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The_Train

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Solid stuff as always mate, chipping away at Northern is no easy task given their random unit generator sends things far and wide across the region.

Jealous of the gala visits, I really need to look at getting to a few of them before the year is out.

I suppose the beauty of the Northern randomness is that visits to the same area in quick succession can actually throw up winners whereas somewhere like my local is basically on repeat very quickly.

I suspect Northern will remain on my immediate agenda as I've got my hands on 10 of the vouchers for the £10 rangers - plus I have a delay repay claim in with them which may result in a free return ticket. Just a shame they don't stretch their services down to Stafford because it means I have to pay to get into the Northern territory.

And the galas have got me hooked since @47403 talked me into going to the ELR. Well worth doing to give yourself a break from chasing the modern stuff and to enjoy some real traction. And of course, if it's a new heritage line you visit you are guaranteed winners for the book of sights
 
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palmersears

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Those Northern complimentary passes are fantastic. You can take such roundabout routes, the guards don't bat an eyelid. I started my last one, admittedly many months ago, in New Mills, whacked Carlisle in as the destination, and then spent an entire day just roaming around Sheffield, Doncaster, Leeds, Manchester and Preston. Had to cheat a bit and get a 390 up the WCML so I could then do the S&C, but I covered most of the North of England on the one ticket. Fingers crossed you can get the most out of them still! Have you got anything else planned in? I find my trips tail off a bit when the clocks go back, weather isn't really conducive to standing on the end of platforms by that point!

Heritage traction is very much on the agenda. I've done the ELR up to Ramsbottom a couple of times, picked up a fair few winners, so it would be nice to do more of that.
 

The_Train

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Those Northern complimentary passes are fantastic. You can take such roundabout routes, the guards don't bat an eyelid. I started my last one, admittedly many months ago, in New Mills, whacked Carlisle in as the destination, and then spent an entire day just roaming around Sheffield, Doncaster, Leeds, Manchester and Preston. Had to cheat a bit and get a 390 up the WCML so I could then do the S&C, but I covered most of the North of England on the one ticket. Fingers crossed you can get the most out of them still! Have you got anything else planned in? I find my trips tail off a bit when the clocks go back, weather isn't really conducive to standing on the end of platforms by that point!

Heritage traction is very much on the agenda. I've done the ELR up to Ramsbottom a couple of times, picked up a fair few winners, so it would be nice to do more of that.

I will see what they say regarding the complimentary ticket. Got to get hold of it first but if I can make a day out of it like what you did then I'll be a happy bunny.

As for my next outings the only one in mind is to get up to York on one of the £10 rangers to visit the museum as I've not been since I was a kid. I'll probably also do a couple of days just hopping from unit to unit (be nice to spend a day chasing pacers haha). As you say, standing on platforms once the clocks have changed becomes less appealing although I might do Glasgow again as that works quite well for a winter outing as the direct train home (and usually the cheapest) is at about 1730 so the darkness doesn't affect things (obviously the cold does though). Maybe Merseyrail would make a good winter visit as well so I can hide underground.

I've not been as busy with it this year to be honest. Money and real life have got in the way with a couple of plans I'd drawn up especially the Southern Daysave which would have taken me into untouched London areas. Not sure if that will be worthwhile trying to do until spring now?

I can't recommend the heritage stuff enough. I was going to do the Keighley & Worth event on Saturday but as it's just one loco in operation I will probably leave that one. The GCR is highly recommended by me - it's an easy walk from Loughborough mainline to Loughborough GCR but I'd only do it when a diesel gala is on. I'm definitely doing the SVR at some point next year and will maybe look at a couple of other lines as well
 

xotGD

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I can't recommend the heritage stuff enough. I was going to do the Keighley & Worth event on Saturday but as it's just one loco in operation I will probably leave that one.
So you've bombed out the Class 20 :)

Actually, if you are only going to visit once then wait until the next diesel gala. It is just a few minutes from home for me, so I can pop along any time just for a run out.

Getting required preserved 37s in Devon (037 & 275) is more of a logistical challenge! Guest locos on the KWVR would make it a bit easier!
 

The_Train

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So you've bombed out the Class 20 :)

Actually, if you are only going to visit once then wait until the next diesel gala. It is just a few minutes from home for me, so I can pop along any time just for a run out.

Getting required preserved 37s in Devon (037 & 275) is more of a logistical challenge! Guest locos on the KWVR would make it a bit easier!

Yeah, to be fair it's come around very quickly and today is the first time I've had chance to seriously look into it. Probably a bit too far just for the one loco, especially as said loco is likely to be involved in any future diesel gala up there.

The locations of some lines does make it a nightmare to enjoy all that the heritage scene as to offer. As you say though keeping an eye on certain locos being moved around for guest appearances is a must in this game
 

xotGD

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Yeah, to be fair it's come around very quickly and today is the first time I've had chance to seriously look into it. Probably a bit too far just for the one loco, especially as said loco is likely to be involved in any future diesel gala up there.

The locations of some lines does make it a nightmare to enjoy all that the heritage scene as to offer. As you say though keeping an eye on certain locos being moved around for guest appearances is a must in this game
You're starting to talk like a hard-core basher!
 

Techniquest

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Haha, I'm not sure I'll ever reach that sort of level

Gotta agree with xotGD, you're certainly well into the scene! Once you make your first cross-country trip just for a particular train, then you'll have definitely passed over into hardcore basher mode!

Know the feeling with real life getting in the way of bashing, I was planning to have done multiple red pen fests in Q3 2019, but we're now in Q4 and I've not done a full-on session in London for months. Starting to feel the need for a mega 14 hour session all over London now...

Money's always an issue here too, as soon as I've got it it's gone so quick it's unreal!
 

The_Train

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Gotta agree with xotGD, you're certainly well into the scene! Once you make your first cross-country trip just for a particular train, then you'll have definitely passed over into hardcore basher mode!

Know the feeling with real life getting in the way of bashing, I was planning to have done multiple red pen fests in Q3 2019, but we're now in Q4 and I've not done a full-on session in London for months. Starting to feel the need for a mega 14 hour session all over London now...

Money's always an issue here too, as soon as I've got it it's gone so quick it's unreal!

Haha I'm sure there will be such trips for a particular loco going forward. I suppose in a way it's a good thing that I never attached myself to a particular loco back in the day like bashers did, otherwise I might find myself chasing it around the country (if it was one that avoided the scrapman of course).

I suppose it's just the way life goes that things get in the way of hobbies. It can be hard to balance between work and hobbies unfortunately.

All will change tonight though as I have a couple of euromillion tickets so as of tomorrow I will be officially retired and able to get out whenever I like :)
 

Techniquest

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I suppose it's just the way life goes that things get in the way of hobbies. It can be hard to balance between work and hobbies unfortunately.

All will change tonight though as I have a couple of euromillion tickets so as of tomorrow I will be officially retired and able to get out whenever I like :)

Too true with balancing work and hobbies, especially if you have expensive ones like I do! I moan about how much a day return to Worcester is after all, the cost of flying long-haul around the world is quite another world! :lol:

Is the retirement just wishful thinking or actually reality? It's been over 12 hours since I woke up so apologies for missing the obvious!

Good luck either way!
 

The_Train

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Guys, for those of you who've visited recently - how long would I need to plan to spend at the NRM to make the most of a trip up there? Thinking of making that my first venture using the £10 Northern only ranger
 

_toommm_

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Guys, for those of you who've visited recently - how long would I need to plan to spend at the NRM to make the most of a trip up there? Thinking of making that my first venture using the £10 Northern only ranger

It depends - I spent about 2 hours going round there, but with the old signal box, you could presumably spend all day there on the balcony watching trains from the North of the station.
 

Techniquest

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Guys, for those of you who've visited recently - how long would I need to plan to spend at the NRM to make the most of a trip up there? Thinking of making that my first venture using the £10 Northern only ranger

When I visited, a long time ago as GNER were still running and there were no MTU engines in HSTs, I had seen everything in less than 2 hours. I'm not much of a museum guy though, not my scene. Give me a piece of civil engineering at its finest instead!
 

The_Train

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It depends - I spent about 2 hours going round there, but with the old signal box, you could presumably spend all day there on the balcony watching trains from the North of the station.

When I visited, a long time ago as GNER were still running and there were no MTU engines in HSTs, I had seen everything in less than 2 hours. I'm not much of a museum guy though, not my scene. Give me a piece of civil engineering at its finest instead!

2 hours is a figure that I had in mind so you've both pretty much confirmed that. Thanks for the info guys :)
 

DavidGrain

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About ten years ago I attended a conference at York University and stayed on an extra two days. I spent the whole of one day at the NRM and the second day exploring the sights of the city. So it really depends on your interests. I do not want to denigrate your hobby but if your only interest is, Oh yes that's Mallard, Tick, then you can do it in two hours. The second time I visited the HRM was more brief as I just did a walk round refreshing my memory..

A few years ago I went with a few friends to the Railway Museum in Utrecht and one of my friends, who I have know for 50 years, spent his time recording every loco and coach in his note book with some details. We actually left him there and walked back into the town and let him get a later train back to Amsterdam. On the way out to Utrecht we passed a yard full of old locos and he said that he was only missing two of that whole class. We were not even aware that he knew so much about Dutch Railways. I had met him on the railways of Finland a few times.
 

The_Train

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About ten years ago I attended a conference at York University and stayed on an extra two days. I spent the whole of one day at the NRM and the second day exploring the sights of the city. So it really depends on your interests. I do not want to denigrate your hobby but if your only interest is, Oh yes that's Mallard, Tick, then you can do it in two hours. The second time I visited the HRM was more brief as I just did a walk round refreshing my memory..

Obviously I will be recording everything I see as everything in there will be a winner but I'm also interested in the history of our railways so will certainly be stopping to read/watch/listen to any snippets of information available. Ultimately, because of the fact I will be travelling Northern only which extends the journey time to York, I will probably plan for all of my time in York to be spent in the museum anyway. I was just interested as to what sort of time others have spent in there

A few years ago I went with a few friends to the Railway Museum in Utrecht and one of my friends, who I have know for 50 years, spent his time recording every loco and coach in his note book with some details. We actually left him there and walked back into the town and let him get a later train back to Amsterdam. On the way out to Utrecht we passed a yard full of old locos and he said that he was only missing two of that whole class. We were not even aware that he knew so much about Dutch Railways. I had met him on the railways of Finland a few times.

It always interests me to hear of people who go around the world chasing locos. I spoke to one guy at the local earlier this year and he was saying that he goes around Europe a few times a year and he always blags his way into a depot of some sort. He said that they simply love the idea of someone travelling from the UK to see their rail network and will generally welcome him with open arms. Don't know how true that is but it wouldn't surprise me
 

xotGD

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If you go via the Harrogate loop in one direction you should be able to see quite a few track machines on the approach to York. Plus the 09 outside the NRM and whatever else is in the yard (Tornado last week). And if you are passing Neville Hill keep a proper look out for the 08s that you missed last time!

The other thing to note at York is that some freights use the avoiding lines so you need to be at the extreme south end of the station platforms to see them. Everything through the station can be seen from the NRM viewing platform.

Refreshment-wise I would recommend coffee and cake from Filmore & Union on the station. Their brownies are delicious! It was a sad day when the Skipton branch closed down.
 

The_Train

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If you go via the Harrogate loop in one direction you should be able to see quite a few track machines on the approach to York. Plus the 09 outside the NRM and whatever else is in the yard (Tornado last week). And if you are passing Neville Hill keep a proper look out for the 08s that you missed last time!

The other thing to note at York is that some freights use the avoiding lines so you need to be at the extreme south end of the station platforms to see them. Everything through the station can be seen from the NRM viewing platform.

Refreshment-wise I would recommend coffee and cake from Filmore & Union on the station. Their brownies are delicious! It was a sad day when the Skipton branch closed down.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated as always. Neville Hill is definitely a good shout after last time haha. To be honest, I can't see a way of giving myself time at NRM and on the platform at York so I think it would have to be one or the other on this trip - takes a bit of work to get from Crewe to York on Northern only :lol:
 

_toommm_

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Thanks for the info, much appreciated as always. Neville Hill is definitely a good shout after last time haha. To be honest, I can't see a way of giving myself time at NRM and on the platform at York so I think it would have to be one or the other on this trip - takes a bit of work to get from Crewe to York on Northern only :lol:

Use the balcony in the old signal box at the YRM, you'll get a good view of the north throat including the Scarborough lines, and a bit of the yard too IIRC
 

Skymonster

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Should’ve sampled the KWVR yesterday Mr. Train... 20031 was on fine form - turn up the volume - and a coupe of pints of the Vocation brewery Heart & Soul IPA from the on board bar went down a real treat (the chippie in Haworth was pretty good too).

 
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The_Train

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Should’ve sampled the KWVR yesterday Mr. Train... 20031 was on fine form - turn up the volume - and a coupe of pints of the Vocation brewery Heart & Soul IPA from the on board bar went down a real treat (the chippie in Haworth was pretty good too).


Just posted about it in your report thread mate. Gutted I decided against it, especially as I ended up twiddling my thumbs for much of the day with their being little football on.

Nice to see you back posting, hope you are doing well :)
 

xotGD

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Good evening Mr Train. I happened to spend a couple of hours festering at Cardiff Central today (waiting for non-existent 37-hauled Rhymney services to roll in). I think you would enjoy a session down here. Lots of movements, including a smattering of freights, and of course there isn't much time to see the Pacers before they vanish.

Some images from the day:

67012 67014.jpg

66070 60001.jpg

66094.jpg
 

palmersears

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I'd second that, shouldn't be too bad a journey from Stafford either. I used to combine it with a bit of time at Bristol Temple Meads at the end and then head home from there. That said I once did Cardiff in November and almost got frostbite!
 

palmersears

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Cardiff was always a gem for freight !
Still is, in relative terms. Probably upwards of 20 workings during daylight hours at the moment given the 37s on the Rhymney services and the RHTT 66s are currently in the mix. Heavily skewed towards DBC though so you have to have a thing for red sheds!
 

DavidGrain

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Was in Cardiff a couple of months ago but I was more interested in riding the Valley lines and taking in a 153 from Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay. I then took Gerard to Holyhead but this is the wrong time of year to do that run as you need to do it in daylight.

xotGD Is that really a Chiltern train in Cardiff? 67012 on the front, I can't quite see the number of the second loco.

EDIT Sorry I was forgetting that Chiltern no longer operate 67s as they have gone over to 68s but these locos are still in Chiltern livery,
 
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sprinterguy

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xotGD Is that really a Chiltern train in Cardiff? 67012 on the front, I can't quite see the number of the second loco.

EDIT Sorry I was forgetting that Chiltern no longer operate 67s as they have gone over to 68s but these locos are still in Chiltern livery,
Technically, that livery predates their use with Chiltern and was originally Wrexham & Shropshire's! The two locos pictured, 67012 and 67014, are the last two class members to still carry it, so a pairing of the two, on a TFW passenger working, is quite astonishing. The other former Wrexham & Shropshire/Chiltern locos, 67010/013 and 015 have since received DB red livery.
 
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