A Mega Day in London-21st April
I'd had this booked for a while, and was looking forward to my first London trip of the year-and the day had finally arrived! I headed to Runcorn station, picked up my travelcard and boarded a lightly loaded 390045 to London Euston. A fair few passengers got off at Runcorn, mainly young girls who were clearly quite drunk returning from a night out in Liverpool...
I didn't like my seat so sat at an unreserved table. The Train Manager appeared quickly and approved of my RMT badge, commenting (just like that, like it was nothing significant at all) that he'd saved someone’s life the day before. Wow. Apparently someone had knocked on his office door and said he was struggling to breathe, and was having a massive heart attack.
I had a rough plan-but got out my ‘London and the South East' network map to work out something properly. We made good progress towards London, and I’m certain it was the first time I'd stopped at Watford on a Virgin service. They've changed the announcement in the bogs to something a bit less ridiculous now thankfully! Arrival into Euston was on time and I headed down t'Underground.
I was simply going to board whichever Southbound train arrived first, double winners 51517+51525 taking the prize. I bailed off at London Bridge to head to the Jubilee line, which I intended to clear to start off with. I started with winners 96092+96045 to Southwark, then quickly back to Bermondsey on winners 96041+96012. Nothing really interesting happened, apart from a couple of trains being turned at Canning Town (I think) so I'll just list the moves:
96486+96505 Bermondsey-Canada Water
96484+96425 Canada Water-Canary Wharf
96115+96480 Canary Wharf-North Greenwich
96089+96010 North Greenwich-Canning Town
96019+96506 Canning Town-West Ham
96037+96464 West Ham-Stratford
All were winner trains except 96425, 96115 and 96480, as were the shacks except Stratford. It had reached the point where I hoped it wouldn't get any warmer by around now, so my first point of call was the shop for a cold drink. I had come to Stratford for the DLR, clearing my Jubilee line shack requirements on the way. Anyone would think I'd subconsciously planned that back in December...
I was determined to get a Crossrail 345, so headed up to platform 8. A couple of PEPs departed for Shenfield (mmm....) and the next Liverpool Street train was not for 6 minutes. Which in the non-London world is a gift! I didn't want to wait, so I headed to the Central line for a fill in move. Quadruple winners 92045+92222+92072+92263 were taken to the required shack Bethnal Green. I just missed a train back to Stratford, which meant I’d have to wait for a TfL Rail train. Triple winners 92307+92132+92086 and an unidentified unit on the back took me back to Stratford. I was told by the TfL Rail platform staff a 345 had just left for Shenfield, but was assured there were several in service. The next Liverpool Street service was formed of 345011! I boarded and sat in an empty bay of 4 for the short hop back to the city. First impressions were very positive, the seats didn't seem nearly as bad as I'd been lead to expect, and the air con worked a treat! Liverpool Street was technically a required shack due to never managing to find a shack sign, an issue that was quickly resolved before boarding winner 321447 back to Stratford. I was struggling to comprehend just how much I'd done-I'd not even been in London for 2 hours!
I forced myself not to be distracted and finally went to the DLR. Winners 91+45+11 were taken to Abbey Road on a busy Beckton service. I just missed a train back to Stratford, but winners 59+76 rolled in which I took on a linear hop to Stratford High Street. Another short fester saw me board triple winners 78+10+81 to Stratford International. I'd deliberately sat at the back hoping that it'd be the same train on the way back, which it was. However the real treat came on departure from Stratford International when the onboard staff member opened up the control panel and drove the train! I was sat across the aisle from the driver-they should charge extra for that! I bailed at Star Lane just as triple winners 110+06+142 were rolling in and went back to West Ham. I was soon heading to West Silvertown, for the sole reason that the next southbound train to arrive at West Ham was the Woolwich Arsenal service. Another short fester later, winners 12+83 rolled in which I boarded to London City Airport.
I decided to try and be clever and double back, so I boarded double winners 137+109 back to Pontoon Dock. This backfired as I missed the Southbound train. Damn! I was getting a bit bored of the DLR now, and fancied heading onto SouthEastern metals at Woolwich Arsenal, so I started to formulate a plan as I boarded winner 13+dud 65 to King George V. As is the way in these parts, I wasn't hanging about long before winners 62+82 arrived to take me under the Thames to Woolwich Arsenal. I would have had a PNB was had in the 10 minutes or so I had before boarding winner 465042 to Westcombe Park, however I couldn't find a facility at WWA. The train wasn't very busy, and was surprisingly cool given the weather outside! Those air vents work a treat!
At Westcombe Park, the PIS showed the service I was waiting for as having 5 coaches. This meant one thing-I was finally getting a 376. I needed this train to stick to time, as I was intending to make a +2 connection at Woolwich Dockyard. I'd been told that the 376 interior is a tad basic-but I wasn't prepared for how poor it really is, and the seats are appalling! The only thing better about a 376 than a Networker is the seats are 2+2. People say the Merseyrail stock is tatty inside, but it's nothing like as poor as that 376 was. Anyway, the driver put his foot down and I had no issue at all catching 465906 to Charlton. I was bailing at Charlton as there was a faster train right behind us, so an easy shack scratch and nice way to red pen an extra unit. I was only waiting for around 3 minutes until double winners 465189+465930 arrived on the Charing Cross service, which were quite well loaded. A quick look at RTT showed I could bail at Blackheath and again pick up a unit right behind, so I did. Sadly I forgot to identify the 465 I then boarded and travelled to Lewisham on.
Why Lewisham? Simple. Back to the DLR I go! Once I found the station, I walked straight onto winners 107+147 to Deptford Bridge. Once again I'd tried to double back, and once again I hadn't learnt my lesson! I caught winners 75+35+97, and was very surprised to witness a ticket check onboard as I bailed at Elverson Road. As I'd just missed a Northbound train, I had to wait for the trio of units I'd just alighted to return from Lewisham. When they did, I boarded and went for Cutty Sark. I decided this was the point I was going to finish DLR bashing, and began to return to Lewisham. I boarded winners 138+116+119 for the short hop back to a sweltering Greenwich. A watched a pair of Networkers depart whilst waiting for the next Lewisham service, formed of winners 01+54+93. I returned to the National Rail station and tried not to melt on the platform, it was boiling out there today! Double winners 465002+465915 took me to Kidbrooke, and that was where my hastily made plan fell apart. I missed the tight connection I'd pencilled in, and couldn't get back on track, so I decided ‘sod this' and looked elsewhere. A 10 minute fester later, double winners 465035+465180 rolled in on a London Victoria service. I boarded a completely empty carriage and definitely didn't use any plug sockets onboard...
Had I been thinking about it, I should have alighted at Nunhead or Denmark Hill to scratch a shack, but I was too busy having scran and not charging my phone. As such I ended up at London Victoria, another technically required shack. Remembering to take my phone which had inexplicably gained about 40% battery since I boarded, I finally got a phot of the shack sign! I had one thing on my mind now, SWR 707s. Of course... that meant a trip on everyone's favourite TOC, GTR Southern! I noticed I could get on a Sutton service and bail at Battersea Park. Bonus shack! Required 455830 was a bit of a throwback to my last trip down south... ‘This train is the Southern Service...’ I was at Battersea Park for a matter of minutes, I also noticed that one on the platforms (Platform 1 I think?) Had no track! Soon enough I was on dud 455810 down to Clapham Junction, picking up a slight delay which the driver was very quick to apologise for-attributing to congestion.
My intention here was simple, wait for a 707. I predicted that the Hounslow loop was a good place to start, and the next ‘Hounslow' service was formed of 707022! The train was actually quite busy, and it was nice to be on a safe guard operated train again. I found a pair of seats, taking advantage of the plug socket between them for the 25 minute journey to St. Margarets. This was also my first journey on SWR, I'm quite keen on the 707s actually. They're intended for short distance metro work (unlike the 700s intended for Bedford-Brighton and Cambridge-Horsham and the like), and they do that well. I wonder where they'll end up when SWR ditch them? I had a bit over 5 minutes in the sun at St. Margarets, where I was hoping for another 707 back towards Waterloo. I got lucky there as 2 turned up! Lightly loaded double winners (obviously) 707011+707005 were taken back to North Sheen (return to Baldock anyone...?) for another quick connection onto 707021 to one of the District Line termini, Richmond.
After successfully negotiating my way through the stragglers, I was the last to board winner S7 21345 on an Upminster service. I needed to start heading back towards Zone 1 now, however not so quickly that I wasn't able to bail at Turnham Green for an Ealing Broadway service. Winner 21498 was taken up to Ealing Common, my non existent plan being torn apart due to congestion at Acton Town. After a quick supply raid in a shop that could soon be an Asda, I returned to the station and boarded Piccadilly Line 1973 stock 157+144 to Acton Town, which was also slowed down by the congestion. Due to that short delay, I'd barely got off the train by the time winners 864+112 arrived. I boarded this for the fast run to Hammersmith, which was a lot quicker than I expected! Hearing Julie Berry announcements was beginning to remind me of Merseyrail...
After a short hop to Barons Court on double duds 190+191, it was now S Stock time again, fresh dud 21498 taking me the 3 stops to South Kensington. I wasn't the only one to alight at Earls Court and stare at the ‘Next Train to London' indicator... I had planned to keep going from South Kensington, however I was ahead of my rough schedule, so a quick fill in move back to Gloucester Road on winner 21458 was the order of the day. There was a bit of a gap in the service, so my required chariot 21568 to Victoria was rather busy. Not that I minded standing for a few minutes, given I was heading home. There was a mass exodus at Victoria, and I was very glad to hear that GTR, like VTWC, have replaced the AWFUL announcer!
I managed to get lost on the way to the coach station, as seems traditional, but after a fairly lengthy hike to stand 19, I was soon aboard the Megabus. I was VERY disappointed to be on dud 54265! There were just 25 passengers onboard, and 4 no shows. The slog through Central London was quick-we reached the M1 in just 36 minutes. I fell asleep for about half an hour, and went for a PNB when I woke, or that was my plan. I felt the brakes go on quite sharply as I walked down the coach, and saw we were pulling into Newport Pagnall services. We were given a 20 minutes stop as we were early, which was appreciated. The rest of the journey was very smooth and pleasant, minus the farce of a driver change at Watford Gap. I mean, yes it took just shy of 5 hours, but I had very friendly station staff and drivers, a working plug socket and wifi. All for £1!
I had planned to get the 21:40 from Piccadilly, but could tell I wouldn't make it. I jumped on M5000 3053 to Piccadilly, before boarding a fairly busy refurbished 185133 back to Birchwood at the end of a very long, but very productive day.
Summary:
31 LU Winners
31 DLR Winners
16 NR Winners
13 Winner LU Shacks
14 Winner DLR Shacks
11 Winner NR Shacks
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Hubberts Bridge
Bingham
Combe
