Techniquest
Veteran Member
Hey all,
Well despite intentions a couple of months or so, I'm back on the scene
Here's the gen on Monday's trip, my first one of the year and since 2nd December 2013:
17th February 2014 - WMDR
Finally, after 8 long days of contemplation and decision making, I decided a return to the railway hobby could no longer be put off. So after 2 months and 15 days [not like I was keeping track... - Ed] since my last bash on 2nd December 2013, during which time life as a 'norm' was sampled and deemed to be interesting, I'm back. Was terribly excited all afternoon and evening last night, and sleep was not forthcoming until gone 0300! It wasn't easy, but I'm up with the alarm at 0630, just about, to have a breakfast of two crumpets. This brand certainly wasn't chosen by me, not entirely to my satisfaction. A coffee is soon made in the travel mug before leaving for the bus to Hereford. I was surprised just what a joy it was to dig out all my old books, like my moves book, NREA, etc yesterday!
En-route to Hereford, I finish reading Jeffrey Archer's Best Kept Secrets which occupies me almost all the way. After the journey was completed at 0825, it was time for the traditional stocking up of supplies at Morrisons [old habits die hard - Ed] and I discover afterwards the West Midlands Day Ranger is now £23.80, an increase of £1.30 since December 2013. It's then off to Pumpkin for a medium Americano [as I say, old habits die hard! - Ed], and I'm glad I have my Bite card still as it brings the cost down from £2.30 to £1.84. I'd forgotten it was half term, so the platform is packed as I await the 0940 to Birmingham New Street, listening to Sash!'s Ecuador and Adelante [classic 1990s dance tunes, kids - Ed] during the fester. Soon enough 170511 turns up for my first move of the year and it's RA to a table seat. As I write this en-route to Birmingham, just leaving Colwall at this precise moment, I am well and truely in my happy place [thank you Ms Lloyd for driving that into my head in 2012! - Ed]! Green Day's the music of choice at the moment, and I see the new ticket office and canopy are now up at Malvern Link, shows how long it's been since I was last through here!
Having more fun today than I'd have on a 'normal' night out for sure. Same pubs, same clubs, same order of establishments visited, same drinks, same people, nah that gets stale way too quickly. It also generates embarassing and cringe-worthy memories! Hmm, no I think the railway's a better way of enjoying life thanks! By Bromsgrove this 2-car 170 is rammed. At 1110 I arrive at Birmingham New Street, observing platform 4 is currently the one shut off for renovating. I had been going to scoop winner 390155 on the 1130 to Euston, however I observed the 1052 to Nottingham was being held up, so jumped on to head west out of New Street, 27 minutes late. Diversions are on this week on the Nottingham trains, due to Network Rail working on a junction near Birmingham. They're routed Soho East, Walsall, Ryecroft Junction and the Sutton Park Line to reach Water Orton West Junction and thus the Derby mainline again. Quite rare for passenger trains is the Sutton Park Line, railtour or not, so since I still needed it it had to be done! By Hamstead this 170 (170115)'s whining motors got on my nerves so it's out with the MP3 player again. Passing through Walsall non-stop is an experience a trifle odd, but interesting for the fact it's not normally do-able.
Roll on getting to Tamworth now though, I want my AC fix and a stretch of legs, having been sat on 170s from 0933 until 1216 in the end! At 1200, we return to the mainline after a slow-going tour of the West Midlands. First required track in the Midlands since 2012 which was Hatton West Curve! Next up is the PSUL line (Whitacre Junction to Kingsbury Junction), after we took 44 minutes to do New Street to Coleshill Parkway, far longer than normal although we have recovered a few minutes of delay somehow. 1218 and I'm stepping off the train at Tamworth, my first visit here in quite some time [regular readers will be familiar with my previous obsession with the Snow Hill lines, and the more recent Wolvo - Coventry corridor obsession on WMDRs - Ed], although it's short but sweet as I'm soon on dud 350120 to Stafford, in the hope of a winner from there. With nothing interesting happening there (aside from noting my pet Voyager, 221137, on a Manchester service) as it turns out, I finally get a winner with 350243 on a Birmingham service. A mere 16 minutes later and I'm in Wolverhampton in search of my next winner.
66524 is noted working the 0700 Portbury to Rugeley Power Station through here, 47 minutes late at 1335, but nothing else of interest here before I notice winner 350251 vice 'Starship 323 on the 1349 to Walsall. With nowt else of interest for a while by the looks of it, I'm on the all-shacks as far as New Street. It's time for some tunes now, this time Altaria is on and for the win! In Birmingham, I decide it's time for lunch finally, having not eaten since about 0655 and it's about 1420 now! McDonalds for the much needed lunch break, and a mix-up sees me get a cheeseburger in my bag as well as my Big Mac and fries, tidy! Having re-fuelled and re-energised, it was back to the platforms in search of my next winner. 390136 is on the 1450 to Euston, however it's dud from a Warrington BQ to Preston leap in 2012, so it's flagged and I check out the 1454 to Euston instead, which is winner 350254 so I'm on it for another 8m18c leap. Yes, I haven't forgotten some of my mileages yet!
After much deliberating and consulting a former tree in my hands [a paper timetable, just in case it wasn't clear! - Ed], I end up on dud 350128 on an insect leap to Marston Green for a blind leap back. Here, I observe that the spot at Sheldon Country Park must indeed be excellent for plane spotting, the sound from the footbridge was incredible! Shame it's too wet to properly investigate it. Leaping blind turned out to be worth the effort, as winner 350265 is fronting 350249 on the next Euston service
A super quick bit of charging keeps my phone out of the danger zone [Thunderbirds reference there - Ed] and it's then my first winner 390 of the day with 390155 on the 1530 New Street to Euston, for me it's a leap to Coventry. Talking of that place, it is now mandatory to have a fester or three at Coventry it appears, it happens today and has been a staple of my last few WMDRs! It may have only been 30 minutes long this time, but it felt a fair bit longer before my luck improved to get winner 390128 on a leap back to International.
I'm now armed with another coffee from Pumpkin to keep energy levels up, especially now darkness is nearly here already (today has gone way too quickly!)
It's a bit wet and windy at International, and it's a dud 'un going back to Coventry with 390020. I observe that the 350 I needed earlier is indeed going back to New Street at 1712, the reason for doing dud 390020 back. It's currently 1705, and after about 3 hours my ears have rested up and it's time for more Altaria [they do some rather epic tunes, YouTube Altaria - Unchain The Rain if you wish to hear from evidence - Ed] now. Only 2 hours until my presence is required back at New Street for my last train home Winner 350125 is done on a leap to Canley, although I didn't read my notes properly so could have gone on to Tile Hill for a better plus. However 350112 is indeed on the next one back which takes me to just 3 more 350/1s to get now Having returned to Coventry again, I see 390104 has failed with power problems so the 1750 New Street to Euston is cancelled. One day I'll get that 390! The 1643 Euston to Edinburgh is significantly late, eventually I hear that broken down trains earlier had caused delays leading to it being 38 minutes late from Euston. Fans of Hellfire will no doubt also remember this quote "Dreadful! Something's blown up!"
Wasn't worth the flap in the end, as it was only a pair of 221s anyway! 66505 on the 1419 Southampton MCT to Hams Hall gets the road in front of 390124's arrival, which held it up coming in and naturally left late. It's dud but it's the last one I can get back to New Street to avoid risking the connection onto my last train home. I get one of the new Virgin Trains travel mugs for £6.95 (including a free hot drink), and whilst it's not massive it is of a far better build quality to the one I got from work. Back in Birmingham, I visit Tesco Metro to pick up a meal deal for £3 for tea, then it's time to board 170511 and 153354 on the 1919 to Hereford. I had intended to add the day's moves to the moves book after updating my other books, however after eating I feel tired so settle with tunes, reading the Metro and just chilling out. The fester at Worcester-super-Mare [nicked that from a photo of a special notices board somewhere on Facebook, loved it and couldn't help referring to the city as that all day! - Ed] felt like forever, but eventually we're back on the move and at 2101 I arrive back in Hereford. A while later, I'm on the bus home and eventually I get back.
A flipping brilliant day was had with 2 required 390s and 6 required 350s. Some rare track had and I believe about 263 miles. Not bad at all and a most enjoyable day had
Well despite intentions a couple of months or so, I'm back on the scene
Here's the gen on Monday's trip, my first one of the year and since 2nd December 2013:17th February 2014 - WMDR
Finally, after 8 long days of contemplation and decision making, I decided a return to the railway hobby could no longer be put off. So after 2 months and 15 days [not like I was keeping track... - Ed] since my last bash on 2nd December 2013, during which time life as a 'norm' was sampled and deemed to be interesting, I'm back. Was terribly excited all afternoon and evening last night, and sleep was not forthcoming until gone 0300! It wasn't easy, but I'm up with the alarm at 0630, just about, to have a breakfast of two crumpets. This brand certainly wasn't chosen by me, not entirely to my satisfaction. A coffee is soon made in the travel mug before leaving for the bus to Hereford. I was surprised just what a joy it was to dig out all my old books, like my moves book, NREA, etc yesterday!
En-route to Hereford, I finish reading Jeffrey Archer's Best Kept Secrets which occupies me almost all the way. After the journey was completed at 0825, it was time for the traditional stocking up of supplies at Morrisons [old habits die hard - Ed] and I discover afterwards the West Midlands Day Ranger is now £23.80, an increase of £1.30 since December 2013. It's then off to Pumpkin for a medium Americano [as I say, old habits die hard! - Ed], and I'm glad I have my Bite card still as it brings the cost down from £2.30 to £1.84. I'd forgotten it was half term, so the platform is packed as I await the 0940 to Birmingham New Street, listening to Sash!'s Ecuador and Adelante [classic 1990s dance tunes, kids - Ed] during the fester. Soon enough 170511 turns up for my first move of the year and it's RA to a table seat. As I write this en-route to Birmingham, just leaving Colwall at this precise moment, I am well and truely in my happy place [thank you Ms Lloyd for driving that into my head in 2012! - Ed]! Green Day's the music of choice at the moment, and I see the new ticket office and canopy are now up at Malvern Link, shows how long it's been since I was last through here!
Having more fun today than I'd have on a 'normal' night out for sure. Same pubs, same clubs, same order of establishments visited, same drinks, same people, nah that gets stale way too quickly. It also generates embarassing and cringe-worthy memories! Hmm, no I think the railway's a better way of enjoying life thanks! By Bromsgrove this 2-car 170 is rammed. At 1110 I arrive at Birmingham New Street, observing platform 4 is currently the one shut off for renovating. I had been going to scoop winner 390155 on the 1130 to Euston, however I observed the 1052 to Nottingham was being held up, so jumped on to head west out of New Street, 27 minutes late. Diversions are on this week on the Nottingham trains, due to Network Rail working on a junction near Birmingham. They're routed Soho East, Walsall, Ryecroft Junction and the Sutton Park Line to reach Water Orton West Junction and thus the Derby mainline again. Quite rare for passenger trains is the Sutton Park Line, railtour or not, so since I still needed it it had to be done! By Hamstead this 170 (170115)'s whining motors got on my nerves so it's out with the MP3 player again. Passing through Walsall non-stop is an experience a trifle odd, but interesting for the fact it's not normally do-able.
Roll on getting to Tamworth now though, I want my AC fix and a stretch of legs, having been sat on 170s from 0933 until 1216 in the end! At 1200, we return to the mainline after a slow-going tour of the West Midlands. First required track in the Midlands since 2012 which was Hatton West Curve! Next up is the PSUL line (Whitacre Junction to Kingsbury Junction), after we took 44 minutes to do New Street to Coleshill Parkway, far longer than normal although we have recovered a few minutes of delay somehow. 1218 and I'm stepping off the train at Tamworth, my first visit here in quite some time [regular readers will be familiar with my previous obsession with the Snow Hill lines, and the more recent Wolvo - Coventry corridor obsession on WMDRs - Ed], although it's short but sweet as I'm soon on dud 350120 to Stafford, in the hope of a winner from there. With nothing interesting happening there (aside from noting my pet Voyager, 221137, on a Manchester service) as it turns out, I finally get a winner with 350243 on a Birmingham service. A mere 16 minutes later and I'm in Wolverhampton in search of my next winner.
66524 is noted working the 0700 Portbury to Rugeley Power Station through here, 47 minutes late at 1335, but nothing else of interest here before I notice winner 350251 vice 'Starship 323 on the 1349 to Walsall. With nowt else of interest for a while by the looks of it, I'm on the all-shacks as far as New Street. It's time for some tunes now, this time Altaria is on and for the win! In Birmingham, I decide it's time for lunch finally, having not eaten since about 0655 and it's about 1420 now! McDonalds for the much needed lunch break, and a mix-up sees me get a cheeseburger in my bag as well as my Big Mac and fries, tidy! Having re-fuelled and re-energised, it was back to the platforms in search of my next winner. 390136 is on the 1450 to Euston, however it's dud from a Warrington BQ to Preston leap in 2012, so it's flagged and I check out the 1454 to Euston instead, which is winner 350254 so I'm on it for another 8m18c leap. Yes, I haven't forgotten some of my mileages yet!
After much deliberating and consulting a former tree in my hands [a paper timetable, just in case it wasn't clear! - Ed], I end up on dud 350128 on an insect leap to Marston Green for a blind leap back. Here, I observe that the spot at Sheldon Country Park must indeed be excellent for plane spotting, the sound from the footbridge was incredible! Shame it's too wet to properly investigate it. Leaping blind turned out to be worth the effort, as winner 350265 is fronting 350249 on the next Euston service
A super quick bit of charging keeps my phone out of the danger zone [Thunderbirds reference there - Ed] and it's then my first winner 390 of the day with 390155 on the 1530 New Street to Euston, for me it's a leap to Coventry. Talking of that place, it is now mandatory to have a fester or three at Coventry it appears, it happens today and has been a staple of my last few WMDRs! It may have only been 30 minutes long this time, but it felt a fair bit longer before my luck improved to get winner 390128 on a leap back to International.I'm now armed with another coffee from Pumpkin to keep energy levels up, especially now darkness is nearly here already (today has gone way too quickly!)
It's a bit wet and windy at International, and it's a dud 'un going back to Coventry with 390020. I observe that the 350 I needed earlier is indeed going back to New Street at 1712, the reason for doing dud 390020 back. It's currently 1705, and after about 3 hours my ears have rested up and it's time for more Altaria [they do some rather epic tunes, YouTube Altaria - Unchain The Rain if you wish to hear from evidence - Ed] now. Only 2 hours until my presence is required back at New Street for my last train home Winner 350125 is done on a leap to Canley, although I didn't read my notes properly so could have gone on to Tile Hill for a better plus. However 350112 is indeed on the next one back which takes me to just 3 more 350/1s to get now Having returned to Coventry again, I see 390104 has failed with power problems so the 1750 New Street to Euston is cancelled. One day I'll get that 390! The 1643 Euston to Edinburgh is significantly late, eventually I hear that broken down trains earlier had caused delays leading to it being 38 minutes late from Euston. Fans of Hellfire will no doubt also remember this quote "Dreadful! Something's blown up!"Wasn't worth the flap in the end, as it was only a pair of 221s anyway! 66505 on the 1419 Southampton MCT to Hams Hall gets the road in front of 390124's arrival, which held it up coming in and naturally left late. It's dud but it's the last one I can get back to New Street to avoid risking the connection onto my last train home. I get one of the new Virgin Trains travel mugs for £6.95 (including a free hot drink), and whilst it's not massive it is of a far better build quality to the one I got from work. Back in Birmingham, I visit Tesco Metro to pick up a meal deal for £3 for tea, then it's time to board 170511 and 153354 on the 1919 to Hereford. I had intended to add the day's moves to the moves book after updating my other books, however after eating I feel tired so settle with tunes, reading the Metro and just chilling out. The fester at Worcester-super-Mare [nicked that from a photo of a special notices board somewhere on Facebook, loved it and couldn't help referring to the city as that all day! - Ed] felt like forever, but eventually we're back on the move and at 2101 I arrive back in Hereford. A while later, I'm on the bus home and eventually I get back.
A flipping brilliant day was had with 2 required 390s and 6 required 350s. Some rare track had and I believe about 263 miles. Not bad at all and a most enjoyable day had
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hock:!