Keith goes wandering

[FQ]

That's three more shacks off the list so a pretty successful hour! You sure need a long way to go to finish the Piccadilly line sets for 10 miles!

 

[Kite159]

I think Tufnell Park is due to reopen in March, which is good as I need it as well (as well as most of the stations on the northern end of the northern line)

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Apart from a few stragglers, my required LUL shacks fall into four distinct blocks. They are -
- Eastern end of the District Line beyond Barking
- Outer reaches of the Met. These will need a 1-9 Travelcard
- Hammersmith end of the Hammersmith and City Line
- Odds and ends on the Northern Line

Other TfL shacks are seven on the Wimbledon branch of Tramplink and a few DLR shacks on the way to Stratford. The DLR will need an after work leap to sort out when I might combine with some 1992ts bashing.

 

[Kristofferson]

Those will easily fall within the year, nice going!

 

[jayalongtheway]

Keith, I do envy you living and working in the London area and all the delights on your doorstep. My local bus company High Peak had an Optare Olympus (YN07LHT - SO3 with London United) till it was decapitated under a low bridge.

 

[Kite159]

Those will easily fall within the year, nice going!

Especially the tram stops on the Wimbledon branch, should be easy enough to knock out one evening when it's a tram every 7-8 minutes

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Wednesday 20th January – Not many people here?

This week’s mini-bash set out to visit two of the least used stations in Greater London – I hope my visit added to the statistics! Dark, cold evenings are not particularly conducive to hanging around stations trying to bag mileage requirements or even hoping for haulage hits. Instead there’s a sort of programme of shack bashing where at least you’re on the move quite a bit.

Leaving work, I made for the Jubilee Line and 96099 appeared within seconds to take me to Baker Street. The short journey was hardly even worth of comment. At Baker Street, I made the same-level interchange to the Bakerloo and had a few seconds to wait for 3265+3455 to take me the short distance to Marylebone. Good, I had a comfortable amount of time to stagger up to the main line station and all the way to Marylebone North for my train, observing the Cat (whose number I do not recall) thrashing out on the Banbury commuter train. I took my seat aboard 172103 which left on time. Even though it was the evening peak, the two-car unit was more than adequate for the traffic on offer. Obviously most folk heading out of London to the north western parts of town prefer the high frequency tube services of the Piccadilly Line and the Central Line over the erratic Chiltern service. Having called at Wembley Stadium, I alighted at Sudbury & Harrow Road which has the dubious accolade of being London’s least used National Rail station with a mere 19,000 passengers recorded in 2014-15. That equates to around 37 people using the station each day to go to and from work. [Ed: Weekends have been discounted on account of no service]. That’s not surprising, given the sparse service of four trains to London in the morning and a choice of four to come back. Around 10 people alighted with me so that backs up the stats quite well assuming a similar number for the other three trains.

I now had 29 minutes to get to Greater London’s third least used shack. Not being overly familiar with the area, I declined the walk which Google Maps had estimated at around 23/24 minutes (so probably 20 for me). Instead, the bus got my vote. The 92 stops right outside Sudbury & Harrow Road and if the TfL Journey Planner were to be believed, a very short distance away from my destination. A Metroline Enviro 400 showed up after about seven minutes on route 92 and took me the mile or so to Sudbury Hill Station where I alighted and made the short walk to Sudbury Hill Harrow. By the time I had made it on to the platforms, there was only around five minutes to go before my chariot would arrive thus allowing me to legitimately score the shack. Expecting a Chiltern 165, I was surprised when 168322 showed up. While the 168 was dud for mileage purposes as I’d had it as a 170, at least it was a renumbering hit. I noted that it was negative connections at both Northolt Park and South Ruislip onto trains back to Marylebone so my plan was to trek back on the Central Line from the latter. Silly me, I forgot to check RTT for the running of the negative connections and was only altered to the late running of the Northolt Park crossover as we were pulling out and the other one rolled in late.

I stuck on to South Ruislip and the -1 was exactly that so I alighted and made my way over to the Central Line. At least I want a lot of 1992ts for mileage. I was not disappointed when 92139+92448+92032+92145 rolled in. Both the cables units were sub 10 miles – in fact 92448 would not clear 10 miles until White City where I parted company with 92139 and friends. Sitting in the adjacent platform was 92007+92218+92224+92163. Only 92007 was dud so I was onto a winner. I was now in “head for home” mode so I went through to Oxford Circus – by then only 92218 had joined 92007 as being over 10 miles. A swift transfer to the Victoria Line saw me board 11023+11024 to Stockwell. From there 51612+51613 took me onto Morden an home.

I had the opportunity to reflect on the evening. I’d visited two of the three least used stations in Greater London which was the primary objective. I also managed to scoop a ride on my first 168/3 – and what a mighty fine job has been done in the refurbishment. Finally, three more sets of 1992ts managed to clear 10 miles but there’s still around 200 sets that need to achieve similar heady heights. All in all, a couple of hours well spent.

 

[Kristofferson]

Well spent indeed! I'm surprised there are under-used stations in London, to be honest.

 

[Techniquest]

I too am surprised a 168/3 produced on a stopper at Sudbury Hill, but a welcome score no doubt. That same one was my first 168/3 to go into the book, and I agree the refurb is very good indeed.

Not a bad little evening there, certainly little bits like that are great to do in January and February when there's very little else of major interest about. One day I'm going to get Northolt Park and that limited Sudbury station done, they are irritating gaps (along with Bordesley) in a long line from Kidderminster to Marylebone which is otherwise all done. Which reminds me, I have a West Wales trip to organise this year...

 

[FQ]

A productive evening out and you're all way ahead of me on the London Chiltern stations (everything south of Bicester North is required).

Tech - Don't you need 4 stations in the WMDR zones?

 

[jayalongtheway]

Nice one Keith, always enjoy seeing what you get up to.

 

[Techniquest]

pTech - Don't you need 4 stations in the WMDR zones?

Just Bordesley and Polesworth for me in the WMDR area, well those two new ones eventually too

 

[Keith Jarrett]

I too am surprised a 168/3 produced on a stopper at Sudbury Hill, but a welcome score no doubt. That same one was my first 168/3 to go into the book, and I agree the refurb is very good indeed.

Not a bad little evening there, certainly little bits like that are great to do in January and February when there's very little else of major interest about. One day I'm going to get Northolt Park and that limited Sudbury station done, they are irritating gaps (along with Bordesley) in a long line from Kidderminster to Marylebone which is otherwise all done. Which reminds me, I have a West Wales trip to organise this year...

I forgot to add that I have now had the unit that currently masquerades as 168322 with three different operators - South West Trains, first TransPennine and now Chiltern.

It's not the first time I have had 168s on stopping services out of Marylebone. Back in 2003, I had 168106 to South Ruislip - I was going to view a collection of railway photos that a mate & I eventually bought and more recently, 168003 took me to Northolt Park (and 168002 then took me back from Northolt Park to London)

 

[hassaanhc]

I forgot to add that I have now had the unit that currently masquerades as 168322 with three different operators - South West Trains, first TransPennine and now Chiltern.

It's not the first time I have had 168s on stopping services out of Marylebone. Back in 2003, I had 168106 to South Ruislip - I was going to view a collection of railway photos that a mate & I eventually bought and more recently, 168003 took me to Northolt Park (and 168002 then took me back from Northolt Park to London)

1127 Marylebone to Aylesbury via Amersham is 3car+2car 168, while the October timetable saw the 1756 Marylebone to Gerrards Cross become 2car 168. There are also a few 168s that in the Zones only stop at Wembley Stadium (e.g. 1903 Marylebone to High Wycombe), and there is even a loco-hauled service stopping at Wembley Stadium in the morning

 

[Techniquest]

Interesting, which loco hauled calls at Wembley Stadium?

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Thursday 21st January – A Little Evening Therapy Down the Lane

I had some personal business to attend to at home so finished work early. But I was “all done” before normal home time. “Shall I sit at home until Mrs KJ gets back or shall I use the time productively?” was the dilemma going through my mind. I’d obviously find things to do at home (there’s always something to do) but I’d have about two hours to spare – just right to sort out some nearby shacks.

Instead of staying in, I was on the bus up to Morden Road (a detested Optare Olympus, what else?) where I made my acquaintance with Tramlink as tonight I was going to attempt to clear off the final Tramplink shacks from my lists. I wanted shacks either side of Morden Road so was not fussed which way I headed. The appearance of Stadler 2560 made my mind up - all Stadlers are sub 10 miles. I was off to Dundonald Road. I was here for all of 20 seconds as I was able to cross over straightaway onto 2555 heading the opposite way. I went a really long way on this one; all of 0.39 miles to Merton Park where I bailed to await the return of 2560. This was a real Bus Stop Bash if there ever was one! Passing a third Stadler, I changed my plans. I was originally going through to Waddon Marsh which was the furthermost shack still o0n my list. But instead plans were amended so that I leapt out at Belgrave Walk for a short wait before 2539 rolled in to take me on a micro leap back to Phipps Bridge. I had a noticeable wait before 2554 showed up and again I had planned on going through to Waddon Marsh but passing Therapia Lane depot, there was yet another Stadler waiting to come out. Consequently, I bailed at Therapia Lane. New 2561 & 2563 were on the depot so I was secretly hoping for 2556 (the last of the first batch that I still need) but it was 2554 that came out. I jumped on to Waddon Marsh and thought, “We’re doing well; six down and one to go for the shack list”.

A quick switch at Waddon Marsh saw me get 2557 back to Therapia Lane where is terminated. Again, there was a noticeable wait - the indicator board billed it as six minutes but by the time 2537 showed up, it was more like 10 minutes. I stuck with this for a second run past the depot. No signs of 2556 and the only Stadlers about were the two new ones from earlier plus 2557. This time I alighted at Beddington Lane and thus Tramlink is now totally clear for shacks. It’s only taken me 15 ½ years to clear them but to be honest, I’d not really put much effort into the process until the back end of last year!

The next service was about four minutes behind, so I thought that I could try to double back for it rather than fester and do a linear bash. I boarded 2530 as it was about to leave but managed to fail on the double back by all of 10 seconds at Therapia Lane. Instead of festering, I stayed on to Wandle Park where a 30 second wait saw me crossing over to 2544 and back to Morden Road. The southbound bus stop is a bit of a hike (3-4 minutes from the tram stop) but that did not matter as there was 10 minutes to wait for my chariot home. No Olympus this time but a “Weevil,” in other words a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL. The Weevils are on their way out as we’re supposedly getting brand new Wright bodied hybrids – when they don’t crash on their first day in traffic! Only two things came out of my usual reflections – “1. More Stadler mileage and 2. Tramlink shacks are clear”!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Interesting, which loco hauled calls at Wembley Stadium?

From memory it was a train that originated at Princes Risborough and called at Wembley Stadium just after 08:00

 

[Kite159]

Nice couple evening spins to clear up some odds and sods within the zones

 

[hassaanhc]

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


From memory it was a train that originated at Princes Risborough and called at Wembley Stadium just after 08:00

These days it is the 0638 Stourbridge Junction to Marylebone (due 0906) that calls at Wembley Stadium 0854.

 

[Kristofferson]

Nicely done!

 

[FQ]

Well done on the tram shacks!

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Sunday 24th January – Flying Around the Underground

At last, a free Sunday so I can go tramping around the capital. “But what shall I do?” was the proverbial question that arose before I really got into trip planning mode. Then came the lightbulb moment! There was still a few bits of track on my wants list in the London area and all three could be bagged in one go. Combine that with whittling down the underground shacks that I still need to visit and we have a recipe for a reasonably successful few hours on the rails.

First thing in my sights was the quartet of available Northern Line shacks that were still squatting on my lists (the closed-for-repairs Tufnell Park will have to remain on the lists a little longer). 51602+51716 formed the first train out of Morden but rather than trek all the way up to and through Central London, I opted to break things up a bit by bailing at Stockwell and using the Victoria Line as my passage through Central London. There was some method in my madness as all Northern Line sets are well over 10 miles with quite a few now over 100 miles. In contrast, around half the 2009ts is still under 10 miles so it was a no brainer. I had a few minutes to wait at Stockwell before a sub-10 mile unit showed up in the form of 11039+11040. At Euston, I made full use of the cross platform interchange only to fall into 51602+51716 again which took me to my first shack score of Belsize Park. I had used Belsize Park many times when I first started working in London as I lived nearby but those were the days when I did not log tube stock rides; I logged virtually everything else though! And the rules state that if there’s no record, I cannot cross it off the wanted list.

51685+51686 appeared within a minute to take me back south and I stayed aboard only as far as Camden Town where I switch over to the Barnet branch; 51603+51604 were waiting to take me north through the aforementioned Tufnell Park. I’d only used the Barnet branch a handful of times and not at all for many a year – this was my first time north of Highgate with 1995ts! My target shack was West Finchley. Here I had a comfortable trot over the footbridge to 51583+51584 and headed back south with shack number two in the book. But I was not going very far on this run as East Finchley was also required. Alighting here I noted that another train was only two minutes behind and it was headed for the Charing Cross branch so no need to mess around changing at Camden. That two minutes seemed to pass very quickly when 51649+51650 trundled in to allow me to continue my southbound journey to Mornington Crescent.

Ten minutes later and I was standing on the platform of my last operational Northern Line shack. The Indicator board showed that there as another train a few minutes behind which suited me as there was no need to double back. Instead I just carried on the linear bash with 51666+51667 which I took to Leicester Square where I switched my allegiance to the Piccadilly Line. The first set that trundled in was completely dud so I let that go. Two minutes behind was 105+232, both of which were mileage requirements. By the time I had alighted at Acton Town, 105 had cleared for 10 miles and 232 was almost there. But there was an Uxbridge train right behind and I wanted to get one awkward shack out of the way. 162+890 provided the traction to North Ealing with a slightly odd arrangement for a footbridge. As I was figuring out how to get over, 171+250 rolled in going the other way. Once I had worked out how to get over the bridge, I made a dash for it but there was no need; the signal was firmly on red. I figured that a District Line train from Ealing Broadway must have been given priority over us at the junction up ahead. Pretty soon though we were on the move. At Acton Town, I left 171+250 and wandered over the footbridge to the westbound platforms. Soon 160+225 rolled in bound for Heathrow Terminal 5. By the next stop at South Ealing, 225 had cleared 10 miles.

I had to split my westward journey somewhere as I do not have Zone 6 on my Travelcard. I therefore had to switch from my paper Travelcard to Pay As You Go to carry on my journey. Once the ticket switch had been activated, I was back on the platform just as 108+227 came in bound for Heathrow Terminal 4. 108 staggered over 10 miles during my journey. On the way, I was checking the arrival time at Terminal 4 and also pumping RTT. I had about 6-7 minutes to get from the underground platforms to the Heathrow Express platforms which seemed to be at the opposite end of the Airport, not just the Terminal Building. But I made it with about 30 seconds to spare otherwise I would have faced a 16-minute wait. 360202 did the honours of getting the new track in the book. Both the Heathrow Express shack at Terminal 4 and the track from Terminal 4 to Terminals 1,2,& 3 were required and thanks to the generosity of Heathrow Express, inter terminal transfers are free. At Terminals 1, 2 & 3, I switched to 332006 which was waiting in the opposite platform for the run out to Terminal 5 – again required track (Terminals 1,2 & 3 to Terminal 5) and of course, the shack too. I then transferred over to the Underground shack at Heathrow Terminal 5, also required and boarded 196+209, the even numbered unit being a mileage requirement. On departure this meant that I had now cleared the Piccadilly Line for shacks and by the time the train rattled over the junction outside Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3, I had scooped my last bit of London Underground track (Terminal 5 to Terminals 1, 2 & 3). I stayed on to Osterley where I cleared 196 for 10 miles. Here, I had to perform the reverse switch from PAYG to Travelcard – the gateline attendant gave me a funny look while I was doing the switch and insisted that I exited with Oyster and re-enter with my Travelcard rather than just tapping out with PAYG. I still had enough time to get back to the platforms to join 133+140 back to Hammersmith by which time 140 had edged over 10 miles. At Hammersmith, I switched back to the westbound District Line platforms and just about scrambled onto 21479+21480 for the Bus Stop Bash to Ravenscourt Park and shack score number nine of the afternoon. Switching back to the eastbound platforms, I was compelled to take rancid D stock 7016+7101 back to Hammersmith.

I left the station and walked over the road to the Hammersmith & City station. It had been absolutely an age since I had stepped foot inside this shack – 27th March 1991 to be precise. S-7 21353+21354 was preparing to depart and I leapt aboard for the shortish run to Shepherds Bush Market where, after a quick switch of platforms, I boarded 21445+21446 back to Goldhawk Road. That was two required shacks on the H&C out of the way, now for the other three. I just made it under the subway to the other side onto 21325+21326 which took me to Royal Oak which I had seen countless times on my runs in and out of Paddington but never set foot on it. On the way up to the Oak, I passed a required set of S-7 stock. Would I be able to bag it and get both of my remaining H&C shacks in? The chase was on!

After a reasonable wait, 21331+21332 showed up and took me to Latimer Road. 21303+21304 were almost immediately behind to take me on a real Bus Stop Bash to Wood Lane where I pronounced H&C Line shacks now cleared. I had not passed my required S-7 set so I abandoned the original plan (which was to take a short walk to White City and bash some 1992ts). After all, it would have been rude to refuse a winning S-7 set when I only need the two most recent set to enter traffic. I had a reasonable wait before 21491+21492 returned from Hammersmith. I jumped on board, riding in both “halves” of the S-7 for at least a mile. I alighted at Baker Street where the intention was to get the Bakerloo Line to Oxford Circus and pick up the plan of half an hour’s 1992ts bashing.

After ambling through the deserted Met Line platforms (suspended due to engineering work) I somehow found myself on the northbound platform which was not a lot of use for getting to Oxford Circus! I simply could not be bothered to switch to the southbound platform so I happened upon the idea of seeing if any of my seven remaining 1972ts were out. First train up was 3237+3462. “That will do nicely” I thought to myself, “3462 is still below 10 miles”. I staggered on – all that leaping around, especially switching platforms on the H&C was beginning to tell. I enjoyed the bouncy Baker Street Bug Hutch Line up to Kilburn Park where I bailed as 3462 had tipped the 10-mile barrier. Next train up was 3236+3451 – requirement number two! Problem was, it was only going to Queens Park (next stop) and I wanted far more of a run to clear it. While 3236+3451 were reversing in the sheds at Queen Park, I watched various comings and goings but nothing matched my lists so it was back on to 3236+3451 for a decent bounce all the way to Waterloo. Not wanting to go through to Elephant (3451 had cleared 10 miles at Embankment), I bailed at Waterloo knowing that I had a pair of 450s out to Wimbledon within 10 minutes. Walking across the concourse at Waterloo, I suddenly noticed a familiar finger pointing at me – it was my eldest son with his other half! We stopped for a quick (and I mean quick) exchange of pleasantries - he was also in a rush to get somewhere. 450035+450099 were on the Basingstoke semi-fast which I took out to Wimbledon before searching out a bus homewards.

The bus journey gave me chance to reflect on the outing – I had been going for almost eight hours. Highlight without a doubt was the halving of my required shacks on the Underground network (just 12 left now). But I was pleased to start what will be a major task for me now, namely clearing the 1973ts for 10 miles. I have about 1/3 of the sets already but that means there’s another 2/3 to go. Once I had got home and started recording the day’s antics in The Haulage Book, I discovered that two more sets of 1995ts clambered over the 100 mile barrier – that’s not something I am actively going out to do, it’ll just happen when it does. But all in all, a good afternoon out. Another session like that and all the available Underground shacks will fall. Next weekend perhaps?

I found it hard to keep up so dear reader, here’s a list of the moves as I’m sure you didn’t!!

LU 51602+51716 Morden to Stockwell
LU 11039+11040 Stockwell to Euston
LU 51602+51716 Euston to Belsize Park
LU 51585+51686 Belsize Park to Camden Town
LU 51603+51604 Camden Town to West Finchley
LU 51583+51584 West Finchley to East Finchley
LU 51649+51650 East Finchley to Mornington Crescent
LU 51666+51667 Mornington Crescent to Leicester Square
LU 105+232 Leicester Square to Acton Town
LU 162+890 Acton Town to North Ealing
LU 171+250 North Ealing to Acton Town
LU 160+225 Acton Town to South Ealing
LU 108+227 South Ealing to Heathrow Terminal 4
360202 Heathrow Terminal 4 to Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3
332006 Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3 to Heathrow Terminal 5
LU 196+209 Heathrow Terminal 5 to Osterley
LU 133+140 Osterley to Hammersmith
LU21479+21480 Hammersmith to Ravenscourt Park
LU 7016+7101 Ravenscourt Park to Hammersmith
LU 21353+21354 Hammersmith to Shepherds Bush Market
LU 21445+21446 Shepherds Bush Market to Goldhawk Road
LU 21325+21326 Goldhawk Road to Royal Oak
LU 21331+21332 Royal Oak to Latimer Road
LU 21303+21304 Latimer Road to Wood Lane
LU 21491+21492 Wood Lane to Baker Street
LU 3237+3462 Baker Street to Kilburn Park
LU 3236+3451 Kilburn Park to Queens Park
LU 3236+3451 Queens Park to Waterloo
450035+450099 Waterloo to Wimbledon

Milestones
Winners 21491, 21492
Cleared for 10 miles 105, 108, 140, 196, 225, 3451, 3462,
Cleared for 100 miles 51603, 51649
New Shacks Belsize Park, East Finchley, Goldhawk Road, Heathrow Terminal 4 (Heathrow Exp), Heathrow Terminal 5 (LU & Heathrow Exp), Latimer Road, Mornington Crescent, North Ealing, Ravenscourt Park, Royal Oak, Shepherds Bush Market, West Finchley, Wood Lane
New Track
Heathrow Express:
Terminal 4 to Terminals 1, 2 & 3
Terminals 1,2,& 3 to Terminal 5
Underground:
Terminal 5 to Terminals 1, 2 & 3

 

[FQ]

Congrats on clearing the Piccadilly and H&C lines for shacks, and of course the Underground for track!

 

[Kite159]

Congrats on a productive day out

 

[Techniquest]

A very busy timeout there, with plenty of shack sores and a ton of new entrants to the 10 Mile Club!

I agree it was hard to keep track of the moves after a while, I thought it was just me as I'm very tired. So I'm glsd even you suffered there Keith!

The usual excellent read, but I'd wager you're getting to do a proper trip somewhere away frm London by now.

 

[Kristofferson]

I agree with the Fish - what an achievement! Enjoyed the adventure

 

[jayalongtheway]

Splendid stuff as always.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Friday 29th January – A Couple of Tenners …..

… is all you need to have a good night out! Alas, dear readers, yet another play on words – you were all thinking of the folding stuff that sits in your wallet. I had a few hours to myself after work and had toyed with doing several different things such as -
• SWT shack scoring – given my requirements much better if I have more than an hour or two;
• Making a return visit to the North London Line - loads of 378s still needed for 10 miles (plus three five-cars needed outright);
• A visit to the GOBLIN – most 172s still needed for 10 miles; or
• Taking a look at the Great Northern where I still need three 317s for 10 miles.
I checked my phone for information and saw that I had predicted workings for all three of my required 317s so I hot-footed it to Kings Cross via the Victoria Line with 2009ts 11075+11076 putting in an appearance. I made my way to the platforms at the Cross and started to take note of what was around. A pair of 321s – no good; 365522, also no good! So nothing for a short leap to Finsbury Park in front of my 317. Instead, I made my way straight to platform 9 [Ed: What about Platform 9 ¾?] where my prey, or at least the first one was waiting. A newly repainted 317337 was on 8.5 miles and the short trip to Finsbury Park would clear it for the required 10 miles.

On the way up to Finsbury Park, the proverbial penny dropped. If I was to bag my other two GN 317s, I would have to go all the way to Stevenage and also be back ibn London somewhat later than I would have liked to be. So that idea was promptly canned and 317341 & 317344 will have to wait another night. But what to do instead? Within seconds of alighting from 317337 at Finsbury Park, I had the answer to my question. Let’s go and deal with an awkward, rush-hour only shack. I descended the stairs to the Victoria Line platform only to see 11011+11012 stuck in the platform, doors just shutting. With an ever decreasing number of 2009ts required for 10 miles, I cursed as 11012 just needed a short nudge to climb over the crucial ten miles. It was obviously my lucky day as the doors opened again – I promptly leapt aboard. Then all became apparent – there was a set of sticky doors. But after a couple of attempts at closing them, all seemed to be OK and off we went to Seven Sisters where it was announced that the train would terminate – obviously 11011+11012 had secured an emergency appointment with the fitters at Northumberland Park Depot. 11081+11082 soon showed up to take us all on to Tottenham Hale where I made for the Greater Anglia platforms.

After watching what seemed to be an endless procession of 379s, several of which were sub 10 miles, the platform announcer predicted the arrival of the next Hertford East service which called at almost every shack along the Lea Valley before reaching Hertford East. “Good”, I thought, “That’s me!” But I was slightly confused as I was expecting a 317. Instead, all I could see above the massed heads was a roof mounted headlight. Surely not a 379 on a stopper to Hertford East? Then the platform announcer bellowed “Eight car train, move along the platform!”. But my brain was in overdrive. All it would tell me was that no Greater Anglia 317s have roof mounted headlights (unless I had missed something of course). At that point, all was revealed in the form of 317722 which had gone back into traffic a couple of days previously bringing along 317661 on the back for a ride. While I was only going a short distance, I made sure I sat in 317722 as it was both a long term absentee from The Haulage Book and also required for its current number. The last, and in fact only, time that this unit had featured was on 17 September 1994 when I had it new from Broxbourne to Liverpool Street carrying the number 317322. Welcome back old friend.

Within five minutes of boarding, I was lighting at Angel Road, the last required shack on the West Anglia Main Line within Greater London. What an odd place. No clear signs even as to where the way out was but fellow passengers soon gave me a clue. It appeared that a footpath lead off of the northern end of the platform whereas for some reason, I thought that the exit was at the south end. Anyway, this footpath eventually brought me on to a busy road. Now to locate the bus stop as this would be the most efficient way to get to my next target. I first saw the bus I needed but held in a queue of traffic so could I make it to the next stop in time. A fast walk soon saw me overtake the bus which was turning right – that was causing the queue as there was no right filter on the traffic lights. Once ahead of the bus, I saw a gaggle of people waiting, all anxiously looking at the bus – a small Streetlite on route 192 for any interested party. As I got to the gaggle of folk who had been staring at the bus, it pulled up. I was in business and had about 25 minutes to get across to my only other shack requirement in the area.

A rambling journey along narrow roads with much of the route operating on a hail and ride basis saw me alight outside Bush Hill Park station two minutes before a train was due. Good planning or what? I made my way into the station noting that the ticket office was still open and doing absolutely no trade – in fact the guy behind the glass screen looked rather bored as if he’d not seen a customer in ages. The platform indicator showed that the next Liverpool Street train was due and before I could collect my thoughts, 317719+317729 were bearing down upon me. I’d had 317719 a couple of times in 2015 but I definitely wanted to reacquaint myself with 317729. It had not featured in The Haulage Book for over 25 years – the previous and only entry was on 12 January 1991 when I had it from Stevenage to Welwyn Garden City. As well as a renumber requirement it was also under 10 miles. Double bubble!

I sat in 317729 of course for the all stations run up to London. By now, I was planning my route home, having achieved my main targets but was not in a rush. Consequently, I bailed at Hackney Downs where the first thought was to investigate the new walkway to Hackney Central. But first, I thought that I would see whether anything else required was about. I did not have a chance to get to 317723 which had been absent from The Haulage Book for 27 years. Instead I had to settle for Greater Anglia’s 317511 +317652 on a London Overground working. Presumably a hire in. 317652 was a scoop as last time that I’d encountered was 13th September 1986 when it was almost new and numbered 317352. Another long term absentee and renumber hit scored. The run into Liverpool Street was slow but otherwise uneventful.

Now to get home. The straightforward route would be Bus Stop Bash it on the Central Line to Bank and migrate to the Northern, clocking up yet more mileage with 1995 stock. Instead of bailing at Bank [Ed: no Bus Stop Bashes today] I elected to stay on 92105+92142+92040+92259 through to Oxford Circus, switch allegiance to the Victoria Line where 11025+11026 took me to Stockwell before 51555 plus friend took me back south to Morden and onwards to home.

OK, not the most productive evening but two more units over 10 miles and for me, two awkward shacks knocked on the head. The bonus though has to be knocking a trio of 317s off the “Long Term Absent” list.

 

[FQ]

Two 317s is better than no 317s (no, actually let me rethink that. No 317s is better than two 317s ) and you got another two shacks done as well so I'd say that it was a fairly productive evening.

 

[Techniquest]

Another excellent mini bash, well done on Angel Road. Good to know there's a bus to get from/to the place, hopefully I'll get it done this year.

Some very long term absentees there from The Haulage Book!

 

[jayalongtheway]

As always I enjoyed reading that Keith. Wish I still had my records from 1991 but ho hum.