GW43125
Established Member
- Joined
- 8 Dec 2014
- Messages
- 2,049
OK, so I'll admit I'm writing this entirely out of procrastination (I don't want to study for my A levels!(I do but don't, fellow students will understand)), not done one of these before, let's give it a go.
Manchester 03/01/18
An early start after hardly any sleep started with much caffeine. I check the inbound for my train-I know the set sat in Preston station last night so it should be ok, right?
Except it isn't. 30 minute late start off Lancaster (tree vs overheads between there and Preston), and it's got a 31 min turnaround at Euston. Ah well, we're a Glasgow so they'll just run us late.
An uneventful drive to the airport (thanks dad!) follows.
After forgetting where to go and having to ask a friendly BA employee where the tube was (sorry!), down onto the picc platforms at terminal 5. 6 minutes until my train. That'll do nicely.
A fairly slow run into central London followed (then again, it is peak time). As the run progresses, I keep checking the progress of 1R07 on my phone. It's made up 6 minutes by Rugeley. It'll be alright in Euston with a quick turnaround. I check again just before heading into the tube tunnels and an axle counter failure in the Lichfield area has seen it drop back to 30 late. Time to start looking into potential set swaps then. The set for the 08:40 Manchester looks a prime candidate it seems. 1R08, currently on time, in reverse formation. We shall see.
Green Park wasn't as busy as I expected though, but I forgot how long the corridor is to the Vic line!
Ah crap, I hear one pulling away. Nevermind, it's the Vic line. Another will be along in a moment (something another member of this forum, who shall remain nameless, failed to comprehend).
I duly arrive at Euston and convene with the others. Except, we've got a no-show. Bugger. Ah well, a visit to a well-known coffee shop sees me equipped with a coffee and porridge for breakfast. Not bad.
The no-show is still a no-show so we cut our losses and head to our waiting train on platform 13, which has now been announced.
Down the ramp and surely enough, it's the set ex 1R08. Winner 390118 in reverse formation with failed plug sockets (ah well, I've got my powerbank). We all assume our seats and await the 08:30 deaprture....
...Which promtly comes and goes, with no sign of movement. A couple of minutes later, a member of VT crew appears. This probably explains it. Platform staff say we're awaiting the road. At least the train is quiet. There are four people in this carriage. There are three of us.
We eventually move off at 08:38. We're 8 minutes late. This puts our five minute connection at Warrington in jeopardy. There's slack in the schedule though, so hopefully we should manage.
And manage we do. We maintain the delay until around Colwich Jn, before the driver really squeezes power out of the unit. By the time we get to the junction south of Warrington (winning shack),we're up to four minutes late. We're neck and neck with our connection on the slow lines. Thankfully, it having to cross the mainlines on the flat sees us in first, after only 99 and a half minutes non-stop from London (109mph!), ready for our cross-platform connection onto my first 175, 175116. Turns out 175s aren't much to write home about.
The guard's said he'll sell us a ticket and he hasn't by the time we get to Newton-Le-Willows (shack #2 today)! After arriving two minutes late, a quick trip down to the ticket office sees us in possession of a group wayfarer. Back up to the platform and into the motor coach of winner 319362 fast to Occy Road, then Piccadilly, thence forward nonstop to the airport.
Quick photo opportunity before we're across to double winners 156488 and 156441 to Preston (as far as Piccadilly). They don't half make a racket! (Yes, we did have all the windows open!)
We've got two options to Romiley: Pacer or Sprinter. We want a pacer but our train back from Romiley should be a pacer so we'll do the sprinter. Winner 150272 takes us via Hyde North to shack #3, Romiley. Driver isn't too impressed with us getting a quick picture however.
Romiley station is a typical two platform shack. It reminds me slightly of Salisbury, in that you can look over the station wall into the road below. There's a signalbox at the Manchester end but unfortunately it's disuses, as I later found out.
Time for our pacer back direct to Piccadilly. Except, that's not a pacer coming round the corner, it's a sprinter! Bowlarks.
Nevermind, it's winner 150147, with some decent views out the rear cab whilst the guard went about his duties (the saloon door was locked, don't worry!).
We duly arrived back in Piccadilly. Having seen how expensive food was at a certain chain of public houses in Manchester, my friends decided we'd head off to Bury on a tram.
"Don't worry, it's only 20-25 minutes", they said.
Almost 35 minutes later, we arrive in Bury and head into said Public house. Lunch is duly consumed and back we go, this time only as far as Victoria. By now it's absolutely chucking it down and seeing people smoking in the rain outside the bus station is yet another reminder that smoking is a bad idea.
Our driver clearly likes driving quickly, a rather spirited run back to Victoris followed. We check times of trains from Vic and, disaster, the Ordsall Chord train leaves three minutes before we arrive. That's not ideal.
Ah well, we duly arrive in Victoria (shack #4) and the Ordsall chord train is still there! A quick sprint follows and, despite a misunderstanding at the gateline, we manage to make the train formed of winner 158756, thanks to a 66-hauled freight train getting in the way. Ordsall chord, tick. Occy Road (#5), tick.
We've been tipped off that the ex-FGW 150 (150122) is working with a pacer today on Preston-Hazel grove runs. We'd seen this on our way into Picc earlier and had made plans to intercept this.
After a 15 minute fester, right on cue, double winners 150122 and 142013 take us to Stockport (#6). Riding in the pacer, it reminded me just why they're buses! I quite like them for the novelty value, if nothing else. This turned out to be the only pacer of the day.
Holmes Chapel-Crewe singles duly purchased, winner 323229 arrives to take us nonstop into Piccadilly and what a cracking run it is. Straight up the fast and early back into Piccadilly.
We have a decision to make: Stalybridge on a busy 185 or airport on a quiet 156?
Airport was the decision and double winners 156489 & 156428 gave it the full beans. It was, by now, dark, so I had absolutely no idea where we were if we stopped. Fun.
Next train back to Picc is winner 185130. It took 10 minutes of standing in the cold waiting for them to release the doors. Ugh.
We got a table once we were on, with the unit in eco mode (which had that engine shut down), though it duly restarted on departure.
The guard comes through checking tickets, he's sceptical about our group ticket and isn't sure about the validity for three people "it doesn't say it's for three people". In the end he gives up once he learns we're getting off at Piccadilly.
The engine shuts down again under eco mode around Heald Green. just randomly, on the move. Thankfully the auxiliiaries continuing to be crossfed confirms we haven't broken down. It's then uneventful, albeit slow, into Picc.
By now we've got an hour until our train to Crewe (last via Airport of the day!), so we decide we won't risk going too far out. having picked up some refreshments, we instead opt for a leap to occy road with double winners 185113 & 185102 (rear engine out again due to eco mode).
Awaiting the ex Scotland back into Picc with the hope of a winning unit, no bloody chance. Not only is it the first dud of the day, both of them are dud (I've only had three of the /4s grr). So 350408 & 350402 lead us into PIccadilly (right down platform 13, miles from civilization!)
Final northern move of the day, winner 323224 all the way to Crewe via the Airport. 2 minutes late away from Picc and 4 late at the airport sees a cracking run result, including running at 90 nonstop Alderley Edge to Holmes Chapel! We'd wanted the windows open to hear the IGBT kits absolutely screaming their guts out but didn't out of basic courtesy to the other punters. Once the last punter got off at Sandback, we eventually opened the window, and immediately regretted it. Christ was it cold!
We duly arrived into Crewe, where we had a 45 minute fester until our booked train back to London. Except that 45 minutes turns into about 50 as the up fast isn't available just south of the station (some sort of signalling issue)-a 350 had sat in the platform for a good 10 minutes as we arrived. It'd also started late from Manchester for some reason. Crewe station was rather nippy in the interim.
Around five minutes before our train was due, the signallers had put a terminating 350 into our booked platform 1, so cue switch to platform 5, for correct formation winner 350154 on 1A66 back to London, calling at Milton Keynes on the way. Leaving Crewe we weaved to the Up Slow then back because of the signalling issue (12 minutes late after this), before we put the power down and went for it.
Until we got to Rugby, that was. A late ex Scotland via Birmingham coming off the flyover brought us down to about 50mph through Rugby station. This let it get some headway and we put the power down until about Wolverton, at which point we were now third in a queue of trains calling at Milton Keynes. We came down to walking pace, before moving forward into the station.
Quick stop over and we duly press onwards to London. Sitting at the disabled end of the carriage, having Will Ferrell speak for an eternity every time someone wanted to use the facilities, it wore very thin.
I'd noted we were booked into platform 1 at Euston. Impossible as the beds were in there. So after rolling along, we eventually rolled into platform 4 only 8 minutes late. 92010 was on the buffers, waiting for the beds to move so it could go and pick up the Lowland Sleeper.
I was eager to make a quick getaway so that I could get onto the tube before the football match kicked out (Arsenal vs Chelsea, 2-2), but picked northern then picc rather than vic then picc, which probably added a couple of minutes but saved me walking at Green Park.
It was uneventful as far as Hammersmith, where we caught something up and at one point got overtaken by an S stock after coming to a stand.
Finally, after being out for at least 14 hours, a lift home from the airport, straight to bed and I slept 12 hours straight last night. It was glorious.
What will I do next, I wonder?
Winning units- 18
Winning shacks- 6
Mainline miles- 473 & 52ch
So I just spent two and a half hours writing that. Ultimate procrastination. I welcome feedback.
Manchester 03/01/18
An early start after hardly any sleep started with much caffeine. I check the inbound for my train-I know the set sat in Preston station last night so it should be ok, right?
Except it isn't. 30 minute late start off Lancaster (tree vs overheads between there and Preston), and it's got a 31 min turnaround at Euston. Ah well, we're a Glasgow so they'll just run us late.
An uneventful drive to the airport (thanks dad!) follows.
After forgetting where to go and having to ask a friendly BA employee where the tube was (sorry!), down onto the picc platforms at terminal 5. 6 minutes until my train. That'll do nicely.
A fairly slow run into central London followed (then again, it is peak time). As the run progresses, I keep checking the progress of 1R07 on my phone. It's made up 6 minutes by Rugeley. It'll be alright in Euston with a quick turnaround. I check again just before heading into the tube tunnels and an axle counter failure in the Lichfield area has seen it drop back to 30 late. Time to start looking into potential set swaps then. The set for the 08:40 Manchester looks a prime candidate it seems. 1R08, currently on time, in reverse formation. We shall see.
Green Park wasn't as busy as I expected though, but I forgot how long the corridor is to the Vic line!
Ah crap, I hear one pulling away. Nevermind, it's the Vic line. Another will be along in a moment (something another member of this forum, who shall remain nameless, failed to comprehend).
I duly arrive at Euston and convene with the others. Except, we've got a no-show. Bugger. Ah well, a visit to a well-known coffee shop sees me equipped with a coffee and porridge for breakfast. Not bad.
The no-show is still a no-show so we cut our losses and head to our waiting train on platform 13, which has now been announced.
Down the ramp and surely enough, it's the set ex 1R08. Winner 390118 in reverse formation with failed plug sockets (ah well, I've got my powerbank). We all assume our seats and await the 08:30 deaprture....
...Which promtly comes and goes, with no sign of movement. A couple of minutes later, a member of VT crew appears. This probably explains it. Platform staff say we're awaiting the road. At least the train is quiet. There are four people in this carriage. There are three of us.
We eventually move off at 08:38. We're 8 minutes late. This puts our five minute connection at Warrington in jeopardy. There's slack in the schedule though, so hopefully we should manage.
And manage we do. We maintain the delay until around Colwich Jn, before the driver really squeezes power out of the unit. By the time we get to the junction south of Warrington (winning shack),we're up to four minutes late. We're neck and neck with our connection on the slow lines. Thankfully, it having to cross the mainlines on the flat sees us in first, after only 99 and a half minutes non-stop from London (109mph!), ready for our cross-platform connection onto my first 175, 175116. Turns out 175s aren't much to write home about.
The guard's said he'll sell us a ticket and he hasn't by the time we get to Newton-Le-Willows (shack #2 today)! After arriving two minutes late, a quick trip down to the ticket office sees us in possession of a group wayfarer. Back up to the platform and into the motor coach of winner 319362 fast to Occy Road, then Piccadilly, thence forward nonstop to the airport.
Quick photo opportunity before we're across to double winners 156488 and 156441 to Preston (as far as Piccadilly). They don't half make a racket! (Yes, we did have all the windows open!)
We've got two options to Romiley: Pacer or Sprinter. We want a pacer but our train back from Romiley should be a pacer so we'll do the sprinter. Winner 150272 takes us via Hyde North to shack #3, Romiley. Driver isn't too impressed with us getting a quick picture however.
Romiley station is a typical two platform shack. It reminds me slightly of Salisbury, in that you can look over the station wall into the road below. There's a signalbox at the Manchester end but unfortunately it's disuses, as I later found out.
Time for our pacer back direct to Piccadilly. Except, that's not a pacer coming round the corner, it's a sprinter! Bowlarks.
Nevermind, it's winner 150147, with some decent views out the rear cab whilst the guard went about his duties (the saloon door was locked, don't worry!).
We duly arrived back in Piccadilly. Having seen how expensive food was at a certain chain of public houses in Manchester, my friends decided we'd head off to Bury on a tram.
"Don't worry, it's only 20-25 minutes", they said.
Almost 35 minutes later, we arrive in Bury and head into said Public house. Lunch is duly consumed and back we go, this time only as far as Victoria. By now it's absolutely chucking it down and seeing people smoking in the rain outside the bus station is yet another reminder that smoking is a bad idea.
Our driver clearly likes driving quickly, a rather spirited run back to Victoris followed. We check times of trains from Vic and, disaster, the Ordsall Chord train leaves three minutes before we arrive. That's not ideal.
Ah well, we duly arrive in Victoria (shack #4) and the Ordsall chord train is still there! A quick sprint follows and, despite a misunderstanding at the gateline, we manage to make the train formed of winner 158756, thanks to a 66-hauled freight train getting in the way. Ordsall chord, tick. Occy Road (#5), tick.
We've been tipped off that the ex-FGW 150 (150122) is working with a pacer today on Preston-Hazel grove runs. We'd seen this on our way into Picc earlier and had made plans to intercept this.
After a 15 minute fester, right on cue, double winners 150122 and 142013 take us to Stockport (#6). Riding in the pacer, it reminded me just why they're buses! I quite like them for the novelty value, if nothing else. This turned out to be the only pacer of the day.
Holmes Chapel-Crewe singles duly purchased, winner 323229 arrives to take us nonstop into Piccadilly and what a cracking run it is. Straight up the fast and early back into Piccadilly.
We have a decision to make: Stalybridge on a busy 185 or airport on a quiet 156?
Airport was the decision and double winners 156489 & 156428 gave it the full beans. It was, by now, dark, so I had absolutely no idea where we were if we stopped. Fun.
Next train back to Picc is winner 185130. It took 10 minutes of standing in the cold waiting for them to release the doors. Ugh.
We got a table once we were on, with the unit in eco mode (which had that engine shut down), though it duly restarted on departure.
The guard comes through checking tickets, he's sceptical about our group ticket and isn't sure about the validity for three people "it doesn't say it's for three people". In the end he gives up once he learns we're getting off at Piccadilly.
The engine shuts down again under eco mode around Heald Green. just randomly, on the move. Thankfully the auxiliiaries continuing to be crossfed confirms we haven't broken down. It's then uneventful, albeit slow, into Picc.
By now we've got an hour until our train to Crewe (last via Airport of the day!), so we decide we won't risk going too far out. having picked up some refreshments, we instead opt for a leap to occy road with double winners 185113 & 185102 (rear engine out again due to eco mode).
Awaiting the ex Scotland back into Picc with the hope of a winning unit, no bloody chance. Not only is it the first dud of the day, both of them are dud (I've only had three of the /4s grr). So 350408 & 350402 lead us into PIccadilly (right down platform 13, miles from civilization!)
Final northern move of the day, winner 323224 all the way to Crewe via the Airport. 2 minutes late away from Picc and 4 late at the airport sees a cracking run result, including running at 90 nonstop Alderley Edge to Holmes Chapel! We'd wanted the windows open to hear the IGBT kits absolutely screaming their guts out but didn't out of basic courtesy to the other punters. Once the last punter got off at Sandback, we eventually opened the window, and immediately regretted it. Christ was it cold!
We duly arrived into Crewe, where we had a 45 minute fester until our booked train back to London. Except that 45 minutes turns into about 50 as the up fast isn't available just south of the station (some sort of signalling issue)-a 350 had sat in the platform for a good 10 minutes as we arrived. It'd also started late from Manchester for some reason. Crewe station was rather nippy in the interim.
Around five minutes before our train was due, the signallers had put a terminating 350 into our booked platform 1, so cue switch to platform 5, for correct formation winner 350154 on 1A66 back to London, calling at Milton Keynes on the way. Leaving Crewe we weaved to the Up Slow then back because of the signalling issue (12 minutes late after this), before we put the power down and went for it.
Until we got to Rugby, that was. A late ex Scotland via Birmingham coming off the flyover brought us down to about 50mph through Rugby station. This let it get some headway and we put the power down until about Wolverton, at which point we were now third in a queue of trains calling at Milton Keynes. We came down to walking pace, before moving forward into the station.
Quick stop over and we duly press onwards to London. Sitting at the disabled end of the carriage, having Will Ferrell speak for an eternity every time someone wanted to use the facilities, it wore very thin.
I'd noted we were booked into platform 1 at Euston. Impossible as the beds were in there. So after rolling along, we eventually rolled into platform 4 only 8 minutes late. 92010 was on the buffers, waiting for the beds to move so it could go and pick up the Lowland Sleeper.
I was eager to make a quick getaway so that I could get onto the tube before the football match kicked out (Arsenal vs Chelsea, 2-2), but picked northern then picc rather than vic then picc, which probably added a couple of minutes but saved me walking at Green Park.
It was uneventful as far as Hammersmith, where we caught something up and at one point got overtaken by an S stock after coming to a stand.
Finally, after being out for at least 14 hours, a lift home from the airport, straight to bed and I slept 12 hours straight last night. It was glorious.
What will I do next, I wonder?
Winning units- 18
Winning shacks- 6
Mainline miles- 473 & 52ch
So I just spent two and a half hours writing that. Ultimate procrastination. I welcome feedback.
Mmm 156 thrash
