Barrowjack's Irregular Perambulations

Looks like a few good days.
I spotted a T-Rex at Kings Cross a few weeks ago, although I sadly missed that beastie

55013 said:

Looks like a few good days.
I spotted a T-Rex at Kings Cross a few weeks ago, although I sadly missed that beastie

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There was also this one!



I only took these as I needed to post one on social media so I could get the free Lego on offer for my nephew!

barrowjack said:

There was also this one!

View attachment 48156

I only took these as I needed to post one on social media so I could get the free Lego on offer for my nephew!

Let me know if you do. Random fact - my Dad's first job on the railway was in the booking office at Roose in the 50's when it was a proper station.​

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Isn't that just a Great Northern commuter finding out the nine fifteen to Cambridge was cancelled?

June 2018 – Variety is the Spice of Life”

19th/20th June 2018.
An impromptu trip to London for a work conference saw another 4 Class 700’s fall victim to the red pen, 047, 052, 054 and 140 along with 3 more Piccadilly line units (104,156 and 157) Also a few other bits on the Central and Metropolitan line which considering I was only in the Capital a little over 24 hours wasn’t too bad.

27th June 2018 – Something Different
A different kind of day out, starting with spending the best part of 2 hours driving east to Skipton as the service there from Carnforth is just shocking. After parking up, sourcing coffee and ticket, 333008 took me to Keighley. as today was a steamy day on the Worth Valley Railway. As the railway is celebrating it’s 50th birthday this week, they have been celebrating with an 8 day gala, and today’s highlight was to be a trip behind ‘Royal Scot’

As I had booked on the 13:05 ‘Royal Scot’ from Haworth, l made use of the other service, today double headed by 4F 43924 and West Country 34092 ‘City of Wells’ to Haworth. 34092 was a massive bonus as it has been on the ’wants’ list for some time so was good to finally catch up with her. After a wait of around 40 minutes 46100 ’Royal Scot’ came up and round the curve with 6 coaches (formed of two Pullmans, 3 maroon Mark 1’s and a compartment brake with Ivatt 2MT 41241 newly finished in the original KWVR red livery bringing up the rear for a round trip Haworth – Oxenhope – Keighley – Haworth. Needing to get back to Keighley, 34092 was now going solo on the other train after falling out with the 4F, going back via Oxenhope. 333009 was the unit provided back to Skipton and a Giant Yorkshire pudding filled with Steak, and Chips at Bizzie Lizzie’s the station before the long drive home.

41241 tailing Royal Scot from Keighley
43924 and 34092 leaving Keighley for Oxenhope
Royal Scot at Oxenhope
Royal Scot at Keighley
LNWR Coal Tank 1054 hitching a lift to Haworth for the small engines part of the gala the following day.

30th June 2018.
Very rarely do I make a foray out on a Saturday, but intrigued by the ‘Tim Farron Lakelander Express” I decided to head out to investigate. Having decided to go out early for the first train of the day, 188850 took me round Morecambe Bay in glorious sunshine to Lancaster. With only 5 minutes here, it was over the footbridge for 390156 north to Oxenholme Lake District. As I had passed the ECS at Carnforth on the way through, I knew it would be two winners, with 47245 on the north end for the 09:20 leisurely stroll (not express!) to Windermere. With just time for a quick photo opportunity it was back on board for 57316 back to Oxenholme Lake District. Interestingly ‘Anglia’ stickers still adorn the windows of Mk2 6103! Whilst fairly well loaded, it was comfortable and I managed a bay of 4 to myself both ways. Arriving back at Oxenholme I was pleased I had decided to go for the first train when I saw how many people were waiting for the next one and the 10:40 was standing room only on departure. With just enough time to purchase my favourite coffee from the little van on the station my highest mileage voyager added to its total as 221116 was taken back to , and eventually 185141 home to Barrow.

57316 at Windermere heading the 10:00 to Oxenholme Lake District
47245 waiting time before departing Oxenholme with the 10:40 to Windermere
Anglia Sticker still in 6103

For once plenty of variety over the last few weeks including my first 47/0 in over 25 years since 47299 on a Manchester ‘club’ train on 4th July 1992!

As the year is now halfway through already, thought it is time to check the ‘scores on the doors’ for the year to date:

Mileage – 7,471 (Target for year 15,000)
Winners – 159 (Target 400)
Shacks – 35 (Target 50)
Football Grounds 6 (Target 10)

Overall it hasn’t been a bad first half plenty of variety including steam and a European trip to France with hopefully another European adventure to come before the end of the year.

Apart from picking up a number of 158’s now they are back on the Furness line, and a couple of 68’s on the Cumbrian Coast there has been nothing doing since the end of June so a trip to Glasgow, predominantly for the European Championships saw the opportunity to make a proper start on the Scottish scene. As I rarely foray north of the border, the plus side is that there should be plenty of work for the red pen!

6th August 2018
158796 Barrow In Furness to Lancaster (This one has been hanging round me like a bad smell! The third time I had been on this one in a week!) Northern running late as usual meant a 1 minute dash over the footbridge and to the front of the opposite platform to coach, just making it as 390047 arrived to take me onwards to Glasgow Central, only being notable for taking it over 500 miles

Having checked into hotel, I had just over an hour before heading to the Tolcross swimming centre I decided to go the long way, heading downstairs to Argyle Street as follows:

320315 Argyle Street to Glasgow Central
320314 Glasgow Central to Anderston
320301 / 320413 Anderston to Glasgow Central
320415 Glasgow Central to Partick
318264 Partick to Charing Cross (Glasgow)
334011 / 334003 Charing Cross (Glasgow) to High Street
334009 / 334034 High Street to Carntyne (Nearest station to Tolcross for the evening swimming)
334038 / 334040 Carntyne to Glasgow Queen Street (return to hotel afterwards)

7th August 2018
This morning it was off to the “Sir Chris Hoy” Velodrome for a day of track cycling. With a later start, I again went the long way, reversing my tracks of the previous day.

334026 / 334012 Glasgow Queen Street to Charing Cross (Glasgow)
318253 Charing Cross (Glasgow) to Partick
320317 / 320319 Partick to Glasgow Central
318270 / 318261 Glasgow Central to Dalmarnock (My luck ran out with my first ‘dud’ but was bound to happen at some point
318265 Dalmarnock to Argyle Street (After the cycling, this was the first available service, and as the following ones were showing delayed I decided to take the winner and head back.

Rather than walking the length of Buchanan Street, and just for something different, a first ever visit to the Glasgow subway was long overdue and 127 / 208 / 115 became my first subway winners taken from St. Enoch to Buchanan Street.

One of the main aims of the trip was to bag some Scottish 156’s my favourite class of sprinter, but there are only 2 Scottish examples recorded in the haulage book, and I knew some of the evening workings were formed of multiple units.

156511 Glasgow Central to Crossmyloof Just missed the 17.48 which was a double unit so disappointingly a single unit to start with followed a few minutes later by
156439 / 156496 Crossmyloof to Pollokshaws West returning to Glasgow Central on
156494 / 156499 / 156513 between Pollokshaws West to Glasgow Central. I knew this would be a triple but typically one of them turned out to be ‘dud’ having been taken from Waverley to Haymarket last year. Having said that my 156 ‘needs’ reduced by nearly 10% in half an hour!

8th August 2018
Just a trip to the morning session of the swimming at Tolcross, giving myself plenty of options for winners, the first service produced a pair so I decided it was rude to turn them down!!

334028 / 334013 Glasgow Queen Street to Carntyne
334035 Carntyne to Glasgow Queen Street This time only a single but again, took a winner that was on offer.

As I was booked on the mid afternoon service back south there was no time left for anything else, except eat and collect my stuff from the hotel before heading back to Glasgow Central and the 14:40 home.

390157 Glasgow Central to Lancaster
156490 Lancaster to Barrow In Furness notable only for becoming the first of the class to tip 600 recorded miles.

All in all though not much time for trains, a successful visit. Happy to finally get a few more 156’s in the book plus cleared over a quarter of the 334’s too. 30 winners in total, I just wish I could finally track down my last 3 390/1’s!

A good little trip to Glasgow

The Euro championships looked good on the telly

Kite159 said:

A good little trip to Glasgow

The Euro championships looked good on the telly

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They were really good, was just unfortunate I could only manage the 3 days there. The atmosphere at the swimming was fantastic.

Tuesday 28th August 2018.
With a week of work, I decided to make use of the first of my Northern ’delay repay’ returns to anywhere on the network and go ‘bee hunting' in Manchester, dud 158860 taking me through to Preston. With the Bolton blockade this week, rather than wait for the hourly Northern service I took my first Northern 319, 319367 took me to Wigan North Western, typically late so what was a comfortable walk to Wigan Wallgate became a mad rush, reaching the bottom of the stairs (without spilling my coffee!) just as 150116 came to a stop for the run through to Manchester Victoria.

These Bees being 101 art sculptures all located over Manchester including the 3 main stations and Deansgate Castlefield tram stop. Pictured are ‘Au Bee’, guarding the entrance to Piccadilly Staion, whilst ‘Penny Pendo-bee-no’ is loitering in Exchange Square.



Anyway after a few hours photographing bees, my feet told me it was time to stop so being conveniently located at Deansgate-Castlefield, waited a few minutes for the first ‘double’ tram to arrive.

3054 / 3031 Deansgate-Castlefield to St Peter's Square
3105 St Peter's Square to Piccadilly Gardens
3069 Piccadilly Gardens to St Peter's Square
3076 St Peter's Square to Exchange Square
3101 / 3089 Exchange Square to St Peter's Square
3015 St Peter's Square to Piccadilly Gardens
3086 Piccadilly Gardens to Manchester Piccadilly

Frustratingly every time I arrived at a station it was just in time to see a double tram leaving so even though I managed 9 winners, it could have been so much better and I also ended up wasting time waiting for the next tram. After arriving at Piccadilly, and photographing the Bee, I made my way over to the through platforms to and almost immediately, a 319 for Liverpool arrived so 319361 was taken to Oxford Road. After exiting the station to photograph yet another Bee, I saw a 323 arrive so straight back onto the station and my first recorded 323, 323234 was taken back to Piccadilly with the intention this time of waiting for the Preston service However, I became distracted yet again by an EMT 156 leading the Liverpool service into the station. This couldn’t be refused, so 156470/ 158788 were taken back to Oxford Road. It later transpired that the 156 was a dud, but making a welcome return to the haulage book for the first time since 11th October 1989.

I was expecting the penance for this to be no seat on the Preston train so when 319369 pulled in, I was surprised to find room in the first coach for the run via Chat Moss and Wigan. From there it was back round Morecambe Bay onboard 158794, for my 16th winner of the day.

Thursday 30th August 2018.
For the past week or so there had been a required cat on the coast. As I was off work, rather than just do the usual drive to Askam for the afternoon out and back to Barrow, I decided to utilise the morning 37 north as one of my lowest mileage 4’s was doing the honours, 37425 north to Ravenglass. With around 50minutes til the cat back, I made use of the time to photograph several ‘Ratty’ locomotives, including the new one “Whillan Beck” (aka ‘The Train From Spain’) before heading back to the BR platforms and as expected 68033 arrived just about on time (with 68005 tailing)



Overall August has been very successful with 49 winners for haulage (my most since April 2016). Apart from a few days planned in London in November, that is pretty much it for me for this year except for the regular work trips, and any loco requirements on the coast.

A good little spin to Manchester & another 68 into your book

Kite159 said:

A good little spin to Manchester & another 68 into your book

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Was a good day made all the better by the fact the train journey was free

Up to 7 68's now. Hoping at least one of them changes again before the diagram reverts to a 37 later this month.

6th November 2018
This was to be my final trip to London this year, and with not much time planned for the railways the idea was just to pick up as much as I could and try and reduce my Piccadilly lines requirements even further. After arriving in London in the early afternoon, the rest of the day was spent trying to reduce my Piccadilly line requirements as I did a few things I needed to do and obtained supplies, winners 169, 882,135 and 235 being recorded out of a possible 18 half units. As I only now require 20 of the half units this was always going to be difficult but every little helps! The only other thing of note was that a ticket check took place between Leicester Square and Kings Cross at 10pm, the first time I have seen this happen in all the time I have been going to London.

7th November 2018
A morning outing to Windsor and my first IEP trip with 800027 to Slough crossing the platform for 165135 to Windsor and Eton Central. First impressions are that there is plenty of light in the IEP’s, the seats were adequate though I may not feel the same after sitting in one for a couple of hours and they can move. Returning on 165135 a couple hours later, I was hoping for a HST so was disappointed when 800303 rolled in for the journey back. That evening I headed to the Tower too see the lighting of the beacons at the “Beyond the Deepening Shadow: The Tower Remembers”, with further tube winners (Bakerloo - 3242, 3540, 3242, District – 21466/21465, Jubilee – 96044, 96007 and H&C 21015/21016)



8th November 2018
A late start due to my inability to get up meant that my original rail plans for today had to be binned, so I made my way to Liverpool Street (21498/21497) for triple 321’s 405, 358/357 to Stratford to view the “Shrouds of the Somme” as the sun was out, I headed back via the DLR from Stratford International, 94/99 to Canning Town 25/45/80 back to Poplar and 07/10 up to Canary Wharf, switching to the Jubilee (96018/96016) to London Bridge. After a walk up to the Thames through Hays Galleria it was back to Central London by train 465185/184 to Waterloo East for 465156/011 into Charing Cross. The day finished with 700018 from Kings Cross to Finsbury Park for the match at the Emirates, duds 228/177 back from Arsenal to Kings Cross.


DLR triple between Herons Quay and Canary Wharf


Shrouds form the Somme

9th November 2018.
As is customary for me on my last morning, I started at St Pancras International, starting with 700057 to Farrindon, linear leaping with 700123 to Shi.. sorry I mean City Thameslink and 700153 to Blackfriars, picking up another required Piccadilly unit 215 (with dud 886) eventually back to Kings Cross, heading over to Euston and the trip home

Sounded like a nice little autumn trip

One good session on the Piccadilly will sort you out with your remaining ones. Acton Town is good as the little tea/coffee kiosk helps. And the mad dashes over the bridge for a winner keeps you fit.

Kite159 said:

Sounded like a nice little autumn trip

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It was thank you, packed a lot in just not a lot of time for anything rail related, especially with the lost time on the Thursday that was planned to be a last opportunity to score some 313's and 315's.

87electric said:

One good session on the Piccadilly will sort you out with your remaining ones. Acton Town is good as the little tea/coffee kiosk helps. And the mad dashes over the bridge for a winner keeps you fit.

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Yeah am sure I will have a lot of fun tracking the last few down, though have got down to 20 just by going about my normal business. Never miss a coffee opportunity so might have a look there, though am too old for mad dashes now!

A Work Trip!
Well I wouldn't normally mention a work trip - but todays wasn't a normal trip!

Today didn't get off a good start. Arrived at the station to find the inward working for the 06:47 to Preston was late so wouldn't be leaving until 07:05, so late as usual but was a winner in the shape of 158795, but fortunately the 08:08 Lancaster to Edinburgh was also running late a usual so a quick dash over the footbridge, managing to avoid falling in a heap on the floor when I missed a step in the rush.

Managing an early finish I was back at Carlisle in time for the 14:48 back to Lancaster. As the train approached I noticed the poppy on the front of the Pendolino Could it finally be? As the front passed, my eyes lit up it was as my final 390 !!!! After 222 trips and 20,638 miles 390103 was my steed home, leaving Carlisle to the sound of the class clearance cannons. The first time since 87025 had triggered them back in June 1992. 156466 completed the trip home.

This just makes future works trips boring as apart form a handful of 158's and I don't need anything local, roll on the TPE 802's!

Congrats on the 390s! I had that feeling at Crewe, and like you, the clearance cannons are getting rare for me too. I've only got two or three of each class of Northern DMUs left, and none of TPEs fleet left to clear.

Piccadilly is starting to get boring for me after only 4 months

_toommm_ said:

Congrats on the 390s! I had that feeling at Crewe, and like you, the clearance cannons are getting rare for me too. I've only got two or three of each class of Northern DMUs left, and none of TPEs fleet left to clear.

Piccadilly is starting to get boring for me after only 4 months

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Main reason for me is that as loco hauled services were predominantly phased out (around 1993), I lost interest so stopped recording my moves (except for loco hauled and foreign!) until 2015 when class 37's started operating locally on the Cumbrian Coast. I bought an ICES combine that covered locos and units so started recording them then. Around the same time I started using the train for work so its taken from July 2015 until now to clear the 390's! Plan is to clear the 5 395's next year now!

That was the year that was...

Well with my expeditions for 2018 at an end, the only trips in December being 18th where quotes from 'Its a Wonderful Life' had been painted onto Platform 1 as part of the #itsawonderfulline mental health campaign. Only had time for a few pics so in order from Left to Right:



The final trip of the year followed an early finish from work on 19th, so following a drive up to Askam it was time for my 37 finale, with 37425 taken "out and back" to Barrow, tipping 'Bob' over the 100 mile mark.

37425 at Barrow on 19/12/2018

So in summary, have done way less than originally intended, with only 1 trip away since the beginning of June. The highlights has to be the loco-hauled on the Windermere Branch, and my first 22000 class in France.

Plans for 2019 tentatively are a return trip to France, and hopefully clearing the 221's and 395s at some point. Also want to finally make it to the East Lancs railway this year too!

Finally, a little early I know but hope everyone has a Happy New Year

Having not been able to do much apart from various work trips picking up various 142, 150, 158 and 319 winners, I finally managed my first trip away of 2019. The Thursday morning saw me take 158903 to Lancaster for 390121 to Euston, notable for this becoming the first traction I have recorded 1,000 miles on as we passed through Camden. I had a busy weekend planned that wouldn’t leave much time for anything else so after getting fed and watered, I made my way to Blackfriars, picking up winners 700030, 700129 and 700005 linear leaping to St Pancras before taking 700145 to Finsbury Park for the Emirates Stadium. After a good win, it was back to Kings Cross on the Piccadilly line but with so few units now needed no winners.

Friday morning saw me back at St Pancras, but this time heading to the International platforms, and after clearing security and visiting Pret, it was onboard winners 374033/034 for a short hop under the English Channel to Lille Europe, the 90 minutes passing by in no time. With my hotel situated next to Flandres station, rather than walk I purchased a day ticket and headed down to the metro (first mistake as I had to let 3 fully loaded trains pass as there wasn’t room to get on) before boarding unit 10 to Marie de Lille. After checking in at the Ibis, I made my way back to Lille Flandres, taking unit 123 to Rihour, later returning on 119.

There are still 8 loco hauled (22000 class) diagrams operating from Lille, predominantly at the morning and evening peaks, so having spent some time looking at these, and time limited had decided that the best option was an out and back to Templeuve (around 8 miles). The outward train was the 16:35 to Hirston, with 22278 hauling 5 double deck coaches including a DVT at the back. Arrival at a wet and windswept Templeuve was around 15 minutes later, and after a wait of 20 minutes 22262 arrived shoving it’s train to Lille Flandres.




These trains are dated, and the windows absolutely filthy so it was difficult to see the loco’s in Lille yard, but a couple of 67000 diesels were noted along with a couple of SNCF fret locos. Arrival was on time, with 22262 having 22246 on the 17:35 to Cambrai Vile and 22303 on the 17:45 to Dunkerque for company at Flandres, which had time not been so tight I would have taken to Hazebrock, anyway it was back down to the metro for unit 90 out to 4 Cantons (Stade Pierre Mauroy) for my first French Ligue 1 match, (Am really not a fan of the 20.45 kick offs in France!) before taking 127 back to Lille Flandres and the hotel.

I had the Saturday morning in Lille, and with the only available 22000 diagrams involved the same locos from the previous night so making a relatively early start it was back on the metro taking 93 between Lille Flandres and Republique Bateaux Arts, for a short walk to visit the Zoo, returning on 133 to Rihour. To finish my French trip I was hoping to score an SNCF unit, so it was back to the metro taking 107 to Pont de Bois. After crossing to the SNCF station (Took about 10 minutes to get to the other side as this was a long way round) disappointment ensued as SNCB unit 487 rolled in from Tournei (Forgot this was a joint service) but it was still a winner, finishing the trip at McDonalds on Flandres station before heading back over to Lille Europe and home. A very short but productive trip after seeing my first Ligue 1 match and my first in Europe since June 2000. The Ibis in Lille (right next to Flandres station) cost me £10 less a night than at the (basic) hotel in London I use and the match tickets were also significantly cheaper than in England.



After clearing security (took ages the customs officer was a real jobsworth) we were taken down to the platform just as a delay of 25 minutes was announce, which soon became 60 minutes which meant the Eurostar was still in Brussels! I find Lille Europe to be a very ‘cold’ station but the hour spent ‘people watching’ those heading to Euralille dud from my last trip 374027/028 finally rolled in losing more time as it had lost its path (but taking it into the compensation bracket! J ) back to St Pancras International. A quiet evening followed, picking up winning Piccadilly unit 242 and Northern 51636/635 on my travels.

The Sunday saw match 3 of the weekend, this time at Greenwich Borough so to maximise the potential winners decided on a linear path from Charing Cross, taking 375803/375619 to Waterloo East, 466010/465158/465039 to London Bridge and finally 465913/465927 onto Eltham. Returning after the game to London Bridge on 2 more winners 465242/465257 before taking the easy option back to Kings Cross on the Northern line more winners 51612/51611.

A lunch time return home on the Monday meant there was only time for a reverse linear leap from St Pancras to Blackfriars dud 700105 followed by 2 more winners 700142 and 700135. 390119 and 156452 then returning me back home. Shattered after a hectic weekend!

That did sound like a busy weekend

Definitely an action packed weekend! I haven't been to Lille for a long time, passed through but not actually visited. Please correct my memory if I'm wrong, but you can get to Bruges from Lille without going into Brussels first can't you?

Techniquest said:

Definitely an action packed weekend! I haven't been to Lille for a long time, passed through but not actually visited. Please correct my memory if I'm wrong, but you can get to Bruges from Lille without going into Brussels first can't you?

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It was. Just unfortunate that I couldn't pick up a few more 22000's.

There used to be a through train to Bruges that went to Ostend without going to Brussels (I used it about 18 years ago!). Looks like nowadays you still can get to Bruges without going via Brussels, but you have to change at Kortrijk.

Ah fair enough, not too bad then really. Certainly worth looking into purely to do a slightly different bit of Belgium!

Techniquest said:

Ah fair enough, not too bad then really. Certainly worth looking into purely to do a slightly different bit of Belgium!

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TBH I only looked at going as far as Kortrijk as I was looking at going to the football there but the fixtures didn't work out so didn't go in the end. Like Belgium so really need to go back! The one in France was my first Belgian train since 2004!

Wednesday 5th June 2019
With only work trips, odd Northern 158 winners have been keeping the red pen ticking over since the Lille trip, the next month is shaping up to be much busier with trips to the Inter Island Football tournament in Wales (Hoping to see 6 games in 2 days!), a work conference in London the following week and finishing with the East Lancs diesel gala at the beginning of July. To start the ball rolling, a lieu day, and a Northern £10 day ranger courtesy of meant time for a trip out, and today I had a couple of critically endangered species in my sights. (Clue: I was also armed with a Leeds to Wakefield Westgate return)

Boarding 158908 on the first valid service, the 08:46 from Barrow for a shortened trip around the bay alighting at Carnforth. Since the May timetable change there has been an additional Lancaster to Leeds leaving Carnforth at 09:48, so expecting a pacer I wasn’t disappointed as 144023 arrived from Lancaster. This being the first recorded 144 in the book as the last time I had one I didn’t record unit numbers. After an extremely rough ride I decided I had had enough and baled at Skipton, crossing to 333001 on the Forster Square service. As you may have gathered, my intended destination was Leeds so as I was now heading in the wrong direction, this was corrected at Shipley, 333003 doing the honours.

Now even though they have been in service since the very late 80’s, embarrassingly the class 91 has been conspicuous by its absence from my haulage book. The last time I was on the ECML was pre-electrification and although I have seen several at King’s Cross have never had one for haulage. With their imminent demise, it was now or never for me and the main reason for this trip. So over to platform 6 and ......nothing but an empty platform!. Eventually just 4 minutes before it was due to leave 91124 eventually arrived, however a swift turnaround saw DVT 82201 leaving just 6 minutes late. This meant my plus 3 at Wakefield for a return 91 was now a minus 3, and when we passed an LNER train on the outskirts feared the worst (It turned out this was the inward ofthe12.45Leeds to KX). On arrival at Wakefield Westgate the return was just approaching so after a mad dash (I am too old for those now!) just made it on finding out on arrival back at Leeds that 91117 was doing the honours (UID DVT at the rear). Mission accomplished and it was off into Leeds for food and coffee!

Knowing what was coming on return Morecambe service, I re-boarded 333001 as far as Bingley swapping for 333010 back to Skipton. Both dud but had the massive benefit of much reducing my time aboard 142092 back to Carnforth for 156459 back home.

Maybe not the best use of a Northern Day Ranger but 6 winners and the only objective of the day completed was fairly successful.

Wow, I never would have thought you'd not had a 91 before this trip! To have not used the ECML for that long, another surprise!

A very interesting day though all in, although ouch to a less than pleasant run on the 144!

Techniquest said:

Wow, I never would have thought you'd not had a 91 before this trip! To have not used the ECML for that long, another surprise!

A very interesting day though all in, although ouch to a less than pleasant run on the 144!

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I may have had an odd 91,but still have a couple of my old haulage books missing. If I have it is only an odd one and will be well before they were re-numbered. The 144 well, the least said the better. Truly Awful


As I alluded to in my previous post, I had a busy few weeks coming up, yet now I find all of a sudden they are over already! Don’t know where the time goes!

19th June 2019
June saw the Inter Island Games football tournament being held in Anglesey, so with the intention of seeing 6 games at 5 different venues inside 2 days, it was off to North Wales as follows:

158902 Barrow - Lancaster
390151 Lancaster - Warrington Bank Quay
175104 Warrington Bank Quay – Bangor (Was supposed to be the 67 but typically I picked the day the DVT had wheel- flats!)
158841 Bangor –Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (Just for the shack
score, but also saved me 20 minutes on the bus to base camp in Llangefni)

20/06/2019
158840 Ty Croes –Valley (Fill in move to get me from Aberffraw FC at Ty Croes to Gwalchmai FC, saved over an hour waiting for a bus and also enabled a PNB at a lovely little chippy in Valley before getting the bus on to Gwalchmai)

21/06/2019
67014 Bangor – Holyhead (Whilst I could have got a bus directly from Llangefni to Holyhead, I wanted a few hours in Bangor and also to finally get that 67!)



22/06/2019
221118 Holyhead – Chester (Early start and a choice of either a voyager or a 158 so I chose the voyager, fortunately it was
required so down to 5 to clear the TOC)
175001 Chester -Warrington Bank Quay (Absolutely wedged so stood by the door to make sure I could escape at Warrington)
390157 Warrington Bank Quay -Lancaster
156448 Lancaster – Barrow

And I also made the 6 games in 2 days too with 5 winning football grounds to boot.

24/06/2019
After a short turnaround, less than 48 hours I was heading south again where yet again my steed from last Wednesday was waiting for the run around the bay.

158902 Barrow - Lancaster
390152 Lancaster – Euston

After unpacking at my base for the next 2 nights, I took a trip to the Docklands as I had seen there was a visiting warship, but think I got a bit lost around Canary Wharf and didn’t find it, but with luck on my side for a change, it was a good clear out session on the DLR, before returning ahead of a theatre trip.

700102 St.Pancras - Farringdon
700144 Farringdon – Blackfriars
21301 / 21302 Blackfriars - Tower Hill
61 / 08 / 01 Tower Gateway - Westferry
78 / 02 / 43 Westferry - Canary Wharf DLR
80 / 12 Canary Wharf DLR - West India Quay
38 / 64 / 75 West India Quay - Westferry
89 / 81 / 05 Westferry - Limehouse
29 / 06 / 94 Limehouse - Shadwell
01 / 08 / 61 Shadwell - Tower Gateway
21568 / 21567 Tower Hill - Blackfriars
700135 Blackfriars - City Thameslink
700046 City Thameslink - Farringdon
700010 Farringdon - St.Pancras
228 / 103 King's Cross St. Pancras - Leicester Square
235 / 168 Leicester Square - King's Cross St. Pancras

25/06/2019
Today was spent in the City for a work conference so no action at all apart from getting to and from the venue

21001 / 21002 King's Cross St. Pancras - Aldgate
21477 / 21478 Cannon Street -Embankment
186 / 205 Leicester Square - King's Cross St. Pancras

26/06/2019
Homeward bound but first had time for my now traditional 700 linear leap, eventually bagging 2 winners as the first 8 south through St Pancras were dud. I have now had half of the700’s so still a long way to go with them. Another 5 winners this week and every little helps!

700016 St.Pancras - Farringdon
700050 Farringdon - City Thameslink
700115 City Thameslink - Blackfriars
165 / 104 Covent Garden - King's Cross St. Pancras
390115 Euston - Preston
158759 Preston – Barrow

With only a handful of Piccadilly line units now required it was inevitable there would be few winners, but 2 more without putting any effort in at all were most welcome. I will be making more of an effort when I am down in November as I will have much more time then.

01/07/2019
Only a work trip but notable as it was the first day in service of Northern’s new 195’s

195117 Barrow – Lancaster (First service train for this unit, left 5 minutes late then ‘sat down’ 3 times with what the conductor
called “teething troubles” resulting in a 34 mile journey taking nearly 90 minutes – Not Impressed

195118 Lancaster –Barrow An improvement on the outward journey at least it was on time and didn’t break down! (Note it since has and has been taken out of service again!)

04/07/2019
A long planned trip to the first day of the East Lancashire Railways diesel gala, and my first visit to the line. So the journey to Manchester saw 195... , no sorry, 156443 pretending it was a 195 (at least 3 195’s have gone missing in their first 4 days!) but it put in a sterling performance reaching Deansgate only a couple of minutes down, before congestion meant it took another 20 to get to crawl to Piccadilly. This meant that I missed the early tram to Bury eventually taking 3037 resulting in arriving after my first intended train to Heywood with D7629 and 33035.

After finally arriving and collecting my ticket, I was left with time to look around the various stands, take some photographs and come up with a new plan, before target No 1 for the day arrived from Rawtenstall, 56103 taken for the run to Heywood before a full line trip behind 20096/20132 to Rawtenstall. This train was in Top and Tail mode so with 56103 now leading again, it was back as far as Ramsbottom. Here I would be picking up the shuttle service hauled by D7629, having missed this earlier, it was now taken to Bury. I must say I like the well worn work appearance of this locomotive. A quick stride across the platform, where D832 was waiting to head north, making the late decision to bail at Summerseat, as I was in the rear coach and didn’t fancy a mad dash over the bridge, which from reading other posts was a good one, as 47765 didn’t wait for anyone wanting to swap trains there. I almost missed it here too, as lost track of time and strayed a bit far down the footpath photographing wildlife, but made it back, taking 47765 back to Bury Bolton Street, this train almost empty.

Unfortunately at this point time ran out for me. A nice run out for my first visit here, being critical it would have been nice had it been possible to have both visiting 56’s for haulage on each day, rather than just one but was happy with 6 winners. I would have liked to have been able to do the other pair of 20’s but with limited time just couldn’t fit everything in, though with hindsight could probably have fit in another Heywood return.



After eating at a very nice cafe by the bus station, it was back on the tram, breaking the journey just for a shack score.

3003 / 3049 Bury - Besses o' th' Barn
3024 Besses o' th' Barn - Manchester Piccadilly.

With time to spare, it was off on a 195 hunt
156455 Manchester Piccadilly - Manchester Oxford Road (Another 156 pretending it is a 195!)
195121 Manchester Oxford Road - Manchester Piccadilly (Short formed as should have been a 6 car set)
319364 Manchester Piccadilly – Preston (Forced due to the part cancellation of the 195 home, fortunately I was at Piccadilly so
could get an earlier train to Preston to pick up my intended train. Fortunately it was also a winner – 8 Northern ones left now)
195114 Preston – Barrow (Finally found a working 195!)

So what do I think of the 195’s? Well so far I am really not impressed. With the first day farce and then 2 156’s in lieu, I don’t like the seats much either, to be honest I would much rather have the 185’s back instead.

Well there it is 15 days, 1,300 miles and 48 winners, gone in a flash!

Friday 18th October 2019
Having visited the East Lancashire Railway for the first time back in July for the diesel gala, I wasn’t intending to return so soon, but on seeing that A4 no 9 was making an appearance at the Steam gala, decided that it was probably now or never to see her in working order.

So an early start, taking 195007 (A two car unit being totally inadequate for the service as it was totally wedged from Preston – However at least it was running) from Barrow to Manchester Oxford Road, after sourcing a large Costa from the new kiosk here, it was TPE 185101 on new track for me round to Victoria. I decided that this would be far quicker than the long walk off Piccadilly and the tram through the city so by the time of peak arrived I was in time to purchase a ticket before taking the first tram 3047/3057 up to Bury.

60009 was scheduled to be on the first run north and so this proved, being taken all the way to ,so with a big red line in the book, the book, it was Black 5 44871 back to Bury Bolton Street.



2890 was on the next Ramsbottom stopper so as a fill in move was taken to its destination, before the second highlight of the day 926 ‘Repton’, piloting my highest mileage kettle 34092 ‘City of Wells’ on the next Rawtenstall. Here Repton ran round leaving City of Wells tailing fro the run back to Bury again. With that it was back to the trams, 3033 / 3055 to Prestwich (Purely for the shack score) and 3036/3029 into Victoria.

With a bit of time before heading home, just a few move, around Manchester

142049 / 142038 Manchester Victoria to Salford Crescent
319374 Salford Crescent to Manchester Oxford Road (Have no idea what possessed me to do this instead of going back to Victoria for more pacer action!
150224 / 142057 Manchester Oxford Road to Salford Crescent
153380 / 150119 Salford Crescent to Bolton
195114 Bolton to Barrow in Furness

Monday 20th January 2020.

First trip out of the year courtesy of Northern’s 10p flash sale saw me boarding 195105 on the 08:46 to Manchester Oxford Road via Wigan NW and Chat Moss purchasing a Train and Tram Daysaver on arrival there. Fortunately the Redcar Central service was slightly delayed so after I had plenty of time to make my way over to Platform 2 where eventually 185128 took me round the curve to Manchester Victoria. I like this option, much quicker than bailing at Piccadilly, walking miles and taking the tram over. With the late running this made my intended next move extremely tight, but fortunately there was only a cross platform dash for the Kirkby service somehow delayed by 2 minutes for even though it starts at Victoria for 150115/142061 so first box ticked in that I wanted what will probably be a last ride on a Northern pacer taking it to Salford Crescent (Sitting in the Pacer of course! Flagging a 3 car 158 as not required, it was onto 150214/142011 back to Salford Central and 150275 (Sadly no pacer attached this time) back to Manchester Victoria. Whilst I have probably had the pacers numerous times over their lifetime I didn't recording any haulages so hence them now being 'winners'

When I had first booked the tickets (and instantly regretting not going for an earlier train!) I hadn’t realised that Burnley U23’s had an afternoon game at Curzon Ashton so always one for going to new grounds and as it was a lovely winters afternoon decided to head along, disappointingly duds 156461/156452 turned up on the Southport to Stalybridge service taken to Ashton Under Lyne, waiting on the platform to ID the unit on the Manchester shuttle. Taking a circuitous route to the tram stop via McDonalds 3091 took me the one stop back to Ashton West and a five minute walk to the ground (No 156 for me). After the game, and with no chance of getting back to the BR station without avoiding a long wait, it was back to Metrolink, 3080 to Manchester Piccadilly changing for 3004 to Piccadilly Gardens. After topping up on caffeine at Pret, there was just time to catch a few more trams before home.

3014/ 3055 Market Street to Shudehill
3020/ 3024 Shudehill to Piccadilly Gardens
3088 Piccadilly Gardens to Manchester Piccadilly

For eventually 195116 home, falling foul of the ’redline’ police for having my foot an inch over the line I didn’t even see! All in all a productive and varied first day out of the year.

A varied start to your 2020 that's for sure! A decent day out though, clearly, and yay for another Pret enthusiast!

Techniquest said:

A varied start to your 2020 that's for sure! A decent day out though, clearly, and yay for another Pret enthusiast!

Click to expand...

Pret would be my Number 1 choice of coffee shop, just unfortunate that Manchester is the nearest one to me I think! Was surprised to get my coffee in a proper cup when I said I was staying in.