Postyes 2017 trip reports

[postye]

I thought that this year I would keep all my trip reports in one thread like many other posters so that my stats and targets are easier to keep track of.

My Targets for the year
Winners for sight - my last 11 units other than the new 387/700/707's that are coming online.
Winners for haulage - 400
Mileage target is to beat last years 26810, including at least 1000 miles of new track, which will be tough but I like a challenge.
Shacks - 120


January is generally a quiet month for me, recovering from Christmas and also it's too cold to go out bashing waiting on stations in bitter cold.
However I managed a couple of short trips out after work into Kent to knock off a couple of required Southeastern 375's, a trip up to Liverpool to visit friends and changes to my commute due to the Lewisham derailment enabled me to score a few 700's for haulage.

So January finished with

1815 miles
14 haulage winners
2 new shacks (Folkestone West and Sandling)

February arrives and my first bash of the year, an East Midlands Rover bash.
The day starts with super dud 376007 taking me into Cannon Street. The plan had been to jump on the tube to Blackfriars, however I'd neglected to check the LU engineering works, so instead of a warm comfortable tube, it's a brisk cold walk from Cannon Street to Blackfriars. Fortunately I've left plenty of time to get to St. Pancras, although the walk only takes me les than 15 minutes and as I get onto the platform I am rewarded with my first winner of the day in the shape of 700014 on the late running 0724 Bedford service.

Tickets bought and latte sourced from Costa and I head to the East Midlands platforms to decide which train to head north on. There's a trio of winners in the platforms here, 222009 is advertised as the 0757 to Sheffield, 43083 on the 0818 Nottingham, and 222020 in platform 3 which looks like it could be on the 0826 to Sheffield. A quick look at RTT and I think I've got a plan to get all three in the book, so I board 222009 first stop Leicester. I've got around 25 minutes and I'm ready for breakfast, so I decide to give my money to a local business instead of pumpkin and headed off in search of a cafe. Success and a bacon roll and tea sourced from the sandwich shop and back to the station still with almost 10 minutes before the HST is due in. Double winners 43066 & 43083 pull in with the 0925 to Nottingham which I take for the 19 mile ride to the required East Midlands Parkway station. 8 minutes later as expected 222020 pulls in to take me to Derby. Nothing noted as required on RTC but winner 170105 is in platform 4 with the 1008 to Nottingham so over the footbridge I go.

The main aim of the day was to ride the Brigg line Eastbound so I had planned on getting the 1126 Nottingham-Worksop which leaves me with almost an hour in Nottingham so I who back to RTT to see if there's anything I can do. There is a +6 from the Skegness train at the required Bingham so I hop on winner 153302 with dud 153383. After leaving Nottingham I keep a check RTT and the return service has lost 4 minutes, reducing the +5 onto the 1126 Worksop to a minute at best. As there's no other options back at NOT I decide to carry on to Grantham and go via Retford. Dud 91126 takes me on the short ride up to Retford.

As I've got 45 minutes here I decide to go in search of a shop to grab something for lunch. After walking for about 15 minutes I can't find any shops, although i did see a forced entry police raid on a house in real life instead of just on the television.

I wasn't too worried as I'd seen a costa on the station so headed back there. No food! Oh well I grab a latte and some crisps to tide me over and head down to platform 4 for the 1248 to Cleethorpes, winner 142021 does the honours as far as Banetby. I need the line to Cleethorpes & Barton but that is planned for later in the week.

A short wait at Barnetby produced winner 185134 for the run to Doncaster.
I noted 3 colas 60's on the way in but didn't see the numbers, so I keep a look out on the way back, 60026, 60047 & 60087. 60026 is a winner for sight, nice one! 66238 is spotted at Scunthorpe along with another DB 66 which I couldn't identify. After arrival at Doncaster I swap from platform 3 to platform 8 where winner for sight 37116 is in the yard with a March-Derby network rail test train. 37421 was on the other end. Still no sandwiches in the Costa here either, I'll have to get something at some point as I'm starving but another pack of crisps will have to do in the meantime.
A few minutes later and winner 156403 pulls into platform 5 to form the 1507 to Lincoln. I wasn't sure what the plan was from here, but when faced with double winners 153319 & 153357 on the 1601 to Peterborough that was too good an opportunity to turn down. Upon arrival at Peterborough I was now in desperate need of food so I head out of the station to find food.

Wetherspoons found and food and beer had I head back to the station and jumop on the 1826 to Nottingham. Foolishly I didn't note the number so I've no idea if that was a winner, I'll have to wait until I get back to work to check that.
As we head towards Nottingham I keep a check on RTT as there is the possibility of a 0 min cross platform connection onto a London bound HST. Can I make it. I see the tail lights as we pull in, doors released and run across the platform just in time as the whistling starts.
Winner 43054 was on the rear, I'll find out what was on the front later.

As we pull away from East Midlands Parkway we grind to a sudden halt. 10 mins later we're back on the move, apparently somebody decided to jump off the train as it stated moving, not sure how. Annoyingly the buffet isn't open either on this train, and due to the delay the next southbound will only be a few minutes behind by St Pancras, so sniffing the possibility of a final winner I jump off at Leicester, grab some supplies from Tesco and make it back for the 2025. Dud 222005 takes me back to London finally noting that winner 43064 was on the front of the 1932.

All in all not a bad day,
2 winners for sight
14 winners for haulage
558 miles including 56 miles of new track
1 new shack (East Mids Parkway)

Part 2 of the East Midlands Rover is on Tuesday

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a successful first day of your rover

 

[djpontrack]

That was a interesting 1st day of your East Midlands Rover. I look forward to reading the rest of your journeys mate.

 

[noddy1878]

Good first day there. Look forward to the rest.

 

[47403]

Not a bad haul at all there Postye. I see you had 156403, that's one of the 2 EMT 156s, I'm after for sight.

Cracking read there, look forward to part 2.

 

[postye]

Cheers guys, glad you enjoyed the read, i find it quite therapeutic writing them at the end of the day, almost like you get to enjoy the trip a second time

Just found out that the 158 I was misisng the number of was 158863, another winner! 15 for the day now.

 

[postye]

East Midlands Rover day 2 - Tuesday 7th Feb


When the 0510 alarm rang I almost regretted this decision, I was up over an hour earlier than I would be for a work day!

Fortunately I had gathered everything together the night before so just need to freshen up and get ready for the 15 minute walk to the station.

465014 was my first ride of the day to Waterloo East, followed by jubilee 96437 and VIctoria line 12021 to Kings Cross.

I'd booked myself a first class ticket in the virgin EC sale last month so after checking the loco (dud 91113) I boarded the 0708 as far as Retford.
It's been a while since I've used VTEC 1st class, mainly because they massively increased prices after they took over rendering it too expensive to justify a day trip up north on 1st, standard became pricey enough. The complimentary offer used to start with toast and croissants - now disappeared it seems, followed by a full English that no longer has baked beans or sautéed potatoes, and no fresh fruit to finish.
The hired in class 90 (039) is noted in the platform at the head of the 0735 to Leeds - I need that one but that will have to wait for another day.

Arrival at Retford was a few minutes down but still plenty of time to get to the low level platforms. My original plan was to get the 0925 to Lincoln, but I hass spotted there was a 0901 towards Sheffield which would give me a +3 at Worksop, a required shack,
Dud 144007 pulls in and does the honours. At Worksop I cross platform and see the Lincoln train pulling in, Dud 144010! I am hoping it's not going to be one of those days!

At Lincoln I have around 20 minutes before the service to Grimsby so I head for the cafe, once I get down the stairs. Whoever designed this layout for Lincoln Station barriers needs shooting! The barriers are right at the bottom of the stairs, so the queue for the barriers goes halfway up - crazy!

Finally I get a winner in the shape of 153321 which will take me up to Habrough.
60026 and 60087 are still in the siding by Barnetby station, probably haven't moved since I saw them Saturday.
It's started raining just in time for me to alight at Habrough and cross over to the other platform to await the arrival of the Barton on Humber train. A few minutes later dud 153330 rolls in. Unfortunately the mist has rolled in with a vengeance so very little can be seen out of the windows. A couple of minutes to stretch legs at winner shack Barton and it's back on board for the run down to Cleethorpes.

As we arrive at Cleethorpes I make an error of judgement. I rise from my seat enthusiastically in anticipation of scoring the shack, forgetting there is a metal pole holding up the table which my knee plants itself firmly into. I have plenty of time here, around 40 minutes, and the original plan was to go and stroll along the beach with some fish and chips, but that ain't going to happen, especially as it's now started raining again.
I hobble into a seafront cafe and have my fish and chips hopefully the rest will sort the knee out.

35 minutes later I limp back to the station, I decide that i am going to try and continue, so I board the new tpe liveried winner 185139 on the 1326 Manchester Airport service for the short ride to Grimsby Town, another new shack scratched. I decide to try and get a drink in the 15 minutes I have here, but no lifts and there's no way I'm going to make the stairs so I scrap that idea and join dud 153357 on the 1349 to Lincoln. Passing Barnetby again, and the 2 60's are now joined by 66604. Required for sight 60100 passes us around Market Rasen with the Kingsbury-Humber tanks, and upon arrival in Lincoln 60047 trundled through on the Rectory Jn to Lindsey Oil Refinery.

My next move is the 1512 to sleaford in the hands of winner 153311. After a short wait winner 156497 pulls in with the 1552 to Skegness, more new track for me. I know people say the fens of anglia are very flat, but as we trundled through the Lincolnshire countryside there wasn't a hill to be seen, on a better day you probably could see uninterrupted for miles. RT arrival in Skeggy, but it's just starting to get dark so I can't really see much, I'm trying to imagine what it looked like on a summer Saturday in the 70's/80's when class 20's did the summer specials to the seaside.

I have a slow wander around, fortunately my injury from earlier has settled slightly so I grab Some refreshments and head back to the station. The 1730 Skegness - Nottingham is one that avoids Grantham, so will give me another short section of winner/rare track and should connect onto the London-bound HST.

Best laid plans and all that, we get as far as Hubberts Bridge and grind to a halt. The guard came through explaining there was a track problem up ahead and we should be on the way shortly. Right enough we moved, by my reckoning we were about 10 late, probably just late enough to wreck the connection at Nottingham, but there was the fall back of a meridian 30 minutes later so no problem. Until we got to Heckington that is, when the track problem recurred and there was now a late running service from Sleaford on the single line.

Arrival into Sleaford was 43 down, meaning potentially waiting an hour at Nottingham and not getting into London until after 2300, so I decided to change plan, bail at Sleaford for the next ex-Skeggy and chance my luck at Grantham.
56087 was sitting in platform 1 with the washwood heath - Boston docks, presumably delayed awaiting the single line to be cleared.
Dud 156406 arrived 17 late with the 1913 to Nottingham, and sure enough no sooner than the doors opened, 56087 opened up and pulled away towards Boston, finally on its way over an hour late.

Arrival into Grantham was just before 8pm, giving me 20 minutes before the London train, not that there seems like anything to do around the station, I had a stroll to see if I could find an off licence - and failed.

Eventually winner 91131 pushed 82226 into Grantham and I was heading home bound.

Not a bad day until the last knockings and the incident at Cleethorpes.
That Grantham avoider will have to be done another day.

Stats
Haulage winners - 5
Winners for sight - 1
Total rail miles - 549
New track miles - 124
Shacks scored - 7

It had been my intention to go on part 3 of the East Midlands rover trip after work on Wednesday, however after waking up on Wednesday morning with a bruise the size of a golf ball on my knee and still quite painful, that bit is postponed.
Hopefully I can get out on Friday evening.

 

[noddy1878]

Enjoyable read. You're right, Lincolnshire is very flat. I know the pole holding up tables on 153s well too, maybe not as well you though!

 

[Kite159]

Harsh on that delay costing you the Grantham avoider, but at least you got some required track and some units out of it.

Ouch on bashing your leg into the table!

 

[dave87016]

Makes for Excellent reading a East Mids Rover is on the genda this year for me ive not covered much area on it previously I never have luck with class 91's for haulage either

 

[47403]

Another good read there Postye.

Another who got all nostalgic at a seaside station. I done the Skeggy turn from Leicester. We were young kids then. Place was heaving, as were the trains. Long time back that.

Shame you missed out on the required track. Otherwise seems like you had a good day.

 

[Techniquest]

Just got Days 1 and 2 read, thoroughly enjoyable of course. Mega ouch to the issue with the knee, one many of us will have almost come a cropper to in the past and you were rather unlucky!

Glad you got a winner 91 at the end there though, a class I have rare bits of luck with. Not their biggest fan to be honest, I'd prefer a 142 down the ECML!

 

[postye]

Finally got round to typing this up, had to do it on my phone so hopefully the formatting is ok.

Day 3, Friday 10 February

After the disappointment of not being able to get out on Wednesday after work my knee has settled down so as soon as work is over it's out on the last day of validity of my rover.

First stop is St Pancakes low level and 700105 pulled in to give me my first winner of the day. I took this as far as Flitwick to score the shack and with almost 30 minutes before my next planned move and the fact it was snowing quite heavily I went in search of a local pub.
The Beehive enchanted me in and a decent pint of Greene King IPA later I was heading back arriving just in time for winner 700111, 2 out of 2 - not a bad start.
Alighting at Harpenden to score a second shack it's still bitter cold and snowy but there is a waiting room, fortunately as my next move is 5 minutes late. Double Duds 319436 and 319010, but getting on 436 clears that for over 10 miles.

Next stop is Luton Airport Parkway where the 1808 from there should be an HST, and indeed it was with double winners 43048 & 43055.
One stop on this and Wellingborough is the next shack up to be scored whilst awaiting my next move.

Clearly there is a small issue with the EMT CIS screens as the next train is apparently 1849 Melton Mowbray via Nottingham. I hope it's not as I need to score the Corby line, and upon checking with staff it is going that way and is a blip.

Double winners 222019 & 222011 roll in, but as they're splitting at Kettering I join 011 on the rear then swap over to 019 at Kettering.

It's very dark out, the problem with after work bashing at this time of year, but eventually the lights of Corby come into view.

We're still a few minutes late and I'm concerned about the connection at Oakham, but as I finally get a bit of coverage at Corby it seems that the connection is also running late so not a problem. Oakham is scratched of the list of required shacks and Eventually 170639 rolls in on the Stanstead, another winner.

Finally at Peterborough there was no point running for the GN train, as the next VTEC gets in earlier, so I head out to Waitrose for supplies.
Whilst waiting 66513 ran through with the Felixstowe-Leeds freight giving me a winner for sight.
Eventually the 2049 rolls in 5 late in the form of 82226 being pushed by 91131 again!

So for around five and a half hours I scored
7 winners for haulage
1 winner for sight
4 shacks scratched
252 miles
21 miles of new track

Total Stats over the 3 days of the East Midlands Rover were
Haulage winners - 26
Winners for sight - 4
Total rail miles - 1359
New track miles - 201
Shacks scored - 12

Putting me well on my way towards my annual targets.

Next trip up is Saturday with a leisurely Railtour.

 

[FQ]

Sounds like a good end to the rover! Shame you couldn't have a full day though, but I'm glad your knee is OK again.

 

[postye]

Sounds like a good end to the rover! Shame you couldn't have a full day though, but I'm glad your knee is OK again.

Unfortunately work needs to be done to pay for trips out, and ironically I had more winners in that few hours than all day on Tuesday.
Yeah the knee has settled down now, but it took until Saturday for the bruising to go down, that'll teach me to be more careful

 

[Techniquest]

A good finale to the rover, a shame a full day couldn't be done but at least you got to get out still. Good news on the knee feeling better!

 

[Kite159]

Congrats on scoring the line north of Corby

Plus a good number of winners along the way

 

[47403]

A good all round read Postye. Plenty winners for haulage and a winner for sight too on the last day. I need a trip back to EMT lands, need to hunt out a few things there myself.

Hope the railtour productive, thanks for sharing.

 

[noddy1878]

That was a good haul for such a short time. As others have said shame you couldn't get a full day but its the way it happens sometimes.

 

[postye]

This weeks trip reports

Wednesday 15th February

After seeing 90039 out and about last week and with the fortune of having ready access to gen, I noted that 90039 was on the 1408 King's Cross - Newark and 1552 return which would call at Stevenage, so I decided to have a spin after work and was doubly rewarded by scoring winner 43316 on the way up and 90039 on the way back.

Thursday 16th February

I was due to meet some friends in the city around 6.30 so having 2 hours spare I decided to try for some 315 Winners on TfL rail with a return to Gidea Park

With a bit of linear bashing I managed to score 8 315's and Goodmayes and Chadwell Heath stations - not bad for a couple of hours

Saturday 18th February

Another insane early alarm, time to pull myself together and walk down to the station and join superdud 376031 on the 0618 to Cannon Street.
As Cannon Street trains are not stopping at London Bridge, it's a short walk to Bank and northern line to Euston.

A meal deal sourced from Sainsbury's for later as there isn't a stop until Stratford, then a bacon roll and cup of tea from Costa before I make my way to platform 16 to join the Midlands Meander.

Dud 67022 was on the rear so I walked to the front to check the loco - winner 67029.

Met Adrock1976 who was sitting opposite me just before departure, and shortly afterwards Kite159 came by and introduced himself.

37800 was noted in Wembley yard taking newly refurbished 375905 back home, along with 66020, 66109, 86259 and 47815 and some barrier wagons seemingly heading for Slade Green.

We arrive early at Bletchley and have to wait our time , and yet another pathing stop just by Bletchley depot, and yet another just outside Bedford.

After Bedford we use the slow lines almost as far as Kettering, noting 66751 in Wellingborough before switching to the fasts for the run up to Knighton junction before diverging onto the Coalville line, a goof bit of new track for me.

Yet another pathing stop at Branson Junction to allow a XC to pass. So on to Kingsbury where winner for sight 60066 was propelling a trainload of tanks onto the terminal.
Another short new bit of track is scratched between Kingsbury Junction and whitacre junction then after passing water orton, another new curve water orton west - park lane junction. The sun came out s we passed along the Sutton Park lines making good progress until we were yet again held just before Walsall.
Walsall station was passed using the loop alongside platform 3.
Onto Bescot and 66002,66181,66025,66142,66005,66050,66128,66057,66118 were all noted in and around the yard.

Birmingham new street was passed non-stop, quite a novelty in itself, before we wind around landor, St Andrews and Bordesley junctions passing 66183 on a container train before crossing the main lines and taking the Stratford line arriving on time at 1530.

Finally time to stretch legs and get some space after almost 8 hours to do a journey that could be done in under 2 hours normally. A couple of pints and some fish and chips later and it was time to head back for the 1730 departure back to London, bumping into Kite again for a brief chat about winners on the way back to the carriage.

The return thankfully is only 4 hours! Held up slightly at Birmingham new street, trying to do the bat cave twice non stop was just asking for trouble, we are 8 late heading for the Lifford East curve, another 25 chains of new track!

By Nuneaton we are now back on schedule and run down to Rugby where we are diverted via Northampton vice Weedon. It's not all bad though as we pass through Northampton on the up goods loop on our way to MK.

Due to the diversion we are now 13 late into MK but a spirited drive into Euston we eventually arrive 8 late.

Not a bad day,

1 winner for haulage
1 winner for sight
392 Rail miles
52 miles of new track

No further bashes planned for February, but there might be the opportunity for a couple of evening trips out.

 

[Techniquest]

I can only imagine how glad you all were to get off the train! The Coalville line is hardly exciting as you'll have no doubt noticed, indeed the only bit I'd have scored is the south-facing curve off that line onto the mainline!

Nice work on the VTEC winners and indeed on TfL Rail 315s as well!

 

[FQ]

Sounds like another good few spins there - shame about being diverted via Northampton instead of going via Weedon on the run back though. The last loco I had via Weedon was, if I remember correctly, 55022. Excellent noise through the dark!

 

[Kite159]

It was nice to put a face to the kind user you are

Agreed the Coalville line is slow, although not as slow as the South Yorkshire Joint Line (Doncaster towards Worksop)

 

[noddy1878]

Well done on the 43 and 90 winners. Not sure how much route on that tour I would have needed but would have rather had 66s on there as I need way more of them haulage! At least it wasn't too late back.