Techniquest
Veteran Member
Yes yes, I know it's a strange idea to start one trip report then do another one, but this one is a single day trip report so once it's done I can later return to the other ones. After this, there's still the Cheshire Day Ranger and Tyne and Wear Metro ones to do as well as finish the Brussels Bash one. Could be here for a long time, don't expect them done before the end of April 
24th January 2013 - First WMDR of 2013
Work called to say I could have the day off if I wanted to today (I'll not publically go into why), so since I hadn't been on a train for 15 days, I was going out for the day! [I did wonder when reviewing the photos why I started so late in the day, now it makes sense - Ed] So after rushing around to get ready, I leave and get the double decker to town. Only 3 more trips to clear the beast for the magical thousand
Cleared it several years ago with commuting to/from college mind, but I'm now re-clearing everything with commuting to/from work since I started at Asda in Hereford. Anyone interested in the figures should PM me, in 2 years I've done a LOT of bus mileage! Eventually we get to the station and I get supplies for the day from Morrisons. A medium coffee [I know, I can hear the regular readers of my trip reports fainting in shock! - Ed] from Pumpkin is also sought, and I'm treated to a most welcome surprise on what was my first trip with London Midland in 2013, 150109 on the 1240 to Birmingham New Street. Winner winner, chicken dinner! 
150109 at Hereford on 1240 Hereford to Birmingham New Street by 43002, on Flickr
Woo, it's about time I got one of my required LM 150s! This started a rather good trend for the day, but I'm getting ahead of myself there. I now need to decide what I need to focus on today motive power wise. 350s, 390s, 168s, 172s, and 221s to get, with some 153s and 323s a possibility further out, not to mention possible winner 67s with Chiltern. Hmm...As it turns out, all this thinking was a waste of time, but that would ruin a good story [in a way, I'm referencing How I Met Your Mother with talk of "but I'm getting ahead of myself" and such like. Just thought I should mention it - Ed]! It's finally time to eat after Ledbury on this lengthy journey to Birmingham, so out come the supplies from Morrisons. So usefully located for bashes, just wish it wasn't such a long wait at the checkouts! Since I didn't have breakfast before leaving the house, I think it's only fair. Later I get the gen neither 67 that had recently been working with Chiltern (010 and 023) were on passenger workings today, so that's that out of the window. Definitely see which 221 is on the 1420 from Birmingham New Street now then. If a winner, off I go west, if not then it's to the Snow Hill lines. After arriving into Birmingham New Street 4 minutes early at 1408, I appear to have a good bit of luck going on today...
221111 on the 1420 Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh Waverley by 43002, on Flickr
221111 is on the 1420 to Edinburgh, my penultimate 221 for haulage! Winner winner, chicken dinner! For those unknowing, I nicked that from the movie 21. If you've not seen it, I recommend it And as I bellowed in my notebook "YES!!!" Goodness knows how many years it's been since my last winning 221, it would take me a long time to find out but I'd guess at least 5 years. Think 221101 was the last winner actually, and that was Crewe to Chester. Not that I can remember when it was, but I'd be sure it was 2008. Hmm...13th September 2008, so if that was indeed the last winner 221 it was 4 and a bit years between 101 and 111! 
A change to charge my phone is also welcome right now, and it's a bit slow to Wolverhampton today. More time to update my RailMiles at least, and I see we'd followed 170505 on a stopper, vice 323 on Walsall to Wolverhampton (via Birmingham New Street) stopping services. The Birmingham-bound service had been a pair of 221s, but I couldn't ID which ones so I need a fast train back to Birmingham from Wolverhampton, and I need it now, just in case 221108 is on it. Why's that important? I'll tell you in a bit. Thankfully there's a 390 to London Euston shortly, that'll do regardless of winning status. Oh look, awesome news, it's 390157 which I require! Winner winner, chicken dinner! 3 wins in a row on a WMDR, from the start, now that I am not used to!
Entrance to Birmingham New Street station by 43002, on Flickr
Looking east above Birmingham New Street by 43002, on Flickr
390157 from the soon-to-disappear view at Birmingham New Street by 43002, on Flickr
Another smooth journey with Virgin back to Birmingham New Street (sorry but I like Virgin and the tilting on 390s. Let's not go there right now though...) results in some bleedin' fantastic news for me, as the 1520 to Glasgow Central has produced 221108 and 221104. 221108 is important as it's my last of 43 Class 221 'Super Voyagers' to get for haulage! After over NINE years I finally get my last Voyager in the book! Winner winner, steak dinner! "YEEHAA!" sums it up well in the bellow in my notebook, as did the huge grin on my face as I saw it when rolling in on the 390. This calls for a celebration, in the interim that'll be finishing the chocolate muffins but will hopefully be something alcoholic later! All the way to Crewe for me please, I fancy some high speed, tilt and phone charging! 
1604 and we finally pass Norton Bridge, my we are behind schedule somehow today somehow. Soon enough we are belting it along the WCML [and BT's Smartbomb seems highly appropriate music for this too as I relive the memory and type this! Yes, I did change the quote above to steak dinner, well done for noticing it
- Ed] and tilting too, so I'm in my seat loving it. Sorry but I really do love the tilt along the WCML, just it's so much better on the 390s. Those who have good memories may remember my discussing on day 13 of 14 of my 2 week ALR the high speed and tilt through Rugby on an Euston to Liverpool working, and my loving that too. Or my discussing on the same trip report the Preston to Glasgow leap on 390018 and the tilt on that non-stop run Anyway, we're getting away, a long way away, from the story at hand. Damn me and my almost constant tripping down Memory Lane, not helped by playing tunes from 2002 at the moment! Anyway, back at the ranch (sorry heart-of-wessex, I'm still using that!)...
221108 and 221104 at Crewe on 1520 Birmingham New Street to Glasgow Central by 43002, on Flickr
We finally arrive at about 1618 into Crewe, 11 minutes late according to RailMiles, and the above photo had to be got. Can't believe the 221s are finally clear, that's one bit less to faff with in the WMDR area! I redeem my full Pumpkin card for a medium Americano and there's no trains to Stoke-on-Trent [Snog-on-Sofa for those who remember the old Virgin Trains advert. Randomly I never forget that one! - Ed], with them being at xx02 and xx07 then nothing until the next hour. What a pile of nonsense! It'll be back to Birmingham then, although that itself still isn't for a bit yet. 350241 is on the 1649 to Birmingham New Street, winner winner, chicken dinner! Every move so far today has had at least one winner for haulage on it, much to my amazement. Wolverhampton, and the 1745 to London Euston is a pair of 221s today, ouch if you were after a 390! I decide to bail at Smethwick Galton Bridge, the grand reasoning for why is coming up. 172213 and 172221 are on the 1753 from here to Kidderminster, 213 being a winner. Bored of typing that quote now, so hope you enjoyed it last time lol. On this all the way to Kidderminster now for the sake of it being a same platform interchange onto the Worcester train.
172220 and 172211 are on the 1833 from Kidderminster to Worcester Foregate Street, 220 a winner. Just 8 more London Midland 172s to get all in, 3 of them 172/2s. That will have to come down somewhat on my next WMDR [but I say that every time I do a WMDR, my money's on lots of leaping between Wolverhampton and Rugby! - Ed]! But then there's just so many 350s to get as well as 390s...We'll have to simply go with the flow, as I did in the end today. Got to admit, by now I really need proper food, however that'll have to wait until I get to Hereford and the chippy. Thankfully I have some Breakaway bars still in my bag, that'll tide me over for a while. Now for why I wanted to get to Worcester by 1900. The 1715 Didcot Parkway to Great Malvern is supposedly booked for a 180, of which I need 2 out of 14. Those who follow any of my posts much at all will know I am not a fan of the infernal things at all [yet you like the 175s?! No logic there young man! - Ed], but this is mainly from my HST bashing days when the dang things would bowl me out more often than I care to remember [ah, fair enough then. For those who still don't see, it's a bit like a 47 subbing for anything EE, when you're an EE man - Ed]. It's also happened after making a special cross country trip over at least twice on Grand Central, so it's not a class I enjoy.
So why the rush for a class I don't enjoy? Well 180102 and 180108 have apparently finally returned to FGW, and this was the first opportunity I've had to try and get one of them in since they came back. No-one needs to know how many times 180108 has been out when I am and unable to do it due to being booked on a train the other way...I pop downstairs for some celebratory Fosters from Tesco, then I get back and discover the train made it to Worcester Shrub Hill and failed. FML, will I ever get the infernal 180s finished?! I now have a significant wait for the HST from Paddington, but at least I'll be home soon. I watch Episodes on the Volo:TV thing and it was OK, but I'm in no rush to re-watch it. Almost tea time which has got me excited, and 43192 was with 43138 on the 1722 London Paddington to Hereford today. I visit Mr Chips and get a chicken curry and chips for £2.60, and boy that went down well! Flipping awfully cold weather tonight too, so I was glad to get on the bus when it turned up. Whilst I was eating tea though, I observed 170509 and 172219 on the 2056 to Worcester Shrub Hill. Didn't know the 172s made it to Hereford on a weekday to be honest!
170509 and 172219 at Hereford on 2056 to Worcester Shrub Hill by 43002, on Flickr
And so another bash ends, all too quickly in my mind too. Pretty damn productive day that was too, so I'm glad I had the chance to go out after all and not work today! Will be strange working tomorrow though...
As always, questions, comments and constructive criticism welcomed.
24th January 2013 - First WMDR of 2013
Work called to say I could have the day off if I wanted to today (I'll not publically go into why), so since I hadn't been on a train for 15 days, I was going out for the day! [I did wonder when reviewing the photos why I started so late in the day, now it makes sense - Ed] So after rushing around to get ready, I leave and get the double decker to town. Only 3 more trips to clear the beast for the magical thousand
Cleared it several years ago with commuting to/from college mind, but I'm now re-clearing everything with commuting to/from work since I started at Asda in Hereford. Anyone interested in the figures should PM me, in 2 years I've done a LOT of bus mileage! Eventually we get to the station and I get supplies for the day from Morrisons. A medium coffee [I know, I can hear the regular readers of my trip reports fainting in shock! - Ed] from Pumpkin is also sought, and I'm treated to a most welcome surprise on what was my first trip with London Midland in 2013, 150109 on the 1240 to Birmingham New Street. Winner winner, chicken dinner!
150109 at Hereford on 1240 Hereford to Birmingham New Street by 43002, on Flickr
Woo, it's about time I got one of my required LM 150s! This started a rather good trend for the day, but I'm getting ahead of myself there. I now need to decide what I need to focus on today motive power wise. 350s, 390s, 168s, 172s, and 221s to get, with some 153s and 323s a possibility further out, not to mention possible winner 67s with Chiltern. Hmm...As it turns out, all this thinking was a waste of time, but that would ruin a good story [in a way, I'm referencing How I Met Your Mother with talk of "but I'm getting ahead of myself" and such like. Just thought I should mention it - Ed]! It's finally time to eat after Ledbury on this lengthy journey to Birmingham, so out come the supplies from Morrisons. So usefully located for bashes, just wish it wasn't such a long wait at the checkouts! Since I didn't have breakfast before leaving the house, I think it's only fair. Later I get the gen neither 67 that had recently been working with Chiltern (010 and 023) were on passenger workings today, so that's that out of the window. Definitely see which 221 is on the 1420 from Birmingham New Street now then. If a winner, off I go west, if not then it's to the Snow Hill lines. After arriving into Birmingham New Street 4 minutes early at 1408, I appear to have a good bit of luck going on today...
221111 on the 1420 Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh Waverley by 43002, on Flickr
221111 is on the 1420 to Edinburgh, my penultimate 221 for haulage! Winner winner, chicken dinner!
For those unknowing, I nicked that from the movie 21. If you've not seen it, I recommend it And as I bellowed in my notebook "YES!!!" Goodness knows how many years it's been since my last winning 221, it would take me a long time to find out but I'd guess at least 5 years. Think 221101 was the last winner actually, and that was Crewe to Chester. Not that I can remember when it was, but I'd be sure it was 2008. Hmm...13th September 2008, so if that was indeed the last winner 221 it was 4 and a bit years between 101 and 111! A change to charge my phone is also welcome right now, and it's a bit slow to Wolverhampton today. More time to update my RailMiles at least, and I see we'd followed 170505 on a stopper, vice 323 on Walsall to Wolverhampton (via Birmingham New Street) stopping services. The Birmingham-bound service had been a pair of 221s, but I couldn't ID which ones so I need a fast train back to Birmingham from Wolverhampton, and I need it now, just in case 221108 is on it. Why's that important? I'll tell you in a bit. Thankfully there's a 390 to London Euston shortly, that'll do regardless of winning status. Oh look, awesome news, it's 390157 which I require! Winner winner, chicken dinner! 3 wins in a row on a WMDR, from the start, now that I am not used to!
Entrance to Birmingham New Street station by 43002, on Flickr
Looking east above Birmingham New Street by 43002, on Flickr
390157 from the soon-to-disappear view at Birmingham New Street by 43002, on Flickr
Another smooth journey with Virgin back to Birmingham New Street (sorry but I like Virgin and the tilting on 390s. Let's not go there right now though...) results in some bleedin' fantastic news for me, as the 1520 to Glasgow Central has produced 221108 and 221104. 221108 is important as it's my last of 43 Class 221 'Super Voyagers' to get for haulage! After over NINE years I finally get my last Voyager in the book! Winner winner, steak dinner!
"YEEHAA!" sums it up well in the bellow in my notebook, as did the huge grin on my face as I saw it when rolling in on the 390. This calls for a celebration, in the interim that'll be finishing the chocolate muffins but will hopefully be something alcoholic later! All the way to Crewe for me please, I fancy some high speed, tilt and phone charging! 1604 and we finally pass Norton Bridge, my we are behind schedule somehow today somehow. Soon enough we are belting it along the WCML [and BT's Smartbomb seems highly appropriate music for this too as I relive the memory and type this! Yes, I did change the quote above to steak dinner, well done for noticing it
- Ed] and tilting too, so I'm in my seat loving it. Sorry but I really do love the tilt along the WCML, just it's so much better on the 390s. Those who have good memories may remember my discussing on day 13 of 14 of my 2 week ALR the high speed and tilt through Rugby on an Euston to Liverpool working, and my loving that too. Or my discussing on the same trip report the Preston to Glasgow leap on 390018 and the tilt on that non-stop run Anyway, we're getting away, a long way away, from the story at hand. Damn me and my almost constant tripping down Memory Lane, not helped by playing tunes from 2002 at the moment! Anyway, back at the ranch (sorry heart-of-wessex, I'm still using that!)...
221108 and 221104 at Crewe on 1520 Birmingham New Street to Glasgow Central by 43002, on Flickr
We finally arrive at about 1618 into Crewe, 11 minutes late according to RailMiles, and the above photo had to be got. Can't believe the 221s are finally clear, that's one bit less to faff with in the WMDR area! I redeem my full Pumpkin card for a medium Americano and there's no trains to Stoke-on-Trent [Snog-on-Sofa for those who remember the old Virgin Trains advert. Randomly I never forget that one! - Ed], with them being at xx02 and xx07 then nothing until the next hour. What a pile of nonsense! It'll be back to Birmingham then, although that itself still isn't for a bit yet. 350241 is on the 1649 to Birmingham New Street, winner winner, chicken dinner! Every move so far today has had at least one winner for haulage on it, much to my amazement. Wolverhampton, and the 1745 to London Euston is a pair of 221s today, ouch if you were after a 390! I decide to bail at Smethwick Galton Bridge, the grand reasoning for why is coming up. 172213 and 172221 are on the 1753 from here to Kidderminster, 213 being a winner. Bored of typing that quote now, so hope you enjoyed it last time lol. On this all the way to Kidderminster now for the sake of it being a same platform interchange onto the Worcester train.
172220 and 172211 are on the 1833 from Kidderminster to Worcester Foregate Street, 220 a winner. Just 8 more London Midland 172s to get all in, 3 of them 172/2s. That will have to come down somewhat on my next WMDR [but I say that every time I do a WMDR, my money's on lots of leaping between Wolverhampton and Rugby! - Ed]! But then there's just so many 350s to get as well as 390s...We'll have to simply go with the flow, as I did in the end today. Got to admit, by now I really need proper food, however that'll have to wait until I get to Hereford and the chippy. Thankfully I have some Breakaway bars still in my bag, that'll tide me over for a while. Now for why I wanted to get to Worcester by 1900. The 1715 Didcot Parkway to Great Malvern is supposedly booked for a 180, of which I need 2 out of 14. Those who follow any of my posts much at all will know I am not a fan of the infernal things at all [yet you like the 175s?! No logic there young man! - Ed], but this is mainly from my HST bashing days when the dang things would bowl me out more often than I care to remember [ah, fair enough then. For those who still don't see, it's a bit like a 47 subbing for anything EE, when you're an EE man - Ed]. It's also happened after making a special cross country trip over at least twice on Grand Central, so it's not a class I enjoy.
So why the rush for a class I don't enjoy? Well 180102 and 180108 have apparently finally returned to FGW, and this was the first opportunity I've had to try and get one of them in since they came back. No-one needs to know how many times 180108 has been out when I am and unable to do it due to being booked on a train the other way...I pop downstairs for some celebratory Fosters from Tesco, then I get back and discover the train made it to Worcester Shrub Hill and failed. FML, will I ever get the infernal 180s finished?! I now have a significant wait for the HST from Paddington, but at least I'll be home soon. I watch Episodes on the Volo:TV thing and it was OK, but I'm in no rush to re-watch it. Almost tea time which has got me excited, and 43192 was with 43138 on the 1722 London Paddington to Hereford today. I visit Mr Chips and get a chicken curry and chips for £2.60, and boy that went down well! Flipping awfully cold weather tonight too, so I was glad to get on the bus when it turned up. Whilst I was eating tea though, I observed 170509 and 172219 on the 2056 to Worcester Shrub Hill. Didn't know the 172s made it to Hereford on a weekday to be honest!
170509 and 172219 at Hereford on 2056 to Worcester Shrub Hill by 43002, on Flickr
And so another bash ends, all too quickly in my mind too. Pretty damn productive day that was too, so I'm glad I had the chance to go out after all and not work today! Will be strange working tomorrow though...
As always, questions, comments and constructive criticism welcomed.
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