Rambling Roebuck... (Trip Reports)

[jayalongtheway]

Sounds like a good time was had, look forward to reading the rest.

 

[Techniquest]

One helluva haul had there!

65505/65506, the only pair I've got recorded on the Drain. Funnily enough I was thinking of popping down there next weekend to try and get another pair in.

That landslide stopped me going to the Mid Hants, the lack of grids really put me off going. As did the rail replacement bus service!

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a good day, apart from the landslip preventing some locos arriving for the gala.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

St George's Day. The EOR and home

Firstly, for those who've never visited, Feltham is a ****hole of the first water.

Travelodge staffed by an elderly grinning ****wit, bog didn't flush, TV remote didn't work.

As a result, I was us an hour later than planned.

Decided to abandon plans for shascrscratchery on the SWT network, and get a spoons breakfast.

Mistake - spoons manned solo by a bloke who didn't speak English. Baled out to Greggs for sausage butty and coffee, which were competently served.

Decided to head straight for London and hit the Centrwl Line asap.

SWT didn't disappoint with winners 450107 + 450039 to Clapham Junction, then equally winning 458514 into Waterloo.

65501/502 then maintained my narrow lead over Techniquest in the out of towners bashing stakes with a trip to Bank, before the Eastbound linear fun began.

 

[FQ]

Shame a couple of the locos couldn't attend the gala but it sounds like a good day anyway! The hotel and spoons sounds like a mega faff though!

 

[Techniquest]

I've never had a Travelodge that grim, mega ouch!

I like the Out of Town Bashing Stakes thing, I might have to adopt that in my trip report. Don't expect your lead to last long

 

[55013]

Mention of a dodgy Travelodge takes me back to my glorious stay at their Birmingham Maypole drug den

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Better try and finish this off, rapidly, cos I'm off to Swanage in about 5 hours

Lots of winning Central Line units (except for dud 91025) were done to Epping, via shack scores at Bethnal Green (LU), Leytonstone, South Woodford and Debden. Then a gorgeous vintage bus ride toNorth Weald. A day rover was purchased, and we were off on a nutrax jolly.

Dud but rateable 20059 on the nutrax to Ongar, 08168 trundling the full length of the line to Epping Forest, with pasty and cider being consumed enroute, 37029 back to North Weald, then too long spent admiring a Hornby Class 29 meant I missed the thumper, and so departed back to Epping on time.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Back on the underground, and I realised that the time taken for a spin on the EOR is similar to the time a central line train takes to have a spin to Ruislip or Ealing, as the first two sets travelled on were duds from this morning! Never mind, Theydon Bois, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Snaresbrook and finallyMile End were visited in that order, to scratch the shacks.

Central line trains travelled on today were:
91107/92234/?/?
91169/92002/92140/91085
91083/?/92224/91175
91267/92212/92242/91287
91025/92236/92146/91235
91257/92402/92230/91179
91017/92246/92240/91129
91213/92408/92206/91009



Crossing the platform to the District Line at Mile End, 21419/420 took me to the last shack scratch of the day at Stepney Green. More winners in 21387/388, 7002+7501, 21365/366 took me back to Kings Cross via.changes at Aldgate East and Tower Hill, as I needed to catch my booked 16:36 train.

Time for a quick smoke, a supply raid on Upper Crust for a Cheese and Tomato Baton, getting my toes run over by a camp idiot with a pink pull-along suitcase in the process. The train was now boarding, so I walked along the platform, to discover....


...YES!! "James Herriot" had taken his metaphorical hand from the equally metaphorical bovine nether regions of Crofton depot and had actually turned up on my train. 180112, no less, my laast required Grand Central motive power

So I sat down with a silly grin, and enjoyed both an uneventful journey north and my baton. The Adelante certainly shifted this evening, and we seemed to be at Doncaster in no time at all, with the stagger from there onwards also being less annoying than usual. Then the Northern Random DMU generator threw out 142070 on a limited stopper back from Halifax to Rochdale, and the pacer excelled, storming along like a good 'un. Arrived two early!

The potential tram down the hill was.dud, so I treated myself to a taxi home, dropped my bag off, deranced and hit town for what should have been a couple of beers, but turned out to be a long night...

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a good day in Epping Forest area. Happy days on the 180 showing itself, maybe have a mini weekday session on the GW to try and grab the GW 180s before they come to Grand Central?

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Sounded like a good day in Epping Forest area. Happy days on the 180 showing itself, maybe have a mini weekday session on the GW to try and grab the GW 180s before they come to Grand Central?

If they're coming to GC, I'll wait! All but one of the five I need are with Hull Trains, anyway...

 

[Kite159]

If they're coming to GC, I'll wait! All but one of the five I need are with Hull Trains, anyway...

So pretty much the entire Hull Trains fleet

Good luck

 

[FQ]

Congrats on GC!

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Central line trains travelled on today were:
91107/92234/?/?
91169/92002/92140/91085
91083/?/92224/91175
91267/92212/92242/91287
91025/92236/92146/91235
91257/92402/92230/91179
91017/92246/92240/91129
91213/92408/92206/91009

An excellent read there sir. I can fill in a couple of gaps for you on the old 1992 stock. Pity I could not get to the EOR bash but the 08 was the only winner for me.

92083+92341+92224+92175
92107+92126+92234+92321

 

[D841 Roebuck]

An excellent read there sir. I can fill in a couple of gaps for you on the old 1992 stock. Pity I could not get to the EOR bash but the 08 was the only winner for me.

92083+92341+92224+92175
92107+92126+92234+92321

Cheers Keith. I had 92341 written down, but thought I had misrecorded, hadn't spotted the subtle.extra number sequence. Three more winners (unsurprisingly) there....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
06/05/2016. Southward Ho!

Some time ago, I had booked accomodation in Swanage. Unfortunately, I had booked it for a week later than when I wanted to be there. Oops! So I cancelled my booking and rebooked at the Shirley B&B in Bournemouth, resigning myself to bus trips to Purbeck on the Saturday and Sunday.

A late night on Thursday made it a bit pointless in going to bed, so I acquired a pizza from the local all-nght , then spent the balance of the night listening to choons and reading. All too soon, it was time to hit the road, and so I walked down to town for dud tram 3102 up the hill to Rochdale station, where I purchased a coffee to wake myself up.

I needn't have worried - two friends and former work colleagues joined me on their commute, and with a third boarding at Castleton I spent the next 15 minutes on duds 150226 + 142042 winding them up about our respective days 'entertainment'. Disembarking at Manchester Vic, I went outside for a smirk and a smoke (or, in Geordie parlance, a pair of smirks), then struck lucky with 3011up the hill to Piccadilly. More joy here, too, as 390154 was on hand for a speedy trip to Crewe.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
On arrival at the home of the newly relegated Alexandra, I headed upstairs for my tickets: a single to Worcester, a 3/7 FOSS and a single back from Newport on the Sunday. Yup, some track scratching was planned enroute... Calling at the buffet for a bacon bap and coffee for in flight consumption, I joined 350257 for the run to Smethwick Galton Bridge, where I had a nice ,+7 onto 172214 + 172217 for the run to Foregate Street.

Time here to pick up a sandwich, water and crisps for 'Ron', then 158952 arrived for a long warm doze, all the way to my first shack score of the day at Freshford. Or should it be called Fresh Airford as there isn't much else there, although its a pleasant and peaceful spot. 150122 kept my run of winners going on the trip back to Bath, then 158955 took me forward to Trowbridge.

Now for a circuit, to score me some track. 153370 appeared to take me on the nutrax via Melksham to Chippenham, where I purchased some more water. 43004 + 43153 then sped me to Swindon, before duds 43093+43022 took me on a positioning move to Bristol Parkway. Here, I was lined up for my second spot of nutrax. The 15:53 to Bath is a PSUL move, avoiding reversal at Temple Meads by cutting the corner from Dr Day's Junction to North Somerset Junction, and 158763 duly did this for me depositing me at Bath again.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
We were now in the midst of the rush hour, and a thoroughly wedged 158959 appeared to take me down to Romsey (although I inherited a seat after Trowbridge). Changing here, and time for the last dose of nutrax (and my last bit of SWT ), with 158881 trundling me via Chandlers Ford to Southampton Airport Parkway, with a highlight enroute being the sight of a grazing roebuck

Last lap, now, and winning pair 444018 + 444028 took.me to Southampton, where the latter was detached, and 018 continued on to Bournemouth. Here, I raided the adjacent Asda for a pork pie, a knife to cut said pie.with and a phone charger (forgotten that morning), before taking a taxi to.my B&B. This turned out to be opposite where I had stayed on a similar trip in 2007, being very handy for an indian restaurant, a couple of pubs and the Swanage bus stop! No playing out tonight, though - a shower, some pie and.some random tv, then an early night! Would I keep this up?

 

[FQ]

Sounds like a brilliant day there! I didn't know about that PSUL move avoiding Temple Meads but I'm unlikely to get it because when I do a FOSS it is pretty much all trams. I see you got one of my last 4 required GWR trams there (093).

 

[Keith Jarrett]

The FOSS is an excellent rover with a wide variety of traction on offer as well as a decent amount of track.

The cynical side of me wants to say that as the map for the FOSS doesn't show the PSUL move, then the rover is technically not valid. But there again, just ignore my cynical side!

Looking forward to the rest of the write up. I'm sure it'll be packed full of interest and more importantly, wedged out with winners.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

The FOSS is an excellent rover with a wide variety of traction on offer as well as a decent amount of track.

The cynical side of me wants to say that as the map for the FOSS doesn't show the PSUL move, then the rover is technically not valid. But there again, just ignore my cynical side!

Looking forward to the rest of the write up. I'm sure it'll be packed full of interest and more importantly, wedged out with winners.

I suspect GWR aren't too bothered about changing the map for one train per day. Having said that, it was a wwell-used service from Flabby Wood to Bath!

Just been trip-planning for Saturday - a very-much-required 37 is apparently playing out at Keighley, which fits in nicely with scratching Adderley Park, a part-fare on a shed, nutrax of the preserved variety in South Leeds and checking on beer quality in Hebden Bridge

 

[47403]

Your certainly flying here there and everywhere, very good reads too, very productive on all fronts as well. You've certainly got my interest with the FoSS, being as mine is now a mere 3 n a half weeks away. Be reading with more than a passing interest.

Being slightly pedantic, the smirk you refer to, is from Ashington, in Northumberland, still technically Geordies but there dialect is way way harsher than those of us south of Morpeth. It'd be sm(oak) for a tab and a smirk, would be smirk. However, still knew what you were getting at and still laughed, below is a link to the quite funny, part of the Ashington Dictionary. I'd advise a read if your easily humoured.
http://ashingtondictionary.weebly.com/#/offtopic/

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Your certainly flying here there and everywhere, very good reads too, very productive on all fronts as well. You've certainly got my interest with the FoSS, being as mine is now a mere 3 n a half weeks away. Be reading with more than a passing interest.

Being slightly pedantic, the smirk you refer to, is from Ashington, in Northumberland, still technically Geordies but there dialect is way way harsher than those of us south of Morpeth. It'd be sm(oak) for a tab and a smirk, would be smirk. However, still knew what you were getting at and still laughed, below is a link to the quite funny, part of the Ashington Dictionary. I'd advise a read if your easily humoured.
http://ashingtondictionary.weebly.com/#/offtopic/

Love the Ashington Dictionary..

The "smirk/smoak" contradiction is interesting. Whenever I've got chatting to a Geordie, I've shown them a map of the Manchester Metrolink and asked how they pronounced the station between Milnrow and Shaw. So far, its 50% Nyehay and 50% Nowie. Presumably the linguistic divide you mention at the Tropic Of Cramlington is responsible for this as well...

 

[Techniquest]

That PSUL move is also doable in the other direction I believe, unless it's changed. It is of course valid on the FoSS, don't worry!

Some good scores there, I did expect to see you mentioning 158884 though

Going on a hardcore bash after a heavy night on the adult beverages isn't easy, credit to you for managing it. Especially so after not sleeping the night before, I've not done that for 5 years and wouldn't again!

 

[Keith Jarrett]

I suspect GWR aren't too bothered about changing the map for one train per day. Having said that, it was a wwell-used service from Flabby Wood to Bath!

Just been trip-planning for Saturday - a very-much-required 37 is apparently playing out at Keighley, which fits in nicely with scratching Adderley Park, a part-fare on a shed, nutrax of the preserved variety in South Leeds and checking on beer quality in Hebden Bridge

That'll be MOD workers whose workplace was moved from Bath to Flabby Wood (love the name for the dump) several years back.

Look forward to hearing more about the required 37 and the beer in Hebden Bridge!

 

[D841 Roebuck]

7th May 2016 - Purbeck Breezery

After a good night's sleep I was up in time for the #50 Purbeck Breezer bus from the local stop. The ride to Swanage is pleasant, with good views of Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island and the hideous houses of the rich and tasteless at Sandbanks. We then crossed the chain ferry to Studland and headed over the hill to Swanage.

After buying my two day rover, the first loco of the day was 31162, which was taken to the end of the line at Norden. I was hungry for breakfast by now, and so the smell of homemade burger with cheese and fried onions proved irresistable! I took my food, and rejoined the train for the first winner of the day. 20205 + 20142 returned me in fine style to Swanage, where I quickly crossed the platform for my highlight of the day.

40013 was an old friend from my teenage spotting years, so it was with much joy and an iambic pentameter or two running through my head that I enjoyed the run to Corfe Castle. The sun was now over the , so I baled here for a look at the beer tent.

And a look was all it was! There was a lengthy queue for beer vouchers, made up largely of bearded types wibbling about specific gravity (and that was just the lasses), and it was too warm for me to wait. Salvation was at hand, though, as there was a homemade ice cream stall. A cone with a scoop of dark chocolate topped by winning flavour Dorset Marmalade was purchased, and was tastier than any beer!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
As I finished my ice cream, licking the last bits off my fingers, the third winner - 46045 rolled in for the short trundle to Norden. Time to settle down on the trains now and enjoy the rides. 33111 + 33012 took me back to Swanage in fine style (and I inherited a droplight at Corfe, so enjoyed the wind on my face listening to the Cromptons). Next up was D832 which burbled me back to Corfe, before a final run back to Swanage on 46045.

Now for something different. Firstly, the other Breezer bus service (,#40) was taken for the country run to Wareham. Then it was time for some shacks and winners on day 2 of my FOSS. A signalling farce in the Eastleigh area meant everything westbound was about 15 late, resulting in an alteration to my provisional plans.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
So, on with the shack scratching as dud 144018 appeared, for the run to Dorchester South. A walk across town here was shorter and quicker than I expected, so I had time to visit the excellent chippy near Dorchester West station before boarding 153370 + 150246 for the downhill run to Upwey. I was slightly surprised here when 450014 turned up vice 444 for the run to Moreton.

This was where the signalling delays came in handy, as Moreton is normally a 30 minute fester as the crossing point, but I ended up with a comfortable +7 or so for dud 444044 back to Dorchester South. Time to head homeward, via some linear leaps, and finally a winning 444, 444007 appeared, and was taken to Poole[/].

I was annoyed to pass dud 444010 in the stabling point just before POO, as this would form my service on to Branksome. So on arriving at the latter, I went to the local pub for a beer and to watch Leicester being presented with the Premiership trophy (and to let the rake of dud 444s get out of the way). I could have gone back directly to my B&B from Branksome, but decided on one last spin to Bournemouth, with 444035 being the reward.

I then went home, deranced and went out for a bit, but a veil will be drawn over the rest of the night's debauchery...

 

[Kite159]

Apart from the poor weather at times, sounded like a good day with some new locos and shacks in the book

But when did 144018 pop down south for a summer holiday?

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Apart from the poor weather at times, sounded like a good day with some new locos and shacks in the book

But when did 144018 pop down south for a summer holiday?

That would be rather hellfire

Twas of course 444018...

 

[FQ]

I'm not the only one to notice the 144 then! Sounds like a brilliant time!

 

[Techniquest]

Looks like it was an excellent day there, although going Peak bashing will have been a good reason to hit the beer!

 

[D841 Roebuck]

8/5/2016 - Gronkery and home

Yes, I stayed out far too late. And getting an hour's kip is not a good idea when you wake up at 09:10 and the bus you need is at 09:07. Fortunately, I'd packed everything, so srormed out of the B&B to the bus stop, but in vain. Plan B then - taxi to Branksome!

This gave me a +10 onto 144001, which I took to Wareham, for a bus down to Norden. After walking up to the station, I had time for a much needed coffee and bun, before joining several others on a pair of brakevans!

I was most impressed by the shunters. 08476 produced a sprightly performance for the run to the NR boundary at River Frome, whilst 08436 was nearly as good coming back. And there is no finer way than brakevan thrash to blow away the cobwebs of overindulgence...

I had time for one last run on the Swanage, with 31162 taking me to Corfe Castle, where I adjourned to the bus stop. A short ride back to Wareham, and I was truly homeward bound.

Throughout this trip, dud 444s had taken a delight in appearing, and 444040 was no exception on my train through to Southampton; however 444041 was waiting for us at Bournemouth, and joined forces there..Sourcing water and mints from Smiths, I then joined a late-becoming-later 158959, on which the aircon was u/s, for a slow and sticky run to Newport.

I had 50 minutes here, and was starving, so headed to the nearby spoons for steak and kidney pudding.
Back to the station, and I began to wonder if the East side of the Usk triangle was such a good idea when a wedged and dud (and I need lots of them) 150255 appeared for the long run to Manchester Piccadilly.

Things started unpromisingly when we waited 15 minutes for the southbound service to clear the single track chord; however I inherited a seat at Cwmbran and the sprinter produced an absolutely storming run up the marches, thrashing away with all windows open up one of the underrated scenic lines.

Back in Manchester, and I just missed the last through tram to Rochdale. Not to worry, the bus is faster at that time of night anyway! One last winner in 3108 on a Piccadilly Gardens leap, then dud 3026 to Shude Hill and the #17 bus home....

A great weekend. I expected 40013 to be a highlight, motive power wise, and she didn't disappoint. 08476 and 150255 were more unexpected highlights, and just as enjoyable.

 

[Techniquest]

Not a bad day all in, considering the late start after a heavy night on the adult beverages!

East Usk Curve used to be double track, indeed I did the southbound track when I did the curve, if only NR hadn't spent a fortune making it single line, the delay would not have occurred! Glad you enjoyed the run up my local line, it is scenic in places that's for sure, must have been a long journey getting later and later on a 150 mind.

 

[FQ]

Looks like lots of 144s are appearing in South West territory now then! 144001, 144018... What next

Sounds like a great time but I'd have probably flagged 150255 if it rolled in on one of my services from Newport to Manchester...

 

[55013]

Good stuff

<Interesting (to me) fact.>
When I was a kid in the 1970s we lived in Thirsk and our dog's vet was Alf White.
Alf White wrote books under the pen name James Herriott.
No amusing stories involving our pets featured in his books.
</Interesting (to me) fact.>

I know that's a few reports back, but I'm playing catch up (again).