Juliano's World Frenzy/Tech's Trip Reports

[Kristofferson]

Interesting idea for a trip, have a good time! Hopefully doing the same trams all day doesn't get dull

 

[Techniquest]

Interesting idea for a trip, have a good time! Hopefully doing the same trams all day doesn't get dull

I still need most of the Metrolink network for coverage so it should be quite interesting. Only one way to find out, just a few days to go

 

[noddy1878]

I still need most of the Metrolink network for coverage so it should be quite interesting. Only one way to find out, just a few days to go

Just caught up after my week away. Sounds like you had a good result from OperationDesiro. Metrolink sounds like a plan. I have most of the network left to do there so I too would still find it quite interesting.

 

[Techniquest]

I still need most of the Metrolink network for coverage so it should be quite interesting. Only one way to find out, just a few days to go

Just caught up after my week away. Sounds like you had a good result from OperationDesiro. Metrolink sounds like a plan. I have most of the network left to do there so I too would still find it quite interesting.

Hope you had a great week away. Aye all went rather well last week, and Sunday/Monday is lined up to be awesome too.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I think it's time to stop the suspense and reveal 2016's plans, or at least the choices I have so far. None of which are affordable yet, but I have been working on that and, if all goes to plan, in roughly a year's time I could afford at least one of them! They are then, in no particular order:

14 day First Class All Line Rover
Trip to Australia, if only for the XPTs, maybe a bit of sightseeing while I'm there too!
USA trip, both a bit of sightseeing and of course trains!

Of all of the above, Australia is the top choice as I've always wanted to go there. It is also the most expensive of the three choices by some way, but a once in a lifetime trip.

However, since originally deciding on saving for that trip, I've added the other two choices as options. I have also added a non-rail option too, but I have yet to decide whether to actually start on it. This one would be got on with much sooner than 2016, and would abandon the other choices. It is:

Learning to drive (again), sticking with it and get a car.

The driving option certainly has benefits, and I've been considering it for weeks now. Life would be a little easier with being able to drive, but I don't know.

So yeah, that's the plan but I have no idea what I'm going to do yet!

 

[55013]

Having a car cetainly has advantages.
Living close to the M62 means I can get to places as diverse as Bristol Parkway, Shotts and Cambridge in under four hours.
I also quite enjoy motorway driving, so 8 hour round trips are not a great issue for me, therefore I have plenty of options for a day out.
The down side is the expense.
Cars are not cheap, especially if you need a very reliable one, which you do if your planning on going long distances of course.
On balance, I would say that having the option of driving increases the range of potential moves you can do, so I say go for it

 

[Kristofferson]

I'll offer my 2p here!

Cars are a money sink. If you get an old one, you pay higher tax, higher petrol costs, repair bills, MOT work... If you get a new one on finance, you have the cost of finance plus servicing and still have to tax and fuel the damn thing. Insurance will also be obscene as a new driver.

Unless you absolutely require a car, I wouldn't recommend it. A licence, yes, absolutely, but not a car.

I say this as a "car person" - I've had everything from a brand new sports convertible to a knackered late-80s "modern classic" and every generic hatchback in between. Every single one has attempted to suck my wallet dry in one way or another. Unless you're really into cars and driving, don't worry too much about owning one!

 

[55013]

I agree.
Sorry, I wasn't very clear when I said "Go for it", I meant learning.
Get a licence, but only get a car if you're really in need of one.
If you're only going to use a car for very occasional outings then, once you have your licence, you could always consider hiring one, say for a weekend.
I've just had a quick look at a rental website and apparently you can hire a small car (ie a Mini, or similar) from Friday afternoon to Monday morning in April for less the £60.
That sounds good!
Fuel's extra, of course.

 

[37038]

I haven't learnt to drive yet and don't plan to until I leave uni. I'm quite happy on the ol' pushbike and having a license will at least make me slightly more employable when looking for a job as a postgrad. Don't plan on getting a car whatever happens

 

[Techniquest]

Gentlemen, thank you for your valuable input Given me food for thought there, that's for sure. I shall discuss it further after tea, maybe via PM

In 3 days time I'll be preparing for my Manchester trip, can't wait!

 

[Kite159]

Having a car is a lifeline if you live in a small village with a rubbish bus service (by the time the bus eventually reaches Andover I could be at Woking if boarding the train at the same time).

 

[fowler9]

Hope you had a great week away. Aye all went rather well last week, and Sunday/Monday is lined up to be awesome too.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I think it's time to stop the suspense and reveal 2016's plans, or at least the choices I have so far. None of which are affordable yet, but I have been working on that and, if all goes to plan, in roughly a year's time I could afford at least one of them! They are then, in no particular order:

14 day First Class All Line Rover
Trip to Australia, if only for the XPTs, maybe a bit of sightseeing while I'm there too!
USA trip, both a bit of sightseeing and of course trains!

Of all of the above, Australia is the top choice as I've always wanted to go there. It is also the most expensive of the three choices by some way, but a once in a lifetime trip.

However, since originally deciding on saving for that trip, I've added the other two choices as options. I have also added a non-rail option too, but I have yet to decide whether to actually start on it. This one would be got on with much sooner than 2016, and would abandon the other choices. It is:

Learning to drive (again), sticking with it and get a car.

The driving option certainly has benefits, and I've been considering it for weeks now. Life would be a little easier with being able to drive, but I don't know.

So yeah, that's the plan but I have no idea what I'm going to do yet!

If you are looking at mega long haul like Australia I implore you to consider New Zealand.

 

[Techniquest]

Having a car is a lifeline if you live in a small village with a rubbish bus service (by the time the bus eventually reaches Andover I could be at Woking if boarding the train at the same time).

During the day, my bus service is very good at an hourly frequency, but by the evening the last one back is 1815 (first one out 0645) which is far too early for me on a trip let alone for employers. Lucky I still have my job where I am now to be honest!

Being able to drive would allow me to do earlier starts and later finishes both at work and on a trip, which I'm sure you can all imagine would be useful

There's also the fact my Mum is the only one who drives in this household (indeed I'd not be off this Sunday if it wasn't for her driving me into town). She won't be able to do it forever, and she does keep hinting occasionally about it too.

Fowler9: New Zealand does appeal too, I just want to do Australia ahead of it so I can finally sample the XPTs. In an ideal world I'd do both trips but we'll see what the decision falls to when I get time to actually decide (I usually make these decisions when I'm bored at work, been far too busy lately to be bored!) what I'm going to do.

 

[fowler9]

During the day, my bus service is very good at an hourly frequency, but by the evening the last one back is 1815 (first one out 0645) which is far too early for me on a trip let alone for employers. Lucky I still have my job where I am now to be honest!

Being able to drive would allow me to do earlier starts and later finishes both at work and on a trip, which I'm sure you can all imagine would be useful

There's also the fact my Mum is the only one who drives in this household (indeed I'd not be off this Sunday if it wasn't for her driving me into town). She won't be able to do it forever, and she does keep hinting occasionally about it too.

Fowler9: New Zealand does appeal too, I just want to do Australia ahead of it so I can finally sample the XPTs. In an ideal world I'd do both trips but we'll see what the decision falls to when I get time to actually decide (I usually make these decisions when I'm bored at work, been far too busy lately to be bored!) what I'm going to do.

Yeah mate, not cheap trips sadly, so much world and only so much money and time. As for cars, I am so lucky I am spoilt rotten with public transport options. I've never needed to drive. I do wish I had learned to drive though. Still, never too late.

 

[Techniquest]

Tomorrow morning begins my trip to Manchester for a massive Metrolink bash, long overdue as well!

Hashtag was confirmed on Twitter on Thursday, but I can confirm here too that it will be #techsmetromad

Tweets to start tomorrow morning at a more sociable time than usual, around 0830. Yes there will be a trip report too, which I hope to start typing up on Monday afternoon

 

[Kristofferson]

Looking forward to it, enjoy!

 

[47403]

Tomorrow morning begins my trip to Manchester for a massive Metrolink bash, long overdue as well!

Hashtag was confirmed on Twitter on Thursday, but I can confirm here too that it will be #techsmetromad

Tweets to start tomorrow morning at a more sociable time than usual, around 0830. Yes there will be a trip report too, which I hope to start typing up on Monday afternoon

happy hunting have a good un.

 

[Techniquest]

Thank you good sir, as will eventually be revealed a good one was had!

I'm well behind with my bookwork today, took hours to get the trip report written into my A4 book this afternoon. Didn't get to start typing it up yet on the bus home as expected. I shall be starting it tomorrow on the commute to work now.

Sorry for the delay gang!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
OK then, let's begin the tale of my very productive tram bash during this morning's commute! Hope you all enjoyed the action as it happened on Twitter!

08/03/2015 - Techniquest's Metrolink Madness, Day 1

Long time readers will remember I was going to do a trip by the same title a couple of years ago, but that was cancelled due to the pull of mainline trains being too strong that day. That was overcome this time, much effort required of course and a proper Metrolink bash was long overdue!

So then, how did this trip come about? Well I received £28 of RTVs from ATW as a result of my delayed home [see Techniquest's On The Toon for details - Ed] when coming down from Manchester last month. With an available slot for a bash coming up, another exciting round of TPP was begun! Many options were examined, with a lot of them flagged due to a lack of reasonably priced Advances. The decision was kind of made when I found 247 Hotel in Oldham for just 29 pounds, and it was the last room at that price so I booked it sharpish! A lift into town, as it was a Sunday, was organised and last Tuesday I went to the station before work to use the RTVs against the Advances I wanted. Both the journeys I wanted were still £20 so I end up paying just £12 for my trip to Manchester. Even better, I didn't have to use any of my savings for it as it was affordable out of my week's spending budget!

I went off to work in a brilliant mood, which lasted most of the week to my surprise. The Saturday night was soon upon us, and it dawned on me that I had to do the pre-trip packing and de-rancification, as it would have been too early in the morning to wake the rest of the household. Sleep was difficult to come by of course, easier than usual though thanks to a hectic week. 0800 was soon with me and I almost literally jump out of bed, I can't wait to get going! Own-brand weetabix and coffee had for breakfast, it was soon time to get going. Traffic is light as expected this morning so plenty of time to kill before leaving Hereford.

The first train of the day from here, the 0830 Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly, produces 158832 to my surprise for the long trip up the North and West. Sadly I have no flask after accidentally breaking it during a thorough clean following Operation Desiro, back to just my Virgin Trains travel mug [keen readers may remember I bought this on my return to the hobby back on 17th February 2014 - Ed] now. I finish that off and it's time to start writing this trip report (already just short of a side of A4!), then it's onto the uneviable task of transferring about 2 months of commuting logs from my phone's memo files to my A6 book. All the way from 5th January to today to do, a big job then! Much to my surprise, I finish writing those up just in time to see what's in the Gresty Lane area.

Plenty of Freightliner 66s on HOBC sets, with just 66422 and 68010 ID'able with DRS. I note that I've had 1,496.7 miles on buses so far this year, not bad considering I've had more car journeys than normal so far and I've had that week off in February [Techniquest's Gardening and Techniquest's On The Toon - Ed]. We go as booked via Styal, meaning I can add 158 to my list of motive power had over the Manchester Airport avoider. Said list is now 158, 175, 221 and 57/3-hauled 390. 3 minutes early at Manchester Piccadilly's platform 12 at 1159. The pull of instead doing mainline trains at one of my top 5 stations in the UK is somehow overcome, although it took a LOT of effort! A PNB is needed before the main event of the day, followed by a Costa coffee. My off peak travelcard for Metrolink trams is sourced for 5 pounds, and I've not long missed an Ashton-under-Lyne tram annoyingly.

Winner for everything [there were a lot of those! - Ed] 3066 is up first for a trip to Ashton-under-Lyne, with the heavy rain still going for it. 27 minutes later we're there but what a boring run! There was worse to come yet though...The first required route covered, it was back on 3066 for a Shack Attack [again, a lot of these! - Ed] at Ashton West. Winner 3084 is up next on the marathon run to Eccles via MediaCity UK. Again, worse was to come later! Well before the end of the 58 minute journey, a PNB was top of my list of priorities [the biggest downside to tram bashing that, unlike mainline trains! - Ed], closely followed by fuelling up on food. After all, by now it was 1410 and almost 6 hours since breakfast!

Wetherspoon to the rescue across the road from Eccles' tram stop with The Eccles Cross. A rather decent roast beef dinner and a pint of Port Stout from Devon is enjoyed for the very reasonable ching of £6.49. After a nice little break I was ready to take on the world again, one tram at a time! Winner 3074 is up next for a trip to Broadway, from where I walk to Harbour City in less than 3 minutes. Two more shacks down, too many to count left to do yet! During that walk I feel really ill, out of the blue, but it was still onwards and upwards with the mission, I've still a lot of track to cover and time's flying by! I rejoin 3074 for the trip to Cornbrook, where an interchange is made onto winner 3075 to Chorlton for a shack scratch.

A big bottle of Pepsi Max is sourced from the Morrisons here for a quid, although what I needed the most wasn't available. Very busy supermarket, felt like a Saturday in there! Onwards with winner 3022 to St. Werburgh's Road on an insect leap, changing for winner 3090 to Manchester Airport, Metrolink's newest line. I was going to the blocks on this, but this is such a boring line I end up bailing at Wythenshawe Town Centre to go to Asda. Unlike my local Asda, which opens until 1700, this one shuts at 1600 and it's about 1605 by now. Costa saves the day as it's open until 1700. With business taken care of, I get a coffee in to keep me going on the mission. Good thing I had cash on me as a power cut in the area had knocked out the card facilities!

Winner 3082 takes me onwards and upwards, and now I feel well again I enjoy the last stretch to the airport. With that line now covered, only East Didsbury and Rochdale to Queens Road Junction via Oldham Central remained to be done. 3082 takes me all the way back to Firswood for a shack scratch, then winner 3083 is up for my trip to East Didsbury. That run was over much quicker than expected, and I see no chance of the line ever being extended to Stockport as once planned. I hope to be proved wrong one day of course! 3083 is had back to Didsbury Village for yet another shack scratch before the marathon journey to Rochdale via Oldham Central is done on winner 3063.

I know this trip report isn't too exciting to read, but in all honesty there isn't a lot to talk about! By the time we get back to the city centre, it's rather dark so I don't ID many trams now. I do remember some of my trip along the Oldham Loop from way back in 2006 [or was it 2005? I really can't be sure anymore! - Ed], quite a different universe now from the 142s I did up here! This journey really is an endurance, taking up 78 minutes of my day. After 76 minutes I'm standing up, I could sit no longer! It's now time for tea and Wetherspoon save the day again at The Regal Moon, just a stone's throw from Rochdale Town Centre tram stop. I enjoy the fish and chips special at £2.99 with a pint of Blond Witch from Burnley for £2.15.

A most delicious meal had, I time it just right to get on dud 3022 to Oldham King Street. Well, so was the plan until I saw a wait of just 2 minutes for a Rochdale tram at Newbold! Winner 3048 takes me to Rochdale Railway Station, and I rejoin it when it comes back from the town centre, this time making sure I continue to Oldham King Street. After all, it's almost half 8 in the evening by now and I still have to get to base camp! I walk there via Napier Street East, not the nicest walk and I would recommend instead using the A62's path as suggested by the hotel. I get there in just over 10 minutes, and the young lady on the desk is very helpful and friendly, telling me all about the reasonably priced breakfast options, setting up my WiFi code and just generally a pleasure to talk to.

I see this place is a former Travelodge, but at least it has comfortable beds and pillows! I have a very good size room, and the usual evening stuff is done before I finally get my NREA updated. A very successful day indeed with 10 winners, 16 required shacks and a massive 34 winners for sight, not to mention clearing the massive Metrolink network, except for the MediaCity UK avoiding curve. Something to do on Day 2, but I'm very happy with how well the day went!

And that was Day 1 gang, finished just in time to get off the bus. Back to reality today, and all being well I'll have Day 2 typed up on tonight's commute home. Until then, enjoy!

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Sounds a decent trip, which covers some familiar ground for me.

I agree with you regarding the Fish & Chips at the Regal Moon - normally very good value.That spoons at Eccles is also a good one.

I quite like the outer bit of the Ashton tram line with the on street running through Droylsden and the sweeping curves in the Ashton Moss area. The inner bit is dull though, and Holt Town is a truly dismal shack. Interesting you arrived at P12 at Picallilli - I don't think I've ever used that one. Nice to get the Styal line in again, too. Being an old git, my first trip over that stretch was in 1979, with 82002 on a return Adex from Bournemouth. ..

Looking forward to part 2.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Its good to know Metrolink is clearable in a day, all be it a long one, and that theres sufficiant Wetherspoons and a decent hotel on hand too!
Has the hotel had a decent refurb or is it still pritty Travelodge-esk? Look forward to Day 2.

 

[Kristofferson]

An interesting read as always and good job clearing the network! This was fun to follow on Twitter and I'm looking forward to part 2 of course.

 

[87electric]

I was also staying in the 247 on Sunday night. Had a visit to ELR for the Gala and also a tram bash on Monday. All trams to 3094 in the haulage book now.
I usually walk from Freehold tram stop to the hotel. Probably the same distance from King St anyway.

 

[Techniquest]

Its good to know Metrolink is clearable in a day, all be it a long one, and that theres sufficiant Wetherspoons and a decent hotel on hand too!
Has the hotel had a decent refurb or is it still pritty Travelodge-esk? Look forward to Day 2.

Worth pointing out that Day 1 didn't take in Altrincham or Bury, as I had done those years ago, so yes it's doable but including those two means it would easily take at least 10 hours to do, assuming no issues stop services or drastically screw them over, as happened yesterday!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Sounds a decent trip, which covers some familiar ground for me.

I agree with you regarding the Fish & Chips at the Regal Moon - normally very good value.That spoons at Eccles is also a good one.

I quite like the outer bit of the Ashton tram line with the on street running through Droylsden and the sweeping curves in the Ashton Moss area. The inner bit is dull though, and Holt Town is a truly dismal shack. Interesting you arrived at P12 at Picallilli - I don't think I've ever used that one. Nice to get the Styal line in again, too. Being an old git, my first trip over that stretch was in 1979, with 82002 on a return Adex from Bournemouth. ..

Looking forward to part 2.

Crikey you have been at the game for a long time then! hock: I started it 24 years after you!

I've done p12 in and out a few times, think I've done all bar 1 of them now.

Yeah the Ashton line is better at the Ashton end but otherwise it's dull.

To the other replies, I'll try and reply later as I'm short on time before my bus arrives now, but I am surprised another forum member happened to be at the same hotel at the same time as me! Glad the tweets proved to be worth reading too

Crisis nearly came this morning, as one of my bottles of Dr Pepper decided to develop a pinhole leak after putting it in my bag. A miracle my books didn't get affected, I'd have been fuming at that!

Day 2 follows below, now I'm on the bus home. Hopefully I get it finished tonight, as I've early starts at work for the rest of the week and will be tired all week as a result. Wish me luck with that gang! Anyway:

09/03/2015 - Techniquest's Metrolink Madness, Day 2

Despite being shattered last night, it still takes until gone midnight to get to sleep somehow. The plan had been to wake at 0600, instead I'm up at 0640. Turned out points issues were causing problems at Newbold this morning so perhaps it's just as well. With heavy eyes it's time for a thorough de-rance, preparations for departure still takes until around 0715 which was not helpful. Due to the delay I don't get breakfast after all, marching along via Napier Street East to Oldham King Street as fast as I could. My peak travelcard for Metrolink is sourced and I'm now 7 quid lighter for it. Still exceptional value in my eyes though!

Worth pointing out I have no problem recommending the Travelodge-esque (but better than Travelodge!) 247 Hotel

The day's adventures begin with double winners 3087 and 3069 for a shack scratch at South Chadderton. Dud 3022 takes me back to Freehold, and as winner 3070 rolls in I finish my travel mug of coffee. I really must learn to take Douwe Egberts coffee with me on trips, I do detest Nescafe! Another shack attack at Hollinwood, and several minutes later I get dud 3066 to Newton Heath and Moston [in its former national network days this one was Dean Lane - Ed]. A poster discussing the changes ahead of the Metrolink conversion of the Oldham Loop is STILL up here, shocking considering it closed on 4th October 2009!

Winner 3058 takes me to Central Park [didn't see the cast of Friends though! - Ed] for yet another shack attack, and I read today's Metro here during the interval. Well, the cartoons at least as the rest of it is not worth production! Double winners 3030 and 3034 take me onwards, and I leave the east side of Manchester for now, heading to Trafford Bar. I can see the new work at Victoria today, it's looking better now but a long way to go to make it Piccadilly-like yet! It's time now to clear the Altrincham line shacks, and I join winner 3037 to Brooklands, everything else before it were done several years ago. A short wait gets me double winners [I did say I needed a lot on Metrolink! - Ed] 3014 and 3036 to Timperley.

I detect a cafe above the station, and it's advertising sausage barms [that's baps or rolls to us non-Northerners! - Ed] for just 99p. That will do nicely for breakfast, fortunately I have enough coinage for that. To say it went down well is an understatement! Double winners 3028 and 3040 take me to Navigation Road, which clears Cornbrook to Altrincham stations at long last. I rejoin 3040 and 3028 when they come back for a trip to Deansgate Castlefield (hopefully they don't rename it again!). The mission is now to get that curve avoiding MediaCity UK in, with winner 3085 to Pomona first before an Eccles tram turns up. Winner 3094 takes me to Langworthy for the shack attack, and mission accomplished, the entire Metrolink network is covered!

The rain's arrived in heavy form by now, and winner 3071 arrives to take me to Anchorage. Yep, winner shack! A short wait for a tram from MediaCity UK to take me into town, as a PNB is now urgent, and winner 3078 takes me to St Peters Square. I deal with matters at the nearby Costa, and I get my second coffee of the day here. Double winners 3081 and 3089 take me to Shudehill, where I figure my chance of a seat on the Bury tram behind will be better than at Victoria. I was correct and join double winners 3023 and 3033 for a run to Abraham Moss. Yep, you've guessed it, time for a clearout on the Bury line now!

A short wait gets me double winners [I really did have some good luck on my side! - Ed] 3024 and 3043 to Besses o' th' Barn. One of the most unusual station names I've ever come across! Yet again with double winners 3020 and 3032 to Radcliffe, where I realise the only bits of the network I haven't covered on M5000 trams is Radcliffe to Bury and Navigation Road to Altrincham. What felt like forever waiting gets me 3043 and 3024 again to Whitefield for 3032 and 3020 again to Prestwich. I can't help wondering what this line must have been like when it was part of the national network, and before I know it I'm snapped out of that thought with winner 3007 to Crumpsall. Annoyingly, I've lost a bottle of pop out of my coat pocket somewhere, that'll teach me to do them up next time! Thankfully I have another one in my bag, so it's not the end of the world!

Winner 3012 is up next for the leap to Bowker Vale for a quick trip over the footbridge to join winner 3001 to Queens Road. It's rather nippy now, so a 14 minute wait [it's worth pointing out the lack of PIS on the Altrincham to Bury line - Ed] wasn't welcome! Double winners 3017 and 3053 take me to Heaton Park, my last shack to attack on the Altrincham to Bury line! The large coffee from Costa is now taking its toll on me [curse the lack of facilities on the Metrolink network! - Ed], and by the time I arrive at Shudehill off winner 3060 and dud 3029 [had that one a long time ago - Ed] I can wait no longer and make a fast walk to the facilities at the bus station. 20p well spent indeed!

I was off originally next to Etihad Campus, but I join 3053 and 3017 first to Market Street, forgetting I'd already had them! I spy an advert here for the Pizza Hut buffet lunch, my stomach immediately takes over all logic and I go there for lunch. £6.99 got me a lot of pizza which I badly needed, I was surprisingly hungry and had almost a large pizza worth of food! £2.55 was also spent to wash down the pepperoni pizza, with me making sure I had my money's worth with 3 glasses of ice cold Pepsi Max [it's unlimited refills - Ed]. An expensive lunch I know but worth every penny. Burger King can wait until my London bash later this month!

I walk to Piccadilly, if only to get some exercise in after all that food, and it's not 1413, it's Costa o' clock! 175101 is my chariot home, and a few observations are made before leaving. As we roll out of Piccadilly I unexpectedly see winner for sight 66747 on an eastbound freight, most welcome! I'm sad to be leaving Manchester already of course, but I have to go home eventually I suppose. The entire journey home is spent updating the A4 book with notes and writing the trip report, which I still don't get even close to finishing before I get back to Hereford at 1632! At least this time the North and West wasn't blocked by a failed train

I make my way to the bus stop ready for the 1700's relief bus home. Yes the 1700 gets that busy these days that an empty bus comes in from depot just to do this relief run! We get to miss key sectors of the route which is very handy and makes a nice change. I get about halfway home before I finish writing up the trip report, and other notes take up the remainder of the journey.

So then, a summary for Day 2:

29 winners
22 required shacks
18 winners for sight (including the 66)

I'm very pleased indeed with that result, an incredibly productive day there! After I get home, I spend the evening chilling out and getting the Baker back up to date. I've still got to fill in the moves book and the massive job of both entering the moves into RailMiles and getting all the mileage data figured out too, so no mileage data in the summary I'm afraid. Going to take ages to get that lot done!

So there we go gang, another very successful trip complete. Absolutely loved it all, despite my moaning about the marathon journeys! Of course, now I can't wait for the London bash in 2 and a bit weeks' time. That one promises to be hellfire!

 

[Kite159]

Sounds like a good trip on metro-link, brings back memories of my Friday bash in December after doing a certain once a week service from Stockport (adding in an trip to Hadfield to clear the Dinting triangle)

 

[Techniquest]

T'was indeed good, need to go back one day to take on the 40 required shacks up there and at least 62 required trams though!

 

[Kristofferson]

Very productive trip and a great report!

 

[D841 Roebuck]

T'was indeed good, need to go back one day to take on the 40 required shacks up there and at least 62 required trams though!

Don't forget the new chord at Todmorden...

 

[Techniquest]

T'was indeed good, need to go back one day to take on the 40 required shacks up there and at least 62 required trams though!

Don't forget the new chord at Todmorden...

Indeed, it may be open by the time I retire in 2049 Will be up that way again later this year for more shack scratching and DMU bashing, although when is unknown currently. That week will be an expensive one I reckon...

Glad you've all enjoyed the read!

 

[55013]

As usual, a very good write-up.
It kept my interest ,even though trams are not really my thing.
I'll do them (and record the move) to get from A to B, but the thought of spending the whole day on them, let alone two, makes me shudder.

 

[fowler9]

Brilliant trip report mate. An old girlfriend of mine lived in Whitefield and I used many of the stations in that area on a regular basis. (A scouser going out with a Manc, ha ha). Its made me realise how long Metrolink has been running, that is nearly 20 years ago. I was only just in to my 20's.

 

[Techniquest]

As usual, a very good write-up.
It kept my interest ,even though trams are not really my thing.
I'll do them (and record the move) to get from A to B, but the thought of spending the whole day on them, let alone two, makes me shudder.

I must have managed OK then to keep you reading, even though trams aren't your thing. Always a sign of a good writer if you can get people hooked on finding out what happened next, a page-turner sorta thing.

I don't normally do trams myself, but they need to be done eventually. All of the tram/light rail routes in the UK are all covered now at least, bar that PSUL curve on Sheffield Supertram and Blackpool trams. Now there's an idea for a trip...
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Brilliant trip report mate. An old girlfriend of mine lived in Whitefield and I used many of the stations in that area on a regular basis. (A scouser going out with a Manc, ha ha). Its made me realise how long Metrolink has been running, that is nearly 20 years ago. I was only just in to my 20's.

Two different races dating hock:

Crikey, that long ago? Didn't know it had been that long!