Keith goes wandering

[Kristofferson]

Again, a good read and congrats on the last 375 and the last 456 for sight

Good luck finding the last 158...

 

[Keith Jarrett]

I'm also down Keith's way, sort of, on 17th May. I'm planning on only passing through on a Southern DaySave mind, but that could easily change yet!

The nearest that you can get to me on a Sunday using a Southern DaySave is Sutton. Southern only operate a few M-F peak hour trips along my local line - the Wimbledon loop - otherwise it's solid Thameslink 319s.

I've only got around to writing up last Sunday afternoon's mini excursion so here goes

12th April 2015 – Back to the usual

It’s been a while since I have been out on a Sunday afternoon so when the opportunity presented itself, how could I refuse? With Liverpool Street still taking up too much space in the London section of my wants list, it was the natural place to go, especially as there are changes to the operating pattern next month that seem to imply less 317s on a weekend and more 315s! The plan had been to keep an eye on the 317s on the West Anglia side in case there were any that either I needed for the dreaded 10 miles or for logging under the current number. There’s also still a few 321s and some required 360s to potentially keep me entertained.

On my way to GE metals, I had not bargained for my bumping into one of the few 1992ts sets that I still need and the short hop from Bank to Liverpool Street is not desirable in my books so off I went to Stratford. Within minutes, I was on the move again with 360110+117, the former still below the 10 mile mark and to get it over 10 miles, I needed to do the pair into the Street and back out again. Rather than endure a longish wait at Stratford once I’d dispensed with the 360s, LUL took me back to the blocks at The Street – I’d been keeping an eye on the 317s but it was the usual suspects and not the ones that frequent my wants list! A pair of 321s took me back out to Stratford – more a case of keeping on the move than anything else. On the way out to Stratford, I passed a required (for 10 miles) 321 on its way into town. It would be no good waiting for the next Greater Anglia service as I’d have a +1 at The Street so the underground came to my rescue again.

321340 was waiting for me in the gloomy caverns of the mainline part of the Street – thankfully it was leaving in a few minutes. By Stratford, that was another one I could tick off the list. With the closure of the GE mainline beyond Shenfield for umpteen weekends this year, I had not had much of an opportunity to round up the remaining 360s on my wants list (two outright winners and an unhealthy number still needed for the magic 10 miles. It came as no surprise to me when one of the next pair on the up road was a low mileage animal. So as I had done earlier in the afternoon, it was a case of into The Street and back to Stratford in order to heave 360105 over the 10 mile barrier. By this time I’d seen all the 315s and 317s working with nothing to interest me so I made a move home on LUL via Bank.

As expected, gone are the Sundays when I could pick up a fistful of 315s/317s and it is getting much harder now to remove units from the wants list. I still need 11 360s for 10 miles (and two of those are required outright) so I am sure that I will be back at on GE metals soon -there’s also still one 315, a handful of 317s and some 321s that I need ….

Here’s the afternoon’s moves …….

LU 51651+723 Morden to Bank
LU 92165+154+232+251 Bank to Stratford
360110+117 Stratford to Liverpool Street
360110+118 Liverpool Street to Stratford
LU 92307+030+032+163 Stratford to Liverpool Street
321311+332 Liverpool Street to Stratford
LU 92311+319+038+157 Bank to Liverpool Street
321340 Liverpool Street to Stratford
360105+111 Stratford to Liverpool Street
360105+111 Liverpool Street to Stratford
LU 92185+440+142+187 Stratford to Bank
LU 51660+659 Bank to Morden
Milestones
360105 cleared for 10 miles
360110 cleared for 10 miles
321340 cleared for 10 miles
LU 92165 NEW
LU 92185 cleared for 10 miles
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Again, a good read and congrats on the last 375 and the last 456 for sight

Good luck finding the last 158...

To put the record straight

The 375 was my last to ride on - I'd seen it and photographed it many a time, just never managed the ride. But now I need to bring the mileage up to at least 10 miles.

456s - I saw them all when they were brand new in NSE colours. I was simply noting that I have now photographed all of them in green.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The 159-159-158-158 quad monster, even SWT DMUs can become 10-car units

This is when you would have spotted 158885 down Southampton, but pretending to be a FGW unit

I was lucky and it came to me at the start of the year at Romsey, although 444017 is proving harder to get in the book.

Even if 885 had been pretending to be a fGW unit, I would still have gone for it being the only SWT unit that I have never ridden on. There's only three others that I still need for the elusive 10 miles and 444017 is one of them!

(I will probably be in your part of the world on Sunday with the aim of clearing the Thameslink Sutton loop)

St Helier & Sutton Common isn't it?

 

[Techniquest]

A nice little afternoon there fair dos, shame it wasn't too good on the 315 and 317 front, luck of the draw!

I need too many 360s outright, just never really saw any about when I was last down there. Considering this was a weekday and during the evening peak, to see only 2 or 3 about was weird. Not to mention irritating in a way, as I had wanted to lower my requirements. A good thing too though as it meant more 321 action which was much more rateable than a 360!

 

[Kite159]

Yep St Helier & Sutton Common, although sadly I ran out of time (ended up going up towards Brentwood to clear out my remaining stations on the future TFL rail line).

Might try and attack those stations this coming Sunday. I noticed the 360s floating around so I will probably be at Liverpool Street again at somepoint.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Rather belatedly (for me at least), here's a write up from a week ago -

19th April 2015 - Give Me Five!

Having spent too many Sundays on the Great Eastern of late, I thought that for a change, I would take a look at the East London Line with the objective of starting on the five-car 378s for haulage and the requisite 10 miles. My “Guidelines for Bashing” dictate that if a unit is reformed in any way that alters the number of power cars, then I need to go and chase them again and the mileage clock is reset to zero. Therefore with the 378s gradually going from four to five cars with the addition of another powered vehicle, I have to start again with them.

First of all I had a small spot of shopping to do in Wimbledon so 319442 provided the traction for the short(ish) journey from my local shack. I know that Kite159 of this forum had been threatening to visit my local shack as it was still on his list of requirements but when I arrived, there were only a few normal waiting for the train and no obvious cranks.[Ed – I understand that Kite159 gave SIH a miss in preference for shack scratching else in the Metropolis.] With shopping complete, I opted for a bit of linear bashing but only to score some more SWT units for the year so cue a are, for me at least, stopover of a few minutes at Earlsfield to add a second SWT 455 to the 2015 list - 5711 followed by 5709. Winning 378152 was waiting for me at Clapham Junction and within a few minutes we were under way, threading our way through salubrious South London and on to the East London Line. I had considered trying to get Surrey Quays to New Cross in the book as required track but did not fancy a wait at New Cross (and with no Southeastern services stopping, I think I made the correct move). So I stuck with 378152 all the way to Dalston Junction and in the process cleared my first 378 for 10 mile sin five-car format.

378147 was the next unit south and not being one of the few that I had previously had, I opted for a longish run with it. Somewhere along the murky depths of the East London Line proper, I had a “lightbulb moment”. Did I need any shacks south of New Cross Gate? A quick check my Bashing Book revealed that I needed two. This gave me the excuse to stick with 378147 as far as Sydenham fort the first shack scratch of the day. At Sydenham, I had about three minutes wait for 378150 heading back north, just enough time to get a photo of the departing 378147 and position myself for a shot of the arriving 378150, another 5 car winner. In order to get my second shack scratch of the day, I had to make sure that I was on a West Croydon Service so alighted at Brockley (New Cross would have been a dodgy +1). 378207 (5 car winner) rolled in bang on cue heading for West Croydon – my first 378/2 in five-car format. This enabled me to score a second shack if I were to alight at Penge West – which of course I did.

378140 was the return unit from Penge West – 140 was one of the few 378s that I’d had before this afternoon in five-car format so this was purely a mileage accumulation trip. I figured that Whitechapel would see the magic 10 miles clocked up with this unit and that would put me nicely onto a Clapham Junction train and allow me to head towards home. My calculations were correct as after alighting from 378140 at Whitechapel and crossing to the southbound line, 378151 (5 car winner) was the first unit in, heading for Clapham Junction. I went all the way with 378151 and while that was a decent mileage, I am still short of the magic 10 with that particular unit. But I was not too concerned as I’ll have to make many return trips to the East London Line to garner the remaining 378/1s (and no doubt some 378/2s too) for winners in five-car format as well as the requisite mileage.

The afternoon was rounded off by some linear bashing back to Wimbledon to add to the year hits (5874 To Earlsfield, 5708+5903 onwards to Wimbledon) before I was able to enjoy 319217 grinding its way back around part of the Wimbledon Loop. I was pleased with the outcome of the afternoon - the moves and relevant milestones are recorded below. As ever, questions/comments always welcome.

319442 St Helier to Wimbledon
5711 Wimbledon to Earlsfield
5709 Earlsfield to Clapham Junction
378152 Clapham Junction to Dalston Junction
378147 Dalston Junction to Sydenham
378150 Sydenham to Brockley
378207 Brockley to Penge West
378140 Penge West to Whitechapel
378151 Whitechapel to Clapham Junction
5874 Clapham Junction to Earlsfield
5708+5903 Earlsfield to Wimbledon
319217 Wimbledon to St Helier
Milestones
New Shacks – Sydenham, Penge West
New as 5 car units – 378147, 378150, 378151, 378152, 378207
Cleared for 10 miles – 378140, 378152

More "Tales from the Rails" to follow soon.

 

[Techniquest]

A nicely productive short afternoon out there, I need to get over to the ELL again!

 

[Kite159]

I will be in your area on Sunday *evil laugh*

Sounds like a good day

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Wednesday 22nd April 2015 – Wales & West Day 1

The origins of this trip lay in the annual photographic mission that two friends and I have made to Bristol/South Wales over the past 10 years. Initially we would stay with a member of my family in Bristol but in more recent years, we preferred to lodge in South Wales, principally so the photographers could have more access to freight workings. While I am partial to a spot of photography, I have returned to being primarily a haulage basher over the past few years rather than a photographer.

Setting off from home at my usual time for a working day, I caught the usual “work” train, formed today of 319429+319450 but instead of going through to Blackfriars, I bailed at Wimbledon. Joining the scrum across the footbridge [Ed: When are we going to get the second footbridge?], I made my way to the District Line platforms and proceeded to Paddington. My mate was already at Paddington (the third member of the party would follow up in the evening) and soon we were boarding a Cardiff-bound HST (power cars 43041+43133) as we were both ticketed to Newport. Neither power car was of any significance haulage-wise apart from the fact that both were needed for the year. Passing through Reading we wondered whether the new station would be as photographer friendly as the old one where you could camp out on platform 5 and get most things without wandering far from base camp. We concluded that the new layout would not allow us to do that and that we would wear out our shoes far more rapidly! Soon after leaving Reading, I was technically on some new track; the new Reading flyover.

Running into Swindon, we ground to a halt soon than expected – apparently a train in front of us had failed and was being turned out at Swindon so that it could undertake a “Rotational Test”. So our train went from being relatively quiet to well-crowded in a matter of minutes. I just hope all those folk from the train in front put in their claims for being delayed. Apart from being 15 or so minutes late, the rest of the journey was uneventful. At Newport, we alighted and went our separate ways – my mate wanted to go to Cardiff initially before returning to Newport. I meantime had the use of a Severn 7 Solent Rover so was on the lookout for items in the wants list. First interesting thing was an HST with power cars 43015+43031. The latter power car had not featured in my haulage log for over 18 years but a quick spin to Bristol Parkway soon sorted that out. Next up at Parkway was a Cross Country HST with power cars 43207+43301. Both of these were required for renumbering and last featured as 43007 (7 November 1987) and 43101 (9 November 1985) in my haulage book. Welcome back!

I took the XC HST down the bank to Bristol Temple Meads – it’s always good to visit my home town and today proved no exception. I could not see much around apart from a winning Voyager. 220004 took me back to Parkway where a short wait ensued for yet another winner in the shape of 150926, one of the two 150/1s augmented to three cars with a 150/2 vehicle. Back down the bank again to Temple Meads and on the way, I passed low mileage 150128 heading towards Avonmouth. With nothing else around, I opted to go chasing it. 150202 provided suitable traction to take me to Clifton Down where I had just enough time to wander over the footbridge before 150128 returned from Avonmouth and took me back to Temple Meads. I was still short on mileage with 150128 and was a shade disappointed when it was shut down in one of the platforms rather than going back out to Avonmouth. After wandering around Temple Meads for a few minutes and admiring the open aspect of the London end of the station now that the ugly Royal Mail conveyors had been removed, I highlighted upon 153373 being moved from the holding sidings. “What’s that up to?” I asked myself. I soon had the answer as it was positioned in one of the platforms and an inbound service from Portsmouth Harbour dropped on to it. I’d only ever had one trip with 153373 and still needed it for 10 miles so I was quite happy to board the next Cardiff bound train with 153373 coupled to 158961. A quick trip out to Filton Abbey Wood sorted the mileage problem with 153373 out and soon I was returning to Temple Meads aboard 158956.

I did not have long to wait for my next move as low mileage 150233 rolled in on a Westbury to Parkway working. Given that it ran non-stop from Temple Meads to Parkway immediately behind a Voyager, I was surprised that several folk actually boarded the train at Temple Meads. At Parkway, the next train out was Cross country’s 221137 heading for Temple Meads – another winner! I was starting to feel pleased with myself. My elation then went up a notch when the other 150/9, 150925 rolled in from Warminster for a reversal prior to heading up to Parkway. I simply had to take this winner up to Parkway and in order to clear the 10 miles with it, back down to Temple Meads. Upon alighting from 150925 at Temple Meads, I fell into 150221+153361 which were both units needed for 10 miles. They were headed for Cardiff and I realised that there was a possible shack scratch to be had. By now we were very much in the middle of the evening peak and the train was cosy to say the least with more folk joining at Filton Abbey Wood. Fortunately, I was wedged up against a door and was the first out onto the platform at Patchway – I was able to leap over the footbridge an get a few shots of the Skateboard (Tin Rocket, Dog Box or whatever you call these contraptions). A few minutes behind time, 150108 along with 150128 came in from Cardiff (so that’s where 150128 went after its little soirée to Avonmouth). The elation scale was further improved as I cleared both units for 10 miles by the time I reached Temple Meads.

Again I wandered around seeking inspiration but nothing interested me for a while until 220016 rolled in heading north. With nothing else to interest me, a winning Voyager sort of got the pulse rate up although within 10 minutes, I abandoned ship at Parkway. I had sort of arranged to meet my mate back at Newport in early evening and a swift call confirmed that he was there exercising his camera. I opted for the next HST through The Tunnel with 43161+43181 to Newport. 43181 may be my highest mileage power car but I was not complaining at seeing 43161 and that was another long term absentee from my haulage book – I last enjoyed 43161 way back on 9 May 1987 when I had it from Peterborough to Kings Cross! Reunited with my mate, we went off in search of our accommodation for the evening along with replenishing of supplies.

I was pleased with the outcome of the day with several winning units, some old friends welcomed back into the haulage book and no less than seven fGW DMUs cleared for the all-important 10 miles. Here’s the customary list of the days’ moves -


319429+319450 St Helier to Wimbledon
LU 21397+21398 Wimbledon to Paddington
43041+43133 Paddington to Newport
43015+43031 Newport to Bristol Parkway
43207+43301 Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads
220004 Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway
150926 Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads
150202 Bristol Temple Meads to Clifton Down
150128 Clifton Down to Bristol Temple Meads
153373+158961 Bristol Temple Meads to Filton Abbey Wood
158956 Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol Temple Meads
150233 Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway
221137 Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads
150925 Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway
150925 Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads
150221+153361 Bristol Temple Meads to Patchway
150108+150128 Patchway to Bristol Temple Meads
220016 Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway
43161+43181 Bristol Parkway to Newport

Milestones
New shacks: - Patchway
Winners:- 150925, 150926, 220004, 220016, 221137
Cleared for 10 miles:- 150108, 150128, 150221, 150233, 150925, 153361, 153373

The write-up of day 2 will follow soon.

 

[Techniquest]

A most productive time in Bristol there, you've certainly made me want to get back down there as soon as possible. I definitely need to get on with sorting out dates to do a FoSS and get back to one of my old stomping grounds!

Looking forward, as always, to more!

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Thursday 23rd April 2015 – Wales & West Day 2

The story tailed off with me meeting up with my mate at Newport on the Wednesday evening (22nd April). Somewhat later in the evening, the third member of the party turned up long after the advanced corps had eaten etc. Thankfully he did not want any food but merely his bed!

We were up bright and early the following morning and were soon on Newport station. I and Wednesday evening’s latecomer selected the first suitable train down to Cardiff as today I wanted to have a go at the Valley lines. We just missed 158837 which was one of two Arriva 158s that I need outright but a consolation prize followed up in the shape of fGW’s 150120. I had already accrued three trips with this unit but all were of a Bust Stop Bash nature when Silverlink operated 150s on the Gospel Oak to Barking Service. A run down the main line to Cardiff Central soon cleared it for 10 miles.

While I need some track off the Valley Lines, I felt that could wait as today I was more interested in seeing how many Arriva 142s, 143s and 150s I could eliminate from my wants list. At the start of the day, I wanted 3*142, 4*143 and 6*150 from the Arriva fleet. None were outright winners but instead were all below the requisite 10 miles. With some detailed information from a local basher as to the workings, I first of all set about recording what was about. That involved standing on that windswept station called Cardiff Central for almost two hours. In that period, I managed to identify workings for all my 142s and 143s along with four 150s. Additionally one of my Arriva 153s was out on Coryton services.

Once I had armed myself with a Valley Day Explorer ticket, I set about targeting these pesky DMUs. First up was 153367 heading to Coryton. “That’ll do nicely” I said to myself and by the time I had got to Heath Low Level, the mileage clock had nicely ticked over 10 miles. Rather than trip down the Coryton branch and back again – I do not even need any shacks down there – I walked over to Health High Level which took all of two minutes to wait for the next train back to Cardiff. After a short wait, in rolls 142085+143616. Bingo, 142085 is on the list. Last time I was in South Wales, 142085 was in pieces around the back of Canton Depot so I was pleased to see it working. I needed to go beyond Cardiff to clear it for 10 miles so I opted for Dingle Road and scored a shack in the process (I already had Penarth). Within minutes, 142085+143616 reappeared and I stayed on for the short trip to Grangetown as I figured I could bump into another 142 coming out of Cardiff. Indeed, the next train south was 142069+142072 with 069 being just a small decimal short of 10 miles. That allowed me to do a Bus Stop Bash to Cogan for the second shack scratch of the day.

A dud 150279 picked me up from Cogan and returned me to Cardiff Central. After about 10 minutes, I was on the move again with 143623 on a City Line service to Radyr. While I need some of the intermediate shacks between Cardiff and Radyr, I opted to go through to the bitter end with 623 as I knew that I had a required 150 back with 15 minutes. An early arrival at Radyr allowed me not only to say “Job Done” in respect of 143623 but also to make the -4 onto the next northbound train with dud 142010+143624. This in turn allowed me to meet my required 150 at Taffs Well rather than at Radyr. I did not have long to wait for 150229 which was rather low on mileage so I needed to go beyond the safety of Cardiff Queen Street/Central to Grangetown. 142069+142072 reappeared after their run out to Bridgend via Barry – I am sure that was just to reaffirm the fact that I did indeed clear 142069 for 10 miles. I was getting a little concerned that one unit I had seen earlier (142622) was nowhere to be seen. I was led to believe that it should be on Canton by now and not come out to play until the evening peak but it was nowhere to be seen, even on Canton. But I was distracted by 150242 at Central as this was needed for 10 miles and also a long term absentee from the haulage log (last had new on 6 April 1998 from Bristol Temple Meads to Keynsham). Thinking ahead, I figured that I could take 150242 to Caerphilly and have all of three minutes there for 142080+143601 back towards Cardiff. More success as 143601 was on my list. It was back to Queen Street with this latter pair.

At Queen Street, I had enough time for a fill in move to Cathays and back - 142069+142072 out for 142077+143609 back. I then had all of five minutes at Queen Street before 143602+143607 came trundling in. The former needed just a spin down the hill to Central to push the mileage over 10. The following train with 142082+143609 was also of interest to me on account of 142082 needing just a Bus Stop Bash to Grangetown to heave 142082 over the magic 10 miles. 142082 was the last Arriva 142 needed for 10 miles A few minutes in the sun and I was on my way back to Central with 142085+143616 (both now dud), still trying to figure out what had happened to the elusive pairing of 143610+143622. My question was answered when I got back to Central as arriving on the opposite platform was the sought-after pair of 143s having been to Treherbert. Normally Treherbert arrivals shunt out to Canton and reverse before forming the next Treherbert train. Not this arrival as the next Treherbert train was routed out via the City Line rather than via Queen Street. There are a couple of trains like this every day and the aim is to free up paths through Queen Street for Cwmbargoed coal trains. So I sampled 143610+143622 up to one of my favourite bashing points, Radyr and in the process cleared all my Arriva 143s for 10 miles. That left me with two known 150s that were working and both were up the Valleys at that point in time. By my reckoning, they should follow one another as well. But what was the most efficient way to get them in given that the first was on a Treherbert train that terminated at Central? If I went for the first, the downside is that a trip into Central, where it was terminating, would not achieve the 10 mile threshold. The answer therefore was to temporarily ignore the first one and head up the valley to meet the second. 142074+142083 provided a suitable means of transport and my calculations showed that I had a +2 at Trefforest. Just comfortable as it turned out for 150251 which I took all the way to Central. The other required one was immediately in front on a Treherbert terminator so I knew that it would be back out within minutes. Or so I thought. It seems that every northbound valley train was running late due to signalling difficulties near Canton Depot which was impacting on timekeeping. It also led me to worry whether my 150 would re-emerge from Canton after reversal. Fortunately it did but it was shown as running fast from Queen Street to Pontypridd when I had planned on bailing at Trefforest. Pontypridd can be a pain for interchange as there’s quite a hike between platforms hence my preference for Trefforest where it’s a simple footbridge in the middle of the platforms. 150261 duly appeared from Canton depot about five minutes late and as it was very low mileage (I’d only ever done a Queen Street to Central Bus Stop Bash with it previously) I felt compelled to go to Pontypridd with it. At least that would well and truly clear it for 10 miles!

At Pontypridd, I had a couple of minutes for the next service back to Central – a familiar pair of pacers showed up: 142074+142083. I had a tight +6 at Central for my next train and a poor run into Central reduced that to a +2. Fortunately the signalling problem at Canton was now impacting on all departures from the depot and the stock for my train was not even in the platform. Great! What might have been a dash through the subway at Central turned into a leisurely stroll and still I had to wait for 67023 on the WAG Express to Holyhead.. 67023 was a new loco for me (it’s only my 10th skip!) and once it was let loose from Central the driver hammered it to Newport. Having scored the haulage, I bade it farewell and met up with my photographic mates. They were in no hurry to move on as they seemed to be having a good time so initially I chatted to them before 170522 caught my eye as being one of the few XC 170s still needed for 10 miles. But I was on the wrong platform and it seems to take a day and an age to switch platforms at Newport so no chance of getting to it. But a few minutes later 158837 came in heading for Cheltenham –Winner. So off to Severn Tunnel Junction I went for a rapid leap over the footbridge and 150235 straight back to Newport. Within minutes of alighting from the 150, 170522 returned from Cardiff. This time I made sure that I was in the right place to grab it. The service was 1st stop Chepstow which suited me fine as that would be a new shack scratch for me and there was something back in about 10 minutes. I had no idea what to expect although I was hoping for a 158 as that would be my best chance of a score. No such luck, 142002 squealed its way into Chepstow. The driver must have been going home though as he thrashed it along the main line all the way back to Newport.

My mates were now ready to go in search of food so I called it a day. I was extremely happy with the day’s results and the day’s moves and milestones are summarised below. The most pleasing aspect was clearing all remaining Arriva 142s and 143s for 10 miles and getting the required 150s down to two – 150236 and 150256, the latter being a long term absentee from the haulage book. In fact, the only time that I have had 150256 was when it was a Scottish unit (14 September 1989 on a Bus Stop Bash from Haymarket to Edinburgh. All in all an excellent St George’s Day spent slaughtering Welsh units (well Valley Line units used to be adorned with dragons)!

150120 Newport to Cardiff Central
153367 Cardiff Central to Heath Low level
142085+143616 Heath High Level to Dingle Road
142085+143616 Dingle Road to Grangetown
142069+142072 Grangetown to Cogan
150279 Cogan to Cardiff Central
143623 Cardiff Central to Radyr
142010+143624 Radyr to Taffs Well
150229 Taffs Well to Grangetown
142069+142072 Grangetown to Cardiff Central
150242 Cardiff Central to Caerphilly
142080+143601 Caerphilly to Cardiff Queen Street
142069+142072 Cardiff Queen Street to Cathays
142077+143606 Cathays to Cardiff Queen Street
143602+143607 Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Central
142082+143609 Cardiff Central to Grangetown
142085+143616 Grangetown to Cardiff Central
143610+143622 Cardiff Central to Radyr
142074+142083 Radyr to Trefforest
150251 Trefforest to Cardiff Central
150262 Cardiff Central to Pontypridd
142074+142083 Pontypridd to Cardiff Central
67023 Cardiff Central to Newport
158837 Newport to Severn Tunnel Junction
150235 Severn Tunnel Junction to Newport
170522 Newport to Chepstow
142002 Chepstow to Newport

Milestones
New shacks: - Chepstow, Cogan, Dingle Road
Winners:- 67023, 158837
Cleared for 10 miles:- 67023, 142069, 142082, 142085, 143601, 143602, 143622, 143622, 150120, 150229, 150242, 150251, 150262, 153367, 170522

Now to write up day 3.

 

[Techniquest]

You did well indeed on the Valleys! The comment towards the end about Valley Lines trains previously being adorned with dragons has sent me down Memory Lane, that was a long time back now and reminds me of my early days on the scene!

I do agree about changing platforms at Newport, I hate how long it takes these days. No more 30 second runs from the west end of platforms 2 and 3 to either platforms 1 or 2 to jump onto a westbound HST to score a winner (oh I remember that run to score 43009...), I really do miss the 'old' Newport as it was so much better!

 

[alexf380]

Fantastic read there Keith, and well done on clearing all your Welsh Pacers. And even better, you have reason to visit the Valleys in the future!

 

[55013]

Yet another top notch read there.
I'm looking forward to day three.

 

[47403]

by you've been busy Keith, took a while but I persevered and enjoyed the read, you ever in

 

[Kristofferson]

That's a lot of Pacers! How's your back?

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Friday 24th April 2015 – Wales & West Day 3

After the successes of the past few days, what would the third and final day hold for me? I knew that if I was to have any chance of a decent haul of decent haulages, then I had to head towards Bristol. So walking the short distance to Newport station I appraised my (almost) static photographic friends of the key Arriva 150s to look out for. My initial plans were to head straight for Swindon to check out a couple of key workings but I was soon distracted by 150131 heading for Paignton. But I was on the wrong platform at Newport. But on the other hand I was in the correct position for 158824 which was Cardiff-bound. Swindon would have to wait for a short while. With the 158 cleared for 10 miles I found myself at Cardiff Central, contemplating my next move when I caught sight of 175107 – as Tech says, “Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!” [Ed: Just after 09:00 is a shade too early for a chicken dinner.] I headed straight back to Newport like the proverbial bungee rope.

I still had time to get to Swindon to view two DMU workings that would not pass through Bristol but could on the other hand be of interest. Soon I was clambering aboard the next London-bound HST with power cars 43029+43144 for the dash through the Severn and other tunnels to Swindon. As I arrived at Swindon, the 158 that fGW hire in from South West Trains was arriving from Cheltenham. It was not 158885 (my only SWT 158) so I carried von ignoring it. [Ed: I have subsequently discovered that 158885 is an unlikely candidate for the fGW hire-in on account of having mechanical differences to the other SWT 158s.] I was also interested in seeing which 153 was working the Swindon-Westbury “trans-Wilts” service. Today it was 153361. Very appropriate I thought as it carries vinyls commemorating the upgrade to this service. But 153361 was not on my lists as eagle-eyed readers will recall that I had dealt with 153361 on day one of this little escapade. I then worked out that I could make a quick dash down Dauntsey Bank to Chippenham to meet a newly named HST power car, 43026. This had only been named the previous day and now commemorates Michael Eavis of Glastonbury Festival fame – presumably the former City of Westminster will now find gainful employment on trains to/from Castle Cary when Mr Eavis is holding his festival. 43020+43145 were the traction to Chippenham. Given the frequency with which I use fGW HSTs, a fair few power cars have not featured in the haulage book for over 10 years; 43020 was one of those. I had all of six minutes in Chippenham before Michael Eavis showed up with 43040 on the back. 43040 was another power car that had not featured in my travels since 2001. Going straight back to Swindon, I bailed off 43026+43040 and photographed the newly named 43026 before swapping platforms.

43164+43170 were the next down service and were headed for Bristol temple Meads (last haulages recorded in 2002 and 2003 respectively). I always enjoy the run down to Bristol and today was no exception. I tend to get a bit nostalgic on the stretch of line near Keynsham as that’s about as close as the current rail network gets to my childhood home. Pulling into Bristol, I noted that one of my mates was standing on the platform with camera in hand – he’d come over from Newport to catch the newly named Michael Eavis. But I did not have time to chat as 150246+153318 were about to leave for Cardiff and 153318 was still needed for 10 miles. A quick trip up to Filton Abbey Wood soon sorted that problem out and I elected to return to Temple Meads with 158961.

This time, back at Temple Meads I had time to catch up with my mate. Bashing-wise though, I had a slight problem. 153305 was sitting on the siding next to platform 1 at Temple Meads and that was my last fGW 153 for haulage. In the afternoons, there are normally two trains which pick up 153s at Bristol to cover peak hour workings -12:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff and 15:08 Weymouth to Gloucester. 153373 was also hanging around the station so I did not want to go far until the 153 situation was sorted even though dud 150244 was about to leave for Severn Beach (required track Hallen Marsh to the Beach. In the end, I elected to go with 150244 up to Redland on a fill-in move in order to have a shack scratch. 150925 returned me back to Temple Meads. On the way back in to temple meads, I passed what I thought was a pair of 153s on the Weston-super-Mare to Parkway shuttle, one in fGW Local Lines colours but the other seemed to be in a non-standard blue livery. I did not immediately recognise the latter as being a current fGW unit. Thankfully my mate was still around when I got back to Temple Meads and I asked whether he had seen any 153s and he could only recall the two that were hanging around the station environs waiting for the peak hour strengthening. I then asked him to check his camera and whether he had photographed anything resembling a 153 in a non-standard livery. He came up trumps and proved I was not going mad by showing me several shots of 153333 in its new Devon livery! Now the next problem. – I wanted 153333 for mileage and that was due back at Temple Meads about ten minutes before the first 153 attachment (onto the Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff service). If 153305 did that I’d have to bag it on the return leg. Bur 150926 was also floating around which I still needed for mileage. Problems, problems!

While I was waiting for the Parkway to Weston train, I kept my mate company – after all, it can be a lonely old job tramping around taking photos. 153333+153377 duly appeared and there was one of those lightbulb moments. Could I get enough mileage off 153333 to clear it for 10 miles and meet 150131 coming back from Paignton (the one that I had seen, but ignored earlier at Newport). Yes I could, either at Nailsea and Backwell or at Yatton. I plumped for Yatton only because of the increased mileage and shorter wait. I could not get any photos of 153333 at Bristol due to the sheer number of other folk needing it for mileage (nobody wanted 153377 it seemed). Being first off at Yatton – shack scratch by the way – I was able to assess the phot situation and managed a couple of reasonable shots. I trotted over the footbridge and awaited the arrival of 150131 after its trip to the Devon Riviera. It soon appeared but there was another unit tagged on the back. “What was that?” I thought. “Probably just another dud 150” responded my mind. “Oh no it’s not!” was the answer from the thought process. 150131 had brought along 150102 for the ride and both were mileage needs and both would top ten miles before Temple Meads so not just a case of “Job done”, more like “Job very well done”!

As soon as I got to Temple Meads, I checked out the 153 situation. 373 had gone on its merry way but 153305 was still basking in the Bristol sunshine. Only problem was what to do with the next two hours? “Ah, 150926 is due back in in about 45 minutes so surely I could get to Bath for it.” “Possibly but next HST is due out in a minute”. Needless to say, I missed the HST but then I espied 150232 arriving from Gloucester prior to its reversal in order to go to Westbury. Surely I could make Keynsham? Yes. What about Oldfield Park? Yes Bath Spa? So I boarded 150232 for a trip along the Avon Valley on the stopper for a comfortable +8 at Bath Spa for 150926 back to Temple Meads and in the process cleared another two fGW 150s for 10 miles. I still had over an hour to wait for the Weymouth Gloucester service which I had calculated 153305 would attach to so time for another fill in move – up the Avonmouth line again. This time I went to Montpelier (shack scratch) with 150244 which gave me an eleven minute wait for 150129 back to Temple Meads. I had only around 40 minutes to wait for153305. No time for a fill in move.

About five minutes before the inbound service from Weymouth was due, a drive walked over to 153305 and started it up.” We are in Business!” As 150243 arrived from Weymouth, 153305 shunted out of the station and dropped on to the top of the 150. There are no prizes for guessing which unit of the 150243+153305 pairing I sat in. We left on time with the train headed for Gloucester but soon picked up a delay due to a late running Cross Country service which put the supposed return connection at Yate in jeopardy. I continued to monitor the return service but that was losing time as well and while I would definitely make it at Yate, my onward connection at Parkway would be in doubt. I decided to play safe and drop the mileage by bailing at Parkway. I had about 15 minutes to wait for the next service over to Newport where I had planned to meet my mates before returning to London. The 153 pairing from earlier on the Weston-super-Mare shuttle reappeared and by now I realised that each side was different. The only way that I could get a photo of the opposite side was to exit the station and get the requisite shots from the adjacent multi-storey car park.

43086+43131 provided the traction to take me back to Newport – I was pleased to see 43086 as that was one of three fGW HST power cars needed for 100 miles (43088 and 43094 are the other two). T Newport, I located my mates and we started to recount the day’s activities for each of us. Before our train was due, we went out for supplies – either to the nearby chippie or the Tesco Express opposite. All too soon the arrival of 43148+43198 heralded the end of our trip to South Wales (& Bristol). 43148 was another power car that had not featured in the haulage book for a while (9 April 2002, Paddington to Cardiff). On the journey back to London we continued to reflect on the trip as a whole. I was extremely pleased with my haul. Day two saw a coach and horse driven though the Arriva section of my wants list and the combined antics of both today and the 1st day of trip has made a large dent in my fGW DMU needs with seven out of ten 150s falling off the list and four from seven 153s being eliminated (150121 is still an outright requirement along with 150127/216 and 153305/369/380 being need for mileage). Next year’s trip will almost certainly be reduced to two days and mainly focus on track/shack bashing with the hope of rounding up any odd DMUs if they happen my way. Finally, here’s the days moves -

158824 Newport to Cardiff Central
175107 Cardiff Central to Newport
43029+43144 Newport to Swindon
43020+43145 Swindon to Chippenham
43026+43040 Chippenham to Swindon
43164+43170 Swindon to Bristol Temple Meads
150246+153318 Bristol Temple Meads to Filton Abbey Wood
158961 Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol Temple Meads
150244 Bristol Temple Meads to Redland
150925 Redland to Bristol Temple Meads
153333+153377 Bristol Temple Meads to Yatton
150102+150131 Yatton to Bristol Temple Meads
150232 Bristol Temple Meads to Bath Spa
150926 Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads
150244 Bristol Temple Meads to Montpelier
150129 Montpelier to Bristol Temple Meads
150243+153305 Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway
43086+43131 Bristol Parkway to Newport
43148+43198 Newport to Paddington
LU 21423+21424 Paddington to Wimbledon
Milestones
New shacks: - Montpelier, Redland, Yatton
Winners:- 153305, 175107
Cleared for 10 miles:- 150102, 150131, 150232, 150926, 153318, 153333, 158824, 175107
Cleared for 100 miles:- 43086
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That's a lot of Pacers! How's your back?

My back's fine - About the only time my back suffers is on the bus-seated ones on jointed track. Then that's because my knees are trying to break into the seat in front. But all the same, thanks for asking after my health!!
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Fantastic read there Keith, and well done on clearing all your Welsh Pacers. And even better, you have reason to visit the Valleys in the future!

I'll still need to go back as I still need some track - Barry Island, Maesteg, Aberdare & Treherbert - and there's always the chance that 150236/256 or 153323/362 will be festering around Cardiff. If not there's a shedload of shacks to bag .....

 

[Techniquest]

Very nice, you've had 4 of the 5 150s with FGW that I need, so I'm a little jealous!

A most productive time had, do you mind if I ask which hotel you used and if it's any good?

Like that I've had some influence on your trip reports there! Back to your more usual area for bashing I take it now for a while?

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Very nice, you've had 4 of the 5 150s with FGW that I need, so I'm a little jealous!

A most productive time had, do you mind if I ask which hotel you used and if it's any good?

Like that I've had some influence on your trip reports there! Back to your more usual area for bashing I take it now for a while?

Given how far and wide that fGW 150s are spread, I was surely in the good books of the Railway God's when I was down West. It's going to be great fun tracking those last few down. At least, if there's no winners around, I can always go shack scratching; I want absolutely shed loads in that part of the world.

Accommodation in Newport - we slammed (as usual) in a Travelogue. The one that's almost next door to the station.

Next trip is indeed local. I am just deciding what to do at present as there's several choices available for the coming Saturday. The following week, there's another long distance day trip from The Smoke. Both will be written up and published in due course.

 

[Techniquest]

I was fortunate to have cleared all the shacks in the area (and all of them in the FoSS area too) years ago, so I'm restricted to finding them on Mandatory Moves or by leaping around the same bits.

Always a tough choice for what to do in London, hopefully it will be as good as some of those trips to The Street have been!

 

[crehld]

A good read, thanks. Looks like you had good day overall. I've yet to get down to the South West - I might try and fit it in on the way when I head off on one of my regular Portsmouth trips!

 

[Kristofferson]

Some great writing there! A busy old few days

 

[Keith Jarrett]

9th May 2015 - Variation on a Theme

I was blessed with a few free hours on a Saturday for once but had to dovetail my travels in with making a visit to my son’s flat in Greenwich. Two possible destinations came out of the planning process – the Brighton main Line (Class 387s) and Liverpool Street. The latter won through as in addition to the normal entertainment on offer on the Great Eastern, Fenchurch Street was closed giving six extra trains each way in and out of The Street every hour.

319013 took me up to Wimbledon and a swift change there saw me board one of SWT’s workhorses, 5727 onwards to Clapham Junction. Running in parallel with a main line service that was also calling at Clapham Junction saw me change horses to 450038+450554 for the onward journey to Waterloo. At Waterloo I was momentarily distracted by 444017 (one of three 444s still under the 10 mile threshold) but opted to press onwards to Liverpool Street. Unfortunately the Drain was temporarily suspended so I bussed it over to The Street. The TfL journey planned reckoned that I would need around half an hour but even with a change, the journey only took 20 minutes.

Arriving at Liverpool Street, I made a cursory check of the West Anglia side but I could not see any 317s of interest to me so over to the other side where my eyes immediately noted 357021, one of many 357s still needed for 10 miles so out to Stratford with that. Following up behind was 357022+357039, the latter well short of 10 miles so onwards to Barking with that. In the process, I managed to score a required piece of track, Forest Gate Junc. to Woodgrange Park. At Barking, all c2c trains were using platforms 7 and 8 (that’s the only ones that are accessible by electric trains coming in from Woodgrange Park) with the island platform making for easy changes to trains heading back into London. 357214 was waiting to take me back towards London and by Stratford 214 had 10 miles on the clock. A quick platform change at Stratford saw me bag London-bound 360104+360121 – 104 was very low mileage but a trip into the Street would not achieve the magic 10 miles.

Waiting for me at Liverpool Street was 360112+360114, the latter needing just a nudge to clear for 10 miles, so we were off back to Stratford. After short fester, low-mileage 357012 came in on a train from Southend Central and I took this back to The Street. I was able to jump forward one train on the c2c route and enjoyed 357038+357221 out to Barking – 357038 was cleared for 10 miles in the process. The next two London bound trains were dud so I bailed over to the GOBLIN platforms for 172008. A run out to Leytonstone High Road soon cleared that for 10 miles and ultra-low mileage 172004 was provided for the return journey to Barking. A quick dash through the subway allowed me to reacquaint myself with 357022+357039 and thus allow the latter unit to join the Ten Mile Club. A bit of a fester then ensued at Stratford – apart from Central Line units, there was absolutely nothing around that corresponded with my wants list. Then 357040+357210 appeared bound for Liverpool Street. Both units were under 10 miles but only 357210 cleared by The Street. With nothing else still around, I waited the 15 minutes and returned again with 357040+357210 back to Stratford which allowed 357040 to join its partner for the day in membership of the Ten Mile Club..

After another relatively short wait, I was able to latch onto 357003+357010. It was 357010 that interested me for mileage so I carried on with yo-yo bashing by going back to The Street, waiting 15 minutes and back out with the same pair to Stratford. At least another 357 was heaved over the 10 mile barrier. I had noted two required 321s (447 and 448) during the afternoon but I forgot to make a note of what they were up to so had no idea where they were now. I concluded that they would have to wait for another day. In any event, I had to get to my son’s flat at a reasonable hour but had no desire to go straight there. First train up was 1992 tube stock 92041+164+130+233 so off to Bank with these, clearing 92041 for 10 miles along the way.

I then transferred to the DLR where first train out was 104+131 so did a quick hop to Shadwell. 108+122+124 were almost immediately behind on a Lewisham train so it was time for a shack attack. I had done Island gardens when the DLR first opened but since then the station has been rebuilt (and relocated) following construction of the Lewisham extension so in my books, I need to scratch it again. The original Island Gardens was scratched way back on 5 September 1987 when there were just 11 DLR units. Crossing to the opposite side of the island platform [Ed: How appropriate – and island platform at Island Gardens1], I had seconds to wait before 41+49+77 rolled in heading back to Bank. I stayed with these as far as South Quay for shack scratch number two, clearing 41 for 10 miles on the way. Crossing to the other platform My arrival coincided with that of 42+58+96. I screamed “Winner!” to myself. Set 96 was the victim of that mental scream. In almost true Bus Stop Bash style, I only stayed on to Mudchute. Why? Shack scratch number three of course! In contrast to some DLR shacks, it seemed to be a hike between platforms at Mudchute so I indulged in a bit of linear bashing. Four minutes later, 29+47+55 showed up and took me for my fourth and last shack scratch of the day at Deptford Bridge.

I could have left it there and walked to my son’s flat but having only done a Bus Stop Bash with 96, I crossed over and waited for it to return from Lewisham as I did not want it to have less than a mile on the clock. 96 duly reappeared with its friends from earlier. This time I went through to Canary Wharf before swapping to 127+138+140 back down to Elverson Road and the short walk to son’s flat Having linked up with the rest of the family, my son suggested that we eat out – thinking that we might get a new Wetherspoons in the book, I thought that we might be headed for The Gate Clock at Greenwich. No I was not to clock up another ‘spoons as we ended up back on the DLR (102+130+141) under the river to Westferry for the short walk to The Ledger Building, sadly a dud ‘spoons for me. After a couple of pints, a decent meal apart from the non-availability of the salted caramel cheesecake and a good catch up, it was time for my wife and I to head homewards. 83+89+98 took us to Bank where we staggered upstairs to the Northern Line and boarded 1995 tube stock 51563+51564 for the trek home.

Reflecting on the day, I was a little disappointed at the relative lack of normal scores out of Liverpool Street but the relatively free flowing stream of c2c 357s made up for that. Add in some new DLR shacks (that’s the Lewisham branch clear now), a winning DLR unit (only sets 13 and 53 left now) and anew stretch of track, the outcome was pretty good. Let’s hope the next trip (Friday, May 15th) proves as good. Here’s a record of the day’s moves -

319013 St Helier to Wimbledon
5727 Wimbledon to Clapham Junction
450034+450554 Clapham Junction to Waterloo
357021 Liverpool Street to Stratford
357022+357039 Stratford to Barking
357214 Barking to Stratford
360104+360121 Stratford to Liverpool Street
360112+360114 Liverpool Street to Stratford
357012 Stratford to Liverpool Street
357038+357221 Liverpool Street to Barking
172008 Barking to Leytonstone High Road
172004 Leytonstone High Road to Barking
357022+357039 Barking to Stratford
357040+357210 Stratford to Liverpool Street
357040+357210 Liverpool Street to Stratford
357003+357010 Stratford to Liverpool Street
357003+357010 Liverpool Street to Stratford
LU 92041/164/130/233 Stratford to Bank
DLR 104+131 Bank to Shadwell
DLR 108+122+124 Shadwell to Island Gardens
DLR 41+49+77 Island Gardens to South Quay
DLR 42+58+96 South Quay to Mudchute
DLR 29+47+55 Mudchute to Deptford Bridge
DLR 42+58+96 Deptford Bridge to Canary Wharf
DLR 127+138+140 Canary Wharf to Elverson Road
DLR 102+130+141 Elverson Road to Westferry
DLR 83+89+98 Westferry to Bank
LU 51563+51564 Bank to Morden

Milestones
Winner DLR 96
Cleared for 10 miles 172008, 357010, 357021, 357038, 357039, 357040, 357210, 357214, 360114
LU 92041, DLR 41
New Shacks DLR Deptford Bridge, Island Gardens, Mudchute, South Quay
New Track Forest Gate Junc. - Woodgrange Park

 

[Kite159]

A sighting of the lesser spotted 444017

Sounds like a busy day with 357s (surprised you haven't had that curve between Forest Gate & Woodgrange before)

 

[Kristofferson]

Always good to squeeze in some railway-based fun on a normal journey Good read too.

 

[Techniquest]

I'm surprised too that you've not had that bit of track before. Didn't know you ticked off Spoons either.

A very productive time there, almost all those 357s are winners for me!

 

[Keith Jarrett]

A sighting of the lesser spotted 444017

Sounds like a busy day with 357s (surprised you haven't had that curve between Forest Gate & Woodgrange before)

Forest Gate Junction to Woodgrange Park is one of several pieces of track where I have probably done it in the past but as I cannot find any record of doing it, it stays on the list. The same goes for shack scratches. It all boils down to me not properly recording DMU haulage in the 1970s.

I must admit that I was tempted by 444017 but that would have completely disrupted my day. Plus the fact that I had left home somewhat later than originally intended.
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I'm surprised too that you've not had that bit of track before. Didn't know you ticked off Spoons either.

A very productive time there, almost all those 357s are winners for me!

Don't seriously go spoon ticking and I have a few outside The Smoke. Only ones that spring to mind are two in St Albans, Kidderminster, Bath, Cardiff, Leeds, Belfast, Edinburgh Airport, Central Edinburgh, Folkestone. I've even bagged a closed one near to my current residence.. Is there a list of Spoons available anywhere? That would help me with ticking them off.

357s are my worst class around London for clearing for 10 miles apart from new stuff like the five car 378s and 387s

 

[Techniquest]

Wetherspoon Directory should be on their website somewhere still, downloadable as a PDF and in some pubs in paper form. The latter is how I mark mine off.

I also believe noddy1878 has a spreadsheet version which may be more useful for you. I'm sure he'll be happy to forward it to you, I suggest a PM to him.

I don't go chasing Spoons, but when the opportunity to get one in turns up it has to be done. Only on 44 or so of them, including one that closed.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Wetherspoon Directory should be on their website somewhere still, downloadable as a PDF and in some pubs in paper form. The latter is how I mark mine off.

I also believe noddy1878 has a spreadsheet version which may be more useful for you. I'm sure he'll be happy to forward it to you, I suggest a PM to him.

I don't go chasing Spoons, but when the opportunity to get one in turns up it has to be done. Only on 44 or so of them, including one that closed.

Tech, thanks. I have now found that pdf which lists all of Spoons. In fact just returned from a session at a Spoons - a nameless one which we nickname "The Tavern in the Sky". Code-word amongst work colleagues who I occasionally go drinking with for a certain Spoons that needs a ride on a Silver Machine to access .... (and no, there's no requirement to fly sideways through time!). Another one outside The Smoke that I can add to my list is The Spinning Mill but that was some time ago. I recall the visit well. I was away on business with two colleagues and billeted in a certain town where all the pubs seem to be inhabited by tramps (and not the female kind either) - at least the Spoons served decent beer at reasonable prices!

Like you, I do not go chasing Spoons but all the same it's good to score a new one. I'll tally up all the Spoons that I have visited over the course of time.

 

[Techniquest]

Silver Machine, for love nor money I can't figure out what that means! Glad you managed to get the PDF, I was posting on my way to work at the time so couldn't link to it or owt.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

15th May 2015 – Tees on the Tyne again

I rounded off my last report with the hope that my next trip out proves as good as the one I had just reported on. This trip had been arranged many weeks ago with the purchase of the necessary tickets to get me up to the North East. I set myself a target of 5 winners and 10 units cleared for 10 miles. That sounds low, even by my standards but a reasonable amount of 2015 bashing outside the South East will be focussed on reducing my pacer requirements down to as near zero as possible – my Arriva Wales pacer requirements list is already history and I am fairly confident that my Great Western list will go the same way once I summon the courage to make an Exeter visit or two. But what of Northern? Before this trip, I needed six Northern 142s outright and a further 17 for the magic 10 miles. I‘m also chasing a reasonable number of 144s but fear not, they will get my attention in due course

An extra early alarm was called for as I could not get a decent through fare from Kings Cross to Darlington; instead I had to split the journey at Doncaster and save at least a tenner in the process. London Underground helpfully contributed towards today’s targets with a 2009ts set being nudged over 10 miles. I arrived at Kings Cross sufficiently early enough to persuade the booking office to issue me with my Tyne Tees Day Ranger. I then had a few minutes spare to wander around so usefully spent the time photographing the 91s that were present – particularly those with Virgin branding. I did not have time to grab a photo of 91122 before my train was platformed but luckily, that was my motive power northwards to Doncaster and I was able to grab a photo at Donny. I had around 10 minutes at Doncaster which was just enough time to have a quick look at the contents of the West Yard and identify two dud Northern units working into Doncaster. They were 142096 and 153317; 142096 in fact has been absent from the haulage book for over 25 years –the only entry was back on 9th September 1989 when I had it new from Leeds to Rose Grove.

91118 arrived bang on time for the second leg of my journey onwards to Darlington. There was already a 142 sitting in the bay platforms at Darlington but low-mileage 142079 was not due out for about ¾ hour. Before that, another 142 appeared but I let dud 142020 leave without me. I was sort of compelled to take 142079 anyway as coming the other way was a working which ended for the day upon arrival back at Darlington. A bounce out to Thornaby cleared 142079 for 10 miles (I’d only ever done a Bus Stop Bash from Salford Crescent to Salford Central with it previously). On the way I passed dud 142094 and 142084 on service trains and 142087 which was running ECS to take up service at Darlington later on. After a short fester at Thornaby, 142026 came in heading back to Darlington on the turn that then was supposed to sit in the bays for ages – it was good that I covered that turn as this was another low mileage machine. By the time I returned to Darlington that was two units cleared for 10 miles. The only other pacer running that interested me was 142087 which was a winner but there was about 40 minutes before it entered service so time for a fill in move with 142084 to Allens West for a shack scratch and 142020 back to Darlington. My arrival back at Darlington coincided with the arrival of the crew for 142087 who fired it up and off we trundled to Thornaby. First winner of the day; and the clock had already staggered past midday. Having identified all the 142s on the Darlington/Saltburn circuit, it was time to see whether there were any floating around Newcastle that matched entries on my requirements list. First problem, no direct train for 45 minutes and with the run up the coast being pretty slow, it was still quicker to go back via Darlington.

142094 appeared within minutes but the unit did not seem to be in full health – accelerating away from station stops seemed to be more of a stagger than usual with a pacer. A visit to the rear car of the unit revealed why – it had lost an engine! Fortunately, I had a reasonable connection at Darlington for dud 185141 on a Transpennine service. After an uneventful run up to Newcastle, I set about checking out the local talent (the DMU variety of course). There was not a lot around to interest me so time for a fill in move with 1546444 whose only previous appearance in the haulage log was on 9th September 1989 [Ed: That date’s familiar!] when I had it new from Hebden Bridge to Manchester Victoria. So out to Heworrth with 156444 for an unknown unit back.

Watching Tyne & Wear metro trains whizzing by reminded me that I needed a good visit to the network – one day. I was harshly brought back to reality when 142024 trundled in. “Waaaant Thaat!” was the thought that went through my mind. Pacer winner number two. Now where do I go with it. Newcastle seemed too much like an Insect Leap so I went on to Metrocentre. OK not the required 10 miles but there would be a fair chance that I could bag another spin later on. Low mileage 156479 was not too far behind so a move was starting to formulate. 156479 to Prudhoe for a second run with 142024 back to Metrocentre and in the process clearing both units for 10 miles. I would have liked to stay on to Newcastle but I would pass the Newcastle to Whitehaven which was unknown – mainly on account of it being empty from Heaton. Right move as winning 156484 showed up still wearing its Settle & Carlisle vinyls. On the way back to Metrocentre, I had passed winning 156443 heading to Hexham - 156484 would nicely drop me onto 156443 at Prudhoe. Two consecutive winning 156s; what’s the world coming to? Anyway when 156443 rolled into Prudhoe, all I had to do to get the job done was go back to Newcastle and cover the final unknown Heaton DMU turn. Arriving back into Newcastle, I was noting the required Voyagers in case I was compelled to have to do a fill in move via Durham but sitting in Platform one was 142078. Conveniently, a return trip to Metrocentre would solve the mileage problem that I currently had with this unit. But as there was a quarter of an hour before it left, I had time to visit the local Sainsburys store for supplies for the evening.

142078 left for Metrocentre from platform 1 thus doing a PSUL move via High Level Bridge rather than King Edward Bridge. After reversal, I re-joined 142078 back up to Newcastle lamenting the fact that on both outward and return trips with 142078, the services had called at Dunston which was a required shack. But on the flip side, I would have been short on mileage for 142078. Perhaps next time I am up on the Tyne, I can get the shack scratch. Arriving back into Newcastle, I reflected that my targets were in danger of slipping – only four winners and eight cleared for 10 miles. With only my train back to London left for anything to boost the statistics, I was more than surprised when a winner rolled in – one of my last two class 91s was on the rear and would have the task of propelling me to Kings Cross. Welcome 91103 to the haulage book. Winner number five, the ninth item of the day cleared for 10 miles and the first for 100 miles as well. Things were looking up. Leaving Newcastle on time, I certainly did not anticipate the rubbish journey up the East Coast. The first delay we picked up was at Darlington where we overtook the previous London train (held in the platforms following a passenger being taken ill). Then at York we picked up loads of race-goers heading home and finally at Peterborough we had to wait for the BTP to deal with an intoxicated passenger [Ed: A racer-goer who had drowned his sorrows to excess?].

Arrival into Kings Cross was 30 late. Now all I wanted was for London Underground to play up. While I can normally do home to Kings Cross in about 50 minutes, it seems that the return journey will always take the minimum of an hour. Not this time. A Victoria Line (complete with 2009 tube stock required for 10 miles) within one minute followed by a similar wait at Stockwell for the Northern (and a 1995 tube stock set heaved over 100 miles as well) saw me at Morden40 minutes after getting off of the 91 at Kings Cross. Now, for the bus home. About 90 seconds wait! Total journey time 49 minutes from train to front door. A record!

So what of the day? While it lacked quantity, I felt that the quality was there with two winning 142s leaving only four left (029, 043, 066, 092 and all are Heaton allocated bar 043) but 91103 was definitely the icing on the cake. I should imagine next time I visit the North east, pickings will be even thinner but you never know what’s around the corner …..

Here’s a list of today’s moves in case you did not keep up!

LU 51572+51573 Morden to Stockwell
LU 11067+11068 Stockwell to Kings Cross
91122 Kings Cross to Doncaster
91118 Doncaster to Darlington
142079 Darlington to Thornaby
142026 Thornaby to Darlington
142084 Darlington to Allens West
142020 Allens West to Darlington
142087 Darlington to Thornaby
142094 Thornaby to Darlington
185141 Darlington to Newcastle
156444 Newcastle to Heworth
142024 Heworth to Metrocentre
156479 Metrocentre to Prudhoe
142024 Prudhoe to Metrocentre
156484 Metrocentre to Prudhoe
156443 Prudhoe to Newcastle
142078 Newcastle to Metrocentre
142078 Metrocentre to Newcastle
91103 Newcastle to Kings Cross
LU 11041+11042 Kings Cross to Stockwell
LU 51711+51551 Stockwell to Morden

Milestones
Winners 91103, 142024, 142087, 156443, 156484
Cleared for 10 miles 142024, 142026, 142078, 142079, 142087,156443, 156479, LU 11068, LU 11041
Cleared for 100 miles LU 51711, 91103
New Shacks Allens West
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Silver Machine, for love nor money I can't figure out what that means!

The Victoria Station Wetherspoons is accessed via an escalator. Escalators are generally silver in colour. Silver Machine is also a reference to Hawkwind's best known song of the same name. "...I got a silver machine. It flies side ways thru' time ...."