The Various Random Mutterings of Kite

[FQ]

Leam! I haven't seen it in Chiltern colours yet.

 

[Techniquest]

I suspect Lord Kite will be the first of the forum's regular trip reporters to have spotted and photted a 168/3. Jammy so and so!

Hopefully they'll turn up in Birmingham at some point so I can score them off, along with the two new shacks between Nuneaton and Coventry opening soon I've got quite a bit in my patch still to go after!

 

[FQ]

Agreed. I guess I will be second though (when I see one).

 

[Cletus]

So Wikipedia is wrong in saying that the 168/3's will 168301-168309?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_168#cite_ref-class_170_3-0

 

[FQ]

I guess so. 168329 is 170309 so I guess 301 will be 321 and so on. It just makes it confusing though, with the lack of a 168 with the last 2 digits as 20.

 

[Kite159]

Leam! I haven't seen it in Chiltern colours yet.

It was a lucky shot, I was at Banbury on Friday evening around 18:00 having alighted from the Manchester bound Voyager, the 68 hauled service which normally connects with the voyager was first stop Leamington (sounded amazing going pass Banbury), with a Banbury - Snow Hill service departing soon afterwards.

I was at platform 3 hoping to get a picture of the 68 (as you do) when I spotted a 2-car coming up (at first I was thinking it was a 172 rushing up empty somewhere) until it went pass, and I noticed the unit number. A quick search of RTT saw a potential of a photo at Leamington with the 18:09 arriving before the 168/3 could head back down south.

That picture was taken from inside 168111 which was good as pretty much as soon as I got off 168111 and to the rear, 329 had started to move, I managed a couple other shots but they are not that great.

168111 next to 168329:








(I couldn't find a thread in the rolling stock which dealt with the creation of the 168/3s from the former TPX 170s, only what TPX are doing after losing them)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
11th September – A positioning movement for Operation Pole

I had been planning Operation Pole for a few weeks now, mainly after seeing that I could get a cheap room in the Rugby Travelodge just outside the station for the Friday night, so I had a day to position myself for the Saturday. After a nice walk to the station arriving a tad early to wait for the 15:59 service to roll in, today formed of 159004 & 159020 for the near 25 mile run to Basingstoke, where I crossed over to platform 5 to jump onto the lovely (and quite busy) 150001 for the run to Reading. I had a booked seat for the XC from Reading and I was feeling a bit hungry so I made use of the time to grab a meal-deal from Boots (I do like the Cheese & Appleslaw sandwich they do).

Dud 221129 rolled in a few minutes late, and I managed to get my table seat in coach F for this heavily used service (departing Reading at 17:15), to relax for the 52 mile trip towards Banbury, the grumpy rude “I will sit here without checking the reservation screen to see if this seat is available for the journey” from a couple weeks ago and got very edgy when he got asked to shift (doesn’t he know that coach B on the 221s is unreserved). Anyhow arrived into Banbury a few minutes late and I alighted and headed to the loo, as the next Marylebone – Birmingham service was running fast to Leamington from Marylebone, dud 168111 was waiting on P1 to form a semi-fast to Birmingham. The next service from P2 was mentioned as being “formed of 5 carriages” which got me thinking that a 172 would be making an appearance.

Anyhow, I got a shock when I saw 168329 rushing pass just before an unknown 68 rushed passed sounding amazing, I jumped onto 168111 for the short run (if you can call nearly 20 miles short) to Leamington Spa, where I managed to get a couple pictures of the former 170309. I was in luck as I positioned myself near the end of the platform to await the 5-carriage service, winner 172102 was leading (just leaving 172104 left to track down) with dud 168110 on the rear. Taking a seat in the rather empty (I’m guessing anybody wanting stations north of Leamington would have got onto that 68 hauled service which departed Marylebone a couple minutes before this one) 168 (as they are more comfortable than the 172s) for the ride north towards Moor Street.

We paused briefly at Dorridge, where a double London Midland 172 set was waiting to depart, I noticed a certain 172/2 leading the pair, my last LM 172, so I bailed from the Chiltern service at Solihull and made use of the time to buy a Daytripper from the ticket office. Back upstairs to wait as 172219 rolled in with dud 172211 on the back, and with a smile on my face I boarded 219, knowing that I didn’t have to come back to search for it (as I only have one more 172 served shack left to clear). To Moor Street, where I had ~ 7 minutes to get across to New Street, so it was fast walk time. Thankfully not as busy as it has been along that little passageway and I got down to platform 11, a XC 170 bound for Cardiff was getting ready to be split up on P10 and I through I had missed the chance, but the doors opened and I (and other passengers) jumped onto 170114 for the short trip to University. The original idea was to catch the Longbridge bound 323 all the way to Longbridge to clear that shack, but I decided as it was running a few minutes late it was best to bail early.

Winner 323216 arrived 5 minutes down which I decided to bail at Bournville for no reason other than I needed the shack. Dud 323211 took me back to University, where I alighted to await the service from Hereford. Sadly my luck had run out and it turned out to be dud 170513, which took a few minutes to get from University to New Street, having to wait as it crossed over and ended up on a low numbered platform (as it was going to be forming the next Shrewsbury train). The next service to Euston was calling me, and it was sadly duds 350117 & 350234, which once the doors were released I took a table seat in 117 for the near 40 mile trip to Long Buckby

I was originally going to wait 20 minutes to catch the next service to Northampton to clear that shack, however something appeared to have gone wrong somewhere and it was shown as being 15 minutes down, and with the connection at Northampton being 14 minutes I decided it wasn’t worth the risk (not to mention that I was tired, hungry and it was raining) so jumped onto the New Street bound service, dud 350264 back to Rugby. Managed to locate the hotel with ease, and food was sourced from a Tesco Express located nearby, sadly I was on the railway side of the hotel, so I got to hear the station announcements (and the noise of 390 & 350 doors), and the bed was of the usual “hard as nails” style so I didn’t get to sleep that well.


12th September – The Day of Operation Pole & Some West Midlands Day Ranger shack attacking
There is a certain shack on the “Trent Valley” section of the WCML which is served by one train a day heading northbound (due to the footbridge being removed a few years ago and not being replaced), I’m talking about Polesworth, the reason for my overnight stay at Rugby, so at 5:20 the alarm rung and I got myself up and ready for a busy day (although a bit later than I would normally), and headed to the station.

I made a note the previous night that the ticket office opened at 5:45 so I made use of the time and purchased my first West Midlands Day Ranger, the idea after clearing Polesworth was to head to clear the shacks between Stafford & Crewe via Stoke, and the shacks from Wolverhampton to the edge of the area at Gobowen, at just after 6am, the first train of the day arrived, and it was another dud 350, 350112, to take me to my first shack of the day at Atherstone, just for the sake of clearing it. I had a couple options, either do as I had planned and have an hour fester at Atherstone to go to Polesworth, or catch a bus on route 65 heading towards Tamworth. As it was raining and Atherstone looked like it lacked shelter, I decided to go for the bus option.

I located the bus station at Atherstone and arrived just after a modern single decker bus arrived, sadly I didn’t grab the unit number or what it was, but it had Wi-Fi and little USB charging sockets, useful to track the progress. Single fare of £2.50 to Polesworth and there was only me and another passenger on board (and he alighted at what looked like to be a distribution depot for a German supermarket) I made the slight mistake of bailing from the bus a tad early (as it goes around a loop passing a school in the village centre itself before doubling back to a main-road), so I had a little extra to walk, but even in the light drizzle I made it to Polesworth, although the station itself is quite hidden with no signposts saying it is there.

As expected the single platform was rather basic, a timetable poster, and I suspect the gate to the platform is only unlocked 20 or so minutes before the train is due and relocked soon afterwards, as it seemed to be that sort of heavy-duty access gate. After a couple photos, and noticing that if Network Rail really wanted to, they could put in an access ramp to the other platform from the road-bridge, and give the station a decent level of service (as the village appeared to be quite large), anyhow winner 350263 tipped up and picked me up (and as expected I was the only person boarding). The guard was slightly disappointed as I bet she wanted to sell a ticket from Polesworth (similar to the guard a couple weeks ago on the Ashford service which called at Doleham) but as I had my rover I didn’t need one. I sat back and relaxed for the journey north, and alighted at Kidsgrove.

I was expecting a 20 minute fester here, but thankfully the EMT Crewe – Derby service was running a couple minutes late, and so I managed to make an unexpected -2, and onto winner (although as my EMT 156 requirements are massive I would have been disappointed if it turned out to be a dud) 156411 for the short trip back towards Stoke to Longport. Across the footbridge and to the other platform to await the train I would have caught from Kidsgrove, winners 153376 & 153383, 3 required EMT DMUs, happy days, and I took the pair of dog-boxes to Alsager.
There is nothing much to report around Alsager, apart from a closed pub, a large dog, and some rain, the town centre being a fair distance from the station, so I stayed around the station to await fresh dud 350263 to roll back in, back towards Stoke passing Longport, pausing for a fair while (7 minutes) at Stoke before continuing on, passing the sites of the “closed” Wedgwood & Barlaston stations to Stone which surprisingly had a RPI standing guard ready to catch any fare dodgers.

A couple 390s & voyagers later and the next Euston – Crewe service popped up, and it was another dud, this time 350103 which I took to Stoke-Le-Trent, heading underneath the subway to jump onto dud 221123 for the run back to Wolverhampton. Over the footbridge to await the next Liverpool bound LM, and my god it was a winner, 350243 taking me back towards Stafford to Penkridge to clear the “West Midlands” loop of the WCML. Nothing much at all around Penkridge, apart from a closed pub, a large dog & some ‘ouths, with some long access ramps to the fairly basic platforms, an old station building is having some work done to it, but apart from that nothing. Dud 350253 rolled in to take me back to Wolverhampton where I had a 20 minute break before the next ATW service towards Shrewsbury, so I made use of the time to grab some lunch from Sainsburys.

The Glasgow bound 390 looked rather busy with football fans, but I stayed and waited for the ATW towards Holyhead, somehow finding myself 2 hours ahead of my schedule. Winner 158833 rolled in with 158831 at the back, 158831 detached at Shrewsbury and 833 carried on heading north, dropping me off at the edge of England, at Gobowen. over the level crossing and to the other platform to await the delayed service towards Cardiff, the barriers went down, 158833 departed, the barriers went up, a large dog went across the level crossing, the barriers went down and I spotted a 175, would I get lucky with my first required 175 since March (ok, my 2nd 175 since March), and yippee as it was 175103. Back to Shrewsbury where I crossed over to board duds 158828 & 158837 heading towards Birmingham from the Welsh Coast, sadly this is when my plan doesn’t work as I had planned to catch the Virgin service towards Euston which connected up with a LM stopper at Telford Central, but running 2 hours up did mean this couldn’t be done.

To Telford Central, which is a horrible station, full of youths whom seem the sort to collect ASBOs as some people collect football stickers, anyhow I didn’t have long to wait before duds 170511 & 170510 rolled in to take me to the tight connection shack at Bilbrook, exiting over the ramp, over the road bridge and down to the other platform with a minute to spare before dud 170630 rolled in to take me back towards Shrewsbury to Oakengates. Nice enough station, but I didn’t have long to wait before winner 170505 and dud 170517 (the 3rd set on the Shrewsbury stopping diagram) taking me back the near 12 miles to Codsall. 170510 & 170511 had returned from New Street with a short leap to Shifnal which is a station on top of a viaduct of a small town, nothing else around the station, but strangely no large dog in sight.

Next up was another trip on 170630 to take me back towards New Street, this time alighting at Albrighton with another short wait in a station with nothing much around, but had more around that Cosford which is where 170517 & 170505 dropped me off, with a near 40 minute fester next to the airfield & RAF camp. 40 minutes later (at least it gave me a chance to listen to some music and read my book) 170510 & 170511 rolled back in for the 3rd time to take me to Wolverhampton. I was happy the local shacks between Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury all done.

Wolverhampton was in a mild state of panic, trespassers had gotten onto the line north of the station (between it & Penkridge), and so services were delayed heading south. My original idea was to see what was on the Virgin service and if that was a dud, to jump onto the XC service towards Bournemouth. Neither happened as a service from Liverpool was next up, so deciding it wasn’t worth the risk of hanging around, I jumped onto dud 350251 back to New Street, an hour up from my original plan, so I did some research and decided it would be a good chance to clear the last 2 shacks on the cross-city line. First up was a delayed service towards Lichfield Trent Valley, formed of dud 323209 which I took to Wylde Green with dud 323204 taking me to Four Oaks. I had a couple options, either a nice fast service (non-stop from Sutton to New Street due to delays) or a chance to have a micro-grind of the bay platform.

My mind was made up when I saw a required 323 rolling into the bay, and the delayed service (and the one behind that) were duds, so I took a seat on winner 323222 for some action down to New Street, running a couple minutes behind a delayed service meant most passengers waiting at the other stations boarded the first service (which meant 222 was nice and quiet). Rolling into New Street, I had around 18 minutes before the XC towards Reading was due to depart, so a quick dash for a Tesco Metro raid was made to grab some food & a nice cold drink. I walked back to New Street, passing the gateline which was all lit up (can’t be that long before they become active) and to the cave to await the service towards Reading, which was running a couple minutes late (according to RTT).

Lucky days, it was a winner, 220018 and like the previous time I caught this service a couple weeks ago was nice and empty going via Solihull to Leamington Spa, sadly losing some time so instead of arriving at Leamington a few minutes up, arrived 3 down, so no chance of a quick dash to Warwick on a Chiltern unit if required. Anyways, I didn’t have long to wait before 168217 rolled in to take me to Banbury, where normally I would alight and wait for the XC, but tonight was slightly different, I’m assuming due to works around the new Bicester curve the line south was closed and passengers to London were being routed to Oxford and onto a FGW towards Paddington, so I had the chance to sample the delights of a 168 all the way to Oxford, rolling into the micro-grind of P3, the bay.

I had an option to catch a FGW to Reading, however looking at RTT I spotted that all London bound services were being routed via the relief line platforms (P14/P15) at Reading with XCs going into P3, so got me thinking that I could score some rare track, mainly the “festival” chord from the relief lines, under the viaduct and into P3. Thankfully both 165s on the Paddington service were dud, so I gave them a miss to be rewarded with dud 220003, finding my table and rolling down to the GWML where I kept an eye out looking for clues, yes we remained on the relief lines, passing Tilehurst and spotting the outline of the viaduct before slowing down and crossing over, to go under the viaduct and out, where we came to a random stop for around 8 minutes before going into the station.

I spotted a turbo powering away as we arrived, but didn’t think too much about it (thinking it was probably a service towards Bedwyn), but it was the Basingstoke train running 10 minutes late. Quite a fast reversal at Reading and we departed only a minute down, but the usual fast run to Basingstoke was ruined by slow running caused by that late running stopper, which meant we arrived into Basingstoke around 10 minutes down… which meant the service towards Salisbury was gone. Damn, a 55 minute fester at Basingstoke, not what I really wanted, so heading out of the station via the side gate (the main ticket office entrance all blocked off with some policemen standing guard) for a quick think, grabbing a nice cold can of drink from the little Londis before heading back to the station, awaiting the 23:12, the Poole service before was running 18 minutes down due to a police incident at Waterloo, which meant the Salisbury service was around 6 minutes down, and formed of 159004. Back to Grateley, arriving 1 hour 4 minutes down on my original plan, but hopefully I can get something back from XC for causing the delay.

Anyhow some pictures from a busy day:

Lord Techni’s favourite station

Old footbridge?

A 390 rushing pass:


The train now approaching stops here!


Old platform:


156411 getting ready to depart Longport:

A pair of dog-boxes departing Alsager

............Stone

Gobowen:

170511 & 170510 clagging away from Shifnal

Fast Train approaching:

Cosford...


168217 at Oxford P3:


13th September – Reversing in the Valleys of the West

The aim of today was to clear 2 more branch lines in FGW land, mainly the Looe Valley Line and the Tamar Valley Line, two branch lines which involve a reversal on route, I had one shack remaining on the Looe Valley, and 3 shacks on the Tamar Valley, so with Basingstoke closed for engineering works I decided to Go West, where the skies are blue.

A nice drive to Salisbury saw me having to dump my car down another side-street as the usual street parking bays I park in were full, anyhow I had time to kill as I walked to P3 to wait for the doors to be released on 159104/159010 with 159019 coming along as far as Honiton where it detached to form another service back east. So I set off along the west of England line, a nice slow potter along a mostly single track route, it gets boring after a while. Anyhow, arrival was mostly on time into Exeter Central, but for some reason we were held up departure for 3 minutes, but eventually got going down the hill to St Davids.

Across to P4 to jump onto dud 150238, a bit of good news that it was a 2+2 seated /2 example rather than a 3+2 seating example, at least it had tables to rest on, heading down the coast pass the sea (I love the part of the line between Exeter & Newton Abbot, in fact this part of the world is very beautiful, perfect window watching). Into Plymouth where the 150 had a 10 minute break before continuing as a stopper to Liskeard where it terminated due to engineering works, with time to kill I headed over to P3 to await what was probably going to be a dog-box, and I was right as 153370 rolled in.

Interestingly the last time I had 153370 (to Pilning) the last train before hand was 150238, anyhow it had a brief layover as the Sunday timetable is a bit more relaxed than during the week, before it set off, as I requested my stop to the guard as he wrote it down before we reached the bottom of the hill, where the unit reversed outside the station, the guard jumping out to set the points before coming back in and continuing down the valley where it called at St Keyne Wishing Well Halt, one of the few stations with Halt still in its name, and there is pretty much nothing around, a musical museum next to the station and that is about it, so after a wonder I came back to read my book and relax, waiting for the sound of the 153 making its way back in order to request it to stop.

153370 arrived back and I took it back to Liskeard, a nice little 3 and a half mile run, getting some good noise as it climbed the hill around the curve, such a mad line. Across the road and to the “main-line” station, where a sprinter was waiting and it was dud 150106, last had when attached to 153370 to Pilning, history has a strange habit of repeating itself. Anyhow it was running non-stop to Plymouth, where I had around 45 minutes to kill, so I went shopping to grab some lunch for now and lunch for later. Half an hour later I was back at the station, noticing a trio of 153s on one platform (service from Exeter?) before my eyes changed to the bay platform 3. 150106 had shifted to the other side, and super dud 150263 was waiting on the next Gunnislake train, so I jumped on board and had some food awaiting departure.

An on-time departure and down the main-line, calling at the likes of Dockyard & Devonport before coming away from the main-line, diving underneath it twice before running up the side of the Tamar before crossing over a bridge to reach the Bere peninsula, and with a reversal at Bere Alston taking us over the Calstock viaduct into Cornwall and into Calstock where I alighted. With around 40 minutes to kill, I decided to go down the hill to get a few pictures of the mighty fine Calstock viaduct crossing the river Tamar, the distance between Calstock & Bere Alston might only be 1 mile 55 chain by rail, but by road it’s a good 9 miles, the next road bridge over the river being north of Gunnislake (although the distance between St Budeaux & Bere Ferrers puts that to shame, 4 miles by rail, at least 15 miles by road). Anyway after some ice-cream (it was sunny after-all), I went back to the station to await the return of 150263 to take me back over the viaduct to Bere Alston, where I decided to go for a walk.

A nice 3.2 mile walk, and I nearly arrived in time to catch the unit heading back up towards Gunnislake, I failed to take into account the weird departure times from Plymouth, this one departed at X:40 rather than X:45, maybe if I didn’t stop to try and get some pictures of the bridges, or sign-posts to Holes Hole, I would have made it. But I wasn’t that bothered, my feet were hurting and for the first time in ages I had a mobile internet signal, so I spent the hour checking up on stuff, before 150263 returned to take me to Plymouth. I had 3 options to get back to Exeter St Davids, 2 FGW HSTs or a XC HST. I had hoped the XC HST would have arrived before the first HST had departed to give me a chance to see if either power-car was required (as it does give an unofficial connection at St Davids), but it was running late. But luck was finally on my side as the first HST to depart was winners 43130 & 43193, so taking a seat to relax for the run back to Newton Abbot. This gave the chance to spot a voyager from Paignton, which was dud, and gave me a chance to dash to the KFC for some food.

I don’t really like KFC, it’s not as nice as McDonalds, but it will do as there isn’t much else around Newton Abbot, the rain had started as I dashed back to the station, both power-cars on the HST from Liskeard were dud, so I allowed it to go to eat food and get in position for the XC. Leading was dud 43207 but at the rear was winner 43321, so only 2 power-cars left to get. Back towards Exeter, the sea was looking really bad, at one point a wave broke and hit the side of the coach, a storm was on its way, but arrival into Exeter St Davids was on time, so across to platform 3 to jump onto 159004 (again!) and 159020 for the 88 mile & 49 chain trip to Salisbury, unusually doing a bit of right hand running in Axminster loop, and waiting at Tisbury for another Exeter bound service to go into Tisbury loop.

Anyhow back into Salisbury, where I located the car and had a nice little drive home, the end of a nice relaxing day in the south west, 4 more shacks cleared & 2 more branch lines cleared, the end is in sight!

Anyhow some pictures:
150238 at Liskeard


We head this way, and reverse down to that track:

St Keyne Wishing Well Halt:



Some bridge


150263 departing Calstock


A mighty fine viaduct:


Devon is over the water


150263 is back!


Farewell Cornwall:


Bere Alston

Guard changing the points:


A “I wish I had my proper camera” moment:

Has Holes Hole got a Hole?

Bere Ferrers:



Has a pair of Hunslet shunters:


Good view of both Tamar Bridge & Prince Albert Bridge:

 

[Techniquest]

I had forgotten how lovely the area is, been way too long (pretty much 10 years ago to tbe day since my last visit to Gunnislake and Looe) since I did the branches of Cornwall.

Final few to go with FGW shacks, well jealous!

 

[Kite159]

I had forgotten how lovely the area is, been way too long (pretty much 10 years ago to tbe day since my last visit to Gunnislake and Looe) since I did the branches of Cornwall.

Final few to go with FGW shacks, well jealous!

31 left

Of which:
1 is Intercity (Pewsey)
14 are "Wessex" (Topsham, Falmouth & Newquay branches with 4 on the main-line)
16 are "Thames Valley" (mainly the Marlow & Twyford branch, plus the North Downs line)

 

[Techniquest]

Not bad, a lot better than me!

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Another busy and varied weekend. Well done on getting Polesworth in the book given the awkward timing of the only train of the day to stop there.

That RPI at Stone must have been bored most of the time as the place is not exactly rocking. I remember when I did it, the weather was slightly damp to say the least. And I had the family in tow as well as we were heading for a boat yard in Stone for a week on the canals. Thankfully the weather cleared up once we got going on the boat.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

A most enjoyable read.

Let me, too, add my congratulations on Polesworth...

I see the Hunslet shunters at Bere Ferrers have gained the names of the two steam engines that worked the Gunnislake (or Callington, as it was at the time) line. The green one also appears to have a Giesl Ejectot at the end of its funnel!

Apparently, according to the spreadsheet (thanks for sharing this, most useful) I require 160 FGW shacks. That should take a while...

 

[55013]

A smashing couple of trips there.
Very enjoyable reading.

 

[Kite159]

Thanks for your feedback

I now have a free weekend due to the Border railtour being pushed back to 2016 time, I'm thinking either Cornwall or another West Midlands Day Ranger.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Who else thinks the 456s in red look kinda cute?


Anyhow, down to business of how I spent my free weekend:

19th September – An unexpected West Midlands Day Ranger

With the trip to the Borders pushed back until 2016, I had an unexpected free weekend, so what to do. Cornwall was out of the window due to the line being closed between Salisbury & Yeovil with diversions via Westbury, and I didn’t fancy a trip to London, so I decided to do another West Midlands Day Ranger to clear some more shacks in the rover area, so away I went on the 5:59 departure towards Waterloo, this morning formed of 159107 for the short run to Basingstoke.

At Basingstoke I decided to jump onto dud 165129 for the short run to Reading, just to get some former first class action (before the seats are removed and replaced with more 3+2 seating) for a short little run before joining the voyager, unusually I decided to pay the extra £3 for an undiscounted ticket from Banbury to Leamington, to remain on the voyager for longer (as it would save an hour coming back later). Dud 220013 rolled in for the 99 and a half mile trip via Oxford, Banbury and into New Street, being held outside the station for a couple minutes awaiting a platform to become available (New Street is worse than Waterloo for waiting outside for platforms). Across to the Cross-City line platforms, where I annoyingly just missed a service so had a 10 minute wait before 323203 rolled in, which I took to Kings Norton.

Kings Norton has a disused island platform in the middle, but not a lot else around as it’s one of the shacks where the services are timetabled to pass each other, so it was another 10 minute wait before winner 323210 rolled in to take me to Longbridge with its long platforms where it terminated, I reckon it could be easy enough to get the cross-overs and that little track into the reversing siding if you ‘fall asleep’ on the train as it didn’t hang around for long. Another minor wait before another winning 323 rolled up, this time 323215 taking me outside the area covered by the regular Daytripper to Alvechurch.

First time I’ve been to Alvechurch since the new platform was opened giving the branch a 20 minute frequency, but it’s in the middle of nowhere, thankfully I didn’t have long to wait in the fog before 323203 rolled back in to take me to the junction station of Barnt Green which has platforms on the “Bromsgrove” lines but I believe there are only 2 services a day in each direction timetabled to call there, maybe in a couple years time when the wires are extended to the new Bromsgrove station and the Longbridge terminators are extended (although would sending all 3 an hour be overkill, or will it be just 1 electric an hour?). Anyhow I had a fester time, so I made use of the new-ish looking footbridge to see what the next Redditch bound service was formed off as I could link up with the return of 323215 at Alvechurch if required. Required 323219 rolled in, so it was back to Alvechurch (as I wasn’t going to say no to a required unit). Across the footbridge and back to await the return of fresh dud 323215 to take me back to University.

Northfield & Selly Oak remain as my remaining required shacks on the Cross-City line, but they will have to wait, maybe grabbing them later once back from the Malvern hills, as it was time to jump onto a Hereford bound service, formed of duds 170514 & 170516 (514 last spotted in December on a Shrewsbury – Wellington “I’m on a rail-tour to Shrewsbury and got bored” leap) and 516 last spotted the last time I went to Hereford in March 14!. Anyhow it lost a bit of time heading towards Barnt Green before picking up speed to take me to Ledbury, the passing point on the single track between Great Malvern & Hereford. As it was late arriving the New Street bound service was already itching to go, so as expected I had a 30 minute wait before the HST arrived towards Paddington.

Departing Ledbury, next stop Techni-town


I was a bit good with my plan to time my trip to involve the limited FGW services to/from Hereford to reduce the fester, a quick look at Google Maps suggested a nearby Tesco, so I went for a walk to grab some food, the sun had finally come out burning up the fog and food was sourced. Yummy sandwich time, as I headed back to the station, over the footbridge and waited for the Paddington service, it would be my last FGW service before the rebrand, and it was formed of duds 43134 and 43036 for the short run to Great Malvern, where I crossed under the subway to jump onto the next Hereford bound 170s, sadly there were duds 170505 & 170507 so it was a bit of a wasted trip. 505 & 507 dropped me off at my final shack between Paddington & Hereford at Colwall, where I had a 15 minute wait before 170516 & 170514 returned from Hereford to take me back via Worcester to Bromsgrove.

170505/507 departing Colwall:

New station being slowly built at Bromsgrove


The next train to pass doesn’t call at this station, XC 170397 on route to Cardiff:


Lots of empty space on this timetable, couldn’t they be bothered working out connections for changes at New Street for stations to Nottingham?


Although I will have to revisit this shack once the new station is built, the 3 platforms appear to have been built with track going into the new bay platform, not that far from the existing station which has short platforms (front 3 coaches only) and it quite far from the town, although there does appear to be a little Co-Op at the top of the hill. It was time to wait to see what was the next service bound to the delightful Hereford (which if rumours are believed has a very good Asda located in the town), and it was a dud, a single 2-car unit which was slightly busy as it arrived, 170501 to take me to Droitwich Spa, where I crossed over the footbridge to await the next service for Dorridge, which called at my last shack on the “Snow Hill” lines.

As all my London Midland 172s have been cleared (due to a piece of luck last week), so I knew it was a dud, and it was 172333, although its only entry in my book was for a tiny leap between Moor Street & Snow Hill, so the 5 & ¾ mile trip to Hartlebury would improve its standing. Hartlebury, a station which now has a decent level of service (hourly) compared to previously where it was served by a handful of services, and apart from a pub next to the platform, had nothing else around. A level crossing shack, so I crossed over once the barriers had gone back up to fester on the other platform, reading my book and finishing off my lunch, as 172332 rolled in to take me to Worcester Foregate Street, where I had a wait before the next New Street bound service, this is where things went a bit wrong. Either the signalling between New Street & Longbridge had gone wrong or the points had failed (mixed messages) causing delays on the southern end of the Cross-City line. However the announcements didn’t come until after 172332 had departed which was a bit of a pain.
172333 getting ready to depart:


Dud 170634 rolled in where my plan originally had me bailing at University to try and grab a 323 to clear Northfield (and maybe Selly Oak if I could make a ‘0’), however when we rolled pass Kings Norton, and the departure screen was a mix of “Delayed” and “Cancelled”, with the guard announcing that passengers for the northern end of the Cross-city line should stay on board to New Street to change there, I decided to stay on board for the extremely slow trip to New Street, stop-start at every signal taking us 20 minutes to reach Fives Ways, lots of congestion.

Eventually we reached New Street, 15 minutes after the same unit was meant to have departed as a Bromsgrove-only service, and I had 20 minutes to kill before the next Leicester bound service, so I headed to Boots to grab some food, as I do enjoy their Cheese & Appleslaw sandwiches. Back underground on platform 9A to await the arrival of the Leicester ‘stopper’, formed today of winner 170103 (finally a required 170!) to take me to the 2-hourly served shack at Water Orton. Quite odd that when it’s served by services towards New Street, those have to cross over to the other line as its only an island platform, with the other side used by 1 (maybe 2) trains a day towards Derby. Seems strange that the station itself is in a large village/town which has a few shops (even a little Tesco Express) that it’s so poorly served (every 2 hours alternating hourly), so with at least an hour before the next train I decided to go for a walk.

170103 at Water Orton:


25 minutes later, along nice pavement roads, under the M6 Toll and via an industrial estate I reached Coleshill Parkway, where I had a couple options, either grab the Stansted Airport service to Nuneaton and back to New Street, or wait for the 18:00 service from Leicester back to New Street. The Stansted Airport service was a dud unit, so I gave that a miss for a wait for a 2-car unit, dud 170114, last spotted the week before on a University leap. Another wait outside the station for a platform as the service terminated, and I went towards the Cross-City line platforms, with a couple options, either a 323 to University (and potential of another 323 back to New Street) or a XC 170 bound for Cardiff.

Coleshill Parkway, just a large car-park


Just what time does 170108 reach the airport?


The 323 was 323203 I believe so I gave that a miss, and a good thing as well, as the XC for Cardiff was a required unit, 170109 so to University I went, where a fast change to the other side, where I could connect up with a delayed 323, but that also was a dud so I gave that a miss to wait for the Nottingham bound XC. Dud 170104 rolled in, which was quite busy due to the Rugby at Cardiff, thankfully after New Street it emptied out allowing me to grab a table seat (I would rather stand than try and sit in an airline seat on a 170/1, the leg-room is rubbish) for the short run to my final London Midland ‘managed’ station which isn’t served by any London Midland trains, Wilnecote. One side has a nice ramp, the other platform has some steep stairs, quite newish looking platforms, and a nearby McDonalds which was used to source some dinner before heading back down to await the 19:3X departure to New Street. Dud 170637 rolled in which took me to New Street, where I had an unofficial 8 minute connection to grab the last Bournemouth bound XC (the one I would normally catch at Banbury to arrive into Basingstoke at 22:08 which connects nicely with the 22:14 to Yeovil/Salisbury).

All was going well until we paused for around 5 minutes outside the station, waiting for a platform, and to make things worse the “A” side was blocked off due to the grand opening, so it was a dash to the B side to dash up and back down, where I did a little barrow-roll onto an unknown voyager a few seconds before the doors started to close, a very close call as I looked up to see I was on 220013… again. Finding the seat where I was reserved from Leamington to find it nice and empty (one side was “Birmingham New Street to Coventry” and the other side was something like “Stoke to Leamington” so it was quite safe to sit there, changing over after departure as it looked like the ones who had booked those seats were no-shows. As normal the service lost time along the corridor to Coventry, arriving 8 down at Coventry, by the time it reached Oxford it was cut down to only 3 down, and arrived into Reading a minute or two ahead of schedule.

Which is where I had a mild panic as the Basingstoke stopper (normally departs at ~ 21:37) was running around 12 minutes late and hadn’t arrived, the mild panic was down to “if the signallers let the stopper out first it would be game over to being able to catch the 22:14, and would be a repeat of the previous week where it was a go-slow to Basingstoke with a wait for the 23:12. Thankfully the gods of Reading signalling was sensible and allowed us to depart first, I was so happy when I heard the little buzzer going to tell the driver to close the doors and we departed a few seconds early at 21:50, 14 minutes later we arrived at Basingstoke, a very nice fast run, and with the voyager cleared out of the way of the flat junction, it allowed the 22:14 to Salisbury (bus to Yeovil) to come straight into the platform at 22:07, formed tonight of 159014 & 159021. Nice little ride back to Grateley, the end of a busy and unexpected day trip, which I did have pencilled in for November time.

Only 5 new units, but 11 shacks cleared, only shacks remaining on the West Midlands Day Ranger area now are the 4 towards Rugeley Town, Northampton, Bedworth [and the 2 future shacks along that line] and the 2 on the southern end of the Cross-city line. A job for a daytripper with add-on, with a couple extra day return tickets me thinks (so I can focus on the trams afterwards).

Steep steps at Wilnecote:

I would guess voyagers & HSTs would fly through here (assuming they don’t call at Tamworth)


20th September – Farewell to the dusty bins

Another unexpected trip, this time to London to clear my remaining Southern shacks in zone 6, plus to clear the Abbey line to say farewell to the last London Midland 321 before being replaced by 319s, with my trusted bike in tow (would be useful for the shacks close together) I set off to Andover, and onwards to Clapham Junction on 159107 & 159101. Arriving on time, I had a couple options to get to East Croydon before the Caterham bound service was due, and both were dud units. So onto dud 455845 it was for an unusual trip running fast via Crystal Palace to Norwood Junction before heading down towards East Croydon and onto the branch.

I alighted at my first new shack of the day at Whyteleafe South, with my bike unfolded and ready for a ride up the short distance to Whyteleafe itself, quite a busy station with many passengers using the TVM, so I didn’t get a chance to buy my BZ6 ticket for later. Anyhow 455845 (now as a super-dud) rolled back in to take me the 1 mile 29 chain leap to the final shack on the branch at Kenley, and it was back on my bike to ride to Riddlesdown on the nearby line towards Oxted (although be warned, Riddlesdown looks a nasty station to go from platform to platform, and the route involves going up a hill and back down along a narrow footpath between some trees & a fence). I managed to grab my BZ6 tickets and got lucky as I saw “formed of 6 carriages” on the PIS. Which could only mean one thing; some 3s had come out to play.

Winners 377320 & 377310 rolled in for the short leap to Sanderstead where it was back onto my bike for the short ride to Purley Oaks, I was doing well this morning as I waited as a busy station, as a WCR 37 rushed through as a light engine giving me some noise before dud 455843 rolled in on a Tattenham Corner service (being the first [and probably last] time heading to that branch from the main-line, it previously being covered last February after walking from Epson Downs. I stayed on board the 455 to the last stop before it reached Tattenham Corner, it being Tadworth and it was back to the bike to ride back to Kingswood. 455843 returned to take me to Coulsdon Town formally called Smitham.

And for the first time in a while, there was no bike ride involved, as I boarded winner 455825 for the short trip back along the branch to Chipstead, where it was back to the bike for the short ride to Woodmansterne, a rare island platform in this part of London. Dud 455832 rolled in to take me to the final shack on the Tattenham Corner line to Reedham, where it was one final bike ride to Purley. I was now a hour or so ahead of plans (originally made out not to involve the bike, but to involve a couple walks between nearby shacks), so I decided to get Earlswood (Surrey) out of the way, and how handy a Horsham service was due, formed of duds 377139 & 377127 taking me via Redhill to Earlswood my final Brighton Main-Line shack (woohoo) and with a 15 (or-so) minute wait before the returning service from Horsham [I did look into riding back to Redhill, but it would have made no difference as the next service from Redhill towards London would have been the same service].

Dud 377140 rolled in with winner 377415 at the rear to take me to Redhill, where I had a 10 minute wait before the next service, formed of busy duds 377104 & 377463 taking me to East Croydon, where it arrived just as a Thameslink service departed, time to do some festering to see if anything required would roll in, a pair of 377s was first up and both were dud and both appeared to be Full and Standing, which got me thinking that Victoria underground station would be horrible, so London Bridge or Thameslink it would be, the next Thameslink was “formed of 4 carriages”, however it was winner 387115 and dud 387106 so I jumped on board for the world’s slowest trip towards Blackfriars where it arrived a good few minutes early. I was checking RTT and there appeared to be a service towards Luton soon afterwards but the PIS had that one down as being cancelled (so I would assume it was going to be cut short at Blackfriars and form another service southbound), so I jumped back on to Farringdon.



A metropolitan line service towards Uxbridge took me forward to Euston Square, formed of S8 stock 069 & 070 where a short walk/pushing the bike later I went to Euston, first service towards Watford was a Tring stopper, which was a dud 350/2, next up was a London Overground 378, which normally I wouldn’t pay much attention to however I noticed it entered in 229, which was my last 378, something to bear in mind as I did some research to see that it would be forming the 17:20 departure from Watford back to Euston, anyhow the service to New Street was sitting on a nearby platform and the doors were waiting to be released on duds 350121 & 350255, so I took a table seat in the front of 121 and relaxed until departure and relaxed when it rolled up, first stop Watford Junction.

Grabbing some food from WH Smiths and back towards P11 where 321413 was waiting for the final class 321 to work the Abbey Flyer, the end of an era, the last 321 to work for London Midland, meeting up with Fishquinn for the short ride, where I hopped off at Park Street and had a little ride back to How Wood, to grab a picture as 321413 rolled back in for the final time arrival at Watford Junction. 10 or so minutes later it departed empty heading south, farewell 321. A 319 in southern colours was spotted to a chorus of moans as I think a couple of the people on the first trip was hoping for the 319/4 as they required it, and soon enough 319216 rolled in, still with Thameslink route maps but with some London Midland vinyls, a very strange machine, but 2+2 seating with 2+1 seating in “first class”. Anyhow I took the beast to Garston, my last shack on the Abbey line, festered (which was hard as there is nothing around Garston) and back to Watford Junction.

To platform 9 where winner 350252 rolled in to take me to Harrow & Wealdstone, dud 350370 took me back to Watford Junction, where I had a couple options, either catch the 378 to Harrow & Wealdstone and 350 down to Euston, however I somehow doubted I would be able to get across to Waterloo inside the 13 minutes to catch the 18:15, so option 2 would be a trio of 350s to Harrow & Wealdstone and 378 from there. At platform 9 winner 350254 rolled in so option 2 it would be, winner 350261 was in the middle and oh my god winner 350260 was at the rear, first trio of winning 350s for ages. To Harrow & Wealdstone (again), before crossing over to P2 to await the 378, but first a little linear bash on a Bakerloo line train, formed of 259 & 558 (going by the sheet Brian sent me) to Kenton. A few minutes later winner and final 378, 378229 rolled in, and with a big smile I boarded for the ride.

I could either ditch at Willesden Junction to get a Clapham Junction bound 378, or ditch at Queen’s Park for some Bakerloo action, I decided to ditch at Queen’s Park and onto Bakerloo sets 248/540 to Kilburn Park, closely followed by 246/554 to Maida Vale, another couple minutes later 261/559 rolled in to take me to Warwick Avenue before finally 255/535 took me to Paddington. As I had time to kill I was going to see if any required HSTs were floating around (as I had 3 options) or any of my last few Turbos. 1st couple HSTs were dud, another had a dud rear power-car (couldn’t catch what was on front as it was departing shortly), a pair of 165s towards Oxford were dud, leaving the Plymouth bound HST, which if that was dud I would simply head back to the underground, get my last Bakerloo shack (Regent’s Park) and to Waterloo via Charing Cross, but it was winner 43136 leading dud 43088 on the “Great Western Railways” service, felt strange not hearing First Great Western. Anyhow it was a busy service, which got caught behind a stopper (or so it felt) before accelerating towards Reading. Across to P2 to jump on 165123 (former First Class seating again) to Basingstoke arriving a couple minutes late, but this is where things went wrong.

The SWML had delays due to trespassers at Surbiton, the service which would form the 20:07 was running 19 minutes late and was announced it was running fast to Salisbury and that passengers for the stations between Basingstoke & Salisbury had to wait until the 21:07 service (and what is more annoying is that it’s no point putting a delay claim in as SWT would reject it as “outside the railway’s control” [although I could argue that the delay would have only been 20 minutes, but due to it being made to run fast, it caused an hour’s delay which was inside the railway’s control, it was due to sit at Yeovil Junction for 20 minutes with the only single track being the Heart of Wessex line from Castle Cary to Yeovil Junction, and it stopped at Whitchurch *grumbles*, so a bit of spirited running could have made some time back, the service rolled in, as expected it emptied out a lot and the platform was rammed. Come 21:07 a trio of units rolled in with 159006, 159101 & 159107 which departed Basingstoke pretty much full and standing (at least until Andover).

Anyway, apart from that delay, it was a good day; the only Southern shack in the London Zones remaining is Birkbeck, which is closed on Sundays.

Nice touch with the departures screen at Watford Junction:


321413 at Watford Junction


Park Street...


Pretty much the same as How Wood:


321413 getting ready to depart Watford Junction (P11) for the very last time [probably]


Farewell:


The future is coming!



Well it’s still green!


Nice touch with the PIS at Garston:

319216 is back!


378229 departing Queen’s Park, just 1 more 315 and 6 more 317s to go to clear LOROL

 

[Techniquest]

Some really good trips there, I'm not at all jealous about clearing the 378s!

Well done on catching up with the Tatty Corner and Caterham lines shacks, surprising how long it takes to do them all!

I really want to get on with a London bash, if I have my way I'll be down there again very soon!

 

[noddy1878]

Never ceases to amaze me how much your able to get out! Well jealous!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Shame about the tour being postponed, any idea or reason as to why?

 

[FQ]

Sounds like a nice couple of days! It was nice to finally meet you.

 

[Kite159]

Shame about the tour being postponed, any idea or reason as to why?

Pathfinder said it was down to Network Rail not validating the route.

Although I'm not sure if I will book onto the tour again if they decide to run it in 2016, depends where it starts from I'm guessing (as I would have picked up the train at Basingstoke)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
26th September – The Atlantic Coast ‘Express’

Time for an unusual day out in Cornwall on a Saturday during the “autumn” timetable when the express services to Newquay from Paddington & Dundee stop so the local stopping service can resume with a roughly 2 hourly service, allowing me to try and clear the 5 intermediate shacks between Par & Newquay. After a nice drive to Salisbury, I found myself on the 06:15 departure towards Exeter St Davids, which isn’t the fastest trip in the world.

159014 & 159007 were the units on the service today, and I took a seat in 159007, bike close at hand for the 2 hour trip, clearing 159007 for the magical thousand in the process. Unusually this service runs at an uneven interval so instead of the usual passing places (Tisbury Loop, Sherborne, Axminster & Pinhoe), it passes eastbound trains at Gillingham, Chard Loop & Honiton so slightly unusual for me to pass a train at Honiton (first time I’ve seen that platform actually being used). Previously the service flew pass the site of Cranbrook only to sit at Pinhoe for 5 minutes, but today we actually stopped at the new station, giving me enough time for a quick photo. Looks like the platform edging stones are still to be laid but looks near enough complete. Anyhow on checking RTT saw a train to Barnstaple departing Exeter Central a few minutes after the 159, so I bailed at Exeter Central.

Dud 150131 became a super-dud (only previous entry was a trip from Westbury to Bristol last December on a linear bash to Fishguard) with the 62 chain leap to St Davids, where I had an hour to kill before the next Plymouth bound service, so my eyes drifted towards P6 to see what was on a service towards Paignton, and seeing the unit number I did a quick hop over and jumped onto winning 150121 for a trip to Dawlish, as I fancied a look around a station where previously I had only stayed for a couple minutes. The sun was shining and the beach was nice, I found a little Co-Op to grab some food for later, and hung around the station as a delayed 221 on route to Paignton flew pass before a pair of delightful pacers rolled in, 143620 & 143617 for the 8 mile (less 2 chains) trip to Newton Abbot, where I crossed over to a busy looking platform.

I saw 150130 rolling up from Dawlish earlier which looking at RTT seemed to suggest it would be on the Exeter – Penzance service, but in fact it was 150123 becoming my 2nd 150/1 to become super-dud, although as expected it was pretty rammed, I was lucky in getting one of the sideways facing seats by the doors (better than standing or one of the airline seating) for the 66 and a half mile trip west towards Par, quite a big turnaround at Plymouth, but still was rather busy. I was checking RTT and saw the Paddington – Penzance service running a tad late so decided it wasn’t worth the risk at Par, and a very good thing I jumped off 123 at Par as nothing was heading eastbound, the previous service had broken down somewhere on route and the HST was delayed by 20+ minutes, the platform was quite busy so I was expecting the service to Newquay to be busy. 153382 would be making its 2nd appearance in my log (and a lot more) as it was on the branch line today. The doors were released so I jumped on board, taking a seat and relaxing when eating my lunch.

At 12:15 (or so) the service departed with 6 passengers on board, all 5 intermediate shacks are request stops, and we didn’t stop at the first 3 before stopping at St Columb Road to allow 2 other passengers to board who like me were heading to Quintrell Downs, I alighted and had a quick look around the station, little Spar shop and garage nearby with a hotel (either a Premier Inn or Travelodge) nearby, nothing else around the station so I hung around for the little 153 to return from Newquay, slightly more busier this time as I took it back to Luxulyan, with my bike unfolded ready for a little ride (owing to the next Par – Newquay train was a semi-fast calling only at Bugle), I was the only person alighting at the basic platform and with a nice ride/push along some narrow country lanes (thankfully quiet) I found myself at the settlement of Bugle, where I’m guessing it used to be an island platform before the line was singled (going by the road bridge having a portal on the disused side and a disabled access path built to access the platform).

At expected it was a basic platform, and there was around 8 other passengers awaiting the 153 to make its way back, and this time it was a lot busier, pretty much full, with party goers, heading for a Saturday night partying at Newquay, where a nice non-stop run (all be it rather slow with the number of level crossings), but a beautiful part of the world to just look at of the window. A brief turnaround at Newquay and the 153 set off back towards Par again, I would say loadings for this service was around 30 passengers, and I requested for the train to stop (with several other passengers it seemed) at Roche. Access to the platform was via a barrow crossing; where I had an option, either hang around for an hour to wait for the 153 to return of go for a bike ride to my final shack to pass the time. As it was glorious sunny weather I decided to go for a bike ride.

Starting off departing Victoria along the former A30, underneath the narrow low railway bridge, and onto a cycle path on the side of the road before bearing left onto I’m guessing the former alignment of the road through Goss Moor Reserve, now turned into a bridleway, nice to be away from traffic, over the A30 dual carriageway, passing an Owl Sanctuary, before turning behind a tractor towards the village (or hamlet) called Toldish, bearing right onto a byway which at first was ok, a farm track, before turning muddy, the sort of track you will take a mountain bike down, not a little folding bike, eventually the mud came to an end and it was back onto a farm track and onto the road, over the A39 roundabout with St Columb Road on the right hand side. I suppose it did cut out a detour via Indian Queens, and was an enjoyable 5 or so miles ride as it cut out the time, although I still had 20 minutes to kill before the return of the dog-box, and there was nothing much around the station, a little barrow crossing at one end, the overgrown former platform on the other side. Very relaxing it was, the silence ruined by the sound of a dog-box rolling in to take me back to Newquay.

Unlike last time, the train has a 15 minute wait at Newquay, with allowed me to jump out for a brief look around, before jumping back onto 153382 for the final time, and departing the branch to arrive back at Par at around 18:00. An enjoyable run, and over the footbridge to await the next Penzance train, running a few minutes late and formed of duds 43132 & 43041 to St Austell. Over the new footbridge (which is exposed at the top, so a downgrade from the old covered footbridge, to await the final Paddington bound train of the evening, formed tonight of duds 43036 & 43003 for the 91 and a bit mile trip back to Exeter St Davids, gave me a chance to relax, phone on charge.

At Exeter St Davids I had a 45 minute wait before the next Salisbury bound service, so I went for a walk up the hill towards the city centre in search of food, and locating a little co-op which I used to buy some dinner, and I decided to head back towards St Davids to grab a prime seat on the 2nd last service to Salisbury, formed tonight of 159002, and after Axminster I was the only passenger in the middle coach (feet must have smelt), after an extended break at Tisbury loop waiting for a delayed service for Yeovil, we were back at Salisbury, and with a nice little drive home, after putting my bike into the back of the car probably for the last time this year.

Only 1 new unit (which is 1 more than I was expecting) and 6 more GWR shacks cleared, my Cornwall requirements are down to 3 on the main-line (Bodmin, Redruth, Lostwithiel) and the ones down the Falmouth Branch, which should be easy enough to try and get done with a half hourly service on Saturdays.

Anyhow some pictures:
Cranbrook... opening soon... maybe:

150121 running away from Dawlish on route to Paignton:

Sea was very smooth this morning:

So no chance of this unknown 221 (on route to Paignton) going for a swim:


Quintrell Downs:


Luxulyan:


Bugle:


Roche:



St Columb Road:



Newquay... Little train, big platform!


Farewell 153382 (Par)

 

[Techniquest]

Another excellent read as always! Doing a lot better than most of us for shacks in Cornwall that's for sure, I'll eventually catch you up I suspect! I have conquered the lot in Kent mind

I definitely can't wait for the trip report from that massive trip you're on in just a few days time, ridiculously jealous!

 

[D841 Roebuck]

An excellent read, and some nice photos.

It also brought back memories of my ALR five years ago, where I cleared the Cornish Branches. 153382 was my steed for the trip to and from Newquay (and also appeared on the Falmouth and Exmouth branches during the course of the fortnight.

One puzzle - Bugle Victoria? I've visited Manchester Victoria, Southend Victoria, London Victoria and Llandudno Victoria. I've even passed through Sheffield Victoria. I have several friends called Victoria. But I'd not heard of Bugle Vic before. Can you elucidate?

 

[Kite159]

Roche station is closer to the place of "Victoria" in Cornwall than it is to the village of Roche.

https://goo.gl/maps/UZsd2Et7LeQ2

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Roche station is closer to the place of "Victoria" in Cornwall than it is to the village of Roche.

https://goo.gl/maps/UZsd2Et7LeQ2

Thanks - never thought of that!

 

[47403]

Another great read kite, that trusty bike of yours will be glad of the rest

 

[Kite159]

47403 – And a good clean of the mud which is stuck to it due to the byway.

27th September – The return to the Daysave

Another Southern Daysave was the order of the day, to focus on my remaining 377 served shacks, the Uckfield line was out for engineering works, but it gave me two lines to cover, the line towards East Grinstead and the local shacks between Redhill & Tonbridge, plus with some South Eastern stuff thrown into the big mixing bag.

Due to the line between Salisbury & Yeovil Junction being closed, it meant that the 3 local shacks between Salisbury & Basingstoke were given an hourly service (instead of the usual 2-hourly), so gave me a chance to walk to Grateley to catch the 07:35 service towards Waterloo, slightly later than normal but gave a better connection at Clapham for an East Grinstead service. Anyhow I was happy with the 2 units which rolled in, my least travelled 159 in the shape of 159103 and a sub-500 mile example in the shape of 159015 (which pushes it over 500 miles leaving a mere 4 more units to clear that milestone). The seats in 103 are quite firm, picture a Travelodge/premier inn bed for, and I ended up in the new bay of 4 for the run to Clapham Junction. Across to P11 where a service towards Bognor was due in first (giving the potential of a linear bash to East Croydon), sadly both units were dud so I stayed put to await the East Grinstead service (8:5X).

Dud 377308 was leading winner 377323 (yippee another 3 cleared) and set off towards East Croydon, I noticed that the slows were closed as there was passengers on the normally restricted fast line platforms, brief pause outside Croydon before continuing towards East Grinstead, arriving at Lingfield 3 minutes down which put me worrying about making the +3 at Dormans, as we pulled into Dormans, I legged it over the roadbridge and onto the other platform just as a pair of units were pulling in, so close. Dud 377619 was leading required 377607 for the service back up the line to Hurst Green the junction station where the unelectrified track towards Uckfield comes away. The next service was formed of 8 coaches so my hopes were dashed of getting some more 3s, and in rolled duds 377115 & 377444 to take me just over 5 miles to Lingfield, home of a very nice golf-club so I’ve heard.

Fresh dud 377323 & first 377/3 super-dud 377308 rolled back in to take me to Riddlesdown for a long walk between platforms (should have stayed on until Sanderstead which has a nice footbridge), to wait before dud 377301 rolled in with winner 377324 on the back to take me to the last 377-served shack out on this line to Woldingham. 7 minutes later 377444 & 377115 returned to take me back to East Croydon, where I had a couple options, either dash out to grab some food or see what was on the next service down towards Redhill (a semi-fast service to Bognor which was running late). As before the units were both duds, so I dashed out to grab a meal-deal from the nearby Sainsburys Local. Southern Daysave tickets do not work the barriers at East Croydon I learnt, and the gateline staff are very stuffy when it comes to opening up the gate manually.

Back on P5/6 to await the next South Eastern service towards Hastings as due to engineering works SET were diverted via Redhill/Croydon, so a chance to get some unusual 375 action on the Brighton Main Line, I needed around 80 375s at this point so the odds were looking good, and I was in luck, winners 375809 & 375819 rolled in to take me down to Redhill, then across to Tonbridge (first time doing this line in the daylight!) and down via Tunbridge Wells to Wadhurst. Having just missed a connecting northbound service (which was always going to be an unlikely connection) gave me 28 minutes to fester, giving me an idea of a linear bash to clear the remaining shacks on the Hastings line on an evening peak.

Anyhow winners 375602 & 375818 rolled in to take me back up the line to High Brooms where a random cat befriended me as I waited for winners 375917 & 375817 to take me down to Tunbridge Wells with a brief wait before winner 375704 arrived from Hastings with dud 375614 in tow,, to take me to Tonbridge, where it was straight onto an Ashford bound service formed of dud 465916 (although only previous had this unit on a Cannon Street – Bridge hop) to take me to Paddock Wood with winner 465923 taking me back to Tonbridge where I had a brief wait before jumping onto dud 377143 which was one of the units on the Tonbridge – Redhill stopper service today, I took this particular unit for the short trip to Edenbridge which had a tight connection with an Tonbridge service (+3) which was easily made.

Dud 377146 rolled in which I took to Leigh where I decided to go for a little walk as the next station was only 1.9 miles away and I had 45 minutes to wait otherwise, nice enough walk along a B road, although the pavement just come to a sudden end and some of the locals are prats (Yes I am talking about you, passenger in that Lexus SUV who decided it would be ‘funny’ to throw an empty drink container at me when passing very closely), but 35 minutes later I had arrived at Penshurst, the village of the same name being quite far away. There was a nearby pub with a singer doing some acoustic covers which was nice, but hardly no seating as a pair of 375s rushed pass before a slightly delayed 377146 returned to take me to Nutfield where I had another fester to await for that unit to return (or so I had assumed).

Nothing much around the station, so I had a quick read of my book as “formed of 8 coaches” came up on the PIS, that customers for every intermediate station should join the front 4 coaches which had me puzzled (as I had assumed 377146 would be the unit to return after a wait at the far end of Redhill platform 1 (to allow GWR units to come in and reverse towards Gatwick/Reigate), but I was wrong, dud 377121 came in with winner 377471 at the back to take me to my final shack on the line at Godstone, how random that a 8 car set was sent down from Redhill, a line more suited for 3-car units (especially as there was additional non-stop services between the two ends). Anyhow, it must have happened previously as dud 377153 rolled in from Tonbridge to take me back to Redhill, line complete and only 2 electric shacks left to clear (Plumpton [sadly closed today due to engineering works] & Birkbeck [sadly closed today due to it being a Sunday], but they should be easy enough to clear another day.

Anyhow it was time to do some unit hunting, which was very disappointing as a broken train earlier at Purley had caused delays, first up was a trio to Brighton, all 3 dud (and all 3 departing rather full), next was a pair to Horsham, both dud, elsewhere on P2, GWR wasn’t having the best of days with a 166 being cut short at Redhill due to arriving 30 minutes down, and so departed Redhill heading back to Reading 10 minutes late (and causing chaos as both P1 & P2 were blocked). Next northbound was a pair of duds to London Bridge from Horsham, followed by a pair of 375s from Hastings, dud 375627 was leading winner 375806 which I took to East Croydon.

Sadly due to the chaos, it was put behind the stopper so lost more time, but thankfully the next service to Victoria was caught behind, from Brighton (where the service frequency was reduced from 4+ an hour to hourly via Horsham & Littlehampton so was rather busy), and was a trio of duds, 377450, 377102 & 377155. Taking a stand at the rear of 102 for the trip to Clapham arriving 5 minutes late, so no chance of a quick linear hop to Woking, where the next Salisbury service was advertised as Bristol Temple Meads & Salisbury and was only a 6 car which was slightly busy, but I managed to get a seat. 159002 was leading (only 15 or so miles behind 006 as unit with most millage) with 159017 behind to take me back to Grateley, the end of a busy and unusual day.

13 new units (1x465, 4x 377, 8x 375) with 13 new shacks

 

[backontrack]

Looks like you had a great time!

 

[Kite159]

It's always interesting getting off at some of the more remote shacks in GWR land, and you some of them up the Newquay branch are quite remote and very basic.

Beautiful area to look out of the window.

 

[backontrack]

Yes, sounds great. I love all your photos too.

 

[Techniquest]

Another excellent day out there, at least I'm doing better than you on 375s, needing 38 of them here.

Ridiculously productive for shack scores, making me well jealous!

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Congratulations on the excessive shack scratching last weekend but I am so, so jealous. 150121 is the only Great Western 150 that I need outright. Saw it a few times on the GOBLIN but never caught up with it before it went westwards.

I'm sure it won't be long before you clear the Cornish shacks and Devon will follow soon after.....

The jaunt around the Surrey/Kent borders must have taken a little planning but looks like it paid off. And bagging some 375s and 377s in the process can't be bad. Don't feel guilty about wanting loads of 375s, even serious mileage men have shedloads of them on their lists!

 

[PHILIPE]

Congratulations on the excessive shack scratching last weekend but I am so, so jealous. 150121 is the only Great Western 150 that I need outright. Saw it a few times on the GOBLIN but never caught up with it before it went westwards.

I'm sure it won't be long before you clear the Cornish shacks and Devon will follow soon after.....

The jaunt around the Surrey/Kent borders must have taken a little planning but looks like it paid off. And bagging some 375s and 377s in the process can't be bad. Don't feel guilty about wanting loads of 375s, even serious mileage men have shedloads of them on their lists!

Did you ever see 150921 (3 Car) when it was in service?