Kris' First Day Out [PLANNING]

[Kristofferson]

Hi all,

After enjoying countless trip reports on this forum and with some free weekdays in sight, it's high time I go for a day out on the rails - not going somewhere or commuting, just taking in the trains and travel.

The objective is to ride as many different classes as possible in a day and experience a bit of track I've had my eye on for a while.

Coming from near Watford, the plan is to head into central London via the West London Line and Waterloo, pop across town in order to head out west towards Reading, come back across London, go east to Stratford, then back into central one last time for a trip home up the Watford DC Line. A detailed plan is below for those interested:

1011-1016 KGL - WFJ 321

1051-1131 WFJ - CLJ 377

1145-1155 CLJ p10 - WAT 456(?)
or
1150-1202 CLJ p3 - WAT 455

16min allow 30min WAT - PAD
bakerloo

1245-1311 PAD-RDG 43/HST
**LUNCH/SUPPLIES 45MIN*
1355-1430 RDG p10 - PAD 166

13min allow 30min PAD-STP
h&c/circle s7

1512-1518 STP-SFA 395
10min allow 20min walk SFA-SRA
1545-1555 SRA p9 - LST 90

56min allow 1hr 15 LST-HRW
met s8 to baker street (16min)
bakerloo to harrow (32min)

1727-1748 HRW-WFJ 378

1759-1804 WFJ-KGL 350
or
1826-1830 WFJ-KGL 350

Can anyone forsee any potential issues with this, recommend any improvements or suggest an interesting route/class that I haven't considered?

Thanks!

 

[Techniquest]

You haven't allocated anywhere near enough time on your Underground moves in my eyes, 30 minutes to do Paddington to Kings Cross St Pancras is not going to be enough. I would allow at least 40, bearing in mind it can take a while to get out of the Tube station and onto the mainline platforms!

I will try and respond more later, about to get off the bus hence a rushed reply!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Most of the plan looks good to be fair, surprised there's no plan to do 387s or 319s, especially since the 319s will be gone before too long!

Don't forget you can't use a Travelcard on Southeastern High Speed services.

 

[Kristofferson]

Thanks, will do the tube journeys while I'm still rattling around London for the next few weeks to get accurate timings

I know the HS1 and Reading outings will require separate tickets. Think it's a £30 day out plus lunch.

I've done a 387 on an insect leap when they first started running so I don't feel the need to do it again so soon, and I didn't rate the 319s last time I was on them (fairly recently also).

 

[43074]

I'd throw in an hour of doing nothing, or just spotting or sightseeing if you like, because if anything goes wrong then you have something you can take out without dismantling the entire plan of what looks a well planned day otherwise. If you finish early then great, but if you overrun or anything outside of your control happens you have something to fall back on. Going to Reading may require that because the GWML from Padd isn't the most reliable stretch of railway in the country!

 

[306024]

You haven't allocated anywhere near enough time on your Underground moves in my eyes........

I think when you look through your own eyes hock: you'll find there is ample time from arriving Paddington at 14.30 (if on time) to departing St Pancras at 15.12 providing you don't have to stop to buy a ticket.

Use the country end exit at Stratford International to avoid walking the length of the Westfield shopping centre, but 27 mins is again ample, except that strictly speaking the 15.45 from Stratford to Liverpool St stops at Stratford to set down only. That doesn't stop others getting on though.

 

[ainsworth74]

Yeah arriving at PAD for 1430 and departing STP for 1512 should be doable. I wouldn't risk it on advances but on walk up tickets shouldn't be too hard. Though it'll be worth bearing in mind that the High Speed platforms are about as far away from the Tube station as it's possible to get and the same goes at Paddington unless you alight from the middle/rear of the train.

Also I must admit that I chuckled at the 45 minutes for lunch. Seems very civilised I only get to allocate time for lunch if there's a convenient (and unavoidable) gap in the timetable somewhere around 1200 - 1400 on my day out and about. Otherwise it's a case of just trying to grab something from somewhere in-between trains

Other than that looks pretty solid to me.

 

[Kristofferson]

Thanks for the tips, 306024 and ainsworth74. They'll definitely be of use. I'll look at reversing my 90 and 395 moves to avoid the set down restriction if possible.

43074 - yeah I realise the GWML can be a bit awkward - think my backup plan is to push everything back by an hour if things go to pot!

 

[Kite159]

One of my issues when on bashes is forgetting to fit in time for lunch/dinner, normally requiring quick visits to any shops on the station/near by for a Sandwich.

Thankfully Paddington has a very reasonable Sainsburys Local located on it, where it's the opposite end to the H&C platforms [probably quicker to head down to the District line and change at Edgware road], the £3 meal-deal is shockingly good value for money.

 

[Techniquest]

I have the same issue as Kite159 usually, meaning by the time I actually stop and eat it's much later in the day eating than I should be doing so!

I've learnt to budget (well, most of the time!) for food/drink on trips since last year, just need to start learning to plan meal breaks better. Easier said than done mind when you're doing a shack scratch mission with nothing around!

 

[Hadders]

There is a Sainsburys Local at Sheldon Square which is a bit closer to the H&C platforms than the one at the front of the station.

Come out of the canal exit, turn left and walk along the canal, go under the road bridge and the store is on the left.

https://goo.gl/maps/RInza

 

[ainsworth74]

I'm far from convinced that there is enough time in the OPs plan to get food at Paddington. It's also worth considering that their plan calls for lunch at Reading not Paddnington

 

[Hadders]

I'm far from convinced that there is enough time in the OPs plan to get food at Paddington. It's also worth considering that their plan calls for lunch at Reading not Paddnington

Agreed - the OP has left sufficient time to get to St Pancras but probably not to get food as well.

If it were me I'd buy supplies from M&S at STP if time allows, having made the underground journey.

I merely mentioned the Sainsbury's at Sheldon Square as it might be useful to other forum members at some point

 

[noddy1878]

One of my issues when on bashes is forgetting to fit in time for lunch/dinner, normally requiring quick visits to any shops on the station/near by for a Sandwich.

Thankfully Paddington has a very reasonable Sainsburys Local located on it, where it's the opposite end to the H&C platforms [probably quicker to head down to the District line and change at Edgware road], the £3 meal-deal is shockingly good value for money.

Agreed. I always fear missing something!

 

[causton]

Paddington to Kings Cross St Pancras takes 10 minutes every time I take it. That is just the journey itself though, not accounting for getting to, from, waiting for the train, signal problems, delays etc... 30 mins should be tight but ok though!

 

[Kristofferson]

Thanks all, I'm hoping there are acceptable food outlets in or around Reading station..!

Just need to look at the pick up/set down restrictions on GA 90s in a bit more detail - the last thing I want is GA (that bastion of customer service and leniency) telling me I don't have a valid ticket

Then I'm all set and all that remains is to time those tube journeys and find a free day!

 

[FQ]

I doubt you will get checked on the journey from Stratford-Liverpool Street so you should be fine even with the barriers at Liverpool Street. I have done that move twice (both with 90011) and I was fine.

 

[Kristofferson]

OK cool, thanks