Kite159:2086013 said:
Or can access it
Hope those 350s are being kind
Harsh, I'd be well annoyed if I couldn't access Twitter or here while away! The 350s were indeed kind, as the trip report will no doubt reveal! Time to start it on the way home from work, to be continued on the commute to/from work tomorrow. So here we go:
23/02/2015 - Techniquest's Operation Desiro, Day 1
Trip title at least slightly inspired by Dragonforce's Operation Ground and Pound.
Crikey didn't the last couple of weeks drag, especially the last few days! Some tough times at work recently, so this trip was definitely earnt! My A5 notebook is now retired, as it was deemed to be falling apart too much to survive this trip. So the A4 notebook, bought way back on 11th July 2011, sees a revive at long last, not used it properly since 6th December 2013! The day before this trip saw preparations complete much quicker than anticipated, and as per usual I struggle to sleep due to excitement and anticipation, to fever pitch extremes!
About 3 hours of doss is all I manage before getting up 20 minutes early, ahead of the alarm, at 0540. Own-brand weetabix and coffee get devoured for breakfast, and time flies by with final preparations being required sooner than expected, then it's the walk up town in rather chilly conditions for the 0645 bus. My usual chariot, VX12 FBO, produces as booked and I'm almost at 11,000 miles on it now [10,898.2 to be precise! - Ed]. It's a 52 minute cruise through the shire to Hereford today, with the trip report started en-route. I also have almost 2 months of commutes to log in my A6 book [always good to have a backup! - Ed] too, something I really need to get on with!
First stop, the ticket office to get my Great Escape for today. £15 lighter, the traditional move to Morrisons is made for a supplies raid [I was so tempted to make a more obvious reference to The Last Of Us there! - Ed]. Meal deal, own-brand diet cola and some of those new spicy Walkers MixUps are sourced. Got to be worth trying those crisps at £1! A few more observations are made before the first of many trains is joined, today 1M59 0849 Hereford to Birmingham New Street is in the hands of 153375 and 170502. LM 321 services noted off the forum onto the phone for later, and the observations so far are posted to the "Trains you've seen working" thread [see my forum signature for the link - Ed]. Dog Box Thrash time!
I had forgotten how irritating the stagger via Worcester Shrub Hill is, but I remind myself it gives me an extra 28 chains for my 2015 mileage total. The mundane journey, made so many times over the years, will one day be a part of history so worth enjoying it now! I enter Trip Planning Process (TPP) Mode today, and while I need to further research it I may be getting a Network Railcard for this year's umpteen South East trips. Arrival is at 1022 after the practically mandatory wait in the tunnels outside New Street, and I find nothing of interest so stick to the plan and get on 350110 on the 1054 to London Euston anyway. I did wait to see what was working the 0904 Liverpool to Birmingham, but RTT said it was due in at 1052, too tight to belt it down the full length of platform 4 if it was indeed dud. Just as well I didn't do it as it turned out, as I'd have not made a useful observation at Rugby, where I bail from 350110.
The weather is rather stunning so far today, and much to my annoyance my flask of coffee is already nearly empty. With only a bit of it left, I finish it by Canley. All being well I'm due to get my first 350/3 for haulage from Rugby, hence making sure I got the 1054 from New Street to have a +20 onto the 1002 Crewe to Euston. A lineside fault between Rugby and Milton Keynes caused the 1046 Euston to Crewe to be diverted via Northampton, just as well I wasn't going for it anyway as it was 350119. A most unexpected observation is made, with 350231 on the 1125 Northampton to New Street. Frantic searching through the timetable revealed it should work the 1254 New Street to Euston next, I now have a game plan!
As expected, my move gets me my first winner of the day with 350372, and I have a silent celebration as I dive on for a table seat, so as to give my phone some charge for a belting run via Weedon to Milton Keynes Centraal. Indeed there was an issue heading north towards Rugby, we passed at least 3 stationary 390s queuing for their turn to continue north! The run to MKC is over before I know it, and I see the 1146 Euston to Crewe was also a 350/1, good thing I wasn't going for that one either! I rejoin 350110 heading south, making it a Super Dud, for a trip to Berkhamsted. I have a bit of a fester here, getting my first Puccino's coffee of 2015 [I love the stuff, more so the funny images and writing on the cups and sugar packets! - Ed] and it turns out to be well worth the fester as the 1234 Euston to Tring produces a pair of 321s to my surprise, expected only one. Much better than that, it's dud 321415 leading winner 321416! Excellent news as 321416 is my last LM 321 to get in the book! Off to Tring for sure then for the microgrice into platform 4 and today's first winner shack!
A mandatory photostop is had before rejoining the pair on the 1326 Tring to Euston, deciding to go all the way to London. After all, this could well be my last ever chance to do 321s on the WCML, what with 319s being due to take their place for the 321s to go to Scotland! Of course, it's back to the motor coach for the noise
I'm now on Twitter trying to get gen on 350239, as I'm having no luck finding it on my own. Some very quick responses were received, and I get confirmation of 350231 being on the 1254 New Street to Euston. Many thanks must go to Dennis on LM's Twitter account for the help and excellent customer service! 350239's on Birmingham to Liverpool services today, and I start figuring out a plan for getting it in the book. A most enjoyable run to Euston had, I end up on 350235 on the 1424 to Milton Keynes Centraal for a leap to Watford Junction. The plan of course was to get 350231 in now, and sure enough it turns up with 350237 (banged on at Northampton). Back to Euston I go, very chuffed at having got my penultimate 350/2 in the book!
Photos got at both Watford Junction and Euston for some sort of proof, I start planning more moves as I've seen 350368 working the 1446 Euston to Crewe, which of course I need. Will the afternoon's plan work? Only one way to find out! I finally get a proper look at those so-called Borismasters, good golly gosh they're ugly and look uncomfortable to ride in!
Sorry guys but that will have to do for tonight, my commute home is over. I will try to upload photos this week and add them to this lot. In the meantime, stay tuned for what happens next. Will I make it for 350239, my last 350/2? Will it stick to diagram? Did the WCML go belly up and mess the day up? Find out tomorrow!
