DH Trip Reports

[Kite159]

Sounded like another trio of productive days in this part of the world, I bet the bus was quite scenic

 

[Dhassell]

That looked like a very enjoyable Rover. Quite a variety of trains too.
Liked the accompanying photos.

It was a very enjoyable rover indeed and yes I did cover a lot of trains! Glad you liked the photos!

Sounded like another trio of productive days in this part of the world, I bet the bus was quite scenic

Aye yes, the bus journey was very scenic! Bit of traffic approaching Brockenhurst station mind, as the level crossing blocked it up!

 

[Dhassell]

This post is mainly a few mini trip reports which took place at the end of August, a couple of new places and a couple of old places.

21/8 Tamworth

08:33 WSM – Birmingham New Street 220023
10:49 Birmingham New Street – Tamworth 170518
I then spent a few hours photographing freight at Tamworth…

Freightliner 70011 Containers, Tamworth LL 21.8.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
Freightliner 66544 Cement, Tamworth HL 21.8.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
DB Cargo 66009 Containers, Tamworth HL 21.8.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
Freightliner 90048 + 90016 Containers, Tamworth LL 21.8.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

17:35 Tamworth – Birmingham New Street 170117
18:12 Birmingham New Street – Bristol TM 221135 + 221138
20:17 Bristol TM – WSM 43137 + 43150
Due to the Birmingham to Bristol train running 20 minutes late, I arrived home 33 minutes late, meaning I was able to claim delay repay!

23/8 Peterborough via London.

Today’s plan was to head to London Via Salisbury before heading over to Kings Cross to head to Peterborough with Virgin Trains EC. I had managed to find some advanced tickets a day or two before.
06:20 WSM – Bristol Temple Meads 43027 + 43009
07:22 Bristol Temple Meads – Salisbury 158958
08:42 Salisbury – Reading (Diverted SWT) 158880 + 159108
09:54 Reading to London Paddington 43176 + 43133
10:30 Paddington – Euston Sq 21555 + 21556
10:41 Euston Sq – KXX 21081 + 21082.
I then headed up stairs at Kings Cross and onto my train, which happened to be the EMT Plush set. Formed of double winners 43089 + 43058.

East Midlands Trains 43058, London Kings Cross 23.8.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I alighted these at Peterborough. Where I spent from 12 till 4pm photographing passing trains and freight. As well as having a walk to the bus station.

Virgin Trains East Coast HST's Passing, Peterborough 23.8.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
GBRF 66767, Peterborough 23.8.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
Virgin Trains East Coast Hire In DB Cargo 90036, Peterborough 23.8.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr
Virgin Trains East Coast Battle of Britain Memorial 91110, Peterborough 23.8.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

4pm soon came and it was time to await the 16:08 service to London Kings Cross formed of winner 43306 and unfortunately dud 43305, which annoyingly I had got on a XC hire in a few weeks back! The hour journey back to Kings Cross was very nice, and I arrived into KGX at 17:00, with the aim of getting the 17:26 from Waterloo! I ran down to the Victoria Line platforms and boarded winners 11092 + 11093 to Oxford Circus, before making the quick but uneventful dash to the Bakerloo Line platforms and onto winner 3235, due to the rush I missed the other end. I run up the escalators and make it onto a ram packed 444009 + 444010, I take a seat on the floor for the 40-minute ride to Basingstoke. I decide to head out the station as I had 30 minutes. On the way out I am handed a strawberry ice cream by the SWR staff due to the ongoing engineering works at Waterloo. I spend 5 mins outside the station before re-entering and being handed a bottle of water and 3 small packs of jelly beans. I head up to the platforms and am handed another ice cream, was well worth heading out!

Now double duds 158880 + 159108 roll in to take me to Salisbury, before I take a quick run outside to get a Chinese omelette. I head back onto the station and board 158958 back to Bristol Tm before taking 43149 + 43140 back to WSM!

Winning Units: 13
Shacks cleared: 2

Winning Units YTD: 375
Shacks cleared YTD: 139

 

[Kite159]

A busy day spotting in Peterbrough

 

[Cowley]

I did chuckle at all the ice creams. Can you charge them for delay-tooth decay?

 

[Dhassell]

I did chuckle at all the ice creams. Can you charge them for delay-tooth decay?

I wasn't going to turn down another one. . Not sure about the second point :roll:

 

[Dhassell]

2/9 Old Oak Common Open Day.

It was an early wake up of 5:30am, I was down at the station at 6am for the 06:24 train direct to London Paddington formed of winner 43195 and dud 43017. I arrive into London at 08:42 , and make my way straight down onto the Bakerloo line platforms and board double winners 3441 + 3256 to Queens Park, before joining 378203 to Willesden Junction. I follow the hordes of people towards OOC depot for the open day, spending from opening until just before 3pm in the depot!
I also scored Railmotor 93 from just outside OOC HST shed road 15 to just next to the washers, this was a very nice ride!

GWR 43093 'Old Oak Common HST Depot 1976 - 2018', OOC 111 Old Oak Common Open Day 2017 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

OOC 111 3 Generations Line Up, OOC 111 Old Oak Common Open Day 2017 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

GWR 57603, OOC 111 Old Oak Common Open Day 2017 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I leave the depot and just manage to connect with the bus at the top of the road, putting me back at Willesden Junction at 15:15. I jump onboard dud 378256 to my first new shack of the day, West Hampstead (LO). I then walk up the road to West Hampstead Thameslink before joining winner 700034 to Hendon, before coming back to West Hampstead TL on winner 700028. I head back down the road, picking up a drink in costa. Before reading West Hampstead (LU).

First, I join winner 96047 (I missed the rear number) to Finchley Road, before joining 96071 + 96088 to Swiss Cottage, and then onto 96017 + 96104 to St John's Wood and finally 96061 + 96056 to Baker Street. I then join 21059 + 21060 to Great Portland Street and then 21041 + 21042 to Euston Square. I then take the 205 bus from Euston to Marylebone, before taking 3250 + 3263 to Paddington.

I then join duds 43193 + 43182 back to Reading, and finally duds 43088 + 43198 back to Weston!

9/9 Pilning

On this day, the plan was to get the most awkward station in my local area cleared. This being Pilning. I took the bus from Cribbs Causeway to Pilning village, before walking a mile up the road to Pilning station!

GWR 158763, Pilning 9.9.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I had a 30 minute wait before dud 158763 rolled in to take me to Patchway, where I boarded a bus back to Cribbs Causeway.

23/9 Cheshire Day Ranger.

As usual, I was down the station for the 06:24 service. This morning I would be taking it as far as Bristol Temple Meads, I forgot to note down the power cars at the time, and my requests on the TOPs page never got answered. A made a +3 connection onto dud 221124 for the long run up to Stoke-on-Trent, this took two and a half hours. I had a few minutes to wait here before winner 390013 rolls in to take me onwards to Stockport. From Stockport I had just over 10 minutes to wait before 323227 rolled in to take me to my first new shack of the day, Heaton Chapel. I have a 10-minute wait here on the same platform before winner 142012 rolls in to take me to my second shack of the day Levenshulme. I made my way to the other platform before winner 142027 rolled in to take me back to Stockport.

Northern Rail 323227, Heaton Chapel 23.9.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

Next up was winner 390049 to take me into Manchester Piccadilly. After 15 minutes walking around, I decide to take winner 319361 to Manchester Airport. Weirdly enough this unit has been debranded and no longer in its old northern colours! Once at the airport, I head upstairs to see if I could see any planes. I head along the walkway and spot a few coming into land and parked on the apron. I head back to MIA station for join winner 185134 back to Manchester Piccadilly. I head into the centre for a bit, collecting trams, before buying a return to Manchester Victoria on the tram. Firstly winner 3058 takes me to Victoria, where I spend 20 minutes collecting some northern units, before returning to Piccadilly on winner 3032. Next up I take winner 158847 to Manchester Oxford Road, where I then join winner 156425 and dud 156468 to Deansgate. I have 15 minutes here before winners 142058 + 150119 roll in to take me back to Manchester Oxford Road. I have a 5-minute wait here before winner 185113 rolls in to take me back to Manchester Piccadilly.

Northern Rail 319361, Manchester Airport 23.9.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

For my next set of moves, I take 390121 to Stockport, and then join 323239 to Cheadle Hulme, before taking dud 323227 back to Stockport. I next take double winners 150228 + 150113 back to Manchester Piccadilly. The time is already getting on towards 16:20. My train home is the 17:00 back to Temple Meads. I decide to catch winner 390047 on the 16:35 service. I decide to take this to required shack Macclesfield. I have a little walk outside the station and find a reasonably priced fried chicken shop, I purchase some chicken and chips before walking back to the station and boarding dud 220027 back to Bristol Temple Meads, eating my dinner on the train. The train arrives into Temple Meads at 20:05. And I then join double duds 43071 + 43186 back to Weston!

Northern Rail 142012, Levenshulme 23.9.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

Winning Units: 38
Shacks cleared: 12

Winning Units YTD: 413
Shacks cleared YTD: 151

 

[fishquinn]

A good few trips by the sound of it and congratulations on getting Pilning. Out of interest what ticket did you have for Manchester?

EDIT: Just noticed that it was a Cheshire day ranger

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a good trip to the open day, a good trip to bag Pilning & a productive day in Cheshire

 

[Dhassell]

A good few trips by the sound of it and congratulations on getting Pilning. Out of interest what ticket did you have for Manchester?

EDIT: Just noticed that it was a Cheshire day ranger

Split tickets to Stoke-on-Trent. Cheshire Day Ranger from there!

Sounded like a good trip to the open day, a good trip to bag Pilning & a productive day in Cheshire

Pilning was very quiet! A vast difference to the overcrowdedness of OOC

 

[Techniquest]

Some busy times there, it must be said!

 

[Cowley]

Some great trips there Dhass. I like 43093 in that livery. I hadn't seen that before.
Good photos too with lots of variety.

 

[Dhassell]

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Diesel Weekend 7/10

On the morning of this day, I was not entirely decided where to go, I set my alarm for 06:30 as I didn’t fancy a very early start, and headed down to the station for 7am to board the 07:08 train formed of dud 150232 all the way up to Bristol Temple Meads, where I had 15 minutes to spare until dud 220006 rolled in to take me north to Cheltenham Spa.

I alighted at Cheltenham Spa and made my way outside to the bus stop to Cheltenham Racecourse and boarded route D formed of a Stagecoach enviro 300. The bus ride was 20 minutes, before I took a 10-minute walk to Cheltenham Racecourse station. I purchased my ticket and made my way down the ramp for the first service of the day.

D8137 Cheltenham Racecourse GWSR Diesel Running Event 7.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I join onboard winner D8137, it certainly did sound good, like a lot of locos on this day! This loco took me to Winchcombe, where I had 15 minutes before 37215 rolled in to take me to Gotherington. Next up was 47376 back to Winchcombe before crossing over again and taking 45149 to Gotherington.

Waiting to Cross, Gotherington GWSR Diesel Running Event 7.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

Next up was now dud 37215 which took me all the way to the end of the line at Toddington. I have 20 minutes here before I join D5343 to Winchcombe, before making a quick dash across the barrow crossing and onto 45149 back to Toddington. I now had an hour before my next planned move, I had a little walk down towards the sidings to see what I could see form the viewing area.

47105 + 24081, Toddington Works GWSR Diesel Running Event 7.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I head back to the station an hour later to board 47376 to Winchcombe before boarding D5343 back to Toddington and then D8137 again back to Winchcombe and then 37215 back Toddington. I had one more move planned for the day and this was to take 37215 and D6948 working in multi back to Cheltenham Racecourse! And wow did they sound good going through the tunnel after Winchcombe! I arrived back at Cheltenham Racecourse at 16:05 before walking back to the bus station stop and getting the bus back to Cheltenham Spa Station!

37215 + D6948, Cheltenham Racecourse GWSR Diesel Running Event 7.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I was able to get back to Cheltenham Spa station within an hour and was able to board 220013 back to Bristol Temple Meads and then finally 43091 + 43041 back to Weston!

Winning Units: 6
Shacks cleared: 4

Winning Units YTD: 419
Shacks cleared YTD: 155

 

[Dhassell]

14/10 Three Bridges Depot Open Day.

It was time for another early start, I was down the station for the 06:24 heading towards London. Unfortunately, Network Rail had said less than two weeks before this date that all the through lines at Reading where shut for the whole weekend, meaning no trains could head to Paddington! Luckily for me some services where being diverted into Oxford, and this included the 06:24, which this morning was formed of double duds 43186 + 43042. Which I took direct to Oxford, A nice little extra was being able to score the line between Foxhall Junction and West Curve Junction which avoids Didcot Parkway all together. As we approached Oxford, the brakes slammed on and we came to a halt at a red signal, just to see a Freightliner Class 66 crossing slowly in front of us into the goods loop! Not good when there was only 5 minutes to connect at Oxford!

Freightliner 66544, Hinksey Yard 14.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

The service crawls in and doors unlock at 08:38 for the 08:40 service to London Marylebone. I start sprinting down the platform, but notice another 200 people are doing the same, so I decide not to rush as I know they will have to hold the train, or they will have a bigger situation with the next service! Surely enough the service is held and departures 6 late and formed of double winners 168322 + 168111, which would run fast from Bicester to London Marylebone, this journey clearing the majority of the Chiltern mainline for me! As I have never done the track south of Princes Risborough on the Chiltern mainline before. We eventually arrive into London Marylebone at 09:46 running 2 minutes late.

I headed down quickly to the Bakerloo Line once the rush of people coming off the train had gone and boarded winner 3233 + 3xxx down to Oxford Circus, before making a nice quick interchange onto winners 11059 + 11060 which took me down to Victoria. I headed down to the TVM’s to pick up a Boundary Zone 6 to Three Bridges return, tried inserting a £10 note but it declined, so I put in a £20 note and it accepted… But pushing out 11 quid’s worth of 50p coins for change… I was not happy! I didn’t have a lot of time, so I shove the change in my pockets to sort out when I made my train!

I make my way to the Gatwick Express platforms and board dud 387209 and winner 387221 for the nonstop journey to Gatwick Airport. I make a quick change to the far side to join winner 700117 to Three Bridges. I follow the crowd towards the depot and then stand in a queue for 1hr 30 minutes! At the end of the line, I was sort of p***ed off and wished I had never bothered! Eventually I got in and walk around for 30 minutes behind finding the exit! For the time I queued, I did not really enjoy it. If I hadn’t had to queue, I would have been happy with what was on show!

Thameslink 700128, Three Bridges Traincare Depot Whistlestop Tour 14.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I headed back to the station and made my next plans. I took winner 377417 to Gatwick Airport, before spending some time here photographing planes, before deciding to jump onboard double winners 377124 + 377438 back to East Croydon and then double winners again 377404 + 377428 to Clapham Junction. I changed tactics at Clapham and decided to join 450071 + 450016 + 450072 nonstop into London Waterloo. I decided to walk across the river and past Charing X to pass a bit of time, before checking NRE and seeing that the train I planned to catch was cancelled, so I took drastic action and decided to rush back up to Marylebone for the hour earlier train. I took double duds 3561 + 3261 back to Marylebone before jumping onboard double winners 168329 + 172101 with about 2 minutes to spare on the 16:52 service. Due to football at Wembley, the service was calling additionally at about 7 stops… At one point I was debating catching the 17:00 service to High Wycombe which would be formed of a 68 set, but decided against it in case it became late and arrived after our service! It did in fact overtake at Ruislip, but I didn’t really fancy the risk.

The service pulled into Oxford on time at 18:25, and luckily the GWR staff had held the 18:25 Swansea service for our train, so I jump onboard double duds 43185 + 43149 with the plan of getting home even earlier with a change at Swindon. Unfortunately, the service was running 6L, and the service departing Didcot after we should have passed ran on time and signaller put the earlier Bristol train in front! Luckily for us, on the approach to Swindon I could still see our train on the platform, so I sprinted over and jumped onboard double duds 43196 + 43041 back to Bristol Temple Meads! As we departed Swindon the guard apologised for the delay to the service and said it was the fault of the signaller who put this train in front of the Swansea, meaning he got stuck behind! Eventually we arrived into Bristol 5 minutes too late for the unit stopper home, so eventually I joined duds 43042 + 43186 for the second time today!

Terminating Voyager, Bristol Temple Meads 14.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

Winning Units: 16
Shacks cleared: 1

Winning Units YTD: 435
Shacks cleared YTD: 156

 

[Kite159]

A good couple little trips there D, shame the open day was a bit busy meaning a long queue.

 

[Cowley]

Apart from the one and a half hour wait (I’d want to see the pyramids if I had to queue for that long) it looked like a good day.
Nice to see the GWR gala have a write up too.
Great photos Dhass.

 

[Dhassell]

A good couple little trips there D, shame the open day was a bit busy meaning a long queue.

Aye, if there wasn't that queue, the day would have been perfect! It wasn't the amount of people there, more the H&S limits they had set!

Apart from the one and a half hour wait (I’d want to see the pyramids if I had to queue for that long) it looked like a good day.
Nice to see the GWR gala have a write up too.
Great photos Dhass.

I bet those waiting for the majority of attractions in central London didn't have to wait that long! Glad to know you like the photos!

 

[Cowley]

I especially like the blue 37 and Peak one at Gotherington. I somehow missed out on that shot.

 

[Techniquest]

Good to hear 20137 is still an animal, I love that thing and need to go back there one day!

Ouch to the waste of time open day at Three Bridges, and indeed the farce caused by Network Rail!

 

[Dhassell]

20/10 Heart of Wessex Rover.

Due to it being a weekday, I was not prepared to fork out extra for an anytime ticket, so decided to use the bus to get to Bristol on this day. I was down at the local bus stop for the 06:40 X2 service towards Bristol Bus Station, surprise, surprise! The bus had broken down and the replacement rolled up at 07:04 with the next service to Bristol! I arrived at 07:55 and made my way quickly to Bristol Temple Meads to pick up a Heart of Wessex Rover!

The main aim for today was to sample one of the brand-new Class 800 trains, as well and try and clear some of my final HST power cars for haulage (9 remained on this morning). Once my ticket was purchased I made my way down to platform one, and boarded winner 166216 to Montpelier and then dud 166208 back to Bristol Temple Meads. To my relief, as the train pulled back into Temple Meads, I could see a pair of IET’s awaiting on platform 15 for me. I was not too sure if they would run today as they had been taken out of service the day before to fix a bug with the doors!

GWR IET 800006, Bristol Temple Meads 20.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I made my way over to platform 15 for the 09:30 service to Swindon, formed of double winners 800005 + 800006. My initial impressions where good, it was clean and tidy, and I felt rather comfortable in my seat! No trolley came through on my initial ride, but I did notice there was more Hitachi engineers and GWR staff than passengers! The train eventually set off, not much vibration at all, and the engine was very quiet! It didn’t feel entirely fast, but this might have just been because of the different environment!

GWR 43125, Chippenham 20.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

The hour passed quickly, and I was soon on the approach to Swindon station. I had worked out I now had an hour until my next required power car was due to show up, so I decided to have a look outside and took a stroll to the nearby bus station. I returned an hour later and sure enough winner 43026 rolled up with dud 43137 which I took all the way to Bristol Parkway. I noticed the other IET diagram was in the platform at Bristol Parkway when I rolled in, but unluckily as soon as my train stopped it pulled away. So, I had a half hour fester before double duds 43174 + 43127 rolled in to take me back to Swindon. I have another hour wait until my next power car is due, which I spend around Swindon station. An hour later winner 43079 and dud 43125 roll in to take me to Chippenham, before double duds 43154 + 43164 roll in to take me back to Swindon.

GWR IET 800008, Swindon 20.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I have another 30 minutes at Swindon, before double winners 800008 + 800009 roll in to take me to Bristol Parkway. The journey goes smoothly and this time I can witness the reservation systems working. I then jump onboard dud 150238 back towards Bristol Temple Meads, before joining winner 43135 and dud 43025 to Bath Spa, before returning on a Class 158 back to Bristol Temple Meads (I missed the Class 158). The service arrives late into Temple Meads, so I dash outside for the first bus towards the bus station, I know I won’t make my bus from the bus station, so I decide to bail at The Centre, but forget where the stop is, so end up at the bus station, I run across the bus station and miss my bus back by about 10 seconds! I decide to catch the next X8 service to Backwell, which I do. I head up the road, and see the bus I missed at Bristol just approaching the stop! So somehow, I manged to overtake it! I get back home roughly 40 minutes later at 18:40!

Winning Units: 8
Shacks cleared: 0

Winning Units YTD: 443
Shacks cleared YTD: 156

 

[Techniquest]

I'm glad you like the 800s DS, which puts you in the same camp as me and noddy1878. Not many of us lot in the regular trip reporters club that have had one yet, although I have the crown of being the first of us lot to have one Mind you your mileage on the class is far better than mine, 3 lots of 11 miles and 60 chains for me!

Something tells me you're not going to get all your GWR HST power cars in the book before they go, a job I cleared on 12th May 2008. By pure chance on my last two, and both involving racing over to South Wales after missing them at Swindon, being glad FGW as it was back then were running bang on time! Not bragging at all...

 

[Dhassell]

I'm glad you like the 800s DS, which puts you in the same camp as me and noddy1878. Not many of us lot in the regular trip reporters club that have had one yet, although I have the crown of being the first of us lot to have one Mind you your mileage on the class is far better than mine, 3 lots of 11 miles and 60 chains for me!

Something tells me you're not going to get all your GWR HST power cars in the book before they go, a job I cleared on 12th May 2008. By pure chance on my last two, and both involving racing over to South Wales after missing them at Swindon, being glad FGW as it was back then were running bang on time! Not bragging at all...

40mi 31ch and 34mi 39ch here on IET's so far!

I only require 5 GWR HST power cars now, so I do feel it is still possible, but I will have to see! It will take some crazy luck, with hopefully them all working London to Cardiff/Swansea and Bristol services!

 

[Cowley]

I’m glad to hear some positive stories about the IETs because lord knows we’ll be stuck with them for a while!
Which GWR power cars do still need Dhass?

 

[Dhassell]

I’m glad to hear some positive stories about the IETs because lord knows we’ll be stuck with them for a while!
Which GWR power cars do still need Dhass?

I am glad I like them as well! As I expect I will spend a lot of time on them myself!
The GWR power cars I need are;
43040
43053
43133
43161
43168
I hope to head out Friday to try and get a couple more (Or all of them )

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a good day picking up some HSTs & 800s for your book

 

[Dhassell]

25/10 Lower Marches Line

I was on an even earlier bus this morning, the 06:20 to Bristol Bus Station, which took an hour and a half, arriving at 07:45. I picked up a cup of tea at the Pumpkin and boarded the 07:00 Severn Express bus route to Newport. I decided to catch the 0800, as it is the last bus which avoids Cribbs Causeway, and takes roughly a hour to Newport via Chepstow! I arrived into Newport Bus Station just after 9am and made my way sharpish to Newport Railway Station to pick up my tickets.

First West of England Severn Express MMC YX66 WGP 33489, Cribbs Causeway Bus Station 1.9.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I made my way over to platform 4 for my first service of the day, I wasn’t expecting many required units today, but funnily enough, just after I said that winner 175001 rolls in to take me to my first required shack of the day, Pontypool & New Inn! I take a few pictures before making the walk up to the top of the road to await a bus heading to Cwmbran. Surprisingly enough, the bus I am waiting for is 15 minutes late, I purchase a single to Cwmbran bus station. I had given myself an hour to get to Cwmbran station, but I noticed there was a half hour earlier train running about 3 minutes late. At the time I was rather indecisive whether to chance it and make the run, but as the bus was approaching the station approach road, I decided to bail, and ran the 200 metres to the station, the train still hadn’t rolled up as I ran across the car park, and I got to Cwmbran station about 5 seconds before the service pulled in. I took dud 175114 to my third shack of the day, Abergavenny.

Arriva Trains Wales 175001, Pontypool & New Inn 25.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I should have had half an hour here, but my train was running 23 minutes late, so I decided to pop into the station café and purchased a bacon, sausage and egg bap, which I sat and ate for 15 minutes, before sitting on the platform for the rest of the time. After an hour wait, winner 175115 rolled in to take me onwards to my fourth shack of the day, Hereford. Where I thought I would have a tight +2 onto a GWR service, but luckily it was delayed by our train using the same platform. 5 minutes later, winner 166213 rolled in to take me to my fifth shack of the day, Ledbury. Where I had an half hour fester before winner 150105 rolled in to take me to my sixth shack of the day, Colwall.

London Midland 150105, Colwall 25.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

I didn’t have long here (only 10 minutes), before double duds 43031 + 43035 rolled in to take me all the way back to Hereford. I decided to half a walk outside, and had a quick look on real time trains for my next options, I decided I could clear one more shack today, and went to purchase another ticket from the ticket office. I headed back onto the platforms and boarded dud 175103 to my seventh shack of the day, Leominster. Before boarding dud 175105 all the way back to Newport, arriving roughly an hour later at 15:19. I now had an hour until my bus back towards Bristol. So I decided to stick around the bus station photographing buses until my bus rolled in at 16:10 to take me back towards Bristol. I decided to bail at Cribbs Causeway bus station and take the direct X5 services along the motorway back to Weston, arriving home just after 7pm!

Arriva Trains Wales 175105, Leominster 25.10.17 by DSH Trains, on Flickr

Winning Units: 4
Shacks cleared: 7

Winning Units YTD: 447
Shacks cleared YTD: 162

 

[Techniquest]

Quite an interesting day there, it must be said! Your visit to my most frequently visited station must have been very short, but good work on getting all those shacks in

 

[Cowley]

As Tech said. A nice bit of the world to trundle around in. I even liked the bus!

 

[Kite159]

Can't turn down a good bus move, as you see different parts of the country, especially from a double decker

 

[Dhassell]

Quite an interesting day there, it must be said! Your visit to my most frequently visited station must have been very short, but good work on getting all those shacks in

I will have to come back at one point and have a look around, especially at the buses . Still got plenty of shacks in that area!

As Tech said. A nice bit of the world to trundle around in. I even liked the bus!

Aye that area was nice! Good to see some active semaphore signals as well (at Abergavenny).

Can't turn down a good bus move, as you see different parts of the country, especially from a double decker

Great views as you pass over the original Severn Bridge. Toll Free as well