sh24's ongoing meandering around the UK

[sh24]

Work changes means that rather than flying to the 4 corners of the globe, my business travels are now mostly inthe UK. Having drifted away from the railway in the early 90’s it’s been interesting getting back to grips with 2024 reality, for better and worse! To make it all a bit more fun I have also set myself 3 challenges:

1 – All the passenger lines. I’m mostly there with this one, just pockets in Wales, East Anglia, Scotland and the odd outlier e.g. Ashford-Hastings to complete. I could probably do them all in a week but I’m trying to savour ticking them off and make it more of a slow travel journey than a bashing thrashing

2 – this inspired me to try All of the PSUL lines. Up to 71.4% complete on these now and most of the outstanding bit of red pen are going to be quite hard work

3 – and in turn I’ve now added on All the Stations. Just a simple arrive or depart by train rule. At 952 right now so lots and lots to go for. Where relevant I try to get outside and explore for a little bit too rather than just ping ponging back and forth

Self indulgently I will use this thread to update on the more interesting or noteworthy adventures. Trips on the Elizabeth line to Heathrow probably won’t make it!

1C74 09:04 Paddington-Newquay (to Plymouth)
802022 + 802010

One of my regular routes. Today’s novelty is a 2x5car for the summer season, with the front set going forward to Newquay and the rear terminating at Plymouth. It also highlights, as a customer, one of the railways many failings. Seat reservations were set for a 9 car IET, and when boarding was announced there was no guard and therefore no seat reservations displayed on board. Cue much shuffling and irritated passengers when the reservations pinged up 4 mins before departure, with Newquay passengers in the wrong set, people in someone else’s reserved seats etc. Needless hassle

However we were pretty much on time all the way, I got plenty of work done and the views dropping down from Athelney onto the levels and along the seawall are always a delight. Passing a now very deserted Laira brings back memories of NSE 50’s and some very fun times in their last years. Closely followed by shock at those days being over 30 years ago…

 

[Blindtraveler]

It is good that gwr are using or attempting to use the flexibility of the shorter units to provide additional summer capacity, but the fact that we have these crapulous trains in the first place is still to my mind lamentable and I honestly am not exaggerating when I say I wish a slow and painful end to whoever thought that they were even a vaguely. Good idea

 

[sh24]

18:12 Dockyard-Plymouth
150202

All a bit spur of the moment but this was one of two missing stations around Plymouth that I needed The area around is a reminder that parts of the South West need levelling up as much if not more than parts of the north. Some people living very tough lives. The old LS&WR tunnel portal at Pasley and the dockyard buildings in the background are reminders of past glories. Nice view from the end of Platform 1 out over the valley though.

The station itself is bare bones but surprisingly a reasonable amount of custom on and off before the 6 minute hop to Plymouth. This 150 still has the original 80’s seats. A great reminder that BR had interiors as bad as anything privatisation has given us.

Station 953 complete.

 

[sh24]

It is good that gwr are using or attempting to use the flexibility of the shorter units to provide additional summer capacity, but the fact that we have these crapulous trains in the first place is still to my mind lamentable and I honestly am not exaggerating when I say I wish a slow and painful end to whoever thought that they were even a vaguely. Good idea

Yeah they aren't the best, sadly. I find the lighting, indifferent ride quality and needlessly hard seats the most off-putting part. Departing platform 7 at Plymouth over some uneven jointed track is quite a lively experience.

 

[Mag_seven]

Work changes means that rather than flying to the 4 corners of the globe, my business travels are now mostly inthe UK. Having drifted away from the railway in the early 90’s it’s been interesting getting back to grips with 2024 reality, for better and worse! To make it all a bit more fun I have also set myself 3 challenges:

1 – All the passenger lines. I’m mostly there with this one, just pockets in Wales, East Anglia, Scotland and the odd outlier e.g. Ashford-Hastings to complete. I could probably do them all in a week but I’m trying to savour ticking them off and make it more of a slow travel journey than a bashing thrashing

2 – this inspired me to try All of the PSUL lines. Up to 71.4% complete on these now and most of the outstanding bit of red pen are going to be quite hard work

3 – and in turn I’ve now added on All the Stations. Just a simple arrive or depart by train rule. At 952 right now so lots and lots to go for. Where relevant I try to get outside and explore for a little bit too rather than just ping ponging back and forth

Self indulgently I will use this thread to update on the more interesting or noteworthy adventures. Trips on the Elizabeth line to Heathrow probably won’t make it!

1C74 09:04 Paddington-Newquay (to Plymouth)
802022 + 802010

One of my regular routes. Today’s novelty is a 2x5car for the summer season, with the front set going forward to Newquay and the rear terminating at Plymouth. It also highlights, as a customer, one of the railways many failings. Seat reservations were set for a 9 car IET, and when boarding was announced there was no guard and therefore no seat reservations displayed on board. Cue much shuffling and irritated passengers when the reservations pinged up 4 mins before departure, with Newquay passengers in the wrong set, people in someone else’s reserved seats etc. Needless hassle

However we were pretty much on time all the way, I got plenty of work done and the views dropping down from Athelney onto the levels and along the seawall are always a delight. Passing a now very deserted Laira brings back memories of NSE 50’s and some very fun times in their last years. Closely followed by shock at those days being over 30 years ago…

Thread reopened at the request of @sh24

 

[sh24]

The first 4 weeks of 2025 were devoid of railway, apart from managing the photos below on New Years Day.









Photos
1 - goods shed
2 - shacks in front of a disused water tower
3 - water tower with a disused steam loco in the corner
4 - disused steam loco

This is White River in South Africa. The very disused station is in a part of town where a camera of any sort invites a mugging, so these were snatched out a car window. Quite cool to see an actual steam loco on site! From what I have found out it was abandoned when the line closed in the 70’s and hasn’t moved since.

Photos of the view from Nelson Mandela Bridge in Joburg will have to wait for my next visit. That is quite something…

 

[sh24]

28 January

Back on UK soil. Yet another infrastructure failure on the GWML, no Elizabeth Line, uncertain HEX service so 1h15 mins on the Piccadilly Line was a truly delightful welcome home. Cold, crowded, grey, glum.

My slightly update goal is to complete all UK mainline stations in the next 4 years, which calls for a rate of 345 each year. So, it is time to get moving!

The Tattenham Corner branch was an easy target for an afternoon of shack bashing/avoiding post flight sleepiness. In parts it’s a surprisingly scenic branch with some fine valley views which feel more like a light railway with tight curves and slow speeds in between the suburban bits. Tadworth station with a huge three arch bridge and station building over the line caught my eye (and the aroma from the meze restaurant in the old station attracted my nose too), Waitrose at Coulsdon Town made for an efficient use of a 15-minute wait to get some shopping done. Good views of the Brighton Mainline there, and at Reedham too.

Most of the units were the mildly uncomfortable 377/6 with high back ironing board seats. The sole 377/4 on diagram with lovely 2-2 seats arranged around tables was a treat on the way down from London Bridge.

6 stations down, up to 1213.

 

[sh24]

29 January

Office for meetings before the 15:31 to Derby. The 222 that EMR use aren’t the worst trains on the network but turning off seat reservations is annoying. A bit late arriving at St Pancras meant sharing a table rather than being tucked into a solo seat. Still, we were on time, 3 passes of the first class refreshment trolley and my annoying tablemate fell foul of the poor mobile reception onboard and stopped yapping on his phone by Kentish Town.

I even saw Rachel Reeves on the 17:17 Voyager to Newcastle. assume she was heading home to Leeds.

Untitled by Sh24pics, on Flickr

I took the chance to tick off Peartree and Spondon. Peartree is notable for the electronic access gates – the Peartree Prison? – not sure why the station needs such a secure access arrangements. Is the neighbourhood that rough?

Spondon was rather smart by contrast and I really like the history boards at some EMR stations. Lovely to read local context, in this instance Sir Henry Fowler’s local connection and the old Courtaulds plant.

 

[sh24]

31 January

Having read and heard horror stories about crush overloading on EMR”s Norwich-Liverpool, mild apprehension ahead of the 15:03 from Alfreton, relieved slightly by confirming on RTT it was a 4 car train. Thankfully on arrival it wasn’t too busy and I was able to get a seat at a table with no-one next to me through to Stockport where the train really filled up. Not offering seat reservations on a long-distance train is really really poor.

I alighted at Warrington Central and walked through the attractive but surprisingly deserted town centre to Bank Quay. The WCML was in meltdown due to a signal failure at Acton Bridge however my Northern service was unaffected. Frodsham and Runcorn East were ticked off, before changing at Helsby for the days prize, a 150 to Ince & Elton. Obviously, the station is the prize and not the uncomfortable former BR rolling stock!

Untitled by Sh24pics, on Flickr

After the Sprinter clattered off I was all alone save for the distant industrial hum from the oil refinery in the distance. 20 mins later I was back on board to tick off the Earlestown PSUL before alighting at St Helens Junction and heading onwards to Manchester. More prizes to come in the morning courtesy of the Denton Flyer.

 

[sh24]

1 February

High excitement at ticking off Denton and Reddish South. I know some have elaborate rules when ticking off stations so I must confess I’m taking the easy path with breakfast in the hotel then an Uber to Denton.

Despite a bleak location Denton was in very tidy shape. I even had another passenger join me on the Flyer.

by Sh24pics, on Flickr

I leapt at Reddish South ticking off 2 of the lowest trafficked stations in the UK in under 10 mins,

by Sh24pics, on Flickr

Walking from Reddish South to North was insight into a slice of Manchester suburban life. Former mill buildings, terrace houses and a high street clinging on to life. I didn’t have high hopes for the rest of the day, just stations to New Mills, on the Hyde Loop and the route to Hadfield, But I had some pleasant surprises along the way

New Mills – surrounded by hills, the sound of rushing water. The town looks worth an explore though time did not allow on this trip

Strines – scenic again and I had no idea about the Railway Children connection

Dinting – had forgotten it's really in the start of the Peak District, and relics of the former Woodhead route for crank interest

Overall, 14 stations up to 3pm when I finished for the day to join friends well away from the railway.