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hassaanhc's trip reports

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hassaanhc

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For a while now I've been thinking whether to post trip reports or not. Finally decided that I should go for it :P.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Tuesday 16 December 2014: DayTripper, West Midlands

For the two days before I went, I looked several times at the Advance ticket prices from London to Birmingham and back, as I was in two minds over whether I really wanted to go or not and whether I’d enjoy it. I only made the decision to go with just minutes before the midnight deadline for Advance tickets! £5.95 each on LM, 0913 outward, 1854 return, not the cheapest £3.95 each but that’d do.

So I got up at 0630 to get ready, had a shower and breakfast (just Weetabix as usual :D). Left around 0800, slightly later than I’d have liked, as it left things a bit tight. Journey time is 40-50 minutes to Euston from where I am. There is actually a choice of three routes from. All starting with the DLR, but either via Poplar and Northern Line from Bank, Jubilee from Canning Town and Northern from London Bridge, or Jubilee with Victoria Line from Green Park. The DLR option is up to 5 mins slower but both Jubilee Line options are roughly equal.

DLR from Gallions Reach was the first thing, touching in at 0808 for the train at 0814, running every 8 minutes during the peak but every 5 at other times (since changed to something more complex). Didn’t bother noting down the units which is normal for me with DLR and London Underground (if I even attempt to identify them in the first place). Last car as usual on a Tower Gateway train in order to be next to the escalator at Canning Town, and the ride passed uneventfully. To the Jubilee Line, they’re very busy at this time westbound and even in the leading car I can’t get a seat from there, but emptied a fair amount at Canary Wharf. Usually I have a choice of seats in this car. At London Bridge, where I switch to the Northern Line via the signposted stairs which were also busy. Somehow squashed onto the Northern Line in one of the two motor cars in the middle, and even got a seat a few stations later; normally I’d wait for a slightly less busy one but had no time after leaving a bit late. Off at Euston to walk to the front end of the platform for the escalators up, touching out at 0859. Up to the concourse and ticket machines to print off the tickets, then to Platform 8 to join my train. It was 350110 on the 0913 Birmingham New Street, which had detached from 350373, so a good start seeing these new ones (saw two others as well). Luckily Coach A was leading, which left the composite coach as the second one, where I went to locate what was then my favourite seat, last row in the non-toilet third of the coach (since changed due to poor ride at speed when sitting over the bogies). Good thrash down the fast until on the approach to Leighton Buzzard, our first stop. From ther journey became more tedious with the frequent stops, struggling to keep myself awake at one point. Very rough ride quality from Northampton to Long Buckby which was not good, non-stop sideways movement.

Arrival at New Street was 1117, which was a welcome relief. Straight away I set off for the ticket machines trying to look for my main ticket for the day, the nNetwork DayTripper. Struggled to find it, it wasn’t in the “popular tickets” section, and beginning with “nn” brought up the anytime version which I didn’t need. Thought I'd go toilet first before the ticket office, but couldn’t find them and couldn’t see any signs for the toilets. Ended up walking outside where the taxis were and the whole length of the station trying to get back in. Off into the Bullring shopping centre then, another length of the station, followed by a long corridor, which was a very long walk, and spending 10 minutes more trying to find the toilets in the shopping centre. Again a lack of signs, and maps were confusing, eventually finding them tucked in the corner. Then afterwards I went looking at some stuff in the Apple store, as well as other phone shops.

I eventually got back to New Street an hour after I’d got there, and I still hadn’t done any bashing! What a long walk it was back to the station, with the walk on the outside of the station never ending. Still needed to get the Daytripper, back to the machines where I did find the ticket after typing in “Daytripper”, but decided to get it from the Network West Midlands office instead. This was to see what ticket stock they used, and I wasn’t disappointed! Noticed bus maps there, picked up a few of these, as well as a few LM timetables.

Finally off to my first train, after much looking at the boards, it was the 1239 to Wolverhampton that I settled on. That was 350266, which I’d seen an hour earlier on its previous working to Walsall. 26 minutes to Wolverhampton, where I set out looking for the bus station. Got there, then couldn’t decide what route to go on. Much looking at the maps, then settled on a choice of two routes, whichever came first. The honours fell to Trident ALX400 4597 (BX54DCY) on the 529, so off to Walsall I was. That was a good route, fast a good bus and driver. 45 mins later, I got off at Walsall Bus Station.

Time to go looking for food. I found Dixy Chicken, time for chicken nuggets and chips! Ate them on the way back towards the bus station, looking at my next route to go on while I was finishing them. The X51 limited stop to Birmingham caught my eye, and was happy when I saw Euro 4 E400 4765 (BV57XKJ). High backed leather seats too. Couldn’t sit on my preferred right hand side due to a spillage, so sat on the left. Another decent run, part of it on dual carriageways with lots of flyovers and underpasses, although no E400 thrash which I was looking for! Got off at Bull Street around 1515 and found the bus displaying 997E!

Around the corner to Moor Street Station, where I noticed the heritage-looking fittings. Seeing 67008 on layover, I took a photo of it, as well as a couple of buses outside. Then it was time to board a train, 172342 on the 1519 to Worcester Foregate Street was the choice. Bus stop bash to Snow Hill for the trams. What a long way round to go from the trains to the trams. Missed one so I had to wait in the strong wind. No idea which one I got, but it was one of the new ones. These really have rock hard seats, not the Class 387 that everyone moans about! Off at The Hawthorns. 172345 on the 1556 for Whitlock’s End, back to Moor Street.

Left the station and saw a 957 to Solihull, just made it. It was a Euro 5 E400 this time, 4907 (BX13JWG). Bit of a boring route this one, started falling asleep! I managed to get off about a mile early from Solihull Station, in the town centre. So it was 2095 (BX12DKF) all to myself on the 37 to take me the final mile to the station.

Next train was 172211+172335 at 1717 for Worcester Foregate Street, taking that to Moor Street. Time to walk through the shopping centre again to get to New Street, eventually getting there by 1800. Still 50 mins until my return train so it was time to get 323217 on a bus stop bash to University (1814 to Longbridge). Over the footbridge to get 323243 back at 1825 (train for Lichfield City), seeing 150107 to Worcester while waiting for it. About 1830 now.

350116 was to become my return train. However the Advance ticket had a twist. It had a change at Rugby to a faster service, saving 27 minutes even after waiting for 22 minutes! The guard on the first train didn’t know how to say Berkhamsted, and instead sounded like Birkenhead, which I found amusing :D. Off at Rugby then and into the waiting room. This is where I got lucky. 350369 turned up a few minutes early from Crewe, on the 1953 to Euston, arriving Euston 2050 (the other one would have arrived 2117). Found a table seat in the composite coach, again the same third as previous, but it was the third coach so I was right at the front of the coach. Lots of fluff on the floor from the new carpet. Seemed to have a smoother ride than the older ones, but then it was brand new as well :lol:. Plug socket was available at the table which I made use of :D.

Arrival at Euston about 4 minutes late, just enough time to get a photo of the interior before others boarded it, as well as an exterior shot. Out of the barriers, and decided to do down the subway there to the underground to touch in at 2100. Northern Line again and one of the centre motor coaches, but at London Bridge is where the fun started.

Distracted by my phone, I went up the escalators towards the exit! Not a problem, as there are escalators down to the Jubilee. As I was used to Waterloo and the right hand platform being the eastbound, I went that way, boarding the 4th coach on a train that had just pulled in, without looking at the signs. Again on my phone, before “National Rail Services” on the screen caught my eye. I thought that was odd, as Canada Water doesn’t show that. What happened? I’d taken the westbound and was two stops away at Waterloo! :lol: :lol: :lol:. Got off and went to the other side to return, not believing that I’d made such a mistake! Finally on the right track (pun intended :D), to Canning Town where the next DLR to Gallions Reach was on the lower platforms. Leading car this time to be close to the exit, and 2-car consist as usual for the Stratford International branch. Touch out at 2154 to walk in at exactly 2200, including the time wasted going in the wrong direction :lol:.

It was a fun day in the end. The longest I’d spent bashing at the time, as well as my most ambitious. Good to get out of my comfort zone. Also happy that I’d bothered checking and noting down everything National Rail that I went on, something I often forgot to do, but have a long way to go for LUL and DLR :oops:.

£11.90 Advance tickets, £6.20 Daytripper, Total £18.10 (Oyster season used in London).
 
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Techniquest

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Welcome to the club of trip report writers! :D

Glad to see you persuaded yourself to post a trip report after all, it's been a long wait but worth it :D

I thought the exit was near the back at Gallions Reach, I could be wrong as I only stopped for a quick change of platforms to head back out!
 

hassaanhc

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Welcome to the club of trip report writers! :D

Glad to see you persuaded yourself to post a trip report after all, it's been a long wait but worth it :D

I thought the exit was near the back at Gallions Reach, I could be wrong as I only stopped for a quick change of platforms to head back out!

Cheers! I still got a few more to write, and I haven't really written much for ages :oops:.

The stairs at Gallions Reach are at the Beckton end of the platforms, but the lifts are at the opposite end! If you are on a 3-car set then you have to use the inner half of the first or last car because of the short platforms.
 

Techniquest

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No such issue when I visited, as it was a pair of units. Same issue at Elverson Road too, possibly one other place too.
 

hassaanhc

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No such issue when I visited, as it was a pair of units. Same issue at Elverson Road too, possibly one other place too.

Yes, those two along with:
Royal Albert
Cutty Sark
Used to include Pudding Mill Lane towards Stratford only until last year (has it been that long since the new station opened?!)
 

Techniquest

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Oh aye I forgot about those two!

I didn't even realise the epic changes at Pudding Mill Lane until last month's visit!
 

Kristofferson

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couldn’t find them and couldn’t see any signs for the toilets. Ended up walking outside where the taxis were and the whole length of the station trying to get back in
Near platforms 11 and 12 at the "B" end.

Some great photos there - welcome to this part of the forum... reading these is a "guilty pleasure" of mine, usually enjoyed with a cuppa to wind down after a busy day :)
 

55013

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Thanks for posting - an interesting report, that.

I like to read not only about what traction has been enjoyed but also the different approaches people have to the hobby and how they go about a day's rail based fun, so the more people posting the better as far as I'm concerned :)
 

Techniquest

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I concur, we all seem to have a bit of variety in our approaches to the hobby, which makes for an interesting read for sure! I mostly read trip reports on my commutes to/from work, makes the boring journey much more interesting!
 

hassaanhc

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Near platforms 11 and 12 at the "B" end.

Some great photos there - welcome to this part of the forum... reading these is a "guilty pleasure" of mine, usually enjoyed with a cuppa to wind down after a busy day :)
I did find them eventually... (the next time I did a Daytripper and went to New Street) :lol: :oops:


Thanks for posting - an interesting report, that.

I like to read not only about what traction has been enjoyed but also the different approaches people have to the hobby and how they go about a day's rail based fun, so the more people posting the better as far as I'm concerned :)
I'll admit that the reason I mainly wanted to go to Birmingham was to try various National Express West Midland buses :P, but the railway was not forgotten either, thanks to finding that ticket while researching :).


I concur, we all seem to have a bit of variety in our approaches to the hobby, which makes for an interesting read for sure! I mostly read trip reports on my commutes to/from work, makes the boring journey much more interesting!
Indeed :). The concept of staying overnight elsewhere is most weird to me! :lol: I prefer day trips more.


I've got much more of my next trip report written, not a lot left now!
 

hassaanhc

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So I've finally completed it after about 3 weeks :oops:

Friday 2 January 2015: South Pennines Day Ranger

The preparations for this started about 5 weeks before the date. I really wanted to finally try out a Pacer (although it didn’t happen in the end) as well as go on a range of Northern Rail Sprinters and the TPE 185s (although I’d already been on 185s). Eventually booked the outward portion for 2 January with about four weeks to go, waiting another week to choose the return as I couldn’t decide on which service, but still before I made a plan of what to go on. I was about to choose 6 January but saw that was exam week and dates hadn’t been released, which turned out to be a good call as my only exam turned out to be that day! :lol:.

So on the 2nd, I got up at 0500 to start getting ready. I’d only had about 3 hours sleep as I struggled to fall asleep, probably due to being excited or nervous! :lol: Had a shower and breakfast, and being quicker than I normally am I managed to get out at 0615. While walking the 7 minutes to Gallions Reach I managed to see the last direct Bank train of the morning go past. From start of proceedings at 0506 until 70-75 minutes later there were direct trains to each of Bank, Tower Gateway, and Stratford International each running every 10 minutes (there may have been a missing Bank train though, and they didn’t show in the timetable on the TfL website). I also missed a Tower Gateway train, touching in at 0620 to get the last Stratford International train for the next few hours. You may remember from my previous report that the timetable has since changed considerably.

The DLR was 55+97, taking the rear car in order to be near the stairs at Canning Town. Weekdays were all 2 car trains to Stratford International and 3 car to Tower Gateway, with weekdays a mix on both lines. Off at Canning Town to get 96074+96081 on the Jubilee Line, having no problems getting a seat on the journey to London Bridge. Next were 51670+51671 on the Northern Line, one of the last units to not have received the refurb which started in early 2013. These have more comfortable seats than the very minimally padded ones on the refurbished units, something also inflicted on the Jubilee Line. I don’t normally find seats to be uncomfortable! King’s Cross came soon, touching out 0704.

As my East Coast train was at 0735, I decided to use the free time to buy the South Pennines Day Ranger. Went to the ticket office, ticket issued with no problems :) even if help was needed from a more senior person standing nearby. Must say I like the ticket office, open desks rather than windows, making it easier to communicate, although I can understand the security implications. My train started boarding by 0720, on Platform 0 of all platforms! Loco 91112 with DVT 82218, taking my reserved seat in Coach C. Noticed the electrical socket so used it to put my phone on charge and keep it topped up. Setting off on time at 0735, we were soon zooming through North London and out into the country, next stop Stevenage. There I noticed a 313 pair in the next platform on a Moorgate service, didn’t know they reached there. Soon off again, slowing down around Peterborough although not calling, then Grantham being our next stop. Noticed the “Electric trains, no access to Nottingham Branch” sign just after, wonder how long of a run-up would be needed to get to Nottingham without electric :lol:. The Newark Flat Crossing was something I’d heard about, but didn’t know what it was. I had assumed it was a bog standard flat junction. I was wrong. Both lines crossed right through each other on the flat rather than one being on a bridge or in cutting/tunnel! Surprising it has lasted so long.

Arrival into Doncaster was on time at 0912. Immediately the old Class 460 coaches in the yard next door caught my eye, and I set off getting photos from the platform. My booked train to Sheffield was the 0926 stopper, which was 142070, but I decided to ditch that in favour of the TPE at 0942 as I wasn’t in the mood to try a Pacer that early :P. Time for a photo of Grand Central’s 180105, showing the headspan OHLE.

185108 was the train to take me to Manchester. It was pretty busy, so decided to take a tip-up seat. Not the best seat, with a big white thing that I can only assume is the fuel tank being in the way, although later discovered the engine is right next to it so good for the noise. Could have sat next to someone, but there weren’t really any forward facing seats left, and a lot of backwards ones. I can’t sit backwards as I feel sick. Had no issues with the ticket check, despite being on a different train to that booked. Attempted to move seats at Sheffield but someone was in the way so couldn’t get to the preferred seats quickly enough, so stayed in the tip-up seat but turned around to face forwards. Some great views of the Pennines and the Hope Valley (hope there isn’t a shortage of hope there :lol: :lol:) as well as the villages nestled next to them. At some point the engine for my coach (DMSO) switched off, which I didn’t realise until we reached around Stockport. Was slightly annoyed at that as I liked the engine noise :P. It remained off until I left the train at Manchester Piccadilly, it felt like being on an EMU when in the stop-start bit around Stockport! Arrived there 1102.

It was only after getting off I noticed the special Liverpool 2008 livery. I went around to take photos from the other platform, using the footbridge where there was the security staff checking tickets. No problems there. Only to then mess up the shot! Next thing was to look for the toilets, saw the signs but they seemed to lead to nowhere (bit of a repeat of Birmingham New Street!).

My plan was to walk to Manchester Victoria for the 1148 Leeds, and get something to eat on the way there, but I wasted so much time looking for the toilets, that I was still there by 1120. Rather than risk getting lost somewhere on the walk, I decided to take one of the free MetroShuttle buses to as close as possible to Victoria (as I noticed that none seemed to directly serve it). Boarded an all-electric Optare Solo on the 1, but stayed on for too long. Walk was still over 5 minutes from where I got off, and had to run the last bit, only just making the 1148.

This was 158908, a 2-car version, taking my seat in the centre of the leading coach. I still hadn’t eaten so was quite hungry by now, so I was going to get off at Bradford Interchange to get something to eat. Running well, until there was a points failure at Dryclough Junction and we got held there for 45 minutes. It was pretty empty until it finally arrived at Halifax, where it got busier. We finally arrived at Bradford Interchange close to 50 minutes late around 1335. Was offered a delay repay form by a member of staff but didn’t take it. Set off looking for KFC, finding it with almost no issue :D. Went for my favourite, a Zinger Burger Meal, deciding to eat in there.

Needless to say my original plan was out of the window by now. Assuming I’d got something to eat during the walk in Manchester, I’d have got the 1300 to Huddersfield. But it was now after 1400 and I’d missed the next service as well. So I decided to get away from here quickly with 158907 (adjacent number!) on the slightly delayed 1404 York service, taking that to Leeds. I remembered someone on here mentioning the litter on an embankment in that area, and sure enough there was a lot of litter there.

I found I could just about get the 1435 TPE service to Manchester Piccadilly. As it had come from Hull I was expecting a Class 170, but found 185120 working it. Found a forward-facing seat in the centre coach, however it turned out it was a bit too far away from the engine so it wasn’t as loud, and again the engine switched off! Eventually reached Manchester, where I had a short break. Finally found the toilets :lol:, hidden under some stairs or something. Three photos while waiting for my next train, including of the amusingly numbered 323232 for Hadfield and of a Pacer on a Sheffield stopping service.

Arriving at 1548 was 185121 (second consecutive numbers of the day!) for a 1557 departure back to Leeds (train for Middlesborough). While waiting on the platform I looked at a 185 in an adjacent platform to see where the engine was located, in order to sit as near to it as possbile. Turned out to be immediately next to that big white thing I mentioned earlier. Table seat, perfect for charging my phone :D. We hadn’t left yet when a girl sat opposite me, wearing a hoodie with the Britain First logo :o. Really wasn’t expecting to see that. Soon we departed, with a ticket check not long after. The guard saw my ticket and wasn’t very familiar with it, so he asked where I was going and then if it was ok that he took it away briefly to check the validity, which I let him do. A few minutes later he came back with it and said I was fine :). It had got dark by then so couldn’t see much outside, and arrived at Leeds on time at 1646.

I’d been checking earlier what was the latest I could get from Leeds to Sheffield for my booked train back to London, and it seemed to be the 1705 Northern service or the 1711 XC service. I settled on the XC, not even bothering to check what was on the 1705. During the wait I took a photo of 150272 with a moustache on the 1716 to Goole :D, remembering mentions on here about its significance. I believe it is the only service per day in that direction for a couple of stations. At the time, I thought it was the only one of the day for Goole!

I was confused while waiting for the 1711 XC service, as no A or B part of the platform was shown. It turned up as 9 car 221120+220023 which explained it. I decided to go for the 220 which had several seats free in my coach, but not before boarding the 221 and finding it busy, so a quick run back down the platform before it departed. Being my first ride on a Voyager, I just didn’t understand why people make a fuss about them. I thought the engine sounded good, the seating wasn’t cramped, nor could I find the toilet smell. Arrived at Sheffield about 40 minutes later, still not having found anything wrong with it.

That left me with 40 minutes at Sheffield. I’d thought about a bus stop bash to Meadowhall and back, but in the end I just decided to wait for my booked train, the 1829 to London St Pancras. It arrived not long after 1800 and I boarded it shortly after, being one of the 7-car 222s with First at the country end (I’d paid ~£4 extra for First). I got a whole coach to myself :D even if that one later turned out to have been declassified through handwritten notices on A3 paper (the main reason I chose that coach was because all the lights were on, unlike the fairly busy adjacent one which had most lights off). Had a good run, even if it was dark outside so nothing to see and struggled to stay awake at times as well. Again charged my phone to almost-full.

Next task after getting off was touching in at 2040 for the Northern Line to London Bridge, one of the usual refurbished ones, and was annoyed at not noting down the numbers. It was at London Bridge where things started to go wrong. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going as I was looking at my phone, and ended up on the escalator to the exit. No problem as I knew I could use another escalator to go back downstairs, and it didn’t really seem any slower than the usual interchange corridors. I saw a Jubilee Line and just getting onto it, still on my phone. After the first stop the screen caught my eye, as it said “National Rail Services”, something not shown at Canada Water. It was only then I’d realised what had happened: I’d got on the westbound Jubilee Line instead of the eastbound :lol: :oops: :lol: :oops:. Quickly off at Waterloo go back the right way this time! All the way to Canning Town for the DLR to Gallions Reach, touching out at 2128 (which is only four minutes longer than in the morning). Back home around 2135.

I quite enjoyed that day. First time I’d used a ranger ticket, and also got to see an unfamiliar area. I was looking at the Hadfield and the Buxton lines at first, but found a significant time penalty with those. Potential future plan there, along with Class 319s (that would be the Cheshire one though).

Tickets:
Advance King’s Cross to Sheffield £8.90
South Pennines Day Ranger £14.85
First Advance Sheffield to St Pancras £17.80
Oyster in London £1.85 x 2
Total: £45.25
 
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55013

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Another good read, thanks.
185s are very thirsty creatures and it's common for one coach to be shut down if the train is running on time.
I believe the driver can do this easily and fire it up again without problems if necessary.
 
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Techniquest

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Ah yes, the Eco Mode on 185s. Clever idea that!

Looks like it was an excellent day, I've never done a South Pennines Day Ranger, looks like it's a good one and I need to plan to do one eventually.

An enjoyable pre-work read for sure!
 

Kristofferson

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That was a good read, pretty varied trains and locations too! I also like the trip cost at the bottom of a report - always interesting to see how much a day on the rails costs. Maybe we should share these with the tabloids who moan that "OMG train tickets are expensive!" all the time...

By the way, check the Flickr link you posted: https://flic.kr/p/pGVHs :lol:
 

hassaanhc

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That was a good read, pretty varied trains and locations too! I also like the trip cost at the bottom of a report - always interesting to see how much a day on the rails costs. Maybe we should share these with the tabloids who moan that "OMG train tickets are expensive!" all the time...

By the way, check the Flickr link you posted: https://flic.kr/p/pGVHs :lol:

Huh, how on Earth did that happen?! :lol: :oops: :oops: Better go and change it, and remember to check next time (not different to that Jubilee Line error :D).

Seems there was a missing c on the end! Very lucky in a way, given the potential for any random photo to appear.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I've worked to make sure I complete another one, and I have done it in about 26 hours! <D

Monday 9 January: Being a Daytripper again.

Once again, like the previous Daytripper outing, I just wanted to escape somewhere and booked the Advance tickets to Birmingham the day before. Again not the cheapest LM tiers but wasn’t an issue. Certainly cheaper than Chiltern or Virgin at the time.

It was a case of waking up at 0630, and again I was a bit slow. Left about 0802 to go and touch in at Gallions Reach at 0809, with the DLR arriving at 0814 as 104+144+141 (a lot of 4’s there!). As usual I used the last car in order to be near the escalators at Canning Town. I found 96068+96069 on the Jubilee Line, certainly don’t recall seeing many of the original batch (as opposed to the four 2005 ones) being in the consecutive numbered formation. Busy again in the leading car, and this time I go for the option of Victoria Line from Green Park. There I was rewarded with 11064+11063 for the fast run to Euston, to touch out at 0859.

Had to hurry here to pick up the booked tickets as I had the 0913 departure, formed of 350127. Wanted the /3 behind it :P. Weather was again good for the northbound run, eventually arriving at Birmingham New Street at 1117 and the end of that Advance ticket.

Bought the Daytripper from a TVM, which got issued on standard orange stock. I wanted to go for a bus from either Moor Street or Snow Hill but couldn’t be bothered with the walk to Moor Street, so I went for 323214 on the 1139 Wolverhampton service, taking that to Smethwick Galton Bridge, while at the same time looking for potential good bus routes to go on. Missed a train while trying to find the correct platform, but didn’t have to wait long for 172345+172219 on the 1154 Whitlock’s End service, which was taken as far as Snow Hill where I exited the station.

Out on the street now to look for potential bus routes. The Route 9 (Birmingham to Stourbridge via Halesowen) was what was chosen, using E400 4821 (BX09PGU). Decent route, some traffic but that is to be expected on a major road. I decided to get off at Halesowen Bus Station to go toilet (in the nearby shopping centre), and then thought about taking the 9 again to Stourbridge. But I got confused by looking at other routes, and ended up on the 141 towards Merry Hill Centre, using another E400 4805 (BX09PFD). This was taken to Cradley Heath, although I went a stop too far. The Interchange there was being rebuilt which made the stop to get off at difficult to judge (it was a temporary stop immediately after turning right which no one wanted to get off at). Luckily not that long a walk back.

Now I went to the station to check the next train, and it was about a 10 minute wait for the 1324 to Whitlock’s End via Birmingham. Quite cold so the waiting room was welcome, and also found a Chiltern Railways timetable booklet. What turned up was 170632+153354 :o instead of the 172 I was expecting :( later finding out that this is a booked diagram. I didn’t see the 153 when I was on the platform, so I took a seat in the 170. Slow, sounded boring, interior seemed quite cramped and dirty and also felt dark because of the solid partition next to the doors instead of glass. I’ve found the Southern 171 interior cramped too. Really didn’t like it. Although the spelling mistake of “Smethwicj Galton Bridge” was very amusing :lol: which incidentally where was where I got off ;).

Missed the 87 while I was leaving the station, but it is a frequent route so after a few minutes Gemini 4708 (BU06CXB), one of the refurbished ones, turned up. Was quite hungry and had found a KFC in Smethwick, hence this move :D. Got stuck in some traffic on the way, and got off about two stops too early by the Windmills Shopping Centre, but didn’t have to walk far. After eating at KFC it was time for another 87, this time to Birmingham. Unfortunately I didn’t note down the number, but it was a 51-reg B7TL ALX400, which I was quite happy to get. Think it may have had working heating as well. Got off the bus on Smallbrook Queensway in order to go to Birmingham New Street station.

After the long walk around to enter into the station, I was in the mood for a Class 323, taking the front coach of 323207+323201 on the 1455 for Lichfield Trent Valley. It was good to be somewhere warm so didn’t want to leave the train, and stayed on until Lichfield City, further than I should have (remember that the Daytripper area finishes at Butlers Lane, and didn’t check this until I got home :|). Nice open spaces once we got past Blake Street. At Lichfield I ended up with a 13 minute wait and sat in the waiting room, eventually getting 323203+323217 on the 1545 back to where I started, arriving at 1622 and it was pretty much dark by now. Better check the validity next time, even if I’d left my map at home (should have got another one).

Time for a walk to Moor Street via the shopping centre, which I hated. I was not aware of the route through that tunnel underneath the shopping centre, and it was raining. 172336 on the 1701 Dorridge was located, getting pretty busy, and was taken as far as Solihull. Had to wait no time at all for 168106 back on the 1724 to Birmingham Snow Hill, taken right to the end.

I had about 70 minutes until my booked train back, the 1854 from Birmingham New Street (although Advance was booked from Coventry), changing onto the 1953 at Rugby. I decided to use up that time by taking 172341 on a Stratford upon Avon via Whitlock’s End service, which was about 2 minutes late. I was keeping an eye on where I could take it before coming back in time for my booked train. I went for a tight connection at Whitlock’s End, normal arrival was 1810 for the 1817 back (Birmingham Moor Street at 1839), but we continued to lose time and arrived at 1816.

I almost left at Shirley but didn’t, and that was a major error. Being at the opposite end of the platform to the stairs there was no way I could get around to the other platform, with loads of people in the way and having to use the road bridge to get around. That mistake cost me my booked train back, and left me with a 20 minute wait in the middle of nowhere. I was pretty upset at having done that, and somewhere with nothing nearby. Had to do nothing but wait in the cold until the terminating train arrived at 1830, and left on time at 1837 on a Stourbridge Junction train (all stations except Small Heath and Bordesley). I’d decided to shell out for a new ticket rather than take a risk being on a different train to that I’d booked, and I’d had enough of London Midland 350s, so I went to Birmingham Snow Hill.

After being £19.15 lighter (Super Off Peak Return to London Route via High Wycombe), more than the previous tickets combined, I boarded the 1914 to Marylebone (with an additional call at Olton), which was 3-car 168214. Charged my phone with the sockets provided, and used Wi-Fi for my tablet. Being pitch black outside, not much could be seen. Stations like Lapworth and Hatton seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, seems both are unstaffed too, although Hatton does have a Permit to Travel! Wasn’t particularly keen on the engine sound, but at least it was warm. At High Wycombe I noticed the restored old sign, and “Formerly the Junction for the Marlow and Maidenhead Lines”, which made me feel quite sad actually. Turns out it was uncovered only a few years ago. Non-stop run from there to Marylebone, and it was quite mean having our train arriving in Platform 6 which already had 4 cars of Turbo, so we ended up with the longest walk in the station! :P

Topped up £6.25 to turn the -£1.25 into £5, and touched in at 2122 for the southbound Bakerloo Line. Then I changed to the Jubilee Line which had 96043+96098 for the 21 minute journey to Canning Town (which always feels longer than that). The very bouncy track on the 1970s section doesn’t help, and it miraculously turns smooth at the junction with the 1990s section just past Green Park. At Canning Town it was downstairs for the DLR which had come from Stratford International, getting consecutives 138+139 to Gallions Reach. Was good to have one of the new ones, which I prefer, and I touched out at 2209, arriving in my room at 2215. That gave a total time outside of 14 hours and 13 minutes.

Certainly could have done without that additional expense, but now I had a return portion to Birmingham which meant another Daytripper had to be done at some point. I was beginning to have enough of those! No photos this time round either!

Total cost:
Advance Euston to Birmingham New Street £6.25
Network West Midlands Daytripper £6.40
Advance Coventry to Euston £6.25
Super Off Peak Return Birmingham Stations to London Terminals £19.15 (an expensive lesson in not playing it safe with moves, at least it didn’t happen with the extortionate MML prices :o)
Total should have been £18.90 but turned out a whopping £38.05 :(
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Another good read, thanks.
185s are very thirsty creatures and it's common for one coach to be shut down if the train is running on time.
I believe the driver can do this easily and fire it up again without problems if necessary.
Yeah I've seen a bit about that. It seems in hindsight they could have got away with unpowered middle coaches if engines are that powerful, but good acceleration is also a bonus. The only DMU class I've travelled on loads is the FGW 165/166, which, being used to EMUs on both LUL and on the National Rail network, seem painfully slow!


Ah yes, the Eco Mode on 185s. Clever idea that!

Looks like it was an excellent day, I've never done a South Pennines Day Ranger, looks like it's a good one and I need to plan to do one eventually.

An enjoyable pre-work read for sure!
I thought that of all people you'd have done that one :lol:. Better clear your 185s and various other stuff in the area! ;)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
That was a good read, pretty varied trains and locations too! I also like the trip cost at the bottom of a report - always interesting to see how much a day on the rails costs. Maybe we should share these with the tabloids who moan that "OMG train tickets are expensive!" all the time...

By the way, check the Flickr link you posted: https://flic.kr/p/pGVHs :lol:
I was concentrating more on going on new lines than on getting a high number of units, HST power cars, or locos. Whatever I went on that day fitted within one side of my A6 notebook.
However, I could do that with any local fleets here in London! It would have been ideal if I'd started noting down the 165, 166, 450 and 455 units last year, but even starting this year isn't too bad. Maybe I need to stop thinking about having been on them previously, something that I always assume when I get on something, and instead should count them as new :?.
 
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Techniquest

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If you know you've had it before, count it! Doing well so far considering you only started properly this year!

There's lots of rangers and rovers I've never done, don't forget that until 2010 I spent most of my time doing HSTs, and for a long time until late 2010 I didn't have a job, so cranking was difficult to do! Making up for lost time but it takes a while :lol:
 

Techniquest

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Kite159, you make it sound like people are waiting outside with knives or guns!

Lapworth and indeed Hatton are indeed remote places, with nothing of interest around (same for a lot of the stations on the North Warwickshire line, except for a garden centre with cafe near Earlswood. On the border of the Daytripper area if that's of any help) but they are more commuter villages than owt. Certainly they're boring places to be hanging around at, but nothing to be concerned about!
 

hassaanhc

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They are in the middle of nowhere, Lapworth is somewhere you don't want to be waiting around for long

Kite159, you make it sound like people are waiting outside with knives or guns!

Lapworth and indeed Hatton are indeed remote places, with nothing of interest around (same for a lot of the stations on the North Warwickshire line, except for a garden centre with cafe near Earlswood. On the border of the Daytripper area if that's of any help) but they are more commuter villages than owt. Certainly they're boring places to be hanging around at, but nothing to be concerned about!

Haha! I'm not one to go ticking off stations so being remote is nothing to worry about for me :D. Whitlock's End wasn't much different, and I shouldn't have ended up there.

Meanwhile, for the next report I started writing it but had exams so haven't completed it. However, the exams finished on Thursday so I should be getting a move on with them!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Tuesday 20 January 2015: Sleepless Night

A few days earlier I’d used up a delay repay voucher I managed to get thanks to a cancellation and later delays on FCC’s last day of operation. This allowed me to get a Z1-6 weekly season for less than my usual Z1-5 weekly, so the plan was to clear as many of the Travelcard area lines as possible.

One such opportunity presented itself early on the 20th, after I had taken a nap during the evening before and found myself unable to sleep that night! A plan was made for the first two branches then the rest would be depending on how I was feeling.

So the moves started off on this cold morning (-1C temperature when I left so wrapped up warm) with my local night bus route, the N551 (Gallions Reach Shopping Park to Trafalgar Square). I went for the last bus, timetabled at 0535 at my stop Gallions Reach Station (timetable has since changed), and E400 DN33621(SN11BNJ) turned up on time, not my preferred 13-reg but it’ll do. This route often has issues with punctuality, and this occasion was no different. The last bus can pick up quite a lot of passengers and hit early morning traffic, which loses it time. We were 5 minutes late at Canning Town, about 6 miles into the 13 mile long route. A further 3 minutes lost in the next mile, which extended to 11 minutes late after the approach to the Tower of London, becoming 15 minutes late at Bank. That is still better than my worst occasion, where we left the first stop at Trafagar Square 18 minutes late (previous working arrived 6 mins after scheduled departure of this one) and arrived at Gallions Reach Station 28 minutes late!

Back to the occasion in hand, I got off at Mansion House Station, which is not directly served normally, falling halfway between two quite distant stops, but a diversion via Blackfriars instead of St Paul’s Churchyard meant that we did. Leaving the bus at 0638, 15 minutes later than timetabled, I quickly went downstairs into the station to get an eastbound District Line 7059+7504 on the very short bus-stop-bash to Cannon Street. Emerging into the mainline concourse at 0643, the next train to London Bridge wasn’t until 0650, which put an end to me getting the 0653 London Bridge to Caterham and Tattenham Corner.

Or did it? It was 465194+465017 that took me on the hop to London Bridge, during which I was looking at my next options. After quickly using the toilet facilities on P1, that were days from closure, I went around to the lower level after having found that the 0702 Uckfield service would overtake the 0653 all stations that I’d missed. Time to board 2-car 171721 for a third consecutive one stop journey, this time to East Croydon, also finding out that the 0702 was one of the few Uckfield trains to call at Sanderstead, Riddlesdown, Upper Warlingham and Woldingham. We left a minute late and arrived 2 late, but it still left me with 3 minutes to make the connection.

It was 455822 (Caterham) and 455802 (Tattenham) that greeted me on what was now the 0722 from East Croydon. I took my seat in the fairly warm motor coach of the Caterham portion, and we proceeded down the line to Purley where the units were split. I used this opportunity to watch how they split 455s, before getting back on. Always seen SWT attach both side pipes but Southern only did one side. It was close to sunrise now but being an extremely cold morning there was a lot of frost on the grass along the Caterham Valley, which was quite beautiful. As expected the temperature was lower here, at -5C. After Kenley we hit jointed track, something I wasn’t expecting, and this remained until just after Whyteleafe South. All these intermediate stations on the branch have “SDO6” boards, so platforms are very short here by London standards. Arrival into Caterham was on time at 0749, which left me with more than enough time to take a quick photo.


Southern 455822 on the 0801 Caterham to London Victoria by Hassaan Chaudhry, on Flickr

Being very cold I quickly went back onto the train, again taking my seat in the motor coach. It was good to see people pressing the door close button after themselves. We departed as the 0802 to London Victoria (which changed to 0758 the following week). This direction had less jointed rail, just between Whyteleafe and Kenley. Arrival at Purley was on time at 0813 to attach to the back of 455804 that had come from Tattenham Corner, but not before we were given the opportunity to leave the train. Later I found it to be one of the few 455 workings to run fast between East Croydon and Clapham Junction, oh well.

Time to walk around via the subway to await the delayed 0813 from London Bridge, splitting to the 0817 Caterham (455830) and 0819 Tattenham Corner (455823). These didn’t arrive until after 0820, and we finally left on the rear portion about 6-7 minutes late. My feet completely froze while waiting for this train, I couldn’t feel them anymore :o. My trainers, while comfortable, don’t really protect from the weather, and rain gets in. As usual I chose the motor coach, and found the heating most weird. The low ceiling end of the coach had no heating, while the middle and other end had it on very slightly, which did nothing to warm up my feet. This branch also has all stations (except the terminus and almost certainly the quite new Coulsdon Town) as SDO6. The route was quite decent, it wasn’t the straightest of routes but luckily the linespeed wasn’t low in those places. Arrival at Tattenham Corner was at 0852, after we should have left again at 0850 for London Bridge!

I didn’t leave the train to take a photo, instead I decided to try and see what the heating was like in the TSO. It was extremely warm! So I did something unusual and decided to stay in that trailer coach, taking the nearest forward facing seat to the inner end (where the MSO was) and soon enough my feet finally started to thaw. This one was a through working as a single unit, and started to get busy as time went on. I remained on it all the way to London Bridge because it was warm, arriving about 0944 (on-time PTT but 3L WTT :D). After Purley it called at East Croydon, Norwood Junction and London Bridge only.

As I wasn’t feeling tired at the time, I saw I had an hour to get to South Ruislip for the weekday service to London Paddington via the Park Royal single track. So it was time to get the Jubilee Line to Baker Street, and make the cross-platform change for the one stop to Marylebone. I should have checked for delays beforehand because a broken down train out near High Wycombe had messed things up. The 1025 for High Wycombe was the only train that would get me there on time, and it left 10 minutes late, although I still had about 10 minutes leeway. This was 165008, calling only at Wembley Stadium before South Ruislip.

There was no platform number showing on Real Time Trains, but I saw several people (including the guard) waiting on my platform 3 (our arrival platform) but no one on platform 1. So after helping a lady with a pushchair down the stairs I went back up and sure enough 165006 turned up on that platform after coming down the slow line (going by the “SL” designation on Real Time Trains). We boarded it and guard announced the train was for London Paddington only, but didn’t set the PIS. The line itself was fairly boring, just paralleling the Central Line, and with sections of what must have been 5mph, although jointed track was there. Joined the mainline right next to the Old Oak Common electric depot, so that is what the extra bridge a few metres from the main GWML one is for. At Paddington I took photos:


Chiltern Railways 165006 on the 1136 London Paddington to West Ruislip by Hassaan Chaudhry, on Flickr


London Paddington Station Display by Hassaan Chaudhry, on Flickr

Found 360205 in Heathrow Express livery in Platform 10 working a Heathrow Connect service.

Next move was to make my way to the Praed Street section of the subsurface lines, that is, the Circle and District lines. Always end up with a several minute wait down here, and this time was no exception, before an unidentified S Stock on the Circle Line took me round to Victoria. Wanted to complete the Epsom Downs branch but there was 30 minutes until the next train so I decided to take a look on the Southeastern side. It was 375810 chosen which was on the 1207 for Dover Priory, and this was taken to the first stop, Bromley South. First time for me taking a train out of Victoria on this side and also on the lines we went down. Not busy at all on this single unit.

I was in 319 mood by now, so a 7 minute wait bought me 319426 with white vinyls but pink doors, on the 1230 Thameslink service for West Hampstead Thameslink :P. This route via Catford is faster than I thought, although anything is faster than the Thameslink route via Streatham (or especially the Streatham Hill to Crystal Palace line <(). Even found a RPI on It :o. I’ve noticed that 319s often seem to put me to sleep, and this was no exception. I was struggling to keep awake and actually fell asleep, as I only noticed we had reached Blackfriars when we were pulling away from here :oops:. So 319451+319384 had to be taken for the 14 chains back to Blackfriars, working the 1303 to Brighton.


Thameslink 319426 on the 1200 Sevenoaks to West Hampstead Thameslink by Hassaan Chaudhry, on Flickr

LUL time again, so consecutive D Stock units 7026+7027 were found. I was thinking about where to get off, Tower Hill was my choice but for some reason I didn’t leave there, instead ending up at Aldgate East and having to come back on 7530+7033. Then I left the station to go to Fenchurch Street and on Class 357s in c2c land. I had just missed a train so it was about 10 minutes before 357015 left on the 1400 to Shoeburyness via Basildon. Of course I couldn’t go that far out on a Travelcard, and in any case my plan was to only go as far as Upminster. I have done this stretch of line before though. At Upminster I noticed I had about a minute or so for the next Romford train, so I ran round to somehow make it onto 317503 on the 1434 to Romford. This was my first 317 and the interior was in need of TLC, but it is still better than some other units. Not the easiest of lines to complete because of how out of the way it is, so it was good I managed it. Nothing special on this line however!

At Romford it was about 5 minutes until 315838+315861 arrived towards London on the 1438, taking a seat in 315838. I’d been on this stretch of line before, but at night, so it was technically a new line for me ;). It was a good run to Stratford (on a 315 as well, quite liking the compressor sound :D) where I took the leading car of DLR 55+93 back to Gallions Reach as I was tired of it all. I believe that at this time I didn’t know it was less than a month before the timetable changed and most of the Stratford International branch trains would be diverted to Woolwich Arsenal. Arriving back in at about 1530 meant that I’d been out for almost 10 hours :o.

Ticket:
7 day Zones 1-6 season with 18+ discount, normally £41, but used a £4.30 RTV so I only paid £36.70, less than the usual £38.20 for my Z1-5 season.
 
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Techniquest

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Very good trip, good thing you didn't fall asleep then find yourself on a non-stop run to Sevenoaks or something!

I had to go all the way to Gerrards Cross as it ran non-stop from Paddington to there when I did it!
 

hassaanhc

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Took me a long time to complete this one thanks to being busy, but I've managed it.

Tuesday 27 January 2015: Daytripper No. 3

Because of the error I’d made almost 3 weeks previously that left me with a return portion of a Super Off Peak ticket from Birmingham to London, I had to do a third Daytripper. I had my eye on the 1015 off Marylebone which is a loco-hauled working. However, I managed to oversleep and miss it, which was not an issue because of the walk-up ticket :lol:, although I was annoyed at having done that. The return was an Advance that I booked a week previously, the cheapest £4.95 tier on Virgin. I remember that I wasn’t really in the mood to go at one point, but I went anyway, also deciding to pay the £1.25 excess to Any Permitted to get there quicker with Virgin, even if there was disruption out of Euston that morning (also to be near the NWM office and get a Daytripper on their stock).

After getting ready quickly, I left about 1011 to go and touch in at Gallions Reach at 1018. It was 149+137 that greeted me on a Stratford International service, always good when I get a B07 consist, which was taken to Canning Town. From there it was 96088+96075 on the Jubilee Line to Green Park in my usual leading coach, and an unidentified 09 stock to Euston, where I touched out after 46 minutes at 1104. After making it upstairs I needed to visit the ticket office to get the excess, and the queue seemed very long, but it was moving pretty quickly. When I was almost there a man came up asking us nearest the front if he could be let in front, as he needed to get to Manchester quickly for a funeral. Someone else let him go in front, which was just as well, as I’d have made a tit of myself because I’d misheard him and thought he was asking for money :o. Hope he made it there in time. I asked for the excess and the guy serving me knew what he was doing, although he’d forgotten it was now super off peak time as he’d added in an off peak excess too, which I queried and he remembered that super off peaks were indeed valid at that time :P. I had £2.50 in my mind but £7.50 and “Off Peak Return” came up on the screen which I knew wasn’t right :).

After being £1.25 lighter I quickly made my way P16 for 390118 which was on the 1123 to Birmingham New Street, calling additionally at Rugby because the 1103 was cancelled due to power supply problems in the Wembley area. After getting on board I took a forward facing airline seat towards the front half of Coach F, changing seats once to see if I could get more window in, before moving back as I wanted the window to extend behind me too. There was a LO unit stabled in the adjacent AC-only P15 with pan up, something not normally needed to be used in that area by LO. We were off roughly on time, but used the slow line at first and got delayed by about 10 minutes. Cannot fault the info from the crew really. I had been itching to go on a Pendolino for a while and the ride didn’t disappoint. First time in Standard on one for me, and the seats were slightly hard. It wasn’t very busy for most of the distance but did start to fill up once we got closer to Birmingham. Still about 10 minutes late at Birmingham, where I grabbed a cheeky shot of the interior.

After that shot it was time to quickly go use the toilet facilities in the station, having found out where they were the previous time :lol:. Then to get the Daytripper ticket costing £6.40 from the NWM office, also getting a couple of bus maps and a missing LM timetable or two (still didn’t get the Euston Lines one for some reason). First move was 323218 on the 1313 to Longbridge, taken the whole distance (not forgetting that you can’t go beyond there anyway on a Daytripper). Still don’t get why along the four-track section only two tracks are wired, despite there being gantries covering all four tracks. Must have saved pennies but lost quite a bit of flexibility :?.

I did think about getting another train back but in the end went for a bus. The choice was between a 45 to Birmingham or a 49 to Solihull. While I was waiting the several minutes for either to turn up I found myself thinking “what am I doing here?” The area didn’t seem the best and I thought I shouldn’t have gone this way. Anyway, ALX400 Trident 4165 (Y763TOH) turned up on the 45 for the lengthy journey to Birmingham via Kings Norton and Edgbaston. Not long afterwards a scroat boarded that went around etching most of the upstairs windows, remaining on board most of the distance to Birmingham, which didn’t help my earlier feelings. Maybe I should have waited for the 49 after all. Scenery itself wasn’t bad at first, but once we reached Redditch Road and Pershore Road we seemed to hit pockets of traffic, something that remained all the way to Birmingham, where I got off outside the Bullring Markets. Still, I got to see Edgbaston Cricket Ground :D.

As I’d had enough of a bus I walked the short distance to Moor Street Station, where almost immediately 168113 greeted me on the bus stop bash to Snow Hill at 1435. At this time 168113 was the last remaining 168 in the blue and white livery, as well as not being refurbished, so it was a bonus to get this. Then I thought about getting a Midland Metro tram but I just missed one and wasn't in the mood for waiting about 10 minutes in the cold, so went for a train instead. I selected the 1443 Worcester Foregate Street train. I noticed it was 4 cars, and remembered from diagrams posted here that the 170+153 should be in the area. My guess was right as 153365+170630 turned up, and I went to take a seat in the 153, feeling annoyed at having found that diagram again! :P It was my first time on a 153 and immediately I found it stank of damp. Wasn’t impressed by the very high window line either, as well as the lack of heating or the sound of the engine. Still, I remained in there right until Stourbridge Junction where I left using the other end door to see what the unit was like. Time to go around to the bay platform, where 139002 produced for the 3 minute journey to Stourbridge Town. People were waiting in a sort of queue, which meant I didn’t get a seat, but again it isn’t an issue for a 3 minute journey! As it was all downhill that way I was not able to hear what the engine sounded like.

Rather than go back again, I made my way over to the bus station, where E400 4801 (BX09PDY) turned up on the 9 to Birmingham. Readers may remember I did that route from Birmingham to Halesowen the previous month. I was hoping for E400 thrash, but I didn’t get any as usual. Some narrow roads but this end of the route was decent. I got off at Halesowen in order to get something to eat from Asda (but didn’t in the end), and managed to miss not one but two single deckers on the 9 :(. Was most annoyed at that. Then I got ALX400 Trident 4351 (BX02AVF) on Route 9 again to go back to Birmingham, despite having used that route already. I managed to get stuck in a lot of traffic in Birmingham City Centre, must have wasted at least 15 minutes in it.

After having got away from the bus at Snow Hill I visited Sainsbury’s briefly to finally get a sandwich, and then made my way to the pretty busy station to get consecutive units 172332+172331 on the 1713 Stourbridge Junction stopper, which was taken to Smethwick Galton Bridge. I again got lost trying to find the downstairs platform and managed to miss a train. Waited on a pretty dark platform for almost 10 minutes to get more consecutive units, 158828+158827 which split at Shrewsbury with the front unit continuing to Llandudno. They were absolutely wedged until I got off at Wolverhampton, not a comfortable journey at all. Being busy made it delayed, so I had to hurry around to get 350245 on the 1750 Walsall via Birmingham New Street stopper, which was loaded at a more comfortable level. Nothing special there, it was dark and I’d already done this route. I do recall arriving in the recently reopened Platform 1 at Birmingham New Street, where I left to use the station facilities :P.

I still had about 70 minutes until my booked train back, and there was no way I was going to miss it this time :lol:. I found that I could do the 1839 stopper to Birmingham International and get back again in time, so I took 323205, one fitted with LED interior lights. It was very lightly loaded, and after Lea Hall I had the whole leading coach and probably the whole train to myself. After taking photos of both the inside and the outside I made my way to 158831+158833 on the 1905 to Chester. Very impressed by the interior refurbishment of these, must be one of my favourite interiors, and also liked their sound. Arrival at Birmingham New Street was 2 minutes early at 1915 but still I made my way round to the booked train back to London.

I got 390126 on the 1930 to London Euston and decided to go to the shop in Coach C to see if there was anything good, but it wasn’t open at the time. So I made my way to my reserved seat E 36, which had a perfect window alignment :D. The seat next to me was reserved too but no one turned up. About a minute before departure the shop opened so I went back. After a lot of thinking I just decided to get a kit kat :oops:. Back to my seat and I managed to fall asleep, before being awoken by a “tickets please” from the guard :lol:. Ticket check went fine and I remained awake all the way to Euston.

Immediately after arriving at Euston I noticed we ended up on the same island as the sleeper. So I decided to go for a quick look inside a lounge car, also noticing the old fashioned twist handle, and then slammed the door shut afterwards, managing to scare the daylights out of someone nearby :lol:. I thought I’d hang around to hear an announcement for it but it seemed there wasn’t going to be one, so at 2115 I touched in and took Northern Line 51677 on a Southbound to London Bridge. There I changed to the Jubilee Line, going the correct way this time! :P After arriving at Canning Town it was 2-car 60+65 from the lower level platforms at Canning Town to take home to Gallions Reach, touching out at 2159 and getting in about 2205, giving me 11 hours and 54 minutes outside.

To be honest, this trip was pretty boring thanks to not having a clear plan, and I thought it was time to take a break from doing Daytrippers. I haven’t done one since (although did visit Birmingham on a Great Escape). Also good not to have another costly mistake :P

Tickets:
Return portion of a Birmingham Stations to London Terminals Route: Via High Wycombe. Excessed to Any Permitted £1.25
Network West Midlands Daytripper £6.40
Advance Birmingham New Street to London Euston, Virgin Trains £4.95
In London a Zones 1-6 weekly travelcard was used.
Total: £12.60, although the travelcard and the return portion doesn’t paint a realistic picture ;)
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Very good trip, good thing you didn't fall asleep then find yourself on a non-stop run to Sevenoaks or something!

I had to go all the way to Gerrards Cross as it ran non-stop from Paddington to there when I did it!
It was only a northbound for West Hampstead Thameslink so I wouldn't have gone far without getting chucked out ;).


Nice and varied London day out there... That early morning start doesn't sound fun mind!
The early start the day before was more annoying, as it involved getting up at 5 to get to uni in time for a 9am lecture, whereas this one was for something I really wanted to do :lol:. Good to get the Caterham and Tattenham Corner branches out of the way as they can have quite long layovers there at times (well, anything over 10 minutes :P), but the real bonus was the Chiltern service, given that I often struggle to get up early enough for things like that.
 

Techniquest

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Another good read, shame you had to endure some of the less than nice population in Birmingham though!

The PPMs (ie, the 139s) are more interesting going uphill, although still nothing exciting really. A 153 up the bank used to provide some good thrash, a highlight of a visit to the Midlands, that's going back a few years now mind!
 
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