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

[All platforms]

Day 28: Tuesday 01/06/2021 - Anytime Sgl £4.40 Plumley to Delamere, Cheshire Day Ranger £17.10 with senior railcard - Valid after 9.00am Weekdays. CP Free at Plumley
Total time 366 mins - time on trains 199 mins and time waiting 167 mins. Stations completed today 11. Total completed 228.

This will be my last report for a day or two. Had to get these in before my memory of the earlier trips got trashed completely. I am well into my stride now and have a fairly decent knowledge how to plan reasonably effectively. Learning from my mistakes for sure and still thoroughly enjoying the whole process despite my off day last time out.

I didn't have a full day to play out as other commitments have to be considered but i knew i could get most of the Altrincham line done by mid afternoon now that a more standard service was in place.

The start point was Plumley which had a sign proclaiming it "Cheshire Best Kept Station Winner 2013" Its still pretty neat and tidy and has a welcoming air. It is also one of the smallest stations i have seen which had an Amazon locker, with this one tucked into a corner of the waiting shelter. Delamere is another lovely station and i was delighted to learn that the station house cafe was open and serving hot breakfasts. I was the first customer of the day and wolfed down an excellent bacon butty in plenty of time for my next train. Yum. Delamere also won the Cheshire Best kept station award in 2017.

The viaduct at Northwich is pretty amazing but no time to enjoy the station as its back down the line to Mouldsworth which is a short platform and only the front two and a bit carriages fit. the guard seemed to go up and down the front carriages releasing the doors manually from the outside. Then locking them after. I may have misunderstood what was happening but i have never seen this type of action before. Is this normal at Mouldsworth or just for class 150's which these were. Interesting nontheless. If anyone is interested in a posh pub meal the Goshawk just outside the station is highly recommended. Somewhere i had visited a few years ago with friends.

No real waits today which is good as i am making full use of the line, so the rest of the stations are steadily ticked off. A very pleasant day out and home before 4pm. Wonderful. There are still a couple of stations to do on the western end but they will be more easily done from Chester the timetable being what it was.

Navigation Road was a bit different as there is a separate line each for the tram and the train, with platforms opposite each other. A little odd when you first experience it.

Plumley	Depart	8.33​	*****	NT			stations	platforms
Delamere	Arrive	8.54​		NT	wait 24m		completed	completed
Delamere	Depart	9.18​		NT			1​	2​
Northwich	Arrive	9.32​		NT	wait 5m
Northwich	Depart	9.37​		NT			1​	2​
Mouldsworth	Arrive	9.58​		NT	wait 17m
Mouldsworth	Depart	10.15​		NT			1​	2​
Hale	Arrive	10.57​		NT	wait 19m
Hale	Depart	11.16​		NT			1​	2​
Mobberley	Arrive	11.22​		NT	wait 31m
Mobberley	Depart	11.53​		NT			1​	2​
Altrincham	Arrive	12.03​	P3	NT	wait 6m
Altrincham	Depart	12.09​	P4	NT			1​	2​
Knutsford	Arrive	12.23​		NT	wait 26m
Knutsford	Depart	12.49​		NT			1​	2​
Ashley	Arrive	12.57​		NT	wait 19m
Ashley	Depart	13.16​		NT			1​	2​
Plumley	Arrive	13.29​		NT	wait 12m
Plumley	Depart	13.41​		NT			1​	2​
Navigation Road	Arrive	14.01​	Single	NT	wait 6m		1​	1​
Navigation Road	Depart	14.07​	Single	NT
Lostock Gralam	Arrive	14.33​		NT	wait 2m
Lostock Gralam	Depart	14.35​		NT			1​	2​
Plumley	Arrive	14.39​	*****	NT

 

[Gathursty]

Clifton to Swinton is surely a shorter walk than Clifton to Salford Crescent?

Good luck nonetheless.

 

[All platforms]

Clifton to Swinton is surely a shorter walk than Clifton to Salford Crescent?

Good luck nonetheless.

Your absolutely right - 25 mins versus 70 odd mins. I truly missed that one on the first look. Cheers my man.

 

[Techniquest]

Yet more good reads, and I see you've done really well so far!

Hereford's p4, if you haven't been made aware already, currently has zero booked workings all week. On certain occasions, when the line is blocked south of Hereford, then it very occasionally gets used by a TfW train but it's extremely unusual and I've barely seen it used or even bewn aware of it being used much in the last year.

Similar for Worcester Shrub Hill's p3, it used to have a booked service on Sundays and even then it only happened if services ran in their correct order. With the current reduced service timetables, there's no use for it right now and I wouldn't consider it going on your list to do. Which does make Shrub Hill a little easier as it's just 1a/1b and 2a/2b. Thankfully Foregate Street, just 50 chains away and can be walked in 10 minutes if needs be, is a nice and simple two platform affair.

Bromsgrove p1 is one that doesn't have booked workings either, but it is very useful if on a train from the Worcester direction and said train needs looping to allow XC to pass. Only had it happen to me once so far, which was a huge plus for me as it had been a curiosity on my wishlist for a long time. So while it gets ad-hoc use, it's definitely not one you'll be able to plan for.

I think I noted you had issues with Acton Bridge too. When I travelled through there a few times last year, it was standard practice for the xx05 from Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street to pull into the loop platform to allow Avanti to pass. I don't know if you have done it since, but it does get used. Not 100% sure on it being booked to do so, but it always happened to me so I guess so!

Looking forward to more from you when they're up, I've got a hectic few days ahead so I may be slow to respond/read but I'm certainly curious.

 

[Kite159]

Worcester Shrub Hill had a random Saturday morning starter from the bay before Covid hit. Think it was around 08:40 and carried on to Westbury.

 

[gcmozart]

I am very much enjoying reading these reports of your quest, pleaase do keep posting as and when you can.

Apologies if i have missed it, but could you give a brief idea of your realtime progress - fully appreciate if that is not something you want to do

Good luck for your contimued progress

 

[Failed Unit]

I guess as the original poster said. A mega challenge.

Lincoln platform 1 springs to minds. But previously Spalding could be a real pain on the rear, as the often just used 1 platform.

Good luck. Hopefully you will get a few wins to help you out such as a platform alteration to terminate in platform 1 at Lincoln.

 

[All platforms]

Yet more good reads, and I see you've done really well so far!

Hereford's p4, if you haven't been made aware already, currently has zero booked workings all week. On certain occasions, when the line is blocked south of Hereford, then it very occasionally gets used by a TfW train but it's extremely unusual and I've barely seen it used or even bewn aware of it being used much in the last year.

Similar for Worcester Shrub Hill's p3, it used to have a booked service on Sundays and even then it only happened if services ran in their correct order. With the current reduced service timetables, there's no use for it right now and I wouldn't consider it going on your list to do. Which does make Shrub Hill a little easier as it's just 1a/1b and 2a/2b. Thankfully Foregate Street, just 50 chains away and can be walked in 10 minutes if needs be, is a nice and simple two platform affair.

Bromsgrove p1 is one that doesn't have booked workings either, but it is very useful if on a train from the Worcester direction and said train needs looping to allow XC to pass. Only had it happen to me once so far, which was a huge plus for me as it had been a curiosity on my wishlist for a long time. So while it gets ad-hoc use, it's definitely not one you'll be able to plan for.

I think I noted you had issues with Acton Bridge too. When I travelled through there a few times last year, it was standard practice for the xx05 from Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street to pull into the loop platform to allow Avanti to pass. I don't know if you have done it since, but it does get used. Not 100% sure on it being booked to do so, but it always happened to me so I guess so!

Looking forward to more from you when they're up, I've got a hectic few days ahead so I may be slow to respond/read but I'm certainly curious.

No worries.. I am a bit miffed about Hereford p4 because i don't have it in my notes for some reason. Good to know about it however, and so it goes in the book. I did visit Hereford in October but i arrived at chucking out time at the local academy and p3 was absolutely rammed. I am sure this is why i didn't wander to the top of the platform when all would have become clear. Good call though - and to a previous poster who also mentioned it.

Worcester Shrub Hill p3 doesn't look long enough to take more than 2 carriages and so i was wondering what GW sets could actually squeeze on there if required. I did visit the station on Day 33 and at times it was quiet enough to have a chat with the dispatch team and who said it had been quite a while since it had been used. Never say never however. They also pointed out the dinky round signals for p1a suspended half way along the platform. There were only 2 possibilities to use this platform when i visited but i notice there are at least 6 currently.

There is usually 1 use a week at Bromsgrove p1 - Sundays 15.56 Shrub Hill to New Street. I did keep an eye on this for a week or two before attempting it in August but was foiled by the more usual p2 being use that day. I will have to return at some point to the West Midlands so fingers crossed.

If RTT is to be believed the Acton Bridge loop does see action on most days but the timings seem to be random - or it was when i looked at this last year. I will probably have a half a day out on the LNW Crewe to Liverpool at some stage if i have a random free afternoon. I might get lucky... Looks like you had the luck on your days out.

 

[All platforms]

Worcester Shrub Hill had a random Saturday morning starter from the bay before Covid hit. Think it was around 08:40 and carried on to Westbury.

Good to know it might pop again but does GWR have 2 car sets these days. It looks a squeeze for a 3 car set. My knowledge about the various set configurations is sadly lacking.

 

[Andy Pacer]

This is all quite interesting. I myself have for the past 4 years or so been ticking off stations for boarding and/or alighting, its very time consuming (although I'm in no rush). I couldn't possibly envisage trying to get every platform as well but credit to you for giving it a go.

 

[All platforms]

I am very much enjoying reading these reports of your quest, pleaase do keep posting as and when you can.

Apologies if i have missed it, but could you give a brief idea of your realtime progress - fully appreciate if that is not something you want to do

Good luck for your contimued progress

Good to hear and thankyou. I am not sure how many times this particular "quest" has been done before, and i just wanted to keep a record of how i am doing. Should have started posting last year of course but procrastination won out until now.

For the record i am a couple of completed stations shy of 20% at the moment. There will be a number of unavoidable lengthy stays away from home to do this in a remotely efficient manner and if there will be a stumbling block there it is.

 

[All platforms]

I guess as the original poster said. A mega challenge.

Lincoln platform 1 springs to minds. But previously Spalding could be a real pain on the rear, as the often just used 1 platform.

Good luck. Hopefully you will get a few wins to help you out such as a platform alteration to terminate in platform 1 at Lincoln.

Lincoln does have a few opportunities on a Saturday for p1 and not too early! I tend to look for the awkward ones and plan a day around them. However these rare platform do see timetable changes quite often, and there is no guarantee come May they will still be there - or conversely there may be more. I was hoping to do that part of the country later this year so fingers crossed.

I have been to Spalding and was lucky with platform 2. The stairs between the 2 platforms are beyond infested with pidgeon muck. They really need to do something here. I did wonder whether nearly everything is routed via platform 1 because of this. Day 51 it was by the way.

 

[All platforms]

This is all quite interesting. I myself have for the past 4 years or so been ticking off stations for boarding and/or alighting, its very time consuming (although I'm in no rush). I couldn't possibly envisage trying to get every platform as well but credit to you for giving it a go.

My original goal was all timetabled platforms. Then i added alighting and setting down at all stations for the walk in/out single platforms that would otherwise preclude it, and more recently i have added timetabled PSUL lines too so there will be lots to go at. My main goal however is the all platforms one. The PSUL goal is probably going to extend into a 6th year but its too early to be sure. Lets see how i get on this year as i travel further afield.

 

[All platforms]

Day 29: Saturday 05/06/2021 - West Midlands Day Ranger £19 with senor railcard - Valid all day at Weekends. CP £4.50 at Marmion St Tamworth.
Total time 648 mins - Time on trains 186 mins and time waiting 362 mins. Stations completed today 6. Total completed 234.

I have a little time free so here we go again.

Today was Polesworth day - the one train a day offering going North West. The weekday stops seemed a little early even for me so saturday it was at a more reasonable 7.21. At that time the alightinging/setting down requirement was not even a smile on my cheery face, so it didn't matter which opton - in the end i felt i wanted to walk in. Under my criteria it had to be from another station so it was a 10 minute walk from the Car Park i used to Tamworth station and then part reversing before starting the long slog up the hill on the road to Polesworth. I do not count myself as particularly fit and so was happy to make it to the top without pause. A quick check of the watch showed i was ahead on time so carried on after a swig of water. In fact i arrived 20 minutes before the train was due. Not much to explore at Polesworth. It is adjacent to some houses and despite being the only person waiting when i arrived there were 4 more people by the time the train arrived. At least 2 of them were bagging stations that day with cameras being put to goood use.

Back at Tamworth in 4 mins compared to the 90 minutes walk just undertaken from there. My 2 non companions were busy consulting their phones with 1 of them electing to go to Wilnecote which was my also next stop. I however chose to reverse course and the next thing on my agenda was taking out some WCML platforms at Atherstone and Nuneaton before a brief diversion to Coleshill Parkway and back.

It was turning out to be an extraordinarily hot day and my timings at Long Buckby coincided with peak warmth. Perhaps i shouldn't have brought that second jumper haha. In retrospect my visits to Rugby Northampton and Coventry were not efficiently done, as i have replicated many platforms subsequently. But then, how far in advance can you plan??

Rugby p3 is not timetabled in normal circumstance so it gets a pass on my standard criteria - but it does get used sometimes when engineering works can be seen North of here on the WCML. I have just noticed that 4 car LNW units are using it Sunday 06/02/2022 in the afternoon as a base to shuttle to/from London Euston. I will do my best to visit...

No mishaps today and some groundwork done at Rugby and Northampton in particular.

Marmion St CP Tamworth	Depart	5.20​	*****	n/a			stations	platforms
Walk to Tamworth	Arrive	5.30​	n/a	n/a	10 mins		completed	completed
Walk to Polesworth	Depart	5.30​	n/a	n/a	90 mins			at completed
Polesworth	Arrive	7.00​	n/a	n/a	wait 21m			stations
Polesworth	Depart	7.21​	Single	LM			1​	1​
Tamworth	Arrive	7.25​	P1	LM	wait 38m
Tamworth	Depart	8.03​	P4	XC
Wilnecote	Arrive	8.06​	P1	XC	wait 58m
Wilnecote	Depart	9.04​	P2	XC			1​	2​
Tamworth	Arrive	9.07​	P3	XC	wait 12m		1​	4​
Tamworth	Depart	9.19​	P2	LM
Nuneaton	Arrive	9.33​	P5	LM	wait 25m
Nuneaton	Depart	9.58​	P2	LM
Atherstone	Arrive	10.04​	P1	LM	wait 24m
Atherstone	Depart	10.28​	P2	LM			1​	2​
Nuneaton	Arrive	10.33​	P5	LM	wait 14m
Nuneaton	Depart	10.47​	P6	XC
Coleshill Parkway	Arrive	11.01​	P1	XC	wait 7m
Coleshill Parkway	Depart	11.08​	P2	XC			1​	2​
Nuneaton	Arrive	11.21​	P7	XC	wait 14m
Nuneaton	Depart	11.35​	P5	LM
Rugby	Arrive	11.49​	P5	LM	wait 10m
Rugby	Depart	11.59​	P5	LM
Northampton	Arrive	12.23​	P1	LM	wait 14m
Northampton	Depart	12.37​	P4	LM
Long Buckby	Arrive	12.47​	P2	LM	wait 22m
Long Buckby	Depart	13.09​	P1	LM			1​	2​
Northampton	Arrive	13.19​	P1	LM	wait 67m
Northampton	Depart	14.26​	P2	LM
Rugby	Arrive	14.48​	P2	LM	wait 4m
Rugby	Depart	14.52​	P1	VT
Coventry	Arrive	15.02​	P3	VT	wait 20m
Coventry	Depart	15.22​	P2	LM
Rugby	Arrive	15.31​	P6	LM	wait 12m
Rugby	Depart	15.43​	P2	LM
Tamworth	Arrive	16.08​	*****	LM

 

[All platforms]

Day 30: Tuesday 08/06/2021 - West Midlands Day Ranger £19.00 with senior railcard - Valid after 9.00am Weekdays. CP £4.50 Marmion St Tamworth
Total time today 517 mins - Time on trains 179 mins and time waiting 338 mins. Stations completed today 6. Total completed 240.

Another day based at Birmingham New Street to continue the mammoth task of 37 platforms whilst at the same time picking off some new stations. In the end 5 ticks at New Street and another 6 elsewhere. I have included Wolverhampton as complete now given that p6 is no longer timetabled and the other oddball was to get back to Tamworth via the elusive Water Orton p2. It did mean a slightly later finish than i might have liked but it was the only way to achieve this. Tick and tick.

Not a particularly memorable day - what day based at New Street can be, but again targets met for the day counts as a win.

Tamworth	Depart	9.33​	*****	XC		platform not	stations	platforms
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	9.54​	P10a	XC	wait 14m	timetabled	completed	completed
Birmingham New Street	Depart	10.08​	P7b	WM				at completed
Dudley Port	Arrive	10.23​	P2	WM	wait 12m			stations
Dudley Port	Depart	10.35​	P1	WM			1​	2​
Smethwick Rolfe Street	Arrive	10.43​	P1	WM	wait 4m
Smethwick Rolfe Street	Depart	10.47​	P2	WM			1​	2​
Wolverhampton	Arrive	11.06​	P5	WM	wait 39m
Wolverhampton	Depart	11.45​	P4	VT		P6 not TT	1​	5​
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	12.04​	P2	VT	wait 49m
Birmingham New Street	Depart	12.53​	P5	LM
Birmingham International	Arrive	13.03​	P5	LM	wait 28m
Birmingham International	Depart	13.31​	P3	LM			1​	5​
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	13.43​	P4b	LM	wait 7m
Birmingham New Street	Depart	13.50​	P10b	WM
University	Arrive	13.57​	P2	WM	wait 3m
University	Depart	14.00​	P1	WM			1​	2​
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	14.07​	P10b	WM	wait 12m
Birmingham New Street	Depart	14.19​	P10a	XC
Tamworth	Arrive	14.34​	P3	XC	wait 16m
Tamworth	Depart	14.50​	P4	XC
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	15.06​	P11	XC	wait 9m
Birmingham New Street	Depart	15.15​	P12	WM
Five Ways	Arrive	15.19​	P2	WM	wait 19m
Five Ways	Depart	15.38​	P1	WM
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	15.42​	P8	WM	wait 87m
Birmingham New Street	Depart	17.09​	P8a	XC
Water Orton	Arrive	17.21​	P1	XC	wait 39m
Water Orton	Depart	18.00​	P2	XC			1​	2​
Tamworth	Arrive	18.10​	*****	XC

 

[All platforms]

Day 31: Tuesday 22/06/2021 - Settle & Carlisle Day Ranger £22.25 with senior railcard - Valid anytime. CP free at Hellifield.
Total time today 712 mins - Time on trains 327 mins and time waiting 385 mins. Stations completed today 6. Total completed 246.

A day i had been waiting for. I had never done this line in the daytime before and what a day i chose!

A line not known for its abundance of trains and picking an itinerary that worked over 2 separate days proved to be a little thorny. However i arrived at Hellifield good and early for the first train only to realise it was bloody freezing. A quck check showed a balmy 2 Degrees Celcius. What the heck?

What can i say about this line that hasn't been said many time before. Truly breathtaking at times. I pretty much had the first train to myself and alighted at Ribblehead to be greeted with the warming sun and a fabulous vista. I had over 30 minutes to explore which i did with pleasure lapping up the views and scenery. Seeing both departing and arriving trains go over the viaduct was also a highlight. A barrow crossing here was also a bonus.

A couple of runners joined me on the return South for one stop - they were going to run over the fells back to Ribblehead. Each to their own, but i did envy them that ability to do so. Time for a bacon butty at the station cafe at Skipton that was doing a brisk business with rail staff in particular.

The train North was much busier, staffed as it was with walkers in all hues and configurations and most departing before i got to my next stop at Appleby. An almost 2 hour wait, so i had time to explore at length and re-acquaint myself with this lovely town. It was turning out to be a scorching day so time for my first ice cream of the year though i forget what my choice was now.

The three most northerly stations on the line can be the most problematic to fit in and so i took a chance at Langwathby with a 5 min change over from platform to platform, which thankfully worked out. A day of waits today only matched by the Heart of Wales line i think. I was super pleased that it all went to plan although i won't return until 2022 to complete the job. So lucky with the weather too, not a cloud in the sky till late efternoon.

Hellifield	Depart	6.14​	*****	NT			stations	platforms
Ribblehead	Arrive	6.36​	P2	NT	wait 37m		completed	completed
Ribblehead	Depart	7.13​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Skipton	Arrive	7.51​	P2	NT	wait 36m
Skipton	Depart	8.27​	P3	NT
Appleby	Arrive	9.49​	P2	NT	wait 112m
Appleby	Depart	11.41​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Garsdale	Arrive	12.06​	P1	NT	wait 73m
Garsdale	Depart	13.19​	P2	NT			1​	2​
Lazonby & Garsdale	Arrive	14.07​	P2	NT	wait 72m
Lazonby & Garsdale	Depart	15.19​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Langwathby	Arrive	15.25​	P1	NT	wait 5m
Langwathby	Depart	15.30​	P2	NT			1​	2​
Armathwaite	Arrive	15.42​	P2	NT	wait 50m
Armathwaite	Depart	16.32​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Hellifield	Arrive	18.06​	*****	NT

 

[All platforms]

Day 32: Thursday 24/06/2021 - Cheshire Day Ranger £17.10 - Valid after 9.00am Weekdays. CP free at New Mills Newtown
Total time today 540 mins - Time on trains 218 mins and time waiting 322 mins. Stations completed today 12. Total completed 258.

Trying to keep maximum interest by choosing a different line today although it is one i have done many years ago. The aim is to tick off the 11 stations on the line and perhaps another one if time permits. It does.

Leaving bang on 9.00am a flurry of quick hits found me back at new Mills Newtown after a delay or cancellation - can't remember which now and a wait of over 40 minutes. Time for an explore and yet another chippy. I think this was my last for quite a while and certainly not the best.

The delay/cancellation meant i now had to think on the fly and still include the awkward Buxton P1 which only has one offering in social hours so after a zigzag down the line i ended up at Levenshulme in time to get back to Stockport for the 14.19 all the way up to Buxton. An enforced wait here for the 16.00 p1 departure was no hardship as Buxton is a lovely place. Just 2 more stations to complete the set for the day the last of which is Middlewood. This is a station essentially on a walking/cycle way with no public vehicular access. No shortage of people on the bridge above the station - it must be a very popular route for walkists and cyclists.

One last bounce via Hazel Grove which had been ticked off earlier and back to Newtown. Disaster however as my car keys were awol. I found out later i had somehow contrived to leave them on the first strain after lunch and i picked them up the next morning from lost property at Manchester Piccadilly. Doh! Meantime a trek out for number 3 son to bring the spare set of keys. The start of a kinda habit it turns out.

New Mills Newtown	Depart	9.00​	*****	NT			stations	platforms
Whaley Bridge	Arrive	9.05​	P1	NT	wait 11m		completed	completed
Whaley Bridge	Depart	9.16​	P2	NT			1​	2​
Furness Vale	Arrive	9.19​	P2	NT	wait 22m
Furness Vale	Depart	9.41​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Chapel-en-le-Frith	Arrive	9.50​	P1	NT	wait 18m
Chapel-en-le-Frith	Depart	10.08​	P2	NT			1​	2​
New Mills Newtown	Arrive	10.21​		NT	wait 17m
New Mills Newtown	Depart	10.38​		NT			1​	2​
Dove Holes	Arrive	10.56​	P1	NT	wait 8m
Dove Holes	Depart	11.04​	P2	NT			1​	2​
Disley	Arrive	11.25​	P2	NT	wait 10m
Disley	Depart	11.35​	P1	NT			1​	2​
New Mills Newtown	Arrive	11.38​		NT	wait 43m
New Mills Newtown	Depart	12.21​		NT
Davenport	Arrive	12.39​	P2	NT	wait 27m
Davenport	Depart	13.06​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Hazel Grove	Arrive	13.10​	P1	NT	wait 24m
Hazel Grove	Depart	13.34​	P2	NT			1​	2​
Levenshulme	Arrive	13.50​	P2	NT	wait 4m
Levenshulme	Depart	13.54​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Stockport	Arrive	14.00​	P1	NT	wait 19m
Stockport	Depart	14.19​	P1	NT
Buxton	Arrive	15.03​	P2	NT	wait 57m
Buxton	Depart	16.00​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Woodsmoor	Arrive	16.37​		NT	wait 7m
Woodsmoor	Depart	16.44​		NT			1​	2​
Middlewood	Arrive	16.51​	P1	NT	wait 40m
Middlewood	Depart	17.31​	P2	NT			1​	2​
Hazel Grove	Arrive	17.34​	P2	NT	wait 15m
Hazel Grove	Depart	17.49​	P1	NT
New Mills Newtown	Arrive	18.00​	*****	NT

 

[All platforms]

Day 33: Saturday 26/06/2021 - West Midlands Day Ranger £19.00 with senior railcard - Valid all day at Weekends. CP £3.50 Tallow Hill Worcester.
Total time today 586 mins - Time on trains 158 mins and time waiting 428 mins. Stations completed 8. Total completed 266.

It started so well! It made sense to start at Foregate Street as this could be knocked out quite easily later on and therefore left me to concentrate on Shrub Hill having 6 variants with p3 not timetabled. A delay at the start due to an incident on the train prior to Worcester but i was not affected apart from a longer wait than necessatry at the start. The stations to Hereford were also a target as was Hartlebury Droitwich Spa and a couple at Bromsgrove.

Today was memorable for a heroic wait at Foregate Street due to the cancellation of a Hereford train late morning. A very successful morning prior to that with nothing much of note to report, although i found Colwall to be full of interest for the whole 15 minutes i was there.

Time to explore Worcester then on another hot day. I may have been unlucky and been on the wrong side of town but after an hour with nothing of value to report i sat down on a shady park bench with a cold drink and a sandwich, and maybe a small doze.

After 2 and half hours i was ready to start again with another hour plus wait at Shrub Hill to ensure i got the more awkward of the platforms, p1a and off to Great Malvern on a GWR service. A small wait and off to Ledbury before returning to Great Malvern where i discovered the very excellent tea rooms there. A slice of cake did me the power of good before boarding the train back to Foregate Street.

Despite the combined near 4 hour waits in Worcester i did achieve what i wanted except of course Hereford which i could tackle from the other side at a different time. Not sure i would want to do this again anytime soon however.

Worcester Foregate Street	Depart	6.08​	*****	GW		platform not	stations	platforms
Worcester Shrub Hill	Arrive	6.10​	P2	GW	wait 20m	timetabled	completed	completed
Worcester Shrub Hill	Depart	6.30​	P1b	WM				at completed
Malvern Link	Arrive	6.40​	P1	WM	wait 14m			stations
Malvern Link	Depart	6.54​	P2	GW			1​	2​
Worcester Shrub Hill	Arrive	7.08​	P1	GW	wait 12m
Worcester Shrub Hill	Depart	7.20​	P2b	WM
Hartlebury	Arrive	7.35​	P1	WM	wait 14m
Hartlebury	Depart	7.49​	P2	WM			1​	2​
Droitwich Spa	Arrive	7.55​	P1	WM	wait 37m
Droitwich Spa	Depart	8.32​	P2	WM			1​	2​
Bromsgrove	Arrive	8.40​	P2	WM	wait 32m
Bromsgrove	Depart	9.12​	P4	WM
Colwall	Arrive	9.49​	Single	WM	wait 15m		1​	1​
Colwall	Depart	10.04​	Single	WM
Worcester Foregate Street	Arrive	10.21​	P2	WM	wait 156m
Worcester Foregate Street	Depart	12.57​	P1	GW			1​	2​
Worcester Shrub Hill	Arrive	12.59​	P2a	GW	wait 75m
Worcester Shrub Hill	Depart	14.14​	P1a	GW		P3	1​	6​
Great Malvern	Arrive	14.29​	P2	GW	wait 16m
Great Malvern	Depart	14.45​	P2	WM
Ledbury	Arrive	14.55​	P2	WM	wait 4m
Ledbury	Depart	14.59​	P1	WM			1​	2​
Great Malvern	Arrive	15.09​	P1	WM	wait 33m		1​	2​
Great Malvern	Depart	15.42​	P1	GW
Worcester Foregate Street	Arrive	15.54​	*****	GW

 

[All platforms]

Day 34: Sunday 04/07/2021 - Greater Manchester Rail Ranger £7.40 with senior railcard - Valid all day at Weekends. CP free at Dinting.
Total time today 449 mins - Time on trains 175 mins and time waiting 274 mins. Stations completed today 10. Total completed 276.

A day out nearer to my home base. No idea now why i chose Dinting as the start/finish point however. The service patterns were probably favourable and i certainly got off to a solid start. Not a line i would crave to revisit with many stations in need of some/a lot of TLC.

The Dinting Hadfield Glossop triangle is an odd one with 3 reversals to get back to the leaving point of the triangle which is always Dinting of course. I have talked about p1 at Dinting before which is the awkward one.

The day dragged by err continued without incident until i was dropped off at the wonderfully named Broadbottom. There an increasing number of men and boys with a great variety of cameras and tripods started to turn up. had they heard i was doing this epic journey and wanted to take some pics for posterity? The truth was rather more exciting as there was a steam charter coming up the line that appeared to be delayed. Apparently it was being held in a loop at Guide Bridge. Anyway i had to depart before it arrrived though i did get a glimpse as we passed at some speed before i got to Ashburys my next stop. Pity that. I never did get to see it again as after a trip to Gorton i had completed the stations for the day and so resolved to tick off a few more at Manchester Piccadilly before heading back.

I never did get to find what the charter was or the engine in question.

Dinting	Depart	10.00​	*****	NT			stations	platforms
Newton for Hyde	Arrive	10.10​		NT	wait 6m		completed	completed
Newton for Hyde	Depart	10.16​		NT			1​	2​
Glossop	Arrive	10.31​	Single	NT	wait 20m		1​	1​
Glossop	Depart	10.51​	Single	NT
Godley	Arrive	11.03​	P1	NT	wait 17m
Godley	Depart	11.20​	P2	NT			1​	2​
Dinting	Arrive	11.30​	P2	NT	wait 28m		1​	2​
Dinting	Depart	11.58​	P2	NT
Hattersley	Arrive	12.04​		NT	wait 18m
Hattersley	Depart	12.22​		NT			1​	2​
Hadfield	Arrive	12.41​	Single	NT	wait 4m		1​	1​
Hadfield	Depart	12.45​	Single	NT
Flowery Field	Arrive	13.09​	P1	NT	wait 8m
Flowery Field	Depart	13.17​	P2	NT			1​	2​
Broadbottom	Arrive	13.25​		NT	wait 37m
Broadbottom	Depart	14.02​		NT			1​	2​
Ashburys	Arrive	14.19​		NT	wait 48m
Ashburys	Depart	15.07​		NT			1​	2​
Gorton	Arrive	15.09​		NT	wait 10m
Gorton	Depart	15.19​		NT			1​	2​
Manchester Piccadilly	Arrive	15.26​	P2	NT	wait 29m
Manchester Piccadilly	Depart	15.55​	P7	VT
Stockport	Arrive	16.02​	P2	VT	wait 15m
Stockport	Depart	16.17​	P3	XC
Manchester Piccadilly	Arrive	16.29​	P6	XC	wait 34m
Manchester Piccadilly	Depart	17.03​	P2	NT
Dinting	Arrive	17.29​	*****	NT

 

[All platforms]

Day 35: Tuesday 06/07/2021 - East Midlands Rover £63.50 3 in 7 days - Valid after 9.00am Weekdays. Day 1 of 3. CP £4.50 at Marmion St Tamworth.
Total time today 484 mins - Time on trains 166 mins and time waiting 318 mins. Stations completed today 4. Total completed 280.

A mainly Cross Country day today with just 1 bit of East Midlands traction after midday. The aim was to complete the remaining stations on the Derby and Leicester lines from Tamworth and Nuneaton. Lines i had never travelled on before. I was looking forward to this one despite the bounce backs being a feature of the day. Looking at RTT again today these 2 lines now seem a doddle but trust me this was not easy back then with 2 hour service patterns for these stations and gapping to boot. It was also the cheapest way to do these out of the way stations.

So, off to Derby before bouncing back to Willington and then Burton-on-Trent, before travelling to Leicester past some stations that will no doubt prove to be awkward in due course. Then came the Leicester shuffle to Narborough and then South Wigston. A final trip down the line to Nuneaton and then back to Tamworth.

Nothing sticks ijn the memory about today other than the enforced bounce backs.

Tamworth	Depart	9.08​	*****	XC			stations	platforms
Derby	Arrive	9.31​	P4a	XC	wait 11m		completed	completed
Derby	Depart	9.42​	P3a	XC				at completed
Willington	Arrive	9.53​	P2	XC	wait 31m			stations
Willington	Depart	10.25​	P1	XC			1​	2​
Derby	Arrive	10.33​	P4a	XC	wait 8m
Derby	Depart	10.41​	P3a	XC
Burton-on-Trent	Arrive	10.50​	P2	XC	wait 30m
Burton-on-Trent	Depart	11.20​	P1	XC			1​	2​
Derby	Arrive	11.32​	P4a	XC	wait 37m
Derby	Depart	12.09​	P6	EM
Leicester	Arrive	12.28​	P3	EM	wait 50m
Leicester	Depart	13.18​	P1	XC
Narborough	Arrive	13.27​	P2	XC	wait 11m
Narborough	Depart	13.38​	P1	XC			1​	2​
Leicester	Arrive	13.48​	P1	XC	wait 29m
Leicester	Depart	14.17​	P1	XC
South Wigston	Arrive	14.25​		XC	wait 79m
South Wigston	Depart	15.44​		XC			1​	2​
Leicester	Arrive	15.50​	P1	XC	wait 27m
Leicester	Depart	16.17​	P1	XC
Nuneaton	Arrive	16.53​	P6	XC	wait 5m
Nuneaton	Depart	16.58​	P2	LM
Tamworth	Arrive	17.12​	*****	LM

 

[All platforms]

Day 36: Friday 09/07/2021 - East Midlands Rover £63.50 3 in 7 days with senior railcard - Valid after 9.00am Weekdays. Day 2 of 3. Anytime Single £10.45 Rugby to Milton Keynes. Offpeak Rtn £1.70 Coventry to Canley. Offpeak Rtn £1.90 Coventry to Tile Hill. CP free at Premier Inn Rugby Newbold.
Total time 837 mins - Time on trains 372 mins and time waiting 465 mins. Stations completed today 9. Total completed 289.

Time to venture further afield and stay overnight. P3 and 4 are a little awkward to do at Nuneaton and certainly were back then. Perhaps i will find things easier this summer with proper timetables back to what they should be.

Looking at it again in the cold light of day this itinerary bounces all over the place but with multiple conflicting goals to try and achieve this is the best i could come up with at the time.

Basing myself at Rugby and staying overnight there with a brisk walk to/from my Hotel unavoidable. Perhaps i am a cheapskate with parking but the cost mounts up for sure. A civilised start time but before 9.00am so i had to pay for an extra ticket to Milton Keynes Central. It looks bonkers easy to do today but i had to take the whole day into account. Back to Rugby and then to complete the 2 stations just beyond Coventry as i was unlikely to be here again anytime soon. In any event it filled in time before i headed back to Rugby before ticking off another 2 at Milton Keynes.

As i have said elsewehere i do like the LNW trains. Plenty of room, Comfy(ish) and no messing about between stations. I would be attempting the Marston Vale line tomorrow which was entirley doable without delays or cancellations, except for 1 station which would have to be done separately. So i fitted in a visit to Lidlington in between catching 4 separate platforms at Bletchley, and 2 at Wolverton. The fast lines are not timetabled except when the slow lines are out of commission so i have 2 exceptions here and at Wolverton to account for. I will probably come back and do them at a later date if possible.

Its 6pm by the time i arrive at Nuneaton p3 then a trek to Coventry to get a return back to Rugby p4 which completes the station (bar the not timetabled p3). How convoluted this is becoming. By this time i had got rather wet - just about the ony time i did and headed for the hotel for a change of clothes. Luckliy it had stopped raining ands so retruned to the station to go back yet again to Nuneaton and take in the delights of Hinckley something i had missed the previous day. Here i was regaled from the other platform by a drunken couple oblivious of me in the dark. Anyway i now know much more than i would want to about her affair and how lacking her husband was. You get to see and hear all sorts of things...

One final wait at Nuneaton for the Avanti back to Rugby from p4 for a 10.30pm finish. Too late for a beer too.

Rugby	Depart	8.36​	*****	LM		platform not	stations	platforms
Milton Keynes Central	Arrive	8.57​	P5	LM	wait 25m	timetabled	completed	completed
Milton Keynes Central	Depart	9.22​	P6	LM				at completed
Rugby	Arrive	9.44​	P1	LM	wait 16m			stations
Rugby	Depart	10.00​	P1	LM
Canley	Arrive	10.13​	P1	LM	wait 7m
Canley	Depart	10.20​	P2	LM			1​	2​
Coventry	Arrive	10.22​	P1	LM	wait 28m
Coventry	Depart	10.50​	P3	LM
Tile Hill	Arrive	10.56​	P1	LM	wait 20m
Tile Hill	Depart	11.16​	P2	LM			1​	2​
Rugby	Arrive	11.32​	P5	LM	wait 20m
Rugby	Depart	11.52​	P5	LM
Milton Keynes Central	Arrive	12.14​	P4	LM	wait 7m
Milton Keynes Central	Depart	12.21​	P3	LM
Wolverton	Arrive	12.24​	P3	LM	wait 14m
Wolverton	Depart	12.38​	P4	LM		P1 P2	1​	2​
Bletchley	Arrive	12.50​	P4	LM	wait 26m
Bletchley	Depart	14.16​	P6	LM
Lidlington	Arrive	14.38​	P2	LM	wait 53m
Lidlington	Depart	15.31​	P1	LM			1​	2​
Bletchley	Arrive	15.52​	P5	LM	wait 23m
Bletchley	Depart	16.15​	P3	LM		P1 P2	1​	4​
Milton Keynes Central	Arrive	16.19​	P3	LM	wait 24m
Milton Keynes Central	Depart	17.43​	P6	VT
Nuneaton	Arrive	18.09​	P3	VT	wait 7m
Nuneaton	Depart	18.16​	P1	WM
Coventry	Arrive	18.37​	P2	WM	wait 17m
Coventry	Depart	18.54​	P1	VT			1​	4​
Rugby	Arrive	19.03​	P4	VT	wait 101m	P3	1​	5​
Rugby	Depart	20.44​	P2	LM
Nuneaton	Arrive	20.55​	P2	LM	wait 29m
Nuneaton	Depart	21.24​	P7	XC
Hinckley	Arrive	21.29​	P1	XC	wait 9m
Hinckley	Depart	21.38​	P2	XC			1​	2​
Nuneaton	Arrive	21.43​	P6	XC	wait 39m
Nuneaton	Depart	22.22​	P4	VT			1​	7​
Rugby	Arrive	22.33​	*****	VT

 

[All platforms]

Day 37: Saturday 10/07/2021 - East Midlands Rover £63.50 3 in 7 days - Valid all day at Weekends. Day 3 of 3. CP free at Albert Road South Bletchley.
Total time today 821 mins - Time on trains 211 mins and time waiting 610 mins. Stations completed today 5. Total completed 294.

Well, i had the day all planned perfectly. An early start to tick off P3 at Northampton then back in time for the first train fo the day on the Marston Vale line. The service pattern was much better on a saturday with a more compressed timetable than weekdays but still irregular with more replacement buses than trains. The class 230 they use on this line is, i am sure you are all aware is converted from Underground stock and which has, to my eyes, strangely configured seating. No matter, i was hoping to spend the rest of the day bashing up and down the line to Bedford.

First stop was to be Stewartby and i was duly deposited at the station at 8.28. I would return at14.17 after having spent the intervening time first watching the delayed return speed past without stopping. Clearly there was a problem and when the next train was also cancelled i began to wonder what to do. Eventually a Rail Replecement Bus turned up which then called at all the stations back to Bletchley taking over an hour. By this time it was past midday and the next train to Bedford was also cancelled. What to do? I worked out i could complete Milton Keynes Central and be back for the 14.08 service. With my ticket i had little option but to sit it out and hope.

Thankfully the 14.08 did turn up with a replacement unit (i think they have 3 in total) and so started the journey again. I resolved to do the most time consuming stations in the middle of the line given how nice a day it was and whilst it would involve waiting for the best part of an hour if not more for each service, i am nothing but a gluttony for punishment. I had a late pass at home so i could take in 5 stations.

I had a lovely surprise at Ridgmont where the tea rooms were still open (just) so more cake and a cold drink were very welcome. Lovely spot and well worth a visit if in the area. A wonderful tribute to Sir Tom Moore was seen at Millbrook with a great likeness pressed out of the back of a station seat. Very impressive.

Back to Bletchley because of a gap in service and then one final outing to Aspley Guise which was wonderful. For me it was the best time of the day. The oppressive heat had gone and it was just very restful to see the wildlife from the platform as dusk very slowly started to approach. After waving away the last replacement Bus service it was back to Bletchley and what seemed a very long haul back up the M6 but thankfully devoid of much traffic.

A liitle mixed as to how i feel about the trip. I had achieved so much in the last 2 days but still a little miffed about the missing five and a half hours. RTT shows a much better rail service on saturdays now, especially in the afternoon so it shouldn't be quite as time consuming to complete.

Edit: 22 Jan 2022 - I have just realised i haven't accounted for the South facing Bay Platform at Milton Keynes Central - P2a. Somehow missed at the planning stage and also on my station wanders on the 3 times i visited!!

Bletchley	Depart	6.33​	*****	LM		platform not	stations	platforms
Northampton	Arrive	6.53​	P3	LM	wait 12m	timetabled	completed	completed
Northampton	Depart	7.05​	P1	LM				at completed
Bletchley	Arrive	7.25​	P4	LM	wait 37m			stations
Bletchley	Depart	8.02​	P5	LM
Stewartby	Arrive	8.28​	P2	LM	wait 152m
Stewartby - trains canc	Depart	11.00​	*****	RRS
Bletchley - trains canc	Arrive	12.01​	*****	RRS	wait 41m
Bletchley	Depart	12.42​	P3	LM
Milton Keynes Central	Arrive	12.47​	P2	LM	wait 35m
Milton Keynes Central	Depart	13.22​	P1	LM		P2a	1​	6​
Bletchley	Arrive	13.25​	P4	LM	wait 43m
Bletchley	Depart	14.08​	P6	LM
Stewartby	Arrive	14.17​	P2	LM	wait 59m
Stewartby	Depart	15.16​	P1	LM			1​	2​
Ridgmont	Arrive	15.26​	P1	LM	wait 53m
Ridgmont	Depart	16.19​	P2	LM			1​	2​
Millbrook	Arrive	16.26​	P2	LM	wait 44m
Millbrook	Depart	17.10​	P1	LM			1​	2​
Bletchley	Arrive	17.34​	P6	LM	wait 57m
Bletchley	Depart	18.31​	P6	LM
Aspley Guise	Arrive	18.44​	P1	LM	wait 77m
Aspley Guise	Depart	20.01​	P2	LM			1​	2​
Bletchley	Arrive	20.14​	*****	LM

 

[Gathursty]

Those are some incredibly long waits between trains so hats off to you!

I can't really say if there'd have been a better solution given the pandemic. I know some people start at one end of a branch, go to the penultimate station at the other end, then come back to the second station then ping back and forth to a middle station in an attempt to make the waits very short.

 

[All platforms]

Those are some incredibly long waits between trains so hats off to you!

I can't really say if there'd have been a better solution given the pandemic. I know some people start at one end of a branch, go to the penultimate station at the other end, then come back to the second station then ping back and forth to a middle station in an attempt to make the waits very short.

Its a very sound practise but service patterns on the branch are also key especially if its not single line. The ones that are the most pain in the backside are the crossing station ones be it single or double. Its a bit sporty to plan anything with a 1 or 2 minute window to swap platforms especially if the rest the day is toast because of 1 missed train. For 3 or 4 minute connections it also best to know how to cross to the other platform. There are some that are just a level crossing which means its just impossible. Other stations require quite a hike to walk out, around and back in again. By and large however the nearer to the middle you get the longer the waits. Do you take the waits early, late or mix it up. Personal preference wins out in the end i guess.

 

[Techniquest]

Some long days there! Mega ouch to the issues on the Marston Vale line, a route I haven't touched for years and I keep forgetting about. I haven't seen a 230 yet let alone travelled on one, but I've seen and read plenty of opinions on them, mostly good to be fair. One day I will sample them!

The day spent in my local area was, understandably, of particular interest to me. Lady Foley's Tea Room at Great Malvern is indeed very nice, I haven't visited for quite some time as when I'm in the area it's usually well after closing time or other time it's closed. Colwall's a nice little village to have a walkabout, I did so last week when I went out for a required 802. Ledbury's a nice little town too, I've been too many times to count so I usually only use it for cycle rides or similar now.

Your visit to my city was indeed badly timed there, it gets chaotic when the schools and colleges all finish. Between 3pm and 5pm it can feel like feeding time at a zoo! Platform 4 is not timetabled for use in a normal week, much like Platform 6 at Wolverhampton. It is available for use, but only in certain circumstances so you'll be waiting a good long time for that one! Many years ago, it was in regular use by Central Trains with the 150s in use at the time. Quite, it was still used semi-regularly when 156s and 158s were frequent visitors, as they'd travel through Platform 3, past TGS (now MFA Bowling) and reverse into Platform 4 ready for an Arriva Trains Wales service to pass through first. These days, with platforms 1 and 2 bi-directionally signalled, there's much less need for West Midlands Railway services to reverse on the former diesel fuelling sidings to the south of the station, let alone use Platform 4.

If you haven't already been back to my city, please feel free to PM me and if I'm free that day I can quite happily show you around some of the highlights of the city or even just pop down with some tea/coffee. Plenty of knowledge to share about my home city, but I'd be taking this thread way off topic if I went into that!

Before I go and plan my big cycle ride for today, you'll find when you go to Cardiff Queen Street the bay platform is no longer in use, only the through platforms get used these days. Cardiff Central, if you get a chance pop outside the main entrance and admire the GWR station building. Also at Central, in the subway you'll see the tiled signage for platforms which suggest access to platforms 3, 4 and 5. 5 of course does not exist and has not done so for a very long time, but it's a nice little oddity still left in place.

I'm sure I'll think of other interesting bits on my old stomping grounds in South Wales later!

 

[All platforms]

Day 38: Tuesday 13/07/2021 - Lancashire Day Ranger £17.10 with senior railcard - Valid after 9.00am weekdays. CP free at Lostock Hall.
Total time today 538 mins - Time on trains 170 mins and time waiting 368 mins. Stations completed today 10. Total completed 304.

Keeping it more local today and some track that is new to me. Basing myself at Lostock Hall at the western end of the East lancashir line so to speak, i had a steady start and a straight forward bounce back and forward until i reached Blackburn. These included a request stop at Pleasington which is remote enough to fully understand why and it was pleasing (eh?) to see that someone had taken great effort to prettify the station with signs that had a wildlife background and other similarly themed posters about the the local area. Big tick. In fact posters and signs featuring the local area could be seen at a number of stations and it did lift the atmosphere somewhat. A small wooden train complete with 2 "carriages" made from barrels and stuffed full of colourful flowers at Church & Oswaldtwistle (Ossie to the locals) was worth a picture too.

The service patterms had only recently gone back to normal here so you takes your choice which route you take given the hourly service. Blackburn is not my favourite stopping off place - it just doesn't give off good vibes somehow, so i stepped outside to sample the local area only to be accosted by a friendly but persistent drunk. Perhaps waiting on the platform is a better idea.

A change of tack now as my main aim for the day was to complete the line down from Preston to Ormskirk. Most of this is single line and through a part of Lancashire which is new to me. Very flat for the most part with many isolated cottages or farms and quite a few level crossings. Class 150's with some 156's are the order of the day here and oiff we went to Rufford which is the only double track station and the start/finish of the single line sections either side. An instruction to "Return Token" is quite prominent at the end of the platfom going south. Just quite how overgrown the single line section was a surprise. It really did look like some abandoned lines i have seen over the years. 2021 certainly was the year for overly aggressive foliage.

Croston was next which had been made an oasis of smartened greenery by the friends of Croston Station on what would have been the second platform. Ormskirk is next which is one of two oddities in these parts (3 if you count Hunts Cross) where the electrified Mersey network meets the diesel centric Northern network. Just a buffer stop separates the 2 ends from memory. An enforced wait at Burscough Junction rounds out the station ticks - i chose to wait for the next train north rather than do extra bounce backs and explore instead. Perhaps i should have stayed on the train.

A bonus for the day was thaty i had also bagged 4 separate platforms at Preston in 4 visits. Back to Lostock Hall a whisker after 6pm.

Lostock Hall	Depart	9.04​	*****	NT			stations	platforms
Bamber Bridge	Arrive	9.07​	P2	NT	wait 5m		completed	completed
Bamber Bridge	Depart	9.12​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Lostock Hall	Arrive	9.14​	P1	NT	wait 49m
Lostock Hall	Depart	10.03​	P2	NT			1​	2​
Rishton	Arrive	10.27​	P1	NT	wait 20m
Rishton	Depart	10.47​	P2	NT			1​	2​
Pleasington	Arrive	11.02​	P2	NT	wait 12m
Pleasington	Depart	11.14​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Mill Hill (Lancs)	Arrive	11.19​	P1	NT	wait 37m
Mill Hill (Lancs)	Depart	11.56​	P2	NT			1​	2​
Cherry Tree	Arrive	11.58​	P2	NT	wait 19m
Cherry Tree	Depart	12.17​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Church & Oswaldtwistle	Arrive	12.32​	P2	NT	wait 16m
Church & Oswaldtwistle	Depart	12.48​	P1	NT			1​	2​
Blackburn	Arrive	12.54​	P4	NT	wait 60m
Blackburn	Depart	13.54​	P4	NT
Preston	Arrive	14.18​	P4c	NT	wait 8m
Preston	Depart	14.26​	P3c	NT
Rufford	Arrive	14.43​		NT	wait 27m
Rufford	Depart	15.10​		NT			1​	2​
Croston	Arrive	15.15​	Single	NT	wait 23m		1​	1​
Croston	Depart	15.38​	Single	NT
Ormskirk	Arrive	15.55​	P2	NT	wait 5m
Ormskirk	Depart	16.00​	P2	NT
Burscough Junction	Arrive	16.04​	Single	NT	wait 61m		1​	1​
Burscough Junction	Depart	17.05​	Single	NT
Preston	Arrive	17.31​	P1	NT	wait 26m
Preston	Depart	17.57​	P2	NT
Lostock Hall	Arrive	18.02​	*****	NT

 

[All platforms]

Some long days there! Mega ouch to the issues on the Marston Vale line, a route I haven't touched for years and I keep forgetting about. I haven't seen a 230 yet let alone travelled on one, but I've seen and read plenty of opinions on them, mostly good to be fair. One day I will sample them!

The day spent in my local area was, understandably, of particular interest to me. Lady Foley's Tea Room at Great Malvern is indeed very nice, I haven't visited for quite some time as when I'm in the area it's usually well after closing time or other time it's closed. Colwall's a nice little village to have a walkabout, I did so last week when I went out for a required 802. Ledbury's a nice little town too, I've been too many times to count so I usually only use it for cycle rides or similar now.

Your visit to my city was indeed badly timed there, it gets chaotic when the schools and colleges all finish. Between 3pm and 5pm it can feel like feeding time at a zoo! Platform 4 is not timetabled for use in a normal week, much like Platform 6 at Wolverhampton. It is available for use, but only in certain circumstances so you'll be waiting a good long time for that one! Many years ago, it was in regular use by Central Trains with the 150s in use at the time. Quite, it was still used semi-regularly when 156s and 158s were frequent visitors, as they'd travel through Platform 3, past TGS (now MFA Bowling) and reverse into Platform 4 ready for an Arriva Trains Wales service to pass through first. These days, with platforms 1 and 2 bi-directionally signalled, there's much less need for West Midlands Railway services to reverse on the former diesel fuelling sidings to the south of the station, let alone use Platform 4.

If you haven't already been back to my city, please feel free to PM me and if I'm free that day I can quite happily show you around some of the highlights of the city or even just pop down with some tea/coffee. Plenty of knowledge to share about my home city, but I'd be taking this thread way off topic if I went into that!

Before I go and plan my big cycle ride for today, you'll find when you go to Cardiff Queen Street the bay platform is no longer in use, only the through platforms get used these days. Cardiff Central, if you get a chance pop outside the main entrance and admire the GWR station building. Also at Central, in the subway you'll see the tiled signage for platforms which suggest access to platforms 3, 4 and 5. 5 of course does not exist and has not done so for a very long time, but it's a nice little oddity still left in place.

I'm sure I'll think of other interesting bits on my old stomping grounds in South Wales later!

Yes, Lady Foleys tearoom! I had forgotten what it was called. Possibly the best tearoom i have sampled so far though there are a couple of pubs too that would need a mention if thats your thing.

Unfortunately, I have already done Hereford - on Day 64 but thanks for the offer which is much appreciated. I did get out of the station for a scout around, and i also had a day there a few years ago as part of a holiday and very much enjoyed the city. Yes feeding time at the zoo is a good description. I have done all the stations thereabouts too so it may be some time before i get an other opportunity - well until this jaunt is finished anyway. I did wonder how they used to use p4. You dont see many instances of reversing into bays these days from what i have researched so far. Wolverhampton p6 would have been the only one that i knew about but it hasn't been used post covid and the service now goes from p1. Like all of these possibilities i just need to keep an eye open for engineeering works closing certain lines at certain times. My instinct is to do them at the latter stages when the end game is known - but i do have 2 possibilities next month i am considering. Rugby p3 06/02/2022 and Bolton p2 14 to 17 Feb.

I did read that p1 at Queen Street is out of commission because of "bridge issues" but never got the real story i think. Gone for good or another to keep an eye on next year? I am definitely looking forward to Cardiff and the South Wales lines. Dunno why, its always something i wanted to do.

Thanks for all the info and good luck on your cycle ride today - its a bit too chilly for these old bones..

 

[Dai Corner]

I did read that p1 at Queen Street is out of commission because of "bridge issues" but never got the real story i think. Gone for good or another to keep an eye on next year? I am definitely looking forward to Cardiff and the South Wales lines. Dunno why, its always something i wanted to do.

I can confirm that Cardiff Queen Street P1 is inaccessible to trains at the moment. Cardiff Bay is being served by a shuttle to/from Coryton. Service patterns around Cardiff will change considerably with the part electrification and rebranding as 'South Wales Metro' and tram-trains from the Valleys will go to Cardiff Bay.

Whether P1 will be brought back into use I'm not sure.

 

[All platforms]

Day 39: Saturday 17/07/2021 - West Midlands Day Ranger £19.00 with senior railcard - Valid all day at Weekends. CP £5 No2 at Stafford
Total time today 755 mins - Time on trains 334 mins and time waiting 421 mins. Stations completed today 5. Total completed 309.

Todays objective was to knock out some awkward platforms at New Street then transfer my attentions to the line between Coventry and Leamington Spa before returning to New Street for more platform mayhem.

A very early start at Stafford so i could get a super rare offering at New Street but was scuppered by a platform alteration. No matter, these things happen. Out to Witton to maximise my time on the train on a previously done line and back to Birmingham to score big ticks on the arrival and departure including p6m. This is the one discussed previously where the dispatcher agreed it was booked to 6m but then wouldn't actually confirm it had landed there. I take it, as it met the criteria of straddling both a and b and booked as an M. One for the side quest.

More disappointment down the line as a required p5 failed to materialise at Northampton and so back to Coventry to sample the much reduced service down to Leamington. Another hot day as i recall and more time was spent hunting for shade than normal for me. As you may have guessed i am not a sun worshipper. A sparse service back then with long waits a feature but its good to see RTT shows the normal service has resumed.

Bedworth, or Bedd'th to the locals saw the first member of the public asking what i was doing. Did i look suspicious to him or was he just being friendly - or nosey. Anyway quite an interesting discussion ensued covering much ground and helped while away the time. A young mum turned up and joined in without missing a beat. There must be something in the tea hearabouts.

The rest of the day saw me attempting fresh parts of the New Street platform network but only 2 hits out of 6 so i would clearly have to return quite a few times.

Stafford	Depart	5.24​	*****	AW			stations	platforms
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	5.55​	P5b	AW	wait 32m		completed	completed
Birmingham New Street	Depart	6.27​	P2a	WM				at completed
Witton	Arrive	6.36​	P2	WM	wait 8m			stations
Witton	Depart	6.44​	P1	WM
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	6.57​	P3b	WM	wait 19m
Birmingham New Street	Depart	7.16​	P6m	LM
Rugby	Arrive	7.56​	P5	LM	wait 37m
Rugby	Depart	8.33​	P5	LM
Northampton	Arrive	8.56​	P3	LM	wait 18m
Northampton	Depart	9.14​	P3	LM
Coventry	Arrive	9.47​	P4	LM	wait 30m
Coventry	Depart	10.17​	P4	WM
Bermuda Park	Arrive	10.33​	P1	WM	wait 48m
Bermuda Park	Depart	11.21​	P2	WM			1​	2​
Kenilworth	Arrive	11.44​	Single	WM	wait 25m		1​	1​
Kenilworth	Depart	12.09​	Single	WM
Bedworth	Arrive	12.29​	P1	WM	wait 56m
Bedworth	Depart	13.25​	P2	WM			1​	2​
Coventry Arena	Arrive	13.30​	P2	WM	wait 56m
Coventry Arena	Depart	14.26​	P1	WM			1​	2​
Nuneaton	Arrive	14.40​	P1	WM	wait 7m
Nuneaton	Depart	14.47​	P6	XC
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	15.16​	P10a	XC	wait 17m
Birmingham New Street	Depart	15.33​	P11b	WM
Bournville	Arrive	15.45​	P2	WM	wait 17m
Bournville	Depart	16.02​	P1	WM			1​	2​
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	16.15​	P11b	WM	wait 24m
Birmingham New Street	Depart	16.39​	P3a	LM
Stechford	Arrive	16.46​	P2	LM	wait 7m
Stechford	Depart	16.53​	P1	LM
Birmingham New Street	Arrive	17.02​	P6a	LM	wait 20m
Birmingham New Street	Depart	17.22​	P4c	LM
Stafford	Arrive	17.59​	*****	LM

 

[All platforms]

I can confirm that Cardiff Queen Street P1 is inaccessible to trains at the moment. Cardiff Bay is being served by a shuttle to/from Coryton. Service patterns around Cardiff will change considerably with the part electrification and rebranding as 'South Wales Metro' and tram-trains from the Valleys will go to Cardiff Bay.

Whether P1 will be brought back into use I'm not sure.

Ok thanks - good to know. I am looking forward to doing these lines before the electrification kicks in and then perhaps revisiting in a few years time once the tram trains are fully in use and everything upgraded.

I guess i will be adding in All Platforms - Tram version, in due course.