Stafford & Tamworth - Wednesday 4th July 2018
So after a few false starts, I finally got round to my visit to Tamworth via Stafford (of course). I'd set my stall out to focus on the high level with my targets being to get the 170s off and running and also see a 60 or two and a hst set.
The day began at Stoke-on-Trent and it would be 2 local stoppers that got me off and running as 153381 on the Crewe-Derby run and 323239 ex Manchester Piccadilly were my first successes of the day. Non-required 220001 was my traction for the journey to Stafford with my journey being made better by the sight of required 66014 at the Wagon works outside of Stoke station. Not a bad start to the day and 350257 maintained my decent start as my first success at Stafford. This was followed up by needed 66570 running the 0250 Felixstowe North FLT to Garston FLT. 68030 soon followed and became only the 4th of the 68 fleet I've been able to tick off thus far, however I have to admit I think these are fast becoming my favourite loco of the modern era. 350255 would prove to be my only other success during my short morning stint at Stafford. A trip into town was necessary before returning to board the 1155 London North Western service to London Euston to take me down the tracks to the main attraction of the day, Tamworth station. 350117 would be the first 350 unit I'd ever travelled on and I have to say, I really enjoyed the ride. The coaches feel spacious, the air con worked well and I was impressed by the pull the unit had from a standing start.
Anyway, 25 minutes later and I was in Tamworth and having spent the first few minutes getting used to the setup, I was rewarded with my first success there thanks to 66040. I met a couple of guys from the South East (never asked if they use this but in case they do, it was a pleasure to spend the day with you. Enjoy chatting to and learning from people I meet on days out) and they offered some tips about best place to be to see as much as possible so I perched myself at the top of the stairs from P2 to P3 and waited for the fun to begin. My first 170 success came soon after as 170115 arrived with 105 following up a few minutes later. Another first was next as 325012 became my first success on the low level and the high level was meeting my expectations with regards to ticking off 170s as 170103 was next before 220024 edged me ever closer to completing my first set. A triple whammy next as 3 stoppers arrived in the form of 350107, 170116 and 170523 and all were needed. 66121 and 170117 were the next to be chalked off but then came the first of a few lulls through the day with 66162 being my only success in the next 40 minutes. I also created a dilemma for myself as I found out that the elusive 390049 was running through Stafford at around 15:30 - should I end my first trip to Tamworth early to go and clear my first set?
I soldiered on (for now maybe) and the lull was ended with a 10 minute burst as first 170s 110 and 518 were knocked off and then 221124 took me to within 2 of the completion of the 221 Voyager units. 170520 completed this short burst of winners before another 40 minute lull occurred complimented by a lot of missed voyager and pendolino numbers on the low level. My chance of heading back to Stafford for missing Pendolino 049 had now come and gone so it was to be all about Tamworth for the next few hours and the latest quite period was shattered by required 66546 before winners 350124 and 170111 took my daily win rate up to 26 with still around 5 hours of the spotting day remaining. It was around this time, however, that everything slowed to a stop on the WCML with a southbound Pendolino being held in P2 and the other lines remaining unoccupied. The pendolino driver came up to chat with us as 'he'd always wanted to see what was on the high level' and it was him who told us of the fatality at Watford causing issues seemingly all the way down the WCML. The high level came to life, though, and I received a nice bonus as 57007 and 57002 came through running the 1441 Bescot Up Engineers Sdg to Toton North Yard and these were followed by 60100 on the steel train to Wolverhampton. A nice little triple and the 2nd of my targets of the day ticked off. Things were now moving on the low level once again and 66s 124 and 567 were my next winners before 170397 kept up my 170 successes. It was more 66 fun next as 66599 and 67518 made welcome appearances before my excitement levels were raised by a train despatcher (yes, you read that right). His positioning was different for the 1S51 1225 Plymouth to Glasgow Central, almost as though he knew this was a longer train than the Voyagers and this could mean only one thing couldn't? Giving up the chance to see my final Pendolino was made worthwhile by the appearance of the beauty that is a hst set and suddenly, as 43304 and 43303 appeared into the station, I was taken back to being a 10 year old kid loving the era of spotting in the 1990s. After this it really didn't matter that I only managed 1 winner in the form of 170106 during my final hour at Tamworth, nor did it matter that my train back to Stafford was 50 minutes late because I'd enjoyed that buzz of excitement at the sight of a marvel of engineering. And almost as though Tamworth wanted to say a fond farewell to me, it was winner 350250 that took me back up the line to Stafford.
I had earmarked the 2003 train back north so that left me approx 90 minutes to finish the day with a few successes at Stafford. These started immediately thanks to 220012 and 350254 was not far behind as my numbers of 350 units continued to slowly creep up. Another Voyager success next as 220021 took me to within 4 of completing these units. The race was really on between the Pendolinos and the Voyagers to be my first complete set. There was a nice surprise as the day drew to a close, with 323216 making a guest appearance before 350259 and 350252 took my tally of 350s to 61 seen. It had been a good day, all targets hit and plenty of winners marked off and with just 15 minutes of time left before my train home arrived it was confirmed as the perfect day. The issues around Watford earlier in the day had seen changes to services and more importantly (for me anyway) changes to which unit ran which service and with the sun still shining down on Stafford station it came like a bolt out of the blue as 390049 came flying through the fast lines to finally, after weeks of searching and thinking I was missing a chance earlier in the day, complete my 390 set. Dud 221120 was my Voyager for the journey home but all in all it had been a successful day out finished off very nicely.
My stats
Successes today: 45
Completed sets today: 390 Pendolino
My day rating: 5/5 (couldn't be anything less)
Tamworth stats
Tamworth rating: 3/5 (good day out but too many periods of inactivity and missing numbers on the low level)
What classes you can expect to see: 43, 57, 60, 66, 70, 86, 90, 170, 220, 221, 350 & 390
Facilities: Shop, Coffee Shop, Toilets (all on P1) and I never tried it but there is a domino's just outside of the station
(and of course parents are not around forever so make the most of time with them is my philosophy).
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Me and technology are not friends
