-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
55013's Contemporary Trip Reports
- Thread starter 55013
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Very nice bit of work there, I need almost all the Ashton line shacks. New Islington and Ashton West being the only ones I've done yet, as I needed a ton of track at the time.
As I said to Fishquinn on Monday, every time I read a trip report from Manchester I get ridiculously jealous. Your trip report is no exception, I want to get back up there so badly!
As I said to Fishquinn on Monday, every time I read a trip report from Manchester I get ridiculously jealous. Your trip report is no exception, I want to get back up there so badly!
I get moves envy with just about every trip report I read on here.
"Ooooh, I must do that next, no wait I'll go where he's just gone. Oh hang on, that other bloke's moves look like fun" and so on and so forth
Techniquest
Veteran Member
So do I, but Manchester especially lately has got me wanting to go. I suppose needing 67 Metrolink trams really doesn't help!
Come Friday I'll be having a major sort out and booking of trips, lots to get booked and the sooner the better!
Come Friday I'll be having a major sort out and booking of trips, lots to get booked and the sooner the better!
Are you counting the ones above 3111 that aren't in service yet?
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I am indeed, saves adding them to the lists each and every time a new one enters service!
Alright! In that case I need 49 up to 3120.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Sounded like a rather good day in Manchester there Mr 13
After yesterday's extravaganza I'm down to a mere 90 of the 120, so I should be able to get a couple more moves in before I start having to hunt for requirements.
It was indeed. Most productive and very enjoyable.
Sounded like a rather good day in Manchester there Mr 13
It was indeed. Most productive and very enjoyable.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
You need the same number as I do! That I was not expecting, although I will be changing my requirements next weekend...
Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,132
You're not kidding!
Cracking reports there - 68s, 323s, 37s, (actual) trams and a Satsuma? Rather brilliant days out
45135
Member
- Joined
- 15 Dec 2014
- Messages
- 107
muh muh muh my Pomona (with apologies to "The Knack")
Manchester Tram 3086_2016.03.26_1_Pomona by Phil Wood, on Flickr
Damn, you beat me to the Knack reference!
(or should it be the The Knack...)
Techniquest
Veteran Member
The Knack reference still has me creased up!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I've never really listened to the lyrics, I must confess! However that might have to change later...
Keith Jarrett
Member
I'd forgotten your 2016 challenge - and very kind of Mrs 13 to throw you out for the day to try to get important things such as this back on track
Don't worry, you are not the only one who needs Manchester trams by the lorry-load.
With a few big moves planned, it looks like achieving my target might be possible after all and if the figures dont look good come November/December, itll be back to Manchester I go
Those big moves sound interesting and with the prospect of a fallback visit to Manchester to boost the numbers if the railway gods are not kind to you, I'm sure that 366 will be achievable by the year's end.
The day in Manchester sounded like an excellent way to spend a few hours and the fact that you managed so many winners in the form of shacks tracks and trams was just the icing on top of your cake. Great read as ever.
I've never really listened to the lyrics, I must confess! However that might have to change later...
Well, some it of sounds a bit, shall we say, 1970s DJ.
"Always get it up for a touch of the younger kind" is more than a little cringe making.
As is my wont I've done a bit of research and the Sharona in question (who was 17 at the time when the now deceased lead singer of the Knack, aged 25, wrote the song) is an estate agent who has a house selling website which in no way plays up her link with that song.
It's at http://mysharona.com/ - no, really!
Thanks, it's very handy having so many potential winners on my doorstep, I must admit.
Last edited:
DarloRich
Veteran Member
The GCR gala sounds like fun - shame i missed it but with a new house to pay for it don't have much spare cash. There is also NO way the o/h will go to a preserved railway for a diesel day. She will go if i promise a steam train though which is how I got a decent 37 run in on the NYMR 
It was excellent and there's more heritage lines to come as the diesel gala season gets into full swing
My wife doesn't mind doing the odd round trip but definitely won't do full galas.
I once took her to an ELR event (late 2004 or early 2005) and when we arrived at Ramsbottom heading towards Rawtenstall for the second time she looked puzzled and said "haven't we been here before?"
"Yes, and we'll be coming through here a few more times before we've finished"
Cue Mrs 13 bailing out for a solo look around Ramsbottom
She's not asked to accompany me since
My wife doesn't mind doing the odd round trip but definitely won't do full galas.
I once took her to an ELR event (late 2004 or early 2005) and when we arrived at Ramsbottom heading towards Rawtenstall for the second time she looked puzzled and said "haven't we been here before?"
"Yes, and we'll be coming through here a few more times before we've finished"
Cue Mrs 13 bailing out for a solo look around Ramsbottom
She's not asked to accompany me since
Our second holiday of the year is always in the second week of April, around the date of our wedding anniversary, and this year was no exception.
Last year we went to Newcastle and this time it was to the other end of the country, Portsmouth.
An uneventful drive down on Saturday the 2nd saw us arrive at our luxury hotel, the Ibis Budget adjacent to Fratton depot.
Unfortunately, it’s also next to Portsmouth FC’s ground, they were at home and we got there bang on 16.45, full time.
We ended up parking in Tesco’s car park for half an hour and letting the massed ranks of supporters make their way out as we couldn’t get into to hotel CP due to all the taxis using it to pick folk up.
Ibis Budget rooms are not the most spacious in the world, but it was only somewhere to doss at night and was comfortable enough.
The hotel was very quiet too, which was nice.
Once a spot had been found in the car park, that was it for the week, no more driving for me.
Being five minutes walk from a station had its advantages
We were up bright and early on Sunday and after a hearty breakfast at a nearby Harvester we made our way round to Fratton station for the first train of the week.
As with several other required shacks, Fratton is a place I’ve actually visited before and what’s more I have a date – it was the 4th of May 1988.
This was a Wednesday and I’d not been back into the hobby long.
I was working most weekends at the time, so when I saw an advert for a BR Merrymaker I just had to go for it.
I had made a few mates since I had restarted but none were available so it was a solo move.
Pre all line rovers, not to mention the internet, meant that I had no knowledge of the area I was visiting, I was just hoping to have a good day out and get a few winning EMUs for sight.
85021 took the train from Manchester Piccadilly and it was almost empty.
It seemed that all the people booked on it were sat together in one coach.
When the guard came through he told us that we could sit anywhere we wanted as no more punters were expected.
It was a long rake of mark 1s and, being the type that likes his own company, I moved into a coach by myself
85021 gave way to 47637 at Coventry and I bailed at Portsmouth and Southsea.
Here’s where things went a bit wrong.
I bought a return to Fratton as I wanted to view the depot.
What I didn’t know was that class 33s ruled the roost on Portsmouth to Cardiff trains.
I should have gone after a couple of those.
I got an EMU to Fratton, the number is unrecorded – hence my finally getting Fratton in the book officially, and as I was getting off I spotted 33029 leaving on a passenger train to Portsmouth Harbour.
That grabbed my interest as I thought Portsmouth was a loco free zone, uneducated oaf that I was.
I naturally caught the next EMU back to Southsea to try and establish what was going on.
33029 came back and I wanted to see where it was going, I had no idea of the timetable so didn’t know where it went, or how frequent the loco hauled services were.
I decided that I would go for the mega mileage leap to Portsmouth Harbour on the next loco.
I mooched down to the ticket office and disaster.
There was only one window open and the old lady in front of me took ages, wanting to buy an old persons return to Thurso, going out via Newcastle and returning via Plymouth, travelling next Monday and returning in June, paying partly with Persil vouchers.
It was something like that, anyway. The bit about Persil vouchers is definitely true.
When I eventually got my ticket I legged it up the stairs only to see 33027 “Earl Mountbatten Of Burma” thrashing away from the platform.
Bah doesn’t cover it.
I never did get 33027, so those 66 chains would have made all the difference.
I had no time for the next Crompton, 33209 wouldn’t have got to the Harbour before 47637 left on the return to Manchester.
85021 worked back from Coventry and I’d had an enjoyable time, although it had been marred by the farce that still ranckles to this day.
Anyway, I digress, back to modern moves, with a greater knowledge base and easier access to information, but alas no hourly locos.
Dud 444007 was taken from Fratton to Portsmouth Harbour and we went off to explore the area.
We planned on doing the Dockyard but the queues were massive and we figured it would be quieter during the week and so my wife suggested we head over to Brighton.
Never one to turn down the opportunity of a bonus train ride I didn’t disagree and the first winner of the week, 377465 was done from one South coast city to another.
377465 at Brighton:
EMU 377465_2016.04.03_Brighton by Phil Wood, on Flickr
Following a sea front walk and a visit to a museum we headed back to Pompey on 377160.
Due to it being a Sunday, the supermarket near the hotel was closed by this time so we stayed on the 377 to the Harbour in order to visit a shop nearby that we knew to be open until 11pm.
After getting back to the station we saw a pair of 444s about to leave, so ran round and jumped into the rear coach of 444028, which had dud 444020 on the front.
I had identified the front unit as we had made our way down platform one, going from the entrance round to platform 3.
Between the Harbour and Fratton there were precisely no announcements so we were unaware that the platforms at Fratton aren’t long enough for ten coach trains.
We came to a halt and I looked out of the window.
I could see the depot, so knew where we were, but there was no platform on the other side.
Suddenly it dawned on me.
We grabbed our bags and ran through three coaches, making it to a door adjacent to the platform just as the train started to move.
Bah.
I’ve no doubt that the PIS at Harbour showed that you have to use the front seven coaches for Fratton, but we didn’t have time to look at that as we dived on.
So on train announcements (which occurred on every other appropriate train we did during the week), would have been nice.
They say it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good and the first stop we could get off at was required, as was the unit we rode in back to Fratton
It was 444030 trailing dud for the day 444007 that we joined at Havant
This time there were plenty of announcements and we made sure we were in the right place to be able to get off.
There were no ticket checks between the two places and so no need to explain to the guard.
We wanted to visit Osbourne House on Monday and so I worked out a plan.
Obviously we couldn’t go to the Isle of Wight and not sample what the Island Line had to offer.
Of the ten 483 originally sent to the island, I’d had three when we holidayed there in 2005: 483007, 483008 and 483009.
Sets 1, 3, 5 and 10 have been scrapped and number 2 is stood on Ryde depot in a pretty derelict stated.
This meant that to have a perfect visit 4 & 6 needed to be the two working that day.
The day began with dud 444014 to the Harbour, then it was down the ramp and onto catamaran “Wight Ryder 1” for the short but enjoyable trip over to the island.
Another short stroll up to the platform at Ryde Pier Head was followed by winner 483006.
EMU 483006_2016.04.04_3_Ryde Pier Head by Phil Wood, on Flickr
Nice, now if only 483004 is on the other diagram.
Osbourne House doesn’t open until 10am, so I had taken the liberty of buying us through tickets to a required station, just to kill some time you understand.
We did number 6 to Brading and had a short wait before the other set pulled in.
Get in!
EMU 483004_2016.04.04_1_Brading by Phil Wood, on Flickr
483004 was duly taken back as far as Ryde Esplanade and the bus to Queen Victoria’s old gaff.
Apparently, there’s talk of 483002 receiving an overhaul at some point in the future, but for now that’s the 483s out of the way.
I saw number 2 on Ryde depot and it’s in no state to go back to work unless and until it receives major attention.
I recorded the identity of the bus, just for those that are interested, it was number 1993.
It was actually quite nice, for a bus, and the journey to Osbourne House passed fairly quickly.
After clearing the house and gardens (Including Vicki’s personal toilet – which gave me the opportunity to do the “royal we(e)” joke) it was the same bus (either that or all the IoW buses have “1993” on the front and above the door, I really didn’t pay that much attention).
The timetables could do with a bit of a shake up as the hourly bus from Osbourne House, one of the islands biggest tourist attractions, arrives at Ryde Esplande about two minutes before the hourly ferry sets off from the Pier Head.
This meant we had a bit of time to kill, so after doing 483006 to the Pier Head we did it again back to Esplanade and then walked up the pier
Dud boat Wight Ryder 1 whisked us back to Portsmouth before 377424 powered us to Fratton.
This has been quite lengthy so far and there's still a bit to come, so I think I'll leave it there for a while, it's not War and Peace.
Part 2 will follow when I've written it
Last year we went to Newcastle and this time it was to the other end of the country, Portsmouth.
An uneventful drive down on Saturday the 2nd saw us arrive at our luxury hotel, the Ibis Budget adjacent to Fratton depot.
Unfortunately, it’s also next to Portsmouth FC’s ground, they were at home and we got there bang on 16.45, full time.
We ended up parking in Tesco’s car park for half an hour and letting the massed ranks of supporters make their way out as we couldn’t get into to hotel CP due to all the taxis using it to pick folk up.
Ibis Budget rooms are not the most spacious in the world, but it was only somewhere to doss at night and was comfortable enough.
The hotel was very quiet too, which was nice.
Once a spot had been found in the car park, that was it for the week, no more driving for me.
Being five minutes walk from a station had its advantages
We were up bright and early on Sunday and after a hearty breakfast at a nearby Harvester we made our way round to Fratton station for the first train of the week.
As with several other required shacks, Fratton is a place I’ve actually visited before and what’s more I have a date – it was the 4th of May 1988.
This was a Wednesday and I’d not been back into the hobby long.
I was working most weekends at the time, so when I saw an advert for a BR Merrymaker I just had to go for it.
I had made a few mates since I had restarted but none were available so it was a solo move.
Pre all line rovers, not to mention the internet, meant that I had no knowledge of the area I was visiting, I was just hoping to have a good day out and get a few winning EMUs for sight.
85021 took the train from Manchester Piccadilly and it was almost empty.
It seemed that all the people booked on it were sat together in one coach.
When the guard came through he told us that we could sit anywhere we wanted as no more punters were expected.
It was a long rake of mark 1s and, being the type that likes his own company, I moved into a coach by myself
85021 gave way to 47637 at Coventry and I bailed at Portsmouth and Southsea.
Here’s where things went a bit wrong.
I bought a return to Fratton as I wanted to view the depot.
What I didn’t know was that class 33s ruled the roost on Portsmouth to Cardiff trains.
I should have gone after a couple of those.
I got an EMU to Fratton, the number is unrecorded – hence my finally getting Fratton in the book officially, and as I was getting off I spotted 33029 leaving on a passenger train to Portsmouth Harbour.
That grabbed my interest as I thought Portsmouth was a loco free zone, uneducated oaf that I was.
I naturally caught the next EMU back to Southsea to try and establish what was going on.
33029 came back and I wanted to see where it was going, I had no idea of the timetable so didn’t know where it went, or how frequent the loco hauled services were.
I decided that I would go for the mega mileage leap to Portsmouth Harbour on the next loco.
I mooched down to the ticket office and disaster.
There was only one window open and the old lady in front of me took ages, wanting to buy an old persons return to Thurso, going out via Newcastle and returning via Plymouth, travelling next Monday and returning in June, paying partly with Persil vouchers.
It was something like that, anyway. The bit about Persil vouchers is definitely true.
When I eventually got my ticket I legged it up the stairs only to see 33027 “Earl Mountbatten Of Burma” thrashing away from the platform.
Bah doesn’t cover it.
I never did get 33027, so those 66 chains would have made all the difference.
I had no time for the next Crompton, 33209 wouldn’t have got to the Harbour before 47637 left on the return to Manchester.
85021 worked back from Coventry and I’d had an enjoyable time, although it had been marred by the farce that still ranckles to this day.
Anyway, I digress, back to modern moves, with a greater knowledge base and easier access to information, but alas no hourly locos.
Dud 444007 was taken from Fratton to Portsmouth Harbour and we went off to explore the area.
We planned on doing the Dockyard but the queues were massive and we figured it would be quieter during the week and so my wife suggested we head over to Brighton.
Never one to turn down the opportunity of a bonus train ride I didn’t disagree and the first winner of the week, 377465 was done from one South coast city to another.
377465 at Brighton:
EMU 377465_2016.04.03_Brighton by Phil Wood, on FlickrFollowing a sea front walk and a visit to a museum we headed back to Pompey on 377160.
Due to it being a Sunday, the supermarket near the hotel was closed by this time so we stayed on the 377 to the Harbour in order to visit a shop nearby that we knew to be open until 11pm.
After getting back to the station we saw a pair of 444s about to leave, so ran round and jumped into the rear coach of 444028, which had dud 444020 on the front.
I had identified the front unit as we had made our way down platform one, going from the entrance round to platform 3.
Between the Harbour and Fratton there were precisely no announcements so we were unaware that the platforms at Fratton aren’t long enough for ten coach trains.
We came to a halt and I looked out of the window.
I could see the depot, so knew where we were, but there was no platform on the other side.
Suddenly it dawned on me.
We grabbed our bags and ran through three coaches, making it to a door adjacent to the platform just as the train started to move.
Bah.
I’ve no doubt that the PIS at Harbour showed that you have to use the front seven coaches for Fratton, but we didn’t have time to look at that as we dived on.
So on train announcements (which occurred on every other appropriate train we did during the week), would have been nice.
They say it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good and the first stop we could get off at was required, as was the unit we rode in back to Fratton
It was 444030 trailing dud for the day 444007 that we joined at Havant
This time there were plenty of announcements and we made sure we were in the right place to be able to get off.
There were no ticket checks between the two places and so no need to explain to the guard.
We wanted to visit Osbourne House on Monday and so I worked out a plan.
Obviously we couldn’t go to the Isle of Wight and not sample what the Island Line had to offer.
Of the ten 483 originally sent to the island, I’d had three when we holidayed there in 2005: 483007, 483008 and 483009.
Sets 1, 3, 5 and 10 have been scrapped and number 2 is stood on Ryde depot in a pretty derelict stated.
This meant that to have a perfect visit 4 & 6 needed to be the two working that day.
The day began with dud 444014 to the Harbour, then it was down the ramp and onto catamaran “Wight Ryder 1” for the short but enjoyable trip over to the island.
Another short stroll up to the platform at Ryde Pier Head was followed by winner 483006.
EMU 483006_2016.04.04_3_Ryde Pier Head by Phil Wood, on FlickrNice, now if only 483004 is on the other diagram.
Osbourne House doesn’t open until 10am, so I had taken the liberty of buying us through tickets to a required station, just to kill some time you understand.
We did number 6 to Brading and had a short wait before the other set pulled in.
Get in!
EMU 483004_2016.04.04_1_Brading by Phil Wood, on Flickr483004 was duly taken back as far as Ryde Esplanade and the bus to Queen Victoria’s old gaff.
Apparently, there’s talk of 483002 receiving an overhaul at some point in the future, but for now that’s the 483s out of the way.
I saw number 2 on Ryde depot and it’s in no state to go back to work unless and until it receives major attention.
I recorded the identity of the bus, just for those that are interested, it was number 1993.
It was actually quite nice, for a bus, and the journey to Osbourne House passed fairly quickly.
After clearing the house and gardens (Including Vicki’s personal toilet – which gave me the opportunity to do the “royal we(e)” joke
) it was the same bus (either that or all the IoW buses have “1993” on the front and above the door, I really didn’t pay that much attention).The timetables could do with a bit of a shake up as the hourly bus from Osbourne House, one of the islands biggest tourist attractions, arrives at Ryde Esplande about two minutes before the hourly ferry sets off from the Pier Head.
This meant we had a bit of time to kill, so after doing 483006 to the Pier Head we did it again back to Esplanade and then walked up the pier
Dud boat Wight Ryder 1 whisked us back to Portsmouth before 377424 powered us to Fratton.
This has been quite lengthy so far and there's still a bit to come, so I think I'll leave it there for a while, it's not War and Peace.
Part 2 will follow when I've written it
Last edited:
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Interesting news on 483002, I had been informed it was out of service but didn't believe it. It shall remain, however, on my needs list until I get confirmation it's gone mind. Which leaves just 483008 for me to get if I ever go back, which is unlikely but still possible as I need an excuse to go down there and enjoy the hovercrafts again
Apart from that minor farce on the 444s, and arriving at an awkward time on the drive down, it looks like it's been a good time so far.
Mega ouch to the 33s on your original trip mind, but well jealous of the 85. I think we've all tales of missed opportunities in the early days of bashing, mine would be not noting all the 87s and 90s, and even a 31/4, when doing many Stockport leaps back in May 2004. Oh wouldn't my books look so much better now...
Apart from that minor farce on the 444s, and arriving at an awkward time on the drive down, it looks like it's been a good time so far.
Mega ouch to the 33s on your original trip mind, but well jealous of the 85. I think we've all tales of missed opportunities in the early days of bashing, mine would be not noting all the 87s and 90s, and even a 31/4, when doing many Stockport leaps back in May 2004. Oh wouldn't my books look so much better now...
Thanks, it's true we all regret stuff we've missed.
It doesn't stop me regularly kicking myself about it, though.
Anyway, I've been busy today so still have lots of trip reports to read, which I'm looking forward to, but in the meantime I've managed to finish mine off, so here goes:
Tuesday was the day we had decided upon for my solo outing.
In the distant past you could get a Southern Daysave online, but nowadays it’s a bit trickier.
I had jumped through all the hoops - joined a secret society, learned the necessary passwords, solved the cryptic puzzles, sacrificed a virgin to Beelzebub and spoken to Debby at Lewes Tourist Information Centre, thus ensuring I had my Daysave well before we had set off on holiday.
I had decided that the most productive use of this, surely the most at risk of tickets, would be chasing those units that rarely stray far from the South Coast.
To put it another way, class 313/2s.
One of the downsides of this ticket, other than the aforementioned problems in actually acquiring the damn thing, is that you can’t use it before 10am.
I like to be out well before that and so my day began with a return to Portsmouth Harbour, using 377128 out and 450079 back before I purchased a single to Brighton and set off on my first PEP of the week.
It was dud 313212 that did the deed.
This wasn’t too bad as my only previous experience of this unit was when I’d done it from Brighton to Hove and back on my previous Daysave move, so now I could have a good run on it, not to mention riding in the third coach of the set and clearing it.
That was some compensation, but I still had seven units on my wants list, so was hoping some of them would feature later.
Once at Brighton I made my way over to the East side platforms to see what was working on the Seaford line.
I had a short wait until 10am arrived and then I boarded another dud, 313207, which joined 313212 in the completely cleared club.
Although I was after new units, I hadn’t forgotten shacks and as usual I picked one that appealed to me because of its name.
313207 left me behind at Moulsecoomb where I strolled over and picked up my first new 313 of the day, 313209.
This was taken for the short trip to London Road and then picked up again for a more substantial run to Bishopstone.
I bailed here as it gave me one of my favourite photo opportunities, the view of the unit climbing the hill from Seaford.
Here is one of favourite photography locations:
EMU 313209_2016.04.05_4_Bishopstone by Phil Wood, on Flickr
When I got back on board I naturally went in the only coach of the unit that I hadn’t yet ridden in, taking it from required to cleared in little more than an hour.
En route to Bishopstone I had passed both the unit on the Lewes shuttle, which was dud, and the third Seaford set, which was required, so I had decided to bail at another new shack, Newhaven Town and pick up 313216 there.
This was done throughout to Seaford and then back to Brighton as I intended to go over to the other side of the station.
313208 was first up, on the Hove shuttle.
Dud but Hove has free toilets and after a morning on 313s I needed to pay a visit.
313205 was up next, to Lancing, followed by 313213 to Southwick
I had spotted another of my requirements and worked out how to get it.
313214 was taken from Southwick to another new station, West Worthing and then back to Worthing in order to pick up 313219.
313219 was taken as far as Barnham so I could view the units going to Bognor and Littlehampton.
By now the weather had taken a turn for the worse and it was chucking it down, so I did two returns to Bognor on dud sets, first 313217 and then 313204.
I was now heading back to Fratton and did it on two consecutive 313 worked services, firstly wanted 313211 was very nice as far as Southbourne and then ten minutes later 313201 became the latest unit to be cleared as I took it back to my starting point.
Not a bad day out, my 313/2 needs list had dropped from seven to three, I’d roped in six new shacks and had a couple of bonus winners first thing in the morning.
On Wednesday it was back to the holiday proper.
We did 313208 from Fratton to Portsmouth Harbour and spent the next few hours looking round HMS Victory, doing a harbour boat tour and finishing with another boat trip to the submarine museum which is part of the Historic Dockyards complex.
We had decided to go for tea at a Toby Carvery and there’s one ten minutes walk from a nearby station and so it was dud pairing 444006 and 444039 to Hilsea.
Plenty of announcements about which coaches to be in for this station and so we had no problems
After we had stuffed our faces it was dud 450037 back to Fratton.
When I had bought my Daysave for the Tuesday I had also ordered two for Thursday.
This was because my devious little mind is always on the lookout for move opportunities and I had spotted one.
We started by getting a single to Hilsea and returning to the Toby for a full breakfast.
This was done on 313211, dud from Tuesday.
After breakfast it was gone 10am and our Daysavers were valid.
Unrequired 313204 was taken as far as Barnham where we changed onto 377130 to Arundel.
We had a castle on the agenda and they don’t come much more impressive than the one at Arundel.
A few hours were spent exploring the building and then it was back to the station.
Whilst waiting for our train brand new 387208 and 387209 came through on test.
These will replace my beloved 442s on the Gatwick Expresses, of course, so a bit of fist shaking was done.
Actually, this was only in my head as Mrs 13 would have walked off and pretended she didn’t know me if I’d really done it
Dud for the day 377130 reappeared to take us on the next leg of our trip.
We had decided to go and check out Littlehampton.
The 377 was running late and so we had no choice but to bail at Ford and pick up our connection there.
It was another dud for the day unit, 313204, that turned up.
Still it was new track and Littlehampton was another shack scratch, so no complaints from me.
Littlehampton is a dump.
We had a seafront stroll, the most notable part of which was us disturbing a young lady getting a bit, er, hands on, with a young chap in one of the shelters.
I’m sure we were popular
Once back at the station my wife had had enough of chopping and changing and so it was 313205 all the way back to Fratton.
Friday was our wedding anniversary and we decided to visit Southsea Castle, one of Henry VIII’s South coast defences, built because some of our European neighbours weren’t happy with a few of his decisions and he was worried they might invade.
We got there by way of 313201 to Portsmouth & Southsea and then a very enjoyable walk.
On the way we passed another required 313 going to Brighton.
I had consulted RTT and worked out its likely turns for the rest of the day, all I needed was the opportunity.
After viewing the castle and having a walk along the front we strolled back towards the harbour.
My wife was aware of the requirement and said she was OK with a train trip and so RTT was once again brought into play.
We had the return portion of our ticket from the morning, so I worked out the best move was something from Harbour to Fratton where we could buy a return to a suitable place and catch the first thing to there.
444043 worked the first leg, followed by 377146 from Fratton to Chichester.
My reading of RTT proved to have been correct and 313202 arrived to take us back to Fratton.
We weren’t finished with trains, though.
We were going out for an anniversary meal and it was that romantic hotspot of the Hilsea Toby Carvery that was calling us.
Triple requirements 450562, 450570 and 450085 were taken out and finally 450033 took us back after the meal.
On Saturday we headed home, however there was a certain event in Peterborough that I fancied attending and so that’s where we headed.
Obviously, if I had been on my own I would have spent all day at the NVR, but I wasn’t and so something else was on the agenda.
A place that we have both fancied visiting for a while now, Flag Fen, about three miles from Peterborough station.
This is the remains of a Bronze Age settlement and observing the leftover bits of a kilometre long causeway, built over three thousand years ago, not to mention boats of a similar vintage was highly enjoyable.
The whole place is well worth a visit for anyone interested in history.
As much as I enjoyed Flag Fen I kept one eye on the clock.
We actually managed to get round in plenty of time and soon we were off for the short drive into Peterborough.
After parking up my wife went off to look round the shops while I walked over to the Nene Valley’s Peterborough terminus.
I hadn’t been there long when my first goal arrived.
I met Mr 45135 on the platform as he had come down for the day and together we enjoyed 60066 to Orton Mere before crossing over and doing 66768 back.
66066_2016.04.09_2_Peterborough by Phil Wood, on Flickr
66768_2016.04.09_4_Peterborough by Phil Wood, on Flickr
Much shorter runs on the two locos than I would have liked, but beggars can’t be choosers and I was just happy to have had the chance to rope them in.
I bade farewell to 45135 and made my way back to the car and my good lady.
After that it was a further two hours driving until we got home and another holiday was over and done with.
So, in summary, I had managed two new locos, five 313s, six 377s, two 444s, five 450s, two 483s, thirteen winning shacks and a host of things that my wife and I did.
Saturday the 9th was the one hundredth day of the year and my total scores now stand at one hundred and six, meaning that I made it to that milestone date ahead of my target, something that I would have thought impossible at the end of February when my total winners was a paltry thirty.
It’s looking possible now
It doesn't stop me regularly kicking myself about it, though.
Anyway, I've been busy today so still have lots of trip reports to read, which I'm looking forward to, but in the meantime I've managed to finish mine off, so here goes:
Tuesday was the day we had decided upon for my solo outing.
In the distant past you could get a Southern Daysave online, but nowadays it’s a bit trickier.
I had jumped through all the hoops - joined a secret society, learned the necessary passwords, solved the cryptic puzzles, sacrificed a virgin to Beelzebub and spoken to Debby at Lewes Tourist Information Centre, thus ensuring I had my Daysave well before we had set off on holiday.
I had decided that the most productive use of this, surely the most at risk of tickets, would be chasing those units that rarely stray far from the South Coast.
To put it another way, class 313/2s.
One of the downsides of this ticket, other than the aforementioned problems in actually acquiring the damn thing, is that you can’t use it before 10am.
I like to be out well before that and so my day began with a return to Portsmouth Harbour, using 377128 out and 450079 back before I purchased a single to Brighton and set off on my first PEP of the week.
It was dud 313212 that did the deed.
This wasn’t too bad as my only previous experience of this unit was when I’d done it from Brighton to Hove and back on my previous Daysave move, so now I could have a good run on it, not to mention riding in the third coach of the set and clearing it.
That was some compensation, but I still had seven units on my wants list, so was hoping some of them would feature later.
Once at Brighton I made my way over to the East side platforms to see what was working on the Seaford line.
I had a short wait until 10am arrived and then I boarded another dud, 313207, which joined 313212 in the completely cleared club.
Although I was after new units, I hadn’t forgotten shacks and as usual I picked one that appealed to me because of its name.
313207 left me behind at Moulsecoomb where I strolled over and picked up my first new 313 of the day, 313209.
This was taken for the short trip to London Road and then picked up again for a more substantial run to Bishopstone.
I bailed here as it gave me one of my favourite photo opportunities, the view of the unit climbing the hill from Seaford.
Here is one of favourite photography locations:
EMU 313209_2016.04.05_4_Bishopstone by Phil Wood, on FlickrWhen I got back on board I naturally went in the only coach of the unit that I hadn’t yet ridden in, taking it from required to cleared in little more than an hour.
En route to Bishopstone I had passed both the unit on the Lewes shuttle, which was dud, and the third Seaford set, which was required, so I had decided to bail at another new shack, Newhaven Town and pick up 313216 there.
This was done throughout to Seaford and then back to Brighton as I intended to go over to the other side of the station.
313208 was first up, on the Hove shuttle.
Dud but Hove has free toilets and after a morning on 313s I needed to pay a visit.
313205 was up next, to Lancing, followed by 313213 to Southwick
I had spotted another of my requirements and worked out how to get it.
313214 was taken from Southwick to another new station, West Worthing and then back to Worthing in order to pick up 313219.
313219 was taken as far as Barnham so I could view the units going to Bognor and Littlehampton.
By now the weather had taken a turn for the worse and it was chucking it down, so I did two returns to Bognor on dud sets, first 313217 and then 313204.
I was now heading back to Fratton and did it on two consecutive 313 worked services, firstly wanted 313211 was very nice as far as Southbourne and then ten minutes later 313201 became the latest unit to be cleared as I took it back to my starting point.
Not a bad day out, my 313/2 needs list had dropped from seven to three, I’d roped in six new shacks and had a couple of bonus winners first thing in the morning.
On Wednesday it was back to the holiday proper.
We did 313208 from Fratton to Portsmouth Harbour and spent the next few hours looking round HMS Victory, doing a harbour boat tour and finishing with another boat trip to the submarine museum which is part of the Historic Dockyards complex.
We had decided to go for tea at a Toby Carvery and there’s one ten minutes walk from a nearby station and so it was dud pairing 444006 and 444039 to Hilsea.
Plenty of announcements about which coaches to be in for this station and so we had no problems
After we had stuffed our faces it was dud 450037 back to Fratton.
When I had bought my Daysave for the Tuesday I had also ordered two for Thursday.
This was because my devious little mind is always on the lookout for move opportunities and I had spotted one.
We started by getting a single to Hilsea and returning to the Toby for a full breakfast.
This was done on 313211, dud from Tuesday.
After breakfast it was gone 10am and our Daysavers were valid.
Unrequired 313204 was taken as far as Barnham where we changed onto 377130 to Arundel.
We had a castle on the agenda and they don’t come much more impressive than the one at Arundel.
A few hours were spent exploring the building and then it was back to the station.
Whilst waiting for our train brand new 387208 and 387209 came through on test.
These will replace my beloved 442s on the Gatwick Expresses, of course, so a bit of fist shaking was done.
Actually, this was only in my head as Mrs 13 would have walked off and pretended she didn’t know me if I’d really done it
Dud for the day 377130 reappeared to take us on the next leg of our trip.
We had decided to go and check out Littlehampton.
The 377 was running late and so we had no choice but to bail at Ford and pick up our connection there.
It was another dud for the day unit, 313204, that turned up.
Still it was new track and Littlehampton was another shack scratch, so no complaints from me.
Littlehampton is a dump.
We had a seafront stroll, the most notable part of which was us disturbing a young lady getting a bit, er, hands on, with a young chap in one of the shelters.
I’m sure we were popular
Once back at the station my wife had had enough of chopping and changing and so it was 313205 all the way back to Fratton.
Friday was our wedding anniversary and we decided to visit Southsea Castle, one of Henry VIII’s South coast defences, built because some of our European neighbours weren’t happy with a few of his decisions and he was worried they might invade.
We got there by way of 313201 to Portsmouth & Southsea and then a very enjoyable walk.
On the way we passed another required 313 going to Brighton.
I had consulted RTT and worked out its likely turns for the rest of the day, all I needed was the opportunity.
After viewing the castle and having a walk along the front we strolled back towards the harbour.
My wife was aware of the requirement and said she was OK with a train trip and so RTT was once again brought into play.
We had the return portion of our ticket from the morning, so I worked out the best move was something from Harbour to Fratton where we could buy a return to a suitable place and catch the first thing to there.
444043 worked the first leg, followed by 377146 from Fratton to Chichester.
My reading of RTT proved to have been correct and 313202 arrived to take us back to Fratton.
We weren’t finished with trains, though.
We were going out for an anniversary meal and it was that romantic hotspot of the Hilsea Toby Carvery that was calling us.
Triple requirements 450562, 450570 and 450085 were taken out and finally 450033 took us back after the meal.
On Saturday we headed home, however there was a certain event in Peterborough that I fancied attending and so that’s where we headed.
Obviously, if I had been on my own I would have spent all day at the NVR, but I wasn’t and so something else was on the agenda.
A place that we have both fancied visiting for a while now, Flag Fen, about three miles from Peterborough station.
This is the remains of a Bronze Age settlement and observing the leftover bits of a kilometre long causeway, built over three thousand years ago, not to mention boats of a similar vintage was highly enjoyable.
The whole place is well worth a visit for anyone interested in history.
As much as I enjoyed Flag Fen I kept one eye on the clock.
We actually managed to get round in plenty of time and soon we were off for the short drive into Peterborough.
After parking up my wife went off to look round the shops while I walked over to the Nene Valley’s Peterborough terminus.
I hadn’t been there long when my first goal arrived.
I met Mr 45135 on the platform as he had come down for the day and together we enjoyed 60066 to Orton Mere before crossing over and doing 66768 back.
66066_2016.04.09_2_Peterborough by Phil Wood, on Flickr
66768_2016.04.09_4_Peterborough by Phil Wood, on FlickrMuch shorter runs on the two locos than I would have liked, but beggars can’t be choosers and I was just happy to have had the chance to rope them in.
I bade farewell to 45135 and made my way back to the car and my good lady.
After that it was a further two hours driving until we got home and another holiday was over and done with.
So, in summary, I had managed two new locos, five 313s, six 377s, two 444s, five 450s, two 483s, thirteen winning shacks and a host of things that my wife and I did.
Saturday the 9th was the one hundredth day of the year and my total scores now stand at one hundred and six, meaning that I made it to that milestone date ahead of my target, something that I would have thought impossible at the end of February when my total winners was a paltry thirty.
It’s looking possible now
Last edited:
D841 Roebuck
Established Member
What a good holiday!
Love the photo at Bishopstone. I don't do photting anymore, but might be tempted to take one there.
Getting into gala season with a vengeance, now...
Love the photo at Bishopstone. I don't do photting anymore, but might be tempted to take one there.
Getting into gala season with a vengeance, now...
Techniquest
Veteran Member
An excellent second part there, although I noticed a couple of things:
It's Seaford, not Seaforth as you mention just above the Bishopstone photo (gorgeous shot!), it's a long way to Merseyside for the 313!
You also apparently scored 313219 twice that afternoon!
So how does one obtain one of the best value tickets in the world now?
It's Seaford, not Seaforth as you mention just above the Bishopstone photo (gorgeous shot!), it's a long way to Merseyside for the 313!
You also apparently scored 313219 twice that afternoon!
So how does one obtain one of the best value tickets in the world now?
Keith Jarrett
Member
That holiday sounded great - a perfect combination of relaxation with the OH and a bit of bashing thrown in. Seems like the Railway Gods were on your side, especially when it came to bagging those 483s. But they were caught napping on that 10-car Arkwright.
Would very much appreciate it if you could give the relevant codewords for that elusive travel product - even if it is by PM. Thanks in advance.
Would very much appreciate it if you could give the relevant codewords for that elusive travel product - even if it is by PM. Thanks in advance.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
interesting reading. I do like the pier station at Ryde and the boat ride other.
Thanks chaps.
To get a Southern Daysave you have to phone either Lewes Tourist Information Centre on 01273 483448 or Seaford TIC on 01323 897426.
I used the former although Debby seemed to be the only one there that actually knew anything about the ticket.
They're not standard tickets and are clearly marked as "Southern Daysave" so I reckon they're just using up the stock and then it'll be game over.
You have to order them at least five days before you intend to travel.
Ominously, two guards had never heard of them, so it seems like new starters aren't even being told they exist, which doesn't bode well.
To get a Southern Daysave you have to phone either Lewes Tourist Information Centre on 01273 483448 or Seaford TIC on 01323 897426.
I used the former although Debby seemed to be the only one there that actually knew anything about the ticket.
They're not standard tickets and are clearly marked as "Southern Daysave" so I reckon they're just using up the stock and then it'll be game over.
You have to order them at least five days before you intend to travel.
Ominously, two guards had never heard of them, so it seems like new starters aren't even being told they exist, which doesn't bode well.
A superb read there! You were very lucky with the 483s too! It must have been a mega disappointment on your first trip to miss 33027 (which has one of my favourite crompton names) though. You weren't really missing out on much with the lower mileage on 60066 and 66768 - you couldn't really hear the donut and the blue death is... well... A blue death! It's 47712 you missed out on!
- Status