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Chasing things down for mileage gives me something to do when waiting for new stock to arrive en-mass. Otherwise I will be at home pacing up and down the garden bored with nothing to do
Aye that's understandable. We both seem to have the problem of too much time to fill, I recently estimated I spend around 120 hours per week in my own company. That's really not great. Finding stuff to do sometimes gets expensive or just difficult to keep things interesting. So I get the need to fill time!
Won't be much longer until the 717s enter service en-masse, surely the same for 710s. Then of course there's going to be tons to do on GA soon enough. I'm also assuming GWR's IETs are pretty much all in service now too, and that you're running out of those to chase.
Maybe I should send you my needs lists, plenty on them to go after
Aye that's understandable. We both seem to have the problem of too much time to fill, I recently estimated I spend around 120 hours per week in my own company. That's really not great. Finding stuff to do sometimes gets expensive or just difficult to keep things interesting. So I get the need to fill time!
Won't be much longer until the 717s enter service en-masse, surely the same for 710s. Then of course there's going to be tons to do on GA soon enough. I'm also assuming GWR's IETs are pretty much all in service now too, and that you're running out of those to chase.
Maybe I should send you my needs lists, plenty on them to go after
I know this feeling as well (well I've not got a garden to pace in haha). This hobby has really been a good thing to give me something to do at a time when I could easily end up climbing the walls
Look forward to reading about that. It’s an interesting system. We did the Enterprise last year (I think it was last year), and it was lovely. Great scenery and comfortable stock etc.
Enjoyed those last 2 reads Kite, thanks for the info regarding the barriers at Dewsbury. Also 5 cars on Hudds-Bradford must be very rare so well done on that one too.
As the railtour I was on, on Saturday was departing Euston around 06:40 it meant an overnight stay somewhere within London which has early services to reach Euston, in the end I picked the Easy Hotel in Croydon because it was the cheapest. The Friday was spent in London, this time a focus on the Windsor lines side of Waterloo, mainly to try and make a small dent in my 458s (as they have an unknown future once all the new stock starts arriving).
As usual for my mileage hunting trips, it will be summaries:
Grateley -> Woking: 158880 & 159108
Woking -> Surbiton: 450014 & 450003
Surbiton -> Waterloo: 450087, 450001 & 450086
Waterloo -> Richmond: 458524 & 458527 (scoring the recently reopened platform 24 at Waterloo in the process)
Richmond -> Clapham Junction: 458510 & 458519
Clapham Junction -> Richmond: 458525 & 458532
Richmond -> Chiswick: 458516 & 458515 (having turned this pair down at Clapham to gamble to see what was on the Reading service behind as the Reading overtakes the stopper on the 4-track section). A quick pop to the Co-Op for dinner (handy location just outside the station)
Chiswick -> Kew Bridge: 450568/450553
Kew Bridge -> Queenstown Road (Battersea): 707014 & 707005
Queenstown Road (Battersea) -> Clapham Junction: 458502 & 458509 (bailed here to see what was on the Reading service a couple minutes behind)
Clapham Junction -> Twickenham: 458513 & 458829 (leaves 529 on 9 and a half miles, however the connections at Feltham weren’t good, besides I knew what was coming up behind...
Twickenham -> Chiswick: 458502 & 458509
Chiswick -> Kew Bridge: 707025 & 707016 (time wasting move)
Kew Bridge -> Barnes: 707024
Barnes -> Clapham Junction: 707005 & 707014, with a last minute platform change from platform 2 to platform 1, which isn’t the easiest to do at Barnes! Anyhow time to leave SWR and to do something which has been on my list of things to do for a while
Clapham Junction -> Clapham High Street: 378147
Clapham High Street -> Battersea Park: 378224 (I’ve departed from Battersea Park towards Denmark Hill, but I’ve never gone into Battersea Park on the ghost train)
Battersea Park -> Clapham Junction: 377204 & 377437
Clapham Junction -> East Croydon: 387214 & 387201 (turned down the first service bound for East Grinstead because I know the Brighton service has a habit of arriving at Croydon first)
A bit of a farce at the hotel with the system having issues, but eventually I got checked in and headed to the 4th floor, room this week sadly on the road side. Overall a couple more 450s ticked off for membership of the TMC (leaving half a dozen), 1 more 707 over the line (4 of those left) plus 6 more 458s (and 1 more given a good boost, leaving 9).
May in Summary
5130 miles covered
19 new units (1x 320, 9x 385, 1x 800, 8 x 802)
0 new locos (although I only had 3 loco hauled moves this month with no railtours)
9 stations revisited (clearing EMT in the process)
A busy June ahead, other than the railtour yesterday, a trip to North Wales next Saturday with a railtour on the Sunday (followed by a day in London on the Monday), then a 4-day Scottish trip to the highlands where hopefully I will be clearing another TOC), then a trip to the Esk Valley to clear up my remaining stations in the North East with a Lancashire rover at the end of the month to mop up some odds & ends in that part of the Northern empire (with a day in Manchester on the Sunday for mileage hunting.
I booked on this tour as it did some required bits of baker track within the North West, although as it would be a long day I treated myself to first class non-dining, just for the larger & nicer seat & armrest.
It was an early start from East Croydon with the 05:10 service to St Pancras, 700123 was the unit and not one of my low mileage 700/1s. At St Pancras as I had around an hour to kill, I headed across to the Tesco Metro the opposite side of Kings Cross to grab supplies, which was a good move as the Sainsburys at Euston was a tad bare bones (I note the Boots appears to have closed as well, which might increase the number of customers). Anyhow the tour was departing from platform 16, with required 66083 leading the usual Mk1 coaches with a bright red & required 66078 on the opposite end.
Departure was on time, with the first pick up at Watford Junction, followed by a long run to Rugby going via Northampton, although if the train did anything unusual I couldn’t say because I went back to sleep! The train loaded up at Rugby with the remaining 3 seats at my table taken, although all 3 were a tad quiet. A run to Stafford for the final pick-up before heading towards Crewe making use of the goods loop between platform 11 & platform 12, carrying on heading north until the Acton Grange area where the train went into the low level lines to reverse just after Walton Old Junction to head into one of the sidings in the yard area (siding 5 I believe, all the other sidings had various coal wagons in various stages of life, I would imagine some of these wagons have been in this area for years and years).
With 66083 back in charge, it was a trip towards Latchford sidings (going via the yard), for a long reversal before 66078 took the tour in a westernly direction underneath the platforms at Warrington Bank Quay (spotting a 323 there just looked so out of place), passing Fiddlers Ferry and doing a couple loops (Ditton reception sidings and a siding in the Halewood area). A further reversal was made at Liverpool South Parkway to head towards the Freightliner terminal at Garston making use of the Garston chord (which had been out of use for a fair while). During an hour at the Freightliner terminal where the stock was watered, before setting back off, rejoining the passenger network around Speke junction for a fast run towards Runcorn before turning right to head towards Chester via the Frodsham chord.
Going via a goods line to the north of the station (opposite platform 7 line), a brief pause before carrying on the tunnels for another quick reversal to take the tour to Chester where we had around a 30 minute break. I note the WH Smiths at Chester has joined other station stores in charging £4.49 for a basic meal deal (I guess no competition as the other station cafes sell similar for £4.99, although if I was hungry I would have gone for the Cafe Express offering, paying 50p more but the sandwiches looked better. Anyhow, after passing some lightly dressed ladies heading for a night out, it was back to the tour and a trip towards Greenbank, turning left into the specially cleared Winnington branch, going to the network rail limit before the final reversal of the day with 66078 back in charge to head back towards the Mid Cheshire line for a short run turning right onto the Middlewich branch for a slow potter towards Sandbach.
The first set-down was at Crewe where a good number of folk alighted, and the tour set off back towards London. The Royal Mail/goods loop at Stafford was ditched due to late running and unusually after Stafford the tour was running on the fast lines, and due to a points failure the train crossed over to run on the bi directional northbound fast line between Tamworth & Nuneaton, that was certainly unusual. Normal side running was resumed at Nuneaton, but still in the fast line until north of Rugby (I dread to think how many Pendos the tour was holding up!). The train emptied out some more at Rugby as it went via the Northampton loop and the reception sidings north of Northampton, before rejoining the fast lines north of Wolverton for a fast run towards Watford (the slows were closed due to the Saturday night 2-track railway). A quick set-down at Watford Junction before the tour arrived into Euston a couple minutes late, but a lot earlier than the estimated timings when I booked up (originally wasn’t due into Euston until around 22:45).
It was down to the Northern line with 51683 & 51684 taken to Waterloo, where I could have aimed for the 21:20 but there wouldn’t be much point these days as that train doesn’t call at the Hampshire villages on Saturdays anymore. Instead after a brief look around at any potential options (never know one of my last half dozen 450s I need for mileage might randomly pop up), but nothing of interest so it was to the new 21:50 Salisbury service formed of 159006 for the fast run back to Grateley and a gentle potter home.
All in all, a good little tour, some baker track scored, probably some quail level track scored as well, along with 2 more 66s
Sounded like an nice tour, however I certainly wouldn't want to do all day track gricer ones, did the organisers knock out anything significant to bring the finish time back to an more respectable time or was there just an lot of pathing.
P.s on the basis of local units apparently the 450/5's will be renumbered into their original numbers so a assume you will be staring afresh with them. luckily for me ive only had 4 450/5s so not to bad for me.
Sounded like a good tour that mate. Shame about not being able to head down the mail/goods loop at Stafford but certainly something different to run South on the down fast
Sounded like an nice tour, however I certainly wouldn't want to do all day track gricer ones, did the organisers knock out anything significant to bring the finish time back to an more respectable time or was there just an lot of pathing.
P.s on the basis of local units apparently the 450/5's will be renumbered into their original numbers so a assume you will be staring afresh with them. luckily for me ive only had 4 450/5s so not to bad for me.
I think it was loosely timed at the start, it did everything in the original plan. Those all day gricers tours are long, it did get a bit warm at a couple times
I didn't know about the 450/5s going back to their original numbers, only need one of that batch. I will modify my spreadsheet to take into account both sets of numbers as they are not getting massively changed
Sounded like a good tour that mate. Shame about not being able to head down the mail/goods loop at Stafford but certainly something different to run South on the down fast
I think it was a case of the tour running late so they took the decision to ditch the loop to regain time not to lose the path later on (and end up stuck behind an all station 350!).
I think it was a case of the tour running late so they took the decision to ditch the loop to regain time not to lose the path later on (and end up stuck behind an all station 350!).
I had a quick check on RTT whilst you were heading south and noticed you'd been pathed through P4 at Stafford. I'm sure your future path was a consideration but a late arrival into the goods loop is likely to see you sat waiting while signallers clear the XC and LNWR services off to the Wolverhampton line at TV junction. It is because of these services that you were held outside of Stafford for nigh on 10 minutes on your way North in the morning and I guess there would have been a concern that your delay would have grown to levels that become problematic not just for pathing reasons but also for those on board
As always, an excellent read and a productive day there. Glad you have the patience for such long tours, I'd have got bored quickly! That said after some ultra long flights this year I might have found the tour easy, who knows.
I didn't know that about the 450s either, I wonder when that will happen.
For the 450's it should happen when they have had all of their internal modifications i.e first class moved to the end first one is believed to be 450 543 which will become 043
For the 450's it should happen when they have had all of their internal modifications i.e first class moved to the end first one is believed to be 450 543 which will become 043
Cheers. I had a few of the /5s as /0s many years ago, but which ones I no longer remember. I'm going to leave any 450/5s alone when I next go to London, not a bad thing with so many other trains to go after!
Sounds an interesting tour Kite. Personally, I’m not sure I would have had the patience for that one behind slow 66’s all day. I can see why you upgraded to first plus. Must have been fun on the fast lines though!
This was meant to be the weekend where I would say “Transport for Wale, tick” but the Conwy Valley closing in March due to storm damage meant I had to change my plan for the Saturday. A BLS railtour popping up on the Sunday meant some more plans were made, and with me being a bit tight not to pay for Virgin fares from Crewe I booked up a cheap hostel near Euston station for the Sunday night.
Friday
The main goal of Friday was to visit the country’s newest station before sampling some classic BR traction to Northampton before heading towards Birmingham and the Central backpackers hostel, a quick plan was made in my head as I headed to Grateley station during a break in the poor weather with the 14:59 taken to Woking (158887, 159103 & 159008), stepping back to board 444017 & 444016 to Waterloo (both the stopper from Alton & Basingstoke weren’t required for mileage).
It was to the underground, with sets 65503 & 65504 took me to Bank via the Waterloo & City line, where I leapt onto the first available Central line service, formed of 91005, 92412, 92134 & 91101 for the 36 chain leap to Liverpool Street (enough to push 134 over the mile, but not 412 or 101, but every little helps as they say). Once back above ground it was towards the low numbered platforms at Liverpool Street to board the 17:03 Norwich service formed of 321351, 321312 & 321329, the 4 mile run being enough to push 351 over, but leaves 312 on 8 miles, but with the Central line move, every little helps.
This service was delayed by a couple minutes which ate into my connection time at Stratford as I boarded 317668 & 317348 for a slow run towards Tottenham Hale, where it got busy for the mile and a half run to Meridian Water. Due to a nearby festival the station was a lot busier than it would normally be (seems platform 4 should have been made wider as it took a couple minutes before the train pulled away due to the number of passengers blocking viewing angles), a functional station with large queues for the oyster card readers at the main exit, as I headed towards the island platform for the next southbound service.
During the fester a low mileage 317 passed, so it was change of plans time with 317881 & 317657 taken to Tottenham Hale, before 317671 & 317501 took me to Liverpool Street, 671 was a nice bonus to add to the TMC. Once at Liverpool Street it was a short walk over to board 317651 leading 317666 back to Tottenham Hale, returning to Liverpool Street on 317662 & 317653. I wasn’t expecting to get 2 out of my last 4 317/6s for mileage today, as I headed to a busy Tesco Metro for dinner & a couple bits for the Saturday morning (not wanting to trust the Sainsburys at Euston as since Boots has closed it gets raided a lot more, especially when WH Smiths hiked their meal deal price to £4.99!
Back to London Underground with 21075 & 21076 on a Metropolitan line service took me to Euston Square where I had a short walk towards Euston, before heading down to board the 19:54 for Northampton, formed of 319218, 319005 & 319217. I took a seat in the motor coach of 218 (which on departure from Euston had one other person in, who alighted at Watford), and it was an excellent run on a semi-fast towards Northampton, the motors singing loudly. It was a shame the journey came to an end at Northampton and I crossed the platform to board the next New Street service formed of 350254 & 350233 for the slow potter towards New Street.
Once at New Street, it was a slow walk towards the hostel, checking in and sorting my bags out ready for an early start on the Saturday, which might have featured a Voyager...
Mmm, 319s at full thrash, that must have been way too much fun! Definitely would like to do that run myself, certainly not one I can do on a day trip. A case of finding a way to incorporate it into a multi-day trip somewhere...
Mmm, 319s at full thrash, that must have been way too much fun! Definitely would like to do that run myself, certainly not one I can do on a day trip. A case of finding a way to incorporate it into a multi-day trip somewhere...
It's a bit of an odd service because for any passengers for Leighton Buzzard & beyond there is a faster 350 which departs Euston around the same time, no doubt the rear unit will be busier on departure from Euston. 319s to Northampton are not new as there used to be one service in the old timetable which went to Northampton, but IIRC that was something like 18:05 (so high-peak), whereas the 19:54 (and 19:30 Milton Keynes) you can use super off-peak tickets on.
Aye it might not be new but I was out of touch with the scene for ages so it's technically new to me! Certainly still something to look at doing one day, even if only as far as MKC.
I had a private room of 4 with light evidence of two other people (one sleeping bag on the bunk below me and a towel on the upper bunk opposite, my run of getting assigned the top bunk continues). There was no music from the clubs nearby (just the usual sound of cars), so all was good until around half one where the owner of the sleeping bag arrived, turned on the light and noisily sorted out a few bags when eating a packet of crisps. Hostels, don’t you just love idiots like that. I got my revenge by not being as quiet as I would normally be (although my leg going to sleep didn’t help things). Anyhow it was a short walk to New Street station via a busy McDonalds for breakfast, and towards the 05:30 service to Holyhead formed of 221116.
An enjoyable run in the rain via Stafford and Crewe (passing some of the locos gathered up for the open day), then towards Chester and Llandudno Junction, I alighted from the voyager at Bangor where I had a 10 minute connection to the next Chester bound service which was formed of a revinyled 158841 for the run back east to my first request stop of the day at Llanfairfechan. Not the quietest of stations due to being alongside the North Wales Expressway, but at least it has a decent shelter to get out of the rain for my 20 minute fester before 158835 arrived to take me over the bridge and onto the island, where I requested to stop at a station with a short platform, Valley. A reasonable number of folk alighted from the 158 here (and also a good number boarded going towards Holyhead), as I made use of the 20 minutes to walk to a nearby Spar to pick up bits for lunch later on.
I returned to the basic station of Valley to board the return of 158835 for the run towards Ty Croes and a 20 minute fester on the remote station (with a manually operated level crossing) with low platforms. 175009* was up next for an Anglesey style bus stop leap to Rhosneigr, where I had a 90 minute fester (*or the coaches currently pretending to be 175009). There wasn’t much around the station, the Chester bound platform had a little bench underneath a canopy but was exposed to the wind, the Holyhead bound platform had an old seat in a shelter, which is where I took resident for the fester, going over to the opposite platform around 15 minutes before the next service was due. I knew from watching the Holyhead bound service this would be a pair of 158s, and it was 158819 leading 158820 for the run back onto the mainland, requesting Penmaenmawr from the guard when they came round.
Like Llanfairfechan this was a noisy station, and the rain had sadly returned so I spent my 45 minutes here at Penmaenmawr hiding underneath the canopy on a decent bench, watching as the Bangor bound service got later and later, eventually the musical coach ensemble currently known as 175109 rolled in to take me back to Bangor where it had a short turnaround, made longer due to an incident which saw the unit returning on the main line rather than the platform loop (oops). I took a seat for the run to Llandudno Junction where I made a lucky connection onto a late running 175111 to take me to my final shack score of the day with Deganwy. A beautiful setting for a station, but my time was short as 175111 returned rapidly from Llandudno to take me back to the Junction, where another tight connection was made onto 158823 for a random linear hop to Colwyn Bay with a random platform score.
This is when my original plan went out of the window with the Conwy Valley being closed, so I had some time wasting moves to score some random platforms, so it continued with 221113 & 221106 taken the 10 miles to Rhyl (not a lot of takeup on the little railway round the lake as it looked like only a driver and a bored looking guard at the back on the little train), with 175111 (hello again) taken to Prestatyn. I made use of the connection to visit a nearby Tesco garage for some drink, before returning to Colwyn Bay on a busy 175004 (also known as 175109 without the centre coach), with 175115 taken to Shotton low level. I decided to walk to Shotton high level (not the nicest of connections) where a few minutes later 150240 took me to Wrexham General, with 158824 taken to reach England with Shrewsbury.
I had a couple options, either continue towards Wolverhampton and do something with the rest of the evening, or take another 158 for a spin to Welshpool for another random platform score. Needless to say it was back into Wales with 158834 taken for the near 20 mile spin to the island platform of Welshpool, where I crossed over for a short connection to 158825 back towards Shrewsbury for a long reversal for the run to Wolverhampton. I was expecting to see a pair of units, or joining up with another unit at Shrewsbury but it was 158825 on its own. Anyhow once at Wolverhampton I picked up a £2.50 evening day return to Coventry and also something to eat from the nearby Sainsburys. Judging by the number of security bobbins floating around there was something happening in the city so I decided to jump on 170516 for the run to New Street.
During the time of festering I noted the 21:20 towards Rugeley was a 323 (all be it a stopper both ways), before low mileage 350243 popped up with 350129 getting attached for the run to Birmingham International, followed by 350101 to Coventry. Nothing much around the station so it was onto one of the last trains of the night with 390126 taken back to New Street, as I fought my way off the train passing the Wolverhampton folk heading home (and wanting the last fast service). Anyhow once outside the station it was a slow walk back to the hostel where once again I was on my own until later on, but this time due to the noise from a nearby nightclub it wasn’t much in the way of sleep until around 1am. Thankfully no return of selfish prat as the other two folk were quiet when they arrived back.
When this tour came out it looked interesting, both traction wise (31 one end, 33 the other end) plus covered some little bits of baker track I needed, although there would be some overlapping of the tour the previous week. Being in Birmingham meant I needed to board the first XC to reach Stoke (as the first train towards Crewe would just miss the connection), so after checking out of the hostel and swinging via the Tesco Express near Moor Street for some supplies (noting that the roads were closed due to a bike race so no waiting around for seemingly ages for the traffic lights to change). After my supply raid it was to New Street and down to the platforms where for the 2nd day running I would be departing on a 221. This time it was 221133 for the trip towards Stoke, which was uneventful other than being stuck behind a late running steam train towards Wolverhampton.
At Stoke, I crossed over to the opposite platform to await the tour, as winner 37668 rolled in with 4 coaches and winner 31128 at the rear. I took my (horrid Mk1 bench) seat and the train set off, first trip was to Stone junction where it reversed beyond the signal to cross back over, doing a loop before Stoke, crossing over after the platforms to do the up goods loop, crossing over to continue on the down goods loop (it is a BLS tour after-all, very loopy). After Kidsgrove it was via the goods loop before Alsager station, before continuing into Crewe to reverse in the EMU stabling siding [seeing a Northern 323 stabled on platform 2 looked a bit odd].
A quick reversal back into Crewe station for a quick photo stop, before everybody was back on board for the run towards Sandbach and a trip along the Middlewich branch (ZZZzzzzzzz, although this time doing it towards Northwich, the 31 turned left to briefly join the Mid Cheshire line to pass Greenbank before turning right into my first bit of required track with the connection towards the WCML (this bit has bugged me for a while). After a brief pathing pause it was onwards to Warrington (unusually staying on the mains after Acton Grange), for another brief photo stop. After Warrington Bank Quay it was towards the Dallam Royal Mail terminal, where the 31 ended up in bay platform 3, the 37 hauling the set back into Dallam freight yard before the 31 regained control for the run via platform 2 & 1 at the royal mail terminal, rejoining the mainline for the run towards Wigan, using the goods loop which dives underneath the mainline south of the station. The train reversed after the Springs Branch area where new EMU stabling sidings are being built for all the new Northern EMUs.
37668 was back in charge for the run down to the Bickershaw headshunt, where evidence of the future wiring will be taking place. With the 31 back in charge it was back to the same position for another quick reversal to visit the remains of the Haydock branch (part of the former Liverpool, St Helens & South Lancashire Railway route from Glazebrook towards St Helens), with a long break (due to running early). Back on the move with the 31 making a nice noise as it rejoined the WCML briefly before taking the Ince Moss chord to join the line towards St Helens Central and towards Liverpool, regaining right time between Wavertree & Edge Hill with the train using the connection to go via Edge Hill platform 4 before crossing back over to go into Liverpool Lime Street platform 1.
A brief break (I wasn’t the only person making a quick walk to Boots for food) with a mini-tour involving the set going to the bay platform at Hunts Cross before returning to Lime Street, and back out towards South Parkway, going via the Garston chord to reverse for the final time, to rejoin the mainline via the Garston siding and a reception siding in the Ditton area before rejoining the mainline for the last time with a run towards Crewe, getting held around Weaver junction for a late running Pendo from Scotland to pass, time the train never got back, eventually arriving into Crewe around 6 minutes late. My highly hopeful +5 to a 350 for London looked like it had gone, but I wasn’t the only person doing a fast walk from P12 to P7 where the 350s were held awaiting the signal (late running 390 from Manchester). 350110 & 350113 were doing the honours as I took a seat in the 2nd coach, happy that I made this train because it was the final ‘fast’ service from Crewe (the next Crewe – Euston via Trent Valley calls everywhere after Rugby, had it been running).
2 and a bit hours later (the train only getting busy at Watford Junction after doing a weave at Milton Keynes Central to go into platform 5 from the north to allow a late running 390 to pass), the 350s arrived into Euston, and I had a short walk to the Exmouth Arms pub where I was staying for the night. Basically I was being a bit tight in not forking out for the fares Virgin were after, and with the connection at Crewe a doubt, the next service wouldn’t have arrived until 23:20 so going home would have been out of the question.
Anyhow, a good little tour, two more locos in my book, as well as some new baker track plus a lot more quail level track.
10th June – Recruiting some more members of the Ten Mile Club
An original idea might have been to leave the hostel in the early morning and have a little spin to Enfield Town to score the lesser used platform 3, but I decided I would try and get some more sleep and do that the next time I’m on a weekly travelcard (most likely in August). Due to a shortage of plug sockets in the room my decision for the Monday morning was based on what trains had plug sockets, which narrowed down the options, in the end landing on the 700s. The weather today was absolutely rubbish, and I got a tad wet walking from the pub near Euston to St Pancras, arriving a little bit later than I had hoped (if I arrived early I would have purchased my Highlands Rover from the ticket office to save a job for later in the week).
Anyhow, like my mileage days in London, a summary of my moves:
St Pancras -> London Bridge: 700005
London Bridge -> East Croydon: 700046 (for a rough 30 minute fester walking between the platforms)
East Croydon -> London Bridge: 700124 (the idea was to head across to South Eastern but before I did, the next Croydon bound service appeared)
London Bridge -> East Croydon: 700149
East Croydon -> Clapham Junction: 377439 & 377412
Clapham Junction -> London Victoria: 377468 & 377127 (where I paused for some lunch
London Victoria -> Gipsy Hill: 377321, 377103, 377310
Gipsy Hill -> Queens Road Peckham: 455836 & 455846
Queens Road Peckham -> Wandsworth Road: 378143 (spotting 59202 passing)
Wandsworth Road -> Peckham Rye: 378138
Peckham Rye -> Clapham Junction: 378139
Clapham Junction -> East Croydon: 377469 (both were positioning moves, this 377 was busy as it was bound for Brighton)
East Croydon -> Clapham Junction: 377468 & 377127 (finishing the job from earlier!)
Clapham Junction -> London Victoria: 455827 & 455831
London Victoria -> Norbury: 455831 & 455827 (well it would be rude not to finish the job with 827)
Norbury -> Balham: 377613 & 377625
Balham -> London Victoria: 377448 & 377466 (I must have misread the service as I had this down as a low mileage 377/3, this run left 466 on 9 miles so it only felt right...
London Victoria -> Clapham Junction: 377466 & 377448
Clapham Junction -> East Croydon: 455814 & 455807 (one of those services which has been on my “to-do” list for a while as it goes fast lines nonstop to Croydon, shame about the rain meaning the windows had to be closed
East Croydon -> East Dulwich: 455822 & 455801 (a nice surprise from a required move as I would have taken it to Selhurst to intercept a low mileage 455 returning from Epsom Downs
East Dulwich -> Streatham Common: 455821 & 455817
Streatham Common -> London Victoria: 455841 & 455819 (woohoo a double mileage requirement)
London Victoria -> Clapham Junction: 377440, 377429 & 377458 (another 377/4 is over the line)
Clapham Junction -> London Waterloo: 455740, 455730 & 456022
London Waterloo -> Basingstoke: 442420 & 442410 (Mmm 442 motor noise on the line they were built for)
Basingstoke -> Grateley: 158884, 159003 & 159107
Thankfully the rain had a brief break allowing me to walk home without getting too wet, where I sorted my bags, had food and relaxed. Overall a good day with 16 more units over the line, even if I didn’t end up touching South Eastern! Anyhow after a good day I’m down to 13x Southern 377s (4x 1s, 3x 2s, 4x 3s & 2x 4s) & 6 of the green 455s to try and recruit into my Ten Miles Club. Next weekend is another long weekend trip, this time to the Highlands where with any luck I will be saying “Scotland, Tick” at some point on Monday.
What I enjoy about your reports Mr Kite is your enthusiasm always shines through and never wavers.
What Cowley said on The_Train's thread recently rings so true "Sometimes it’s just good for the soul to do something that serves no other purpose than pure enjoyment"
Looks like my plans for Scotland have gone up flames
Basically coming back from work, I had to do an emergency stop due to a fallen branch and the vehicle behind went up the back of my little car. Currently sitting on the side of the road waiting for the RAC to come to pick the vehicle up. Rather than my original plan of being on the move by now.
These things happen. Heading towards Inverness tomorrow instead, at least it gets me a decent run on a HST, hopefully the insurance company of the person who hit me pays up
66078 at Euston
66083 at Chester
317348 departs Meridan Water
319218 at Northampton
View from Penmaenmawr footbridge
Clun Castle arrives into New Street
37668 arrives into Stoke on Trent
31128 & 185104 at Liverpool Lime Street
Queenstown Road Battersea
455827 departs a wet Norbury[/url
Oink! 442420 at Basingstoke
