Alex's trip reports (ft. Least Used in Scotland)

I, too, was quite shocked to find us early at Haymarket! I did think we'd make up a few minutes along the way though.

mmm...158 thrash

A rather productive little evening out there Alex, I need those little shacks and I'm amazed how well your 170 did to recover time!

Thunderbirds are go.
Saturday 16th September 2017

It was quite a good while ago now that it was announced that the Tyne Valley 67 drags would be occurring once again this autumn. Being a fan of both 67s and 91s, I decided that I wanted to bash at least one turn on them. It also so happened that there was an unofficial forum meet happening, and Mr. Blindtraveler invited me along. Gladly, I accepted, and thus a trip report was born.

I should also mention that since I last posted here, I have moved house into central Edinburgh, so gone are the early morning 380 runs into town to start a bash. Gone, also, are the restrictions to earliest/latest trains I can catch, as connections are no longer a thing at this end.

I had a very leisurely start to the morning before heading out about two o'clock. A twenty minute walk up the hill later I arrived at Waverley station and made a beeline for the Costa. A quick reccie of the platforms immediately produced no prospective winners for a Haymarket leap, so I joined 156504 on a Glasgow via Shotts service.

I spent a few minutes on the excellent bridge at Haymarket and there was still nothing I wanted coming or going. Must all be through the west! Eventually, as time was marching on, I settle for 158713 back to Edinburgh.

Locating Blindtraveler and Kite was a doddle as they had found a nice spot out of the way to have a chat. Pleasantries dealt with, we made the walk over to platform 9 for the 15:42 to King's Cross. One of only a few services to be electric hauled today. I had been banking on a winning loco here and I was not disappointed to find 91120 would be powering us down to Carlisle. Most of the others (Yorkie, Starmill, and Richard whose username escapes me right now. Really sorry!) join us just before departure and there's a bit of confusion regarding where we'd all sit. You see, we'd booked first class, so there's only six seats across a row. There were 7 of us planning on being there. You do the maths.

The seventh was joining at Carlisle so we decide to stay put and just move around when the occasion calls for it. I must say, however, we were treated very well on the journey. We were offered the food almost immediately upon leaving Edinburgh (the duck wrap was chosen by myself, not too shabby) before the first of quite a few drinks runs was enjoyed.

Time flew by and before we knew it, the obligatory 29 minute wait at Carlisle was being had. Ash39 joined us here, and it was nice to put a face to a name. Good news for me as it's blue 67003 that's been banged on the front. That'll do nicely for the really rather sedate run through the Tyne valley following the stopper to Newcastle. As we pass Hexham, and after enjoying another round of drinks, I spot a required Pacer in a siding. I work out it's to work a connecting Nunthorpe service once we arrive at Newcasltle. There's even a very reasonable plus to get us back to NCL if we do indeed go for it. I didn't have to ask BT twice to get the answer I wanted.

We bode farewell to the group on the approach to Newcastle, and after battling through the crows to buy a ticket, we battled through more crowds to the awaiting 142015, which was full to bursting with some partygoers. Thankfully we were only going as far as Heworth so it was only a short distance. We stand and listen to the Pacer thrash into the night before crossing to join 142068, one of the bench seated ones, which the guard kindly held for us as we came down the ramp. In fact, both Northern guards we experienced that night were top notch, and clearly passionate about the job. Good stuff.

We arrived back into the Toon just before 8, and we went to find something to nibble on for the bus journey. WHSmith was settled on, and they were just closing. At 8 o'clock?! Yes, really. The kind lady did let us in, however, and we got our goodies no problem. We sat on a bench and had a good chat about pretty much anything until the time came to find our bus. Easier said than done!

We'd booked "XC only" tickets onto a bus that was meant to be non-stop up to Edinburgh, however the assistant at the stop insisted that they both stopped en-route. We climbed aboard anyway, and just as I was getting comfortable, the same fella shouts up that the Cross Country bus is over the way and we should take that one instead.

And so we did. To be honest, it was definitely for the better. A much nicer vehicle, cheery driver, and a first for me in that we were offered a drink and biscuit upon departure! A trolley service on an RRB! Good job XC, may consider travelling with them again.

A storming run up the coast ensued and we arrived back where we started about half an hour ahead of our booked time, so we could even make our respective last busses home. I thanked BT for an enjoyable afternoon and made my way up to North Bridge to catch the last route 8 of the night, worked by Volvo no.837. Home for twelve o'clock and the day was done.

It was lovely to meet everyone that came out, and I shall certainly look forward to doing it again. Maybe I won't be as nervous next time!

Mmm Pacer thrash

It was nice to put a face to the famous Alex of Wallyford/Central Edinburgh

Serious Cudos to XC for what was once we had found it another faultless RRB opperation to add to the other similar ones Iv had with them proving that whilst their high prices on many flows and crouded trains are a disguise/cover for an opperater whos attention to detail is really rather good.

For those like us with the choice of an any permitted or signifficantly cheeper XC only if an RRB is involved do it as whilst the vehicles hired are generally older, perhaps on the grounds of cost the drivers are excillent and XC often bustitute in addition to another opperater and so can do things like run fast and arrive early. Last nights coach had been well looked after and had clearly had seats refurbished recently and the driver was very enthusiastic and kept his foot down all the way.

Good to meet you good Sir, cheers for suggesting the pacer in addition to the main event.

A good read Alex, nice to meet you Saturday!

The pacer move was fruitful then, good decision to do it. I need 068, it was actually at Carlisle whilst I was there but it left on a Middlesbrough 'express' with Haltwhistle as the first stop... a bit far to go for a leap!

Glad to hear all is good up there, must be nice having no connections to make now! One day we must meet!

Sounds like a good fun social

Cheers for the kind words, Gents. Indeed one day we must Tech!

As day three of 2017's central Scotland adventure draws to a close, it's almost time to try out trip reporting on the new forum. It was a wild couple of days, let me tell you!

Looking forward to this it must be said

Central Scotland IV - Part 1, Two's company.
Monday 16th October 2017

With just 33 shacks remaining to be had in the Central Scotland rover area , I had wanted to do one of these for a while and the October holiday from college was deemed as the best opportunity to do so. It should be noted that this rover isn't as flexible as it once was, and you are now required to travel on three consecutive days, rather than any three in seven. No matter, though, as with a railcard it's just £25 and with a massive area of validity, you're never going to be stuck for something to do.

as always is the case, Red numbers are winners for haulage
Black numbers are duds
Italics are new shack scores

Dan (Blindtraveler) would be joining me (he describes it as gatecrashing) for this first day as he'd been going crazy being stuck in the house the past few days. I awake at my usual time for college of a morning and do some early morning prep and packing before heading out for the bus at a quarter to 9. A no.8 bus does fine and deposits me at North Bridge in next to no time, and I run down to Costa for some breakfast before meeting BT, making our way to the next Helensburgh train. 334036 is the unit in charge for our sprightly run through the rain to my first required shack, Garrowhill. A short fester on the same platform throws out 318260 up to Shettleston. The best form of attack for this line is to do it in a linear fashion, and that's just what we did, as 334039+334021 take us one stop to Carntyne.

Linear bashing continues as 320306+318252 takes us one more stop to Bellgrove where my plan called for us to head to High Street, however a late running Cumbernauld service appears immediately and we jump on to do the intermediate shacks up to Springburn first. 320305 is the unit, and it's taken not very far at all up to Alexandra Parade. The distance between here and Duke Street station is tiny. Walkable, in fact, and that's just what we did. We had half an hour, so took our time and still managed to reach Duke Street with a while to spare.

An odd allocation in the form of 334018 was taken a couple of stops up to Barnhill next, and we make light work of the road crossing here, falling back onto 318256 for the journey to High Street. Blindtraveler tells me of an ex-trip reporter writing of an Aldi right next to the station, so we decide to pay them a visit for some supplies. Myself bagging a load of Tunnock's caramel wafers and some sausage rolls, BT going for some water and squash to be mixed later. One of the fastest checkouts ever was experienced, and we head back to the station and get started on our lunch.

Another 334 on the Cumbernauld trains today gives us 334005, which we intended on taking to Stepps. Scotrail had other ideas, however, as the train was terminated at Springburn. Some improvisation is done and BT has the idea of getting to Cumbernauld the long way round, so we take 158711, with was beginning to get a bit tatty in the leading vestibule, up to Stepps. A quick walk sees us onto 334004 for the run right out to the rover boundary at Partick, where after asking Grumpy McGrumpyface when the next Motherwell train was we head up to the platform in perfect time for the next Motherwell train.

It's 320309 on its own for this one, and I'm not having too much luck with these winners today. We take the unit all the way to Motherwell where we retire to WHSmith with a built in coffee machine and we settle down for a cuppa and a chat whilst we await our next train. An ok coffee it must be said, I'd go back there again. It's 320304+318255 on our train up to Cumbernauld where we alight a few minutes late, cross to the other platform and re-board, This time in the 320.

BT tells me he has just one PSUL move left to clear Scotland for regular passenger track, so there was really no option but to go for it as that is quite the achievement. To do so, however, would require pulling off a +3 connection at Motherwell. It could have been worse, as it was just a cross platform walk from 3 to 2 to join 320316+318269 up to Bellshill. A 23 minute fester was enjoyed in the rapidly chilling air before 320321 all on its own on the Anderston - Carstairs express was taken to the end at Carstairs. I do my best to keep BT informed as we pass over the hallowed track, and everything runs perfectly to plan.

We then have a half hour fester at Carstairs to endure. On a pleasant evening it wouldn't have been too bad, but this was not a very pleasant evening, the rain was coming down hard and the wind was beginning to pick up. We were, of course, on the cusp of Hurricane Ophelia (which I was hoping wouldn't leave too much damage as tomorrow is a very important day). After what seemed like milennia, 380102 shows on a service to Ayr, and we're faced with a choice. Do we alight at Motherwell, get food and then the evening Voyager back to Edinburgh, or take this to Glasgow and chance it on the +6 for the Shotts semi-fast straight back. We were both feeling lucky so we went all the way to Glasgow Central on it.

To be honest, it was doing well (even considering it was slipping and sliding all over the place) until just after Newton when we got held at a signal and the time we had made up, about two valuable minutes, was swiftly taken away form us and we pull into GLC 3 late. We don't even try to make the 19:03 train now, and we hear it pull away just as we reach the barrier line. To the stopper it is then! Every cloud and all that, as winner 156432 produces on this run.

It really doesn't sound healthy, though, as it struggles to gain power after a couple of stops and after which it sounds very ropey for the remained of the journey. We also manage to slip to a stop outside Wester Hailes and develop a substantial wheel flat. I discover that this unit is booked to head to Haymarket depot at the end of the night, and I have premonitions of it appearing on my train in the morning. Despite all of this, it manages to arrive into Edinburgh on time (probably due to some hefty timetable padding). We walk up to the top of Waverley steps before bidding our farewells and heading for our respective buses home.

My thanks goes to Blindtraveler for joining me on this trip, a very enjoyable day it was.

Sounded like a productive day, although I would probably disagree about the shacks on the Bathgate line, some are easy to linear hop but you get the odd few which are skipped by some services so it sometimes pays to go two steps forward and one stop back to reduce a fester. Ah 156432 one of my old foes

It's easy enough to do west of Coatbridge as you've got the Airdrie services every half hour as well as the Edinburgh services every half hour. The "new" bit is more difficult, however.

alexf380 said:

It's easy enough to do west of Coatbridge as you've got the Airdrie services every half hour as well as the Edinburgh services every half hour. The "new" bit is more difficult, however.

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Especially as some of those stations are a right pain to change between platforms in any sort of hurry (cough Uphall)

I'd heard bits and bobs about your adventure from Blindtraveller, so it was nice to read the full story!

Top read as always, and that epic wheelslip action sounds interesting. All that festering at Carstairs cannot have been fun!

Hope the rest of the trip was less of a farce!

A good read so far, looking forward to the rest! You had quite a lot of units I got last Thursday. 156432, 334021/039, 318255 & 320304.

I've done 90 minutes at Carstairs a couple of years back, waiting to photograph a pair of 86's. I was definitely ready to go by the end of it!

37038 said:

At Crewe on repairs with 2 knackered TMs.

Tbf last time I had it, it was a bit tame unfortunately. I did worry it would do what 423 did and slowly get worse as it built up to exam due date.

Shame 409 was stored, rather loud.

37069 is just silly though, shame it failed on Saturday

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Totally agree with 37409, if I've said once, I've said it a million times. 37409 is THE best 37 I've had on the Cumbrian turns.
Sorry for kidnapping your thread Alex. Catching up on it. Will comment on your trips too. My apologies.

Caught up. Very good read Alex. See you got one of my last 2 334s. Need 005 and 006 to clear them for sight and you had 005 for haulage.
Sounded like a good trip on the diverts, I always wanna do them but can never get the time off. Last ones had 67005 n 006, doing the honours, however they could get one of them to couple up properly and I'm lead to believe 67008 was relieved of super shunter duties at Tyne Yard to stand in.
Look forward to the rest of your travails.

Great little account of our day there Alex

Some of that we'll slip both by the 156 and the 380 was just crazy

Looking forward to the next two days whilst you were playing and I was working

Central Scotland IV - Part 2, Storm in a teacup.
Tuesday 17th October 2017

A much earlier start today than yesterday. The reason being, I had a certain limited service shack in my sights. Yes, I was going after Breich. The plan was to get out to Shotts, pick up the Breich train before jumping on a bus to Lanark to start the day's bashing on the rover. It was therefore the 06:24 route 8 up to North Bridge, which was a much busier service than I had thought it was going to be. It does a grand job of conveying me to Waverley station and I'm in Pret before you could say anything. Shock and horror though, as the delivery of ingredients hasn't arrived yet, so no bacon roll for me! Cinnamon swirl pastry would have to do.

My fears of last night's 156 appearing on this working were dumbfounded as it's 156501+156499 that are thrown out to work the 06:55 Glasgow Central stopper. We leave a couple of minutes late, and struggle to keep time all the way along the line. I think we were about 7 late off Kirknewton so i decide that I'll bail at Fauldhouse instead of Shotts, to make sure I catch the special connection. That is, of course, until we grind to a halt just after Addiewell. We sit for what seems like an eternity but can be no more than about 15 minutes. We're told that there's a late running train in front of us and a quick look at RTT tells me that that is indeed true, although it's at Hartwood.

We move eventually and I'm really starting to panic about this connection. Sure enough, just as we slow for Fauldhouse station, we're passed by the Breich stopper. Damn and blast! Not today then. Heartily disappointed, so I am. I try and re-work my plan a little to see if I can get back on track and I discover that it's not too much of a setback. The pattern of moving for a bit then stopping for a lengthy period of time continues right up to Holytown where we're told there's a tree been blown onto the overhead wires at Bellshill. Not great, and we limp forward, edging closer and closer to Bellshill when the Guard gets message that the obstruction had been cleared and we can resume our journey.

I elect to remove myself from the (now very) dud pair of Sprinters here. 111 minutes late is the official designation, I'd been on board for almost three hours at this point. Provided I can get to Motherwell in the next half hour, I can be on my plan but an hour behind. That seems sensible, and before too long 318257, which I had expected to be heaving but actually wasn't, rocks up on its own to take me down to Motherwell. I bypass the coffee place for now and concentrate on the task at hand. Double winners 320414+320318 are provided for the largely unaffected journey up to Whifflet. A quick change here is made onto 320310 which shall take me onto the first new track of the day up to Hamilton West.

Not long to hang about here as 320322 is in swiftly to take me to Airbles. A station I shall no doubt visit in the future as one of my mates has got me interested in Motherwell FC. I don't know why either! A pleasant enough time in an unremarkable slice of suburbia is brought to an end by the arrival of 320412. I take this up to Hamilton Central and after observing a few comings and goings at Hamilton bus station (right next door, for any bus bashers out there) it's up to 320309+318264 to carry me onto more new track, this time the Larkhall branch. Merryton being the first port of call. There is a bit of delay to this train, but I'm not complaining as it's the same set that comes back and thus reducing the fester further up the line. The pair return and deposit me at Chatelherault.

The only dud ex321 prior to this trip showed up next. 320411 was required for a photo, however. I take it all the way to Larkhall, where it gets busy with some of Lanarkshire's finest hyper children. I take it to Newton anyway, despite the protests from my eardrums. I watch a couple of pendolinos passing before 320316 pulls up for its latest entry to the haulage book for the run to Argyle Street.

It's been quite a while since that cinnamon swirl was had fro brekkie, and I can feel myself getting more and more grumpy so I decide to pop in and get lunch on my walk over to Queen Street. Plenty of time to eat on the platform before 318260 (still on the Balloch line from yesterday) rolls in with drunk old man in tow. He decides to have a nap in a bay of 6 just before I'm about to leave so I climb over his legs to alight at Coatdyke. This station being scored means that Edinburgh to Glasgow via three of the four routes are now cleared for shacks. (Breich and Holytown stop it from being the full set) I take the incoming 334 pair, comprised of 334025+334013, for a thrash-tastic run to Edinburgh Park for no reason other than some variety. There's an ex-Milngavie train right behind us, so it's onto 334037+334018 down to Haymarket, where I pick up 170461 coming in from Dunblane to complete the journey to Edinburgh.

Six minutes is all that I had to cross the station to make the 15:43 North Berwick train, which is a very unremarkable 380107. Time for some embarassing local stuff now, and I take this one to Longniddry. Plenty of time is allowed here for me to connect onto the Prentice route 111 bus, as official connections are made at 5 of the 6 stations on this line. I don't recognize the driver so he may be new to the company, but that didn't stop him from putting his foot down and we absolutely fly up to Drem, the little engine screaming all the way.

I have a while to wait here, and I could have caught 380107 on its return to Edinburgh if I had wished, but I didn't. Instead, I took up my position in the nice wee waiting room and awaited the next coast-bound service. It's the 6 car working on this one, and 380014+380005 are good enough at their job to take me out to North Berwick, and we depart again after a short ten minute turnaround into the dying evening light.

That's one thing I do love about this time of year, it's getting dark and cold and I love heading out for a day's bashing in this weather only to return home with a book full of winners and get cozy in bed or on the couch and just relax and think about the day, drink in hand.

The 380 duo take me down to the last shack of the day, Prestonpans, and with the light rapidly dissipating, I head off in search of the bus stop. In no time at all, Prentice's 111 has returned from Haddington and whisks me away home. Real, actual home. Not the flat in Edinburgh before a nice meal out with the Mrs.

Twelve winners on each the units and shacks front for the day is not too shabby at all, and I shall leave you with the closing shot of Prestonpans as the day drew to an end.

Prestonpans at dusk by Alex Fleming, on Flickr

Harsh on missing out Breich

Good news on clearing more of Scotland for stations and units

I predicted your coastal train and bus moves correctly as far as Prestonpans when I did not anticipate you heading home home however that does sound like a fun day despite the morning going badly wrong

Now you have done it as well I suspect that the Prentice 111 is going to become an official home of many a shack Basher as he or she clears the coast
Nice mental image of you rushing along there on a coastal journey in the afternoon

Blindtraveler said:

I predicted your coastal train and bus moves correctly as far as Prestonpans when I did not anticipate you heading home home however that does sound like a fun day despite the morning going badly wrong

Now you have done it as well I suspect that the Prentice 111 is going to become an official home of many a shack Basher as he or she clears the coast
Nice mental image of you rushing along there on a coastal journey in the afternoon

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The North Berwick line is a lot easier to do on a Saturday when it's half hourly

Central Scotland IV - Part 3, Kingdom come.
Wednesday 18th October 2017

As quick as a flash, the final day was upon me. Just 8 shacks remain in the Central Scotland rover at this point, and I knew from the get go that i wouldn't manage to get all of them on this rover. Had it not been for the rather inclement weather yesterday then I certainly would clear them today. That's the game we play, however, and they aren't going anywhere anytime fast.

As is normal, Red numbers are winners
Black numbers are duds
Italics are new station scores

I had toyed with the idea of replaying yesterday's plan again today and going for Breich again but I'd had an awful night and when the alarm sounded at a quater to six, I swiftly cancelled it and rolled over back to sleep. At the much more civilised time of 8:30 I arose and did the morning duties, before a short drive to Newcraighall station (for I stayed at my Parents' the night before) and I made my request to the TOPS thread on this very forum. I had very much hoped that I would be blessed with a winner to kick start the day but it wasn't to be as 170407 rocked up a couple of minutes late to take me to Edinburgh.

This is exactly what I wanted not to happen, as I had just 5 minutes (booked) to make a connection at Edinburgh. This was reduced to three with the delay. Thankfully, I was the first out the door and bolted up the stairs at platform 1, over the bridge, through the barrier, and crashed onto winner 170434 with about 45 seconds to spare. I was to take this one to Scotland's newest shack, Edinburgh Gateway. As we passed Haymarket depot, I spy one of my last two Mc158's getting ready to form the ECS that leads to the daily Inverness turn. I quickly concoct a plan to get it and pray that I've worked it our correctly.

I fall back onto 170394 on a Fife circle train for a "spirited" run to Kirkcaldy. On the way, I spy my last Mc158 heading south. I work out its next few workings, and notice that it heads onto the Shotts line for a few hours. Unfortunately, as I'm working tonight I don't have enough time to catch it. There's about twenty minutes here before the Inverness train is due, so I spot a WHSmith-come-Coffee House in the station building, and purchase a coffee. Yes, it's one of the DIY push button machines but it threw out a drinkable cup of hot brown, so I wasn't complaining. I enjoyed that, some HST thrash from the Leeds-Aberdeen departing, and a caramel wafer (remember I bought a load of those on Monday?) before I let a little yelp to myself as 158707+158721 arrived as planned. It's very busy on board, however I locate an unreserved pair and take a seat for the 7 miles to Markinch.

One unremarkable fester later, and I'm onboard 158728 back down to Kirkcaldy. My only bit of new track of the day was to come next, as I was headed for the bustling metropolis that is Glenrothes. Another 170 on the Fife turns today, it's 170404 that takes me there. This was the one an hour diagrams that arrives, shunts, then departs again via Kirkcaldy, rather than continuing down via Dunfermline, so newly dud 170404 returned to take me to Burntisland, where the Guard was a smidge confused to see me again.

I do like Burntisland. I've only ever been here once before as a wee boy, we came on a scorching hot day many moons ago, yet I remember playing on the beach watching the trains pass with surprising clarity. The reminiscing is broken by the arrival of 158727 in all its glory as she deposits me at the lovely seaside shack of Kinghorn. It was very tranquil here, not much traffic in the town, and I could sit on the platform listening to the waves crashing all day. Sadly, I couldn't, as a very ill sounding 158703 arrived to take me down to Dalgety Bay, where I'm sure to remain in the shadows until my unit out of here appears, as I know people who live very close to the station of a very unfriendly nature.

158871 does a grand job of saving me, and in the process deposits me at my penultimate Fife station, Aberdour. I have a short fester here, during which time I notice that this station features a greenhouse! Unusual, but lovely nonetheless. 158727 returns from Glenrothes and I take this all the way to Edinburgh. I was going to alight at Inverkeithing to interciept the Inverness to Edinburgh working behind to try my hand at a winner, however I then realised that it's the 158 working so is guaranteed a dud.

The next Tweedbank train leaves from platform 8, so I take a gentle saunter over to 158738, noting that my answer for gen on my 158s has been answered. I'd already caught one, but the other one is still gettable on its last move of the day. If I have an easy night at work, I can get away quickly, head into town and catch it on a Haymarket leap. I like this idea, but it all depends how quickly I can get the shop cleaned after my shift.

Thankfully, it's not busy, and we finish the required cleaning by quarter past ten. The chase is on. I take the next bus up to Wallyford station, where I've got a short wait for 380109 to take me into Edinburgh, arriving a tad past 11. The 23:11 Motherwell is to depart from platform 18 tonight, so it's a bit of a walk to reach it. Immediately I see a spotty 158 in the platform, a good sign. I get closer, however, and realise that it's 158871 from earlier! "Maybe there's another unit coupled in front" I think, but alas there isn't. Must have been a unit swap at the depot or something.

Halfheartedly, I return to Princes Street and begin the walk back to the flat. During which time I reflect on the past three days. 31 new shacks in the book, and 18 winners for haulage. Not bad for Scotrail, where my requirements are less than the rest of the country. Just two shacks remain in (what I call) the local area, both of which are easy enough to reach. Holytown can be done the next time I'm through the west, and the plan for Breich can be added to the start of any Daytripper ticket.

Many thanks for reading!

Good news on clearing more of Fife and of the Central Belt

Mega harsh on Breich still remaining to be done, and I shouldn't mention 158871 being flagged by me and BT earlier in the day on Wednesday!

A rather productive few days there, still can't believe you hadn't done the local shacks until now!

Just caught up again Alex, excellent read there. It's always nice to rope in the local stuff.
Last time I went to North Berwick was on a 90, a mate invited me, to go, I wasn t taking a great deal of notice of the units, I just went for a trip out on the 90, that was a good while back mind.

Techniquest said:

Mega harsh on Breich still remaining to be done, and I shouldn't mention 158871 being flagged by me and BT earlier in the day on Wednesday!

A rather productive few days there, still can't believe you hadn't done the local shacks until now!

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Yeah I had 871 that afternoon up in Fife! It was good to get those local irritations put the way. They'd been left way too long.

47403 said:

Just caught up again Alex, excellent read there. It's always nice to rope in the local stuff.
Last time I went to North Berwick was on a 90, a mate invited me, to go, I wasn t taking a great deal of notice of the units, I just went for a trip out on the 90, that was a good while back mind.

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God the 90s on the North Berwick turns is quite some time ago. Well over 10 years at least. Would have been nice to experience them.

2004 I believe it was, might have been early 2005 when I did them. I remember going up on a walk-up ticket at the time while I had been in London (also on a walkup from Swansea! Couldn't do it now!) last minute, sadly it was well before I recorded my moves properly but I do have, somewhere, a photo of I believe 90027 at North Berwick. I paid out full ching for a peak time ticket just to do the morning non-stop service too, obviously a railcard at the time helped a lot!

We went up on the Morning,, my mate was taking the numbers down of stuff on the station and then we went and looked round Edinburgh, hit a few bars, had some food then went to North Berwick on the 90, might be mistaken but I'm sure it was grey, was 90022 or 90027 grey?, sure it was one of them. Aint got my platform 5 to hand, as im at work. Just shows how much interest I took then.
Tech that must've cost a pretty penny too, think we just walked up.that day come to think of it.
Wish i had taken notes.

Sorry if I've hijacked your thread Alex.