BlythPower
Member
Not the most auspicious start to the day when, just round the corner from home, theres a hollow sounding metallic clunk from under the car. Thankfully just a tree branch to pull out from under it and no harm done. So, off to Coventry for a train down to that London. A just under 2 hour journey for £26 with London Midland versus a 1 hour journey with Virgin costing £130. Twice the journey time or FIVE times the cost? Yup, London Midland it is. A fairly busy 350113 with the 08:21 to Euston. Travelling backwards luckily theres some Brummie bashers of a certain age down the carriage whose twitching provides warning of any rail related interest coming up. That begins with 08676 at Rugby followed by 66707 and 66301 (my first sighting of a 66/3) at DIRFT. Theres the back end of a stone train poking out at Bletchley but otherwise thats it until a strangely quiet Wembley yard. Just 67002, 67018 and 90024 stabled and 66429 on a container train. In addition to the usual Cargo-D stock and 378s, Willesden shed housed 86101 and 31285 with a short test train.
On time arrival at Euston surrounded as always by hordes of Pongolinos. A quick trip to the loo followed by a return to the platforms to board 378222 with the 10:37 to Watford Junction. The Brummies and I alight at Willesden Junction and make our way up to the high level. Theyre obviously making a day of it there, taking advantage of the extended platforms to view the LU lines. I make an exit on the 11:06 to Stratford, getting off 378218 at Gospel Oak. My first sight of and first journey in a 172 on my first trip on the Goblin is, appropriately, 172001 with the 11:35 to Barking. A few 357s later, its off to West Ham on 357210 with the 12:40 to Fenchurch Street. Shortly after arrival theres a vivid flash of lightning followed shortly by a rumble of thunder but thankfully no rain to go with. A quick Jubblee line trip gets me to Stratford. With the gents at Barking being out of order Im now faced with the prospect of peeing in the toilets from hell at Stratford. I wonder if theyll actually clean/refurbish/replace them before the Olympics? 90013, 90011 and 90010 work expresses through and 66719 (containers), 66001 (stone) and 90042 (containers) provide the freight interest. Standing at the London end of platform 8, gives a good view of the DLR and LO workings to either side of the station.
321434 takes me on the 14:01 to Liverpool Street followed by a brief spot of Underground to Moorgate where 313063 awaits with the 14:32 to Hertford North. I hopped off at Finsbury Park where a couple of 180s, 253/254s (
) and 91105 rattle. Several 313s later, its time to head to Kings Cross onboard 317339 on the 15:10. 67027 is on Thunderbird duties. Arrivals and departures include some 253/254s, 91114, 91129 and 91132. With a little time to kill before heading home, a shuttle from St Pancras to Blackfriars is in order. Heading south on 319456 on the 16:00 to Sevenoaks then back again on the 16:14 to St Albans on board 319377 and between the two, attracting the attentions of Blackfriars dispatcher Donna who was fascinatedly reading my trip notes through the window.
So, a brisk walk to Euston which neednt have been quite so brisk after all. I got down to platform 17 to find my fellow travellers stood along side the pair of 350s waiting for the doors to open. Except the 350s werent a pair and flatly refused to become a pair despite repeated attempts at bumping them into each other. In the end, front unit 350117 formed the 16:48 to Northampton by itself, leaving a lonely 350/2 behind it. It also left 10 minutes late. We overtook a Freightliner near Queens Park with 70007 at the front and 66176 was an addition to the stabled locos at Wembley. Unfortunately 350117 made none of its 10 minute lateness up, leaving myself and several others gazing into the distance at Northampton as our connection to the West Midlands disappeared into the distance. Thank you London Midland. Still, at least I hadnt paid five grand a year for this shit and there was only 25 minutes to wait before the next train. No, that was late into Northampton as well. So, its OK for London Midland to send off a train bang on time knowing that people will be trying to make the connection with but not OK to send the next one off on time. Hmm. Whilst waiting for 350107 and the 18:16 to Birmingham New Street, 66594 appeared with an up Freightliner. 66422, 66572, 66418 and 66427 at DIRFT and 66015 at Rugby rounded up the days loco action. Off home for a nice sit down and a cup of tea.
On time arrival at Euston surrounded as always by hordes of Pongolinos. A quick trip to the loo followed by a return to the platforms to board 378222 with the 10:37 to Watford Junction. The Brummies and I alight at Willesden Junction and make our way up to the high level. Theyre obviously making a day of it there, taking advantage of the extended platforms to view the LU lines. I make an exit on the 11:06 to Stratford, getting off 378218 at Gospel Oak. My first sight of and first journey in a 172 on my first trip on the Goblin is, appropriately, 172001 with the 11:35 to Barking. A few 357s later, its off to West Ham on 357210 with the 12:40 to Fenchurch Street. Shortly after arrival theres a vivid flash of lightning followed shortly by a rumble of thunder but thankfully no rain to go with. A quick Jubblee line trip gets me to Stratford. With the gents at Barking being out of order Im now faced with the prospect of peeing in the toilets from hell at Stratford. I wonder if theyll actually clean/refurbish/replace them before the Olympics? 90013, 90011 and 90010 work expresses through and 66719 (containers), 66001 (stone) and 90042 (containers) provide the freight interest. Standing at the London end of platform 8, gives a good view of the DLR and LO workings to either side of the station.
321434 takes me on the 14:01 to Liverpool Street followed by a brief spot of Underground to Moorgate where 313063 awaits with the 14:32 to Hertford North. I hopped off at Finsbury Park where a couple of 180s, 253/254s (
) and 91105 rattle. Several 313s later, its time to head to Kings Cross onboard 317339 on the 15:10. 67027 is on Thunderbird duties. Arrivals and departures include some 253/254s, 91114, 91129 and 91132. With a little time to kill before heading home, a shuttle from St Pancras to Blackfriars is in order. Heading south on 319456 on the 16:00 to Sevenoaks then back again on the 16:14 to St Albans on board 319377 and between the two, attracting the attentions of Blackfriars dispatcher Donna who was fascinatedly reading my trip notes through the window.So, a brisk walk to Euston which neednt have been quite so brisk after all. I got down to platform 17 to find my fellow travellers stood along side the pair of 350s waiting for the doors to open. Except the 350s werent a pair and flatly refused to become a pair despite repeated attempts at bumping them into each other. In the end, front unit 350117 formed the 16:48 to Northampton by itself, leaving a lonely 350/2 behind it. It also left 10 minutes late. We overtook a Freightliner near Queens Park with 70007 at the front and 66176 was an addition to the stabled locos at Wembley. Unfortunately 350117 made none of its 10 minute lateness up, leaving myself and several others gazing into the distance at Northampton as our connection to the West Midlands disappeared into the distance. Thank you London Midland. Still, at least I hadnt paid five grand a year for this shit and there was only 25 minutes to wait before the next train. No, that was late into Northampton as well. So, its OK for London Midland to send off a train bang on time knowing that people will be trying to make the connection with but not OK to send the next one off on time. Hmm. Whilst waiting for 350107 and the 18:16 to Birmingham New Street, 66594 appeared with an up Freightliner. 66422, 66572, 66418 and 66427 at DIRFT and 66015 at Rugby rounded up the days loco action. Off home for a nice sit down and a cup of tea.
