The Various Random Mutterings of Kite

[Kite159]

Id check if that bustitution was a lastminute or unadvertised change and bang in a delay form on spec.

Nicely done on your London and Yorkshire scores, nice to read that GTR woant get many BZ6 Gatwicks out of you now.

On the RRB pax wanting dropped off in town this has in the past saved me many lengthy trips to/from Stations on coaches and most drivers are game for it. Even had a driver from the same opperater as ran the local service bus phone the driver of the local service and ask him to hold on as he had connecting pax and could do with help with luggage!

Sadly SWT only pays out for hour+ delays (roll on August for the new delay repay scheme )

Certainly saved the bus turning off the main-road to go via the houses to reach Overton station, as the last train of the day is set-down only there is no need to visit the station if nobody requests it.

 

[Kite159]

A review of February

February started off the same way as January ended with a trip to Wales sandwiched between two trips to London. The first trip scored a couple more GWR 387s before the big score of my final 1972 unit and last 465 to clear the networkers. Wales was more of a shack hunting session to clear the Ebbw Vale line plus most of the stations between Bridgend and Swansea (leaving just Pyle), the big news was scoring my last 3 ATW sprinters.

The Sunday was a trip to London, and like the week before it was mainly LU based, scoring my 2nd last 96 stock, a couple more 1995 stocks, one more DLR unit before a good session on the Central Line before paying over the odds to score a 332 to Heathrow, with my 2nd last coming a short while later (leaving just 014 to clear the class if that should ever turn a wheel again).

The following Friday saw a good 321 hunting session, where somehow I scored 7 out of my last 11 within a few hours, followed up by a lazy day to Birmingham scoring the new Bromsgrove station, a quad of trams [annoyingly leaving one left], my last 170/6 but more importantly my final 350 on a Nuneaton – Rugby leap, which leaves just 153365 to clear London Midland 100%.

The following Friday I was once more back in London, staying overnight in a hostel near Earl’s Court, which allowed me to grab 377342, plus one more 321 and a GA 90 bringing my requirements out of Liverpool Street to being just 1 more 90 plus 3 more 321s which are all currently away. Some more S7s joined my book before calling it a night. The following Saturday was a lazy railtour to Stratford On Avon via the universe, scoring a 67 plus a couple bits of new track.

The 4th and final Friday in February and it was another trip to London, sadly I was bowled out by 90006 popping up in place of 90009 after a lucky escape on the Jubilee, with some time to kill I got some more RLU 700s into the book before my final 387/2 joined the club with a run to Gatwick. The Saturday was a trip to Leeds and onto the Harrogate loop to finish a job started last October time, eventually scoring 3 more 158s on bus stop leaps from Leeds.

After a couple Sundays spent at home I was itching to get a good LU session, scoring 96045 to clear the jubilee line, plus 48 other LU units, split between Piccadilly line, Metropolitan, Central & Northern taking my overall LU requirements down to 121 units (including the DLR), operation for March will be to get that under 100.

Totals

2888 miles covered in total
31 new heavy rail units/loco red penned
83 new light rail (LU/Midland Metro Trams) into the book

Looking ahead to March sees a very heavy month for rail-tours with a trip to Bristol Docks, The Waste Train, the 442 Farewell followed by a HST tour, so I suspect there will be limited chance to head to London. The final weekend will hopefully see the return of the folding bike to score those limited served shacks between Selby & Brough, heading to Hull on the 31st March going via Manchester for another bike trip (hopefully scoring the line from Castleford towards the Selby line, going in first class due to the TPE sale).

 

[andyb2706]

Seems quite a busy month there Kite, I must admit I am a bit envious as to how well you are progressing, I still have a lot of catching up to do.

 

[noddy1878]

Another great couple of reads! I'm like Andy and envious of what you achieve! I'm even more jealous that your able to do a whole load of rail tours that I can't even get close too either be it where they start from or my work rota clearly getting in the way!

Well done on clearing the Jubilee stock!

 

[Techniquest]

As always an awesome read which helped fill a mundane commute home

So few needs on LU and DLR makes me well jealous! Your February was clearly far better than mine, and March looks like it will be a beast too. My March will be more varied though

Many congratulations on clearing the Jubilee line sets, very impressive indeed!

Bring on Sunday I say!

 

[Kite159]

Sadly looks like my plans for Sunday have changed due to a potential rail replacement bus from Basingstoke on the main-line. Connection times going via Reading are a bit rubbish

I don't quite fancy the ~60 minutes on a bus to Woking before a probable 450 onwards to Waterloo

 

[Blindtraveler]

I wouldnt mind the bus, just the Deziro.

 

[Techniquest]

If things work out for the better, then keep me updated. Sorry to hear it's unlikely you'll be joining me after all though

 

[Kite159]

It's only 35 minutes by bus to Guildford it seems so I might still be joining you. Making use of a bus avoiding move via Reading coming back (looks like a choice of 3 HSTs not wanting to risk the tight connection from the Plymouth bound service as that is going nonstop via Swindon/Bristol

 

[Techniquest]

Do keep me updated, at least you can avoid the buses on the way home

 

[Kite159]

I normally can't remember my dreams but last night I had a completely random dream of a railtour covering various lines within the London region. I've made a rough note, just need to look up on my London atlas for junction names.

--------

Warning, random mutterings ahead:

Right, started off from the high numbered platforms at Waterloo turning right onto the disused spur towards the WLL heading in a northerly direction via the WLL, heading onto the NLL [North London line] to come off just before Gospel Oak using that connection to the Goblin line. Turns left to join the ECML via the Harringay Curve, reversing within the sidings area to gain access to the Harringay flyover running up the ECML, turning onto the chord towards Canonbury West Junction on the NLL.

NLL taken for a short distance before it turned right via the Graham Road curve heading into Liverpool Street to reverse once more. Back out towards Stratford the train turned left at Carpenters Road junction to join the NLL for a short section turning right to use that connection line towards the Temple Mills line joining the Lea Valley line at Coppermill North for a short time turning left once more to go via South Tottenham curves to pass Seven Sisters, carrying on north somewhere [memory of the dream is a bit hazy here, might have been something like Hertford East]

Returning the train carried straight up via Tottenham Hale, carrying on passing Lea Bridge turning right onto the High Meads loop, carrying onto the NLL to complete the triangle, carrying on at a crawl it turned right before Willesden Junction to join the chord towards the WCML as far as Wembley sidings, reversing once more it used the dive under and joined the Dudding Hill line, reversing once cleared of the crossover to head back northbound coming off the line to join the Chiltern line at Neasden Junction to head as far as South Ruislip reversing within the platform loop to gain access to the GWR line towards Paddington, pausing once more after Perivale to once more reverse [must have two drivers] to go via the Greenford East - South junction, turning right onto the GWML to do the Colnbrook line before somehow crossing over the fasts to do the Brentford Branch.

If I remember my dream correctly, afterwards it returned to the Dudding Hill Line via the chord to the NLL, carrying northbound turning right at the end of the line to join the MML around Cricklewood to join the Goblin line via the chord, repeating the earlier trip to Harringay reversing once more to go back via the flyover, to join the NLL via the chord after Copenhagen Tunnels staying on the line all the way to Willesden Junction, turning onto the WLL heading back to Waterloo.

God knows how much planning something like that would take in real life, especially with pathing!

 

[Keith Jarrett]

I need to do some research to find out if services on the Northern line interwork between branches or do they keep to the same branch, for example Kennington – High Barnet – Kennington (CX), or Kennington – High Barnet – Morden – Edgware – Kennington (CX).

Kite

First off, well done with bagging 387225 - sheer perseverance on your part. And of course the other zillion strokes of your red pen.

To answer your question regarding the Northern Line. Off peak there's little or no interworking between the two branches although of course in the peaks and at the start/end of service, some Kennington (CX) terminators extend to/from Morden. What of course will happen once the Battersea extension opens is of course a completely different question.

 

[Techniquest]

Jeez that tour from your dream would take some doing! What's quite bad is I'd be bored on a lot of that as so much of the unusual track is already dud! Wouldn't want to even attempt pathing that, and you'd be more than ready to touchdown onto terra firma after all that!

 

[Kite159]

Kite

First off, well done with bagging 387225 - sheer perseverance on your part. And of course the other zillion strokes of your red pen.

To answer your question regarding the Northern Line. Off peak there's little or no interworking between the two branches although of course in the peaks and at the start/end of service, some Kennington (CX) terminators extend to/from Morden. What of course will happen once the Battersea extension opens is of course a completely different question.

Excellent, at least I can have a 45 minute session at say Charing Cross before shifting over to have a hunting session at London Bridge without the units I saw heading north coming back south.

Certainly took a few weeks but that 387 finally entered my book, at least now I don't have to keep my eyes open at Victoria/Clapham Junction

 

[55013]

Congratulations on clearing the 387/2s (yes, I'm that far behind in my report reading), I haven't had my first yet.
Nice to see a bit of Harrogate loop action as well - something that's on my "to do very soon" list.

 

[Kristofferson]

Excellent stuff Kite - I had the time to actually read some of the reports this weekend!

Many congratulations on the 1972 stock, 96 stock, and Networkers. HUGE achievements!

You were lucky to get a sunny day on the Ebbw Vale line - having only travelled that way in poor weather, I found being at the bottom of a valley felt quite oppressive. The fact that there's literally nothing in most of those villages did not help my impression of the place!

Looking forward to the rail tour report, having seen the photos.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FQ]

Sounds like a great trip to West Yorkshire and a another really good one in London - congrats on the '96 stock!

 

[Kite159]

4th March – Take me to the Bridge, The Bristol Docker tour

The first of four tours this month, and the first of two requiring an early morning drive to Didcot Parkway (OK in theory I could have got away with driving to Basingstoke to catch the first northbound XC service to Coventry or even having a later start and catching a HST to Bristol Parkway, but I wanted this as a test run for next weekend). Any new track scored will be highlighted in italics (some bits I’m not quite sure with in terms of loops as I don’t tend to record down to that level)

A nice drive along the A303/A34 and 50 minutes (or so) later I was arriving at Didcot Parkway [I forgot how hilly that A34 is in places], paying £2 to park in a car-park opposite the station [cue Quinn popping up to say free parking is available in a side street or for £1 in another car-park ], heading towards the station to take up my seat on the Bristol Docker service, the usual Riveria Mk1s with Pathfinder doing their usual seating plan in lumping passengers together by pick-up station (resulting in coach A being 66% full and other coaches being empty on departure, sadly once more I got a narrower seat near the former centre door, but my cushion did a good job at supporting my back).

Winner 66076 was leading the train out heading northbound towards Oxford where I scored my first bit of microgrice of the day with the down through line at Oxford, picking up at Banbury, a police-heavy Leamington Spa, passing the site of the future Kenilworth station, and pausing in the Kenilworth loop for 15 minutes for a couple XC 220s to pass before carrying on to Coventry, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, turning left for a non-stop run towards Bromsgrove onto the new platform 3 loop [as I believe most services use the track via platform 4] for a XC 170 to come past.

A left hand turn at Stoke Works junction for a storming run via the main line, coming to a stop once more in the Abbotswood junction loop (Abbotswood junction is near the site of the future Worcester Parkway) for a XC to overtake before once more carrying on heading in a southernly direction, coming to a sudden stop north of Cheltenham Spa before carrying on to pick up more passengers, carrying on to pause in the Haresfield Loop, where booked departure came and went, eventually a required 150265 stormed passed, followed by a 22X, and we got the go ahead around 15 minutes late. We headed into Charfield Loop but we didn’t stop which was a bonus as we next called at Bristol Parkway, the final pick-up and where the main tour would begin.

The tour carried straight on with the triangular junction to the west of Bristol Parkway (turn left for Filton Abbey Wood, right for Patchway) to dive underneath the Filton – Patchway line, near the new IEP depot and onto the Henbury Loop Line passing several closed stations and the Filton Aerodrome level crossing (noting the new house for Concorde), joining the Severn Beach line (some of the sidings looked like they haven’t seen a train in many years, some passengers noting on their maps what was now out of use). Crossing over and onto the dock land it was a short trip towards what I believe is the BP Terminal reaching just inside the gates before coming to a stop. 66090 took charge to score my 2nd 66 of the day, back out towards the mainline, heading back pass Concorde and turning right onto the chord towards Filton Abbey Wood (which leaves just the chord towards Patchway as outstanding for the triangular junctions).

A good non-stop run south passing Filton Abbey Wood (noting the works in clearing the land for what I assume will be the additional tracks), crossing over to go via Bristol Temple Meads on the Up Through Line, sadly we had to pause for a XC to go in front before carrying on southwards doing an unusual move via some ladder crossings to go towards the left hand side before swinging back over to go through Bedminster platform 2, turning right after Parson Street onto the Portishead Railway line towards Portishead, running alongside the south bank of the River Avon, going underneath the Clifton Suspension bridge before a series of tunnels, with the mothballed line towards Portishead going off to the left, carrying onto new track towards the Royal Portbury Docks Automotive Terminal getting quite close to the buffer stop, near the mouth of the Avon.

It was a long break here at the Automotive terminal for the water tanks to be topped up, spent thinking which car I would want to steal (good mix of Vauxhalls, MGs, Fiats, plus some double ended vans). 66076 was back in charge back out towards the dock gates, located near to the Avonmouth M5 flyover. A quick reversal and 66090 hauled us towards the Coal Terminal, well what was left of the coal terminal as it was being used to store more cars (and hardly any coal whatsoever, such as been the drop in coal traffic). 66076 back once more in charge as we exited the coal terminal and headed back out towards Bristol, taking the line which goes behind Parson Street carrying north, crossing over to take the down through line at Bristol Temple Meads, pausing once more [grumbles as a non-stop run via Bristol Temple Meads is needed, I think a trip on the sleeper is required].

Heading back over to the Filton lines, it was a trip northbound turning left once more after Filton Abbey Wood to head back to the Henbury loop line, this time staying on the main-line passing St Andrews Road, reversing just south of Avonmouth station to head back towards St Andrews Road carrying on past the junction and onto the new tracks laid for the new Sita Severnside waste centre, running near to the end of the buffer stop on the Entrance line, reversing to stop just short at the gates [it sounded like Pathfinder were hoping to be able to gain access onto the site itself to run towards the end of the line but were unsuccessful]. Another quick reversal back to the siding before one final move with 66076 taking us back towards Bristol Temple Meads via Avonmouth station, pausing for 15 minutes after Avonmouth in the loop for a 150 to clear the single line ahead for a non-stop run back towards Temple Meads, where I (and what it looked like, a few others) bailed from the tour train, having been on board for over 12 hours at this point.

I had the option of staying with the tour to get some more mileage with 66090 back to Didcot Parkway, taking just shy of 5 hours, or pay £20 for a Super Off-peak single back to Didcot (cue Quinn popping up saying a ticket from X to Z costing £2.50 is valid from Bristol to Didcot ) for some HST action. Firstly checking a Warminster bound service as it was “formed of 4 coaches”, but sadly was a mere 158+153 combo, so it was over to dud 43142 leading 43086, in reverse formation back to Didcot Parkway.

I took a seat in the composite coach which did get slightly busy after Bath, but emptied out at Swindon. However an hour later, I alighted (along with many others) at Didcot Parkway, heading back to my car for the drive home. Due to spray I bailed from the A34 after the Newbury Bypass to take the A343 back towards Andover and then home, arriving probably an hour later, but relaxed after a long drive and a lazy day [although I do wish these tours would feature a break on route, even if it is only 30 minutes, to allow passengers some fresh air and go for a walk].

In summary, a couple new locos, plus some new track highlighted in my Baker (along with some minor loops), with an earlyish finish on a Saturday for a change.

Some pictures:

A bridge Noddy has probably driven over a few times (M5 Avonmouth bridge):


Beyond here lies the Severn:


Brand new Vauxhall Corsas (?), getting ready to head to a driving school near you soon!:


Storm clouds gather over Wales:


Once upon a time this place would have lots of coal:


But now only features MG cars, a train and some big diggers:


Clifton Suspension Bridge:

 

[Kite159]

5th March – This is the London Overground service to Barking

With some seriously late inputting of engineering works by SWT (seriously, the details wasn’t inputted into the various systems until late Wednesday), meant replacement buses between Basingstoke & Guildford would normally signal a lazy day spent at home, however as my good friend Techniquest was down in London for a couple days I wanted to join him to have a good catch-up, and a good LU hunting session [remember my goal for March is to get 22 winners on LU/DLR to bring my requirements down to double figures].

Searching on the Saturday night highlighted that the first Salisbury – Basingstoke service which normally only calls at Andover was calling at all stations made up my mind, I was going to give my car a little rest after the round trip to Didcot yesterday. That plan lasted all of 5 seconds when I woke up around 06:30 to find that the road outside my house was doing a good impression of a river, so it was into the car for a tiny drive to the station (on grounds that it is free parking on Sundays). Purchasing my travelcard for the day as I took shelter from the rain before the 06:55 rolled in. Winner for the year 159106 was leading 159107 [21 down, 9 to get for the year] for the run to Basingstoke, rolling into platform 4.

Before anybody asks, yes I did look into going via Reading, however it meant a near 30 minute fester at Basingstoke for a 165 to Reading for another near 30 minute fester for a HST from Bristol which might or might not have been busy. I decided to cut my losses and went down to the ticket hall joining several other passengers in the dry for the coach to roll round. The coach was a Mercedes benz example from a company called “ICoaches” (BG15 UCR) for the fast run to Guildford, well I say fast but it was a crawl along the M3 (no traffic, just slow driving as it looked like the driver was busy having a conversation with someone else with his hands free). I was expecting the trip to be along the M3 coming off at Farnborough to head south towards Guildford, but the driver turned off at junction 5 and went cross country via Farnham & the Surrey Downs to reach Guildford.

Thankfully it was good timings with making an unofficial connection with the 08:33 Waterloo service which was formed of a trio of 450s, with 450105 leading 450035 & 450038, sadly all super-dud high mileage units (I was hoping for some units only in my book with bus stop leaps). However I got a bay of 4 opposite the guards’ office in 105, I would imagine the middle coaches would have been busier. The train turned right after Guildford to go via the “Guildford New Line”, heading via Cobham for a slightly different way to Waterloo, making good time until we stopped outside Wimbledon to cross over to the slow line before rejoining the fast line before the flyover, spotting 707001/002 in Wimbledon depot area. Due to engineering works around Waterloo the train crossed over towards the Windsor lines to carry on to Waterloo (arriving 10 minutes late in the end due to missing a path over that crossover).

I met up with Techni as we went via Tesco for some food, before deciding on a plan, involving a good run on the jubilee line to Stratford (giving a chance to look at a track atlas for the West Midlands). Needless to say it was duds (for me) 96123/96124 for the long run to Stratford, where after a brief pause with the DLR (spotting a required unit heading towards Woolwich) we headed over to the central line for the following series of moves:

91095/92174/92164/91245 to Mile End
91019/92052/92420/91343 to Bethnal Green
91193/92012/92056/91231 to Liverpool Street
91219/92408/92160/91285 to Bank
91137/92162/92196/91297 to St Paul’s
91339/92104/92202/91005 to Chancery Lane
91067/92254/92442/91053 to Holborn
91089/92412/92264/91043 to Tottenham Court Road
91249/92218/92200/91279 to Oxford Circus
91201/92116/92078/91195 to Bond Street
91045/92110/92068/91263 to Marble Arch
91215/92148/92002/91035 to Queensway
91135/92138/92150/91069 to Notting Hill Gate
91187/92136/91311/91059 to Holland Park [the station walls look so bare with no posters on]
91023/92234/92030/91165 to Shepherd’s Bush.

We exited LU, and with those series of moves, we only turned down one set, the plan was to have a quick PNB and a coffee stop, noting toilets by the station themselves charged, we headed over to a smaller shopping centre and located free toilets (I’m tight in not paying to use the toilet). Coffee time before heading over to the overground station for a mild farce as my travelcard refused to open the barriers but there was no member of staff nearby operating a manual gate [one member of staff in the ticket office], so I had to jump the gate following someone else.

A nice empty dud 378232 rolled in on a short working from Kensington Olympia towards Gospel Oak, where the plan was a rather silly one involving a 172 to Barking to have a look at what Network Rail got done during the closure. We made a tight +1 onto a busy 172002 grabbing some seats for the slow run to Barking, noting masts at various stages on route, lowered & extended platforms. Eventually after what felt a lot longer we rolled into the bay platform 1 at Barking and walked it over to a delayed C2C service which had the front two coaches locked out of service due to vandalism.

Busy 357043 was leading winner (for Techni) 357208 which we took to West Ham, spotting one of my final 9 S7s on a circle line service at Barking. The following 357 was dud so we headed over to the other island platform for a few minute fester before winner 21381/21382 rolled in for the short leap to Bromley By Bow. Noting that this station appears to lack ticket barriers as we crossed over with dud 21393/21394 back to West Ham, heading to the DLR platform, where the wait wasn’t for long as the first service spotted was dud 72 leading winner 13 to take us back to Stratford, for a smoking break.

With lack of a better idea, we headed to the central line platform, turning down a couple sets we already had earlier before 91125/92260/92228/91121 rolled in to take us to Mile End, a couple more dud central line sets, mixed with some dud S7s before 21537/21538 rolled in (required for Mr Quest) so it was to Mansion House. Next up was a D78 service formed of 7018/7007 to take us to Blackfriars (won’t be long before they are all gone, there was at least 2 sets out yesterday). At Blackfriars we decided to head to the national rail platform for some 700 hunting, with a 700/1 accelerating away when we arrived at the station.

319215 was up next to take us to Farringdon, annoyingly the footbridge at the northern end of the station was closed due to the closure of the LU part of the station (certainly was quieter without S7s & S8s arriving every couple minutes). Next up was 377519/377515 to St Pancras, easily making a connection to 700020 for a short hop back to Farringdon. A few more minutes before 377521 rolled in with forum celebrity 377509 on the rear (having to peel Techni down from the ceiling when that rolled in, as I believe it was his final 377 for sight). 700018 took us back to Blackfriars, with another 700 spotted in the northbound platform, but no winners for me (nor any required 700s spotted), it was time for another short coffee break before heading back to the underground for the following set of moves:
21421/21422 to Temple (Circle line)
21319/21320 to Embankment
21465/21466 to Westminster
21567/21568 to St James’s Park (funny how we spotted that around Tower Hill earlier in the day when we were talking about it)
21315/21316 to Victoria
21333/21334 to Sloane Square
21417/21418 to South Kensington
21481/21482 to Sloane Square
21459/21460 back to South Kensington
21501/21502 to Gloucester Road
21405/21406 to South Kensington
21423/21424 to Earl’s Court

Exiting LU once more for a brief PNB (as I had previously spotted a toilet at Earl’s Court a few weeks ago, and it was one of those self-cleaning ones), before heading back downstairs to the Piccadilly line:
152/882 to Gloucester Road
200/187 back to Earl’s Court
109/206 to Gloucester Road
868/1902 to South Kensington
207/210 to Knightsbridge (the curse of unit 13 appeared to have been lifted!)
149/186 to Hyde Park Corner
188/181 to Green Park

Heading over to the jubilee line, it was a short hop on 96062/96117 to Baker Street for a couple duds before 3558/3266 took us to Paddington, where I was doing a bus avoidance move with the choice of 3 HSTs back to Reading (18:27, 18:30 & 18:36), the 18:27 was being delayed as we walked up one of the open platforms spotting the HST I had the day before on a delayed Penzance service [looked to be a set swap], making a note of what was leading on the sets on platforms 1, 2 & 3, sadly all 3 were duds, as we walked back along platform 1, grabbing what was on the rear.

I was happy as the 18:30 service was going from platform 3, featuring dud 43091 leading winner 43196 (bringing my requirements down to 9 GWR 43s), another HST in reverse formation, but with a brucie bonus of being the set with features a First Class coach pretending to be coach B (plus some grumpy passengers moaning that “standard class is full” with reservations for coach B being placed in coach F making coach B unreserved, so what else did you expect



The words of “Jammy so and so” might have been received from Techni at this point, as we set off, although bit of a slow run until Langley area where I imagine a stopper we were following pulled over to the relief lines as we picked up some good speed rolling into Reading, where I had around 30 minutes before the Basingstoke service, so I popped out to McDonalds (noting a new building next to the station which looks very much like a hotel), thankfully the group of teenagers I was behind finally made up their mind and I got my food heading back to the station.

A busy 165132 was on the Basingstoke service to give me some 165 thrash for a quick walk at Basingstoke to board 159007/159014 to take me back to Grateley running fast to Andover. An excellent social day with Techni which cheered me up, 15 winners on LU plus another 43 making it a good day for my red pen, and on track to smash my target for March.

Next weekend is a trip to Manchester on the Waste Train, followed by the 442 farewell [and a zombie on the Monday!] so no LU next week is planned [I do hope SWT won't suddenly pull out buses again for the Sunday]

 

[Blindtraveler]

Wow that sounds like a good good day, in fact a good couple days!
I am scared of those self cleaning toilets in case the obvious happens. Green with envy at your London day, sounds mega fun!

 

[FQ]

A circle line service at Barking? Is it lost?

Sounds like a brilliant couple of days there, and no, I wouldn't have told you off for parking for that price at Didcot, or for getting a £20 single back from Temple Meads. Vote tram thrash! Strangely enough we were also parking at Didcot on the Saturday.

Now, for the obvious question - what the hell are self cleaning toilets (don't say that they're toilets that clean themselves - I got that bit )

 

[Kite159]

The sub surface lines were closed from Aldgate towards Baker Street on Sunday so the circle line services were running as Barking - Edgware Road

Self cleaning toilets basically lock themselves after use to basically spray some chemicals & water on the floor and in the bowl to self clean themselves

 

[LordCreed]

I was happy as the 18:30 service was going from platform 3, featuring dud 43091 leading winner 43196 (bringing my requirements down to 9 GWR 43s), another HST in reverse formation, but with a brucie bonus of being the set with features a First Class coach pretending to be coach B (plus some grumpy passengers moaning that “standard class is full” with reservations for coach B being placed in coach F making coach B unreserved, so what else did you expect

You were actually on the same train as me then! I however was hiding in the actual first class. It was very empty, mainly because I believe that some of the first class passengers were hiding in the pretend first class!

 

[Kite159]

You were actually on the same train as me then! I however was hiding in the actual first class. It was very empty, mainly because I believe that some of the first class passengers were hiding in the pretend first class!

Easy to make the mistake, I only noticed the coach as it was after the quiet coach and had "coach B" stickers over where it would normally be the regular FC coach letter.

 

[Techniquest]

As always, a fantastic read! Don't envy your long day on the tour though, I couldn't have done that.

Fantastic day on Sunday and I thank you for joining me despite the annoying last minute engineering works!

 

[Kite159]

Ooo the sleeper from Inverness to Euston is booked via the ECML on the 28th May (in Scotland that week on a Spirit of Scotland pass). No HST thrash for me that day instead some hopeful winning track within London

Most likely a lazy day trip to Kyle and back for the Sunday to pass the time.

Am I right in thinking another electric loco will attach to the rear of the train at Wembley depot to haul the train into Euston [with the 90/92 which did the work from Edinburgh hauling the empty coaches back out to Wembley afterwards?]

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Kite - liked your write up of the Bristol Docker. You probably did the right thing in shelling out for HST comfort back to Didcot to give you an appreciably earlier arrival time back home.

What other tours are you thinking of? Don't tell me - everything! The mid week jolly to High Marnham in June looks interesting as does the South Wales one at the end of July although I might need a day pass for the latter!

 

[Kite159]

Kite - liked your write up of the Bristol Docker. You probably did the right thing in shelling out for HST comfort back to Didcot to give you an appreciably earlier arrival time back home.

What other tours are you thinking of? Don't tell me - everything! The mid week jolly to High Marnham in June looks interesting as does the South Wales one at the end of July although I might need a day pass for the latter!

I agree the one to High Marnham in June looks good, however due to it being mid-week I will probably give it a miss [only new track would be from the junction for the former Thoresby Colliery to the end of the line], as it will be an overnight stay in London which my usual suspects were all £45+)

As for the one at the end of July to South Wales, again little to be scored (Aberdare towards Tower) in terms of track, but I'm 80% likely to book on it.

Other tours I'm booked on:
11/3 - Waste Train (Knowsley and Bredbury Waste terminals)
12/3 - 442 Farewell
18/3 - HST tour to Edinburgh
8/4 - Andover Fisk Attempt 2
3/6 - Broadsman (UKR)
10/6 - The Lancs & Yorks Builder
(17/6 - Mayflower, although I believe it has been proposed)

 

[Cowley]

That looked like a very interesting trip trundling around the lesser known parts of Bristol, quite a few bits of track that I need around there. It's funny seeing those new cars at such close quarters too having looked at them from the M5 so often.
Well done on all your various clearances as others have said. Impressive.

 

[Kite159]

11th March - The Waste Train

Doing something I've not done in a while and writing up my report for today's trip on my tablet device (making use of padding time for reversal, so I'm sorry for any random spelling mistakes caused by auto correct). For the 2nd week in a row it was an early morning drive to Didcot Parkway for the 05:55 departure time, the trip was a carbon copy of last week, but with added fog.

I arrived at Didcot around 05:35, paying my £2 for parking and headed over to the station which was lacking the coaches. Word got round that the ECS from Eastleigh had got caught up in a train traffic jam caused by a failed Freightliner service and passed Basingstoke around 44 minutes late, dropping down to 50 minutes late with a last minute platform swap from P3 to P4, however it was winner 66002 leading as I took up my seat in coach A.

After doing the trick with soap on the window (stops it steaming up), it was a repeat of last week, storming through Oxford station pausing at Banbury & Leamington Spa, some time being made up by not stopping in the Kenilworth loop heading to Coventry and Birmingham International with a 390 seemingly right behind us (I was expecting the train to get looped at Birmingham International to allow the 390 to go ahead).

Turning right at Stechford to pass the rubbish tip, before carrying on via Aston & Perry Barr pausing once more at Tame Bridge Parkway where it appeared at least 3 people got off (confusing this service with that 390 I suspect), the delay at this point had been reduced to 5 minutes, reduced even further with a clear passage via Bescot, turning left towards Portobello junction (the direct Wolverhampton - Walsall line), branching right to avoid Wolverhampton, rolling into Stafford a few minutes early.

I swapped seats to allow someone to sit with people they knew (got me away from a broken window where even when closed was a good 20mm gap), and was pleased with the seat in coach B. Onwards with the tour proper heading along the slow lines north of Stafford, coming off the main line at Basford Hall junction to run onto the goods lines passing many Freightliner locos.

First pause of the day was a 20 minute pause before carrying on with the "Crewe Independent Lines" and onto my first new track of the day after the junction with the connection to the Shrewsbury line. Diving under said Shrewsbury line passing behind the rear of Crewe station carrying on in the leftmost tunnel on the down Liverpool line to rejoin the main WCML waiting for a 350 to zoom past. Onwards heading north passing Hartford, Acton Bridge and pausing for a brief moment at Warrington Bank Quay for a driver change before carrying on (no weird and wonderful trip via the freight lines south of Warrington today).

Turning left at Winwick junction to head towards the Earlestown triangle, bearing right to head towards Newton Le Willows passing a hungry hungry hippo before turning left onto the line between Newton Le Willows Junction & Lowton Junction (a PSUL move with an early morning Wigan - Liverpool via St Helens Junction service, but first time doing it heading towards Wigan. The train rejoined the main WCML at Golborne junction, staying on the left hand side to turn off once more at Bamfurlong junction, taking the right hand side (left hand side joins the line towards Liverpool via Bryn). This line dives underneath the WCML (and is new track for me), running alongside the line for a short distance passing Springs Branch before turning right onto the Wigan Wallgate line (another small score).

Nonstop run through Wigan Wallgate, turning left to pass Pemberton on route to Kirkby where we had to wait for a few minutes at Rainford for a 142 bound for glory, sorry Blackburn, cleared the single track section to allow us to carry on, taking a left hand turn onto the newish head shunt (featuring some welding) for the first reversal of the day. Winner 66125 was now in charge for the run towards the Knowsley Freight Terminal, featuring a couple lines, one went into a large shed, the other carries on alongside a pond as the 66 reached near the buffers. It was now time for lunch as the train was due to get some water in the tanks so time to make a start with my trip report .

45 or so minutes later we got going again, 002 back in charge smoking away back towards the headshunt for another reversal, slow progress as we waited for a 156 to clear the single track section before rejoining network rail metals, pausing before Rainford for the driver to exchange a few words with the signaller (and maybe also some token) before carrying on towards Wigan, pausing for a good 10 minutes at the junction where the Southport line comes in. Back through Wigan Wallgate carrying on the line towards Ince, pausing after Hindley for a signal check, taking the line via Swinton for some more non stop running. By the time we reached the junction with the Bolton line (near an old station) it was a 15 minute wait before carrying on, pausing outside Salford Crescent to wait for the platform to clear. Accelerating through Salford Crescent station the train turned right onto the Windsor Link, staying on the left hand side to take the line towards Manchester Victoria passing the sight of the new chord coming into place (along with additional tracks being added at Salford Central).

Unlike in December there was no waiting around for a nonstop run through Manchester Victoria, taking the right hand side at Miles Platting, turning once more onto new track with the Philips Park West to South curve (having previously covered the East to South side of the triangle a few years ago on a tour to Buxton), heading south passing the City of Manchester stadium keeping on the goods lines behind Ashburys station running alongside the main line for a few chains passing a stone loading place. Rejoining the line passing Gorton, Fairfield & Guide Bridge it was into a goods loop after Guide Bridge for those recording to that level of detail. Turning right at Hyde junction to the line passing Hyde North & Central, crossing over to pass Woodley to take the freight line which branches of after the station.

Needless to say it was new track once more for me for the short run towards the Bredbury Waste Terminal featuring many containers. One more reversal with 66002 in charge back out towards the main line for another reversal with 66125 hauling the train down the other line towards the Tarmac Terminal, passing underneath the main line. Both times we ran close to the buffet stops which is good for coverage in my Baker's atlas. With one final reversal with 66002 getting mega miles today as it would be leading back to didcot. Well it will be once we get out onto the main line (for I have caught up with today's trip).

Making slow progress being caught at Hyde North for a few minutes, and another couple minute stop outside Guide Bridge, the tour turned left onto the world famous Denton line to do something normal passengers can't do and head south A brief pause in the Heaton Norris Goods loop before carrying on towards Stockport for a micro grice. Nonstop via platform 0 carrying on heading south, carrying onto the line to Crewe scoring a nonstop run through Wilmslow and into a loop south of Chelford station to allow a 175 to whizz past. I think we were due to go into the Crewe up Manchester loop but for whatever reason we didn't.

First drop off was at Crewe where as expected many passengers alighted for the main bulk of the tour was over, all that was left was a trip via kidsgrove (and a trip via a loop around Longport station) it was through Stoke on Trent and towards Stafford via the flyover rejoining the outward journey, pausing at a place called "Rickerscote" to allow the last southampton XC to overtake us. Onwards going left again to head towards Bescot going through the platforms this time to drop more passengers off at Tame Bridge Parkway before heading back towards Stechford (which by my thinking is the first time I've gone from Aston towards Stechford so probably scored a micro grice of platform 3.

Nothing else to report, Birmingham International, Coventry, Leamington Spa & Banbury, scoring the down through line at Oxford before terminating at Didcot Parkway roughly on time. A drive home via a handy McDonalds near to the A34 which was nice and quiet. In summary two winning 66s, plus some new track both freight line plus little bits (Crewe Independents, Wigan dive under etc).