Techniquest
Veteran Member
Ah close, I'll try to remember to wish you well that day!
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Juliano's World Frenzy/Tech's Trip Reports
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backontrack
Established Member
Bad luck on missing out on a bashing day.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Good report Mr Techni 
backontrack
Established Member
I see that Lord Quest has so far not frequented my new thread. 
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I see that Lord Quest has so far not frequented my new thread.
I have been a very busy man lately, sorry! It is very difficult to keep up with everything on here and everyone, I'll have more time in January though
backontrack
Established Member
Don't worry. 
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Sorry it's late gang, but the first trip report from me in 2016 is now complete! 
03/01/2016 - Tech's It All Started With A Big Bang 2016, Day 1
Welcome to 2016 and the first trip of the year! It's been 19 days since my last trip, but it feels like much longer than that, what with the chaos of Frothmas and New Year at work! I had re-planned last night to head today to London, but ATW bowled me out by cancelling the 1009 Hereford to Fishguard Harbour between Hereford and Cardiff Central. Apparently this was due to a lack of train crew, so imagine my disapproval at this when I was booking tickets! Yes I could have gone via Birmingham, but with LM it was going to be a very slow journey and I couldn't be doing with that. I found some very reasonable fares to Liverpool, and I was seriously toying with that, but I decided to stick to the plan and do Nottingham. A hotel was found for £40 including breakfast in Nottingham, that will do nicely. £49.70 on top of that for an Off Peak Return to Nottingham, and yes it will let me go via Leicester as well as Derby so that will do quite nicely. I was getting a lift into town since my Mum was already taking my sister in for work, otherwise I'd have not been going today.
So it was on, my first trip of the year was booked! It was then time to prep the bag, and unsurprisingly I'm struggling to sleep, finally getting there around 0230. De-rancification after not loving my alarm at 0800, and after breakfast I'm ready to rock and roll. It's been a long time coming, that's for sure! I suspect some of you will be wondering about the trip title and what it's about. It should come as no surprise that I'm a fan of The Big Bang Theory on TV, and this trip was all about starting the year in style [I'm not sure anyone would count a 170 as luxury, when a 175 and HST were originally planned - Ed] instead of just doing a West Midlands day. You could say that I wanted to start 2016 with a big bang, which is basically what inspired the trip title.
The weather is rancid today with heavy rain, oh well I will have to make do. The queue for the TVM is quite long today, but after 8 minutes I have my tickets picked up, purchasing last night to get 98 Nectar points [got to start preparing for Frothmas after all... - Ed] in. ATW put on a rail replacement coach for the 1009 to Fishguard Harbour, but with stopping everywhere it would have been a long slow journey to Newport, and getting to London much later than originally planned. There's also the fact I wouldn't want to start the year on a coach if I could help it! The first train of 2016's bashing fell to 170631 on the 1006 Hereford to Birmingham New Street. Looks like it will be another LM-heavy, 170 infested year! Time for Tech's Mobile Disco to kick in, with Jay Z vs Linkin Park's Collision Course album on first, followed by Linkin Park's Meteora album. For the uniniated, this 2003 album [it surely can't be that old - Ed] is another classic Linkin Park production, with a favourite on this one being Faint, with other classics like Easier To Run, Breaking The Habit and of course Numb.
Rather glad this train is a 3-car one, it's very busy after Malvern and had a very healthy load out of Hereford today! After Worcester we're full and after Bromsgrove much more than full! Tech's Mobile Disco moves onto Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory album, then for the cruise along the Cross City South line it's Scott Majestik's Acid Dreams, which really got the blood pumping! No working facilities on 170631 was less than welcome, naturally a complaint on Twitter followed this discovery. An on time arrival at 1137 resulted in me discovering 170523 and 170117 on the 1149 to Nottingham. However, shortly before this, I made a most annoying observation...
390114 on the 1150 to Wolverhampton! Oh if only I had had time to run back upstairs and buy a ticket to Sandwell and Dudley to finally clear the 390s for haulage! Sadly it will have to wait for another day, I have to head to foreign territory. Off we go on time and I discover it's been so long since I had 170523 I never recorded which coach I did on it, so technically both are required! 79523 will also have to wait for another day. A most welcome PNB on this rather fast 170 run, with just calls at Tamworth, Burton on Trent and Derby. I would love a coffee right now, something to do asap! At Derby I spot 47812 and 56312, guess which I was drooling over [not literally! - Ed] the most? If you guessed 56312 then you win, the prize being that you know me only too well! I then see an EMT HST with 43059 and 43047 on an Etches Park to Nottingham ECS move. Remember, I'm sitting on an irritatingly rattly XC 170, and I'm looking at an HST, having had the opportunity to do one with GWR today robbed from me thanks to ATW [nope, even 24 hours later I'm still bitter about that! - Ed], so I'm staring at 43047 and wishing I could run over to the sidings and jump on! I may not be an HST basher these days, indeed it's been almost 6 years since I stopped that, but I do have a soft spot for them still.
Anyway, enough of that, let's snap back to reality. I finally arrive at 1300 into Nottingham, on time, and I march to the tram stop which has now relocated to the southside of the station. No stopping for coffee, no hanging around, let's get the show on the road! In case it's not obvious by now, I've come up here to do the two new tram lines with NET, those being Clifton South [I can't help but think of Bristol and Clifton Down - Ed] and Toton Lane. I start the show with winner for everything 234, one of the new Alstom trams, and head towards Clifton Down, sorry South. The rain is still relentless, but I persist with scoring shacks as I go, as foolish as that may seem! Wilford Village gets the dubious honour of being the first shack score of 2016, and 5 minutes later I join winner 221 for a Bus Stop Bash to Meadows Embankment, where I am fortunate to have a swift +1 onto dud 204, one of the Bombardier trams from the original batch. Good grief, that reminds me how it won't be long now until it was 12 years since my original visit to Nottingham for a NET bash. Hold on, nostalgia's got hold of me...
Off this time at Rivergreen into the nasty weather, and 234 is back for another Bus Stop Bash, this time a few chains down the road to Southchurch Drive North. Winner 227 is up 2 minutes later to take me onto Summerwood Lane, and I get 227 again 5 minutes later after its swift turnaround at Clifton South, this time it's another Bus Stop Bash to Holy Trinity. Winner for everything 218 takes me to the end of the line, and having seen an advert on the trams for cafes 7 days a week at Clifton South and Toton Lane, I was prepared to let 218 carry on without me in the name of finally getting a coffee. Ha ha ha, no it's apparently still Frothmas for these guys, January is 3 days old now guys, when in January do you intend to open then? Much grr! Oh well, I just had time for a quick photo [and I mean quick, we were back out within 2 minutes! - Ed] stop before jumping back on 218 which took me to Clifton Centre.
I need caffeine of some sort, and despite not wanting to touch the stuff today [I've had too much of it over Frothmas and New Year at work - Ed] I pop into McColls here and grab a Rockstar Xdurance Blue and a bottle of Rubicon Mango. Winner for everything 232 takes me onwards, and now the rain has finally stopped! Compton Acres is next, and as I have 10 minutes for the next tram I easily manage to walk along the pavement back to Ruddington Lane, when the rain decided to start again. 5 minutes later I was there and winner 229 takes me to Queens Walk. That clears the track and all shacks on this branch, and it took less than 2 hours, happy days! 221 is a dud 'un for the leap back to Nottingham Station [note it's no longer Station Street - Ed] where a most welcome PNB was had and 20p was very well spent!
Winner 214 is next and it's time to attack the Toton Lane line. You've probably all got images of the tram ending right next to Toton TMD too, sadly that's far from reality. I bail at Middle Street, as I notice a +1 is available on an island platform here. Rather spiffing decision that was too, as winner for everything 233 takes on a Bus Stop Bash to University Boulevard. Winner 208 is up next to Bramcote Lane, and handily it's only a 3 minute walk back to Cator Lane! Winner 232 arrives as I do to take me to High Road - Central College. 223 denies a dip into the red ink for the trip to the end of the line, as by now it's getting rather dim out and I want to get the line done while I can still see out the window. I only just manage that, and after a quick PNB I join 208 again for a trip out of the other platform and I'm off at Inham Road.
You've probably lost count of the shack scores by now, which is most understandable as I had to check several times during the day myself. Including the terminus stops, out of 27 I was now on number 20 and I was determined to finish the last 7 before 1800. By now it's 1610 so it's certainly doable! 223 is back again and I'm off to Chilwell Road. There's plenty of time to kill so after consulting the local map I walk to Beeston Centre. Winner for everything 226 is next up which takes me to University of Nottingham. 4 more to go, and a +0 is made onto winner 213 for a leap to University Boulevard. Yes I've already done it but it was a handy filler move and got me a winner in! Winner 211 takes me to Queens Medical Centre, where I start planning properly tomorrow's moves. Time will tell ladies and gentlemen, as I still haven't decided myself! Winner 231 is next for the trip to Gregory Street, and my good fortune continues here as winner 220 is up for the leap to NG2. One more to go, and dud 225 takes me up the road [quite literally - Ed] to Meadows Way West. Job done, mission accomplished, victory! All 27 of the new tram stops and both routes are now cleared! 213 is back now to take me to Old Market Square, it's tea time let alone lunch time!
Burger King saves the day and conveniently very close to the tram stop, £7.29 I have my supersize Bacon Double Cheeseburger XL meal. What was a surprise was having Dr Pepper as well as all sorts of weird and wonderful drinks in the drink filling machine! If it had been my first Burger King meal I'd not be going back though, terrible service and the fries were re-cooked and the burger not hot enough. Disappointing for the first one of the year! During the meal, I noted 205 running to Hucknall, one I obviously missed earlier. Out with the timetable then to go find it, and after about 20 minutes of festering in case of other winners I might have missed, I was just giving up and heading to The Forest anyway. Then I noticed this one in front of me was 237, a winner! Wahey! Off to The Forest then to intercept 205, and Fester Mode got engaged. As soon as I declared this on Twitter however, winner 216 turned up, a quick rush to the northbound platform as I knew I should have time for an insect leap up the road to Noel Street, then walk back to The Forest.
With that one out of the way, I reset the deckchair and await the Bombardier tram of choice to show up. In the interim, 203 has also shown up on a Hucknall. Another one to go after then! Thankfully winner 205 shows up and I take it to High School for a walk down the hill to base camp, tonight this is Park Hotel, Waverley Street, Nottingham. I booked this last night for £40 for a single bed room including breakfast, not bad in my eyes. First impressions are good, but I'll review this one properly in the accommodations reviews thread. After a more than welcome PNB [I frigging hate tram bashing after a while for that reason! - Ed] which was a very key reason not to go racing up towards Hucknall for 203, I head to Nottingham Trent University to board 223 yet again to The Forest where I have 10 minutes before winner 203 is due. Thankfully it stuck to plan and I have got a massive 19 winners today, only 6 trams on NET left to go. A rather good start to the year it has to be said!
Back at the hotel, I spend ages on the forum after watching some Big Bang Theory, but I do eventually get on with hammering out this trip report! Tech's Mobile Disco has a new favourite tune today, Nightcore's Every Time We Touch. I can see why my brother has it on his Spotify! I finally get caught up with this by 2359, so let's fire out some stats:
Winners: 19
Shack scores: 27
New track: Clifton South to Nottingham Station and Toton Lane to Nottingham Station
Cost of fares: £53.70
Hotel ching: £40
General expenditure: £13.27
Total: £106.97
Fantastic start to 2016, now let's see what Day 2 can produce...
04/01/2016 - Tech's It All Started With A Big Bang 2016, Day 2
When the alarm went off at 0700, I was very much wondering where on Earth I was [after all, I didn't get to sleep until 0100 - Ed] and what was going on! Thankfully a few minutes I'm in the world of living and not liking my alarm today. Regardless, a thorough de-rance is required and all feels better afterwards. Breakfast time following a bag prep, and it's a good meal, being freshly cooked to order. Now I really do feel better! In a bid to decide what to do today, I pop outside for some tram spotting. 219 is spotted, which has me set, I'm going to do a Kangaroo. No that's not some weird jargon and basher speak, it's a local ticket valid on all trams, buses and trains in the Greater Nottingham area. It's a bargain for £4.50 it must be said, and now I've used one I would definitely use it again! A walk to Nottingham Trent University [which I kept going to wrire as Trent Valley! - Ed] starts me on a bit of a fester for any other winners, and it's not too long before winner for everything 230 turns up, excellent. I bail at High School after some tram thrash up the hill, and it's back to festering, having noted Alstom 235 for sight and noting it too went to Clifton South.
Again I'm not here too long before I need to run over to the other side for winner 206, my last Bombardier tram for haulage. Doing rather well this morning, good thing I didn't simply head into town! At The Forest, I'm festering for a while before I decide to head into town, as it won't be long until 219 is due back. 213 puts the red pen back into the pocket for the run to Old Market Square. I timed that well, as I'm only here for 3 minutes before winner 219 arrives. Yet another insect leap, this time to Royal Centre, and by chance I land winner for everything 218 so naturally I'm off to Nottingham Trent University again. By now I'm down to 2 more trams to get, and I know 235 is out. Twitter to the rescue, and sadly NET confirm my fear that 236 is not out today. Gutting, and as Mr 159 reminds me it's like Blackpool all over again! Oh well, 235 is due to be heading north again so I jump on 206 again to Old Market Square, where I have a 7 minute fester. As expected, winner 235 is here and it's one last leap for the day to Royal Centre. 24 winner trams from 25 requirements in less than 24 hours is mighty fine going in my eyes!
201 takes me to Nottingham Station, and it's time to get on the mainline trains again, after a well spent 20p PNB first. Carlton is an annoying hourly service shack, and it's not long until a train heads that way. It's a long walk from the barriers to platform 4 [it never used to be, but the remodelling means that the old 4 is now 5, 5 is now 6 and 6 is now 7 - Ed] and I only make it by a couple of minutes. Then we're late leaving, and later still I get very curious as to why. It's not long before I see why, 60024 is on westbound tanks and is in our way. Oh it's been ages since I last heard that sound of a 60 on a heavy freight! We eventually leave on dud 156403, now a Super Dud, 8 minutes late. This meant that while I only had a few minutes to wait to head back into town, there was also not enough time to walk to Netherfield and score that shack too. However it's a good thing I didn't flag the move back, as it was winner 156415. My first mainline winner of the year! Off I go, now I have confirmation of being valid to Attenborough via EMT on Twitter. This 156 is certainly more lively and enjoyable than 156403 was, most satisfied about that. I only have a +3 here as it turns out, which I make but it was getting close. Dud 158813, now a Super Dud, takes me back into town.
Ooh, 222016 is a winner and is gettable on the 1105 to The Pan via a Beeston leap, excellent! During the eait for departure, I shove my phone on charge for a top-up, and at Beeston a +0 turned into a +6 due to a delay further south, eventually becoming a +8. Sadly it's dud 222021, never mind. Back in Nottingham, I watch an HST leave and that smell from 43064 as it left had me intoxicated in memories and a desire to bellow! My next move was discovered by chance, as I had scored 6 of the 8 HST trailers on this set for this, and I'm conveniently in place to get on winner 156497 for another Beeston leap. 5 more Derby-allocated 156s to go now then, and I spy 156413 on Robin Hood Line services, can I get back to score it?
Like heck can I, there was a +15 off 156497 for the next train back from Beeston, and my train of choice was at 1155 from Nottingham. Much grr! I decide to flag 170398 and await the next two EMT services instead. Super Dud 156414 was next, so I stay put and am rewarded by winner 222104, happy days! I happen to bump into a spotter here, and he tells me about the 56s and company on Leicester. I didn't know anything of interest was on Leicester these days to be honest! I also watch 43089 fire up and it's been a long time since I last did that. I decide I'm sick of Nottingham and jump on 43089 and 43061 for a trip south. Oh the noise, my lordz it's been way too long! Big beaming smiles from me that's for sure.
I was going to carry on to Leicester and beyond, buying an extra ticket south of Leicester of course, but I changed plans and bailed at East Midlands Parkway. Why? Logic dictated that shack scoring on the local ones between Loughborough and Leicester would be cheaper and a better use of my time. Cheaper it was, but not a better use of my time! Read on to find out why...Super Dud 158812 is up next for the slow and very tedious journey to Syston, and I have it again, after buying a day return to Barrow upon Soar for £3.40, to Barrow-upon-Soar for another shack scratch. A +20 here finally passes and I'm expecting a 156. Nope, 158863 for me, which at least allows me to score 52863 out of it [I'm assuming I had it as part of a pair once - Ed] on the short trip to Sileby. That's all shacks Carlton to Leicester now done, but I have an hour here to kill. Fortunately I happened to notice a Tesco Express on the way through earlier, just as well as I haven't eaten since around 0800! A meal deal is sourced, as is a bottle of Timothy Taylor's Landlord. It's back to the station, only a few minutes' walk from Tesco, to devour the food while Tech's Mobile Disco is back on. The beer was originally for later, but I end up devouring it here, and oh my lordz it was nice stuff. Top marks on Untappd from me, which has now got 155 unique brews logged. 45 to go to hit my target for 2016 then!
Eventually the time passes and I join Super Dud 156414 to Leicester. This 156 when under power sounds nice and healthy but makes a strange sound when idling. The only way I can describe it is like a Voyager rattle but more metal-like. Glad I wasn't on it for long! A brief wander outside the station just because I could, I head back downstairs and visit Pumpkin for a large coffee. Just after I got that, I see 43050 spewing out plenty of black clag, oh my! Super Dud 170104 eventually arrives and to my massive surprise, I find a seat easily. More shockingly, I got a table to myself! Out comes the tablet and Tech's Mobile Disco is back on for the trek to Birmingham. I manage to tap away up to East Midlands Parkway before it was time to prepare for alighting, and I arrive at 1643. I spy a 390 on platform 2 and I just hope like crazy it's not 390114. I discover after it left that it wasn't, it was 390122. Phew! So, what to do for an hour before my onward train home?
"But Tech, you could have got the 1649 to Hereford" I hear you say. There was no point in doing that, as it is a -5 or so onto the bus home, leaving me with something like a +140 for the next one. Believe me, it's hard finding anything to do for that long in Hereford! I end up in Costa, the logic being I can do Bull Street's new tram stop and the new track when the extension to New Street finally opens. As the stop at New Street is still nowhere near completion, that indicates we've got a fair ol' wait yet! I therefore get into the warm, enduring the usual miserable baristas here, and it's back out with the tablet and some more Green Day in the ear canals. I'm finally back up to date with this by 1720, so I'd best head back to the Bat Cave shortly for more 170 noise home. Unless a 153 is tagged on of course...
Some delays in force tonight, more than usual, with the 1739 to Derby being held up for several minutes as per usual [high time they retimed that to stop it always being late! - Ed] and Starships 207 and 216 get the peg ahead of the 1749 to Hereford, which is boasting 4 coaches. Drat, no 153 today then. I need the two motor coaches on Starship 207, so once the green was given to them I jumped on. Both of them sounded rather healthy tonight, unlike the Starships I had last month! 65007 scored to University then, a rather nice little Thriller Filler, before I join rammed 170501+170515 home. Standing to Bromsgrove no surprise, the journey that far being drastically brightened up by Nightcore - Every Time We Touch, several times!
I need to get on with the moves book, once there's some room that will be started upon. Weird Al's Polka Face and Alice Cooper's Poison are on next while I start totting up the stats for Day 2. There's also some Pendulum in there before Worcester, beyond which I'll have lousy signal so it's back to using what I have on Google Play. Which I can't wait to get rid of, but that's another story altogether! Once back in Hereford, it's off to Yates to check out their deals. Some bargain drinks bought, by chance I discover they're closing st 2000 tonight due to it being quiet. Not a problem for me but it would be for my sister who's on the way down from work at 2000! Spoons it is for food then, and I go for that hellfire beef and Doom Bar ale pie, chips and peas. My beer was some exclusive brew to Spoons, one of their internationaal brewer showcase things, but it was citrusy! Who puts citrus flavours in beer, it's just daft!
The more important issue though was waiting for the bus. After 32 minutes of waiting for it, there was no sign of it. 20 minutes after it was meant to leave, we get in touch with Mum. As it's still not turned up, apparently it had broke down somewhere in Hereford, at 2120, she leaves to come and pick us up. Eventually the inward working of the bus passes us at 2148, 100 minutes late. By then our lift home was only a few minutes away, and the bus is still 68 minutes late leaving again! Arrival home is finally at 2238, around 40 minutes later than I should normally be home. As I was beyond shattered by now, I delay posting the trip report, which I finish updating on Wednesday morning before I leave for work.
So here's today's stats:
Winners: 9
Shack scores: 5
New sights: 11
Rail fares: £7.90
General expenditure: £17.37
Total: £25.27
What a fine start to 2016! For the record, I now need 2,372 trains and light rail vehicles in the UK, will I get that number down terribly drastically before the end of the year? I'm hoping to get it under 2,000 but we'll see!
EDIT: You may find this was a long read, it is because it was 6 pages in the word processor!
03/01/2016 - Tech's It All Started With A Big Bang 2016, Day 1
Welcome to 2016 and the first trip of the year! It's been 19 days since my last trip, but it feels like much longer than that, what with the chaos of Frothmas and New Year at work! I had re-planned last night to head today to London, but ATW bowled me out by cancelling the 1009 Hereford to Fishguard Harbour between Hereford and Cardiff Central. Apparently this was due to a lack of train crew, so imagine my disapproval at this when I was booking tickets! Yes I could have gone via Birmingham, but with LM it was going to be a very slow journey and I couldn't be doing with that. I found some very reasonable fares to Liverpool, and I was seriously toying with that, but I decided to stick to the plan and do Nottingham. A hotel was found for £40 including breakfast in Nottingham, that will do nicely. £49.70 on top of that for an Off Peak Return to Nottingham, and yes it will let me go via Leicester as well as Derby so that will do quite nicely. I was getting a lift into town since my Mum was already taking my sister in for work, otherwise I'd have not been going today.
So it was on, my first trip of the year was booked! It was then time to prep the bag, and unsurprisingly I'm struggling to sleep, finally getting there around 0230. De-rancification after not loving my alarm at 0800, and after breakfast I'm ready to rock and roll. It's been a long time coming, that's for sure! I suspect some of you will be wondering about the trip title and what it's about. It should come as no surprise that I'm a fan of The Big Bang Theory on TV, and this trip was all about starting the year in style [I'm not sure anyone would count a 170 as luxury, when a 175 and HST were originally planned - Ed] instead of just doing a West Midlands day. You could say that I wanted to start 2016 with a big bang, which is basically what inspired the trip title.
The weather is rancid today with heavy rain, oh well I will have to make do. The queue for the TVM is quite long today, but after 8 minutes I have my tickets picked up, purchasing last night to get 98 Nectar points [got to start preparing for Frothmas after all... - Ed] in. ATW put on a rail replacement coach for the 1009 to Fishguard Harbour, but with stopping everywhere it would have been a long slow journey to Newport, and getting to London much later than originally planned. There's also the fact I wouldn't want to start the year on a coach if I could help it! The first train of 2016's bashing fell to 170631 on the 1006 Hereford to Birmingham New Street. Looks like it will be another LM-heavy, 170 infested year! Time for Tech's Mobile Disco to kick in, with Jay Z vs Linkin Park's Collision Course album on first, followed by Linkin Park's Meteora album. For the uniniated, this 2003 album [it surely can't be that old - Ed] is another classic Linkin Park production, with a favourite on this one being Faint, with other classics like Easier To Run, Breaking The Habit and of course Numb.
Rather glad this train is a 3-car one, it's very busy after Malvern and had a very healthy load out of Hereford today! After Worcester we're full and after Bromsgrove much more than full! Tech's Mobile Disco moves onto Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory album, then for the cruise along the Cross City South line it's Scott Majestik's Acid Dreams, which really got the blood pumping! No working facilities on 170631 was less than welcome, naturally a complaint on Twitter followed this discovery. An on time arrival at 1137 resulted in me discovering 170523 and 170117 on the 1149 to Nottingham. However, shortly before this, I made a most annoying observation...
390114 on the 1150 to Wolverhampton! Oh if only I had had time to run back upstairs and buy a ticket to Sandwell and Dudley to finally clear the 390s for haulage! Sadly it will have to wait for another day, I have to head to foreign territory. Off we go on time and I discover it's been so long since I had 170523 I never recorded which coach I did on it, so technically both are required! 79523 will also have to wait for another day. A most welcome PNB on this rather fast 170 run, with just calls at Tamworth, Burton on Trent and Derby. I would love a coffee right now, something to do asap! At Derby I spot 47812 and 56312, guess which I was drooling over [not literally! - Ed] the most? If you guessed 56312 then you win, the prize being that you know me only too well! I then see an EMT HST with 43059 and 43047 on an Etches Park to Nottingham ECS move. Remember, I'm sitting on an irritatingly rattly XC 170, and I'm looking at an HST, having had the opportunity to do one with GWR today robbed from me thanks to ATW [nope, even 24 hours later I'm still bitter about that! - Ed], so I'm staring at 43047 and wishing I could run over to the sidings and jump on! I may not be an HST basher these days, indeed it's been almost 6 years since I stopped that, but I do have a soft spot for them still.
Anyway, enough of that, let's snap back to reality. I finally arrive at 1300 into Nottingham, on time, and I march to the tram stop which has now relocated to the southside of the station. No stopping for coffee, no hanging around, let's get the show on the road! In case it's not obvious by now, I've come up here to do the two new tram lines with NET, those being Clifton South [I can't help but think of Bristol and Clifton Down - Ed] and Toton Lane. I start the show with winner for everything 234, one of the new Alstom trams, and head towards Clifton Down, sorry South. The rain is still relentless, but I persist with scoring shacks as I go, as foolish as that may seem! Wilford Village gets the dubious honour of being the first shack score of 2016, and 5 minutes later I join winner 221 for a Bus Stop Bash to Meadows Embankment, where I am fortunate to have a swift +1 onto dud 204, one of the Bombardier trams from the original batch. Good grief, that reminds me how it won't be long now until it was 12 years since my original visit to Nottingham for a NET bash. Hold on, nostalgia's got hold of me...
Off this time at Rivergreen into the nasty weather, and 234 is back for another Bus Stop Bash, this time a few chains down the road to Southchurch Drive North. Winner 227 is up 2 minutes later to take me onto Summerwood Lane, and I get 227 again 5 minutes later after its swift turnaround at Clifton South, this time it's another Bus Stop Bash to Holy Trinity. Winner for everything 218 takes me to the end of the line, and having seen an advert on the trams for cafes 7 days a week at Clifton South and Toton Lane, I was prepared to let 218 carry on without me in the name of finally getting a coffee. Ha ha ha, no it's apparently still Frothmas for these guys, January is 3 days old now guys, when in January do you intend to open then? Much grr! Oh well, I just had time for a quick photo [and I mean quick, we were back out within 2 minutes! - Ed] stop before jumping back on 218 which took me to Clifton Centre.
I need caffeine of some sort, and despite not wanting to touch the stuff today [I've had too much of it over Frothmas and New Year at work - Ed] I pop into McColls here and grab a Rockstar Xdurance Blue and a bottle of Rubicon Mango. Winner for everything 232 takes me onwards, and now the rain has finally stopped! Compton Acres is next, and as I have 10 minutes for the next tram I easily manage to walk along the pavement back to Ruddington Lane, when the rain decided to start again. 5 minutes later I was there and winner 229 takes me to Queens Walk. That clears the track and all shacks on this branch, and it took less than 2 hours, happy days! 221 is a dud 'un for the leap back to Nottingham Station [note it's no longer Station Street - Ed] where a most welcome PNB was had and 20p was very well spent!
Winner 214 is next and it's time to attack the Toton Lane line. You've probably all got images of the tram ending right next to Toton TMD too, sadly that's far from reality. I bail at Middle Street, as I notice a +1 is available on an island platform here. Rather spiffing decision that was too, as winner for everything 233 takes on a Bus Stop Bash to University Boulevard. Winner 208 is up next to Bramcote Lane, and handily it's only a 3 minute walk back to Cator Lane! Winner 232 arrives as I do to take me to High Road - Central College. 223 denies a dip into the red ink for the trip to the end of the line, as by now it's getting rather dim out and I want to get the line done while I can still see out the window. I only just manage that, and after a quick PNB I join 208 again for a trip out of the other platform and I'm off at Inham Road.
You've probably lost count of the shack scores by now, which is most understandable as I had to check several times during the day myself. Including the terminus stops, out of 27 I was now on number 20 and I was determined to finish the last 7 before 1800. By now it's 1610 so it's certainly doable! 223 is back again and I'm off to Chilwell Road. There's plenty of time to kill so after consulting the local map I walk to Beeston Centre. Winner for everything 226 is next up which takes me to University of Nottingham. 4 more to go, and a +0 is made onto winner 213 for a leap to University Boulevard. Yes I've already done it but it was a handy filler move and got me a winner in! Winner 211 takes me to Queens Medical Centre, where I start planning properly tomorrow's moves. Time will tell ladies and gentlemen, as I still haven't decided myself! Winner 231 is next for the trip to Gregory Street, and my good fortune continues here as winner 220 is up for the leap to NG2. One more to go, and dud 225 takes me up the road [quite literally - Ed] to Meadows Way West. Job done, mission accomplished, victory! All 27 of the new tram stops and both routes are now cleared! 213 is back now to take me to Old Market Square, it's tea time let alone lunch time!
Burger King saves the day and conveniently very close to the tram stop, £7.29 I have my supersize Bacon Double Cheeseburger XL meal. What was a surprise was having Dr Pepper as well as all sorts of weird and wonderful drinks in the drink filling machine! If it had been my first Burger King meal I'd not be going back though, terrible service and the fries were re-cooked and the burger not hot enough. Disappointing for the first one of the year! During the meal, I noted 205 running to Hucknall, one I obviously missed earlier. Out with the timetable then to go find it, and after about 20 minutes of festering in case of other winners I might have missed, I was just giving up and heading to The Forest anyway. Then I noticed this one in front of me was 237, a winner! Wahey! Off to The Forest then to intercept 205, and Fester Mode got engaged. As soon as I declared this on Twitter however, winner 216 turned up, a quick rush to the northbound platform as I knew I should have time for an insect leap up the road to Noel Street, then walk back to The Forest.
With that one out of the way, I reset the deckchair and await the Bombardier tram of choice to show up. In the interim, 203 has also shown up on a Hucknall. Another one to go after then! Thankfully winner 205 shows up and I take it to High School for a walk down the hill to base camp, tonight this is Park Hotel, Waverley Street, Nottingham. I booked this last night for £40 for a single bed room including breakfast, not bad in my eyes. First impressions are good, but I'll review this one properly in the accommodations reviews thread. After a more than welcome PNB [I frigging hate tram bashing after a while for that reason! - Ed] which was a very key reason not to go racing up towards Hucknall for 203, I head to Nottingham Trent University to board 223 yet again to The Forest where I have 10 minutes before winner 203 is due. Thankfully it stuck to plan and I have got a massive 19 winners today, only 6 trams on NET left to go. A rather good start to the year it has to be said!
Back at the hotel, I spend ages on the forum after watching some Big Bang Theory, but I do eventually get on with hammering out this trip report! Tech's Mobile Disco has a new favourite tune today, Nightcore's Every Time We Touch. I can see why my brother has it on his Spotify! I finally get caught up with this by 2359, so let's fire out some stats:
Winners: 19
Shack scores: 27
New track: Clifton South to Nottingham Station and Toton Lane to Nottingham Station
Cost of fares: £53.70
Hotel ching: £40
General expenditure: £13.27
Total: £106.97
Fantastic start to 2016, now let's see what Day 2 can produce...
04/01/2016 - Tech's It All Started With A Big Bang 2016, Day 2
When the alarm went off at 0700, I was very much wondering where on Earth I was [after all, I didn't get to sleep until 0100 - Ed] and what was going on! Thankfully a few minutes I'm in the world of living and not liking my alarm today. Regardless, a thorough de-rance is required and all feels better afterwards. Breakfast time following a bag prep, and it's a good meal, being freshly cooked to order. Now I really do feel better! In a bid to decide what to do today, I pop outside for some tram spotting. 219 is spotted, which has me set, I'm going to do a Kangaroo. No that's not some weird jargon and basher speak, it's a local ticket valid on all trams, buses and trains in the Greater Nottingham area. It's a bargain for £4.50 it must be said, and now I've used one I would definitely use it again! A walk to Nottingham Trent University [which I kept going to wrire as Trent Valley! - Ed] starts me on a bit of a fester for any other winners, and it's not too long before winner for everything 230 turns up, excellent. I bail at High School after some tram thrash up the hill, and it's back to festering, having noted Alstom 235 for sight and noting it too went to Clifton South.
Again I'm not here too long before I need to run over to the other side for winner 206, my last Bombardier tram for haulage. Doing rather well this morning, good thing I didn't simply head into town! At The Forest, I'm festering for a while before I decide to head into town, as it won't be long until 219 is due back. 213 puts the red pen back into the pocket for the run to Old Market Square. I timed that well, as I'm only here for 3 minutes before winner 219 arrives. Yet another insect leap, this time to Royal Centre, and by chance I land winner for everything 218 so naturally I'm off to Nottingham Trent University again. By now I'm down to 2 more trams to get, and I know 235 is out. Twitter to the rescue, and sadly NET confirm my fear that 236 is not out today. Gutting, and as Mr 159 reminds me it's like Blackpool all over again! Oh well, 235 is due to be heading north again so I jump on 206 again to Old Market Square, where I have a 7 minute fester. As expected, winner 235 is here and it's one last leap for the day to Royal Centre. 24 winner trams from 25 requirements in less than 24 hours is mighty fine going in my eyes!
201 takes me to Nottingham Station, and it's time to get on the mainline trains again, after a well spent 20p PNB first. Carlton is an annoying hourly service shack, and it's not long until a train heads that way. It's a long walk from the barriers to platform 4 [it never used to be, but the remodelling means that the old 4 is now 5, 5 is now 6 and 6 is now 7 - Ed] and I only make it by a couple of minutes. Then we're late leaving, and later still I get very curious as to why. It's not long before I see why, 60024 is on westbound tanks and is in our way. Oh it's been ages since I last heard that sound of a 60 on a heavy freight! We eventually leave on dud 156403, now a Super Dud, 8 minutes late. This meant that while I only had a few minutes to wait to head back into town, there was also not enough time to walk to Netherfield and score that shack too. However it's a good thing I didn't flag the move back, as it was winner 156415. My first mainline winner of the year! Off I go, now I have confirmation of being valid to Attenborough via EMT on Twitter. This 156 is certainly more lively and enjoyable than 156403 was, most satisfied about that. I only have a +3 here as it turns out, which I make but it was getting close. Dud 158813, now a Super Dud, takes me back into town.
Ooh, 222016 is a winner and is gettable on the 1105 to The Pan via a Beeston leap, excellent! During the eait for departure, I shove my phone on charge for a top-up, and at Beeston a +0 turned into a +6 due to a delay further south, eventually becoming a +8. Sadly it's dud 222021, never mind. Back in Nottingham, I watch an HST leave and that smell from 43064 as it left had me intoxicated in memories and a desire to bellow! My next move was discovered by chance, as I had scored 6 of the 8 HST trailers on this set for this, and I'm conveniently in place to get on winner 156497 for another Beeston leap. 5 more Derby-allocated 156s to go now then, and I spy 156413 on Robin Hood Line services, can I get back to score it?
Like heck can I, there was a +15 off 156497 for the next train back from Beeston, and my train of choice was at 1155 from Nottingham. Much grr! I decide to flag 170398 and await the next two EMT services instead. Super Dud 156414 was next, so I stay put and am rewarded by winner 222104, happy days! I happen to bump into a spotter here, and he tells me about the 56s and company on Leicester. I didn't know anything of interest was on Leicester these days to be honest! I also watch 43089 fire up and it's been a long time since I last did that. I decide I'm sick of Nottingham and jump on 43089 and 43061 for a trip south. Oh the noise, my lordz it's been way too long! Big beaming smiles from me that's for sure.
I was going to carry on to Leicester and beyond, buying an extra ticket south of Leicester of course, but I changed plans and bailed at East Midlands Parkway. Why? Logic dictated that shack scoring on the local ones between Loughborough and Leicester would be cheaper and a better use of my time. Cheaper it was, but not a better use of my time! Read on to find out why...Super Dud 158812 is up next for the slow and very tedious journey to Syston, and I have it again, after buying a day return to Barrow upon Soar for £3.40, to Barrow-upon-Soar for another shack scratch. A +20 here finally passes and I'm expecting a 156. Nope, 158863 for me, which at least allows me to score 52863 out of it [I'm assuming I had it as part of a pair once - Ed] on the short trip to Sileby. That's all shacks Carlton to Leicester now done, but I have an hour here to kill. Fortunately I happened to notice a Tesco Express on the way through earlier, just as well as I haven't eaten since around 0800! A meal deal is sourced, as is a bottle of Timothy Taylor's Landlord. It's back to the station, only a few minutes' walk from Tesco, to devour the food while Tech's Mobile Disco is back on. The beer was originally for later, but I end up devouring it here, and oh my lordz it was nice stuff. Top marks on Untappd from me, which has now got 155 unique brews logged. 45 to go to hit my target for 2016 then!
Eventually the time passes and I join Super Dud 156414 to Leicester. This 156 when under power sounds nice and healthy but makes a strange sound when idling. The only way I can describe it is like a Voyager rattle but more metal-like. Glad I wasn't on it for long! A brief wander outside the station just because I could, I head back downstairs and visit Pumpkin for a large coffee. Just after I got that, I see 43050 spewing out plenty of black clag, oh my! Super Dud 170104 eventually arrives and to my massive surprise, I find a seat easily. More shockingly, I got a table to myself! Out comes the tablet and Tech's Mobile Disco is back on for the trek to Birmingham. I manage to tap away up to East Midlands Parkway before it was time to prepare for alighting, and I arrive at 1643. I spy a 390 on platform 2 and I just hope like crazy it's not 390114. I discover after it left that it wasn't, it was 390122. Phew! So, what to do for an hour before my onward train home?
"But Tech, you could have got the 1649 to Hereford" I hear you say. There was no point in doing that, as it is a -5 or so onto the bus home, leaving me with something like a +140 for the next one. Believe me, it's hard finding anything to do for that long in Hereford! I end up in Costa, the logic being I can do Bull Street's new tram stop and the new track when the extension to New Street finally opens. As the stop at New Street is still nowhere near completion, that indicates we've got a fair ol' wait yet! I therefore get into the warm, enduring the usual miserable baristas here, and it's back out with the tablet and some more Green Day in the ear canals. I'm finally back up to date with this by 1720, so I'd best head back to the Bat Cave shortly for more 170 noise home. Unless a 153 is tagged on of course...
Some delays in force tonight, more than usual, with the 1739 to Derby being held up for several minutes as per usual [high time they retimed that to stop it always being late! - Ed] and Starships 207 and 216 get the peg ahead of the 1749 to Hereford, which is boasting 4 coaches. Drat, no 153 today then. I need the two motor coaches on Starship 207, so once the green was given to them I jumped on. Both of them sounded rather healthy tonight, unlike the Starships I had last month! 65007 scored to University then, a rather nice little Thriller Filler, before I join rammed 170501+170515 home. Standing to Bromsgrove no surprise, the journey that far being drastically brightened up by Nightcore - Every Time We Touch, several times!
I need to get on with the moves book, once there's some room that will be started upon. Weird Al's Polka Face and Alice Cooper's Poison are on next while I start totting up the stats for Day 2. There's also some Pendulum in there before Worcester, beyond which I'll have lousy signal so it's back to using what I have on Google Play. Which I can't wait to get rid of, but that's another story altogether! Once back in Hereford, it's off to Yates to check out their deals. Some bargain drinks bought, by chance I discover they're closing st 2000 tonight due to it being quiet. Not a problem for me but it would be for my sister who's on the way down from work at 2000! Spoons it is for food then, and I go for that hellfire beef and Doom Bar ale pie, chips and peas. My beer was some exclusive brew to Spoons, one of their internationaal brewer showcase things, but it was citrusy! Who puts citrus flavours in beer, it's just daft!
The more important issue though was waiting for the bus. After 32 minutes of waiting for it, there was no sign of it. 20 minutes after it was meant to leave, we get in touch with Mum. As it's still not turned up, apparently it had broke down somewhere in Hereford, at 2120, she leaves to come and pick us up. Eventually the inward working of the bus passes us at 2148, 100 minutes late. By then our lift home was only a few minutes away, and the bus is still 68 minutes late leaving again! Arrival home is finally at 2238, around 40 minutes later than I should normally be home. As I was beyond shattered by now, I delay posting the trip report, which I finish updating on Wednesday morning before I leave for work.
So here's today's stats:
Winners: 9
Shack scores: 5
New sights: 11
Rail fares: £7.90
General expenditure: £17.37
Total: £25.27
What a fine start to 2016! For the record, I now need 2,372 trains and light rail vehicles in the UK, will I get that number down terribly drastically before the end of the year? I'm hoping to get it under 2,000 but we'll see!
EDIT: You may find this was a long read, it is because it was 6 pages in the word processor!
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Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,132
First past the post at finishing this epic read, I see! A great start to the year Tech, congrats on almost clearing NET for everything. Like I said, no doubt that last tram is infuriating..!
I applaud your taste in music again! Linkin Park was a favourite of mine during my school days and that Nightcore track is banging for sure. I'll send you a link to some decent Eurobeat also
Over 2000 trains is a lot, but surely you must be headed for some kind of Guinness record for "most UK trains bashed" already??
Anyway, great stuff as always
I applaud your taste in music again! Linkin Park was a favourite of mine during my school days and that Nightcore track is banging for sure. I'll send you a link to some decent Eurobeat also
Over 2000 trains is a lot, but surely you must be headed for some kind of Guinness record for "most UK trains bashed" already??
Anyway, great stuff as always
Blindtraveler
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 Feb 2011
- Messages
- 10,543
Whats wrong with Google Play then? I dont envy your starting the year on 170s, but if it helps my last but 1 move of 2015 and 1st of 2016 were both RRBs so you is doing better than me!
Sounds very productive both in terms of winners and new track so definatly the big start you wanted!
Sounds very productive both in terms of winners and new track so definatly the big start you wanted!
Kite159
Veteran Member
A very good day, although if 390114 was only going as far as Wolverhampton, I would have got a ticket to hunt the badger down on its returning journey (assuming it would then form a Wolverhampton - Euston working)
Good day on the NET, Sheffield up next?
Good day on the NET, Sheffield up next?
andyb2706
Member
Great read for your first trip of the year and the amount of needs you needed has inspired me to do a day trip to the NET next Tuesday as like youhad I only have three stations and 4 trams done, will do well for all our totals this year☺. Can't wait for your next report.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
First past the post at finishing this epic read, I see! A great start to the year Tech, congrats on almost clearing NET for everything. Like I said, no doubt that last tram is infuriating..!
I applaud your taste in music again! Linkin Park was a favourite of mine during my school days and that Nightcore track is banging for sure. I'll send you a link to some decent Eurobeat also
Over 2000 trains is a lot, but surely you must be headed for some kind of Guinness record for "most UK trains bashed" already??
Anyway, great stuff as always
Glad you enjoyed the read, yep that last tram is most infuritating! I will be asking on Twitter when I am next in the area if it's out.
I've not had that much yet, but the numbers are coming down! I look forward to receiving that link for the Eurobeat stuff
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It doesn't download songs properly, so a lot of my stuff doesn't play properly which is more than frustrating. It also doesn't have half of the albums I have on CD!
My year definitely started better than yours! A very productive trip indeed, now to keep the good start going!
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I think it was going to Wolverhampton, it sure looked that way but there was no guarantees. Plus I wanted to get to the main event, hopefully 114 will turn up soon enough on a Midlands bash.
Sheffield is certainly being toyed with, might pop up on Monday
backontrack
Established Member
A good read! Looking forward to the next report.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Good lad, I'm already looking forward to that read!
Your trip report inspired me to get up your way asap, indeed it was an original choice for my first trip of 2016 but ATW's strike bowled me out!
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Glad you enjoyed it
All being well another trip report will arrive in the next 7 days. Where I go and what I'll bash is unknown even to me yet, but Kite has given me a good idea!
Kite159
Veteran Member
Come down to London using that £15 Chiltern fare
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Well that's one idea, but then I'm working on several plans. I'll post on my TPP Mode Discussion thread when I have it figured out
alexf380
Established Member
A great read there Tech, and a cracking way to start off the year! Looking forward to the next one!
andyb2706
Member
Let me know when you are up my way and I'll try and meet up with you.
BTW hopefully today's trip report will be up tonight as well. Got a new phone with a bigger screen and finding it a doddle preparing the report as I am out and about and then just transferring it when I get in ☺.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
If I have my way, I'll be up this Sunday and Monday. If not it'll be a possibility later this month.
Good news on the new phone, I got one some time ago and it's been grand so far. Apart from the shocking 02 coverage in my area, but 4G data on my bashes has been wonderful!
Good news on the new phone, I got one some time ago and it's been grand so far. Apart from the shocking 02 coverage in my area, but 4G data on my bashes has been wonderful!
andyb2706
Member
Available either Sunday or Monday at the moment, although I am at a birthday Saturday night but I am trying to cut back on the alcohol after Christmas and New Year. I got the S6 Edge and it is great although I'm with Vodafone and their signal at times is not good.
Keith Jarrett
Member
Tech - you've been out and scored a shed-load of stuff before I even got on the rails this year. Well done! Prior to 2016, it was 2005 when it took me until the 4th day of the new year before I got some rail action in the book. But this year, I'll firmly blame it on the December Challenge. Back to your trip, pity about 390114 - that's going to bug you now but with patience, you'll eventually get the beast in the book.
Seriously, a great read and an excellent way to start 2016. Long may your absence from Normaldom continue.
Nottingham is one place that's in my sights for the earlier part of this year so I was very interested to read your report - I'll just be waiting for slightly lighter days and some decently priced advances on HSTs from St Pancakes. As for a day ticket, I'm uncertain whether to use the Kangaroo ticket or the day rover offered by NET. I suppose it depends whether I want to have the option of rail travel within Nottingham.
Seriously, a great read and an excellent way to start 2016. Long may your absence from Normaldom continue.
Nottingham is one place that's in my sights for the earlier part of this year so I was very interested to read your report - I'll just be waiting for slightly lighter days and some decently priced advances on HSTs from St Pancakes. As for a day ticket, I'm uncertain whether to use the Kangaroo ticket or the day rover offered by NET. I suppose it depends whether I want to have the option of rail travel within Nottingham.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Andy, I'll let you know if I'm coming up. Going to make a decision in the morning, after I've checked my available funds. Expect a PM around 1100!
55013: Yes you should!
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I'm shocked I started my year's bashing before you!
I know one day 390114 will fall, and become the third EMU class to be cleared for haulage, but it's certainly fair to say it's a major itch that needs scratching!
I hope it won't be too long until we get to read one of your brilliant trip reports!
I agree it was a good start, but I did come close to Red Pen Fever on Day 2. My absence from Normaldom needs to be long, I don't fancy a visit to that destination again!
The Kangaroo is just 50p more than a NETwork (tram only) ticket so very much worth it! Boundaries are Attenborough to the west, Carlton/Netherfield to the east and Bulwell to the north on EMT. Hucknall is valid only via tram, although I confess I have no idea why.
I certainly look forward to the read from your visit. Cheap Advances shouldn't be too hard to get up to Nottingham, of course you probably could go via Kings Cross and Grantham, but then you'd get VP185s on the MML. I would certainly use the MML, quite I have plans to do so again soon...
55013: Yes you should!
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I'm shocked I started my year's bashing before you!
I know one day 390114 will fall, and become the third EMU class to be cleared for haulage, but it's certainly fair to say it's a major itch that needs scratching!
I hope it won't be too long until we get to read one of your brilliant trip reports!
I agree it was a good start, but I did come close to Red Pen Fever on Day 2. My absence from Normaldom needs to be long, I don't fancy a visit to that destination again!
The Kangaroo is just 50p more than a NETwork (tram only) ticket so very much worth it! Boundaries are Attenborough to the west, Carlton/Netherfield to the east and Bulwell to the north on EMT. Hucknall is valid only via tram, although I confess I have no idea why.
I certainly look forward to the read from your visit. Cheap Advances shouldn't be too hard to get up to Nottingham, of course you probably could go via Kings Cross and Grantham, but then you'd get VP185s on the MML. I would certainly use the MML, quite I have plans to do so again soon...
jayalongtheway
Member
- Joined
- 31 Oct 2015
- Messages
- 241
Super stuff as usual, lots of detail - great write up of an interesting sounding trip!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Thank you good sir!
I hope your adventure yesterday went well, wnd that a trip report is imminient
jayalongtheway
Member
- Joined
- 31 Oct 2015
- Messages
- 241
Thank you good sir!
I hope your adventure yesterday went well, wnd that a trip report is imminient
Yeah it was fun. I have posted a bit of a report, not up to your standards obviously!
I got the title the moment after seeing it!
A great read and it sounds like a brilliant way to start off 2016! Although I beat you on first train for the year! 170631 (my stupid stalker) for you, 68013 for me!
A great read and it sounds like a brilliant way to start off 2016! Although I beat you on first train for the year! 170631 (my stupid stalker) for you, 68013 for me!
47403
Established Member
Good read there Lord Tram, very productive indeed, real shame 236, didnt produce, just means you'll have to go back and whizz around on HST's again, after you've collared 236 ofcourse. I'm sure that'll be an absolute nightmare for you
but where next for Lord Tram? Im guessing somewhere not overly too far, especially with Noo York on the horizon. So I'll guess the MerseyRail adventure, with Manchester's Trams thrown in the day after.
but where next for Lord Tram? Im guessing somewhere not overly too far, especially with Noo York on the horizon. So I'll guess the MerseyRail adventure, with Manchester's Trams thrown in the day after.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Ah no Lord Spoon Goon of the Tyne, see my TPP Mode thread
Aye you're right, that would be a major nightmare for me
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08/01/2016 - Tech's Random Shropshire Bash
Well this was an unexpected one! An opportunity at work came up to finish early, so as it was a gorgeous day I would have been a fool to turn it down. En-route to the station I remember it's 4 weeks since my last weigh-in so do that, to my imense surprise I've managed to eliminate the excess mass Frothmas and New Year will have provided, happy days for me! The Grand Plan is therefore still live, and I head to the station, via a supply raid for pop and a snack in Morrisons. Much deciding on the moves results in my getting a day return to Shrewsbury, with a further decision due in the 25 minute fester there.
175103 is joined for the 51 mile journey, my first 175 of the year. After consulting RTT Chirk is out, as it's a -1 or a +62 to get one in. Wem and Whitchurch are options according to the timetable, which I check a few times to make sure I got that right. £9.60 later, I have a day return to Whitchurch (Shropshire) and I see 150258 roll in. Little did I know that that was a good thing, but I'll explain shortly. There's a farce brewing, with announcements bellowing not to join it, despite it being the only train around and the signal given. Eventually at 1621 we get told what we all already knew, that this was our train, and we just about make it away on time, with me on to Wem.
1 of the 6 local shacks between Shrewsbury and Crewe done, it's one heck of a boring and cold +23 onto a Carmarthen to Manchester Piccadilly. Eventually it arrives with 175005 and I warm up nicely on the 8 minute journey to Whitchurch (Shropshire). 2 down, 4 to go! I have a +35 here so head into town, the idea being to find food as it's been ages since a light breakfast. After a thorough explore of the town centre, I find nowhere that takes my fancy that didn't have long queues. I end up in Bargain Booze for 3 bottles of beer for £5, then as I leave the shop it's 1733. Uh-oh, I'd best fly, and I pelt it up the road with the year's first bashing run! Thankfully 5 minutes later I'm back at the station, where I discover Nantwich would have been doable if I'd noticed that in the timetable in Shrewsbury. Oh well, never mind!
150258 is back and I start on my beers, Marston's Old Empire IPA. That sure went down well! So why was 150258 being on this run a good thing? When I happened to check my NREA, I'd discovered I had no coach recorded on it for some reason, so this trip has meant I could rectify that. 150258 has now joined the ever-growing club of Super Duds. Back at Shrewsbury I have a +37 onto my next move home, so I walk into town and find Burger King. Ooh nice, that'll do well. Long Texas BBQ King Deal for £3.99 sourced and went down beautifully, the first proper food of the day at 1835! Joseph Holt's Two Hoots helps kill the fester and washes down my tea, but I've had low alcohol lager with more flavour and less water-y than that!
The train home eventually rolls in with 175103, forgetting this had plenty of time to get to Manchester and back, so no 175116 for me. Long memory readers will recall this is my only 175 within reach of The Magical Thou, quite my only DMU near it, it being on 980 miles! 170630 is the next nearest on around 735 miles, but this 175 will do as after all I need to get it to 1,000 miles too. We finally leave 7 minutes late, losing another 3 minutes by Leominster. Then we get held south of Leominster, reason unknown. After a few minutes the driver sounds the horn and we move on slowly for a while before thrashing onwards. Sounds like a signal failure to me, as a TCF requires stopping at the next signal to report back to the signaller I believe.
2001 and we arrive 15 minutes late in Hereford, where my phone now dies. Surprised it lasted that long to be fair, considering I left Hereford on 26 percent charge! I have to wait for my Mum and sister to get back from the petrol station, as they'd been on a shopping expedition to Merry Hill, then get a lift home via the chippy. My stomach clearly didn't like not eating much today, although it's also surprising how much you can wear off just pacing the platforms on boring festers! Beers also have an annoying habit of making me hungry too, and I get a mini fish and chips. Stomach finally satisfied, it's off home for a chill out ahead of another busy day at work, reading the forum of course. I finally later on devour the Galaxy Mistletoe Kisses I sourced in Morrisons, and the Dr Pepper Zero is also finished.
You're probably asking why I didn't get a coffee break somewhere, what with it being a tradition and all that. Well ATW do Frothbucks coffee on board, so I tried a cranberry, raspberry and blueberry tea on the way north. Without 3 small packets of sugar that was revolting, after the sugar it was fine. Frothbucks have taken over from Pumpkin in Shrewsbury, and there was no time in the end at Hereford's Pumpkin.
Finally, on the way south on 175103, I counted my ATW served shacks, I still have 89 of them to go. That's going to be a long job, I might have them all done by 2026!
Let's round this up with some statistics then:
Winners: 0
Shack scores: 2
Rail fares: £30.80
General expenditure: £17.59
Total: £48.39
Money well spent in my eyes! Don't forget all, the next trip is tomorrow, Sunday 10th January and Monday 11th January. London is calling, and the hashtag #greeneyedTech which I'll explain in the trip report!
Aye you're right, that would be a major nightmare for me
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08/01/2016 - Tech's Random Shropshire Bash
Well this was an unexpected one! An opportunity at work came up to finish early, so as it was a gorgeous day I would have been a fool to turn it down. En-route to the station I remember it's 4 weeks since my last weigh-in so do that, to my imense surprise I've managed to eliminate the excess mass Frothmas and New Year will have provided, happy days for me! The Grand Plan is therefore still live, and I head to the station, via a supply raid for pop and a snack in Morrisons. Much deciding on the moves results in my getting a day return to Shrewsbury, with a further decision due in the 25 minute fester there.
175103 is joined for the 51 mile journey, my first 175 of the year. After consulting RTT Chirk is out, as it's a -1 or a +62 to get one in. Wem and Whitchurch are options according to the timetable, which I check a few times to make sure I got that right. £9.60 later, I have a day return to Whitchurch (Shropshire) and I see 150258 roll in. Little did I know that that was a good thing, but I'll explain shortly. There's a farce brewing, with announcements bellowing not to join it, despite it being the only train around and the signal given. Eventually at 1621 we get told what we all already knew, that this was our train, and we just about make it away on time, with me on to Wem.
1 of the 6 local shacks between Shrewsbury and Crewe done, it's one heck of a boring and cold +23 onto a Carmarthen to Manchester Piccadilly. Eventually it arrives with 175005 and I warm up nicely on the 8 minute journey to Whitchurch (Shropshire). 2 down, 4 to go! I have a +35 here so head into town, the idea being to find food as it's been ages since a light breakfast. After a thorough explore of the town centre, I find nowhere that takes my fancy that didn't have long queues. I end up in Bargain Booze for 3 bottles of beer for £5, then as I leave the shop it's 1733. Uh-oh, I'd best fly, and I pelt it up the road with the year's first bashing run! Thankfully 5 minutes later I'm back at the station, where I discover Nantwich would have been doable if I'd noticed that in the timetable in Shrewsbury. Oh well, never mind!
150258 is back and I start on my beers, Marston's Old Empire IPA. That sure went down well! So why was 150258 being on this run a good thing? When I happened to check my NREA, I'd discovered I had no coach recorded on it for some reason, so this trip has meant I could rectify that. 150258 has now joined the ever-growing club of Super Duds. Back at Shrewsbury I have a +37 onto my next move home, so I walk into town and find Burger King. Ooh nice, that'll do well. Long Texas BBQ King Deal for £3.99 sourced and went down beautifully, the first proper food of the day at 1835! Joseph Holt's Two Hoots helps kill the fester and washes down my tea, but I've had low alcohol lager with more flavour and less water-y than that!
The train home eventually rolls in with 175103, forgetting this had plenty of time to get to Manchester and back, so no 175116 for me. Long memory readers will recall this is my only 175 within reach of The Magical Thou, quite my only DMU near it, it being on 980 miles! 170630 is the next nearest on around 735 miles, but this 175 will do as after all I need to get it to 1,000 miles too. We finally leave 7 minutes late, losing another 3 minutes by Leominster. Then we get held south of Leominster, reason unknown. After a few minutes the driver sounds the horn and we move on slowly for a while before thrashing onwards. Sounds like a signal failure to me, as a TCF requires stopping at the next signal to report back to the signaller I believe.
2001 and we arrive 15 minutes late in Hereford, where my phone now dies. Surprised it lasted that long to be fair, considering I left Hereford on 26 percent charge! I have to wait for my Mum and sister to get back from the petrol station, as they'd been on a shopping expedition to Merry Hill, then get a lift home via the chippy. My stomach clearly didn't like not eating much today, although it's also surprising how much you can wear off just pacing the platforms on boring festers! Beers also have an annoying habit of making me hungry too, and I get a mini fish and chips. Stomach finally satisfied, it's off home for a chill out ahead of another busy day at work, reading the forum of course. I finally later on devour the Galaxy Mistletoe Kisses I sourced in Morrisons, and the Dr Pepper Zero is also finished.
You're probably asking why I didn't get a coffee break somewhere, what with it being a tradition and all that. Well ATW do Frothbucks coffee on board, so I tried a cranberry, raspberry and blueberry tea on the way north. Without 3 small packets of sugar that was revolting, after the sugar it was fine. Frothbucks have taken over from Pumpkin in Shrewsbury, and there was no time in the end at Hereford's Pumpkin.
Finally, on the way south on 175103, I counted my ATW served shacks, I still have 89 of them to go. That's going to be a long job, I might have them all done by 2026!
Let's round this up with some statistics then:
Winners: 0
Shack scores: 2
Rail fares: £30.80
General expenditure: £17.59
Total: £48.39
Money well spent in my eyes! Don't forget all, the next trip is tomorrow, Sunday 10th January and Monday 11th January. London is calling, and the hashtag #greeneyedTech which I'll explain in the trip report!
backontrack
Established Member
You were certainly well stocked! Shame you didn't like the tea, though, and bad luck on Nantwich.
I'm slightly envious of your 175 travel, though!
I'm slightly envious of your 175 travel, though!
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