Christ a whole month without update! Oops! Anyway, big trips first...
The previously mentioned London non-rail trip yielded 100% success on the limited tootles on the DLR with 16 winners plus my first run on a 376 out of Cannon Street. Nothing much else to report there.
25th February was a trip to the North Tyneside Railway. A doorstep preserved line I'd never been to. Two main reasons was scoring 03078 and 08915 plus clearing as much track as possible. That turned out to be every inch of outdoor track at the railway!
(i.e. up to the museum doors on all roads). Not much need to return now haha
11 March was a trip on Pathfinder's Waste Train charter. My first UK based charter of the year believe it or not! Some might remember my trip to Germany for some hydraulic action.
Anywho, plenty of bits and bobs scored track-wise with Knowsley Freight Terminal, Bredbury RTS and Bredbury Tilcon Terminal being the highlights.
Quail level detail included a crossover at Crewe, Golborne Curve, parts of Bamfurlong Goods and the Wigan connecting line, a spin round the back at Ashburys and Heaton Norris UGL.
Believe it or not the exact route taken from entering Crewe Basford Hall Yard to appearing on the main out of the tunnels for the independent lines was entirely dud having been covered behind 37603/604 on the RM/DRS tour to Scarborough last year!
66002 66125 were both winners and my 30th/31st 66s in the book.
A good day all round with the weekend capped with 185114 being cleared for 100miles.
On the 91/commute front, some success has been had. The 1000 mile club now plays host to 91106/115/126/128/132 with many others waiting in the wings over 900 miles.
91121 got a spin to edge closer to 500 miles and only 4 now remain below the 500 mark. I think I might struggle to clear 113 (lowest) before the 91s retire unless the rail gods are kind and let it out on a few long distance runs!
Looking ahead, I've juggled a few charters and had to cape a couple in favour of others due preference! Outlook now as follows with potential winners highlighted:
18 Mar - BLS "Bound for Craigy"
(08441 08472 08596 08670)
19 Mar - GCR Diesel Gala
(08528
08632 08694 08907 33063)
(Italicized are only possible)
31 Mar/1 Apr - Pathfinder Tours "The Everywhere Again Trains" Overnight
(DRS 37s + MoD Shunter)
14 Apr to 17 Apr - Pathfinder Tours "Spring Highlander" Landcruise
(DRS 37s)
7 May - BLS "Vallum Hadriani"
(TPE 185)
18-21 May - SVR Diesel Gala & Mixed Traffic Day
(Req: 08471
12099 D9551 D8568 47828 50031
DB Loco 667xx 739xx
1-2 June - SRPS "Wick & Thurso" Overnight
(37025 +
Colas 37)
3 June - ELR Small Engines Gala
(D2298)
1 July - SRPS "Farrington Reverser" Mini-Tour
(37025 +
Colas 37)
8 July - KWVR Small Engines Gala
(08993)
Busy busy!