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Back on the platform

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Techniquest

Techniquest

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Railtours often have the disadvantage of being incredibly long days with little to no break off the train all day. That's not fun, and one has to pay a pretty penny for the privilege too.

Especially so when I was flying Ryanair, I could have a multi-day spin in Europe for less than the average railtour would cost me. No surprise that I'd prefer to do that than sit on a MK1 or MK2 for 14-16 hours! Quite, I'd sooner go and fly Etihad again than waste my money on a railtour, indeed there's quite a list of things I'd rather go and do instead of a railtour! :lol:
 
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Mag_seven

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Techniquest said:
Railtours often have the disadvantage of being incredibly long days with little to no break off the train all day. That's not fun, and one has to pay a pretty penny for the privilege too.
Click to expand...

Plus the fact that a lot of them seem to start at silly o'clock!
 
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DavidGrain

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Next week with a friend I shall be doing a tour which i have planned myself.From Birmingham we shall go to Cardiff and probably spend most of the day on the Valley lines. Then in the evening we shall take the train Gerald of Wales (Class 67 haulage with Mk3 coaches unless the mk4s have been delivered) from Cardiff to Holyhead. This is a train service subsidised by the the Welsh Government which means that our Senior Railcards brings the first class fare with a three course dinner down to a reasonable price. After a night in Holyhead we shall spend the next day working our way back to Birmingham stopping off as we see fit as we do so. Total cost for a two day railtour including fares and hotel about £170 each plus mid day meals and refreshments en route.
 
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Techniquest

Techniquest

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That's the way to do it, much more relaxed and, in my eyes, enjoyable. Plus there's the economic benefit of putting money via ticketing into the system, which long-term benefits everyone.

Surely though, you mean a 67 and MK3s not a 37? The eyes popped out of my head when I read that, I mean if it's gone over to a 37 I'll be very happy and would be rushing to get a trip on it organised!
 
xotGD

xotGD

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When you compare the prices, a day rover at a diesel weekend is great value compared to a ticket on a railtour. It all depends what you are after, where you perceive the value.
 
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DavidGrain

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Techniquest said:
That's the way to do it, much more relaxed and, in my eyes, enjoyable. Plus there's the economic benefit of putting money via ticketing into the system, which long-term benefits everyone.

Surely though, you mean a 67 and MK3s not a 37? The eyes popped out of my head when I read that, I mean if it's gone over to a 37 I'll be very happy and would be rushing to get a trip on it organised!
Click to expand...

Thanks, Finger trouble. Have amended
 
xotGD

xotGD

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Sorry to hijack Mr Train's thread (again), but I see that 37716 is back on the passenger turns out of Norwich. ARRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!
 
The_Train

The_Train

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xotGD said:
Sorry to hijack Mr Train's thread (again), but I see that 37716 is back on the passenger turns out of Norwich. ARRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!
Click to expand...

Haha, from what I've read elsewhere I don't think they have much time left in Anglia unfortunately
 
The_Train

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Just a couple of updates from local visits this week:

On the Monday just gone, I decided to take a stroll into town and as this took me past the station I was able to spy 70804 pulling into the Goods Loop as it worked the Mountsorrel to Carlisle stone train. I had a feeling that @47403 was chasing this to complete his 70s (later proven to be correct) so I thought he would appreciate a photo of it which meant a detour onto the platforms was required
70804 by The_Train

An unexpected winner is always nice and with a few freight movements due through I decided to hang around for a bit, only to be faced with DRS duds in the form of 66429 and 68034
66429 by The_Train

After a brief stroll around town, I decided to head back home via the station as again I'd noticed a few freight movements due in the very near future. It proved to be a wise move as the first one I saw was 66017 working the cars down to Southampton to help keep the 66 requirements ticking over
66017 by The_Train

I'd caught wind that 88s were now working the afternoon Daventry to Mossend working and as my needs for these is down to 3, I'd hoped for a sneaky winner. It wasn't to be though as 88001 passed through before a pair of 90s - 028 and 029 - came by with the opposite working to Daventry
90029 and 90028 by The_Train

I was homeward bound after this but decided to return for an hour or so the next day. Unfortunately, I timed it to see much of the same workings as the previous day so got to see 68034 and 88001 repeating their work from the previous day. With just 11 GB sheds left to find, they are becoming more and more repetitive as proven by 66756 which came by on the Avonmouth to Clitheroe cement working before 90029 and 90028 made another appearance. A bit of unexpected luck next though as my GB shed requirements were reduced to just 10 when 66764 entered the Goods Loop with a fully loaded rake of car wagons destined for the Garston car terminal. I hung around for the next FLR working but it turned out to be dud 70008 heading for Basford Hall so I decided to call it a day at this point, happy with a few more winners from the local

For Sight

Winners: 3
Coaching Stock Winners: 0
Classes completed: N/A
Sub classes completed: N/A
TOCs completed: N/A
TOC sub classes completed: N/A
 
palmersears

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Keep chipping away at those 66s. There's so many of them that winners can crop up when you least expect them.

Which three 88s do you still need?
 
55013

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Some fine reading there.
I very much enjoyed your Peterborough report.
As for the East Lancs, I didn't make it this time but your superb footage of the 20s really make me wish I had!
 
The_Train

The_Train

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palmersears said:
Keep chipping away at those 66s. There's so many of them that winners can crop up when you least expect them.

Which three 88s do you still need?
Click to expand...

Yeah the sheds will probably find me as opposed to me hunting them down. Plus it gives me a reason to visit the local still even if there is nothing standing out on RTT.

The 88s I need are 002, 004 & 009. Might be a bit easier now they work through Stafford at a reasonable time each day
 
The_Train

The_Train

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55013 said:
Some fine reading there.
I very much enjoyed your Peterborough report.
As for the East Lancs, I didn't make it this time but your superb footage of the 20s really make me wish I had!
Click to expand...

Peterborough really surprised me to be fair (not sure why as it's always been a decent place to go) and there was certainly plenty to see. Just a shame there isn't a bit of variation on the freight, lots of sheds.

The ELR Gala was superb. My first time there and loved every minute and it's definitely given me the 'gala bug'. Glad my footage of the 20s was enjoyed
 
xotGD

xotGD

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The_Train said:
Peterborough really surprised me to be fair (not sure why as it's always been a decent place to go) and there was certainly plenty to see. Just a shame there isn't a bit of variation on the freight, lots of sheds.

The ELR Gala was superb. My first time there and loved every minute and it's definitely given me the 'gala bug'. Glad my footage of the 20s was enjoyed
Click to expand...
If you've got the bug, the Great Central Autumn Diesel Gala might be one for you to consider. I'm planning on attending on the Saturday - assuming 37714 is working.
 
The_Train

The_Train

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xotGD said:
If you've got the bug, the Great Central Autumn Diesel Gala might be one for you to consider. I'm planning on attending on the Saturday - assuming 37714 is working.
Click to expand...

I've just checked this out and I'm more than tempted by it. I've met one of the guys involved with 37714 at Stafford a few times and I promised I would visit GCR at some point.......seems like a good time to make good with this promise if you ask me.

It says it's a 20 mins walk from Loughborough mainline station. Is it well signposted all the way?
 
xotGD

xotGD

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The_Train said:
I've just checked this out and I'm more than tempted by it. I've met one of the guys involved with 37714 at Stafford a few times and I promised I would visit GCR at some point.......seems like a good time to make good with this promise if you ask me.

It says it's a 20 mins walk from Loughborough mainline station. Is it well signposted all the way?
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Please ask the chap at Stafford to give 714 some tlc so that it is in fine fettle for the gala. :D

I'm not sure about sign posts, but basically you leave the station heading towards the town centre, then take a left and this leads you towards the GCR.
 
47403

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The_Train said:
I was able to spy 70804 pulling into the Goods Loop as it worked the Mountsorrel to Carlisle stone train. I had a feeling that @47403 was chasing this to complete his 70s (later proven to be correct) so I thought he would appreciate a photo of it
Click to expand...

Oh yes I'm delighted, thank you, I couldn't be happier ;). In seriousness, I'll catch up with it eventually. Glad to hear your thinking of doing another Gala too, some good locos on the roster at the GCR to consider as well.

Bit of fine Brush action to be sampled in D1705 Sparrowhawk (sure that's 47117 In our era, also. I'm not 100% sure, however I'm convinced the name its carrying these days, started as one of those taccy, unofficial painted names, Tinsley used to plaster on their locos, I could be wrong mind and dont mind being corrected if I am wrong). If the 25, D5185 is running, take a sojourn behind it, what a thrashy minx it is too. I'd imagine 37714 will be a big draw, certainly would be for me.

Talking of which, I've just seen the SVR is doing a home fleet one in October, extremely tempted to go to that too.

Another good read there Mr Train. Talking of your local, did you realise you can do an overnighter at your local from the Station Car Park? I assume you do. Just watched a video on youtube of it tonight.
 
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The_Train

The_Train

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xotGD said:
Please ask the chap at Stafford to give 714 some tlc so that it is in fine fettle for the gala. :D

I'm not sure about sign posts, but basically you leave the station heading towards the town centre, then take a left and this leads you towards the GCR.
Click to expand...

You know what, I've not seen him for a while but that's possibly down to the fact that I'm not at the local as much as I was last year.

I did a quick check on Google maps and it doesn't seem that difficult to walk to from Loughborough mainline.
 
The_Train

The_Train

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47403 said:
Oh yes I'm delighted, thank you, I couldn't be happier ;). In seriousness, I'll catch up with it eventually. Glad to hear your thinking of doing another Gala too, some good locos on the roster at the GCR to consider as well.

Bit of fine Brush action to be sampled in D1705 Sparrowhawk (sure that's 47117 In our era, also. I'm not 100% sure, however I'm convinced the name its carrying these days, started as one of those taccy, unofficial painted names, Tinsley used to plaster on their locos, I could be wrong mind and dont mind being corrected if I am wrong). If the 25, D5185 is running, take a sojourn behind it, what a thrashy minx it is too. I'd imagine 37714 will be a big draw, certainly would be for me.

Talking of which, I've just seen the SVR is doing a home fleet one in October, extremely tempted to go to that too.

Another good read there Mr Train. Talking of your local, did you realise you can do an overnighter at your local from the Station Car Park? I assume you do. Just watched a video on youtube of it tonight.
Click to expand...

Indeed, the GCR seems like it will be a good event. I assume from your post that you'd be unavailable for that one?

I too had noticed the SVR home fleet gala. Thought it might be a good one to go to get used to the line before heading to their main event next year.

And yeah I've seen the videos of all nighters on the car park at Stafford. Not sure I'd manage it though, as I'm too close to my bed when fatigue sets in :lol:
 
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DavidGrain

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It was on the GCR station that I looked at the station name board and saw that Loughborough has the dreaded 'ough' in its name twice pronounced differently each time. No wonder foreigners have problems with British place names
 
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