Barrowjack's Irregular Perambulations

Summer 2017.
Having lost my trip to Glasgow courtesy of attending a work conference and the ELR Diesel Gala due to a Northern strike, it has been a run of the mill summer with no outstanding trips to report on and very little in the way of trips other than to work, or for various days out, so I have just written a summary of the best bits of Summer – Welcome to the Highlights.

Returning from work in Carlisle on 24th May, I finally managed to catch up with 153316 my last Northern one working the Barrow service from Lancaster, and so the 153’s became the first of the various Northern classes to be complete. I now just need to track down 156483 to clear the Northern 156’s as well.

Trips to both the IPC World Para Athletics and the IAAF World athletics championships at the Olympic Stadium have seen my Class 395 ‘Javelin’ requirements reduce from 18 to 8, and but for some bad luck and a very poor decision on my part could be so much less.

After the morning Para-Athletics on 15th July, I decided to go to the St Albans v Billericay friendly so made my way back to St Pancras for the 13:48 north fully expecting a 700 so was very surprised to see 319217/ turned up. This was the first time I had had a 319 outside the “core” and once on to the mainline and the driver opened the throttle, I didn’t know they could go so fast! Think at one point they were shaking and eventually we arrived a few minutes early into St Albans. These have turned out to be my last 319’s on Thameslink so was a good way to go out!

Coming out of the morning Athletics session slightly early on 11th August I headed over to Stratford station and found myself on Platform 8 at 12.40. Rather than board a pair of winning 315’s, I waited another couple of minutes and boarded the 12:42 ‘Class 345 Preview Service’ 345005 doing the honours. I am intending to wait for the Elizabeth line to open to do these as 9 car trains, but I decided that I at least wanted to try one now whilst they are still new, so just took this one on a bus stop move to Maryland for a pair of 315’s back to Liverpool Street.

Tuesday 22nd August 2017
Today saw me take the car rather than the train due to my final destination being inaccessible to rail and bus. After a few hours in Appleby I headed a few miles east to Warcop and the Eden Valley Railway. The line runs back towards Appleby for just over 2 ¼ miles and today it was 205009 doing the honours on the hourly service with a round trip of just under half an hour to the current end of the line at Sandford Bridge. (No station here, the driver just changes ends for the return journey.) The line is also home to 3 Class 419 MLV’s (one is used as the shop) and a couple of 4-CEP units, some industrial shunter’s and 47799. Interestingly the 205 is painted in ‘Blood and Custard’ on one side and Chocolate and cream on the other. Anyway it was a lovely little run out and another preserved line knocked off the list.

My Final trip of the Summer was to Edinburgh on 24th August, predominantly for the festival but I still managed a couple of ‘out and backs’ to Haymarket, picking up winners 68018, 156508,170405 and 170431 as well as 221102 for the return journey to Lancaster.

At the beginning of the year I set myself several targets so as 2/3 of the year draws to a close how am I doing with these?

Mileage – I have currently done 9,820 against a target of 15,000 so at this point I am 180 miles behind schedule but hopefully will manage to achieve the 15,000

Winners – 400. I am currently only on 236 including underground, trams and preserved lines so is extremely unlikely that I am going to make anywhere near the target figure.

Shacks - 25. I currently am on 17 (including Warcop) and if all else fails will do a linear leap on the East London line in November to hit the target.

I am currently half way towards the target of 10 new Football Grounds, but have 4 more trips in the diary so might just about make this one.

At the moment I think my report card is marked ‘must do better’ though there is too many other things of interest me and can’t motivate myself to spend more than a couple of hours bashing at a time

Attached is pic of 345005 leaving Maryland, and also some from the Eden Valley Railway

I think everybody has had a 345 before I have!

Good news on another heritage line into your book

Congrats on getting your last northern 153 as well

That was a good bit of progress on the 395s, you need the same amount as me now. I really need to get down there and get them dealt with.

Overall I'd say you're doing well on your targets, I'm well behind on my shacks target but smashed almost all the others now. Finding the enthusiasm at the moment is really not easy, although exploring the rest of the world I have tons of enthusiasm for!

Kite159 said:

I think everybody has had a 345 before I have!
Good news on another heritage line into your book
Congrats on getting your last northern 153 as well

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Well I must be the only one on here that hasn’t done the 387/3’s so didn’t want to be the last to have a 345 as well. Must say I prefer them to the 700’s

Techniquest said:

That was a good bit of progress on the 395s, you need the same amount as me now. I really need to get down there and get them dealt with.
Overall I'd say you're doing well on your targets, I'm well behind on my shacks target but smashed almost all the others now. Finding the enthusiasm at the moment is really not easy, although exploring the rest of the world I have tons of enthusiasm for!

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Good progress on the Javelins but I am disappointed I still have 8 left to do. To be honest have probably done them already but haven’t recorded them. Hey ho. Also have the lack of enthusiasm at the moment probably for me something to do with needing so little locally so have little motivation to just accumulate mileage. Not far off my first getting my first Pendolino for 1.000 miles now

I am still catching up on your trip reports as always a good read and sounds like some great trips too. I have a couple of trips abroad overseas in the early stages of planning, one for early 2018 so will see how I get on with those......

barrowjack said:

Good progress on the Javelins but I am disappointed I still have 8 left to do. To be honest have probably done them already but haven’t recorded them. Hey ho. Also have the lack of enthusiasm at the moment probably for me something to do with needing so little locally so have little motivation to just accumulate mileage. Not far off my first getting my first Pendolino for 1.000 miles now

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I'm disappointed I still have 8 of the 395s to get myself, but I refuse to pay the ching to do them on Stratford leaps! I definitely haven't got the enthusiasm to get down to Kent and do a 3 day rover to hunt 375s and 395s, although that being said it's also valid on 700s for the first few miles, which does help a bit.

I fully understand the lack of enthusiasm, mine's got even worse lately. This hasn't happened since the end of 2013/the opening of 2014, I've not gone 2 weeks without seriously craving a bash since then. Quite, there's no indication of a bash before late October, and even then that might just be some time killing before/after flights!

I need nothing on my stomping grounds, except for a few 168/3s and 2 172/1s. Well, and any randomly producing 165/0s. The two 166s I need only have a 1 in 21 chance of turning up on any given weekday, and it's too much effort to chase them in my neck of the woods. Now if it was 37s, or something similar, I'd have more reason to get out of the house...

I am still catching up on your trip reports as always a good read and sounds like some great trips too. I have a couple of trips abroad overseas in the early stages of planning, one for early 2018 so will see how I get on with those......

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Please do feel free to ask for advice, recommendations or whatever, as you'll have discovered I've been to quite a few places now. I'm making rough plans for the rest of my week off in October, but I could equally just cancel the first few days of my holiday. Very unlikely! Quite, by the end of my week off in January I may well have Western Europe and Scandinavia cleared!

Techniquest said:

I'm disappointed I still have 8 of the 395s to get myself, but I refuse to pay the ching to do them on Stratford leaps! I definitely haven't got the enthusiasm to get down to Kent and do a 3 day rover to hunt 375s and 395s, although that being said it's also valid on 700s for the first few miles, which does help a bit.

I fully understand the lack of enthusiasm, mine's got even worse lately. This hasn't happened since the end of 2013/the opening of 2014, I've not gone 2 weeks without seriously craving a bash since then. Quite, there's no indication of a bash before late October, and even then that might just be some time killing before/after flights!

I need nothing on my stomping grounds, except for a few 168/3s and 2 172/1s. Well, and any randomly producing 165/0s. The two 166s I need only have a 1 in 21 chance of turning up on any given weekday, and it's too much effort to chase them in my neck of the woods. Now if it was 37s, or something similar, I'd have more reason to get out of the house...



Please do feel free to ask for advice, recommendations or whatever, as you'll have discovered I've been to quite a few places now. I'm making rough plans for the rest of my week off in October, but I could equally just cancel the first few days of my holiday. Very unlikely! Quite, by the end of my week off in January I may well have Western Europe and Scandinavia cleared!

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Beware the Otford - Bat & Ball - Sevenoaks section has been removed from the validity of the Kent Rover

But I'm like you, I need 7 395s to clear South Eastern, but just can't be asked paying out the HS1 premium. I suspect a little trip I have planned to revisit Halling on the Medway valley might be lucky in producing a couple, otherwise it might be a case of asking the TOPS request thread and plan accordingly to grab some on a Friday evening spin

Kite159 said:

Beware the Otford - Bat & Ball - Sevenoaks section has been removed from the validity of the Kent Rover

But I'm like you, I need 7 395s to clear South Eastern, but just can't be asked paying out the HS1 premium. I suspect a little trip I have planned to revisit Halling on the Medway valley might be lucky in producing a couple, otherwise it might be a case of asking the TOPS request thread and plan accordingly to grab some on a Friday evening spin

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Oh dear, that is a shame! Less reason to do a Kent Rover for me now then, until they open Thanet Parkway or whatever it'll be called when it's done.

Techniquest said:

I'm disappointed I still have 8 of the 395s to get myself, but I refuse to pay the ching to do them on Stratford leaps! I definitely haven't got the enthusiasm to get down to Kent and do a 3 day rover to hunt 375s and 395s, although that being said it's also valid on 700s for the first few miles, which does help a bit.

I fully understand the lack of enthusiasm, mine's got even worse lately. This hasn't happened since the end of 2013/the opening of 2014, I've not gone 2 weeks without seriously craving a bash since then. Quite, there's no indication of a bash before late October, and even then that might just be some time killing before/after flights!

I need nothing on my stomping grounds, except for a few 168/3s and 2 172/1s. Well, and any randomly producing 165/0s. The two 166s I need only have a 1 in 21 chance of turning up on any given weekday, and it's too much effort to chase them in my neck of the woods. Now if it was 37s, or something similar, I'd have more reason to get out of the house...

Please do feel free to ask for advice, recommendations or whatever, as you'll have discovered I've been to quite a few places now. I'm making rough plans for the rest of my week off in October, but I could equally just cancel the first few days of my holiday. Very unlikely! Quite, by the end of my week off in January I may well have Western Europe and Scandinavia cleared!

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It will be a while now until I make any progress with the Javelins as I only use them when I am going to the London Stadium from St Pancras and I have nothing coming up there for at least 12 months now. Plus it is difficult to see the unit numbers to identify winners before going through the barrier and I ended up missing what would have been a double winner as I mis-read the number through the busy platform.

Unfortunately the Cumbrian 37’s are so unreliable at the moment that I don’t even entertain the thought of using them, which is unfortunate as given the choice I would take the 37 over a unit any day!

Thank you and I may well be asking for advice and recommendations once I come up with some concrete plans. First (definite) trip is early March, Eurostar to Lille (Can’t believe I have never been on one!) for a weekend based there. I just need to research SNCF and metro operations in the Lille area. I may also take the opportunity to reacquaint myself with Belgian Railways as most of my foreign rail travel has been on the SNCB. Anyway accommodation is booked so I now have no excuse to delay! The other definite trip I would like to do is to fly to Copenhagen and take the train over to Malmo in Sweden. Need to go to places now in case BREXIT makes it all too difficult!

barrowjack said:

It will be a while now until I make any progress with the Javelins as I only use them when I am going to the London Stadium from St Pancras and I have nothing coming up there for at least 12 months now. Plus it is difficult to see the unit numbers to identify winners before going through the barrier and I ended up missing what would have been a double winner as I mis-read the number through the busy platform.

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Ah yes I know that feeling with the Javelin numbers, very frustrating when you realise what you've done!

Unfortunately the Cumbrian 37’s are so unreliable at the moment that I don’t even entertain the thought of using them, which is unfortunate as given the choice I would take the 37 over a unit any day!

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Having had an HST for a 150 back earlier, I completely agree on your desire to have a 37 over a MU! I'm just glad I hadn't planned to go up to Cumbria for 37 action next month!

Thank you and I may well be asking for advice and recommendations once I come up with some concrete plans. First (definite) trip is early March, Eurostar to Lille (Can’t believe I have never been on one!) for a weekend based there. I just need to research SNCF and metro operations in the Lille area. I may also take the opportunity to reacquaint myself with Belgian Railways as most of my foreign rail travel has been on the SNCB. Anyway accommodation is booked so I now have no excuse to delay! The other definite trip I would like to do is to fly to Copenhagen and take the train over to Malmo in Sweden. Need to go to places now in case BREXIT makes it all too difficult!

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Ooh SNCB action, it's been a while here too, not been on their stuff since January! I am surprised you've not done a Eurostar journey before, if you get a 373 you should rather enjoy the experience. I've yet to have a 374 but not heard anything positive on them as of yet. They are the last class to be in anything remotely near squadron service I've yet to try, the 707s being the only other class not yet had. 230s don't count in this instance!

My books on Western European trams and Metro systems of Europe are from 2013 so are a bit out of date, but if you need details then please feel free to ask and I'll get what I have PM'd over. I have no experience of Lille, apart from around 15 years ago on an emergency trip with the rest of my group from college from Poitiers to Hereford by train, ferry and coach. That is a tale of its own right, and details need to be shared in my historical trip report thread! All I remember right now is the high speed station and the mainline station are right next to each other and don't take much to get between.

I know what you mean about potential issues caused by Brexit. I don't know enough about it, as I keep out of political discussion, but the potential for disruption to my Euro cranking is concerning!

I am looking at a possible Benelux InterRail bash with a norm mate in April, taking in places like Bruges (not been since before the Euro came in!), Brussels, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Arnhem and possibly more. We may even be doing it in First Class, as it is something like just £38 more, a pittance compared to the UK! That was a 3 day pass I believe, would need to check. I need to book holiday time first mind, all this planning before that much is a bit premature!

You may get the impression I'm giving up on the UK rail scene. After my little spin on British rails today that may well be the case, I still can't find the enthusiasm to do much on these shores. My return proper to UK rails is still scheduled to be in a slightly different form in late October...

Techniquest said:

Ah yes I know that feeling with the Javelin numbers, very frustrating when you realise what you've done!

Having had an HST for a 150 back earlier, I completely agree on your desire to have a 37 over a MU! I'm just glad I hadn't planned to go up to Cumbria for 37 action next month!

Ooh SNCB action, it's been a while here too, not been on their stuff since January! I am surprised you've not done a Eurostar journey before, if you get a 373 you should rather enjoy the experience. I've yet to have a 374 but not heard anything positive on them as of yet. They are the last class to be in anything remotely near squadron service I've yet to try, the 707s being the only other class not yet had. 230s don't count in this instance!

My books on Western European trams and Metro systems of Europe are from 2013 so are a bit out of date, but if you need details then please feel free to ask and I'll get what I have PM'd over. I have no experience of Lille, apart from around 15 years ago on an emergency trip with the rest of my group from college from Poitiers to Hereford by train, ferry and coach. That is a tale of its own right, and details need to be shared in my historical trip report thread! All I remember right now is the high speed station and the mainline station are right next to each other and don't take much to get between.

I know what you mean about potential issues caused by Brexit. I don't know enough about it, as I keep out of political discussion, but the potential for disruption to my Euro cranking is concerning!

I am looking at a possible Benelux InterRail bash with a norm mate in April, taking in places like Bruges (not been since before the Euro came in!), Brussels, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Arnhem and possibly more. We may even be doing it in First Class, as it is something like just £38 more, a pittance compared to the UK! That was a 3 day pass I believe, would need to check. I need to book holiday time first mind, all this planning before that much is a bit premature!

You may get the impression I'm giving up on the UK rail scene. After my little spin on British rails today that may well be the case, I still can't find the enthusiasm to do much on these shores. My return proper to UK rails is still scheduled to be in a slightly different form in late October...

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37423 is back out on the Cumbrian coast for the first time in a year so things might be looking up now!

It is 2005 since I was last in Belgium! Far too long! From what I remember the railways there were very cheap and clean. I liked Bruges, went there to see a match in the Euros back in 2000 (Long story one for my early years thread I think!)

I know I can’t believe I haven’t been on a Eurostar either! And I have never been to Lille.In fact my red penning of French Railways consists of 427049 for sight while on a coach going through France to Belgium in 2004! Lille looks convenient, it’s not too far from Dunkirk, as you say stations are together, there is football the weekend I am there, has a zoo and it’s not far into Belgium either. Am only going for a weekend so it should be good, and ease me back to the delights of foreign travel gently. I just need to do some proper planning for the trip now!

The Benelux inter-rail sounds good might have to investigate that at some point though I am going to try however hard it may be to go to new places instead of going back to where I have already been! Though I haven’t been to the ‘nelux’ bit so could make an exception there. I also make my trips harder to plan as I want to see some football too while I am away.

I just cant summon up any enthusiasm for units so usually get bored after a couple of hours so most of my activity will be centred on London where I can do short journeys with maximum red penning.

Looking forward to reading your next trip reports...

As much as the Netherlands is mostly units, it is still worth exploring. You'll love the 28s on Amsterdam to Brussels work for example, and the NS 17xx locos are supposed to be rather worth going after. The CFL 3000 Class in Luxembourg is also a thoroughly enjoyable class, the 4000 Class down there less so but still worth a go.

Exploring new places is fun, as one of my bosses has now discovered. She used to love sunbathing holidays, but now a city break in somewhere new is more interesting. Jammy lass is off to Australia next year!

Saturday 23rd September 2017.

The Hampden Whimper.

Courtesy of Virgins seat sale, I was heading north for a change and a short foray to Glasgow. The main aim of the day was to bag my “Target No 1” football ground and also carry out some rail research as I already have a 4 day trip booked there for next year to coincide with the European Games.
Taking the 08:08 departure from Barrow as I didn’t trust the 08:50 to make it in time for my booked Virgin service, as is usual now for me, my trip round Morecambe Bay was dud, with 153330 and 153317 doing the honours to Lancaster. 45 minutes later, I was onboard 390039 for the run north to Glasgow Central.

Even though I only had just over an hour before I needed to make my way to the match, On arrival at Glasgow I sourced a Strathclyde Roundabout ticket (Even though it was probably hardly worth it in the end) and headed down to the Low Level station. (With hindsight if I had realised the East Kilbride services were pairs of 156’s I would have done those instead). Within a few minutes 318270/318254 were taking me on the bus stop hop to Anderston. A few minutes later 318262/320411 were taking me back towards Glasgow Central, the intention being to carry on but the sight of 318255 waiting in the opposite platform saw me doing another leap back to Anderston where a mis-calculation of diagrams saw 318254/318270 taking me to Argyle Street.

From here I headed back up to the surface, meandering back to Glasgow Central boarding 320304 for the short run to Mount Florida. Five minute’s walk and I was at the home of Scottish Football though today rather than Scotland it would be Queens Park who also call Hampden Park home. A surreal experience with a crowd of just over 1,000 in a 52,000 capacity stadium, it is a good job the Ayr fans made some decent noise and in the end Queens Park went down with a whimper to a 2-0 defeat. After the game 314215 returned me to Glasgow Central to await the 18:00 back south. Typically noting a required 390 on the 17:40 south typically it was a dud 390154 that was provided for the lightly loaded run back to Lancaster, before my least favourite and most mega-dud super stalker 156,156438 took me back home to Barrow.

So only a short trip this time, 7 winners and a new shack, but I am looking forward to longer there next year, no doubt there will be lots of short moves and hopefully lots of winners too.

London November 2017

Wednesday 1st November 2017

An earlier than planned final trip to the capital for 201, due to the allocated date of Arsenals Europa League fixture with Red Star Belgrade. Anyway despite it only being a 2 night trip this time I did have several railway aims to fill some annoying gaps in my haulage log. Namely, he underground shacks at Russell Square and Holloway Road, and also the 707’s now they are in service.

As has become usual due to not trusting the 37’s, I boarded duds 153378 and 156463 for the trip round the bay before joining my stalker Pendo 390020 (for the third time in succession on a Virgin service) for the trip south. After dumping my stuff at the hotel it was straight off to Kings Cross and the Piccadilly Line for 123/142 to Leicester Square. After purchasing a theatre ticket for that night and getting fed and watered a plan was hatched to head over to Waterloo for one of the evening 707 services. With an eye on the clock as time was tight for the 15:58, but with the alternative of the 16:15, I made my way to Charing Cross, taking 375828 and 375620 over the bridge to Waterloo East. With just a few minutes to spare I made my way down Platform 14 and onto the Windsor service formed of 707008 and 707003, unfortunately time only allowed the hop to Vauxhall, I must be the only forum member not have done the 387/3’s so didn’t want to be the last on these too, and also it is another new class in the book.

Needing to get back to my hotel, I took the Victoria line back to Kings Cross via a linear leap at the required shack of Pimlico.

11090/11089 Vauxhall to Pimlico

11050/11049 Pimlico to Kings Cross

From there it was off to a night at the theatre (for anyone interested the show was 42nd Street) using the Piccadilly line to Leicester Square and back.

113/246 Kings Cross to Leicester Square

124/895 Leicester Square to Kings Cross

Thursday 2nd November 2017

Armed with an anytime Zone 1-4 travelcard an early start saw me board 21099/21100 on the Metropolitan Line to Liverpool Street, to pick up some of the Greater Anglia triple 360 and 321 units to Stratford. On arrival at Liverpool Street and as is usual for me I got distracted by the parachute regiment military band raising money for London Poppy Day.



After about 20 minutes and looking at the departure board I decided to go for the 08:34 to Colchester simply for the reason it was a triple 360, and so would all be winners. 360113/360107/360112 taking me to Stratford. For a series of shuttles between there and Liverpool Street as follows

321321/321338/321357 Stratford to London Liverpool Street

321447/321440/321328 London Liverpool Street to Stratford

321314/321361 Stratford to London Liverpool Street

345005 London Liverpool Street to Stratford

Disappointed when I came to board this service that it was the only 345 I already have in the book, but I wasn’t wanting to hang around as I had to go to the LEGO shop at Westfield to purchase the Christmas set my nephew was after, and I knew I would be in trouble if I didn’t have this when I got back home! As I don’t have any more trips south planned for some time, I decided to take a pair of 315’s, 315829/315825 back to Liverpool Street in case it was my last opportunity to so.

Time for another distraction, so it was down to the Central Line for 91253/93464/93102/91165 (If anyone can offer advice on how to record / count these units it would be much appreciated as this line confuses me!) to St Paul’s.



The reason for this was to detour to see the Paddington Bear ‘Pop Up’ book artworks located at 5 locations over London, so to photograph 2 of these I walked over the Millennium Bridge to London Bridge Station, and to pick up some South Eastern units as follows

376006/376034 London Bridge to Waterloo East
376007/376015 Waterloo East to London Bridge
376029/376008 London Bridge to London Charing Cross

Before another de-tour taking 3554/3399 on the Bakerloo line up to Paddington and another distraction or two!

Arriving onto the Concourse to be greeted by another Military Band, this time the Grenadier Guards, and after a variety of tunes from Rule Brittannia to James Bond and the Great Escape and photographing another ‘pop’ up ‘book it was back to the original plan, boarding 165109 for the run out to Ealing Broadway, for the simple reason I haven’t a 165 in the book, and I knew it would be a pair of 387’s on the return journey, 387154/387152 having the honours and despite in my opinion the slightly hard seats, I really liked the internal decoration and colour scheme. Think it is my favourite of the new units so far.

Back at Paddington I was going to do another return to Ealing Broadway, but after spotting Alexandra and Gorka off Strictly Come Dancing with the military band.



I made my way back to Kings Cross, on foot back to Leicester Square and then on 136/207
Match night and the original intention was to take the Piccadilly Line to Holloway Road to scratch an annoying missing shack, but one look at the queue to get on the escalator it was back to the surface and a bonus triple Great Northern service to Finsbury Park, with 365540/365527/365511. Holloway Road can wait for another day!

After the game, rather than walk back to Finsbury Park, and with Holloway Road closed immediately after the match, I just queued for the at Arsenal for 155/102 back to Kings Cross

Friday 3rd November 2017

After packing up base camp, just time to pick up a couple of winning 700’s, on a linear leap from St Pancras to Blackfriars, 700103 to Farringdon and 700031 to Blackfriars before heading back to Euston via 175/246 from Leicester Square to Kings Cross and a surprising winning Pendo 390131 to Lancaster (Just 3 left now!) and the trip ended as it began aboard 153378, this time paired with 153301 back to Barrow.

Paperwork done, and red lines counted, quite a few winners for a short trip though without the distractions it could have been alot more.

National Rail – 28

London Underground – 15

NR Stations – 1

LU Stations – 4

I hadn’t thought of doing the triple Anglia workings before but think I will be doing them again in the future, as it should be possible to obtain a number of winners in a short time. Also looking forward to Blackfriars to London Bridge re-opening next year to open up lots of very short multiple unit leaps!

I also have a trip booked to Northern France in March 2018. Though I am planning to predominantly stay in France, there is the possibility of going into Belgium on the Sunday and just wondered if anyone could offer any advice as to how they record trips in Europe. I currently have one excel spreadsheet that I use for Great Britain stuff, and my previous European log is in another, but don’t know if one sheet per country, or everything on the same spreadsheet is the way to go? Any advice is much appreciated.

Central Line is a pain in the rear end to try and log, especially at peak times when it is busy (as you need to be on tip-top condition to catch the numbers). Each set is formed of 4x 2car units, driving units are 91XXX/92XXX where the non-driving units are 92XXX/93XXX. You get the odd set with a driving unit in the middle, but the easiest way to log is as 92XXX.

Sounded like a good few days in London anyhow, you can pick up a lot more in the way of 700s in the Core doing Blackfriars - Farringdon - St Pancras leaps, I've found a good position on an overbridge at Farringdon giving good views of both lines and ease to getting down to both platforms (near the Northern end of the station, the southern most overbridge, the one which doesn't give easy access to the LU platforms.

A rather enjoyable few days in London clearly!

Kite159 said:

Central Line is a pain in the rear end to try and log, especially at peak times when it is busy (as you need to be on tip-top condition to catch the numbers). Each set is formed of 4x 2car units, driving units are 91XXX/92XXX where the non-driving units are 92XXX/93XXX. You get the odd set with a driving unit in the middle, but the easiest way to log is as 92XXX.

Sounded like a good few days in London anyhow, you can pick up a lot more in the way of 700s in the Core doing Blackfriars - Farringdon - St Pancras leaps, I've found a good position on an overbridge at Farringdon giving good views of both lines and ease to getting down to both platforms (near the Northern end of the station, the southern most overbridge, the one which doesn't give easy access to the LU platforms.

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It was a good few days just too short! Thanks for the tip for Farringdon, I have lost count of the times I have missed something required as I didn't have time to cross to the other side there.

I have just booked a first ever trip on Eurostar to Lille in March 2018, and this will also be my first foray onto SNCF metals, so I wondered if anyone is familiar with the services in that area that could offer an insight into the services in that area. Are there any loco hauled services there at all? Many Thanks

barrowjack said:

It was a good few days just too short! Thanks for the tip for Farringdon, I have lost count of the times I have missed something required as I didn't have time to cross to the other side there.

I have just booked a first ever trip on Eurostar to Lille in March 2018, and this will also be my first foray onto SNCF metals, so I wondered if anyone is familiar with the services in that area that could offer an insight into the services in that area. Are there any loco hauled services there at all? Many Thanks

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Maybe @87electric may be able to help out reference the French stuff

2017 Summary

My final trip of the year utilised my Northern delay repay return to anywhere on their network and I had saved this until 2nd December so i could use it on a trip to Halifax, where Barrow were playing that day. Boarding winner 185149 for the first leg to Preston the train was soon heaving so I was pleased to be on from the start. Furness line services on a Saturday always seem to be more than overloaded and again today was no exception. The journey was notable however as on leaving Carnforth, instead of directly taking the mainline, the train was routed through the down loop, picking up the mainline at the bridge at Crag Bank, so a piece of new track for me. After a pit stop in Preston 158752 was taken through to Halifax, via Blackburn. Before the game I had 90 minutes or so to kill so I decided to go to the newly restored Piece Hall, having seen it on tv. What a great job they have done with it, really liked it and definitely somewhere I would like to go back and spend more time. After the game a 1-0 win, 158755 was taken back to Preston for 156463 back home, again taking the loop at Carnforth rather than directly from the main line.

So in summary, 2017 where did you go? In all I managed 13,214 miles (up 126 on 2016) but a long way under my 15,000 target. I alsohad a total of 294 (target 400) winners, 185 of which were on National Rail, the remainder predominantly on London Underground. With Halifax I hit my 20 new shacks target, and Halifax was my 9th new football ground of the year, so only 1 below target.

Having reviewed my recording I will be spending some time over Christmas consolidating my record sheets as, for some reason I currently have 12 spreadsheets to record moves on, several of which duplicate information (ridiculous I know!) so hoping to reduce this to two, National Rail and Light Rail. (and one for my European stuff which will be resurrected in 2018)

Anyway, hopefully I won’t have bored you all too much this year, and to finish I would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas!

Just where has the year gone?

Good news on another 185 into your book

I've not been about for ages, hence the delay in replying, but it will be nice to have another Euro crank about! The UK is not overly appealing these days for me. 14 days until I jet off to Alicante!

Techniquest said:

I've not been about for ages, hence the delay in replying, but it will be nice to have another Euro crank about! The UK is not overly appealing these days for me. 14 days until I jet off to Alicante!

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The UK isn't particularly appealing but if reports of the imminent demise of the Cumbrian 37's are true then I need to spend some time on those!

I currently have one Euro trip ready to go, plan is 9th March - Eurostar to Lille then depending on the kick off date and time for the football, 22200's on the Friday night, a day trip up to Dunkirk on the Saturday again taking in some 22200's, Sunday a short trip up to Kortrijk for the football there, the Monday morning Eurostar home. But I am sure that will change may times between now and March! Euro trips for me will also include local football so the itineraries will be set by match days.

Just been catching up on your reports, hope everything is going well for you

Cheers Barrowjack, things have been interesting to say the least here. However it has led to a part-time return to the rails, which starts tomorrow. My report for tomorrow, currently scheduled to go up late evening tomorrow, will explain in a bit more detail.

Your plan for March sounds quite interesting. You've also reminded me that I need a Eurostar trip again!

Techniquest said:

Cheers Barrowjack, things have been interesting to say the least here. However it has led to a part-time return to the rails, which starts tomorrow. My report for tomorrow, currently scheduled to go up late evening tomorrow, will explain in a bit more detail.

Your plan for March sounds quite interesting. You've also reminded me that I need a Eurostar trip again!

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I have found a part time return to the rails keeps me interested. A couple of hours at a time is about my limit, but especially in London, can have alot of winners in that time!

Hopefully March will work out, I have a rough plan taking shape that means I will cover 5 22200 diagrams over the weekend, plus a few other bits. Will be my first time on a Eurostar as well!

Already mid-February and only a few trips for work in the book, the only highlight being on 17th January when 390047 became the last of the sub class to fall to my red pen on a journey between Lancaster and Carlisle. Other than that most trips have involved accumulating mileage on the Cumbrian 37’s with 37401, 402, 403 and 424 already had this year. However, with 12 out of the next 19 days (“Beast From The East” permitting!) involving rail travel things are hopefully going to pick up, and on the second of these it was my first trip away of 2018.


'Mary' heading for a siesta at Barrow on 26/01/2018

22nd February
As is customary I was booked on the 08:50 Barrow to Preston today formed of 153301 and 156426, though both dud, I don’t mind the Allerton 156’s as most are low mileage. With time for a Costa a slightly delayed and more annoyingly seat reservations not working, 390137 eventually turned up for the trip to London. Fortunately the 10:38 isn’t overly busy so I managed to take my booked seat for the run south. After checking into the usual hotel near Kings Cross it was down the tube taking 892/201 to Russell Square (I am sure I have stopped off here before but nothing recorded) where following just behind were 158/241 taken to Leicester Square. After a short food stop, and to pick up some Lego for my nephew from the Leicester Square store, and a walk to Embankment it was back down with 21387/21388 taken to shack score Temple, 21329/21330 following to Blackfriars. One of the aims of this trip (and this year) is to clear as many shacks on linear leaps as possible particularly in Zone 1, and by doing this it should also increase the number of haulage winners, the only criteria is that I don’t want to wait more than 3 minutes for the next train!

At Blackfriars it was onto Part 2 of my requirements, clearing 700’s the first arrival being winner 700038 taken to Farringdon, for 700006 forward to St Pancras. The Thursday night was match night, so it was back over to Kings Cross for the 18:12 Peterborough, and disappointingly this has now gone over to a 700 from a triple 365, 700128 doing the honours to Finsbury Park. Had I realised before going through the barriers I might have waited for the 387’s ten minutes behind but will know for next time! After an instantly forgettable match 117/232 took me back from Arsenal to Kings Cross.

23rd February
Starting off slightly later than planned, and armed with a Zone 1-4 anytime travel card, and sort of a plan, it was back to Platform A at St Pancras and the 08:06 departure, 700029 taken to Farringdon, 700011 to City Thameslink and 700022, taken through to Elephant and Castle. Flagging what would be a winner 700046 on the basis they will be around so much longer, I waited for 465021/465187 on the 08:40 South Eastern service to Blackfriars.

Time for another linear leap, this time downstairs, with 21546/21545 taken between Blackfriars and Mansion House, for 21314/21313 forward to Cannon Street.

I have wanted to head down Greenwich way for some time and had decided this was a good opportunity, so back upstairs for the winning NR station at Cannon Street, with 375907/375920 on the next service out, so these were taken to London Bridge, for a few minutes later 465033/465191 out to Greenwich.


At this point i got ‘brain freeze’ and forgot i could take the DLR to Cutty Sark, so walked instead. Having walked round ‘Cutty Sark’ and then back up to Greenwich Park, decided I couldn’t stand the cold anymore and headed back to the Station. This time it was to the DLR, 122/144/125 to Deptford Bridge, followed a couple of minutes later by 51/43/76 onward to Lewisham. Here another miscalculation, so managed too upset my travelcard and the ticket barriers by going in and out twice before finally heading to Platform 1 at Lewisham for 465175/465165 on the bus stop hop to St.John's. Whilst clearing shacks isn’t really of interest to me, as the following service was only 3 minutes behind, decided to see if I could bag another winner, and in 465166 I did, through to London Bridge. With the Charing Cross services looking chaotic at this point it was time for a break and a wander through Hays Galleria to photograph HMS Belfast.



With the situation not much better, the first Charing Cross service arrive formed of 375825/375804, so this was taken through to the buffers, and South Eastern abandoned.

I believe that Heathrow Connect services are going over to 345’s in May, so after walking to Piccadilly Circus, more linear a leaping this time on the Bakerloo, 3258/3531 to Regents Park, 3566/3238 through to Paddington.



After photographing Paddington at Paddington, the first HC service was formed of 360201, this taken to Ealing Broadway, and with just enough time to change platforms 360204 back to Paddington. Had iI realised there was only 5 units in the sub class I might have persisted, and cleared at least the one on the next inward, but may have another opportunity before May to do this, hopefully will clear them all. Deciding enough was enough and frozen, it was straight back to Kings Cross 21371/21372 doing the honours. Just a couple of Piccadilly moves for the night out, comprising 187/860 out to Leicester Square for 211/252 back later on.

24th February.
A later start, wanting to go up to Stratford, with no Greater Anglia services from Liverpool Street, rather than take the tube I made my way to the South Eastern platforms at St Pancras International to see which ‘Javelins’ were playing out, and found required 395009 on the 09:27 to Faversham, so this was taken to Stratford International.

Having been through Westfield, it was time to be creative to go get back into town, so took the DLR, units 30/98 to Canning Town and, for 130/101 to Poplar before having to abandon my original plan to Blackfriars after finding out en route that the Circle line was also out of service and didn’t fancy a long walk, so took another pair of DLR winners, 107/154 to Shadwell. Taking a very roundabout route back to Blackfriars, over to National Rail for winner 378208 to Canada Water, 96100/96073 to London Bridge and a much shorter walk to my destination. Having spent all morning deliberation I decided to go to the football at St Albans, making the following moves via St Pancras

700106 Blackfriars to St.Pancras International
700121 St.Pancras International to St.Albans City
700131 St.Albans City to St.Pancras International

Finally another couple of Piccadilly moves to Leicester Square, 126/213 out for 167/884 back

25th February
After a quiet morning in London it was back to Euston for the 14:30 north. Expecting it to be very busy, and thanks to Real Time trains, I was first in the queue, and taking a glance at the unit number as I noted a very familiar 390137 (yep the same one that brought me down so not impressed) so I was in my seat a good 5 minutes before anyone else arrived . A good run home changing onto 156481 at Lancaster for the run home round the Morecambe Bay.

Summary
Winners – National Rail 21, DLR 12, London Underground 17 (53 Total)
New Shacks – National Rail 5, DLR 4, London Underground 6 (15 Total)

A reasonable trip, without the errors it could have been better, but a good number of winners. I am not sure how many are now in service but that's already 25 700's cleared and only 39 Piccadilly half sets now required.

A good few days in London

Adieu l'Angleterre, Bonjour la France!
With my trip to the East Lancs Railway steam gala falling victim to the Beast from the East, and a couple of works trip cancelled, it has been a slow start to 2018. Those of you that have read some of my previous trip reports will know that for some time I have had a European trip in the diary. Unfortunately changes to circumstances prevented this going ahead as planned (Put back to September). However, rather than lose the full cost of the ticket I bit the bullet and changed my outward ticket, and what was to have been four days in France (and possibly Belgium) was now a day trip to Lille!

Monday 12th March 2018
As usual it was aboard the 08:50 from Barrow, short-formed today with no dog box and 156468 flying solo, for the run to Lancaster, arriving a couple of minutes late. Not normally an issue, but to save money I was booked on the 09:56 from Lancaster today with the inconvenience of an additional change at Crewe, so rather than the normal 50 minute festa with a Costa, fortunately it was only a cross platform walk to platform 4 and I had barely reached the zone marking when 390040 arrived. 20 minutes at Crewe left enough time to acquire coffee, before 390156 took me to my destination, arriving 10 minutes earlier than normal but £25 cheaper!

A short walk across to the usual base camp at King’s Cross before going down to the Piccadilly, 891/202 to Russell Square, leaping here as the following service was only a minute behind 128/173. After a wander and sourcing a cheap theatre ticket for that night I headed back via the long way, 21306/21305 (I know these are a single unit, but my overly complicated excel workbook needs to know the number of both driving cars otherwise it can’t cope!) this being taken from Embankment to Blackfriars for some 700 action back to St Pancras with 2 breaks in the journey, these in order were 700138, 700008 and 700038, before finishing the night with 132/131 back to Leicester Square for 230/161 back from Piccadilly Circus after the show.

Mardi 13 Mars 2018
Rising early I made my way over to St Pancras International by 07:45, and (disgracefully!) my first visit to the International platforms, soon checking in and passing through to the lounge before spotting Pret a manger and sourcing lunch and also coffee. Pleasingly the prices here are the same as all of their other outlets so coffee is a bargain at 99p. Eventually boarding commenced, but being in the middle of the train, I couldn’t identify the unit numbers, eventually working out from the coach numbers that it was 4021/4022 forming the 08:54 Brussels service today and after picking up at Ebbsfleet, was soon speeding through Kent and under the channel, arriving at my destination Lille Europe 8 minutes early at 11:15, eventually finding the Metro station and persuading the machine to sell me a day pass. The Metro is very much like the DLR, but rather than tracks the units appear to run on a guide mechanism, and all services are only 2 cars. In no time unit 75 was taking me on the very short trip to Lille Flandres, so I could collect a pre-bought SNCF ticket for later on, before making my way downstairs to ‘The Mongy’, (the nickname for the Lille Tramway so named after engineer Alfred Mongy who created the lines that form the current system.) Tram 21 was in the platform so I took this 2 stops to the first surface level stop of Romerain, photographing tram 16 leaving from the other platform almost immediately.




After about an hour it was time to head back to Rihour to make my way to my only booked move of the day, and Metro 128 the 4 stops to CHR Oscar Lambret. Now I have had a decent run on these I can say these things are rapid. I had allowed about 15 minutes for this journey but in the end this took about 8, even with the stops, so this left me over half an hour to make the 3 minute walk to the SNCF station of CHR Lille. This gave me time to photograph unit 069M on the 13:06 to Lille Flandres from the overbridge.



In France tickets need validating on one of the yellow “compostage de billet” machines, so before making my way down to the platform I took my ticket out and to the only machine only for it to be out of service! Taking a photograph of the message just in case I made my way down to the platform, making use of the extra waiting time to have my sandwich, I almost missed 186-252-3 on a freight in the other direction.


Thanks to the long straight on the approach the train I was waiting for had come into view quite some time before arrival, including its stop at the previous station, Loos!



Eventually BB2200 No 22273 pushed the 13:24 CHR Lille to Lille Flandres into the platform and became my first SNCF haulage in the book. The journey took just over 10 minutes, passing several stabled units and locomotives on the way, with probably less than a dozen passengers on a 5 coach double deck train. On arrival at Flandres, I decided to bag a winning McDonalds, and was surprised my coffee was served in a proper cup though of course there was a price to pay, €2.20 for the privilege, and it was only about half the size of the ones here.



I then walked back into the city and a tour of the cathedral, and after visiting a second McDonalds, and time pressing until I had to leave, I headed back to Rihour taking 117 again to Wazemmes (for the simple reason I couldn’t not have a funky name like this in the book!) I exited the station, and was so impressed with what I saw of the area I walked straight to the down escalator and boarded 107 back to Lille Flandres! After looking round the Euralille shopping centre, I found I had more time left than expected so walked back to Rihour again before finishing off with 143, to Flandres and Tram 19 to Lille Europe.

Not realising that check in here was shorter I arrived a bit too early so found a seat overlooking 2 of the platforms, watching the earlier Eurostar and a couple of TGVs pass through what is a very cold station! Eventually, 4027/4028 arrived from Brussels for the journey back to St Pancras International arriving on time at 19:03, after a long day and probably too much wasted time but will now know what to expect later in the year when I go back.

Wednesday 14th March 2018

Just time to bag 3 more winning 700’s, through the core, in order 700036, 700046 and 700141 before heading back to Euston and 390135 to Preston for 185141 home. An intense short trip, could (and should) have done more in France, particularly on SNCF but that’s now for next time, but pleased to have finally broken my Eurostar duck and also finally got some French stuff in my book!

Sounded like a good little day trip to the Lille area

Kite159 said:

Sounded like a good little day trip to the Lille area

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It was a good day, though disappointed I didn't end up doing more SNCF. Having said that, my full trip later in the year will be better for the experience gained from it. Cant believe it has taken me 24 years to go on Eurostar though - shameful!

Spring into Summer

Since my trip to France apart from the regular mundane work trips yielding virtually no winners I have done very little of any note, though winners 68017 and 68003 have been picked up on the Cumbrian Coast,

The weekend of the 20th April saw me head to London, heading for the football at Aldershot on the Saturday. On the Friday night 395011 (Down to 6 now) took me to Stratford for the game at the London Stadium, taking 321362 back to Liverpool Street. I had noticed that 50027 was due to be running at the Watercress Line that day too. As this was one of the few remaining ‘Hoovers’ still to have the privilege of my red pen I made an early start from Waterloo that saw me arrive at Alton in time for the first steam service (With winners 450017/450073, changing at winning shack Woking for 450072/450127), the 10:50 to Alresford hauled by kettle 45379. As departure time approached it was announced that the service would be delayed due to a point’s failure at Medstead and Four Marks. After a 15 minute delay, passing the 50 outside Alton station, en-route it was then announced that the 9F on the other steam service had ‘sat down’ at Ropley. None of the staff at Ropley seemed to know what was happening, but in the end decided to wait for the 50 and try and get that on the return trip. An hour passed, and suddenly the 9F 92212 appeared on ECS to form the next service back, so rather even though it arrive just before departure, rather than hang around for the 50 any longer I took this back to Alton, thus missing out on the 50. 450037/450041 were waiting to take me to Aldershot. After the football, it was back on board 450127/450072, again changing at Woking for 450074/450084) to Waterloo having had a very mixed day.

Over the rest of the weekend more progress was made with Piccadilly line units 173, 229 and 854 were added to the red pen club, before a sneaky move to Vauxhall on my way back to Euston for my first 458/5’s 458533/458534 but in general a poor weekend for winners.

14th May saw a trip to Walsall FC to see the Euro under 17 Quarter final in the afternoon. With Northern and Virgin providing nothing of interest, it was left to West Midlands Railway to enrol their first 3 members into my red pen club 350233 from Birmingham New Street to Bescot Stadium and 153366/170501 on the return leg with good use made of the first class lounge and travel on the way back North.

After the complete meltdown with the ‘Northern’ timetable in Cumbria following the May change, I managed a ‘bus stop’ leap to Roose (I am ashamed to say this was a winning shack despite being in my home town! Just to pick up 158904 to finish the month.

1st to 4th June –London
With the intention to see some matches in the Conifa Football World Cup, a tournament for teams representing 'nations, de-facto nations, regions, minority peoples and sports isolated territories' that are not recognised by FIFA, it was back down to London, fortunately finding a Northern train that actually ran but a 156 instead of the booked 158, but a runner all the same. Later in the afternoon I picked up my first 700 winner of the weekend, 700148 taken from Blackfriars to St Pancras International.

The plan for the Saturday was to end up at Carshalton for the double header of matches, but first, I took 700103, from St Pancras International through to London Bridge to finally clear this little stretch of line. After going up to the Thames to photograph the Cruise Ship ‘Silver Cloud’ moored next to HMS Belfast.



I then picked up 4 South Eastern Winners, 465038/465031 to Waterloo East for 375708/375809 into Charing Cross. With plenty of time to make my way to Victoria, I was distracted by the sight of the rehearsal for this weekend’s ‘Trooping the Colour parade. After watching a fair bit of this, I managed to arrive at Victoria with a little time to spare, noting that my intended service was formed of 4 coaches. However, I decided it was rude to turn down the offer of a triple 377 winner on the Bognor Regis service a few minutes earlier, so I took 377430/377131/377426 to Clapham Junction, from where I boarded my intended unit, 377423 to Hackbridge, alighting here just to take the following 700044 to Carshalton. During the games, I found out that Southern Services on the line had virtually stopped due to a failed train, but fortunately 700013 soon arrived for the trip back into Central London.

Sunday was to be a day of firsts for me, firstly, I was seeing 2 matches at 2 different grounds, the first being at the Queen Elizabeth II stadium at Enfield, 315801 doing the honours from Liverpool Street to Southbury for a 20 minute walk to the stadium. A second first was that I was using a London bus for the first time, down the A10 to White Hart Lane, to see Tuvalu v Matabeleland at Haringey Borough FC, afterwards it was onto a second bus to Wood Green so I could get back into Central London,


A different view of Liverpool Street.

Monday saw 3 more winning 700’s in the core, 700033. 700146 and 700105 before home, having to wait an additional 45 minutes at Lancaster after all the passengers from the south were refused access to the Barrow train as it was only formed of a single car instead of two and it was already more than crammed full!

Also more winning Piccadilly units, 120, 137 and 159 so I am now down to 28 left, though as the number reduces it becomes far harder to find winners!

Oh, and King's Cross was taken over by dinosaurs in a promotion for the new 'Jurassic World' film



So far this year I have picked up 69 winners and 12 shacks, and have now welcomed a third of the 700’s into the “red pen” club which considering I spend limited time in London is good. Need to make more progress on these ahead so I can start on the 345’s when Crossrail opens.

A busy few days for you and the red pen

I need to revisit Roose to board a train from there, when I will get around to it is another matter