GatwickDepress
Established Member
We begin our journey at half five on a Saturday morning; the sky was a wonderful hue of purple, the seagulls chorusing annoyingly above like nature's own Go Compare advert. I was on my way to Ore station with a Southern DaySaver in my pocket, eating an egg banjo as I went. Healthy eater, that's me.
After only a few minutes wait on the draughty palace to pallisade fencing, 377 127 with the first Ore - Brighton train trundled out of the reversal siding and we departed on time at 0622. Two Southeastern 375s were tucked up in Alexandra Park sidings, with another 375 waiting at Hastings with a train to Battle; this shuttle service occurring due to two landslips on the Hastings line. I didn't get their numbers since I already had them apparently.
As we left Hastings at 0626, 377 421 on the 0604 Eastbourne - Ore service pulled in. Nothing of interest happened as we continued along the East Coastway, save for seeing 171 726 stabled outside St Leonards Depot and passing 377 144 on the 0618 Eastbourne to Ore at Collington. The usual everyone getting off at Hampden Park for the next Victoria service, the usual changing ends at Eastbourne, and the usual arriving on time at Brighton at 0745, though that isn't usual if you catch a service other than the 0622 from Ore.
Now it's off to the 0801 Brighton - London Victoria service operated, to my surprise and joy, by a pair of 442s. 442 410 is marked down as the country-end most one, but I didn't record the unit towards the London-end. Nevertheless, I found a comfy seat. The thing that strikes me the most is how sympathetic the refurbishment of the Wessies has been to their 1980s origins. The lighting itself feels dim and the lighting covers are grimy, giving the whole interior a spaceship circa-1970s Doctor Who feel. Nevertheless, the bright and shiny blue day masked all this and we left Brighton in high spirits. Passing, amusingly enough, 319 217 "Brighton" as we left.
Haywards Heath was our first stop, a family boarded and the mother remarked to her children that they were on the Gatwick Express, the fastest train to Gatwick Airport. Outside her window, 319 217 arrived and departed, certainly calling at Gatwick Airport before this Express train did. At Gatwick Airport, I hopped out of the train and crossed platforms, hoping to catch the 0840 London Victoria - Portsmouth Harbour & Bognor Regis service to Horsham.
The announcer informed us of a person under train at Bedhampton. My condolences to the family and staff The departure boards did little to assist passengers, throwing "person hit by train" under every schedule, leading the unfamiliar passenger to believe every service was affected by the incident. They also afforded little dignity to the person when this was displayed:
"Person Hit by Train
Formed of Eight Coaches".
Getting back on track, the 0840 was now over 20 minutes late and so the 0856 London Bridge - Horsham service was caught instead instead, operated by 377 1xx. Noted 377 404 was on the opposite platforms at Three Bridges - the other unit was obscured by the station buildings. Passing Stoneblower
DR80214 at Horsham yard, we terminated at Horley platform 4 at 0916 - one minute early!
A quick transfer to Platform 1 and it's on to the 0926 Horsham to London Victoria via West Croydon and Crystal Palace, my first time on a 377/6, the service operated by 337 608 + 377 614. I was surprised at how comfortable the seats were, I was expecting them to be like sitting on a concrete bench from what I heard, but they were genuinely really rather nice. Hard, obviously, but still nice. Along the pleasant Surrey countryside, we passed SWT 455s 5862 and 5109, as well as Network Rail stabled stoneblower DR98914. Aside from a group of kids boarding at Epsom and proceeding to yell and swear at each other throughout the journey, it was pleasant.
We arrived into London Victoria at 1115, 6 minutes later than our scheduled arrival time, most likely due to the congested services along the Crystal Palace line. 442s and 377s galore passed. Just missed the 1119 London Victoria - Brighton service, so it's off to the eastern platforms for the next Eastbourne & Littlehampton service. I only want to get to East Croydon!
"Front 4 coaches to Eastbourne, rear 8 coaches to Littlehampton". That's strange, I thought, normally it's the other way around. Just after we passed Balham the conductor spoke, "Front 4 coaches to Littlehampton, rear 8 to Eastbourne". I don't know if you've ever witnessed 12 carriages of people playing a game of musical chairs in the world's narrowest corridor, but that's exactly what happened! Then, as we passed Crystal Palace, it happened again
"Front 8 coaches to Ore, rear 4 coaches to Littlehampton." That poor, poor conductor...
I left the train at East Croydon, having been caught up in the second game of musical chairs on the way to the toilet. Trotting up to the entrance for a cigarette and a tea - though not at the same time -, I noted the departure boards at the entrance still bore CrossCountry destinations including Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadily! Still haven't put Milton Keynes Central on there despite an hourly service throughout most of the day. After my little break, I caught the next service southbound to Gatwick Airport. Since it went via Redhill I presume it was either a Horsham or Portsmouth Harbour service.
I used the time before the next Brighton service to take a look around the new platforms. No signs on P7 informing passengers where the lifts are, leading to people clogging up the escalator, one of the platform benches was already very loose on it's bearings. The overbridge itself, very nice. Platform 7 has a waiting area on it by the lift, though the departure board isn't visible from most of them. The windows are lovely, with clear views onto the track in the London direction. Must be a nice place in the summer.
But, what idiot decided to have an announcement on Platform 3/4 (I think) playing "You are now approaching the end of the escalator" CONSTANTLY?! If it was supposed to stop people, congregating around the base, it certainly worked. I was stood at the northernmost tip of the platform, just so I wouldn't have to hear it! Caught a 442 back down to London Victoria and it's apparent whenever they arrive, just how unsuitable to an airport service they are. It took three minutes for this gentleman to fit his golfbag through the door - suspiciously corpse shaped, I thought, but apparently that's what golfbags look like.
The next couple of hours weren't very interesting to recount. I rode 442s up and down between Brighton and Victoria to ensure I cleared them down the Crystal Palace line, before taking a 377 /6 down the Caterham branch and a 455 back up. It was now early evening, so I took one last 442 from London Victoria - Brighton, where I had a sleep, but not before seeing all the flashing posession signs before we turned off the main line after Balham. Swear I passed a 73 around there as well..
Arriving in at around half-seven, I caught the 377-operated 1940 Brighton to Seaford, alighting at Lewes for the 2009 Eastbourne service from Brighton. Then at Eastbourne, a long wait for the 2054 service to Hastings from London Victoria. It arrived in at 2057 and this minor lateness persisted throughout the journey, arriving in at Hastings at 2129; 8 minutes late.
To cap off the day I caught the 2140 Hastings - Ashford International rail replacement bus service, operated by a coach (!), Rambler GDY 493. Very nice it was too, all plush and comfortable...the crew nattering away the front, pity I was only riding it to Ore! It was a lovely day, with 442s operating every Brighton express and a good few 377/2s copped as well.
Apologies if you had to read this far!
Thanks for reading.
After only a few minutes wait on the draughty palace to pallisade fencing, 377 127 with the first Ore - Brighton train trundled out of the reversal siding and we departed on time at 0622. Two Southeastern 375s were tucked up in Alexandra Park sidings, with another 375 waiting at Hastings with a train to Battle; this shuttle service occurring due to two landslips on the Hastings line. I didn't get their numbers since I already had them apparently.
As we left Hastings at 0626, 377 421 on the 0604 Eastbourne - Ore service pulled in. Nothing of interest happened as we continued along the East Coastway, save for seeing 171 726 stabled outside St Leonards Depot and passing 377 144 on the 0618 Eastbourne to Ore at Collington. The usual everyone getting off at Hampden Park for the next Victoria service, the usual changing ends at Eastbourne, and the usual arriving on time at Brighton at 0745, though that isn't usual if you catch a service other than the 0622 from Ore.
Now it's off to the 0801 Brighton - London Victoria service operated, to my surprise and joy, by a pair of 442s. 442 410 is marked down as the country-end most one, but I didn't record the unit towards the London-end. Nevertheless, I found a comfy seat. The thing that strikes me the most is how sympathetic the refurbishment of the Wessies has been to their 1980s origins. The lighting itself feels dim and the lighting covers are grimy, giving the whole interior a spaceship circa-1970s Doctor Who feel. Nevertheless, the bright and shiny blue day masked all this and we left Brighton in high spirits. Passing, amusingly enough, 319 217 "Brighton" as we left.
Haywards Heath was our first stop, a family boarded and the mother remarked to her children that they were on the Gatwick Express, the fastest train to Gatwick Airport. Outside her window, 319 217 arrived and departed, certainly calling at Gatwick Airport before this Express train did. At Gatwick Airport, I hopped out of the train and crossed platforms, hoping to catch the 0840 London Victoria - Portsmouth Harbour & Bognor Regis service to Horsham.
The announcer informed us of a person under train at Bedhampton. My condolences to the family and staff The departure boards did little to assist passengers, throwing "person hit by train" under every schedule, leading the unfamiliar passenger to believe every service was affected by the incident. They also afforded little dignity to the person when this was displayed:
"Person Hit by Train
Formed of Eight Coaches".
Getting back on track, the 0840 was now over 20 minutes late and so the 0856 London Bridge - Horsham service was caught instead instead, operated by 377 1xx. Noted 377 404 was on the opposite platforms at Three Bridges - the other unit was obscured by the station buildings. Passing Stoneblower
DR80214 at Horsham yard, we terminated at Horley platform 4 at 0916 - one minute early!
A quick transfer to Platform 1 and it's on to the 0926 Horsham to London Victoria via West Croydon and Crystal Palace, my first time on a 377/6, the service operated by 337 608 + 377 614. I was surprised at how comfortable the seats were, I was expecting them to be like sitting on a concrete bench from what I heard, but they were genuinely really rather nice. Hard, obviously, but still nice. Along the pleasant Surrey countryside, we passed SWT 455s 5862 and 5109, as well as Network Rail stabled stoneblower DR98914. Aside from a group of kids boarding at Epsom and proceeding to yell and swear at each other throughout the journey, it was pleasant.
We arrived into London Victoria at 1115, 6 minutes later than our scheduled arrival time, most likely due to the congested services along the Crystal Palace line. 442s and 377s galore passed. Just missed the 1119 London Victoria - Brighton service, so it's off to the eastern platforms for the next Eastbourne & Littlehampton service. I only want to get to East Croydon!
"Front 4 coaches to Eastbourne, rear 8 coaches to Littlehampton". That's strange, I thought, normally it's the other way around. Just after we passed Balham the conductor spoke, "Front 4 coaches to Littlehampton, rear 8 to Eastbourne". I don't know if you've ever witnessed 12 carriages of people playing a game of musical chairs in the world's narrowest corridor, but that's exactly what happened! Then, as we passed Crystal Palace, it happened again
"Front 8 coaches to Ore, rear 4 coaches to Littlehampton." That poor, poor conductor...
I left the train at East Croydon, having been caught up in the second game of musical chairs on the way to the toilet. Trotting up to the entrance for a cigarette and a tea - though not at the same time -, I noted the departure boards at the entrance still bore CrossCountry destinations including Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadily! Still haven't put Milton Keynes Central on there despite an hourly service throughout most of the day. After my little break, I caught the next service southbound to Gatwick Airport. Since it went via Redhill I presume it was either a Horsham or Portsmouth Harbour service.
I used the time before the next Brighton service to take a look around the new platforms. No signs on P7 informing passengers where the lifts are, leading to people clogging up the escalator, one of the platform benches was already very loose on it's bearings. The overbridge itself, very nice. Platform 7 has a waiting area on it by the lift, though the departure board isn't visible from most of them. The windows are lovely, with clear views onto the track in the London direction. Must be a nice place in the summer.
But, what idiot decided to have an announcement on Platform 3/4 (I think) playing "You are now approaching the end of the escalator" CONSTANTLY?! If it was supposed to stop people, congregating around the base, it certainly worked. I was stood at the northernmost tip of the platform, just so I wouldn't have to hear it! Caught a 442 back down to London Victoria and it's apparent whenever they arrive, just how unsuitable to an airport service they are. It took three minutes for this gentleman to fit his golfbag through the door - suspiciously corpse shaped, I thought, but apparently that's what golfbags look like.
The next couple of hours weren't very interesting to recount. I rode 442s up and down between Brighton and Victoria to ensure I cleared them down the Crystal Palace line, before taking a 377 /6 down the Caterham branch and a 455 back up. It was now early evening, so I took one last 442 from London Victoria - Brighton, where I had a sleep, but not before seeing all the flashing posession signs before we turned off the main line after Balham. Swear I passed a 73 around there as well..
Arriving in at around half-seven, I caught the 377-operated 1940 Brighton to Seaford, alighting at Lewes for the 2009 Eastbourne service from Brighton. Then at Eastbourne, a long wait for the 2054 service to Hastings from London Victoria. It arrived in at 2057 and this minor lateness persisted throughout the journey, arriving in at Hastings at 2129; 8 minutes late.
To cap off the day I caught the 2140 Hastings - Ashford International rail replacement bus service, operated by a coach (!), Rambler GDY 493. Very nice it was too, all plush and comfortable...the crew nattering away the front, pity I was only riding it to Ore! It was a lovely day, with 442s operating every Brighton express and a good few 377/2s copped as well.
Apologies if you had to read this far!
Thanks for reading.Attachments
Last edited:
Thanks for sharing the tale!