#LSGsLuckySevern
Day 2 continued...
Firstly, again many thanks for the kind words and the congrats on clearing the LM 172's. much appreciated folks, your too kind.
So after getting a half decent pic of the Western(my opinion, until I saw other folks pics of it), I wandered over and opened the front door of the 2nd coach, a guy was guarding it with his life, fortunately the one opposite was free for me, so I guarded it with my life too. I called over to the guy opposite, the Westerns going on here, isn't It?. Yeah mate, it's coming to couple up now, he asked, where you off on this? Bridgnorth, my first ever Western for haulage too. he, said, oh enjoy, then added, he was going to meet 45060 at either Arley or Highley, I cant remember which, as I was thinking, WHY?, each to their own though I suppose. As we got ready for the off, more folk clambered on, at the guy opposites door, I joked, your like Belgium, everyone's just marching past you, he laughed and said, Yeah I'm getting it now but you'll get it all the way to Bridgnorth. I laughed and said, Cheers.
Slightly later than billed, all round winner
D1062 (click on pic for the video)
left Kiddy, with the driver easing on the power handle, sparking those Maybach engines into life, giving off thick plumes of smoke, as he moved u a couple of notches, before easing off the power, as we trundled past the signal box and there before us, stood arguably the star attraction and cop
88003 Genesis, have to say, what a crap name for a loco. Anyhow, the driver opened her up once again as we approached the tunnel, I was thinking at that time, yeah it's good when, the power handle goes on but so far there's not enough of it, I want more.
Into Bewdley, where cop (I forgot to mention that earlier)
73965 is awaiting to leave on the next shuttle and whilst we're waiting for the path out, in arrives 50007 with another cop on he rear
66771. Leaving Bewdley, was quite a sedate, then all of a sudden, the driver opened it up, oh sweet jesus, what a noise, between Bewdley and Bridgnorth, that Western tackling the Gradients, was absolutely awesome, especially between Highley and Hampton Loade, them Maybach engines, just thundered joyously.
At Arley or Highley, can't remember now, 45060 was already in, the Peak bashers, bailed en masse, I shook my head at it, It's hardly a secret that I'm no fan of peaks and a split box peak, they just look even more minging, well in my opinion they do. However, what I will say, those looking after that and 45041, have done an excellent job on them, they did look immaculate and a credit to those who toil away on them. Doesn't mean, I have to like the damn things but credit where credit is due. However, we couldn't leave due to the cumbersome thing not being moved far enough down the platform, the back coach, hadn't cleared the points enough, for us to leave. Eventually it was inched forward and we managed to get away.
At one point the driver really opened Courier up, proper thrash n clag ensued, what a noise!!, I was at the window and all I remember saying out loud was, oh f!"$*ing Hell. All too soon, we were approaching Bridgnorth and 55018 was there to greet us for us. What had started a bit pedestrian out of Kiddy to Bewdley, had become one hellish journey forward from there. As debut runs go on the Western, this was a stonker and I doubt I'll leave it so long to get one of its class mates in. I bailed off and went for a ciggy, seeing 55018 leave, as I did. I then went for a pint in the excellent-Railwayman's Arms. I plumped for the Exmoor Gold and plonked my backside down and celebrated getting the Western off my bucket list. A nice pint, that Exmoor Gold, so much so, it didn't take me long to finish it, so I went and got another.
My thoughts turned to the next move, I went out onto the platform and whilst awaiting the next train out, I got talking to a Scottish guy about 2 of my passions, trains and footy. We had a real good natter and a laugh and despite him having an allegiance to Hibs and my fave Scottish team being Hearts, we still, shook hands, with me saying, never thought I'd say this it was a pleasure to meet a hibby, we laughed and I made way onto the stock to be hauled again by 33035 and 73107.
This was fairly lightly loaded, I went to the buffet car and got a pint of Warwickshire Pride or something, it was nowt startling, I sat down and listened to the Crompton and 73 up front, the pint was finished, just, by the time I bailed at Hampton Loade, I wandered down the platform, over the crossing and onto an awaiting winner
88003. It was rammed, I stood in the front coach vestibule, I could hear many mumbles of discontent, one guy turned and said, Cant believe you've bailed them for this, I said yeah, why's that, it's a brand new loco. Maybe so but my washing machine at home, makes more noise than this, he replied. In total fairness, he wasn't wrong, a big shame the clock work Cat lived up to its name plate, the band hold exactly the same appeal to me too, I think like many of us, we were expecting a similar type of thrash, the real Cats give up. Still, however much bad press the 88 got at the gala, credit to both the organisers on the SVR, for asking for it and DRS delivering it, good bad or indifferent, at least we got the chance to sample it and be able to express our opinions on it. I bailed off back at Bridgnorth and attempted to get a picture of the 88, 3 times, I had a decent one lined up, well in my opinion, before some tit, walked bang in the middle of it, I gave up and attempted to make my way down to Kiddy on cop
D9551, HOWEVER THE QUEUE TO GET OVER the bridge was massive, when I eventually did, the train was rammed, I thought, oh sod this, I looked in the booklet and the next one out was a winner, albeit it'd be my last move of the day, by the time I got back to Kiddy. I decided to go out the station and had a ciggy and return to the Railwayman's Arms and got another pint of Exmoor Gold, getting a pic of sorts of 88003, shunting the stock into the platform, on the way. Suppose being temporarily stranded here, had it's benefits.
I finished my pint off and walked back onto the platform to see the loco, that was effectively taking me home, leave the station and reverse back into the platform, I was in a prime position, no sooner had it come to a stand, when I hopped on the coaches and bolted straight down the coaches overhanging the platform and got the droplight window, here I was staying.
I stood listening to winner
50008 idling over, trying to think, when I last had a 50 on the mainline, must be late 80's, early 90's at least. I was snapped out of my day dream, as we left Bridgnorth, with some very impressive EE thrash(click on pic for video)
as the driver certainly had no problems letting loose on the power handle. The ride at the drop light with Thunderer, was a total joy, she was in fine form. After an elongated wait at Bewdley for D9551 coming the other way. Leaving Bewdley, the driver, opened up Thunderer again, a mixture of noise and clag, was just fine by me, as we rolled down towards Kidderminster, getting one last bit of EE thrash as we passed the depot.
Unforrtunately this was my last move, I'd have loved to stay longer but I had an appointment with a train home. So before I left, I got a couple of final pics of the day.
What a day I'd had, yeah I missed out on some 47 action but I'd made the most of the day, a load of winners, some more additions to the book of sights, plus I've actually got a Western for haulage, knocked off the bucket list. I was happy with my lot and walked off to the other Kidderminster station.
Lo and behold after a short while, winner
172331 arrived, to take me and many other cranks back to Moor Street. The journey back, certainly seemed to go quicker than it did to get to Kiddy. I bailed at Moor Street and after a quick butchers to see if there was anything kicking round, there wasn't, I left for the walk over to the bat cave. After getting a coffee, I walked into Smiths and got a meal deal for the train. I walked down onto the platforms and promptly added
153371 to the book of sights, a XC HST, came in and I thought, ooh, is it one of the 2 rakes I'm after to clear the XC HST coaches, the answer was no.
Soon after, my excuse of a train rolled in, to finish off what had been two great days on the rails, they say all good things must come to an end. So it came to pass with winner
220014 for the journey home. It was rammed too, as if voyagers aren't uncomfortable enough, they're worse when chocker. To make things worse, behind me, I had Mr Cholmndley Warner on the phone, talking price margins and such bollocks, the guy next to me, was on the phone from departure at New Street, till after Doncaster and that was even going via Rotherham and Mexborough. then at York he rang the missus to say he'd be 45mins, he was at York, only getting off the phone at Darlo, before leaving the train at Durham.
My mood wasn't helped, that I forgot about Burton, we flashed by the demic loco's and I thought, s#*t, I wanted to be ready for there, there's gronks among them I need for sight too. At Derby 37608 and 31452, top n tailed a coach, in a siding by the Station. Wether it was in preparation for or had been on the shuttles to Barrow Hill that day or not, I'm not entirely sure. By the time we arrived in York, my legs were dead, and my patience, was wearing thin, with bloody the guy on his bloody phone. I just wanted of this overgrown smartie tube, as soon as. The next hour dragged like hell, at least after Durham I could stretch out a bit, with Busby's departure. Not surprisingly, I had my bag ready coming over the King Eddie Bridge and made for the door. I was delighted to get off, the fresh air was a god send. A left home too, plus some spag bol, ready to heat up, if I wanted it.
Afterwards I reflected on what had been 2 very profligate days, ending up with 65 cops, countless winners for haulage and a bigger hole made in the Midlands requirements. The Gala was excellent, well done to all at the SVR. My personal highlight of the Gala was D1062, brilliant fun, what a noise they make but 33108, was a little star too.
Thanks again for all the kind comments, hope you all enjoyed the read.
Kind Regards
47403
20170518_121344
33035 & 73107
88003
50008 DROPLIGHT PIC
20170518_160705
50008 AT THE BLOCKS 2
50049
, toy bow n arrow set.