Taunton P1 doesn't have any scheduled moves at all, and I've not seen it used even in major disruption. There are 2 more platforms like this at Plymouth. When you do get into the SW, and have the time, I highly recommend the walk from Starcross to the Anchor at Cockwood Harbour. Lovely pub, awesome mussels and railway views.
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How difficult is it to arrive or leave at all timetabled platforms. 5 year project to achieve this.
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Day 445: Sunday 23/02/2025 - Oxfordshire Day Ranger - £13.95 - Valid all day at Weekends. Reading to Slough - £7.95 - Off-peak Return. Reading to Bramley - £4.10 - Off-peak Return. Reading to Basingstoke - £5.50 - Off-peak return. CP Julians CP Didcot - £3.50
Total time today 416 mins - time on trains 167 mins and time waiting 249 mins. Stations completed today 1. Total completed 2206. Platforms completed at completed stations 5043.
"Unexpected opportunities changed most of my plans"
The focus for today was for another pair of fasts on the line between Didcot and Reading first thing before ticking off as many oddities as i could and then back filling the rest of the day with more platforms and stations. It didn't quite work out like that - but in a good way i guess.
8am saw me arrving at Didcot and a wait on the platform 5 for the fast line stopping service due at 8.17am. 30 seconds before departure time the doors were unlocked which was a relief as more than a few minutes delay would cost me the return. In actual fact the return was delayed by over 10 minutes and so my concern was ill founded. On arrival at Tilehurst it took a few seconds to orientate myself and through the fast gates and then over the bridge and onto P1 (no numbered signage tut tut). The announcements said to stay behind the gate until the train had arrived and stopped. I am fairly sure it would have been a very tight squeak to make the return if everything had been on time. A problem with the doors at Cholsey had made us a few down in any event so i was very grateful for the return delay or Tilehurst would have been a bust for the second time of asking. My only station win for the day despite planning for 4 more.
Back at Didcot the boards were showing a sea of delays and my intended service was one of these. I needed this for a P15 return and the attendant crossover at Reading so drat, that wasn't going to happen now. Ok lets go for the slows at Goring & Streatley instead. Quite a few folk on the platforms here and a 20+ minute wait was just about acceptable given no reasonable shelter from the elements on the return platform. I decided to stay on at Didcot for the return going to Reading and immediately on arrival there i studied the boards for anything unusual. Reading is another station i like a lot - so much variety with lines going every which way and using flyovers and tunnels to boot. I have been doing a bit of a deep dive here so was able to identify that a P15b departure to Basingstoke would be using the needed crossover to gain the Down Feeder Relief line. More on this in a moment as i forgot to mention the crossover gained coming into Reading on the Up Relief and into P12. RTT does not show which of the crossovers to the Down Relief it would use and i got lucky as we crossed at the one a whisker before the DFR intersects. I now have all 3 possibles here and something hoped for but not expected.
One of the GW services from Oxford turned up on P10 and promised to transfer onto the Up Relief at Kennet Bridge Junction so that's another one in the bag as i alighted at Slough and made my way back. It was at this point i remembered the incredible crying child from the day before which i have not yet mentioned. He had an almost limitless variety of whining crying whimpering and the like on the journey back from Taunton. Not sure what prompted me to remember but it was an almost faultless display of trying anything and everything to gain its own way and to overcome the deaf ears of mommy parent. I was impressed but eternally thankful the little one was not in my daily orbit. Impressive however.....
At this point i was due to pick off the 3 stations between Reading and Basingstoke, something i have been putting off for some reasons but a chance conversation with a dispatcher after noticing a service on the boards at Platform 3 caused me to rethink. This platform is only used by XC apparently and not timetabled today, but there it was on the display. Used only a few times during the week i understand and as an alternative to P7 and P8 that is more usually seen, as they arrive and then reverse out on a different line (Manchester/Bournemouth services or derivations thereof). Given my mantra of going for the awkward in preference to the more ordinary i plumped to use my Basingstoke for this purpose and sack off the other stations for another time. Full and standing of course like most of the daytime XC services seem to be these days but the tick for P3 was worth it i guess. I did toy with going for one or two of the stations on the way back but the promised torrential rain was overdue and as i have a very busy next 10 days i could come back for these. All done and dusted by 3.15pm and a better than anticipated journey back home. Not all targets acquired then, but some unexpected ones were in its place. Targets are slowly reducing in most locations and my tiny brain is more able to keep in mind the possibilities if delays, cancellations or alterations show up. Do the hard stuff when it shows up basically - the more common stuff can be done anytime. I will be out again on Thursday and finally returning to a station i first visited over 3 years ago - Gloucester. Quite a bit to do here with new track down to Lydney also required. More new stations as well hopefully.
Total time today 416 mins - time on trains 167 mins and time waiting 249 mins. Stations completed today 1. Total completed 2206. Platforms completed at completed stations 5043.
"Unexpected opportunities changed most of my plans"
The focus for today was for another pair of fasts on the line between Didcot and Reading first thing before ticking off as many oddities as i could and then back filling the rest of the day with more platforms and stations. It didn't quite work out like that - but in a good way i guess.
8am saw me arrving at Didcot and a wait on the platform 5 for the fast line stopping service due at 8.17am. 30 seconds before departure time the doors were unlocked which was a relief as more than a few minutes delay would cost me the return. In actual fact the return was delayed by over 10 minutes and so my concern was ill founded. On arrival at Tilehurst it took a few seconds to orientate myself and through the fast gates and then over the bridge and onto P1 (no numbered signage tut tut). The announcements said to stay behind the gate until the train had arrived and stopped. I am fairly sure it would have been a very tight squeak to make the return if everything had been on time. A problem with the doors at Cholsey had made us a few down in any event so i was very grateful for the return delay or Tilehurst would have been a bust for the second time of asking. My only station win for the day despite planning for 4 more.
Back at Didcot the boards were showing a sea of delays and my intended service was one of these. I needed this for a P15 return and the attendant crossover at Reading so drat, that wasn't going to happen now. Ok lets go for the slows at Goring & Streatley instead. Quite a few folk on the platforms here and a 20+ minute wait was just about acceptable given no reasonable shelter from the elements on the return platform. I decided to stay on at Didcot for the return going to Reading and immediately on arrival there i studied the boards for anything unusual. Reading is another station i like a lot - so much variety with lines going every which way and using flyovers and tunnels to boot. I have been doing a bit of a deep dive here so was able to identify that a P15b departure to Basingstoke would be using the needed crossover to gain the Down Feeder Relief line. More on this in a moment as i forgot to mention the crossover gained coming into Reading on the Up Relief and into P12. RTT does not show which of the crossovers to the Down Relief it would use and i got lucky as we crossed at the one a whisker before the DFR intersects. I now have all 3 possibles here and something hoped for but not expected.
One of the GW services from Oxford turned up on P10 and promised to transfer onto the Up Relief at Kennet Bridge Junction so that's another one in the bag as i alighted at Slough and made my way back. It was at this point i remembered the incredible crying child from the day before which i have not yet mentioned. He had an almost limitless variety of whining crying whimpering and the like on the journey back from Taunton. Not sure what prompted me to remember but it was an almost faultless display of trying anything and everything to gain its own way and to overcome the deaf ears of mommy parent. I was impressed but eternally thankful the little one was not in my daily orbit. Impressive however.....
At this point i was due to pick off the 3 stations between Reading and Basingstoke, something i have been putting off for some reasons but a chance conversation with a dispatcher after noticing a service on the boards at Platform 3 caused me to rethink. This platform is only used by XC apparently and not timetabled today, but there it was on the display. Used only a few times during the week i understand and as an alternative to P7 and P8 that is more usually seen, as they arrive and then reverse out on a different line (Manchester/Bournemouth services or derivations thereof). Given my mantra of going for the awkward in preference to the more ordinary i plumped to use my Basingstoke for this purpose and sack off the other stations for another time. Full and standing of course like most of the daytime XC services seem to be these days but the tick for P3 was worth it i guess. I did toy with going for one or two of the stations on the way back but the promised torrential rain was overdue and as i have a very busy next 10 days i could come back for these. All done and dusted by 3.15pm and a better than anticipated journey back home. Not all targets acquired then, but some unexpected ones were in its place. Targets are slowly reducing in most locations and my tiny brain is more able to keep in mind the possibilities if delays, cancellations or alterations show up. Do the hard stuff when it shows up basically - the more common stuff can be done anytime. I will be out again on Thursday and finally returning to a station i first visited over 3 years ago - Gloucester. Quite a bit to do here with new track down to Lydney also required. More new stations as well hopefully.
| Didcot Parkway | Depart | 8.18 | ***** | GW | stations | platforms | ||
| Tilehurst | Arrive | 8.38 | P2 | GW | wait 7m | completed | completed | |
| Tilehurst | Depart | 8.45 | GW | 1 | 4 | |||
| Didcot Parkway | Arrive | 9.02 | P4 | GW | wait 17m | |||
| Didcot Parkway | Depart | 9.19 | P4 | GW | ||||
| Goring & Streatley | Arrive | 9.27 | P4 | GW | wait 24m | |||
| Goring & Streatley | Depart | 9.51 | GW | |||||
| Didcot Parkway | Arrive | 10.01 | P5 | GW | wait 10m | |||
| Didcot Parkway | Depart | 10.11 | P5 | GW | ||||
| Reading | Arrive | 10.35 | P12 | GW | wait 7m | |||
| Reading | Depart | 10.42 | P15b | GW | ||||
| Reading Green Park | Arrive | 10.45 | P1 | GW | wait 44m | |||
| Reading Green Park | Depart | 11.29 | SW | |||||
| Reading | Arrive | 11.32 | P2 | SW | wait 43m | |||
| Reading | Depart | 12.15 | P10 | GW | ||||
| Slough | Arrive | 12.35 | P5 | GW | wait 10m | |||
| Slough | Depart | 12.45 | P2 | GW | ||||
| Reading | Arrive | 12.56 | P8b | GW | wait 56m | |||
| Reading | Depart | 13.52 | P3 | XC | ||||
| Basingstoke | Arrive | 14.10 | P2 | XC | wait 22m | |||
| Basingstoke | Depart | 14.32 | P4 | SW | ||||
| Reading | Arrive | 14.52 | P2 | SW | wait 9m | |||
| Reading | Depart | 15.01 | P8 | GW | ||||
| Didcot Parkway | Arrive | 15.14 | ***** | GW |
All platforms
Member
Thanks for the info - both train and food based. I will do my best to fit in Starcross at a suitable time later this year - it sounds great.
Kite159
Veteran Member
I'm pretty sure departing from platform 2 heading westwards is ECS only as it's a ground position signal. Certainly during my training it was always classed as an unidirectional platform rather than P3+4 which are bidirectional.
Western Sunset
Established Member
Re-Westbury. SWR trains reversing here invariably use either plat 2 or 3, and stop well short of the canopy at the western end of the platforms. A new waiting shelter has been erected on the island platform, maybe so passengers for SWR trains can wait in the dry.
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Member
Interesting that someone still put a P2 departure Westwards into the system in the first place. With the knowledge this is not possible that would make the use of the country end trailing crossover in passenger traffic highly unlikely.
Yes, that was my observation also on the Saturday. Good to have that confirmed. It looks a long way between the end of the canopy and the new shelter, so an interesting walk in adverse weather conditions.
Western Sunset
Established Member
I find the new shelter very useful when watching the trains there... Missed you by a day, as I was there early on Sunday.
Hello, this is the latest mention I can find of Uttracker, I was a member of this before its own retired it due to ill heath. I note your comment suggesting it may exist under another domain perhaps. I’ve not received any emails as a member and wonder if I might have missed some announcement about the new address perhaps. Many thanks in advance for any info you are able to supply.
All platforms
Member
I have sent a PM in response
All platforms
Member
Day 446: Thursday 27/02/2025 - Cheltenham Spa to Cardiff Central - £6.85 - Advance Single. Cardiff Central to Gloucester - £5.25 - Advance Single. Gloucester to Chepstow - £5.05 - Advance Single. Freedom of Severn & Solent Rover 3 in 7 - Cost apportioned to day 1 - Day 2. CP Cheltenham Spa - £6.00
Total time today 657 mins - time on trains 405 mins and time waiting 252 mins. Stations completed today 4. Total completed 2210. Platforms completed at completed stations 5053.
"A beautiful day out centred on Gloucester"
The nearest normal line/track to me that still needs my attention is the section between Gloucester and Lydney and a cheeky bonus day out allowed me to address that, as well as all the timetabled track at Gloucester itself.
First of all however was a trip to Cardiff Central as i had noticed that the early starter from Cheltenham Spa was scheduled to do the little used Line C from the East and into P2 at Cardiff -which it duly did. I also scored an unexpected bonus crossover at Gaer Junction with a move from the Up Relief to the Down Relief after departing Newport P2. It was becoming light by this time and i got to see the swerve - good job i was paying attention as this was not on RTT ahead of time. A quick dash to M&S saw me with breakfast purchases and back onto the same unit for the trip back up the line. Some fabulous views of the high tide on the Severn as we rode North and very enjoyable it was too.
New track for me into Gloucester P4 but nothing special with that, but staying on the same platform saw the XC service to Cardiff approach from the "wrong" direction on the same platform some 15 mins later and an unusually long section before crossing onto the conventional (down) line. Over 3 minutes wrong way is slightly unusual as a normal service i would wager elsewhere. Nothing too unusual about this as Gloucester seems to be very bi-directional and a good guessing game as to which line combo will be used from which direction.
My first new station of the day would be Chepstow and a second breakfast (bacon bap as it was called on the menu) was secured at the independent cafe there. My third independent in 3 weeks i think... Fully stocked now i was surprised there was nowhere to sit and eat as all available ones were being used as i waited for the XC to Nottingham although i would be alighting at Cheltenham. Probably the busiest service of the day although there was enough seats for all, and another chance to marvel at just how close the line got to the river at times. Great stuff.
New station number 2 would be Yate on the line down to Bristol. I have passed by here previously but almost 4 years ago when i did the curve at Dr Days Junction on a diverted service headed for Paddington via Newbury. I was surprised to see what looked like a guard stood on P2 as i alighted but i never got asked for my ticket or anything. I wandered off for a bit but didn't make it into the village proper before i returned to sit out the time until the next service going to Cam & Dursley. I was most surprised when the same "guard" came onto P1 5 mins before it was due and asked to see all tickets. I am no experet but i have never see this happen before. I have only been asked to produce a ticket on a train, or at barriers, although i have seen 3 revenue inspections at the exit of a station also and a couple of times at the top of the stairs at Doncaster. Never on a platform. My instinct says this was not a normal action. The ticket machines were operational by the way. Very odd.
Another decent wait at Cam & Dursley and i was able to get a few more pages read of my latest book in the sunshine. I can't say i have done this too often since early December i think. Nothing too unusual about the station itself so off i went to Bristol Temple Meads and into P7 via Bristol Parkway P1 so a couple of bits of new track helped the mood stay bouyant. Would my luck hold for the rest of the day? Yes it would actually.
Back at Gloucester i had to do some simple maths to see if the delayed service from the little used P3 would allow me to turn at Lydney and get back on the service i needed for my last remaining timetabled crossover. Having worked out i could still do this it was my final station completion of the day with the P3 departure from Gloucester. Happy days and i have been waiting for months to wangle the opportunity to do this. Final turn of the day was at Lydney and the 2 boneyards off each of the 2 platforms. One side is seemingly a graveyard for double decker buses of mainly 1980's vintage (maybe) with quite a view open top variations as well. the other side is a boneyard in the making for a variety of mainly vintage caravans, motorhomes and even a horse box. Another oddity, but i have no recollection of noticing these on my last visit in August 2022.
Last act of the day was the use of the crossover to gain P2 at Gloucester from the Cardiff end before continuing to Cheltenham. All done by 4.30pm or so and a rarity can be claimed in that all targets were acquired today. Not too onerous with mainly quiet trains the order of the day. Some new stations in the book as well. I am out again tomorrow and Sunday focusing on the Midland Main Line (an achilles heel of mine) in an effort to score some missing track bits before focusing on track between Reading and Paddington on the Sunday with an afternoon diversion also planned in an attempt to complete a tricky station.
Total time today 657 mins - time on trains 405 mins and time waiting 252 mins. Stations completed today 4. Total completed 2210. Platforms completed at completed stations 5053.
"A beautiful day out centred on Gloucester"
The nearest normal line/track to me that still needs my attention is the section between Gloucester and Lydney and a cheeky bonus day out allowed me to address that, as well as all the timetabled track at Gloucester itself.
First of all however was a trip to Cardiff Central as i had noticed that the early starter from Cheltenham Spa was scheduled to do the little used Line C from the East and into P2 at Cardiff -which it duly did. I also scored an unexpected bonus crossover at Gaer Junction with a move from the Up Relief to the Down Relief after departing Newport P2. It was becoming light by this time and i got to see the swerve - good job i was paying attention as this was not on RTT ahead of time. A quick dash to M&S saw me with breakfast purchases and back onto the same unit for the trip back up the line. Some fabulous views of the high tide on the Severn as we rode North and very enjoyable it was too.
New track for me into Gloucester P4 but nothing special with that, but staying on the same platform saw the XC service to Cardiff approach from the "wrong" direction on the same platform some 15 mins later and an unusually long section before crossing onto the conventional (down) line. Over 3 minutes wrong way is slightly unusual as a normal service i would wager elsewhere. Nothing too unusual about this as Gloucester seems to be very bi-directional and a good guessing game as to which line combo will be used from which direction.
My first new station of the day would be Chepstow and a second breakfast (bacon bap as it was called on the menu) was secured at the independent cafe there. My third independent in 3 weeks i think... Fully stocked now i was surprised there was nowhere to sit and eat as all available ones were being used as i waited for the XC to Nottingham although i would be alighting at Cheltenham. Probably the busiest service of the day although there was enough seats for all, and another chance to marvel at just how close the line got to the river at times. Great stuff.
New station number 2 would be Yate on the line down to Bristol. I have passed by here previously but almost 4 years ago when i did the curve at Dr Days Junction on a diverted service headed for Paddington via Newbury. I was surprised to see what looked like a guard stood on P2 as i alighted but i never got asked for my ticket or anything. I wandered off for a bit but didn't make it into the village proper before i returned to sit out the time until the next service going to Cam & Dursley. I was most surprised when the same "guard" came onto P1 5 mins before it was due and asked to see all tickets. I am no experet but i have never see this happen before. I have only been asked to produce a ticket on a train, or at barriers, although i have seen 3 revenue inspections at the exit of a station also and a couple of times at the top of the stairs at Doncaster. Never on a platform. My instinct says this was not a normal action. The ticket machines were operational by the way. Very odd.
Another decent wait at Cam & Dursley and i was able to get a few more pages read of my latest book in the sunshine. I can't say i have done this too often since early December i think. Nothing too unusual about the station itself so off i went to Bristol Temple Meads and into P7 via Bristol Parkway P1 so a couple of bits of new track helped the mood stay bouyant. Would my luck hold for the rest of the day? Yes it would actually.
Back at Gloucester i had to do some simple maths to see if the delayed service from the little used P3 would allow me to turn at Lydney and get back on the service i needed for my last remaining timetabled crossover. Having worked out i could still do this it was my final station completion of the day with the P3 departure from Gloucester. Happy days and i have been waiting for months to wangle the opportunity to do this. Final turn of the day was at Lydney and the 2 boneyards off each of the 2 platforms. One side is seemingly a graveyard for double decker buses of mainly 1980's vintage (maybe) with quite a view open top variations as well. the other side is a boneyard in the making for a variety of mainly vintage caravans, motorhomes and even a horse box. Another oddity, but i have no recollection of noticing these on my last visit in August 2022.
Last act of the day was the use of the crossover to gain P2 at Gloucester from the Cardiff end before continuing to Cheltenham. All done by 4.30pm or so and a rarity can be claimed in that all targets were acquired today. Not too onerous with mainly quiet trains the order of the day. Some new stations in the book as well. I am out again tomorrow and Sunday focusing on the Midland Main Line (an achilles heel of mine) in an effort to score some missing track bits before focusing on track between Reading and Paddington on the Sunday with an afternoon diversion also planned in an attempt to complete a tricky station.
| Cheltenham Spa | Depart | 5.37 | ***** | AW | stations | platforms | ||
| Cardiff Central | Arrive | 6.59 | P2 | AW | wait 10m | completed | completed | |
| Cardiff Central | Depart | 7.09 | P2 | AW | ||||
| Gloucester | Arrive | 8.16 | P4 | AW | wait 15m | |||
| Gloucester | Depart | 8.31 | P4 | XC | ||||
| Chepstow | Arrive | 8.56 | P1 | XC | wait 22m | |||
| Chepstow | Depart | 9.18 | P2 | XC | 1 | 2 | ||
| Cheltenham Spa | Arrive | 9.58 | P2 | XC | wait 25m | |||
| Cheltenham Spa | Depart | 10.23 | P1 | GW | ||||
| Yate | Arrive | 11.05 | P2 | GW | wait 54m | |||
| Yate | Depart | 11.59 | P1 | GW | 1 | 2 | ||
| Cam & Dursley | Arrive | 12.11 | P1 | GW | wait 45m | |||
| Cam & Dursley | Depart | 12.56 | P2 | GW | 1 | 2 | ||
| Bristol Temple Meads | Arrive | 13.30 | P7 | GW | wait 8m | |||
| Bristol Temple Meads | Depart | 13.38 | P7 | GW | ||||
| Gloucester | Arrive | 14.28 | P4 | GW | wait 37m | |||
| Gloucester | Depart | 15.05 | P3 | AW | 1 | 4 | ||
| Lydney | Arrive | 15.23 | AW | wait 36m | ||||
| Lydney | Depart | 15.59 | P2 | AW | ||||
| Cheltenham Spa | Arrive | 16.34 | ***** | AW |
Kite159
Veteran Member
There is a reversing board on P1 pretty much at the entrance to the stairs at Westbury (used it today). (You also popped into my head when I was sitting on 3B on an early morning stopper)
I would imagine it would be a revenue protection person at Yate asking to see the tickets, probably in conjunction with a bigger sting at Bristol Parkway to catch those whom claimed to have travelled from Yate when coming from further afield. Good luck with the adventure this weekend
Last edited:
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Member
Day 447: Saturday 01/03/2025 - East Midlands Rover 3 in 7 - £73.90 - valid all day at Weekends - Day 1. Bedford to Luton - £5.70 - Super Off-peak Return x3. CP Market Harborough + Fernie Road Market Harborough - free.
Total time today 691 mins - time on trains 461 mins and time waiting 230 mins. No new platforms or stations today - purely track focused.
"The MML still has a trick or two up its sleeves at micro level"
The initial idea for today was when i realised just how many bits of track i could do with the MML closed between Mill Hill Broadway and Luton this weekend. It quickly expanded to an East Midlands Rover when i also realised i could have a go at some long standing targets in the Nottingham area. This expanded as to what i could do with a Day 2 and Day 3 of an East Midlands Rover as well - more of that later in the week. I am right in the middle of a very busy 2 week period with things jumping out at me to do with other commitments also jostling for my time.
For reasons that will become apparent later i chose Market Harborough as my base today with my first move to Luton itself. It was booked to stop at Kettering in P1 via Kettering North Junction but i was a bit worried when sailed over the points before landing in P3. Strike one then for the MML. What we did then however was unexpectedly cross onto the Slow Line at Sharnbrook instead and just drifted all the way into Bedford from there. I was surprised to see a Corby set sat in P3 as we arrived which had been there 20 mins according to RTT and explains why we did the Slow line as mostly a bonus. It probably worked out better than planned actually as Sharnbrook is not normally timetabled. We continued down the slow line gradually losing time. We were planned to use P3 at Luton so a bonus crossover to get there would be for the win. That is until RTT showed an alteration to P1 instead. Drat turned into a cheer however as we did ease into P3 after all with the service from Corby also ending up in its planned platform of P1 a few minutes behind.
I switched platforms and trains to catch the Corby set to err Corby. I had worried i would miss the connection until i realised it was behind us on the route down. The fasts were also out of use at this early part of the day south of Bedford so everything was on the slows. Another crossover ticked as we eased onto the Down Slow out of P1 and a clear run to Corby via Kettering P1. This brought into play another crossover after leaving Kettering to gain the Down Corby. I missed a trick i realised later because there was also a Kettering/Corby shuttle operating today using P2 at Kettering so i should have factored this in as another rarely used crossover was being used to gain P2. Hopefully not a biggie then. A change at Bedford saw me onto the ThamesLink service shuttling between Bedford and Luton where they were using P2 and my final bit of track there today by using the track into p2 from the North.
I was going up to the Nottingham area for a few hours and the first order of business was to tick off my last remaining crossovers at Bedford South Junction to gain the Down Fast and a straight forward run Northwards. I would be alighting at Long Eaton where the local Premier Shop allowed me to purchase a few nibbles as i was getting hungry by this time. A busy Newark Castle service arrived about 30 mins later and it was standing only. This did give me the opportunity to ensure we did the Down Trent Passenger Loop to allow another service to pass on the Down Nottingham on our right. Content that the track was done i alighted at Nottingham to await my steed to the Parkway. This was just a ploy to allow me to board the stopper back into Nottingham which was booked to use the whole Down Nottingham Slow line. Not many services are booked for this so this was another big win as we crawled its length. We were passed by another service most of the way down the Loop before landing in P3b (again). Probably more platform alterations on the boards today than i have ever seen with nearly all departures flashing away. This included the Luton shuttles which were all using P6a rather than P7a as planned. I did try and see if P7a was being used with a pointless shimmy to Beeston and back on the off chance it would be used and an elusive crossover. No more visible targets so it was back to Market Harborough and an early for me check-in. I would be going out again late on but for now it was an opportunity to get a few hours shut eye beforehand.
The last service out of Luton was booked to use Kettering P1 but of course it didn't so after trecking all the way to Luton once more. First stop was Kettering and because we used P4 instead we were 8 mins early and just sat there! Nevertheless a successful day all in all but it would be a painfully early start to relocate to Twyford. Market Harborough was the only base i could reasonably use today and fit in that last service and maximise what little sleep was on offer.
Total time today 691 mins - time on trains 461 mins and time waiting 230 mins. No new platforms or stations today - purely track focused.
"The MML still has a trick or two up its sleeves at micro level"
The initial idea for today was when i realised just how many bits of track i could do with the MML closed between Mill Hill Broadway and Luton this weekend. It quickly expanded to an East Midlands Rover when i also realised i could have a go at some long standing targets in the Nottingham area. This expanded as to what i could do with a Day 2 and Day 3 of an East Midlands Rover as well - more of that later in the week. I am right in the middle of a very busy 2 week period with things jumping out at me to do with other commitments also jostling for my time.
For reasons that will become apparent later i chose Market Harborough as my base today with my first move to Luton itself. It was booked to stop at Kettering in P1 via Kettering North Junction but i was a bit worried when sailed over the points before landing in P3. Strike one then for the MML. What we did then however was unexpectedly cross onto the Slow Line at Sharnbrook instead and just drifted all the way into Bedford from there. I was surprised to see a Corby set sat in P3 as we arrived which had been there 20 mins according to RTT and explains why we did the Slow line as mostly a bonus. It probably worked out better than planned actually as Sharnbrook is not normally timetabled. We continued down the slow line gradually losing time. We were planned to use P3 at Luton so a bonus crossover to get there would be for the win. That is until RTT showed an alteration to P1 instead. Drat turned into a cheer however as we did ease into P3 after all with the service from Corby also ending up in its planned platform of P1 a few minutes behind.
I switched platforms and trains to catch the Corby set to err Corby. I had worried i would miss the connection until i realised it was behind us on the route down. The fasts were also out of use at this early part of the day south of Bedford so everything was on the slows. Another crossover ticked as we eased onto the Down Slow out of P1 and a clear run to Corby via Kettering P1. This brought into play another crossover after leaving Kettering to gain the Down Corby. I missed a trick i realised later because there was also a Kettering/Corby shuttle operating today using P2 at Kettering so i should have factored this in as another rarely used crossover was being used to gain P2. Hopefully not a biggie then. A change at Bedford saw me onto the ThamesLink service shuttling between Bedford and Luton where they were using P2 and my final bit of track there today by using the track into p2 from the North.
I was going up to the Nottingham area for a few hours and the first order of business was to tick off my last remaining crossovers at Bedford South Junction to gain the Down Fast and a straight forward run Northwards. I would be alighting at Long Eaton where the local Premier Shop allowed me to purchase a few nibbles as i was getting hungry by this time. A busy Newark Castle service arrived about 30 mins later and it was standing only. This did give me the opportunity to ensure we did the Down Trent Passenger Loop to allow another service to pass on the Down Nottingham on our right. Content that the track was done i alighted at Nottingham to await my steed to the Parkway. This was just a ploy to allow me to board the stopper back into Nottingham which was booked to use the whole Down Nottingham Slow line. Not many services are booked for this so this was another big win as we crawled its length. We were passed by another service most of the way down the Loop before landing in P3b (again). Probably more platform alterations on the boards today than i have ever seen with nearly all departures flashing away. This included the Luton shuttles which were all using P6a rather than P7a as planned. I did try and see if P7a was being used with a pointless shimmy to Beeston and back on the off chance it would be used and an elusive crossover. No more visible targets so it was back to Market Harborough and an early for me check-in. I would be going out again late on but for now it was an opportunity to get a few hours shut eye beforehand.
The last service out of Luton was booked to use Kettering P1 but of course it didn't so after trecking all the way to Luton once more. First stop was Kettering and because we used P4 instead we were 8 mins early and just sat there! Nevertheless a successful day all in all but it would be a painfully early start to relocate to Twyford. Market Harborough was the only base i could reasonably use today and fit in that last service and maximise what little sleep was on offer.
| Market Harborough | Depart | 6.08 | ***** | EM | stations | platforms | ||
| Luton | Arrive | 7.07 | P3 | EM | wait 7m | completed | completed | |
| Luton | Depart | 7.14 | P1 | EM | ||||
| Corby | Arrive | 8.17 | Single | EM | wait 4m | |||
| Corby | Depart | 8.21 | Single | EM | ||||
| Bedford | Arrive | 8.50 | P3 | EM | wait 18m | |||
| Bedford | Depart | 9.08 | P1 | TL | ||||
| Luton | Arrive | 9.34 | P2 | TL | wait 8m | |||
| Luton | Depart | 9.42 | P1 | EM | ||||
| Long Eaton | Arrive | 11.04 | P2 | EM | wait 29m | |||
| Long Eaton | Depart | 11.33 | P1 | EM | ||||
| Nottingham | Arrive | 11.59 | P3b | EM | wait 13m | |||
| Nottingham | Depart | 12.12 | P6a | EM | ||||
| East Midlands Parkway | Arrive | 12.24 | P2 | EM | wait 54m | |||
| East Midlands Parkway | Depart | 13.18 | P3 | EM | ||||
| Nottingham | Arrive | 13.40 | P3b | EM | wait 32m | |||
| Nottingham | Depart | 14.12 | P6a | EM | ||||
| Beeston | Arrive | 14.17 | P2 | EM | wait 29m | |||
| Beeston | Depart | 14.46 | P1 | EM | ||||
| Nottingham | Arrive | 14.52 | P6a | EM | wait 20m | |||
| Nottingham | Depart | 15.12 | P6a | EM | ||||
| Market Harborough | Arrive | 15.37 | P2 | EM | ***** | |||
| Hotel break | ***** | ***** | ***** | ***** | ***** | |||
| Market Harborough | Depart | 22.13 | P2 | EM | ||||
| Luton | Arrive | 23.10 | P3 | EM | wait 16m | |||
| Luton | Depart | 23.26 | P3 | EM | ||||
| Market Harborough | Arrive | 0.15 | ***** | EM |
All platforms
Member
This of course begs the question of platform variants at Westbury. Neither the boards, announcements or RTT etc show these variants other than "all the way down the platform beyond the canopy please" on the tannoy. I have used P2"b" and as the others do get used as per your note it may be something i have a go at for the sake of completeness. As reversing boards exist i think i will.There is a reversing board on P1 pretty much at the entrance to the stairs at Westbury (used it today). (You also popped into my head when I was sitting on 3B on an early morning stopper)
I would imagine it would be a revenue protection person at Yate asking to see the tickets, probably in conjunction with a bigger sting at Bristol Parkway to catch those whom claimed to have travelled from Yate when coming from further afield. Good luck with the adventure this weekend
Western Sunset
Established Member
5-car westbound IETs at Westbury, using plat 1, always pull up at the far (country) end of the platform almost beyond the canopy. Must be only one "stop" marker for IETs, irrespective of length.
All platforms
Member
Day 449: Sunday 02/03/2025 - Thames Branches Day Ranger - £18.30 - Valid all day at Weekends. Reading to Mortimer - £3.95 - Off-peak Return. Reading Green Park to Bramley (Hants) - £4.30 - Off-peak Return. Reading to West Byfleet - £11.30 - Sunday Out Return. CP Hurst Road Twyford - free.
Total time today 527 mins - time on trains 208 mins and time waiting 319 mins. Stations completed today 5. Total completed 2215. Platforms completed at completed stations 5067.
"Another day of ups and down"
I did wake up on time but there wasn't that much wriggle room as i made my way to Twyford to be there for the 6.41 to Paddington. The first couple of moves promised a Paddington completion as well as other sundry moves on the Great Western Main Line. Unfortunately a road closure just before Brackley on the A43 put the brakes on that. The detour eventually took an extra 30 minutes and so i had to replan right from the start. I had enough time to do so as i missed 2 services at Twyford and the next one was another 30 mins wait. I had to write off the sundry one off moves but i could still salvage something as after 8.30 or so all traffic through Maidenhead would be using P1 and P4 only by then. This meant i just needed to get to Slough and wait it out. In fact i had time to take the shuttle to Windsor to keep the cold at bay as it was minus 3 at set off time and not much had changed in the interim.
Safely back at Slough it was onto P4 and await the Reading service at 8.48 and we duly did 2 sets of crossovers to use P1 at Maidenhead. Thank goodness for that or my Ranger ticket would have been completely useless. As it was i could only use it for a couple of journeys... So, we used crossovers at Slough West and Ruscombe for that move. Interestingly it appeared to be in use for most of the day.
I only had one other (complicated) set of moves planned but with no real benefit in trawling up to Paddington now i decided to do the stations down to Basingstoke i needed so a couple of tickets were purchased for this and i was off to Mortimer and a half hour wait. I did manage to find a sun spot to keep the cold at bay and a very lovely it was too. I still have quite a few new stations and i think this is my "oldest" remaining one opened as it was in May 2023. This is certainly not one of the identikit new stations although there are basic design features that all of them seem to have. A staffed and gated station this is, with toilets and an indoor area to await your next service. Well done.... I was tempted to visit the Tesco Express just outside but i was intent on finishing my latest book so sat there for a bit after taking the obligatory pics.
The other remaining interim station was Bramley (Hants variety) which was situated adjacent to a level crossing. The contrast with the previous station was high. It needs some TLC in my opinion. Oh that reminds me that the stairs on the bridge at Green Park have the odd patch of rust showing through already and the whiteness levels were more of a dingy shade on the stair edges. Everything else looked brand new apart form the stairs which i found a bit odd. Back to Reading after this to pick up on my original itinerary which was to get to West Byfleet via Basingstoke P5 and my fourth completed station of the day. I would also score another two crossovers at Farnborough as services would be diverting there and back from the fast line to call there. Tick and tick then.
I was at West Byfleet because the timetable said the stoppers would be unusually using P2 and not P1 all day. When i checked earlier it was doing this so i was bowled for 6 when the service i was returning on used P3 instead. What the heck? I decided that an hours wait was just about justifiable and went walkabout to fill the time. West Byfleet shopping is more than 50% made up of Restaurants/Takeaways and Estate Agents by the way. I quite liked the area i have to say - it seemed more of a community than many other places i have been. So, the big question is was my extra hours wait worth it? Yes. A big sigh of relief when i realised the stopper was on the Fast Line. It is a tricky one to work out but this is the first time in 3 years i have seen this platform in planned use, so this maybe one of the trickiest platforms to do hereabouts. All that was left was to make my way back to Twyford via Woking Basingstoke and Reading. Writing this i realise my saving of 20 mins by scraping on the XC could have caused an issue as i had a SW only ticket i now realise. Ooops. Not intended of course. Another successful day counting everything up but it would have been even better if i could have made my intended start time. Still lots to do on all the fasts out of London but i mustn't forget other parts of the country. Talking of which i will be out tomorrow afternoon using Day 2 of my East Midlands Rover with another late finish in prospect.
Total time today 527 mins - time on trains 208 mins and time waiting 319 mins. Stations completed today 5. Total completed 2215. Platforms completed at completed stations 5067.
"Another day of ups and down"
I did wake up on time but there wasn't that much wriggle room as i made my way to Twyford to be there for the 6.41 to Paddington. The first couple of moves promised a Paddington completion as well as other sundry moves on the Great Western Main Line. Unfortunately a road closure just before Brackley on the A43 put the brakes on that. The detour eventually took an extra 30 minutes and so i had to replan right from the start. I had enough time to do so as i missed 2 services at Twyford and the next one was another 30 mins wait. I had to write off the sundry one off moves but i could still salvage something as after 8.30 or so all traffic through Maidenhead would be using P1 and P4 only by then. This meant i just needed to get to Slough and wait it out. In fact i had time to take the shuttle to Windsor to keep the cold at bay as it was minus 3 at set off time and not much had changed in the interim.
Safely back at Slough it was onto P4 and await the Reading service at 8.48 and we duly did 2 sets of crossovers to use P1 at Maidenhead. Thank goodness for that or my Ranger ticket would have been completely useless. As it was i could only use it for a couple of journeys... So, we used crossovers at Slough West and Ruscombe for that move. Interestingly it appeared to be in use for most of the day.
I only had one other (complicated) set of moves planned but with no real benefit in trawling up to Paddington now i decided to do the stations down to Basingstoke i needed so a couple of tickets were purchased for this and i was off to Mortimer and a half hour wait. I did manage to find a sun spot to keep the cold at bay and a very lovely it was too. I still have quite a few new stations and i think this is my "oldest" remaining one opened as it was in May 2023. This is certainly not one of the identikit new stations although there are basic design features that all of them seem to have. A staffed and gated station this is, with toilets and an indoor area to await your next service. Well done.... I was tempted to visit the Tesco Express just outside but i was intent on finishing my latest book so sat there for a bit after taking the obligatory pics.
The other remaining interim station was Bramley (Hants variety) which was situated adjacent to a level crossing. The contrast with the previous station was high. It needs some TLC in my opinion. Oh that reminds me that the stairs on the bridge at Green Park have the odd patch of rust showing through already and the whiteness levels were more of a dingy shade on the stair edges. Everything else looked brand new apart form the stairs which i found a bit odd. Back to Reading after this to pick up on my original itinerary which was to get to West Byfleet via Basingstoke P5 and my fourth completed station of the day. I would also score another two crossovers at Farnborough as services would be diverting there and back from the fast line to call there. Tick and tick then.
I was at West Byfleet because the timetable said the stoppers would be unusually using P2 and not P1 all day. When i checked earlier it was doing this so i was bowled for 6 when the service i was returning on used P3 instead. What the heck? I decided that an hours wait was just about justifiable and went walkabout to fill the time. West Byfleet shopping is more than 50% made up of Restaurants/Takeaways and Estate Agents by the way. I quite liked the area i have to say - it seemed more of a community than many other places i have been. So, the big question is was my extra hours wait worth it? Yes. A big sigh of relief when i realised the stopper was on the Fast Line. It is a tricky one to work out but this is the first time in 3 years i have seen this platform in planned use, so this maybe one of the trickiest platforms to do hereabouts. All that was left was to make my way back to Twyford via Woking Basingstoke and Reading. Writing this i realise my saving of 20 mins by scraping on the XC could have caused an issue as i had a SW only ticket i now realise. Ooops. Not intended of course. Another successful day counting everything up but it would have been even better if i could have made my intended start time. Still lots to do on all the fasts out of London but i mustn't forget other parts of the country. Talking of which i will be out tomorrow afternoon using Day 2 of my East Midlands Rover with another late finish in prospect.
| Twyford | Depart | 7.48 | ***** | GW | stations | platforms | ||
| Slough | Arrive | 8.03 | P5 | GW | wait 17m | completed | completed | |
| Slough | Depart | 8.21 | P1 | GW | ||||
| Windsor & Eton Central | Arrive | 8.27 | Single | GW | wait 6m | |||
| Windsor & Eton Central | Depart | 8.33 | Single | GW | ||||
| Slough | Arrive | 8.39 | P1 | GW | wait 9m | |||
| Slough | Depart | 8.48 | P4 | XR | ||||
| Reading | Arrive | 9.13 | P14 | XR | wait 26m | |||
| Reading | Depart | 9.39 | P2 | GW | ||||
| Mortimer | Arrive | 9.51 | P1 | GW | wait 31m | |||
| Mortimer | Depart | 10.22 | P2 | GW | 1 | 2 | ||
| Reading Green Park | Arrive | 10.28 | P2 | GW | wait 18m | |||
| Reading Green Park | Depart | 10.46 | P1 | GW | 1 | 2 | ||
| Bramley (Hants) | Arrive | 10.57 | P1 | GW | wait 17m | |||
| Bramley (Hants) | Depart | 11.14 | P2 | GW | 1 | 2 | ||
| Reading | Arrive | 11.33 | P2 | GW | wait 4m | |||
| Reading | Depart | 11.37 | P2 | GW | ||||
| Basingstoke | Arrive | 12.02 | P5 | GW | wait 41m | 1 | 5 | |
| Basingstoke | Depart | 12.43 | P3 | SW | ||||
| Woking | Arrive | 13.09 | P1 | SW | wait 43m | |||
| Woking | Depart | 13.52 | P3 | SW | ||||
| West Byfleet | Arrive | 13.56 | P1 | SW | wait 71m | |||
| West Byfleet | Depart | 15.07 | P2 | SW | 1 | 3 | ||
| Woking | Arrive | 15.13 | P3 | SW | wait 8m | |||
| Woking | Depart | 15.21 | P4 | SW | ||||
| Basingstoke | Arrive | 15.46 | P1 | SW | wait 3m | |||
| Basingstoke | Depart | 15.49 | P4 | XC | ||||
| Reading | Arrive | 16.04 | P12b | XC | wait 25m | |||
| Reading | Depart | 16.29 | P14 | XR | ||||
| Twyford | Arrive | 16.35 | ***** | XR |
Kite159
Veteran Member
If using the 'Sunday out' ticket you listed at the top, that shouldn't have any TOC restrictions. Especially as SWR (normally) stop serving Reading from the Basingstoke direction after the ~ 16:28.
Anyhow a good couple of days
All platforms
Member
Good to know. I just assumed it was was TOC sensitive as it seems to be available only on routes that SW use - although i maybe wrong with that one too. No writing on these tickets about SW come to think about it so yes that makes sense now.If using the 'Sunday out' ticket you listed at the top, that shouldn't have any TOC restrictions. Especially as SWR (normally) stop serving Reading from the Basingstoke direction after the ~ 16:28.
Anyhow a good couple of days
Kite159
Veteran Member
.
Attached is a photo of the markers on platform 1, the 2-3 is for trains from the northern end.
The mid platform markers are only for those trains which are reversing at Westbury. Most likely there is only one stop marker on P1 for IETs heading west. Not ideal for passengers having to leave the canopy area into the open to board, especially if the weather is a bit wet
Attached is a photo of the markers on platform 1, the 2-3 is for trains from the northern end.
Attachments
All platforms
Member
Day 449: East Midlands Rover 3 in 7 - Day 2. Cost apportioned to Day 1. Valid after 9.00am Weekdays. CP Lincoln Central £5.70
Total time today 503 mins - time on trains 503 mins and time waiting 151 mins. One additional platform today at a previously completed station.
"Lincoln to Lincoln via Lincoln"
In truth i just wanted to use my 3 Day Rover some more and found some interesting things to do with it, but with the short notice on doing this i could only come up with a post 2pm itinerary. No worries - every bit of track is a bonus and first off was the trek to Peterborough where i would catch a P7 departure of the EM to Lime Street. Despite being to Peterborough oh so many times i don't think i have done much with EM here so i had the fairly common Helpston Junction crossover to do and the one at Tallington rather than continue on the Up Slow which my records show i have done (but i don't remember it!). A Lumo service passed us as we traversed the Helpston crossover and was well away by the time we reached Tallington so a decent start then.
There was a fault on the train as it was being taken out of service at Nottingham and the part we should have joined to there, went forward as a 2 coach set. We arrived on P6b and the Liverpool service departed from P7b. It was getting dark by the time we departed for Cleethorpes from P6b and thus using a crossover i was not 100% certain i had done before so that was an unintended bonus i guess. There was a points failure at Lincoln so we were stacked outside for about 30 mins and so lost my connection at Grimsby that i had originally intended to catch. This was due to arrive in P4 which is the new platform i have yet to do. Not only did i not catch the service the promised P4 arrival on the TP service ended up on P2 and so i couldn't use P4 for a return. Gnashing of teeth followed but i got my hopes up when i could see that a few minutes in front of us the Barton service had been awarded a P4 slot. The bad news it was scheduled to depart as we arrived. The final saving grace was the Barton service was being crewed by the same bods as my own service from Nottingham and one reason why we didn't get terminated at Lincoln as was quite likely.
Thus i was saved and got to ride from P4 after all and remembered to alight at Grimsby to await the last service out of Cleethorpes which was run by TP to Nottingham i think. However the real nugget for me is that we were scheduled to do the P4 Loop (down slow line from the crossover just before the station) which is still on my list. I have previously alighted at P4 so that side of the station is done now as it all happened as expected. Just P1 and the loop left and i believe this is scheduled from the May timetable change. A late finish and a romp across the countryside to gain my hotel near Retford and a few hours sleep before starting again in the morning very early. A lot of travel in the PM just to get 3 sets of targets. Still, its 3 less things to do.
Total time today 503 mins - time on trains 503 mins and time waiting 151 mins. One additional platform today at a previously completed station.
"Lincoln to Lincoln via Lincoln"
In truth i just wanted to use my 3 Day Rover some more and found some interesting things to do with it, but with the short notice on doing this i could only come up with a post 2pm itinerary. No worries - every bit of track is a bonus and first off was the trek to Peterborough where i would catch a P7 departure of the EM to Lime Street. Despite being to Peterborough oh so many times i don't think i have done much with EM here so i had the fairly common Helpston Junction crossover to do and the one at Tallington rather than continue on the Up Slow which my records show i have done (but i don't remember it!). A Lumo service passed us as we traversed the Helpston crossover and was well away by the time we reached Tallington so a decent start then.
There was a fault on the train as it was being taken out of service at Nottingham and the part we should have joined to there, went forward as a 2 coach set. We arrived on P6b and the Liverpool service departed from P7b. It was getting dark by the time we departed for Cleethorpes from P6b and thus using a crossover i was not 100% certain i had done before so that was an unintended bonus i guess. There was a points failure at Lincoln so we were stacked outside for about 30 mins and so lost my connection at Grimsby that i had originally intended to catch. This was due to arrive in P4 which is the new platform i have yet to do. Not only did i not catch the service the promised P4 arrival on the TP service ended up on P2 and so i couldn't use P4 for a return. Gnashing of teeth followed but i got my hopes up when i could see that a few minutes in front of us the Barton service had been awarded a P4 slot. The bad news it was scheduled to depart as we arrived. The final saving grace was the Barton service was being crewed by the same bods as my own service from Nottingham and one reason why we didn't get terminated at Lincoln as was quite likely.
Thus i was saved and got to ride from P4 after all and remembered to alight at Grimsby to await the last service out of Cleethorpes which was run by TP to Nottingham i think. However the real nugget for me is that we were scheduled to do the P4 Loop (down slow line from the crossover just before the station) which is still on my list. I have previously alighted at P4 so that side of the station is done now as it all happened as expected. Just P1 and the loop left and i believe this is scheduled from the May timetable change. A late finish and a romp across the countryside to gain my hotel near Retford and a few hours sleep before starting again in the morning very early. A lot of travel in the PM just to get 3 sets of targets. Still, its 3 less things to do.
| Lincoln Central | Depart | 14.35 | ***** | EM | stations | platforms | ||
| Peterborough | Arrive | 15.45 | P2b | EM | wait 42m | completed | completed | |
| Peterborough | Depart | 16.27 | P7 | EM | ||||
| Nottingham | Arrive | 17.32 | P3b | EM | wait 60m | |||
| Nottingham | Depart | 18.32 | P6b | EM | ||||
| Cleethorpes | Arrive | 21.09 | P1 | EM | wait 9m | |||
| Cleethorpes | Depart | 21.18 | P4 | EM | 1 | |||
| Grimsby Town | Arrive | 21.25 | P2 | EM | wait 40m | |||
| Grimsby Town | Depart | 22.05 | P1 | EM | ||||
| Lincoln Central | Arrive | 22.58 | ***** | EM |
All platforms
Member
Day 450: Wednesday 05/03/2025 - Habrough to Cleethorpes - £7.70 - Anytime Return. CP Habrough - free.
Total time today 72 mins - time on trains 52 mins and 20 mins waiting. Nothing added to the tally this morning sadly.
"Darn Loop!"
With it being too late last night to return home before 2am i got lucky with a cheap hotel not too far away and decided to also have a go at the loop at Grimsby which is timetabled once each day early morning. Another early start then but what i didn't know is that the last 2 weeks it hasn't been used due to some issue with it, and instead services are being held 7 or 8 mins at Grimsby. i will have to see if i can combine this with the P1 loop at Barnetby on another occasion. Loops are high on my priority list right after platforms, stations and what can be termed track in normal use (Baker level i guess). Just a pity i wasn't looking out for this stuff in the first 2 years of the project. No idea when i am out again. If i have time i might squeeze another few hours out of the East Midlands Rover on Friday, or forgo Day 3 altogether although i haven't the faintest clue what may be available as i write. I have been burning the candle a bit this last 2 weeks and with us being away Sunday/Monday now it may be another 10 days before i have time to plan properly. In an ideal world i should be 2 or 3 weeks ahead with this but my time has been at a premium of late.
Total time today 72 mins - time on trains 52 mins and 20 mins waiting. Nothing added to the tally this morning sadly.
"Darn Loop!"
With it being too late last night to return home before 2am i got lucky with a cheap hotel not too far away and decided to also have a go at the loop at Grimsby which is timetabled once each day early morning. Another early start then but what i didn't know is that the last 2 weeks it hasn't been used due to some issue with it, and instead services are being held 7 or 8 mins at Grimsby. i will have to see if i can combine this with the P1 loop at Barnetby on another occasion. Loops are high on my priority list right after platforms, stations and what can be termed track in normal use (Baker level i guess). Just a pity i wasn't looking out for this stuff in the first 2 years of the project. No idea when i am out again. If i have time i might squeeze another few hours out of the East Midlands Rover on Friday, or forgo Day 3 altogether although i haven't the faintest clue what may be available as i write. I have been burning the candle a bit this last 2 weeks and with us being away Sunday/Monday now it may be another 10 days before i have time to plan properly. In an ideal world i should be 2 or 3 weeks ahead with this but my time has been at a premium of late.
| Habrough | Depart | 5.40 | ***** | EM | stations | platforms | ||
| Cleethorpes | Arrive | 6.06 | P2 | EM | wait 20 mins | completed | completed | |
| Cleethorpes | Depart | 6.26 | P4 | TP | ||||
| Habrough | Arrive | 6.52 | ***** | TP |
Can’t work out how to delete your table from the reply. On platform ticket check quite a common phenomenon at Filton AW.
All platforms
Member
Maybe its just a Great Western thing then? I will keep an eye out as i still have to do Cornwall, Devon and most of the Bristol area yet. I have been to Filton AW a couple of times but only on a Sunday so far. The only other major TOC i haven't done up hill and down dale multiple times is Scotrail maybe, and they are probably the most lax of all TOC's in my experience when it comes to checking tickets. If its not an e-ticket they don't even look at your paper version so long as you wave something in their general direction. Transport for Wales are the ones that hang by the station/platform exit and not on the platforms. I think i will ask the question next time i encounter this. Thanks for the update.
Last edited:
Kite159
Veteran Member
*wonders if Mr All Platforms requires a platform 3B departure at Exeter St Davids in the direction of Exeter Central*
All platforms
Member
I haven't yet ventured that far on my adventures so don't have the layout in my head yet. The official Nationrail map of the station shows 1a 3a and 6a but no b versions. No a or b's on RTT either, but that is not unusual in itself. If 3b (or any other b variant) exists in the wild here it will go on my list though my targets are purely track based and not directionally based.
Having been hooked in with this little morsel i have to ask which service or services use p3b in the Central direction. I see the Down Waterloo is bi-di between the 2 stations so what also interests me here is the crossover to gain the Up line after Central (unless it terminates at Central of course). Strangely enough i did have a cursory glance at Devon and Cornwall the other day to see how festooned it was with unusual stuff - didn't unearth this though!
All platforms
Member
Day 451: Saturday 08/03/2025 - Corby to Kettering - £6.45 - Anytime Return. Kettering to Market Harborough - £6.30 - Anytime Return. Kettering to Luton- £22.40 - Off-peak Return. Luton to Bedford - £3.95 - Super Off-peak Return. Broxbourne to Waltham Cross - £3.95 - Super Off-peak Return. Whittlesford Parkway to Audley End - £4.85 - Super Off-peak Return. CP Corby - £5.00, Broxbourne - £2.10 and Station Road Whittlesford - free.
Total time today 539 mins - time on trains 180 mins and time waiting/relocating 359 mins. Purely unusual track today - no new platforms or stations.
"12 targets today and 13 achieved!"
The premise for today is simple -grab as many targets as you can and get back to base a tad earlier than normal as we will be away Sunday/Monday. Even for me a super early start to get to Corby before 5.40, which was hampered by a M6 accident which cost me 30 precious minutes. Had to get my head down after this to ensure the day wasn't going to be wasted with quite a tight schedule planned. Squeaked it by about 90 seconds and on the 5.40 as planned. As last week the shuttles today between Corby and Kettering would use P2 at Kettering and giving me the crossover to gain this. Lots of Engineering works today but slightly different than last week so other targets were available.
I was more than pleased to see that one of last weeks failures was being offered up early doors again, which was a P1 departure at Kettering going North and thus the 3 crossovers needed to gain the Down line. Kerching then and a turnaround at Market Harborough before settling down for yet another visit to Luton. The interest here was the use of the crossovers at Leagrave to switch onto the Slow line there with the Fasts out of use again beyond there. It is highly probable i have already done a fair chunk of the crossovers between Bedford and St Pancras in the days when i wasn't monitoring crossovers, as i have a recollection of constantly switching between fasts and slows when tackling the fast platforms in 2022.
The return was on an EM service which also used the crossovers at Leagrave to obtain the Fast line. I would return from Bedford on a TL service but this TOC was crossing at Bedford Junction to the fasts and then Flitwick Junction to the slows so this is where i gained my bonus crossover as i hadn't factored in the Bedford Dth Jn in my calculations. 10 new crossovers in the bag by 9.00am and got back to Corby an hour earlier than planned due to there being just enough time to go from P1 to P4 at Bedford for the Corby service. It was tight hence my planned hour wait - but today was my lucky day.
Time for a change and a relocate excercise down to Broxbourne. Some new roads for me to enjoy in the sunshine before arriving in Broxbourne with plenty of time to spare - so much so i was able to use an earlier service to go one stop to Cheshunt. Another embargo in place today, this time between Audley End and Broxbourne so the Liverpool St services were terminating and starting from P4 and the attendant crossover to get onto the Up. A whole phalanx of RR buses/coaches were in evidence with the Airport buses doing the heavy lifting.
The stopper services were starting/terminating in/from P2 at Cheshunt which didn't half confuse the locals who collectively seemed to have "does not compute" moments at the very idea of a P2 departure going into Liverpool St. I was only there for about 5 mins as i crossed the bridge but the constant announcements eventually got them sorted i think. I often get asked questions by Joe Public about the destination of trains as i wait on platforms but today i was asked 4 times when i returned to Cheshunt via Waltham Cross where i gained another 15 mins with a fortuitous over the bridge stroll there and with the Gods aligning in my favour. One chap seemed to have adopted me and followed me on the return to Broxbourne constantly asking me about the RRB that would be going to Hertford East. He was sorted before i regained my car for relocation number 2 and a trip to Whittlesford Parkway.
After managing to park for free on the approach road it was a straight forward out and back to Audley End with the return affording me my 13th new crossover with a P1 departure North. I do recall the blossom was out at Whittlesford which was not too surprising given it was around 18 degrees there. Not only was the coat discarded by now, but even my hoodie thing which even last week was doing its job protecting me from the cold. It was very odd to see the salt/grit still very apparent on all the stations today and all around winter wear was no longer the majority fashion choice. A wonderful day in every sense and probably one of my last all track days for a bit. Never say never though as if i see a bunch of stuff to do i will reserve the right to do a 180 on this.
I have already decided that i am ready for a return to sitting on platforms in out of the way places so next week i will be returning to Didcot to polish off the remaing local stations there, as well as bonus bits of track thereabouts and also on the Main Line into Paddington. Its also time to do the Foxhall curves i think and a late night adventure to attempt the Relief line from Didcot. Oh and the Dn Reading Spur too perhaps. It will be an expensive day given i am all over the place today but i should be able to use Rover/Ranger tickets more often going forward which should mitigate some of my recent excesses.
Total time today 539 mins - time on trains 180 mins and time waiting/relocating 359 mins. Purely unusual track today - no new platforms or stations.
"12 targets today and 13 achieved!"
The premise for today is simple -grab as many targets as you can and get back to base a tad earlier than normal as we will be away Sunday/Monday. Even for me a super early start to get to Corby before 5.40, which was hampered by a M6 accident which cost me 30 precious minutes. Had to get my head down after this to ensure the day wasn't going to be wasted with quite a tight schedule planned. Squeaked it by about 90 seconds and on the 5.40 as planned. As last week the shuttles today between Corby and Kettering would use P2 at Kettering and giving me the crossover to gain this. Lots of Engineering works today but slightly different than last week so other targets were available.
I was more than pleased to see that one of last weeks failures was being offered up early doors again, which was a P1 departure at Kettering going North and thus the 3 crossovers needed to gain the Down line. Kerching then and a turnaround at Market Harborough before settling down for yet another visit to Luton. The interest here was the use of the crossovers at Leagrave to switch onto the Slow line there with the Fasts out of use again beyond there. It is highly probable i have already done a fair chunk of the crossovers between Bedford and St Pancras in the days when i wasn't monitoring crossovers, as i have a recollection of constantly switching between fasts and slows when tackling the fast platforms in 2022.
The return was on an EM service which also used the crossovers at Leagrave to obtain the Fast line. I would return from Bedford on a TL service but this TOC was crossing at Bedford Junction to the fasts and then Flitwick Junction to the slows so this is where i gained my bonus crossover as i hadn't factored in the Bedford Dth Jn in my calculations. 10 new crossovers in the bag by 9.00am and got back to Corby an hour earlier than planned due to there being just enough time to go from P1 to P4 at Bedford for the Corby service. It was tight hence my planned hour wait - but today was my lucky day.
Time for a change and a relocate excercise down to Broxbourne. Some new roads for me to enjoy in the sunshine before arriving in Broxbourne with plenty of time to spare - so much so i was able to use an earlier service to go one stop to Cheshunt. Another embargo in place today, this time between Audley End and Broxbourne so the Liverpool St services were terminating and starting from P4 and the attendant crossover to get onto the Up. A whole phalanx of RR buses/coaches were in evidence with the Airport buses doing the heavy lifting.
The stopper services were starting/terminating in/from P2 at Cheshunt which didn't half confuse the locals who collectively seemed to have "does not compute" moments at the very idea of a P2 departure going into Liverpool St. I was only there for about 5 mins as i crossed the bridge but the constant announcements eventually got them sorted i think. I often get asked questions by Joe Public about the destination of trains as i wait on platforms but today i was asked 4 times when i returned to Cheshunt via Waltham Cross where i gained another 15 mins with a fortuitous over the bridge stroll there and with the Gods aligning in my favour. One chap seemed to have adopted me and followed me on the return to Broxbourne constantly asking me about the RRB that would be going to Hertford East. He was sorted before i regained my car for relocation number 2 and a trip to Whittlesford Parkway.
After managing to park for free on the approach road it was a straight forward out and back to Audley End with the return affording me my 13th new crossover with a P1 departure North. I do recall the blossom was out at Whittlesford which was not too surprising given it was around 18 degrees there. Not only was the coat discarded by now, but even my hoodie thing which even last week was doing its job protecting me from the cold. It was very odd to see the salt/grit still very apparent on all the stations today and all around winter wear was no longer the majority fashion choice. A wonderful day in every sense and probably one of my last all track days for a bit. Never say never though as if i see a bunch of stuff to do i will reserve the right to do a 180 on this.
I have already decided that i am ready for a return to sitting on platforms in out of the way places so next week i will be returning to Didcot to polish off the remaing local stations there, as well as bonus bits of track thereabouts and also on the Main Line into Paddington. Its also time to do the Foxhall curves i think and a late night adventure to attempt the Relief line from Didcot. Oh and the Dn Reading Spur too perhaps. It will be an expensive day given i am all over the place today but i should be able to use Rover/Ranger tickets more often going forward which should mitigate some of my recent excesses.
| Corby | Depart | 5.40 | ***** | EM | stations | platforms | ||
| Kettering | Arrive | 5.49 | P2 | EM | wait 20m | completed | completed | |
| Kettering | Depart | 6.09 | P1 | EM | ||||
| Market Harborough | Arrive | 6.20 | P1 | EM | wait 17m | |||
| Market Harborough | Depart | 6.37 | P2 | EM | ||||
| Luton | Arrive | 7.04 | P1 | EM | wait 19m | |||
| Luton | Depart | 7.23 | P3 | EM | ||||
| Bedford | Arrive | 7.38 | P4 | EM | wait 31m | |||
| Bedford | Depart | 8.09 | P1 | TL | ||||
| Luton | Arrive | 8.34 | P2 | TL | wait 26m | |||
| Luton | Depart | 9.00 | P2 | TL | ||||
| Bedford | Arrive | 9.23 | P1 | TL | wait 3m | |||
| Bedford | Depart | 9.26 | P4 | EM | ||||
| Corby | Arrive | 9.54 | ***** | EM | drive + | |||
| Relocate to | ***** | ***** | ***** | ***** | wait 129m | |||
| Broxbourne | Depart | 12.03 | ***** | LE | ||||
| Cheshunt | Arrive | 12.08 | P1 | LE | wait 6m | |||
| Cheshunt | Depart | 12.14 | P2 | LE | ||||
| Waltham Cross | Arrive | 12.17 | P1 | LE | wait 3m | |||
| Waltham Cross | Depart | 12.20 | P2 | LE | ||||
| Cheshunt | Arrive | 12.22 | P2 | LE | wait 12m | |||
| Cheshunt | Depart | 12.34 | P2 | LE | ||||
| Broxbourne | Arrive | 12.38 | ***** | LE | drive + | |||
| Relocate to | ***** | ***** | ***** | ***** | wait 81m | |||
| Whittlesford Parkway | Depart | 13.59 | ***** | LE | ||||
| Audley End | Arrive | 14.07 | P1 | LE | wait 12m | |||
| Audley End | Depart | 14.19 | P1 | LE | ||||
| Whittlesford Parkway | Arrive | 14.39 | ***** | LE |
Kite159
Veteran Member
2300 Exeter St Davids to Salisbury on Saturday nights. Comes in as a 6 coach pulling to the level crossing end of the platform and detaches with the front unit heading to the yard for the overnight stay with the rear unit heading back towards Salisbury. I believe the working of platform 3 is designed to allow a GWR service to come in behind a terminating SWR to reverse.
Also does the crossover after Central (although if you have done a service out of the bay platform at Central you would have covered it)
All platforms
Member
This seems like my kind of service to do. I am starting to turn my attention as to how best to do Devon and Cornwall and this move will certainly feature in my plans. I can see the moves on RTT as described although the "to yard" element only appears for the next few weeks there. I am sure this is just a timing thing and its not been loaded in yet beyond April. Cheers for the info as always. Still to do the bay at Central with nothing on the horizon showing there unfortunately.
I have decided to do a 3 day Severn & Solent Thursday Saturday Sunday this week (despite the return of the cold weather) which should see me back on the platform collecting trail as well as keeping those unusual moves in focus. Looking further ahead i will be returning to Kent Mid June to tick off my few remaining stations there and this will include the through lines both ways at Paddock Wood and Headcorn on the day that only P1 and P2 at Ashford are in use. Hopefully some rare track there too then. Lots of irons in the fire but i will also most certainly be having a go at my remaining fast platforms in May which means P1 at Elmstead Wood and Chislehurst - those have been a long time in the making. Also included is Goring & Streatley a week later on the 18th.
London does still need some work, but the Leigham Spurs can both be done in June so i will craft something around those too. Not many London based PSULs in passenger service left if successful after discounting the ones in the Clapham area which are seemingly excursion based only with nothing showing there for over 2 years with a TOC. Probably many more than that but that's how long i have been looking.
Kite159
Veteran Member
The track in the bay is very rusty, probably one of those things you might get 'lucky' with a late running SWR getting spun in the bay.
There is a lot of track around Clapham Junction with various connections and such, lot of it is freight or charter train only. You might get lucky with a random overnight Thameslink divert via Clapham if such things happen anymore
There is a lot of track around Clapham Junction with various connections and such, lot of it is freight or charter train only. You might get lucky with a random overnight Thameslink divert via Clapham if such things happen anymore
Cricketer8for9
Member
- Joined
- 11 Jan 2015
- Messages
- 832
The fast to slow connections on the Brighton main line (between Pouparts Jct and Clapham Jct) seem to get used rarely (the older slower crossovers I’ve only used when a train has sat down on platform 13.)
All platforms
Member
I have just checked and the 2 crossovers from p14 at CJ to the Up Brighton Fast do have 2 upcoming opportunities available. 1 05/04/2025 c.0502 (Clapham Junction P14 to Victoria) and 12/04/2025 c23.01 (Epsom Downs to Victoria) if you have an appetite for such things.
There are also quite a few opportunities to do one of those crossovers in the down direction and also the attendant crossover from Down Brighton fast to P15. Many dozens in fact on various dates, but weekends (Sundays) 06/04/2025 04/05/2025 + 01/06/2025 seem to have the most prolific opportunities.
I have yet to do these myself but the majority of the others that are available i think i have. My comment about PSUL was more about the lines that are not used such as the lines from Latchmere No1 Jn to the Longhedge Junctions, Latchmere No3 Junction to Clapham West Junction. Others include Longhedge A to Victoria and the shorter section of track between Longhedge B+C and Pouparts. Not sure if the Waterloo curves are used at all but these could also be included in the list.
I will certainly be back at Clapham at some stage, but neither of the April dates are free on my calendar unfortunately to do these in the short term.