07/04/15 A Grand Day Out
Operators Travelled
GC *New Operator*
CT
VT
LM *New Operator*
Traction
180 (2) *New Traction*
68 *New Traction*
390
350 *New Traction*
221
0823 Mirfield-London Kings Cross. GC 180. STD ADV £7.50
Waiting at Mirfield a number of 6 car 185's ran through, a NT 150/143 combo and a 6 car set of 170's (I feel sorry for the guard who has to work that train with no corridor connections.)
A better start today from GC as the train actually turned up (last time I tried travelling on GC I had to abort as it was over 60mins late). Around 20 got on at Mirfield station, which I thought was good. It was straight to the buffet for me, where I grabbed a black coffee (£2) before taking up my seat at a table. The 180 interior was ok but starting to show its age and some of the plastics needed a good scrub with a cloth. We crawled between Mirfield and Wakefield Kirkgate, which was new track for me. There were some very overgrown yards with some abandoned EWS rolling stock in as we approached Wakey. Kirkgate is looking tremendous now its finished- well worth a visit. We had an excessive 10minute dwell here, which I suppose I should have used to get some photo's of the finished station, but didn't. On leaving Kirkgate we passed a confused 66- DRS compass livery but FL badges on a container working. We continued crawling towards Doncaster and yet somehow arrived 4E. At Donny a Virginised 91 sped through hauling a grey Mk4 set. Also at Donny was a NR 31 on a test train and a Colas 56. We used P4 at Doncaster- the first time I've used this platform heading Southbound. The train was pretty full from Doncaster with it being the school holidays. This then gave me an unusual departure profile onto the ECML on the slows through some freight sidings, heading over an overbridge and then joining the slows and moving onto the fast line. The journey South was fairly routine from here, the only noteworthy sights being 4 class 20's at Peterborough, 2 in GBRF and 2 in BR blue. We arrived into Kings Cross 2L but that was inconsequential.
Emerging into the sunshine at London, I took a quick photo outside of Kings Cross.
I then walked to Marylebone, following my Apple Maps which was both easy and pleasant. The only minor hassle being fighting through the tourist outside of Madame Toussards. On the way I passed a small demonstration against genocide denial, which I found a bit random.
At Marylebone, the classiest of railway stations I had lunch at Patisserie Valerie before awaiting confirmation that the train I would be catching would be a LHCS set. I worked out which train mine was going to be from RTT and then went to grab a quick photo. I was pleased to finally get a ride on a Chiltern LHCS set and even more so that it was a 68, and this particular 68's first day working passenger trains.
1315 London Marylebone-Birmingham Moor Street. Chiltern 68. Super off-peak single. £?
I got on early and sat at the closest table to the loco that also provided a decent view. These mk3's are very nice inside, I was in the quiet carriage so it felt similar to being in 1st class really (bar one or two idiots having their phone on loud or making calls). This service was full of spotters
The 68 was a good ride and accelerated well, making a nice roaring sound, which sounds even better when you go through tunnels etc. A great journey and well worth the wait. We passed a number of other 68's and 67's at Chilterns depot. At Leamington Spa a colas 70 was present on an engineering working.
On arrival at Moor Street it was straight over to New Street. A quick trip to the 1st Class lounge for a pepsi, more free wi-fi and a PNB was had before heading to my platform. Another broken escalator on the way down to P6 :roll:
1530 Birmingham New Street- London Euston. VT 390. 1st Adv £16
Service was good in 1st, with some interesting food. Only one booze run though.
This was new line for me from Birmingham NS to Rugby. The Train Manager kept apologising for the overcrowding in standard, saying it would alleviate at Coventry. Meanwhile, in 1st;
The train seemed to lose power on the approach to MK- we slowed right down, the AirCon switched off. Did the driver miss a Neutral Section? We lost a bit of time but not enough to concern me.
1713 London Euston- Milton Keynes (Birmingham NS). LM 350x2.
Both a new operator and new traction for me, as well as some new lines on the way out of Euston. This train wasn't as busy as I was expecting, it was 8 cars and there were only 2 of us in a 6 seat section. The ride was good, the windows a good size and the interior resembled that of a 333. The only issue was the lack of blinds was making it very warm onboard. This was an express to MK so I was there in no time. A good run on a solid unit.
I had a short change at MK, but I was lucky in that I didn't have to change platfortms. At Mk a double headed BRF 66 container train passed through and Southern 377 arrived from the South.
1803 (Chester) Milton Keynes-London Euston. VT 2x221.
A quick trip back down to London on a sweltering and busy Voyager. I spotted a number of 90's (First SR), 92's DBS/GBRF, a 59, 67, blue 86, Intercity 87 around Wembley.
I then walked back over to Kings Cross to await my train back up North.
1952 London Kings Cross-Mirfield. GC 180. 1st advance c£21.
1st class seemed to give a better ride than std earlier, maybe because I wasn't sat over a bogie this time? The attendent was very good, offering drinks frequently and offering to go to the buffet for any customers wanting anything more. After watching the sun set towards the west, the darkness descended and I took the opportunity to have a nap. Thankfully, there was no 10-minute dwell at Wakey this time. I watched the unit depart Mirfield- about 10 folk got off. Externally, these units have to be some of the sleakest/smartest on the network.
Summary: a productive day giving me some new operators and traction, some LHCS and probably the most variety of traction I've ever seen whilst out and about. Think I need to avoid the South ECML/WCML/Chiltern mainline for a while now though.
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Some bad luck there! Definitely need an Oyster, Tube is far cheaper with one and you'll never look back on point to point journeys!
Just remember those unused tickets will help passenger numbers and increase farebox revenue in Norfolk, so you've still done the railway a favour by buying two tickets that you didn't end up using! Always the best thing to do that, check first before buying tickets to cover journeys on unusual services/motive power!
I would never have suggested Bond Street for doing Liverpool Street to Marylebone. Central line to Oxford Circus and Bakerloo up to Marylebone, which IIRC is not an easy connection but better than walking from Bond Street!
Your HST would have started from Plymouth at 1523, just for the record. Shame you had to suffer a Voyager vice HST!
Hope it's better luck next time you go out, and good to see you enjoyed the Chiltern run
Just got to learn from it all really, that's the main thing! Thanks for the advice.