I've been extremely busy of late, a situation that's likely to continue for the next three and a half years, meaning my visits to the forum have been very infrequent.
That doesn't mean actual train trips have been neglected, though.
My first big move of the year saw me spending a few days in that there London.
Mrs 13 was going to head to Bridlington at the same time, so I decided that, as there was no need to be at home on the Wednesday evening, I would head down after work and start my unit chasing first thing on Thursday morning.
I have a few hours TOIL accrued at work so arranged to leave at 16.30 instead of my usual 18.00.
As an aside; instead of my usual Friday off, I'd worked a morning a few weeks previously covering for a colleague.
The afternoon was spent doing a quick shack scratch, with
Ashton-under-Lyne being roped in.
The 6th of March had begun with my usual walk to Low Moor which was followed by 158848 to Halifax on the 07.39.
Nine hours later I joined 150225 for the run from Halifax to Leeds.
I was booked on the 18.15 to Kings Cross, a service that I'd checked and was booked a 91.
Sadly, but not unusually, there had been some set swapping at the London end and the loco that should have gone to Leeds went instead to Edinburgh.
The Leeds service was now formed of the train that had come in from Aberdeen.
I'd ascertained all this from RTT before I reached Leeds, so I knew my 91 mileage figures weren't going to improve.
I still need 43272 of the LNER fleet.
Naturally, that wasn't what I got.
High mileage 43309 and 43307 did the deed.
I don't chase HSTs but do go after 91s; nevertheless my mileage off these two is greater than that of my lowest couple of the electrics.
Once at Kings Cross I strolled over to St Pancras and the first winner of the move,
700134, which was taken to East Croydon and my usual Travelodge.
Thursday began with a full breakfast before walking round to East Croydon.
It was still early and rush hour was in full swing.
Trains towards London are best avoided at that time of day, so it was away from the capital I headed.
My plan was simple - fill the busy time with some new stations, then go after traction later.
377606 was first up, which was nice as it was a mileage requirement.
By the time I left it at
Caterham it had joined the ten mile club.
EMU 377606_2019.03.07_Caterham by
Phil Wood, on Flickr
Winner
377619 was stood in waiting to depart, I had time to get a couple of photos before I boarded for the 2 and a bit mile run to
Whyteleafe.
Required
455839 took me all the way from Whyteleafe to
Whyteleafe South.
It had a partner and that was dud 455842.
I hung about for a bit then re-joined them for a longer run.
Winning station
Streatham was where I left them, ensuring 839 joined 842 in the TMC.
Obviously by now rush hour was over but I had one more shack I wanted to rope in and that was
Kenley.
This was reached on new to me
455803 and mileage requirement 455821.
EMU 455821_2019.03.07_Kenley by
Phil Wood, on Flickr
The same pair were then taken back to East Croydon and a change of tactic.
700114 was taken to London Bridge.
It was Southeastern that I was now interested in.
Winning pair
465021 and
465183 were first, to
Belvedere.
465038 was working with 465015.
The latter was dud but was needed for riding in, so I took them into Charing Cross, where I left 038, walked down the platform and boarded 015 for the short trip back to London Bridge.
Also required for riding in was 465183.
I'd sat in 021 earlier but hadn't forgotten its compadre.
RTT had been studied and I knew what they would be doing, so it was just a case of waiting a few minutes before they arrived from Cannon Street and I was on my way to
Westcombe Park.
A triple set was next, but not a very exciting one.
Requirement
465171 was sandwiched between 466036 and 466009.
These were taken for the five miles into Cannon Street.
171 remained under ten miles, but I decided to forego another run on it and get something new instead.
376013 and
376004 provided me with the right stimulation and so I was off to
Erith.
EMU 376004_2019.03.07_Erith by
Phil Wood, on Flickr
Another pair of the same type,
376034 and 376001, took me back to London Bridge where I met up with the earlier pair for a run in 004.
376001 was a source of interest for me.
I'd now had it twice, both times when it had been the other unit in a pair.
Luckily it was on the London end as I had two minutes to get from 376004 to 376001 at Cannon Street.
The evening rush was now getting going, so it was standing room only in 61101 as I made my way to London Bridge.
Getting away from London as quickly as possible was now my objective.
Southeastern was bade farewell and it was back to Southern.
Winner
377617 was on the blocks.
It was wedged so I made my way down to the front unit.
Sadly this was a dud, 377622.
Nevertheless, that's where I went.
I had a plan.
This was a Caterham/Tattenham Corner splitter.
I would stay in the front unit until the splitting point, which was Purley, then stroll back and join the, hopefully now less wedged, unit on the rear for a run to the end of the line.
Nice plan, shame it didn't work out.
Purley was reached without incident, I made my move and found a seat on 377617.
Then an announcement was made.
The line to Caterham was blocked, meaning the front unit couldn't go.
This, in turn, meant the rear set wasn't moving either and the service was cancelled.
Blast.
What to do?
I saw a London bound service was due in, so rapidly made my way over for it.
700058 pulled in and I was London bound once more.
The cogs in my head were spinning.
The worst of the rush hour would be over, so I could say aboard until London Bridge, then do something back out to East Croydon.
Then I had a thought.
In my race to get away from Purley I'd not touched out with my Oyster.
I'd last touched in at 17.40.
Going out at London Bridge wasn't possible without incurring a penalty, similarly touching out elsewhere after 19.20 was a no-no.
I had to forego mileage and bail from the 700 at Norwood Junction in order to remain inside the time limit.
You never get this problem with a paper Travelcard.
I was now ready for something to eat so got another winner for a sub ten-mile run.
This was a new class for the move in the shape of
378144, which was taken to West Croydon.
The day finished with tram 2534 round to Wellesley Road and a visit to Sainsbury.
After that it was back to the hotel, phone my wife, eat my food and have an early night.
On the whole I was happy with the day, although the end had been a bit frustrating.