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55013's Contemporary Trip Reports

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Cowley

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I was meant to have the same but the guard misheard my request by accident (which was the only time it ever happened) so instead of 20 minutes I had something like 150 minutes there waiting for a delayed 158 to return from Kyle.

Blimey. That puts the 'F' into Fester :lol:
 
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55013

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Kite - I did score the waiting room at Duncraig for sitting in :)
150 minutes at Achnashellach sounds like purgatory - 20 minutes was more than enough for me.
Now, 150 minutes at Achnasheen would be quite nice if the weather was OK.

Anyway, I've not had time to visit the forum over the last few weeks, so I've a bit of a back-log of reports to publish.
I see there's plenty to read as well, which is nice.

Without further ado, here's the first trip I did after our holiday:

The problem with having one day a week to do moves is that I can’t afford to go too adventurous.
One trip a month to somewhere like London is fine, one a week and my wife would not be a happy bunny.
I’d seen that the Northern newspaper offer was on again and decided to take advantage of that to get a few shacks that wouldn’t be on my radar when doing my usual moves.

Since commencing the fine art of shack scratching there have been a few places that have bugged me.
Either I’ve done them in the past, but the move has been unrecorded, or I should have done them but remained on the train due to excessive laziness.

One station that annoyed me was the first one outside West Yorkshire on the Leeds to York direct route.
This is a station that may or may not have seen my presence before.

<>Digression coming up<>

On the 8th of September 1990 a few of us did a nice little move – we started with 31412 from Leeds to York via Harrogate.
Yes, a loco hauled train and what’s more, it was a regular Saturday working.
The reason for this was that the loco and stock then formed a York to Carlisle service, so coming in from the Poppleton direction saved a run-round.

We stayed on board this after York and at Church Fenton it was held in the platform for a while to allow a faster service to overtake.
Now, at least two of my mates got off, went onto the footbridge and photographed both the 31 and the loco that overtook it.

I have no such photo, so the likelihood is that I couldn’t be bothered to get off, although it’s possible I’d had a leg-stretch and just not taken any photos, but either way it was this did I/didn’t I question that caused my anguish.

We stayed on board 31412 all the way to Carlisle and then did 37693, which I did get a photo of :), to Dumfries.

37693_1990.09.08_1_Carlisle by Phil Wood, on Flickr

After that it was an unrecorded DMU back to Carlisle and 47417 to Leeds.

</>End of Digression</>

Anyway, given that Christmas is on the horizon and the cheap rover tickets were available it made sense for me to do a few local-ish moves.

My day began, unsurprisingly, with a trip to the aforementioned Church Fenton.
This was reached from Bradford Interchange aboard 158794.

DMU 158794_2017.10.06_2_Church Fenton by Phil Wood, on Flickr

With that particular itch scratched it was as short wait before shack number 2 was roped in.

142035 was utilised to take me to Sherburn-In-Elmet
Once again I didn’t have too long a fester with 144009 soon appearing to take me to a station I’ve visited once or twice in the past, York.
144s are my least favourite type of Pacer, largely due to the very poor leg-room, however I had no choice but to wait around for some more 144009 action.

This was because I was now intent on starting on the Hull line shacks and the next part of 009’s diagram was a run to the City of Culture 2017.
I endured sitting sideways for a forty minute run to Howden.

My next target was another station that I’d wanted to visit for quite a while.
I had seen many old cine film clips of Deltics heading through, but circumstances had never seen me set foot there.
I wanted to go and look at the famous swing bridge, whilst wistfully thinking about when it had been a part of the East Coast mainline.
Yes, it was Selby and I finally made it there aboard the somewhat less glamorous traction of 158817.

Not a Deltic, sadly:

DMU 185106_2017.10.06_1_Selby by Phil Wood, on Flickr

There was just one more winning station that I had lined up today and that was Gilberdyke.
I wanted to get this in for a slightly different reason.
A few months ago, my wife had taken her parents to Harrogate for the day.
She had driven to Pontefract to pick them up and set off quite happily.
It was only when they saw signs for Gilberdyke that they realised she had gone wrong somewhere.
I couldn’t resist going there to get a photo of the station sign to show her when I returned :)

Once again, I digress.

142078 was my ride to this fabled place.

Pacer and semaphores:

DMU 142078_2017.10.06_4_Gilberdyke by Phil Wood, on Flickr

The wait was not too long and I was soon heading to Doncaster on 158901.
Unfortunately; all was not well with this unit and the engine on the coach I was in (57901) kept cutting out.
At every stop the driver would fire it up and we would set off, only for it to splutter and shut down a few seconds later.
I checked on RTT later and its booked return working from Doncaster was cancelled, so obviously they couldn’t get it sorted.

Arrival a Doncaster was a few minutes after the hourly Northern service to Leeds had departed, so I had a quandary.
Do I wait fifty odd minutes for the next one or do I buy a single to Wakefield and hope for a low mileage 91 on a train that was due soon.
I plumped for the latter and was pleased to see it was sub-thousand mile 91105 that would take me through to Leeds (I have an M-Card that covered me from Wakefield, don’t forget).

From Leeds it was 150204 back to Bradford and I was home at almost exactly the same time my wife got back from work, which was nice :)
 
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55013

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A week later and I was back out on another Northern day ticket.

This time I elected to head West.
Not only were new shacks on the agenda, I wanted to some new lines in.

There are no direct trains from Low Moor, for that is where today began, and Lancashire.
I was starting before the valid time of the rover; therefore I used my M-Card to sample 180101 for the first leg of my trip.
I took this to Halifax where I had a wait; happy in the knowledge that I didn’t have to walk up through town and go to work.

158756 then took me as far as Hebden Bridge.
This was on a Manchester Victoria service and that wasn’t the line I was heading for.

By the time my next unit arrived the rover was valid so I could now head out of West Yorkshire.
Evidently recovered from its problems the week before; it was 158901 that took me to winning station number one, Accrington.

Busy Accrington:
DMU 158901_2017.10.13_Accrington_&amp; 142061 &amp; 150205 by Phil Wood, on Flickr

After spending a bit of time reminiscing about the 1980’s milk advert that referenced the eponymous football team I boarded 150272 for a run on a line I’ve never been on before.

The 150 was taken right to the current terminus at Colne.
Current because there are apparently plans afoot to extend the line to Skipton although if that ever actually happens or not remains to be seen.

I didn’t hang around to enjoy the delights of Colne, instead I left it as I’d arrived, on 150272, after getting the obligatory photo.

I decided to go for a request stop next.
This is a station that’s off the branch itself but is generally only served by trains to and from Colne.

I left 150272 at Hapton and legged it over the bridge as it’s quite a walk and it’s only a five minute wait for the next one heading back from whence I came.
I was on the platform in plenty of time to make my intention clear to the driver of 150277.

DMU 150277_2017.10.13_1_Hapton by Phil Wood, on Flickr

I left this at Nelson and went in search of some grub, knowing that I had until the same unit came back from Colne.

My plan now was to do 150277 to another request stop.
The Sprinter had other ideas, though.
As the train rattled along there was a sudden brake application and the unit screeched to a halt.
After a couple of minutes the driver made an announcement asking for the guard to come and see him.
Oh dear, a problem.
Eventually, the driver revved the unit several times and we managed to start moving.
A minute later we pulled into a platform.
The guard announced that we would be sat here for an indeterminate time as there had been a loss of air and they were going to try to find and fix it.

Although I had intended to go further I decided to get off as I hate waiting around on trains and figured if the unit got going and then failed completely between stations I could be stuck for ages.

Luckily, this station was required, it was Burnley Central and I made my way outside to observe the shenanigans that were going on in the street.

If you’ve never experienced the area outside Burnley Central station I would suggest you don’t.
Despite the yellow lines, there were cars parked on both sides for the full length of the road; meaning that it’s impossible for two vehicles to go in different directions at the same time.
It was an inexplicably busy street, with nothing but a derelict warehouse, the station and a taxi firm to be seen.

Nevertheless; plenty of folk came up, some parked in the middle of the road and ran into a building behind the taxi comany, the nature of which I couldn’t ascertain – this meant nobody could drive through.
Nobody stayed for very long, just ran in, did whatever they had to do and quickly left.
The amount of traffic was an issue, though, with plenty of loud verbal abuse and threats going on.
It was interesting, to say the least.

Whilst I was observing all this, 150277 was fixed and it made its way out of the station on the single line, to be replaced a few minutes later by 142009.
There remained one station that I required between there and Colne, so that’s where I alighted.
Brierfield provided a much more relaxing environment than Burnley Central, which was just as well as I had to wait for the 142 coming back.

I was still after that request stop, but as all the other stations on the line were now done I decided to do it from the other direction.
This meant that I took 142009 to Rose Grove.

My next new shack was Burnley Barracks.
In my opinion this is a much better place to spend some time than Central!
Although it’s a request stop, every service that I had done had stopped there and the guard seemed a bit puzzled when I requested it!

DMU 150116_2017.10.13_1_Burnley Barracks by Phil Wood, on Flickr

150116 had taken me there from Rose Grove and it was the same unit that took me away forty odd minutes later.
I took this to my last winning station of the day, Blackburn.
That was me done with shack scratching for today, but not line scoring.

There’s one bit of track in West Yorkshire that has been on my radar since it opened in 2015.
It shouldn’t be too difficult to work out it’s the Todmorden Curve that I’m referring to.
My introduction to this short bit of track was done aboard 142042.
After scooping the new line, it was time to head home.

Due to the timetable it was quicker to do 158756 through to Interchange and pick up 158853 back to Low Moor than it was to leave the former at Halifax and get the train from Huddersfield.

Another successful Northern rover move had been completed.
 

Cowley

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It was nice to read about the areas you covered and see the photos of them. Selby swing bridge looks good. I don’t think I’ve been on that line.
Loved the photo of 37693. I don’t imagine that you’d of expected it to become a regular passenger loco a few years later?
I’d love to know what that building next to Burnley Central was..?
 

47403

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Some cracking reading and photos there, I too am jealous of Cats 1 and 6, both required for the continuous line and in 001's case, needed for the book of sights too. Damn things been in the North East on numerous occasions but every time it's been, I've been at work However I digress. I'd go mad festering that long at Stations, you shack scratchers, deserve a medal for patience alone. I suppose watching the wild life or a good book, would do the trick, in what is very idyllic surroundings, I'd still go spare after a while though.

What's the boundaries on this day ticket for Edinburgh? Sounds interesting indeed.

Ah the days, 31s over the S&C, for a 37, for a 47 and home. 37693, bit of a massive 37 up Sou Western, THAT I'm really, really jealous of, corking pic of it too.
 

Kite159

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Some cracking reading and photos there, I too am jealous of Cats 1 and 6, both required for the continuous line and in 001's case, needed for the book of sights too. Damn things been in the North East on numerous occasions but every time it's been, I've been at work However I digress. I'd go mad festering that long at Stations, you shack scratchers, deserve a medal for patience alone. I suppose watching the wild life or a good book, would do the trick, in what is very idyllic surroundings, I'd still go spare after a while though.

What's the boundaries on this day ticket for Edinburgh? Sounds interesting indeed.

Ah the days, 31s over the S&C, for a 37, for a 47 and home. 37693, bit of a massive 37 up Sou Western, THAT I'm really, really jealous of, corking pic of it too.

Clicky - https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/cdo_-_edinburgh.pdf :)

Not the best if you want to do the Cats in the evening as it has evening peak restrictions
 

Keith Jarrett

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Mr 13, a few decent days wandering around home (or nearby) territory with some decent gains, if only on the shack scratching front. That shot of 37693 is top drawer - even better with it safely "underlined" in the Book of Hauls
 

55013

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Thanks chaps.
That was the only time I ever had 37693, so no frustration from me about what it subsequently did :)

Regarding the Edinburgh Days Out ticket, I didn't mention the evening restriction in my report, but as far as I know it only applies at Edinburgh and Haymarket, so a ticket to South Gyle covers it.
 

ash39

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Alternatively couldn't you approach South Gyle from the north and pick it up there, avoiding the need to purchase a seperate ticket?

Or failing that, wait until the restriction ends and then make your way from Edinburgh to Kinghorn and pick up the full-circle 68 on its way back in.

Enjoyed your latest reports 55013, keep us updated on your next Friday outings! Got to say, I'm not looking forward to doing any of the Burnley shacks. Not a place I've ever fancied visiting and your observations have done little to convince me otherwise!!
 

55013

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Alternatively couldn't you approach South Gyle from the north and pick it up there, avoiding the need to purchase a seperate ticket?

You could do that, but for a desperate mileage chaser like myself it would be a too great a cost :)

Enjoyed your latest reports 55013, keep us updated on your next Friday outings! Got to say, I'm not looking forward to doing any of the Burnley shacks. Not a place I've ever fancied visiting and your observations have done little to convince me otherwise!!

Thanks - Barracks wasn't too bad but Central had nothing going for it at all.

Changing the subject slightly; it's 36 years ago today that I had the loco that gave me my current identity.
On the 21st of November 1981 a mate and I did the "Deltic Scotsman" railtour.
We had 55002 Leeds to Carlisle, then across to Newcastle before heading down the ECML, avoiding Waverley, and reaching Inverkeithing.
No 68ers made an appearance as KOYLI ran round :)
The green one then worked into Edinburgh where it came off, being replaced by the mighty 55013 "The Black Watch".
I remember having my head out of the window as we hammered up through Thirsk, a place I had lived in my childhood.
It was dark and the cold numbed my face but what a memory.
We left the train at Leeds and my future username was assured.
I didn't have a camera and this is the only photograph I've ever seen of 55013 that night:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/52467480@N08/8647489535/in/photolist-eb9Dna
 

Cowley

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What a wonderful memory to have. You can sense the atmosphere and imagine the noise of it ticking over in that picture.
Have you ever posted a question in the history section of the forum asking if anyone has any photos of it that night? It’s amazing what stuff people have come up with if I’ve asked questions sometimes...
 

55013

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Have you ever posted a question in the history section of the forum asking if anyone has any photos of it that night? It’s amazing what stuff people have come up with if I’ve asked questions sometimes...

Thanks, I'll do that.

In the meantime, on with the job of caching up (I've several moves still to post and am about to head out on a 91 hunt).

My next move was the week after my Burnley adventure but didn’t require the purchase of local newspapers – it was the NVR class 31 anniversary gala.

45135 and I went; I didn’t need any of the locos working but he required 31285.
We made our way down to Peterborough on the train.

I started with 155341 from Low Moor to Leeds where we met up and boarded 91117, sadly not one of my required mileage locos.

Once at Peterborough we made our way round to the NVR and began an excellent day’s Goyle bashing.

31162 was first up, to Wansford.
This loco never disappoints and today was no exception.

A pair was next, 31452 & 31271.
These were taken back to Peterborough as 45135’s needed loco was booked to be on the same stock back.
It produced as advertised, along with 31271.
This was the only time the NR yellow machine was diagrammed to appear whilst we were there, so we had ensured we were properly positioned for it.

After that, with no requirements for either of us, it was just a case of kicking back and enjoying some 31 thrash.
This pair were taken to Wansford where 31285 came off.

31285_2017.10.14_04_Wansford by Phil Wood, on Flickr

31271 then proceeded on its own to the end of the line at Yarwell Junction.

At Wansford 31108 & 31162 had been added to the rear and these now took us through to Peterborough.
Another round trip followed, 31108 on its own to Yarwell Junction for 31452 solo back.

We now just had time for a quick, slightly risky, run to Orton Mere.
The advice is not to change here but we ignored that as we had plenty of time before our train home and figured if the connection was missed we could easily walk all the way to Peterborough’s mainline station.

Thus 31459 and 31452 were enjoyed for the one and a half mile run.
31108 was visible in the distance but we had plenty of time to get over the crossing and make out way up to the platform before she rolled in.

We even had time to photograph the pair we'd just got off:
31459_2017.10.14_5_Orton Mere_&amp; 31452 by Phil Wood, on Flickr

On reaching Peterborough our Goyle basing day was over and it was just a case of making our way back, via Asda, to the ECML.

I was hoping for a low mileage 91 back to West Yorkshire but, once again, I was thwarted as it was 91109 that did the deed.
Once at Leeds we said our good-byes and I made my way to Low Moor aboard 158790.

In summary, a great day if you like 31s, which we do
It was extremely busy, standing room only on some services, giving a lie to the idea that 31s are unpopular.
 

47403

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Ah top read 55013. I do like the peds myself, i had many peds on various journeys, a large majority were the double headed summer Saturday Paigntons turns. I had a photo of 31271 & 285 on that very turn too. I asked my mate to get a pic for me, as we bailed off in Newcastle at the top of old platform 9. Wish I stiĺ had it.
 

Techniquest

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I haven't had a 31 in an absolute age, and I had forgotten about this event. Unsurprising given the time I've spent away from the scene this year, however that is to be corrected in 2018. Long story and until it's happening I'm not discussing details. Blindtraveller is the only one who's got many details, as we talked about it on Friday, but still it will be discussed in my trip report thread soon.

Anyway, more importantly, I've got Moves Envy in barrel loads from your latest trip report 55013! I'm allowing myself some nostalgia of 31s on the SVR in years gone by and from what I can vaguely remember of them on Wessex Trains many years ago, as well as the short-lived Butlins Express from Bristol Temple Meads in I believe 2007. Never travelled on it but that was a nice sight!
 

55013

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Thanks lads.
I scored 31285 on a Blackpool to Preston service back in 1991.
That was the only time I had it before the NVR, so it was nice to catch up.

Anyway, I've just returned from a few days away with Mrs 13, celebrating her birthday.
She's now catching up with some shopping, so I've got time to do the much more important job of catching up with posting my moves ;)

A couple of months ago; my wife informed me that her best friend, accompanied by her two daughters, would be coming for a weekend in October.

Why on earth would I want to be around the house whilst they were all enjoying themselves doing whatever groups of females do?
The answer is, I wouldn’t.
I therefore saw the opportunity to do another North-East rover with the intention of spending Saturday night in a hotel.

A hotel was booked and my move started on the Friday.
The first day began, as is usual these days, at Low Moor.

150277 started me off, to Bradford Interchange.
I got off there as I still needed to buy the ticket.

My four-day in eight ticket was duly purchased and 158757 was boarded for a run to Leeds.
Being a North-East meant that 91 mileage was my main focus.

As soon as I arrived at Leeds I knew my first loco wouldn’t be a sub 1000 mile 91.
In fact, it wouldn’t be a 91 at all.
As I left the 158 I could see 90029 stood on the adjacent line.

90029_2017.10.20_1_Leeds by Phil Wood, on Flickr

I’d last had 90029 from the unlikely location of Drem back in 2004 when 90s had briefly ruled the Edinburgh to North Berwick turns.

Even though I’d only had it eight times before, this was not the first time I’d done it in West Yorkshire, indeed I’d scored it from Wakefield to Leeds on the 3rd of February 1999, immediately doing it back to Wakey.

I’d also done it Westgate to Doncaster in April that year followed by another Wakey to Leeds run in the December (having had it Carstairs to Edinburgh on a sleeper portion in between the latter two moves).

I enjoyed my first run on it in thirteen years as it pushed me to Doncaster and I took up position.

I now needed fourteen 91s for mileage and this causes problems; namely I might have to wait around for a bit and I don’t know where I’ll be going.

Obviously, my desire was for one of my wants, especially a very low one, to be working up to Scotland to enable me to get maximum use of the rover.
Unfortunately, that proved not to be the case and the first couple of locos I saw were flagged.

At least there was plenty to look at whilst I festered, with no less than three 67s present, including the Colas pair.

67023_2017.10.20_2_Doncaster by Phil Wood, on Flickr

I had six machines that are on my “most wanted” list as they are below 900 miles (they are 91101/111/112/120/127 & 131 – of which 120 & 131 are below 700 and 91120 is less than 500!).

Obviously, these are my priority as most of the remaining nine would be cleared with a Wakefield to Leeds and back trip.

Sadly, I knew one of these at least wouldn't be getting added to the haulage book today; 91112 was stood in the naughty siding waiting entrance to the works and some repairs to its wheels.

It was, however, one of the big six that took me away from Doncaster; 91101.

This was only on a Leeds turn but beggars can’t be choosers, so it was a near sixty-mile round trip on the doyen of the class.
Not as much as I would like but better than nothing.

I still needed two coaches from Yorkshire’s EMU fleet and had spotted one of those whilst on the 90 in the morning.
I’d kept this at the back of my mind and knew which diagram it was working.

Friday was a day that I intended to finish at home so, as my requirements were united in ignoring me, I decided to do 91108 to York and hope that something useful would take me back to Doncaster where I would pick up the required unit.

This time I was in luck.
91127 was the loco that pushed me the 32 miles back to Donny.

Enough to get it past 900 miles, but still some way short of the thousand.

During my earlier fester I had seen a HST going to Leeds.
Nothing unusual in that, you might think, but this was being worked by a pair of EMT power cars, one of which I needed.

I worked out that I had a plus five at Wakefield off the EMU for it coming back.

My plan, therefore, was to do the unit to Wakey for the winning HST back to Doncaster, then do the next 91 to Leeds and a unit home.

The plan started out fine, 322481 turning up at the appointed time.
I sat in 63137, meaning that I’ve now ridden in all the class 322 coaches.

Unfortunately, that’s where the move went pair-shaped.
The 322 slowly lost time.
As it arrived at Westgate the HST was already sat there; pulling away at the same time as the unit’s doors opened.

Oh well, it’s only a tram.

I decided to call it a day and stayed aboard the 322 through to Leeds.
My day finished, a bit earlier than anticipated, with 158904 to Low Moor.

I had hoped to go a bit further afield than York, but that’s the way the chips fall sometimes.
 

55013

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I was certainly pleased to finally clear the 322s, that's for sure.
As for the HST, I can't even remember the number...

Anyway, here's day two.

Saturday began with a bus into Bradford, simply because I’d faffed about so much that it was too late for me to walk to Low Moor for the 08.23 service and the one an hour later would be too late for my plans.

158752 was my first traction of the move, from Interchange to Leeds.

My first loco today wasn’t a 90, nor was it a low mileage 91.

However, as 91122 pushed me out of Leeds I spotted the next Southbound service and that was of interest to me.
91116 stood at 980 and a bit miles, a run from Wakefield to Doncaster would see it scrape into the thousand-mile club.
It had to be done, so I left 91122 at Westgate and hung around for half an hour.
91116 thus became the eighteenth member of the club.

Once at Doncaster I took up my usual position on platform 4.
My plan for today was slightly different to yesterday as I was due to finish in the North East.
I intended to get a few shacks in whilst I was there.

The next low mileage machine to appear was on a Leeds service.
This was 91119.

A round trip to Leeds would sill leave it well short of the thousand and would get me back to Doncaster too late for the train to Newcastle that I had in mind.
I decided to stick to my original plan and left it at Westgate.

91121, well over a thousand miles already, then took me back to Doncaster.

Leaving 91119 early proved to be the right choice as it was one of my “big five”, 91111, that was on the Edinburgh bound train.

At last; I was using my North East outside of Yorkshire!

91111 was taken to Newcastle, a nice run but it remains on 869.55 miles, so still some way to go.

91111_2017.10.21_1_Newcastle by Phil Wood, on Flickr

Once at Newcastle my 91 bashing was put aside for today.
Nice coach and mileage requirement 156475 was the traction to shack score number one, Corbridge.
It was also the traction away from there as I hung around for it to come back from Hexham in order to have a short leap to Riding Mill.

A bit of Pacer action was next, with 142015 taking me from Riding Mill to Hexham.
After bailing to score the station and get a photo it was back on board and through to Sunderland.

Post bailing and pre leaping back on:
DMU 142015_2017.10.21_Hexham by Phil Wood, on Flickr

This wasn’t the most pleasant journey I’ve ever had – it was rammed with already well-oiled drinkers as far as Newcastle and chanting football fans from there.
I fought my way through the crowd and bailed with a thumping headache.

Now to find my hotel and get something to eat.

The former was easy, the Travelodge was only a five minute walk away.
However, the area around the station was dead; I expected to find a mini supermarket or a take-away, but there was nothing open.
I was starving, having not eaten since the morning and had banked on there being something.
After locating the hotel I went for a walk and eventually managed to find the only thing that appeared to be open – a KFC.
I bought some food from there but made a mental note to never stay in Sunderland again.

Once at my hotel I decided to call it a day as I was tired and my head was still throbbing.
 

ash39

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Sounding like mixed fortunes so far! I had similar luck on my FONE in summer. I'm only trying to clear them all for 100 which should be easy, but I've got some embarrassing ones (117 - 20 miles, 110 - zero!) and some respectable ones (103, 125 & 127 all over 500).

I'm sure I could have done better if I'd only focussed on them, but I was after stations and variety as well.

Hope the rest of the trip serves you better...
 

Techniquest

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As ash39 says, mixed fortunes! Some decent success in the North East apart from getting a headache from the racket on the 142. Not a fan of Sunderland myself so you can join me in that club!
 

47403

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I was certainly pleased to finally clear the 322s, that's for sure.
As for the HST, I can't even remember the number...

Anyway, here's day two.

Saturday began with a bus into Bradford, simply because I’d faffed about so much that it was too late for me to walk to Low Moor for the 08.23 service and the one an hour later would be too late for my plans.

158752 was my first traction of the move, from Interchange to Leeds.

My first loco today wasn’t a 90, nor was it a low mileage 91.

However, as 91122 pushed me out of Leeds I spotted the next Southbound service and that was of interest to me.
91116 stood at 980 and a bit miles, a run from Wakefield to Doncaster would see it scrape into the thousand-mile club.
It had to be done, so I left 91122 at Westgate and hung around for half an hour.
91116 thus became the eighteenth member of the club.

Once at Doncaster I took up my usual position on platform 4.
My plan for today was slightly different to yesterday as I was due to finish in the North East.
I intended to get a few shacks in whilst I was there.

The next low mileage machine to appear was on a Leeds service.
This was 91119.

A round trip to Leeds would sill leave it well short of the thousand and would get me back to Doncaster too late for the train to Newcastle that I had in mind.
I decided to stick to my original plan and left it at Westgate.

91121, well over a thousand miles already, then took me back to Doncaster.

Leaving 91119 early proved to be the right choice as it was one of my “big five”, 91111, that was on the Edinburgh bound train.

At last; I was using my North East outside of Yorkshire!

91111 was taken to Newcastle, a nice run but it remains on 869.55 miles, so still some way to go.

91111_2017.10.21_1_Newcastle by Phil Wood, on Flickr

Once at Newcastle my 91 bashing was put aside for today.
Nice coach and mileage requirement 156475 was the traction to shack score number one, Corbridge.
It was also the traction away from there as I hung around for it to come back from Hexham in order to have a short leap to Riding Mill.

A bit of Pacer action was next, with 142015 taking me from Riding Mill to Hexham.
After bailing to score the station and get a photo it was back on board and through to Sunderland.

Post bailing and pre leaping back on:
DMU 142015_2017.10.21_Hexham by Phil Wood, on Flickr

This wasn’t the most pleasant journey I’ve ever had – it was rammed with already well-oiled drinkers as far as Newcastle and chanting football fans from there.
I fought my way through the crowd and bailed with a thumping headache.

Now to find my hotel and get something to eat.

The former was easy, the Travelodge was only a five minute walk away.
However, the area around the station was dead; I expected to find a mini supermarket or a take-away, but there was nothing open.
I was starving, having not eaten since the morning and had banked on there being something.
After locating the hotel I went for a walk and eventually managed to find the only thing that appeared to be open – a KFC.
I bought some food from there but made a mental note to never stay in Sunderland again.

Once at my hotel I decided to call it a day as I was tired and my head was still throbbing.

Some mixed fortunes indeed, I think the liveries sported by 91110 and 91111 are excellent, very poignant indeed. I know by the time you'd landed in Albania on the Wear, the last thing you'd have wanted was a leap on the Metro but a leap on the metro to the Stadium of Light, a 2 minute wander over the cark park, cross over at the lights and round the corner, is a fish shop called Croziers or turn left out of the car park, up the road, past the bowling alley, there's a small retail park with a McDonalds plonked in the middle of it. Not that it sounds like you'll be hurrying back.

Good read and photos as usual, Mr 55013
 

Cowley

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I’m massively behind on reading everyone’s trip reports due to extreme work madness at the moment so I’ll start with yours tonight 55013 and carry on with the others over the weekend.
Loved the 31 gala. Things have moved on somewhat since then with 31452 (and at some point 31190 possibly) heading past here to go to Okehampton.
Seeing your photo of a pair of 31s bought back memories.
Some nice bashes around Leeds and the north east too with excellent photos as always.
 

55013

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Thanks lads.
47403 - cheers for the gen, I'll have to revisit the area at some point, if only for some Metro shack scratching, so I'll bear those places in mind.

I'm still way behind with my reports, so without further ado, here's the story of my eventual escape from Sunderland.

Sunderland station is an odd one, with a lengthy island platform, split into four.
The two parts to the North are for NR services and those the South are mainly for use by the Metro.

As the first Newcastle bound mainline service doesn’t leave until 09.21 on a Sunday I decided to do a bit of Metro bashing, hopefully getting some winning units and definitely some new shacks as I’d never been beyond Pelaw on the Metro before.

I purchased a day rover from a machine.

With trains every ten minutes I should easily have been able to get all the stops between Sunderland and South Hylton before I went for the DMU.

As I record NR and light rail stations separately, it also meant I would score Sunderland, even though it meant moving a few feet down from where I got off 142015 the evening before.

The next departure showed “on time”, then three minutes after it was due, the display changed to “delayed”.
Seven minutes later it disappeared altogether, then the next service went through the same procedure.
Nothing had been through heading towards Newcastle, the number of people waiting was growing and there were no announcements.
One woman had enough and loudly said “This Metro is sh*t” before storming off.

I went outside and had a look at the Metro website.
This said there had been an equipment failure at Haymarket and nothing was moving!
With no staff presence at Sunderland I couldn’t return my ticket.
The complete lack of announcements was an irritant as well.

Eventually the problem got sorted and what proved to be my only winning traction of the month, 4080 arrived with dud 4024 for company.

I just had time to do these from Sunderland (T & W Metro) to South Hylton and back.

Not the most value I’ve ever had from a day rover.

142090 was my chariot out of the hellhole that is Sunderland.
I took this for the full duration of its run to MetroCentre (or Metro Centre if you prefer, various official signs disagree).

DMU 142090_2017.10.22_MetroCentre by Phil Wood, on Flickr

I then took the same 142 back to Newcastle and the relative sanity of 91 chasing.

Still low down in the charts, 91101 was a pleasant offering for the first Southbound service and so I took it to Doncaster.
It remains in the “desperately low mileage” club, though.

I didn't take many photos today, but I did get his:
37038_2017.10.27_Doncaster by Phil Wood, on Flickr

I’d agreed a time to back home, so it was now on to Leeds, with unwanted 91113 doing the work.

All that remained was 333002 to Forster Square, a walk over to Interchange and the bus home.
 

55013

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Alert readers will have noticed that I’d only used three of my four valid days on the North-East rover.

The Friday after my Sunderland soiree I was therefore out chasing 91s once more.
For various reasons there aren't any photos.

I began at Low Moor by boarding 144023, a unit that I stayed on until Leeds.
The first 91 wasn’t on my list; I didn’t want to sit at Leeds until a suitable one appeared so 91114 was done to Doncaster anyway.

Once again the locos heading down the ECML were of no interest to me.
Once again 91101 appeared on a Leeds service.
Once again it was a round trip to the city of my birth.

Still 91101 remains below 900, never mind 1000, miles.
Three more Doncaster to Leeds and return runs should sort it :)

Things went a bit wrong now.
I’ve mentioned previously that I was now down to just a single coach from the Neville Hill allocation of EMUs; this was in 321901.
This very unit was working the Doncaster services today.
Too good an opportunity to pass up.
When 91101 arrived at Donny I spotted an Adwick service running about twenty late and about to depart.
This would give me at least a plus five to get across at Bentley, do 321901, then get some more 91 mileage in.
I leapt aboard 144006.

Plenty of time to get to the other platform at Bentley, once the barriers on the crossing are lifted.
144006 departed.
No sign of the 321, but the barriers stayed down.
Five whole minutes I stood there, along with a growing queue of traffic and irate pedestrians before the 321 pulled in – so near and yet so far :(
I now had no choice but to enjoy the salubrious surrounds of Bentley until it came back.
Eventually 321901 arrived and I took up my seat in 77990 and that’s it – all coaches in classes 321/9, 322 and 333 ridden in.
Bring on the 331s :)

With my plan out of the window I did the 321 to Wakefield for 91116 back.
This loco had been cleared for a thousand just the week before.
To make matters worse the West Coast mainline was closed due to an incident and passengers from that side were heading East.
The train was wedged.

The next few locos going North were all over a thousand miles already.
I decided I'd had enough and it was time to make my way home.
I mooched to platform 8 for the next Leeds service.
Happily, this was a high mileage loco.
Why happily?
Because it was absolutely jammed packed with people who should have been travelling up the West Coast and there was literally no room to get on, a requirement would have bugged me no end.

With the services from London likely to be all the same for the foreseeable future I had no real choice but to do the next unit.
This was…..321901.
After all the hassle I’d had getting it in earlier I was now pretty much obliged to do it!

Rush hour was kicking off at Leeds, plus of course all the extra punters wanting to get back over the Pennines.
I decided to get the first thing towards Bradford, even though it didn’t stop at Low Moor.
This was 150201, unsurprisingly it was full and standing.
I wanted to break the journey up a bit and bailed at New Pudsey so that I could breathe in.
144016 arrived fifteen minutes later and I was soon back at Low Moor.

Not the best day I've ever had on the railway, but it still had some positives.
 

Cowley

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Oh dear, that looked a bit frustrating. I can’t help but remember similar situations in the 80s and 90s when it just didn’t work out how you’d planned it.
 

55013

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Oh dear, that looked a bit frustrating. I can’t help but remember similar situations in the 80s and 90s when it just didn’t work out how you’d planned it.

I always try and look on the bright side.
There would be no challenge if it was too easy and it's the poor days that make the good ones that bit more enjoyable :).
 

Cowley

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I always try and look on the bright side.
There would be no challenge if it was too easy and it's the poor days that make the good ones that bit more enjoyable :).
Very true and it’s those days that you chuckle about later in life...
 

55013

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I'm not sure I'll be chuckling about that day, but it still beat work :)

And now for something completely different.

Saturday the 11th of November saw a return to the Northern newspaper offer moves.
This time I was with 45135 and, as usual when we do these moves together, it was to the Cumbrian coast we headed.

The day began with 150270 from Shipley to Carnforth.
This was followed by TPE hire-in 185140, which we took to Barrow.

I’m sure it’s no surprise to hear we were going 37 bashing.

45135 knows I have a penchant for getting new shacks in the book so he was happy for us to leave 37402 at St Bees.

37402_2017.11.11_3_St Bees by Phil Wood, on Flickr

37402 had been sampled last year but the other loco that was out had been absent from the haulage log for quite a bit longer.

I’d last done 37401 from Bangor to Crewe in October 2000; just the 17 years ago.
We enjoyed some thrash off Mary right through to Lancaster before heading home on the far less exciting 144018.

37401_2017.11.11_8_Lancaster by Phil Wood, on Flickr

A short report of a most enjoyable day.
 
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