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Cactus' UK & European rail travels

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cactustwirly

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10 Apr 2013
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Nice run with the Power Cars. Snow pics are always great.

Thanks!

The 2nd HST set was the one with a First Class carriage pretending to be coach D.
I did try to get it this time, but alas it was absolutely rammed (the public had finally worked it out after 2 months!), so the only place I could actually board was a vestibule in coach C.
 

cactustwirly

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One last time... 13/12/17

I had a bit of free time after Uni, so I managed to fit in a trip to start clearing the Robin Hood Line.

I got the 14:25 from Leicester formed of duds 43081 & 43089 (same set as Sunday)

IMG_20171213_142507 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20171213_145715 by litecactus, on Flickr

I had a 25 minute fester at Nottingham, so a coffee was procured.
I could have got a 222, for a smaller fester but that wouldn't have been as fun.

Eventually winner 156497 took me to Newstead

IMG_20171213_151332 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20171213_154655_01 by litecactus, on Flickr

Newstead was chosen because it had a short fester and a good connection onto a HST to Leicester.

This picture pretty much sums up Newstead, a bit deprived but much better than the South Wales Valleys and the Yorkshire coalfield towns (aka Knottingley)

IMG_20171213_154711 by litecactus, on Flickr

Winner 156410 (my first 'proper'* 156) took me back to Nottingham. *An Ex Central trains unit, the ex Northern 156s do follow me around.

IMG_20171213_155404_01 by litecactus, on Flickr

The line was quite fun, especially when it zoomed past the Tram stops.

Winner 43050 and dud 43052 were on the 1630 home

IMG_20171213_161617 by litecactus, on Flickr

I found a nice table seat in coach E. However one of the powercars had a fault (typical :rolleyes:) the fault was intially fixed by a fitter, so the train departed, and stopped 5 metres later. After more faffing it was announced that it would be cancelled.

So I caught the 1705 which was a bloody Meridian!!:{:{:{
I wasn't happy at all, because the only seat I could find was reserved from Loughborough (thank god they didn't turn up)
The 222s are inadequate at the best of times, so It was standing room only from Nottingham and crushed when it left Leicester.

It was winner 222018 BTW, not that it matters, I have no interest in the horrible things.

IMG_20171213_174107 by litecactus, on Flickr

Sorry if I sound like an old grumpy man, but I was fuming about the 222. I've had much worse, but for some reason I haven't felt as angry/dissapointed as I did today.

This is really my last trip in the East Midlands of the year, but who knows I might have another trip up my sleeve...

New shacks: 2
New traction: 3.5
Cost: £9.70 - £4.85 in Delay Repay
 
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TT-ONR-NRN

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Farnham
I love Meridians! I wouldn’t mind some of those closer to home! I think they’re really attractive (externally). They also have a nice interior - I’m surprised you’re not a fan considering you dislike the EMT HST seating!

Will you still count 43050 as a dud now in future or consider it a winner still as you only went 5 metres?
 

cactustwirly

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I love Meridians! I wouldn’t mind some of those closer to home! I think they’re really attractive (externally). They also have a nice interior - I’m surprised you’re not a fan considering you dislike the EMT HST seating!

Will you still count 43050 as a dud now in future or consider it a winner still as you only went 5 metres?

You've got Voyagers, they're pretty much identical except Meridians have a slightly nicer ambience and slightly better seats.
It's counted as a partial dud, with a red colour (instead of green) on my spreadsheet. I've also highlighted it in red on my red pen post.
 

TT-ONR-NRN

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You've got Voyagers, they're pretty much identical except Meridians have a slightly nicer ambience and slightly better seats.
It's counted as a partial dud, with a red colour (instead of green) on my spreadsheet. I've also highlighted it in red on my red pen post.

I prefer Meridians definitely to Voyagers. Though I love the sound of a Super Voyager departing!
 

cactustwirly

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Across the Pond 24/08/17

fishquinn reminded me of this trip which seems to have slipped through the net.

Anyway I was on holiday in the NY state area.
After a decent flight on BA G-ZZZC a Boeing 777 from LHR to EWR (Newark), the annoying immigration at US airports, the hire car was collected.
We drove to our overnight stopover at Highland which is across the Hudson from Poughkeepsie.
I couldn't resist the opportunity for American loco haulage, so we headed into Poughkeepsie and parked the car in the multi story opposite the station.
Our overpriced tickets were purchased, $12 for 10 miles!
Since I was with my parents, who have no interest in trains whatsoever, I chose Cold spring because it's a quaint village.

We boarded the hourly commuter service to New York in the nick of time, and found an alright backwards facing airline bench seat (it was a 2+3 carriage)
The train set off down the Hudson.
The train fot up to quite some speed, and the journey was scenic.

IMG_20170824_092726 by litecactus, on Flickr

The P32s make one hell of a noise when they accelerate!

At Cold spring we had a walk round and had a trainspot of the freight train from the opposite side of the Hudson.

We arrived back at the station with a few minutes to wait.

IMG_20170824_105003 by litecactus, on Flickr

Out train was a few minutes late, but there were no information boards - just paper timetables which was a bit annoying.
My train back was a another push-pull set hauled by a heritage liveried P32.

IMG_20170824_110425~2 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20170824_110841 by litecactus, on Flickr

The rest of the holiday consisted of a tour of NY state, including Albany, Ithaca, Niagra Falls (Canadian side obviously) & finishing in New York.
 

fishquinn

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Warwickshire
Ah, the States. What an excellent place to be. Was the $12 for all three of you? If so then that's not too bad: about £9 for the equivalent of 60 miles (10 miles each way for 3 if I'm correct?)

Certainly making me want to go back.
 

cactustwirly

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Ah, the States. What an excellent place to be. Was the $12 for all three of you? If so then that's not too bad: about £9 for the equivalent of 60 miles (10 miles each way for 3 if I'm correct?)

Certainly making me want to go back.

No, $12 each, each way. So $24 each for a return
 

cactustwirly

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Booked my tickets for Tuesday, should hopefully be some HSTs (although they will be of the MTU variety)
 

cactustwirly

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The death knell has sounded... 19/12

I had to be at Reading for 3pm, so I planned to go to Chippenham whilst I was waiting.
Since GWR were offering the most pointless advances (same price as an off peak single!), I split my tickets at Didcot.

I caught the 1201 from Twyford which was formed of 165114, which was still in unbranded green.

I caught duds 43035 & 43004 to Chippenham, I found a nice table seat in coach D.

IMG_20171219_122456 by litecactus, on Flickr

It was a fun journey, especially when the train got up to speed between Didcot and Swindon.
Although it wasn't as fun as the tight corners on the MML

IMG_20171219_131444 by litecactus, on Flickr

Arrival into Chippenham was 2 minutes early.
I procured a sandwich from Subway, and had a mooch around town.
Chippenham is nic but quite small.

I arrived back at the station to phot 800018 & 800015 on the 1325 Paddington service.

IMG_20171219_133810 by litecactus, on Flickr

Winner 43196 and dud 43017 took me back to Reading.

IMG_20171219_135551 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20171219_144116 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20171219_144128 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20171219_144533 by litecactus, on Flickr

I saw another 800 pair at Reading

IMG_20171219_144158 by litecactus, on Flickr

The GWR HSTs look like they are taking a lot of strain with a number of 7 car formations.
Hence the title, in January it looks like the 800 introduction will be in full swing. I bet the 800 diagrams will significantly ramp up.
Dare I say it, but I actually prefer the EMT HSTs, because they don't have stupid tinted glazing and they have a better seating layout (still don't like the seats). And obviously the EMT sets have the better powercars.

Winners: 1
Shacks: 0
Ching: £16.45 + £3.80 lunch
 
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TT-ONR-NRN

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Farnham
Chippenham 19/12

I had to be at Reading for 3pm, so I planned to go to Chippenham whilst I was waiting.
Since GWR were offering the most pointless advances (same price as an off peak single!), I split my tickets at Didcot.

I caught the 1201 from Twyford which was formed of 165114, which was still in unbranded green.

I caught duds 43035 & 43004 to Chippenham, I found a nice table seat in coach D.

IMG_20171219_122456 by litecactus, on Flickr

It was a fun journey, especially when the train got up to speed between Didcot and Swindon.
Although it wasn't as fun as the tight corners on the MML

IMG_20171219_131444 by litecactus, on Flickr

Arrival into Chippenham was 2 minutes early.
I procured a sandwich from Subway, and had a mooch around town.
Chippenham is nic but quite small.

I arrived back at the station to phot 800018 & 800015 on the 1325 Paddington service.

IMG_20171219_133810 by litecactus, on Flickr

Winner 43196 and dud 43017 took me back to Reading.

IMG_20171219_135551 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20171219_144116 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20171219_144128 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20171219_144533 by litecactus, on Flickr

I saw another 800 pair at Reading

IMG_20171219_144158 by litecactus, on Flickr

The GWR HSTs look like they are taking a lot of strain with a number of 7 car formations.
Dare I say it, but I actually prefer the EMT HSTs, because they don't have stupid tinted glazing and they have a better seating layout (still don't like the seats). And obviously thr EMT sets have the better powercars.

I also would rather go on one of the EMT sets :D

Good read btw as usual.
 

TheAdelante

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14 Nov 2017
Messages
269
It always seemed to be 450s! Now I seem to always see 458/s and my brother kept seeing 707s
 

cactustwirly

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UK
All good things must come to an end! 27/12/17

I had an hour spare whilst my family was in Windsor so I headed off to Staines to clear the Riverside line shacks, these being the last in Berkshire that I require.

I originally planned to get the 1148 from Riverside, but this was cancelled, so after a freezing wait I caught the 1218 which was formed of a pair of 455s. I took a seat in the motor coach obviously!

IMG_20171227_115941 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20171227_120202 by litecactus, on Flickr

I was a bit surprised since I was expecting a 458/5 or a 707.

The motor thrash was brilliant.
After 10 minutes I arrived in Staines, I had a 15 minute wait for another pair of 455s back to Windsor.

IMG_20171227_124921 by litecactus, on Flickr

I met up with my family for the journey back to Twyford via Slough, which was my last ride on a 'mainline' turbo, which made me feel quite sad.

It's been a brilliant year for me, the highlights of the year have been: clearing the Shoeburyness line; Pembroke Dock HST & starting on the East Midlands network.
 
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cactustwirly

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Every Cloud has a Silver Lining 29/12/17

I had originally planned to do this in January when the 387s are in service from Twyford. However I read these had started a few days early, and to beat the January fares rise, I scheduled it for today.

This trip aimed to clear one of the biggest gaps on my 'track' map

I was planning to get the 0840 from Twyford to Paddington, however due to a fatality at Ealing no trains were running from Twyford.
I dashed home, and luckily I managed to get a lift to High Wycombe (my Mum was heading that way anyway)
Another stroke of luck saw me get 68015 to Marylebone, which I only made because it was a few minutes late.

IMG_20171229_091731 by litecactus, on Flickr

The line to Marylebone was winner track for me, and it was my first time getting a train into Marylebone.

IMG_20171229_094445 by litecactus, on Flickr

I made quick dash to Waterloo via Baker St on a refurbished Jubilee line set, to get 375607 and 375309 from Waterloo International to Ashford International.

IMG_20171229_101118 by litecactus, on Flickr

Scoring the ex Eurostar Flyover after Vauxhall. It was quite a slow stagger to Hither Green (after which would all we winner track until East Croydon), but after that it was quite a fun ride, I never knew that electrostars were very fun at high speed.
Orpington to Tonbridge was quite scenic. I had another disguised bit of luck, because my train was delayed at Sevenoaks, however this mean't that I wouldn't have to fester in the cold for very long at Ashford.

Anyway I caught winner 171723 to Hastings, not a huge fan of 171s because the seats are more uncomfortable than 170s and the engine is even more droney.
The journey was quite dull tbh.

IMG_20171229_131310 by litecactus, on Flickr

Anyway there was enough time to phot the lovely semaphores.

IMG_20171229_131518 by litecactus, on Flickr

Winner 377472 took me to Lewes.
The 377s are so much better than 171s

IMG_20171229_132412 by litecactus, on Flickr

There were some beautiful sea views between St Leonards & Bexhill, rivalling those at Chalkwell.

IMG_20171229_134058 by litecactus, on Flickr

After a reversal at Eastbourne my train arrived into Lewes early.

IMG_20171229_142655_01 by litecactus, on Flickr

I had a long fester here for my Victoria trian, so a latte was had at the excellent cafe on the platform.
A 313 was photted here.

IMG_20171229_144318 by litecactus, on Flickr

Winner 377149 took me to Haywards Heath, where it joined with winner 377156 from Littlehampton, which took me on a speedy run to London Victoria.
I do like the OBS concept, since there is a lot more passenger interaction than a traditional guard IME.

IMG_20171229_145250_01 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20171229_155904 by litecactus, on Flickr

A quick dash was made to Paddington, via Green Park & Baker Street.
I caught a very busy winner 387156 home to Twyford.

IMG_20171229_163055 by litecactus, on Flickr

IMG_20171229_173246 by litecactus, on Flickr
 

Kite159

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West of Andover
A varied little day that :)

The secret with the 171s out of Ashford is to aim for the first class area as it be declassified ;)
 
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