Juliano's World Frenzy/Tech's Trip Reports

[185143]

Yep, total agreement! Comment of the year so far!

A 334 to Queen Street would have cost me £23.80, so no chance!

Voyagers are better than 334s too!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Voyagers are better than 334s too!

Without dragging this to far off, I totally disagree. The only and I do mean the only reason the Voyager wins here is the price. Otherwise they are too smelly, too short and totally unsuitable for the work they do.

What should IMO have happened is the Scottish Govd spend some of the oil money on a new fleat for XC with DFT help and taken voyagers to Scotland, stripped and refurbished them as well as reforming to minimum 6 coaches and put them on Express work.


Actually taking Virgins ones and a few of XC's in exchange for another 25 11 coach Pendos and Scottish 170s respectively would have been even better

 

[Techniquest]

185143: No. Just no!

10/01/2017 - Tech's Big Bang 2017, Day 4

This was a nice and easy relaxed day, following some intensive days recently and having slept badly at night recently (due to weather and grottiness), an easy day was more than desired. It turned into a bit of a supply raid trip, with added thrash, but let's not spoil the surprise for those not following on Twitter!

Gen was sought like crazy, and there was virtually nothing out I needed. Tracking one of my 334s resulted in finding it was losing time like mad, so it was best not to go for it. The only 170 I could go and score, it was unclear if it was indeed coming down to Edinburgh or not. I also found out that my last VTEC HST power cars were nowhere near Edinburgh, so I was a bit annoyed at how little I needed was out. I didn't bother festering at Haymarket as I could have done, because as BT reminded me I told him not to let me do that again in miserable weather. It was freezing and very breezy yesterday, so I would have been moaning like crazy!

Eventually, we decide to take my sister's advice and go shopping, as the bad weather forecasted was not going to go well with my cheap Primark trainers bought on the Anti-Frothmas 2016 bash. So we board Lothian's 632 on route 16 to Foot of Leith Walk, and discover the Shoe Zone here is closed down! We got some cash out anyway as we wanted to visit Leith Barbers, and £7 was very well spent indeed as it had been well overdue to be dealt with before Frothmas! We pop into The Central Bar as I had never visited it. Two winner halves of McEwans 80- (very nice!) and McEwans 70- (not as great, but still drinkable) were enjoyed for reasonable prices (especially for Edinburgh!) before we give the new buses on route 22 a quick go with Lothian's 442 taking us a few stops up Foot of Leith Walk.

We change for route 7 and Lothian's 764 takes us to South Bridge for another Shoe Zone. I get my new boots, and get BT a new pair too ready for when his ones wear out later this year (the idea being to get them now in case of lack of availability when they're actually needed. I wanted to get them as a thank you for putting me up as well) while we're here. We just miss a 37 so wait for a 30 and Lothian's 12, a hybrid single decker, took us to the other end of Princes Street. During the walk down into Waverley itself, we could hear a 68 long before we saw one. We went down the ramp to platform 19 and the sound and smell were most welcome.

As was discovering the 1707 Fife Circle turn had winner for everything 68020 on it! It wasn't too long before we were boarding, and during the wait everything I saw coming and going MU wise was dud. This applied later too, so I'm glad I didn't pop out to Haymarket after all! We enjoy the sounds and smells of 68020 to South Gyle, and it's dud 68007 taking us to Inverkeithing. The noise off it through the tunnel at North Queensferry was just insane and awesome!

A 15 minute fester felt like quite a while here, as I was not only hungry now, but thirsty too. Those beers had been 2 hours previous by now, and I foolishly didn't source refreshments before the train! We board Bay Travel's LK03 NKC (I think that was the correct reg!) on route 89 to Ferrytoll Park & Ride, and this vehicle is ex-First East Scotland. The condition it was in was grim, I only hope Bay Travel got it super duper cheap! Thankfully it wasn't a long ride, and we have a very short wait for Stagecoach East Scotland's route X59 to Edinburgh, and 54105 does the honours. Very nice leather seats and super smooth riding, I'll have these down my way please, especially as they have power sockets!

At West End Princes Street, we have just under 20 minutes waiting in the cold until the next 37 turned up. To say I was glad when it arrived is an understatement! Lothian's 862 takes us away from the cold and wow this Gemini is very throaty! Volvo engines always sound good but this one sounded awesome!

So a nice easy day there, followed by a takeaway tea which was devoured. The Nutella ice cream they make in Musselburgh is just amazing, I want it at home!

 

[Blindtraveler]

I only hope
Alexf380
is paying attention.

 

[noddy1878]

Just caught up! Your first day was quite full on. I like the subway in Glasgow because, like you say you can clear what's out that day it in no time. Bad luck on the 156 and the 318! A reminder that not everything sticks to diagram (Northern are the worst for this) and RTT doesn't always help when trying to work things out!

You last day was a bit train light! Too many buses! But at least you scored a 68!

 

[Kite159]

Good news on another 68 into the book, shame you couldn't make it 2 out of 2.

I hope the new boots will be good for the forthcoming storms

 

[hassaanhc]

We board Bay Travel's LK03 NKC (I think that was the correct reg!) on route 89 to Ferrytoll Park & Ride, and this vehicle is ex-First East Scotland. The condition it was in was grim, I only hope Bay Travel got it super duper cheap! Thankfully it wasn't a long ride, and we have a very short wait for Stagecoach East Scotland's route X59 to Edinburgh, and 54105 does the honours. Very nice leather seats and super smooth riding, I'll have these down my way please, especially as they have power sockets!

LK03NKC is actually ex-London! Metroline had it before it was withdrawn, numbered TP1508 (and TN33277 under First before they sold their operations). Recognised the reg instantly as it was based at Greenford on the 282, which is local to me

 

[Blindtraveler]

I do believe it was one of the batch that did a short spell at East Scotland after London.
I could be wrong but quite a few of that ilk came up post 2012

 

[alexf380]

Glad you're having a grand time up here, some good days out, even though 318254 failed to produce.

The Nutella ice cream they make in Musselburgh is just amazing, I want it at home!

Should we ever meet, I'll be sure to get you some!

 

[Cowley]

Really enjoying reading this Tech. Looks like a great trip. How long are you up there for?

 

[Techniquest]

Glad you're having a grand time up here, some good days out, even though 318254 failed to produce.



Should we ever meet, I'll be sure to get you some!

Good lad! We're heading your way in a wee while on the 1530 107 to Dunbar!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Just caught up! Your first day was quite full on. I like the subway in Glasgow because, like you say you can clear what's out that day it in no time. Bad luck on the 156 and the 318! A reminder that not everything sticks to diagram (Northern are the worst for this) and RTT doesn't always help when trying to work things out!

You last day was a bit train light! Too many buses! But at least you scored a 68!

Oh indeed, it is surprising how unreliable these things can be! Yesterday wasn't hugely about trains, and today the weather has called for a stop to the fun and games as it's been pretty rough! Staying poor this afternoon but we're on a mission later. Stay tuned...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Really enjoying reading this Tech. Looks like a great trip. How long are you up there for?

Heading home on Saturday morning, back to work on Tuesday

 

[fowler9]

Been a brilliant read mate, keep up the good work. Always hard heading home, and especially hard heading back to work. Ah well, it pays for the trips.

 

[shredder1]

Love the Strathclyde region, great report

 

[Techniquest]

11/07/2017 - Tech's Big Bang 2017, Day 5

Gosh darn wind! Jeez wasn't it rough overnight! I woke up before 0600 in the end and it was a lazy and relaxed morning getting bookwork up to date again. I also got my New York photos uploaded to Google Drive at last. Plenty more that needs to go up yet but that alone took 3 hours and 21 minutes!

I got gen on my last two VTEC HST power cars, and while both would normally be gettable it wouldn't be doable with the planned moves and Advance from Berwick that was already booked! The weather was beyond grim, so me and BT didn't head out until about 1445, and we join 770 on route 37 to town before a modest fester in the bitterly cold wind before getting on route 107 with East Coast Buses. 10101 does the honours of taking us out to Dunbar, and it's not a bad run once out of the city. We arrive a few minutes late at the stop for Dunbar station, which is a few minutes walk from it. The wind is fierce and bringing a lot of cold with it, and if the 1705 back to Edinburgh had been required we'd have got it and given up! Alas it was dud 380103, so I pick up my Advance for later and have a PNB before we return to the bus stop.

The one we used earlier is no good for us, and we find it's another one around the corner. It's listed as opposite the station, which it really isn't. 1710 comes and goes, and the bitterly cold wind is striking hard, but thankfully just when we were going to give up it arrives 9 minutes late! Perrymans' route 253 to Berwick-upon-Tweed is our next stop, and we have bus number 024 taking us there. It has leather seats, but I personally don't find them all that comfortable. We arrive at Morrisons only 1 minute late, and we partake of a rather splendid meal in the cafe there. Yes we could have continued into town and got a takeaway, but it being so darn cold today that wasn't desirable! My steak and ale pie, chips and peas for a fiver was very good value, and the warm chocolate fudge cake with ice cream for a quid extra, with a free hot drink was just excellent value and highly recommended for any other bashers visiting the area!

A taxi is taken to the station, which was a shack score, for £3.50, including our discount for having shopped in Morrisons (on production of a till receipt which they have to keep), and the driver was really happy and friendly, so we both recommend Woody's Taxis if you're ever in the area and need one. I score 6 MK4s for sight off the 1935 Edinburgh to London Kings Cross which was a welcome surprise. Eventually 66956 and 66561 (561 idling on the rear) arrive into the goods loop en-route to Reston, and 43366 rolls in on the 1225 Plymouth to Glasgow Central, leaving 9 down thanks to the freight train being a few minutes late. I score two HST trailers for sight to my surprise, and elect to red pen 42373.

Back at Edinburgh, BT twists my arm into checking for any winners, in a bid to prove his point that I would have wasted 3 hours earlier if I had made it into town for that HST. I still contest it, as it seemed grossly unfair to make the point at this time of day with so little running! We come across the 2126 to West Calder, terminating there due to engineering works tonight. It turned out to be formed of dud 156509 and winner 156499 so we get on for a leap to Haymarket. 31 more 156s around the country to get! Nothing else turns up in 20 minutes that I need, and with no more trains for at least 20 minutes we go to the trams. Now you've all probably noticed by now I'm not a big fan of Edinburgh's trams, nor is BT. Quite, not many people are! We just make it onto winner tram 251 to York Place, where we get 827 on route 16 back to the warm and beds.

Not been a bad day all things considered, two annoying shacks done and two winners. Considering my ultra low needs around here, that's not bad at all and it takes a lot of hunting these days to find what I need!

 

[Kite159]

I wouldn't call Dunbar or Berwick annoying, compared to some shacks as both have an hourly service (and in the case of Berwick sometimes more than hourly).

I'm still surprised at the lack of 156 scores on the Central - Edinburgh via Shotts services seeing as the week before Christmas it was 80% 156s

 

[87electric]

I love Edinburgh Trams. In fact I love all Trams......anywhere.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Dunbar still not quite hourly sadly.

 

[noddy1878]

Not having much luck with the weather! Hope it improves for you on your last few days. I might have misread, but did you actually get Dunbar? I can see you got Berwick with the HST back to Edinburgh but not what train you got to/from Dunbar.

 

[Techniquest]

Weather's still very breezy and very cold up here. Even noticeable following the haircut the other day

Between getting off route 107 and getting on route 253 (both very fast buses and surprisingly enjoyable routes) we walked down to Dunbar station and to access the ticket office yesterday we had to get onto the platform first. Once the ticket and PNBs were had it was back to the buses.

Many thanks must go to Blindtraveller for his help in getting me around the place yesterday!

 

[noddy1878]

Weather's still very breezy and very cold up here. Even noticeable following the haircut the other day

You need a hat!

 

[Techniquest]

You need a hat!

I had one on! Lost my hat now though...

12/01/2017 - Tech's Big Bang 2017, Day 6

After a non-disturbed sleep until 0700 when the alarm sounded, it was time for a social and breakfast before I escorted Mrs BT into town, as she was taking her cat to the vets, so it was only right I provided some help getting her to the city centre. After picking up my ticket to Carstairs, I find winner 170425 available for a leap so I do just that. 5 more 170s to go! I had received gen on my last two VTEC HST power cars, and one of them was gettable if I sacrificed time in Strathclyde. A large coffee is sourced from Pumpkin, and I board winner 43319 for a leap back to Edinburgh. One more VTEC power car to go! Sadly it was due to be on the Highland Chieftain later, so unless I was to sacrifice my Carstairs ticket completely I would have to leave it for another day. Winner 158741 is taken back to Haymarket, two more Haymarket 158s to go! It's a 36 minute fester here before I join winner 158716 back to Waverley, and it wasn't on my list of 158s that I needed so I'm glad I used my NREA this morning and not just my memo files!

It's now not long until my next train to Carstairs, sadly nothing I needed was gettable now before it. No matter, as it was winner 380107 taking me west, two more 380/1s to get! I shove on YouTube thanks to a working ScotRail WiFi and enjoy the run to Carstairs. Lunch is had from sandwiches made by Mrs BT and most gratefully received! 2 inches of snow on the platforms here, and I source my Daytripper for £11.90. Quite a good way to head west, as the Route Most Direct Only Edinburgh to Carstairs Off Peak Day Return is only £8.90, a recommended split ticketing option! I bail at winner shack Wishaw, and only a few minutes later I'm on dud 320307 to winner shack Shieldmuir. Everyone complains how evil the platform to platform interchange is here, so I investigate it. 3 minutes is all it took me to do it, although it is a long way around and up the ramps to do it. Still easy enough to do at a modest pace of walking, although the slippery surfaces in places made me super glad I got the new boots recently!

380022 becomes a Super Dud for the leap back to Wishaw, done for a time filling and mileage accumulation move. Too cold to fester on the same platform for long! During the interchange I spot 2 68s on a northbound Tesco intermodal, but couldn't ID them, grr! Double duds 320303+320412 take me to Motherwell, and 320303 becomes a Super Dud now. It's about a 25 minute fester now, and I get a coffee from the WHSmith here. After a PNB I head to platform 3 and it was hard to resist a major bellow, as winner 318254 produced as per the gen! One very happy basher as I have now got all the 318s in the book! The heavy snow shower thankfully didn't last long, and naturally I got into the motor coach for the journey to winner shack Blantyre.

Dud 334017 was up next to take me to winner shack Merryton, and the snow had stopped falling after Motherwell thankfully. My last 334s were all out today, so the chase was on after a bit more shack scoring. Why didn't I chase them down first? I wanted some of the shacks outside the Roundabout area done and out of the way, especially south of the Clyde, so I could return my focus next time north of the river. Not that I know when next time will be of course, and by now I was regretting losing 90 minutes in Strathclyde. Still, after the gen was gratefully found for me it seemed mighty rude to not use it this time! 334017 is taken back up the line to winner Chatelherault (and I did have to check the spelling several times!) before taking double duds 318261+320305 to Larkhall to fill time. On the way back, I make 318261 into a Super Dud, with winner shack Hamilton West the next port of call. I visit McDonalds for a coffee on the retail park almost adjacent to the station, it was 320320 onwards to winner shack Airbles.

With all the shacks in this part of Strathclyde done, it was time to head into town and hunt those 334s. Looking at the gen and my timetable, it was all falling into whether I'd make a +15 or so from Glasgow Central Low Level to Glasgow Queen Street Low Level (and I can hear you all doubting that possibility!), which I severely doubt I'll manage. It would clear the 334s, but the dreaded Red Pen Fever was already setting in on the way to town on winner 320322. What would I do? It would be rude to not use the gen provided, hmm...

Argyle Street was where it all changed, as dud 320309 had winner for everything 320415 on the back. I couldn't refuse THAT! All change please, all change, this plan terminates here! Super Duper Dud 318263 takes me back towards town, and you'll have guessed Red Pen Fever had truely struck! Nothing worth doing before double duds 318267+320411 take me to Anderston, and no further for no. Reason? There's a 1741 that starts here which goes to Carstairs, and I want to see what does it. If it's a winner I fancy some serious thrash to Carstairs! Double duds 320319+320321 take me back to Central Low Level, and as an ECS for the Carstairs was a pair of duds, and indeed reporting as delayed, I was going to head to High Level. Then I remembered one of my 334s is definitely still makeable, so I go back downstairs with tons of time until the next train west.

Good thing I did, as I scored winner 320315 for the leap. We sat at Anderston for ages, which meant there was no chance of making Hyndland so Partick would have to do! 3 minutes there, 2 minutes at Exhibition Centre, and why? Because it's a single unit bang in the middle of the peak of the evening peak! Then of course it was a right slow trek into Partick, my patience was starting to wear thin...Winner 334009 took me to Queen Street Low Level, and after checking the Balloch which were a pair of dud (obviously!) 318s, I head to the high level platforms. Good thing I did, as I spied a winning 156 on the 1821 to Oban & Mallaig. When I get on the platform, I'm overjoyed, as it's double winners 156447+156493! To Dalmuir, and a count reveals I'm down to 17 Scottish 156s to go, happy days!

I get on 334017 and make it a Super Dud, however to make the 334 easily I should have been on the 1851 from Dalmuir. I didn't realise it was going non-stop via Yoker, extreme fail! I have a new idea, SPT Subway! Triple duds from the other dud 132+129+127 end up carting me over to St. Enoch, but I did score 206 for sight down here at least, leaving 5 more individual cars to see. A couple of snacks are sourced from a Sainsburys Local before joining dud 380108 to Edinburgh. I got a lot of bookwork done with the aid of my Tech's Bookwork Weekend playlist, although I felt fed up at myself for making a schoolboy error and not getting on the right train to get that 334. I also got fed up when I left my hat on the 380 as I raced up at Haymarket to chance my luck for a winner. No such luck and I got double duds 158728+158732 to Edinburgh, the latter becoming a Super Dud.

I was going to go for a BK meal, as BT was feeling under the weather and didn't want to cook, so I ordered a takeaway to be delivered from our favourite place, Jubilee. After sourcing some cash, and getting change in Sainsburys via a purchase of a Creme Egg, I join 828 on route 37 to get back to BT's place. Tech's Mobile Disco got shoved on to keep me going, as the stomach was very hungry by now!

Overall, it's been a cracking day. Not as many winners as originally predicted, but the 318s are finally cleared after almost 12 years of being a basher! Which reminds me, it's 14 years of being a spotter this autumn, and I never remember when I properly got into bashing but I believe it started in early 2005. Let's call it that, February 2005, close enough!

 

[Kite159]

Congrats on getting 318254 at long last, plus some extra shacks in the daytripper area

 

[AJM580]

Weather's still very breezy and very cold up here. Even noticeable following the haircut the other day

Between getting off route 107 and getting on route 253 (both very fast buses and surprisingly enjoyable routes) we walked down to Dunbar station and to access the ticket office yesterday we had to get onto the platform first. Once the ticket and PNBs were had it was back to the buses.

Many thanks must go to Blindtraveller for his help in getting me around the place yesterday!

Interesting way of doing train stations - by bus! Not sure if thats strictly kosher, seeing as Dunbar has a pretty good train service, but each to their own I guess. Well done on the 318s

 

[noddy1878]

Not your hat? In this weather!!!! You had a very good day though red pen wise! Congrats on the 318! Reading this is making me wonder when I can next get up that way. Need a few days ideally to get the red pen out and make an effort on the old shacks that way!

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Nice report, and congrats on 318254 and the various other winners you tracked down.

What's especially nice, though, is the ongoing story of the friendship between yourself and Mr & Mrs BT (and their cat!)

Good on all three of you...

 

[alexf380]

The beast has finally fallen! Many congratulations are in order methinks

 

[Techniquest]

Cheers lads! Aye a celebratory beer was had last night upon return to Edinburgh, well once the stomach was fuelled that is.

Stand by for a further celebration later...

 

[postye]

I had one on! Lost my hat now though...

12/01/2017 - Tech's Big Bang 2017, Day 6

After a non-disturbed sleep until 0700 when the alarm sounded, it was time for a social and breakfast before I escorted Mrs BT into town, as she was taking her cat to the vets, so it was only right I provided some help getting her to the city centre. After picking up my ticket to Carstairs, I find winner 170425 available for a leap so I do just that. 5 more 170s to go! I had received gen on my last two VTEC HST power cars, and one of them was gettable if I sacrificed time in Strathclyde. A large coffee is sourced from Pumpkin, and I board winner 43319 for a leap back to Edinburgh. One more VTEC power car to go! Sadly it was due to be on the Highland Chieftain later, so unless I was to sacrifice my Carstairs ticket completely I would have to leave it for another day. Winner 158741 is taken back to Haymarket, two more Haymarket 158s to go! It's a 36 minute fester here before I join winner 158716 back to Waverley, and it wasn't on my list of 158s that I needed so I'm glad I used my NREA this morning and not just my memo files!

It's now not long until my next train to Carstairs, sadly nothing I needed was gettable now before it. No matter, as it was winner 380107 taking me west, two more 380/1s to get! I shove on YouTube thanks to a working ScotRail WiFi and enjoy the run to Carstairs. Lunch is had from sandwiches made by Mrs BT and most gratefully received! 2 inches of snow on the platforms here, and I source my Daytripper for £11.90. Quite a good way to head west, as the Route Most Direct Only Edinburgh to Carstairs Off Peak Day Return is only £8.90, a recommended split ticketing option! I bail at winner shack Wishaw, and only a few minutes later I'm on dud 320307 to winner shack Shieldmuir. Everyone complains how evil the platform to platform interchange is here, so I investigate it. 3 minutes is all it took me to do it, although it is a long way around and up the ramps to do it. Still easy enough to do at a modest pace of walking, although the slippery surfaces in places made me super glad I got the new boots recently!

380022 becomes a Super Dud for the leap back to Wishaw, done for a time filling and mileage accumulation move. Too cold to fester on the same platform for long! During the interchange I spot 2 68s on a northbound Tesco intermodal, but couldn't ID them, grr! Double duds 320303+320412 take me to Motherwell, and 320303 becomes a Super Dud now. It's about a 25 minute fester now, and I get a coffee from the WHSmith here. After a PNB I head to platform 3 and it was hard to resist a major bellow, as winner 318254 produced as per the gen! One very happy basher as I have now got all the 318s in the book! The heavy snow shower thankfully didn't last long, and naturally I got into the motor coach for the journey to winner shack Blantyre.

Dud 334017 was up next to take me to winner shack Merryton, and the snow had stopped falling after Motherwell thankfully. My last 334s were all out today, so the chase was on after a bit more shack scoring. Why didn't I chase them down first? I wanted some of the shacks outside the Roundabout area done and out of the way, especially south of the Clyde, so I could return my focus next time north of the river. Not that I know when next time will be of course, and by now I was regretting losing 90 minutes in Strathclyde. Still, after the gen was gratefully found for me it seemed mighty rude to not use it this time! 334017 is taken back up the line to winner Chatelherault (and I did have to check the spelling several times!) before taking double duds 318261+320305 to Larkhall to fill time. On the way back, I make 318261 into a Super Dud, with winner shack Hamilton West the next port of call. I visit McDonalds for a coffee on the retail park almost adjacent to the station, it was 320320 onwards to winner shack Airbles.

With all the shacks in this part of Strathclyde done, it was time to head into town and hunt those 334s. Looking at the gen and my timetable, it was all falling into whether I'd make a +15 or so from Glasgow Central Low Level to Glasgow Queen Street Low Level (and I can hear you all doubting that possibility!), which I severely doubt I'll manage. It would clear the 334s, but the dreaded Red Pen Fever was already setting in on the way to town on winner 320322. What would I do? It would be rude to not use the gen provided, hmm...

Argyle Street was where it all changed, as dud 320309 had winner for everything 320415 on the back. I couldn't refuse THAT! All change please, all change, this plan terminates here! Super Duper Dud 318263 takes me back towards town, and you'll have guessed Red Pen Fever had truely struck! Nothing worth doing before double duds 318267+320411 take me to Anderston, and no further for no. Reason? There's a 1741 that starts here which goes to Carstairs, and I want to see what does it. If it's a winner I fancy some serious thrash to Carstairs! Double duds 320319+320321 take me back to Central Low Level, and as an ECS for the Carstairs was a pair of duds, and indeed reporting as delayed, I was going to head to High Level. Then I remembered one of my 334s is definitely still makeable, so I go back downstairs with tons of time until the next train west.

Good thing I did, as I scored winner 320315 for the leap. We sat at Anderston for ages, which meant there was no chance of making Hyndland so Partick would have to do! 3 minutes there, 2 minutes at Exhibition Centre, and why? Because it's a single unit bang in the middle of the peak of the evening peak! Then of course it was a right slow trek into Partick, my patience was starting to wear thin...Winner 334009 took me to Queen Street Low Level, and after checking the Balloch which were a pair of dud (obviously!) 318s, I head to the high level platforms. Good thing I did, as I spied a winning 156 on the 1821 to Oban & Mallaig. When I get on the platform, I'm overjoyed, as it's double winners 156447+156493! To Dalmuir, and a count reveals I'm down to 17 Scottish 156s to go, happy days!

I get on 334017 and make it a Super Dud, however to make the 334 easily I should have been on the 1851 from Dalmuir. I didn't realise it was going non-stop via Yoker, extreme fail! I have a new idea, SPT Subway! Triple duds from the other dud 132+129+127 end up carting me over to St. Enoch, but I did score 206 for sight down here at least, leaving 5 more individual cars to see. A couple of snacks are sourced from a Sainsburys Local before joining dud 380108 to Edinburgh. I got a lot of bookwork done with the aid of my Tech's Bookwork Weekend playlist, although I felt fed up at myself for making a schoolboy error and not getting on the right train to get that 334. I also got fed up when I left my hat on the 380 as I raced up at Haymarket to chance my luck for a winner. No such luck and I got double duds 158728+158732 to Edinburgh, the latter becoming a Super Dud.

I was going to go for a BK meal, as BT was feeling under the weather and didn't want to cook, so I ordered a takeaway to be delivered from our favourite place, Jubilee. After sourcing some cash, and getting change in Sainsburys via a purchase of a Creme Egg, I join 828 on route 37 to get back to BT's place. Tech's Mobile Disco got shoved on to keep me going, as the stomach was very hungry by now!

Overall, it's been a cracking day. Not as many winners as originally predicted, but the 318s are finally cleared after almost 12 years of being a basher! Which reminds me, it's 14 years of being a spotter this autumn, and I never remember when I properly got into bashing but I believe it started in early 2005. Let's call it that, February 2005, close enough!

Well done on scoring your final 318 and 334009.
Hopefully the other 2 will come good soon.

I must get back up to Glasgow soon and finish off my 314's amongst others ??????

 

[Kite159]

Well done on scoring your final 318 and 334009.
Hopefully the other 2 will come good soon.

I must get back up to Glasgow soon and finish off my 314's amongst others ��

Definitely you need to get up to Glasgow sooner rather than later for those 314s before they start to get sidelined by 385s

 

[Cowley]

Excellent reading as usual Tech. It reminded me too that I first went bashing about thirty years ago this year although obviously I'm not prolific these days like you and other folks on here are are! That doesn't stop me enjoying reading about everyone's experiences on here though and it's quite telling that rather than buy magazines these days I tend to just click on here and see what everyone's up to instead (just did my thousandth post too unbelievably ).

Regarding the hat loss situation, maybe it's time for a new image, as these things happen for a reason (so I'm told). Could I recommend a Dear Stalker?