Juliano's World Frenzy/Tech's Trip Reports

[Blindtraveler]

Are now thats a bit more like it. Shopping, Voyagers and Normaldom had me wondering if some strange individual had hacked your RUK account and was sitting happilly typing rubbish but now the bashespeek has returned and youve been out on a mini 1 and also to Burgerking!!!

 

[Techniquest]

Are now thats a bit more like it. Shopping, Voyagers and Normaldom had me wondering if some strange individual had hacked your RUK account and was sitting happilly typing rubbish but now the bashespeek has returned and youve been out on a mini 1 and also to Burgerking!!!

Shopping is not my cup of tea at the best of times, like most men I only go shopping when I need to! Normaldom, I'd rather not do that again either, the closest I'll get to that next time will be a night out or trip away for a Guiness session! I am tempted to challenge someone from work to a Magners session too mind, she reckons she's the best at it. Hmm, there's an interesting trip...

I absolutely loved my Burger King, that's for sure. I did feel a lot better when I got out on a bash, there's no two ways of looking at it!

Currently Trident bashing on route 16 to the airport, after a bit of faff this morning. The trip report should go live tonight but I've not yet started typing it up. It's certainly been an expensive trip, as the stats will show in the trip summary, way more expensive than I expected. I've not spent as much as Lynz mind!

Bring on the flight home in less than 2 hours now, as we're a bit later than originally expected getting to the airport I hope security queues aren't too bad today!

 

[Kristofferson]

Now that was an entertaining read, although maybe not an entertaining experience for yourself eh!

I don't understand the gift shop thing either - most places these days are so homogenous that any identity they once had is long gone. I'm just waiting for the day a gift shop opens in Milton Keynes selling overpriced grid themed trinkets...!

 

[Kite159]

*is jealous of your Irish trip*

Sounds like a very good time and different to normal.

 

[Techniquest]

One last part to finish off yet, will go up later. Just had tea as I was starving. Lift home was a bonus of course!
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Here then as promised is the final part of the trip report:

21/09/2015 - Put A Cork In It, Day 5

It's up at 0630 with tired eyes, and after a much needed de-rancification it's time to finish preparations for departure and check out from the hotel. Breakfast is not as good as yesterday, as there's no cheese, ham or sausage rolls today, which is blamed on running out and the supplier not sending out any more at the weekend. We leave around 0745 and head for the last time to Ballally tram stop. As Lynz has used all of our Euros, I pay for her single into town at €2.80 each. A very busy and dud 5026 takes us to St Stephens Green for the last time this trip, and I spot a winner tram for sight with 5010 as we pass through Ranelagh. Only two more to see now in Dublin [5017 and 5019 - Ed] before I clear the lot for sight! A walk down Grafton Street is had and we stop at Westmoreland Street for a bus on route 16 to Dublin Airport. Annoyingly Dublin Bus don't do contactless payments like TfL do, so boarding the first one is denied while I go hunt a cash machine. The nearest one has no €10 notes, so I frantically search for another one, which ends up being at Ulster Bank. Money obtained, I then need to change the note so pop into Londis for a 440ml can of Pepsi Max for €1, then re-join Lynz at the bus stop. Annoyingly a bus on our route has not long left, and it's nearly 18 minutes until we can get moving. €3.30 twice because of her lack of money [otherwise I had the change for me before the cash run - Ed] and I have to chuck in €7 due to the exact change only system in use.

06-D-30631 [Dublin Bus Trident - Ed] takes us away at 0909, about 35 minutes later than planned, and it's time to utilise the free WiFi on board for some Twitter, Facebook and forum action on the 49 minute journey to the airport. Lynz takes advantage of the time to have a kip, which must have been fairly deep as she was surprised how quick we got there! Into Terminal 1 we go, and check in is quick and security is dealt with pretty quickly thankfully, as by the time we got through there it was 1012 and the gate was due to be announced at 1025! Before long the short fester is over and we're off to gate 108 for the 1125 flight to Birmingham, my third flight of the month! It's winner EI-DAH for our flight, and as the plane was late arriving and disgorging its occupants we're late boarding and eventually get the pushback at 1140, 15 minutes late. I score several planes for sight which was a nice bonus. The flight goes very smoothly and we're back on the ground at 1232, with a bang on time arrival at 1235.

A Costa break is deemed essential now, and the large mocha goes down beautifully! Onto the AirRail and we arrive on platform 2 at Birmingham International just in time to join a slightly delayed and dud 390157 to Birmingham New Street. The final leg of the journey is on the 1349 to Hereford, which is in the hands of 170633 and 170511. An on time departure sees us head towards home, and due to congestion at Worcester Foregate Street we are diverted into Worcester Shrub Hill before heading west. I had decided not to try and drag Lynz around the new New Street station, as I might well be up here tomorrow anyway for a bash. 1518 and I'm back in Hereford, having seen Lynz off at Ledbury. I have a lift home, and we stop by Sainsburys for stuff for tea. Dr Pepper, a chicken korma and rice and some poppadoms will do nicely, and I munch on half of the box of poppadoms on the way home, I was starving having not eaten since 0940! Coffee had when I get in and tea is cooked, which goes down beautifully. A nice cup of Barry's Tea later on after the washing goes on is also welcomed, time next to finish this off and get it posted, then sort out my stuff. The rest of the bookwork can wait until tomorrow I think!

Time for some stats:

Rail fares: £100 and €25
Bus fares: £4.10 plus €8.30
Air fares: £45.18 (two flights including seat reservation fees)
Hotel ching: £147.25 (splitting it between the two of us, me paying £77.25 as it was by card so currency conversion fees, not fair to share that bit)
General spending: £27.65 and €79.01
Total cost: £254.18 and €112.31

After converting EUR to GBP, which comes to £81.23 today, the very grand total of my share of the trip comes to £335.41

Winners: 15 rail, 10 planes
Shack scores: 5
Plane scores: 1
New sights: 15 trains/trams, 10 aircraft

By far and away not a cheap trip! Lynz did pay me back for her share of the Dublin to Cork advances and is paying me her share of the hotel, plus the money back for the tram and bus fares this morning. Even so, my bank balance has taken quite the hit lately! It may not have been the best trip in the world, but it's done now. I did get some serious mileage out of it to be fair, so it wasn't all grim. Normaldom however can go disappear, that's no fun whatsoever! Bring on the next trip, wherever it ends up taking me!

 

[FQ]

The new New street really is amazing. Well worth a visit.

 

[crispy1978]

Nice write-up.

I understand your thoughts on non-train people, that's the issue I have with any bashes nowadays - got to have someone with me and the wife won't sit on multiple trains all day!

 

[FQ]

Nice write-up.

I understand your thoughts on non-train people, that's the issue I have with any bashes nowadays - got to have someone with me and the wife won't sit on multiple trains all day!

I am happy to go solo, but it is the normals on the trains that I travel that get on my nerves. Like today, there was loads of normals that couldn't open the HST doors so I had to do it for them.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Gulp, - a rather costly trip. Serious $ earning now needed it would seam. Glad flight etc was good though, they seam to have a lot of Tridants in Dublin! Pity you didnt get a winning Pendo.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

On the whole, I'd rather be on a train full of "normals" than a train full of cranks.

Two or three like-minded companions is fair enough, but a carriage full of competing conversations about past fudging, real ale and -worst of all - Doctor ****ing Who, quickly gets tedious. Especially when most participants try and deepen their voice by an octave or so in order to sound manly. Frankly, a wine-fuelledhen party screeching about Channing Tatum's, er, acting skills is preferable.

Grumpy sod, aren't I?

 

[crispy1978]

I've no problems with normal people travelling in their own groups - in fact some of their conversations are enthralling!

Rather that than two people comparing plug socket locations on ATW v FTE, which I have also heard and actually got more heated than most normal conversations!

 

[Kristofferson]

I was quite looking forward to your thoughts on the new New Street I really want to take a trip up myself but the stupid rugby has sent fares through the roof. Looks like it'll be at least late October before I get a chance

Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed the read as always flippin' expensive trip for sure - you're approaching my territory with that one!

So... Million dollar question... Are you still friends??

 

[noddy1878]

So... Million dollar question... Are you still friends??

I was wondering the same thing!

 

[fowler9]

That was an expensive trip! Mind you it was to Ireland. Hope you had fun on the whole and are still friends. If I am going for transport reasons I will just go on my own. If I am away with friends and want to do something transport related I will excuse myself and go off on my own. It is a fact that if you go travelling with other people you either like exactly the same thing (Or accept each others different interests) or they (and yourself) have to be comfortable going off on your own.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Why do I suddenly have a certain Travolta/Newton John hit running through my head?

Caught the pendo - travelling so fast
Then to New Street - happy at last

 

[Techniquest]

Wow, thanks for all the replies gang! This is going to take a while to reply to everyone, so bear with me. I'll answer everyone's burning question shortly

Got a bit of a cold again which returned last night, thankfully a dose of Night Nurse seems to have the trick with clearing up the worst of it. Still groggy, grumpy and all that mind. The family moving the room around when I was away was more than irritating, spent over 2 hours sorting out a ton of stuff so I know where everything is again. While I still haven't found my Leap card (which would have been very useful last week!), I have got my Diamond Jubilee Oyster card again and my 13th edition Baker, as well as my Platform 5 2014 edition EMU book. All of which has been missing for months!

I really wasn't in the mood to get up this morning, so I've stayed at home to chill and recover before going back to full reality tomorrow (ie, work). I know it's going to sound weird, considering the amount of moaning I've done lately, but I do have the holiday blues! I've been rather busy today getting on with updating my RM, almost done up to the end of the 10th Basherversary trip's moves now. Expect me to jumping up the Mileage Competition 2015 table soon, I think I'm going to be a little further ahead of my target than expected The long arduous mission has been made easier by a very varied selection of tunes!

Anyway, that's all of the news from here. I'll be entering TPP Mode again by tomorrow, me and James (a norm mate, the one who's mentioned in the trip report somewhere) have a trip to New York to plan! Let's actually get on with answering you all!

Nice write-up.

I understand your thoughts on non-train people, that's the issue I have with any bashes nowadays - got to have someone with me and the wife won't sit on multiple trains all day!

I can quite happily bash solo, but I do need the assistance of tunes or something to occupy me on the long dull Mandatory Moves. Fortunately the brain is good at finding something to churn over most of the time. Obviously company is welcome still, especially if it's with fellow cranks!
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Gulp, - a rather costly trip. Serious $ earning now needed it would seam. Glad flight etc was good though, they seam to have a lot of Tridants in Dublin! Pity you didnt get a winning Pendo.

Oh yes, still a reasonably decent number of Tridents going!

Expensive is right, not doing that again for a long time!
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On the whole, I'd rather be on a train full of "normals" than a train full of cranks.

Two or three like-minded companions is fair enough, but a carriage full of competing conversations about past fudging, real ale and -worst of all - Doctor ****ing Who, quickly gets tedious. Especially when most participants try and deepen their voice by an octave or so in order to sound manly. Frankly, a wine-fuelledhen party screeching about Channing Tatum's, er, acting skills is preferable.

Grumpy sod, aren't I?

I can sympathise there, an entire day on a crank special is challenging. The Coach A Special hurts the ears after a while, it was during the Yorkshire Byways tour at least. I dread to think what it would like if it had been something making a decent noise at that end of the train...Much better to be in a small group to have a pleasant social over a couple of drinks, that's for sure.

Not sure I'd rather replace said cranks with a screeching hen party is desirable, depends on the aesthetics of the participants!

Grumpy sod, meh I've been there and done that a fair bit lately, just in case it wasn't obvious!
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I was quite looking forward to your thoughts on the new New Street I really want to take a trip up myself but the stupid rugby has sent fares through the roof. Looks like it'll be at least late October before I get a chance

Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed the read as always flippin' expensive trip for sure - you're approaching my territory with that one!

I wasn't entirely in the mood yesterday to be honest, I just wanted to get home at the time. I would have gone up to have a look today, but the recovery was more important (didn't get up until 1000!) and the bank balance doesn't make pleasant reading to be honest. Going to have to plough in some overtime soon, as there are big plans ahead to see the year out and to kick start 2016 into being a high quality year! Full details when we get to it, of course...

Bear in mind the figures I posted were still going around on a budget, if it had been proper meals twice a day, and if I hadn't received her share of the hotel and Cork bits, the numbers would have been ridiculously high. That's not to mention the fact we didn't touch as much Guiness as expected...

I don't like your territory, it has to be said. Screw The Grand Plan's later stages I say...
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To answer the burning question, which was:

So... Million dollar question... Are you still friends??

I was wondering the same thing!

Yes we are! She's got the holiday blues as well as me. It did feel strange yesterday after she got off the train at Ledbury, as we had spent a fair bit of time in each other's company for 8 days in a row. She asked to read my trip report yesterday, which I was reluctant to let her do, might be looking through it later to see if she'll end up killing me after she reads it before I send her a copy
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That was an expensive trip! Mind you it was to Ireland. Hope you had fun on the whole and are still friends. If I am going for transport reasons I will just go on my own. If I am away with friends and want to do something transport related I will excuse myself and go off on my own. It is a fact that if you go travelling with other people you either like exactly the same thing (Or accept each others different interests) or they (and yourself) have to be comfortable going off on your own.

Everyone always says how expensive Ireland is, but I always forget just how expensive it can be. At least we weren't off to Sweden, it does get expensive over there!

Aye next time it will be a case of doing our own thing a bit more on such a trip. Next time I pop over the sea it will probably be when the new tram lines open I should imagine, which is going to be quite a while yet.
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Why do I suddenly have a certain Travolta/Newton John hit running through my head?

Caught the pendo - travelling so fast
Then to New Street - happy at last

Dreadful

Happy was right, New Street is one of my favourite stations in the world.

 

[DarloRich]

A week away with a lady and you are complaining about not getting on enough trains Dont know much about Irish Railways as i have only traveled on trains in NI

 

[Techniquest]

This was a trip with a lady I'm not involved with, I wouldn't have been complaining about a lack of trains otherwise!

 

[Blindtraveler]

We woant ask what you would have been complaining about a lack of

 

[Techniquest]

We woant ask what you would have been complaining about a lack of

Wise choice Lord BT lol

 

[heart-of-wessex]

OMFG, I forgot about those burgers!! And a hellfire Optare, never heard of a combination until now! Must be pretty loud or a good sound I take it?

We leave at 0725 for the walk to Ballally, which is indeed about a 10 minute walk. It's all downhill in this direction, so I'm predicting a dislike for the return later! €4.80 later and we have our return to Central Zone 1 for the trip to Heuston. After a 10 minute wait [the frequency is not good at this time of day! - Ed] we board dud 5026 for the trip to St Stephens Green. A 16 minute journey later, we're walking down Grafton Street and over the Liffey to get onto the Red Line at Abbey Street. The walk went more smoothly than expected, and we're soon on 3017 to Heuston. I remembered 5026 being dud, but 3017 sounds familiar[turned out to be a winner! - Ed]. I left my nerd book [as I've calling my spotting books and atlas lately - Ed] in the bag back in the hotel, so I have no idea what I need as I'm going along today.[/b]

Haha! Sounds like something akin to Brighton, walk down to the coast but it's a hike back to the station!

I must admit, I read 'Liffey' as 'Lickey' first for some reason! As for nerd books, lol!

I love Tayto crisps, they're just so hellfire! The coffee isn't as good as it is in a Bewleys cafe, it has to be said, but it did the job. Granted, not as well as the coffee from Butlers did. We eventually arrive into Cork at 1141, 4 minutes early, and much to Lynz's unamusement I head to check the ID of the 201 Class which brought us here.0 [which turned out to be winner 222 - Ed] I had intended to get a snap of it too, but the groans from her soon put me off that idea. Fortunately the number was easy to read from near the ticket barriers and we head to town.

Thanks for the gen, must try that myself! That must be pretty irritating, I wouldn't be grumbling ! Actually I expected that when me and my Mum went to Plymouth and I waited for the HST to leave the station for the rear powercar, she didn't mind at all to my surprise, probably as I bought the return tickets lol!

Should have just got a picture anyway

Seeing the DVT at the head of the train [4006 - Ed] made me smile, which she sees and asks me why that is. It is insinuated that other enthusiasts want to go up and hug a train, the idea of which is shot down immediately. I inform her, upon being asked what it is that makes trains fascinating to me, that it's virtually impossible to explain, you need to have it in you to appreciate and understand it.

Well even I wouldn't physically do that, I'm sure some still do though! Yep, worth querying her hobbies I think !

I meanwhile get on with reading the forum, Twitter, texting and updating this, as well as afterwards getting into TPP Mode for a potential trip across the pond with another of my 'norm' mates. He's one of my very best mates [outside the railway fraternity of course! - Ed] who's well into Doctor Who, World of Warcraft and some other bits and bobs. While he doesn't enjoy the railway scene, he does however understand the passion as he's similarly into other things. We both survived the Stockholm trip quite happily last year, and have been wanting to do another trip since then, so things will be rather different!

Sounds like someone much better! Sounds like someone I could get on with if he likes Doctor Who!!

I am aware the trip report makes for less than pleasant reading on the section coming back from Cork. It does show how Normaldom [copyright Blindtraveller 2015 - Ed] rates in my book, perhaps I should have taken the other work wife with me instead!

Interesting new term by the way, by BT! First time I saw it I thought it was some Tram stop in Dublin !!! I assume normaldom is a normal's holiday I.E sightseeing or beaching?

 

[fowler9]

Normaldom is doing your job, going the gym on the way home, getting home and watching reality TV which is far from real, going to a rubbish overpriced bar a few times a week listening to chart music, saving up for two weeks away at an identikit beach resort, "rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, f***-up brats you have spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose life . . . But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life: I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got"..........Ha ha ha. (Bit of a quote from Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh at the end there, thought it kind of fitted without the Heroin bit. I was going to replace the word Heroin with the title of the book/film but am aware that the term Trainspotting is used as an insult by some so I just left it blank. It means you are boring, hmmmmm, yeah right).

Who wants to be normal. Normal is boring. Be yourself and get out there and see the world.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

What is it with norms and needing gifts from people when the latter party go on holiday? It's always something that's puzzled me, any thoughts? After a while, we've done some of that, and she offers the opportunity to do some trainspotting. Ooh yes that sounds bloody wonderful to me, as there is still Irish Rail stuff I need for sight. So we stop by the railway bridge next to Lower Abbey Street, which I deemed to be a better place than the concourse at Connolly. She doesn't fancy doing that for long, so peace keeping is employed again and we walk on to Connolly station. Not much later, a 29000 Class DMU heads over the bridge, grr!

Just a token gift I think, I believe it's so that you remembered them while you were on holiday, that's the idea anyway. Not being funny, but I can't imagine anyone on holiday just doing nothing but thinking of everyone they know! I usually get something for my Mum but that's a bit different, for freinds/other relatives forget about it, you'd need a lot of money to go through each person!!

So you were offered spotting time but I take that it was rather short?

For the uninitiated, these things are kind of like 170s inside and actually sound a bit like them too, perhaps a little like a more manly [not sure how that works! - Ed] 175 noise wise. They're certainly not exactly built for long fast InterCity journeys, which I can say from experience!

Sounds pretty descent then! Just heard those 29000's on YouTube too, I see what you mean now!

Enjoyed the rest of it though! What days do you work again? Really must meet up in Brum or something!

 

[Techniquest]

fowler9 hits the nail on the head pretty much with Normaldom. It's boring, I'd rather do what I do as at least I have fun doing it. These norms, they've no idea how fun it is in the front vestibule behind a noisy 37, for just one of many possible examples!

Aye this James is a sound chap, it has to be said. We're in the serious planning stages for New York now, hopefully by next week we'll be booking it! 5 and a bit months to go!

Tuesday to Saturday I work, definitely need to meet up again! What days do you work these days?

 

[heart-of-wessex]

fowler9 hits the nail on the head pretty much with Normaldom. It's boring, I'd rather do what I do as at least I have fun doing it. These norms, they've no idea how fun it is in the front vestibule behind a noisy 37, for just one of many possible examples!

Aye this James is a sound chap, it has to be said. We're in the serious planning stages for New York now, hopefully by next week we'll be booking it! 5 and a bit months to go!

Tuesday to Saturday I work, definitely need to meet up again! What days do you work these days?

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Have to arrange something with a Monday off, or can swap a Monday and do Tuesday instead, will have to look into what Mondays you have free soon, if any?

 

[Techniquest]

I am currently free this Monday, not sure what I'm getting up to yet as I have a few ideas but should know by tomorrow night! I'm considering a FoSS bash, as well as a Midlands bash and a London bash!

 

[Kristofferson]

Back to London so soon, Tech? Well, you know where I am if you're down this way

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Won't be able to do it that soon, but must try before Xmas or just after!

Just been nosing at your RailMiles account, well you've slammed me this year again !!

 

[Techniquest]

Back to London so soon, Tech? Well, you know where I am if you're down this way

I was, until I realised it would end up costing nearly 250 notes! Monday will probably see a trip to the Midlands to hunt my last 390s and do some trams, plus properly explore the new concourse at New Street.

James, not surprised I've got well ahead of you, I have done quite a bit! You don't seem to do much any more, although I know you used to be as bad as me!
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Morning all from the shire, what a gorgeous day! I'm in a rather good mood, surprising since I'm off to work, which I'm putting down to celebrating 12 years in the hobby! It could also be credited to having time off in March authorised, which means me and my norm mate James should definitely be doing New York! Planning for that trip will be entering the serious stage, once he gets confirmation of having the time off too.

I'm also crediting the good mood to a day out on Monday, which will see me going back to being me again. Which I'm sure you'll agree will be more than welcome after the recent trip!

Hashtag will be #techsbeenMIA which will be fully explained in the trip report on Monday. Tweets will begin by 0630 on Monday morning and last until around 2145 Monday evening. What will I be up to? Well you'll just have to wait and see!

 

[FQ]

Will it include this (photo below)? I couldn't resist the temptation at New Street earlier (I can't rotate them at the moment)!