andyb2706
Member
Tuesday 24th May 2016
Well the day has finally arrived, after a month without going out on a mega trip and withdrawn symptoms definitely kicking in I am up before the alarm and preparing for the final part of my 3 Capitals tour and my Scottish adventure. I do the three Ss (Shower, shave and.......sneeze) and ensure I have everything in my bag that I will need for the two days (undoubtedly I will realise I have forgotten something just as I approach Edinburgh Ed), put the cats food down for the two days and then head off for the 20 minute walk to the tram stop on a gloriously sunny morning as I arrive at Brooklands I just miss a tram but I think having yet to buy my ticket and only 6 minutes to wait for the net tram I am not fussed. I board dud 3013 for the trip to Deangate-Castlefield and it is surprisingly quieter than I had expected. During the journey I realise I am feeling hungry so first thing on the agenda when I arrive at Manchester Piccadilly is to get some breakfast.
On arriving at Deangate-Castlefield I have a couple of minutes to wait for my tram forward to Piccadilly and notice that since the Astley time I was here the stop has got a lot greener withe the plating of trees, anyhow a pair of dud trams arrive in the form of 3071 and 3067, I board the former for my trip to Piccadilly.
Breakfast time! So at Piccadilly I nip into Sainsburys to get a bit of fruit and then head to Costa for a coffee, however after seeing the news reports this last week about the paper cups scandal and about how much is not recycled I want to buy a travel mug but I could not see any available so in the interest of doing my bit or the environment I sacrificed my Costa for a Starbucks and purchased a mug and coffee from there before heading to Greggs for a porridge. My good deeds done for the day (protecting the environment and healthy breakfast) I hed to the station for my train and notice that there is a service to York in 6 minutes (0811) from platform 13, just enough time to head over there. A large section of the glass partition between the platforms and concourse has now been moved in preparation for fitting ticket barriers. One platform 13 the train arrives and is formed of dud units 185136 and 185133, I climb aboard the rear unit for my trip to York where I finally have my breakfast, as I am sat here a nice feeling comes over me in the thought that in a couple of years I could be doing this run on LHCS behind a class 68.
At York I have 12 minutes to wait for my onward journey. I cant remember the last time I went to Edinburgh on the East Coast as I usually get the direct services from Manchester but I am glad I did as required 91102 rolled in on the 0953 to Edinburgh, first score of the trip.
After a nice relaxing trip up the East Coast with a coffee and a bag of hand cooked crisps I know I was trying to eat healthier but long as I keep within my calorie allowance I should be fine(and miss seeing Lord Spoon at Newcastle who apparently was waving wildly as my train passed by sorry about that -Ed) I arrive at Edinburgh on time and in the sunshine. After taking a picture of my steed that had brought me here I peruse the units present and I seem to need them all.
First things first. Something healthy to accompany my Tuna Pasta so a visit to M&S and I depart with a fruit and carrot pack and head to the train. The first to leave is the 1230 to Inverurie formed of required 170430 so I board the train knowing that I need Leuchars for a shack, however it is only then I realise that it is a 55 minute journey so I bail at Haymarket and only have to wait a few minutes for required 158734 to arrive so I board for a shorter trip to Kirkcaldy.
Arriving at Kirkcaldy I thought I had already been here but I have no records of it, unless it was before I started shack bashing, so now its in the book and scratched off. Here I have a 16 minute wait for my next train to take me to Glenrothes with Thornton. Required unit 158730 arrives to take me on to my next shack.
At Glenrothes with Thornton I am confused for a few minutes as there are 2 platforms and I want to head back where I came from but RTT says it is the same platform!? I spent a few minutes pondering over this until I noticed the departure board and it said the same. It was a 11 minute ester so my confusion ate up 5 of those minutes and it wasnt long for required 158702 to arrive to take me on to Kinghorn, thats another shack that bite the dust.
With the stations on the Fife Circular going down nicely I continue on this vain and cross the platforms for the next available train, which after 15 minutes is required 170458 operating a service to Glenrothes. I remain on the train once it reaches its destination as its next job is down the other side of the Fife Circular so I remain on it as far Rosyth.
On leaving the train at Rosyth (another new shack) I only have a 5 minute wait for a train back in the direction I had just come, unfortunately when it arrived it was a dud 158730 which I had earlier in the day. I board the train and at least I know that at the end of the journey I would have another new shack to put in my book.
On arriving at Cardenden (shack 5 for the day Ed) I leave the dud and cross to the opposite platform when only after a few minutes normal service was resumed when required 158724 arrived to take me a couple of stops down the line to Cowdenbeath, only 5 stops now left on the Fife Circular.
At Cowdenbeath I have 28 minute wait for my train so there is just enough time to nip into Morrisons to get something for tea before heading back to the station, where only a few minutes later required 158726 arrives to take me forward. Now the plan had been to change at a required shack on the way to Edinburgh Waverley but I would have been really tight for me to be back at Edinburgh to get one of the two trains that was at the heart of my trip up here. So I remain on board the train back to Edinburgh.
Arriving at Edinburgh 1 minute ahead of schedule I have 12 minutes until my train is due so I dont have to rush to get to platform 2 and was able to watch required 68006 snake into the station with its carriages behind it. I climbed on board in the coach behind the locomotive and at 1720 it started its journey to Cardenden although I only remained on the train as far as Inverkeithing where I left the train and bumped into 2 fellow enthusiasts who when I got nattering to them were doing the exact same thing as myself and who turned out to be two fellow work colleagues who were based in the Midlands. We carried on nattering away about loco hauled trains, SVR Diesel Gala and anything else railway related and before we knew it dud 158731 was arriving to take the three of us to our next Connection.
At Burntisland we leave the train and I score another new shack and we cross over to the opposite platform waiting for the 1834 to Edinburgh to arrive and not long after required 68007 arrives and we take up the obligatory seats in the front coach right behind the locomotive for the thrash back to Edinburgh. But at Haymarket I bid them farewell and safe journey home as I left the train to go and check in to my B&B for the night.
A short 20 minutes later (yes I was that close to the station, about 5 minutes walk each way Ed) I walk back at Haymarket and had decided on knock off a few more stations on the Fife Circular before the night was out. So required 170395 arrived and I boarded the train for a journey that would take me to new shack of Dunfermline Town.
At Dunfermline Town I only have a 9 minute wait for required 158723 to take me back, now let me say something about this unit. It appears to have had a bit of a spruce up inside and everything seemed refreshed and it was the only 158 I have been on today that was fitted with USB charge points, no plugs, at every seat. On the return trip I notice a military C-130 parked nose on at the remote stand at Edinburgh airport, unfortunately I was not able to identify it and it wasnt there on my trip up. Also it was the first time I had noticed they were building a train station for the airport, how I missed it is have no idea as it is well progressed so when that is opened I will need another visit to bag it.
At South Gyle I leave the train and score yet another shack and with having only 2 stations left had originally planned to go out to Lochgelly and leave Delgety Bay until tomorrow morning but checking the times of the trains if I did Lochgelly tonight I wouldnt get back to Haymarket until just before 2300, however with an extra 10 minute wait at South Gyle I can do a return trip to Delgety Bay and be back at Haymarket before the return journey from Lochgelly departs! No contest I wait the extra 10 minutes at South Gyle and dud 158870 arrives to take me to Delgety Bay, where after a 10 minute fester required 170473 arrives to take me back to Haymarket and the end of a successful day, however on the trip back I realised that I had 13 red pens today and was considering to head into Edinburgh Waverley and pick up another red pen so that it wasnt stuck on the unlucky number.....nah!! At Haymarket I left the train and headed to my digs for the night.
NEW TRACK
Aberdour to Thornton South Junction
Dunfermline Queen Margaret to Thornton South Junction
NEW SHACKS
Burntisland, Cardenden, Cowdenbeath, Dalgety Bay, Dunfermline Town, Glenrothes with Thornton, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Rosyth, South Gyle.
NEW UNITS
68006, 68007, 91102, 158702, 158723, 158724, 158726, 158730, 158734, 170395, 170430, 170458, 170473.
Wednesday 25th May 2016
Woke after a cracking nights sleep when my alarm went off at 0730, showered and left before breakfast as I am trying to watch what I eat again and I know or a fact if I had had breakfast it would have been the full monty and would have not been good. So coffee, banana and porridge bought it was off to the station.
At Haymarket I notice I have a +20 minute wait for my train to Lochgelly, so I decide to have a run into Edinburgh Waverley and pick up the train from there and boarded required 334021 for the short hop.
On arriving at Haymarket Edinburgh I notice I have about 10 minutes until my train, sufficient time to nip to the voting office to pick up a timetable for the borders line so that I can plan my trips for the day. On returning to the station I see that the train station is dud 170395 and considered waiting for the net one but once I realised it was another hour I do on changed my mind and climbed aboard the dud unit for the trip to my last stop on the Fife Circular.
At Lochgelly I leave the train and with only a 10 minute wait I make my way round to the opposite platform (Tech thanks for the tip in regarding the station, it is a bit of a trek from one platform to the other) and it is not long before required 170455 arrives to take me back to Edinburgh. On the trip back I update this report (after somehow losing half of it last night! Dont know how Ed) and plan my trips along the Borders line, I never realised I could get every station along the line visited in such a short time. As we crossed the Forth Railway bridge I got a good shot of the tanker ship British Cygnet moored up either loading or unloading I have no idea.
Back at Edinburgh Waverley I have just under 20 minutes before I start my trek on the Borders Line so just time to source some lunch before heading to platform 7 for my train which was required 158706 for a ride out to the first required shack (actually I need them all along the Borders Line so I am not going to comment about needing them along this line Ed)
At Newcraighall I leave the train and wait for required 158702 to take me to Braunstone, where after leaving the train and a 16 minute fester required 158717 (sorry Tech Ed) arrives to take me further down the Borders Line, as we passed through Shawfair I note that this is one of the few double platforms and there is what seems a long footbridge to get from one to the other and here is the snag I only have a few minutes 2 minute connection time here later! I make note of the optimal place on the train to be to fly over the footbridge to pick up the next train, I continue on the 158717 as far as Gorebridge where I only have a 5 minute wait for required 158741 to take me to Shawfair.
Now if you remember a few lines ago I mentioned about the situation at Shawfair? Well I need of not worried because although 158741 departed Gorebridge on time by the time we got to Shawfair we were 3 minutes late and only a minute ago the train I should of been on passed us going in the other direction. I can categorically confirm Shawfair is not a place to be stranded. All there is a little housing estate and thats all. No shops, no pubs, nothing. Come back in ten years and it might be different because there seems to be a lot of brown field sites surrounding the station ripe for the building of houses. After waiting 27 minutes dud 158724 arrives to take me towards Tweedbank and I have to say all this clamour about the Borders Line being a Scenic Line I could not see it until you leave Gorebridge and head further away from the built up areas and then it opens up into some beautiful landscapes.
I leave the train at Galashiels and am surprised at the size of the town and the new bus station compared to the old one, the only comparison I can come up with is by moving someone out of a mud Hut into a detached three bedroom house, if that makes any sense. So a little stroll in the town before I return to the station for the next train due to a 22 minute fester and dud 158724 has returned from Tweedbank to take me to Stow with a 29 minute fester here I walk as slow as possible to get to the opposite platform to try and cut as much time as possible for me to stand around. When dud and required 158706 arrives to take me to the end of the line at Tweedbank.
Having a quick look around I do have to question why they ended the line here? There is a housing estate but that is it, yet looking at the maps not to far down the line is Melrose which seems to have a few touristy bit there. They could have still had a station at Tweedbank and just extended the line. After a 37 minute fester dud and 158717 (sorry again Tech Ed) arrived and I boarded for a trip to Eskbank with a 9 minute wait for yet another dud unit in the form of 158741 again to take me to Newtongrange.
At Newtongrange I leave the train and would have a 16 minute wait for a train to Edinburgh but I am now in a desperate need for a PNB and getting very grumpy because of that so having spotted a pub on Google Maps I go on a hunting trip and realise I am not going to get back in time and will have to get the next one. So I finally find The Dean Tavern and after using the facilities I thought it would be rude not to have a pint while I am here so I purchase a pint of Guinness Golden Ale and sit down to celebrate visiting all the stations on the Borders Line, I also learn that this pub is the only Gothenburg pub in Scotland meaning that all profits made are ploughed into local community projects, which makes my pint more rewarding. I finish the pint and return to the station for the 1630 to Edinburgh and surely after 4hrs 30mins with no new units surely my luck will change....well no, as super dud 158724 (3rd trip on this unit today and even the 1st trip was a dud) arrives to take me to Edinburgh.
Seeing it has not gone well today and I have been delayed and lack of required units I decide to modify my plans as I had originally planned to get the 1816 to Manchester but I have now opted for the 2018 to give me a few extra hours.
So at Edinburgh I decide to do a few short hops between Edinburgh and Haymarket to rack up a few scores so I board required 158704 to take me just down the road and then quickly return with required 158867 so then it was straight onto 170412 forming the 1730 Edinburgh-Croy, by this time Im getting warm and Im sure the train heating is on so I take off my jacket to remove my sweater and then put my jacket back on.
I leave the train at Haymarket and make my way up onto the bridge and although I am not going through the barriers as I am just changing platforms I check for my railway pass.....err, where is it!? I empty every pocket in my jacket no not there, I hen empty my bag as much as possible because I dont think the other passengers would want to see my used underwear strewn across the footbridge and not there . Then there was the was the lightening strike, the sudden shock of realisation of what has happened. Ive lost my travel passes, but where. Within an instant I realise what has happened. My pass had fallen out of my pocket on 170412 when I was taking my sweater off. Went straight to a member of staff who pointed me in the direction of the station supervisor who took down the details and contacted Falkirk High which was the trains next stop to see if they can find it. All I can do is wait and if they cant be found Ill have to pay to get home, after an anxious 20 minute wait the call comes through to say they have found my passes and would be on the next train back so with just over an hours wait the pass was back in my hands and I was back on the tracks, never a dull moment when Im out and about! I was wondering could I book Falkirk High for a new shack? Although I havent been there my passes have.
My next train was required 170461 back to Edinburgh were the only train I needed wasnt for another 25 minutes so I hang on for that and board 158701 forming the train 1910 to Kirkcaldy and leave the train at Haymarket and stay on the same platform because I noted another train I needed while leaving Edinburgh so a few minutes later required 158721 arrives to take me to South Gyle where there was a 10 minute fester until the train back which turned up to be a pair of required 158s so I boarded 158735 from South Gyle to Haymarket and then transferred to 158732 to Edinburgh.
With time getting on I purchase some tea and have time for one last cop which turns out to be 334022 to Haymarket were I leave the train and wait for my train home which I know will be dud and was 350403.
It was quiet a quick trip to get to the West Coast Main line from Edinburgh, its a journey I always think will take ages but it doesnt. We pass Kingsmoor just as the light is fading into dark and I can only make out a few locomotives and I do think 68025 is stalking me as it was at the SVR diesel gala last week and there it was tonight with 37607 on a nuclear flask train. It looks like there is some major roof work coming up at Carlisle as scaffolding is being erected on the platforms.
Although its been quite an eventful (and stressful at times) it has been an enjoyable two days.
NEW ROUTES
Portobello Junction to Tweedbank
NEW SHACKS
Brunstane, Eskbank, Galashiels, Gorebridge, Lochgelly, Newcraighall, Newtongrange, Shawfair, Stow, Tweedbank.
NEW UNITS
158701, 159704, 158706, 158717, 159721, 158732, 158735, 158741, 158867, 170412, 170455, 170461, 334021, 334022.
Well the day has finally arrived, after a month without going out on a mega trip and withdrawn symptoms definitely kicking in I am up before the alarm and preparing for the final part of my 3 Capitals tour and my Scottish adventure. I do the three Ss (Shower, shave and.......sneeze) and ensure I have everything in my bag that I will need for the two days (undoubtedly I will realise I have forgotten something just as I approach Edinburgh Ed), put the cats food down for the two days and then head off for the 20 minute walk to the tram stop on a gloriously sunny morning as I arrive at Brooklands I just miss a tram but I think having yet to buy my ticket and only 6 minutes to wait for the net tram I am not fussed. I board dud 3013 for the trip to Deangate-Castlefield and it is surprisingly quieter than I had expected. During the journey I realise I am feeling hungry so first thing on the agenda when I arrive at Manchester Piccadilly is to get some breakfast.
On arriving at Deangate-Castlefield I have a couple of minutes to wait for my tram forward to Piccadilly and notice that since the Astley time I was here the stop has got a lot greener withe the plating of trees, anyhow a pair of dud trams arrive in the form of 3071 and 3067, I board the former for my trip to Piccadilly.
Breakfast time! So at Piccadilly I nip into Sainsburys to get a bit of fruit and then head to Costa for a coffee, however after seeing the news reports this last week about the paper cups scandal and about how much is not recycled I want to buy a travel mug but I could not see any available so in the interest of doing my bit or the environment I sacrificed my Costa for a Starbucks and purchased a mug and coffee from there before heading to Greggs for a porridge. My good deeds done for the day (protecting the environment and healthy breakfast) I hed to the station for my train and notice that there is a service to York in 6 minutes (0811) from platform 13, just enough time to head over there. A large section of the glass partition between the platforms and concourse has now been moved in preparation for fitting ticket barriers. One platform 13 the train arrives and is formed of dud units 185136 and 185133, I climb aboard the rear unit for my trip to York where I finally have my breakfast, as I am sat here a nice feeling comes over me in the thought that in a couple of years I could be doing this run on LHCS behind a class 68.
At York I have 12 minutes to wait for my onward journey. I cant remember the last time I went to Edinburgh on the East Coast as I usually get the direct services from Manchester but I am glad I did as required 91102 rolled in on the 0953 to Edinburgh, first score of the trip.
After a nice relaxing trip up the East Coast with a coffee and a bag of hand cooked crisps I know I was trying to eat healthier but long as I keep within my calorie allowance I should be fine(and miss seeing Lord Spoon at Newcastle who apparently was waving wildly as my train passed by sorry about that -Ed) I arrive at Edinburgh on time and in the sunshine. After taking a picture of my steed that had brought me here I peruse the units present and I seem to need them all.
First things first. Something healthy to accompany my Tuna Pasta so a visit to M&S and I depart with a fruit and carrot pack and head to the train. The first to leave is the 1230 to Inverurie formed of required 170430 so I board the train knowing that I need Leuchars for a shack, however it is only then I realise that it is a 55 minute journey so I bail at Haymarket and only have to wait a few minutes for required 158734 to arrive so I board for a shorter trip to Kirkcaldy.
Arriving at Kirkcaldy I thought I had already been here but I have no records of it, unless it was before I started shack bashing, so now its in the book and scratched off. Here I have a 16 minute wait for my next train to take me to Glenrothes with Thornton. Required unit 158730 arrives to take me on to my next shack.
At Glenrothes with Thornton I am confused for a few minutes as there are 2 platforms and I want to head back where I came from but RTT says it is the same platform!? I spent a few minutes pondering over this until I noticed the departure board and it said the same. It was a 11 minute ester so my confusion ate up 5 of those minutes and it wasnt long for required 158702 to arrive to take me on to Kinghorn, thats another shack that bite the dust.
With the stations on the Fife Circular going down nicely I continue on this vain and cross the platforms for the next available train, which after 15 minutes is required 170458 operating a service to Glenrothes. I remain on the train once it reaches its destination as its next job is down the other side of the Fife Circular so I remain on it as far Rosyth.
On leaving the train at Rosyth (another new shack) I only have a 5 minute wait for a train back in the direction I had just come, unfortunately when it arrived it was a dud 158730 which I had earlier in the day. I board the train and at least I know that at the end of the journey I would have another new shack to put in my book.
On arriving at Cardenden (shack 5 for the day Ed) I leave the dud and cross to the opposite platform when only after a few minutes normal service was resumed when required 158724 arrived to take me a couple of stops down the line to Cowdenbeath, only 5 stops now left on the Fife Circular.
At Cowdenbeath I have 28 minute wait for my train so there is just enough time to nip into Morrisons to get something for tea before heading back to the station, where only a few minutes later required 158726 arrives to take me forward. Now the plan had been to change at a required shack on the way to Edinburgh Waverley but I would have been really tight for me to be back at Edinburgh to get one of the two trains that was at the heart of my trip up here. So I remain on board the train back to Edinburgh.
Arriving at Edinburgh 1 minute ahead of schedule I have 12 minutes until my train is due so I dont have to rush to get to platform 2 and was able to watch required 68006 snake into the station with its carriages behind it. I climbed on board in the coach behind the locomotive and at 1720 it started its journey to Cardenden although I only remained on the train as far as Inverkeithing where I left the train and bumped into 2 fellow enthusiasts who when I got nattering to them were doing the exact same thing as myself and who turned out to be two fellow work colleagues who were based in the Midlands. We carried on nattering away about loco hauled trains, SVR Diesel Gala and anything else railway related and before we knew it dud 158731 was arriving to take the three of us to our next Connection.
At Burntisland we leave the train and I score another new shack and we cross over to the opposite platform waiting for the 1834 to Edinburgh to arrive and not long after required 68007 arrives and we take up the obligatory seats in the front coach right behind the locomotive for the thrash back to Edinburgh. But at Haymarket I bid them farewell and safe journey home as I left the train to go and check in to my B&B for the night.
A short 20 minutes later (yes I was that close to the station, about 5 minutes walk each way Ed) I walk back at Haymarket and had decided on knock off a few more stations on the Fife Circular before the night was out. So required 170395 arrived and I boarded the train for a journey that would take me to new shack of Dunfermline Town.
At Dunfermline Town I only have a 9 minute wait for required 158723 to take me back, now let me say something about this unit. It appears to have had a bit of a spruce up inside and everything seemed refreshed and it was the only 158 I have been on today that was fitted with USB charge points, no plugs, at every seat. On the return trip I notice a military C-130 parked nose on at the remote stand at Edinburgh airport, unfortunately I was not able to identify it and it wasnt there on my trip up. Also it was the first time I had noticed they were building a train station for the airport, how I missed it is have no idea as it is well progressed so when that is opened I will need another visit to bag it.
At South Gyle I leave the train and score yet another shack and with having only 2 stations left had originally planned to go out to Lochgelly and leave Delgety Bay until tomorrow morning but checking the times of the trains if I did Lochgelly tonight I wouldnt get back to Haymarket until just before 2300, however with an extra 10 minute wait at South Gyle I can do a return trip to Delgety Bay and be back at Haymarket before the return journey from Lochgelly departs! No contest I wait the extra 10 minutes at South Gyle and dud 158870 arrives to take me to Delgety Bay, where after a 10 minute fester required 170473 arrives to take me back to Haymarket and the end of a successful day, however on the trip back I realised that I had 13 red pens today and was considering to head into Edinburgh Waverley and pick up another red pen so that it wasnt stuck on the unlucky number.....nah!! At Haymarket I left the train and headed to my digs for the night.
NEW TRACK
Aberdour to Thornton South Junction
Dunfermline Queen Margaret to Thornton South Junction
NEW SHACKS
Burntisland, Cardenden, Cowdenbeath, Dalgety Bay, Dunfermline Town, Glenrothes with Thornton, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Rosyth, South Gyle.
NEW UNITS
68006, 68007, 91102, 158702, 158723, 158724, 158726, 158730, 158734, 170395, 170430, 170458, 170473.
Wednesday 25th May 2016
Woke after a cracking nights sleep when my alarm went off at 0730, showered and left before breakfast as I am trying to watch what I eat again and I know or a fact if I had had breakfast it would have been the full monty and would have not been good. So coffee, banana and porridge bought it was off to the station.
At Haymarket I notice I have a +20 minute wait for my train to Lochgelly, so I decide to have a run into Edinburgh Waverley and pick up the train from there and boarded required 334021 for the short hop.
On arriving at Haymarket Edinburgh I notice I have about 10 minutes until my train, sufficient time to nip to the voting office to pick up a timetable for the borders line so that I can plan my trips for the day. On returning to the station I see that the train station is dud 170395 and considered waiting for the net one but once I realised it was another hour I do on changed my mind and climbed aboard the dud unit for the trip to my last stop on the Fife Circular.
At Lochgelly I leave the train and with only a 10 minute wait I make my way round to the opposite platform (Tech thanks for the tip in regarding the station, it is a bit of a trek from one platform to the other) and it is not long before required 170455 arrives to take me back to Edinburgh. On the trip back I update this report (after somehow losing half of it last night! Dont know how Ed) and plan my trips along the Borders line, I never realised I could get every station along the line visited in such a short time. As we crossed the Forth Railway bridge I got a good shot of the tanker ship British Cygnet moored up either loading or unloading I have no idea.
Back at Edinburgh Waverley I have just under 20 minutes before I start my trek on the Borders Line so just time to source some lunch before heading to platform 7 for my train which was required 158706 for a ride out to the first required shack (actually I need them all along the Borders Line so I am not going to comment about needing them along this line Ed)
At Newcraighall I leave the train and wait for required 158702 to take me to Braunstone, where after leaving the train and a 16 minute fester required 158717 (sorry Tech Ed) arrives to take me further down the Borders Line, as we passed through Shawfair I note that this is one of the few double platforms and there is what seems a long footbridge to get from one to the other and here is the snag I only have a few minutes 2 minute connection time here later! I make note of the optimal place on the train to be to fly over the footbridge to pick up the next train, I continue on the 158717 as far as Gorebridge where I only have a 5 minute wait for required 158741 to take me to Shawfair.
Now if you remember a few lines ago I mentioned about the situation at Shawfair? Well I need of not worried because although 158741 departed Gorebridge on time by the time we got to Shawfair we were 3 minutes late and only a minute ago the train I should of been on passed us going in the other direction. I can categorically confirm Shawfair is not a place to be stranded. All there is a little housing estate and thats all. No shops, no pubs, nothing. Come back in ten years and it might be different because there seems to be a lot of brown field sites surrounding the station ripe for the building of houses. After waiting 27 minutes dud 158724 arrives to take me towards Tweedbank and I have to say all this clamour about the Borders Line being a Scenic Line I could not see it until you leave Gorebridge and head further away from the built up areas and then it opens up into some beautiful landscapes.
I leave the train at Galashiels and am surprised at the size of the town and the new bus station compared to the old one, the only comparison I can come up with is by moving someone out of a mud Hut into a detached three bedroom house, if that makes any sense. So a little stroll in the town before I return to the station for the next train due to a 22 minute fester and dud 158724 has returned from Tweedbank to take me to Stow with a 29 minute fester here I walk as slow as possible to get to the opposite platform to try and cut as much time as possible for me to stand around. When dud and required 158706 arrives to take me to the end of the line at Tweedbank.
Having a quick look around I do have to question why they ended the line here? There is a housing estate but that is it, yet looking at the maps not to far down the line is Melrose which seems to have a few touristy bit there. They could have still had a station at Tweedbank and just extended the line. After a 37 minute fester dud and 158717 (sorry again Tech Ed) arrived and I boarded for a trip to Eskbank with a 9 minute wait for yet another dud unit in the form of 158741 again to take me to Newtongrange.
At Newtongrange I leave the train and would have a 16 minute wait for a train to Edinburgh but I am now in a desperate need for a PNB and getting very grumpy because of that so having spotted a pub on Google Maps I go on a hunting trip and realise I am not going to get back in time and will have to get the next one. So I finally find The Dean Tavern and after using the facilities I thought it would be rude not to have a pint while I am here so I purchase a pint of Guinness Golden Ale and sit down to celebrate visiting all the stations on the Borders Line, I also learn that this pub is the only Gothenburg pub in Scotland meaning that all profits made are ploughed into local community projects, which makes my pint more rewarding. I finish the pint and return to the station for the 1630 to Edinburgh and surely after 4hrs 30mins with no new units surely my luck will change....well no, as super dud 158724 (3rd trip on this unit today and even the 1st trip was a dud) arrives to take me to Edinburgh.
Seeing it has not gone well today and I have been delayed and lack of required units I decide to modify my plans as I had originally planned to get the 1816 to Manchester but I have now opted for the 2018 to give me a few extra hours.
So at Edinburgh I decide to do a few short hops between Edinburgh and Haymarket to rack up a few scores so I board required 158704 to take me just down the road and then quickly return with required 158867 so then it was straight onto 170412 forming the 1730 Edinburgh-Croy, by this time Im getting warm and Im sure the train heating is on so I take off my jacket to remove my sweater and then put my jacket back on.
I leave the train at Haymarket and make my way up onto the bridge and although I am not going through the barriers as I am just changing platforms I check for my railway pass.....err, where is it!? I empty every pocket in my jacket no not there, I hen empty my bag as much as possible because I dont think the other passengers would want to see my used underwear strewn across the footbridge and not there . Then there was the was the lightening strike, the sudden shock of realisation of what has happened. Ive lost my travel passes, but where. Within an instant I realise what has happened. My pass had fallen out of my pocket on 170412 when I was taking my sweater off. Went straight to a member of staff who pointed me in the direction of the station supervisor who took down the details and contacted Falkirk High which was the trains next stop to see if they can find it. All I can do is wait and if they cant be found Ill have to pay to get home, after an anxious 20 minute wait the call comes through to say they have found my passes and would be on the next train back so with just over an hours wait the pass was back in my hands and I was back on the tracks, never a dull moment when Im out and about! I was wondering could I book Falkirk High for a new shack? Although I havent been there my passes have.
My next train was required 170461 back to Edinburgh were the only train I needed wasnt for another 25 minutes so I hang on for that and board 158701 forming the train 1910 to Kirkcaldy and leave the train at Haymarket and stay on the same platform because I noted another train I needed while leaving Edinburgh so a few minutes later required 158721 arrives to take me to South Gyle where there was a 10 minute fester until the train back which turned up to be a pair of required 158s so I boarded 158735 from South Gyle to Haymarket and then transferred to 158732 to Edinburgh.
With time getting on I purchase some tea and have time for one last cop which turns out to be 334022 to Haymarket were I leave the train and wait for my train home which I know will be dud and was 350403.
It was quiet a quick trip to get to the West Coast Main line from Edinburgh, its a journey I always think will take ages but it doesnt. We pass Kingsmoor just as the light is fading into dark and I can only make out a few locomotives and I do think 68025 is stalking me as it was at the SVR diesel gala last week and there it was tonight with 37607 on a nuclear flask train. It looks like there is some major roof work coming up at Carlisle as scaffolding is being erected on the platforms.
Although its been quite an eventful (and stressful at times) it has been an enjoyable two days.
NEW ROUTES
Portobello Junction to Tweedbank
NEW SHACKS
Brunstane, Eskbank, Galashiels, Gorebridge, Lochgelly, Newcraighall, Newtongrange, Shawfair, Stow, Tweedbank.
NEW UNITS
158701, 159704, 158706, 158717, 159721, 158732, 158735, 158741, 158867, 170412, 170455, 170461, 334021, 334022.
but about a minute after Low Fell junction not Newcastle. Reminded me of when I was a nipper sitting on the wall by the ole signal box with my dad or grandmother, near Monkwearmouth waving at the drivers, driving the 101s, some used to acknowledge me with a wave or a toot on the horn, some just went by.
Although you are not the first and probably won't be the last, just be careful at Norwich when you get a service to London Liverpool Street departing a few minutes after a service to Liverpool Lime Street, I do wonder how many foreign tourists have boarded the London train by mistake wanting Ely.