crispy1978:2267188 said:
Sounds good. Done most of the Blackpool tram route (certainly South Pier to Fleetwood), but not recorded it really.
Are all other units in operation do you know - did you sight them earlier?
The only tram I didn't note today out of the 16 Flexity ones was 005, so I'm hoping it's out on Day 2!
Quite a way to Fleetwood that's for sure!
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Kristofferson:2267225 said:
Wow, this is looking to be a super productive trip! Good read as always - clearing shacks, track and trams in one trip will be impressive
Productive is right, I wasn't expecting to get anywhere that many shacks in one day! 27 out of 37 done, although if there hadn't been walks to a fair few of them that number would have been vastly different.
Cross your fingers for me gang that my last 6 trams will all produce on Day 2! Breakfast starts at 0800 so alarm set for 0730 to de-rancify first, expecting to be on the trams from about 0830, maybe 0840.
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Another excellent day, see below what happened!
17/08/15 - Tech's in Blackpool, Day 2
After a less than amazing sleep, a text wakes me up just before the alarm goes off at 0730. Once that's replied to, it's de-rancification time and final prep time before heading downstairs for my continental breakfast. The full hotel review will go on the "Accommodation: The good, the bad and the ugly" thread later, but here's a taster:
The room [15 - Ed] is rather small, as is the en-suite shower. The bed is not terribly comfy, but still better than Travelodge beds! I found only one power socket originally, which I had to move the wardrobe for. No tea/coffee/kettle in my room, which was disappointing as I wanted to fill my flask. Friendly staff on reception with a piece of cake check in. The TV was tiny but I didn't use it nor could I get the WiFi to work. Breakfast is a cereal and toast job, with tea/coffee and orange juice. Not much but I had my fill.
Tram 015 starts the day off with a trip to Cabin, today's first shack score. Dud tram of course, having done it last night. Thankfully someone wanted on at Cabin, as I was so busy looking out the windows I wasn't paying attention to where I was! Winner tram 006 takes me to Sandhurst Avenue, leaving just 8 more stops to score and 5 trams left to get for haulage. Dud 003 takes me to Norbreck, and the sun is back out which is most welcome. Winner 008 is taken back to North Pier for a coffee move at Spoons.
Alas, the issue with water in the area being unsafe to drink [over 2 weeks now apparently - Ed] means coffee is not an option. Even so, I need caffeine so I source a can of Monster Assault [the red one - Ed] for 1.09 instead at winner Spoons The Albert and the Lion. The same two heritage trams as yesterday, 227 and 230, are out again on North Pier to Pleasure Beach runs. Back north to get back to scoring shacks with dud 012, and all but 005 have been noted out today that I need. It must still be on depot! Next shack score is Rossall Beach, followed by dud 014 to Thornton Gate. Dud 009 takes me to Rossall Square with a 10 minute wait for dud 010 for the leap to Rossall School. By now a PNB would be welcome, which reminds me of the perils of light rail bashing! Dud 011 is next up to Broadwater where I see a T reg Optare Excel thrash away from a stop, hellfire! Winner 013 takes me to my penultimate shack score at Heathfield Road, leaving 3 trams left to score. Dud 008 [freshly dud from the move to Spoons earlier - Ed] has the honour of taking me to the 37th and final shack score on the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway, Little Bispham. Still not seen 005 out so I'm giving up on it. Still, I need 3 of the Spoons up here so I'll no doubt be back to try again for it one day! 1146 arrival at Little Bispham means I've already spent 3 hours doing the stops, and 20p well spent at the facilities there. I'm now in the mood to celebrate, but then winner 007 turns up.
The trip back into town is therefore slightly delayed! I'm in two minds as to where to bail, but settle with Cleveleys. Dud 013 takes me into town, by which time it's deemed to be lunchtime. If I had waited at Cleveleys I'd have got 016, so now I know it's definitely out still I'll be festering for it! I bail at Wilton Parade to soak up the sun, as well as make room for the pushchairs getting on. Dud 006 takes me into town, and I see where my original choice of Spoons was, so instead of South Pier I bail at North Pier and score a decent half of Mordue Brewery's IPA for just 98p [All in the name of killing time before 016 comes back of course! - Ed], which makes this winner Spoons number 4 of the trip. I thought time was going to drag today, but it's flown by and it won't be long until I have to head home! 4 sticks of rock sourced for a quid to keep the peace with some people at work, then some more sunbathing while waiting for 016. It turns up at the expected time, and a tweet back from Blackpool Transport confirms 005 is not out. Maybe next time then, next up a winner Spoons in the shape of The Velvet Coaster. An excellent pint of Phoenix Brewery's Spotland Gold is had for a bargain 1.79, and I choose a seat in the sun to celebrate an amazing trip! After a mandatory PNB, I just make it back to South Pier in time for 016 again to get me back to North Pier. Last tram move of the trip, with a walk over to Blackpool North station next.
Yes I had plenty of time to get the next one, but I really fancied a bit more mileage off 016! I will now have plenty of time to source some food before the 1440 Blackpool North to Manchester Airport, my booked train out of Blackpool. A 1.5L bottle of Dr Pepper is first sourced from Wilko in Blackpool, then to Subway to claim my free footlong. After devouring that, nearly 6 hours since breakfast, I find the barriers wide open at Blackpool North station! It's sadly double duds 156461+156426 on the 1440 Blackpool North to Manchester Airport, and I get a table seat, ready for some 156 racket! I find my new powerbank doesn't work, then I realise I attached the cable to the output socket so it will have drained out, d'oh! After all the tram moves lately, 156 thrash is more than welcome today, and it's time to update the moves book. Arrival is at 1556 at Piccadilly, and I meet up with 185143 for a natter before he leaves to go bashing with a mate. Much to my annoyance, required 390114 rolls in to work the 1655 Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston, and RTT confirms I'd be pushing it too tightly to make my booked train home. No Stockport leap then, it'll hopefully be out next time! A Metrolink spotting session it is then, after of course partaking of the Lucozade promotional giveaway that was still going. By 1705 I give up and source a coffee from Breadbox for just a quid. I got to Costa just too late to avoid a big queue so this will do just fine.
175114 is in charge of taking me home on the 1730 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central, time for some tunes and to finish my bookwork off. It's been an awesome two days, it has to be said. Extremely productive and I'm glad I didn't settle for a West Midlands bash! I add the mileage data for my tram moves to the moves book, using Stuart Clarke's excellent Miles and Chains book, the Rapid Transit Systems volume. I see the move on 002 yesterday was over 7 miles! Certainly looking at clearing quite a few miles this month, especially so if I do indeed go for a West Midlands bash next Monday, which I'm toying with and fiddling the figures for. My TripAdvisor review is done next, which took quite a while to do but it was pretty thorough! We're somehow about 6 down by the time we leave Shrewsbury, I don't remember my last on-time southbound journey on this route. I also finish draining my powerbank, must ensure I charge those up before the UKR trip! The crisps I brought from home are devoured by 1915, 5 hours since lunch so understandably hungry now. The trip is nearly over so let's have a look at some figures:
- 37 shack scores
- 16 winners, 15 of which were light rail
- 19 required sights, all but one in Blackpool and 3 were heritage trams
- Buckloads of mileage, tram and heavy rail
And some ching data:
- 36.44 general expenditure [would have been less if it wasn't for the beer and Spoons ticking! - Ed]
- 3.06 hotels cost
- 4.10 bus fare
- 10.00 petrol money for Day 1
- 64.80 rail fares
Total cost of trip: 118.40
Where to go for tea I wonder? I'm knackered and need food, but with just 11.80 left until my next spending budget kicks in [with 3 days at work to factor in too - Ed] I have to be sensible. If it was Thursday the answer would have been easy, Curry Club in Spoons! I ended up at Charcoal Grill for a small doner meat and chips, with a can of Coke, for 5.50. I am now much fuller than before, albeit left with 6.30 left until Friday!
All that's left to do now is board the bus home and post this. Two fantastic days had, and now to bang some tunes on and rest before going back to work tomorrow! Stay tuned to this thread to see if I go to the Midlands next Monday!
hock: I tip my hat to you for being that organised, you've got me looking at doing the same!
