47403
Established Member
Just a quick mention on the 90's, I did have them all for sight but then someone decided to convert half them, meaning 025-050 became 125-150, meaning I never ever got to clear them again. Then they converted them back, in my rules I had to find them again, meaning I still need 90033(stored in CE) and serial avoider, 90046 are still required. I must've seen every other 90 Again now, bar these 2. 90046 is commonly on the Cally sleeper, that is, unless I go looking for it, then it decides to have a rest away from my prying eyes.. 90033, I'm sure was in a line of demic 90's, outside CE, when I went past on the WAG with 67023 but I have no record of it.
Well done 55013, clearing them all for haulage, not a bad feat at all.
Anyway..................
Mad panic, this morning. I'd set the alarm for 7 to get breakfast and be out early, only I slept through it, the late night before had obviously caught up with me, I nearly passed out when I woke up at 08.35, I wanted to be on Norwich station at this time today. I quickly freshened up, went downstairs and asked if I could order my full English, no beans for 9. Robert the owner, said, no problem, I quickly grabbed a mug of coffee, went outside, had a quick ciggy, then bombed upstairs, hoyed everything in the mobile house, then had a quick shower, putting my toiletries back in the bag and after, making the bed and a quick double check, to make sure I'd left nowt, I charged downstairs, for breakfast. I got my full English with toast, washed down with Apple Juice and another coffee. A sheer culinary delight, I was so stuffed, I wanted to go lie down again, however I had no time to waste, I quickly checked out and thanked Robert for a very enjoyable stay, shook hands and at 09.35, I was outta there.
On the agenda today was meant to be a whizz down to Ipswich and then from there line to Lowesoft. A quick look at RTT, whilst walking down to the Station, showed the 10.05 short set to Lowesoft, so my plan was altered, especially when I saw I had a +20 at Lowesoft for a unit down to Ipswich. I barged into the M&S on the station and bought a big bottle of coke, some crisps, haribo's and a chicken n bacon sarnie, £9 odd the lighter, I traipsed through the barriers, getting the coaching stock off the 2 GA sets in platforms 1 & 2.
Nothing else around so I jumped aboard the short set, with duds 68021 and 68016. I dumped the mobile house in the front seats, in the front coach and made my way to the drop light window. As we left, we passed 66130 in the Yard, getting a rake of ballast wagons filled with erm, ballast. As we come up to Crown Point, I can see a GA 156 at the front of the shed, split into 2, I nearly fell out the window, it looked like 156416, I stared at it, that's 156416, however I doubted it, so I set about finding out if it was indeed 156416. I'm informed 156416 isn't diagrammed for anything today, so that could be why, especially if it's split in two. Good news too, 156422 is out n about round Ipswich.
I settled back and let the Cats loudly purr there way to Lowesoft, as we arrived I saw a 170 stabled in the station, I was hoping for a 156, not to worry though, another entry to the book of sights, so at least my run down to Ipswich would be with all round winner 170271. I went for a ciggy and saw an older guy, who'd asked me, if I knew what the 66 was on the Yard at Norwich, coming out the station. I quickly collared him, Excuse me, I don't suppose you saw what the 156 that was on Crown Point did you? He looked at me and said, The one that was split, Yeah that one, I desperately replied. He looked at his notebook and replied, Oh Yeah here it is, it was 156416, I could've kissed him, instead I was beaming, I said, oh thank you, I thought it was but wasn't totally sure, very much appreciated. Only 156422 to find then. I stood rather contentedly, wishing I had time to whizz down to Maccy D's, for a coffee. thinking I'm late out as it is and knowing my luck, I'd get caught in a mega queue and miss my ride down to Ipswich. I had to be content with a mega slug of coke instead.
I climbed aboard 170271 on the rear coach and found a table to myself, about 2mins from leaving a young lad gets on, with his Maccy D's, it smelt divine, I shouldn't be hungry but I was, I dragged my sarnie out the bag and if we'd been playing TOP trumps, his big macc, just wiped the floor with my chicken and bacon sarnie, however he pulled a can of Kestrel Super Strength out the bag too. I thought wow, Lowesoft's McDonalds sell beer, industrial strength beer too. Wouldn't have been my choice to accompany my burger n fries, at the best of times, nevermind at 11.20 in the morning. Not long after, his phone rang, he then starts to shout, Mam I'm on the train, Yeah I'm off for an interview now. Really, I thought, in a tracksuit, that looks like you've slept in it and your having, a can of Kestrel Super Strength, with a Maccy D's, well yeah Good Luck with that son.
The trip down to Ipswich was largely dull, apart from Super Strength guy's innate ramblings on his phone, to whoever would answer him, however at Saxondale or whatever its called, Super Strength guy left the train and as we were stood in the station, a 156 pulled into the other platform, I rose from my seat and stood by the door, as we pulled away, I'm stood trying to get the number off the cab end, my eyes went like saucers, it was none other than 156422, I was chuffed to bits, just 3 to clear them all for sight now.
We ploughed on past the boat yards and eventually into Ipsswich, what a chore it was but the lines done, if your going shack scratching on that line, Good Luck. I'm greeted into Ipswich by 86637 and 86605 on a south bound Intermodal, I love the 86's, old stagers on the railway scene but bloody good ole workhorses. Into the station and I see 90043, is parked up on the stabling point. Maybe it's just me but I like the 90'S in this freightliner livery, think they really suit it, not as much as they did in he InterCity livery mind but canny anyway.
I walk further down the platform and see 70010 is still here off last night but there's another 2 entries for the Book Of Sights, when 66590 and 70008 kindly donate themselves to the cause, Lovely. There's a guy working on the stabled 66557, one of the side panels is open, he climbs down and asks the guy in the cab to rev it, he climbs back up, then a few seconds later, he starts waving his arms to stop, slams the door panel and climbs down, shaking his head, as he and the guy from the cab walk away from the seemingly stricken 66.
Another Dusty Bin enters the book of sights, as does 7 coaches from a 9 car rake, going to Liverpool Street. I then miss a whole rake, due to having left the hold button(basically a lock) on my Dictaphone, thus talking into a Dictaphone that's not recording. You stupid tit, I utter to myself. I decide, sod it, it's time for a coffee n ciggy. I get a large Cappuccino and make my way over the bridge, through the barriers and off the station. Outside I met by three lasses all with bright pink hair, one comes over for a light and I'm startled that, the lass is actually a very camp lad, in skinny jeans and converse boots. Anyway, he says thanks and minces back to his pink haired throng.
I get back onto the platform and I've just missed an Intermodal, I walk back over the bridge and decide, its time to move on. I'm on Platform 3 about 5mins when a DVT approaches, I'm at the top end of the platform, so I just jump on and take my chances, I decide to ride up to Norwich and see what's floating round there. We get up to Ipswich Goods Loop Junction, where the Intermodal I missed is parked, oh well at least I get to see what was on it, I tell myself, I see the loco and start laughing, thinking you jammy sod, another gap filler to the book of sights, 66502 is a very welcomed addition and takes me down to 14 freds for sight.
Arriving back in Norwich, I get off and walk back to the top of the platform to see which skoda brought me here, I'm happy I jumped on too, it's winner 90015, I wander down the platform, to see what's kicking round in for a short leap somewhere.
I notice a winner in the form of 158856 a quick check of RTT shows I have a +15 at Thetford and have +10, for one, maybe 2 winner 90's, there's one I especially want to get and I know it's on the 16.30 to Liverpool Street. So I hop on 158856, where the guard informs all on board, that this train is for Liverpool Lime St, not Liverpool St and if by the end of this journey, your expecting to see the Thames, then your going to be in for a bit of a shock.
Anyway soon enough, we're off and the guard asks to look at my ticket and asks if I'm off to see the Queen, cos if you are, your on the wrong train. Thetford mate, I tell him. Oh you might see some there too and we both laugh and he says, your tickets fine then.
I arrive at Thetford, a place I've never stood foot in before, I walk down the platform and exit the station by the foot of the foot bridge. I have a ciggy here and look at the old signal box, which reminds me of the one I used to stand beside, with my pencil and paper with my cousins, watching scabby multi's going past(101's in old money), when I was a mere 6yr old. A shame they're all disappearing rapidly from todays Railways, also a shame it's all boarded up too and not in use. I walk over the footbridge and onto the other platform. Whilst stood there, I soon find out that Thetford has a Dad's Army museum, I somehow resist the urge to shout, Don't Panic!, as I see my connection back to Norwich is 5 down. Actually by the time it arrives, its only 3 down and it's winner 158770 back.
By the time 158770, arrives in Norwich, we're pretty much bang on time, as we come into the platforms, I see the skoda I've been after. Before renumbering ,the last 90 I needed was 90010 and the last time I last seen it, was from the bridge at Tyne Yard, I think it was in RES livery then and was parked up, in the middle of 3, awaiting a turn on the Low Fell-Kings Cross afternoon parcels. Nowadays I live 5mins walk away from a spot you can observe that very same Parcel Bay, 90010, would leave from. So to et it into the book was my way off, of paying some form of homage to my last 90 and a local turn, it sometimes found itself on. Nowadays it's a bit of an Albino, livery wise but it was still nice to get it in before I left.
I climbed aboard the 16.30 for my penultimate Class 90 move, winner 90010 for a move down to Diss, I'd have liked to further on 90010 but I had to be on the 17.52 from Norwich, to get to Peterborough, in time to connect with my blunt home at 20.16. So Diss it was.
On the way to Diss, I wondered if my last 90 of the trip would be a winner, I had severe reservation's I'd scored a fair few over the last 3 days. I was soon bailing at Diss, the weather had took a turn for the worse, the rain was getting heavier, not great if you were having a ciggy, a woman, with a brolly, also having a smoke said, here get under the brolly your getting drenched, I said cheers and we had a bit yack, putting the worlds to rights, 5mins later dud 90002, took me back to Norwich. I couldn't complain with the dud, the Greater Anglia experience has been extremely productive for me.
At Norwich I wandered off Platforms 1 and 2 for the last time, till god knows when, I went through the barriers and went into AMT and got a large white coffee, came out and went through barriers with my Anglia plus (which co-incidentally, opened every barrier, without a problem all trip) for the last time but not last trip, I was using it to Ely, where my single to Peterborough would be used. Last move of the Rover, was dud 158810, ah not to worry, bang on time off we went and after seeing Crown Point for the last time, I reflected on a brilliant time. Still Peterborough to come yet, it was too dark to see if anything was in March.
I threw in my earphones into my dictaphone and wrote up todays notes, before checking how many cops would be added to the Book Of Sights total. For now I settled back and waited till we got to Peterborough.
to be continued
Well done 55013, clearing them all for haulage, not a bad feat at all.
Anyway..................
Day 3
The Last Day
Mad panic, this morning. I'd set the alarm for 7 to get breakfast and be out early, only I slept through it, the late night before had obviously caught up with me, I nearly passed out when I woke up at 08.35, I wanted to be on Norwich station at this time today. I quickly freshened up, went downstairs and asked if I could order my full English, no beans for 9. Robert the owner, said, no problem, I quickly grabbed a mug of coffee, went outside, had a quick ciggy, then bombed upstairs, hoyed everything in the mobile house, then had a quick shower, putting my toiletries back in the bag and after, making the bed and a quick double check, to make sure I'd left nowt, I charged downstairs, for breakfast. I got my full English with toast, washed down with Apple Juice and another coffee. A sheer culinary delight, I was so stuffed, I wanted to go lie down again, however I had no time to waste, I quickly checked out and thanked Robert for a very enjoyable stay, shook hands and at 09.35, I was outta there.
On the agenda today was meant to be a whizz down to Ipswich and then from there line to Lowesoft. A quick look at RTT, whilst walking down to the Station, showed the 10.05 short set to Lowesoft, so my plan was altered, especially when I saw I had a +20 at Lowesoft for a unit down to Ipswich. I barged into the M&S on the station and bought a big bottle of coke, some crisps, haribo's and a chicken n bacon sarnie, £9 odd the lighter, I traipsed through the barriers, getting the coaching stock off the 2 GA sets in platforms 1 & 2.
Nothing else around so I jumped aboard the short set, with duds 68021 and 68016. I dumped the mobile house in the front seats, in the front coach and made my way to the drop light window. As we left, we passed 66130 in the Yard, getting a rake of ballast wagons filled with erm, ballast. As we come up to Crown Point, I can see a GA 156 at the front of the shed, split into 2, I nearly fell out the window, it looked like 156416, I stared at it, that's 156416, however I doubted it, so I set about finding out if it was indeed 156416. I'm informed 156416 isn't diagrammed for anything today, so that could be why, especially if it's split in two. Good news too, 156422 is out n about round Ipswich.
I settled back and let the Cats loudly purr there way to Lowesoft, as we arrived I saw a 170 stabled in the station, I was hoping for a 156, not to worry though, another entry to the book of sights, so at least my run down to Ipswich would be with all round winner 170271. I went for a ciggy and saw an older guy, who'd asked me, if I knew what the 66 was on the Yard at Norwich, coming out the station. I quickly collared him, Excuse me, I don't suppose you saw what the 156 that was on Crown Point did you? He looked at me and said, The one that was split, Yeah that one, I desperately replied. He looked at his notebook and replied, Oh Yeah here it is, it was 156416, I could've kissed him, instead I was beaming, I said, oh thank you, I thought it was but wasn't totally sure, very much appreciated. Only 156422 to find then. I stood rather contentedly, wishing I had time to whizz down to Maccy D's, for a coffee. thinking I'm late out as it is and knowing my luck, I'd get caught in a mega queue and miss my ride down to Ipswich. I had to be content with a mega slug of coke instead.
I climbed aboard 170271 on the rear coach and found a table to myself, about 2mins from leaving a young lad gets on, with his Maccy D's, it smelt divine, I shouldn't be hungry but I was, I dragged my sarnie out the bag and if we'd been playing TOP trumps, his big macc, just wiped the floor with my chicken and bacon sarnie, however he pulled a can of Kestrel Super Strength out the bag too. I thought wow, Lowesoft's McDonalds sell beer, industrial strength beer too. Wouldn't have been my choice to accompany my burger n fries, at the best of times, nevermind at 11.20 in the morning. Not long after, his phone rang, he then starts to shout, Mam I'm on the train, Yeah I'm off for an interview now. Really, I thought, in a tracksuit, that looks like you've slept in it and your having, a can of Kestrel Super Strength, with a Maccy D's, well yeah Good Luck with that son.
The trip down to Ipswich was largely dull, apart from Super Strength guy's innate ramblings on his phone, to whoever would answer him, however at Saxondale or whatever its called, Super Strength guy left the train and as we were stood in the station, a 156 pulled into the other platform, I rose from my seat and stood by the door, as we pulled away, I'm stood trying to get the number off the cab end, my eyes went like saucers, it was none other than 156422, I was chuffed to bits, just 3 to clear them all for sight now.
We ploughed on past the boat yards and eventually into Ipsswich, what a chore it was but the lines done, if your going shack scratching on that line, Good Luck. I'm greeted into Ipswich by 86637 and 86605 on a south bound Intermodal, I love the 86's, old stagers on the railway scene but bloody good ole workhorses. Into the station and I see 90043, is parked up on the stabling point. Maybe it's just me but I like the 90'S in this freightliner livery, think they really suit it, not as much as they did in he InterCity livery mind but canny anyway.
Another Dusty Bin enters the book of sights, as does 7 coaches from a 9 car rake, going to Liverpool Street. I then miss a whole rake, due to having left the hold button(basically a lock) on my Dictaphone, thus talking into a Dictaphone that's not recording. You stupid tit, I utter to myself. I decide, sod it, it's time for a coffee n ciggy. I get a large Cappuccino and make my way over the bridge, through the barriers and off the station. Outside I met by three lasses all with bright pink hair, one comes over for a light and I'm startled that, the lass is actually a very camp lad, in skinny jeans and converse boots. Anyway, he says thanks and minces back to his pink haired throng.
I get back onto the platform and I've just missed an Intermodal, I walk back over the bridge and decide, its time to move on. I'm on Platform 3 about 5mins when a DVT approaches, I'm at the top end of the platform, so I just jump on and take my chances, I decide to ride up to Norwich and see what's floating round there. We get up to Ipswich Goods Loop Junction, where the Intermodal I missed is parked, oh well at least I get to see what was on it, I tell myself, I see the loco and start laughing, thinking you jammy sod, another gap filler to the book of sights, 66502 is a very welcomed addition and takes me down to 14 freds for sight.
Arriving back in Norwich, I get off and walk back to the top of the platform to see which skoda brought me here, I'm happy I jumped on too, it's winner 90015, I wander down the platform, to see what's kicking round in for a short leap somewhere.
I notice a winner in the form of 158856 a quick check of RTT shows I have a +15 at Thetford and have +10, for one, maybe 2 winner 90's, there's one I especially want to get and I know it's on the 16.30 to Liverpool Street. So I hop on 158856, where the guard informs all on board, that this train is for Liverpool Lime St, not Liverpool St and if by the end of this journey, your expecting to see the Thames, then your going to be in for a bit of a shock.
Anyway soon enough, we're off and the guard asks to look at my ticket and asks if I'm off to see the Queen, cos if you are, your on the wrong train. Thetford mate, I tell him. Oh you might see some there too and we both laugh and he says, your tickets fine then.
I arrive at Thetford, a place I've never stood foot in before, I walk down the platform and exit the station by the foot of the foot bridge. I have a ciggy here and look at the old signal box, which reminds me of the one I used to stand beside, with my pencil and paper with my cousins, watching scabby multi's going past(101's in old money), when I was a mere 6yr old. A shame they're all disappearing rapidly from todays Railways, also a shame it's all boarded up too and not in use. I walk over the footbridge and onto the other platform. Whilst stood there, I soon find out that Thetford has a Dad's Army museum, I somehow resist the urge to shout, Don't Panic!, as I see my connection back to Norwich is 5 down. Actually by the time it arrives, its only 3 down and it's winner 158770 back.
By the time 158770, arrives in Norwich, we're pretty much bang on time, as we come into the platforms, I see the skoda I've been after. Before renumbering ,the last 90 I needed was 90010 and the last time I last seen it, was from the bridge at Tyne Yard, I think it was in RES livery then and was parked up, in the middle of 3, awaiting a turn on the Low Fell-Kings Cross afternoon parcels. Nowadays I live 5mins walk away from a spot you can observe that very same Parcel Bay, 90010, would leave from. So to et it into the book was my way off, of paying some form of homage to my last 90 and a local turn, it sometimes found itself on. Nowadays it's a bit of an Albino, livery wise but it was still nice to get it in before I left.
On the way to Diss, I wondered if my last 90 of the trip would be a winner, I had severe reservation's I'd scored a fair few over the last 3 days. I was soon bailing at Diss, the weather had took a turn for the worse, the rain was getting heavier, not great if you were having a ciggy, a woman, with a brolly, also having a smoke said, here get under the brolly your getting drenched, I said cheers and we had a bit yack, putting the worlds to rights, 5mins later dud 90002, took me back to Norwich. I couldn't complain with the dud, the Greater Anglia experience has been extremely productive for me.
At Norwich I wandered off Platforms 1 and 2 for the last time, till god knows when, I went through the barriers and went into AMT and got a large white coffee, came out and went through barriers with my Anglia plus (which co-incidentally, opened every barrier, without a problem all trip) for the last time but not last trip, I was using it to Ely, where my single to Peterborough would be used. Last move of the Rover, was dud 158810, ah not to worry, bang on time off we went and after seeing Crown Point for the last time, I reflected on a brilliant time. Still Peterborough to come yet, it was too dark to see if anything was in March.
I threw in my earphones into my dictaphone and wrote up todays notes, before checking how many cops would be added to the Book Of Sights total. For now I settled back and waited till we got to Peterborough.
to be continued
Last edited:
hock: meaning today's haul had been another very productive day, roping in another 32 cops. The rest of the journey was in total darkness, so with nothing to see I just settled back and let 91128 take the strain. We were a few down into Toon but my flat mate picked me up, and by 11 o'clock, I was in the house eating sausage n chips with curry sauce, with a bottle of Boon Doogle. I went to bed, happy, less stressed but knackered and slept through till half 9 the next morning.
