Rambling Roebuck... (Trip Reports)

[D841 Roebuck]

25/11/2015 - A spare couple of hours

After over a month, I got a quick bash in this evening. A change a couple of weeks ago from working evenings to Dolly Parton time meant that instead of having an hour to get from Ramsbottom to Rochdale for my regular quiz league date I now had four hours. So this evening i rresurrectedle plume rouge and diverted ontothe Metrolink network at Bury.

And a nice bonus to start with - winning 3010 was in the platform and duly taken to my last required shack on the Bury line at Queens Road. From here I took 3032 to Shude Hill for a PNB, then 3087 (which I thought was a winner but turned out not to be) to Market Street.

I thought about grabbing a couple of shacks on the airport line, but as Man Utd were at home decided to steer clear of the Trafford area. So 3090 was scored to Monsall (last required shack on the Rochdale line), then the following 3094 to Oldham Mumps. Dud 3064 was taken back to Oldham Central on a fill in move, before a linear bash with3105 to Shaw and Crompton and then3102 through to Rochdale Town Centre.

Five winners and two shacks - not bad for just over two hours! Lost tue quiz, though...

 

[Techniquest]

A nicely productive couple of hours, shame about losing the quiz though!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Huh, my last reply didn't work apparently!

Good couple of hours work there, losing the quiz was a shame though!

 

[FQ]

I agree with Lord Quest.

 

[Kristofferson]

Super productive for two hours! Could learn something from you

 

[D841 Roebuck]

No more trips to report as yet but planning mode is on full blast.

Going up to Northumberland for Christmas, and going via Edinburgh.

May well have time for a jaunt on the moggies on 28/12 on my return trip. Is there a left luggage emporium at Waverley? Don't desperately want to go bashing with luggage...

New year's day is pencilled in for Reddish South and Denton (maybe Fairfield as well).

Then possibly a Midlands Rover on 9/1/16, combined with the Coventry Grand Prix.

 

[Techniquest]

I'm sure there is a left luggage facility at Waverley but not 100% sorry.

Sounds like some good moves coming up, and like you I'm in full pelt with planning moves now!

 

[Kite159]

No more trips to report as yet but planning mode is on full blast.

Going up to Northumberland for Christmas, and going via Edinburgh.

May well have time for a jaunt on the moggies on 28/12 on my return trip. Is there a left luggage emporium at Waverley? Don't desperately want to go bashing with luggage...

New year's day is pencilled in for Reddish South and Denton (maybe Fairfield as well).

Then possibly a Midlands Rover on 9/1/16, combined with the Coventry Grand Prix.

Good luck with Fairfield.

IIRC when I was forming my plan, it's a 10-15 minute walk from a metrolink stop, if you can't make the tight connection and don't want to spend an hour in a rough part of the city

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Good luck with Fairfield.

IIRC when I was forming my plan, it's a 10-15 minute walk from a metrolink stop, if you can't make the tight connection and don't want to spend an hour in a rough part of the city

Had thought of walking from Denton if the weather's ok. Looks like about 20-25 mins.

If it's wet/windy I'll follow in your tracks and get a bus back to civilisation!

 

[Kite159]

Had thought of walking from Denton if the weather's ok. Looks like about 20-25 mins.

If it's wet/windy I'll follow in your tracks and get a bus back to civilisation!

Google Maps is suggesting 46 minutes with a 2.3 mile walk when I've just put it in, although sometimes it can be misleading if there is a path which isn't on (for example Styal to Handforth)

 

[D841 Roebuck]

In view of the dodgy weather, I'm going tje sensible route to Berwici, I.e. via York.

155345 is the first steed of the day, Rochdale to Dewsbury...

Dewsbury is damp, but less so than Lancashire this morning. And 185127 has turned up for the run to York.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
After an expensive and mediocre breakfast, 91104 forwards me to Newcastle.

 

[Techniquest]

Hope the rest of the journey went well, and that you have a good time!

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Hope the rest of the journey went well, and that you have a good time!

Cheers Tech.

I'll finish my report by mentioning the wedged-but-bang-on-time 221141, which whisked me smoothly to Berwick.

Merry Christmas, all!

 

[D841 Roebuck]

A11/1/16 - A New Jaunt for a New Year

So big ben rang out, the fireworks went off, hugs and handshakes were exchanged and I went home full of Taddy Lager and goodwill to all. Not a promising start to my planned bash...

However a few hours kip soon sorted me out and I duly wandered back to the no longer flooded Rochdale Town Centre for the first tram of the day at 07:00. Dud 3064 took me up the hill to the station, thenmy most-travelled unit (probably had about 100 trips on it), 155344 appeared for the run to Manchester Victoria. Back to the trams here and dud 3050 took me to Market Street. Here, I walked across to Piccadilly Gardens, hoping for a winner into Piccadilly from the Alty or Eccles direction. No such luck - the first service was 3064 again, which had wended its weary way via Oldham, catching me up again and depositing me at the Undercroft.

Upsyairs now to the main line and 142005 + 142038 soon arrived at Platform 1 to from the 08:14 to Marple. I boarded 005 (yes, from 2016 I'm going to record multiple units when multiple units are running in multiple! ) and soon afterwards xisembarked at winning shack Reddish North. Bet you can't guess where I headed next....

Yes , a pleasant, if somewhat chilly walk Stockportwards, passing a lady who offered me a good time (declined) and a newsagents which provided me with a paper and a Twix. Even with these distractions, I arrived at Reddish South inplenty of time for the weekly "parliamentary" service. Mixed pair 150222 + 142027 turned up on time and were flagged down. I made a potential error in boarding the 150, as the guard was in the 142 and I had no way of attracting his attention to request the next stop. However, he must have been a closet shack attacker (or maybe a reader of this forum) as the train did stop at Denton where I alighted. Mission Accomplished, to plagiarise a pendolino.

Then I realised that Denton at 09:30 on New Year's Day may not be a position of strength...

(to be continued)

 

[FQ]

Can I have a go in your time machine please (The date is 11/1/16)

It was a good first part and I look forward to the rest!

 

[D841 Roebuck]

1/1/16 continued

with thanks to Mr Midshipman Quinn for noticing my tardis was wonky

Where was I? Ah yes, getting cold in Denton.

Travelline showed there was an hourly bus service towards Manchester, with the next one due in 45 minutes. I decided, therefore, to walk away from Manchester and hopefully intercept the bus. If it didn't turn up, I'd continue walking to Hyde Central (a required shack). Halfway to Hyde, I spotted a sensible looking bloke with a hamster cage standing at a bus stop. He, too, was awaiting a bus and thought it was about 5 minutes away. So I waited with him and Stagecoach 19354 turned up heading for Manchester. So I got on and immersed myself in Barbara Taylor Bradford for the 40 minute stagger back to Piccadilly Gardens. By now I was starving, so I hit the local Spoons for breakfast.

Suitably refreshed I had a think about what to do next. I needed all fourteen intermediate shacks on the Manchester Airport branch of Metrolink, so I thought I'd do a few of these then get something mainline back from the airport. In the event, I got a bit carried away.

Report now goes into Light Rail street running/tabular mode

3002 & 3045 were taken to Cornbrook
3036 was following, and was taken to Firswood
From here I'd worked out a sort of "three forward, one back" system to scratch the shacks, so decided to "go for it big style"...

3078 forward to Sale Water Park
3074 back to Barlow Moor Road
3096 forward toWythenshawe Park
3086 back to Northern Moor
3095 onwards to Baguley
3091 back to Moor Road
(Had a fester here, as trams tend to cross)

T b c

 

[47403]

Roesbuck said:-

Halfway to Hyde, I spotted a sensible looking bloke with a hamster cage standing at a bus stop.

This had me in stitches, I just have a vision of the guy saying to his misssus, I'm off to town with the hamster, silly I know but it made me laugh.

Great read so far Roebuck, sounds like its been very productive so far.

 

[Techniquest]

An excellent read so far good sir, I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the Airport line bashing went. I personally find it ridiculously boring, and will find it challenging to motivate myself to do the shacks on it!

 

[D841 Roebuck]

1/1/16 continued

Sorry for the long delay - flu and change of phone...


Where were we? Ah yes, getting cold at Moor Road.

3080 was the last tram on the Airport shuttles that day, and was taken to Martincross
Thence 3086 back to Roundthorn
My bladder was starting to protest by now so, in search of facilities, 3086 was taken toWythenshawe Town Centre. Saw a sign for Asda here, but walked the wrong way so rather than meeting Tech"s northern Colleagues I ended up having half a cola in a pub called The Silver Birch (while I enjoyed my visit I would not recommend to anyone who doesn't like old fashioned, boisterous booxers).

Refreshed and relieved, it was back to the tramshackery
3086 returned from the airport and took me to Benchill.
3078 was taken to Peel Hall
3091 took me back to Crossacres
3095 then took me onwards to Shadowmoss (not shadowy or mossy, but very windswept), then picked me up and took me back to Wythenshawe Town Centre. Reason for the repeat - I'd spotted the Asdalic , and as it was located enroute I planned a supply raid.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Alas, John Boy Walton"s family business had an epic fail on the ready made butty front (I.e. they had none left). So I walked on to my last shack on this fairly godforsaken route, Robinswood Road. Here, I was rescued by 3096, and travelled through to the terminus.

I had checked RTT whilst tramming about, and had come up with a decent plan. So I sourced a coffee (no, can't recall what type, but it was warm, wet and not foul tasting) plus hot sausage roll from the buffet, then joined 323231 on the 1511 to Crewe, taken as far as Holmes Chapel for a posh, Cheshire-Set shack score. Ten minute fester here, then 323223 took me back to Wilmslow on a cold fester avoidance trip. Crossing over again, and323229 trundled me along to Alderley Edge for posh shack score #2, whence the returning 323231 took me to Stockport.

I bailed here in the hope of on a winnier but delays meant the first available ( and dud) 390044 for a stagger into MAN.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I bailed here in the hope of on a winnier but delays meant the first available ( and dud) 390044 for a stagger into MAN.

Ah, well we've heard rumours about you and MAN...

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Downstairs to the trams again, and straight on3093 to Victoria. The reason for the rush? New track to Exchange Square with services up to 17:30 only! 3082 duly obliged, and I walked back for a PNB at Victoria.

Missions for the day now accomplished, I thought about heading homewards. However, winning 319379 was about to leave for Eccles, and it would have been rude not to! Half an hour here, so I walked down to the tramshack and back to keep warm, then joined dud 319363 for the run back to MCV.

The rest of the evening was spent getting home. 155345 took me to my old haunts in Castleton for a couple of pints, then 142035 + 142041 home to Rochdale for several more.

Not a bad start to the year, on the whole:
8 winners
21 new shacks
and I may never have to visit Wythenshaweshire again

 

[backontrack]

Not a bad start to the year, on the whole:
8 winners
21 new shacks
and I may never have to visit Wythenshaweshire again

Wasn't that where they went in Lord of the Rings?

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Ah, well we've heard rumours about you and MAN...

Thank you. I'm glad my fame has spread to the Far East.

Anything happening in "Ull these days, or does a night out still consist of looking at the Land Of Green Ginger to see if its moved...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Wasn't that where they went in Lord of the Rings?

Thinking about it, I suppose Shadowmoss might be a descendant of Gandalf"s horse...

 

[backontrack]

Thank you. I'm glad my fame has spread to the Far East.

Anything happening in "Ull these days, or does a night out still consist of looking at the Land Of Green Ginger to see if its moved...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Thinking about it, I suppose Shadowmoss might be a descendant of Gandalf"s horse...

Somewhere I would be glad to not pass through.

I believe the people of Hull used to pass the time watching the tumbleweeds, however these have now moved to Gilberdyke as there's much more to do there.

Nowadays the townsfolk head to Broomfleet and watch the fields grow in order to see the nearest actual grass in existence. Even the K.C Stadium is now astroturf. :P

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Thank you. I'm glad my fame has spread to the Far East.

Anything happening in "Ull these days, or does a night out still consist of looking at the Land Of Green Ginger to see if its moved...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Thinking about it, I suppose Shadowmoss might be a descendant of Gandalf"s horse...

Well we've got an increase in 142 and 144 traffic thanks to me (no, really...), a study to be launched regarding loco hauled services once more and as for the nightlife... Waterhouse Lane's ladies are still plying their most noble trade, pubs are serving till the early hours and thats about it.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Well we've got an increase in 142 and 144 traffic thanks to me (no, really...), a study to be launched regarding loco hauled services once more and as for the nightlife... Waterhouse Lane's ladies are still plying their most noble trade, pubs are serving till the early hours and thats about it.

Sounds a decent night out, that. Bit like Rochdale with added fishy bits...

 

[backontrack]

If you mean the smell, probably... :P

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Enough badinage - time for a report on Yesterday's jaunt!

9th January 2016 - The Coventry Grand Prix

One of my other hobbies is quizzing.

A few years ago, I went to the Norwegian Quizzing Grand Prix, at Horwich(!).and had a whale of a time being an also ran in a field which included several severely talented Eggheads, Chasers and serial quiz show competitors. Been to a couple more since, including one last month in Bury. A friend attends these regularly and suggested a trip to Coventry for the first one of 2016. I was hesitant, then googled the venue. This was a working men"s club in Western , situated halfway twixt twiCanley and Tile Hill stations and walkable from either. Ah, PURPOSEFUL shack scratching, I thought to myself. I"m up for this. Sadly, my friend was prevented from travelling by family illness, so it was my usual solo trip.

As usual when planning a trip of this nature I planned an early night. And as usual, a combination of circumstances (including a thoroughly unpleasant Tadcaster brewer making his rounds) meant another 1:30 am end to the day.

So bog eyed and bleary, I chinged out for a taxi to Rochdale station at 06:30. 158754 was on the first train to Manchester, then Brucie bonus winning tram3101 appeared for the cross-city run to Piccadilly. Marching swiftly upwards, I collapsed onto dud 390115 for a run to Stoke. Fortunately, the buffet was open, and a rather good cup of coffee imbibed which set me on a bit for the day.

 

[backontrack]

Do you also avoid Voyagers?

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Stoke is (along with Crewe) the northern limit of WMDR land, so even though I could only connect southwards, I bought said ranger here, had a smoke then jumped on 350128 for a run to my first shack scratch of the day at Rugeley TV' There was a long fester at Stafford for overtaking purposes, but as one of the overtakers was sight-required 70013 I didn't mind too much.

At Rugeley, I was quickly over to 170510, which was on chase line duties that day. And then I curled up in a corner and had 40 winks. Waking up with a start, I discovered we'd only reached Cannock, so I snooxed again through Bloxwycz, waking up for good at Warsaw.

And glad I was that I did so. For lurking at the sad remains of Bescot was a certain gronk...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Do you also avoid Voyagers?

Not particularly. Decent enough when not overfull.

 

[backontrack]

Ah. I thought you were avoiding the direct XC trains to Birmingham, but now it appears that you were doing the Chase Line.