Saturday 12th December– Here I go again!
So the December Challenge continues and, fellow readers, every trip report this month will also reference in one way or another, the music that is currently playing on my stereo system. So sit back and turn the volume up because we have Whitesnake playing away in the background! For anyone who might be remotely interested, “Here I Go Again” comes from their “Saints and Sinners” album.
Perhaps this was not the best day for me to go out as I had been on a doubleheader of Christmas celebrations the previous day. But behaving myself, I made sure that I was not home too late and also did not sit at the PC for hours. That all proved very helpful as I was up at roughly normal work time and once the morning routine had been undertaken, I made for my local shack, the infamous St Helier. Normally, I’d be heading northwards but today, I was heading the opposite way.
319370 rolled in spot on time and as I always try to do on 319s, I took up my position in the MSO vehicle underneath the pantograph. I mused to myself that Thameslink have very few 319/3s left and a cursory check of the latest Platform 5 book reveals that the 26-strong subclass has only six representatives left in the original operating area. I left 319370 at Sutton and awaited the arrival of the next service up from Epsom which showed up with
455803. Again taking up post in the motor coach I set out to start removing some minor irritations from the wants book that come in the form of “shacks that I have stopped at many a time but never scored”. First of these for today was
Waddon which appeared to be totally unstaffed. Over the footbridge and I did not have long to wait for
455842 back to
Wallington. This is one of those annoying shacks that I do not have a proper record of using so it has to be done again in order to get a proper entry in The Haulage Book. Leaving 455842 behind at Wallington, I crossed to the opposite platform to await the next up service. This station was definitely staffed but the barriers were wide open and the platform attendant was busy gossiping to various folk on the platform.
455846 soon appeared to take me on to West Croydon where I changed tack.
I left the station and walked down to the nearby Tramlink stop at
Centrale. I’d passed through here many times but I’d never recorded myself as using this particular shack.
2544 soon appeared to take me on to East Croydon. I was rather hoping for a Stadler (2554-2563) as they are all either required or the few that I do have in the book are very low on mileage; in contrast the older Bombardier trams (2530-2553) are all dud and have been sat well over the magic 10 miles for some considerable time. I switched to
2549 which was immediately behind and did a definite Bus Stop Bash as I alighted at the next stop –
Lebanon Road was required. [Ed: with the next shack being named Sandilands, you could be forgiven for thinking that you were in a desert!] I’d planned on continuing onwards to more required shacks and even, dare I say it, required track but those plans were soon cast aside when a winning
2562 appeared heading towards Wimbledon. I managed to dash over the road to the westbound platform and scrambled in through the back door just as it was about to close. A quick check of the paperwork revealed that in order to ensure the statutory minimum of a mile was on the clock, I was best off going to Wandle Park. What’s more Wandle Park was a required shack too.
Screeching our way through central Croydon, I noted another one of my required Stadlers and worked out roughly where I could intercept it later on. After enjoying the Church Street ski-jump – well, that’s what it seems like to me – and partaking of the trainset curves at Reeves Corner, we were soon crossing the Sutton to West Croydon line that I had traversed less than an hour previously. At
Wandle Park, I left 2562 and waited for the next eastbound service which showed up with
2546. I took up position just behind the driver – best seat in the house – as I was on a longish trip unless I saw something of interest en route. I managed to stay put all the way to the winning shack of
Gravel Hill where it was time to alight for another required Stalder (that’s if I’d got the arithmetic right). I had a four minute wait before winning
2560 appeared and I retraced my steps to
Lloyd Park where yet another shack was scored. As mentioned in the concluding part of my previous trip report, the New Addington branch of Tramlink was still required so everything after Sandilands was new track too.
At Lloyd Park, I had ample time to swap sides and joined a party of schoolkids in their sports gear waiting for a New Addington bound tram. The kids had obviously been playing football at Lloyd Park and had their minders (i.e. teachers) with them but the odd thing was that all the party were wearing Christmas hats – it just looked strange, full football kit and Santa hats!
2539 soon arrived and this time I went beyond Gravel Hill so again scratching new track. This time
King Henry’s Drive was my alighting point and I was pleased that I only had around 30 seconds to wait before
2548 appeared to whisk me back to
Addington Village where the +0 onto
2552 was comfortably made. This time I bit the bullet and went through to
New Addington and thus complete the line. I still had a few shacks to clear up and the only practical way to do this was by linear bashing.
2552 was my horse again, this time retracing my steps to
Fieldway. After what seemed an eternity,
2547 appeared to take me on to
Coombe Lane where I completed the Addington Branch shacks.
2538 was not too far behind and this took me back to Sandilands, having cleared all track and shacks on the Addington branch.
The next task was to search out any more required Stadlers that I needed for a ride. I bargained that if I stayed on the East Croydon to Sandilands axis, it wouldn’t be too long before I’d see all the available workings and be able to grab any required winners. Rather than sit it out, I thought that I might as well keep moving, on Stadlers of course in order to rack up the mileage. First up was
2562 from earlier on so off to East Croydon to crank up the miles, albeit slowly. Within minutes
2560 was available for a return trip but no sign thus far of any winning Stadlers. From Sandilands,
2555 took me on to Addiscombe for Tramlink shack score number 11 of the morning. A few minutes at
Addiscombe and winning
2559 appears so back to East Croydon. By the time I was back at East Croydon, I’d seen all the workings so I was slightly disappointed to leave two required Stadlers behind. I made use of the Sainsburys local near East Croydon for lunch but when I emerged, one of the required Stadlers put in an appearance – 2561 was out on test and every door had stickers advising prospective customers not to board. Yet still when it stopped at East Croydon, some clown still decided to see if the doors would open.
Having comprehensively cleared out the running trams and required Tramlink track (I still need 13 shacks), I made my way down to the National Rail platforms and set about heading up to Norwood Junction in order to see if there was anything on the Overground of interest.
455802 took me past Selhurst depot, which seemed to be full of 171s, to Norwood Junction. After a short wait, the next stopping train north appeared with
455801 (455802 was fast to London Bridge) so off to Sydenham on that as the Crystal Palace trains join the main line there. Mileage requirement
378139 was first up so off to Honor Oak Park with that – another one with 10 miles on the clock now! Following close behind was
378154 which was also a mileage need - I took this through to Whitechapel with the aim of heading upstairs to the District line (and eventually interchanging on to the Central Line). While 378154 did not clear 10 miles, I certainly knocked a good chunk of the required amount. But all best laid plans went in the bin as immediately behind 378154 was
378136, another mileage requirement so only one thing to do with that – clear it for 10 miles by taking it to Highbury & Islington!
Still wishing to make for the Central line, a very conveniently placed, winning
378220 was available to take me on to Stratford. Here I transferred over to the Central Line platforms and within a minute, I was aboard
92001+92436+92126+92301 and heading “east” if you believed London Underground. More like north east, and soon to become almost northbound. The two middle sets bath cleared for 10 miles while 92301 had only Bus Stop Bash mileage to its name – very welcome all round. I left this set at Woodford as I wanted to attack the two remaining Central line shacks at the eastern end of the line. After a few minutes,
92289+92028+92238+92233 emerged from the sidings; the train destination was Ealing Broadway but the platform indicator said Hainault. Either suited me as I only wanted to go to Grange Hill for a quick shack score. 92028 and 92233 both topped 10 miles during the the journey. Alighting at
Grange Hill, I half expected to come face to face with Tucker Jenkins and his teenage rabble but instead the place was almost deserted. Transferring to the opposite platform, the indicator board reckoned that the next train back towards Woodford would arrive in one minute, a status that it maintained for six whole minutes before
92141+92048+92424+92239 rolled in! While that 360 second minute was taking its time to pass, another waiting passenger referred to the wait as the “Central Line Time Warp”. As I boarded, I glanced at the indicator board and it implied that there was another train 10 minutes behind. That would be perfect for a linear bash to score the only other shack needed at the eastern end of the Central Line. By the time I had alighted at
Roding Valley that train had disappeared. “Perhaps the Roding Valley indicator board only picks up the trains once they are close by?” I mused to myself.
Regardless I had to alight at Roding Valley in order to clear the shacks at the eastern end of the Central line. After about 10 minutes,
92141+92048+92424+92239 reappeared from Woodford and rather than wait for something towards Woodford (which was the original plan) I jumped on. At least I’d be on the move, albeit the long way around via the Hainault loop, back towards Stratford. At the next stop, Chigwell, I noted that the platform indicator had sprung into life and was showing a train in a couple of minute. I thought I’d chance and was reward, after the correct number of minutes, with the arrival of
92015+92176+92164+92343. 92343 was one of the twelve Central Line units that I still needed so winner number five of the day was notched up on the scoreboard! This time I managed to heave yet more units over 10 miles – both 92015 & 92164 joined that particular hall of fame. Going through to Woodford, it appeared that Central Line control had realised this train was running late so instead of reversing in Woodford sings just south of the station, the train reversed in platform 2 and used the crossover just north of the station to gain the correct line. It was probably rare track but no good to me as I wanted to make for Stratford or even points closer to central London.
92095+92058+92096+92263 trundled in and I boarded, not really knowing where I was going. 92058 ended being another set that I could add to the 10 mile list. The train was rather packed so when at Leytonstone, another almost empty westbound train rolled in alongside, I swapped onto
92175+92016+92170+92083 and headed to Stratford. Still not really having a plan for the remaining hour or so that I was staying out, I took up position on a bench where I could see Central Line trains running in both directions. I resisted the temptation of a mileage required 357 on diversion while observing various dud sets of 1992ts. Then came that familiar noise sounding like a badly maintained washing machine – it was a pair of GBRf 66s topping and tailing a leafbuster train. They stopped in the platform for a few minutes attracting the attention of one member of platform staff - obviously he wanted to check that under numerous layers of grime, it was actually 66726 and 66727! My attention was soon diverted by a westbound Central Line train; the set was
92073+92422+92418+92069. 92069 was winner number six of the day! With my desire to head generally in a homeward direction I took this winning set to Liverpool Street but resisted the temptation to go upstairs to see if there was anything of interest. Also of interest in that train were the two middle set 92418 & 92422 which both cleared 10 miles.
Instead I waited on the westbound Central Line platform as there seemed to be a procession of trains behind. Surely I could pull another winner? And if I could not, I’d do a Bus Stop Bash to Bank and get a Northern Line service homewards from there. The first of the grand procession was formed of
92099+92188+92024+92297. “Oh dear” I mused to myself “We have another winner to contend with!” 92099 became winner number seven of the day (and as things turned out, the final one. With a definite desire to head home, Oxford Circus was the logical bailing point where I made for the Victoria Line. The first southbound Victoria Line was formed of
11009+11010; on the journey down to Stockwell, I sat in 11010 and cleared that half set for 10 miles. At Stockwell, I had a short wait for
51533+51534 for the run down to Morden.
I reflected on the day. A reasonable and by my standards, varied, tally. Top of the Pops was fifteen different shacks (two Southern, 11 Tramlink and two Central Line). But equally important was another seven winners (three Stadler trams, another 378 and three 1992ts) to add to the tally for the December Challenge where the winners for the month total 17. Also worthy of note is that 1992ts requirements are now in single figures – those last nine will be a pain but I do like a challenge! Watch this space for the next part of the December Challenge.
And of course, here are the moves from today’s extravaganza -
319370 St Helier to Sutton ---
455803 Sutton to Waddon ---
455842 Waddon to Wallington ---
455846 Wallington to West Croydon ---
2544 Centrale to East Croydon ---
2549 East Croydon to Lebanon Road ---
2562 Lebanon Road to Wandle Park WINNER
2546 Wandle Park to Gravel Hill ---
2560 Gravel Hill to Lloyd Park WINNER
2539 Lloyd Park to King Henry's Drive ---
2548 King Henry's Drive to Addington Village ---
2552 Addington Village to New Addington ---
2552 New Addington to Fieldway ---
2547 Fieldway to Coombe Lane ---
2538 Coombe Lane to Sandilands ---
2562 Sandilands to East Croydon ---
2560 East Croydon to Sandilands ---
2555 Sandilands to Addiscombe ---
2559 Addiscombe to East Croydon WINNER
455802 East Croydon to Norwood Junction ---
455801 Norwood Junction to Sydenham ---
378139 Sydenham to Honor Oak Park Cleared for 10 miles
378154 Honor Oak Park to Whitechapel ---
378136 Whitechapel to Highbury & Islington Cleared for 10 miles
378220 Highbury & Islington to Stratford WINNER - 5-car unit
LU 92001+92436+92126+92301 Stratford to Woodford 92126+92436 cleared for 10 miles
LU 92289+92028+92238+92233 Woodford to Grange Hill 92028+92233 cleared for 10 miles
LU 92141+92048+92424+92239 Grange Hill to Roding Valley ---
LU 92141+92048+92424+92239 Roding Valley to Chigwell ---
LU 92015+92176+92164+92343 Chigwell to Woodford 92343 - WINNER, 92015+92164 cleared for 10 miles
LU 92095+92058+92096+92263 Woodford to Leytonstone 92058 cleared for 10 miles
LU 92175+92016+92170+92083 Leytonstone to Stratford ---
LU 92073+92422+92418+92069 Stratford to Liverpool Street 92069 - WINNER, 92418+92422 cleared for 10 miles
LU 92099+92188+92024+92297 Liverpool Street to Oxford Circus 92099 - WINNER
LU 11009+11010 Oxford Circus to Stockwell 11010 cleared for 10 miles
LU 51533+51534 Stockwell to Morden ---
Milestones
Winners 2559, 2560,2562, 92069, 92099, 92343, 378220
Cleared for 10 miles 92015, 92028, 92058, 92126, 92164, 92233,92418, 92422, 92436, 378136, 378139
New Shacks Waddon, Wallington, Centrale, Lebanon Road, Wandle Park, Gravel Hill, Lloyd Park, King Henrys Drive, Addington Village, New Addington, Fieldway, Coombe Lane, Addiscombe, Grange Hill, Roding Valley
New Track Sandilands to New Addington
December Challenge Winners (17) – 2558, 2559, 2560, 2562, 21477, 21478, 92069, 92099, 92343, 378206, 378216, 378217, 378220, 378223, 378226, 378227, 378231
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Anyways, congratulations Lord Keith on a very productive time there! I'm surprised you need the New Addington branch, I've lost track of when I did that one but it's been quite some time. A third of the way to your target, not bad going at all! Fingers crossed the rail gods keep shining down on you!
How many 378s will that leave you to get now?
Tech, as you'll have read by now, that itch which was the New Addington Branch has now been successfully scratched. In the course of my travels, I have never had any real cause to go to that hell-hole that is "Addington". And even after that bash, I still need no less than 13 Tramlink shacks including a decent number at the Wimbledon end. That'll be another evening jolly sorted...
378s? I still need 18 in five-car format. I managed them all as four-cars before the fifth column was added and even cleared every one for 10 miles as well.
Back to writing up mini trip reports ...
Glad to have been of some help in rekindling the passion!
Quite, even you've done better than me this month Lord Kris!
Now that was a fun, productive and long day