Noddy's Trip Reports

[47403]

Just caught u[ with these Noddy, great read and some excellent photo's too. Some very productive days had there, hats off to you clearing both Greater Anglia's DMU's and the 455's, top effort indeed.

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like an very productive day in London, well done for clearing the 455s (makes note to try and search my last 2 Southern 455s)

The West Somerset line is on my list of things to do

 

[andyb2706]

Just caught up with your reports from Anglia/London and the West Somerset Steam Gala and a couple of great reads.

Congratulations on clearing the Anglia track, that must have taken some doing and patience along with the units. I have to say though as a railway worker myself I am disgusted at the response of that train driver to you as you quite rightly pointed out you had a valid ticket and were not trespassing and to be honest I might have gone a bit further and reported the driver. He is an employee of a company that is supplying a service to a passenger, which in todays jargon means you are a customer....do you think in a supermarket and employee would speak to a customer like that!? And the incident of the Flying Scotsman still does not excuse the way he spoke to you.

Looks like a good run around London and why is it whenever you visit London and come away thinking you have done well you never seem to make much of a dent in your requirements? or is that just me?

Some cracking photos from the West Somerset Steam Gala as it looked like you had beautiful weather for the event.

Looking forward to your next report.

 

[45135]

Good idea to do the halts on the West Somerset, normally only the main passing points seem to get a look in! I particularly like this photo - a bit of steam can be very atmospheric.

20160310-Bishops Lydeard-80043 (80072) by Steven Booth, on Flickr

 

[Techniquest]

Andy: I have the same problem, I still need loads despite some good days in London last year. I really want to do that full week in London, alas my holiday time will not stretch that far. A 3 day marathon bash is tempting in August mind...990 requirements on LU and 56 on DLR alone for me, plus all those 450s, 455s, 456s and plenty more besides still remain...

 

[Kristofferson]

Great reads! Loved the 37s (pretty sure it's been almost a year since I hatched a plan to try those...) and the heritage report. Super productive time out on the rails around London too!

 

[noddy1878]

Sounded like an very productive day in London, well done for clearing the 455s (makes note to try and search my last 2 Southern 455s)

The West Somerset line is on my list of things to do

It's a good line because whilst it is long there are plenty of passing points. Great for galas.

Just caught up with your reports from Anglia/London and the West Somerset Steam Gala and a couple of great reads.

Congratulations on clearing the Anglia track, that must have taken some doing and patience along with the units. I have to say though as a railway worker myself I am disgusted at the response of that train driver to you as you quite rightly pointed out you had a valid ticket and were not trespassing and to be honest I might have gone a bit further and reported the driver. He is an employee of a company that is supplying a service to a passenger, which in todays jargon means you are a customer....do you think in a supermarket and employee would speak to a customer like that!? And the incident of the Flying Scotsman still does not excuse the way he spoke to you.

Looks like a good run around London and why is it whenever you visit London and come away thinking you have done well you never seem to make much of a dent in your requirements? or is that just me?

Some cracking photos from the West Somerset Steam Gala as it looked like you had beautiful weather for the event.

Looking forward to your next report.

Yes the driver seemed to be having a bad day. I don't agreed with any of what happened with the Flying Scotsman and just made it look bad for the rest of us good ones! As for London requirements, I know what you mean and I have had a good chunk of it! To make matters worse there is a whole load of new stuff coming which will just increase my requirements list by 100s! I guess it's a good excuse to keep going back!

I have one more report to write up to be up to date. Looking at doing it tomorrow.

Good idea to do the halts on the West Somerset, normally only the main passing points seem to get a look in! I particularly like this photo - a bit of steam can be very atmospheric.

Thanks. The sun was in a very annoying place when I took that one and it didn't come out too bad.

Andy: I have the same problem, I still need loads despite some good days in London last year. I really want to do that full week in London, alas my holiday time will not stretch that far. A 3 day marathon bash is tempting in August mind...990 requirements on LU and 56 on DLR alone for me, plus all those 450s, 455s, 456s and plenty more besides still remain...

I agree. A whole week would absolutely nail a whole load of stuff but there is too much elsewhere! London is one of the easier places for me to get too so if I have multiple days thats why i don't tend to do London.

Great reads! Loved the 37s (pretty sure it's been almost a year since I hatched a plan to try those...) and the heritage report. Super productive time out on the rails around London too!

Thanks. I need to do more heritage steam if I can.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
22nd March

With the exception of my visit to the West Somerset it had been a month since I had been on the National Rails, when I started my FONW with my dad! Work and things to do took priority so this trip was well needed. Tickets for this had been booked on the 11th Jan which meant reasonable ching! The reasonable ching also meant the earliest start in Plymouth, 0509. I drove to the station (no way I was walking that early!) and went and retrieved my tickets. It was then onto Platform 4. I checked what was on the rear, 43137, which has now joined 4 other power cars for clearing 1000 miles. 43195 was on the front but didn’t know that until I got to Paddington.

The trip went via the world to London but I had my iPad with my today to try out the new Sky Q app. That certainly made the trip fly by as I started watching some of Stan Lee’s Lucky Man. I was gripped to be honest and watched 5 episodes back to back completely ignoring the outside world! Also got to admit I’m quite impressed with Sky Q. Very slick and being able to watch what ever I have recorded in two rooms and being able to stream and take recordings with me is handy. Just need a Sky Q app for iPhone so I don’t need to bring the iPad!

I digress! Once at Paddington I headed straight to the District/Circle line to head to Victoria. I just missed a train thanks to the meandering women who was getting in everyones way. If you are going to walk slow just keep to the left and walk straight! It was another 10 minutes before a train finally came. 21483 and 484 were required even if they were going the wrong way so I got on and got off at High Street Kensington (didn’t realise I needed this stop!) for the Circle line unit behind. 21490 and 21489 were taken to Victoria where today’s games would commence.

First up I needed a Boundary Zone 6 ticket to Three Bridges. None of the card machines were working so it was lucky I had cash on me! Even luckier I only needed £9.60! If I carry money on me it’s normally no more than £10! With my ticket got a headed over to the GatEx platforms. A train was about to leave so I jumped on only knowing the rear unit number, 442416 which was a dud. I walked through the train until I got to the middle where I discovered 442412 was leading. A dud! Never mind!

At Norbury I spotted my first 387/2, 387214. A slow run to Gatwick (we got there 9 late) and nothing I needed when i got there. I looked at the time of the next 442 diagram and realised I had time to head to Three Bridges and back. The reason was 377435 and winning 377408. Waiting to leave was 387111 and 387108. Good 387111 was needed so I jumped on and headed back to Gatwick.

I had a few minutes to wait and see if the next 442 was needed. Good! 442421 arrived and was a winner. So I jumped on and it was into London we went. When we arrived things were not good! I hung around waiting for a required 442. One was already in the platform we came in on so clearly was going no where which was annoying as I needed it. After 15 more minutes the next one arrived and it was needed. Problem was it dropped into platform 12 which meant going round! So off I went and then I realised Victoria was falling over. None of the PIS were working and the dateline staff seemingly knew nothing. So we were all waiting to get on. Eventually another unit came in over on platform 14 (which was also needed). After another 13 minutes waiting they said Platform 14 was the first one that will leave so we all headed round only to see it leave with none of us! Cheers Southern!. I waited here now not knowing if the unit in 12 would be leaving. Eventually another pair of 442s arrived where I needed one and this did work the next service to I got on. That was a fun hour!

So with 442404 leading 442420 I headed once more to Gatwick. At Gatwick I saw a pair of 387/2s. 387207 and 387213 appeared to be on driver training as they were empty and left. I was here for 442s but I wasn’t having much luck but I wasn’t standing around doing nothing. 387101 and 387122 arrived on a Three Bridges service so I jumped on.

20160322-Three Bridges-387101 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

I let a couple of trains go as they were dud before 377445 and 377423 arrived. That will do very nicely! A pair of winners to Gatwick. Once there I spotted a 387/2 on the fair side on Platform 7. I pegged it over as it was in service. Once there I realised it was on a Thameslink service. 387201 was attached to 387104 so I got on for my first 387/2. So once more I was at Three Bridges.

20160322-Three Bridges-377111 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

I grabbed a photo of 377111 arriving with a south bound train whilst I was waiting for my train back to Gatwick. I didn’t hang around and jumped on the first train to Gatwick. If I had worked things out correctly a winning 442 should be behind. 73212 and 73119 passed through the station before I even realised they were there and 442407 with 442415 duly arrived.

Off to the capitol again. Once here I stayed on as I needed to be at Gatwick for what should be a winning 442 returning from Brighton. A couple of cancellations along with what had happened earlier meant getting these 442s were hard work today! The cancellations were due to planning apparently. Once back at Gatwick I grabbed a photo of 442415.

20160322-Gatwick Airport-442415 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

I was right about the next 442 from Gatwick and I jumped onto 442414 which was leading 442421 (a winner earlier in the day they have been joined somewhere). It had taken a while but I was finally picking up the 442s that were out that I needed. Last one was 442422 which was waiting at Victoria. So with the last trip of the day back to Gatwick once more I had finally done what I needed to do. It took longer than I had hoped but I couldn’t control the cancellations and chaos at Victoria.

377463 and 377417 arrived into Gatwick and I got on this. I took this as far as East Croydon. I annoyingly saw a 442 I needed that was on a London Bridge evening peak service. Very annoying. I also saw the pair of 387/s on driver training earlier looking like they were now in service. I had found it odd I hadn’t seen any working GatEx trains all day.

Time was getting on and I had no chance of getting either so after letting a few trains go 377427 eventually took me to Victoria. Once here I headed to McDonalds for something to eat. After that it was down to the Circle Line. Things went well down here!

21392 and 21391 were first up to South Kensington. As I got off I spotted winning 21448 and 21447 heading the other way so I jumped on (handy island platform!) to Sloane Square. A third winning S7 train then rolled in. I jumped on 21496 and 21495. I was going to take this straight to Paddington. This changed though when I spotted a wining D Stock train in the bay at High Street Kensington! Risky move as I had no idea how easy it was for me to get back! So 7509 and 8007 to Earls Court. I saw another D stock unit in the platform as I arrived so I pegged it over. Nice, it was off to High Street Kensington. Even better when I realised I needed half of it! 7519 and 8046. Now I really did need to get to Paddington. 21318 and 21319 arrived a few minutes later and on I got.

I then went off to find my train. The 2037 off Paddington is easy to get a seat on so I ignored my reservation and found a seat in Coach C which would mean I could jump off at Plymouth and be straight out the door! 43015 and 43161 left on time and we arrived 2 early. Trip back was quick especially as I had fallen asleep for most of it!

A somewhat frustrating day at times but I had now whittled down my 442 requirements to 4! Will I clear them before they’ve gone? Time will tell. 713 miles travelled today and 25 winning units (mainly thanks to the flurry of winners as I headed to Paddington.

That’s all my trips up to date now. I was heading to London next week with a mate but this has been cancelled (but for a better trip a couple of days later) but I am still tempted to see if I can get to London anyway, those 442s are tempting me……

 

[FQ]

A thoroughly good read and it sounds like you had a great day except the Viccy problems! I've never had a 442 but want to get one before they go. I don't think it'll be possible for me before they go though because next weekend isn't available (I'm on a forum meet in London but won't get to Gatwick at all) and the weekend after I'm at the Nene valley railway diesel gala. Then I'm probably bound to home for the weekend after!

 

[noddy1878]

A thoroughly good read and it sounds like you had a great day except the Viccy problems! I've never had a 442 but want to get one before they go. I don't think it'll be possible for me before they go though because next weekend isn't available (I'm on a forum meet in London but won't get to Gatwick at all) and the weekend after I'm at the Nene valley railway diesel gala. Then I'm probably bound to home for the weekend after!

They will be keeping some (six i think) for services in the evening peaks for Southern for a while so still a good chance to get them. It's just the Gatwick's where they won't be used.

 

[James Wake]

Another excellent read, Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport being two of my local stations (Crawley being the third).

387201/2/3 are on loan to Thameslink for a while as they were having some serious stock shortages.
I missed an opportunity to get one a month or two back, then last Saturday a right place right time with no gen got me 387202/201 from East Croydon to Three Bridges. A bit annoying that it was an 8 car despite the board advertising 12, but still got one of the last remaining seats.

 

[Kite159]

I believe there is only one 387/2 diagram on Gat Ex at the moment, one of the evening peak services to Gatwick and back to Victoria. So still time young Quinn to try and get one on a Gat Express working.

Sounded like a good day in London Noddy

 

[Techniquest]

Despite the cancellations, an excellent day on the Brighton Main Line! I am curious how many 377s you need after all those you got. 81 for me, in case you're wondering.

Some good fortune on S stock, I need to get on and fill my boots on the SSL as soon as possible, although there's still a fair few to come I believe?

 

[noddy1878]

My 377 requirements is 49.

 

[Kite159]

Despite the cancellations, an excellent day on the Brighton Main Line! I am curious how many 377s you need after all those you got. 81 for me, in case you're wondering.

Some good fortune on S stock, I need to get on and fill my boots on the SSL as soon as possible, although there's still a fair few to come I believe?

I think all the S stock has been delivered, bar one or two extras which have been ordered to arrive in a couple years time for the Croxley - Watford Junction link (I'm sure Keith will be able to confirm)

 

[Keith Jarrett]

I think all the S stock has been delivered, bar one or two extras which have been ordered to arrive in a couple years time for the Croxley - Watford Junction link (I'm sure Keith will be able to confirm)

Not all the S-7s have been delivered although they have all been built. There's around 15-20 sets still to come South with about another five delivered but not yet in traffic.

 

[cactustwirly]

There's no where to put them, until more D stocks are decommissioned

 

[noddy1878]

8/9th April
The temptation of the 442s I need, although great didn’t manage to tempt me to London since my last trip, mainly for financial reasons. With a wedding in Newcastle over the first weekend of April it felt like ages since my last trip out. This trip was not really planned until quite late and I am so glad I did it! I should have been working but I was owed a day and I was able to take it for the Saturday!

So I finished work at 2200 (on the dot too!) and headed home for some dinner. It was then off to the station and with the weather being miserable I decided to drive and park at the station. I got my tickets for the next day to Peterborough, for the Nene Valley.

Bang on time, DRS hire in 57310 rolled into station. I was in coach A, having earlier received a text from my mate saying he’d booked seats and noticed 57603 dead on the rear. I found the seats and sat down noticing the lights above weren’t on which was better in my opinion for a night train! We were soon off and I text another mate to let him know where I was.

We got to Newton on time and Pete got on and we were off. Another 20 minutes and Dave would join us and would be the first time in 6 months we had all gone somewhere together! Doesn’t happen often!

Just as we were approaching Teignmouth we came to a halt in the station as if we were stopping there. We weren’t and it soon became apparent that there was a problem. To be fair to GWR we were kept informed about everything. It turned out that 57310 had burst [ed. Later found out a small fire] and was going nowhere. So 57603 was fired up and we headed back to Newton. 57603 was detached and it ran round to the front. By the time we were coupled up and the brake tests were done we left Newton 88L, but at least we were on the way!

We finally got to Exeter and Dave got on! We left and were now 80L! We were 72L when we left Taunton and clearly were re routed up the B&H (should have been via Bristol Parkway originally). I think we all tried to get some kip when we passed Westbury. As it turns out we got to Reading at 0424. If we had left at 0427 we’d have been bang on time. We didn’t (and I have no idea why!) and ended up 21L at Paddington. No matter as it wouldn’t affect the rest of the day and at least we had made it to London!

We got off pretty much as soon as we arrived and already 08843 was at the rear of the train ready to drag to Old Oak Common later.

20160409-Paddington-08483 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

20160409-Paddington-08483(2) by Steven Booth, on Flickr

It was then down to the other end for photos there. First up the shamed 57!

20160409-Paddington-57310, 57603 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

and then the hero!

20160409-Paddington-57603, 57310 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

We then set off to the tube to get to Kings Cross. dud 21335 and 21336 were had to Kings Cross and from here dud 365539 to Peterborough. Nothing particularly exciting was noted en route and we arrived on time. It was then off to find breakfast before we popped into ASDA for something to eat for lunch later. We then made our way to the Nene Valley and got our tickets. First up would be 31452 and 31271 which hauled the Mk3 set to Wansford. Its very odd being in a Mk3 set on a preserved railway but a good job has been done with them. We also said our goodbyes to Dave for a while as he was off to photograph rather than bash (he’d had it all except the 66 which he would meet up with us for later).

20160409-Peterborough-31452 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

Once we got to Wansford there wasn’t much time as we needed to be on the other side for the train back. As it so happens the train was about 10 late (and threw the timetable out for the whole day then basically being 10 down everywhere). Eventually 47192 arrived and we boarded it for Ferry Meadows. Not a very photographical location especially with it being busy but we didn’t have long until 60066 (new for sight also) arrived which we had back to Wansford.

Next up was quite a big one for me. The prototype HST, 41001! We boarded it and again did the move to Ferry Meadows before 47192 returned to take us back to Ferry Meadows. Next was 56006 and 56098 (new for sight also) which we took to Orton Mere. This would be a new shack for me. In the loop and waiting to go, was 50008 hauling the MK3 set back to Wasford.

20160409-Orton Mere-50008 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

20160409-Orton Mere-41001 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

50008 was the only loco we didn’t get that day (but we’d both had it before). We waited at Orton Mere for the return of the 56s. It was a good time to eat lunch as we had a while. Eventually they arrived.

20160409-Orton Mere-56098, 56006 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

We boarded them once more and took them too Wansford for another trip behind 41001 to Ferry Meadows. The pair of 31s were back out and these took us back to Wansford before we had a wonder around the yard.

20160409-Wansford-60066 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

20160409-Wansford-47192 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

Next up was some Teddy Bear action for the first time of the day. D9520 dragged us down to Yarwell Junction where we got off for a photo. A new shack and the Nene Valley (although not hard to do) was now cleared for shacks.

20160409-Yarwell Junction-D9520 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

47712 was a winning 47 to Ferry meadows next. I do like the Scot Rail livery and suits the 47s very well. With that done there was only one more loco left to get. So we got on 56006 to Wansford once more and waited for D9529 to be attached and drag us to Yarwell Junction. Once there 66768 hauled us back the other way. Everything was now done so we stayed on and went all the way through to Peterborough.

20160409-Peterborough-66768 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

That was it! A very good day but time to head home. We had now massive rush to get to the station as we had time on our side but eventually our train arrived. 365517 and 365529 were boarded and it was back to the big smoke!

Once here were dropped to the underground and boarded 21048 and 21049. Good for me, we took it to Euston Square. Behind that was another Met service with 21091 and 092 which was had to Great Portland Street. Finally a Hammersmith unit turned up which was 21355 and 356. This was had to Edgware Road with the hope that whatever was at Edgware would be a winner for anyone! It wasn’t! 21391 and 392 back to Paddington then. We had about 25 odd minutes. We knew what platform were going from already but we had reservations. Off to Maccy Ds for food and then onto the train. 43042 and 43185 did the honours.

A very enjoyable day. 10 winning trains (7 of which were locos), 2 new shacks and 676 miles under my belt!

 

[FQ]

Sounds like you had a great time at the Nene Valley too! I was on a few of your trains there.

 

[noddy1878]

Sounds like you had a great time at the Nene Valley too! I was on a few of your trains there.

It was a good day. They could do with the trains being slightly longer though!

Last trip and I am up to date.

12th April

An old move, but one that I rarely do these days is the 0925 off Plymouth where a Devon Day Ranger would be used. Today would see me get a Devon Day ranger and meet with a mate. We wanted to do some of the shacks on the Barnstaple branch and head to Ilfracombe to visit the spoons there.

I boarded 221133 and headed to Exeter, clearing it for 1000 miles in the process. My mate originally was to meet me at Newton Abbot but he’d gone ahead to do two other stations on the branch I’d already done. At Exeter I boarded a pair of Dog Boxes, 153372 and 153382 (bizarrely my two most traveled on 153’s!). I would be travelling right through to Barnstaple on this and my mate would join at Copplestone.

Once at Barnstaple (feel free to skip the next three paragraphs as it is not train related at all), we had to go for a bus and the usual farce they involve started. Ok, I might be exaggerating on this occasion but I really hate buses! We headed out of the station and there was no indication of what bus stop we needed for Ilfracombe. We inevitably went to the wrong one. Eventually the North Devon Wave turned up (sounds like a radio station!!) but it was only for Braunton! We slowly made our way to Braunton going via what felt like everything. We had to get off at Braunton and wait for the one behind to Ilfracombe.

Once there we went to the Spoons and had lunch and a nice pint of Blue Jay. Whilst here we popped to the other Cask Marque pub (an ale trail app) before going for the bus. As we headed to where we roughly thought there would be a bus stop, we could see it in the distance (where it dropped us off before). It starts there too but as we went past a bus stop there was no indication of what stopped there at all. No timetable! Absolutely nothing! So we ran. We got on (just) and we were off.

It then went round and stopped at the stop we just ran from to get to it! We looked at each other and that’s all it needed! Did I ever say? I hate buses!

Once back at Barny a couple more pubs were visited and then it was back to the station! We boarded 143621 and we started to wonder if our move was a wise one. We were going to go to Eggesford and cross over. Ordinary it may have been ok but it was a road crossing and we weren’t sure if the barrier would go up in time for us to get over to the other side for the train back. We didn’t risk it as it would ruin the plan for the day. We got off at Umberleigh.

20160412-Umberleigh-143621 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

We had a 35 minute wait here so we went for a wonder. We found a pub round the corner. That would be handy later. Back at the station (and in the shelter because the heavens opened) we waited for 143619 and took this back to Barny. We popped over to the Tesco for some more food (we’d bought stuff with us but wasn’t going to be enough!). We got back to the station just in time as the storm we had got away from caught up and it was non stop torrential rain for 25 mins!

Eventually we were off and 143619 once again took us this time to Kings Nympton.

20160412-Kings Nympton-143619 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

About 15 minutes later 143611 and 153329 arrived and it was back to Barny once more. Five minutes later we were off again, this time to Portsmouth Arms. The unusual thing here is the Pullman coach next to the station. 25 minutes wait and 143621 for the 6 mile move to Chapelton.

20160412-Chapelton-143621 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

We now had a walk, just over 2.5 miles back to Umberleigh. We had plenty of time. In fact we had a lot more than we thought. We were going to go to the pub at Umberleigh (which we had spotted earlier) but we got to the station before the Barny train. So we skipped the pub and headed back to Barny for one last time today! This time on 150120 and 143620 (my most travelled on 150 and 143, they were all out today!) which would return to Exeter on. Once at Exeter we waited for the XC train back home, 221129. My mate got off at Newton and I obviously carried on to the Plymouth.

No winners today but I did score four shacks. I am now left with one Barny branch shack to do, four in total left to do in Devon. I also managed 244 miles on my Devon Day ranger, not bad considering we spent a large chunk of time messing about with the bus! All for £6.60 too!

 

[FQ]

Agreed. The MK3s especially! Sounds like a right faff with the buses! Which shacks do you need in Devon?

 

[noddy1878]

Agreed. The MK3s especially! Sounds like a right faff with the buses! Which shacks do you need in Devon?

Lapford, Feniton and Cranbrook for regular service. Sampford Courtenay also required which i plan to do in the summer. So it's four. I forgot Cranbrook earlier when writing as its not on the map I was using to mark them off.

 

[Kite159]

Congrats on some of the more lesser used shacks on the Barney line

Eggesford is a shack you really need to get lucky with, in terms of the level crossing going up between trains

 

[Techniquest]

Two very decent trips there, the NVR sounds like it was great fun. And I still haven't been on the PLEG site yet!

Thank Goodness that sleeper still got you all to London within a reasonable time, considering the delay!

Well jealous of that loco haulage, I need everything you had on the NVR bar 47712. Dud from an SVR gala quite some years ago!

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Noddy, a couple of excellent trips there. And well done on whittling those Devon shacks down to a very acceptable number. As you'll see from my trip report, I wholeheartedly agree that the Nene Valley gala was a pretty good one

That photo of 66768 looks as though it's taking on water - steam powered GM? Whatever next?

 

[andyb2706]

Good read Noddy on your Devon trip and congrats on your shack bashing and what value for money! If my calculations ore right it was roughly 2.7p mile!

 

[alexf380]

A good, cheap jaunt out in the local area never hurts anyone, and this is no exception. Nice one!

 

[noddy1878]

Congrats on some of the more lesser used shacks on the Barney line

Eggesford is a shack you really need to get lucky with, in terms of the level crossing going up between trains

Yes you do. I don't need it so wasn't bothered and my mate can get it easily enough.

Two very decent trips there, the NVR sounds like it was great fun. And I still haven't been on the PLEG site yet!

Thank Goodness that sleeper still got you all to London within a reasonable time, considering the delay!

Well jealous of that loco haulage, I need everything you had on the NVR bar 47712. Dud from an SVR gala quite some years ago!

Have you been on the site yet?

Noddy, a couple of excellent trips there. And well done on whittling those Devon shacks down to a very acceptable number. As you'll see from my trip report, I wholeheartedly agree that the Nene Valley gala was a pretty good one

That photo of 66768 looks as though it's taking on water - steam powered GM? Whatever next?

Thank you. I saw you report and that you had enjoyed it.

Good read Noddy on your Devon trip and congrats on your shack bashing and what value for money! If my calculations ore right it was roughly 2.7p mile!

Yes. Very good value. Think how much cheaper it would have been if we'd stayed on the train all day!

A good, cheap jaunt out in the local area never hurts anyone, and this is no exception. Nice one!

Agreed, but apart from the four stations already mentioned I will need nothing this far west. Well not until the cascades and the 158s are reformed into their original two car formation which I need them in.

 

[Techniquest]

I have aye, so much going on this year that I would love to do. If only I could afford to do the Mid Hants this weekend!

 

[AnthonyRail]

With a Devon day rover could you get on the sleeper exe to Plymouth on the Saturday since there's no restrictions.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

With a Devon day rover could you get on the sleeper exe to Plymouth on the Saturday since there's no restrictions.

Saturday early morning from Paddington,

 

[noddy1878]

With a Devon day rover could you get on the sleeper exe to Plymouth on the Saturday since there's no restrictions.
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Saturday early morning from Paddington,

Yes. No restrictions at the weekend at all.
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I have aye, so much going on this year that I would love to do. If only I could afford to do the Mid Hants this weekend!

Ditto! And if only I wasn't working! And if only the missus would let me! (To be fair she is good for letting me do what I do I feel!)!