Well here we go gang, as I had the chance to type today's trip report as I went today, via several memo files, on my phone I can post it now! Photos to come tomorrow, as of course will tomorrow morning's action.
13th April 2015 CONTINUED!
First things first when I get to town,a supply raid at Morrisons. Meal deal, pop and everything else sourced, it's off to the station to get my Great Escape tickets for today and tomorrow [I'm only going one way from New Street to Hereford on it tomorrow, but 70p or so saving this way. It all counts! - Ed], which takes longer than I would have expected, good thing I have plenty of time then! I see 4 coaches dumped in a siding north of the station, why they're there I have no idea. I also note that construction on the new Hereford City Link Road is finally due to start this spring, about time that was done! That will help alleviate some of the traffic problems in town hopefully when it's done. Today's 0849 Hereford to Birmingham New Street falls to 170517 and 153375, which will put me a little over halfway to clearing the 170 for the magical thou by the time I get to Birmingham!
Dumped coaches at Hereford by
43002, on Flickr
I have no such gen on the 153, for some reason I never created a memo file for the LM 153s. That will have to be created for my next Midlands trip, or at least started on this one. Of course, I'm partaking in some DBT this morning, especially now that, once the electrification of the Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley line is complete in 2017, the 150s and 153s with LM will be cascaded to another TOC. I enjoy DBT normally anyway, but definitely taking advantage of it while it lasts! Of course, it's still unknown what EMUs LM will get for the Chase Valley, but there's still 18 months to 2 years to go yet until we find out.
It's time before owt else to update the commuting logs, and I then open my first can of Monster. Two of these were sourced for today's bash, which will save money on Costa moves today at least! More of the trip report is then typed up, then time to re-examine the 350/3 diagrams I printed off yesterday, and I'm still in two minds as to whether I'll bail at University for a Starship to Lichfield Trent Valley, where I've a +6 onto the 1002 Crewe to London Euston, a service booked to be formed of a 350/3. Plenty of time to decide yet, as we're cruising through Colwall Tunnel at the time of that thought! If I stick with the plan to go to New Street I've got far safer connections onto the 1002 from Crewe. Studying the timetable for moves is the first priority, and I've got the first few imprinted into memory at least now.By Bromsgrove I've decided I will go for the +6 at Lichfield Trent Valley, it's been way too long since my last long run on a Starship! I found an armrest hiding on the luggage rack above my seat this morning, and as my book was also in the photo I shared everyone seemed to miss the point I was making! Rather nippy here, could do with thermals today! Super Dud 323243 is next, and running about 4 minutes late, putting my +6 into serious jeopardy, maybe I should bail at New Street and go for the safer option!
323243 at Lichfield Trent Valley (High Level) by
43002, on Flickr
A good run is had after all and we arrive 3 minutes early. A nice easy connection down to platform 2 is made and it's slightly warmer here. I watch a few 390s fly through, and the tilt on northbound trains is especially awesome looking! As diagrammed, the 1002 Crewe to London Euston produces a 350/3, today it's 350371 and a winner, fantastic! 7 more to go, and I see 350374 working the 0946 London Euston to Crewe, will definitely be going after that later! Phone goes on charge as the priority as I'm already down to 60% charge [from 100% at 0600! - Ed]. Off to MKC I go now, with a +5 onto the 1146 Euston to Crewe back to Rugby, so I can view what's on the 1102 Crewe to Euston. It's time for the second can of Monster now, which should deal with the caffeine requirements for today. I'm already predicting a celebratory beer later, fingers crossed the Gods of LM stay kind to me! An uneventful run to MKC saw me gain 29% charge into my phone, and no doubt a good few miles as well! 350118 is on the 1146 Euston to Crewe, and this run back to Rugby makes it a Super Dud. I've got my fingers crossed for the 1102 Crewe to Euston now!
Winner winner chicken dinner, it's 350370, excellent as that bring my LM requirements down to just 6 350/3s now!
My ham and cheese sandwich is devoured on the way back to MKC, which leaves me feeling much more refreshed and ready to carry on! The 1246 Euston to Crewe falls to 350117, and there's a few minutes' stop here for a toilet stop, unusual in my experience but I'm glad I heard about it on my walk to the last coach I need on this one! 350117 has now joined the ever-growing club of Super Duds, indeed this is the second one to join today so far! I had originally planned to do Tamworth with a +11 but after the 6 minute delay was incurred that's no longer an option! There's disruption due to a failed freight train in the Hemel Hempstead area today too, which has me concerned about disruption to the 350/3 diagrams. A swift half at winner Spoons The William White, Nuneaton is had for £1, a handy way to fill the fester!
As booked, 350374 is on the 1302 Crewe to Euston, the third winner of the day and 5 more 350/3s to go! Of course, I'm hoping that I will get more of them in the book yet, only one way to find out! I get gen on Twitter from LM about some of the moves I was looking at, as both of my previously-done 350/3s are out I won't be going home with them all done after all. In theory I should leave the WCML South later with just 1 to get, but we'll see how the next few hours go first! I have 30 minutes here, and as all the Spoons are a little too far away to do, I settle with a trip to Costa. Yes I know I previously said my caffeine requirements, but that was before any beer! I also needed to add points from a previous visit to Costa in Birmingham, and it takes several goes to make the till recognise the app here too! Good thing it was rather quiet when I got there then, and I had two very friendly and helpful baristas on today, a credit to the business. Back to the rails, I await the arrival of the ECS from Bletchley CS [5K34 - Ed], which sees 350377 and 350375 on it, attaching to 350130 [which will have worked 1424 Euston to MKC - Ed]. Excellent, two winners here then and I'll be now down to just 3 more 350/3s to get upon departure! One of which is due to be on the 1605 Euston to Tring and 1656 return, which leaves only other diagram to go for.
That involves the 1734 Euston to Watford Junction, and I have no gen for it but guessing it has to have 350369 or 350376 on it. We'll soon find out! I'm getting desperate to get the lot in today, so on the way to Hemel Hempstead I tweet a request for gen. In a way I don't mind having to come back again, but as 350370 came off diagram [diagram here says it was due to do 1446 Euston to Crewe, but noted it in 1454 Euston to Northampton instead - Ed] I figure I'll ask. I'm only waiting a short time to find 350369 isn't out today, but 350376 is on 2J47 1734 Euston to Watford Junction. I shall have to hunt 350369 when I next do a WMDR or another Great Escape then! 350373 produces on 1605 Euston to Tring as booked, with duds 350102 and 350368 for company. Back on them at Tring after a photo stop, off to Harrow & Wealdstone next for the 1734 Euston to Watford Junction to [hopefully! - Ed] score 350376. So is the plan anyway! I have 20 minutes here, so I explore options for tea. McDonalds will do nicely, although the meal was not what I would call hot by any means! Still it did the job, as hunger had really kicked in again by now, and I didn't envisage any chance to get food for hours yet otherwise. I won a free McFlurry off the Monopoly Golden Chances stickers at least, will be looking to cash [I'm not sure how you 'cash' in a McDonalds Monopoly sticker mind! - Ed] that in later!
350373 at Tring by
43002, on Flickr
Winner 350376 (with dud 350240 for company) is indeed on 1734 Euston to Watford Junction, excellent news as it leaves just 350369 to get one day! Not bad at all, 7 out of a possible 8 winners, if only 369 had been out vice 368 or 372! I score the microgrice into platform 10 at Watford Junction too, unexpected that! I didn't bring my ST Publications book with me today, so I have no idea if any of the Bakerloo line sets or the various tampers/stoneblowers noted today are required sights yet. I did score 70016 at Apsley earlier though which was a lucky notation really! Triple duds [did you expect anything else?! - Ed] 350242, 350233 and 350265 are taken on the 1754 Euston to Northampton all the way to the end, and I initially think it's a +23 for a Birmingham train but it's actually a +11 [the plus at MKC was just +1 so no chance! - Ed] so that will do. Looks like I'm getting 350118 though, a Super Dud. Hmm, maybe I'll wait the extra 12 minutes in case another one can be made into a Super Dud. I shall decide shortly! We arrive bang on time at journey's end into platform 1 at Northampton, I can't remember if that's a required microgrice or not!
Northampton's new station building by
43002, on Flickr
I didn't realise that Northampton's station building had changed, but the new footbridge and concourse is open and WOW! What a difference to the old station! It sure looks far more impressive than it did before, although I disagree about having a Starbucks here. I can't stand their coffee, obviously Pumpkin wasn't deemed good enough anymore! I see it's 350128 to Birmingham for me, as 118 has been taken off to go to depot. My trio that I came up on went ECS south at 1918, although to where I have no idea. I also note the next Birmingham rolled in as a trio of /1s, with the front two coming off to go onto Kings Heath depot as well. I shockingly needed 3 coaches on 350128, that changes now! I feel the need for a celebratory pint [no doubt after finding a winner Spoons! - Ed] later, I can't believe how successful today has been after all! Yes I knew I would be due a fair few 350/3s but I didn't know how many I'd actually get. No winner shacks, that will have to wait for a future Great Escape. Well, probably two of them to get all the do-able ones! Now I wonder what I can spy on DIRFT this evening...Just 66008 and what appeared to be 08823. Anyone able to confirm this one? It's in a multitude of colours if that helps! By the time I get back to Birmingham,I'll have done 11.5 hours on the rails today, exceptional value for £15 and if you STILL haven't done a Great Escape I cannot recommend one highly enough! Another 350 with no working facilities this one is, not good now things are filling up!
Such a shame it's the last train of the day, although I'm glad I got that coffee 5 hours ago now as I'm starting to get rather tired! Arrival at New Street is at 2019,exactly 11.5 hours after leaving Hereford. I find a winner Spoons [told ya! - Ed] at The Dragon Inn, and two halfs of different beers are had to celebrate an amazing day! It's only about 5 minutes walk too to base camp, for this trip that's Ibis Budget on Great Colmore Street. Long time readers of these trip reports may remember I stayed here a few years ago, although admittedly I forget what trip it was for! Check in is done and the usual evening away from home procedures are carried out, after which it's time to post this trip report and relax after a busy day.
Stats for the day are not ready yet, partly down to the RailMiles app not recognising Harrow and Wealdstone! Stay tuned tomorrow evening for the summary of the morning's action!
hock:
