Iantherev's wanderings

[iantherev]

I've read several of the trip reports over the past 6 months or so and have decided to jump on this particular train and see where it takes me. At the moment I have a certain amount of free time because Julie (my wife) is away at Cambridge during term times training to be a minister, which means that my rail mileage has gone up.

One word of warning - I'm also a bus enthusiast so buses will make their present felt every so often.

 

[Techniquest]

Welcome to the club of trip reporters!

The presence of buses will not bother most of us, as there's a surprising number of us trip reporters who do both. I don't really do buses much any more, so I know the approximate sum of jack squat about the scene these days, but still more than welcoming of reading about them.

Must be noted I haven't seen much in the way of you replying, if at all, on anyone's trip reports. It's not mandatory, obviously, but it certainly shows me and doubtlessly others who reads them!

 

[iantherev]

Freedom of the South West Rail Rover - Day 1 - Saturday 28th May

With a Bank Holiday Monday to play with and the possibility of scheduling two days off in a seven day period, I decided to invest in a FOSW Rover.

The decision where to go on the Saturday was tricky. Exeter Chiefs were playing at Twickenham so any London bound train was going to be busy. Filton Bank was out of action and the Radio One Big Weekend also suggested Exeter was gtoing to be busy. So, west it was....

06:56 Axminster - Exeter St Davids 1L95 159019
Standard journey, uneventful, arrival on time.
Bonus 1 - 68017 stabled at Exeter - photo duly taken.
Bonus 2 - 158938 on shed.
Bonus 3 - 43002 Sir Kenneth Grainger on the rear of the 07:54 to Paddington although why Sir Ken always turns up when I'm carrying a coffee I don't know - still got my photo though.

08:00 Exeter St Davids - Liskeard 1C72 (GWR 43150 & 43042)
Bonus 4 - I was expecting this to be a 150 as it is in the week so very pleasantly surprised to see a HST roll in. Very misty along the sea wall and across Dartmoor but the sun was beginning to break through as we entered Cornwall. Time at Liskeard to photograph 221127 on the Penzance - Dundee (I know, but the up starter at Liskeard makes a very nice frame......)

09:58 Liskeard - Looe (2L77) (GWR 150129)
First 150/1 of the day for a misty ride down the branch and a quick change round at Looe. We did Coombe Junction Halt as well so no weed to go back just to do that!)

10:32 Looe - Liskeard (2L78 (GWR 150129)
Same as before but in reverse direction.

11:06 Looe - Lostwithiel (2C45 GWR 153377/69 & 150101)
What to do at Liskeard? I could have settled down for a 50 minute wait but settled for this move. I was a little worried about a 3 minute connection but 2C45 was 2 minues late and the branch train arrived 2 mins early - also the branch crew were heading back west on it.... One of the rare unit workings on the main line on a Saturday.
In the 150/1 because I was at the rear photographing it passing the signalbox and I haven't got the speed these days to race up the train. It's funny how you go years without encountering traction and then it keeps turning up - I'd only had 101 for the first time on the Falmouth branch in March!

11:34 Lostwithiel - Plymouth 2P70 57605 Totnes Castle
Photographed 57605 approaching the station past a lower quadrant sempahore then on to the train, visit to the buffet for a welcome coffee and then a single seat in the second (out of use) buffet car. Much quieter on this section than the next working although it was a little amusing to hear people asking if they were allowed to sit in the carriages! I guess the @For Sleeping Car Passengers only notices didn't help) Slightly late into Plymouth and then a break for lunch.

The afternoon follows......

 

[Techniquest]

An interesting read there, quite a different way of presenting the trip report too!

Looking forward to the rest

 

[FQ]

Welcome to the trip reporting club!

I'm looking forward to the rest of the read!

 

[iantherev]

Thanks for the comments so far - I take the point about contributing to other trip report threads - i think the problem I have is that I don't feel quite as 'serious' as some of you but I wil chip in where I can in the future. Anyway back to yesterday.

13.15 Plymouth - Penzance 1C77 (GWR 43140 &43017)
I've had a love hate relationship with HSTs down the years - novelty, then avoidence in favour of the repidly diminishing loco hauled working, then indifference, then dislike of the FGW cram in in seating. Now they're running out of time, I'm learning to love them again...

Anyway, on Plymouth station the dreaded words 'full and standing' come up. Yes the train is busy but I find a seat. I'm told there was someone there but he got up well before Plymouth. About 20 mins into the journey someone claims to have reserved the seat since London despite the insistance of the woman next to me that the seat had never been reserved. He claims the reservation has fallen on the floor, despite there being no sign of it. I move because he's not giving up and the standoff was blocking the gangway. Next door in coach E I find an empty bay of 4 reserved as far as Plymouth. Much better. The train gradually empties as we wend our way though Cornwall and we arrive in a cloudy Penzance 1 minute early. Some time in the bus station and fish and chips follows.

16.55 Penzance - Plymouth (2C96) (GWR 43148/024
The original plan was the 17.40 ex Penzance but I discover that even though it only goes as far as Newton Abbot, the 16:44 is the backworking of a HST rather than a unit, so plans are changed. The train arrives late, but leaves on time. The plan is now to connect into 1A97 from Newquay at Plymouth which involves the occasional check on RTT to ensure that nothing is amiss on the branch and that it's left on time (I only have an 11 minute connection at Exeter). All is well, the sun is shining, the wild rhododendrons are a splash of colour and Plymouth is reached on time. A quick trip to Platform 5 to photograph 57605 in the evening sunshine heading back to Penzance and I'm ready for the next move.

19.18 Plymouth - Exeter St Davids 1A97 (GWR 43140/92)
The train is almost empty. Unusually, we don't stop at Totnes and thankfully we haven't been comandeered to move the masses from Starcross so there's only one call at Newton Abbot. We're slightly late there as 2C96 has had to creep into Platform 1 due to 150938 occupying the far end of the platform ready to go on a crowdbusting extra. Obviously no chances were being taken after the recent incident at Plymouth.
I'm actually quite glad that i'm on an earlier train - news comes through on Twitter than all trains are on stop at Salisbury due to a lineside fire. Even though services are resumed after about 30 minutes, the incoming service for the 21:25 has lost its path and is losing more time.

20:25 Exeter St Davids - Axminster 1L80 (SWT 159012)
Thankfully the 20:25 is on time so I make my way to Platform 1 only to discover that it's been changed to Platform 3 due to a late running Exmouth service. There's then a further delay due to a fight on the train which means we have a BTP officer with us as far as Feniton taking statements. We leave 5 minutes late and have the unusual experience of using the down line to Central running alongside the Exmouth train. The delay has reduced the amount of time waiting at Honiton to cross the delayed 17:30 ex Waterloo and I'm home in time to watch the Champions League Final extra time and penalties. A good day.

So, what's in store for Monday. We begin with a short section of curve between two stations in Yeovil and taking a 159 into new territory.....

 

[Kite159]

I'm guessing you are doing the Weymouth service

Sounded like a good day in Devon and Cornwall

 

[iantherev]

I'm guessing you are doing the Weymouth service

Sounded like a good day in Devon and Cornwall

Correct. After Weymouth I've got three options in mind

Option A: the sedate option - a wander around the South Coast stopping at Bournemouth to do some bus photography and then a trip to Lymington then home via Salisbury.
Option B: as A to Southampton then Westbury - Exeter SD - home.
Option C: the really daft option. Omit Lymington, then Southampton - Westbury - Swindon; Cross Country to Exeter, then home.

 

[Techniquest]

Correct. After Weymouth I've got three options in mind

Option A: the sedate option - a wander around the South Coast stopping at Bournemouth to do some bus photography and then a trip to Lymington then home via Salisbury.
Option B: as A to Southampton then Westbury - Exeter SD - home.
Option C: the really daft option. Omit Lymington, then Southampton - Westbury - Swindon; Cross Country to Exeter, then home.

A) Boring!
B) Better!
C) Well, you said yourself you're falling in love with the HSTs again. However I'd probably aim for doing it more like Axminster > Exeter > Swindon > Westbury > Southampton > Lymington > Axminster

As for not having contributed to other trip reports, as I previously said it's not mandatory, but it does help increase the community feel we have going. I hope that makes sense! You don't have to join in the conversations we have, but we'll make you welcome in the brotherhood!

Another excellent read there, quite a lot of travel in one day that's for sure. Lucky you didn't get caught up in the farce in Salisbury!

 

[FQ]

Sounds like the rest of the day was also great! If the person claiming to have a reservation came along then I'd simply ask to see the reservation ticket thing. I see that you've got 43140 noted with both 43017 and 43092 as well. Just saying in case there is an error in your notes.