Palmersears' Jaunts

[Techniquest]

Fair enough, without a doubt the magic will arrive again soon. To be fair, after the wonders of London the Midlands will have been tame in comparison!

 

[47403]

Not a bad little day there, must admit I'm surprised you got a train home so early mind. Certainly filled the books somewhat! Jealous of your haulage with 68008 mind...

Very good read again Mr Palmersears, Glad you opted for a jolly on the cat, another Cat Virgin bites the dust. Im of the same opinion as tech, thought you'd have played out a bit longer, however still a very productive day, clawing in those loco's and units at a rapid rate.

Have to agree, I too like Moor Street, a very nice station and not just because of the Cats, it's a much better experience than the bat cave.

 

[Techniquest]

It's also far nicer than Snow Hell! Moor Street is certainly a nice station to visit, spent much time there over the years. 150s, 172s, 168s, 67s and of course 68s now to go there for

 

[Kite159]

Quite a good haul in the West Midlands there

 

[FQ]

Sounds like a great day but I can't believe you got a 221 all the way from Leamington to Stockport via Coventry... Awful...

1S51 is the return working of 1V44, which I saw that morning, strangely on my way to Mancc! It was 43357 and 43285. When you headed to my neck of the woods, I headed to yours!

 

[palmersears]

Very good read again Mr Palmersears, Glad you opted for a jolly on the cat, another Cat Virgin bites the dust. Im of the same opinion as tech, thought you'd have played out a bit longer, however still a very productive day, clawing in those loco's and units at a rapid rate.

Have to agree, I too like Moor Street, a very nice station and not just because of the Cats, it's a much better experience than the bat cave.

The ride on 68009 was the highlght of the day I think. I vaguely remember doing it a few years back, it's a nice smooth ride, the interior is excellent, and you get up to quite a speed!

Quite a good haul in the West Midlands there

Thank you, Kite. I did enjoy it, but as I've noted I don't think my heart was really 100% in it. Still, cannot complain at 78 new additions to the log

Sounds like a great day but I can't believe you got a 221 all the way from Leamington to Stockport via Coventry... Awful...

1S51 is the return working of 1V44, which I saw that morning, strangely on my way to Mancc! It was 43357 and 43285. When you headed to my neck of the woods, I headed to yours!

Much obliged for the 43!

As for the 221, I don't find them that bad. Sure they aren't as good as a 68 (I contemplated getting that back to Moor Street and then just doing the 221 from New Street), but as long as you're in the middle away from the loos they're fine.

A note on today, I was down in Stockport early doors to get some stuff from B&Q, so whilst I waited for it to open I watched firstly 70004 pass over the viaduct, heading back to Basford Hall from the possession at Acton Grange, before the top and tail efforts of 66507 & 66605 doing likewise. I might head out to see if this will run later, but if not then that's me done for a busy week!

Next week I may see if the TOPS thread can help me track down the remaining 220s, 390115 and the Northern 319s I require, but other than that it'll be a quiet week I imagine, just the odd 66s/70s going through Piccadilly, and maybe the odd 142. Don't hold your breath though!

 

[Techniquest]

Good news on the Freightliner sightings today, 3 more steps closer to completing the mammoth task! All those new trains over the coming couple of years in the London area mind...

 

[palmersears]

Good news on the Freightliner sightings today, 3 more steps closer to completing the mammoth task! All those new trains over the coming couple of years in the London area mind...

Don't remind me!

Though by the same token us poor Northern folk should be getting some new stock some time before 2078 or something, so I might get something new to look at eventually!

I also see the above Victoria - Basford Hall working did eventually run, almost 2.5 hours late! Glad I gave that a miss.

 

[Kristofferson]

I agree, if you're not feeling it then give it a rest. You don't want it to become like work

New Street tip - use the B end.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[palmersears]

Nothing to report today, just a question regarding Crewe. How easy is it to spot the comings and goings through salop goods junction and the lines that run under the main station? Google Maps shows the station car park is adjacent, is the line visible?

I may look to head down for an evening and pick up some loco numbers, but there's no point if I can't see owt!

 

[jayalongtheway]

Nothing to report today, just a question regarding Crewe. How easy is it to spot the comings and goings through salop goods junction and the lines that run under the main station? Google Maps shows the station car park is adjacent, is the line visible?

I may look to head down for an evening and pick up some loco numbers, but there's no point if I can't see owt!

There is a bridge which leads from the north end of Platform 12, the line is visible from the other end of this.

 

[Techniquest]

I think there is a view of the lines from near the station. Turn left out of the station entrance, just past the station I'm sure there's a bridge over the avoiding lines that gives a good view. However I haven't gone to it for more years than I care to remember, so I could be imagining it!

 

[palmersears]

There is a bridge which leads from the north end of Platform 12, the line is visible from the other end of this.

Excellent. Where does said bridge lead? And are staff happy to let you access it?

 

[Kite159]

Excellent. Where does said bridge lead? And are staff happy to let you access it?

I think going by posters the staff at Crewe are spotter-friendly, as long as you tell them what you are doing and not getting in the way

 

[jayalongtheway]

Excellent. Where does said bridge lead? And are staff happy to let you access it?

I think it goes to a car park, can't see any problems you being there it's not restricted or anything as far as I know.
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This is the view but the caption suggests the bridge may be due for demolition so I guess you'll just have to take your chances that it's still there.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/97686...o9Q-dd8nrr-aEgomW-bqDQS8-86rge7-eH8BKy-dFmbkg

Stafford may not be a bad bet?

 

[palmersears]

Thank you all. I'll just have to go down and see if the bridge from P12 is viable, if not it'll be onto the road I think!

jay: I've a preference for Crewe as it's only 30 minutes from work, meaning I can get there for 5 and then spend a good 4 hours there. Stafford is a bit too far away to do after work.
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Very little to report this week, with just the two new additions to the log, in 175005 & 220032, taking the remaining units in each class down to two and one respectively (Am I right in thinking 175004 is currently in pieces at Chester?). I caught the back end of the 16:35 freight through Piccadilly on Tuesday, but haven't been able to identify the loco, and then caught it on Wednesday only for it to be a dud Hopefully I'll catch it today.

To keep me occupied, and after the below ramblings on Crewe coupled with Kite's excellent evening out I may try and get down there on Tuesday evening for 3/4 hours, but the next big trip is London again on 11 June.

I'm there from 09:30 until approximately 17:30 (want to be back home in time for England/Russia at 20:00) and thus far all I know is that I have to meet a friend in the Herne Hill area to give them some wedding stuff, so will get that out of the way first. Is it worth hanging around there for an hour or so to hoover up the TL and SE stuff? If so then I'll spend a couple of hours there, but after that I'm not sure what I want to attack. I see the C2C stuff is heading into Liverpool Street for the weekend, so Bethnal Green might be a rich source of number, again for a couple of hours, before possibly on to Finsbury Park to begin making inroads into the GN stuff coming out of Kings Cross and Moorgate.

After that I have no idea! London Bridge needs a seeing to at some point, but no idea how to approach that with all the works going on, and I also need to get out to Neasden or some such to grab a few more Chiltern units.

Then I have an evening in London (16:30 onwards) on the 14th of June, before a meeting on the 15th, where I plan on going to West Ealing for some freight and GWR action, or Clapham Junction for some Southern and SWR gap plugging.

In summary, help!

 

[Techniquest]

Plenty of decent spots at Herne Hill, either end of the island platforms will do just fine. Bethnal Green will certainly get you tons with the addition of c2c services.

London Bridge may be better waiting until Charing Cross trains can call there again, which I believe is August. That way you can veg out at the eastern end of platform 6 and get the Southern stuff too. Alternative could be New Cross Gate, where you'll have the bonus of 378s on Overground. Downside being less Southeastern sights.

Finsbury Park will sure get you a lot, I believe the popular spot is still at the south end of the northbound platforms, but someone else will need to confirm this. At least they tend to put the HST power car and Class 91 numbers on the front as well these days! On the latter, it's just the last two of the number but '11' on the front (somewhere on the yellow front, precise location unknown but underneath the lights on the non-driver side from memory) relates to 91111 for example. Same for 02, that would be 91102, I'm sure you see where I'm going with this.

Harrow and Wealdstone on the north end of the London bound platform is another classic spot, worth a look for 319s, 350s and 378s, plus any Virgin requirements and of course freight

 

[palmersears]

Much obliged, Tech. I think it'll be Herne Hill, then Bethnal Green and then finally Finsbury Park for the day. I'm very much inclined to agree with London Bridge, want a day just sat there hoovering everything up when it's a bit less chaotic!

27/5/16

66035
66587

I will level with you, I cannot for the life of me remember whereabouts in Manchester I saw these two now (that's what a Bank Holiday weekend does for you!), but I assume it was my traditional Deansgate lunchtime spot, followed by the 17:35 through Piccadilly.

31/05/16

The last day of May, and I thought I'd see it out with a nice after-work trip to Crewe, with the intention of doing a reccy for good spots to observe the freight avoiding lines incase I ever want/need to see anything navigating them.

As such I hopped aboard a dud 175 at 16:30 for the short blast to Crewe, arriving a smidgen after 17:05, spying 66557 as we rounded the curve into the station. I immediately headed for Platform 12 (getting 57308 as I went), where I was informed the footbridge across the avoiding lines was still intact and provided excellent views. Sadly my informant was drastically incorrect, with the only remnants of the bridge a small first step. The rest was a gonner. Bugger. A new plan was formed, and it was off to the Virgin car park, where, at the far end, it opens out over the avoiding lines quite nicely. From here I got a very good view of everything going through the station, only occasionally needing the binoculars to garner numbers, and was right overlooking the freight heading through Salop Junction.

I settled in for a good hour or so, a couple of nice locos came and went, including my first six 325s for sight. I did have to briefly go back to the station itself to pick up the charming Northern Belle locos, namely 57305 & 57312, who arrived at the end of a railtour from Charlbury, and, whilst there, what should roll in but the final 220 required, 220028! A superb bonus, and a completely unexpected one.

After that it was back to the car park which, whilst not the most aesthetically pleasing, did the job, as a few more intermodal workings trundled passed, including 66416 running over two hours late (I'd seen it set off an hour early from Trafford Park on RTT and had wondered what had happened to it!), and I was also able to pick up a surprising number of 221s going to and from the Welsh coast. As the clouds drew in and the wind picked up I decided it was best off back in the relative warmth of the station proper, arriving just after eight to catch three more 325s off down to Willesden, taking me up to 60% completion in one 4 hour spell! With that it was back to Stockport, where the highlight of the day was some poor woman asking if the approaching binliner to Runcorn was her 390 to Euston(!), and then onwards to the Grove.

A nice little mini-trip for the books, and 27 winners

I shall certainly be returning to today's vantage point, but I need to time it right to achieve the maximum number of workings in as short a time-span as possible. I might go again on Friday, as the missus is on a hen do, but will check and see what might be passing through. No point going if I'll spend the entire time looking at 390s and 350s I don't need.

Wishlist

With the 220s now gone they are replaced by the EMT 158s in the top five:

158 (EMT) - 774/846/863
175 - 004
319 (Northern) - 367/374
332 - 003/009/014
390 - 115

 

[FQ]

Sounds like a highly productive time at Crewe! Jealous you saw 66557 - it's one of my last 2 required Freightliner 66s for sight.

 

[47403]

Good read that palmersears, your certainly walloping stuff out the park. Certainly worth checking Real Time Trains but Salop is as good as any place to stand lineside.

Keep blazing a trail and Happy hunting.

 

[palmersears]

Sounds like a highly productive time at Crewe! Jealous you saw 66557 - it's one of my last 2 required Freightliner 66s for sight.

I must admit I'm surprised at just how productive it was given I spent the first 30 minutes there faffing about trying to find a decent vantage point! Almost cleared a third of the Freightliner fleet now, which is a surprise I must say.

Good read that palmersears, your certainly walloping stuff out the park. Certainly worth checking Real Time Trains but Salop is as good as any place to stand lineside.

Keep blazing a trail and Happy hunting.

Thank you, 47403. I had RTT on the go the whole time, which helped, and had a wee schedule drawn up of where I needed to be and when, but given a lot of moves are scheduled to come off Basford Hall I found a fair percentage didn't run and were cancelled last minute, leaving a couple of big time gaps. That's the nature of freight though I suppose.

We can also add 66572 to yesterday's list after it was identified for me last night
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01/06/16

I began June with my near-daily wander down to Deansgate to catch 66592, some 20 minutes early, rolling through. Usually the service patterns from Deansgate mean I wander straight back, as there's nothing to see/anything stopping to quickly take me elsewhere, but with the above being early I had the opportunity to jump on the 12:28 to Southport, alighting at Salford Crescent with the intention of catching a service past Peakstone Cement works to see which 66 had arrived to take the hoppers up to Peak Forest. Sadly my plan was foiled when I hopped off to find nothing coming back to Central for a good 15 minutes. Bah. So with Google maps fired up I instead set off to walk it and, ten minutes brisk action later, spotted 66089. Happy to have found another spot to grab numbers from I ambled back down Trinity Way, noting the Ordsall Chord works now progressing at a rate of knots, and was back at the office within 50 minutes of setting off.

02/06/16

Very little today, as the aforementioned 66089 continued on the Peak Forest/Peakstone workings (It appears to have done so all week, so I will have to track it until it goes elsewhere before returning), and there was a dud on the Deansgate offerings. All I spied was 158863 as I journeyed home, which takes the EMT 158s down to two required.

03/06/16

With a 3pm finish, and the missus out for the evening, it was my intention to visit Crewe again on Friday and spend a good few hours picking up the comings and goings through the freight avoiding lines, as well as further chipping away at the 325s. I also had information that the final 390 was due through just after 20:30. Swinging by Sainsburys to pick up fluids and a large bag of sweet and salted popcorn I squeezed aboard a rather cosy ATW 175/0. It cleared out noticeably at Wilmslow, allowing for a seat in the vestibule, and I began checking RTT for the intended services.

As we rounded the curve onto the WCML I glanced out of the window to find my spot from Tuesday awash with a number of gentlemen who clearly had the same idea as me. Now I love a good chat, don't get me wrong, but half the reason I took up this 'challenge' was that it gives me the time on my own to clear my head after a working day/week, and as such all I really want to do is sit down for a few hours and lose myself in watching the world go by. Add in the fact a number were smoking, which is a disgusting pursuit I cannot abide, and I quickly decided I needed to go elsewhere.

I still got off at Crewe, but noted a LM service to New Street was next on the same platform so, after a 5 minute wait in which I saw nothing new required, it was all aboard 350113 for a right blast down to Stafford, which was made all the more enjoyable by the excellent conversation I had with a rather lovely-looking lady about The Stone Roses (I had the infamous I Wanna Be Adored t-shirt on). Still got it .

Stafford quickly arrived, so I bid my new friend farewell and, after a quick toilet stop, settled down on a bench at the London end of platforms 3/4. The country end was absolutely heaving with spotters and photographers, who I assume had been there for hours (one even had a Dominos pizza delivered about 18:30!), so I was quite glad my end was deserted, save for one man with his greyhound.

With the popcorn opened it wasn't long until the first winner, with 66520 screaming through, closely followed by 66754. The third and final LM winner of the night came as 350102 rolled in, before my first Virgin voyager score for the evening, 221102. I'd only been there 40 minutes when suddenly all hell broke loose amongst the hoards of photographers, all of whom scrambled to my end. I had no idea what was about to be so interesting as to prompt a mildly obese man to attempt to run, but all was apparently revealed as 92014 tore through with 66720 in tow. At first I assumed from the look of the latter it'd been visited by the graffiti fairies, but after passing it again at Crewe on my way home I realised it was actually a rainbow livery, which looks both oddly out of place and refreshingly different in equal measures.

With a gap in traffic I wandered over to platform 1 for another toilet stop and, with the weather cooling, purchased a peppermint tea. Returning in time to catch 325002 on the back of the Willesden to Shieldmuir, I settled in once more, with a pair of 86s next up in the shape of 86628 & 86604. Watching them crawl through the old mail depot platforms it struck me that they are probably my favourite locos of all those I've seen so far. They look so bloody odd, and at first glance seem like they would be incapable of hauling their way out of a paper bag, but that adds to the charm for me.

A few more bits and pieces came and went, before I decided to head back to Crewe at 20:10 in order to catch the last elusive 390. Another blast back, this time without a pretty lady to talk to (plenty of mutton dressed as lamb heading to Liverpool, mind!), and, having snaffled 37219 on the end of the NR test train, I hopped off at platform 6. Making the trek across to platform 12 to relieve the bladder I came out of the loo just as 57307 roared past. The elusive 390 was due on platform 5 at 20:39, so I haded back across, only to find it was delayed, and now scheduled to arrive at 20:56, three minutes after I was to leave aboard a 323. Drat. Nonetheless I wandered around for the 15 minutes I had remaining, picking another pair of 86s (I'm assuming they're only capable of working in pairs given I've never seen them without a partner?).

At this point my 323 arrived and, with the front carriage to myself, I settled in for the journey to Stockport, frustrated I still hadn't seen the last 390. Then a miracle occurred. Some daft sod got their bike stuck in the doors at the rear of the unit, which delayed our departure as the guard spent a couple of minutes sorting him out. We flew out of the traps in typical 323 style, just in time to see 390115 slowing to enter platform 5. Clearly the railway Gods were smiling upon me, as I've now finally cleared the 390s. Very content I bedded in for a delightful thrash back to Stockport, with all the windows open it felt like I was in the middle of a storm, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Wishlist

This took a severe battering (in relative terms) with the 390s gone and the 158s down to two:

158 (EMT) - 774/846
175 - 004
221 (VTWC) - 221113
319 (Northern) - 367/374
332 - 003/009/014

And so that's it for another week. Nothing special planned for the next working week, just the same old freight workings, but Saturday will make up for this when I head out to London for the day. Probably going to hit Herne Hill, Bethnal Green and Finsbury Park, but we shall see how the day goes!

 

[47403]

Another good read palmersears and as a roses fan myself, I wanna be adored and Sally Cinamon are my two fave songs. Also as a man with that disgusting pursuit, each to their own I say, we'll just agree to disagree on it.

Nontheless you certainly had a productive evening, well dine on clearing the pendos, I'm after 136, although if they had of just chucked the extra coach and left them the same, they'd have been cleared a long time ago, however I can say that about a boatload of renumberings. You grin and bear it and hunt it out again.

The 86s are a proper workhorse and were one of the main locos along with the 87s that were the backbone of the WCML passenger trains and intermodal traffic and for being almost 50yr old, if not beyond, they're a bit battered and bruised round the edges but its easy to see why they're still liked among ethusiasts like us.

Keep the posts coming and enjoy your time in London, Happy hunting.

PS I was sat in the garden enjoying a smoke whilst reading your trip report thanks for sharing

 

[Techniquest]

Not a bad evening at all there, plenty of scores across the board. Well done on getting your last 390!

Having not seen an 86 working in absolutely ages, I can't remember what they sound like, but they are right proper soldiers!

 

[FQ]

Sounds like a great evening there! Well done at scoring your last pendo! You were certainly lucky with the starship being slightly delayed! 86s certainly are brilliant!

 

[palmersears]

47403- I did wonder when I posted the last update just how many people I might be annoying with the smokers comment! Sadly having seen if take a number of close family members long before their time I cannot condone it in even the slightest. But we are straying away from the purpose of this thread, so I shall leave it there

Tech - I think soldiers is exactly the right word for the 86s, they look a little weary but seem to battle on manfully. A bit like my good self at the end of a working week!

fishquinn- Thank you! Can't believe it took me so long to locate the bloody thing, but there you go. Kudos on the liberal use of exclamation marks by the way!
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With my trip to London on Saturday, and then again for an evening on Tuesday, now safely planned, my attention now turns to where to go a week on Friday. I have to go to the council to tell them Stockport is crap, and that I want to get married in leafy Cheshire instead, first thing in the morning (they charge you £70 per couple for this privilege!), but after that I have strict instructions from the missus to go away and not come back until early evening. With that in mind I've likely got 10:00 until 19:00 to play with, inclusive of travel time. I've briefly pondered options, but nothing leaps out at me immediately.

Leeds was the first thought. I can ignore the TPE stuff, and instead crack on with filling gaps in the Northern stock, as well as a bit more VTEC and XC. No freight, and probably won't fill a full day. Possibly combine it with York or Donny?

Tamworth or Nuneaton was the next thought, particularly for the XC stuff and freight. Would have little VTWC or LM stuff that's now of interest, which could dampen interest, but an East Midlands Day Ranger could allow for a squirt across to Leicester or some such.

Final thought was up to Carlisle, but again it's very WCML centric, which means a lot of dud VTWC and TPE stuff. Would mean I final start on the Scotrail stock!

What do people think? There's bound to be somewhere far more interesting that I've forgotten. Any good depots with some quirky stuff in that I can reach? Contemplated Toton, but it's a right trek from the nearest station!

 

[FQ]

You could always go for Liverpool for some Merseyrail stuff. If you use a Merseyrail save away (an absolute bargain) then you can also get to Chester, where some ATW stuff would appear as well (150s, 175s, 158s and the chance of a 67). Remember that if you do go for Liverpool, then there is two lines which aren't connected so you'd want time on both of them.

 

[Techniquest]

I'd also check what time 'early evening' is, as people have different concepts of what time evening is. 'Early' is also ambiguous! For me, evening begins at 1800, so early evening would be between 1800 and 1930 for me. You don't want to be getting home for 1900 or so and getting moaned at!

Liverpool was also my thinking, rather different stuff to what you'll normally see, time it right at Bidston and you'll also get an hourly ATW service to/from Wrexham. There'll also be the EMT 158s as well. Not sure where else to suggest that you've not done before, also it depends on your budget.

Spoken like a true grafter is that comment about soldierimg on at the end of a working week!

 

[palmersears]

See now I was going to save Liverpool for an impromptu rainy day given its proximity and low cost, but if no other interesting options present themselves then it could be a go-er. What's the layout like on the Merseyrail platforms at Central? I understand there's two lines, but are they fully underground, or do I get to see some natural light at some point?!

Tech: I think the only reason she's said 'early evening' is because she wants me to cook tea at some point. If she can find a good takeaway place then she might just tell me to stay out all night! I think we're probably looking at 10:00-19:00 if truth be told.

Travel budget can be up to £40 I reckon.

 

[Techniquest]

Wirral Line is on a single-track loop above the Northern Line, which is an island platform.

Most of MerseyRail is above ground, only (a little west of) Birkenhead Hamilton Square to Liverpool Lime Street and around the loop is under ground on the Wirral line. Somewhere roughly halfway between Brunswick and Liverpool Central to just beyond Moorfields is all that's under ground on the Northern line.

Strongly recommend an hour or two at Sandilands on the Northern line, open air island platform. Be warned Liverpudians like to ignore the smoking ban here, camping out at the north end you'll be fine though. A trip to Kirkdale will get you stuff on depot, but much of the units there tend to hide away too far from general viewing. Worth bearing in mind, just in case though.

Wirral Line, can't think where's best to camp out apart from a long fester under ground, as there's no one good spot to get everything. Birkenhead North will get you all the West Kirbys and New Brightons, another open air platform with a footbridge between platforms. A trip to Bidston or Wallasey will also get you a look at what's on Birkenhead depot. For the Chester and Ellesmere Port stuff, you'll probably find Birkenhead Central OK but Hooton might be better, as it has a m2go shop there.

 

[Segedunum]

Can echo all that Tech has said here, except that it's Sandhills you'll want rather than Sandilands