Keith Jarrett
Member
Tech, just caught up with your latest Capital Caper. In just over 16 hours, you managed to bag far more than I could almost anywhere in the country so well done!
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Juliano's World Frenzy/Tech's Trip Reports
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Techniquest
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22/06/2017 - 2017 ALR, The Prelude
Welcome one and all to the epic trip report for 2017's biggest bash, a 7 day ALR with Blindtraveller! I was going to make a musical reference in the trip title, but that can wait for another time, I've waited to use one in particular, I can wait longer...This trip's origins were way back in December 2016 when Blindtraveller [for the remainder of the report, he is referred to as BT - Ed] and I first discussed doing an ALR. He had been jealous for a long time of the ALRs I'd done in 2011 and 2012, and I've wanted to do another one for what is now a shade over 5 years. Time off authorised in early February 2017, after a change at work, and all was go. Accommodations booked at various stages, and the plan for the ALR changed so often it was incredible! Plan A had us doing the 0820 Aberdeen to Penzance in one go, and I think by the time we got to the trip we were on Plan J!
Having planned the first day to start in West Wales quite some time ago, we arranged a hostel in Cardiff. I know, I know, a hostel isn't ideal but that's what we could afford. I was originally getting the X3 bus to Cardiff the night before the ALR after work, but I managed to get an Advance for a reasonable rate so I was going by train! It goes without saying that it was hard going at work all day, and that I was in Holiday Mode from the outset [that started kicking in 4 days prior! - Ed]. I'd been counting the weeks for a long time, then the days and of course the hours by the time the trip was only single-digit-days away. Quite, I was so looking forward to this bash I started the trip report on 13th June, there was a lot to discuss after all! The Mobile House, a very full holdall, started getting prepared on 11th June! Credit to 47403 on the forum for the mobile house thing, which is catching on rapidly as did his Bat Cave reference for Birmingham New Street.
With such a lot to carry, it took me a bit longer than usual to walk across town, but I made myself avoid forking out for a taxi, even if that would have made sense. I had plenty of time to source a much needed meal, ending up in the chippy, then had a winner cider and sourced a couple more in Morrisons before slowly continuing to the station to pick up my Advance and boarding 175105 to Cardiff Central. Thankfully a week before BT had cancelled the hostel booking and got us booked into an Ibis Budget in Cardiff instead. I think not even he could stomach two hostels in a week! Once I touched down in Cardiff, it was pretty much straight to base camp to meet up with BT and get everything organised, not to mention a badly needed de-rancify! A Just Eat order was more than needed, not just for BT but me too as the chippy meal was not enough!
I'm afraid there's really not much to read on this instalment, as not an awful lot happened. That was to all change on Day 2...Oh, and the beers from Morrisons were a reduced to clear Birra Moretti Fathers Day gift set of 2 for £3. If they'd been chilled they'd have been better but no matter! For the record, those put me onto 813 unique brews on Untappd, smashing the revised target set a while back. It would not shock me to see me clear 900 later this year! The time we were setting alarms for? 0430...
Welcome one and all to the epic trip report for 2017's biggest bash, a 7 day ALR with Blindtraveller! I was going to make a musical reference in the trip title, but that can wait for another time, I've waited to use one in particular, I can wait longer...This trip's origins were way back in December 2016 when Blindtraveller [for the remainder of the report, he is referred to as BT - Ed] and I first discussed doing an ALR. He had been jealous for a long time of the ALRs I'd done in 2011 and 2012, and I've wanted to do another one for what is now a shade over 5 years. Time off authorised in early February 2017, after a change at work, and all was go. Accommodations booked at various stages, and the plan for the ALR changed so often it was incredible! Plan A had us doing the 0820 Aberdeen to Penzance in one go, and I think by the time we got to the trip we were on Plan J!
Having planned the first day to start in West Wales quite some time ago, we arranged a hostel in Cardiff. I know, I know, a hostel isn't ideal but that's what we could afford. I was originally getting the X3 bus to Cardiff the night before the ALR after work, but I managed to get an Advance for a reasonable rate so I was going by train! It goes without saying that it was hard going at work all day, and that I was in Holiday Mode from the outset [that started kicking in 4 days prior! - Ed]. I'd been counting the weeks for a long time, then the days and of course the hours by the time the trip was only single-digit-days away. Quite, I was so looking forward to this bash I started the trip report on 13th June, there was a lot to discuss after all! The Mobile House, a very full holdall, started getting prepared on 11th June! Credit to 47403 on the forum for the mobile house thing, which is catching on rapidly as did his Bat Cave reference for Birmingham New Street.
With such a lot to carry, it took me a bit longer than usual to walk across town, but I made myself avoid forking out for a taxi, even if that would have made sense. I had plenty of time to source a much needed meal, ending up in the chippy, then had a winner cider and sourced a couple more in Morrisons before slowly continuing to the station to pick up my Advance and boarding 175105 to Cardiff Central. Thankfully a week before BT had cancelled the hostel booking and got us booked into an Ibis Budget in Cardiff instead. I think not even he could stomach two hostels in a week! Once I touched down in Cardiff, it was pretty much straight to base camp to meet up with BT and get everything organised, not to mention a badly needed de-rancify! A Just Eat order was more than needed, not just for BT but me too as the chippy meal was not enough!
I'm afraid there's really not much to read on this instalment, as not an awful lot happened. That was to all change on Day 2...Oh, and the beers from Morrisons were a reduced to clear Birra Moretti Fathers Day gift set of 2 for £3. If they'd been chilled they'd have been better but no matter! For the record, those put me onto 813 unique brews on Untappd, smashing the revised target set a while back. It would not shock me to see me clear 900 later this year! The time we were setting alarms for? 0430...
D841 Roebuck
Established Member
Enjoy, both of you ... 
roversfan2001
Established Member
Sounds like it should be good! I'm sure you'll enjoy it
Techniquest
Veteran Member
23/06/2017 - 2017 ALR, Day 1
It was around 0415 and we were up to allow us plenty of time to get ready and checkout just after 0500. Why 0500? We were allowing plenty of time to walk over to a former home of my bashing and spotting in the mid-2000s, Cardiff Central. Many, many hours spent on the platforms there back when I lived in Swansea, but before I get overloaded with nostalgia [that won't be easy to bypass - Ed], we were here for the 0535 Cardiff Central to Milford Haven. I can't help but recall a time in the mid 2000s that I came over on the 0330 Swansea to Paddington to do the bay platform at Caerphilly, followed by the unusual working with a 37 from Cardiff to Radyr that same day. Another time I came over on the same HST for 37425 to Crewe and back for an open day at Crewe Works [told you it would be hard to bypass the nostalgia! - Ed] in September 2005. Anyway, back in 2017, nearly 12 years later...I know some of you will be cringing at such an early start, and you'd be right as we'd both been dreading this early rise. Still, as I often say, there's no point staying in bed all morning, better to get up and make the most of the day! Besides, some of my bashing in 2005 was done after finishing in the small hours at work! Finish by half 1 or so in the morning, get dropped off at the station and watch the HSTs shunting in and out of Malliphant Carriage Sidings. To this day an HST start-up brings back pleasant memories from sitting near the concourse in Swansea and watching the clag tower out of the various power cars! I could go on and on and on, as may be clear by now...
So why were we going to West Wales on an ALR? Obviously BT and I have different requirements, both in terms of track coverage and in general, and we'd spent forever [I'm not exaggerating much, we had lots of long phone calls discussing plans for months! - Ed] working out how to fit in BT's West Wales track needs with stuff I need too. So we eventually concluded that we'd go for my shack scoring needs on the Pembroke Dock line, as I need nothing else in this part of the world. So why didn't we do the train out of Cardiff destined for Pembroke Dock an hour later? It is allegedly still booked a single 153, and we were not too keen on suffering that all the way over! Also, as any of you who've flicked through the West Wales timetable will discover, connections at Whitland are awful. So we also planned to use local buses along the way to make scoring the 6 shacks I need possible, and to get all 3 branches done for BT. That alone took us both some planning!
Onwards west on 175109 we went, and of course eventually we arrived in Swansea. A spiritual home of spotting and bashing for me, as this is where it all started in the autumn of 2003. I still don't remember why I ended up at the station that day, but an HST departing made such an impression on me that I got into the hobby. Nearly 14 years later, I'm still at it, with the odd blip on the radar thanks to Normaldom raising its ugly head on a few occasions. Whatever the reason for ending up there was, I'm glad I did as I've had some amazing experiences since then and met some amazing people along the way too. Some of whom have dropped out of the hobby for whatever reason though. So Swansea will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will always regard it higher than Cardiff. No time for stopping off though, we had plenty to do today!
It's fair to say all along the way I enjoyed nostalgia for many different reasons. Even Whitland brought up memories of getting a 37, probably 37425, to Fishguard many many summer Saturdays ago. I could go on for hours here, but for now [you wait, more nostalgia is coming... - Ed] we arrived in Milford Haven and the first branch line BT needed was out of the way. I'd probably best not mention my visit with D1015 in 2007, although the long-standing memory there is from the run through Llanelli on the way back. I'll never forget the racket and the clag, nor the bellowing from on-board!
After arriving 3 up into Milford Haven, I rushed off to Tesco for a cash move, then rejoined BT on 175109 for the leap to Haverfordwest. We then join a bus on route T5 to Fishguard Square, although I forgot to note the reg! Corner Cafe is visited for breakfast, 2 bacon rolls and 2 hot drinks for £8 isn't cheap but equally it was highly required. After a much needed breakfast, we joined route 410 to Fishguard & Goodwick station. A supply raid in Tesco Express is carried out before joining 158831 to Fishguard Harbour. Oh the nostalgia here!
As at Milford Haven, the run-round loop has been taken out. 158831 takes us back out to Whitland, charging phones on the way. A +21 was +20 too much, it's a boring place! Thankfully 175008 comes in on time to take us to Haverfordwest. A bus is taken to the bus station, with the same friendly driver from this morning, and we joined route 381 to Narberth, getting dropped off only a few minutes walk from the station for my first shack score of the day! We end up meeting someone who's been in the area and lives in Hereford, small world and fair game she was a very nice lass! We wave off her and her brother on my former arch enemy 150235, and we walked back to the bus stop to join another Taf Valley Coaches bus [I never noted the registration plates on these! - Ed!] to Kilgetty, the driver kindly letting us know when we were at the station.
The smell of chips was tempting, but we had a plan to make. Eventually it is done, and we joined 150281, believed to be my highest mileage 150 ever, for the trip to winner shack Penally. Now it is worth pointing out this is a temporary special flex of my own rule, and that each shack attacker has his own sets of rules, but I'm counting the layover at Tenby as a shack score having been on the platform. I might well be back one day to do the shack again anyway, and the town itself is dud from family breaks many years ago, so while you're all tutting away and so on, it's being counted. A walk to Penally Church got us a reasonable length wait for our final bus move of the day, First Cymru's route 349 to Lamphey Church on 42869.
150281 came along after a phone call home, which we took to winner shack Manorbier to clear all of West Wales! A cold evening in the shelter came to an end with 150281 to Pembroke Dock. Once there, a fast move to base camp at Travelodge. Yes I know we don't like Travelodge but it's the best of a bad situation. After checking and re-discovering how grim the beds are, especially the fold-out bed which had been set up, I went to Asda for various foodstuffs for a very late tea.
A very productive day all in all, now bring on Day 2!
It was around 0415 and we were up to allow us plenty of time to get ready and checkout just after 0500. Why 0500? We were allowing plenty of time to walk over to a former home of my bashing and spotting in the mid-2000s, Cardiff Central. Many, many hours spent on the platforms there back when I lived in Swansea, but before I get overloaded with nostalgia [that won't be easy to bypass - Ed], we were here for the 0535 Cardiff Central to Milford Haven. I can't help but recall a time in the mid 2000s that I came over on the 0330 Swansea to Paddington to do the bay platform at Caerphilly, followed by the unusual working with a 37 from Cardiff to Radyr that same day. Another time I came over on the same HST for 37425 to Crewe and back for an open day at Crewe Works [told you it would be hard to bypass the nostalgia! - Ed] in September 2005. Anyway, back in 2017, nearly 12 years later...I know some of you will be cringing at such an early start, and you'd be right as we'd both been dreading this early rise. Still, as I often say, there's no point staying in bed all morning, better to get up and make the most of the day! Besides, some of my bashing in 2005 was done after finishing in the small hours at work! Finish by half 1 or so in the morning, get dropped off at the station and watch the HSTs shunting in and out of Malliphant Carriage Sidings. To this day an HST start-up brings back pleasant memories from sitting near the concourse in Swansea and watching the clag tower out of the various power cars! I could go on and on and on, as may be clear by now...
So why were we going to West Wales on an ALR? Obviously BT and I have different requirements, both in terms of track coverage and in general, and we'd spent forever [I'm not exaggerating much, we had lots of long phone calls discussing plans for months! - Ed] working out how to fit in BT's West Wales track needs with stuff I need too. So we eventually concluded that we'd go for my shack scoring needs on the Pembroke Dock line, as I need nothing else in this part of the world. So why didn't we do the train out of Cardiff destined for Pembroke Dock an hour later? It is allegedly still booked a single 153, and we were not too keen on suffering that all the way over! Also, as any of you who've flicked through the West Wales timetable will discover, connections at Whitland are awful. So we also planned to use local buses along the way to make scoring the 6 shacks I need possible, and to get all 3 branches done for BT. That alone took us both some planning!
Onwards west on 175109 we went, and of course eventually we arrived in Swansea. A spiritual home of spotting and bashing for me, as this is where it all started in the autumn of 2003. I still don't remember why I ended up at the station that day, but an HST departing made such an impression on me that I got into the hobby. Nearly 14 years later, I'm still at it, with the odd blip on the radar thanks to Normaldom raising its ugly head on a few occasions. Whatever the reason for ending up there was, I'm glad I did as I've had some amazing experiences since then and met some amazing people along the way too. Some of whom have dropped out of the hobby for whatever reason though. So Swansea will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will always regard it higher than Cardiff. No time for stopping off though, we had plenty to do today!
It's fair to say all along the way I enjoyed nostalgia for many different reasons. Even Whitland brought up memories of getting a 37, probably 37425, to Fishguard many many summer Saturdays ago. I could go on for hours here, but for now [you wait, more nostalgia is coming... - Ed] we arrived in Milford Haven and the first branch line BT needed was out of the way. I'd probably best not mention my visit with D1015 in 2007, although the long-standing memory there is from the run through Llanelli on the way back. I'll never forget the racket and the clag, nor the bellowing from on-board!
After arriving 3 up into Milford Haven, I rushed off to Tesco for a cash move, then rejoined BT on 175109 for the leap to Haverfordwest. We then join a bus on route T5 to Fishguard Square, although I forgot to note the reg! Corner Cafe is visited for breakfast, 2 bacon rolls and 2 hot drinks for £8 isn't cheap but equally it was highly required. After a much needed breakfast, we joined route 410 to Fishguard & Goodwick station. A supply raid in Tesco Express is carried out before joining 158831 to Fishguard Harbour. Oh the nostalgia here!
As at Milford Haven, the run-round loop has been taken out. 158831 takes us back out to Whitland, charging phones on the way. A +21 was +20 too much, it's a boring place! Thankfully 175008 comes in on time to take us to Haverfordwest. A bus is taken to the bus station, with the same friendly driver from this morning, and we joined route 381 to Narberth, getting dropped off only a few minutes walk from the station for my first shack score of the day! We end up meeting someone who's been in the area and lives in Hereford, small world and fair game she was a very nice lass! We wave off her and her brother on my former arch enemy 150235, and we walked back to the bus stop to join another Taf Valley Coaches bus [I never noted the registration plates on these! - Ed!] to Kilgetty, the driver kindly letting us know when we were at the station.
The smell of chips was tempting, but we had a plan to make. Eventually it is done, and we joined 150281, believed to be my highest mileage 150 ever, for the trip to winner shack Penally. Now it is worth pointing out this is a temporary special flex of my own rule, and that each shack attacker has his own sets of rules, but I'm counting the layover at Tenby as a shack score having been on the platform. I might well be back one day to do the shack again anyway, and the town itself is dud from family breaks many years ago, so while you're all tutting away and so on, it's being counted. A walk to Penally Church got us a reasonable length wait for our final bus move of the day, First Cymru's route 349 to Lamphey Church on 42869.
150281 came along after a phone call home, which we took to winner shack Manorbier to clear all of West Wales! A cold evening in the shelter came to an end with 150281 to Pembroke Dock. Once there, a fast move to base camp at Travelodge. Yes I know we don't like Travelodge but it's the best of a bad situation. After checking and re-discovering how grim the beds are, especially the fold-out bed which had been set up, I went to Asda for various foodstuffs for a very late tea.
A very productive day all in all, now bring on Day 2!
Kite159
Veteran Member
That they are
Tut-Tut at cheating with Tenby :P
Sounded like a relaxing first day of the rover
Sounds like an interesting first day and indeed 150281 also likes to follow me around, having had it on the Chester shuttles and also in the Valleys!
That Cardiff to Pembroke service being a single 153 fills me with dread though, I'm using that in some capacity in my ALR!
That Cardiff to Pembroke service being a single 153 fills me with dread though, I'm using that in some capacity in my ALR!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
We did have a +36 or so, but that time was filled making a call to home which my Mum appreciated, as she's not feeling well at the moment. With both of us carrying enormous bags and being beyond starving and tired I think we would have ended up collapsing into sleep in the pub if we'd gone anyway!
Double Dragon, not had that in a while but yes it is nice stuff!
alexf380
Established Member
A great first day, barring that ridiculous early start! Not that I would have passed the opportunity had it been me though.
47403
Established Member
firstly, have a good un lads, I'm sure you will regardless.
Your more than welcome, using the mobile house phrase, I love dumping it in the room at Base camp, however, the first and last day, you've got the bloody thing to hump all over with you. I always have a bit of a laugh, when other folk use the Bat Cave reference for New Street.
A fairly sedate start, getting the nearby shacks and lines out the way, in truth, was a very sensible decision. Had it been me, stood in Newcastle armed with an ALR, my mind would be whirling, where first, then I'd have done something nonsensical, like travel half a world away, looking for loco hauled stuff and fill gaps in the book of sights, along the way. Hmm, no change there, that's what I actually always do anyway.
I'm glad you didn't do the Aberdeen Penzance voyager, each to their own, I'm not knocking it, if that's your thing but by god, when I had to suffer one of the damn things from Brum after the SVR Gala, my legs were numb by York, nevermind from Aberdeen to Penzance. Think you'd need preparation H, after that slog.
Looking forward to the rest of the shenanigans.
Your more than welcome, using the mobile house phrase, I love dumping it in the room at Base camp, however, the first and last day, you've got the bloody thing to hump all over with you. I always have a bit of a laugh, when other folk use the Bat Cave reference for New Street.
A fairly sedate start, getting the nearby shacks and lines out the way, in truth, was a very sensible decision. Had it been me, stood in Newcastle armed with an ALR, my mind would be whirling, where first, then I'd have done something nonsensical, like travel half a world away, looking for loco hauled stuff and fill gaps in the book of sights, along the way. Hmm, no change there, that's what I actually always do anyway.
I'm glad you didn't do the Aberdeen Penzance voyager, each to their own, I'm not knocking it, if that's your thing but by god, when I had to suffer one of the damn things from Brum after the SVR Gala, my legs were numb by York, nevermind from Aberdeen to Penzance. Think you'd need preparation H, after that slog.
Looking forward to the rest of the shenanigans.
Last edited:
Kite159
Veteran Member
I would give Aberdeen - Penzance a go if I was in coach A 
Agreed there Mr 03, it felt nice to drop off my bag at the hotels in both Edinburgh & Inverness
Agreed there Mr 03, it felt nice to drop off my bag at the hotels in both Edinburgh & Inverness
Blindtraveler
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 Feb 2011
- Messages
- 10,543
We had just under an hour of voyager milage on day 2 and whilst they wernt XC Sardeen Specials they left us both totally underwhelmed so what we did was best I think. My highlights are up, the detail from Mr Quest will follow soon Im sure.
Nice easy Sunday coming up too.
Nice easy Sunday coming up too.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Thanks for all the positive comments lads. LSG is right, dumping the mobile houses last night was nice, we'd spent a lot of time carrying them around for 2 days so it was most relieving to stop carting them around for a few hours. Normally I don't plan my ALRs too carefully, but then I've never done one with company before either. It should be made clear right now I've had a grand time so far, enjoying an aircraft carrier's worth of nostalgia as we've gone around South and West Wales and into the South West of England.
24/06/2017 - 2017 ALR, Day 2
No alarms today, a nice and easy morning was required! Around 0700 we were both up and about having a very lazy morning, de-rancification and bag preparation slowly done amongst looking up stuff. A taxi back to the station with Pembroke Cabs, who we both highly recommend for friendly service, and we joined what turned out to be 43187+43144 on the 1001 to London Paddington. At Tenby, I set foot on the other platform and am satisfied enough to now declare Tenby mostly-dud. One day I intend to do the 1530 Manchester Piccadilly to Tenby for more 175 coverage of the ATW network, which is when I will 100% declare it dud. Besides, family holidays down here may well have had it done but memory is too hazy for confirmation. Sadly no HST trailers I need today on this set, boo!
Nothing much interesting happened all the way to Swansea, where an opportunity existed to step on the platforms for this former Swansea lad. That was nice and nostalgic it must be said. After Port Talbot Parkway, I went to the buffet car and got us coffee. No proper ground coffee so had to endure instant, which I got because I had had to suffer sports crowds all the way up the train! We bailed at Bristol Parkway after planning our afternoon moves, and it was nice to have a short leg stretch break at yet another spot full of nostalgia. Annoyingly we had 221140 next, and BT was unamused but we had no choice. I believe he was now on required track all the way to Penzance, he has a lot of track needs this far south mind.
We were both very glad to bail at Taunton, where we had a walk around for some food on our +35. We found Best Istanbul Grill not far from the station, and after sourcing some cash we both got a half-pounder cheeseburger and chips. Not cheap at £6.70 each but freshly cooked to order and was utterly hellfire! Highly recommended to all! Back on the station, we only had a short wait for our move west, with 43034+43093 to winner shack Bodmin Parkway. We had to stand until Exeter St Davids, and the food was devoured very happily during this time. Oh my LORDZ that was good, to the point we were both having foodgasms! A pair of airline seats were taken and we settled in for the long ride, planning our moves carefully, going to the buffet car just after Plymouth. BT going for a small bottle of white wine, myself a can of the awesome Wadworth 6X as it is a favourite brew, understandably that went down well and was gone just after Saltash!
Seat reservations had already closed for our chosen moves for Day 3, but we did manage to get some for the long move on Day 5 which was most welcome. Sadly it was next onto 220025 to winner shack St Austell, and before we arrived we were glad we were on this no further. However, we both agree that out of the choice of a 170 or a Voyager we both would always choose the Voyager. Neither of us are fans of the Droners, as should be clear from previous trip reports! We were here for just under 30 minutes enjoying the fresh air after that smelly 220, and joined 43175+43056 for the trip to winner shack Redruth. Noddy1878 had already told us there wasn't much here worth finding, so we stayed on the platforms. A plan had been made to try making the slightly late DMU to Exeter back to Truro to kill time, however we were glad when we saw how outrageously full 150106 was. Rammed to the point a busy Northern line train would have been preferable!
No matter, we both had calls to make and such like, thankfully I wasn't at home as 24 hour viruses were flying around the home town. Our next move was back onto XC after our +55, thankfully it was an HST with 43207+43304 and I scored another HST trailer with 9 more to go on XC. This was only a 5 minute ride as it turned out to winner shack Camborne, and we only had a +16 so happily stayed on the platform to research our route to base camp. A 17 minute walk through Penzance on Mazey Day, and being tired, we settled for a taxi move. 57605 was soon in on the Summer Saturday special for the final move of the day to Penzance.
To my incredible surprise, this formation included 17175 which is a seated sleeper coach I've been after for sight for years so that was a welcome addition to the NREA. As was 12142, not for sight but a new line in the book. No surprise of course but 57605 made easy work of the load 3 and provided some very welcome thrash. 12142 is one of the refurbished seated sleeper coaches, and I took a seat on one for a few moments to see what they're like. They don't recline, dead upright and wow aren't they uncomfortable. All of a sudden I don't want a ride on the GWR sleeper!
We soon source our taxi and the crowds of drunks all the way made us grateful we didn't walk after all and worth £5. Check-in was soon done, and once we put stuff in the room we retired to the lounge and the ultra comfortable settees for a while to unwind after a long but good day. I got 5 new sights all in and 4 new shacks, plus a few HST trailers and MK3s in for haulage so for territory where I need nothing for outright winners I reckon I did well all in. What would Day 3 bring? Several long moves but I still stood to gain a few bits on the way...
24/06/2017 - 2017 ALR, Day 2
No alarms today, a nice and easy morning was required! Around 0700 we were both up and about having a very lazy morning, de-rancification and bag preparation slowly done amongst looking up stuff. A taxi back to the station with Pembroke Cabs, who we both highly recommend for friendly service, and we joined what turned out to be 43187+43144 on the 1001 to London Paddington. At Tenby, I set foot on the other platform and am satisfied enough to now declare Tenby mostly-dud. One day I intend to do the 1530 Manchester Piccadilly to Tenby for more 175 coverage of the ATW network, which is when I will 100% declare it dud. Besides, family holidays down here may well have had it done but memory is too hazy for confirmation. Sadly no HST trailers I need today on this set, boo!
Nothing much interesting happened all the way to Swansea, where an opportunity existed to step on the platforms for this former Swansea lad. That was nice and nostalgic it must be said. After Port Talbot Parkway, I went to the buffet car and got us coffee. No proper ground coffee so had to endure instant, which I got because I had had to suffer sports crowds all the way up the train! We bailed at Bristol Parkway after planning our afternoon moves, and it was nice to have a short leg stretch break at yet another spot full of nostalgia. Annoyingly we had 221140 next, and BT was unamused but we had no choice. I believe he was now on required track all the way to Penzance, he has a lot of track needs this far south mind.
We were both very glad to bail at Taunton, where we had a walk around for some food on our +35. We found Best Istanbul Grill not far from the station, and after sourcing some cash we both got a half-pounder cheeseburger and chips. Not cheap at £6.70 each but freshly cooked to order and was utterly hellfire! Highly recommended to all! Back on the station, we only had a short wait for our move west, with 43034+43093 to winner shack Bodmin Parkway. We had to stand until Exeter St Davids, and the food was devoured very happily during this time. Oh my LORDZ that was good, to the point we were both having foodgasms! A pair of airline seats were taken and we settled in for the long ride, planning our moves carefully, going to the buffet car just after Plymouth. BT going for a small bottle of white wine, myself a can of the awesome Wadworth 6X as it is a favourite brew, understandably that went down well and was gone just after Saltash!
Seat reservations had already closed for our chosen moves for Day 3, but we did manage to get some for the long move on Day 5 which was most welcome. Sadly it was next onto 220025 to winner shack St Austell, and before we arrived we were glad we were on this no further. However, we both agree that out of the choice of a 170 or a Voyager we both would always choose the Voyager. Neither of us are fans of the Droners, as should be clear from previous trip reports! We were here for just under 30 minutes enjoying the fresh air after that smelly 220, and joined 43175+43056 for the trip to winner shack Redruth. Noddy1878 had already told us there wasn't much here worth finding, so we stayed on the platforms. A plan had been made to try making the slightly late DMU to Exeter back to Truro to kill time, however we were glad when we saw how outrageously full 150106 was. Rammed to the point a busy Northern line train would have been preferable!
No matter, we both had calls to make and such like, thankfully I wasn't at home as 24 hour viruses were flying around the home town. Our next move was back onto XC after our +55, thankfully it was an HST with 43207+43304 and I scored another HST trailer with 9 more to go on XC. This was only a 5 minute ride as it turned out to winner shack Camborne, and we only had a +16 so happily stayed on the platform to research our route to base camp. A 17 minute walk through Penzance on Mazey Day, and being tired, we settled for a taxi move. 57605 was soon in on the Summer Saturday special for the final move of the day to Penzance.
To my incredible surprise, this formation included 17175 which is a seated sleeper coach I've been after for sight for years so that was a welcome addition to the NREA. As was 12142, not for sight but a new line in the book. No surprise of course but 57605 made easy work of the load 3 and provided some very welcome thrash. 12142 is one of the refurbished seated sleeper coaches, and I took a seat on one for a few moments to see what they're like. They don't recline, dead upright and wow aren't they uncomfortable. All of a sudden I don't want a ride on the GWR sleeper!
We soon source our taxi and the crowds of drunks all the way made us grateful we didn't walk after all and worth £5. Check-in was soon done, and once we put stuff in the room we retired to the lounge and the ultra comfortable settees for a while to unwind after a long but good day. I got 5 new sights all in and 4 new shacks, plus a few HST trailers and MK3s in for haulage so for territory where I need nothing for outright winners I reckon I did well all in. What would Day 3 bring? Several long moves but I still stood to gain a few bits on the way...
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Good trip so far I see! Pity you didn't have longer at Camborne rather than Redruth as there are a couple of decent pubs in Camborne. Redruth has a decent pub but as I said is about a mile away from the station but that would taken most of your fester to get to and from! Unfortunate the pub I used to go twenty odd years ago appears to no longer be there. Truro (if you had time!) would have had a whole load of decent pubs for you to go to, including an Untappd Verified Venue which is pretty hellfire for choice! There are quite a few decent pubs in Penzance that I assume you visited for an end of the day night cap! The Turks Head being a favourite! I wasn't aware you were on a GWR train when you got you 6X, I would have so got a Tribute instead!
Rammed units is common, especially in the summer. In the next couple of years we're 'supposed' to be getting 4 coach 158s working the stoppers which will be more comfortable. 57605 is my most travelled on 57! Just shy of 5,000 miles it currently sits on 4,912! As for the refurbished seated coaches, I like them. I actually get better sleep in them. I find they support your head better. The old 'reclining' seats are bloody uncomfortable after about an hour!
Rammed units is common, especially in the summer. In the next couple of years we're 'supposed' to be getting 4 coach 158s working the stoppers which will be more comfortable. 57605 is my most travelled on 57! Just shy of 5,000 miles it currently sits on 4,912! As for the refurbished seated coaches, I like them. I actually get better sleep in them. I find they support your head better. The old 'reclining' seats are bloody uncomfortable after about an hour!
That's interesting about the coaches. Are you able to do sleeper trains still on an ALR? I assume you can as seated passengers.
I didn't realise it was Mazey day down there, have there been any railtours this year for it?
StripeyNick
Member
Pathfinder ran their usual tour............but it was not without issues.
Booked for 37059 & 069, 069 failed at Worcester after bringing the stock down so that was dumped leaving 059 to go it alone with load 10 over 2 hours later than booked. That also had issues and so on arrival at Bristol, 66525 was added to the front to provided assistance all the way through to Penzance with the 37 working in tandem. Arrival at Penzance was a good 2.5hrs late (after rumours of the train being curtailed elsewhere)
The return was hauled by 66525 with the 37 dead on the rear. 525 was swapped for 66426 at Bristol on the return and, with some spirited running, arrival back at STJ (where I had done the tour from) was less than an hour later than booked.
What started off to potentially be a bad day ended up being pretty good.
Thanks for that StripeyNick. Sounds like it was lucky there were a couple of available locos on hand. That could easily have ended up being cancelled.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I'm jealous StripeyNick as I need both of those 66s as well as 37059!
Noddy: Shame that then, maybe one day we'll have some Cornish pub bashing alongside some shack scoring (for me at least!) in! We were both feeling a bit tired after a long day of nearly 12 hours on the bash (11h08m actually) and ALL pubs were RAMMED in Penzance!
I could have had Tribute, but 6X caught my eye and I love that stuff more than Tribute (sorry!) so couldn't turn it down!
Noddy: Shame that then, maybe one day we'll have some Cornish pub bashing alongside some shack scoring (for me at least!) in! We were both feeling a bit tired after a long day of nearly 12 hours on the bash (11h08m actually) and ALL pubs were RAMMED in Penzance!
I could have had Tribute, but 6X caught my eye and I love that stuff more than Tribute (sorry!) so couldn't turn it down!
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Camborne has a Wetherspoons, so does Truro, but quite a way down to the city centre.
Blindtraveler
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 Feb 2011
- Messages
- 10,543
Glzc the tour made up time, we noted it heading homewards rather late on our way down and were speculating about it.
You can do the sleeper on an ALR.
It's a 20 minute walk down into Truro. 25 back!
Bit of a hill!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
25/06/2017 - 2017 ALR, Day 3
I'm up by 0545 much to my displeasure, and a lazy morning is had catching up on the forum and completing yesterday's trip report, with coffee and Tech's Mobile Disco of course. Eventually our taxi arrives and after we stop by a cash machine we're at the station and it was worth £5. 43056+43175 and its Super Dud formation from yesterday was on the 0830 to London Paddington, and we easily get seats in coach F much to BT's disbelief. After Camborne we go to the buffet and get a bacon baguette and coffee each, plus crisps for BT. I personally found the baguette to be excellent, however BT's one appeared to have less bacon in it unfortunately. It was a bit rough with seeming issues with the power cars suffering either a bit of wheelslip or bad translation between the two. Whilst reading out the trip report to BT from yesterday [saves his useage of the screen reader and helped pass time anyway - Ed], I noticed an error in my reporting of the HST to Redruth, which gets fixed on the phone and afterwards on the forum later on.
At Plymouth we meet up with the forum's most dedicated basher, Kite159, and we get coffee from Pumpkin for the first time in some weeks, then join Super Dud 150263 on the Gunnislake branch. I bail at winner shack Calstock, and the scenery is rather nice which I had forgotten after not being on this line for nearly 12 years. The photos of the impressive Calstock viaduct are taken from the riverside, then I walked back and got Tech's Mobile Disco on while updating the trip report and my shacks list [having previously failed to add Cambridge North, I now need 791 mainline shacks - Ed], eventually re-joining Kite and BT after their trip to the line's end, BT having needed the Gunnislake branch.
Back onto 150263 for a tight-ish +8 onto an HST to Exeter St Davids next, formed of 43026+43192.
Originally the plan at Exeter was to get on the 1425 to London Waterloo, however Kite made the observation of the 1435 to Okehampton being from platform 2. That has been long required, and we all agreed to do the move. 150106 took us out of Exeter with BT scoring the line all the way to Okehampton [despite his not being interested - Ed] and I bailed at winner shack Sampford Courtenay, Kite also staying on Okehampton. Due to a paperwork farce, once we left Network Rail territory we had to go at 25mph instead of the usual 55mph. This is the same 150 I had on the LM 150 Farewell in 2011, so technically this is now the second preserved line I've had it on! It allowed time at the shack with nothing around to make a phone call to home as well as update the trip report before rejoining 150106 back to Exeter St Davids.
Sadly by doing this move we sacrificed our planned Toby Carvery meal near Purley Oaks, which I had originally looked forward to, but the unusual shack score, in my eyes, was worth it.
We had now arranged to meet forum member Cowley [bit of a forum meet we were having today! - Ed], and we all went to Great Western Hotel for a social over a drink in the short time we had before heading north. Many thanks to Cowley for getting the round in, I'll get yours in next time we meet, hopefully for longer next time, and a pleasure to finally put a face to the name! Before we knew it we had to get in place for 159020 and Super Dud 159008, and this was the first time I had used SWT's WiFi. I was impressed with how good it was, and used some time to catch up on the forum while BT and Kite chatted about trips. I had been hungry for a while now, and by the time we had got to Tisbury we had arranged to alight at Salisbury for food. On a scale of how hungry I was, out of 10 I was not far off 9, as I hadn't eaten since my bacon baguette and that was around 0930.
I hadn't realised the platformage had changed at Templecombe, so I took a moment to step out and do the new platform there to re-dud it. Arrival into Salisbury was at 1919, and the bright-eyed of you all will notice that was nearly 10 hours after my last food. I'm sure none of you would blame me for getting a bit agitated! Kite kindly let us put our mobile houses into his car [as he was driving home from here - Ed] and we went hunting food. We stop at Amigos Pizza for 2 large 14" meat feast pizzas, and while we waited for my and Kite's tea (one each) to cook we got shown around Salisbury a bit by Kite. Plenty of pubs here I noticed, but it's a nice town to visit and before we knew it it was time to pick up our pizzas. Back to the car, ordering BT's Chinese when we got there and once he got his chicken chow mein and duck spring rolls with a can of Tango, we made our way back to platform 2 and joined a very busy 159103 and Super Dud 159102 for the journey east.
Originally we were going to bail at Woking for a trip to Wimbledon and Tramlink to base camp, but BT decided he couldn't be bothered with that so we stayed on to Clapham Junction with the 159s going like a bat out of hell as we walked to the front. Our +5 was tight but we made it onto dud 377111 and winner 377202 for the leap to East Croydon. We had been going to avoid Southern on this trip, never mind as I got my first outright winner of the ALR! We were soon checked into base camp at easyHotel Croydon, and the beds were as comfortable as ever which was welcome. Within 45 minutes I was fast asleep, and we'd decided not to set any alarms for some proper sleep.
I'm up by 0545 much to my displeasure, and a lazy morning is had catching up on the forum and completing yesterday's trip report, with coffee and Tech's Mobile Disco of course. Eventually our taxi arrives and after we stop by a cash machine we're at the station and it was worth £5. 43056+43175 and its Super Dud formation from yesterday was on the 0830 to London Paddington, and we easily get seats in coach F much to BT's disbelief. After Camborne we go to the buffet and get a bacon baguette and coffee each, plus crisps for BT. I personally found the baguette to be excellent, however BT's one appeared to have less bacon in it unfortunately. It was a bit rough with seeming issues with the power cars suffering either a bit of wheelslip or bad translation between the two. Whilst reading out the trip report to BT from yesterday [saves his useage of the screen reader and helped pass time anyway - Ed], I noticed an error in my reporting of the HST to Redruth, which gets fixed on the phone and afterwards on the forum later on.
At Plymouth we meet up with the forum's most dedicated basher, Kite159, and we get coffee from Pumpkin for the first time in some weeks, then join Super Dud 150263 on the Gunnislake branch. I bail at winner shack Calstock, and the scenery is rather nice which I had forgotten after not being on this line for nearly 12 years. The photos of the impressive Calstock viaduct are taken from the riverside, then I walked back and got Tech's Mobile Disco on while updating the trip report and my shacks list [having previously failed to add Cambridge North, I now need 791 mainline shacks - Ed], eventually re-joining Kite and BT after their trip to the line's end, BT having needed the Gunnislake branch.
Back onto 150263 for a tight-ish +8 onto an HST to Exeter St Davids next, formed of 43026+43192.
Originally the plan at Exeter was to get on the 1425 to London Waterloo, however Kite made the observation of the 1435 to Okehampton being from platform 2. That has been long required, and we all agreed to do the move. 150106 took us out of Exeter with BT scoring the line all the way to Okehampton [despite his not being interested - Ed] and I bailed at winner shack Sampford Courtenay, Kite also staying on Okehampton. Due to a paperwork farce, once we left Network Rail territory we had to go at 25mph instead of the usual 55mph. This is the same 150 I had on the LM 150 Farewell in 2011, so technically this is now the second preserved line I've had it on! It allowed time at the shack with nothing around to make a phone call to home as well as update the trip report before rejoining 150106 back to Exeter St Davids.
Sadly by doing this move we sacrificed our planned Toby Carvery meal near Purley Oaks, which I had originally looked forward to, but the unusual shack score, in my eyes, was worth it.
We had now arranged to meet forum member Cowley [bit of a forum meet we were having today! - Ed], and we all went to Great Western Hotel for a social over a drink in the short time we had before heading north. Many thanks to Cowley for getting the round in, I'll get yours in next time we meet, hopefully for longer next time, and a pleasure to finally put a face to the name! Before we knew it we had to get in place for 159020 and Super Dud 159008, and this was the first time I had used SWT's WiFi. I was impressed with how good it was, and used some time to catch up on the forum while BT and Kite chatted about trips. I had been hungry for a while now, and by the time we had got to Tisbury we had arranged to alight at Salisbury for food. On a scale of how hungry I was, out of 10 I was not far off 9, as I hadn't eaten since my bacon baguette and that was around 0930.
I hadn't realised the platformage had changed at Templecombe, so I took a moment to step out and do the new platform there to re-dud it. Arrival into Salisbury was at 1919, and the bright-eyed of you all will notice that was nearly 10 hours after my last food. I'm sure none of you would blame me for getting a bit agitated! Kite kindly let us put our mobile houses into his car [as he was driving home from here - Ed] and we went hunting food. We stop at Amigos Pizza for 2 large 14" meat feast pizzas, and while we waited for my and Kite's tea (one each) to cook we got shown around Salisbury a bit by Kite. Plenty of pubs here I noticed, but it's a nice town to visit and before we knew it it was time to pick up our pizzas. Back to the car, ordering BT's Chinese when we got there and once he got his chicken chow mein and duck spring rolls with a can of Tango, we made our way back to platform 2 and joined a very busy 159103 and Super Dud 159102 for the journey east.
Originally we were going to bail at Woking for a trip to Wimbledon and Tramlink to base camp, but BT decided he couldn't be bothered with that so we stayed on to Clapham Junction with the 159s going like a bat out of hell as we walked to the front. Our +5 was tight but we made it onto dud 377111 and winner 377202 for the leap to East Croydon. We had been going to avoid Southern on this trip, never mind as I got my first outright winner of the ALR! We were soon checked into base camp at easyHotel Croydon, and the beds were as comfortable as ever which was welcome. Within 45 minutes I was fast asleep, and we'd decided not to set any alarms for some proper sleep.
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You got there in the end. I didn't realise you'd got off at Calstock earlier in the day. That is nice around there.
Great to meet you all today, sorry to BT that he had to miss some Pacer action for it though.
Hope you have a great day 4...
Great to meet you all today, sorry to BT that he had to miss some Pacer action for it though.
Hope you have a great day 4...
Definitely the right thing to do to get Sampford in with it not being regular! It's been bit of a farce on the line all summer so far. Pity I'd been working all weekend as I may have been able to meet up at some stage. Ah well!
Was on throughout. 059 has always had dodgy multi on one end. Plugged in and CCB tripped on 069 which then refused to restart. Deposit and leave behind.
059 had air issues at Malvern Link. Repeatedly dumping brake so DSD isolated and carry on. After finally surpassing the divert, it shut down about 3 seconds later and we rolled into Malvern itself. After a great deal of staggering with a fitter battering it into life on the move and after a stop at Hereford, it finally began to sound better and get going after Cwmbran.
NR had initially approved 059 going solo over the banks but had second thoughts due to the train already being 150L. Only traction available was 66525 which had worked a liner to Wentloog that morning and was summoned to assist from Bristol. 66952 was also available at Stoke Gifford but was on hire to NR. Did come very close to being canned at this point. 66525 and 37059 worked in tandem all the way to Penzance. 059 providing the larger % of power with 66 assisting.
525 was removed at Bristol after a fast run back (credit to control tbf...) as it was required and 66426 had been moved south to take over.
Kite159
Veteran Member
It was nice to have a decent catch-up with both you & Dan
I'm gladded the city centre of Salisbury met with your approval
How did you find the memory foam seating on the toothy twins?
I'm gladded the city centre of Salisbury met with your approval
How did you find the memory foam seating on the toothy twins?
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