Techniquest's Netherlands Bash,13th-16th April 2013

[Techniquest]

For once,I'm doing my trip report (mostly) as I go along!

13th April 2013 - Netherlands Bash,Day 1

Fudge me,it felt like forever waiting for this trip,even though I only booked it less than a month ago! After finally finishing preparations for the trip,I leave 20 minutes later than planned and get a lift to work for my 6 hour shift. Without going into details,that was an absolute mission! To say I was worn out when I left at 1900 is an understatement,and I sure earned my tea!After walking across town to the station,I fork out £72.50 for a Super Off Peak Return to Stansted Airport. A lot of money considering my flights only totalled £40.13!

Onwards and upwards then with 43158 and 43140 on the 2020 Hereford to London Paddington,my first HST since 24th January My chicken and bacon sandwich is devoured,as are the Tangy Cheese Doritos,it having been over 9 hours since I last ate! Plenty of bookwork to do and I'm keen on having a coffee,alas the buffet is not opening on this service. Good thing I have some water then,hope it lasts! The bookwork from Monday's WMDR is done,as I couldn't find my 2012 NREA for that trip.Texting also keeps me busy for the first 75 minutes. No idea what moves to make in London, shall decide when I get there.

Studying the printed off leaflet for the euregio ticket has been convinced I should do that on Monday. For €17 it looks excellent value, and it would be my first ever foray into Germany,somewhere I've wanted to go for a long time.How can I resist?! It takes flipping ages to get to Oxford, couldn't wait to get out of Middle Earth! Didcot Parkway sees us use p5, not sure I've ever done that before. I study my Dutch and German phrase books somewhat and it's been banging tunes since Evesham, need it to keep me going!

Annoyingly I'm already tired, but I won't see a bed until around 2000 tomorrow! The new footbridge at Reading is epic, it's all changed a lot there! We use p10, which I believe was the old p9. It's back to the mainline briefly then cross to the reliefs just before Twyford and back again just before Slough. Airport Junction and we're held up, must be HEx in the way. We finally arrive at 2359, a long journey time for 149 miles! I'm in dire need of food and drink, having run out of water this side of Reading, so Costa for a large Americano and The Pasty Shop for a large pasty. Off after that to the Tube, and I get the last southbound Bakerloo of the day on 3362.

Oxford Circus, and sadly the last eastbound Central Line train left before we got there. Harsh. Back to the Victoria line and 14048 takes me to Kings Cross St Pancras. A surprise sight at the Pan with 57301 in NR yellow photted next to 222s. I head to the bus stops and get Stagecoach's 15124 on route 205 to Eldon Street, having to pay £2.40 for the privilege. McDonalds is visited when I eventually find Liverpool Street station,a coffee is urgently needed!


57301 and 222s at London St Pancras by 43002, on Flickr

No sign of where the rail replacement buses go from though, not very helpful! I find somewhere to sit down and get the trip report started, which took a while! As of 0229, I'm up to date so will continue this at the next opportunity.

Alright,let's carry this on a bit. Apologies for the delay in continuing,was far too tired last night to carry on. As I'm sure anyone who's done a day's work and an all nighter straight after followed by a day's bashing can appreciate! Anyway,let's roll...

14th April 2013 - The Three Countries Bash,Day 2

First of all, you'll notice I have renamed the bash title.All will become clear on day 3...

As I write this at 0303, it's thankfully not long to go until the replacement coach to Stansted. I get a second coffee from McDonalds,and while it cools I bring my books up to date. The station reopens at 0340, and I'm told to go to stop G. A Terravision staff member informs me it's actually from the roadway next to p10, so glad someone knew! I see on the boards an 0507 that's not showing as a bus, but just in case I get the 0410 bus, which today is Reliance's YP12 NUH. It takes us 46 minutes to get there, finally at the airport! Absolutely shattered now, I'm getting too old for these all nighters!


Reliance YP12 NUH at Stansted Airport Bus Station by 43002, on Flickr

Another €20 is got from a currency exchange place, which cost me £20.52 with a £1.50 commission charge. Had to be done in case I ran out of money! I settle on a can of Relentless (not had that in years!) for a quid to keep me going, I'm not going to be able to sleep anyway due to the excitement of the bash. At 0535 it's getting light again, which means I've seen it go from light to night to light again, lovely! 0605 and I deem it time to get through security, and it's passed in about 5 minutes. Considering the size of the airport, I expected it to take a while.


Free Charge station at London Stansted by 43002, on Flickr

I see there are free recharging stations for phones, so I take advantage of that whilst I note directions to my base camp in Eindhoven. Never realised just how busy it is with Ryanair flights here,noted quite a few of their fleet! I visit The Windmill, the Wetherspoon at the airport, for a coffee at £1.99. I'm also hungry but I refuse to pay airport prices for food! 0653 and it's about 2 hours until departure. Feels like ages away,probably because it is lol. A Wispa and Twirl for 99p are got for breakfast at WHSmith, and I read a couple of other people's trip reports to kill time.


Ryanair gala of planes at London Stansted by 43002, on Flickr

0805 and the gate is revealed to be gate 48. Sadly that means it's no transit system for me, wonder if I'll ever get it in. Boarding commences at 0828 on what will be my 9th Ryanair craft, EI-EKL. Doors are closed at 0851, pushback at 0852 and take off at 0900. The onboard magazine is read as usual, in which I discover there's more new destinations with the airline, 7 of them in this magazine's period! Groingen is noted as served by Ryanair, I'd put money on it only being from Stansted though [Nope, not according to the search I did on their website! - Ed]! We land after a smooth flight at 1040 (GMT +1).


Ryanair's EI-EKL at London Stansted by 43002, on Flickr

Half the airport it seems is a building site at the moment, and a single to Eindhoven city centre is €3.50, quite reasonable. BP-NX-19 takes me there on a 19 minute journey.

Will continue this at a later time, need to start preparing for some sleep if I'm to get up at 0600 (that's 0500 in the UK)!

 

[156441]

Cracking report as usual. Love your writing style. Watching with interest pal!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Cracking report as usual. Love your writing style. Watching with interest pal!

same here and indeed it is. A very welcome distraction from what I
should
be doing, i.e working

 

[Techniquest]

Cheers both of you, now on the next long leg of my journey home let's continue!

The bus stops here are more like tram stops, looks odd to me. Burger King is visited at the station, €7.15 gets me a large Double Cheeseburger XL meal, which I really needed now! I get a day return (dagretour) to Vlissingen for €41.90, then join ICMm units 4250 and 4070 on the 1202 as far as Breda. After Boxtel it's new track for me, and on arrival into Breda I see Fyra loco 186112, obviously the new V250 issues still aren't sorted out! VIRM 9584 takes me forward to Roosendaal, another winner, and there I see some SNCB EMUs on a stopper to Antwerpen. Hadn't considered I might see SNCB stuff today! Gutted I still haven't got a NS loco in the book yet. Not noted owt interesting with scenery yet, it's a bit like Suffolk really. 9584 takes me forward to Vlissingen. Or does it?


SNCB 804 at Roosendaal by 43002, on Flickr


NS VIRM at Goes by 43002, on Flickr


Goes station by 43002, on Flickr

I wonder at Goes why we are sitting around for so long, so I investigate. Turns out there's engineering works on beyond here, curse my failure to check for that this morning! Now I'll have to come back one day for the remaining bit to Vlissingen, d'oh! I decide to get the next train back instead, and can't be bothered to get to the steam railway to look at it. I must be tired then, let's get to base camp!


NS DDZ, 7534 at Roosendaal by 43002, on Flickr

7534, a DDZ EMU, takes me back to Roosendaal and is my first of the fleet to travel on. Not that they're all that exciting! I phot 2839 on a Fyra run going north, and get a few other sights before getting 9592 back to Breda, another winner VIRM. Seems there's a lot of engineering work going on, a bad choice of day to go bashing! My eyes are getting heavy now, although I have been awake for over 30 hours. Last time I did such a long all nighter bash I hadn't been to work beforehand, which has buggered me up.


Class 28, 2829, on a Fyra service at Roosendaal by 43002, on Flickr


Fyra service arriving at Breda by 43002, on Flickr

4054 and 4244 ICMm units take me back to Eindhoven, and I'm glad of my banging tunes to keep me going today! Back at Eindhoven at 1658, nearly 4 hours after leaving, I make my way to Musis Sacrum where I'm staying for two nights. I also observe on a building the current temperature, 23c, no wonder I've been hot and thirsty all day! The walk takes 23 minutes for 1.9km, and I'm soon checked in. €82 when including the €3.50 per night city tax, as the guy said it's the highest in the Netherlands. Still don't know what it's for mind. Time now to finally chill out in front of the TV, on which I find Comedy Central both in English and with Futurama on it. The episodes appear to be from the UK season 7, which I missed somehow.

After a while I'm falling asleep, so at the halfway mark of American Dad I shut everything off and start sleeping after over 32 hours of being awake. Home calls which wakes me up, said call made short as I was too tired to talk!

15th April 2013 - The Three Countries Bash, Day 3

Wow I feel better after an excellent bit of sleep! Up and about properly at 0730 after a couple of early morning interruptions. It shows how much I need my hotel/B&Bs these days, all night and day bashes are just too exhausting! De-rancification time which was both more than mandatory and sure woke me up! After re-packing the bag, it's off downstairs for breakfast [Gricer's Tip - if staying here, the stairs are very steep and there is no lift!], which was meat rolls, coffee and orange juice. The coffee was the best I've had in the Netherlands so far! Off then to the station around 0830 and it's still really warm. Really regretting bringing my fleece now!

I try to buy my ticket in Dutch but fail. Thankfully the ticket office clerk could speak English, and at least I tried! €31.10 is parted with for a dagretour to Heerlen. Up on the platforms a Class 1600 loco, 1611, is photted on an eastbound freight. VIRM 8736 continues the spree of winners on the 0916 to Heerlen. Out comes the notebook now to update the trip report, having not done it last night, followed by staring out of the window with some of my favourite travelling music on.


Class 1600, 1611, on an eastbound freight at Eindhoven by 43002, on Flickr

From Sittard it's onto new track, which means I'll have cleared this corner of the Netherlands. I get my euregio ticket for €17 and note DB RB 643706 and 643717 stabled. Unfortunately all trains eastbound are cancelled due to, I believe, a failed switch. So it's an epic change of plan to get the 1030 to Maastricht, which suffers a door fault so it's to p4 for the 1046 stopper instead. That's then changed to p2 and it's a wedged 2 car train. Certain problems in the UK exist here too! Veolia's 504 works it and we leave 6 late.


NS advert in Heerlen ticket office by 43002, on Flickr


Veolia Netherlands 504 at Maastricht by 43002, on Flickr

Annoyingly, we arrive just after the 1119 to Liege left, so it's an hour here in Maastricht. Some drinks are got, and eventually SNCB 701 is joined on the 1219 to Liege Guillemins (this is why I renamed the trip title, as now it became a bash in 3 countries rather than 2) and it's significantly busier than last time I was here. Also, where'd the lovely weather go, it's miserable here! Still nice and warm mind, especially compared to my last trip here!


SNCB 701 at Maastricht by 43002, on Flickr

2821 is noted west of Vise on a northbound freight, as was an IC train just after. Must try to remember that when I one day scratch the shack! With a bit of time to spare in Liege, I get a pain au chocolat and a big can of Jupiler. Dang that food was nice, a welcome addition to the stomach contents! 1892 is joined on an IC service to Eupen, as far as Verviers Central, to do the Spa Geronstere branch. And it's such a lot nicer ambiance on board this stock than the AM62s and their brethen. Oh look, there's more of them in my future!


SNCB Class AM62 265 at Verviers Central by 43002, on Flickr

265 and 662 are on the 1346 to Spa Geronstere, ouch. I feel sorry for regular passengers on these things! We cross 'Break' 398 at Theaux, and although I've never been on one they look far more inviting than these things! Nothing of interest noted here, so after a couple of photos it's back on and I crack open the Jupiler for the same EMUs back after 30 minutes at the terminus. Must say that 662 was a lot nicer than 265 to travel in, must avoid the 'Beetroots' at all costs in future!


From the entrance to Spa Geronstere by 43002, on Flickr


SNCB 662 at Spa Geronstere by 43002, on Flickr

1893 is up next on an IC to Eupen, another branch I need. It's not far to go, and I finish my drink before we arrive. It's another 30 minute wait to go back, so I pop into town to get something to drink. A 9 minute walk gets me to a shop where I get another can of Jupiler and a can of Dr Pepper. That pop went almost straight away, I was very thirsty! As for the Jupiler, I'm saving that for a celebration later. 1893 takes me back on a leap to Welkenradt, where I discover the next Aachen train was at 1610, missed by 12 minutes. So I wander to the ticket office, then see the train arrive with 178. Dang it, won't make that now! Annoyingly the next Aachen train is normally 1723, but at the moment it's retimed throughout from Liege. It's also late, grr.


SNCB Class 18, 1893 at Eupen by 43002, on Flickr


SNCB Class 18, 1844, arrives at Welkenradt by 43002, on Flickr

I see ICE 4653 race through westbound, very nice. I had planned to do the 1651 to Liege as far as Verviers Central, to kill time, alas it's about 10 minutes late [Gricer's Tip - No PIS screens apart from above subway steps on p2 and in the ticket office, be warned!] and that eats too much of the plus for the Aachen train. Besides, it was Beetroot 178 and something interesting may pass here in the meantime. I'm now really hungry, but couldn't see owt nearby for tea. I end up with a Twix Xtra for €1 from the ticket office vending machine, dang it was nice! Nothing of interest passed by in the end, and guttingly it's a pair of Beetroots forward.

That'll do for now, more to come soon

 

[tony6499]

Good stuff , really enjoyable and hope you post some photos too. I did Eindhoven and that area in the 80's so I guess it would have changed a lot now.

 

[87015]

NS is not somewhere i've bothered with yet so this is interesting. Re comment about locos - there are full NS and SNCB diagrams on ERG so you can easily plan to get a few in from there, although NS have a reputation for liking unit vice loco and vice versa as they have some EMU power cars which are interchangable with locos.

 

[Techniquest]

Right then, a bit more now I'm on the way to Hereford and I've finally eaten today!


SNCB AM62, 269 at Aachen Hbf by 43002, on Flickr

247+269 take me to Germany on the 1737 to Aachen, leaving 4 minutes late. FINALLY on the way into Deutschland, only about 7 hours after I had originally planned to get there! As the saying goes "The greatest plans of mice and men, do often go astray", very true! A 15 minute journey sees me arrive into Aachen Hbf, and I note some DB 442s, 111s and 185s before joining my first DB 643s on the 1802 to Alsdorf Poststrasse, 643704 and 643726.


DB RegioBahn Class 442, 442254 at Aachen Hbf by 43002, on Flickr


DB Class 111 at Aachen Hbf by 43002, on Flickr


DB RegioBahn Class 643s at Alsdorf Poststrasse by 43002, on Flickr

Now I really need a book on German trains! Quite decent and modern DMUs these, and I'm assuming they're Class 643s. Such a shame I have to start heading back to Eindhoven now, only done a very small amount of Germany! Class 185 and 145 locos seen too, so a fair amount to one day tick off in the book. With the Alsdorf branch done, it's back to Hertzogenrath for the train to Heerlen. I spot a shop nearby so get some supplies in. More than I originally intended to, totalling €8.43! A couple more sightings are had before 643705 to Heerlen. Just hoping now I've not missed my last train to Eindhoven!


DB RB Class 643, 643705, at Heerlen by 43002, on Flickr

Arrival at Landgraaf signals our return to the Netherlands and the last new track of the trip now done. Just a shade over 2 hours in DB land, instead of several more. Now I've been, I can't wait to go back! VIRM 9572 takes me onwards to Sittard, and all the way I can't relax as I'm worried I've missed the last train to Eindhoven. Near Sittard, the screen tells me there's a 2044 to Amsterdam, not mentioning Eindhoven. Of course it would be strange if it didn't stop there, but when you're unsure [Gricer's Tip - Always carry the timetable with you, especially if you've spent good money on it!] it's natural in my mind to be worried!


Class 1600 1611 at Sittard by 43002, on Flickr


NS VIRM at Eindhoven by 43002, on Flickr

Sure enough, the screen at Sittard confirms a call at Eindhoven. Phew! VIRM 9477 carries me back to base, so now it's time for some tunes and food as we cruise through the darkness. It's the last Euro train of the trip too The walk back to base camp takes just over 20 minutes and it's time to chill out. Home calls briefly, and I write up more of the trip report on the forum. Long way to go until I finish it! Sleep is not forthcoming until well gone midnight, not fun. Great day overall today!

16th April 2013 - The Three Countries Bash, Day 4

It's up and about at 0600 (0500 UK time!), with final repacking of the bag and derancification first on the agenda. I leave at 0628 and get to the station 20 minutes later. Quick and easy to get my ticket to the airport and BP-BJ-33 takes me on lijn 401 to the terminal. I see it's 9c outside at the moment, warmer this morning than it's been for most of the year in the UK! I see my plane is at 0920 not 0855 as I thought last night, could have stayed in bed another half an hour!


BP-BJ-33 on lijn 401 at Eindhoven Airport by 43002, on Flickr

Security is dealt with without issues, although the scanner still didn't like me! Coffee time and it's a reasonable size cup for €2.50. Must have had bad luck last time I came over then. Transavia,wizzair and Ryanair craft are spotted and photted, then it's a trip to the duty free shop where a can of Coke is got for €1.60, shame it's not cold. Eventually Stansted passengers are invited to passport control, then in typical Ryanair fashion the priority and normal queues are unknown, with many people swapping around.


Transavia plane leaves Eindhoven by 43002, on Flickr


HA-LWD (Wizzair) at Eindhoven Airport by 43002, on Flickr

The 0855 to Marrakesh is looking busy and left 15 late. My flight has EI-DCL on it (winner and 10th 737-800) in a white and light blue livery, naturally it's photted. Doors finally close at 0916, pushback at 0930 and takeoff at 0937. Unusual for a Ryanair flight I'm on to leave late! Normally the safety demo takes place during pushback, not this time. The crew also make extra effort to ensure people are paying attention, not overly common in my experience. It's farewell mainland Europe, hopefully I'll be back soon!


Ryanair EI-DCL at Eindhoven Airport by 43002, on Flickr

I decide to partake, for the first time, of a Ryanair scratchcard for €2, alongside the usual €3 coffee. No luck on this occasion, but donations from the sale of them goes to childrens charities so it's all good. I return home with 92c, I get the feeling they'll be gone soon enough. All of a sudden I get DJ Jean's The Launch in my head (kids, YouTube this classic dance track), would have been more appropriate at takeoff! We land at 0919 GMT, arriving at the terminal at 0925. An announcement tells me we're 10 minutes ahead of schedule, but I have it as due at 0905.

I forgot it's quite the walk to passport control, not what I wanted. The microchipped passport gates are closed, how unhelpful. I'm soon through the border control though, and I use all bar 1p of the sterling in my pocket to get a small americano from Costa. If I hadn't done that I could have made the 0945 to London, but meh, coffee was needed! I join 379021 and 379015, both winners, on the 1000 to London Liverpool Street. I have problems making the RailUK app work, so uninstall it. I then discover that although connected to free The Cloud wifi, I had needed the GA one. Ahhh, that's why nothing worked! Now let's get The Launch playing!


379021 and 379015 at Tottenham Hale by 43002, on Flickr

I bail at Tottenham Hale as the WCML is operational today, so rush to the Victoria line and get to Euston in 13 minutes on 13027. No time to go to an ATM or get food here either, damn it! Never mind, I'm glad I rushed for the 1103 to Birmingham New Street as it was 390001, winner! Out comes the app and I spend most of the journey to England's second city typing the trip report some more. A coffee is got for £1.95, no hot food due to a microwave failure. Oh well, BK at New Street it is then! I did make one sighting in particular I was hoping for on this route, 378210 at Willesden dwpor. FINALLY got my last 378 in the book for sight!

Otherwise the jouney passes without incident, bar being held briefly outside Rugby and shortly again soon after. We arrive 1late into Birmingham New Street's p1, and I go outside what is soon to be the non-existant exit for the last time ever. BK is visited after an ATM visit and I get my usual meal. Dang that was nice! 170630 is on the 1249 to Hereford, on I get for the last leg of my bash. Out came the app again to finish the trip report, which took until Henwick to do! Now to finish it in my notebook! We eventually arrive into Hereford and I head straight to work. Not interested in discussing that. Then it is onto the usual bus home, sadly it's back to the usua routines

Photos to be added asap. Comments, questions and constructive criticism always welcome

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Outstanding as ever - shame you didn't get to Middleburg or Vlissingen (been to both as I did some research on family ancesters who came from V/gen and ended up living in Swansea for over 40 years in the last 2 centuries..) - V/gen is a proper working shipbuildng and repairing town - not at all like Hereford.

Good to see you using the "Beetroot" term - they cannot be long for this world and are undoubtedly both fascinating and repellent. Bit like the old BR 4 SUB units. Only Belgium could turn out such units.

 

[Techniquest]

Glad you enjoyed it. Vlissingen features in my plan on a future Benelux Interrail, but that won't be until after Germany and Norway.

Someone on here (yourself maybe) used Beetroot and it's stuck! The AM08s are supposed to be replacing the AM62s etc I believe, can't be much longer!

Glad those places aren't like Hereford, I'm bored of this county!
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Aye I'm informed it's either loco and stock om Venlo to Roosendaal or ICMm/Koplopers normally, depends what's about on the day I guess.

Cheers for the tip on ERG, must look for it on Groups when I'm next online away from my phone. Meant to do it months ago but I keep forgetting!

Work done for the day, will be home in an hour now. Can't wait, it's been a LONG but good trip on the rails!

 

[radamfi]

Interesting read. Shame about the problems at Heerlen. In 2005 when I tried to do that line for the first time, I also encountered no trains, which I think was due to a fatality. It was late in the evening so I got the bus to Aachen instead.

I notice you quote the registrations of the buses you used:

BP-NX-19
BP-BJ-33

so I was surprised you didn't mention that you got at least one of the famous Phileas vehicles!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolands_ov/7836848604/

You say that €3.50 was 'quite reasonable' for the bus fare but that is actually a kind of premium fare in Eindhoven and Noord-Brabant for people with no OV-Chipkaart, and you are not allowed to change buses on that fare. The normal fare with OV-Chipkaart is €2.11, according to www.9292ov.nl. However, long distance travellers who stay within the province and don't change buses can save money by buying the €3.50 ticket on the bus.

 

[Techniquest]

Didn't know they were owt fancy to be honest! €3.50 is cheap considering other 'shuttle' buses I've used in the past. £3.50 Gatwick Airport Central Travelodge shuttle bus for instance, approx 5 minute journey. £5 for Manchester Airport Travelodge shuttle bus (that was actually quite the farce, long story) for a 5 minute or less journey.

Aye I did see in some research before the trip it's €2.11 on OV-Chipkaart. For the journey length and distance €3.50 was quite good.

 

[Ferret]

Didn't know they were owt fancy to be honest! €3.50 is cheap considering other 'shuttle' buses I've used in the past. £3.50 Gatwick Airport Central Travelodge shuttle bus for instance, approx 5 minute journey.

And you paid that?! I walked from the South Terminal to that hotel in 10 minutes the other week! Stuff donating 3.50 to a bus company (I presume NatEx).

 

[Techniquest]

I don't recall now, but I was informed by the Travelodge staff (I think it was Central, really not 100% but there's two that are easily mixed up) at my one that it wasn't walkable. To be fair, I was exhausted after the previous night of next to no sleep the night before on the sleeper, so it was worth £3.50 at the time just to get to base!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Photos now included, and the full range is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/43002/sets/72157633268098539/with/8658378233/

There's also 4 videos from the trip on YouTube, if I remember later I'll try to get them to embed but otherwise a search for 'TechniquestS482' on YouTube should bring up my channel on there. Two of them are of DB RB 643s, so adding 15th April 2013 to a search for those (or for SNCB Class 18, or Class 379) should give you my lot.

I know it seems lazy not to try embedding them now, but it's 0404 and I have to be up in 6 hours to go to work :cry:

 

[Ferret]

I don't recall now, but I was informed by the Travelodge staff (I think it was Central, really not 100% but there's two that are easily mixed up) at my one that it wasn't walkable. To be fair, I was exhausted after the previous night of next to no sleep the night before on the sleeper, so it was worth £3.50 at the time just to get to base!

Both of them are walkable so long as you haven't got a huge suitcase, though the one on the southside is a longer yomp for sure! For the Central travelodge, there's a public footpath from the North Terminal that comes out in their car park!


--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I don't recall now, but I was informed by the Travelodge staff (I think it was Central, really not 100% but there's two that are easily mixed up) at my one that it wasn't walkable. To be fair, I was exhausted after the previous night of next to no sleep the night before on the sleeper, so it was worth £3.50 at the time just to get to base!

Both of them are walkable so long as you haven't got a huge suitcase, though the one on the southside is a longer yomp for sure! For the Central travelodge, there's a public footpath from the North Terminal that comes out in their car park!

 

[starrymarkb]

That blue 737 is in Boeing's House colours. A few large 737 operators have one like it, not sure of the reasoning but suspect they got a bigger discount then usual for having one in those colours.

 

[Searle]

You have no idea how much this makes me want to go abroad! Maybe in the summer if I have some more money :P

A great read, really enjoyed it, as per usual!

 

[Techniquest]

That blue 737 is in Boeing's House colours. A few large 737 operators have one like it, not sure of the reasoning but suspect they got a bigger discount then usual for having one in those colours.

Ahhhh, cool cool. A few aviation mates have been waiting to see it at EMA and somewhere else, made them envious that I had it last week
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You have no idea how much this makes me want to go abroad! Maybe in the summer if I have some more money :P

A great read, really enjoyed it, as per usual!

Glad you enjoyed it, don't think there's any more due to come for a while yet but I might have one from a railtour, my first one of 2013 actually, next month. Or maybe from the Irish week away, but that's not really railway focussed, more doing tourist stuff with a mate