Kite159
Veteran Member
Have you been to temple meads since the parcel bridge got taken down (at the London end)?
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Juliano's World Frenzy/Tech's Trip Reports
- Thread starter Techniquest
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Kite159:2330580 said:
I haven't seen Temple Meads since 2012, so probably not
Techniquest
Veteran Member
As bashing HSTs between Bristol and Bath was a big part of my bashing back at the time, it would be rude not to do at least one!
I'm recycling Monday's hashtag for this Monday coming, #techsbeenMIA and will explain that in the trip report!
I'm recycling Monday's hashtag for this Monday coming, #techsbeenMIA and will explain that in the trip report!
Kite159
Veteran Member
*hopes for good weather and the God of GWR sprinters to give you some required 150s and 158960* 
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Slight change of plan, I'm now off to London in the morning! Long story, which I'll attempt to explain and logic out in the trip report.
Such short notice that I have no books with me and no memo files on my phone (again, I'll explain in the trip report) so I will have no idea what I need and what I don't! So why continue with the bash in such circumstances? The answer, in the trip report!
Such short notice that I have no books with me and no memo files on my phone (again, I'll explain in the trip report) so I will have no idea what I need and what I don't! So why continue with the bash in such circumstances? The answer, in the trip report!
D841 Roebuck
Established Member
Impromptu rules ok!
I wouldn't have much problem in London personally - anything starting with 332, 376, 379 or 387 is a winner for me...:cry:
Have a good time - I have today!
Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,132
Wow, now there's a course change! Enjoy it
47403
Established Member
not to far behind you there roebuck, I've done with the 332's, only took from the time they entered service till August this year to get them all:roll:
but theres great swathes needed elsewhere in Lizzies neck of the woods, so hold back the tears Sir, console yourself, your not aloneGood luck! I also need a proper day out in London, one where I leave by 1100 at the very latest. Not had that for ages
. Ok on Tuesday I did complete the whole 1650 Waterloo to Reading on a 458, then returned via the 1821 XC to Guildford and 1904 SN to Sutton, before bagging some 456s from Clapham Junction. But I want one where I go to a new part of London. Or at least some 319 thrash
Last edited:
Kite159
Veteran Member
Good luck! I also need a proper day out in London, one where I leave by 1100 at the very latest. Not had that for ages
The XC to Guildford ran? Blimey
I'm guessing you did it to get the dive under from P12-15 towards the southern lines?
Have a good day in London Lord Techni
Last edited:
Well, after slowly working my way through all the trip reports after my holiday I was going to impart my view on your wavering enthusiasm, but it seems I'm too late and you're back into it with a vengeance.
Excellent.
For what it's worth, I think we all have periods like that when the appeal wanes and moves don't seem as attractive.
Anyway, enjoy London
Excellent.
For what it's worth, I think we all have periods like that when the appeal wanes and moves don't seem as attractive.
Anyway, enjoy London
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Thanks all, I hope it will produce some good results! I think my 313 haulages are accurate on RM so I shall check my needs from memory against that and see if I can finally deal with that.
Some shacks I do know from memory, but it will be interesting going through them all on Monday night/Tuesday morning and see what winners I had!
As for the wavering of interest, it has happened to me before, although this happened after a wonderfully productive day so I don't know how that December 2013 bash turned me into a boring sod! I do remember the girl I had an eye back then was ridiculously attractive, and after some bad experiences on trains didn't like them!
I have got my train head back on, but I am still learning about norm stuff as I go along. Never know when it will come in handy!
Trip report for this one has been started, be warned when it goes up there's a fair bit of backstory required but it will explain everything!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well then, settle in all for a massive read! Apologies for the long backstory, but it was all necessary!
18/10/15 - Tech's Been MIA Continued, Day 1
Well well well, wasn't this a short notice trip! Very much unplanned and it's going to be a bit strange. Why? I had none of my NREA, notebooks, only one pen and no Baker with me. My extensive knowledge of what I do and don't need hasn't quite come back to mind yet, not helped whatsoever by deleting my lists of requirements on Tuesday night's commute home! Why would I do that? Until Wednesday morning's commute, when everything was put into perspective and I got my head to where it should be, I didn't have my train head on and thought something along the lines of "I'll never need these again" which of course was a stupid choice! Thankfully my train head has come back, the issues being dealt with lately are sorted. Why don't I just give up on the bash and get my books, and how did I make this decision in the first place to go to London? Well I ended up in Ledbury on Friday evening to have a good social and provide some support and company for Lynz after recent events [no, don't ask, and no, nothing dodgy happened! - Ed] so we went over after a meal in the local Spoons followed by some rather nice cans sourced after work. So Saturday morning comes along [yes we will soon be at the train stuff! - Ed] and we were going to get the bus into Hereford for the convenience. It worked out easier or just better to get the train instead, so after a 20 minute walk which woke us both up a fair bit, we get our tickets.
6.80 later I too have a day return to Hereford, although what possessed me to get a return I don't know! So we're filling the time talking about various things, and I'm trying to teach the girl how to budget better. We somehow discuss how I'd love to go to London again for a massive session down there, having not had one since March. I'm starting later than she is, so I have time for all sorts after we get off the train, led by 170505 but couldn't ID the rear one [any gen guys? - Ed] before we left. Instead of doing what I was supposed to be doing, which was Christmas shopping [I know, it's too early yet! - Ed] I ended up socialising with other colleagues for ages. I somehow get onto looking up the fares to London and a hotel, which I booked in Ilford, and that was it, I was going! I hadn't consulted Lynz yet on it, but thankfully she agreed to let me crash again. Well she did going on about wanting company in her otherwise empty house! Of course, we're getting the train back to Ledbury, which was deemed nigh on impossible for us to make the 1740 from Hereford as we both had aching feet from some serious grafting all day. A drink in Spoons with another colleague before she went home, then we needed food. The Glass Tandoori had been highly recommended from one of Lynz's crew so we tried it. Oh my LORDZ! That was an amazing meal, I'm never having a ready meal korma again! Yes it was 15.00 each [and yes, she paid for her share! - Ed] including a tip but PHWOAR!
After that beast of a meal, which I'm going to have again one day, we have only a matter of minutes until the 1912 to Dorridge [I forgot there's that one train which does that on a Saturday, sounds so weird this far out! - Ed] but we make it with 3 minutes to spare. Problem is it wasn't on the screens at all! Suddenly we realise this many people wouldn't be on the platform this early for the 1955 to Manchester, and then 172219+172220 turn up to take us back to Ledbury. The journey is over before we know it, and a casual stroll to Lynz's house is had before crashing out and neither of us doing much [again, nothing dodgy happened before you all ask! I do have my train head on still! - Ed] whatsoever all evening. So now we come to the main bit of the trip, and I do apologise but the backstory to this trip was quite extensive! Sunday morning arrives and I'm awake just after 0800 shockingly. De-rancification time and a coffee, then I start typing up this massive trip report. I leave the poor girl sleep as she's still not quite over the flu so very tired today, of course I make sure I thank her very much for letting me stay, and a supply raid is had in OneStop en-route to the station. Very much not a fan of the uphill walk almost all the way to the station, I can see why, apart from cost, why she uses the bus! Upon arriving at the station, the first train of the day, the 1006 Hereford to Birmingham New Street, is already running late! 170631 is on it and it's very busy!
National Rail Enquiries confuses me with whether I can get a Super Off Peak Return for 52.50 or not, so I decide I'll ask when I buy on board, doing that as the ticket office is closed. I have been toying with going to the Bat Cave and using Chiltern down, the issue being that I won't be due a 68 to Marylebone today. I would be tomorrow, but still I can't yet decide! After leaving Great Malvern, I'm reminded by passengers boarding here that the marathon is on today in Birmingham. OK perhaps I'll avoid there for sure then! At Shrub Hill I hunt out Asda and get some bottles of water for later, as well as some t-shirts and socks as I have none with me. I don't fancy wearing my work shirt all day today and tomorrow! A Super Off Peak Return for 51.50 is sourced, as the guard on 170631 didn't show. I'm having to endure a Turbo all the way sadly to Paddington so I hope it will turn out to be a winner! The PIS says it'll be 6 coaches on this service, however the 1123 Great Malvern to Paddington turns up with just 166214. That'll have to do! After Honeybourne I go find the facilities onboard and change out of the work shirt into one of the new t-shirts. Much more comfortable, especially now I'm also in clean socks too! I needed to add to the clothing collection ahead of a couple of social obligations anyway, so this sort of killed two birds with one stone. The WiFi doesn't seem to like me and my phone so I give up on it.
In the Escape magazine on board, I happen to find out about a convention I wish to attend in February, that needs further research and will be a good excuse to return to London and the DLR! So you may be wondering how I got out of my norm mode and the boring miserable state I was in until Wednesday this week. My commute to work involved playing Disturbed's Indestructible album almost in full, and I found several tracks and lyrics that really got the brain in overdrive. It's a ridiculously long story, one which I don't have the desire to totally share, but all of a sudden the thought became "You know what, stuff this! I've become more boring than I ever have been, stuff everyone else I'm looking after Number 1 first and foremost!" and that was it, the train brain jumpstarted itself and I started getting excited about trains again. When the time is right [currently scheduled for 20th July 2016 or onwards - Ed] then everything can be progressed with. Why 20th July 2016? Well that story will be told another time, a good author keeps his audience in suspense! I think going somewhere completely different is making a diference, I sure haven't seen the GWML in a long time and for a Western Region boy that simply cannot stand any longer! Anyway, that's the entire history of this trip told, I won't bore you all any further! We get held at Wolvercot Junction, as is pretty much mandatory in my experience, for a couple of minutes.
I see the last train I can get on a Super Off Peak Return appears to be the 1552 Paddington to Worcester, or the 1421 from Paddington. There's no guard to ask about validity, so shall have to pester GWR via Twitter, who tells me the 1421 is the last one I can do. We bang onto another Turbo here, but I will have to find out which one at Paddington! Plans start getting made for options once in Worcester tomorrow, and if I can break the journey somewhere beyond Oxford and the weather's acceptable I have a plan to do walks to required shacks. Alternatively I plan to source some gen on a service from Bristol. This report will reveal all! I'm already down to 64 percent charge so got to be careful now until I reach base camp. Not as much sign of electrification work east of Reading as expected, but the nearer to Slough we got the more I saw. Such a long way to go yet, after all Oxford's bare of it and looks as out of date as it always has done! Arrival is at 1402 into Paddington, and I find it's 166219 that got added to our train at Oxford. I'm immediately in my element as Paddington is my favourite station ever! The walk to the Hammersmith and City platforms is huge these days, not going to use that move so often then. It's shack scoring time, which starts with S stocks 21326+21325 to Latimer Road, for 2130+21301 to Westbourne Park. That's followed by 21339+21340 to Ladbroke Grove and 21301+21302 again to Goldhawk Road before 21340+21339 to Shepherd's Bush Market.
The H&C portion of the day ends with 21451+21452 to Hammersmith, where I choose to hit the Piccadilly line next. I swear I've already done Wood Lane, so I've left it alone. Watch now, my Baker will reveal I needed it! I contempt getting 21507+21508, but remain with the plan and get onto the District line with 7048+7127 to Ravenscourt Park. To my surprise 44+26, Tube locos, run through on an engineers train! 21477+21478 are next up to take me to Ealing Common, from where I head back east to Chiswick Park with 21411+21412. The trip back west to Acton Town, after spotting many Piccadilly line trains passing through, was in the hands of 7102+7035. Woop, another D stock move! I just manage to cram into 855+125 on the adjacent platform for my first Piccadilly line move of the day, this one only to Northfields as it was way too busy for my liking. Plus a bit of team spirit to let Heathrow passengers on of course! 192+181 [I'm making sure I note both halfs this time! - Ed] take me to Boston Manor, then it's 224+119 to Hounslow East, which was followed by 1+1 to Hounslow Central then, due to a large gap in service westbound, 111+894 to Osterley. I must admit I like how comfortable the seats are on these things, it's just the crowds that annoy me! 140+249 were only a few minutes away so no break yet to look around, and I venture all the way into Zone 5 to go to Hatton Cross. I have, a while ago, lost count of how many shacks I've scored, so far today!
250+881 take me back east after a walkaround, and being blown away by a 4-engined BA craft flying over me during the break, and next stop is Hounslow West. No facilities were found in a working state in the break, which is most frustrating, and things are now getting a little delicate! I'm off next to South Ealing with 119+224, which finally clears Acton Town to Heathrow stations and the 13th shack score today. A very short wait gets me 141+856 to Barons Court, or at least it was supposed to as I ended up getting off at Hammersmith and only realising when I got on the next move! 7061+7124 take me to West Kensington for 21444+21443 back to Barons Court. Back to the Piccadilly line with 173+102 to Knightsbridge and 110+145 forward to Hyde Park Corner, which has Kings Cross St Pancras to Heathrow now cleared. 223+148 takes me to South Kensington, from where I head to Victoria on 21437+21438. Plan now is to eat something substantial, no prizes for guessing my choice! I seem to remember being shocked a few months ago that I need Sloane Square, so I get it out of the way while I'm here before the previously decided Victoria move. 21336+21335 took me the one stop and after a bit of fresh air, having roasted away on the Piccadilly, I get my usual Burger King meal which was worth more than every penny of the 7.49 it cost me! 377617+377601 are my chariots to Wandsworth Common, and I devour my meal on this move. The fast lines are closed so everything came on the slows.
Cue epic confusion when a train was announced as non-stop and then 455801+455813 stopped and opened up. The guard and PIS got super confused apparently and a lot of people got off, then couldn't get back on! It was the 1903 departure apparently anyway but no-one knew what was going on! I jumped on to go back to Clapham, the idea originally being to kill the fester for the next stopper. Haha, yeah, umm, no! [yes that's a thing! - Ed] Clapham Junction was a disorganised state of chaos everywhere thanks to Twickenham having rugby on, and platform 15 which I needed for the stopper? Rammed solid ALL the way along! No chance of getting over there, nor to anything to Hounslow or many places at all! I manage to jump on 450127+450112 to Richmond on a Reading run, I hope this move won't bowl me out! I just miss one 378 so end up on 378231 instead to South Acton. Just need Acton Central now to clear the LO network! 378221 takes me there, a rather annoying gap now cleared out! Now to try and get to Ilford, fast! I run like a bat out of hell to make a +0 at Acton Central and join 378207 to Gunnersbury. One of the pink readers wasn't working properly so thankfully another was! Mileage move to Mile End now, with 7027+7040 taking me there. Excellent, a decent distance on a D stock! Next up, the Central line to Stratford with taking me there for a GA move to Ilford. Well I had forgotten it was now TfL Rail for the stoppers, oops! I get to Stratford just 2 minutes after LO.
Not too bad that then, plus I had more interesting motive power this way! After alighting from 91021+93022+93100+91223 315830+315848 took me to Ilford, on which journey a fellow traveller started having a conversation with me. It transpired he'd moved out into his own place 8 months ago and feels lonely, which I can imagine it must be like after a while, especially after a breakup! He leaves at Manor Park, and goes down as the strangest incident of the day but also a most pleasant one! The walk to base camp took me around 12 minutes in the end, and after checking in the usual routines are done. I'll review the hotel seperately, but the noisy neighbours on my floor were not welcome. Thankfully they eventually shut up, and I used the time until then to catch up on trip reports. Eventually sleep comes into play around 0030, and the alarm is set for 0600. Bring it on!
19/10/2015 - Tech's Been MIA Continued, Day 2
I'm not entirely awake at 0600 but I need to move it! The shower is on sharpish, as is the kettle for what turned out to be a disappointing coffee, and it takes forever to get the shower temperature anywhere near right as it's pretty tempermental. Nevertheless, a good de-rancify is had eventually and I feel much better for it. I have a decent breakfast and am out the door as soon as possible. I jump on route 123 to Wood Green as far as Gants Hill LU station's stop, at the top of Cranbrook Road, with Arriva London's VLA99 on a 3 minute journey. I'm in need of gen, and my source has supplied it very quickly. Data saved to the phone, it's down the stairs and onto the Central line for 91345+93410+93266+91133 to Stratford. Even at 0700 this place is busy and I have to settle with a purch seat. The plan had been to use LO to Highbury & Islington, however it was a 15 minute wait and 315847+315843 were right in front of me to Liverpool Street. No contest there then! I take them to the blocks and head to the sub-surface Tube lines, waiting just a couple of minutes for 21341+21342 on a Bus Stop Bash to Moorgate. Straight off to the Great Northern line, and I jump on the first 313s out, which were 313064+313045 as it turned out. I re-check my gen and bail at Old Street to get the inward working instead, and I'm rewarded with dud 313038 and winner 313061 back to Moorgate's platform 9, I think I needed the crossovers!
I was going to break here before the next move, however I choose to go back to Old Street with 313061+313038, ready for another inward working. I get cracking with updating the trip report while giving the ears listening pleasure while a couple of pairs of 313s arrive and leave. As booked, winner 313055 turns up with dud 313123 for a trip back to Moorgate. A train's tripped the power further up the line so there's some delays caused, but I leave again with 313123+313055 to Drayton Park. Only one 313 left to go [assuming my RM was correct yesterday! - Ed] and I have a short break here, then discover the move for my last 313 was cancelled due to a train fault. Much ouch! Off to Finsbury Park next then, although my moves from here are unknown. I miss a pair of 317s to Kings Cross as I was trying to access via platform 3 not 2, d'oh! I'm however rewarded with a trio of 321s, 405+410+418. I'm sure one of these is rather dud but not sure if the other two are or not! I jump straight onto 317348 on platform 9, thankfully the PIS kicks in eventually to confirm we stop at Finsbury Park. I haven't a clue if it's required or not, I'm taking a risk! I see I forgot to note the 313 with 062 earlier, need to keep an eye on that one to fill the gap in my notes. I am of course still looking out for 313035 just in case it is out.
312025+313056 did the honours of taking me to Harringay [it's been part of all my London bashes for ages, practically a tradition! - Ed] and 313018+313046 brought me back. Just as well, as the next Kings Cross was 321404+321407! When I arrive there, the plan had been to go 387 hunting, however 321408 was leaving shortly and couldn't pass it up! It goes to show, never plan fully a day out in London! 313064+313045 for another random Harringay leap, in the hunt for 035, but no joy. After a good bit of hunting, I give up and join 313047+313033 [so close! - Ed] back to Finsbury Park. Costa time here, never been to this one, then it's to the Piccadilly line for some more shack scoring. Not done any today much to my surprise! 237+146 take me to Turnpike Lane, where a tidy cross platform connection puts me on 244+872 back to Manor House where I jump straight back over the other side of the island platform to join 242+185 to Southgate. I don't remember the north end of the Piccadilly line being at all nice to look at or elevated, shows how long it's been! 149+879 take me back after a few minutes on the short underground section to Arnos Grove. There's a Northfields train in the central platform, and will go before the pair I just had, so I jump straight onto 202+201 to Wood Green. Just Oakwood [which is in Zone 5, and I'm keeping within Zones 1-4 today - Ed] between Cockfosters and Finsbury Park left to do on the Piccadilly line now, next time!
149+879 are back to take me to Arsenal, which rings a bell but I don't remember why. Might be due to going non-stop once through it, years ago, but it's definitely done now! 149's another set with faulty PIS, the screen simply saying "Change fosters" which I find mildly amusing. Yesterday's lot had several with announcements barely working, cutting out a lot, assuming it worked at all! 112+165 take me onwards to Holloway Road, with 892+127 onwards to Caledonian Road. The last Piccadilly line leap of the trip, to KXSP, is in the hands of 132+161. I really hope I have had a good few winners on the Tube, but considering I needed almost all sets on the Piccadilly I should be fine! 21451+21452 are BSB'd to Farringdon for 21070+21069 BSB'd [Bus Stop Bashed - Ed] to Barbican. Red Pen Fever is taking effect now, not long until I have to leave London! 21478+21477 are taken to Stepney Green, a shack I'm sure I need. After a look around, I head back down for 21432+21431 to Mile End, the logic being it should be quicker to Liverpool Street this way. Plus I get to have some more 92 stock miles and haulage! A nice short wait gets me 91339+93264+93174+91065 to Liverpool Street, where I meet up for a short time with hassanhc before his train to Norwich. I get a Costa while I wait, and I see him off on 90001 pushing the 1230 to Norwich. So jealous that he's going for the 37s! Meanwhile I try to decide where I'm going, as I don't have a ton of time left.
91349+92104+93150+91133 take me to South Woodford, having decided against doing 360102 on the 1238 to Colchester Town. If I knew I needed it or not, I might have thought differently! Next up is Snaresbrook with 91211+93222+92070+91121 taking me there. It's now just gone 1300 when my next train comes in, so I definitely need to move it to Paddington! All shacks North Acton to Woodford now clear, and 91063+92416+93180+91009 take me to Oxford Circus. As I just miss by 30 seconds a pair of 315s at Stratford I have 10 minutes to wait for the next TfL service. I hope I didn't need 315837 then! Onwards for a mileage move then into town, and at least I'll finally get a Bakerloo move in. Feels weird not using the Victoria line on this trip mind! After a 28 minute journey I was more than ready for a change, and a 4 minute connection put me on 3464+3250 to Paddington. My count suggests 16 more shacks to score on the Central line, certainly a job for my next London bash. Along with a clearout on the Piccadilly and Northern lines, let alone the Jubilee! As always c2c didn't get a decent go at, but then there was a LOT I didn't get time to do. I hear a 180 screech into Paddington, almost guaranteed to be my train to Worcester, so the sensible move was made to do the 1400 to Bristol Temple Meads with 43087+43177 to Reading first. Much better move, especially as I was already down to 34 percent charge in my phone! Obviously that goes on asap.
Sockets weren't working in coach B, so I move to coach C where they were thankfully. The opportunity to charge along the GWML on an HST was also far too good to pass up, it's just a shame I have to change at Reading for a poxy, rancid 180! A nice little wander before suffering the Adelante [remember that short lived branding? - Ed] to Worcester, which is 180102. Long time readers will remember this was one of my last two 180s to score in 2013. To my surprise, I have a seat with a power socket next to it, I didn't know these things had them! That's my power worries sorted, I wonder if the WiFi will work? Much to my extreme surprise, it does! I get on the forum and catch up on everything of interest, which keeps me busy until Honeybourne. There's a lengthy pathing stop at Evesham, which I'd forgotten about. I hate going via Middle Earth [for those unaware, that's a nickname for the Worcester to Oxford line - Ed] because of the single line sections and the delays they cause, I won't be coming back this way any time soon for sure! I'm certainly now looking forward to getting off this thing in Worcester and getting food. I've got a fair bit of time here before continuing to Hereford, so a late lunch combined with an early tea [having only had a packet of Skips and a Wispa since 0640! - Ed] will kill a fair bit of time. Where to go for it is a challenging question mind! The Paddington we're waiting for is several minutes late coming off the single line too!
Patience is wearing thin now, and I wish I had paid the extra money to go on either a later train or via Newport. After sitting at Evesham for 15 minutes, 5 more than we should, we're on the way again. At least my phone is now on 100 percent charge! I post a review of Park Hotel, Ilford on TripAdvisor before we finally arrive at Worcester Foregate Street, 5 minutes late at 1649. The 1528 Warminster to Great Malvern is down as 150925 according to my source, so that has changed the plan significantly. The 1702 to Westbury has dud 150238 on it, no good to me either! So now I plan to get a meal in Hereford, after getting the 1735 there. A quick supply raid from Tesco Express in Worcester first, then I need to buy a single to Hereford. It dawns on me that I've 2.5 hours in Hereford if I do that, which after getting food will come down quite a bit but still a long time to kill. Maybe I will post the trip report later, and update the winners count etc tomorrow! I instead consider doing the 420 bus to Hereford, but I had forgot that doesn't happen any more, with DRM on it Bromyard to Hereford and First a pathetic twice a day Worcester to Bromyard! I finally, finally settle on a plan of attack, and after getting a single to Hereford for 9.40 I join 170514+170510 to Great Malvern. I still need the Spoons there, so I will finally get it in! I regret the decision when I get walking into the town centre mind, as it's all uphill.
Tech, didn't you know you're in the Malverns, and that it's very hilly? Yes I did, but until you do the walk you don't realise just how severe the hills are. The Foley Arms Hotel (Wetherspoons) is up even harsher hills once you hit the town centre, a train would need rack and pinion systems in place for this route! After an intense 15 minute walk from the platforms of Great Malvern, I reach there sweating like crazy [even Usain Bolt would be after that! - Ed] I get there and I've earnt my pint of Greene King's New Horizons IPA! 2.25 well spent, especially when you have such amazing views that you get from the outside seating area! 124 beers logged now and I have lost track of the count of Wetherspoons I've done. Going back down the hills, it's almost as intense as my feet were frantically rubbing against the socks, trying desperately to get traction and not going down too fast. With a pedestrian crossing wait, it took 11 minutes to get back to the platforms, and I was glad to sit down again! 150925 did indeed work the 1528 from Warminster, nothing missed there then. 170509+170505 are on the 1749 Birmingham New Street to Hereford, and it's time for some tunes as I update the trip report. I dread totting up the expenditure since Friday, over the budget without any doubt whatsoever! I'm getting tired by the time we reach Ledbury, and still just under 3 hours until I get home! Arrival into Hereford is at 1920.
12 hours and 20 minutes after I left Gants Hill the rail moves today are over! How I've lasted this long on just 3 coffees and barely any food all day is beyond me, it must be said. The hotel review is not included in this trip report, instead it will be in the accomodation reviews thread on the forum. I can tell I'm back in Hereford, poorly maintained pavements meant I nearly went flying and smacked my arm hard on a lamp post. 25 minutes later it's still sore! Spoons for a beef and Doom Bar ale pie, chips and peas meal with a pint for 7.89. JDW festival special, Young Henry's this time and Untappd reports it as Out Of Production. Never had that before! 13 hours and a bit after my last meal I'm finally eating, wow this was nice and worth every penny! Stomach very satisfied [I recommend the meal to anyone! - Ed] I make my way to the station at 2003 to enjoy the last bit of train action for a while, no bash due for 2 weeks now having spent a fortune lately and an evening out to attend next week! YJ59 GFZ rounds the trip off on the 2045 bus home, only another 90-ish minutes until I get in now!
What an amazing trip though, I'm 200 percent me again! What a difference to a week ago! I just wish I could have done more in London, I didn't want to leave! I lost count of the memo files on my phone this trip report was over, at least 16 I'd guess.
Scores on the doors post tomorrow, once I go through my books. That will take a while, but I can't wait to see what I scored!
Some shacks I do know from memory, but it will be interesting going through them all on Monday night/Tuesday morning and see what winners I had!
As for the wavering of interest, it has happened to me before, although this happened after a wonderfully productive day so I don't know how that December 2013 bash turned me into a boring sod! I do remember the girl I had an eye back then was ridiculously attractive, and after some bad experiences on trains didn't like them!
I have got my train head back on, but I am still learning about norm stuff as I go along. Never know when it will come in handy!
Trip report for this one has been started, be warned when it goes up there's a fair bit of backstory required but it will explain everything!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well then, settle in all for a massive read! Apologies for the long backstory, but it was all necessary!
18/10/15 - Tech's Been MIA Continued, Day 1
Well well well, wasn't this a short notice trip! Very much unplanned and it's going to be a bit strange. Why? I had none of my NREA, notebooks, only one pen and no Baker with me. My extensive knowledge of what I do and don't need hasn't quite come back to mind yet, not helped whatsoever by deleting my lists of requirements on Tuesday night's commute home! Why would I do that? Until Wednesday morning's commute, when everything was put into perspective and I got my head to where it should be, I didn't have my train head on and thought something along the lines of "I'll never need these again" which of course was a stupid choice! Thankfully my train head has come back, the issues being dealt with lately are sorted. Why don't I just give up on the bash and get my books, and how did I make this decision in the first place to go to London? Well I ended up in Ledbury on Friday evening to have a good social and provide some support and company for Lynz after recent events [no, don't ask, and no, nothing dodgy happened! - Ed] so we went over after a meal in the local Spoons followed by some rather nice cans sourced after work. So Saturday morning comes along [yes we will soon be at the train stuff! - Ed] and we were going to get the bus into Hereford for the convenience. It worked out easier or just better to get the train instead, so after a 20 minute walk which woke us both up a fair bit, we get our tickets.
6.80 later I too have a day return to Hereford, although what possessed me to get a return I don't know! So we're filling the time talking about various things, and I'm trying to teach the girl how to budget better. We somehow discuss how I'd love to go to London again for a massive session down there, having not had one since March. I'm starting later than she is, so I have time for all sorts after we get off the train, led by 170505 but couldn't ID the rear one [any gen guys? - Ed] before we left. Instead of doing what I was supposed to be doing, which was Christmas shopping [I know, it's too early yet! - Ed] I ended up socialising with other colleagues for ages. I somehow get onto looking up the fares to London and a hotel, which I booked in Ilford, and that was it, I was going! I hadn't consulted Lynz yet on it, but thankfully she agreed to let me crash again. Well she did going on about wanting company in her otherwise empty house! Of course, we're getting the train back to Ledbury, which was deemed nigh on impossible for us to make the 1740 from Hereford as we both had aching feet from some serious grafting all day. A drink in Spoons with another colleague before she went home, then we needed food. The Glass Tandoori had been highly recommended from one of Lynz's crew so we tried it. Oh my LORDZ! That was an amazing meal, I'm never having a ready meal korma again! Yes it was 15.00 each [and yes, she paid for her share! - Ed] including a tip but PHWOAR!
After that beast of a meal, which I'm going to have again one day, we have only a matter of minutes until the 1912 to Dorridge [I forgot there's that one train which does that on a Saturday, sounds so weird this far out! - Ed] but we make it with 3 minutes to spare. Problem is it wasn't on the screens at all! Suddenly we realise this many people wouldn't be on the platform this early for the 1955 to Manchester, and then 172219+172220 turn up to take us back to Ledbury. The journey is over before we know it, and a casual stroll to Lynz's house is had before crashing out and neither of us doing much [again, nothing dodgy happened before you all ask! I do have my train head on still! - Ed] whatsoever all evening. So now we come to the main bit of the trip, and I do apologise but the backstory to this trip was quite extensive! Sunday morning arrives and I'm awake just after 0800 shockingly. De-rancification time and a coffee, then I start typing up this massive trip report. I leave the poor girl sleep as she's still not quite over the flu so very tired today, of course I make sure I thank her very much for letting me stay, and a supply raid is had in OneStop en-route to the station. Very much not a fan of the uphill walk almost all the way to the station, I can see why, apart from cost, why she uses the bus! Upon arriving at the station, the first train of the day, the 1006 Hereford to Birmingham New Street, is already running late! 170631 is on it and it's very busy!
National Rail Enquiries confuses me with whether I can get a Super Off Peak Return for 52.50 or not, so I decide I'll ask when I buy on board, doing that as the ticket office is closed. I have been toying with going to the Bat Cave and using Chiltern down, the issue being that I won't be due a 68 to Marylebone today. I would be tomorrow, but still I can't yet decide! After leaving Great Malvern, I'm reminded by passengers boarding here that the marathon is on today in Birmingham. OK perhaps I'll avoid there for sure then! At Shrub Hill I hunt out Asda and get some bottles of water for later, as well as some t-shirts and socks as I have none with me. I don't fancy wearing my work shirt all day today and tomorrow! A Super Off Peak Return for 51.50 is sourced, as the guard on 170631 didn't show. I'm having to endure a Turbo all the way sadly to Paddington so I hope it will turn out to be a winner! The PIS says it'll be 6 coaches on this service, however the 1123 Great Malvern to Paddington turns up with just 166214. That'll have to do! After Honeybourne I go find the facilities onboard and change out of the work shirt into one of the new t-shirts. Much more comfortable, especially now I'm also in clean socks too! I needed to add to the clothing collection ahead of a couple of social obligations anyway, so this sort of killed two birds with one stone. The WiFi doesn't seem to like me and my phone so I give up on it.
In the Escape magazine on board, I happen to find out about a convention I wish to attend in February, that needs further research and will be a good excuse to return to London and the DLR! So you may be wondering how I got out of my norm mode and the boring miserable state I was in until Wednesday this week. My commute to work involved playing Disturbed's Indestructible album almost in full, and I found several tracks and lyrics that really got the brain in overdrive. It's a ridiculously long story, one which I don't have the desire to totally share, but all of a sudden the thought became "You know what, stuff this! I've become more boring than I ever have been, stuff everyone else I'm looking after Number 1 first and foremost!" and that was it, the train brain jumpstarted itself and I started getting excited about trains again. When the time is right [currently scheduled for 20th July 2016 or onwards - Ed] then everything can be progressed with. Why 20th July 2016? Well that story will be told another time, a good author keeps his audience in suspense! I think going somewhere completely different is making a diference, I sure haven't seen the GWML in a long time and for a Western Region boy that simply cannot stand any longer! Anyway, that's the entire history of this trip told, I won't bore you all any further! We get held at Wolvercot Junction, as is pretty much mandatory in my experience, for a couple of minutes.
I see the last train I can get on a Super Off Peak Return appears to be the 1552 Paddington to Worcester, or the 1421 from Paddington. There's no guard to ask about validity, so shall have to pester GWR via Twitter, who tells me the 1421 is the last one I can do. We bang onto another Turbo here, but I will have to find out which one at Paddington! Plans start getting made for options once in Worcester tomorrow, and if I can break the journey somewhere beyond Oxford and the weather's acceptable I have a plan to do walks to required shacks. Alternatively I plan to source some gen on a service from Bristol. This report will reveal all! I'm already down to 64 percent charge so got to be careful now until I reach base camp. Not as much sign of electrification work east of Reading as expected, but the nearer to Slough we got the more I saw. Such a long way to go yet, after all Oxford's bare of it and looks as out of date as it always has done! Arrival is at 1402 into Paddington, and I find it's 166219 that got added to our train at Oxford. I'm immediately in my element as Paddington is my favourite station ever! The walk to the Hammersmith and City platforms is huge these days, not going to use that move so often then. It's shack scoring time, which starts with S stocks 21326+21325 to Latimer Road, for 2130+21301 to Westbourne Park. That's followed by 21339+21340 to Ladbroke Grove and 21301+21302 again to Goldhawk Road before 21340+21339 to Shepherd's Bush Market.
The H&C portion of the day ends with 21451+21452 to Hammersmith, where I choose to hit the Piccadilly line next. I swear I've already done Wood Lane, so I've left it alone. Watch now, my Baker will reveal I needed it! I contempt getting 21507+21508, but remain with the plan and get onto the District line with 7048+7127 to Ravenscourt Park. To my surprise 44+26, Tube locos, run through on an engineers train! 21477+21478 are next up to take me to Ealing Common, from where I head back east to Chiswick Park with 21411+21412. The trip back west to Acton Town, after spotting many Piccadilly line trains passing through, was in the hands of 7102+7035. Woop, another D stock move! I just manage to cram into 855+125 on the adjacent platform for my first Piccadilly line move of the day, this one only to Northfields as it was way too busy for my liking. Plus a bit of team spirit to let Heathrow passengers on of course! 192+181 [I'm making sure I note both halfs this time! - Ed] take me to Boston Manor, then it's 224+119 to Hounslow East, which was followed by 1+1 to Hounslow Central then, due to a large gap in service westbound, 111+894 to Osterley. I must admit I like how comfortable the seats are on these things, it's just the crowds that annoy me! 140+249 were only a few minutes away so no break yet to look around, and I venture all the way into Zone 5 to go to Hatton Cross. I have, a while ago, lost count of how many shacks I've scored, so far today!
250+881 take me back east after a walkaround, and being blown away by a 4-engined BA craft flying over me during the break, and next stop is Hounslow West. No facilities were found in a working state in the break, which is most frustrating, and things are now getting a little delicate! I'm off next to South Ealing with 119+224, which finally clears Acton Town to Heathrow stations and the 13th shack score today. A very short wait gets me 141+856 to Barons Court, or at least it was supposed to as I ended up getting off at Hammersmith and only realising when I got on the next move! 7061+7124 take me to West Kensington for 21444+21443 back to Barons Court. Back to the Piccadilly line with 173+102 to Knightsbridge and 110+145 forward to Hyde Park Corner, which has Kings Cross St Pancras to Heathrow now cleared. 223+148 takes me to South Kensington, from where I head to Victoria on 21437+21438. Plan now is to eat something substantial, no prizes for guessing my choice! I seem to remember being shocked a few months ago that I need Sloane Square, so I get it out of the way while I'm here before the previously decided Victoria move. 21336+21335 took me the one stop and after a bit of fresh air, having roasted away on the Piccadilly, I get my usual Burger King meal which was worth more than every penny of the 7.49 it cost me! 377617+377601 are my chariots to Wandsworth Common, and I devour my meal on this move. The fast lines are closed so everything came on the slows.
Cue epic confusion when a train was announced as non-stop and then 455801+455813 stopped and opened up. The guard and PIS got super confused apparently and a lot of people got off, then couldn't get back on! It was the 1903 departure apparently anyway but no-one knew what was going on! I jumped on to go back to Clapham, the idea originally being to kill the fester for the next stopper. Haha, yeah, umm, no! [yes that's a thing! - Ed] Clapham Junction was a disorganised state of chaos everywhere thanks to Twickenham having rugby on, and platform 15 which I needed for the stopper? Rammed solid ALL the way along! No chance of getting over there, nor to anything to Hounslow or many places at all! I manage to jump on 450127+450112 to Richmond on a Reading run, I hope this move won't bowl me out! I just miss one 378 so end up on 378231 instead to South Acton. Just need Acton Central now to clear the LO network! 378221 takes me there, a rather annoying gap now cleared out! Now to try and get to Ilford, fast! I run like a bat out of hell to make a +0 at Acton Central and join 378207 to Gunnersbury. One of the pink readers wasn't working properly so thankfully another was! Mileage move to Mile End now, with 7027+7040 taking me there. Excellent, a decent distance on a D stock! Next up, the Central line to Stratford with taking me there for a GA move to Ilford. Well I had forgotten it was now TfL Rail for the stoppers, oops! I get to Stratford just 2 minutes after LO.
Not too bad that then, plus I had more interesting motive power this way! After alighting from 91021+93022+93100+91223 315830+315848 took me to Ilford, on which journey a fellow traveller started having a conversation with me. It transpired he'd moved out into his own place 8 months ago and feels lonely, which I can imagine it must be like after a while, especially after a breakup! He leaves at Manor Park, and goes down as the strangest incident of the day but also a most pleasant one! The walk to base camp took me around 12 minutes in the end, and after checking in the usual routines are done. I'll review the hotel seperately, but the noisy neighbours on my floor were not welcome. Thankfully they eventually shut up, and I used the time until then to catch up on trip reports. Eventually sleep comes into play around 0030, and the alarm is set for 0600. Bring it on!
19/10/2015 - Tech's Been MIA Continued, Day 2
I'm not entirely awake at 0600 but I need to move it! The shower is on sharpish, as is the kettle for what turned out to be a disappointing coffee, and it takes forever to get the shower temperature anywhere near right as it's pretty tempermental. Nevertheless, a good de-rancify is had eventually and I feel much better for it. I have a decent breakfast and am out the door as soon as possible. I jump on route 123 to Wood Green as far as Gants Hill LU station's stop, at the top of Cranbrook Road, with Arriva London's VLA99 on a 3 minute journey. I'm in need of gen, and my source has supplied it very quickly. Data saved to the phone, it's down the stairs and onto the Central line for 91345+93410+93266+91133 to Stratford. Even at 0700 this place is busy and I have to settle with a purch seat. The plan had been to use LO to Highbury & Islington, however it was a 15 minute wait and 315847+315843 were right in front of me to Liverpool Street. No contest there then! I take them to the blocks and head to the sub-surface Tube lines, waiting just a couple of minutes for 21341+21342 on a Bus Stop Bash to Moorgate. Straight off to the Great Northern line, and I jump on the first 313s out, which were 313064+313045 as it turned out. I re-check my gen and bail at Old Street to get the inward working instead, and I'm rewarded with dud 313038 and winner 313061 back to Moorgate's platform 9, I think I needed the crossovers!
I was going to break here before the next move, however I choose to go back to Old Street with 313061+313038, ready for another inward working. I get cracking with updating the trip report while giving the ears listening pleasure while a couple of pairs of 313s arrive and leave. As booked, winner 313055 turns up with dud 313123 for a trip back to Moorgate. A train's tripped the power further up the line so there's some delays caused, but I leave again with 313123+313055 to Drayton Park. Only one 313 left to go [assuming my RM was correct yesterday! - Ed] and I have a short break here, then discover the move for my last 313 was cancelled due to a train fault. Much ouch! Off to Finsbury Park next then, although my moves from here are unknown. I miss a pair of 317s to Kings Cross as I was trying to access via platform 3 not 2, d'oh! I'm however rewarded with a trio of 321s, 405+410+418. I'm sure one of these is rather dud but not sure if the other two are or not! I jump straight onto 317348 on platform 9, thankfully the PIS kicks in eventually to confirm we stop at Finsbury Park. I haven't a clue if it's required or not, I'm taking a risk! I see I forgot to note the 313 with 062 earlier, need to keep an eye on that one to fill the gap in my notes. I am of course still looking out for 313035 just in case it is out.
312025+313056 did the honours of taking me to Harringay [it's been part of all my London bashes for ages, practically a tradition! - Ed] and 313018+313046 brought me back. Just as well, as the next Kings Cross was 321404+321407! When I arrive there, the plan had been to go 387 hunting, however 321408 was leaving shortly and couldn't pass it up! It goes to show, never plan fully a day out in London! 313064+313045 for another random Harringay leap, in the hunt for 035, but no joy. After a good bit of hunting, I give up and join 313047+313033 [so close! - Ed] back to Finsbury Park. Costa time here, never been to this one, then it's to the Piccadilly line for some more shack scoring. Not done any today much to my surprise! 237+146 take me to Turnpike Lane, where a tidy cross platform connection puts me on 244+872 back to Manor House where I jump straight back over the other side of the island platform to join 242+185 to Southgate. I don't remember the north end of the Piccadilly line being at all nice to look at or elevated, shows how long it's been! 149+879 take me back after a few minutes on the short underground section to Arnos Grove. There's a Northfields train in the central platform, and will go before the pair I just had, so I jump straight onto 202+201 to Wood Green. Just Oakwood [which is in Zone 5, and I'm keeping within Zones 1-4 today - Ed] between Cockfosters and Finsbury Park left to do on the Piccadilly line now, next time!
149+879 are back to take me to Arsenal, which rings a bell but I don't remember why. Might be due to going non-stop once through it, years ago, but it's definitely done now! 149's another set with faulty PIS, the screen simply saying "Change fosters" which I find mildly amusing. Yesterday's lot had several with announcements barely working, cutting out a lot, assuming it worked at all! 112+165 take me onwards to Holloway Road, with 892+127 onwards to Caledonian Road. The last Piccadilly line leap of the trip, to KXSP, is in the hands of 132+161. I really hope I have had a good few winners on the Tube, but considering I needed almost all sets on the Piccadilly I should be fine! 21451+21452 are BSB'd to Farringdon for 21070+21069 BSB'd [Bus Stop Bashed - Ed] to Barbican. Red Pen Fever is taking effect now, not long until I have to leave London! 21478+21477 are taken to Stepney Green, a shack I'm sure I need. After a look around, I head back down for 21432+21431 to Mile End, the logic being it should be quicker to Liverpool Street this way. Plus I get to have some more 92 stock miles and haulage! A nice short wait gets me 91339+93264+93174+91065 to Liverpool Street, where I meet up for a short time with hassanhc before his train to Norwich. I get a Costa while I wait, and I see him off on 90001 pushing the 1230 to Norwich. So jealous that he's going for the 37s! Meanwhile I try to decide where I'm going, as I don't have a ton of time left.
91349+92104+93150+91133 take me to South Woodford, having decided against doing 360102 on the 1238 to Colchester Town. If I knew I needed it or not, I might have thought differently! Next up is Snaresbrook with 91211+93222+92070+91121 taking me there. It's now just gone 1300 when my next train comes in, so I definitely need to move it to Paddington! All shacks North Acton to Woodford now clear, and 91063+92416+93180+91009 take me to Oxford Circus. As I just miss by 30 seconds a pair of 315s at Stratford I have 10 minutes to wait for the next TfL service. I hope I didn't need 315837 then! Onwards for a mileage move then into town, and at least I'll finally get a Bakerloo move in. Feels weird not using the Victoria line on this trip mind! After a 28 minute journey I was more than ready for a change, and a 4 minute connection put me on 3464+3250 to Paddington. My count suggests 16 more shacks to score on the Central line, certainly a job for my next London bash. Along with a clearout on the Piccadilly and Northern lines, let alone the Jubilee! As always c2c didn't get a decent go at, but then there was a LOT I didn't get time to do. I hear a 180 screech into Paddington, almost guaranteed to be my train to Worcester, so the sensible move was made to do the 1400 to Bristol Temple Meads with 43087+43177 to Reading first. Much better move, especially as I was already down to 34 percent charge in my phone! Obviously that goes on asap.
Sockets weren't working in coach B, so I move to coach C where they were thankfully. The opportunity to charge along the GWML on an HST was also far too good to pass up, it's just a shame I have to change at Reading for a poxy, rancid 180! A nice little wander before suffering the Adelante [remember that short lived branding? - Ed] to Worcester, which is 180102. Long time readers will remember this was one of my last two 180s to score in 2013. To my surprise, I have a seat with a power socket next to it, I didn't know these things had them! That's my power worries sorted, I wonder if the WiFi will work? Much to my extreme surprise, it does! I get on the forum and catch up on everything of interest, which keeps me busy until Honeybourne. There's a lengthy pathing stop at Evesham, which I'd forgotten about. I hate going via Middle Earth [for those unaware, that's a nickname for the Worcester to Oxford line - Ed] because of the single line sections and the delays they cause, I won't be coming back this way any time soon for sure! I'm certainly now looking forward to getting off this thing in Worcester and getting food. I've got a fair bit of time here before continuing to Hereford, so a late lunch combined with an early tea [having only had a packet of Skips and a Wispa since 0640! - Ed] will kill a fair bit of time. Where to go for it is a challenging question mind! The Paddington we're waiting for is several minutes late coming off the single line too!
Patience is wearing thin now, and I wish I had paid the extra money to go on either a later train or via Newport. After sitting at Evesham for 15 minutes, 5 more than we should, we're on the way again. At least my phone is now on 100 percent charge! I post a review of Park Hotel, Ilford on TripAdvisor before we finally arrive at Worcester Foregate Street, 5 minutes late at 1649. The 1528 Warminster to Great Malvern is down as 150925 according to my source, so that has changed the plan significantly. The 1702 to Westbury has dud 150238 on it, no good to me either! So now I plan to get a meal in Hereford, after getting the 1735 there. A quick supply raid from Tesco Express in Worcester first, then I need to buy a single to Hereford. It dawns on me that I've 2.5 hours in Hereford if I do that, which after getting food will come down quite a bit but still a long time to kill. Maybe I will post the trip report later, and update the winners count etc tomorrow! I instead consider doing the 420 bus to Hereford, but I had forgot that doesn't happen any more, with DRM on it Bromyard to Hereford and First a pathetic twice a day Worcester to Bromyard! I finally, finally settle on a plan of attack, and after getting a single to Hereford for 9.40 I join 170514+170510 to Great Malvern. I still need the Spoons there, so I will finally get it in! I regret the decision when I get walking into the town centre mind, as it's all uphill.
Tech, didn't you know you're in the Malverns, and that it's very hilly? Yes I did, but until you do the walk you don't realise just how severe the hills are. The Foley Arms Hotel (Wetherspoons) is up even harsher hills once you hit the town centre, a train would need rack and pinion systems in place for this route! After an intense 15 minute walk from the platforms of Great Malvern, I reach there sweating like crazy [even Usain Bolt would be after that! - Ed] I get there and I've earnt my pint of Greene King's New Horizons IPA! 2.25 well spent, especially when you have such amazing views that you get from the outside seating area! 124 beers logged now and I have lost track of the count of Wetherspoons I've done. Going back down the hills, it's almost as intense as my feet were frantically rubbing against the socks, trying desperately to get traction and not going down too fast. With a pedestrian crossing wait, it took 11 minutes to get back to the platforms, and I was glad to sit down again! 150925 did indeed work the 1528 from Warminster, nothing missed there then. 170509+170505 are on the 1749 Birmingham New Street to Hereford, and it's time for some tunes as I update the trip report. I dread totting up the expenditure since Friday, over the budget without any doubt whatsoever! I'm getting tired by the time we reach Ledbury, and still just under 3 hours until I get home! Arrival into Hereford is at 1920.
12 hours and 20 minutes after I left Gants Hill the rail moves today are over! How I've lasted this long on just 3 coffees and barely any food all day is beyond me, it must be said. The hotel review is not included in this trip report, instead it will be in the accomodation reviews thread on the forum. I can tell I'm back in Hereford, poorly maintained pavements meant I nearly went flying and smacked my arm hard on a lamp post. 25 minutes later it's still sore! Spoons for a beef and Doom Bar ale pie, chips and peas meal with a pint for 7.89. JDW festival special, Young Henry's this time and Untappd reports it as Out Of Production. Never had that before! 13 hours and a bit after my last meal I'm finally eating, wow this was nice and worth every penny! Stomach very satisfied [I recommend the meal to anyone! - Ed] I make my way to the station at 2003 to enjoy the last bit of train action for a while, no bash due for 2 weeks now having spent a fortune lately and an evening out to attend next week! YJ59 GFZ rounds the trip off on the 2045 bus home, only another 90-ish minutes until I get in now!
What an amazing trip though, I'm 200 percent me again! What a difference to a week ago! I just wish I could have done more in London, I didn't want to leave! I lost count of the memo files on my phone this trip report was over, at least 16 I'd guess.
Scores on the doors post tomorrow, once I go through my books. That will take a while, but I can't wait to see what I scored!
1D53
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2006
- Messages
- 2,900
Assuming your missing 170 with 170505 is from 17th then the missing number was 170502.
47403
Established Member
top effort tech, great read there. Certainly stuck a fair bit of milage in the bank and hopefully scratched a fair few winners and a large chunk of shacks off your list.
Change of scenery done you the world of good, by the sounds of it.
W E L C O M E B A C K T E C H N I Q U E S T
Change of scenery done you the world of good, by the sounds of it.
W E L C O M E B A C K T E C H N I Q U E S T
Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,132
Glad to see you back in the game! The ol' backstory fleshed the report out nicely too.
Good taste in music, it must be said. I spent many an hour shepherding trolleys round a supermarket car park to that album, as you probably know!
Excellent read as always, will be interested to see the winners count
Good taste in music, it must be said. I spent many an hour shepherding trolleys round a supermarket car park to that album, as you probably know!
Excellent read as always, will be interested to see the winners count
I knew from your tweets you must have a good clear out of the underground! I must get down there again at some point. It is a trek from Malvern to that spoons too. Glad I drove to it on the way to a holiday i had with friends a few years back near Hereford!
Wouldn't apologies for the the backstory! You tell them so well it adds to the suspense!
Wouldn't apologies for the the backstory! You tell them so well it adds to the suspense!
Keith Jarrett
Member
Tech's definitely back with a storming read. If there's anywhere that will get the cranking juices flowing, it has to be The Smoke and the way you power bashed your way around, you are certainly back to your old self. Looks as though you made the right move as I cannot see you having nearly as much fun charging around Brizzle.
Looking forward to reading about the many scores you will have grabbed...
Looking forward to reading about the many scores you will have grabbed...
Techniquest
Veteran Member
1D53:2335154 said:
I actually forgot about that, so I'm glad you noticed it! Aye that was on Saturday so would indeed have been the 17th.
Many thanks for helping me clear that gap! Anyone able to help with what partnered 313062 yesterday (around 0845 from Drayton Park heading north)?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
47403:2335193 said:
A fair bit of mileage will have been had, it's going to take a while to add all this month's moves to RailMiles!
Thank you for the welcome back, glad to be back to myself at last!
I will reply to the rest of you later, I need to have breakfast before I go to work. I don't want to go grafting now but conversely, I need to so I can shift the excess mass developed from this trip! Just got to be careful how much I spend this week now too!
I'll be having a very busy commute to work that's for sure, it will take some time to process the Tube moves alone!
crispy1978
Member
Great read - London definitely seems to be the place for variety! Seems to have got plenty of shacks, units and track.
Glad you got the bug back!
Glad you got the bug back!
Kite159
Veteran Member
Excellent read as always, sounds like a couple good days
Blindtraveler
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 Feb 2011
- Messages
- 10,543
Wow so much I need there. Must point out though that I got both Latimer and Goldhork Roads shacks long before you! Welcome back matey.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Kristofferson:2335231 said:Glad to see you back in the game! The ol' backstory fleshed the report out nicely too.
Good taste in music, it must be said. I spent many an hour shepherding trolleys round a supermarket car park to that album, as you probably know!
Excellent read as always, will be interested to see the winners count
You really don't come across as the type who would enjoy that sort of music!
Scores on the Doors is halfway done, took me all my 50-ish minutes this morning to process the sights and haulages from Sunday alone! Going to crack on in a bit with Monday's lot, hopefully I'll have worked out the shack scores by tonight too. Certainly it was a bigger job than expected!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
noddy1878:2335289 said:
Glad you enjoyed the tweets, I like posting them as a teaser for the trip report!
It's a decent Spoons isn't it in Malvern, I need to get on with the one in Evesham one day. An idea is formulating around that for Monday...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Keith Jarrett:2335480 said:
Oh I'm back all right, feels good to be back! Been in a good mood all day at work as a result, which hasn't been the case in ages.
I definitely think the right choice was made, Bristol would not have been as much fun. Bored of the Piccadilly line now mind, next time I think a clearout on the Northern will be required. Same for the Jubilee actually!
Not much longer to wait for the Scores on the Doors post, I totted up the spending last night which thankfully fell under the upper limit I'd set for the trip. I just hope my contactless card worked all correctly!
Evesham. I remember doing that one in 2011 (before I would actually go out for them). Did it on the way back from the in laws when I went via a Long Marston open day where I copped my last 87 for sight! A few weeks later it was scrapped!
Poor 87! Which one was it?
87018. I got the year wrong. Was 2010!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Well it took me right up until the end of the commute home, but here we go. Barons Court was already done, and I did indeed already have Wood Lane so I am down to 3 more shacks to get on the Hammersmith and City line now.
Scores On The Doors:
Winner trains: 10
Winner LU sets: 81
Shack scores: 35
Required sights: 131
Financial hit:
Rail fares: 67.70 and London area fares (estimated as 24.00, exact figures won't be known until Wednesday/Thursday!)
Bus fares: 4.10
Hotel ching: 33.86
General expenditure: 43.30
Total: 172.96 (plus London area rail fares, estimated those at 24.00, might be slightly less or more!)
Ouch at the ching! However it was worth every penny, of which there can be zero doubt! To get me back to me I'd have been willing to pay more to be honest! I had kind of guessed it would weigh in around 180 quid, although obviously I hoped it wouldn't. Thankfully I still have money left over for the rest of the month!
Now bring on the next bash, wherever it may take me! I'm thinking Bristol still needs to be done, let's see what happens in the meantime, I may fancy going elsewhere yet.
Oh, and it was 19 memo files including this one in the end! I have made typos I see, I'l fix them ASAP. Not been any 312s around for years after all [I had a 313 down as a 312 - Ed], which I put down to Fat Finger Syndrome and rushing!
Scores On The Doors:
Winner trains: 10
Winner LU sets: 81
Shack scores: 35
Required sights: 131
Financial hit:
Rail fares: 67.70 and London area fares (estimated as 24.00, exact figures won't be known until Wednesday/Thursday!)
Bus fares: 4.10
Hotel ching: 33.86
General expenditure: 43.30
Total: 172.96 (plus London area rail fares, estimated those at 24.00, might be slightly less or more!)
Ouch at the ching! However it was worth every penny, of which there can be zero doubt! To get me back to me I'd have been willing to pay more to be honest! I had kind of guessed it would weigh in around 180 quid, although obviously I hoped it wouldn't. Thankfully I still have money left over for the rest of the month!
Now bring on the next bash, wherever it may take me! I'm thinking Bristol still needs to be done, let's see what happens in the meantime, I may fancy going elsewhere yet.
Oh, and it was 19 memo files including this one in the end! I have made typos I see, I'l fix them ASAP. Not been any 312s around for years after all [I had a 313 down as a 312 - Ed], which I put down to Fat Finger Syndrome and rushing!
Kite159
Veteran Member
I see you did go after the GN Dusty Bins in the end :P
47403
Established Member
Its certainly been well worth it then, especially with them figures tech. Seems like you put a right hole in the LU sets. Gotta say, just sightings alone, around London, would be close to, if not more than double for me.
- Status