1D53
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Juliano's World Frenzy/Tech's Trip Reports
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
Cheers 1D63, shall correct my notes now!
Thanks all for the positive replies, I daresay you would be very busy indeed in London 47403! I was years ago, it's been a long time since I spotted much at Clapham Junction or Willesden Junction!
Thanks all for the positive replies, I daresay you would be very busy indeed in London 47403! I was years ago, it's been a long time since I spotted much at Clapham Junction or Willesden Junction!
47403
Established Member
I'm giving it some serious thought for the New Year, likely to be February or March Tech. Cats out of Mary's Bone and Skoda's out of Liverpool St, know how keen I am for a bit of an add on, whilst out and about.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
You'll soon fill your dictation machine up in London!
I'm planning Monday's little adventure but it depends on the weather forecast, I might have to change options. I think the new bit on Chiltern is imminently opening too? The bank balance tomorrow will dictate what I choose to do.
Of course, when a plan is formed I'll mention the plan here!
I'm planning Monday's little adventure but it depends on the weather forecast, I might have to change options. I think the new bit on Chiltern is imminently opening too? The bank balance tomorrow will dictate what I choose to do.
Of course, when a plan is formed I'll mention the plan here!
Kite159
Veteran Member
I think the new Chiltern line should be open on Monday (going by the local radio adverts)
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Kite159:2337138 said:
Excellent, now I just need to make some plans to go and do it!
47403
Established Member
Your not kidding, last time, Victoria, Clapham, Paddington, Euston and Liverpool St, alone, took up nigh on two whole folders, not to mention a change of batteries at the end of the day, with constant pausing between trains. Theres all the new units to see, a fair few of the ones thats been their for years and a fair ole chunk of the LO stuff, still to see, since my last railway related jaunt down there.
I managed to see and click some stuff whilst down there in August but that trip was purely for my daughters enjoyment, the trains, just happened to be where we going at that time. Mind I did book a B n B in Ealing Broadway
, some coincidence that.Oxford Parkway, I'm assuming tech, Will some of the turns be hauled by the cats?
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On the Sunday (just the 25th), the following will be cats.
1T23 10:35 MYB - OXP 11:33
1Y23 11:45 OXP - MYB 12:47
1T37 14:05 MYB - OXP 15:04
1Y41 15:15 OXP - MYB 16:22
1U49 17:05 MYB - BAN 18:29
And on all other weekdays.
1T54 18:18 MYB-OXP 19:19
1Y75 19:29 OXP-MYB 20:37
1T23 10:35 MYB - OXP 11:33
1Y23 11:45 OXP - MYB 12:47
1T37 14:05 MYB - OXP 15:04
1Y41 15:15 OXP - MYB 16:22
1U49 17:05 MYB - BAN 18:29
And on all other weekdays.
1T54 18:18 MYB-OXP 19:19
1Y75 19:29 OXP-MYB 20:37
backontrack
Established Member
Why are they called cats?
Kite159
Veteran Member
For their Caterpillar engines I would imagine the nickname comes from
47403
Established Member
and their feline looks too
Glad you're back in the game, looks like a great time was had.
For the record, I would advise anyone against deleting your records if their enthusiasm wavers.
File them away and keep them safe.
I'm sure many of us have been through similar times and once something's been binned you really regret it when the fever returns (and it will!).
I speak from personal experience, I wish I had my books from 1981 - 1985 but they're gone forever
For the record, I would advise anyone against deleting your records if their enthusiasm wavers.
File them away and keep them safe.
I'm sure many of us have been through similar times and once something's been binned you really regret it when the fever returns (and it will!).
I speak from personal experience, I wish I had my books from 1981 - 1985 but they're gone forever
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Glad you're back in the game, looks like a great time was had.
For the record, I would advise anyone against deleting your records if their enthusiasm wavers.
File them away and keep them safe.
I'm sure many of us have been through similar times and once something's been binned you really regret it when the fever returns (and it will!).
I speak from personal experience, I wish I had my books from 1981 - 1985 but they're gone forever
Gutted! I left the scene for a while but managed to find all my combined volumes, thank goodness!
I still get angry at myself from time to time because of my short-sightedness!
I never purposefully binned anything, I just stopped caring for a while and so stuff disappeared, as stuff is want to do.
I did find my most recent "Platform 5 Motive Power Pocket Book" as well as a few loose pages from older books, so I didn't lose everything, mainly locos that I'd seen but had been withdrawn between 81 and 85.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
55013:2338298 said:Glad you're back in the game, looks like a great time was had.
For the record, I would advise anyone against deleting your records if their enthusiasm wavers.
File them away and keep them safe.
I'm sure many of us have been through similar times and once something's been binned you really regret it when the fever returns (and it will!).
I speak from personal experience, I wish I had my books from 1981 - 1985 but they're gone forever
Thanks, it is great to be back!
Fortunately I didn't get rid of all my books, which I was getting close to doing! The fever sure did return, and thank Goodness it did as I've been in a far better mood lately. Although the lot at work are now complaining me being too happy now, whereas before I was too miserable! :roll:
Shame about you never being able to get your records back
47403
Established Member
Thanks, it is great to be back!
Fortunately I didn't get rid of all my books, which I was getting close to doing! The fever sure did return, and thank Goodness it did as I've been in a far better mood lately. Although the lot at work are now complaining me being too happy now, whereas before I was too miserable! :roll:
Shame about you never being able to get your records back
Recipe for disaster is trying to please everyone at the same time.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Agreed!
Tomorrow's hashtag is simply impossible to work out, no good ones come to mind. There's also the chance I won't be doing the trip anyway, despite wanting to go. Depends if the toothache from last night returns to drive me mad again and disrupt sleep!
All being well I'll be out tomorrow for the new track on Chiltern, even though it means jacking up my 180 mileage even further. I pray for some 165 or 166 action instead! Tweets will begin around 0630 if I do go.
In the meantime, after catching up with everything on here, it's time for a massively overdue session on RailMiles to get back up to date!
Blindtraveler
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How about #Techsinoxfordshire?
That sounds fun! Why go via Middle Earth when you can go Hereford-Birmingham-Haddenham or something similar?
I have the day off tomorrow but will probably do a WMDT instead. Probably better to wait until the crowds have eased down on the Oxford services.
I have the day off tomorrow but will probably do a WMDT instead. Probably better to wait until the crowds have eased down on the Oxford services.
Blindtraveler
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At a guess Id say partly cost but more to avoid the same old cattlerun through Brum.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Bit of both really, it's a far more expensive trip via Birmingham, about £52 when I looked on Thursday, compared to £28.20 for a Hereford to Bicester Village Route Evesham day return and Bicester Village to Haddenham and Thame Parkway day return combination.
I might well use that hashtag Lord BT, there will be confirmation tonight. I'm also currently thinking of #techsinMiddleEarth
The long trek to Birmingham Bat Cave there and back really puts me off going that way, although now I think about it if the cost can be brought down somewhat I may do it, as I could get some 68 haulage in Birmingham to Banbury and back. Hmm...
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Well I looked it up, with splits at Birmingham and Banbury, going that way would cost me 36.70. That's 8.50 more than going via Oxford, and it's not really much quicker. It does mean I'd get some 68 haulage in between Birmingham and Banbury, but as it's not guaranteed I'm not spending that much ching or enduring the long drag to/from the Bat Cave first!
Hashtag settled with #techsinMiddleEarth for tomorrow. As it's half term I think I'll risk the connection off the 0720 bus, makes a nice change from the 0645 bus move I normally make! Tweets will probably therefore begin by 0705. Hopefully there will be time to before/after the main event for some GWR Turbo bashing, only time will tell!
I might well use that hashtag Lord BT, there will be confirmation tonight. I'm also currently thinking of #techsinMiddleEarth
The long trek to Birmingham Bat Cave there and back really puts me off going that way, although now I think about it if the cost can be brought down somewhat I may do it, as I could get some 68 haulage in Birmingham to Banbury and back. Hmm...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well I looked it up, with splits at Birmingham and Banbury, going that way would cost me 36.70. That's 8.50 more than going via Oxford, and it's not really much quicker. It does mean I'd get some 68 haulage in between Birmingham and Banbury, but as it's not guaranteed I'm not spending that much ching or enduring the long drag to/from the Bat Cave first!
Hashtag settled with #techsinMiddleEarth for tomorrow. As it's half term I think I'll risk the connection off the 0720 bus, makes a nice change from the 0645 bus move I normally make! Tweets will probably therefore begin by 0705. Hopefully there will be time to before/after the main event for some GWR Turbo bashing, only time will tell!
Kite159
Veteran Member
You would prefer a 165 over a 180? 
Techniquest
Veteran Member
You would prefer a 165 over a 180?
Correct! Those disc brakes are horrible, plus I'll always be biased against 180s because they would always be turfed out vice HST just when I didn't want it to happen. Grand Central, you'll never be forgiven for that...
Kite159
Veteran Member
Agreed with the disc-brakes.
Although in the brake noise battle the 150/0s at Reading beat the 180s :P
Although in the brake noise battle the 150/0s at Reading beat the 180s :P
Blindtraveler
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But the clear winner is the MK2 seated sleaper coaches, by a long mile. Couldnt help noticing on my last trips on both the Fife and Cumbrian MK2s that DRS have them so well maintained that the noize is much better!
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Id be happy with iether a Turbo or 180 myself, although a 180 is clearly the better prospect from a Norms POV. GWR clearly realise this and have diagrammed accordingly, despite the fact they would be maybe better suited to a faster run.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Id be happy with iether a Turbo or 180 myself, although a 180 is clearly the better prospect from a Norms POV. GWR clearly realise this and have diagrammed accordingly, despite the fact they would be maybe better suited to a faster run.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Agreed on the brakes thing, MK2s on the Cally Insomnie have the noisiest in the land!
I really need to get on and get back onto RailMiles tonight, still only part way through last Sunday! Although I have also got my WMDR bits added so getting there. Done surprisingly well this month for miles it must be said!
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26/10/2015 - Tech's In Middle Earth
Wow doesn't last Monday feel like an age ago? Nevertheless, here we are again, another tale in the biography of my bashing career! You know, I'll one day have saved someone so much work...
Last week's London bash had me in a really good mood almost all week, which made work so much more bearable than usual. Saturday destroyed that considerably, and I was more than glad to see the end of that day! I had considered putting today's bash off until next Monday, so as to spread things out a little bit. My calculations however said I could afford to do it this week, and after Saturday I really needed something to bring my good mood back! May God have mercy on us for the next 2 months, we are truely into the silly time of year! So what's this trip title and hashtag about? The Worcester to Oxford line is often nicknamed Middle Earth, it really is a journey through the middle of nowhere. It's been some years since a FGW guard called it "the journey through Middle Earth" aboard the 1722 London Paddington to Hereford, but it's never been forgotten and I'm more than happy to spread its use! I had the opportunity for £8.50 more to go via Birmingham and Banbury today, but the long drag to/from the Bat Cave for the first and last Mandatory Moves of the bash was off-putting. I know I've talked in the past of today's mundane being tomorrow's nostalgia, which I still stand by, but I've done the journey far too often and I was becoming bored stiff of the staleness in my bashing career. When I have to go to the Midlands I will have to make those Mandatory Moves, so by the time I next have to do them I shall hopefully not be so bored of that route.
The cheaper option and therefore better option was to go via Oxford, via the trek through Middle Earth. I am aware Middle Earth is a thing in Lord of the Rings or something, but tough! It also means I have to endure lots of Adelante mileage, but as they have power sockets and WiFi that accepts my phone I'll be fine. I booked my tickets online last night, worth it for 54 Nectar points [it's nearly Frothmas, I need those points! - Ed] and to avoid the Arriva Attitude in Hereford's ticket office. If it's not a day return to Cardiff or something they sell all the time, they really don't like it so I can't see them being willing to find my day return to Bicester Village or find the one from Bicester Village to Haddenham and Thame Parkway! Yes, I'm off today to score that new stretch of track from Bicester to the Chiltern Main Line!
Up and about at 0630 then after a less than perfect sleep, and it's BF62 UYM on the 0720 to town this morning. It deserves special mention today as when I reach Hereford it'll be cleared at long last for the magical thou [1,004.6 miles to be exact - Ed] which means there's now only 3 vehicles left in my local fleet to hit that target. Not that they tend to turn up on my regular commutes much, so it'll be a long time until they receive special mention! Out comes the tablet after my coffee is consumed to start typing this up. The journey goes smoothly and even on time [you can tell it's half term! - Ed] until we reach Weobley, a village on the route to town. A CPL Petroleum lorry is blocking our route and we cannot get around it. So we have a long fester waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more for the driver to do whatever he's doing before we can continue forward. There goes my +20 from the bus to the 0849 Hereford to Birmingham New Street then, I knew I should have got the 0645! After a 13 minute wait, he moves out of the way and allows us to pass. By now it's 0759 and we're now going to hit town in the middle of the morning peak, great! Shame there's no Delay Repay on buses eh!
Thankfully the morning peak is almost non-existant thanks to it being half term in Herefordshire this week, so we arrive only 8 minutes late at 0830. The planned supply raid is off though as I still need to pick up my tickets and a PNB is more urgent right now! 170503+153364 are on the 0849 Hereford to Birmingham New Street today, and I felt like a coffee move would be wise right now. Yeah it was until the queue was going down far too slowly for my liking, so not willing to miss the 0849 I pass for now. Off we go right time and I crack on with updating my moves book from the epic London bash. By Malvern Link I've made very good progress and feel comfortable about finishing it later. I bump into a former colleague as we alight in Worcester, and we chew the fat about work for a good while. Supply raid in Tesco Express then I have to part ways for my next move, which is the 0954 Great Malvern to London Paddington. Today this is worked by Super Dud 180104, and I find a seat with a power socket. The WiFi refuses to work initially, then after a while it finds it but won't connect as the connection is too slow. There must be too many norms soaking it all up then! Time then for some tunes on my phone, today I kick things off with some My Chemical Romance, having had Disturbed on for the bus to town this morning. This train sure gets busy at Evesham!
166209+166202 are on the 0821 London Paddington to Hereford today, the latter is required and due to do the 1209 Hereford to London Paddington later. I didn't realise that turn had gone from HST to Turbos, but sure enough that's what in the timetable much to my surprise. That needs to be burnt into memory, as it would be a good way to get my Turbos in. You may be wondering why I'm filling this trip report with observations. Well as this is to be a fairly basic bash I will have the option to note observations for a change, which is not entirely easy to do on an intense bash like the recent London trip. It also helps that I can keep my phone's battery from going down to critical levels in no time, which was another part of the downfall in my regular postings on Trains You've Seen Working [now that's not something I've done for ages, plugging that thread! - Ed] on the forum. I'm also in TPP Mode for next Monday, as the finances appear to be healthy enough to fund another trip. If I wasn't cancelling my appearance at a norm's do tomorrow night then that wouldn't be the case, however I already know I won't be in the mood to be social after work tomorrow, so no point even considering it!
It's a gorgeous day for a bash so I'm glad I went out after all. I could do with a coffee, and just in time the trolley turns up! Well he did, he served one person in my coach then went back again! I wait for ages for his return, but I give up when we get to only 40 minutes before our arrival into Oxford. My business lost there for the trolley, by the time he returns I can't be bothered! Tech's mobile disco turns to some classic dance tunes from 2000 and 2001 after Moreton in Marsh, starting with Sonique's It Feels So Good. This must be a first ever for me, there's no hold at Wolvercote Junction! Arrival in Oxford is 7 minutes early so I was rushing to alight a little bit! Due to the early running, I can easily make the 1128 departure on route 500 to Oxford Parkway Park & Ride, which was in the hands of LS11 OXF, Oxford Bus' 316. It's a painfully slow journey but is done in 27 minutes. Be warned, roadworks on Banbury Road are really jamming things up currently, allow extra time in peak periods for this run!
There's a VIP party in a big tent today it appears, and a lot of police around too. There is a cafe, where I want to get a coffee as I still have 15 minutes to spare. No cards facilities, and the ATM is out of order. A really good start to a brand new station then! 168107 is on the 1217 to London Marylebone and I shove my phone on charge again. I noticed too that Orange have a really rubbish signal in Oxford, fellow sufferers be warned about that! We leave on time and the difference of this route from FGWL [First Great Western Link, remember them? - Ed] days is unreal. So smooth and fast compared to the 30mph run it was back then! We're soon at Bicester Village, and the new track around to the Chiltern main line is soon scored. A fair whack of a gradient up to it I see, and a single lead junction for Up trains, really?! We're at Haddenham and Thame Parkway at 1238, and I have a +3 for my next train, which involved a bit of a run but I made it with 20 seconds to spare. Just as well, as winner for everything 168322 [formerly 170302 - Ed] is on the 1241 to Oxford Parkway! I bail at Bicester Village for the shack score, as to do Islip from this way meant a +48 and I wasn't willing to endure that. After a walkabout at the front of the station, I see and phot 165021 arriving on an unknown working shortly after 1300. Was this a passenger working, as it wasn't on the screens!
Thankfully that 165 was dud, so no lost score either way. 168106 joins the clan of Super Duds following getting it back to Oxford Parkway. The new track and 2 new shacks scored, plus a winner 168/3, I'm well pleased about that! HW63 FHF, Oxford Bus' 254, takes me to Oxford station on route 500 for another 27 minute journey in which we caught up in traffic jams again. I'm so glad I don't live in Oxford, the traffic would really annoy me! After an ATM run, I get a large coffee for £2.70 from Upper Crust [first one since 0735! - Ed] and make a visit to WHSmith. The habit sure does cost a fortune when you buy from here, £5.89 lighter and I wish I'd bought in Tesco Express in Worcester after all! £4.70 lighter still, I'm armed with an off peak day return to Heyford, having consulted RTT first. Super Dud 165102 is on the 1424 to Banbury, shame it wasn't a winner! I'm glad though that I didn't buy a day return to Reading at about double the price though, as 166202 did not return with 166209 from Hereford. That would have been expensive for no win! Heyford scored, just need Tackley to clear Banbury to Paddington now. I have a +40 here so I pull out the tablet to update the trip report, which killed nearly 30 minutes of it!
It should come as no surprise that it's 165102 back to Oxford, and I discover here I misread the timetable. I thought it was 1620 from Oxford, but that's the time off Reading. 1649 from here, which means that as I arrived into Oxford at 1536, 3 minutes up, my connection is a +73 not a +44! A lot of wandering around occured next, trying to find a way of killing time. I briefly considered a filler move to Radley, but at £3.70 for a day return I considered that a rip off and not worth it! Just as well, as the move to Radley would have been a pair of duds. The return would have scored me 165113 though, never mind. I visit M&S Simply Food for a look around and find their alcoholic beverages. I've been wanting to try their Belgian lager for ages, having seen people board 350s in Birmingham with it, and I LOVE Belgian lagers, as I've no doubt demonstrated in the past with nothing but positive comments on Jupiler! So I get a single can for £1.75, in case it's not good. It's a specially brewed, umm, brew for Marks and Sparks from Haacht Brewery, Boortmeerbeek in Belgium. I avoid trying it too soon, as I don't want to look like an alcoholic on the concourse! Eventually I make my way to the platforms and am treated to the sight of Rail Operations Group's [according to the headboard! - Ed] 47830 arrive on the Down Through [dud track! - Ed] at 1627. I have a feeling a certain forum member will be jealous!
Just the sight let alone the thought of Voyagers in front of me is enough to persuade me to open the can now, and wow! It's well nice, as close as I'm going to get to Jupiler on these shores. It sure is worth the £1.75 I paid, but I now wish I'd got more of them. One day I will have to try the bottles and the Herefordshire cider [sounded good value for £1.09 for a single tin! - Ed] so I'd best find some overtime somewhere fast, I'll be spending s fortune next time! I'm in TPP Mode again this afternoon, I now have a different idea for next Monday! I've hinted to a couple of forum members what the plan is, but I need to plan it out carefully before committing to it. Certainly it will be rather different, but I need to make sure it's doable before I say what it is. If it's not next Monday it will be done soon! 180108 is up next on the 1552 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill, and to my surprise I get a table seat with a power socket. The WiFi works too, which is a welcome bonus! I manage to lose some of my can [sacrilege! - Ed] to the table, which I manage to mop up slightly with my wooly hat. I just hope I won't need it later! Out with the tablet next to get back up to date with this trip report.
The 180 empties out somewhat by Kingham, GWR will you eventually listen to passengers and give us an hourly service instead of these stupid big gaps in services? Oh and can we PLEASE have some faster services too? It really is off-putting to have such slow journeys, it may actually persuade us to use the route via Oxford more than going via Newport! Arrival into Worcester Shrub Hill, after some banging tunes from Tech's mobile disco, is at 1806 2 minutes early. There's a late running Hereford train which has been held slighly longer for us, but that is of no interest to me tonight, I have my eyes on the 1528 Warminster to Great Malvern! True to the gen I received it's 150926, winner for everything, that's me on it to Great Malvern then, and just 3 more GWR 150s [120, 131 and 216 - Ed] to get for haulage now!
The usual short wait for the 1749 Birmingham New Street to Hereford occurs and tonight it's 170508+170516. During the interlude I looked up the options for next Monday, and it is looking good. All being well I'll have settled on it later this week, pending a quadruple check of my finances, and I'll detail the approximate plan snd hashtag when it's decided. Funny how this year's turning out eh? The plan next is to head to the chippy for a late evening meal, and probably a well earnt pint too, then the 2045 bus home. Tea is had via Mr Chips and a small chicken curry and chips for £2.20, although I wish I'd paid £3 for the large one as I'm still hungry! The pint tonight is Butcombe's Chinnock APA for £1.90 [God bless Monday Club in Spoons! - Ed] at the local Spoons. I wanted to come here specifically for the free WiFi and to post this trip report! All that's left to do now is the stats:
Winners: 2
Shack scores: 3
TOC networks complete (again!): Chiltern
Rail fares: £32.90
Bus fares: £6.20
General spending: £18.43
Total: £57.53
Mileage figures unavailable, as while I have most of it the new bits of Chiltern I don't have. I know I'm over 1,000 miles for October though!
I really need to get on and get back onto RailMiles tonight, still only part way through last Sunday! Although I have also got my WMDR bits added so getting there. Done surprisingly well this month for miles it must be said!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
26/10/2015 - Tech's In Middle Earth
Wow doesn't last Monday feel like an age ago? Nevertheless, here we are again, another tale in the biography of my bashing career! You know, I'll one day have saved someone so much work...
Last week's London bash had me in a really good mood almost all week, which made work so much more bearable than usual. Saturday destroyed that considerably, and I was more than glad to see the end of that day! I had considered putting today's bash off until next Monday, so as to spread things out a little bit. My calculations however said I could afford to do it this week, and after Saturday I really needed something to bring my good mood back! May God have mercy on us for the next 2 months, we are truely into the silly time of year! So what's this trip title and hashtag about? The Worcester to Oxford line is often nicknamed Middle Earth, it really is a journey through the middle of nowhere. It's been some years since a FGW guard called it "the journey through Middle Earth" aboard the 1722 London Paddington to Hereford, but it's never been forgotten and I'm more than happy to spread its use! I had the opportunity for £8.50 more to go via Birmingham and Banbury today, but the long drag to/from the Bat Cave for the first and last Mandatory Moves of the bash was off-putting. I know I've talked in the past of today's mundane being tomorrow's nostalgia, which I still stand by, but I've done the journey far too often and I was becoming bored stiff of the staleness in my bashing career. When I have to go to the Midlands I will have to make those Mandatory Moves, so by the time I next have to do them I shall hopefully not be so bored of that route.
The cheaper option and therefore better option was to go via Oxford, via the trek through Middle Earth. I am aware Middle Earth is a thing in Lord of the Rings or something, but tough! It also means I have to endure lots of Adelante mileage, but as they have power sockets and WiFi that accepts my phone I'll be fine. I booked my tickets online last night, worth it for 54 Nectar points [it's nearly Frothmas, I need those points! - Ed] and to avoid the Arriva Attitude in Hereford's ticket office. If it's not a day return to Cardiff or something they sell all the time, they really don't like it so I can't see them being willing to find my day return to Bicester Village or find the one from Bicester Village to Haddenham and Thame Parkway! Yes, I'm off today to score that new stretch of track from Bicester to the Chiltern Main Line!
Up and about at 0630 then after a less than perfect sleep, and it's BF62 UYM on the 0720 to town this morning. It deserves special mention today as when I reach Hereford it'll be cleared at long last for the magical thou [1,004.6 miles to be exact - Ed] which means there's now only 3 vehicles left in my local fleet to hit that target. Not that they tend to turn up on my regular commutes much, so it'll be a long time until they receive special mention! Out comes the tablet after my coffee is consumed to start typing this up. The journey goes smoothly and even on time [you can tell it's half term! - Ed] until we reach Weobley, a village on the route to town. A CPL Petroleum lorry is blocking our route and we cannot get around it. So we have a long fester waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more for the driver to do whatever he's doing before we can continue forward. There goes my +20 from the bus to the 0849 Hereford to Birmingham New Street then, I knew I should have got the 0645! After a 13 minute wait, he moves out of the way and allows us to pass. By now it's 0759 and we're now going to hit town in the middle of the morning peak, great! Shame there's no Delay Repay on buses eh!
Thankfully the morning peak is almost non-existant thanks to it being half term in Herefordshire this week, so we arrive only 8 minutes late at 0830. The planned supply raid is off though as I still need to pick up my tickets and a PNB is more urgent right now! 170503+153364 are on the 0849 Hereford to Birmingham New Street today, and I felt like a coffee move would be wise right now. Yeah it was until the queue was going down far too slowly for my liking, so not willing to miss the 0849 I pass for now. Off we go right time and I crack on with updating my moves book from the epic London bash. By Malvern Link I've made very good progress and feel comfortable about finishing it later. I bump into a former colleague as we alight in Worcester, and we chew the fat about work for a good while. Supply raid in Tesco Express then I have to part ways for my next move, which is the 0954 Great Malvern to London Paddington. Today this is worked by Super Dud 180104, and I find a seat with a power socket. The WiFi refuses to work initially, then after a while it finds it but won't connect as the connection is too slow. There must be too many norms soaking it all up then! Time then for some tunes on my phone, today I kick things off with some My Chemical Romance, having had Disturbed on for the bus to town this morning. This train sure gets busy at Evesham!
166209+166202 are on the 0821 London Paddington to Hereford today, the latter is required and due to do the 1209 Hereford to London Paddington later. I didn't realise that turn had gone from HST to Turbos, but sure enough that's what in the timetable much to my surprise. That needs to be burnt into memory, as it would be a good way to get my Turbos in. You may be wondering why I'm filling this trip report with observations. Well as this is to be a fairly basic bash I will have the option to note observations for a change, which is not entirely easy to do on an intense bash like the recent London trip. It also helps that I can keep my phone's battery from going down to critical levels in no time, which was another part of the downfall in my regular postings on Trains You've Seen Working [now that's not something I've done for ages, plugging that thread! - Ed] on the forum. I'm also in TPP Mode for next Monday, as the finances appear to be healthy enough to fund another trip. If I wasn't cancelling my appearance at a norm's do tomorrow night then that wouldn't be the case, however I already know I won't be in the mood to be social after work tomorrow, so no point even considering it!
It's a gorgeous day for a bash so I'm glad I went out after all. I could do with a coffee, and just in time the trolley turns up! Well he did, he served one person in my coach then went back again! I wait for ages for his return, but I give up when we get to only 40 minutes before our arrival into Oxford. My business lost there for the trolley, by the time he returns I can't be bothered! Tech's mobile disco turns to some classic dance tunes from 2000 and 2001 after Moreton in Marsh, starting with Sonique's It Feels So Good. This must be a first ever for me, there's no hold at Wolvercote Junction! Arrival in Oxford is 7 minutes early so I was rushing to alight a little bit! Due to the early running, I can easily make the 1128 departure on route 500 to Oxford Parkway Park & Ride, which was in the hands of LS11 OXF, Oxford Bus' 316. It's a painfully slow journey but is done in 27 minutes. Be warned, roadworks on Banbury Road are really jamming things up currently, allow extra time in peak periods for this run!
There's a VIP party in a big tent today it appears, and a lot of police around too. There is a cafe, where I want to get a coffee as I still have 15 minutes to spare. No cards facilities, and the ATM is out of order. A really good start to a brand new station then! 168107 is on the 1217 to London Marylebone and I shove my phone on charge again. I noticed too that Orange have a really rubbish signal in Oxford, fellow sufferers be warned about that! We leave on time and the difference of this route from FGWL [First Great Western Link, remember them? - Ed] days is unreal. So smooth and fast compared to the 30mph run it was back then! We're soon at Bicester Village, and the new track around to the Chiltern main line is soon scored. A fair whack of a gradient up to it I see, and a single lead junction for Up trains, really?! We're at Haddenham and Thame Parkway at 1238, and I have a +3 for my next train, which involved a bit of a run but I made it with 20 seconds to spare. Just as well, as winner for everything 168322 [formerly 170302 - Ed] is on the 1241 to Oxford Parkway! I bail at Bicester Village for the shack score, as to do Islip from this way meant a +48 and I wasn't willing to endure that. After a walkabout at the front of the station, I see and phot 165021 arriving on an unknown working shortly after 1300. Was this a passenger working, as it wasn't on the screens!
Thankfully that 165 was dud, so no lost score either way. 168106 joins the clan of Super Duds following getting it back to Oxford Parkway. The new track and 2 new shacks scored, plus a winner 168/3, I'm well pleased about that! HW63 FHF, Oxford Bus' 254, takes me to Oxford station on route 500 for another 27 minute journey in which we caught up in traffic jams again. I'm so glad I don't live in Oxford, the traffic would really annoy me! After an ATM run, I get a large coffee for £2.70 from Upper Crust [first one since 0735! - Ed] and make a visit to WHSmith. The habit sure does cost a fortune when you buy from here, £5.89 lighter and I wish I'd bought in Tesco Express in Worcester after all! £4.70 lighter still, I'm armed with an off peak day return to Heyford, having consulted RTT first. Super Dud 165102 is on the 1424 to Banbury, shame it wasn't a winner! I'm glad though that I didn't buy a day return to Reading at about double the price though, as 166202 did not return with 166209 from Hereford. That would have been expensive for no win! Heyford scored, just need Tackley to clear Banbury to Paddington now. I have a +40 here so I pull out the tablet to update the trip report, which killed nearly 30 minutes of it!
It should come as no surprise that it's 165102 back to Oxford, and I discover here I misread the timetable. I thought it was 1620 from Oxford, but that's the time off Reading. 1649 from here, which means that as I arrived into Oxford at 1536, 3 minutes up, my connection is a +73 not a +44! A lot of wandering around occured next, trying to find a way of killing time. I briefly considered a filler move to Radley, but at £3.70 for a day return I considered that a rip off and not worth it! Just as well, as the move to Radley would have been a pair of duds. The return would have scored me 165113 though, never mind. I visit M&S Simply Food for a look around and find their alcoholic beverages. I've been wanting to try their Belgian lager for ages, having seen people board 350s in Birmingham with it, and I LOVE Belgian lagers, as I've no doubt demonstrated in the past with nothing but positive comments on Jupiler! So I get a single can for £1.75, in case it's not good. It's a specially brewed, umm, brew for Marks and Sparks from Haacht Brewery, Boortmeerbeek in Belgium. I avoid trying it too soon, as I don't want to look like an alcoholic on the concourse! Eventually I make my way to the platforms and am treated to the sight of Rail Operations Group's [according to the headboard! - Ed] 47830 arrive on the Down Through [dud track! - Ed] at 1627. I have a feeling a certain forum member will be jealous!
Just the sight let alone the thought of Voyagers in front of me is enough to persuade me to open the can now, and wow! It's well nice, as close as I'm going to get to Jupiler on these shores. It sure is worth the £1.75 I paid, but I now wish I'd got more of them. One day I will have to try the bottles and the Herefordshire cider [sounded good value for £1.09 for a single tin! - Ed] so I'd best find some overtime somewhere fast, I'll be spending s fortune next time! I'm in TPP Mode again this afternoon, I now have a different idea for next Monday! I've hinted to a couple of forum members what the plan is, but I need to plan it out carefully before committing to it. Certainly it will be rather different, but I need to make sure it's doable before I say what it is. If it's not next Monday it will be done soon! 180108 is up next on the 1552 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill, and to my surprise I get a table seat with a power socket. The WiFi works too, which is a welcome bonus! I manage to lose some of my can [sacrilege! - Ed] to the table, which I manage to mop up slightly with my wooly hat. I just hope I won't need it later! Out with the tablet next to get back up to date with this trip report.
The 180 empties out somewhat by Kingham, GWR will you eventually listen to passengers and give us an hourly service instead of these stupid big gaps in services? Oh and can we PLEASE have some faster services too? It really is off-putting to have such slow journeys, it may actually persuade us to use the route via Oxford more than going via Newport! Arrival into Worcester Shrub Hill, after some banging tunes from Tech's mobile disco, is at 1806 2 minutes early. There's a late running Hereford train which has been held slighly longer for us, but that is of no interest to me tonight, I have my eyes on the 1528 Warminster to Great Malvern! True to the gen I received it's 150926, winner for everything, that's me on it to Great Malvern then, and just 3 more GWR 150s [120, 131 and 216 - Ed] to get for haulage now!
The usual short wait for the 1749 Birmingham New Street to Hereford occurs and tonight it's 170508+170516. During the interlude I looked up the options for next Monday, and it is looking good. All being well I'll have settled on it later this week, pending a quadruple check of my finances, and I'll detail the approximate plan snd hashtag when it's decided. Funny how this year's turning out eh? The plan next is to head to the chippy for a late evening meal, and probably a well earnt pint too, then the 2045 bus home. Tea is had via Mr Chips and a small chicken curry and chips for £2.20, although I wish I'd paid £3 for the large one as I'm still hungry! The pint tonight is Butcombe's Chinnock APA for £1.90 [God bless Monday Club in Spoons! - Ed] at the local Spoons. I wanted to come here specifically for the free WiFi and to post this trip report! All that's left to do now is the stats:
Winners: 2
Shack scores: 3
TOC networks complete (again!): Chiltern
Rail fares: £32.90
Bus fares: £6.20
General spending: £18.43
Total: £57.53
Mileage figures unavailable, as while I have most of it the new bits of Chiltern I don't have. I know I'm over 1,000 miles for October though!
47403
Established Member
No idea who would be jealous of seeing such a wonderful machine that is 47830
Good read again bud, not very often we read, winner for everything in your trip reports, glad you got it and had an enjoyable trip.
Good read again bud, not very often we read, winner for everything in your trip reports, glad you got it and had an enjoyable trip.
That sounds like a very fun day! 170503 and 153364 ended up on Wolverhampton to Walsall trains for the rest of the day. I am mega jealous of you getting 170508. It's my last required one and I saw it arriving earlier at New Street before it headed off to Tyseley for the rest of the day. And as for 47830. Do you mean me? That's one of the few 47s I need for sight!
Kite159
Veteran Member
Sounds like a very good day, and back to pretty much 100% coverage of the passenger network now? 
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