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The Various Random Mutterings of Kite
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Kite159
Veteran Member
At the moment, excluding the 700s I don't need a lot within London
2x 350s
1x 465
3x 387/2
11x 321
2x 90
(3x 332)
So number of heavy rail winners will be limited to single figures unless I have a good session in the Thameslink core to get 700s into my book
I need so much compared to that! Mostly Southern or South Eastern.
Kite159
Veteran Member
7th January A trip to Manchester
For my 1st weekend trip of January I had decided to head up to Manchester for lack of a better idea (3 months ago), and for the first time of the year it was a short walk to the station for the 05:27 which today was formed of a quiet 159009 for the run towards Waterloo, spent reading the latest issue of Todays Railways to pass the time in the darkness.
Once at Waterloo, I headed straight towards the underground, going down the stairs due to the middle escalator being out of order. It was to the Northern line platform with a dud set up first which I turned down for the following service formed of winners 51610/51611 for the trip to Euston, coming out of the underground firing up RTT to check mainly what platform the 07:35 Manchester was due to depart from, and also to check something I had noticed when reading the newspaper that Man Utd were at home in the FA Cup, which meant I could hopefully get a slight annoyance out of the way
Anyhow, it was platform 14 for the 07:35 formed of dud 390156 (which going by my records Ive only had once before from Carlisle to Haymarket in May 14 on my Freedom of Scotland adventure), and it was a very quiet service (at least judging by the number of available seats in coach C), straight down the WCML pausing at Milton Keynes before non-stop to Crewe, daylight had arrived bringing with it some thick fog which would burn away as the day went along. After Crewe it was onto the Manchester line and unusually I stayed on board all the way to Piccadilly station itself, rather than bailing at Stockport.
I had put a request into the TOPS request thread to see if my last Northern 150s/153/156s were due to be working in the Manchester area, getting a result for one of the 150s being on Chester services, similarly one of my last 3x 175s was due later in the afternoon and my last 9-car 390 was also on Manchester/Euston services. I hadnt asked for my remaining Northern 158s as it gave me something to look out for later in the day at Victoria if I wanted to, the focus for the next hour or so would be on the trams, so it was downstairs to a busy Metrolink platform (with members of staff selling pre-printed tickets to Old Trafford to avoid queues at the TVMs).
My moves for the next hour were:
3029/3036 to Piccadilly Gardens
3086 to St Peters Square
3050/3054 to Piccadilly Gardens
3023 to Piccadilly
3067 to Piccadilly Gardens (as a positioning move to get away from the crowded platform)
3094 to Piccadilly
3072 to Piccadilly Gardens (similar to 3067)
3111 to Piccadilly.
I exited the metrolink platforms to head back upstairs to the main station, being careful as the floor was very slippery, the angled travelator was lethal, made worst by not actually running (later in the day it was blocked off with passengers wanting access to platforms 13/14 having to use the stairs. Onto platform 14 and I was expecting the worst, but 323230 was on the platform and around 66% loaded, easy enough to grab a seat in the front coach for the near 3 mile run towards Manchester United Football Ground, my first shack of the year.
Exiting the basic platform at the rearmost exit (as the other exits lead directly into the stadium it seems) into the concourse, where it was operation escape Old Trafford, with a short walk towards the other Old Trafford, this time the cricket ground, where it had started to rain. I purchased my single ticket back to the city zone (I was on a basic GM Rail Rover which was only valid on the trams within the city zone) and jumped on dud 3006 to Trafford Bar, before taking up a seat to see what was coming up from the Airport or East Didsbury. I wasnt there for long before winner 3108 rolled in attached with 3101 to take me to Cornbrook, where I took up resident for what felt like 45 minutes before the next required tram rolled in heading towards the city (excluding the required trams spotted on the Airport services).
3033 eventually popped up to Deansgate-Castlefield, closely followed by required 3109 to St Peters Square, followed by another short bleak spell before 3059/3060 took me to Market Street, having to turn down a required tram for dud 3043 to Piccadilly Gardens closely followed by dud 3062 to Piccadilly itself, for I had a date with a certain 150. A short trip upstairs and the next Chester was waiting on platform 12 and it was winner 150113 (leaving just 150149 of the Northern 150s), which I took to Stockport.
I missed a trip there, as I decided to hang around Stockport for the inbound working of the 390, either by not jumping back to Piccadilly and back out for some extra miles, or even remaining on that 150 to Altrincham for extra 150 thrash. Anyhow, the 390 I was waiting for was running a few minutes late (caught up behind a late running XC which called at Macclesfield), and in rolled 390001 to clear my 9-coach 390s (this time properly), just 390128 remains (and that was working a service from Glasgow to Euston before a return trip to Liverpool before a late evening Manchester arriving around 23:00-odd, so not really gettable today). Once back at Piccadilly I picked up a bite to eat from Boots before heading downstairs jumping on dud 3110 to Piccadilly Gardens, where after a couple more trams I decided to walk over to Market Street (I dont know why I didnt board the Bury tram for extra chains).
A short wait at Market Street before winners 3117/3112 took me to St Peters Square, followed by winner 3070 leading dud 3074 took me to Deansgate-Castlefield. Due to the loadings on the city bound trams being slightly busy (the football had finished) I decided to head over to Deansgate station itself (which was very quiet) for duds 156426 & 142009 to the bay platform at Oxford Road, followed up by 158857/158783 to Stockport (nice PIS on 783, and were they USB sockets I saw?). Under the subway and to platforms 3/4 for a short wait before winner 175112 rolled in, my last of the 3-car 175s. Back to Piccadilly, where dud tram 3002 took me to Victoria for a spot of 158 hunting, noting a 158 was on a stopping service to Leeds and a 150 on a semi-fast.
I took up a seat on the Metrolink platform, but for the first 40 minutes my luck wasnt the best (although at this point I only needed 14 trams), but eventually winner 3031 rolled in to take me to Exchange Square. A short walk to Shudehill and after a while I jumped onto duds 3105/3113 to Market Street as the island platform makes life easier. Winner 3042 attached with 3001 took me to Shudehill to take me down to a dozen, with 3012 taking me back to Market Street, eventually calling it a day jumping on 3005 to Piccadilly Gardens to visit the little Tesco Express, before another short fester before jumping on 3080 back to Piccadilly itself.
Very unusually NRE had decided to put me onto a service going via Warrington rather than a direct service to Euston, so it was onto 158863 taking me to Warrington Central for some 158 speed running non-stop after Oxford Road. A short walk (getting a bit lost due to Google Maps Night Mode feature) took me to Bank Quay to be greeted with the message delayed for the final Euston bound service of the evening, eventually flicking over to running 10 minutes late. Eventually low mileage 390124 rolled in, and it was full and standing with football fans. I kicked someone out of my reserved seat and turned my music up to try and drown out the drunken singing of rude songs and other drunken chatter.
The good thing is by the time we had passed Watford Junction we were back on time, catching up with a LM stopper north of Wembley, and it was down to the Northern line platforms, with just under an hour to get to Waterloo and pick up some food. The first Northern line service was dud, but my luck changed with 51546/51708 taking me to Goodge Street, 51528/51529 to Leicester Square & finally 51555/51554 to Waterloo. 3 winners in a row was an added bonus to cap off the day, especially with no queue in McDonalds before taking up a seat on 159001 forming the 23:40 before it got wedged out by prats of Woking. A good trip back to Grateley, followed up by a walk home, reflecting on 3 more winners scored, 8 more 95 stock sets plus 16 trams. Next week is an early morning drive to Westbury to board the Mersey Weaver 2, my first Pathfinder tour in over a year, so hopefully a winning 66 (or 2) will feature on an interesting looking tour of Cheshire.
Some pictures:
My first shack score of the year (plus new track):
323230 waiting for the green signal to head back to Piccadilly:
Tram 3017 waits alongside Tram 3019 & friend for the platform at Piccadilly Gardens to clear
For my 1st weekend trip of January I had decided to head up to Manchester for lack of a better idea (3 months ago), and for the first time of the year it was a short walk to the station for the 05:27 which today was formed of a quiet 159009 for the run towards Waterloo, spent reading the latest issue of Todays Railways to pass the time in the darkness.
Once at Waterloo, I headed straight towards the underground, going down the stairs due to the middle escalator being out of order. It was to the Northern line platform with a dud set up first which I turned down for the following service formed of winners 51610/51611 for the trip to Euston, coming out of the underground firing up RTT to check mainly what platform the 07:35 Manchester was due to depart from, and also to check something I had noticed when reading the newspaper that Man Utd were at home in the FA Cup, which meant I could hopefully get a slight annoyance out of the way
Anyhow, it was platform 14 for the 07:35 formed of dud 390156 (which going by my records Ive only had once before from Carlisle to Haymarket in May 14 on my Freedom of Scotland adventure), and it was a very quiet service (at least judging by the number of available seats in coach C), straight down the WCML pausing at Milton Keynes before non-stop to Crewe, daylight had arrived bringing with it some thick fog which would burn away as the day went along. After Crewe it was onto the Manchester line and unusually I stayed on board all the way to Piccadilly station itself, rather than bailing at Stockport.
I had put a request into the TOPS request thread to see if my last Northern 150s/153/156s were due to be working in the Manchester area, getting a result for one of the 150s being on Chester services, similarly one of my last 3x 175s was due later in the afternoon and my last 9-car 390 was also on Manchester/Euston services. I hadnt asked for my remaining Northern 158s as it gave me something to look out for later in the day at Victoria if I wanted to, the focus for the next hour or so would be on the trams, so it was downstairs to a busy Metrolink platform (with members of staff selling pre-printed tickets to Old Trafford to avoid queues at the TVMs).
My moves for the next hour were:
3029/3036 to Piccadilly Gardens
3086 to St Peters Square
3050/3054 to Piccadilly Gardens
3023 to Piccadilly
3067 to Piccadilly Gardens (as a positioning move to get away from the crowded platform)
3094 to Piccadilly
3072 to Piccadilly Gardens (similar to 3067)
3111 to Piccadilly.
I exited the metrolink platforms to head back upstairs to the main station, being careful as the floor was very slippery, the angled travelator was lethal, made worst by not actually running (later in the day it was blocked off with passengers wanting access to platforms 13/14 having to use the stairs. Onto platform 14 and I was expecting the worst, but 323230 was on the platform and around 66% loaded, easy enough to grab a seat in the front coach for the near 3 mile run towards Manchester United Football Ground, my first shack of the year.
Exiting the basic platform at the rearmost exit (as the other exits lead directly into the stadium it seems) into the concourse, where it was operation escape Old Trafford, with a short walk towards the other Old Trafford, this time the cricket ground, where it had started to rain. I purchased my single ticket back to the city zone (I was on a basic GM Rail Rover which was only valid on the trams within the city zone) and jumped on dud 3006 to Trafford Bar, before taking up a seat to see what was coming up from the Airport or East Didsbury. I wasnt there for long before winner 3108 rolled in attached with 3101 to take me to Cornbrook, where I took up resident for what felt like 45 minutes before the next required tram rolled in heading towards the city (excluding the required trams spotted on the Airport services).
3033 eventually popped up to Deansgate-Castlefield, closely followed by required 3109 to St Peters Square, followed by another short bleak spell before 3059/3060 took me to Market Street, having to turn down a required tram for dud 3043 to Piccadilly Gardens closely followed by dud 3062 to Piccadilly itself, for I had a date with a certain 150. A short trip upstairs and the next Chester was waiting on platform 12 and it was winner 150113 (leaving just 150149 of the Northern 150s), which I took to Stockport.
I missed a trip there, as I decided to hang around Stockport for the inbound working of the 390, either by not jumping back to Piccadilly and back out for some extra miles, or even remaining on that 150 to Altrincham for extra 150 thrash. Anyhow, the 390 I was waiting for was running a few minutes late (caught up behind a late running XC which called at Macclesfield), and in rolled 390001 to clear my 9-coach 390s (this time properly), just 390128 remains (and that was working a service from Glasgow to Euston before a return trip to Liverpool before a late evening Manchester arriving around 23:00-odd, so not really gettable today). Once back at Piccadilly I picked up a bite to eat from Boots before heading downstairs jumping on dud 3110 to Piccadilly Gardens, where after a couple more trams I decided to walk over to Market Street (I dont know why I didnt board the Bury tram for extra chains).
A short wait at Market Street before winners 3117/3112 took me to St Peters Square, followed by winner 3070 leading dud 3074 took me to Deansgate-Castlefield. Due to the loadings on the city bound trams being slightly busy (the football had finished) I decided to head over to Deansgate station itself (which was very quiet) for duds 156426 & 142009 to the bay platform at Oxford Road, followed up by 158857/158783 to Stockport (nice PIS on 783, and were they USB sockets I saw?). Under the subway and to platforms 3/4 for a short wait before winner 175112 rolled in, my last of the 3-car 175s. Back to Piccadilly, where dud tram 3002 took me to Victoria for a spot of 158 hunting, noting a 158 was on a stopping service to Leeds and a 150 on a semi-fast.
I took up a seat on the Metrolink platform, but for the first 40 minutes my luck wasnt the best (although at this point I only needed 14 trams), but eventually winner 3031 rolled in to take me to Exchange Square. A short walk to Shudehill and after a while I jumped onto duds 3105/3113 to Market Street as the island platform makes life easier. Winner 3042 attached with 3001 took me to Shudehill to take me down to a dozen, with 3012 taking me back to Market Street, eventually calling it a day jumping on 3005 to Piccadilly Gardens to visit the little Tesco Express, before another short fester before jumping on 3080 back to Piccadilly itself.
Very unusually NRE had decided to put me onto a service going via Warrington rather than a direct service to Euston, so it was onto 158863 taking me to Warrington Central for some 158 speed running non-stop after Oxford Road. A short walk (getting a bit lost due to Google Maps Night Mode feature) took me to Bank Quay to be greeted with the message delayed for the final Euston bound service of the evening, eventually flicking over to running 10 minutes late. Eventually low mileage 390124 rolled in, and it was full and standing with football fans. I kicked someone out of my reserved seat and turned my music up to try and drown out the drunken singing of rude songs and other drunken chatter.
The good thing is by the time we had passed Watford Junction we were back on time, catching up with a LM stopper north of Wembley, and it was down to the Northern line platforms, with just under an hour to get to Waterloo and pick up some food. The first Northern line service was dud, but my luck changed with 51546/51708 taking me to Goodge Street, 51528/51529 to Leicester Square & finally 51555/51554 to Waterloo. 3 winners in a row was an added bonus to cap off the day, especially with no queue in McDonalds before taking up a seat on 159001 forming the 23:40 before it got wedged out by prats of Woking. A good trip back to Grateley, followed up by a walk home, reflecting on 3 more winners scored, 8 more 95 stock sets plus 16 trams. Next week is an early morning drive to Westbury to board the Mersey Weaver 2, my first Pathfinder tour in over a year, so hopefully a winning 66 (or 2) will feature on an interesting looking tour of Cheshire.
Some pictures:
My first shack score of the year (plus new track):
323230 waiting for the green signal to head back to Piccadilly:
Tram 3017 waits alongside Tram 3019 & friend for the platform at Piccadilly Gardens to clear
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Can't tell you how jealous I am of you getting the track to MUFC!
An incredibly good call all round, quite a spree of winners. I need to go back as soon as possible once 2CC opens!
An incredibly good call all round, quite a spree of winners. I need to go back as soon as possible once 2CC opens!
Kite159
Veteran Member
I will probably wait until 2CC opens before returning to Manchester
backontrack
Established Member
I think that the only reason it has its own station is to accommodate all the fans travelling in from Berkshire.
185143
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2013
- Messages
- 5,369
You did see USB Sockets on 158783, and you also would do on 158785
Kite159
Veteran Member
Most of the fans use the Metrolink as it's cheaper, more frequent and the walk gives a chance for the crowds to thin out (I would imagine some head to Old Trafford, some to Trafford Bar & some to Panoma (sp, on the Eccles line).
D841 Roebuck
Established Member
Most of the fans use the Metrolink as it's cheaper, more frequent and the walk gives a chance for the crowds to thin out (I would imagine some head to Old Trafford, some to Trafford Bar & some to Panoma (sp, on the Eccles line).
A friend of mine who is a Manure season ticket holder uses Pomona.
If the football gods are kind in tonight's FA Cup draw, I may be scratching the stadium halt myself on 28/1/17...
(More likely to get Wimbledon or Sutton away, though, knowing Rochdale's luck...
)
palmersears
Established Member
- Joined
- 20 Sep 2011
- Messages
- 1,487
Always nice to read a report from my neck of the woods. Sterling work as always, Kite.
Kite159
Veteran Member
14th January The Mersey Weaver 2
My first railtour of the year, and my first Pathfinder tour since the 2nd January last year (mix of date clashes for the tours which looked interesting), the tour started at Westbury making its way up towards the West Midlands so I had two options, either drive to Westbury or make my way up to Birmingham via XC. In the end I decided to drive the 36 miles to Westbury (which took me just over 45 minutes), paid my £2 into the confusing P&D machine at Westbury station car-park (the station itself is quite far from the town centre and seemingly located down residential streets with many mini roundabouts).
The train was already sitting on platform 1, and my first 66 of the year was winner 66182 which would be getting some decent mileage as it would be the same one bringing me back after the final reversal. I was sat in coach A, and it seemed all the passengers from Westbury were pushed together in one half of the carriage (so after looking at the seating plan noticed a table of 4 which had Crewe written on so I took up a seat there, as there is no point being pushed together when there is no need to (gave me a chance to spread out and attempt to get comfy on the bench seats, eventually using my coat as a cushion)
Anyhow, the 2nd picking up point was at Bath Spa, followed by Bristol Parkway (via the Dr Days curve), then Cheltenham Spa (after a pathing stop in the Haresfield Loop for a XC to zoom pass us), it was via the main-line for another pathing stop in the platform 1 loop at Bromsgrove, before continuing turning right at Kings Norton to head to Birmingham New Street via the Camp Hill lines. A 15 minute break at New Street allowed me to alight and have a quick wonder on the platform before rejoining for the trip via Soho South/Perry Barr North curves to pass Bescot yard, turning left to head towards Wolverhampton the back way, turning right to avoid Wolverhampton, pausing before joining the main-line for a 350 to zoom past. Another pick-up at Stafford and I moved back to my assigned seat with the appearance of the people of the table (boarding early), and it was along the slow lines to Crewe (which for some passengers meant the scoring of the new down line after Norton Bridge).
A final pick up at Crewe where we had roughly 25 minutes as they attached another 66 onto the rear, I made use of the time to visit WH Smiths to pick up a meal-deal and a newspaper, before rejoining the now ~ 80% full train (at least in the coaches I saw). The trip northbound continued, turning right after the line from Runcorn East joined at Acton Grange Junction to run along those lines, continuing into the yard area itself to take the very rare dive-under (known as The Hole, first passenger train to use that dive-under in many years to the man on the PA). This came out on the eastern side of Warrington Bank Quay where we took the down goods line through the station, turning left at Earlestown junction to reverse in the Up & Down goods loop alongside the main line to Liverpool.
Winner 66056 was attached at Crewe and this came into life with a lot of smoke and noise (for it was at my end of the train), sadly the planned trip via the Royal Mail platforms somehow got binned (boo), but after a trip via the Up Goods line at Warrington Bank Quay, pausing alongside a 175 to wait for that to depart first. We turned off the main-line and retook the goods line towards Acton Grange junction, continuing at a good pace via Runcorn East turning right onto the lightly used line to Hooton, turning right into the rebuilt sidings before Ince & Elton for the Encirc glass making place.
66182 was back in charge to rejoin the main line taking a left at Frodsham junction via the Halton Curve to dash via Runcorn and over the Runcorn bridge, turning left after the former Ditton junction station (or was it before hand, I cant remember), a nice run along the goods lines coming off the main-line at Speke junction, and awaiting for a delayed freight service to exit the Garston freightliner depot. I couldnt help noticing how many of the sidings had wires up, but appeared to be disused with some having trees growing between the tracks. It was an extended break at the Freightliner depot for the water tanks on the carriages to be topped up, but a right time departure with 66056 in charge for the run back, passing the out of use curve towards South Parkway, rejoining at Speke junction and carrying on until the Halewood Jaguar lines.
It appeared we didnt get that far into the complex (Im guessing just to the NR limit), before 66182 took over again, zooming back through Liverpool South Parkway, West Allerton & Mossley Hill, turning left to go via the Edge Hill Intercity Depot, passing behind Edge Hill and onto the former line to Crown Street station (the Down Wapping line), a line within a cutting full of rubbish. 66056 was back in charge for the final time of the day, running back behind Edge Hill station, back via the tight curve at the depot, continuing alongside the line towards South Parkway, using a reception siding in the Ditton area, before continuing along one of the former lines of the St Helens & Runcorn Gap Railway going passing Fiddlers Ferry Power Station, and underneath the platforms at Warrington Bank Quay (the former Low Level platforms) and into a siding at Latchford sidings (football sidings or something).
I made use of the darkness to purchase a Steak Pie meal from the kitchen car, which was alright and was filling. The final reversal of the day with 66056 getting detached, taking the chord going via Warrington Yard itself (reception line 3 I heard mentioned), rejoining the WCML for the run back to Crewe, not having to pause at Hartford Junction due to a late running 350 from Liverpool being hopelessly late. It was into Crewe platform 12 where a lot of passengers alighted from the service and I did the return of my move in the morning and spread out for the run up the slow lines to Stafford, then back to New Street via Bescot (one of these days I will get the opposite side of the junctions at Perry Barr & Soho), crossing over to the Camp Hill lines after Grand Junction area (we rolled into New Street in platform 2).
Bromsgrove was passed via platform 4, and due to a points failure at Droitwich Spa we didnt go as booked via Worcester (for a XC to loop) but instead it was the main lines, arriving into Cheltenham Spa area something like 30 minutes early, 10 minutes later we rolled into the station, pausing again at the junction before the Gloucester line came in (with a stopper in front). That XC was bearing down on us so after Yate we went wrong line so that it could undertake before continuing dropping off more passengers at Bristol Parkway.
Dr Days Curve was taken once more, and we got put ahead of a HST bound for London (due to being at this point around 10 minutes up) which caused a bit of confusion with some drunken people at Bath thinking it was their train. Anyhow we continued onwards to the final call at Westbury arriving 10 minutes early, as I walked back to the car being thankful it wasnt iced over for the temperature driving home was between 4C & 5C, being dry until nearing home where it started to rain, arriving home at just after midnight.
An enjoyable day, a bit of new track in the North West, a pair of required 66s. Although my next tour I will probably take a cushion with me as I found I was more comfortable with the coat behind me, I might moan about fixed armrests but at least with fixed armrests you dont get the person you are sat next to taking up more than his fair share of the bench seat (if that makes sense)
My first railtour of the year, and my first Pathfinder tour since the 2nd January last year (mix of date clashes for the tours which looked interesting), the tour started at Westbury making its way up towards the West Midlands so I had two options, either drive to Westbury or make my way up to Birmingham via XC. In the end I decided to drive the 36 miles to Westbury (which took me just over 45 minutes), paid my £2 into the confusing P&D machine at Westbury station car-park (the station itself is quite far from the town centre and seemingly located down residential streets with many mini roundabouts).
The train was already sitting on platform 1, and my first 66 of the year was winner 66182 which would be getting some decent mileage as it would be the same one bringing me back after the final reversal. I was sat in coach A, and it seemed all the passengers from Westbury were pushed together in one half of the carriage (so after looking at the seating plan noticed a table of 4 which had Crewe written on so I took up a seat there, as there is no point being pushed together when there is no need to (gave me a chance to spread out and attempt to get comfy on the bench seats, eventually using my coat as a cushion)
Anyhow, the 2nd picking up point was at Bath Spa, followed by Bristol Parkway (via the Dr Days curve), then Cheltenham Spa (after a pathing stop in the Haresfield Loop for a XC to zoom pass us), it was via the main-line for another pathing stop in the platform 1 loop at Bromsgrove, before continuing turning right at Kings Norton to head to Birmingham New Street via the Camp Hill lines. A 15 minute break at New Street allowed me to alight and have a quick wonder on the platform before rejoining for the trip via Soho South/Perry Barr North curves to pass Bescot yard, turning left to head towards Wolverhampton the back way, turning right to avoid Wolverhampton, pausing before joining the main-line for a 350 to zoom past. Another pick-up at Stafford and I moved back to my assigned seat with the appearance of the people of the table (boarding early), and it was along the slow lines to Crewe (which for some passengers meant the scoring of the new down line after Norton Bridge).
A final pick up at Crewe where we had roughly 25 minutes as they attached another 66 onto the rear, I made use of the time to visit WH Smiths to pick up a meal-deal and a newspaper, before rejoining the now ~ 80% full train (at least in the coaches I saw). The trip northbound continued, turning right after the line from Runcorn East joined at Acton Grange Junction to run along those lines, continuing into the yard area itself to take the very rare dive-under (known as The Hole, first passenger train to use that dive-under in many years to the man on the PA). This came out on the eastern side of Warrington Bank Quay where we took the down goods line through the station, turning left at Earlestown junction to reverse in the Up & Down goods loop alongside the main line to Liverpool.
Winner 66056 was attached at Crewe and this came into life with a lot of smoke and noise (for it was at my end of the train), sadly the planned trip via the Royal Mail platforms somehow got binned (boo), but after a trip via the Up Goods line at Warrington Bank Quay, pausing alongside a 175 to wait for that to depart first. We turned off the main-line and retook the goods line towards Acton Grange junction, continuing at a good pace via Runcorn East turning right onto the lightly used line to Hooton, turning right into the rebuilt sidings before Ince & Elton for the Encirc glass making place.
66182 was back in charge to rejoin the main line taking a left at Frodsham junction via the Halton Curve to dash via Runcorn and over the Runcorn bridge, turning left after the former Ditton junction station (or was it before hand, I cant remember), a nice run along the goods lines coming off the main-line at Speke junction, and awaiting for a delayed freight service to exit the Garston freightliner depot. I couldnt help noticing how many of the sidings had wires up, but appeared to be disused with some having trees growing between the tracks. It was an extended break at the Freightliner depot for the water tanks on the carriages to be topped up, but a right time departure with 66056 in charge for the run back, passing the out of use curve towards South Parkway, rejoining at Speke junction and carrying on until the Halewood Jaguar lines.
It appeared we didnt get that far into the complex (Im guessing just to the NR limit), before 66182 took over again, zooming back through Liverpool South Parkway, West Allerton & Mossley Hill, turning left to go via the Edge Hill Intercity Depot, passing behind Edge Hill and onto the former line to Crown Street station (the Down Wapping line), a line within a cutting full of rubbish. 66056 was back in charge for the final time of the day, running back behind Edge Hill station, back via the tight curve at the depot, continuing alongside the line towards South Parkway, using a reception siding in the Ditton area, before continuing along one of the former lines of the St Helens & Runcorn Gap Railway going passing Fiddlers Ferry Power Station, and underneath the platforms at Warrington Bank Quay (the former Low Level platforms) and into a siding at Latchford sidings (football sidings or something).
I made use of the darkness to purchase a Steak Pie meal from the kitchen car, which was alright and was filling. The final reversal of the day with 66056 getting detached, taking the chord going via Warrington Yard itself (reception line 3 I heard mentioned), rejoining the WCML for the run back to Crewe, not having to pause at Hartford Junction due to a late running 350 from Liverpool being hopelessly late. It was into Crewe platform 12 where a lot of passengers alighted from the service and I did the return of my move in the morning and spread out for the run up the slow lines to Stafford, then back to New Street via Bescot (one of these days I will get the opposite side of the junctions at Perry Barr & Soho), crossing over to the Camp Hill lines after Grand Junction area (we rolled into New Street in platform 2).
Bromsgrove was passed via platform 4, and due to a points failure at Droitwich Spa we didnt go as booked via Worcester (for a XC to loop) but instead it was the main lines, arriving into Cheltenham Spa area something like 30 minutes early, 10 minutes later we rolled into the station, pausing again at the junction before the Gloucester line came in (with a stopper in front). That XC was bearing down on us so after Yate we went wrong line so that it could undertake before continuing dropping off more passengers at Bristol Parkway.
Dr Days Curve was taken once more, and we got put ahead of a HST bound for London (due to being at this point around 10 minutes up) which caused a bit of confusion with some drunken people at Bath thinking it was their train. Anyhow we continued onwards to the final call at Westbury arriving 10 minutes early, as I walked back to the car being thankful it wasnt iced over for the temperature driving home was between 4C & 5C, being dry until nearing home where it started to rain, arriving home at just after midnight.
An enjoyable day, a bit of new track in the North West, a pair of required 66s. Although my next tour I will probably take a cushion with me as I found I was more comfortable with the coat behind me, I might moan about fixed armrests but at least with fixed armrests you dont get the person you are sat next to taking up more than his fair share of the bench seat (if that makes sense)
Techniquest
Veteran Member
As always, an excellent read, and I'm ashamed to say I need to dig out my Trackmaps later to find the exact route via 'The Hole' is. I thought my knowledge of that part of the North West is good but it clearly isn't! We need to get you the collection of Trackmaps, you'll have something to do in 2018 then when everything else is done 
I'd have done very well with micro-gricing on that tour, so I'm annoyed I didn't book it now!
I've just noticed my new UKR brochure has arrived, so in combination with your trip report I've been tempted to book a tour now!
I'd have done very well with micro-gricing on that tour, so I'm annoyed I didn't book it now!
I've just noticed my new UKR brochure has arrived, so in combination with your trip report I've been tempted to book a tour now!
Nice tour. I noticed it and I was weekend off but alas it's hard to book onto these when the missus is also off! Not helped by the fact no tour ever (unless its an expensive land cruise!) starts down this far end of the country! I totally get what you mean with seats without arm rests and others taking more room than they are entitled too!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Found that track, thanks to Kite's off-forum help. That track is indeed very rare to be done!
For those interested, follow the WCML into Warrington from the south (I'm using the expanded diagram on page 51 in the 13th edition atlas, 14th edition it's 35) and branch right towards the expansive yard. About half way up said yard (ish, I'm not looking at the atlas right now) you'll see a line turn left that dives under the mainline then curves back to the right to join the line from Fiddlers Ferry.
For those interested, follow the WCML into Warrington from the south (I'm using the expanded diagram on page 51 in the 13th edition atlas, 14th edition it's 35) and branch right towards the expansive yard. About half way up said yard (ish, I'm not looking at the atlas right now) you'll see a line turn left that dives under the mainline then curves back to the right to join the line from Fiddlers Ferry.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I like how it was proposed to be called Chapelford at the site of what is to be known as Warrington West when it opens
Yes that is the route I was trying to describe, for that reason alone I wish I'd done the tour (well, and I'd have had two 66s I needed as well)!
Yes that is the route I was trying to describe, for that reason alone I wish I'd done the tour (well, and I'd have had two 66s I needed as well)!
Kite159
Veteran Member
I like how it was proposed to be called Chapelford at the site of what is to be known as Warrington West when it opens
Yes that is the route I was trying to describe, for that reason alone I wish I'd done the tour (well, and I'd have had two 66s I needed as well)!
Might be worth booking onto the Waste Train in March, as that service is due to go through Warrington, and Pathfinder might try and get that one routed via the Hole for those who missed it (although I would prefer if they tried to get it routed via the Royal Mail depot)
Thanks for that. Learn something new ever day!
Kite159
Veteran Member
I'm taking a gamble that hopefully South Wales will be open for business on the bank holiday weekend in May with a rough idea planned out to make the most of a South Wales Rover, if I find out engineering works are on than I will cancel the room booking (making sure I booked one with free cancellation)
(I'm also assuming that the ATW bank holiday timetable will be the same as on a Saturday)
(I'm also assuming that the ATW bank holiday timetable will be the same as on a Saturday)
185143
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Do you need the track through Warrington Royal Mail depot?
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Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Kite159
Veteran Member
185143
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2013
- Messages
- 5,369
dudyes i do
Kite159
Veteran Member
20th January A weekend in Edinburgh, the day before it all began
The plan for this trip was originally going to be last July time, but got pushed back to January due to strike action. I was fighting with the voices inside my head wherever or not to do the plan or to push it back again and have an easy weekend hunting down units between Haymarket & Waverley itself. When I was randomly looking at RTT it highlighted engineering works around the Wimbledon area meant a quick hotel booking for the Friday night, picking an old stay, the Acton A-Z guest house (on grounds that it was £10 cheaper than Croydon Easy Hotel).
I wanted to try and get away early from work, however the local management decided to hold their bi-weekly meeting in the kitchen so no escaping early (and sitting around for a couple hours doing the total of nothing) so it was onto the 16:59 service to London formed of 159020/159104, with the plan of catching the 18:48 electric service to Acton Main Line, giving me time to check in (wishing I had booked the Easy Hotel with its 24 hour reception desk) and get back to Victoria for the 20:30 Gatwick Express which would feature a required 387 went up in smoke as we crawled after Wimbledon, caught up in delays caused by a late running branch line train, eventually rolling into Waterloo 15 minutes (or so) late.
Purchasing my travelcard for the day before I headed to the underground boarding 3563/3250 for the trip to Paddington, heading up to the concourse level trying to get my gold card discount added to my Oyster card, the member of staff monitoring the TVMs wasnt helpful as he had never seen a Gold Card before. It was over to platform 11 where the 19:15 (ish) Hayes & Harlington service was due to depart, and needless to say it was duds 387133/387132 on a busy service (I wonder how many passengers in Acton now use Acton Main Line rather than LU/LO with the vast increase from a 2-coach unit to 8-coaches with less chance of not being able to board).
I checked in without any issues, dropped some stuff from my bag and headed back to the station, leaping on 387135/387137 as a time wasting move to Ealing Broadway, where I got lucky as a service from Oxford was running a few minutes late, so I jumped onto 165132 for the run back to Paddington, into the enlarged platform 14 (gah!), it was a fast walk to the underground leaping onto the first Bakerloo line service formed of 3258/3540 to Oxford Circus, crossing over to leap onto 11081/11082 to Victoria. The time when I exited the LU part was 20:27, thankfully there was no queue at the bank of TVMs and the one I picked behaved itself as I purchased a BZ6-Gatwick ticket in less than a minute, walking fast over to platform 14 to leap onto 387213 at just past 20:29. I had somehow made it, pretty much made myself breathless in the process.
Walking forward, the middle unit was 387211, and forward 4 more coaches to grab the ID of the front unit I was happy for it was winner 387215, for the 26 and a bit miles run to Gatwick Airport, where I had a 45 minute wait as another required 387 was on the service behind. So exiting the station via the open ticket gates to make use of a PNB and grab a Boots meal deal before heading back to the station, entering via the Gatwick Express lounge area to await the arrival of the next service, noting that the 20:50 Brighton (from Victoria) was a trio of duds.
A last minute platform swap from P5 to P6 as 387208 rolled in first, with 387201 in the middle and winner 387209 on the rear, so I took up a seat in the front coach of 387209 as it was leading the return leg. Overhearing someone on the phone saying sorry they were running late, they had just missed the previous Express 25 (or so) minutes previously, which in that time there had been 4 regular Southern services all triple units heading to Victoria. Anyhow, it was another nice trip back to Victoria on a fresh air carrier, leaving only 387225 to clear the Red 387s. Once back at Victoria, it was down to the underground where I was successful in getting the member of staff to load my Gold Card discount onto my Oyster Card (one advantage of paying out extra for a Gold Card vice a Network Railcard that you can use it on Oyster).
Flipping a double headed coin which came up heads, and I headed to the sub surface line (as I had around 40 minutes to get back to Paddington for the 23:05 (ish) Reading stopper, a couple dud S7s later and winner 21565/21566 found itself into my book on a leap to Sloane Square, but nothing else required so I jumped onto a circle line service formed of 21461/21462 to the Praed Street platforms at Paddington. Sadly the ticket office was closed so I couldnt purchase my PlusBus for Edinburgh (on grounds that it cheaper than a day ticket), but after grabbing the ID of the 57 on the sleeper, I headed over to platform 14 where a 180 was waiting... sadly it wasnt the Reading stopper as that had arrived into platform 12. I leapt onto 166214 grabbing the ID of the rear unit as being 165122 for the run to Acton Main Line, and headed to the guest house to try and rest in a quite hot room.
Report for Saturday coming up at some point, but be careful as it may contain some HST action:
The plan for this trip was originally going to be last July time, but got pushed back to January due to strike action. I was fighting with the voices inside my head wherever or not to do the plan or to push it back again and have an easy weekend hunting down units between Haymarket & Waverley itself. When I was randomly looking at RTT it highlighted engineering works around the Wimbledon area meant a quick hotel booking for the Friday night, picking an old stay, the Acton A-Z guest house (on grounds that it was £10 cheaper than Croydon Easy Hotel).
I wanted to try and get away early from work, however the local management decided to hold their bi-weekly meeting in the kitchen so no escaping early (and sitting around for a couple hours doing the total of nothing) so it was onto the 16:59 service to London formed of 159020/159104, with the plan of catching the 18:48 electric service to Acton Main Line, giving me time to check in (wishing I had booked the Easy Hotel with its 24 hour reception desk) and get back to Victoria for the 20:30 Gatwick Express which would feature a required 387 went up in smoke as we crawled after Wimbledon, caught up in delays caused by a late running branch line train, eventually rolling into Waterloo 15 minutes (or so) late.
Purchasing my travelcard for the day before I headed to the underground boarding 3563/3250 for the trip to Paddington, heading up to the concourse level trying to get my gold card discount added to my Oyster card, the member of staff monitoring the TVMs wasnt helpful as he had never seen a Gold Card before. It was over to platform 11 where the 19:15 (ish) Hayes & Harlington service was due to depart, and needless to say it was duds 387133/387132 on a busy service (I wonder how many passengers in Acton now use Acton Main Line rather than LU/LO with the vast increase from a 2-coach unit to 8-coaches with less chance of not being able to board).
I checked in without any issues, dropped some stuff from my bag and headed back to the station, leaping on 387135/387137 as a time wasting move to Ealing Broadway, where I got lucky as a service from Oxford was running a few minutes late, so I jumped onto 165132 for the run back to Paddington, into the enlarged platform 14 (gah!), it was a fast walk to the underground leaping onto the first Bakerloo line service formed of 3258/3540 to Oxford Circus, crossing over to leap onto 11081/11082 to Victoria. The time when I exited the LU part was 20:27, thankfully there was no queue at the bank of TVMs and the one I picked behaved itself as I purchased a BZ6-Gatwick ticket in less than a minute, walking fast over to platform 14 to leap onto 387213 at just past 20:29. I had somehow made it, pretty much made myself breathless in the process.
Walking forward, the middle unit was 387211, and forward 4 more coaches to grab the ID of the front unit I was happy for it was winner 387215, for the 26 and a bit miles run to Gatwick Airport, where I had a 45 minute wait as another required 387 was on the service behind. So exiting the station via the open ticket gates to make use of a PNB and grab a Boots meal deal before heading back to the station, entering via the Gatwick Express lounge area to await the arrival of the next service, noting that the 20:50 Brighton (from Victoria) was a trio of duds.
A last minute platform swap from P5 to P6 as 387208 rolled in first, with 387201 in the middle and winner 387209 on the rear, so I took up a seat in the front coach of 387209 as it was leading the return leg. Overhearing someone on the phone saying sorry they were running late, they had just missed the previous Express 25 (or so) minutes previously, which in that time there had been 4 regular Southern services all triple units heading to Victoria. Anyhow, it was another nice trip back to Victoria on a fresh air carrier, leaving only 387225 to clear the Red 387s. Once back at Victoria, it was down to the underground where I was successful in getting the member of staff to load my Gold Card discount onto my Oyster Card (one advantage of paying out extra for a Gold Card vice a Network Railcard that you can use it on Oyster).
Flipping a double headed coin which came up heads, and I headed to the sub surface line (as I had around 40 minutes to get back to Paddington for the 23:05 (ish) Reading stopper, a couple dud S7s later and winner 21565/21566 found itself into my book on a leap to Sloane Square, but nothing else required so I jumped onto a circle line service formed of 21461/21462 to the Praed Street platforms at Paddington. Sadly the ticket office was closed so I couldnt purchase my PlusBus for Edinburgh (on grounds that it cheaper than a day ticket), but after grabbing the ID of the 57 on the sleeper, I headed over to platform 14 where a 180 was waiting... sadly it wasnt the Reading stopper as that had arrived into platform 12. I leapt onto 166214 grabbing the ID of the rear unit as being 165122 for the run to Acton Main Line, and headed to the guest house to try and rest in a quite hot room.
Report for Saturday coming up at some point, but be careful as it may contain some HST action:
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Your loyalty to easyHotel has been broken! 
hock:
I scored that S7 pair myself on Monday!
hock:I scored that S7 pair myself on Monday!
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