Techniquest
Veteran Member
Ah cheers, both should be open well before I make it up there anyway 
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Richard's Trip Reports
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Kristofferson
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Mmm, Southern land... [emoji37] a real life "Tatooine" ("a wretched hive of scum and villainy"!) in places.
Enjoyed the read and glad you had a productive trip... Amazing what you can achieve when not distracted by those northern lasses eh!
Enjoyed the read and glad you had a productive trip... Amazing what you can achieve when not distracted by those northern lasses eh!
Kite159
Veteran Member
Sounds like an amazing day in London 
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Lord Kris is right, the lasses (whether of Northern or Southern variety) are a major distraction full stop! When just the Train Brain is engaged you can do quite a lot, and yes this does apply to me and the rest of mankind too!
Mind you, when you discover one has a soft spot for HSTs...
Mind you, when you discover one has a soft spot for HSTs...
Well that's my last trip of 2015/First trip of 2016 sorted.
North Country Rover which is the following-
28/12- West Mids Ranger (Using the NCR to reach York)
29/12- Yorkshire shack scratching
02/01- Lakes, Lancaster-Barrow line clearance
03/01- Blackburn-Hellifield line clearance
Keeping it under £100 for the lot at the moment!
North Country Rover which is the following-
28/12- West Mids Ranger (Using the NCR to reach York)
29/12- Yorkshire shack scratching
02/01- Lakes, Lancaster-Barrow line clearance
03/01- Blackburn-Hellifield line clearance
Keeping it under £100 for the lot at the moment!
Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
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- 1,132
God id love that much value for £100
47403
Established Member
The WY ones I need in the area are Ben Rhydding and Apperley Bridge, think that's it for Airedale and Wharfedale until Kirkstall Forge opens!
There's a few I need in WY otherwise like Pontefract Tanshelf/Baghill, Streethouse, Featherstone, Glasshoughton, Woodlesford, shacks to Denby Dale except Stocksmoor, and Walsden. So they can be next on my agenda later in the year!
Birmingham I honestly have no idea, probably track and shacks to Dorridge/Whitlock's End, shacks to Wolverhampton, shacks to Coventry and track/a couple shacks to Longbridge. Should put me on good footing for the second helping in February! Plenty of winners to be had too, i've only had one brief bash down in Birmingham, it'll be nice to take a glance on Birmingham New New New Batcave too
There's a few I need in WY otherwise like Pontefract Tanshelf/Baghill, Streethouse, Featherstone, Glasshoughton, Woodlesford, shacks to Denby Dale except Stocksmoor, and Walsden. So they can be next on my agenda later in the year!
Birmingham I honestly have no idea, probably track and shacks to Dorridge/Whitlock's End, shacks to Wolverhampton, shacks to Coventry and track/a couple shacks to Longbridge. Should put me on good footing for the second helping in February! Plenty of winners to be had too, i've only had one brief bash down in Birmingham, it'll be nice to take a glance on Birmingham New New New Batcave too
Kite159
Veteran Member
The WY ones I need in the area are Ben Rhydding and Apperley Bridge, think that's it for Airedale and Wharfedale until Kirkstall Forge opens!
There's a few I need in WY otherwise like Pontefract Tanshelf/Baghill, Streethouse, Featherstone, Glasshoughton, Woodlesford, shacks to Denby Dale except Stocksmoor, and Walsden. So they can be next on my agenda later in the year!
Birmingham I honestly have no idea, probably track and shacks to Dorridge/Whitlock's End, shacks to Wolverhampton, shacks to Coventry and track/a couple shacks to Longbridge. Should put me on good footing for the second helping in February! Plenty of winners to be had too, i've only had one brief bash down in Birmingham, it'll be nice to take a glance on Birmingham New New New Batcave too
Good luck with the West Midlands
I'm also doing an update of the shacks spreadsheet, and i'm now at 597, which is about 23.47%!
In addition, i've had 102/339 LU/DLR/Tramlink shacks, and 90/238 of all the other Light Rail Systems!
In addition, i've had 102/339 LU/DLR/Tramlink shacks, and 90/238 of all the other Light Rail Systems!
Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
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- 1,132
The TFL shacks must be amongst the easiest to do, right? Regular services and easy to get to once you're in London
Yeah, I'm sticking to the mainline for now mainly but as you saw last weekend I managed 33 in one session so they're very easy once you start!
I'm off into Newcastle at the moment as part of a group called Project Hug Newcastle, where we stand with free hugs signs and try to spread a bit of joy especially at this time of year! After that, I might go for a quick Tyne Tees Ranger and scratch the Middlesbrough-Nunthorpe shacks. I'm not sure yet.
*Edit* Later start than anticipated but it's now the 15:32 to Thornaby, couple of leaps around that way, 16:49 Middlesbrough-Nunthorpe, 17:16 to Gypsy Lane where its a linear move on the 17:34 to James Cook, 17:43ish to Marton where I'm finished, +23 fester for the 18:10 to Nunthorpe again where it forms the 18:26 to Darlington, HST back to Newcastle and we're done. Leaves Cramlington for a cheap £3 return jobby and the shacks Kildale-Whitby for a Summer Sunday where I'm sure I could do the lot in one sweep
I'm off into Newcastle at the moment as part of a group called Project Hug Newcastle, where we stand with free hugs signs and try to spread a bit of joy especially at this time of year! After that, I might go for a quick Tyne Tees Ranger and scratch the Middlesbrough-Nunthorpe shacks. I'm not sure yet.
*Edit* Later start than anticipated but it's now the 15:32 to Thornaby, couple of leaps around that way, 16:49 Middlesbrough-Nunthorpe, 17:16 to Gypsy Lane where its a linear move on the 17:34 to James Cook, 17:43ish to Marton where I'm finished, +23 fester for the 18:10 to Nunthorpe again where it forms the 18:26 to Darlington, HST back to Newcastle and we're done. Leaves Cramlington for a cheap £3 return jobby and the shacks Kildale-Whitby for a Summer Sunday where I'm sure I could do the lot in one sweep
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
Sounds like quite a successful little day, and Project Hugs seems a really good idea. I might nick that for work on Monday!
I was aiming for the 12:30 off Newcastle, then the 12:57, then the 13:30, then yeah I had some err female distraction However, I still achieved all that I needed to 
Right, report:
Tees Shack Attacks- 19/12/15
So this is a much shorter trip out than usual, thanks to the fact that I only started up at 2pm! Nonetheless, it seemed worthwhile having a stab at my Tyne Tees Ranger requirements in terms of shacks, seeing as there wasn’t a lot left to do, with the exception of Redcar British Steel and Kildale-Whitby, which would have to wait for two separate trips. And of course, the illusive Cramlington.
And so, having been in Newcastle since 10, I walked down to the Central for 13:45 and purchased my £14.20 Day Ranger before plodding onto Platform 4 for the 14:00 to London Kings Cross. And for reference, everything was dud today. Not much potential for winners down here! 43277/43305 rolled in and the train was surprisingly quiet as I secured a pair of seats for the run south to Darlington. Free WiFi for all today too, which was another nice surprise. We lost some time on the run south, however, coming to a stand at around Birtley before picking up the pace again to get into Darlo for about 1436. Bit of a fester here for 142016, which was just taking me around the corner to shack 1, North Road. Pretty basic platform here, and a long winding exit which I sharply proceeded out of before making the 20 minute walk back to Bank Top station where the main focus of the day could begin.
The 1532 to Saltburn was already at Platform 2, and I boarded 156443 for the run to Thornaby. A nice refurbished example, although sadly the PIS voice is the most annoying thing on the planet. And on leaving the starting station she always announces two stations ahead as being next, ie we were first stop Allens West apparently! It was however a welcome change from the usual Pacer. It seemed that today we had quite a few refurbished 156s about, with the 142s being confined to Durham Coast workings. Into Thornaby for 1555 it was, and I had time to kill so it was across to another refurb, this time 156482 to Eaglescliffe. Again, short and sweet as I crossed onto 142016 for the second time for the run through to Middlesbrough where there was still time to eat up until the Nunthorpe! Next move was 185126 back to Thornaby, where there was a +9 for 142092 through on the quiet run to Nunthorpe.
I actually had to leave the train and wait here as the next service back was the ex-Whitby service! I picked up a Caesar Salad for the bargain price of £0.57 from the local Spar before taking a seat and awaiting 156451 for the 45 chains to shack 2, Gypsy Lane. This was a fairly blank station, pretty bleak looking in the dark as I ended up wandering up and down the platform to kill the 15 minutes until 142092 reappeared for the run to shack 3, James Cook. This at least had some better lighting and a PIS but it was still a fairly dark, dull, 10 minute fester for 156451 to reappear and take me to the final shack of the day, number 4, Marton. Here there was a +23 for the next Nunthorpe service so I devoured my cheap dinner here and waited for a completely deserted 156454 to roll in. Once we were at Nunthorpe, it was a quick change of direction as we then formed the 1826 to Darlington. I’m a big fan of 2N99, fast from Thornaby giving a nice speedy run through to Darlington for 1912, as well as usually being exceptionally quiet thanks to being only a few minutes behind the usual 2Dxx stopper. Nice delay in my favour here too, as the 1901 to Glasgow was delayed, meaning that at 1914 I was on my way, sandwiched between 43207/43378 in a near empty Coach F for the run back to Newcastle.
Productive afternoon!
Total Mileage: 129mi 03ch
Total Winners: 4 shacks
Total Cost: £15.16
However, I still achieved all that I needed to Right, report:
Tees Shack Attacks- 19/12/15
So this is a much shorter trip out than usual, thanks to the fact that I only started up at 2pm! Nonetheless, it seemed worthwhile having a stab at my Tyne Tees Ranger requirements in terms of shacks, seeing as there wasn’t a lot left to do, with the exception of Redcar British Steel and Kildale-Whitby, which would have to wait for two separate trips. And of course, the illusive Cramlington.
And so, having been in Newcastle since 10, I walked down to the Central for 13:45 and purchased my £14.20 Day Ranger before plodding onto Platform 4 for the 14:00 to London Kings Cross. And for reference, everything was dud today. Not much potential for winners down here! 43277/43305 rolled in and the train was surprisingly quiet as I secured a pair of seats for the run south to Darlington. Free WiFi for all today too, which was another nice surprise. We lost some time on the run south, however, coming to a stand at around Birtley before picking up the pace again to get into Darlo for about 1436. Bit of a fester here for 142016, which was just taking me around the corner to shack 1, North Road. Pretty basic platform here, and a long winding exit which I sharply proceeded out of before making the 20 minute walk back to Bank Top station where the main focus of the day could begin.
The 1532 to Saltburn was already at Platform 2, and I boarded 156443 for the run to Thornaby. A nice refurbished example, although sadly the PIS voice is the most annoying thing on the planet. And on leaving the starting station she always announces two stations ahead as being next, ie we were first stop Allens West apparently! It was however a welcome change from the usual Pacer. It seemed that today we had quite a few refurbished 156s about, with the 142s being confined to Durham Coast workings. Into Thornaby for 1555 it was, and I had time to kill so it was across to another refurb, this time 156482 to Eaglescliffe. Again, short and sweet as I crossed onto 142016 for the second time for the run through to Middlesbrough where there was still time to eat up until the Nunthorpe! Next move was 185126 back to Thornaby, where there was a +9 for 142092 through on the quiet run to Nunthorpe.
I actually had to leave the train and wait here as the next service back was the ex-Whitby service! I picked up a Caesar Salad for the bargain price of £0.57 from the local Spar before taking a seat and awaiting 156451 for the 45 chains to shack 2, Gypsy Lane. This was a fairly blank station, pretty bleak looking in the dark as I ended up wandering up and down the platform to kill the 15 minutes until 142092 reappeared for the run to shack 3, James Cook. This at least had some better lighting and a PIS but it was still a fairly dark, dull, 10 minute fester for 156451 to reappear and take me to the final shack of the day, number 4, Marton. Here there was a +23 for the next Nunthorpe service so I devoured my cheap dinner here and waited for a completely deserted 156454 to roll in. Once we were at Nunthorpe, it was a quick change of direction as we then formed the 1826 to Darlington. I’m a big fan of 2N99, fast from Thornaby giving a nice speedy run through to Darlington for 1912, as well as usually being exceptionally quiet thanks to being only a few minutes behind the usual 2Dxx stopper. Nice delay in my favour here too, as the 1901 to Glasgow was delayed, meaning that at 1914 I was on my way, sandwiched between 43207/43378 in a near empty Coach F for the run back to Newcastle.
Productive afternoon!
Total Mileage: 129mi 03ch
Total Winners: 4 shacks
Total Cost: £15.16
Techniquest
Veteran Member
You sure did well there, despite female distractions! 
Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,132
Productive indeed! The free hugs project sounds brilliant - spreading happiness is always a worthwhile goal
Kite159
Veteran Member
Nice little afternoon clearing some shacks
Kite159
Veteran Member
I do have a bike but getting it to Newcastle would be a challenge unless I fancied a 6 mile cycle in the wee hours of the morning (ie, no)
Therefore, a summer Sunday with the trains crossing at Battersby vice 1 train operation would be ideal.
Middlesbrough-Ruswarp-RUN-Sleights-Kildale-Danby-walk-Castleton Moor-Commondale-Egton-Middlesbrough.
Just leaves the awkward Lealholm.
Therefore, a summer Sunday with the trains crossing at Battersby vice 1 train operation would be ideal.
Middlesbrough-Ruswarp-RUN-Sleights-Kildale-Danby-walk-Castleton Moor-Commondale-Egton-Middlesbrough.
Just leaves the awkward Lealholm.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Doing a lot better than most of us are on that line then!
47403
Established Member
Free hugs, like it, should just stand outside nightclubs and takeaways of the Toon at 2am in the morning. You'll get plenty of them taking up your offer then, perhaps more
Well aye you get plenty of candidates for that, just stand on Westgate Road by the Central past 8pm on a Saturday [emoji14]
*Edit* Change of plan. North East Rover it is. Allows for a full shack attack of WY (except bloody Walsden, Marsden and Slaithwaite!) as well as potential for some more Midlands orientated bashing. After all, at £15 a day on the 4 in 8, its cheaper than Newcastle-Sheffield advances so even if I'm out of area most of the time it's still worth it!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And indeed, that's my first day planned.
28/12, I'm on the 0525 to York, swap onto the 0640 HST through to Brum for 0910. Then it's a case of clearing University and Selly Oak as a filler before I head through to Great Malvern, swap direction, back to Worcester, up through Kidderminster to Rowley Regis where a shack attack begins on the stations Stourbridge-Smethwick. After that, ATW 158 to Birmingham International where it's then all the shacks Marston Green-Coventry. And after all of that, it's a XC Coventry-Leam then back to New Street. Handy use of a Peak extra (2D39) gets me Wilnecote as I jump onto the train behind to Derby, before meandering my way back to Newcastle, half dead at 21:45
*Edit* Change of plan. North East Rover it is. Allows for a full shack attack of WY (except bloody Walsden, Marsden and Slaithwaite!) as well as potential for some more Midlands orientated bashing. After all, at £15 a day on the 4 in 8, its cheaper than Newcastle-Sheffield advances so even if I'm out of area most of the time it's still worth it!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And indeed, that's my first day planned.
28/12, I'm on the 0525 to York, swap onto the 0640 HST through to Brum for 0910. Then it's a case of clearing University and Selly Oak as a filler before I head through to Great Malvern, swap direction, back to Worcester, up through Kidderminster to Rowley Regis where a shack attack begins on the stations Stourbridge-Smethwick. After that, ATW 158 to Birmingham International where it's then all the shacks Marston Green-Coventry. And after all of that, it's a XC Coventry-Leam then back to New Street. Handy use of a Peak extra (2D39) gets me Wilnecote as I jump onto the train behind to Derby, before meandering my way back to Newcastle, half dead at 21:45
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Kite159
Veteran Member
Just be careful that some peak-time extras might not run next week
Techniquest
Veteran Member
LM peak extras are being cut down over Silly Season but XC might be fine.
I would join you on Monday but I've got my brother's birthday that day so won't be out. Such a shame since you'll be on my stomping grounds!
I would join you on Monday but I've got my brother's birthday that day so won't be out. Such a shame since you'll be on my stomping grounds!
Yeah the X City is down to 3tph too...0445 off Newcastle is also caped with the 0525 being the first service.
I'm also doing a WMDR on January 2nd, Cross City shack attacks then then I'm off to get Stone, Penkridge and Kidsgrove.
I'm also doing a WMDR on January 2nd, Cross City shack attacks then then I'm off to get Stone, Penkridge and Kidsgrove.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I'll be working 2nd January, otherwise I'd join you for a tour around my patch!
January 2nd is now in the East Midlands anyway. I'm doing an East Midlands 3 in 7 for the remainder of the 4 days, got the pesky Worksop line to clear and plenty of shacks including the ones like Netherfield which only see peak time services (short walk to Carlton required here)
I'm also meeting a friend in Market Harborough (conveniently a required shack) for a couple of hours so it's more like two and a half days of bashing. The half day is set to be a Newark Castle-Notts shack scratch, which gets me everything between the aforementioned stations aside from Bleasby between 1549 off Notts and 1854 into Newark. WMDR continuing as planned however on the 28th
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Let the bashing commence! Sadly the WCML has fallen apart so the shacks to Coventry have been put on hold.
Currently busy scratching the shacks to Dorridge, with 172339 to...Dorridge at the moment!
I'm also meeting a friend in Market Harborough (conveniently a required shack) for a couple of hours so it's more like two and a half days of bashing. The half day is set to be a Newark Castle-Notts shack scratch, which gets me everything between the aforementioned stations aside from Bleasby between 1549 off Notts and 1854 into Newark. WMDR continuing as planned however on the 28th
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Let the bashing commence! Sadly the WCML has fallen apart so the shacks to Coventry have been put on hold.
Currently busy scratching the shacks to Dorridge, with 172339 to...Dorridge at the moment!
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