Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,132
It seems to be, yes 
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Juliano's World Frenzy/Tech's Trip Reports
- Thread starter Techniquest
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Keith Jarrett
Member
Tech, another fantastic read. Perhaps you should have titled it "Tech Storms London" or "Tech's got the B*gger at Last". Looks as though you had a fab time running around the inner environs of the Capital and denting your lengthy needs list of London stuff. Bad luck on the duplicating 465s but all round you had a good haul - and of course many congrats on getting the PSUL move. It's a lot harder these days but as you can imagine, I've done it with a variety of traction but top of the shop has to be 12th August 1980 with 50011 in the evening peak in the down (i.e. going out of London) direction. It brought the whole show to a stand at Wimbledon crossing over to the down fast from the East Putney line!
Going back on topic, I cannot imagine that it will be long before you're back in the capital for some more fun times ....
Going back on topic, I cannot imagine that it will be long before you're back in the capital for some more fun times ....
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Glad you enjoyed the read Keith, I have to admit to wondering while at Wimbledon what time your commute would be!
A 50 down the line through East Putney must have been hellfire!
An excellent haul indeed, as my posting on Red Pen 2016 will confirm. The list of requirements is still enormous mind, but equally it came down well. I predict a lot of leaps between Victoria and Clapham, Waterloo and Vauxhall, Victoria and Bromley South, Petts Wood and Orpington, London Bridge and Cannon Street and Lewisham to St Johns/Blackheath next time. Oh and of course Kings Cross and Finsbury Park, City Thameslink and Farringdon too!
EDIT: Likewise, I doubt it will be long before I'm back down there. If I had my way I'd be down before the end of the month, but that is unlikely. I need this weekend to get this year's many moves added to RailMiles, not to mention various other things that need sorting out.
Also, 55 days until #techsinNYC
A 50 down the line through East Putney must have been hellfire!
An excellent haul indeed, as my posting on Red Pen 2016 will confirm. The list of requirements is still enormous mind, but equally it came down well. I predict a lot of leaps between Victoria and Clapham, Waterloo and Vauxhall, Victoria and Bromley South, Petts Wood and Orpington, London Bridge and Cannon Street and Lewisham to St Johns/Blackheath next time. Oh and of course Kings Cross and Finsbury Park, City Thameslink and Farringdon too!
EDIT: Likewise, I doubt it will be long before I'm back down there. If I had my way I'd be down before the end of the month, but that is unlikely. I need this weekend to get this year's many moves added to RailMiles, not to mention various other things that need sorting out.
Also, 55 days until #techsinNYC
Last edited:
crispy1978
Member
As always, a good write-up Tech! I enjoy following your exploits on Twitter 'live' then seeing the write-ups following afterwards!
Plenty of success had!
Plenty of success had!
Keith Jarrett
Member
What a productive trip to London - lost of work done south of the river, which I really need to crack on with! It looks like we cross paths as I was there on Monday too If I had paid more attention to your trip planning thread I could have met up with you. Oh well!
Barrier staff unfortunately know very little about peak / off-peak validity - mind you it's so complicated!
If I had paid more attention to your trip planning thread I could have met up with you. Oh well! Barrier staff unfortunately know very little about peak / off-peak validity - mind you it's so complicated!
andyb2706
Member
Just read another good report from you. You know how competitive I can be and I thought I was doing well on my shacks and haulage winners for this year 
As to your trip to NYC I have 161 days to mine, although I'm not sure what you are going to do, whether it is a bashing trip for you, but I'm looking forward to the sites.
As to your trip to NYC I have 161 days to mine, although I'm not sure what you are going to do, whether it is a bashing trip for you, but I'm looking forward to the sites.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Glad you're enjoying the LTRs, even though I was flooding Twitter out on Monday morning
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh I'm sure it will be brilliant, been a long time coming but it's getting scary, in a good way of course!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ah fair enough, I figured it was around half 7 for your commute, so I wasn't far off. Out of curiosity, what was on it on Monday?
I like the D stock so will be disappointed when it goes!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
What a productive trip to London - lost of work done south of the river, which I really need to crack on with! It looks like we cross paths as I was there on Monday too
Barrier staff unfortunately know very little about peak / off-peak validity - mind you it's so complicated!
Aye I had quite the clearout. Lots to do on the Central line next time!
I didn't realise you were coming down, otherwise I'd have met up with you. Very true regarding the barriers!
You did well too, looking at your red pen thread entry!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just read another good report from you. You know how competitive I can be and I thought I was doing well on my shacks and haulage winners for this year
As to your trip to NYC I have 161 days to mine, although I'm not sure what you are going to do, whether it is a bashing trip for you, but I'm looking forward to the sites.
I'm rather competitive too, at work and on the rails! You're doing rather well, safe to say you'll overtake me as I have a fairly quiet couple of months ahead.
New York is a sightseeing mission for me, with some Subway bashing too. I too am looking forward to what it's like, I've been wanting to go forever!
Glad you enjoyed the read!
James Wake
Member
- Joined
- 30 Aug 2013
- Messages
- 962
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Both duds for me, had 421 on Sunday night and 451 an unknown time before that. I didn't miss out then!
jayalongtheway
Member
- Joined
- 31 Oct 2015
- Messages
- 241
Another typically enthralling Techniquest adventure!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully the next one, wherever it will be to and when
andyb2706
Member
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I'm in TPP Mode for more trips currently myself, but I have to bear in mind I have other stuff to deal with too!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Don't worry Mr Quinn, I was given money for my birthday and Christmas last year ready for the trip! A new suitcase and new trainers are the two key things to buy in the meantime, flight socks and plug socket adaptors can be got nearer the time from my usual weekly general expenditure budgets.
A check of the bank balances is required later, that's for sure. Only then can I get a proper idea of what is and isn't affordable bashing wise in the meantime.
On which note, I should have a post to make on my TPP Mode thread tomorrow...
A check of the bank balances is required later, that's for sure. Only then can I get a proper idea of what is and isn't affordable bashing wise in the meantime.
On which note, I should have a post to make on my TPP Mode thread tomorrow...
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Well hopefully this has copy and pasted OK from Polaris Office, it's being a giant pain for highlighting entire documents to do so! Be warned, the first 3 days of the trip report cover almost 8 pages in the word processor, so expect a long read!
25/01/2016 - Tech's One Step Closer, Day 1
First of all, three forum members need special mention and credit for their help with this trip. Blindtraveller for the major help in booking this trip on a budget and putting up with me. 47403 for the Scottish Cat gen this morning. Last but not least, crehld for the Northern ranger tokens, I'll get you a Costa or a pint in next time I see you, feel free to remind me at the time if I forget!
At last a proper bash was underway again! I did have a Ledbury to Great Malvern and back leap on 17th January [long story, better not to ask! - Ed] with 43020+43030 and 166221, which tided me over until this one. It was rather short notice, with just a week to organise things following a week off from work being booked on 16th January. Holiday hours needed using up and I couldn't get the days I actually wanted, so this had to do. The Liverpool trip has now been put back to later this year [sorry Blindtraveller, maybe we'll get it done in April? - Ed] and it was a case of deciding upon the moves. As I had a Saturday off for once, I knew I had to go for Bordesley on that day at least, and I really wanted to get the PSUL move over Hambleton West Curve done, as that's also Saturdays only on the 0655 Skipton to Kings Cross. Alas, due to engineering work that one wasn't available. Blindtraveller suggested popping up to Scotland for a Central Scotland rover trip, and with Scottish Cats available and the funds available to do it on a budget it was a no brainer!
By the evening of 17th January the relevant base camp in Sheffield [yep, I found a PSUL move I could do! - Ed] and Advances were sorted. I hadn't considered the route Blindtraveller suggested, the ECML was my original choice but this one works so much better. All will be revealed at the relevant time in the trip report, after all I need to keep you all reading! So what's the trip title and hashtag about? It's back to musical references this time, the idea of the trip is to get me ever closer to clearing the country's trains and shacks. Linkin Park's One Step Closer, from their Hybrid Theory album, was therefore the ideal choice. Be warned, there's plenty more musical references due this year for trip titles and hashtags. The week of work seemed to drag on so badly, and all day on the Sunday I was counting down the hours! Eventually all the prep work was done and I manage a reasonable doss before getting up ahead of the alarm at 0550. It's safe to say I was almosy literally jumping out of bed! Inspired by andyb2706 in a trip report of his earlier this year, breakfast was formed of crumpets topped with baked beans and sausages. Rather different to say the least, and rather filling too! Final prep takes longer than planned, until 0631 to be exact, and it's off to get the 0645 bus to town for the first time this year. My usual chariot is still VOR [Vehicle Off Road - Ed] so it's the 58 plate Tempo in its place.
The journey flies by, as I've recently got a mobile game called Flow Free after I watched my sister playing it on the way home on Saturday. I've not been on it for 24 hours yet but jeez it's addictive! I did need my brother's help with one of the levels last night, admittedly. My commutes have changed forever [as have my festers at remote shacks! - Ed] it has to be said! PNB and Costa time upon arrival in The Ford, then a steady stroll to the station, laden down with two heavy bags [thanks to my Mum for prepping some extra stuff, which will actually be useful later this week - Ed] and I pick up my Anytime Return to Solihull. I'm on a Nectar points mission this year, hence booking everything via the GWR app. After all it's only 11 months until Frothmas, and all these points will come in handy by then! 170508 and 153354 are on the 0846 to the Bat Cave today, so I alert Kite159 who's most pleased as he needs the 153. Right time away and I fire up the table to get this trip report going. Several minutes late from Ledbury due to 170507 being late on its way to The Ford, and eventually a little after Malvern Link I've caught up with the write-up. Dud 68015 is due on the 1055 from Moor Street, so I consider doing some Midland Metro moves instead. Is that what I will do? Keep reading to find out!
Kite159 joins me in my surprisingly quiet Dog Box, getting himself down to just 2 more LM 153s to get. I can't help wonder if his last one will be 153334, as it was for me. We finally at 1026, after a 1 hour and 40 minute journey for me. It's straight to Moor Street for us both, and 68015 indeed arrives from London for the 1055 back. Kite suggests 68014 will be coming back, so I join for the 6 and a bit journey which was a score for Kite. Much planning now for the next move, which due to time constraints means I have no time today for scoring Coventry Arena or Bermuda Park sadly. So we stick to the plan, which was to get the Silver set back to Moor Street. Much to my surprise, a 168/1 [might have been 109, didn't imprint that to memory - Ed] had 168329 for company on the 1112 Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone. If I'd known I'd have done that to Solihull instead to score the 168/3! Another move to bear in mind [and yes I'm imprinting it into memory! - Ed] for a future WMDR. Much to my delight, after a 40 minute fester, winner 68014 rolls in on the 1010 London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street, happy days! 12615 joins 12625 for the second MK3 score of the trip, 10 more to get with Chiltern now.
172345 is taken up the hill to Snow Hill, making it a Super Dud. It looks so strange to me to see the former tram stop out of use now, and now all I have memories on previous trips here. I can't say I ever thought I'd be nostalgic over the Midland Metro! Outside we go and get our bearings for where the new tram stop at Bull Street is, then a supply raid at Sainsburys is had for a meal deal. "But wait Tech, didn't you tweet yesterday about a lunchbox?" I hear you ask. Yes I did, but I had a feeling I would need a bit more food. You may remember the last time I did a Megabus move [November 20th 2015 - Ed] that I ran out of supplies, I'm not having that again! Tram 36 is a double win and we head to St Pauls. That's the crossover and new route scored, and the new stop at Snow Hill is coming on well. Quicker than the one at New Street at least, or Grand Central as it'll be called. Talking of, the work at Bromsgrove on the new station is coming on well. Still some way to go but the footbridge is all in now, so only a matter of months to go!
Brand new tram 37 is seen, which is so new it's not in my 2015 NREA. We see that one pass us on test, the first time I've seen such a thing. Winner tram 32 takes us to Jewellery Quarter. The next tram back to town rolled in just as 172212+172217 did, so we did the 172s instead. 172217 also joins the LM Club of Super Duds for the trip to Moor Street, the 13th LM 172 to join that club. It's now 1249 so I need to hurry up and get to Hill Street for the 1320 Megabus to Glasgow. How fast did that time go?! I part ways with Kite159, who was carrying on to do some more West Midlands bashing. So jealous that he not only did the new tram track before me, but is also getting Coventry Arena and Bermuda Park before me!
I deem it to be insufficent time to visit Costa for a coffee, as by the time I get near it I'm seeing it's 1259. No, don't risk missing the coach! Eventually it turns up, and we leave 16 minutes late, just ahead of a Megabus Europe service. That's got to be a long journey to Rome, or indeed Koln! I find a seat with a power socket, alas mine isn't working. A word will be needed at Preston, our next stop, with the driver to see if they're even on. The WC is already stuffed, oh dear this is going to be a fun journey, especially as I'm close to it! I could move to a table seat, but it's a long way to be facing backwards, I did that last time! It's time to start devouring lunch, fair games that breakfast lasted ages. The trip report is back up to date by 1445, I guess I need to get on with updating the moves book. The light above my seat doesn't work however, so that's out of the window. Twitter keeps me busy for a good while, and thanks to DS Trains on there, I discover the IDs of the 08s on Bescot. 08580 and 08888 were scores for sight, which I make to be 5 new sights on this trip so far, not bad for someone who doesn't need much in the Midlands! I get confirmation from Midland Metro that tram 37 is indeed the highest numbered tram in their fleet, for now. So I'm naturally intrigued. Apparently more extensions are being worked on, and they should be announced soon. Certainly all good news for Birmingham and Midland Metro, I'm sure looking forward to finding out more!
Preston is reached approximately 5 down at 1540, maybe 1541. By 1548 we're loaded up and on the way again, and as we hit the M6 again the rain is here. It's time for some Linkin Park now on Tech's Mobile Disco, earlier it featured Weird Al Yankovic, Green Day and The Offspring, not to mention Nightcore's version of Everytime We Touch. I love that track, I've played it loads today! Next stop for us is Glasgow's Buchanan Street Bus Station, where we're due at 1900. Blindtraveller tells me it is not uncommon to arrive early into Glasgow, the driver will be a Glasgow driver and keen to get home. We'll soon find out of course how true this is, but BBC Motorways updates had nothing for the M6, M74 or M8 at the time I looked so all is good. I think this may call for some Flow Free soon, after all I've not been on it since around 0730! Oh and 153334 won't be Kite's last LM 153, as he had it this morning! I get proper into Flow Free for about an hour, and my brain started shutting down, so it was time to get off it for a while. A text from Blindtraveller reminds me of how long I'd been on it and that I had no idea where I was. Eventually I see a sign alerting me to how we're 76 miles from Glasgow, so we are over the border then. 74 or so minutes at that point to do that distance to be on time, yeah it might be doable. Credit where its due to the driver, we'd been going non-stop for almost 2 hours by this point, it must be a bit taxing on the brain by now.
Out comes the tablet again to update the trip report, and I'm happy to report the WC thankfully behaved. If we'd been fully loaded I doubt that will have been the case. I suspect these coaches will be busier during the Queen Street High Level closure period later this year mind. I'm tired of Linkin Park now so chuck Tech's Mobile Disco into playing Nightcore again for a while, mixed with a bit of Aqua. That sure helped boost the spirits a bit! At 1812 we pass into Lanarkshire [another lucky sign read in the dark! - Ed], the sign made visible by moving to the aisle seat and looking at the right time while tapping away on the tablet. Tech's Mobile Disco moves onto unknown Nightcore edits, I've no idea what the originals sound like to be honest, but I'm liking it so far! I would recommend Nightcore to just about anyone, it sure boosts the spirits, getting the feet tapping, the legs bouncing and a desire to get the glowsticks out!
We arrive at 1908, 8 minutes down, and the next move is to meet Blindtraveller and to do something new to me, CityLink's route 900 Glasgow to Edinburgh. I've also never seen the bus station in Edinburgh, another first! My bag is off at 1910 or so, then it's a fast march from stance 23 around to stance 49. Thankfully there is still time to get on board the 1915 to Edinburgh, which I forgot to note the reg of! A smooth and quick journey [and of potentially interesting note, the 900 stops right outside Easterhouse station - Ed] has us in Edinburgh for 2030. From there it's to the north west of Edinburgh and to rest after a very long day, but the next route 37 isn't for a while so we stay in the warmth of the bus station and I spot some FADs [Fresh Air Device - Ed], ie trams before we go to the relevant bus stop. The main event begins tomorrow morning with the Central Scotland rover, many shacks and winners to go after! So some stats:
Winners: 3
Shack scores: 1
New sights: 5
Rail fares: £22.90
Bus fares: £4.10
Coach fares: £12.50
General expenditure: £5.29
Total: £44.79
Now bring on Day 1 of the rover, which promises to be very productive indeed!
26/01/2016 - Tech's One Step Closer, Day 2
0730 and it's up and about for a de-rance and a coffee. I'm still pretty full from last night's late tea of ham sandwiches, much to my surprise. We head into town in a taxi, as there was a farce with Lothian's route 37, which by the time one got to us it would have meant chucking the plan out of the window! We make it comfortably in the end for the 0943 to North Berwick [I bet you can guess what's the plan for today already! - Ed] which was dud 380101. We take this to Drem, the first winning shack of the day, and the plan had been to use Prentice Coaches' rather useful route 111 to take us to Longniddry. That was all fine and good, but the bus stops are almost non-existant! The only one near the station was one facing west. Now since Longniddry is west of us, it was a a reasonable conclusion that we were at the right stop. There was no bus stop on the other side of the road, not even a post, and we're facing North Berwick due to the strong winds and rain blowing from the west. So when the intended 111 bus went past, I didn't notice until it had passed us that it was the intended bus! D'oh! A quick replan sees us head to Haddington on route 111, thankfully not too long a wait, with the new plan being to get a hot drink and food as by now the stomach was, well, hungry!
SN62 FNL [I think, I forgot to properly note the last bit in a rush! - Ed] takes us there and I'm on a bus that has working WiFi, that's a new one on me! Baynes's Bakery is visited for supplies, which for me was a bacon roll, a beef sausage roll and a large coffee. Oh my that went down well! Our next move was on Lothian Country Buses' route 104, thanks to Blindtraveller having used his expert knowledge on local buses, to The Jewel which we had 948 on. By the time we got here after a decent run down the A1, the Asda supercentre here was first visited for a PNB then we try to find out where Brunstane station was. The poor girl on the desk is not sure, so I bring out Maps again and use the GPS function to help us figure out exactly which side of Asda we were on. This works thankfully and after a 10 minute walk in more heavy rain and wind [this was a bad choice of week to have off! - Ed] we reach winner shack Brunstane. Dud 158702 is made into a Super Dud on this move to Edinburgh, and after watching the Up Highland Chieftain roll in we make our way over to 380101 again. This time we take it to Longniddry, shack score 3 today, where we overtake a MK4 set before the station. I have no idea where that was going but we never saw it again. We have a +29 here for route 111, and this time it was Prentice Coaches' SN65 OEW to Prestonpans station.
This bus has USB charging points by a couple of seats near the front, that's a really good idea and needs to be used more often! 67015 is seen on a bin train through here, now in DB red. We walk to another bus stop as the next train is ages away, and due to discussing freight trains we almost go completely the wrong way. We flag the option of a route 26 bus, having found a stop for the X24 with First instead. The X15 is flagged and eventually a President rolls in on the X24, which we take to Wallyford Park and Ride, conveniently located near Wallyford station. That short bus ride was certainly the best of the day in my book! The signs for the station are not very obvious if they are indeed there, but we find the westbound platform easily enough thankfully. Much to my delight, winner 380108 takes us to Musselburgh, the final station on this line that I needed and shack score 6 of the day. After we get a bit lost in the area, we eventually join Lothian's route 30 aboard number 20 to Musselburgh Police Station. These hybrid single deckers are quite rateable, it must be said! It's a slow run, and well used, and Costa is spotted here which was great for me as I've only had one coffee all day. The queue was so slow moving after 10 minutes we gave up, how silly to only have one barista on!
After a stop in Boots, we join Lothian Country's route 113 to town, aboard 944. There's still some table seats on the top deck, to both of our surprise, so we had to take advantage! Some crisps get devoured to ensure we keep going until tea time, and we eventually arrive outside Waverley after a 30 minute slow journey. By now I'm so uncaffeinated I'm flagging quite a bit, so we pop into McDonalds in Princes Mall for a coffee. There's also a Sainsburys Local in here now, well worth remembering for a supply raid! It's also farce time, as the 1708 Fife Circle turn has been cancelled. We knew the ECS from Motherwell was due in as we'd gone over it at Brunstane, so this was a concern. Eventually the ECS arrives with 68003, and we fester by the loco for the sound while we await the doors being unlocked. The screens and announcements change to say that the 1708 is now running, but this turned out to be false. At 1715 or so, the doors are finally unlocked and we grab some by-now welcome seats. It turned out the ECS for the 1720 was ridiculously late in the Mossend area on its way out, so we get made into the 1720 to Cardenden, extended to Glenrothes this evening and naturally this train is very busy indeed, very much so from Haymarket and South Gyle! We depart right time behind winner 68003 which was the second winner of the day, and RTT says we can bail for a comfortable +10 at winner shack Dunfermline Town.
At 1757 we're there and wow, how empty the train was after the huge crowds bailed here! A major weather farce on the A1 has caused all sorts of incidents, so our planned visit to Toby Carvery tonight is cancelled as they had several coach parties suddenly coming in as a result. We get 170394 back to Waverley, this one is now a Super Dud, and we get onto Just Eat via my phone. After setting up an account, we get the order placed and £22.90 (including £2 for delivery and a minor card fee of 50p) turned out to be very well spent indeed! Lothian have turned out 661, a Trident, for us on route 37 tonight which was a nice surprise. After we get in, the takeaway has already arrived, nice and early, and it goes down a right nice treat. Doner meat and chips with a locally made Nutella flavoured ice cream for pudding. Phwoar that S. Lucia ice cream is good, highly recommended to anyone! A general chillout followed before I get on the forum before bed, what an excellent day it was. Yes only two winners but both were more than welcome, and 7 winner shacks too. I'll never need to use a North Berwick service again, marvellous! So, some stats:
Winners: 2
Shack scores: 7
Rail fares: £36.30
General expenditures: £33.69
Total: £69.99
27/01/2016 - Tech's One Step Closer, Day 3
0630 and I'm awake, finding a notification that my trial of Spotify Premium ends today. I want rid of it, but boy isn't that complicated. I had to sign up to continue paying for it before the option to cancel came up, which is a bit sneaky in my eyes. As soon as that was done, the option to end it and go back to Spotify Free [I'm quite happy to delete it forever to be honest - Ed] is there so it's done. Even then it's not an easy process at all, but it's done. It took thereabouts 30 minutes to deal with it, after which I was more than relieved and it was time forma de-rance. Much better, it was now time for a coffee and some Weetabix, followed by another coffee. Blindtraveller was being sensible and avoiding the heavy rain, not an option for me as I'm on a rover! I make my way to the bus stop for a Gemini on route 37, this one being on a part route to Sturgeons Hall. That's fine for me, and 806 does the honours of carting me off into town. I get off a stop earlier than I needed, oops, and the rain is fierce today, Traffic is horrendous too, and I only just make it down for the 0921 to Helensburgh Central. I had missed the 0918 to Cowdenbeath, which thankfully turned out dud 158730. 170411 is flagged on the 0928 to Aberdeen, which I have a feeling I'll regret as it's a winner. No matter, dud 334028 leads winner 334026 and I take them to Caldercruix for today's first shack score.
The +0 here turned into a +9 due to the Edinburgh bound service running late, and winner 334020 is on it for my leap to Armadale. A small Asda is in the area, although it looks awkward to get to from the station. I have just a +3 here for dud 334004 back to Blackridge. A very comfortable +12 here to head back to Bathgate, which would have been better if it wasn't still raining hard! Super Dud 334035 [I think I've now had this one 5 times, maybe 6 times! - Ed] takes me to Bathgate, shack score 4 today. Out comes the tablet for some furious tapping away to update more of the trip report, which killed the 15 fester nicely before joining dud 334034 with winner 334023 on a leap to Uphall. 334008 is a dud 'un to Haymarket, and of course I enjoy some more motor coach noise as I continue tapping away. A Pumpkin coffee is needed now, and after flagging duds left right and centre, I join surprise winner 170454 on the 1154 to Glenrothes via Rosyth. We finally leave 2 down, which RTT confirms leads to a dodgy plus at Cardenden, which was originally a +3 but now at most a +1. As I have no idea what the connection between platforms will be like, I go for the safer +11 at Lochgelly. Of course, I keep an eye on the time in case it works, which will no longer be such a dodgy move as the rain has stopped and the skies are blue north of Dalmeny!
The 170 is already boring me somewhat [who can blame me, after all that lovely 334 noise earlier? - Ed] so I bang on some Nightcore to get me bouncing again. Finally the trip report is back up to date by Dunfermline QM, and it's certainly PNB time. The +3 is easily made thanks to a footbridge, and Super Dud 158702 is up to take me to Dunfermline Queen Margaret. There's a significant +24 here, so what's good for killing a long fester? Some tunes of course! Tech's Mobile Disco is back on with some more of the 42 Nightcore tracks on the phone, I might eventuallymget through them all! Dud 158736 becomes the latest member of the ScotRail Super Dud Club for the trip to Lochgelly, and I see the 1323 Cowdenbeath was required 158738, d'oh! A +14 at Lochgelly soon goes by and dud 170461 is next to take me to Rosyth. Back to the tunes, which I've had a good few decent ones on now. There's a decent size Tesco Metro nearby, as is a Gulf petrol station with a Costa Express. I don't have to tell you I was tempted, and vowed to use it if the 1416 was a dud. Super Dud 158702 [I've now had this one three times in 2 days! - Ed] turns up and I decide to go for it anyway, taking it to Cowdenbeath which is my final Fife Circle shack to get. My sandwiches are finished on this move, which has certainly sorted out the stomach nicely, but I'm impressed at how long the Weetabix lasted!
After a quick explore of the town centre, I pop into Greggs for a large coffee which, although not as good as my preferred Costa, certainly did the job of perking me up nicely for £1.75. Time then to bring the trip report back up to date a bit before double duds 158786 and 158735 rock up to cart me off into town. 158786 has also joined the ScotRail Super Duds Club now, and Blindtraveller's come up with a good way to get Breich in, which certainly appeals more than a walk from either Fauldhouse or Addiewell! Once back at Haymarket, it was fester time for any winners. Yes it was finally time to some infamous Haymarket Leaps! I'm only on the bridge 8 minutes before winner 156494 turns up for Waverley, that'll do me nicely. A very healthy and vocal 156 as well, the journey was sadly over all too soon. I spy a winning 334 by chance as we roll in, so I manage to dash over to platform 10 from the 156 in just 2 minutes, not bad going at all in my mind! Winner 334040 had joined forces somewhere with dud 334008, of course I couldn't turn down a decent sounding 334 for another leap. A 9 minute wait on the bridge [praise the designers for unintentionally creating a bashers' paradise with the much improved bridge here! - Ed] gets me winner 158738 back to Waverley and another 1 mile and 19 chains in the book. We get shoved into platform 18 in front of 158741, a number that certainly rang a bell, and yes indeed it was required. Later I see it had been attached to 158738 to work the 1636 to Dunblane, noted! There's a fair wait now for 170451 which was a winner, however when I returned to the bay platforms after checking everywhere else out, it was noted on an Inverurie service, advertised as non-stop to Cupar. Oh dear, no good to me!
Eventuslly I bump into a good option, and find winner 170408 with dud 170426 behind it for another leap, and I hadn't noticed a Perth service at Waverley but I did now. So I'm only here a few minutes, as that Perth had winner 158868 on it! This was a particularly good one to get in, as it is the last of the former Wessex Trains 158s that I still needed, and it had been a most irritating gap in my book for far too long. Finally that one was getting rectified, and it's a very full train indeed, only just managing to get on. We're RA to Inverkeithing, that'll do me and I bang some tunes on for this run as I can barely hear the engines anyway over the crowds. After a fast 13 minute journey, I'm off and of course a photo had to be taken! I flag dud 158730 and there's the 1452 Aberdeen to London Kings Cross due shortly, oh yes that is a better option! 43313 and [after investigating at Haymarket - Ed] 43305 take me back to Haymarket, scoring a required HST trailer, 42363, as I go. Dud 156510 is in charge of taking me to Slateford, today's 11th shack score, and I'm here only a few minutes before dud 156502 rolls in. Both are the newest members of the ScotRail Super Dud Club, which is getting bigger very slowly. We get held for some time before we finally get routed into Haymarket. Back to the bridge!
Just as well I did, as winner 170396 was leading dud 170427 on the 1645 Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street, at last another irritating gap is filled! 170396 was my last former Hull Trains 170 to get, so I'm glad I happened to be in the right place. After consulting RTT, and the tunes coming back on to drown out the noise of the 170, I bail at Linlithgow. 170393 is flagged and I wait a bit longer before my next move. By now however, a PNB was more than required so, instead of waiting for something required, I jump on double duds 170478 and 170456 back to Haymarket. It's an 11 minute fester on the bridge [I dread to think what it'll be like when I've nearly finished the ScotRail fleet! - Ed] before dud 170404 rolls in with winner 170451 on the back. I swear it had something else with it earlier, but no matter, this will do nicely. Of course it was another quick run down the stairs to jump on, and it's off to Edinburgh. I had originally planned to fester for 158741 here, having consulted RTT earlier for it. Oh well, it's a Haymarket 158, they'll be easier to get than the 170s!
170403 is about, and after a while I figure out it'll be on the 1928 to Inverness, via Aberdeen. What a long run that must be! Unlike the Inverurie, this one calls at Haymarket so that's just fine for me. It means a long fester, but worth it to get one of the long distance 170s done. Or so I thought, as when I returned to the barriers 334024 also rolled in. Ooh, that's a good option for a Haymarket Leap too. Eventually the logic was that I need less 334s than 170s, and at the end of the day I prefer the motor sounds of a 334 to a 170. So after several minutes standing around like a lemon I make my choice and go for winner 334024 for 1 mile and 19 chains. It's only 5 minutes on the bridge before winner 170410 rolls in. Yep, that'll do me nicely! By now the stomach is in desperate need of food, and I know that from the rage induced at being held halfway to Waverley, let alone the rage being caused by a very slow crawl into platform 14. So McDonalds is visited in Princes Mall, after of course quickly enjoying the sound of 68003 idling after its return from Fife, and a Quarter Pounder with cheese meal is sourced, By gum the service was slow in here tonight, but I eventually get the food and devour it within 5 minutes. Of course, I knew full well that was never going to be enough, but it stopped me going mad!
I still need some more change [I'd sourced a tenner at the RBS ATM in Haymarket, most conveniently on the bridge! - Ed] anyway so visit Sainsburys Local for a large bottle of water for tomorrow's squash. With that done, I get upstairs just in time for a route 37 bus, this time I have Lothian's 829 for the 22 minute journey. After getting in, some fish fingers, chips and even a few chicken nuggets are cooked up and that was far more enjoyable than my McDonalds! I knew sadly I'd not make it all the way back without food, and The Pasty Shop had been the original choice but it was closed, As was everywhere I actually wanted to go to!
A chillout after over 10 hours on the rails was needed, and later in the evening the trip report is brought back up to date. 11 shacks and 13 winners today, an exceptional performance in my eyes! Some stats then to round up Day 3:
Winners: 13
Shack scores: 11
Bus fares: £3
General expenditure: £9.27
Total: £12.27
Day 4 will be a little different I should think, I won't ruin the surprise! To those of you following on Twitter, I hope you're enjoying the Live Trip Report. Plenty more to come from the second half of the trip!
25/01/2016 - Tech's One Step Closer, Day 1
First of all, three forum members need special mention and credit for their help with this trip. Blindtraveller for the major help in booking this trip on a budget and putting up with me. 47403 for the Scottish Cat gen this morning. Last but not least, crehld for the Northern ranger tokens, I'll get you a Costa or a pint in next time I see you, feel free to remind me at the time if I forget!
At last a proper bash was underway again! I did have a Ledbury to Great Malvern and back leap on 17th January [long story, better not to ask! - Ed] with 43020+43030 and 166221, which tided me over until this one. It was rather short notice, with just a week to organise things following a week off from work being booked on 16th January. Holiday hours needed using up and I couldn't get the days I actually wanted, so this had to do. The Liverpool trip has now been put back to later this year [sorry Blindtraveller, maybe we'll get it done in April? - Ed] and it was a case of deciding upon the moves. As I had a Saturday off for once, I knew I had to go for Bordesley on that day at least, and I really wanted to get the PSUL move over Hambleton West Curve done, as that's also Saturdays only on the 0655 Skipton to Kings Cross. Alas, due to engineering work that one wasn't available. Blindtraveller suggested popping up to Scotland for a Central Scotland rover trip, and with Scottish Cats available and the funds available to do it on a budget it was a no brainer!
By the evening of 17th January the relevant base camp in Sheffield [yep, I found a PSUL move I could do! - Ed] and Advances were sorted. I hadn't considered the route Blindtraveller suggested, the ECML was my original choice but this one works so much better. All will be revealed at the relevant time in the trip report, after all I need to keep you all reading! So what's the trip title and hashtag about? It's back to musical references this time, the idea of the trip is to get me ever closer to clearing the country's trains and shacks. Linkin Park's One Step Closer, from their Hybrid Theory album, was therefore the ideal choice. Be warned, there's plenty more musical references due this year for trip titles and hashtags. The week of work seemed to drag on so badly, and all day on the Sunday I was counting down the hours! Eventually all the prep work was done and I manage a reasonable doss before getting up ahead of the alarm at 0550. It's safe to say I was almosy literally jumping out of bed! Inspired by andyb2706 in a trip report of his earlier this year, breakfast was formed of crumpets topped with baked beans and sausages. Rather different to say the least, and rather filling too! Final prep takes longer than planned, until 0631 to be exact, and it's off to get the 0645 bus to town for the first time this year. My usual chariot is still VOR [Vehicle Off Road - Ed] so it's the 58 plate Tempo in its place.
The journey flies by, as I've recently got a mobile game called Flow Free after I watched my sister playing it on the way home on Saturday. I've not been on it for 24 hours yet but jeez it's addictive! I did need my brother's help with one of the levels last night, admittedly. My commutes have changed forever [as have my festers at remote shacks! - Ed] it has to be said! PNB and Costa time upon arrival in The Ford, then a steady stroll to the station, laden down with two heavy bags [thanks to my Mum for prepping some extra stuff, which will actually be useful later this week - Ed] and I pick up my Anytime Return to Solihull. I'm on a Nectar points mission this year, hence booking everything via the GWR app. After all it's only 11 months until Frothmas, and all these points will come in handy by then! 170508 and 153354 are on the 0846 to the Bat Cave today, so I alert Kite159 who's most pleased as he needs the 153. Right time away and I fire up the table to get this trip report going. Several minutes late from Ledbury due to 170507 being late on its way to The Ford, and eventually a little after Malvern Link I've caught up with the write-up. Dud 68015 is due on the 1055 from Moor Street, so I consider doing some Midland Metro moves instead. Is that what I will do? Keep reading to find out!
Kite159 joins me in my surprisingly quiet Dog Box, getting himself down to just 2 more LM 153s to get. I can't help wonder if his last one will be 153334, as it was for me. We finally at 1026, after a 1 hour and 40 minute journey for me. It's straight to Moor Street for us both, and 68015 indeed arrives from London for the 1055 back. Kite suggests 68014 will be coming back, so I join for the 6 and a bit journey which was a score for Kite. Much planning now for the next move, which due to time constraints means I have no time today for scoring Coventry Arena or Bermuda Park sadly. So we stick to the plan, which was to get the Silver set back to Moor Street. Much to my surprise, a 168/1 [might have been 109, didn't imprint that to memory - Ed] had 168329 for company on the 1112 Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone. If I'd known I'd have done that to Solihull instead to score the 168/3! Another move to bear in mind [and yes I'm imprinting it into memory! - Ed] for a future WMDR. Much to my delight, after a 40 minute fester, winner 68014 rolls in on the 1010 London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street, happy days! 12615 joins 12625 for the second MK3 score of the trip, 10 more to get with Chiltern now.
172345 is taken up the hill to Snow Hill, making it a Super Dud. It looks so strange to me to see the former tram stop out of use now, and now all I have memories on previous trips here. I can't say I ever thought I'd be nostalgic over the Midland Metro! Outside we go and get our bearings for where the new tram stop at Bull Street is, then a supply raid at Sainsburys is had for a meal deal. "But wait Tech, didn't you tweet yesterday about a lunchbox?" I hear you ask. Yes I did, but I had a feeling I would need a bit more food. You may remember the last time I did a Megabus move [November 20th 2015 - Ed] that I ran out of supplies, I'm not having that again! Tram 36 is a double win and we head to St Pauls. That's the crossover and new route scored, and the new stop at Snow Hill is coming on well. Quicker than the one at New Street at least, or Grand Central as it'll be called. Talking of, the work at Bromsgrove on the new station is coming on well. Still some way to go but the footbridge is all in now, so only a matter of months to go!
Brand new tram 37 is seen, which is so new it's not in my 2015 NREA. We see that one pass us on test, the first time I've seen such a thing. Winner tram 32 takes us to Jewellery Quarter. The next tram back to town rolled in just as 172212+172217 did, so we did the 172s instead. 172217 also joins the LM Club of Super Duds for the trip to Moor Street, the 13th LM 172 to join that club. It's now 1249 so I need to hurry up and get to Hill Street for the 1320 Megabus to Glasgow. How fast did that time go?! I part ways with Kite159, who was carrying on to do some more West Midlands bashing. So jealous that he not only did the new tram track before me, but is also getting Coventry Arena and Bermuda Park before me!
I deem it to be insufficent time to visit Costa for a coffee, as by the time I get near it I'm seeing it's 1259. No, don't risk missing the coach! Eventually it turns up, and we leave 16 minutes late, just ahead of a Megabus Europe service. That's got to be a long journey to Rome, or indeed Koln! I find a seat with a power socket, alas mine isn't working. A word will be needed at Preston, our next stop, with the driver to see if they're even on. The WC is already stuffed, oh dear this is going to be a fun journey, especially as I'm close to it! I could move to a table seat, but it's a long way to be facing backwards, I did that last time! It's time to start devouring lunch, fair games that breakfast lasted ages. The trip report is back up to date by 1445, I guess I need to get on with updating the moves book. The light above my seat doesn't work however, so that's out of the window. Twitter keeps me busy for a good while, and thanks to DS Trains on there, I discover the IDs of the 08s on Bescot. 08580 and 08888 were scores for sight, which I make to be 5 new sights on this trip so far, not bad for someone who doesn't need much in the Midlands! I get confirmation from Midland Metro that tram 37 is indeed the highest numbered tram in their fleet, for now. So I'm naturally intrigued. Apparently more extensions are being worked on, and they should be announced soon. Certainly all good news for Birmingham and Midland Metro, I'm sure looking forward to finding out more!
Preston is reached approximately 5 down at 1540, maybe 1541. By 1548 we're loaded up and on the way again, and as we hit the M6 again the rain is here. It's time for some Linkin Park now on Tech's Mobile Disco, earlier it featured Weird Al Yankovic, Green Day and The Offspring, not to mention Nightcore's version of Everytime We Touch. I love that track, I've played it loads today! Next stop for us is Glasgow's Buchanan Street Bus Station, where we're due at 1900. Blindtraveller tells me it is not uncommon to arrive early into Glasgow, the driver will be a Glasgow driver and keen to get home. We'll soon find out of course how true this is, but BBC Motorways updates had nothing for the M6, M74 or M8 at the time I looked so all is good. I think this may call for some Flow Free soon, after all I've not been on it since around 0730! Oh and 153334 won't be Kite's last LM 153, as he had it this morning! I get proper into Flow Free for about an hour, and my brain started shutting down, so it was time to get off it for a while. A text from Blindtraveller reminds me of how long I'd been on it and that I had no idea where I was. Eventually I see a sign alerting me to how we're 76 miles from Glasgow, so we are over the border then. 74 or so minutes at that point to do that distance to be on time, yeah it might be doable. Credit where its due to the driver, we'd been going non-stop for almost 2 hours by this point, it must be a bit taxing on the brain by now.
Out comes the tablet again to update the trip report, and I'm happy to report the WC thankfully behaved. If we'd been fully loaded I doubt that will have been the case. I suspect these coaches will be busier during the Queen Street High Level closure period later this year mind. I'm tired of Linkin Park now so chuck Tech's Mobile Disco into playing Nightcore again for a while, mixed with a bit of Aqua. That sure helped boost the spirits a bit! At 1812 we pass into Lanarkshire [another lucky sign read in the dark! - Ed], the sign made visible by moving to the aisle seat and looking at the right time while tapping away on the tablet. Tech's Mobile Disco moves onto unknown Nightcore edits, I've no idea what the originals sound like to be honest, but I'm liking it so far! I would recommend Nightcore to just about anyone, it sure boosts the spirits, getting the feet tapping, the legs bouncing and a desire to get the glowsticks out!
We arrive at 1908, 8 minutes down, and the next move is to meet Blindtraveller and to do something new to me, CityLink's route 900 Glasgow to Edinburgh. I've also never seen the bus station in Edinburgh, another first! My bag is off at 1910 or so, then it's a fast march from stance 23 around to stance 49. Thankfully there is still time to get on board the 1915 to Edinburgh, which I forgot to note the reg of! A smooth and quick journey [and of potentially interesting note, the 900 stops right outside Easterhouse station - Ed] has us in Edinburgh for 2030. From there it's to the north west of Edinburgh and to rest after a very long day, but the next route 37 isn't for a while so we stay in the warmth of the bus station and I spot some FADs [Fresh Air Device - Ed], ie trams before we go to the relevant bus stop. The main event begins tomorrow morning with the Central Scotland rover, many shacks and winners to go after! So some stats:
Winners: 3
Shack scores: 1
New sights: 5
Rail fares: £22.90
Bus fares: £4.10
Coach fares: £12.50
General expenditure: £5.29
Total: £44.79
Now bring on Day 1 of the rover, which promises to be very productive indeed!
26/01/2016 - Tech's One Step Closer, Day 2
0730 and it's up and about for a de-rance and a coffee. I'm still pretty full from last night's late tea of ham sandwiches, much to my surprise. We head into town in a taxi, as there was a farce with Lothian's route 37, which by the time one got to us it would have meant chucking the plan out of the window! We make it comfortably in the end for the 0943 to North Berwick [I bet you can guess what's the plan for today already! - Ed] which was dud 380101. We take this to Drem, the first winning shack of the day, and the plan had been to use Prentice Coaches' rather useful route 111 to take us to Longniddry. That was all fine and good, but the bus stops are almost non-existant! The only one near the station was one facing west. Now since Longniddry is west of us, it was a a reasonable conclusion that we were at the right stop. There was no bus stop on the other side of the road, not even a post, and we're facing North Berwick due to the strong winds and rain blowing from the west. So when the intended 111 bus went past, I didn't notice until it had passed us that it was the intended bus! D'oh! A quick replan sees us head to Haddington on route 111, thankfully not too long a wait, with the new plan being to get a hot drink and food as by now the stomach was, well, hungry!
SN62 FNL [I think, I forgot to properly note the last bit in a rush! - Ed] takes us there and I'm on a bus that has working WiFi, that's a new one on me! Baynes's Bakery is visited for supplies, which for me was a bacon roll, a beef sausage roll and a large coffee. Oh my that went down well! Our next move was on Lothian Country Buses' route 104, thanks to Blindtraveller having used his expert knowledge on local buses, to The Jewel which we had 948 on. By the time we got here after a decent run down the A1, the Asda supercentre here was first visited for a PNB then we try to find out where Brunstane station was. The poor girl on the desk is not sure, so I bring out Maps again and use the GPS function to help us figure out exactly which side of Asda we were on. This works thankfully and after a 10 minute walk in more heavy rain and wind [this was a bad choice of week to have off! - Ed] we reach winner shack Brunstane. Dud 158702 is made into a Super Dud on this move to Edinburgh, and after watching the Up Highland Chieftain roll in we make our way over to 380101 again. This time we take it to Longniddry, shack score 3 today, where we overtake a MK4 set before the station. I have no idea where that was going but we never saw it again. We have a +29 here for route 111, and this time it was Prentice Coaches' SN65 OEW to Prestonpans station.
This bus has USB charging points by a couple of seats near the front, that's a really good idea and needs to be used more often! 67015 is seen on a bin train through here, now in DB red. We walk to another bus stop as the next train is ages away, and due to discussing freight trains we almost go completely the wrong way. We flag the option of a route 26 bus, having found a stop for the X24 with First instead. The X15 is flagged and eventually a President rolls in on the X24, which we take to Wallyford Park and Ride, conveniently located near Wallyford station. That short bus ride was certainly the best of the day in my book! The signs for the station are not very obvious if they are indeed there, but we find the westbound platform easily enough thankfully. Much to my delight, winner 380108 takes us to Musselburgh, the final station on this line that I needed and shack score 6 of the day. After we get a bit lost in the area, we eventually join Lothian's route 30 aboard number 20 to Musselburgh Police Station. These hybrid single deckers are quite rateable, it must be said! It's a slow run, and well used, and Costa is spotted here which was great for me as I've only had one coffee all day. The queue was so slow moving after 10 minutes we gave up, how silly to only have one barista on!
After a stop in Boots, we join Lothian Country's route 113 to town, aboard 944. There's still some table seats on the top deck, to both of our surprise, so we had to take advantage! Some crisps get devoured to ensure we keep going until tea time, and we eventually arrive outside Waverley after a 30 minute slow journey. By now I'm so uncaffeinated I'm flagging quite a bit, so we pop into McDonalds in Princes Mall for a coffee. There's also a Sainsburys Local in here now, well worth remembering for a supply raid! It's also farce time, as the 1708 Fife Circle turn has been cancelled. We knew the ECS from Motherwell was due in as we'd gone over it at Brunstane, so this was a concern. Eventually the ECS arrives with 68003, and we fester by the loco for the sound while we await the doors being unlocked. The screens and announcements change to say that the 1708 is now running, but this turned out to be false. At 1715 or so, the doors are finally unlocked and we grab some by-now welcome seats. It turned out the ECS for the 1720 was ridiculously late in the Mossend area on its way out, so we get made into the 1720 to Cardenden, extended to Glenrothes this evening and naturally this train is very busy indeed, very much so from Haymarket and South Gyle! We depart right time behind winner 68003 which was the second winner of the day, and RTT says we can bail for a comfortable +10 at winner shack Dunfermline Town.
At 1757 we're there and wow, how empty the train was after the huge crowds bailed here! A major weather farce on the A1 has caused all sorts of incidents, so our planned visit to Toby Carvery tonight is cancelled as they had several coach parties suddenly coming in as a result. We get 170394 back to Waverley, this one is now a Super Dud, and we get onto Just Eat via my phone. After setting up an account, we get the order placed and £22.90 (including £2 for delivery and a minor card fee of 50p) turned out to be very well spent indeed! Lothian have turned out 661, a Trident, for us on route 37 tonight which was a nice surprise. After we get in, the takeaway has already arrived, nice and early, and it goes down a right nice treat. Doner meat and chips with a locally made Nutella flavoured ice cream for pudding. Phwoar that S. Lucia ice cream is good, highly recommended to anyone! A general chillout followed before I get on the forum before bed, what an excellent day it was. Yes only two winners but both were more than welcome, and 7 winner shacks too. I'll never need to use a North Berwick service again, marvellous! So, some stats:
Winners: 2
Shack scores: 7
Rail fares: £36.30
General expenditures: £33.69
Total: £69.99
27/01/2016 - Tech's One Step Closer, Day 3
0630 and I'm awake, finding a notification that my trial of Spotify Premium ends today. I want rid of it, but boy isn't that complicated. I had to sign up to continue paying for it before the option to cancel came up, which is a bit sneaky in my eyes. As soon as that was done, the option to end it and go back to Spotify Free [I'm quite happy to delete it forever to be honest - Ed] is there so it's done. Even then it's not an easy process at all, but it's done. It took thereabouts 30 minutes to deal with it, after which I was more than relieved and it was time forma de-rance. Much better, it was now time for a coffee and some Weetabix, followed by another coffee. Blindtraveller was being sensible and avoiding the heavy rain, not an option for me as I'm on a rover! I make my way to the bus stop for a Gemini on route 37, this one being on a part route to Sturgeons Hall. That's fine for me, and 806 does the honours of carting me off into town. I get off a stop earlier than I needed, oops, and the rain is fierce today, Traffic is horrendous too, and I only just make it down for the 0921 to Helensburgh Central. I had missed the 0918 to Cowdenbeath, which thankfully turned out dud 158730. 170411 is flagged on the 0928 to Aberdeen, which I have a feeling I'll regret as it's a winner. No matter, dud 334028 leads winner 334026 and I take them to Caldercruix for today's first shack score.
The +0 here turned into a +9 due to the Edinburgh bound service running late, and winner 334020 is on it for my leap to Armadale. A small Asda is in the area, although it looks awkward to get to from the station. I have just a +3 here for dud 334004 back to Blackridge. A very comfortable +12 here to head back to Bathgate, which would have been better if it wasn't still raining hard! Super Dud 334035 [I think I've now had this one 5 times, maybe 6 times! - Ed] takes me to Bathgate, shack score 4 today. Out comes the tablet for some furious tapping away to update more of the trip report, which killed the 15 fester nicely before joining dud 334034 with winner 334023 on a leap to Uphall. 334008 is a dud 'un to Haymarket, and of course I enjoy some more motor coach noise as I continue tapping away. A Pumpkin coffee is needed now, and after flagging duds left right and centre, I join surprise winner 170454 on the 1154 to Glenrothes via Rosyth. We finally leave 2 down, which RTT confirms leads to a dodgy plus at Cardenden, which was originally a +3 but now at most a +1. As I have no idea what the connection between platforms will be like, I go for the safer +11 at Lochgelly. Of course, I keep an eye on the time in case it works, which will no longer be such a dodgy move as the rain has stopped and the skies are blue north of Dalmeny!
The 170 is already boring me somewhat [who can blame me, after all that lovely 334 noise earlier? - Ed] so I bang on some Nightcore to get me bouncing again. Finally the trip report is back up to date by Dunfermline QM, and it's certainly PNB time. The +3 is easily made thanks to a footbridge, and Super Dud 158702 is up to take me to Dunfermline Queen Margaret. There's a significant +24 here, so what's good for killing a long fester? Some tunes of course! Tech's Mobile Disco is back on with some more of the 42 Nightcore tracks on the phone, I might eventuallymget through them all! Dud 158736 becomes the latest member of the ScotRail Super Dud Club for the trip to Lochgelly, and I see the 1323 Cowdenbeath was required 158738, d'oh! A +14 at Lochgelly soon goes by and dud 170461 is next to take me to Rosyth. Back to the tunes, which I've had a good few decent ones on now. There's a decent size Tesco Metro nearby, as is a Gulf petrol station with a Costa Express. I don't have to tell you I was tempted, and vowed to use it if the 1416 was a dud. Super Dud 158702 [I've now had this one three times in 2 days! - Ed] turns up and I decide to go for it anyway, taking it to Cowdenbeath which is my final Fife Circle shack to get. My sandwiches are finished on this move, which has certainly sorted out the stomach nicely, but I'm impressed at how long the Weetabix lasted!
After a quick explore of the town centre, I pop into Greggs for a large coffee which, although not as good as my preferred Costa, certainly did the job of perking me up nicely for £1.75. Time then to bring the trip report back up to date a bit before double duds 158786 and 158735 rock up to cart me off into town. 158786 has also joined the ScotRail Super Duds Club now, and Blindtraveller's come up with a good way to get Breich in, which certainly appeals more than a walk from either Fauldhouse or Addiewell! Once back at Haymarket, it was fester time for any winners. Yes it was finally time to some infamous Haymarket Leaps! I'm only on the bridge 8 minutes before winner 156494 turns up for Waverley, that'll do me nicely. A very healthy and vocal 156 as well, the journey was sadly over all too soon. I spy a winning 334 by chance as we roll in, so I manage to dash over to platform 10 from the 156 in just 2 minutes, not bad going at all in my mind! Winner 334040 had joined forces somewhere with dud 334008, of course I couldn't turn down a decent sounding 334 for another leap. A 9 minute wait on the bridge [praise the designers for unintentionally creating a bashers' paradise with the much improved bridge here! - Ed] gets me winner 158738 back to Waverley and another 1 mile and 19 chains in the book. We get shoved into platform 18 in front of 158741, a number that certainly rang a bell, and yes indeed it was required. Later I see it had been attached to 158738 to work the 1636 to Dunblane, noted! There's a fair wait now for 170451 which was a winner, however when I returned to the bay platforms after checking everywhere else out, it was noted on an Inverurie service, advertised as non-stop to Cupar. Oh dear, no good to me!
Eventuslly I bump into a good option, and find winner 170408 with dud 170426 behind it for another leap, and I hadn't noticed a Perth service at Waverley but I did now. So I'm only here a few minutes, as that Perth had winner 158868 on it! This was a particularly good one to get in, as it is the last of the former Wessex Trains 158s that I still needed, and it had been a most irritating gap in my book for far too long. Finally that one was getting rectified, and it's a very full train indeed, only just managing to get on. We're RA to Inverkeithing, that'll do me and I bang some tunes on for this run as I can barely hear the engines anyway over the crowds. After a fast 13 minute journey, I'm off and of course a photo had to be taken! I flag dud 158730 and there's the 1452 Aberdeen to London Kings Cross due shortly, oh yes that is a better option! 43313 and [after investigating at Haymarket - Ed] 43305 take me back to Haymarket, scoring a required HST trailer, 42363, as I go. Dud 156510 is in charge of taking me to Slateford, today's 11th shack score, and I'm here only a few minutes before dud 156502 rolls in. Both are the newest members of the ScotRail Super Dud Club, which is getting bigger very slowly. We get held for some time before we finally get routed into Haymarket. Back to the bridge!
Just as well I did, as winner 170396 was leading dud 170427 on the 1645 Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street, at last another irritating gap is filled! 170396 was my last former Hull Trains 170 to get, so I'm glad I happened to be in the right place. After consulting RTT, and the tunes coming back on to drown out the noise of the 170, I bail at Linlithgow. 170393 is flagged and I wait a bit longer before my next move. By now however, a PNB was more than required so, instead of waiting for something required, I jump on double duds 170478 and 170456 back to Haymarket. It's an 11 minute fester on the bridge [I dread to think what it'll be like when I've nearly finished the ScotRail fleet! - Ed] before dud 170404 rolls in with winner 170451 on the back. I swear it had something else with it earlier, but no matter, this will do nicely. Of course it was another quick run down the stairs to jump on, and it's off to Edinburgh. I had originally planned to fester for 158741 here, having consulted RTT earlier for it. Oh well, it's a Haymarket 158, they'll be easier to get than the 170s!
170403 is about, and after a while I figure out it'll be on the 1928 to Inverness, via Aberdeen. What a long run that must be! Unlike the Inverurie, this one calls at Haymarket so that's just fine for me. It means a long fester, but worth it to get one of the long distance 170s done. Or so I thought, as when I returned to the barriers 334024 also rolled in. Ooh, that's a good option for a Haymarket Leap too. Eventually the logic was that I need less 334s than 170s, and at the end of the day I prefer the motor sounds of a 334 to a 170. So after several minutes standing around like a lemon I make my choice and go for winner 334024 for 1 mile and 19 chains. It's only 5 minutes on the bridge before winner 170410 rolls in. Yep, that'll do me nicely! By now the stomach is in desperate need of food, and I know that from the rage induced at being held halfway to Waverley, let alone the rage being caused by a very slow crawl into platform 14. So McDonalds is visited in Princes Mall, after of course quickly enjoying the sound of 68003 idling after its return from Fife, and a Quarter Pounder with cheese meal is sourced, By gum the service was slow in here tonight, but I eventually get the food and devour it within 5 minutes. Of course, I knew full well that was never going to be enough, but it stopped me going mad!
I still need some more change [I'd sourced a tenner at the RBS ATM in Haymarket, most conveniently on the bridge! - Ed] anyway so visit Sainsburys Local for a large bottle of water for tomorrow's squash. With that done, I get upstairs just in time for a route 37 bus, this time I have Lothian's 829 for the 22 minute journey. After getting in, some fish fingers, chips and even a few chicken nuggets are cooked up and that was far more enjoyable than my McDonalds! I knew sadly I'd not make it all the way back without food, and The Pasty Shop had been the original choice but it was closed, As was everywhere I actually wanted to go to!
A chillout after over 10 hours on the rails was needed, and later in the evening the trip report is brought back up to date. 11 shacks and 13 winners today, an exceptional performance in my eyes! Some stats then to round up Day 3:
Winners: 13
Shack scores: 11
Bus fares: £3
General expenditure: £9.27
Total: £12.27
Day 4 will be a little different I should think, I won't ruin the surprise! To those of you following on Twitter, I hope you're enjoying the Live Trip Report. Plenty more to come from the second half of the trip!
Last edited:
Kite159
Veteran Member
Very good week so far
Still need 153334 (& 153365) of the LM 153s
Still need 153334 (& 153365) of the LM 153s
Blindtraveler
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 Feb 2011
- Messages
- 10,543
I have to say that its a real pleasure having you as a guest, me and the Wife are loving having you. Grea0write up, roll on day 4 when Im back out again with you for some 6re excitement!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I'm enjoying my stay too, if I haven't already mentioned it. Bring on later I say, it promises to be an excellent day!
HMS Ark Royal
Established Member
Where is a mention of me?
Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,132
Great reads Tech, looks to me like you're more than one step closer to your goals! Some good use of road transport there too - summat a bit different eh
alexf380
Established Member
A couple of fantastic days there Tech! It's certainly nice to see some familiar names and places. The S.Luca ice cream really is fantastic. I should know, I work there! Their shop and ice cream factory are just down the street from the Costa you visited in Musselburgh.
The 30 bus is incredibly slow, it takes the same amount of time to walk from Muss. Station to the town centre, although I wouldn't recommend it!
The Prentice Coaches enviro that you had was probably SN12EHL, I've had it a few times myself.
Looking forward to the next one,
Alex
The 30 bus is incredibly slow, it takes the same amount of time to walk from Muss. Station to the town centre, although I wouldn't recommend it!
The Prentice Coaches enviro that you had was probably SN12EHL, I've had it a few times myself.
Looking forward to the next one,
Alex
47403
Established Member
Top read so far Lord Tram. Sounds like a great deal of fun, shame about the weather, however as Billy Connolly once said, to us English folk, about it always raining when they visited Scotland, well you don't cross the f'in equator to get to Scotland, just the border.
Plenty winners there and as for the Gen, no wories at all mate, thank the TOPS and allocation folk, I just asked the question on your behalf.
Hope the rest is as succesful.
Happy Hunting gents.
Plenty winners there and as for the Gen, no wories at all mate, thank the TOPS and allocation folk, I just asked the question on your behalf.
Hope the rest is as succesful.
Happy Hunting gents.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Glad you all enjoyed the read so far! Days 4 and 5 are on the tablet, I intend to post them with Day 6 on Sunday.
Cheers for the reg on the Prentice Coaches vehicle Alex, shall have to update my book. Thanks too for all the hard work in making the delicious ice cream!
HMS Ark Royal, you sure deserve special mention for some of those tweets. The Vice-President one really tickled us both! Sure helped keep the morale up on the coach journey up, so my thanks to you good sir!
0430 alarm set and I'm in Premier Inn, Sheffield at the moment. There's a really bloody annoying whirring sound coming from above the room which is more than frustrating. I'm still excited about the morning too, even with the early start, and looking forward to a new bit of track!
Those of you following on Twitter will already know how difficult yesterday and today has been, the rest of you will find out soon!
Cheers for the reg on the Prentice Coaches vehicle Alex, shall have to update my book. Thanks too for all the hard work in making the delicious ice cream!
HMS Ark Royal, you sure deserve special mention for some of those tweets. The Vice-President one really tickled us both! Sure helped keep the morale up on the coach journey up, so my thanks to you good sir!
0430 alarm set and I'm in Premier Inn, Sheffield at the moment. There's a really bloody annoying whirring sound coming from above the room which is more than frustrating. I'm still excited about the morning too, even with the early start, and looking forward to a new bit of track!
Those of you following on Twitter will already know how difficult yesterday and today has been, the rest of you will find out soon!
HMS Ark Royal
Established Member
No problem, although I was actually meaning the emergency shoe repair
- Status