Cactus' UK & European rail travels

[cactustwirly]

I certainly was surprised at your destination! Sounds like a fun time there. Remember to claim delay repay for the missed connection.

You weren't kidding about the images being large either!

As it was an intercity journey, the delay needs to be over 1 hour to be eligible for compensation, unfortunately.

 

[cactustwirly]

I've finally mastered how to embed photos from Flickr!

This one is slightly different than usual, this is lots of short journeys, normally I tend to go for less but longer journeys.
I also had some company, of whom you will find out later.

So here goes..

A Casual Meet in London 09/07/16

The day started at around 0850, from the usual station (Twyford) I got a travelcard from the ticket office, I hate the new style tickets from the machines.
I caught the 0854 service which originated in Reading bound for London Paddington, in the hands of 165103. It arrived into Paddington 6 minutes early.
I was originally going to meet my friends here but their train was delayed, so I met them at Marylebone instead, I had to double back at Baker St because the Bakerloo line isn't stopping at Paddington until August!

We headed down to Charing Cross via the Bakerloo line, and caught a 465 to Waterloo East and back.
Next we headed to Stratford, because one of my friends wanted to catch their last required class 90.
We headed to Waterloo on the Northern Line, then changed to the Jubilee line to Canning Town, where we changed to the DLR to Stratford.

1996 Stock @ Canning Town by litecactus, on Flickr

waiting for the DLR at Canning Town

At Stratford we saw a class 70 on and Intermodal train coming off the NLL, and a few class 321s.
We got a Loco hauled set into Liverpool Street which was quite busy and slightly delayed.

Next I headed to M&S for some lunch and a few drinks.

We got a Metropolitan line train to Farringdon, and caught a pair of 377/5s to Blackfriars. Then we got a 319/4 (426 I think?) to Mitcham Junction, sitting in the declassified 1st class.

We then got the tram to Wimbledon, formed of a Stadler Variobahn

Croydon Tramlink @ Wimbledon by litecactus, on Flickr

Variobahn at Wimbledon

SWT 455 @ Wimbledon by litecactus, on Flickr

SWT 455 at Wimbledon

We caught a 455 to Clapham Jct.
My Friends went spotting, whilst I bought a rather nice Medium Latte from an artisan Pretzel shop.

We then caught the supposedly "cancelled" train to Southampton & Bognor as far as East Croydon.
We were originally going to get a train to London Bridge, but there were none due to engineering works. So we opted for a Bedford train frormed of another pair of 377/5s as far as Blackfriars.
We saw a class 387/2 (my first one) so we caught that to Farringdon. We got a 387/1 (387125) back to Blackfriars.

387125 @ Blackfriars by litecactus, on Flickr

387125 at Blackfriars

Next we headed for Cannon St via the District Line, much to my disappointment it was an S7 stock.

We caught a 376 as far as London Bridge (my friends first one, I caught one last August)
We then caught a 465/2 as far as Lewisham (/2s have the best motor sound IMO!)
We then caught 465178 to Victoria.

465178 @ Victoria by litecactus, on Flickr

465178 @ Victoria by litecactus, on Flickr

We then caught a slightly delayed Reigate train formed of 377/4 as far as Clapham Jct.
We had a bit of a disagreement about which train to get to Waterloo.
There were 2 train from adjacent platforms going to Waterloo, departing at exactly the same time, a 450 from Reading or a 458 from Hounslow.
I wanted the 458 since I hadn't been in a /5 so far, they wanted a 450 since they'd been in more 458s than 450s.
We agreed to split up and meet each other at Waterloo.

At Waterloo we met up and decided to head to Paddington to try to catch a Heathrow Connect train. Since one of them had a rule about not getting DMus out of Paddington.
We caught the Jubilee line to Baker St and H&C line to Paddington. We just missed the HC train, so I managed to persaude them to bend their rules slightly on the premise of a declassified 1st seat on a 165.
We caught this train to Ealing.
We caught 165120 back to Paddington, where we parted ways.
They headed to Marylebone, to catch the 18:10 (68+Mk3). The other one has a similar rule about units out of Marylebone, which I haven't managed to bend yet!

I headed to Platform 14 to catch the 1757 to "Culham". It was formed of 165114 which was boiling hot and busy.

It arrived into Twyford at 1843, 1 minute late.

I enjoyed the day and the company (solo jaunts can get a bit lonely). I also had my first ride on a 465.

You should be able to guess who my friends were, but if you haven't, the clue's in my signature.

 

[fishquinn]

You should be able to guess who my friends were, but if you haven't, the clue's in my signature.

And in this post!

Thanks for a fun day out - both Nat and I enjoyed it. Alas 90014 wasn't his last skoda (if it was then we wouldn't need to do more pointless Stratford leaps on them) but he just seems to like the rancid things. The 319 from Blackfriars to Mitcham Jcn was 319426 so you got that right. Well done and thanks for a cracking day!

 

[Techniquest]

What a weird rule about DMUs out of Paddington and Marylebone! That's like me saying I'm not getting on a 350 from Birmingham New Street!

Looks like it was a good time though!

 

[fishquinn]

It's Nat for Padd, me for Marylebone. And it isn't crazy!

 

[Techniquest]

It's Nat for Padd, me for Marylebone. And it isn't crazy!

No-one said it was crazy, I believe my exact choice of word was weird

That being said, with Marylebone I can agree to an extent as the 168s are hardly fun. Chiltern's 165s are nowhere near as fun as GWR's as well, at least on the Western they make a decent noise regardless of the route they're on!

 

[Kite159]

What will Quinn do when Chiltern lose their mk3s in exchange for some more 170s which they will turn into 168/4s to have an uniform fleet for Birmingham services

 

[cactustwirly]

I've just realised I didn't write a trip report for my London jaunt in January, so I'll write it up and post it in the next few days.

 

[fishquinn]

Tech - I know you didn't say it was crazy; I was just saying that in case anyone else did

Kite - Rugby to Euston on Pendos and curse Chiltern (and probably end up banning them).

Cactus - You haven't done one for the London challenge in April either. Now, how far behind are you now

 

[cactustwirly]

I themed this trip around old underground lines...

North London 23/01/16

I started the day at Twyford getting the 0939 to London Paddington, there was a possession of the Main lines between Slough and Paddington, so a reduced service was in operation.
Extra stops were added at Taplow & Burnham (making my journey longer), which is usually the domain of the xx24/xx54, which were removed from the timetable.

I headed straight for Moorgate, and found my 313 to Welwyn was cancelled so I got a Stevenage via Hertford train instead, and bailed at Finsbury Park.

Class 313 at Moorgate by litecactus, on Flickr
Moorgate 313 by litecactus, on Flickr

The line out of Moorgate used to be an old Underground line that ran to Finsbury Park known as the Northern City Line.

My intended Welwyn service rolled into Finsbury Park 15 minutes later, which I assume came straight from the depot. I took this train as far as Hadley Wood, where I had a few minutes wait for my return service back to Moorgate.
It was formed of ex LO 313122.

I then headed to Liverpool Street to catch a TFL Rail 315 to Gidea Park. Once I had arrived a Gidea Park I only had a 7 minute wait until the next train back to Liverpool Street.
I bailed at Stratford to get a 378 to Caledonian Road & Barnsbury.
I walked to the Piccadilly line station and caught a southbound serice so I could see the disused York Road station.
At Kings Cross I got a Victoria line train to Highbury & Islington.

I then caught a LO 378 to Canada Water, the ELL is also an old Underground line until 2007, with the same name.

At Canada Water I changed for the Jubilee Line which took me to Stratford.
I then got an AGA 360 to Liverpool Street.

I headed to Paddington via the Central line changing at Notting Hill Gate.
Catching a class 165 home.

 

[fishquinn]

I didn't know so many of those lines were old underground lines! Sounds like a good time was had there though.

 

[cactustwirly]

I didn't know so many of those lines were old underground lines! Sounds like a good time was had there though.

Thanks!

The Northern City Line, really does feel like a time warp! You should try it sometime, perhaps just for the atmosphere, it feels like no other railway.

 

[fishquinn]

Maybe when the new units come in

 

[Kristofferson]

Ooh maybe worth a look, the Moorgate "mainline"...

I've enjoyed all your reads and train photos so far - keep it up!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Techniquest]

I love the 'timewarp' on the Moorgate to Finsbury Park line. Not to mention the racket off a 313's motors through the tunnels

 

[cactustwirly]

This isn't really a trip report, but I'll post it here anyway.

It was another meet up in London, this time with some school friends (who have no interest in trains whatsoever)

The plan was to head to Kensington, then to Camden Market.

I got the 0924 from Twyford to Paddington (arriving into my favourite platform)
I also discovered a new shortcut

Got the Circle line to High St Kensington, from Praed St station

Next we walked to Knightsbridge and got the Piccadilly line to Kings X (scoring a few shacks) and changed to the Northern line for the short journey to Camden.

After looking round the market and eaten a nice gourmet Tandoori Chicken Curry, I headed to Camden Road station and caught a LO 378 to Willesden Junction, where I changed for the Bakerloo line to Paddington, which had reopened the previous day.

I caught the 1557 back to Twyford

One of my friends had an argument about train drivers and their salary, but that's a discussion for a different thread.....

 

[fishquinn]

Good to know that the Bakerloo line has reopened to Paddington!

 

[cactustwirly]

Good to know that the Bakerloo line has reopened to Paddington!

I know, it was a massive pain having to double back at Baker St

I got a scare at Warwick Avenue, because there was an announcement that stated that Bakerloo line trains weren't stopping at Paddington. But it stopped anyway

 

[fishquinn]

Even if it didn't then you'd just be over carried by about 1/4 of a mile though!

 

[cactustwirly]

A Few Days in West Yorkshire....

Part 1: 09/08/16

I caught the 0757 express from Twyford to London Paddington, calling at Maidenhead only, after Twyford it crossed onto the 'fast' lines . It was formed of 180106

180106 @ Paddington by litecactus, on Flickr

At Paddington I headed to the rather busy Hammersmith & City line and caught a train towards Kings X St Pancras.

At Kings X I grabbed a coffee and a few other things from Waitrose, and headed to platform 6 to catch 91114 'Durham Cathedral' on the 0935 to Leeds.

VTEC 91 'Durham Cathedral' @ Leeds by litecactus, on Flickr

At Leeds I only had a few minutes to catch my onward connection to Knottingley, it arrived a few minutes late at 1157, it was formed of 144019

144019 @ Knottingley by litecactus, on Flickr

144019 @ Knottingley by litecactus, on Flickr

At Knottingley I met my Grandparents, and we headed to their house (I would be staying with them for the duration of the trip)

 

[fishquinn]

Sounds like a good positioning move except the 144. I'll look forward to reading about the rest of the trip!

 

[Kristofferson]

Promising start... Look forward to more!

Ps... Check the image links


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[cactustwirly]

Part 2: A Goole..ish train

I wanted to get the Knottingley - Goole train which only runs 2x a day, I opted for the evening train which departs Knottingley at 1753.

My Grandfather dropped me off at the station at 1740, to give me plenty of time to get the train.

It is booked a 153+150, but a 142+153 turned up. It was an ex ATN 142, which I hadn't been on before so I got on that train for the outward leg.

onboard 142021 by litecactus, on Flickr

Unfortunately the Guard was on this set so I had to fork out £7 (with a railcard!)

The first stop was Whitley Bridge

Whitley Bridge Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Whitley Bridge Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Next stop was Hensall, then Snaith

Snaith Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Snaith Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Snaith Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Passing through Rawcliffe and finally Goole

142021 @ Goole by litecactus, on Flickr

 

[Kite159]

What a lovely pacer

Aye, the line between Knottingley & Goole is pricey for the limited service

 

[Kristofferson]

£7 for a ride on a Pacer? Ouch!


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[cactustwirly]

What a lovely pacer

Aye, the line between Knottingley & Goole is pricey for the limited service

(Fishquinn will kill me for saying this but) the ex ATN ones are not too bad, I prefer them to an ex LM 150 because they feel less claustrophobic and you get more legroom.

Yes the fare is expensive, but it's not far off the Reading to Basingstoke fare
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Part 3: Return to Knottingley...

I headed for the 153 (153358) this time, and just as I boarded a huge rain shower started!

153358 @ Goole by litecactus, on Flickr

Goole Station by litecactus, on Flickr

The train departed on time and soon we reached the first stop, Rawcliffe (it was still raining)

Rawcliffe Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Rawcliffe Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Rawcliffe Station by litecactus, on Flickr

We stopped at Snaith where the rain stopped, and then Hensall where one person boarded

Hensall Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Hensall Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Hensall Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Hensall Station by litecactus, on Flickr

The next stop was Whitley Bridge

Whitley Bridge Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Whitley Bridge Station by litecactus, on Flickr

Then I reached Knottingley where I alighted

 

[Kristofferson]

I read rain shower as train shower... That'd be interesting!


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[fishquinn]

*screams*

 

[cactustwirly]

We'll be returning to my West Yorkshire trip soon, but for my next trip we go back to November 2014

A trip to Guildford

I was a cold winters day, I got an 10am train to Reading, where I changed for a SWT 450 towards Ascot.

450 @ Reading by litecactus, on Flickr

450 @ Reading by litecactus, on Flickr

As it was a Sunday, there was engineering works after Ascot, so the train terminated there.

I headed over to platform 3, to await my train to Guildford, it was formed of an ex SN 456.

At Guildford I walked to the town centre, and grabbed a coffee and a mexican wrap from M&S and headed back to the station.

This time it was a different pair of 456s.

At Ascot I was met with a pair of 455s, and it took me back to Reading where I caught a train back to Twyford

455 onboard at Ascot by litecactus, on Flickr

Reading 455 + 166 by litecactus, on Flickr

 

[Kite159]

Poor you visiting Guildford by choice!