Noddy's Trip Reports

[FQ]

Shame about the car ride, and the lack of Avenger in the evening. 68011 isn't a bad cat, honest . I decided not to go for the walk between Denham Golf Club and Denham when I was down there, as I didn't want to risk it.

 

[noddy1878]

Good news on the new earphones working well!

A mega shame about the 68 not producing, but what a top haul overall! I've been there and done it flagging winners while waiting for something, admittedly I forget what right now, and getting mighty tamping when the expected winner failed to turn up! I believe it was Kite who originally said about getting the winners as they appear, and I obviously nicked that philosophy from him!

You've right proper got me wanting a spin on Chiltern territory, as I'm sure you've guessed. Quite, I've got some ideas floating around now...

Working very well indeed! Very pleased with them so far and really comfortable. As for a spin on Chiltern, I just wish there was an easier way to try and clear the 165s!

Shame about the car ride, and the lack of Avenger in the evening. 68011 isn't a bad cat, honest . I decided not to go for the walk between Denham Golf Club and Denham when I was down there, as I didn't want to risk it.

I was prepared to wait for the hour and bit but glad I made it. It opened up the moves for Little Kimble and Monks Risborough to be bought forward which meant I got the Bubble for more miles and then the 68s (even though they were dud!).

 

[Segedunum]

Ouch on the 68 not producing.

Thankfully it went my way a few weeks ago when I flagged 168325 (required) at Banbury and ironically, 68011 came rolling in behind which I needed at the time!

Just 68009 and 68015 to get out of the Chiltern lot.

Sent from my LG-K350 using Tapatalk

 

[Kite159]

Ouch on the 68 swap, but well done on getting Islip into your book on a reasonable connection, plus some more Chiltern shacks

Ouchie on the long drives each way with traffic jams thrown in as well

 

[noddy1878]

Ouch on the 68 not producing.

Thankfully it went my way a few weeks ago when I flagged 168325 (required) at Banbury and ironically, 68011 came rolling in behind which I needed at the time!

Just 68009 and 68015 to get out of the Chiltern lot.

Sent from my LG-K350 using Tapatalk

008 will fall for me eventually I am sure.

Ouch on the 68 swap, but well done on getting Islip into your book on a reasonable connection, plus some more Chiltern shacks

Ouchie on the long drives each way with traffic jams thrown in as well

Not many Chiltern shacks left now. The most awkward ones being the Stratford Upon Avon branch ones.

 

[Techniquest]

Oh pish, they're SO much easier than they used to be. Don't LM's hourly Stratford-upon-Avon (via Dorridge) call at both of those intermediate shacks? If so they are well easy to do! You can do it just on Chiltern services of course too, with a little bit of festering, as I did them that way, but you guys have it much easier now!

68008 annoyed the living daylights off me for ages, but it did eventually fall for me so I suspect it will be the same for you Noddy. Actually I seem to recall 68012 was almost as bad for avoiding me, and let's not get into 67014 and it's irritating failure to produce for months for me!

 

[noddy1878]

Oh pish, they're SO much easier than they used to be. Don't LM's hourly Stratford-upon-Avon (via Dorridge) call at both of those intermediate shacks? If so they are well easy to do! You can do it just on Chiltern services of course too, with a little bit of festering, as I did them that way, but you guys have it much easier now!

68008 annoyed the living daylights off me for ages, but it did eventually fall for me so I suspect it will be the same for you Noddy. Actually I seem to recall 68012 was almost as bad for avoiding me, and let's not get into 67014 and it's irritating failure to produce for months for me!

I've not looked at the timetable for those shacks in detail so they maybe easier than I think. Will be a little while before I look at those ones I think. I have so many other more exciting little trips I can do first!

 

[noddy1878]

7th May 2017

Pretty much every year since I have been back in this game I have gone to the Swanage Diesel Gala. This year would be my 5th year in a row. If I can, I normally try for the Saturday so I can enjoy the beer festival. Due to the way my work rota falls I can only make the Sunday on some years and this year is one of those years! Quite early on many of the visitors announced were disappointing as I didn’t need any of them but the Peak. I was then relying on the GBRF and COLAS locos being supplied. When these were announced it was just the COLAS loco I needed! I didn’t need either the 66 or the two 73s!

I thought long and hard about whether to drive all that way for two locos. The peak I would be able to get at Severn as I am planning to be there too. So it was just the Grid I would really be going for!

In the end I decided I would go. Who knows, I may never have the opportunity to get the 56 again and I thought a lot of people have put time and effort into the gala and I should support it, after all it is one the ‘closer’ railways to me! Also my wife was away with friends for the weekend so I may as well make the most of it! I left the house just after 0600 and made my way along the south coast. I rang my mum en route to wish her happy birthday and also spoke to my dad. The weather looked like it was going to be good. No traffic issues like the previous trip I arrived in good time but the clear skies had gone! Cloudy! I was also feeling a little under the weather! Please don’t let this be what I was suspecting it was!

I parked up at Norden and went and got my ticket. Priv rate as I am a CAMRA member made it a reasonable £18. It wasn’t long before there was some movement. 56096 (winner for sight) arrived with 47192 and 45041 (also winner for sight). They should have gone into the loop but were platformed meaning they had to go out and come back in.

20170507-Norden-45041 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

20170507-Norden-56096 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

A short while later D6515 arrived with the coaching stock that would form the first train off Norden for the day.

20170507-Norden-D6515 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

45041 was then attached to the rear which would now be the front and gave me my first winner of the day meaning it was now in the book (so I guess if there were any issues before or during the Severn it didn’t matter). I took this all the way to Swanage where I had about 10 minutes before my next train. I went to get my mug for a fiver (meant free tea for the rest of the day) but they didn’t have any diesel mugs left! I didn’t want a normal one so I left it. I jumped onto the train in the adjacent platform and headed north behind double dud Eds 73961 and 73119.

20170507-Corfe Castle-73119, 73961 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

Corfe Castle was the cross over point I chose and over to other side for the big winner of the day, 56096 leading 33111. This was taken back to Swanage where I had a swift walk to the other platform for the Choppers. Sounding awesome as always I didn’t stay on this long. I bailed (along with quite a few others) at Herston Halt for the shack. This meant I had cleared all the shacks on the railway after just five years of trying!!

20170507-Herston Halt-D5343 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

It was a 20 odd minute wait now for visiting 26043 (previously had at is home railway of the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway) to arrive and roll back down the hill to Swanage. It was time for 45041 again to take me to Corfe Castle.

20170507-Corfe Castle-45041 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

It was time for the Choppers to return and a good run back to Swanage.

20170507-Swanage-D8059 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

I spotted someone I knew but missed him which was a theme that day. Whilst it was busy, I have seen it busier but it was busy enough to keep losing sight of him!

Now was time to get some lunch. So I popped down to Gregs and got a Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich. I also popped into the Coop to get cake and then went and took photos and some video which I had instructions to send to my wife for our best friends kid (that’s where she was for the weekend)! He loved them!

Next up was time for the 66 and 73 combo. 66741 “Swanage Railway” and 73119 we had to Norden and back.

20170507-Swanage-73119, 66741 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

20170507-Norden-66741, 73119(2) by Steven Booth, on Flickr

It was now time for a proper run behind 26043 to Norden. From here the 56 and 33 took charge again back to Swanage where the sun had come out.

20170507-Swanage-56096(2) by Steven Booth, on Flickr

My last move of the day was behind 50026! Looking and sounding very good once back at Norden I decided that I should call it a day!

20170507-Norden-50026 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

I was really feeling rough now and the diesel fumes probably weren’t helping! So two winners and one new shack. I did enjoy my day despite that and glad I went. I’m not sure when I’ll next be out as I am not feeling well at all at the moment! If I still feel like I do at the moment on my next day off (I’ve still been going to work, I hate being sick!) I’ll be staying home.

I’ll finish off with some more photos taken form the day. First time I used my SLR this year too.

20170507-Swanage-D5343(2) by Steven Booth, on Flickr

20170507-Swanage-73961(2) by Steven Booth, on Flickr

20170507-Norden-1842 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

20170507-Norden-66741, 73119 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

20170507-Norden-56096, 33111 by Steven Booth, on Flickr

 

[Techniquest]

Bashing while ill, ouch that is difficult to do! Working while ill is even worse!

Looks like I missed out on a fair few winners there, but I think a couple of them are coming to the SVR so all will be good!

 

[noddy1878]

Bashing while ill, ouch that is difficult to do! Working while ill is even worse!

Looks like I missed out on a fair few winners there, but I think a couple of them are coming to the SVR so all will be good!

Only 45041 will be there now although it is rumoured 73961 will be there too! How annoying! Was originally gonna be 73965 (which I need) but instead my highest mileage Ed will now be there!

 

[Techniquest]

Only 45041 will be there now although it is rumoured 73961 will be there too! How annoying! Was originally gonna be 73965 (which I need) but instead my highest mileage Ed will now be there!

I need both of those 73s so it won't bother me. It could still change yet to be 964 which I don't need!

 

[noddy1878]

I need both of those 73s so it won't bother me. It could still change yet to be 964 which I don't need!

I don't need that one either!

 

[Kite159]

Oh pish, they're SO much easier than they used to be. Don't LM's hourly Stratford-upon-Avon (via Dorridge) call at both of those intermediate shacks? If so they are well easy to do! You can do it just on Chiltern services of course too, with a little bit of festering, as I did them that way, but you guys have it much easier now!

68008 annoyed the living daylights off me for ages, but it did eventually fall for me so I suspect it will be the same for you Noddy. Actually I seem to recall 68012 was almost as bad for avoiding me, and let's not get into 67014 and it's irritating failure to produce for months for me!

Nope at the LM services, I believe they are only served by one LM train a day (0553 Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon), the rest of the time it is Chiltern on an odd frequency (i.e.:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/BER/2017/05/10/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=call&order=wtt

IIRC Bearley is a couple miles away from Wilmcote as an escape route if required.

---

Anyhow, sounded like a good loco filled day in Swanage

 

[Techniquest]

I stand corrected on LM then, well those two shacks aren't too bad to do anyway!

 

[Cowley]

The Swanage is a great railway. Liked the photos Noddy. It seems like it's going to be Battle of the Severn Valley gala reports in a couple of weeks .
I'm half tempted to just go lineside and see how many forum members I can spot (not that I know what anyone looks like apart from Shredder 1. Oh and Tech, but even then he'd have to be sitting down concentrating on driving a Western and wearing that hat. You'll know me because I'll be in black and white).

 

[noddy1878]

The Swanage is a great railway. Liked the photos Noddy. It seems like it's going to be Battle of the Severn Valley gala reports in a couple of weeks .
I'm half tempted to just go lineside and see how many forum members I can spot (not that I know what anyone looks like apart from Shredder 1. Oh and Tech, but even then he'd have to be sitting down concentrating on driving a Western and wearing that hat. You'll know me because I'll be in black and white).

Thanks. I'm looking forward to the Severn Valley gala. Hopefully the weather will be better than Swange where it was all a bit overcast.

 

[noddy1878]

Well I didn't go out today. Finances and as it turns out, luck, as the weather has turned. What I had planned would have involved a walk and bit of a fester. Maybe next week.

But I thought I would list what I do have planned for the near future.

May
Diesel Gala - Severn Valley
Bash - East Mids Day Ranger

June
Railtour - The Great Central Lament
Bash - London based

August
3 Day Bash - Central Scotland based

I'm pretty sure there will be other day based bashing trips in amongst that as well but nothing else has been decided upon.

 

[FQ]

Shame about you feeling rubbish - I hope you feel better soon. It sounds like a good day was had at the Swanage, despite the small number of winners.

 

[noddy1878]

Shame about you feeling rubbish - I hope you feel better soon. It sounds like a good day was had at the Swanage, despite the small number of winners.

Feeling a lot better thanks. Monday and Tuesday were the worst of it. If it wasn't for the slight lack of funds and the weather I would have been more than well enough to go out today. Better long term I haven't. Got loads done at home which was a good thing.

 

[noddy1878]

20th May 2017

My last outing was the Swanage Diesel gala and despite the lack of winning traction and the 'Spring Cold' I managed to get (which I'm still suffering the after effects of!) I had an enjoyable day! The Severn Valley however promised to be so much more!!

I was going with my dad this year and the day I could go would be the Saturday. This is normally the day I can't do when something I need is only running that day! The planned loco rosta came out and the only thing I wouldn't be able to get would be 50007 out of what was required. No matter, that will fall in due course as it is now based at the SVR.

With the plan put together of what we would go for we were all set! Priority was locos that would be red penned and then it would be a case of some Hoover, Western, Chopper, Deltic and Clayton action! This was going to be a good day!

By the end of day one of the gala, the plan was already going wrong. 88003 was no no longer running on Saturday due to lack of crew. I don't care what Tech says about it not being rateable I wanted a red pen in the book which clearly I was no longer getting. 73965 was also now no longer running due to an issue with it. So now it was only the 14, 60 and 66 I needed. I was still determined to have a good day!

0430 on Saturday came and the alarm went off! I got up and had a shower before heading downstairs. Dad was already downstairs and I made the tea whilst we had breakfast. We had planned to be out the door at 0515 but we were ten minute ahead of schedule. With the traffic being more or less non existent and with no mishaps on the way we got to Bewdley just before 0800. Excellent! Half an hour before the first train, so this gave us time to grab a tea and sausage sandwich!

Once devoured we went over to the bridge to wait for what would be a very busy train being led by 60100. Looking good in its DB red livery (I do quite like it) we left 10 minutes late. Unfortunately we ended up near the back due how busy it was.

It was a fast run through to the terminus at Bridgnorth with no stops on the way. Having arrived ten late we opted to stay on board. Mainly because we due out again shortly and the platform was heaving! The loco (that we had dragged with us) that was now in charge was 47828 was also hanging way off the platform so decent photos weren't going to be had. 47828 is a recently preserved loco residing at the Dartmoor Railway. The last time I had seen it, it was in DRS livery but I had seen pictures of it now in Inter City Swallow livery!

We left one minute down, but we'd easily make that back at the next passing loop and it was nice to hear 47828 at work! We arrived at Bewdley pretty much bang on time and waited for the train coming the other way. We waited and waited and waited and waited and waited. We waited some more and then a little bit more. Eventually we were told about a signal failure at Kidderminster. After what felt like an eternity 50008 arrived and eventually we were allowed to go! We stopped again on the approaches to Kidderminster station. We finally arrived 2 hours and 13 minutes after leaving Bridgnorth, 40 minutes late. The timetable was right up the creek now!

The next train we were due to catch was what would have been one of the 88's diagrams. The good news was 73965 had been repaired and was taking the place of 88003! We went for this just in case it didn't run its own diagram later! Not knowing when it would actually leave, we joined the train once we saw it being coupled up. We were beaten by most people so again ended up at the back.

We set off at 1230 and arrived at Bewdley at 1245. We now had to wait for D9551 to arrive. It did actually arrive quite soon but was going nowhere. We had to wait for the next Bridgnorth train to arrive. When we finally did go, a lively D9551 was finally in the book. Three down one to go!

By now trains were being cancelled and no one seemed to have a clue of what was running when. The next train we definitely needed to be on was the 66 hauled one. We knew we would have had a bit of time so it was time for a late lunch. Struggling to find much at the station itself we popped out the front of the station and headed to the chippy opposite. Clearly a lot of people had this idea and they were doing a roaring trade!

We arrived back at the station just in time as the heavens opened! We ate our fish and chips and then went in the shop for the next cock up! I decided that I would buy the SVR Diesel DVD at the £5 special price! The guy behind the till made a right hash of trying to process the transaction! To cut a long story short I got back to the hotel (Tewkesbury was base camp where I was staying with the missus and my parents) to discover I had an expensive DVD case! No DVD! I rang the shop immediately (it had gone 1900 by now) and was surprised someone answered the phone! I explained I had a case and no DVD and as soon as I mentioned the faff, the lady said she knew exactly who served me and a DVD would be posted out to me on Monday! Let's hope by the time I get back home, a week Monday (after the weekend me and the missus are heading to my in laws), it will be waiting on the door mat!

After all that, we had bit of a look round at the various stalls and then decided the rain had eased enough to head to the TMD. No sooner had we started our walk over, the rain came down even heavier! Quite drenched when we got there it literally stopped once we got under cover!

We had a look round and took plenty of photos. Here 88003 was sat in the depot taunting me. Everyone else I knew had already had it the previous day! After we had spent a bit of time here we started to head back to the station. Guess what? The heavens opened once more! Guess what? It stopped when we got to the station!

That was it for the rain. The Deltic was arriving a few minutes later and we headed out to the platform. The next loco to take that train out would be 50031. This was the first time I got to see it in it's Inter City livery! I've got to say it looks stunning! What could have been?

With a very spirited departure (got a great video) I really wanted to be behind it. Once I got my final requirement for the day I was going to chase it!

The next train off Kiddy would be 66771 which I also needed for sight. Another busy train with loads of people standing saw us leave at 1550. Once at Bewdley we got 31271 which had followed north. We could have taken this to Bridgnorth but I saw that we could get to Hampton Loade for the shack, get the pair of 20s forward to Highley and then the 50 to Bewdley. So this is what we did!

Looking and sounding great 20189 and 20205 were had to Highley. A wonder round the Engine Shed here before the arrival of 50031 for our final leg of the day back to Bewdley. We'd had enough. Really not knowing what was happening with the timetable and the cancelled trains we decided to call it a day and head to Tewkesbury. It meant we were there an hour earlier than the agreed time with my wife and mum.

So that was the SVR Diesel gala for me! I appreciate everything that the organisers and volunteers do/did and I know these things happen (or in this case several) at galas, but of all the galas I've been too it was certainly the most frustrating and was to be honest glad when we were heading back! I'm glad I got everything I needed, but it was annoying I couldn't get everything I wanted! No Deltic! No Western! No Clayton!

I've not sorted my photos yet but as soon as I have, I'll add them to this post.

 

[Techniquest]

Wow things really did get bad for you! The rain sounds like my visit to Skye in 2006, oh my days that was nasty to the point of pouring water out of the footwear! I was certainly glad to leave Kyle later on with a 47!

I get the red pen thing with 88003, but honestly in terms ot thrash my washing machine makes a more enjoyable noise. I came close to flagging it when I then saw how rammed the train was, as I could have got home an hour and a bit earlier.

A non-stop run up the Valley will have been rather awesome I suspect. I am glad to see you got all the available winners, and if it makes you feel any better about it I didn't get the Clayton either. I need that as well! It was truely frustrating to leave needing this much:

D8568
31271
45060
47192
50008
66771
73965

Which gives you an idea of how good the lineup was for me!

 

[noddy1878]

You needed quite a lot then! I didn't even need that much hence the plan to go for what I wanted after I got what I needed! Just didn't happen! The last trip on the 50 did make things better though!

 

[37038]

Wow things really did get bad for you! The rain sounds like my visit to Skye in 2006, oh my days that was nasty to the point of pouring water out of the footwear! I was certainly glad to leave Kyle later on with a 47!

I get the red pen thing with 88003, but honestly in terms ot thrash my washing machine makes a more enjoyable noise. I came close to flagging it when I then saw how rammed the train was, as I could have got home an hour and a bit earlier.

A non-stop run up the Valley will have been rather awesome I suspect. I am glad to see you got all the available winners, and if it makes you feel any better about it I didn't get the Clayton either. I need that as well! It was truely frustrating to leave needing this much:

D8568
31271
45060
47192
50008
66771
73965

Which gives you an idea of how good the lineup was for me!

I needed 9 locos when I arrived. Did the full thee days and got all the modern locos out the way on the Thursday. Lucky I did the 73 when I did as it failed on my red pen run with it!
Getting most of the winners out the way early doors leaves lots of time for beer and round trips. Especially avoiding the Kidderminster melee on Saturday with 3 very sociable round trips with 55022 50031 and 50008. Which culminated in a very thunderous tunnel thrash with Thunderer to round off the event in style!

Anyone else witness the biblical weather on Friday? half inch of hailstones on the platform at Hampton Loade!

 

[Cowley]

Ah well chaps. Just like a summer Saturday in the 80s when a pair of 31s gave up on the sea wall and doomed everything.
I saw the 88 go past dead on the back of something on the Friday and I do feel a bit sorry for those that went especially to get it. Unfortunately that's the way it goes sometimes.
Great weekend though.

 

[FQ]

Shame about it being a very frustrating day, with the signal failure, the weather, the e-cat and the DVD. Hopefully the DVD will have been sent to you OK.

 

[Cowley]

Anyone else witness the biblical weather on Friday? half inch of hailstones on the platform at Hampton Loade!

We did. It was absolutely nuts. Here's 31271 in the almost snow

 

[noddy1878]

Wow! Looks like a very wintery scene with the 31!

 

[Cowley]

Wow! Looks like a very wintery scene with the 31!

It was surreal Noddy. It had been warm and sunny earlier.

 

[Techniquest]

It was surreal Noddy. It had been warm and sunny earlier.

It was indeed nice weather earlier in the day on Friday, I only saw the rain come down and not the hail. That photo of 31271 with the hail does indeed look like a winter scene!

 

[noddy1878]

The week after the SVR Gala my time was spent with a week in Derbyshire staying with my in laws. Half of the week we were with my father in law with the later half spent with my mother in law. I had already planned a day out to go bashing and as luck would have it, Saturday was the day I could do it. Leading up to the Saturday a few shacks had already been scratched through normal days out with my wife.

Matlock Bath fell on the Wednesday and Furness Vale and Chapel-en-le-Frith fell on the Thursday (with plenty of walking in between). None of the units travelled on were winners though but the new shack visits were a bonus.

So Saturday finally came after an awesome day at Alton Towers the day before. I had gone to bed relatively early but didn’t sleep that well. Probably because I was excited about the trip and knowing I was going to be up early meant I was subconsciously keeping an eye on the time. 0500 came and the alarm went off. I was up and showered before a bowl of cereal devoured. I was out the door at 0535 and set off on the 3 mile trek to the station. It was a pleasant enough morning and was warm. At this stage I was quite happy with my choice of clothing, shorts and t shirt! The weather forecast was suggesting rain later before clearing up again, but the temps would remain high which should be alright.

My walk to the station was via Darley Abbey and the park towards Derby City centre. The Chemical Bros on random shuffle kept me company (some of their early stuff from the late 90s was just amazing!). I skirted round the city centre and soon enough found myself passing the Alexandra (complete with 37 cab in the car park) and the Brunswick. Would I have time for a pint in there later? Once at the station I parted company with £36 (I’m sure this has gone up!) and got my East Mids Day Ranger. Glad it was a Saturday as it meant I could start earlier getting better value for money!

At some point today I should be meeting Dave so it was going to be a mix of shack scratching and train hunting. My main aims for the day was to see if I could get my last there East Mids power cars and my final east mids 153 and 156. A request for gen was made and I boarded my first train of the day, 156410 and off I went to winning shack Tutbury & Hatton. As we left Derby 31452 was stabled just outside and I spotted a required HST power coming off Etches Park. I worked out what it was doing to see if I could get that later.

Once at Tutbury it was over to the other side (via level crossing and platforms are staggered here) for the 14 minute wait for a lost 158889 to appear. I sat in the declassified first class for the trip back to Derby. Well nearly, Peartree was my destination. I had half an hour here. I left the station (and you have to leave to cross to the other platform) via the gated exit which can only be opened by pressing a button to get out. Once I had found the button though the forest that had grown around it, I spotted a McDonalds which decided where I would spend the next 20 odd minutes. After a Double Sausage and Egg McMuffin was had, it was back to the station to be interrogated via the intercom before being let in! I was caught off guard! I pushed the button and waited for the connection. Once connected I asked to be let onto the platform. Why I was asked! So I could catch the train I said! Which train? Where are you going? What time is it due? Blimey! I stuttered my way through those questions (and I hadn’t quite decided in my mind where I would be bailing en route which made me sound really unsure of what I was doing) and I was eventually let in! I’ve never been to a station quite like it and it is unmanned!

A few minutes later Dogbox 376 arrived and on I got. By now I had decided where I was heading which was Longton. Headphones off for some DBT for the next 32 miles I got to Longton to meet the rain and a severe drop in temperature! Hmmm, not great. I also noticed the bus shelter on the other platform already full of people! Doh! I made my way down to the exit and waited under the railway line where it was at least dry. I headed back up to the rather busy platform about a minute before 156410 made a reappearance. It was very busy and noisy so my headphones went back on. Evanescence this time! Great band, so wish I had seen them live I few years ago when they played in Plymouth.

I bailed Uttoxeter where it was still raining but thankfully the bus shelter here is big and after crossing to the other side went in. A shortish wait saw 153311 arrive and I was back in the Crewe direction once more bailing at Blythe Bridge for the final shack needed on the Derby to Crewe line. I now had half an hour to wait before the next train back to Derby. The rain had stopped so I went for a wonder in the direction of the Foxfield Railway. I’ve never been to it before and still haven’t! It was further than I could be bothered to walk and needed to get back to the station anyway. At least I only had a 10 minute wait when I got back. Oh, the sun was back out too! Bonus!

153376 returned and it was all the way back to Derby on this. When I arrived I spotted an HST in platform 1. The back power car was 43049 and not required. I got to the front and it was 43061. Very much required. I few checks of RTT and I had a note of what that was doing for the rest of the day. Result. Next up was to head out to Leicester on the first thing that came in to get me there in time (just) for what should be the HST I had spotted earlier at Derby when I left for Tutbury. I think, if my memory serves me correct I had a bit of gen come through but wasn’t of any use as I couldn’t get to one of the units the other wasn’t running and no HST gen came through.

222008 came in from Sheffield and I jumped on. I then checked to see if I needed it. I did! Bonus. I had to get on anyway. Just as we left I spotted another Meridian arriving and noted that I needed that too! A few more checks to see what it should do and noted. A good run was had to Leicester (non stop) until we were just outside! No! I had a plus 4 in theory if all ran to time but this was now looking tight! In fact by the time we got into the station and stop the HST I needed was already in and waiting! I pegged it over to the other side and only just made it! But made it I did! 43075 leading the train with winner 43064 on the back as we set off for Nottingham.

As East Mids Parkway Dave got on. The next 30 odd minutes would be the only time we would see each other all day the way things worked out. From Nottingham we boarded 222015 as my mate needed it. A short run to Beeston would see me get the following train onto Derby whilst my mate went in the other direction on a winning unit he needed. 156401 was very noisy indeed on our way to Derby. I had a little bit of a wait for the next train that should have been 222019 if I worked it out right. I hadn’t!

222002 came in and I boarded it for lack of a better plan. It was non stop to Leicester once more. I had a bit of time before the next train I definitely needed to be on so I looked at a move to Barrow upon Soar for the shack. 153308 took me there where I had 20 odd minutes to wait. I need a PNB so popped to the nearby pub for a drink (wasn’t just going to go in and use them!). It was then back to the station for 156413 back to Leicester. I had also seen the Meridian missing in action pass by. So I checked what it was doing (again) and noted it down. Back at Leicester I had twenty minutes to wait before my planned HST.

It arrived and 43061 and 43049 took me to Derby. I was thankful when I arrived and a late running 222101 was at the station. Made my next decision easier. No waiting I jumped on and onto East Mids Parkway I went. My next move (worked out after my mate had seen a required 222 earlier and I worked out it's diagrams) wasn’t for a couple of hours so took the opportunity to clear the shacks between Nottingham and Leicester.

156414 arrived and onto Syston for a twenty minute wait for it to return and take me to Silbey. I had a longer wait here and went or a wonder. The weather was annoying me and the wind had got up and the promised temperatures never materialised. It was at this point I was on the verge of calling it a day once I got back to Derby after the next train I needed (which would take me there anyway).

The problem was there were two more units out that I could get too. Decisions, decisions. I got back to Leicester and went to get a tea. I made my mind up helped by the lack of festering involved for my next four movies that should bag three winners. 222003 took me to Derby. I spotted 222017. If the next three moves worked out right, this was my final 222 required for haulage! The problem was it was running ECS to Corby and that was it for the day! So close! I jumped onto 170639 to Beeston where I waited a short while for 222019, the unit that had got away earlier! Finally!

I took this to Loughborough for the 20 minute wait (in the waiting room out of the wind) for 222104 back to Derby! I had a great day. With effectively no gen the thrill of the chase was good today. I have now got my East Mid requirements down to one of everything except 158s! A grateful lift was waiting for me when I got back to Derby.

Another trip the next day with my wife to go for a walk in the Hope Valley, bagged me 142038 with Hope and Bamford shacks cleared.

I will now add that over the course of the last few days I have been writing this, I think this may be my last report or at least cutting down. I haven’t decided fully yet but I have been doing some thinking and I have too many other things to do and this is taking away little time I have.