The further adventures of Drogba11CFC

[Drogba11CFC]

Monday 15th May

The first in a couple of mini-breaks saw me board 1A28 with 450120, 450066 and 450004 as far as Woking, with 450064+008+009 also seen at Alton and 450036+111 seen at Farnham, while just south of Brookwood yielded 159014 while Woking yielded 66414 before 159013 and 159107 rolled in. Basingstoke yielded 165116, 66024 and 450052 with Salisbury throwing up 166211 while, after an 8-minute delay just north of Tisbury, Sherborne yielded 159105 with 159017 and 159004 being sighted at Pinhoe and 158957 seen at Exeter Central. At Exeter St Davids, 43301, 43304 and 43122 were sighted before a well loaded 150261 arrived from Exmouth. A rather uncomfortable journey saw 802101 sighted at Newton Abbot before I checked in at The Beach Hotel and returned to Paignton to ride behind 4555 to Kingswear and back, with 2253 and (the numberplate of) 4277 sighted at Churston and 3803 seen at Kingswear.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Tuesday 16th May

After a substantial breakfast it was off to Paignton Station where I sighted 166218, 150248 and 150247 before boarding 220014 on 1M41. 800305 was seen at Torquay before the train filled up at Newton Abbot, while Exeter St Davids yielded 66182, 150244, 159016 and 159104. The train arrived at Taunton, where I saw 66510, 66556 and 220033. I then caught the bus to Bishops Lydeard, where I rode behind 7812, 9351 and 7828 before checking into the Baytree guest house.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Wednesday 17th May

So it was back to the WSR and 7828 again as far as Bishops Lydeard, where I caught a bus to Taunton before sighting 802011 before boarding 802019 and 802012 on a late-running service to Exeter. At Exeter I sighted 43239 before boarding 159014 and 159001 as far as Axminster, with 166210 seen at Exeter Central and 159019+017 seen at Pinhoe. At Axminster it was a change of transport as I boarded the Jurassic Coaster (sadly not an open top) as far as Weymouth, where I booked into the Cavendale guest house before winning £9 on the bingo machines, enjoying Fish and chips on the quayfront, watching Manchester City annihilate Real Madrid and a walk along the seafront.

Thursday 18th May

After a good breakfast it was off to Weymouth Station where I boarded 444035 as far as Wareham. At Wareham it was 51396+59486+51356 as far as Corfe Castle, where I boarded 34028 Eddystone to Swanage via Norden, with W55028 sighted at Corfe Castle and 33111, 34070 Manston, D6515 and D3591 seen at Swanage. After Fish and chips on the seafront it was the same rolling stock back to Wareham where I boarded 444004 to Woking. New sights became a bit thin on the ground back on familiar territory, with 450091 at Bournemouth, 450058 at Brockenhurst, 47830, 66565, 66547 and 70014 at Southampton all being duds, but Southampton did yield 66523 and 158885. At Northam I saw 450078 and 450007, with 66708, 66726, 08629 and 73107 seen at Eastleigh. Woking yielded 450106 before I boarded 450076 and 450085 back to Alton.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Tuesday 6th June

So it was another trip, this time up North, as I woke at 5:40 and boarded 450072+097+032 on the 06:41 to Waterloo, with 3 dud 450s being sighted on the way before hopping across London to King's Cross. At King's Cross my seatfrog upgrade for £14 got me into the First Class lounge before boarding was announced; when it wad, I copped 387123, 801224, 801209 and 800107 before boarding 801226 in First Class. As we pulled out I caught 91127 and 801107 with 800302 spotted at Hornsey and 717022 at Alexandra Palace. As we sped further north, and with a complimentary bacon roll at my seat, 700032 was seen at Hadley Wood before Stevenage yielded 700115. Peterborough then gave me 755405 and 801223 as well as duds 170510, 66024, 66724 and 66756. At Doncaster, 60021, 66155, 66545 and 08669 were seen, while York yielded 195013. Following a late-running bus to Pickering and a sausage roll and slice of lemon meringue pie, it was 31128 Charybdis as far as Levisham, before 37264 took me back to Pickering and then to Grosmont. Along the way, Pickering yielded 08850, 50164, 59539 and 50160, while Grosmont gave me 51511, 3672, 12139, 76079, 4263 and 30825.