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How difficult is it to arrive or leave at all timetabled platforms. 5 year project to achieve this.

sh24

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28 Sep 2023
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Good time of year to do Fife. I did much of it in February and have only just finished thawing out...
 
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Kite159

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27 Jan 2014
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Looe to Newquay services to commence
You will be waiting for a long time ;) (As it's meant to be Falmouth to Newquay, something I can see lasting one timetable period before it gets ditched due to being unreliable and services returned to Truro - Falmouth & Par - Newquay, it's got LNR's 2019 timetable chaos written over it when they tried to run London - Liverpool via Birmingham services with parts splitting off to serve Rugeley Trent Valley etc).

Regards Fife, at least platform 2 at Glenrothes with Thornton and the track heading towards Markinch/Leven is easier to do these days. Not sure how much stuff still uses platform 1 or if there are any random peak time extras which link Kirkcaldy with Glenrothes anymore.
 

zero

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Joined
3 Apr 2011
Messages
1,309
Been following and enjoying this thread over the past year but this seems to be my first post here.

Looking ahead i will be having a go at Tinsley on the overnights to/from Sheffield (what was that about not being silly)

I had resigned myself to never managing to do Tinsley as my rules require me to be able to see outside the train unless the PSUL is never traversed in daylight. Especially as I don't live in the UK any more and can't just fly over on a whim. (I'm only attempting to travel on every route, but not every single track or crossover, used in passenger service and be on a train when it stops at every station.)

I did think that I might have to do those Sheffield overnights at some point but it felt like a big waste of money to not be able to see anything.

So I was incredibly lucky when I happened to be on a UK visit on Sunday 12 November 2023 and discovered there were Tinsley diversions all day. It was quite misty but I counted it as a win.

I don't recall why the diversion was used on that day but I wonder if it is likely to happen again?
 

All platforms

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Joined
8 May 2021
Messages
1,005
Location
Warrington
You will be waiting for a long time ;) (As it's meant to be Falmouth to Newquay, something I can see lasting one timetable period before it gets ditched due to being unreliable and services returned to Truro - Falmouth & Par - Newquay, it's got LNR's 2019 timetable chaos written over it when they tried to run London - Liverpool via Birmingham services with parts splitting off to serve Rugeley Trent Valley etc).

Regards Fife, at least platform 2 at Glenrothes with Thornton and the track heading towards Markinch/Leven is easier to do these days. Not sure how much stuff still uses platform 1 or if there are any random peak time extras which link Kirkcaldy with Glenrothes anymore.
Yup - not sure where i dredged Looe from (what an interesting service that would be if it ever materialised) but Falmouth is more logical of course. With the expense of making it easier to pass and the new platform at Newquay already pretty much finished i think it may last more than one timetable - or why do the upgrades - surely not for charters or the Sunday only direct services that we have at the moment. But as always things move in mysterious ways at times.
 

All platforms

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8 May 2021
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Location
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Been following and enjoying this thread over the past year but this seems to be my first post here.

I had resigned myself to never managing to do Tinsley as my rules require me to be able to see outside the train unless the PSUL is never traversed in daylight. Especially as I don't live in the UK any more and can't just fly over on a whim. (I'm only attempting to travel on every route, but not every single track or crossover, used in passenger service and be on a train when it stops at every station.)

I did think that I might have to do those Sheffield overnights at some point but it felt like a big waste of money to not be able to see anything.

So I was incredibly lucky when I happened to be on a UK visit on Sunday 12 November 2023 and discovered there were Tinsley diversions all day. It was quite misty but I counted it as a win.

I don't recall why the diversion was used on that day but I wonder if it is likely to happen again?
Thanks for the post - i see you are on a "do as much as i can" quest as well but very sensibly omitting the deep in the weeds crossover stuff. I also have a policy of doing as much as i can in daylight and there is very little that i have done in the dark that hasn't subsequently been done during the day. I can think of 2 pieces of track/link track i need to revisit at some future stage however.

I must have missed the Tinsley day use in 2023, and there was also a XC service that passed through 20.xx until recently so i guess i thought it wouldn't be an issue. With a 3.20am return start from Sheffield i have waited until now to see if the pre-dawn will give any glimmer of the outside mid June, and if not it just goes back on the list for an engineering return. Not holding my breath but there we go. Cheers.
 

All platforms

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8 May 2021
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Location
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Day 482: Saturday 07/06/2025 - Spirit of Scotland Rover 4 in 8 Days - £103.20 - Day 1. CP Arbroath £1.00
Total time today 669 mins - time on trains 432 mins and time waiting 237 mins. Stations completed today 4. Total completed 2353. Platforms completed at completed stations 5362.

"Arbroath to Inverurie and Markinch"

With a full week's holiday near Cupar in Fife to look forward to i had quite a bit of fun in planning my allotted 3 days play within those 7 days. What i intended today was to complete the outlying platforms and track north of Arbroath in order to minimise unnecessary distances on any possible return. It wouldn't be normal if things didn't go awry to some extent and today was no different. However it was an enjoyable day starting with the first service North that would be calling at Inverurie, which i didn't manage to fit in last year when i was hoovering up the remaining stations and lines West East and North of Inverness.

Inverurie was a pleasant surprise upon alighting there after a 90 minute journey and i had my choice of 3 local bakeries with which to garner breakfast and other supplies for the rest of the day. I had enough time to have a good wander around before returning for the trip back to Aberdeen. The trip North had included bonus track at Aberdeen doing a full pass of P7. Upon leaving Aberdeen from P7n after returning from Inverurie i traversed my last remaing timetabled crossover there and onwards to Montrose and its amazing tidal basin. Again i had enough time to go see this although it was just a vast array of mudflats and stranded boats as the tide was out when i visited. The HST sets were in full evidence this week and i got to ride them on many occasions and the trip back to Aberdeen was one such. Unfortunately we didn't arive in P5 as planned so that went back on the to do pile. Mutter mutter.

Next up i boarded the Queen Street service but alighting at Perth for the first time in P1 before boarding a re platformed stopping service there sitting in P6. Quite the journey to get to Perth and i was glad i was only going as far as Markinch to tick off station number 3 of the day. Back at Perth i had the opportunity to understand the layout there for future reference before going back to Arbroath to tick that box. I do like Perth which has quite a few platforms and track to have a go at, and it has a slghtly quirky layout in my eyes. the North facing bays are out of passenger use and its quite the trek up both P4 and P7 to see the lie of the land. I look forward to returning when i have a bash at the line up to Inverness - and that will be some trick to get all the loops and awkward platforms in the bag there without multiple attempts being needed.

For now it can wait so after completing Arbroath it was time to visit Dundee for the first time albeit very briefly. P1 is split into P1n and P1s but neither get used very much but ostensibly there are 3 late afternoon services where they get used - and also the Up Through line where the service in P1s goes round the P1n service on its way North. The reality is that at the moment this isn't happening with southbound service being diverted into P4 and the HST going North sits in full fat P1. This brings into play the 2 crossovers at Camperdown with one rarely used and the other very rarely. The consolation was these but i need to have a long hard look at the p1 variants to see if they get used again.

Back at Arbroath at a very sensible time with no further opportunities to add to my tally due to timetabling issues and the need to return to base at a decent time. An enjoyable day with a very high on trains to wait ratio for once, and a barrel load of new track has been completed into the bargain. I am a little more prepared on this holiday so i was able to get this marked as the week progressed without having to wait until back at home. It makes quite the difference i realised. Tomorrow will be something new too!

ArbroathDepart
6.11​
*****SRstationsplatforms
InverurieArrive
7.40​
P2SRwait 36mcompletedcompleted
InverurieDepart
8.16​
P1SR
1​
2​
AberdeenArrive
8.39​
P6nSRwait 44m
AberdeenDepart
9.23​
P7nSR
MontroseArrive
10.08​
P1SRwait 45m
MontroseDepart
10.23​
P2SR
1​
2​
AberdeenArrive
11.04​
P6sSRwait 33m
AberdeenDepart
11.37​
P4SR
PerthArrive
13.18​
P1SRwait 6m
PerthDepart
13.24​
P6SR
MarkinchArrive
13.56​
P1SRwait 35m
MarkinchDepart
14.31​
P2SR
1​
2​
PerthArrive
15.19​
P6SRwait 22m
PerthDepart
15.41​
P2SR
ArbroathArrive
16.23​
P2SRwait 11m
ArbroathDepart
16.34​
P1SR
1​
2​
DundeeArrive
17.00​
P4SRwait 5m
DundeeDepart
17.05​
P1SR
ArbroathArrive
17.20​
*****SR
 

All platforms

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Day 483: Sunday 08/06/2025 - Spirit of Scotland Rover - day 2. CP Perth - £3.00
Total time today 567 mins - time on trains 345 mins and time waiting 222 mins. No stations or platforms completed today but a significant amount of new track has been traversed.

"The line between Perth and Inverness for the first time - and what a wild ride it will be to complete"

I spent quite some time plotting which services would traverse the unusual today and so had time to make a first visit to Stirling as part of this as i wanted a particular service going northwards. Another interesting station that i look forward to returning to in the future with lots of platforms and lines to explore.

As usual planning and actuals did not exactly coincide, but nevertheless lots of juicy things were attained on the trip up to and then back from Inverness. The journeys were on a HST set and i thoroughly enjoyed riding them and getting to see the wonderful scenery rather than the odd glimpse from driving there. The service northwards was 13-15 mins late for nearly all of the journey but did claw some time back after the Slochd loop - more of that later.
Now the reason for so many loops on this line is exactly to cater for this late running scenario. The downside is my careful planning could be in tatters as a result. What i can say is that after the first pass both ways i still have all the platforms to do but a good chunk of the track has been ticked - just not what i necessarily planned. I had thought (in my head at least) that i had done the loop at Slochd but as we were late the southbound service was waiting there instead and i hadn't realised this was the only one to have a loop on the West side. The other 3 are on the East side.....

Its over a week ago so i don't remember too much detail of these journeys but i do remember the interminable wait at Inverness as i would be going back on the same HST set (2 and a half hours later). Again the northward service was late so we lost a few things but i did gain the full loop at Kincraig and the P2 line at Aviemore i do recall. Both lines at Pitlochry too. I really need to do some work on this but any lateness either way will probably scupper plans. The actual journeys were great but the distances and time taken are large so there will probably be a lot of deja vu moments over the summer. I have changed my mind - this is more awkward then the line up to Fort William. At least i know now.

PerthDepart
9.18​
*****SRstationsplatforms
StirlingArrive
9.52​
P3SRwait 44mcompletedcompleted
StirlingDepart
10.36​
P2SR
InvernessArrive
13.28​
P3SRwait 178m
InvernessDepart
16.26​
P2SR
PerthArrive
18.45​
*****SR
 

All platforms

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8 May 2021
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Monday 09/06/2025 + Tuesday 10/06/2025 - Cupar to Dundee - £10.10 - Anytime Return. Dundee to Gleneagles - £11.50 - Anytime Return. Arbroath to Dundee - £9.35 - Anytime Return. CP Cupar £1.00 + Arbroath £1.00
Total time Monday 220 mins - time on trains 121 mins and time waiting 99 mins. 1 Station added to the total today so 2354 + 5364 completed platforms.
Total time Tuesday 184 mins - time on trains 57 mins and time waiting 127 mins. A new station and platform today but its not completed.

"the expensive morning trips commence"

I do have carte blanche to do early morning stuff (at a cost of course) as long as i'm back by 10ish and the first thing was to try and complete the other platforms at Dundee and make a trip down to Gleneagles to tick that off too. I like the fact that Dundee has a Tesco Express attached to the front of the station building and so i had time for a little something before heading off to Gleneagles via a P4 start and so ticking off another crossover to gain the Up line. Gleneagles has 4 of the biggest station name signs i can recall at each end of both platforms so no excuses for ever missing your station. One more station then and two more platforms as P3 and then P2 was used for the Gleaneagles out and back. I still need the crossovers relevant to both these platforms as i was thwarted later in the week by a double platform alteration.

Tuesday morning was spent visiting Golf Street P1 before returning to Arbroath via Dundee once more. A promised P1n did not materialise there..... Golf Street, Barry Links and Balmossie all used to have 4 calls per day. One each way in the morning and likewise in the early evening. Scotrail have withdrawn one of the evening services so there is no alternative but to walk in or out for P2 to be ticked. If the service does get reinstated i will probably return to do them properly but i don't hold out much hope. I did do P1 at Barry Links last year with an enforced 95 min wait my reward. Golf Street is the same and i took the opportunity to walk back to Carnoustie on the main road for a sandwich, and then return via the cycle path - just to get a feel for what's involved, as i will need to walk in or out for P2 of course. Not this time unfortunately as i didn't get an opportunity to do so. The cycle path doubles up as a conventional one and many runners and walkers were seen even this early and with or without dogs too. I enjoyed the open scenery and the smooth tarmac! Great views of the bay/sea/coast too.

CuparDepart
6.28​
*****SRstationsplatforms
DundeeArrive
6.48​
P4SRwait 24mcompletedcompleted
DundeeDepart
7.12​
P4SR
GleneaglesArrive
7.53​
P1SRwait 14m
GleneaglesDepart
8.07​
P2SR
1​
2​
DundeeArrive
8.47​
P3SRwait 61m
DundeeDepart
9.48​
P2SR
CuparArrive
10.08​
*****SR
ArbroathDepart
6.06​
*****SR
Golf StreetArrive
6.15​
P1SRwait 97m
Golf StreetDepart
7.52​
P1SR
DundeeArrive
8.13​
P1SRwait 30m
DundeeDepart
8.43​
P4SR
ArbroathArrive
9.10​
*****SR
 

All platforms

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Wednesday 11/06/2025 - Arbroath to Broughty Ferry - £7.45 - Anytime Return. Spirit of Scotland Rover 4 in 8 days - Day 3. CP Arbroath £1.00
Total time today 296 mins - time on trains 67 mins and time waiting 229 mins. Stations completed today 3. Total completed 2357. Platforms completed at completed stations 5370.

"A ride on the Azumas"

The weather forecast had been solidly showing a few rainy days this week, but these started to recede somewhat so our "what shall we do today" plans changed significantly in order to accommodate the better weather. This meant i had to sacrifice one of the planned days out - well part of it anyway so my wish list at the end of the week is now longer than it would have been. I could still have a morning play and i opted for a trip to Balmossie to complete P1 at all the awkward stations hereabouts. Mighty glad when this worked out as planned with a wee bonus of turning at Broughty Ferry for another station completion. I loved these early morning visits and with the weather behaving again it was a joy to have a good old explore on the seafront.

Off to Falkland and its Palace for a bit of culture but as we were back by just gone 4pm i was able to get back up to Arbroath for the final time hopefully and do the 2 walks needed for P2 at Balmossie and Barry Links. The weather was perfect for striding out and i experienced possibly two of the most enjoyable enforced walks between stations on this whole journey. (Monifieth to Balmossie and then Barry Links to Carnoustie). No letting up on the length and breadth of the enjoyable things to do - even this late in the game. I am now over 91% on the completed stations front with the awkward stuff receding quite nicely thank you very much. As said, the lines up to Inverness and Fort William may need some effort still and after doing the 2 longest walks of the awkward stations today a 20 minute stroll from Golf Street to Carnoustie is of little consequence. I am sure other stuff will trip me up but i will deal with that if it does.

ArbroathDepart
6.06​
*****SRstationsplatforms
BalmossieArrive
6.26​
P1SRwait 98mcompletedcompleted
BalmossieDepart
8.04​
P1SR
Broughty FerryArrive
8.07​
P1SRwait 44m
Broughty FerryDepart
8.51​
P2SR
1​
2​
ArbroathArrive
9.08​
*****SR
Break for non related railway stuff********************n/a
ArbroathDepart
17.21​
*****SR
MonifiethArrive
17.33​
P1SRwalk +
Walk towait 34m
BalmossieDepart
18.07​
P2SR
1​
2​
Barry LinksArrive
18.15​
P2SRwalk +
1​
2​
Walk to********************wait 53m
CarnoustieDepart
19.08​
P2SR
ArbroathArrive
19.15​
*****SR
 

All platforms

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Thursday 12/06/2025 - Leuchars to Laurencekirk - £16.50 - Anytime Return. Spirit of Scotland Rover 4 in 8 days - Day 4. CP Leuchars £1.00 + Cupar £1.00
Total time today 482 mins - time on trains 310 mins and time waiting 172 mins. Stations completed today 2. Total completed 2359. Platforms completed at completed stations 5379

"Just 2 stations completed today"

Another one of those days where i unexpectedly got to go out in the afternoon - but in an unplanned way and looking back i have been very inefficient in my moves this week. Also cost has been an issue but one of my own making. I blame it on the lack of a full day 3 of the Rover. Nevertheless i was off out again and i opted for a trip to Laurencekirk but starting in Leuchars this time. I know this involved a bonus crossover which didn't materialise but it was an excellent journey to/from Laurencekirk nevertheless i recall. The outward journey was a direct one and as there are no returns at this part of the day i opted to do this via Dundee where another P1n possibility did not materialise in the end. The trip back from Dundee was on an Azuma, and i know there are not too many of those in this part of the world. I prefer the HST's i have to say.

Time for some standard sightseeing but as were finished by 2pm i resolved to go out in the afternoon - but at short notice it wasn't easy to stitch together a coherent itinerary. This was decidedly not made easier by some traffic lights that had sprung up on the road to Leuchars and after 15 mins there i decided to go back to Cupar and go from there instead. Frustratingly the machine wasn't working and the train i wanted was pulling out of the station as i strode onto the platform. 10 minutes scramble on RTT later i decided to have another go at P5 in Aberdeen, and then do Portlethen, but a most frustrating period as i gained Dundee on a replatformed service and then the Azuma just dawdled into Aberdeen (thankfully it was P5) and for the second time this afternoon i missed my service by just a few seconds - this one was my ticket to Portlethen. I did look but the wait for the next one was too long. Nothing for it but to return home and again a replatforming cost me at Dundee for an easy crossover. Also a third service missed by less than a minute today. A lot of effort for just one platform but Aberdeen is now complete and Arbroath northwards is now complete save Portlethen. Golf Street and Carnoustie are an easy duo now. This just leaves the P1s/n debate at Dundee and then Invergowrie and i am almost done to the north of the Central Scotland Rover area. I cannot wait to be wholly within that area this summer for some cheaper days out.

LeucharsDepart
6.35​
*****SRstationsplatforms
LaurencekirkArrive
7.37​
P2SRwait 26mcompletedcompleted
LaurencekirkDepart
8.03​
P1SR
1​
2​
DundeeArrive
8.52​
P1SRwait 35m
DundeeDepart
9.27​
P1GR
LeucharsArrive
9.40​
*****GR
Break for non related railway stuff********************n/a
CuparDepart
15.07​
*****SR
DundeeArrive
15.27​
P3SRwait 24m
DundeeDepart
15.51​
P4GR
AberdeenArrive
17.09​
P5GRwait 36m
1​
7​
AberdeenDepart
17.45​
P3SR
DundeeArrive
18.52​
P1SRwait 51m
DundeeDepart
19.43​
P2SR
CuparArrive
20.04​
*****SR
 

All platforms

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Day 488: Friday 13/06/2025 - Leuchars to Ladybank - £9.10 - Anytime Return. Leuchars to Cupar - £5.85 - Anytime Return. CP Leuchars - £1.00
Total time today 77 mins - time on trains 41 mins and time waiting 36 mins. Stations completed today 2. Total completed 2361. Platforms completed at completed stations 5383.

"2 easy runs out to complete the week"

Definitely things did not pan out as hoped this week but nevertheless a very successful week i would say and todays trips are short and sweet - namely a run out to Ladybank and then to Cupar. I have not given any people watching or other details of my activities this week but they did occur. I need to jot down a few things as they happen i think as a weeks worth of stuff is too much for me..... These last few weeks have been great as i pick away at the further corners left to do but as of writing this i have nothing else planned other than London yesterday and Tinsley tomorrow. It still keeps a smile on my face but i will be glad when the weekly trips perhaps reduce a little. I thought Cupar to be a great base for my activities this week even though i went North on every occasion. I also got to explore Fife in more detail as a holiday destination and i will probably return at some point. Scotland seems to be our first choice of late so lets see what else may occur. I am probably on my own for the central belt however.

More HST action today and if they disappear as intimated i am super glad to have ridden them most days this week. Next stop is London.

LeucharsDepart
5.54​
*****SRstationsplatforms
LadybankArrive
6.08​
P1SRwait 12mcompletedcompleted
LadybankDepart
6.20​
P2SR
1​
2​
LeucharsArrive
6.33​
P2SRwait 11m
LeucharsDepart
6.44​
P1SR
CuparArrive
6.51​
P1SRwait 13m
CuparDepart
7.04​
P2SR
1​
2​
LeucharsArrive
7.11​
*****SR
 
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All platforms

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Day 489: Sunday 15/06/2025 - Selby to St Pancras International - £33.95 - Advance Single. London Day Travelcard Z1-6 - £11.00 - Off-peak. Boundary Z6 to Ashford International - £18.20 - Off-peak Return. St Pancras International to Selby - £33.95 - Advance Single. CP Selby - £4.00.
Total time today 750 mins - time on trains a whopping 524 mins and time waiting 226 mins. No new platforms or stations today but a lot of rare track was consumed.

"I tried something a bit different today"

I have done a lot of driving these past few weeks and once i was toying with putting together an itinerary based on the through lines at Paddock Wood and Headcorn i alighted on the Hull Trains mega diversion route which in itself had a promised non timetabled crossover. It probably was dearer than driving down but anything to avoid queues at this time of year is a good thing in my opinion. Easy peasy to get to Selby for 9am but interestingly (and worryingly for some passengers) the service never made it to display boards. RTT confirmed it was on its way, but it wasn't until 9am when the ticket office opened that it was possible to get an announcement out to the masses. Another error on the boards later on as the Ramsgate service via Ashford was showing as Sandwich as the terminating point. Glitch in the matrix?

The journey down was much the same as one i did a couple of years ago on another divert. I had hoped to score a couple of crossovers as it was booked for P4 at Doncaster, but as it was late there was an Azuma sitting there as we rolled into P3b before crossing at the south end of the station. Beighton followed and then the High Level at Toton before i scored a double crossover as we switched from the slow line to the fasts for the rest of the journey at Loughborough North. The service didn't make up much time and we rolled into St Pancras too late for me to get to Blackfriars for my intended service. It was close as they shut the doors as i went through the barriers on P3. Cue frantic RTT searching as i tried to work out if i could salvage my targets. Yes was the short answer but it was galling that for the 4th time in as many days i had missed a service by mere seconds.

What i decided to do was to make my way to Bromley South on a TL divert and then get the Ramsgate divert via Sevenoaks and Ashford. A really nice bonus was the fact that we would be using the full P4 line at Sevenoaks which has very much eluded me so far and a welcome addition to the tick pile (2 of them as in and out were required from the Orpington line. Next up was Tonbridge and then non stop to Ashford P2, and thus using the through lines at Paddock Wood and Headcorn, both something i have had my beady eye on for some time. Loops and Through Lines are my new things i am prioritising first if i see them. Another bonus was new track into P2 at Ashford though it sould have been more if i had been in luck. In hindsight i missed a trick as the service continued on the Slow line before regaining the main line and a never timetabled crossover. I will have a look to see if this gets timetabled again and use that as an excuse to get the remaining Kent stations (5 i think) at the same time.

I thought there may be some new track on returning up the line from P2 but it was not to be and we headed for Sevenoaks via the through lines again. Apart from a little old lady who kept knocking the back of my seat on the way back to Selby nothing much of import yesterday, but i wasn't done yet. I alighted at Sevenoaks as Thames Link were terminating half hourly services there to/from Blackfriars and i spotted i still needed the crossover from a P3 departure there. Thus i got my final target of the day and all that remained was to get back to Selby from St Pancras. The station was packed so i sought some respite as i had a 90 minute wait and wandered over to Kings Cross. It was busy and all the retail outlets were open still but when i looked at the boards nothing was showing. Apparently KX was closed to trains yesterday but you wouldn't know it from the masses still congregating there.

Apart from being banged about by the little old lady (steady there) nothing much to report and i was back home before 11.30pm. An overnight tomorrow with an attempt at both Tinsley lines as well as a dubious attempt at one of my 2 remaining platform variations at Manchester Airport. I am able to sleep anywhere if tired so i don't expect it to be too onerous. the hard part will be the 2 hour wait at Sheffield, presumably outside the station if they operate the same policy as Swansea, but lets see. Its possible the 3.20 morning service may not be pitch black by the time we reach Tinsley but i am not holding my breath. I will return if i see a daytime diversion. After that its a blank canvas and hopefully something interesting will come to the fore.

SelbyDepart
9.07​
*****HTstationsplatforms
London St Pancras InternationalArrive
11.55​
P2HTwait 8mcompletedcompleted
London St Pancras InternationalDepart
12.03​
ATL
London BlackfriarsArrive
12.10​
P1TLwait 33m
London BlackfriarsDepart
12.43​
P3TL
Bromley SouthArrive
13.18​
P2TLwait 57m
Bromley SouthDepart
14.15​
P4SE
Ashford InternationalArrive
15.03​
P2SEwait 28m
Ashford InternationalDepart
15.31​
P2SE
SevenoaksArrive
16.04​
P1SEwait 4m
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Joined
11 Jan 2015
Messages
850
Trains to Ramsgate via Sandwich are advertised as being to Sandwich (when East of Ashford) to prevent people getting on them and wasting 30 mins when they should have used the faster service via Canterbury.
 

The exile

Established Member
Joined
31 Mar 2010
Messages
5,126
Location
Somerset
Day 488: Friday 13/06/2025 - Leuchars to Ladybank - £9.10 - Anytime Return. Leuchars to Cupar - £5.85 - Anytime Return. CP Leuchars - £1.00
Total time today 77 mins - time on trains 41 mins and time waiting 36 mins. Stations completed today 2. Total completed 2361. Platforms completed at completed stations 5383.

"2 easy runs out to complete the week"

Definitely things did not pan out as hoped this week but nevertheless a very successful week i would say and todays trips are short and sweet - namely a run out to Ladybank and then to Cupar. I have not given any people watching or other details of my activities this week but they did occur. I need to jot down a few things as they happen i think as a weeks worth of stuff is too much for me..... These last few weeks have been great as i pick away at the further corners left to do but as of writing this i have nothing else planned other than London yesterday and Tinsley tomorrow. It still keeps a smile on my face but i will be glad when the weekly trips perhaps reduce a little. I thought Cupar to be a great base for my activities this week even though i went North on every occasion. I also got to explore Fife in more detail as a holiday destination and i will probably return at some point. Scotland seems to be our first choice of late so lets see what else may occur. I am probably on my own for the central belt however.

More HST action today and if they disappear as intimated i am super glad to have ridden them most days this week. Next stop is London.

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Glad the halts played ball. Got them vaguely pencilled in for next year - guessing you fought shy of Springfield in the hope that it will get a shackbasher- friendlier service!
 

Kite159

Veteran Member
Joined
27 Jan 2014
Messages
20,815
Location
West of Andover
Monifieth to Balmossie is one of those walks on my list to do. Although I do have a plan to walk from Arbroath towards Dundee one of these days. A productive few days in Scotland and Kent

Agreed about the queuing chaos at St Pancras, I was there around 15;45 and the queues were beyond the escalators. I wonder if you need this platform at Cleethorpes;)
 

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All platforms

Member
Joined
8 May 2021
Messages
1,005
Location
Warrington
Trains to Ramsgate via Sandwich are advertised as being to Sandwich (when East of Ashford) to prevent people getting on them and wasting 30 mins when they should have used the faster service via Canterbury.
Ah i understand now. Quite a few similar examples of this elsewhere on the network if i recall. The Leeds to York via Harrogate is flagged as Poppleton as the terminator when it actually isn't.
Glad the halts played ball. Got them vaguely pencilled in for next year - guessing you fought shy of Springfield in the hope that it will get a shackbasher- friendlier service!

I actually did Springfield on a very cold morning a couple of years ago, and vowed not to return for these long waits unless it was what passes for summer on the NE coast. I also did Barry Links P1 on the same visit and that was just as bad - and it was dark... I just have Golf Street P2 to do now of these awkwards and will do this via Carnoustie i think - a very pleasant 20 mins (or less) stroll.
Monifieth to Balmossie is one of those walks on my list to do. Although I do have a plan to walk from Arbroath towards Dundee one of these days. A productive few days in Scotland and Kent

Agreed about the queuing chaos at St Pancras, I was there around 15;45 and the queues were beyond the escalators. I wonder if you need this platform at Cleethorpes;)
the first one is a tiddler of a walk but the Arbroath/Dundee might take a while.... I think it is tarmaced for a good chunk of the way too. Watch out for the bikes!!

Oh i forgot. I did a few loose ends in the Lincoln area a few months ago - and managed to bag p4 at Cleethorpes at that time. I still need the loop at Grimsby and also Barnetby p1 and line.
 
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Barnsley

Member
Joined
20 Feb 2010
Messages
197
Location
Barnsley
Does anything actually use that loop between Grimsby & Cleethorpes other than out of course working (delays)?
I've just looked in Trust, and it looks like 2T01, 0458 Lincoln to Cleethorpes is booked to use it 0553-0556
The 1008 from Sheffield to Cleethorpes is booked P1 at Barnetby (whether it actually uses it is another matter!)
 

All platforms

Member
Joined
8 May 2021
Messages
1,005
Location
Warrington
I've just looked in Trust, and it looks like 2T01, 0458 Lincoln to Cleethorpes is booked to use it 0553-0556
The 1008 from Sheffield to Cleethorpes is booked P1 at Barnetby (whether it actually uses it is another matter!)
I think that the answer for now is that both these oddities seem to be mainly working as planned - certainly in the last few weeks when i have keeping an eye on these.

The Grimsby loop is the more temperamental of the 2 being used 6 out of 9 times in the last 2 weeks

Barnetby P1 is an addition to the summer timetable and so far seems to be working as planned. i haven't checked everything since May but the ones i have checked have all gone through P1 and thus the Loop also.
It was also timetabled a few years ago but that was a bit of a lottery
 

All platforms

Member
Joined
8 May 2021
Messages
1,005
Location
Warrington
Day 490: Tuesday 17/06/2025 + Wednesday 18/06/2025 - Newton-le-Willows to Manchester Airport - £4.95 - Advance Single. Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly - £2.25 - Advance Single. Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield - £7.00 - Advance Single. Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly - £7.00 - Advance Single. Manchester Piccadilly to Newton-le-Willows - £1.30 - Advance Single. CP Newton-le-Willows - free.
Total time today 585 mins - time on trains 260 mins and time waiting 325 mins. No further forward after today - in any regard!!

"How to waste an overnighter"

2 targets - P3b at the Airport and Tinsley both ways. TLDR - It didn't work. However, its all part of lifes rich pageant and i will be having another go sometime. P3b does get timetabled at Manchester Airport. Most timetable updates bring with it variations but at the moment its an evening thing. Close scrutiny of RTT and others suggests that the b variant will not be used as no other units appoear to be in the a zone i.e. nearest the buffers. I was kinda in the area so i went and had a look and i can confirm my thoughts were correct. There is a slight better possibility that a late evening reverser may be successful but it was a last service of the evening deal so not helpful tonight.

I did go and have a wander around the city centre/Northern quarter once back at Piccadilly. I know the area well having worked there for the last 18 years of my working life and i always find new things whenever i do this. Time for the main event and eventually we were under way on what the conductor/guard said was a "magical mystery tour" due to diversions and route retention requirements. I did get to have a few words and he dropped the bombshell that despite it being on his list for tonight (and still on RTT by the way all week) we were not doing Tinsley. Possibly do to do with a new tram stop but i haven't checked this. No Tinsley at all this week apparently so that is that.

Much better waiting outside the station at Sheffield for near on 2 hours at this time of year but still not a fan of them closing the station period. There were probably a dozen of us by the time they reopened at 3am on the dot and the unit was sitting in P5a still and not P5b as timetabled. However it did draw forward into the b slot 5 mins before departure. I decided to get some shut eye so no real memory of the journey back. It is dubious that it was light enough to see much even if Tinsley would have been used.

A bit of a wait at Piccadilly for the first service of the day calling at Newton-le-Willows, and it was surprisingly busy. I holed up in the elevated waiting area for P13/14 and those extra large seats were very welcome. I did have another kip on the way back doing my usual thing of waking up at every stop - except my own, so i got an extra bonus trip to Earlestown and back.

I am out on Sunday for 3 days having recovered now from the midweek exertions. I am determined to fill in as many gaps as i can before the schools break up and madness on the road breaks out, so a broad swathe of the MML, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire will be traversed in quite the ambitious itineraray. Its also probably one of my most expensive forays unfortunately, which is probably the reason some of these services have not been attempted before. I am looking forward to it - a lot. Right i need to prepare.

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Newton-le-WillowsArrive
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Kite159

Veteran Member
Joined
27 Jan 2014
Messages
20,815
Location
West of Andover
It would make sense for the route via Tinsley to be closed for construction of that new tram stop at the science centre, although shame you missed out on all the oddities of it
 

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