileage on one train - 0m 32ch on 319434
Best part of trip - Bombing along HS1, and doing Minster Curve finally
Worst part of trip - The long wait in the cold at Sittingbourne and missing out on Sheerness (was NOT going to wait an hour for it!)
Random Quote no.1 - "Well he was happy that my ticket had the wrong date on so..."
Random Quote no.2 - "No I don't want Rochester...I forget where I live now..."
And RM log:
http://james143611.railmiles.org/
Hope you enjoyed
James
P.S - Still using the same keyboard as I have for all reports so far!
what line would that happen to be by the way? I am going to take a wildcard and say Ashford to Dover....Sandling way or something?
), do you think you'll still be able to make the Devon Ranger meet/bash on the 29th Jan?
