Kite159
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Juliano's World Frenzy/Tech's Trip Reports
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Techniquest
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10/12/2016 - Tech's Anti Frothmas 2016, Day 1
Missed any of the Live Trip Report? Catch up on Twitter using #TechsAntiFrothmas
Yes it's finally here, the annual Anti-Frothmas bash which both myself and Blindtraveller [referred to as BT in this trip report to save my thumbs a bit! - Ed] had looked forward to for quite some time. The Crazy Season was taking it out of me badly this year, so this final major bash of 2016 was more than welcome. Good company, trains and a de-stress, an excellent combination! Thanks must go to Kite159 for gen on some ultra rare track, will it work out? You'll just have to wait for the report from Day 2 to find out!
Having been counting down the hours until the trip all week, work had to be endured first until 1700, and I didn't hang around whatsoever, once I changed out of my boots, as I had a train to catch at 1740! Yes it's more 170 action but for the bargain fare it was worth it, as I was due a 390 next to Watford Junction, meeting BT upon departure from the Bat Cave. "Tech, your hashtag has tweets from 2015 on it" I hear you all querying. Yes it will do, as I plan to use the same hashtag for the annual trip each year. So what was the plan I hear you ask. Once at Watford Junction, we were to take in the loop via Watford High Street then the Bakerloo to knock out some of BT's coverage needs. Checking in at base camp would follow, and aiming for the rare track too. After which, Night Tube moves were the main aim of this trip, followed by some much needed doss for a few hours. London area moves would of course follow, then after sourcing supplies it was to Crewe on a bargain basement LM run, checking into base camp there. Breakfast would be followed by the world famous 0722 Crewe to Bolton, famous for supplying 142 thrash out of Crewe. Well it used to at least! Moves around Greater Manchester would follow before we both head home. That was the goal, will it all work out? Keep reading to find out...
It was very wet in Hereford after work, and my trainers that had holes in them on the Vienna trip still haven't been replaced. I regretted that now, with wet socks which I was glad to rip off once on the move! 170512 and 170501 were up to take me to the Bat Cave, and I'm looking forward to getting there to get some food and drink in a supply raid, and those two 170s are within 60 and 40 miles of being cleared for 500 miles now. To drown out the noisy people, Tech's Mobile Disco is soon going on, and thankfully they're off by Worcester. At some point this weekend I need to get new jeans as I didn't pack any foolishly [no way am I enduring my work trousers all weekend - Ed] and new trainers are a high priority. A cheap pair will do, these ones are like fabric in parts of the soles and I daresay you're all shuddering in horror at the idea of a weekend in wet trainers!
After finally arriving at 1916, I head straight to Primark for some new trainers, socks and cargo trousers. £27.50 very well spent, that's for sure. Burger King is visited for tea, and it's a fight through the Christmas Market crowds to get back to the station. A change into new socks and trainers immediately felt like heaven, and 390154 arrives to take us to Watford Junction. I find BT and the new clothing goes on after a PNB. We leave 5 down for an unknown reason and oh my days it is a right slow journey through the Midlands! Eventually speed is felt and we're at Watford Junction just 3 down. We then get tapped in and join dud 378234 on the 2201 London Overground service as far as Harrow & Wealdstone, aa BT needed that bit of track via Watford High Street.
A supply raid in Sainsburys is had and we also visit Zara kebab shop as BT needed some proper foos having not had much all day. He reports the chicken nuggets and chips were very rateable and worth every penny of the £4.30, and we both found the staff to be really friendly which you don't get in fast food chains! After BT tops up his Oyster, we join the Bakerloo line next as he needed it as far as Queens Park.
This worked out well for me, as I score winner 3232 with dud 3459 on the back, and during the journey I get another two sets scored for sight, happy days! We bail at Paddington, as we wanted to visit the ticket office to check something, but it was closed, and everything around platform 1 was closed off for filming. We go back down to the Bakerloo and join double duds 3258+3452 to Baker Street to change for the Jubilee line. Winner 96108 led dud 96061 for the trip to West Hampstead, where we do the walk to West Hampstead Thameslink.
2 winners for haulage and 2 winners for sight, not bad for a day on Mandatory Moves! Read on to see how Day 2 went...
Missed any of the Live Trip Report? Catch up on Twitter using #TechsAntiFrothmas
Yes it's finally here, the annual Anti-Frothmas bash which both myself and Blindtraveller [referred to as BT in this trip report to save my thumbs a bit! - Ed] had looked forward to for quite some time. The Crazy Season was taking it out of me badly this year, so this final major bash of 2016 was more than welcome. Good company, trains and a de-stress, an excellent combination! Thanks must go to Kite159 for gen on some ultra rare track, will it work out? You'll just have to wait for the report from Day 2 to find out!
Having been counting down the hours until the trip all week, work had to be endured first until 1700, and I didn't hang around whatsoever, once I changed out of my boots, as I had a train to catch at 1740! Yes it's more 170 action but for the bargain fare it was worth it, as I was due a 390 next to Watford Junction, meeting BT upon departure from the Bat Cave. "Tech, your hashtag has tweets from 2015 on it" I hear you all querying. Yes it will do, as I plan to use the same hashtag for the annual trip each year. So what was the plan I hear you ask. Once at Watford Junction, we were to take in the loop via Watford High Street then the Bakerloo to knock out some of BT's coverage needs. Checking in at base camp would follow, and aiming for the rare track too. After which, Night Tube moves were the main aim of this trip, followed by some much needed doss for a few hours. London area moves would of course follow, then after sourcing supplies it was to Crewe on a bargain basement LM run, checking into base camp there. Breakfast would be followed by the world famous 0722 Crewe to Bolton, famous for supplying 142 thrash out of Crewe. Well it used to at least! Moves around Greater Manchester would follow before we both head home. That was the goal, will it all work out? Keep reading to find out...
It was very wet in Hereford after work, and my trainers that had holes in them on the Vienna trip still haven't been replaced. I regretted that now, with wet socks which I was glad to rip off once on the move! 170512 and 170501 were up to take me to the Bat Cave, and I'm looking forward to getting there to get some food and drink in a supply raid, and those two 170s are within 60 and 40 miles of being cleared for 500 miles now. To drown out the noisy people, Tech's Mobile Disco is soon going on, and thankfully they're off by Worcester. At some point this weekend I need to get new jeans as I didn't pack any foolishly [no way am I enduring my work trousers all weekend - Ed] and new trainers are a high priority. A cheap pair will do, these ones are like fabric in parts of the soles and I daresay you're all shuddering in horror at the idea of a weekend in wet trainers!
After finally arriving at 1916, I head straight to Primark for some new trainers, socks and cargo trousers. £27.50 very well spent, that's for sure. Burger King is visited for tea, and it's a fight through the Christmas Market crowds to get back to the station. A change into new socks and trainers immediately felt like heaven, and 390154 arrives to take us to Watford Junction. I find BT and the new clothing goes on after a PNB. We leave 5 down for an unknown reason and oh my days it is a right slow journey through the Midlands! Eventually speed is felt and we're at Watford Junction just 3 down. We then get tapped in and join dud 378234 on the 2201 London Overground service as far as Harrow & Wealdstone, aa BT needed that bit of track via Watford High Street.
A supply raid in Sainsburys is had and we also visit Zara kebab shop as BT needed some proper foos having not had much all day. He reports the chicken nuggets and chips were very rateable and worth every penny of the £4.30, and we both found the staff to be really friendly which you don't get in fast food chains! After BT tops up his Oyster, we join the Bakerloo line next as he needed it as far as Queens Park.
This worked out well for me, as I score winner 3232 with dud 3459 on the back, and during the journey I get another two sets scored for sight, happy days! We bail at Paddington, as we wanted to visit the ticket office to check something, but it was closed, and everything around platform 1 was closed off for filming. We go back down to the Bakerloo and join double duds 3258+3452 to Baker Street to change for the Jubilee line. Winner 96108 led dud 96061 for the trip to West Hampstead, where we do the walk to West Hampstead Thameslink.
2 winners for haulage and 2 winners for sight, not bad for a day on Mandatory Moves! Read on to see how Day 2 went...
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Not bad at all aye!
11/12/2016 - Tech's Anti-Frothmas 2016, Day 2
Kite159 has now come up from Croydon to join us on a move for some ultra rare track, and at 0043 we find it's a 700/1. Considering I need nearly all 700s, imagine my dismay to discover it's dud 700114! We go for the declassified First Class section at the back of the train, which is far nicer than Standard Class on these trains, although the power sockets are hardly brilliant. 700s on AC sound so much better than they do on DC power too, it has to be said.
After Blackfriars, the Danger Music is active but to our relief we turn right at Loughborough Junction [the actual junction, not the station of that name - Ed] onto the ultra rare curve towards Canterbury Road Junction, happy days! It feels mighty odd passing through Clapham Junction on a 700, it has to be said! We eventually arrive at 0151 and tiredness has arrived, so it's just as well the 0217 to Victoria is cancelled. Yes it's cancelling the plan to do Night Tube moves but neither me or BT are awake enough to do much now apart from crash out. We check in and say good night to Kite who went back to his room, and we are more than glad to see our twin room! It's not too long before we fall asleep, and the alarm at 0800 was not entirely welcome. However, with a checkout time of 1000 we begrudingly get ready to go.
The shower in room 708 refused to give me hot water, so I gave up. BT got hot water but no water pressure when he tried it a little later on, which was disappointing. It's worth noting too that easyLand is now open even on a Sunday morning, as easyCoffee machines are now present in there. Very much welcome, especially for the small price of £1 each for Lavazza coffee! Once we finished these, a supply raid in Sainsburys for a couple of breakfast pastries is done before we join dud tram 2530 to New Addington, which BT needed. On the way back north, I see a winner so we bail at Fieldway and wait 7 minutes for it to come back. Winner for everything 2564 takes us to Addington Village, as we had already had enough of the Stadler trams, both of us being fans of the older trams. Investigations at the bus interchange reveal a move on route 314 would take us to Hayes station, so we board 36541 with Stagecoach London for the 8 minute journey.
It's unfortunately a 28 minute fester for the next train towards Cannon Street, but it's nice weather today so no matter. Sadly it's double duds 465174+465170 which take us to Lewisham, where we change for the DLR. Winners 94+99 led dud 44 on the trip to Cutty Sark, where we bail for a visit to McDonalds and a coffee break. After queuing for ages, and a PNB before leaving, we had been upstairs for 55 minutes! Winner 122 led dud 128 with winner 146 on the back for the trip to Bank, and it's a lengthy walk to the Central line here. Double duds 91073+92068 led winner for everything 92076 with dud 91133 on the back take us to Tottenham Court Road, which is the first visit for both of us since it was refurbished. Winner 91173 led dud 92146 with double winners for everything 92144+91139 on the back to Marble Arch.
Onwards and upwards, dud 91199 led triple winners for everything 92414+92142+91229 to Lancaster Gate. Winner 91149 led double duds 92058+92218 with winner 91153 bringing up the rear on a leap to White City. Double winners for everything 91261+92064 led dud 92186 with winner for everything 91305 to North Acton. We stay on the next West Ruislip to the end of the line, as BT needed the line for coverage to clear the Central line, with winner for everything 91235 leading dud 92156 and double winners for everything 92256+91313 on the back, the same sets taking us back east. We had planned to do a Chiltern move from South Ruislip [not from West Ruislip due to the bizarre calling patterns on Sundays - Ed] but as the next eastbound train left as soon as we arrived we didn't get there until 1439. As the 165 was leaving at 1440, and annoyingly it was winner 165011, we stayed put on the Central line instead.
Double winners for everything 91237+92214 led winner 92140 and dud 91257 on the back for a trip to Notting Hill Gate. We were sick of the Central line by now, and were both hungry, so we decided to change for the sub-surface lines. All fine and good, but a signal failure had the service suspended. We figure that this might be resolved by the time we get some food, and this is sourced from a nearby convenience store. Sadly on the return to LU about 15 minutes later, having also endured the Blade Society going by all in Santa suits blaring out Frothmas tunes and causing significant traffic jams, the sub-surface lines were still closed. Winner for everything 91155 led triple duds 92060+92040+91345 took us to Queensway, as BT was determined to get me to 20 winners on the Central line now. I was already on 18, so it shouldn't be hard.
Double duds 91067+92116 led winner 92442 with dud 91053 on the back to Lancaster Gate. 19 scores, and now a rare treat, quadruple winners for everything 91071+92430+92244+91171 got me to 23 winners today on the Central line, so we were finally able to change tack and get off at Oxford Circus for a change of scene and onto the Victoria line. Not a bad result at all, and 167 Central line sets remain to be scored, most of which are also needed for sight too. Dud 11036 led winner for everything 11035 for the long haul to Walthamstow Central, and that irritating gap from poor haulage recordings is now fixed. One more such gap to fix one day!
A nice and easy interchange is made onto London Overground next, and dud 315808 takes us to Chingford to fill a gap in BT's track coverage. We stay on board the 315 and I only now need one more coach to Super Dud this 315. Back at Walthamstow Central, it's back downstairs but no luck in finding any of my last 9 half sets on this occasion. I have zero desire to fester for them either, and the screens stay as showing this set is for Walthamstow Central all the way south, much to the confusion of many passengers. The driver seemed unable to fix that too! Supplies are sourced at Euston, and eventually boarding is announced at 1845 for the 1850 to Crewe. It's a long trek to the front of the train, but we make it just to find seats in First Class on 350253. 350254 was with it until Northampton, and it's slow line running all the way for us. After ditching 350254, which had only been on 8 miles and 18 chains, at Northampton we carry on solo and don't lose many out of First Class until Stafford. Me and BT were heavily into TPP Mode all the way too, as we have a rather major trip planned for June 2017. Details to follow when time off is granted...
An unexpected required microgrice is had at Crewe, as we arrive in platform 2. Just 7, 8 and 10 to get up here now then! We make our way straight to a taxi, and well worth a fiver that was. The map I swear said it was ultra close to the station when I booked the Ibis Styles hotel, but oh well it's not a big issue on this occasion. The reception lass was ever so friendly and helpful, printing off a list of takeaways for us to get food from as well. We hadn't needed a meal at Euston, but 4 and something had passed since that decision was made! Moorlands Fast Food gets an order for both of us, and we both go for a 12" pizza which was just absolutely amazing! It's not long after until we collapsed into sleep, it being just before midnight by then.
12/12/2016 - Tech's Anti-Frothmas 2016, Day 3
I'm awake somehow just after 6, and by 0635 I'm up and about doing stuff. Wow that shower was simply wonderful! My bed was, for me, quite comfortable and better than the one I had in Hotel Exe in Vienna by some way. I still prefer those in easyHotel mind. I go downstairs for some coffee and orange juice, and to start the major catchup on the trip report, while BT got some more much needed doss. He's awake by the time I go back up to the room, and my phone is playing up something fierce, so I'm glad we didn't head out early after all as it allowed time for me to rip out the battery and such like to make it function properly. I've not even had this one for 400 days yet, I'm not amused by this device playing up on such a regular basis already! A backup to Google Drive is begun as BT prepares for departure, and we head downstairs for coffee and orange juice. Yes we had a continental breakfast included, but we didn't need it after last night's late night feast.
A taxi is ordered and well worth £4 as it had now started to rain. The saving of the feet was also welcome too! Tickets are sourced and we just miss a Liverpool train, so we hang out on the platforms for anything interesting. Sadly nothing exciting happens before 350108 carts us off to Liverpool South Parkway, where we do the big walk to the MerseyRail platforms which takes longer than I remember. Super Dud 508114 takes us to Hunts Cross as BT needed that bit of track, and we stay put for the run to Southport, as the track all the way was needed for the good sir. We both hate MerseyRail by the time that 65 minute journey is over, by the time we reach Sandhills we were looking for something different to do! With MerseyRail now cleared for BT, we eventually settled on a move via Wigan back to Liverpool.
142051 is Super Dudded on this run, and it was nice and warm compared to the horribly nippy air in Southport. I'll say this now:
I prefer a 142 to a 507 or 508
Yes, you read that right! The guard happily sells us the required tickets back south, and I daresay she sympathised with our dislike of MerseyRail. Got to add, we felt sorry for the guard who was doing 3 round trips from Hunts Cross to Southport and back today. He deserves a medal for that! The walk to Wigan North Western was easily conquered, and we join dud 319364 to Liverpool Lime Street. Oh my LORDZ the AC motor thrash was beyond hellfire! It was therefore a shame to sit around in the tunnels on the Lime Street approaches, and we arrive 5 down. A nice and easy walk to the 1447 London Euston with 390104 revealed Burger King is now closed down here, oh we were both fuming at that! A nice and relaxing journey is had to Crewe, where we part ways as BT continued to Stafford. I go for a walk for some supplies and coffee, then it's onto the last train of the trip to Hereford for the bus home.
175112 does the honours, and 68023 is scored for sight too. The trip report is finished after the notebook update, with almost no time spare to spare before Hereford too. Another excellent trip is therefore over, thanks BT for the excellent company, bring on our bash in January!
11/12/2016 - Tech's Anti-Frothmas 2016, Day 2
Kite159 has now come up from Croydon to join us on a move for some ultra rare track, and at 0043 we find it's a 700/1. Considering I need nearly all 700s, imagine my dismay to discover it's dud 700114! We go for the declassified First Class section at the back of the train, which is far nicer than Standard Class on these trains, although the power sockets are hardly brilliant. 700s on AC sound so much better than they do on DC power too, it has to be said.
After Blackfriars, the Danger Music is active but to our relief we turn right at Loughborough Junction [the actual junction, not the station of that name - Ed] onto the ultra rare curve towards Canterbury Road Junction, happy days! It feels mighty odd passing through Clapham Junction on a 700, it has to be said! We eventually arrive at 0151 and tiredness has arrived, so it's just as well the 0217 to Victoria is cancelled. Yes it's cancelling the plan to do Night Tube moves but neither me or BT are awake enough to do much now apart from crash out. We check in and say good night to Kite who went back to his room, and we are more than glad to see our twin room! It's not too long before we fall asleep, and the alarm at 0800 was not entirely welcome. However, with a checkout time of 1000 we begrudingly get ready to go.
The shower in room 708 refused to give me hot water, so I gave up. BT got hot water but no water pressure when he tried it a little later on, which was disappointing. It's worth noting too that easyLand is now open even on a Sunday morning, as easyCoffee machines are now present in there. Very much welcome, especially for the small price of £1 each for Lavazza coffee! Once we finished these, a supply raid in Sainsburys for a couple of breakfast pastries is done before we join dud tram 2530 to New Addington, which BT needed. On the way back north, I see a winner so we bail at Fieldway and wait 7 minutes for it to come back. Winner for everything 2564 takes us to Addington Village, as we had already had enough of the Stadler trams, both of us being fans of the older trams. Investigations at the bus interchange reveal a move on route 314 would take us to Hayes station, so we board 36541 with Stagecoach London for the 8 minute journey.
It's unfortunately a 28 minute fester for the next train towards Cannon Street, but it's nice weather today so no matter. Sadly it's double duds 465174+465170 which take us to Lewisham, where we change for the DLR. Winners 94+99 led dud 44 on the trip to Cutty Sark, where we bail for a visit to McDonalds and a coffee break. After queuing for ages, and a PNB before leaving, we had been upstairs for 55 minutes! Winner 122 led dud 128 with winner 146 on the back for the trip to Bank, and it's a lengthy walk to the Central line here. Double duds 91073+92068 led winner for everything 92076 with dud 91133 on the back take us to Tottenham Court Road, which is the first visit for both of us since it was refurbished. Winner 91173 led dud 92146 with double winners for everything 92144+91139 on the back to Marble Arch.
Onwards and upwards, dud 91199 led triple winners for everything 92414+92142+91229 to Lancaster Gate. Winner 91149 led double duds 92058+92218 with winner 91153 bringing up the rear on a leap to White City. Double winners for everything 91261+92064 led dud 92186 with winner for everything 91305 to North Acton. We stay on the next West Ruislip to the end of the line, as BT needed the line for coverage to clear the Central line, with winner for everything 91235 leading dud 92156 and double winners for everything 92256+91313 on the back, the same sets taking us back east. We had planned to do a Chiltern move from South Ruislip [not from West Ruislip due to the bizarre calling patterns on Sundays - Ed] but as the next eastbound train left as soon as we arrived we didn't get there until 1439. As the 165 was leaving at 1440, and annoyingly it was winner 165011, we stayed put on the Central line instead.
Double winners for everything 91237+92214 led winner 92140 and dud 91257 on the back for a trip to Notting Hill Gate. We were sick of the Central line by now, and were both hungry, so we decided to change for the sub-surface lines. All fine and good, but a signal failure had the service suspended. We figure that this might be resolved by the time we get some food, and this is sourced from a nearby convenience store. Sadly on the return to LU about 15 minutes later, having also endured the Blade Society going by all in Santa suits blaring out Frothmas tunes and causing significant traffic jams, the sub-surface lines were still closed. Winner for everything 91155 led triple duds 92060+92040+91345 took us to Queensway, as BT was determined to get me to 20 winners on the Central line now. I was already on 18, so it shouldn't be hard.
Double duds 91067+92116 led winner 92442 with dud 91053 on the back to Lancaster Gate. 19 scores, and now a rare treat, quadruple winners for everything 91071+92430+92244+91171 got me to 23 winners today on the Central line, so we were finally able to change tack and get off at Oxford Circus for a change of scene and onto the Victoria line. Not a bad result at all, and 167 Central line sets remain to be scored, most of which are also needed for sight too. Dud 11036 led winner for everything 11035 for the long haul to Walthamstow Central, and that irritating gap from poor haulage recordings is now fixed. One more such gap to fix one day!
A nice and easy interchange is made onto London Overground next, and dud 315808 takes us to Chingford to fill a gap in BT's track coverage. We stay on board the 315 and I only now need one more coach to Super Dud this 315. Back at Walthamstow Central, it's back downstairs but no luck in finding any of my last 9 half sets on this occasion. I have zero desire to fester for them either, and the screens stay as showing this set is for Walthamstow Central all the way south, much to the confusion of many passengers. The driver seemed unable to fix that too! Supplies are sourced at Euston, and eventually boarding is announced at 1845 for the 1850 to Crewe. It's a long trek to the front of the train, but we make it just to find seats in First Class on 350253. 350254 was with it until Northampton, and it's slow line running all the way for us. After ditching 350254, which had only been on 8 miles and 18 chains, at Northampton we carry on solo and don't lose many out of First Class until Stafford. Me and BT were heavily into TPP Mode all the way too, as we have a rather major trip planned for June 2017. Details to follow when time off is granted...
An unexpected required microgrice is had at Crewe, as we arrive in platform 2. Just 7, 8 and 10 to get up here now then! We make our way straight to a taxi, and well worth a fiver that was. The map I swear said it was ultra close to the station when I booked the Ibis Styles hotel, but oh well it's not a big issue on this occasion. The reception lass was ever so friendly and helpful, printing off a list of takeaways for us to get food from as well. We hadn't needed a meal at Euston, but 4 and something had passed since that decision was made! Moorlands Fast Food gets an order for both of us, and we both go for a 12" pizza which was just absolutely amazing! It's not long after until we collapsed into sleep, it being just before midnight by then.
12/12/2016 - Tech's Anti-Frothmas 2016, Day 3
I'm awake somehow just after 6, and by 0635 I'm up and about doing stuff. Wow that shower was simply wonderful! My bed was, for me, quite comfortable and better than the one I had in Hotel Exe in Vienna by some way. I still prefer those in easyHotel mind. I go downstairs for some coffee and orange juice, and to start the major catchup on the trip report, while BT got some more much needed doss. He's awake by the time I go back up to the room, and my phone is playing up something fierce, so I'm glad we didn't head out early after all as it allowed time for me to rip out the battery and such like to make it function properly. I've not even had this one for 400 days yet, I'm not amused by this device playing up on such a regular basis already! A backup to Google Drive is begun as BT prepares for departure, and we head downstairs for coffee and orange juice. Yes we had a continental breakfast included, but we didn't need it after last night's late night feast.
A taxi is ordered and well worth £4 as it had now started to rain. The saving of the feet was also welcome too! Tickets are sourced and we just miss a Liverpool train, so we hang out on the platforms for anything interesting. Sadly nothing exciting happens before 350108 carts us off to Liverpool South Parkway, where we do the big walk to the MerseyRail platforms which takes longer than I remember. Super Dud 508114 takes us to Hunts Cross as BT needed that bit of track, and we stay put for the run to Southport, as the track all the way was needed for the good sir. We both hate MerseyRail by the time that 65 minute journey is over, by the time we reach Sandhills we were looking for something different to do! With MerseyRail now cleared for BT, we eventually settled on a move via Wigan back to Liverpool.
142051 is Super Dudded on this run, and it was nice and warm compared to the horribly nippy air in Southport. I'll say this now:
I prefer a 142 to a 507 or 508
Yes, you read that right! The guard happily sells us the required tickets back south, and I daresay she sympathised with our dislike of MerseyRail. Got to add, we felt sorry for the guard who was doing 3 round trips from Hunts Cross to Southport and back today. He deserves a medal for that! The walk to Wigan North Western was easily conquered, and we join dud 319364 to Liverpool Lime Street. Oh my LORDZ the AC motor thrash was beyond hellfire! It was therefore a shame to sit around in the tunnels on the Lime Street approaches, and we arrive 5 down. A nice and easy walk to the 1447 London Euston with 390104 revealed Burger King is now closed down here, oh we were both fuming at that! A nice and relaxing journey is had to Crewe, where we part ways as BT continued to Stafford. I go for a walk for some supplies and coffee, then it's onto the last train of the trip to Hereford for the bus home.
175112 does the honours, and 68023 is scored for sight too. The trip report is finished after the notebook update, with almost no time spare to spare before Hereford too. Another excellent trip is therefore over, thanks BT for the excellent company, bring on our bash in January!
Kite159
Veteran Member
It was good to meet up again, all be it for a short while 
Sounded like you (and BT) scored a lot of Central line sets yesterday, and a good little trip to Southport
Sounded like you (and BT) scored a lot of Central line sets yesterday, and a good little trip to Southport
Techniquest
Veteran Member
That was a long time ago Noddy!
Glad you've all enjoyed the read!
Glad you've all enjoyed the read!
Great read Tech, although personally I'd have to go for the 507s and 508s over a 142, albeit only just! Both have their positives in my opinion, but I'd have to go for the PEPs simply because they're the first units I remember going on, and of course they're on my local network.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Fair enough that, and there was a time I'd have agreed with you, but ever since I cleared MerseyRail 100% the appeal has worn off
Sounds like a brilliant trip, except the long trip on the 507 and 508. The dud 700 would have really annoyed me too. Was the track worth the stupidly long day though? 
Craziness on preferring a 142 to a 507 or 508 though!
Craziness on preferring a 142 to a 507 or 508 though!
Keith Jarrett
Member
Tech, just catching up with your trip to The Big Smoke and you did will roping in a few sets of 1992ts although I do feel for you having a absolute totter around Sarf London in the company of my stalker 700/1.
Southwest
Member
I can't understand half of what you write, all of those special phrases that I would have known years ago when I was one of the 'in crowd'.
That aside, I did enjoy reading it!
That aside, I did enjoy reading it!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Sounds like a brilliant trip, except the long trip on the 507 and 508. The dud 700 would have really annoyed me too. Was the track worth the stupidly long day though?
Craziness on preferring a 142 to a 507 or 508 though!
No 507s this time, just a 508 while on MerseyRail. The dud 700 was irritating, but that's just the way the game goes! The track was indeed worth being awake for 22 hours (oh I've just realised I had a longer day than Kite!) that's for sure.
142 bashing is definitely superior to 508 bashing, even a former MerseyRail 142 as me and BT had!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thanks Keith! Glad it's not just me who 700114 stalks, granted I've only had it twice but that's not the point.
By the way all, stay tuned for #TechRocksDaParty on Monday...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Glad you enjoyed the read, despite not understanding half of it! Feel free to ask for clarification on those bits
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Southwest
Member
Thanks for the offer but after many years in the 'plane spotting' fraternity, where jargon and buzz words are just as common as they are in this hobby, I'm just getting used to speaking normally again without the need to feel as though I fit in more by using certain lingo.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Fair enough!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
19/12/2016 - Tech Rocks Da Party
I originally wanted to use Get Your Glow Sticks Out, but that hashtag was in use. So was Release the Tech. The former referred to my love of happy hardcore and Nightcore music, and had specially kept it back for the winter. The latter came from 'release the beast' found on a Magnum ice cream stick on 24th July 2016. This one, however, is a return to musical references, this time it's Brisk & Ham's Rock Da Party. It won't surprise you that it's a happy hardcore tune!
The night before this trip I was staying in Hereford after a Christmas meal and drinks with friends from work, so with the need to also fit in a birthday bash, having got even more ancient on the 16th of December [for anyone curious, I have only a handful of years to plan the big 40th birthday bash... - Ed], I came up with various ideas for this trip. I went through my requirements files again and again in early December, and after checking out fares I settled on moves that would see me on my earliest start to a bash in years. How early? Well my alarm was due to sound at 0430, to be ready for the 0547 to Manchester Piccadilly!
A check of the calendar for available dates for further bashing on 13th December revealed my fears were correct, this was to be the final bash of 2016! I guess the bright side to that is that I'll have 12 days to get prep for 2017 finished, the bulk of which is filling in the Midlands TrackMaps book. Of course, upon discovery of this alarming fact, I immediately looked to making this an absolute monster of a trip. A mini bash to Birmingham or ATW shack scoring was 100% off the table as a result. My options came down to Supertram shacks and tram hunting, Oxfordshire for shacks and Turbos, a 4.75 hour LU fest and Manchester shacks and MU hunting. I finally settled upon booking Advances to and from Manchester, deciding the trip to Oxfordshire can be done on a different occasion in 2017. Would I go beyond Manchester? Stay tuned...
Well, the Christmas meal was lousy apart from the chocolate fudge cake for pudding [but I'll not vent about that, yet... - Ed] and the drinks, well we just kept on going until well gone 0200 and by the time I got back to base camp it was 0250. By the time everyone else got home and my head stopped buzzing for a bit it was 0330! Oh this was genius...0430 and the alarm was placed near the bed. Clever that, as I simply turned it off! By chance I wake up at 0522, great there's no time for a shower or much else, bag prep was completed sharpish and I'm only on the platform a few minutes before 175111 takes me north. I sleep most of the way unsurprisingly, waking at Crewe to find out my ultra quiet train was now super busy! Really enjoyable night though, and just after Crewe the stomach is too raging to let me continue sleeping. Mind you, after such a low quality meal of which there wasn't much anyway, and the 'extras' will be the talk of work for days, I'm not surprised it's angry. I can see a BK in my future...
Arrival is at 0804 and I make a beeline for Burger King to get a supersize Bacon Double Cheeseburger XL meal. Now THAT was an awesome feed! After that, I head downstairs and get my ticket for Metrolink, scoring winner for everything 3117 to Piccadilly Gardens on a very, very busy Eccles service. Winner 3039 takes me onwards to Victoria, leaving me just 25 more trams to get in Manchester now. I meet up with forum member andyb2706 here, and after a quick chat I get my Lancashire Day Ranger. Exceptional value at £22.70 considering the huge area of coverage. 185139+185148 are rather delayed leaving, causing delays to our train too and eventually 350404 rolls in to take us away to the North 5 minutes late. 37 thrash was on the cards, hence the use of this ranger and andyb2706 needs a number of DRS 37s still, so we were a tad worried we'd miss it. Credit where it's due, once our driver got the chance we thrashed up the WCML like nobody's business. We caught up with the 185s on the approach to Preston and arrived at 1003.
We could have risked the tight connection, but it wasn't worth it and we stayed on to Lancaster. It's also a same platform connection in Lancastee which is even better! Soon enough, 37403 rolls in to take us to the day's first winner shack at Silverdale. The noise and fumes off this machine was just excellent, and it was a mighty shame to have to alight. We didn't see the platform change was done via a barrow crossing, so imagine our surprise when we did the long walk up to and over the bridge to find no access! Back we went after our unexpected little explore and it wasn't long before Super Dud 156479 arrived full and standing to take us to Carnforth. It's safe to say we were both glad to alight, and at this point I should also thank andyb2706 for using his mobile data to look up moves and to post tweets for me!
Super Dud 150205 takes us east to winner shack Wennington and we have a little explore of the area as we had a +24 here. Houses, houses and nothing else around here, so we return to the footbridge shack and continue our natter about trains, drinking and socialising. I have no intention of doing a big bash the day after a heavy night out again, that's for sure. Oh, and before anyone asks, the answer is no. No I'm not going to become obsessed with Norm Land again! Super Dud 150112 takes us south to Lancaster, and upon discovery that there was zero chance we could carry on to Morecambe and make my booked train home, we bail and it's not long before double duds 156464+156468 take us to Preston for more 156 thrash, 156468 becoming a Super Dud.
There's time for a much needed Pumpkin coffee before we join the next move, dud 156441 to winner shack Lostock where we arrive several minutes late somehow. A quick rush over the bridge gets us onto Super Dud 185139 to winner shack Horwich Parkway where I finally have some luck. Double winners 150139+150133 arrive to take us south to, embarassingly, winner shack Salford Central and wow the step down is nasty here. Network Rail's re-vamp of this station cannot come quick enough! Double duds 142036+150268 take us on the Bus Stop Bash to Manchester Victoria and we overtake the 150s we got off earlier too. Up and over the bridge and my beaming smile is back, as winner 150117 was up next to take us to the day's final winner shack at Mills Hill and my 6th score of the day!
The platform to platform change here is via stepped ramps and stairs and under the rail bridge, so anything less than a +5 is not recommended. Super Dud 155347 was my penultimate heavy rail move of the year, and we thankfully arrive 3 minutes early back at Manchester Victoria. Super Dud 3006 takes us to Piccadilly Gardens where I bailed too as I wanted to know what was coming from the west to Piccadilly. Sadly it was dud 3090 and I quickly rushed my farewells to andyb2706. Thanks for the excellent company and a pleasure to finally meet up properly! I made a quick supply raid in Sainsburys before joining the final move of 2016 with 175010. It's rather busy on here and doesn't really empty out at Wilmslow as expected. We get to full and standing status at Crewe and even Nantwich doesn't empty us out as expect, Shrewsbury sees the 175 still very busy and we stay that way all the way to Hereford. Typical as I had hoped to get a bit of kip, which I also didn't get on the bus home!
I made the decision by Wem that I will have an early night, having barely slept after all in the last 36 hours! It was the bus home, some food and not much else afterwards. So that was that, the end of bashing in 2016! Stay tuned for the final chapter of the Rolling Review, which will include the End of Year Summary!
I originally wanted to use Get Your Glow Sticks Out, but that hashtag was in use. So was Release the Tech. The former referred to my love of happy hardcore and Nightcore music, and had specially kept it back for the winter. The latter came from 'release the beast' found on a Magnum ice cream stick on 24th July 2016. This one, however, is a return to musical references, this time it's Brisk & Ham's Rock Da Party. It won't surprise you that it's a happy hardcore tune!
The night before this trip I was staying in Hereford after a Christmas meal and drinks with friends from work, so with the need to also fit in a birthday bash, having got even more ancient on the 16th of December [for anyone curious, I have only a handful of years to plan the big 40th birthday bash... - Ed], I came up with various ideas for this trip. I went through my requirements files again and again in early December, and after checking out fares I settled on moves that would see me on my earliest start to a bash in years. How early? Well my alarm was due to sound at 0430, to be ready for the 0547 to Manchester Piccadilly!
A check of the calendar for available dates for further bashing on 13th December revealed my fears were correct, this was to be the final bash of 2016! I guess the bright side to that is that I'll have 12 days to get prep for 2017 finished, the bulk of which is filling in the Midlands TrackMaps book. Of course, upon discovery of this alarming fact, I immediately looked to making this an absolute monster of a trip. A mini bash to Birmingham or ATW shack scoring was 100% off the table as a result. My options came down to Supertram shacks and tram hunting, Oxfordshire for shacks and Turbos, a 4.75 hour LU fest and Manchester shacks and MU hunting. I finally settled upon booking Advances to and from Manchester, deciding the trip to Oxfordshire can be done on a different occasion in 2017. Would I go beyond Manchester? Stay tuned...
Well, the Christmas meal was lousy apart from the chocolate fudge cake for pudding [but I'll not vent about that, yet... - Ed] and the drinks, well we just kept on going until well gone 0200 and by the time I got back to base camp it was 0250. By the time everyone else got home and my head stopped buzzing for a bit it was 0330! Oh this was genius...0430 and the alarm was placed near the bed. Clever that, as I simply turned it off! By chance I wake up at 0522, great there's no time for a shower or much else, bag prep was completed sharpish and I'm only on the platform a few minutes before 175111 takes me north. I sleep most of the way unsurprisingly, waking at Crewe to find out my ultra quiet train was now super busy! Really enjoyable night though, and just after Crewe the stomach is too raging to let me continue sleeping. Mind you, after such a low quality meal of which there wasn't much anyway, and the 'extras' will be the talk of work for days, I'm not surprised it's angry. I can see a BK in my future...
Arrival is at 0804 and I make a beeline for Burger King to get a supersize Bacon Double Cheeseburger XL meal. Now THAT was an awesome feed! After that, I head downstairs and get my ticket for Metrolink, scoring winner for everything 3117 to Piccadilly Gardens on a very, very busy Eccles service. Winner 3039 takes me onwards to Victoria, leaving me just 25 more trams to get in Manchester now. I meet up with forum member andyb2706 here, and after a quick chat I get my Lancashire Day Ranger. Exceptional value at £22.70 considering the huge area of coverage. 185139+185148 are rather delayed leaving, causing delays to our train too and eventually 350404 rolls in to take us away to the North 5 minutes late. 37 thrash was on the cards, hence the use of this ranger and andyb2706 needs a number of DRS 37s still, so we were a tad worried we'd miss it. Credit where it's due, once our driver got the chance we thrashed up the WCML like nobody's business. We caught up with the 185s on the approach to Preston and arrived at 1003.
We could have risked the tight connection, but it wasn't worth it and we stayed on to Lancaster. It's also a same platform connection in Lancastee which is even better! Soon enough, 37403 rolls in to take us to the day's first winner shack at Silverdale. The noise and fumes off this machine was just excellent, and it was a mighty shame to have to alight. We didn't see the platform change was done via a barrow crossing, so imagine our surprise when we did the long walk up to and over the bridge to find no access! Back we went after our unexpected little explore and it wasn't long before Super Dud 156479 arrived full and standing to take us to Carnforth. It's safe to say we were both glad to alight, and at this point I should also thank andyb2706 for using his mobile data to look up moves and to post tweets for me!
Super Dud 150205 takes us east to winner shack Wennington and we have a little explore of the area as we had a +24 here. Houses, houses and nothing else around here, so we return to the footbridge shack and continue our natter about trains, drinking and socialising. I have no intention of doing a big bash the day after a heavy night out again, that's for sure. Oh, and before anyone asks, the answer is no. No I'm not going to become obsessed with Norm Land again! Super Dud 150112 takes us south to Lancaster, and upon discovery that there was zero chance we could carry on to Morecambe and make my booked train home, we bail and it's not long before double duds 156464+156468 take us to Preston for more 156 thrash, 156468 becoming a Super Dud.
There's time for a much needed Pumpkin coffee before we join the next move, dud 156441 to winner shack Lostock where we arrive several minutes late somehow. A quick rush over the bridge gets us onto Super Dud 185139 to winner shack Horwich Parkway where I finally have some luck. Double winners 150139+150133 arrive to take us south to, embarassingly, winner shack Salford Central and wow the step down is nasty here. Network Rail's re-vamp of this station cannot come quick enough! Double duds 142036+150268 take us on the Bus Stop Bash to Manchester Victoria and we overtake the 150s we got off earlier too. Up and over the bridge and my beaming smile is back, as winner 150117 was up next to take us to the day's final winner shack at Mills Hill and my 6th score of the day!
The platform to platform change here is via stepped ramps and stairs and under the rail bridge, so anything less than a +5 is not recommended. Super Dud 155347 was my penultimate heavy rail move of the year, and we thankfully arrive 3 minutes early back at Manchester Victoria. Super Dud 3006 takes us to Piccadilly Gardens where I bailed too as I wanted to know what was coming from the west to Piccadilly. Sadly it was dud 3090 and I quickly rushed my farewells to andyb2706. Thanks for the excellent company and a pleasure to finally meet up properly! I made a quick supply raid in Sainsburys before joining the final move of 2016 with 175010. It's rather busy on here and doesn't really empty out at Wilmslow as expected. We get to full and standing status at Crewe and even Nantwich doesn't empty us out as expect, Shrewsbury sees the 175 still very busy and we stay that way all the way to Hereford. Typical as I had hoped to get a bit of kip, which I also didn't get on the bus home!
I made the decision by Wem that I will have an early night, having barely slept after all in the last 36 hours! It was the bus home, some food and not much else afterwards. So that was that, the end of bashing in 2016! Stay tuned for the final chapter of the Rolling Review, which will include the End of Year Summary!
Kite159
Veteran Member
Sounded like a good day with Andy, scoring some required units and shacks.
Vote 156 thrash
Vote 156 thrash
andyb2706
Member
Many good memories from yesterday, including the gibberish automated train announcement that had the pair of us laughing our backsides off.
Don't forget Wennington had a village green....of sorts, but that was about all. Definitely a retirement place. We both let unlucky when 150112 turned up seeing i need 150111 and yourself 150113, better luck next time.
As to Silverdale in our defence there was no signs directing you to the Carnforth platform, it was as if the Cumbrian council was willing to direct you towards other Cumbrian locations but were damned if they were going to direct you to Lancashire.
It was good to meet you and it was a very enjoyable day.
Don't forget Wennington had a village green....of sorts, but that was about all. Definitely a retirement place. We both let unlucky when 150112 turned up seeing i need 150111 and yourself 150113, better luck next time.
As to Silverdale in our defence there was no signs directing you to the Carnforth platform, it was as if the Cumbrian council was willing to direct you towards other Cumbrian locations but were damned if they were going to direct you to Lancashire.
It was good to meet you and it was a very enjoyable day.
Iskra
Established Member
10/10 for managing to get up at that time with a hangover, and then do a longish bash too.
And well done getting Wennington on only a +24.
And well done getting Wennington on only a +24.
djpontrack
Member
Well done on a good trip out mate. The Lancashire Day Ranger is certainly a great ticket to get, I've done quite a few of them over the last few years.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Oh that gibberish on the 350 was awesomely funny 
Glad you all enjoyed the read, only a few weeks to go until the next one!
Glad you all enjoyed the read, only a few weeks to go until the next one!
47403
Established Member
Took a while to read but got there eventually, certainly a boat load of red pens and free hand underlines(shudders at the thought ) of that there's no doubt, plenty new shacks and a rare bit of track thrown in for good measure.
As usual a very good read. Going bashing after a night on the peeve, bet you were arse over tit for a good while.
Congrats on passing last years mileage totals. Bet your well pleased with that, been a very fruitful 2016
) of that there's no doubt, plenty new shacks and a rare bit of track thrown in for good measure.As usual a very good read. Going bashing after a night on the peeve, bet you were arse over tit for a good while.
Congrats on passing last years mileage totals. Bet your well pleased with that, been a very fruitful 2016
Keith Jarrett
Member
Tech, you rounded off 2016 in style and despite your delicate state you held out remarkably well. I know that I am over 500 winners for the year but your 700 odd is s very good achievement. Let's see what 2017 does you
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Here's how Monday morning played out in the end, just for anyone interested:
0220, leave The Venue
0250, after farewells said etc, back in the room (only just under 4 hours after I'd planned to be in by!)
0315, all friends are home safe
0330, head buzzing but by now not so much as to allow sleep
0430, alarm next to bed (foolish decision!) turned off and back to sleep
0522, something made me check the time and immediately jumped out of bed to quickly get ready to go out on a bash!
I slept almost all the way to Crewe, where my empty train at 0547 was now very busy indeed! Still felt fudged by the time I left Manchester mind, thankfully Andy understood as he'd done the same sort of thing the other week!
All in, bashing wise I'd say we've all done well. Not as good as Kite of course, but none of us had a chance against the full time basher
andyb2706
Member
I slept almost all the way to Crewe, where my empty train at 0547 was now very busy indeed! Still felt fudged by the time I left Manchester mind, thankfully Andy understood as he'd done the same sort of thing the other week!
All in, bashing wise I'd say we've all done well. Not as good as Kite of course, but none of us had a chance against the full time basher
Oh yes!! Walking group Christmas party went like this:
1830: Met close friends in The Bulls Head in Manchester, couple of ales.
1945: Headed to the party venue, tried a real awful beer so was on JD and Coke for the remainder of the night, planned not to stay out too late
2230: Was offered a lift home, offer accepted.
2235: Thanks, but I've decided to stay a bit longer.
0000: Decided to leave to get the last tram, unfortunately I told one of my closest friends first who is an ex-teacher......she still has the teacher stir, it's scary you just can not refuse.
0030: We all leave the party venue to carry on with an after party party, totally lost count of the JD and cokes by now.
0050: I think, enter the best club in Manchester IMO, The Fab Café.
0200: A right laugh with everyone dancing, singing and playing the air guitar to Bohemian Rhapsody. Only know this because I recorded it.
0230: Finally leave and get a taxi
0315: Over 3 hours later than planned I get home.
0330: Finally in bed......best night out of the year
Of course timings are estimates after the alcohol consumption.
So Tech, I definitely sympathised with you on Monday.
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