Kite159
Veteran Member
I'm glad I'm not the only person who needed a couple attempts to do the WCML shacks in the West Midlands.
Dorridge Porridge
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Richard's Trip Reports
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RailUK Forums
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Jammy git, I still need Bordesley!
Kite159
Veteran Member
Quite glad I timed myself with the Birmingham match too. Hello Bordesley
Bonus point for getting it on a match day
Time it right and its easy. I was on the 1656 arrival from Whitlocks End, waited as far as possible from the entrance, bam, in comes the 1707, empty 6 car, nice and quiet.
144002 for me at the moment to Meadowhall, think 142090 is behind us working 1T44 non stop to Donny which should prove entertaining!
*Edit* 144004+142090 whacked together. Windows open in the 144 and we're getting one heck of a racket!
144002 for me at the moment to Meadowhall, think 142090 is behind us working 1T44 non stop to Donny which should prove entertaining!
*Edit* 144004+142090 whacked together. Windows open in the 144 and we're getting one heck of a racket!
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47403
Established Member
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Lord BT would no doubt greatly appreciate such a run!
47403
Established Member
Im sure the Laird would.
Well it's a quiet evening scratching all the shacks Nottingham-Newark Castle except Rolleston for me! There's some festering to do but if the trains behave all will be well.
So far they are, I'm currently at Lowdham awaiting the 1700 to Burton Joyce!
Edit- Bleasby has been left as I've been stuck the wrong side of the gates at Fiskerton! Thankfully it's only an 16 minute wait for Thurgarton then a +25 for Newark Castle. Job for the summer and longer days, are Rolleston/Bleasby!
So far they are, I'm currently at Lowdham awaiting the 1700 to Burton Joyce!
Edit- Bleasby has been left as I've been stuck the wrong side of the gates at Fiskerton! Thankfully it's only an 16 minute wait for Thurgarton then a +25 for Newark Castle. Job for the summer and longer days, are Rolleston/Bleasby!
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
Not bad at all, clearly the year is going to end well and 2016 to start well for you!
Ouch to being the wrong side of the gates, at least it wasn't 2 and a bit hours to wait like happened to me once...
Ouch to being the wrong side of the gates, at least it wasn't 2 and a bit hours to wait like happened to me once...
Just a word of warning that basically every shack that way is gated, but only Fiskerton is manually gated. So, if there's at least a few minutes to wait, you should be okay. However, the signalman clearly couldn't be bothered nipping out to do the pedestrian gate even when the train was a mere speck of headlight in the distance that called there anyway 
Kite159
Veteran Member
Just a word of warning that basically every shack that way is gated, but only Fiskerton is manually gated. So, if there's at least a few minutes to wait, you should be okay. However, the signalman clearly couldn't be bothered nipping out to do the pedestrian gate even when the train was a mere speck of headlight in the distance that called there anyway
Sounds like the barriers on some of the Marston Vale stations, they go down seemingly quite early (I think the ones at Ridgmont went down a good 5 minutes before the train actually rolled up). I think that line is all level crossings (apart from Fenny & Bedford St Johns which are single line platforms).
Seem to be making a good go at shack attacking when the weather isn't really the best, and I suspect some rather long waits in the wind on some basic shacks.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I think that it was Kidwelly in West Wales. Believe me when I say it was a boring 2 hour fester with very little around!
I had a +25 at Burton Joyce in the dark. Shelter didn't really do much and it was a bit creepy being in such an isolated area.
I'm going for some more easy evening peak (yes all the extras are down to run!) scratches on New Year's Day, Spondon, Attenborough, Willington and Langley Mill. I need Wellingborough and Loughborough too.
I'm going for some more easy evening peak (yes all the extras are down to run!) scratches on New Year's Day, Spondon, Attenborough, Willington and Langley Mill. I need Wellingborough and Loughborough too.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Wasn't it Clunderwen?
Time for the reports.
Day 1/4- West Midlands
And so, the day had beckoned for me to finally head off to the West Midlands again! It was up at 0410, preparations made and I was out the door and off to the Central, getting in there a shade after 5am. Next stop was the ticket office for the West Midlands Ranger, and then onto the platform where dud 91112 was sat on the back of the 0525 to London Kings Cross. I’d never left Newcastle this early before! We were off right time, but then proceeded to lose several minutes before we’d even reached Durham, making me anxious of not making my +12 onto the next service at York. However, we didn’t lose that much more time and we were soon into York (looking very flooded indeed) for around 0633. A dash over the bridge saw me join winner 43303 trailing dud 43304 on the 0640 to Plymouth, which was a very very quiet service indeed! I took my seat in Coach G for the journey, in which there was no more than three of us in the carriage all the way to Derby. It was most certainly a very pleasant, punctual run with the sun rising just past Sheffield. After Derby, we had a few more join us, along with another half dozen at Tamworth before we powered into Birmingham New Street, 2 early at 0908.
Now the fun could begin as I nipped upstairs for a look at the New New Street, before swiftly making my way onto platform 11B for winner 323243 as far as shack 1, Selly Oak. As a complete product of curiosity here, I decided to purchase my East Midlands Rover. The clerk at first denied such a thing existed before claiming he didn’t know what it was, eventually magically finding it and taking my £54.70. Indeed, I’ve so far confused one guard to date with an EMR issued at Selly Oak! That was my +10 filled nicely (20 minute frequency on the X City today) so I joined double winners 323241/323242 for the short hop to shack 2, University. That was enough of the grim looking X City for today I think
. Change of scenery up next as winner 170508 produced for the run all the way through to shack 3, Malvern Link. This was winning track all the way through and it was a thoroughly pleasant run, was the Lord Tech commute! Bromsgrove station looked to be making some decent progress too as I passed, before we swung onto the line through Droitwich Spa and into Worcester Foregate Street. Soon enough I was leaping off at Malvern Link and ready to score a guaranteed winner. Why’s that, you ask? I have no records of any FGW 150s, 153s or 158s. This service was going to be one of them. Sure enough, winner 158798 appeared on the Brighton service.
It was damn filthy too! However the seats were certainly well sprung as I almost fell asleep on the short run back to shack 4, Worcester Foregate Street, where I was greeted with a packed platform. ‘Oh joy’ I think to myself as winner 172341 rolls in. I board, and then realise I’m the only one on board. Everyone wanted the New Street service! Oh well, I can’t complain. I’m quite a fan of the 172s, quite quick off the mark and very bright and airy. Seats aren’t too bad either, not quite as bad as the ironing boards found on the 377/6-7s and 387s. It was a good sprightly run too as we powered through the countryside all the way back into the West Midlands for shack 5, Rowley Regis. Winner 172340 then appeared for the short run back to shack 6, Lye. There was a PERTIS machine here which I had a faff with, but it appeared to not be working so I gave up on that but more on those red machines later. One short jog to a shop later to grab a pasty and a drink, it was back onto fresh dud 172340 to shack 7, Old Hill. Fairly basic arrangement but it was quite passable I suppose, very mossy platforms however! Next up was winner 172345 to shack 8, Cradley Heath where there was a change of plans made. The WCML had fell over spectacularly meaning that I wasn’t in the mood for faffing around with delayed Desiros when I had plenty to do on the perfectly clockwork Snow Hill Lines. Furthermore, my plan involved the Coventry-Leam line, which conveniently wasn’t even valid on the ranger.
Dud 172332 was summoned and I sat at the back of the unit for the run through Birmingham, eventually bailing at shack 9, Olton. Here I had a short chat with an older enthusiast on his way to the football at Bordesley. We just really slagged off CrossCountry for a bit and talked about splitting tickets and suchlike before we parted ways as I crammed onto double winners 172216/172219 to shack 10, Acocks Green. The island platforms were most useful as I just waited out the short fester at this rather empty shack, being kept amused by a couple of passing Voyagers. Winner 172339 was up next, carting me back down the line to shack 11, Dorridge, where the service terminated. Swift change of direction here and it was back to shack 12, Widney Manor. And that was the shacks Acocks Green-Dorridge completed! And now for something completely different as winner 172213 rolled up for the fast run via Claverdon to Stratford. A most enjoyable run indeed as we called only at Dorridge en route before ambling through some very pleasant countryside and arriving into shack 13, Stratford Parkway. Yes, indeed I had actually scratched Wilmcote-Stratford on 150001 back in August 2010 so I could go without the extra hop to Stratford proper. This was also a nice changeover point for me to get in another rarely used operator, Chiltern. Winner 165020 appeared to take me back down the line via Claverdon before diverging towards Hatton, eventually arriving into shack 14, Warwick.
A linear move was a good option here as I saw my first 168/0 come into sight. Winner 168005 was only taking me for the short hop to shack 15, Warwick Parkway but these are damn good units internally! Well refurbished, free WiFi, sockets, more than Virgin can offer on the WCML! However, off I went at a deserted Parkway and plonked myself outside the closed café downstairs in order to wait out the 20 minute fester before coming back upstairs at the last second for winner 168004 to take me through to Solihull. Now I could actually appreciate the free WiFi and charge my phone a bit! A nice short and sweet run which saw me complete all three sides of the triangle around Hatton in a single sweep! Off at Solihull and I joined double winners 172217/172221 for the hop to shack 16, Small Heath. The light was just beginning to dip now as I waited out the 10 minutes for fresh dud 172339 to take me to shack 17, Hall Green. Back to the PERTIS machines now as huzzah, this one was working yet bizarrely positioned next to a functioning TVM. Anyway, I put my 20p in the machine and was presented with a rather vintage looking Permit to Travel! Something to keep as I can’t see them lasting an awful lot longer. Fresh dud 172341 then took me to shack 18, Tyseley. A very quick cross platform interchange then saw me joining double winners 172214/172222 to shack 19, Spring Road where I picked up some food from a nearby corner shop. Then, there was one more shack to get on the line before I could call it complete from Birmingham to Dorridge/Hall Green. Fresh dud 172339 took me to a suspiciously quiet shack 20, Bordesley. 12 minute fester here, and fresh duds 172332/172345 were pulling in for the hop to Moor Street. Job done, it was 1715 and I had one more shack out to the east which needed doing.
A walk to New Street saw me pick up a bag of crisps from some Dutch shop in the station before I joined a very (initially) quiet ‘peak’ extra in the form of winner 170104. Quiet until a Chiltern driver and non-rail worker friends rocked up to the front carriage with me and made one hell of a racket! Alcohol had definitely been consumed as the driver went on an expletive ridden yell about how ‘s**t these trains were compared to ours’ and how he wanted rid of guards completely on the network! I don’t think that was going to be a popular comment among his colleagues! He then promised all his friends free rides on Chiltern because ‘he was in charge’ before they all staggered off at Water Orton. Amazing. I was just a little bewildered to be honest. At least the rest of the journey to shack 21, Wilnecote, was in peace as I bailed for dud 170398 behind to Tamworth. I would have continued to Derby but the prospect of a plug socket on the Voyager behind was too tempting so I bailed to join dud 221135 as far as Sheffield, a very busy service indeed but a socket was sourced and my phone was no longer on the verge of death! The guard here was a bit too enthusiastic in announcing every single connection possible from every station we called at. I’ve never heard Spondon, Ambergate or Luton mentioned as connections before!
Just to kill time I left at Sheffield and joined dud 144002 to Meadowhall for double duds 142090/144004 through to Doncaster where winner 220006 was working the 2018 to Newcastle. It was full of Newcastle fans including some people I sadly knew, and didn’t really like who had consumed quite a lot of alcohol so I bailed at York for dud 91108 on the 2052 to Edinburgh. All reservations didn’t apply so I just picked an empty table and connected to the free (until the 2nd) wifi before being confronted by somebody who’d reserved the seat I was in. I sure as hell wasn’t going to move so I was pretty firm is telling her that it was a case of sitting anywhere. The carriage wasn’t particularly full so she wandered off down to some other free seats. Into Newcastle for 2149, bang on time and the day was over!
Total Mileage: 589mi 60ch
Total Winners: 22+21 shacks and a pile of track (New Street-Malvern Link, Droitwich Spa-Stourbridge Junction, Tyseley-Hall Green, Claverdon-Hatton, Solihull-Stratford Parkway, Lapworth-Warwick)
Total Cost: £54.45
Day 2/4- Evening in Lincolnshire
Day 2 started much much later, as I took the 0734 bus into Newcastle and took a stroll to the Central Station and into the first class lounge (this pass is quite handy!) where I made myself a coffee and snaffled a few biscuits. The intention was to catch the 0825 to London, but we had a few issues. The 0740 to Plymouth was in Platform 4 awaiting crew, and the 0821 from Chathill was running late (genius bit of timetabling having the Chathill arrive 0821 and Edinburgh 0822, not going to be prone to issue at all!). Dud 91104 arrived at 0825 and I was expecting us to leave ASAP. Nope, they let the Plymouth out first, but it didn’t move until 0833. Then the Voyager I was to connect to, arrived at 0835. ‘Well it’s faster off the mark and doesn’t have a Northallerton call. It’ll be out first so I’d best join it’ I thought to myself as I ran for dud 221138. Nope, some genius let the 91 out first. The slower off the mark, Northallerton calling 91. At least my carriage was completely empty (and it stayed that way all the way to York). We left at 0841, 6 down and there went my +9 onto the St Pancras service as we were not going to get any time made up at all. We limped our way all the way to Doncaster, eventually getting into Sheffield 18 late. A very poor show indeed.
Some consolation as winner 222007 was working the 1049 to St Pancras. It also meant that my connection to Market Harborough was now possible at East Midlands Parkway, and indeed that’s where I changed for double winners 43061/43089 through to shack 1, Market Harborough where I was meeting a friend for a few hours. We were also 3 late, so that pushed me into a 32 minute overall delay. Hello delay repay, at least. A bit later, it was back to the station for the 1434 to Nottingham, which had winner 222008 working. It was at least nice to have gotten all winners on the mandatory rover moves to meet someone! I took this through to Beeston where my intention was to get Attenborough in, it was only a +4 but the Matlock was on time into Nottingham and had a layover so all looked good. It left 1 ¾ minutes late. This changed to 3 late by Beeston and seeing as it was a dud 156 I didn’t bother and just stayed and waited for winner 153381[/b ] leading dud 153311 instead. I took these through to shack 2, Carlton where, during my +15, I decided to run to shack 3, Netherfield and get it in to avoid having to return. Back to Carlton and winner 156473 was arriving so I took it back to Nottingham and crossed onto dud 156403 to shack 4, Lowdham. Very dark by now but I ate some lunch I’d picked up earlier and waited out the fester before duds 153311/153381 returned to take me to shack 5, Burton Joyce, which made Lowdham seem inviting! All I could see to my right when leaving the train was a pitch black country track, in front of me there seemed to be a lake behind a fence (again unlit) and to my left a few houses. I kept it safe and just hung around on the platform.
At least we had a winning 156410 to take me to shack 6, Fiskerton. This was a tight +7 reduced to a +4 but I was at least optimistic about making it, even with the possibility of a level crossing. Indeed, the crossing was in the right place and I still had a +4, but it was manual. And the signalman wasn’t budging. I looked on with incredible irritation as the mere speck of headlight in the distance appeared, and left without me. I would have asked him to quickly unlock the gate but I get the feeling that he wouldn’t have anyway. It was a dud 156408 anyway, but it meant that Bleasby wasn’t getting done either today. Most frustrating. I mentioned that I’d missed my train to the signaller as he opened the gate, but of course he just burst out laughing at me. Most mature. Oh well, I went into the shelter and awaited winner 156470 leading dud 153384 for shack 7, Thurgarton. These shacks seemed to be getting more and more isolated as I went along! There was basically nothing here from what I could see, so I went into the sheltered area on the Lincoln platform and waited out the 25 minutes before dud 158865 took me to shack 8, Newark Castle.
It had been a productive evening but I sure as hell wasn’t taking up my other two evenings shack scratching rural stations, not with the scope to go wrong as we saw here and especially not with the festering. At least I only had two more to do on the line to Newark Castle and a further three to Lincoln. Back to the present and I took a stroll to Newark North Gate. It took me about 15 minutes, probably not the most direct route but it was the simplest and had me on the platform early enough to catch double duds 43305/43277 to Doncaster. A nice empty carriage, too, which meant that I could stretch out and charge my phone. Into Doncaster for 1945, and I headed into the lounge for a mocha before catching my lowest mileage (only 22 miles behind this one!) dud 91107 all the way through to Durham. Why Durham? The XC service behind was practically chasing us about half a dozen signals behind so I decided to try my luck for a winner. However, I wasn’t keen on leaving my extra legroom, free wifi seat too early, so I stayed put until then. The move did pay off though as winner 220022 was working the 2132 to Newcastle where I was in for 2145.
A generally short day in terms of bashing but it got some awkward shacks done!
Total Mileage: 444mi 62ch
Total Winners: 9+8 shacks
Total Cost: £38.23
Day 1/4- West Midlands
And so, the day had beckoned for me to finally head off to the West Midlands again! It was up at 0410, preparations made and I was out the door and off to the Central, getting in there a shade after 5am. Next stop was the ticket office for the West Midlands Ranger, and then onto the platform where dud 91112 was sat on the back of the 0525 to London Kings Cross. I’d never left Newcastle this early before! We were off right time, but then proceeded to lose several minutes before we’d even reached Durham, making me anxious of not making my +12 onto the next service at York. However, we didn’t lose that much more time and we were soon into York (looking very flooded indeed) for around 0633. A dash over the bridge saw me join winner 43303 trailing dud 43304 on the 0640 to Plymouth, which was a very very quiet service indeed! I took my seat in Coach G for the journey, in which there was no more than three of us in the carriage all the way to Derby. It was most certainly a very pleasant, punctual run with the sun rising just past Sheffield. After Derby, we had a few more join us, along with another half dozen at Tamworth before we powered into Birmingham New Street, 2 early at 0908.
Now the fun could begin as I nipped upstairs for a look at the New New Street, before swiftly making my way onto platform 11B for winner 323243 as far as shack 1, Selly Oak. As a complete product of curiosity here, I decided to purchase my East Midlands Rover. The clerk at first denied such a thing existed before claiming he didn’t know what it was, eventually magically finding it and taking my £54.70. Indeed, I’ve so far confused one guard to date with an EMR issued at Selly Oak! That was my +10 filled nicely (20 minute frequency on the X City today) so I joined double winners 323241/323242 for the short hop to shack 2, University. That was enough of the grim looking X City for today I think
. Change of scenery up next as winner 170508 produced for the run all the way through to shack 3, Malvern Link. This was winning track all the way through and it was a thoroughly pleasant run, was the Lord Tech commute! Bromsgrove station looked to be making some decent progress too as I passed, before we swung onto the line through Droitwich Spa and into Worcester Foregate Street. Soon enough I was leaping off at Malvern Link and ready to score a guaranteed winner. Why’s that, you ask? I have no records of any FGW 150s, 153s or 158s. This service was going to be one of them. Sure enough, winner 158798 appeared on the Brighton service.It was damn filthy too! However the seats were certainly well sprung as I almost fell asleep on the short run back to shack 4, Worcester Foregate Street, where I was greeted with a packed platform. ‘Oh joy’ I think to myself as winner 172341 rolls in. I board, and then realise I’m the only one on board. Everyone wanted the New Street service! Oh well, I can’t complain. I’m quite a fan of the 172s, quite quick off the mark and very bright and airy. Seats aren’t too bad either, not quite as bad as the ironing boards found on the 377/6-7s and 387s. It was a good sprightly run too as we powered through the countryside all the way back into the West Midlands for shack 5, Rowley Regis. Winner 172340 then appeared for the short run back to shack 6, Lye. There was a PERTIS machine here which I had a faff with, but it appeared to not be working so I gave up on that but more on those red machines later. One short jog to a shop later to grab a pasty and a drink, it was back onto fresh dud 172340 to shack 7, Old Hill. Fairly basic arrangement but it was quite passable I suppose, very mossy platforms however! Next up was winner 172345 to shack 8, Cradley Heath where there was a change of plans made. The WCML had fell over spectacularly meaning that I wasn’t in the mood for faffing around with delayed Desiros when I had plenty to do on the perfectly clockwork Snow Hill Lines. Furthermore, my plan involved the Coventry-Leam line, which conveniently wasn’t even valid on the ranger.
Dud 172332 was summoned and I sat at the back of the unit for the run through Birmingham, eventually bailing at shack 9, Olton. Here I had a short chat with an older enthusiast on his way to the football at Bordesley. We just really slagged off CrossCountry for a bit and talked about splitting tickets and suchlike before we parted ways as I crammed onto double winners 172216/172219 to shack 10, Acocks Green. The island platforms were most useful as I just waited out the short fester at this rather empty shack, being kept amused by a couple of passing Voyagers. Winner 172339 was up next, carting me back down the line to shack 11, Dorridge, where the service terminated. Swift change of direction here and it was back to shack 12, Widney Manor. And that was the shacks Acocks Green-Dorridge completed! And now for something completely different as winner 172213 rolled up for the fast run via Claverdon to Stratford. A most enjoyable run indeed as we called only at Dorridge en route before ambling through some very pleasant countryside and arriving into shack 13, Stratford Parkway. Yes, indeed I had actually scratched Wilmcote-Stratford on 150001 back in August 2010 so I could go without the extra hop to Stratford proper. This was also a nice changeover point for me to get in another rarely used operator, Chiltern. Winner 165020 appeared to take me back down the line via Claverdon before diverging towards Hatton, eventually arriving into shack 14, Warwick.
A linear move was a good option here as I saw my first 168/0 come into sight. Winner 168005 was only taking me for the short hop to shack 15, Warwick Parkway but these are damn good units internally! Well refurbished, free WiFi, sockets, more than Virgin can offer on the WCML! However, off I went at a deserted Parkway and plonked myself outside the closed café downstairs in order to wait out the 20 minute fester before coming back upstairs at the last second for winner 168004 to take me through to Solihull. Now I could actually appreciate the free WiFi and charge my phone a bit! A nice short and sweet run which saw me complete all three sides of the triangle around Hatton in a single sweep! Off at Solihull and I joined double winners 172217/172221 for the hop to shack 16, Small Heath. The light was just beginning to dip now as I waited out the 10 minutes for fresh dud 172339 to take me to shack 17, Hall Green. Back to the PERTIS machines now as huzzah, this one was working yet bizarrely positioned next to a functioning TVM. Anyway, I put my 20p in the machine and was presented with a rather vintage looking Permit to Travel! Something to keep as I can’t see them lasting an awful lot longer. Fresh dud 172341 then took me to shack 18, Tyseley. A very quick cross platform interchange then saw me joining double winners 172214/172222 to shack 19, Spring Road where I picked up some food from a nearby corner shop. Then, there was one more shack to get on the line before I could call it complete from Birmingham to Dorridge/Hall Green. Fresh dud 172339 took me to a suspiciously quiet shack 20, Bordesley. 12 minute fester here, and fresh duds 172332/172345 were pulling in for the hop to Moor Street. Job done, it was 1715 and I had one more shack out to the east which needed doing.
A walk to New Street saw me pick up a bag of crisps from some Dutch shop in the station before I joined a very (initially) quiet ‘peak’ extra in the form of winner 170104. Quiet until a Chiltern driver and non-rail worker friends rocked up to the front carriage with me and made one hell of a racket! Alcohol had definitely been consumed as the driver went on an expletive ridden yell about how ‘s**t these trains were compared to ours’ and how he wanted rid of guards completely on the network! I don’t think that was going to be a popular comment among his colleagues! He then promised all his friends free rides on Chiltern because ‘he was in charge’ before they all staggered off at Water Orton. Amazing. I was just a little bewildered to be honest. At least the rest of the journey to shack 21, Wilnecote, was in peace as I bailed for dud 170398 behind to Tamworth. I would have continued to Derby but the prospect of a plug socket on the Voyager behind was too tempting so I bailed to join dud 221135 as far as Sheffield, a very busy service indeed but a socket was sourced and my phone was no longer on the verge of death! The guard here was a bit too enthusiastic in announcing every single connection possible from every station we called at. I’ve never heard Spondon, Ambergate or Luton mentioned as connections before!
Just to kill time I left at Sheffield and joined dud 144002 to Meadowhall for double duds 142090/144004 through to Doncaster where winner 220006 was working the 2018 to Newcastle. It was full of Newcastle fans including some people I sadly knew, and didn’t really like who had consumed quite a lot of alcohol so I bailed at York for dud 91108 on the 2052 to Edinburgh. All reservations didn’t apply so I just picked an empty table and connected to the free (until the 2nd) wifi before being confronted by somebody who’d reserved the seat I was in. I sure as hell wasn’t going to move so I was pretty firm is telling her that it was a case of sitting anywhere. The carriage wasn’t particularly full so she wandered off down to some other free seats. Into Newcastle for 2149, bang on time and the day was over!
Total Mileage: 589mi 60ch
Total Winners: 22+21 shacks and a pile of track (New Street-Malvern Link, Droitwich Spa-Stourbridge Junction, Tyseley-Hall Green, Claverdon-Hatton, Solihull-Stratford Parkway, Lapworth-Warwick)
Total Cost: £54.45
Day 2/4- Evening in Lincolnshire
Day 2 started much much later, as I took the 0734 bus into Newcastle and took a stroll to the Central Station and into the first class lounge (this pass is quite handy!) where I made myself a coffee and snaffled a few biscuits. The intention was to catch the 0825 to London, but we had a few issues. The 0740 to Plymouth was in Platform 4 awaiting crew, and the 0821 from Chathill was running late (genius bit of timetabling having the Chathill arrive 0821 and Edinburgh 0822, not going to be prone to issue at all!). Dud 91104 arrived at 0825 and I was expecting us to leave ASAP. Nope, they let the Plymouth out first, but it didn’t move until 0833. Then the Voyager I was to connect to, arrived at 0835. ‘Well it’s faster off the mark and doesn’t have a Northallerton call. It’ll be out first so I’d best join it’ I thought to myself as I ran for dud 221138. Nope, some genius let the 91 out first. The slower off the mark, Northallerton calling 91. At least my carriage was completely empty (and it stayed that way all the way to York). We left at 0841, 6 down and there went my +9 onto the St Pancras service as we were not going to get any time made up at all. We limped our way all the way to Doncaster, eventually getting into Sheffield 18 late. A very poor show indeed.
Some consolation as winner 222007 was working the 1049 to St Pancras. It also meant that my connection to Market Harborough was now possible at East Midlands Parkway, and indeed that’s where I changed for double winners 43061/43089 through to shack 1, Market Harborough where I was meeting a friend for a few hours. We were also 3 late, so that pushed me into a 32 minute overall delay. Hello delay repay, at least. A bit later, it was back to the station for the 1434 to Nottingham, which had winner 222008 working. It was at least nice to have gotten all winners on the mandatory rover moves to meet someone! I took this through to Beeston where my intention was to get Attenborough in, it was only a +4 but the Matlock was on time into Nottingham and had a layover so all looked good. It left 1 ¾ minutes late. This changed to 3 late by Beeston and seeing as it was a dud 156 I didn’t bother and just stayed and waited for winner 153381[/b ] leading dud 153311 instead. I took these through to shack 2, Carlton where, during my +15, I decided to run to shack 3, Netherfield and get it in to avoid having to return. Back to Carlton and winner 156473 was arriving so I took it back to Nottingham and crossed onto dud 156403 to shack 4, Lowdham. Very dark by now but I ate some lunch I’d picked up earlier and waited out the fester before duds 153311/153381 returned to take me to shack 5, Burton Joyce, which made Lowdham seem inviting! All I could see to my right when leaving the train was a pitch black country track, in front of me there seemed to be a lake behind a fence (again unlit) and to my left a few houses. I kept it safe and just hung around on the platform.
At least we had a winning 156410 to take me to shack 6, Fiskerton. This was a tight +7 reduced to a +4 but I was at least optimistic about making it, even with the possibility of a level crossing. Indeed, the crossing was in the right place and I still had a +4, but it was manual. And the signalman wasn’t budging. I looked on with incredible irritation as the mere speck of headlight in the distance appeared, and left without me. I would have asked him to quickly unlock the gate but I get the feeling that he wouldn’t have anyway. It was a dud 156408 anyway, but it meant that Bleasby wasn’t getting done either today. Most frustrating. I mentioned that I’d missed my train to the signaller as he opened the gate, but of course he just burst out laughing at me. Most mature. Oh well, I went into the shelter and awaited winner 156470 leading dud 153384 for shack 7, Thurgarton. These shacks seemed to be getting more and more isolated as I went along! There was basically nothing here from what I could see, so I went into the sheltered area on the Lincoln platform and waited out the 25 minutes before dud 158865 took me to shack 8, Newark Castle.
It had been a productive evening but I sure as hell wasn’t taking up my other two evenings shack scratching rural stations, not with the scope to go wrong as we saw here and especially not with the festering. At least I only had two more to do on the line to Newark Castle and a further three to Lincoln. Back to the present and I took a stroll to Newark North Gate. It took me about 15 minutes, probably not the most direct route but it was the simplest and had me on the platform early enough to catch double duds 43305/43277 to Doncaster. A nice empty carriage, too, which meant that I could stretch out and charge my phone. Into Doncaster for 1945, and I headed into the lounge for a mocha before catching my lowest mileage (only 22 miles behind this one!) dud 91107 all the way through to Durham. Why Durham? The XC service behind was practically chasing us about half a dozen signals behind so I decided to try my luck for a winner. However, I wasn’t keen on leaving my extra legroom, free wifi seat too early, so I stayed put until then. The move did pay off though as winner 220022 was working the 2132 to Newcastle where I was in for 2145.
A generally short day in terms of bashing but it got some awkward shacks done!
Total Mileage: 444mi 62ch
Total Winners: 9+8 shacks
Total Cost: £38.23
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
Glad you enjoyed the visit to my stomping grounds!
Two very good days there, except for getting bowled by the level crossing! Clunderwen (well remembered Lord Kite!) was a planned fester, Kidwelly wasn't. Not that it was any more fun mind!
That was a rather early start on day 1! Shame about the delay on day 2 but it all worked out thankfully. Good work on the leap of faith at the end of it for the Voyager too, another step closer to conquering the UK!
Two very good days there, except for getting bowled by the level crossing! Clunderwen (well remembered Lord Kite!) was a planned fester, Kidwelly wasn't. Not that it was any more fun mind!
That was a rather early start on day 1! Shame about the delay on day 2 but it all worked out thankfully. Good work on the leap of faith at the end of it for the Voyager too, another step closer to conquering the UK!
Cheers gents, out tomorrow and the following shacks are on my radar:
Loughborough, Collingham, Hykeham, Willington, Langley Mill, Spondon, Attenborough.
All decidedly random stations but it clears a few completely for shacks.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well today vice Langley Mill I did Tutbury and Hatton, and err..Peartree!
The infamous Peartree with its awful level of service and unusual method of exit..more on that very soon!
Plenty of Dogboxes had today though, 7 winners of them alone!
Loughborough, Collingham, Hykeham, Willington, Langley Mill, Spondon, Attenborough.
All decidedly random stations but it clears a few completely for shacks.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well today vice Langley Mill I did Tutbury and Hatton, and err..Peartree!
The infamous Peartree with its awful level of service and unusual method of exit..more on that very soon!
Plenty of Dogboxes had today though, 7 winners of them alone!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Nice! I'm more than intrigued about Peartree, a shack I need.
Sounds like your 2016 has started amazingly!
Sounds like your 2016 has started amazingly!
Aye and I've just made one heck of a move off the Newcastle Voyager at Sheffield. It's in at 1940 and booked to sit until 1956.
Meanwhile I'm diving off it and onto the 1944 Beverley (can't remember off the top of my head whether 158795 is required or not, either way it's completely empty and preferred over 220011 and its random shrilling alarm!)
Anyway, this gets to Donny at 2013 and at 2018 what am I doing? Jumping back on the Voyager from before [emoji14]
Tomorrow is a split between a Thames Branches Ranger and a Travelcard. I'm doing all the shacks outside the zones bar Burnham and Taplow to Reading (shut due to engineering) and the Henley Branch before heading back to London and grabbing the rare track on the diverted Southern services via Sutton. Maybe a 442 to East Croydon too? Who knows.
Meanwhile I'm diving off it and onto the 1944 Beverley (can't remember off the top of my head whether 158795 is required or not, either way it's completely empty and preferred over 220011 and its random shrilling alarm!)
Anyway, this gets to Donny at 2013 and at 2018 what am I doing? Jumping back on the Voyager from before [emoji14]
Tomorrow is a split between a Thames Branches Ranger and a Travelcard. I'm doing all the shacks outside the zones bar Burnham and Taplow to Reading (shut due to engineering) and the Henley Branch before heading back to London and grabbing the rare track on the diverted Southern services via Sutton. Maybe a 442 to East Croydon too? Who knows.
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
Nice Quite the variety on this trip for you!
Quite the variety on this trip for you!
47403
Established Member
Jesus, a bit of a roaring start to 2016 indeed Richard. Good on ya lad.
It's a bit heavy on the ol' bank balance (well absolutely everything for the 4 days comes to £165) but its damn worth it! Should be easily on about 1200 miles by the end of tomorrow. Then there'll be a break for mock exams [emoji14]
Techniquest
Veteran Member
1,200 miles for £165 is exceptional value! Not at all jealous...
Kite159
Veteran Member
Have a good day tomorrow in London
alexf380
Established Member
A couple of crackers there Richard! All the best for 2016 as well, may the winners be many
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