ash39
Established Member
- Joined
- 8 Feb 2012
- Messages
- 1,525
Sometimes on Friday evenings after work I go into Doncaster for a few hours, but for a change I fancied doing a rover. I started by driving to Moorthorpe, a winner station. As I arrived 142090 was leaving northbound, so I got my station pic ticked off as well.
142090 Moorthorpe 18/11/2016 by Flash 3939, on Flickr
The weather was changeable but it came out nice for the 20 minute wait for the Sheffield bound train. Moorthorpe is a nice little station with an old ticket office converted to a cafe. Well used as well for a small station, around 10-15 people were waiting for the train.
Eventually the train rolled in, having lost some time around Wakefield and around five minutes down. It was winner 144011 though, so it was worth the wait. The windows were unbelievably steamed up, couldn't even see out for the 7 miles to Swinton, another new station.
I'd decided to change at Swinton for the short connection with a Doncaster service. When I got off, there were four pacers in the three platforms! The guard of the one in the adjacent platform was complaining to our guard about being held for our late-running service. The two pacers in the other platform were of more interest to me though, as winner 142093 was leading and even though it was early and due to wait two minutes, I made a quick move over the footbridge to get on board. It was nice to be able to see out of the windows on this one. 66778 (I think) was sat on it's own at Roberts Road looking sorry for itself, having not seen much action since arriving in the UK. White tube map liveried 66721 was also just visible in the shed with one cab sticking out.
I considered staying on past Doncaster to Kirk Sandall for an ex-Hull service coming the other way, but we were held outside Doncaster for around 6 mintues so the connection was gone. I was also wary that I still didn't have a ticket, having been strangely ignored by the guard on 144011, and the guard on this train being in the rear unit. Speaking of which, after getting off at Doncaster this was identified as 142018, double winners.
I went up to the ticket office and bought my travelmaster. Good value at just over £7. Similar price and coverage to the West Yorkshire Day Rover. Nothing of interest was due through so I got an Eggnog Latte from the new Starbucks on platform 4. Don't agree with Christmas themed drinks in mid-November but I'm a fan of these.
A TPE service was due to arrive which would be a 50/50 chance of a winner, needing around half of them. I decided I'd take it if it was. It was pretty busy, but it was required unit 185149, so I made my way to the rear and got a spot in the flip down seats behind the first class section. Finished my coffee on the hop to third winner station of the day Meadowhall, though I'd been with my mum many years ago as a kid, I didn't have a recorded move there.
Station pic
158796 Meadowhall 18/11/2016 by Flash 3939, on Flickr
The return unit was dud 185125. This was more like the TPE I know, full and standing. Good job it's only a 15 minute run back to Doncaster. Being a dud and full, I could have let it go and made a different move but I wanted to get back to Doncaster for 1700 as 90029 was out on a York service and due through platform 4 which is probably the best for pictures. The 185 got me back in plenty of time, took a couple of other shots whilst I waited for the 90.
91125 Doncaster 18/11/2016 by Flash 3939, on Flickr
Got the shot I wanted. I got 90029 in the book the weekend before from Leeds to Wakefield so no temptation to do a return to Wakefield. (edit, even less so now I've proof read it and remembered it was headed for York not Leeds!)
90029 Doncaster 18/11/2016 by Flash 3939, on Flickr
Something different (91130)
225 Blur by Flash 3939, on Flickr
After this I was thinking of a way to get back to my car, as I wanted to call in to the Wakefield Model Railway Show, another Friday night post-work thing I like to do every year. It's about a half hour drive from Moorthorpe so I needed to get back at a reasonable time. Another TPE winner took me back, 185133, a productive afternoon this has turned into! Even better, it was half empty and I got a seat.
It was a +6 at Sheffield onto the 1815 service to Leeds, but I was nervous about the connection with it being an hour for the next one. I could change at Meadowhall but then it becomes a bit of a lengthy wait. I decided to go through to Sheffield, where hoardes of people were waiting to join. Glad to be getting off that one. I made my way over to the last train of the day which was 144015, dud from a couple of weeks ago. Can't complain though, had good luck with pacers lately.
I got ready to get off at Goldthorpe, before realising that Goldthorpe isn't Moorthorpe. That could have been an annoying mistake to make...
3 new stations, 5 new units, 2 duds, fun afternoon out. Requirements down to:
142: 82 needed of 96
144: 10 needed of 23
185: 22 needed of 51
142090 Moorthorpe 18/11/2016 by Flash 3939, on Flickr
The weather was changeable but it came out nice for the 20 minute wait for the Sheffield bound train. Moorthorpe is a nice little station with an old ticket office converted to a cafe. Well used as well for a small station, around 10-15 people were waiting for the train.
Eventually the train rolled in, having lost some time around Wakefield and around five minutes down. It was winner 144011 though, so it was worth the wait. The windows were unbelievably steamed up, couldn't even see out for the 7 miles to Swinton, another new station.
I'd decided to change at Swinton for the short connection with a Doncaster service. When I got off, there were four pacers in the three platforms! The guard of the one in the adjacent platform was complaining to our guard about being held for our late-running service. The two pacers in the other platform were of more interest to me though, as winner 142093 was leading and even though it was early and due to wait two minutes, I made a quick move over the footbridge to get on board. It was nice to be able to see out of the windows on this one. 66778 (I think) was sat on it's own at Roberts Road looking sorry for itself, having not seen much action since arriving in the UK. White tube map liveried 66721 was also just visible in the shed with one cab sticking out.
I considered staying on past Doncaster to Kirk Sandall for an ex-Hull service coming the other way, but we were held outside Doncaster for around 6 mintues so the connection was gone. I was also wary that I still didn't have a ticket, having been strangely ignored by the guard on 144011, and the guard on this train being in the rear unit. Speaking of which, after getting off at Doncaster this was identified as 142018, double winners.
I went up to the ticket office and bought my travelmaster. Good value at just over £7. Similar price and coverage to the West Yorkshire Day Rover. Nothing of interest was due through so I got an Eggnog Latte from the new Starbucks on platform 4. Don't agree with Christmas themed drinks in mid-November but I'm a fan of these.
A TPE service was due to arrive which would be a 50/50 chance of a winner, needing around half of them. I decided I'd take it if it was. It was pretty busy, but it was required unit 185149, so I made my way to the rear and got a spot in the flip down seats behind the first class section. Finished my coffee on the hop to third winner station of the day Meadowhall, though I'd been with my mum many years ago as a kid, I didn't have a recorded move there.
Station pic
158796 Meadowhall 18/11/2016 by Flash 3939, on Flickr
The return unit was dud 185125. This was more like the TPE I know, full and standing. Good job it's only a 15 minute run back to Doncaster. Being a dud and full, I could have let it go and made a different move but I wanted to get back to Doncaster for 1700 as 90029 was out on a York service and due through platform 4 which is probably the best for pictures. The 185 got me back in plenty of time, took a couple of other shots whilst I waited for the 90.
91125 Doncaster 18/11/2016 by Flash 3939, on Flickr
Got the shot I wanted. I got 90029 in the book the weekend before from Leeds to Wakefield so no temptation to do a return to Wakefield. (edit, even less so now I've proof read it and remembered it was headed for York not Leeds!)
90029 Doncaster 18/11/2016 by Flash 3939, on Flickr
Something different (91130)
225 Blur by Flash 3939, on Flickr
After this I was thinking of a way to get back to my car, as I wanted to call in to the Wakefield Model Railway Show, another Friday night post-work thing I like to do every year. It's about a half hour drive from Moorthorpe so I needed to get back at a reasonable time. Another TPE winner took me back, 185133, a productive afternoon this has turned into! Even better, it was half empty and I got a seat.
It was a +6 at Sheffield onto the 1815 service to Leeds, but I was nervous about the connection with it being an hour for the next one. I could change at Meadowhall but then it becomes a bit of a lengthy wait. I decided to go through to Sheffield, where hoardes of people were waiting to join. Glad to be getting off that one. I made my way over to the last train of the day which was 144015, dud from a couple of weeks ago. Can't complain though, had good luck with pacers lately.
I got ready to get off at Goldthorpe, before realising that Goldthorpe isn't Moorthorpe. That could have been an annoying mistake to make...
3 new stations, 5 new units, 2 duds, fun afternoon out. Requirements down to:
142: 82 needed of 96
144: 10 needed of 23
185: 22 needed of 51
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