Juliano's World Frenzy/Tech's Trip Reports

[Techniquest]

Found them to be actually quite nice to be honest, both of us!

26/06/2017 - 2017 ALR, Day 4

Good grief, Day 4 already?! A very lazy morning was had, leaving around 0840 for a stop-off at Sainsburys on a supply raid. We then get breakfast from BK, then make it in time for the delayed Tonbridge & Redhill service, formed of winner 377434 and dud 377307. Dropping off 377307 at Redhill, we had decided to bail at winner shack Edenbridge. I did the walk to winner shack Edenbridge Town while BT baked in the sun. It's a fast 13 minute walk each way at a brisk pace, in the 20c weather, but it's now done and we joined winner 377128 to Tonbridge. I managed to score 73961 for sight in the yard here, much to my delight, and it was coffee time at Pumpkin for both of us.

Feeling better for that, we joined Super Dud 375309 all the way to Strood as it was yet more track that BT needed. It was a gorgeous day and a nice run, and we were at Strood before we knew it. Next up, after noting the new ticket office building was going up nicely, we joined dud 395012 for the trip to Stratford International. It wasn't too long before joining dud 395013 on an express working to Ashford International. A beautifully fun run at high speed had, we used the p5/6 island platform to jump onto dud 395007 to St Pancras International on another ultra fast run. Here, it was off to EMT and the 1415 fast to Nottingham, on this occasion formed of 43083+43046, and we went to winner shack Market Harborough. It's a lousy town [on par with Leominster! - Ed] and I was glad to get out with our Tesco meal deals.

Up next was 43045+43060 to East Midlands Parkway, and yes we did have good reason for coming here. Only a few minutes later, we joined winner 222102 on the 1636 Derby to London St Pancras. We had multiple reasons for doing this one, them including that BT needed Syston North Curve and the line from Oakham to Kettering, and I needed the bit south of Kettering on the slows. It is also booked to go through Shugborough Tunnel, a PSUL move. We got a brew each from the trolley after Oakham [which takes cards, take note ATW! - Ed], Thatchers Gold for BT and Badger's Tangle Foot for me, which I had not had in many years. During the 23 minute fester at Kettering, I went to a little shop less than a minute from the station and bought a can of Warka for just £1.30, £2 cheaper than the can from the trolley.

Off we went and some slow line running until Wellingborough, and sadly the PSUL move didn't produce much to my displeasure. I did score several 374s and 700s for sight during the day, so that was a bonus. Once back at St Pancras on time, we met up with forum member robbeach and we end up in The Curious Pig, a winning venue. It's very expensive in here, be warned, but the choice of beers in cans here is awesome. After a while we see the gentleman off [a pleasure to meet you! - Ed] and eventually we too move on. Winner 700006 takes us eventually south, and I felt sorry for BT so we bailed at Blackfriars. We have a fester for around 25 minutes, and end up on what I think was 319425+319430 to Wimbledon via Tooting. The ears were very happy with that!

The final move of the day fell to tram 2530 for the trip to Croydon, and it was straight to base camp for another night at our favourite hotel, easyHotel Croydon.

 

[Cowley]

That's good that you stayed with your plan to get that service from Derby to St Pancras. I had a look at the route it takes and I can see why you did it now.
Would dearly like to have a run on HS1 at some point, I've only ever had a Eurostar on the classic lines let alone a 395 (I don't think I've even seen one).

 

[Kristofferson]

You're making the most of it for sure! Enjoying the read - apologies I haven't suggested meeting up at all, things have been rather mad in Normaldom.

Keep it coming


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[Techniquest]

I've done it before Cowley with the Meridian, ìt's a long run but it went smoothly. Got a couple of beers going on too!

Kris: Not a problem, hope all is OK down there!

 

[Kite159]

Harsh on the Sharnbrook Tunnel bit getting missed out, but at least the pen of red is coming out to play

 

[fowler9]

Good read as always Tech. Your views on Market Harborough tickled as we used to go there a lot to visit family friends. Spent many an hour on the platform and also had a good few trips out by train. Got some good memories from there. (The town itself isn't the nicest, ha ha).

 

[47403]

Good read again tech, Winners for haulage and the book of sights too. Seems like you lads are having a cracking time, hopefully the rest will be as successful too.

Cowley, if its any consolation, I've saw 2 but the guys on the barriers and St Piano Players International, wouldn't let me go through and ID them.

 

[Techniquest]

Glad you're all enjoying the read still

While BT recovers from some missed sleep, here comes yesterday's trip report:

27/06/2017 -2017 ALR, Day 5

It was another lazy morning, and while BT got ready I made a trip downstairs for getting rid of rubbish from last night's La Pizzeria food [absolutely hellfire! - Ed] and other bits, then a coffee run from the machines downstairs and later on, after planning moves, a supply raid for breakfast. Around 0930 we were checked out and soon on the platforms for what turned out to be winner for everything 700101 for a world famous Thameslink Stagger to Farringdon. Next year when London Bridge is fully open can't get here quick enough! Breakfast devoured on the train by the time we reached Tulse Hill, we had a mission ahead to get on what will, one day, be commonplace but hey ho. We wanted to give one a try anyway. What's this plan then? 345 bashing!

We next got double duds 21415+21416 to Liverpool Street, and BT was adament we'd missed it. Thankfully an earlier train failure had meant some delays, so we only waited a few minutes before winner for everything 345005 left with two impressed bashers for a long 18 mile journey to winner shack Brentwood. We both found the seats to be comfortable, especially for brand new trains, with excellent announcements, lots of space, amazing acceleration [compared to a 315 not much faster would be awesome anyway! - Ed] and brilliant air conditioning. After less than effective air conditioning on the 700, that was welcome. Very glad we did this! Double duds 315818+315826 took us the one stop to Shenfield, where we took a short break and it wasn't long until winner 360117 took us to Chelmsford. BT was unamused as he hates Desiros with a passion!

Puccinos was a welcome surprise here, and if BT had told me about it earlier on he'd have had 2.5 hours less of moaning about coffee! That went down beautifully on our next move, winner 90006, where BT insisted on standing all the way to Stratford. I refused that idea and got a seat, so I enjoyed some tunes for a while in comfort. We changed here instead of Liverpool Street in the end as BT had come up with a plan that made sense but relied on getting to Euston for a 390 at 1330, which sounds possible at 1254...Double duds 91263+92016 led winner for everything 92436 with dud 91227 bringing up the rear, changing at Oxford Circus for double duds [obviously - Ed] 11052+11051 for the spin to Kings Cross St Pancras, having given up on making Euston by Tottenham Court Road. If we'd changed at Bank apparently it would have only been a +5 onto the 390 and I still say, even now it would not have been made.

So the plan changed and we had a short break. I felt better for that, and we joined Super Dud, recently ex-GWR, 180104 on the 1348 to Hull as far as Doncaster. Originally I'd agreed a leap to Grantham, as BT had wanted a fast run on a 180 and I'd flagged his original plan this morning to get one into Paddington. I had wanted to avoid the Tube for the extra ching, now long out of the window. A long boring run [sorry BT but I can't enjoy 180s! - Ed] of 95 minutes was finally over, but oh wow, I was suddenly happy as I saw my first 800s for sight, 800011 and 800012 here! Our next move, after being impressed by the 800s on idle, was Super Dud 142087 to winner shack Adwick (South Yorkshire). A +18 or so was had for dud 322481 back to Doncaster, annoyingly it used platform 5 not 6 as booked. Straight onto dud 91119 for the run to Newcastle next, and I went to The Food Bar for a hellfire bacon roll and a bottle of VTEC's exclusive Hop On Board golden ale. Absolutely awesome brew!

Eventually we reached Newcastle and I got BT a large tea and Kit Kat during his fester in Pumpkin, as he didn't want to do Metro moves. £5 later I had my Zone C Daysaver and joined dud 4069 and winner 4036 to South Gosforth, as this was on an Airport train and I needed a Coast train. Double duds 4070+4074 took me to my penultimate Metro shack, winner shack Monkseaton. Be warned, it's a tough platform to platform out of the station, up the road bridge and back down a long ramp.

A few minutes later, and I recommend no less than a fast paced +6, I joined double duds 4066+4061 for the Bus Stop Bash to my final shack on Metro, winner shack West Monkseaton. It's nice having it all cleared, but a 15 minute was not welcome as I needed to hurry back to town as forum member 47403 [also known by some of us as Lord Spoon Goon, so hereafter referred to as LSG in this report - Ed] was coming down to join us! Double duds 4007+4089 take me on the mileage move back to Central Station. I got Tech's Mobile Disco back on while I distracted myself from an urgent need...Once back, I went and found LSG and BT, and we went to winner pub The Forth where I enjoyed two winner beers [820 unique brews had now! - Ed] and of course some good company too. Good to see you again LSG, next time I'll advise a bit sooner when I'm coming up!

Back on the station, we were going to BK but it was shut before 2030 which is just criminal. Mind you, the station was so very quiet so perhaps it's understandable in that respect. Back out we went and found a chippy, doner meat and chips for me, pie chips and battered sausage for BT. £9 for two meals wasn't too bad, although the chips could have done with being a bit fresher. We were both too hungry to be overly fussed about that though, and we joined dud 91109 for the trip to Edinburgh which was over nice and quick. An object on the OHLE south of Peterborough caused a fair bit of delay, 25 minutes for that matter, to this train and the next one, and we arrived after a very fast run with a keen driver 22 down. Up we went from platform 8 to the bus stops and we comfortably made the next route 37 bus to BT's place. In anticipation of an early start, and getting in around 2300, I got the de-rancification going on before a kip on BT's settee and an 0500 alarm. Which would have been fine if I'd been able to sleep before 0100!

 

[47403]

Another good read tech, obviously yesterday I heard, first hand of pretty much of everything you've written in your report but nonetheless, still an enjoyable read. I believe that's the 90's cleared for haulage now too. At least the ones running, if not all.

Think its fair to say, we had a good natter and a good laugh, the time flew by. I was ready for those couple of beers, after a hard days graft. Yeah if you'd have got in touch earlier, I'm sure I'd have been able to sort you 2 out food wise. Still it was great to catch up with you again and finally get to meet Blindtraveller, In fact on meeting BT in pumpkin, after introducing myself and then moving to sit next to the guy, my arse had barely touched the seat, when the lass behind the counter shouted, excuse we're closing and we were both turfed out.

However BT and I had a good natter on one of the seats on the platform, watching 43206/43300 come and go, till you came back triumphant at clearing the Metro shacks.

Don't forget, any name in the world, I bet I can sing a song with it in.

I'll look forward to the next instalment, of those remaining days.

 

[TC60054]

Blimey, a 321 using platform 5 at Doncaster when it's a south facing bay and barely long enough for a 156?

 

[Kristofferson]

Cracking day out and the read was appreciated by Mrs Kris as well!


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[37038]

Are the 345s on a particular diagram or just whatever?

Good reads so far!

 

[Cowley]

I've not had much time to catch up on reports due to biting off more than I can chew at work again.
It's tea break time and I've caught up with yours now Tech, very enjoyable. Interesting to hear your positive opinion of 345s too. I expect you're feeling pretty tired by now?

 

[Techniquest]

28/06/2017 - 2017 ALR, Day 6

I was awake after a less than amazing sleep at 0500, BT was up soon after but was still super tired so went back to bed for about 4 hours. Meanwhile I had coffee and just the smell re-invigorated the senses and the need to go bashing. With the aid of Tech's Mobile Disco [not very mobile at that point mind lol - Ed] I got a ton of bookwork done, leaving just the moves book to do. Updates on the forum and a significant amount of catching up on both there and Twitter, plus finishing Day 5's trip report and sorting out emails, not to mention re-organising my mobile house and a couple of coffees, filled the time quickly. BT was still a fair way from ready, and while I remember to mention it I will at some point share Tech's Top Tunes 2017 this week. I got some cash out on BT's behalf which completely squared us up [as he had lost his wallet on Day 1 I had been covering his expenditures - Ed] and I joined Lothian Buses' 827 on route 16 to Foot of Leith Walk while he got ready. What was I doing? Well while I'd hoped for a Trident, I was off to the barbers.

Some of you will remember I got my hair cut here in January, and I've not had it done since then. My £7 cut was made to last as you can tell, as it was only a little over 5 months ago! I got a surprise 'mate's rate' organised by BT so it only got me £5 which was excellent. BT was originally joining but had a bit of a farce at his end so I did the 25 minute walk up Leith Walk to Waverley. Eventually BT arrived and I had noted a required 380, so with the time we still had it was to Greggs for breakfast in Waverley Mall. Winner 380102 took us on a world-famous Haymarket Leap, as I'd identified a winner 158. Sadly a few minutes before it was due, it was announced on the PIS as cancelled sadly. A new plan was therefore made, although if we'd known what was to happen we'd have said stuff it...

Winner 158733 took us back to Waverley, and we transferred to 390123 for the run to Carlisle, my first 390 in almost 6 weeks! After a coffee stop, we transferred to 37425 for a leap to Dalston and some badly needed 37 thrash. The original plan had seen us out early to do a lot more 37 mileage but hey ho. I'd scored two 68s and two 88s for sight on Kingmoor happily, couldn't quite ID all of them sadly though. Back from Dalston on double duds 153360+153358, which I'm informed is normally a 156. So imagine how strange it looked when the 1513 to Barrow left with an added 153332! I stopped off at required coffee outlet Caffeine Rush, and fair game the coffee was good and cheaper than the same drink in WHSmith's coffee house, I'd use it again for sure.

Our next move took us over the Tyne Valley on 142091, Super Dudded on the way east. BT was naturally happy as he loves Pacers! By Prudhoe [pronounciated Prudda by the way, for the benefit of my fellow Midlanders and Southerners - Ed] I'd got sore on this 142 and we bailed at Metrocentre for the next Morpeth service. Annoyingly it was dud 156454 with no working facility, and it was freezing on board too, much to the displeasure from this Western Region man! We bailed at winner shack Morpeth, and wow it was a dull +24 for Super Dud 142017 all the way to the end of the Northern empire, winner shack Chathill. It was horribly cold up here, and we discovered the shelter less than 10 minutes before coming back annoyingly. We'd planned to have a +40 at our next stop for a CrossCountry HST to Edinburgh, and we joined 142017 again to winner shack Alnmouth for Alnwick.

This place is no more interesting, and by now the rain was coming down heavily. The problem I had now was hunger, bearing in mind I'd had no breakfast and lunch was just the [admittedly hellfire - Ed] hot steak and cheese baguette from Greggs around 1155 and it was now around 1920. It wouldn't take a mathematician to realise that 7.5 hours on such little food is a lot for anyone to tolerate! Our escape from hell was a Voyager, and I know you're all falling down in shock at that.

There was a good reason, as the HST was not due until around 2015 now and 55 minutes at the ultra wet Alnmouth was too much. Waiting for another 12 minutes for a VTEC service was too much as it was! So we endured 221126 to Newcastle, and I'll very happily admit I was happy to see the thing! Yes, feel free to remind me of that any time! The lack of a trolley turning up was not welcome though...

Now the sensible thing to do at 2003 would be getting food. However BK was closing early this week, and we'd just missed that. Now I would have happily gone into Sainsburys but I basically got dragged onto the late running 2003 to Edinburgh despite loud and, yes, angry complaints. Yes this was another bloody Voyager, and a Super Dud one already, 220013. We found seats and I spent the journey all the way very ****ed off. Somehow I found the patience to talk to BT, which at that point was not easy as I'm sure he knows already. Sadly his planned use of the trolley for a badly needed brew and such like came off at Newcastle, which had me looking for a brick wall to smack my head against! Nothing cheered me up all the way north, and we finally arrived at 2135, 7 down having recovered 1 minute after Newcastle.

BK was visited next and a super size Bacon Double Cheeseburger XL meal with full sugar Coke was not going to be enough, so a side order of 8 onion rings made it better. By the time I started eating that it was around 2150, almost TEN hours after almost no food all day. It will be no surprise why I was so angry, I'm sure! The food was done in just under 10 minutes, and there isn't a word that sums up how happy I now was!

Next up was the bus back to BT's flat, and having had very little caffeine all day too on such a long day [by the time we got in it was 2300! - Ed] I collapsed soon after my ice cream BT had been keeping in his freezer for me. 0030 I was fast asleep!

 

[Kite159]

Congrats on visiting Chathill

Harsh on the red pen unfriendly day otherwise with only 2 Scottish units falling

 

[alexf380]

Had a wee bit of a falling out, had we? Glad to see things patched up after a stressful yet evidently still enjoyable day. It's been a quick week, that's for sure!

 

[87electric]

It's a shame Day 6 seemed to be tough. A few winners though.
Decent sleep & rest (and regular food breaks) while doing rovers is a must or the inevitable happens. I have to factor in healthy eating or my body falls apart quite easily. But i've never factored in a hair cut!!

 

[Blindtraveler]

I have been ridiculed it would seam but deserved it. I was just hacked off with a cold wet foodless ncl and wanted out o there pronto. Las time I used that train it was an Edinburgh trolley on all the way. I canno appologise enough it must be said

 

[Techniquest]

29/06/2017 - 2017 ALR, Day 7

0700 and I silenced the alarm to get up soon enough after, having a most needed de-rancify after that weather yesterday. Around 0930 we were out the door into weather similar to that at Addiewell weather some months back! Armed with gen BT was insistent I got on my last two 170s, I got confused in the rain and thought the bus coming up was on route 37 and not 27 as it was discovered much later to be the case. We both got drenched in the walk from Hannover Street and I've decided I don't like Edinburgh any more and am very glad not to be going back again for a while!

We made the Aberdeen HST after sacrificing the planned supply raid, 43367+43305 taking us to Dundee. Couple more HST trailers scored at least! We had discovered a Tesco Extra nearby, so I went on a fast paced 5 minute march to get a couple of meal deals for BT [treated as compensation for getting the wrong bus! - Ed] and one for me. I think I got the wrong crisps or something though as it came to nearer £12 by my reckoning. Foolishly I left the receipt behind in a rush, that's a lot of Clubcard points I lost for my Mum! Oh well, it happened, all thanks to rushing! Back at the station we made our way to platform 3, required microgrice, to join winner 170411, my penultimate 170 out of the lot to get [only a couple of 170/3s never got recorded, but they're now 168/3s - Ed] and we took it to Perth enjoying First Class seating on a Standard Class only service. I quite like those seats, and I know this will get me some epic teasing for years, but I honestly enjoyed this run! I honestly didn't notice the usual droning these things are notorious for, as shocking as that might be!

We were due a pair of 158s onwards, after a coffee break, but due to a series of problems with the Inverness 158s we had 170470 instead, now Super Dudded, to Haymarket. I had sworn that I was NOT going back to Edinburgh today, on penalty of being bought a 14 day First Class ALR if I stepped foot in the city again. At ching of around £1,100 that was quite significant, I was sick of the city, and there would have only been very special circumstances that would have changed my stance on that. However they cannot be publically revealed...So why are you at Haymarket, you ask? We were changing here for what turned out to be 350410 to Carlisle, and I declared Haymarket was enough away from Edinburgh to not break my rule. We found seats easily enough as it turned out, and my RM update was completed on the way.

We had a short wait for 390011, closer to Super Dud and a 390 down the WCML is so much more fun than a 350. It's also worth noting right now BT doesn't like 350s, and I told him we'd take them VERY happily TODAY on LM, to the point if they came south at 1830 into Birmingham we'd put them STRAIGHT into service! He also doesn't like Manchester, so before we'd left Scotland we'd agreed he could get a 390 back to Edinburgh and I booked a last minute Northern Advance. Bargain at £6.30, and bookable in the VTWC app too, another 6p of Nectar points then! BT kindly paid me £7 in cash to compensate mind which was welcome with the state of my finances!

After I saw him off, having failed to find LSG's takeaway, on 390013, I redeemed my full Pumpkin card and joined dud 150273, now Super Dudded of course. It was on with Tech's Mobile Disco and several repeats of this tune https://youtu.be/DKdfble-xNY all the way. I was tired and something bouncy was needed at this point as the meal deal earlier had now expired.

Before I swap trip report titles, it has been asked if we're still friends. As I complete this trip report aboard [Scores on the Doors to come on Sunday 2nd July 2017! - Ed] 150273, I haven't seen anyone else's replies yet, and I will reply soon, but: yes we ARE still friends, don't worry! I have forgiven BT for the Voyager and food thing, he suffered enough with the 170s it must be said! And now, as I leave Bolton, where a LOT of works are going on, it's time to swap to Operation Beer Bash which kicked in at Manchester!

 

[Techniquest]

It's a shame Day 6 seemed to be tough. A few winners though.
Decent sleep & rest (and regular food breaks) while doing rovers is a must or the inevitable happens. I have to factor in healthy eating or my body falls apart quite easily. But i've never factored in a hair cut!!

Yep that's a lesson to learn! Trust me the haircut was MOST needed!

 

[Techniquest]

Congrats on visiting Chathill

Harsh on the red pen unfriendly day otherwise with only 2 Scottish units falling

Always a risk unless on a red pen friendly area. I was gutted not to get a winner on Northern but it happens.

Just arriving into Manchester now, further replies will be read tomorrow!

 

[Blindtraveler]

I should point out that it was a real pleasure to buy that advance as Im enjoying a real treat in the shape of a 390 homeward, most welcome! Enjoy Manchester Mr quest, and whilst we as a rule dont do xmas your prezzy this year is gunna be a good one!

 

[Kite159]

Congrats on finally getting my stalker


So I gather your Edinburgh ban involves the highland sleeper as well

 

[Cowley]

Glad you got the 37 in, you've certainly covered some miles this All Line.
I think I ought to go and see that barber. God knows what he'd charge to do my mess though, even at mates rates.

The rest of it came up while I was posting the above. Glad to see you're still friends.
One day you'll both look back on that Voyager journey and laugh. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but definitely by Christmas.

















2020

 

[Blindtraveler]

Your so right there.

 

[Techniquest]

Oh that is most likely to be the case!

Here's an update from the ALR:

2017 7 day ALR Scores on the Doors

Winners: 13
New sights: 37
Shack scores: 22
Mileage: 2,656

And now:

29/06/2017 - Operation Beer Bash 2 - The Railway Strikes Back, Day 1

"Hold on, what's happened here? Weren't you on an ALR earlier?" I hear you all asking. Well yes I was, but it was organised a while back that Operation Beer Bash 2 was to happen on the evening of Day 7 of the ALR, from here on in it's referred to as OBB2. The extra bit in the trip report title is basically a reference to how we did very little on the railway on OBB1 in February 2017, and it was unanimously agreed that would not be allowed to be the case this time! Scores on the Doors for the ALR will be done soon, I spent too much time on the train from Preston [sounds weird but hellfire that, I've never started a trip report from there before! - Ed] finishing the ALR report, bouncing along to Planet Hands Up, Nightcore mix of course, and starting this report. I already dread the moves book update mind as it's so many days behind!

After arriving 1 up into Manchester Victoria I meet up with forum member andyb2706, waiting for the third member of the group, Ark Royal, to arrive from Yorkshire. Once we'd all got together we joined winner for everything 3116 to St Werburgh's Road, via Exchange Square. Second City Crossing is just so much faster than going via Market Street! 8 minutes later we were on dud 3084 to Sale Water Park, as Andy had kindly arranged to drive us with our bags [my mobile house was far from ideal from taking around Manchester with us! - Ed] and took us to his local chippy, Lighthouse. As I hadn't eaten in many hours, my jumbo sausage and chips went down beautifully!

Once we'd all freshened up and so on, we were off via Wythenshawe Park and joined dud 3110 to St Werburgh's Road where we joined winner 3115 to Exchange Square, and it must be said it's nice to have all the light rail networks in the UK cleared for coverage again! An ATM move was swiftly followed by my first visit to The Old Wellington. Winner beers had, we were running out of time before the last trams of the night, so we were swiftly off to dud pub from OBB1 The Bank. Some more enjoyable brews, chatter and banter were of course had and around 2300 it was time to head back to Andy's. Much to my surprise, it was winner 3011 to Sale where we were originally going to swing via Tesco before a taxi move.

However, just by the station [turn left after climbing the stairs to the exit - Ed] we discovered a takeaway called, I'm told, Taste Buds. We sourced a 14" meat feast pizza as it had technically been Ark Royal's round, then a taxi was had to Andy's where the pizza was devoured. We all had a beer too thanks to his excellent collection, mine being one from the SVR and was quite enjoyable! It was soon time for sleep mind, it being well gone midnight and nearer 0100, and with alarms set for 0630 as we had finally decided what to do on the bashing part of the trip...

30/06/2017 - Operation Beer Bash 2 - The Railway Strikes Back, Day 2

First of all, I must point out that we're now half way through 2017. Once that realisation kicked in I was more determined than ever to enjoy Q3 and Q4 2017! Q2 has been pretty productive, it must be said, and I hope now we've reached half-time [I'm having a couple of weeks off the railway to recover, prepare and such like! - Ed] things don't collapse!

The alarm was understandably unwelcome at 0630 and it's a little while until I crawl out of bed to a minor headache, which I entirely blame on all the long days and late nights recently. Andy is a lifesaver with a coffee made after de-rancifying, extremely welcome after being awake for over 18 hours again the day previous. Once we all got set up, we left at the planned time of 0730, and none of us felt unwell which is a bonus. The walk to Wythenshawe Park was a few minutes too slow to make it for 3063, so after getting tickets and going over the plan once more we were sorted and joined dud 3081 to Deansgate-Castlefield.

Winner 3106 took us onwards to Piccadilly, my 4th Metrolink score of the trip so you can imagine I was pleased to now need just 18 more M5000s! Tickets were bought swiftly due to a lack of a queue to our surprise, then Ark Royal and I met back up with Andy who'd kindly gone and sourced the breakfasts from Greggs as time was fast running out for our first move. Armed with Lancashire Day Rangers [and I think you can see where this is going already... - Ed] we walked over to platform 14 and joined the massive crowds for the delayed 0846 to Blackpool North, bailing at Preston with seats sourced at Oxford Road. Yes you all know what we were doing now...

A necessary break later, we joined 37403 after a selfie [back in my day they were seminars... - Ed] for some WCML thrash. 37403 clearly had a keen driver on, and during the journey north it was discovered that a Crewe to Sellafield working was due in Lancaster just behind us. Sure enough, we overtook it with a pair of 68s on it so we were bailing at Lancaster not Silverdale after all! After watching the 37 go for gold, winner for sight 68026 and dud for everything 68004 came through and opened up just past us. A most pleasant sound for all of us! After I got a coffee, we all went to platform 5 to see what was on the Leeds train. Much to my extreme surprise, it was wkinner 142026, off to Carnforth we went then!

My luck was clearly in for now with Northern, as the next train back to Lancaster was winner 156480, get in! It was incredibly well loaded, rammed in fact, but we squeezed in. Over the bridge we went and joined Super Dud 156479 for the journey to winner shack Morecambe. It's only a short turnaround here before we headed back out to winner shack Bare Lane where Andy had pointed out a lunch move at Gill's Pantry over the road. That turned out to be an awesome move as they did some very nice food, for myself it was a chunky steak pie, mushy peas and gravy and a very decent size sausage roll for £3.80, worth every single penny and so tasty! I think even Ark Royal enjoyed parting with his money, rare as that is for a Yorkshireman [I'm only teasing, of course! - Ed]! If any of you are in Bare Lane, or need Heysham Port, we all recommend coming here for lunch first. I would even divert here on an ALR to return for the food, so that should be an indication of how good it was!

It was of course back onto 156479 for a mileage top-up to Morecambe, and as we had a 24 minute turnaround this time we went to Morrisons. As it was OBB2 and well gone 12 noon, it was now time to get some beers! We got back to Lancaster on 156479, Ultra Dud by now, and my first beer was delicious and well worth a go. My fellow beertickers can find out what I had on Untappd, I'm on there as Techniquest [no surprise there then... - Ed] if you're not already following me on there.

Back at Lancaster, we made it onto late running 390013, and wow wasn't it busy, full and standing throughout Standard Class! I still can't figure out why this working [1140 off Glasgow I believe, 1238 off Lancaster at least - Ed] calls at Rugby mind as it's otherwise non-stop from Warrington to London Euston. I've never seen such a busy 390, even at peak times, and wow wasn't it hot in coach F!

We were glad to alight at Preston, no way were we staying on to Wigan now. Apparently the ECML had fallen over, how unusual...We investigated several options here, none of them produced anything we needed so once Ark Royal got some stuff sorted we ended up joining 350406 to Manchester Piccadilly. We were going to do the Hazel Grove a while before it, but it had everyone off the 390 who'd missed the 1305 to Manchester on it as well as its usual crowd, so as it was dud the shack score at Chorley was declined. Ark Royal got his plug socket this time too which he was glad of, and it was time for another beer, a Lancashire one since we were in the area!

Once back in Manchester it was already time to start parting ways and we saw Ark Royal off on a MetroShuttle bus as he needed Shudehill for his Megabus homewards. Meanwhile me and Andy got into Sainsburys to source supplies for our respective journies south, he to London [jealous! - Ed] and me on the final train of what has been an 8 day bash all in, back to Hereford. I found a winner once I checked it on Untappd, and once 175111 had finally come in I managed luckily to find a seat. WiFi on, tunes on and it took until nearly Wem to get caught up with this report. OK now it's time to get that fruit beer going on!

I finally got back to Hereford and got a lift home, now I'm bushed and very much looking forward to my bed! Thanks for the excellent company lads, bring on Operation Beer Bash 3!

 

[Blindtraveler]

A 156 on the shuttles? Wow the Northern Randem unit generater was working well today.

Good to see a bit more bashing going on this time, I had feared that a trip to this part of the universe altered some hitherto unknown setting that turned you into a druncan bum with no interest in railways! Glad that particular options menu is now locked and well done on those shacks.

 

[djpontrack]

Sounds like you've had a good time recently. I've enjoyed reading your trip reports mate.
The new micropub near Bare Lane station is excellent and has 6 hand pumps. It's called The Little Bare. Let me know if you're coming to the area again on a beer bash.

 

[Techniquest]

Sounds like you've had a good time recently. I've enjoyed reading your trip reports mate.
The new micropub near Bare Lane station is excellent and has 6 hand pumps. It's called The Little Bare. Let me know if you're coming to the area again on a beer bash.

Good excuse to go back then one day!

Home and washing is nearly done, tea is had but I really can't be bothered to do the outstanding bookwork. That's a job for Sunday, right now I'm just vegging out ready for my 0600 alarm and my return to reality tomorrow!

 

[Cowley]

Mmm beer.
I'd like to get a go on the 37 up the WCML at some point. I was thinking that when we went past Sellafield the other weekend there seemed to be absolutely loads of 68s parked up there. We passed a TnT pair as well on a flask somewhere I think. I expected there to be a couple parked up but not as many as I saw.