heart-of-wessex
Established Member
Hello all,
On the 17th December I went on Pathfinders Xmas Jingle Jangle tour, but obviously went on it for the track and red pen action...not for the Xmas spirit! (hence the title!)
Also at the end of the report is the end of year stats.
So here's how it went:
The morning started with a 5:30am booked Taxi move from Trowbridge to Westbury since the tour was not calling at the local shack. I did consider walking but the cold weather put me off the idea and forked out the £15 for a bash in a '53 reg Longbridge built Rover 75 1.8L Taxi instead. Just as well really as it was a bit slippy on the pavements!
I know giving it an hour was a lot but it was decided in case it turned out to be a snowy morning on the ground, but it wasn't so we did it in 10 minutes.
I had a gander through the alterations TT for the Xmas period and saw the entries for the 27th December, I see all the Newbury and Bedwyn's are starting from Paddington but the first HSS service isn't until 0905. Also the Penzance service leaves Padd at 1508 or so, and that is the one and only Penzance direct!
158763 was on the 0601 to Pompey with just two passengers on, was the same couple I heard at the TVM when her bloke said 'next train to Paddington is ages yet' to which she said 'no, it's the 0601, DON'T question me over the tickets, IT says 0601 on here OK!?'....err...ok...lol!
After that left, I patiently waited for the charter to come in. In the meantime, I noticed there were a lot of platform alterations already right up to 0830!!! Advance much!!
I also noticed there was a random 0708 to Castle Cary, but then I saw a notice saying there was RRB's to Yeovil, so sounds like the track upgrade for the HST's for the Olympic services has started.
Our charter came in to sight but we had no funny announcement, just the not scheduled to stop one. The screens read that we are to 'EDGHDWG' - the TIPLOC for Edge Hill Down Wapping.
Now the question is, will I spin and win on the first loco. Likely but I saw a number with 6609 on...and it's 66098....errr I think the arrows stopped at 'Win' I think...
A look in the book and yes it is! The number I was thinking of was 66091 from the UKR tour...that was close! Well I'm happy with the winner shed, now I have to spin and win with a coach allocation! I didn't have a ticket as it didn't arrive in the post, but Hannah soon found my seat allocation in Coach B in MK2A 5292 from Eastleigh...a look in the book...required for sight!? AAAAAAAAAA!!!!
We left from Platform 3 on time and headed up the Avon Valley in the dark for an uneventful trip to Bath. Even with the slack we were basically right time through all the locations, but then I think there is supposed to be slack for that slow limit for locos through Dundas Aqueduct.
As we left Bath, I noticed some kid filming the 66 leave...won't find me doing that in these temperatures now! I then headed for the buffet for a coffee so I walked through the coaches to coach F and saw it was a First Class Pullman MK2...or so I thought it was an original MK2 as it had the slanted angled toilet doors, but looking in my book reveals it's a Maroon MK1 number 3144.
So I stopped and thought...errr is this an FGW service now, rip out the buffet and just have first and second next to each other!?
No, the MK1 RMB was in the next coach and the kitchen car after that...so we'd have to walk through First Class each time!? Just as well I didn't book FC to have a load of pax in standard trump through to the buffet!
Still I got my coffee and bacon roll and proceeded back to my seat, by which point we were on the Filton line at Dr Days.
Another uneventful trip saw us reach Bristol Parkway in good time but no locos were seen in Stoke Gifford FHH.
Now of course it was the long drag up to Birmingham...done this part on too many tours already I may as well start a list of what 66's I've had up the lickey!
However, there was a bonus to be had though, in that for the first time in AGES I was able to scratch in new track between Yate and Gloucester!! We were booked to use Haresfield Up Loop! Scratch!
At 0757, we came to a stop in the loop 5 late and let an ex-LM 150 and a voyager pass, then we left the loop just about on time for a non stop run up to the Lickey.
I decided to time our run up the lickey counting it from when my coach went under the bridge at Bromsgrove to when our coach hit the lip of the bank, and I timed it at 02:31:76.
After a pick up at Birmingham Parkway..sorry Barnt Green, we headed to New Street and for the second time in all the tours I have done through New Street, we had a non stop run into Platform 6!
I leapt out for a photo and also used the platform as a fast taxi move to the buffet as always! I went to the sales stand first to get my copy of Locomaster Profiles Class 20 '8X09' wired for sound DVD and then went to the gricers grill car for a coffee and the breakfast tray too.
I walked back through the coaches as I didn't want to be left on the platform in case it left before I got there!
We left right time at 0921 and headed straight for Birmingham International. In the meantime I smashed into my breakfast tray as it was most needed, otherwise I would have started eating my Book 4 quail!
The tray was bloody hellfire but the toast was a bit bland, otherwise it was worth the fiver!
At Stechford, Mozart 037 was waiting to join the main from Aston working the 0Z92 07:16 Crewe Electric - Birmingham International, our loco for the trip back to Crewe.
We came into International P5 and I bailed to get a photo of 92037. As I got off, I noticed a HUGE crowd taking photos of 66098, as if there was a no heat 37 on the front or something. I headed over to the other end for the more interesting loco that makes a racket...shame it was FC leading for this part meaning I wouldn't hear it 200 coaches away at the back!
66098 was detached to work the 0Z66 09:51 Brum International to Bescot, whilst 92037 was being attached at the other end. I did not need to spin the wheel for this one as I knew 037 was a winner as I've only had 002 and 003.
We left on time at 1000 and had a smooth run towards Crewe...well it wasn't on 3rd rail at least! We went via Aston, Stechford and Bescot to Bushbury Junction via the Wolverhampton avoider. I remember needing this line before and never managing to do it...now I've done it loads of times but in the down direction only!
We passed the junction 2 mins late and headed over to Stafford where we then crossed over to the slow line for the stretch to Crewe.
We arrived into Basford Hall on dud track on time at 1126 and 92037 was ripped off and formed the 0Z93 1133 to Crewe Electric. There was some Freightliner 66s in the yard and one DRS 66 too, but were conveniently parked behind wagons so we couldn't see the numbers! Soon after, a red 60 was seen tugging away to the north end, which arrived earlier on the 0Z60 10:04 Arpley Sidings to Crewe Basford Hall.
No one had any idea which one it was but again no spin needed as I need any 60 painted into DB red. Soon after, the gen was given over the PA that 60011 was our lead loco...bingo!
We left 4 minutes early and I noted 90041, 90045, 86632, 86612, 70003 and 70006 in the yard and also another 86 which I missed the number of.
In the storage sidings were the massive row of 56s which were 057/049/103/104/090/060/058/077/032/113/094/096/081/105/074 and also there was 58022.
We headed down the tunnel on the Liverpool independent line (required track!) to the WCML connection where we got held to let a 390 pass. We crossed onto the WCML at Crewe Coal Yard Junction on time at 1211 and headed up towards Winsford. Our booked move into Dallam RMT was out the window at the moment as there apparently was a train in there already (probably 1M22 from Sheildmuir) but we would do it on the way back instead.
At Hartford Junction some more track was scooped in as we crossed over to the up fast it seems, as a northbound Voayger (or was it a Pendo) passed us on the down main...but the up fast isn't bi-directional in the quail...so that's yet more track out of date in the map....so much has changed that I can't keep up with the track scooped as it's not in the book...cannot wait for the new release!!
Other than that we went on the down main after Acton and headed straight for Warrington where we saw 67008 in the shed, 66086 in RHTT muck livery and 08879 which hopefully will work later.
More bonus track was done just after Warrington as instead of doing Dallham RMT platform 1, we crossed over to do the Up Slow reversible line instead! The RMT platform was empty so we could have gone through but the Up Slow was a better bonus!
We stayed on the Up Slow to the end at Winwick Junction where we crossed over to the Down Earlstown to....well Earlstown of course (would hardly be St Ives would it!)
We rounded the curve at Earlstown, crossed over the WCML then turned left at Newton-le-Willows Junction using the required connection chord back onto the WCML. The bonus scooping of track did not stop here as we crossed onto the Down Slow then onto the Down Goods at Bamfurlong to use the required line over to Ince Moss Junction which linked me onto the required passenger line through St Helens!
It is a pretty uneventful line to Huyton, lots of industral sites both active and torn down places along the way though. I did manage to bag every station for passage too which was another bonus.
We passed Huyton 4 late and had a descent run to Wavertree Tech and Edge Hill which was done in no time. We arrived into Edge Hill Up Wapping Siding on time and 60011 was detached to run around. The upside was the track scooped, the down side was that the Liverpool mainline was hidden by what may as well have been Edge Hill Forest Sidings as you could just make out through the vast amount of trees what train was passing, but couldn't see the numbers! We also had 53 minutes here which was a tad boring!!
Any chance of leaving early was out the window too as we left on time at 1427.
With the 60 on front, I did poke my head out of a droplight but this was for a very short time as hailstones started to fall!
We retraced our steps back to Huyton then went straight over to Earlestown via Rainhill, more required track done. Passing through Rainhill I pictured us passing Rocket or something! It seems strange now passing over the section of track of where the railways all began...was hard to picture actually!
At Earlestown we crossed over to the Up and Down Goods line for the track scoop, then rounded the curve through the platform...I just need that little bit of passenger track now into Earlestown...not too worried about that as it's damn easier to do than the goods loop!
Back on the WCML we headed for Warrington but hold your horses, we crossed over into Dallam RMT first for the run through Platform 1 as promised which was mighty bizarre! We went through faster than I expected and did it non stop too...so with it having a platform there I can technically count another 'station' as passing
I found a video that was put up on YouTube of our run through the RMT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4pyG1Z4s5k
We then joined the Up Slow line to finish off that piece of line to Warrington where we avoided the station by going on the Up Goods line round the back of the station then onto the Up Helsby line passing Arpley Yard again. The gronk was un-manned....oh dear. No sign of the required 67008 or 66086 coming out either but 31601 was found parked up with it's front marker lights on....oh dear even more!
We came to a halt for a while at Walton Old Junction, where 66525 came through heading to Latchford with a Liverpool to Fiddlers Ferry coal trip, then 60039 came in light engine into the yard, hopefully to pilot the 31 so we had a winner loco. Then 31601 passed us light engine and waited for us to proceed forward into the Yard. We didn't arrive into Walton Old Sidings as planned, instead we used road 4 of the M.S.C Canal Sidings instead.
We had 30 minutes to turn around here, and was booked to leave at 1545 but we left 10 early instead with just one loco, dud 31601. This annoyed alot of people and even the guy in front wasn't going to add it into his moves, and I did consider missing out the 2 miles of the 31 but I added it in for the annual mileage count anyway.
We came into Latchford Up Siding (right to the end too) 9 minutes early and 66525 was in the Football Field sidings waiting for us to go out first. Tug 11 left the siding 20 minutes early and we passed underneath Warrington station (could you count that as passing a station?) and scooped in the freight line to Ditton, passing Fiddlers Ferry in the middle which you couldn't see much of due to the amount of trees blocking it.
It wasn't a slow trip but it wasn't exactly fast either but wasn't too bad overall. We arrived into Ditton Reception Sidings Road 1 13 minutes early and 60011 ran around for the last time. We had a good 40 minutes here so I proceeded to the Gricers Grill for a coffee and dinner, to which I chose the Sausage and Mash with Peas and Onion Gravy...which was hellfire to say the least! Shame the gravy caused bit of a mess as expected!
We left Ditton on time and proceeded onto the mainline to Runcorn, now on dud track...to think from Dallam RMT to Ditton, I have been on required track!
It was now dark so there was bog all to see for the run to Crewe, so there is nothing to note really.
At Crewe Coal Yard, we diverged off onto the Liverpool Independent line, so that's those two tunnels finished off now, just one more on the Independent to go!!
More track was scooped as we turned off at Salop Goods Junction onto the freight curve to Gresty Bridge Green Up Loop. There was 2 DRS coaches parked up to block the view of the 47 behind them but at the other end was a loco I've been needing to see for a looooong time...57003!! My last 57/0 for sight!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO...Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!.....mmm..mmmm..mmm.mmmmmm *dances* WOOP WOOP and WOOOP!!!!!.......
*ahem* yes, anyway.....
The Up Loop was successfully scooped and we wave 60011 off as she returns on 0Z61 18:18 Gresty Bridge Up Loop to Warrington Arpley.
Of course, 66098 shouldn't have ran light to here as it would hardly be a spin and win would it!
The 16:48 0Z67 Bescot to Gresty Bridge was allocated to 66206 instead, which bought the last spin of the tour as a winner!
We left 2 minutes late and rounded another curve I've been wanting to do, the Crewe avoider curve round to Basford Hall!
More required track was done as we went in the middle of Basford hall on the Up Arrival No 2 then onto the Up Through Siding to the Up Slow which we did all the way to Stafford. The Up Slow is the last bit of track I needed so I've now finally finished the 4 track section to Stafford.
There is nothing much to note now. Being dark there was nothing to note really. We did do the Wolverhampton avoider again though so I have finally finished that in both directions. We left New Street platform 2 on time too and went via the camp hill line to Barnt Green and left there 3 minutes early and went storming down the Lickey towards Bristol.
I was hoping of an early arrival into Westbury at around 2230 to make the last northbound train home, but that idea shattered into a million pieces as we went on our booked slot at North Somerset Junction by following the all station stopper 2201 Bristol TM - Westbury unit , so I'd imagine an on time arrival at 2253 into Westbury would be done instead.
I did have a backup plan though which I chose to do, which was to bail off at Bath for a +10 onto the 2236 SWT unit to Trowbridge. We arrived into Bath 2 minutes late and I bailed to watch 66206 head off (slowly) to Westbury and then I got my £3.30 single to Trowbridge and awaited for the 159, hoping that maybe I might get my last 159 in the book.
But no...dud 159005 showed up on 1O86 and I took this to Trowbridge and then walked home on the icy pavements, to which I imposed a blanket TSR on all the pavements so I didn't slip up! Thankfully I got home safe and sound
Well that was an great final tour for me in 2011, all locos bar the 31 were required and scooped in a LOT of required track!!
Stats of course:
Mileage altogether - 454m 78ch
Highest Mileage on one train - 156m 45ch on 66206
Lowest Mileage on one train - 2m 00ch on 31601
Best part of trip - Hard to decide, had to be scooping in all that track and the run through Dallam RMT
Worst part of trip - 31601!
Random Quote no.1 - "I didn't come on here to spin and loose"
Random Quote no.2 - "At least there isn't a mistletoe above the table!"
And as promised, the overall stats of the year
Mileage of 2011 - 18,629m 71ch
Mileage of in one month of 2011 - 4658m 18ch in Novemeber
Highest Mileage on one train - 333m 50ch on 47851/47786
Trains most travelled on - Class 43s
Best bash of 2011 - Hard to decide!! Has to be the Northern £10 bash and the following days Shildon bash I'd say!
Second best was scooping in the rare Westbury Down Reception on a 158.
Worst bash of 2011 - The London bash on the 18th September, it was a Sunday (which I don't like bashing on most the time), had a banging headache and half my plans didn't work!
Best tour of 2011 - Pathfinders "Rother-Don Rambler" tour
Best Random Quote of 2011 A match between:
- "The shifts I am working should be Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday...or...Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday...I dunno yet"
- "If it doesn't make sense, then it makes sense."
The latter I chose because I use it alot now for stuff that doesn't make sense but it does in some cases...like a signal being 'off' when really I'd say it's 'on'!
The former I like because it really makes no sense!!!
I'll leave it to you to decide what is best!
I have another trip to do at the end of this month so I will update the overall 2011 mileage on here after I've done it.
So far I am booked to kick off the year heading to London on the 2nd of January (the 1st is a Sunday, forget that idea!) then I have some more tours in January to do (Abercot Generator and the Concrete Cow re-run) then I have 6 other tours I'm already booked on, with another 6 or 7 I'm eyeing up to do at the moment. There will be more tours I plan to do in the autumn once details are revealed
Should be a good 2012!!
Cheers,
James.
On the 17th December I went on Pathfinders Xmas Jingle Jangle tour, but obviously went on it for the track and red pen action...not for the Xmas spirit! (hence the title!)
Also at the end of the report is the end of year stats.
So here's how it went:
The morning started with a 5:30am booked Taxi move from Trowbridge to Westbury since the tour was not calling at the local shack. I did consider walking but the cold weather put me off the idea and forked out the £15 for a bash in a '53 reg Longbridge built Rover 75 1.8L Taxi instead. Just as well really as it was a bit slippy on the pavements!
I know giving it an hour was a lot but it was decided in case it turned out to be a snowy morning on the ground, but it wasn't so we did it in 10 minutes.
I had a gander through the alterations TT for the Xmas period and saw the entries for the 27th December, I see all the Newbury and Bedwyn's are starting from Paddington but the first HSS service isn't until 0905. Also the Penzance service leaves Padd at 1508 or so, and that is the one and only Penzance direct!
158763 was on the 0601 to Pompey with just two passengers on, was the same couple I heard at the TVM when her bloke said 'next train to Paddington is ages yet' to which she said 'no, it's the 0601, DON'T question me over the tickets, IT says 0601 on here OK!?'....err...ok...lol!
After that left, I patiently waited for the charter to come in. In the meantime, I noticed there were a lot of platform alterations already right up to 0830!!! Advance much!!
I also noticed there was a random 0708 to Castle Cary, but then I saw a notice saying there was RRB's to Yeovil, so sounds like the track upgrade for the HST's for the Olympic services has started.
Our charter came in to sight but we had no funny announcement, just the not scheduled to stop one. The screens read that we are to 'EDGHDWG' - the TIPLOC for Edge Hill Down Wapping.
Now the question is, will I spin and win on the first loco. Likely but I saw a number with 6609 on...and it's 66098....errr I think the arrows stopped at 'Win' I think...
A look in the book and yes it is! The number I was thinking of was 66091 from the UKR tour...that was close! Well I'm happy with the winner shed, now I have to spin and win with a coach allocation! I didn't have a ticket as it didn't arrive in the post, but Hannah soon found my seat allocation in Coach B in MK2A 5292 from Eastleigh...a look in the book...required for sight!? AAAAAAAAAA!!!!
We left from Platform 3 on time and headed up the Avon Valley in the dark for an uneventful trip to Bath. Even with the slack we were basically right time through all the locations, but then I think there is supposed to be slack for that slow limit for locos through Dundas Aqueduct.
As we left Bath, I noticed some kid filming the 66 leave...won't find me doing that in these temperatures now! I then headed for the buffet for a coffee so I walked through the coaches to coach F and saw it was a First Class Pullman MK2...or so I thought it was an original MK2 as it had the slanted angled toilet doors, but looking in my book reveals it's a Maroon MK1 number 3144.
So I stopped and thought...errr is this an FGW service now, rip out the buffet and just have first and second next to each other!?
No, the MK1 RMB was in the next coach and the kitchen car after that...so we'd have to walk through First Class each time!? Just as well I didn't book FC to have a load of pax in standard trump through to the buffet!
Still I got my coffee and bacon roll and proceeded back to my seat, by which point we were on the Filton line at Dr Days.
Another uneventful trip saw us reach Bristol Parkway in good time but no locos were seen in Stoke Gifford FHH.
Now of course it was the long drag up to Birmingham...done this part on too many tours already I may as well start a list of what 66's I've had up the lickey!
However, there was a bonus to be had though, in that for the first time in AGES I was able to scratch in new track between Yate and Gloucester!! We were booked to use Haresfield Up Loop! Scratch!
At 0757, we came to a stop in the loop 5 late and let an ex-LM 150 and a voyager pass, then we left the loop just about on time for a non stop run up to the Lickey.
I decided to time our run up the lickey counting it from when my coach went under the bridge at Bromsgrove to when our coach hit the lip of the bank, and I timed it at 02:31:76.
After a pick up at Birmingham Parkway..sorry Barnt Green, we headed to New Street and for the second time in all the tours I have done through New Street, we had a non stop run into Platform 6!
I leapt out for a photo and also used the platform as a fast taxi move to the buffet as always! I went to the sales stand first to get my copy of Locomaster Profiles Class 20 '8X09' wired for sound DVD and then went to the gricers grill car for a coffee and the breakfast tray too.
I walked back through the coaches as I didn't want to be left on the platform in case it left before I got there!
We left right time at 0921 and headed straight for Birmingham International. In the meantime I smashed into my breakfast tray as it was most needed, otherwise I would have started eating my Book 4 quail!
The tray was bloody hellfire but the toast was a bit bland, otherwise it was worth the fiver!
At Stechford, Mozart 037 was waiting to join the main from Aston working the 0Z92 07:16 Crewe Electric - Birmingham International, our loco for the trip back to Crewe.
We came into International P5 and I bailed to get a photo of 92037. As I got off, I noticed a HUGE crowd taking photos of 66098, as if there was a no heat 37 on the front or something. I headed over to the other end for the more interesting loco that makes a racket...shame it was FC leading for this part meaning I wouldn't hear it 200 coaches away at the back!
66098 was detached to work the 0Z66 09:51 Brum International to Bescot, whilst 92037 was being attached at the other end. I did not need to spin the wheel for this one as I knew 037 was a winner as I've only had 002 and 003.
We left on time at 1000 and had a smooth run towards Crewe...well it wasn't on 3rd rail at least! We went via Aston, Stechford and Bescot to Bushbury Junction via the Wolverhampton avoider. I remember needing this line before and never managing to do it...now I've done it loads of times but in the down direction only!
We passed the junction 2 mins late and headed over to Stafford where we then crossed over to the slow line for the stretch to Crewe.
We arrived into Basford Hall on dud track on time at 1126 and 92037 was ripped off and formed the 0Z93 1133 to Crewe Electric. There was some Freightliner 66s in the yard and one DRS 66 too, but were conveniently parked behind wagons so we couldn't see the numbers! Soon after, a red 60 was seen tugging away to the north end, which arrived earlier on the 0Z60 10:04 Arpley Sidings to Crewe Basford Hall.
No one had any idea which one it was but again no spin needed as I need any 60 painted into DB red. Soon after, the gen was given over the PA that 60011 was our lead loco...bingo!
We left 4 minutes early and I noted 90041, 90045, 86632, 86612, 70003 and 70006 in the yard and also another 86 which I missed the number of.
In the storage sidings were the massive row of 56s which were 057/049/103/104/090/060/058/077/032/113/094/096/081/105/074 and also there was 58022.
We headed down the tunnel on the Liverpool independent line (required track!) to the WCML connection where we got held to let a 390 pass. We crossed onto the WCML at Crewe Coal Yard Junction on time at 1211 and headed up towards Winsford. Our booked move into Dallam RMT was out the window at the moment as there apparently was a train in there already (probably 1M22 from Sheildmuir) but we would do it on the way back instead.
At Hartford Junction some more track was scooped in as we crossed over to the up fast it seems, as a northbound Voayger (or was it a Pendo) passed us on the down main...but the up fast isn't bi-directional in the quail...so that's yet more track out of date in the map....so much has changed that I can't keep up with the track scooped as it's not in the book...cannot wait for the new release!!
Other than that we went on the down main after Acton and headed straight for Warrington where we saw 67008 in the shed, 66086 in RHTT muck livery and 08879 which hopefully will work later.
More bonus track was done just after Warrington as instead of doing Dallham RMT platform 1, we crossed over to do the Up Slow reversible line instead! The RMT platform was empty so we could have gone through but the Up Slow was a better bonus!
We stayed on the Up Slow to the end at Winwick Junction where we crossed over to the Down Earlstown to....well Earlstown of course (would hardly be St Ives would it!)
We rounded the curve at Earlstown, crossed over the WCML then turned left at Newton-le-Willows Junction using the required connection chord back onto the WCML. The bonus scooping of track did not stop here as we crossed onto the Down Slow then onto the Down Goods at Bamfurlong to use the required line over to Ince Moss Junction which linked me onto the required passenger line through St Helens!
It is a pretty uneventful line to Huyton, lots of industral sites both active and torn down places along the way though. I did manage to bag every station for passage too which was another bonus.
We passed Huyton 4 late and had a descent run to Wavertree Tech and Edge Hill which was done in no time. We arrived into Edge Hill Up Wapping Siding on time and 60011 was detached to run around. The upside was the track scooped, the down side was that the Liverpool mainline was hidden by what may as well have been Edge Hill Forest Sidings as you could just make out through the vast amount of trees what train was passing, but couldn't see the numbers! We also had 53 minutes here which was a tad boring!!
Any chance of leaving early was out the window too as we left on time at 1427.
With the 60 on front, I did poke my head out of a droplight but this was for a very short time as hailstones started to fall!
We retraced our steps back to Huyton then went straight over to Earlestown via Rainhill, more required track done. Passing through Rainhill I pictured us passing Rocket or something! It seems strange now passing over the section of track of where the railways all began...was hard to picture actually!
At Earlestown we crossed over to the Up and Down Goods line for the track scoop, then rounded the curve through the platform...I just need that little bit of passenger track now into Earlestown...not too worried about that as it's damn easier to do than the goods loop!
Back on the WCML we headed for Warrington but hold your horses, we crossed over into Dallam RMT first for the run through Platform 1 as promised which was mighty bizarre! We went through faster than I expected and did it non stop too...so with it having a platform there I can technically count another 'station' as passing
I found a video that was put up on YouTube of our run through the RMT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4pyG1Z4s5k
We then joined the Up Slow line to finish off that piece of line to Warrington where we avoided the station by going on the Up Goods line round the back of the station then onto the Up Helsby line passing Arpley Yard again. The gronk was un-manned....oh dear. No sign of the required 67008 or 66086 coming out either but 31601 was found parked up with it's front marker lights on....oh dear even more!
We came to a halt for a while at Walton Old Junction, where 66525 came through heading to Latchford with a Liverpool to Fiddlers Ferry coal trip, then 60039 came in light engine into the yard, hopefully to pilot the 31 so we had a winner loco. Then 31601 passed us light engine and waited for us to proceed forward into the Yard. We didn't arrive into Walton Old Sidings as planned, instead we used road 4 of the M.S.C Canal Sidings instead.
We had 30 minutes to turn around here, and was booked to leave at 1545 but we left 10 early instead with just one loco, dud 31601. This annoyed alot of people and even the guy in front wasn't going to add it into his moves, and I did consider missing out the 2 miles of the 31 but I added it in for the annual mileage count anyway.
We came into Latchford Up Siding (right to the end too) 9 minutes early and 66525 was in the Football Field sidings waiting for us to go out first. Tug 11 left the siding 20 minutes early and we passed underneath Warrington station (could you count that as passing a station?
) and scooped in the freight line to Ditton, passing Fiddlers Ferry in the middle which you couldn't see much of due to the amount of trees blocking it.It wasn't a slow trip but it wasn't exactly fast either but wasn't too bad overall. We arrived into Ditton Reception Sidings Road 1 13 minutes early and 60011 ran around for the last time. We had a good 40 minutes here so I proceeded to the Gricers Grill for a coffee and dinner, to which I chose the Sausage and Mash with Peas and Onion Gravy...which was hellfire to say the least! Shame the gravy caused bit of a mess as expected!
We left Ditton on time and proceeded onto the mainline to Runcorn, now on dud track...to think from Dallam RMT to Ditton, I have been on required track!
It was now dark so there was bog all to see for the run to Crewe, so there is nothing to note really.
At Crewe Coal Yard, we diverged off onto the Liverpool Independent line, so that's those two tunnels finished off now, just one more on the Independent to go!!
More track was scooped as we turned off at Salop Goods Junction onto the freight curve to Gresty Bridge Green Up Loop. There was 2 DRS coaches parked up to block the view of the 47 behind them but at the other end was a loco I've been needing to see for a looooong time...57003!! My last 57/0 for sight!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO...Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!.....mmm..mmmm..mmm.mmmmmm *dances* WOOP WOOP and WOOOP!!!!!.......
*ahem* yes, anyway.....
The Up Loop was successfully scooped and we wave 60011 off as she returns on 0Z61 18:18 Gresty Bridge Up Loop to Warrington Arpley.
Of course, 66098 shouldn't have ran light to here as it would hardly be a spin and win would it!
The 16:48 0Z67 Bescot to Gresty Bridge was allocated to 66206 instead, which bought the last spin of the tour as a winner!
We left 2 minutes late and rounded another curve I've been wanting to do, the Crewe avoider curve round to Basford Hall!
More required track was done as we went in the middle of Basford hall on the Up Arrival No 2 then onto the Up Through Siding to the Up Slow which we did all the way to Stafford. The Up Slow is the last bit of track I needed so I've now finally finished the 4 track section to Stafford.
There is nothing much to note now. Being dark there was nothing to note really. We did do the Wolverhampton avoider again though so I have finally finished that in both directions. We left New Street platform 2 on time too and went via the camp hill line to Barnt Green and left there 3 minutes early and went storming down the Lickey towards Bristol.
I was hoping of an early arrival into Westbury at around 2230 to make the last northbound train home, but that idea shattered into a million pieces as we went on our booked slot at North Somerset Junction by following the all station stopper 2201 Bristol TM - Westbury unit , so I'd imagine an on time arrival at 2253 into Westbury would be done instead.
I did have a backup plan though which I chose to do, which was to bail off at Bath for a +10 onto the 2236 SWT unit to Trowbridge. We arrived into Bath 2 minutes late and I bailed to watch 66206 head off (slowly) to Westbury and then I got my £3.30 single to Trowbridge and awaited for the 159, hoping that maybe I might get my last 159 in the book.
But no...dud 159005 showed up on 1O86 and I took this to Trowbridge and then walked home on the icy pavements, to which I imposed a blanket TSR on all the pavements so I didn't slip up! Thankfully I got home safe and sound
Well that was an great final tour for me in 2011, all locos bar the 31 were required and scooped in a LOT of required track!!
Stats of course:
Mileage altogether - 454m 78ch
Highest Mileage on one train - 156m 45ch on 66206
Lowest Mileage on one train - 2m 00ch on 31601
Best part of trip - Hard to decide, had to be scooping in all that track and the run through Dallam RMT
Worst part of trip - 31601!
Random Quote no.1 - "I didn't come on here to spin and loose"
Random Quote no.2 - "At least there isn't a mistletoe above the table!"
And as promised, the overall stats of the year
Mileage of 2011 - 18,629m 71ch
Mileage of in one month of 2011 - 4658m 18ch in Novemeber
Highest Mileage on one train - 333m 50ch on 47851/47786
Trains most travelled on - Class 43s
Best bash of 2011 - Hard to decide!! Has to be the Northern £10 bash and the following days Shildon bash I'd say!
Second best was scooping in the rare Westbury Down Reception on a 158.
Worst bash of 2011 - The London bash on the 18th September, it was a Sunday (which I don't like bashing on most the time), had a banging headache and half my plans didn't work!
Best tour of 2011 - Pathfinders "Rother-Don Rambler" tour
Best Random Quote of 2011 A match between:
- "The shifts I am working should be Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday...or...Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday...I dunno yet"
- "If it doesn't make sense, then it makes sense."
The latter I chose because I use it alot now for stuff that doesn't make sense but it does in some cases...like a signal being 'off' when really I'd say it's 'on'!
The former I like because it really makes no sense!
!!I'll leave it to you to decide what is best!
I have another trip to do at the end of this month so I will update the overall 2011 mileage on here after I've done it.
So far I am booked to kick off the year heading to London on the 2nd of January (the 1st is a Sunday, forget that idea!) then I have some more tours in January to do (Abercot Generator and the Concrete Cow re-run) then I have 6 other tours I'm already booked on, with another 6 or 7 I'm eyeing up to do at the moment. There will be more tours I plan to do in the autumn once details are revealed
Should be a good 2012!!
Cheers,
James.
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hock:! Roll on 2012 I say, it promises to be an absolute cracker!
