Welcome back to the rails, Techniquest!

[Techniquest]

Hey all,

Finally got another trip report to post, some of you may be well aware I've simply had no time at all lately for trains but that changes now! After many weeks of not going on a proper bash, I finally got myself out and about again at the end of last week/start of this week. As for the trip report title, it felt more fitting than just "Techniquest's West Yorkshire Bash' 28th-30th July" Anyway, as I have a bit of time before work today, here comes the first bit, with the rest and pictures to follow tomorrow/Monday.

28th July 2013 - West Yorkshire Bash, Day 1

YEEHAAAAAA! I'm back baby! [yes I really did write that in my notebook! - Ed] After well over a month ofthe rails, a month and 8 days to be more exact and far longer since my last proper trip, I'm finally back doing what I enjoy! Didn't even see a train in that time, that's how bad things were! Havng seriously earned my two days off, I knew I had to maximise every single second of free time to bash, so yesterday I finally settled on a West Yorkshire bash and booked the travel and accommodation before heading to work, having already booked a lift into town.

And so it was onto 175101 in glorious sunshine working the 0830 Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly. The start of my first major bash since 19th May! As we cruise all the North and West [that's the Marches to you youngsters - Ed] , I finally catch up with some long overdue paperwork, and curse myself for not remembering the Green Day CD I'd wanted to play on the way north. Good thing I had my MP3 player then! Nothing required out of 20312, 20309, 37603, 37667, 47818 and 47832 on the DRS depot in Crewe, never mind. Two orange 20s are seen in a bay platform at Crewe, unable to ID them as they were hidden behind 175111 though. Still, an interesting sight they made!

This run is one of the few every week booked to run via Heald Green, a first for me having a 175 vis this route, having also had a 221 and 57+390 on diversions this way in the past. I also discover my camcorder won't operate off battery power now, despite it being charged up not long ago. Another expense, but that said since my camera does HD video clips I don't really need my camcorder anymore, although for long productions a camcorder is useful. We arrive at 1203 into Manchester Piccadilly, and it's time for a Costa coffee move and some spotting before the 1242 to Newcastle. 185151 is on it and did, so it's a mileage move. It's late leaving due to needing to find a guard to take the train forward, thankfully one sgreed to do overtime on it to York which saved it being cancelled! Time for some ham rolls for lunch now, long time since breakfast! We leave 14 late, much to the annoyance of passengers joining at Huddersfield going to Party in the Park. I always forget just how long it takes to get to Leeds, felt like forever today! We arrive at 1350 and it's time for a quick wander around before findng out the next Bradford Forster Square train isn't for ages yet. So I elect to scoop winner 333007 on the 1408 to Skipton, in the hope of a good connection at Shipley instead.

That'll do for now, I've stuff to do offline before work so I expect I'll continue this tomorrow to then conclude it on Monday. Until then, taaaraaa!

 

[4SRKT]

Where's the rest of it??

 

[Techniquest]

As I mention in that first part, the rest is coming. I had a limited bit of free time this morning to post that bit, then I'll carry it on tomorrow. If I had a working laptop I'd have typed it all up ages ago and uploaded it, alas I still haven't done that yet.

 

[Blindtraveler]

feel your pain Re the IT Probs mate, got similar myself at mo. Also as as a former employee of the same company as you I can understand your frustration at there inabikitty to sort staffing and days off out all that well. Keep smiling, hope your not getting too hard a time at work! As to the bash, didnt know any ATW Services were booked that route, interesting! Awate the next installments eagerly.

 

[Techniquest]

Alrighty then, time to crack on with this now. I know I won't have the patience to do it all in one go today but we'll see what happens. Only on my phone doing this so can't add photos yet. Anyway...

Sadly, the connection at Shipley was a -4, never mind as Shipley is a winner station grice The forecasted rain has now begun although not as bad as the BBC were scaring people with! It's dud 333001 onwards to Bradford Forster Square and I do the 2 minute walk to Bradford Central Travelodge, noting a McDonalds in the vicinity. That's going to be useful! After checking in, dropping off stuff and having a brew, it was onto the 1602 into Leeds for an afternoon of gricing and I get a Train Only Day Rover for £6.60. 333001 turns up again for an uneventful trip into Leeds.

Fortunately we arrive a few minutes early so I race to platform 11b for the 1625 to York so as to scoop the shack at Micklefield, getting winner 158903 in the process Nothing of interest occured here, so I devoured a couple of sausage rolls I had with me before joining dud 158842 on the trip back into Leeds. I badly needed a drink now so a trip into Sainsburys for a bottle of Dr Pepper and some other bits and bobs was very welcome. Next up, the 1754 to York via Harrogate, which I'm using to Horsforth for the grice. Bonus being that I have winners 155344 and 153360 on it, most welcome

Nothing exciting happened, except I looked to see how my Day Rover compared to a day return to here from Bradford would have done. £5.60 or so, which suddenly made my ticket very good value! Winner 158752 takes me back to Leeds, 5th winner of the day I struggle to decide on a move for winning traction and station grice so I end up on dud 185139 for the winner shack at Dewsbury. Dud 185119 back about half an hour later, so 0/3 185s I needed today, boo!

Back at Leeds, another grice up the Harrogate line was had after sourcing a Burger King meal for tea. Dud 155345 on the 1954 to York as far as Burley Park,and the same 153+155 combo back too. I flag winner 91103 and a pair of winning 153s going through Bradford Interchange and get dud 333001 on a Forster Square train. 4SRKT invites me to join him for a pint so I bail at Shipley and we visit The Junction, Lower Baildon and get a bargain of a pint, £1 a pint of Nutty Slack! It was soon time to head back to Shipley station though and get dud 333007 to Forster Square. Bleedin' good day it was though, now to get some rest ahead of a busy day tomorrow!

Days 2 and 3 on their way soon
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Let's do a bit more of this, now I've had a break from it to use Facebook/emails/texts, I am armed with a coffee and some more enthusiasm to do some more typing! So let's go...

29th July 2013 - West Yorkshire Bash, Day 2

After finally getting to sleep, a darn fine sleep was had. Time then for the usual morning prep work and de-rancification, after which I do the 30 second or so walk to McDonalds and get my favourite from here, a bacon roll meal, worth every penny of the £3.19 paid! Back to Forster Square then and another train only Day Rover is bought for £6.60.

Straight onto winner 333013 for a leap to Shipley this morning, followed by winner 333012 to Steeton and Silsden, my first station grice of the day. 333009 is dud on the leap to Crossflatts, thankfully 333016 is up next for a win. All aboard for the insect leap to Bingley! 333012 takes me forward to Shipley (I have a hunch that this place will feature in my moves books a lot until the class is cleared!), where I visit the cafe on the station for some much needed coffee and some pop for later. 333012 is up again to take me to Ben Rhydding, and AGAIN to take me to Baildon.

Just after arriving at Baildon, thunder and lightning kick in and I am fortunate enough to find shelter. 333014 takes me to Burley-in-Wharfedale for 333007 on the leap to Menston. There's supposedly an Indian restaurant here, but I failed to find it. 333014 returns for even more duddage on the leap to Guiseley, since I was heading to Leeds now and it to Bradford, I needed to bail anyway. My last use of 333s for now is on 333009 to Leeds, where have all the 333s I need been hiding?! Finally done all the stations in West Yorkshire on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines!

Fed up of 333s now, so relieved to get my first 150 in ages on the 1343 to Huddersfield, as far as Cottingley for me, and it is a bonus that it's 150205, a winner! Winner 144016 takes me back to Leeds where it's finally lunchtime at Burger King!

My hands are hurting from holding my phone for too long again now, so another break is required! Stay tuned for further updates

 

[IanD]

Welcome back! Good to see you've chosen my home city as your base (maybe not so good for you if you had to venture out after dark!). Used to spend many an evening in the Junction, I'd heard it was closed so nice to hear the rumours of its demise had been somewhat exaggerated!

 

[Blindtraveler]

a great read so far! Always been a fave area to bash in due to the shear veriety of routes, stations and traction with potentially 14 or so different types if you include the various IC Stock.↲

 

[4SRKT]

Welcome back! Good to see you've chosen my home city as your base (maybe not so good for you if you had to venture out after dark!). Used to spend many an evening in the Junction, I'd heard it was closed so nice to hear the rumours of its demise had been somewhat exaggerated!

It's not closed and it's the best boozer in Bradford IMHO

 

[D841 Roebuck]

The usual good read.

I'm particularly impressed at you typing it on a phone, which I personally find a pita (the acronym, not the kebab wrapping).

Now to research 333 diagrams in the hope of tracking down the elusive (to me) '001 without spending too long at Shipley!

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks for the positive comments all

4SRKT: Agreed, a brilliant pub full of character unlike the chain pubs!

Typing this up on my phone (I have the RailUK app, otherwise I'd never be reading the forum!) Is easier than on my Mum's tablet, which I found strange. Been busy tonight offline hence no continuation of the report. So much to do around here that I don't know when it's all going to get done. I thought two days off was going to be enough, but I'm going to do more of this tomorrow and, if necessary, do the rest on my daily commute until it's done!

Edit: I think there may be 333 diagrams on the UKmodernEMU Yahoo group, not sure. Hope you manage to get it soon though, I've had it way too often!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Alrighty then, let's roll forward with this!

I join 322483, dud, on the 1420 Leeds to Doncaster and start devouring my lunch. We get held on Copley Hill Chord for a late running Penzance Voyager to pass us, and we're about 8 late as a result. Dud track for me, having done it on an EMT HST in 2008. I had planned to bail at Fitzwilliam, but with the delay Sandal and Agbrigg was had instead. 321902, winner, is on the next one back to Leeds, good thing I didn't rely on the next one ex-Sheffield as it's cancelled! Off to Outwood now for another station grice, and now the train from Sheffield is simply delayed. It eventually shows up, but I was too busy getting a shot of 91112 propelling the 1515 Leeds to Kings Cross by the time it showed up.

321902 is had next to Fitzwilliam for yet another station grice, and the 1514 from Sheffield to Leeds is 20 late due to a train fault. There goes my plans for the rest of the afternoon! Winner 142020 eventually rolls in on it and I go back to Leeds. When we get there, the 1643 to Huddersfield is 2 minutes late leaving but as we arrived on p8b at 1644, there was no way I was going to make it to p13b in time. Sure enough, no luck Time then for a brew before joining winners 144001 and 144021 on the 1713 to Manchester Victoria via Dewsbury, the move being to have 4SRKT join at Morley and to go to Todmorden.

The best laid plans do often go astray! I can see why this service is booked 5 cars, it was pretty busy. 4SRKT joins me as booked and we have a good chat. Another Pacer nutter joins us at Brighouse and all's going well, despite horrid weather, until we get held outside Hebden Bridge. Dawns the realisation the line's flooded in the Walsden area, which is confirmed soon after. So we get terminated on our move to oblivion there. Even the westbound platform was gaining huge puddles!

Time for a beer, thanks to 4SRKT having some supplies! Fortunately Northern Control do the sensible thing and put the 144s onto the 1842 to Leeds, our planned move but obviously from Todmorden, so we were quite happy with that. We take them back to Dewsbury, leaving the fellow Pacer nutter here. We get a pint of Timothy Taylor's Dark Mild, very nice too! I examine the complex spreadsheets of 4SRKT, very thorough stuff that I wish I could manage!

150205 and winner 142058 roll in to take us onwards to Leeds, with the 142 locked out. My first visit to the Wetherspoon here, couldn't resist a pint of Abbot Ale for nostalgia's sake. Next up, winner 91109 on the Kings Cross to Skipton much to my delight We bail at Keighley and head to a local pub for a couple of pints of Dark Mild and more train talk. Having not delighted in talking much about my favourite subject in recent weeks, this suited me fine All too soon it's time to head back to base camp in Bradford, and I get winner 333003 for it, most appreciated!

4SRKT leaves me at Saltaire and I head to McDonalds for a very late tea, my usual meal had. After that, a phone call home is made and onto Facebook I go, followed by getting my fix of The Big Bang Theory to finish off my day. 0105 and it's time for sleep!

Day 3 will follow later or tomorrow
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Right, let's storm on with Day 3!

30th July 2013 - West Yorkshire Bash, Day 3

Up nice and early at 0730 for a quick bag pack and a much needed de-rancification. It was off then to McDonalds for my usual breakfast move before marching off to Forster Square station, That was easier said than done, with a coffee in one hand, my small case, my rucksack and trying to eat all at once! Nevertheless, I make it onto the last winner of the trip, 333006, on the 0816 to Ilkley for a leap to Shipley. I intercept 4SRKT's commute into Leeds on dud 333013, the other reason for the early start being to get an XC HST down to Birmingham rather than cramped 185s to Manchester. Been quite a long time since I last got on an HST, much less an XC one, so a nice win there, It finally rolls in some minutes late and we finally get a path out of Leeds at 0912, 7 minutes late, with 43384 and 43366. Nostalgia strikes when I remember having 43184 all the way from Birmingham to Glasgow and the good times that trip was. Time now to catch up with some paperwork, which took until the other side of Tamworth to do!

The loco depot in Burton on Trent gave me the surprise required sights of 73117 and 20903, most welcome pair of ticks in the book . Good thing it's a +41 at New Street , as we finally arrive at 1125, 17 minutes late. I head to Tesco Metro and get a can of Monster Khaos to top up my energy levels as I'm shattered! The last few days have gone FAR too quickly, and as I head home on 170516 to Hereford I realise just how much I regret spending so much time doing overtime at work lately, I've re.discovered my life again now! Still, as much as I don't want to go back to work today, I need to earn some more pennies for more trips! REALLY can't wait for my next trip, whenever that'll be! Nothing to report really on this leg, except by Led bury I'm back to feeling down and fed up again :cry:

Overall though, a most rewarding trip worth every penny, with 17 winners and 17 required station grices

 

[4SRKT]

Very good, glad you've rediscovered the delights of bashing again, and 'twas good to meet you at last.

The Boltmaker's Arms was the [tiny] pub in Keighley. A truly excellent place, beloved of many enthusiasts due to its proximity to the KWVR

 

[Blindtraveler]

Very good, glad you've rediscovered the delights of bashing again, and 'twas good to meet you at last.

The Boltmaker's Arms was the [tiny] pub in Keighley. A truly excellent place, beloved of many enthusiasts due to its proximity to the KWVR

equally handy when youve just missed a few and far between replacement bus on a Sunday and want something more cumfortable than the station!
↲infact, to me, Keighley has it all for a bashers rest point with the ASDA So near for provisions and some semi decent B n Bs just a short hop on the bus!↲

be great to meet you both sometime and have a bevvy and a rail related chat!

 

[Techniquest]

Ahhh, thanks for that. Did have it noted in my head when we got there, after more drinks memory was failing lol. I was struggling to note the move onto my phone after all!

Blindtraveller: Yeah sounds good, although I'm rarely in West Yorkshire

 

[4SRKT]

I will be doing a Strathclyde Day Tripper ticket sometime in September. Will be a weekday ahead of a meeting at our depot in Airdrie. Itinerary will involve Neilston because it's my last required passenger line in Scotland, Ardlui on the 12:21 ex-Queen St, and a tea-time spin to Maybole (out via Kilmarnock, back via Paisley).

 

[Techniquest]

I'll be there September 23rd if that's of any use

 

[Blindtraveler]

I will be doing a Strathclyde Day Tripper ticket sometime in September. Will be a weekday ahead of a meeting at our depot in Airdrie. Itinerary will involve Neilston because it's my last required passenger line in Scotland, Ardlui on the 12:21 ex-Queen St, and a tea-time spin to Maybole (out via Kilmarnock, back via Paisley).

now that sounds quite tempting although I need none of it -my last required Scottish track being Kyle>Dingwall, Mallaig>Rannich and Stranrare>Ayr). Daft really seeing as I live up here!↲

could do with ticking off the freight lines too and its frustrating that no matter how hard Iv tried I only ever seam to get the Edinburgh Sub in 1 Direction, From Slateford. When are you up 4SRKT?
↲

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'll be there September 23rd if that's of any use

whats bringing you up this way? If im free you fancy a pint in Edinburgh/Glasgow/In or around whatever Travelodge your staying at?

 

[4SRKT]

Will have to see. It depends when the meeting gets arranged. I'll let you know.

 

[Techniquest]

My 10 year anniversary bash takes me to Glasgow, will be on a massive mission to get as many station grices and new lines in the book as possible up there. Staying in the Central/Charing Cross area so meeting for a drink is an option

 

[Blindtraveler]

now that sounds like a load of laughs! What a way to tick of a decade of happy bashing!

 

[Techniquest]

Aye it should be good. I couldn't exactly replicate the first move I did, the 0330 Swansea to London Paddington, as it's now 0358 and obviously it's all MTUs and completely different seats/interiors in general now

Haven't done a proper day around Glasgow for several years anyway, not sure whether to do just a Glasgow Roundabout or to do a Daytripper yet.

 

[4SRKT]

Aye it should be good. I couldn't exactly replicate the first move I did, the 0330 Swansea to London Paddington, as it's now 0358 and obviously it's all MTUs and completely different seats/interiors in general now

Haven't done a proper day around Glasgow for several years anyway, not sure whether to do just a Glasgow Roundabout or to do a Daytripper yet.

Daytripper and get out to Barrhill, then an evening trip to Ardlui plus advances Ardlui > Rannoch > Ardlui for the skip on the return.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Daytripper and get out to Barrhill, then an evening trip to Ardlui plus advances Ardlui > Rannoch > Ardlui for the skip on the return.

That Daytripper looks excellent value.

If you're into ticking off ferry routes, Gourock (ferry) Kilcreggan (bus) Garelochhead could form part of a positioning move for the evening skip...

 

[Blindtraveler]

Agreed, although of the 3 times I've tried to do it the bus connection has failed to turn up when it should do. When it does work though its a cracker. Quite surprised though that 4SRKT is still vindicating the Skip move, or maybe he's forgotten his move to Oblivian on the wHL Last Summer?
I personally have never failed yet doing it and its a cracking evening out.↲
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Aye it should be good. I couldn't exactly replicate the first move I did, the 0330 Swansea to London Paddington, as it's now 0358 and obviously it's all MTUs and completely different seats/interiors in general now

Haven't done a proper day around Glasgow for several years anyway, not sure whether to do just a Glasgow Roundabout or to do a Daytripper yet.

↲as to your first ever move, all I can say is RIP. The roundabout is kind a limmited and the daytripper in my opinion offers unbelievable value!

↲

 

[4SRKT]

Agreed, although of the 3 times I've tried to do it the bus connection has failed to turn up when it should do. When it does work though its a cracker. Quite surprised though that 4SRKT is still vindicating the Skip move, or maybe he's forgotten his move to Oblivian on the wHL Last Summer?
I personally have never failed yet doing it and its a cracking evening out.↲
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---





↲as to your first ever move, all I can say is RIP. The roundabout is kind a limmited and the daytripper in my opinion offers unbelievable value!

↲

The Move to Oblivion was a one off that was a perfect storm of bad things happening! Chances of it happening again so small as to be not worth bothering about.

That said, I've not done the Rannoch move this year, but that's because my work travels haven't taken me to Scotland much this year. That will all change next year though

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I know what you mean about overtime though, though its so much better to see it in the bank! My bashes are dying down due to saving for 2014's events now, might be off to Holyhead on some 47s though (big maybe) and off to Cardiff in a couple of weeks for the Cardiff Valleys track bash railtour if your going?

Good report though , forgot what the North was like! Last time I went was on the Northern £10 day ranger when I met up with you an Manchester, blimey!

333's aren't all that bad, I suppose though it's a bit quiet over the rateable Pacers and 150s!
Do the 144's still have the comfy seats in them?

Oh yeah, where is Led bury?

 

[Techniquest]

On my mobile at the moment, so will properly reply later. However the Daytripper does look great value, I take it you can get one as a solo traveller? Ardulai move,good call as I need only 5 skips now and 4 of them are Scottish (only 023 I need south of t'border). Need to plan things soon,only 1 month and 9 days to go!

James, a proper reply to your post is coming
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sorry it's taken nearly a week to reply, been busy! Here we go finally...

I know what you mean about overtime though, though its so much better to see it in the bank! My bashes are dying down due to saving for 2014's events now, might be off to Holyhead on some 47s though (big maybe) and off to Cardiff in a couple of weeks for the Cardiff Valleys track bash railtour if your going?

It was indeed nice to see it in the bank, although it didn't go far somehow. You really don't want to know how many hours I was doing, although I'm strangely proud to boast no-one from my fellow colleagues has beaten it yet

Fair enough that, I still have a list longer than my arm of stuff I wanted to do this year. The way things are going, some of it is getting postponed to 2015, originally postponed to 2014! I've also noticed tonight, through coincidence and a query about my RailMiles account that I appear to be missing a lot of data from it. Noticed when trying to find my epic Highland Chieftain bash mileages earlier, so I'm a little annoyed I chucked out almost all my paper records some weeks ago. Good thing I still have a book with a lot of now ancient moves in it, I see Sunday being full of going through it all...

Anyway, back at the ranch, no I'm not on that Valleys railtour, too inconvenient to do it for a short explanation.

Good report though , forgot what the North was like! Last time I went was on the Northern £10 day ranger when I met up with you an Manchester, blimey!

333's aren't all that bad, I suppose though it's a bit quiet over the rateable Pacers and 150s!
Do the 144's still have the comfy seats in them?

Oh yeah, where is Led bury?

That extra space, which I've only just noticed, will have been from (if memory serves correctly) finishing off the trip report on the useless tablet (which has been since sent back as it was faulty and useless all round) so I probably hit the space bar on it without realising

Good golly gosh, it has been a long time since you last did the North then! Can't specifically recall when that was at the moment, think there had been a Spitfire tour through which you showed me footage of maybe?

333s are good little units, agreed, although the "Welcome to the Leeds train" announcement did get boring after a while! Definitely preferred the noise of DMUs of any variety though, particularly my favourites of 150s and 156s! The 144s do indeed still have decent seats in them

 

[Blindtraveler]

We want the rest! But are happy to wate seeing as your busy lol.

 

[Techniquest]

Rest of what, sorry?

 

[Blindtraveler]

ignore me, put the wrong comment in the wrong thread!