It's time I started doing trip reports...

[Peter Mugridge]

Thank you; and January and February - when I get them done - will include my starting to make inroads on the LNER IET fleet; I've got two of the Hull ones already as well... but of course I can't go after them on every trip because of £££££ plus the need to not ignore the rest of the new stuff elsewhere in the country...

 

[Kite159]

All the day returns to Stevenage or Peterborough

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I've been doing Grantham, actually... if I want a chance at the Hull ones I haven't got a choice... I'll probably switch to Peterborough once I've got the other three of those...

 

[Techniquest]

I dread to think what the ching is on walk-up day returns from London to Grantham! I'm not going to look...

I'm waiting for the 196s, which will see me out and about even more than currently. It's getting rather challenging to find my last GWR IETs, it must be said. I'll have today's trip report up later, I must go through it and check for typing errors yet. It can wait until the morning...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It's £35.65 return, any permitted.

With a railcard...

 

[Techniquest]

It's £35.65 return, any permitted.

With a railcard...

Jeepers! That is an outrageous amount of money. Is it really worth paying that sort of ching, when it could potentially be cheaper to do multiple Azumas on a West Yorkshire fare? Admittedly less choice on Hull Trains' ones, but just ouch!

 

[87electric]

Living along that line I find it obscene that a Peterborough-Newark North Gate is £25.40 return. I've even had LNER on board staff selling me that ticket and shaking their heads at it.

 

[Techniquest]

Living along that line I find it obscene that a Peterborough-Newark North Gate is £25.40 return. I've even had LNER on board staff selling me that ticket and shaking their heads at it.

Jeepers, that fare is ridiculous too. I'll not be rushing to use the ECML on short notice trips any time soon...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Jeepers! That is an outrageous amount of money. Is it really worth paying that sort of ching, when it could potentially be cheaper to do multiple Azumas on a West Yorkshire fare? Admittedly less choice on Hull Trains' ones, but just ouch!

...except it'll cost me twice that in both cash and time terms to get to the Yorkshire ranger area in the first place!

 

[MDB1images]

Enjoyed reading those reports, you have certainly been proactive in tracking down the new units.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Thank you. Haulages are, as you might have guessed, one of my specialities.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

As we are on the cusp of a resumption of leisure travel, I figured I should very quickly summarise those trips in 2020 that I did manage prior to March 23rd to avoid getting too far behind again with my reports! These are summaries only, however, since as already indicated it was mostly repetitive IET chasing.

I am excluding purely shopping trips, although any pictures obtained on those may well appear in the illustrated part...

11/01/20:

Just a basic day out with the wife walking part of the Thames near Blackfriars and London Bridge plus a meal in a restaurant, but while not an enthusiast she does like to scratch track in her own rail atlas, so prior to the walk we did a quick return up to Finsbury Park so she could get the Canal Tunnels in and after the meal we rode to Charlton and back as she needed a short bit of track on the northerly route to that location.

Haulage from Epsom to London Bridge was 377 315 + 377 305 + 377 140, the Canal Tunnels bit was 700 140 to Blackfriars from London Bridge, 700 146 from there to Finsbury Park and 700 145 back to Blackfriars. On the way out I grabbed two quick "train from a train" photos at Selhurst and one of 66 759 at Finsbury Park - I also saw 66 726 and 802 301 while there, but did not do pictures of them as they were both bowled.

After the meal it was 465 912 + 465 929 from London Bridge to Charlton and 700 013 back, then 377 309 + 377 321 + 377 134 to Epsom.

NB The last photo in the batch below is actually the first but it tripped out when it loaded the first time, by which point I'd already queued up the others...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

27/01/20

In summary form only, sorry...

Epsom to Sutton on 377 304 + 377 433 + 377 321, then 700 047 to St Pancras. Required 800 202 + 800 206 from King's Cross to Grantham. Back on required 802 303, then across to Paddington on 21479 + 21480 for 345 012 to Acton Main Line and required 345 015 back. Returned to King's Cross on 21529 + 21530, walked to St Pancras and 700 039 to Sutton for 377 704 + 377 607 to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

01/02/20

Another walkabout in London followed by a further bit of track-bashing for the wife.

Epsom to Victoria with 377 708 then 21543 + 21544 and 21341 + 21342 within London, ending up at Blackfriars for 700 126 to London Bridge, from where we had 171 802 to Uckfield and back as far as East Croydon, then tram 2548 round to West Croydon and 377 414 + 377 321 + 377 308 back to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

03/02/20

This one was an IET chase on the East Coast again; starting with 377 311 + 377 310 + 377 117 to London Bridge, then 700 140 to Blackfriars - that one was required for photo so I hopped off, snapped it and then jumped on the following 700 053 to St Pancras. This time 800 203 was my required haulage to Grantham and the return haulage was required 800 209 + dud 800 202.

I took those as far as Stevenage in the hope that the one following close behind might be required, but that too was dud ( 800 206 ) so no further gains there.

My next move was in mole mode with 641 + 570 straight through from King's Cross to Baron's Court, knowing that my last photographically required 1973 Stock DM, 870, was only a train or two behind - this was duly collected and then it was 21391 + 21392 to Hammersmith, over the road to the other Hammersmith, 21525 + 21526 to Paddington and that allowed me to get ( dud ) 345 012 out to Hayes and Harlington to intercept required 345 059 back to Paddington.

After that it was 21495 + 21496 to Wimbledon, where I photographed 700 048, before catching 455 706 + 455 707 back to Epsom..

 

[Peter Mugridge]

10/02/20

Yet another IET chase on the ECML. This time the start from Epsom was 377 310 + 377 309 + 377 107 through to London Bridge for 700 119 onwards, then, although not straight away, I had required 800 111 from King's Cross to Grantham; this time I didn't have long to wait for a required return service as 800 205 was on the very next southbound departure.

I took this as far as Peterborough, where I changed to the following working - again, the very next train had a required IET on it, 801 108 + dud 801 104. Following that, I had a bit of time to spare so it was time to initiate the "guarantee a seat through the core" procedure by heading out on 700 004 to Elsetree and Borehamwood before picking up 700 058 ( from which I managed a sunset photograph with a nice "speckle" effect from raindrops ion the window near Hendon ) back through the core to Sutton for 377 446 + 377 454 back to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

24/02/20

More IETs were on the menu as I set out from Epsom on 377 625 + 377 620; this was a couple of minutes late off Epsom but was unfortunately held approaching Sutton to allow the Thameslink that should have been four minutes behind it in the platform to go first - even though there would have been time to keep them in the correct order! Rats! OK... change of plan... stay on the platform at Sutton for the following service to London Bridge, 377 153 + 377 313 + 377 328.

From London Bridge it was 700 152 to St Pancras, then the short walk next door and required 802 302 to Grantham. Quite a few 66s were outside at Peterborough for a change and they all got duly photographed. The return from Grantham was on 801 205, required, and again I hopped off at Stevenage for the pair that was a few minutes behind, but alas this time they were both dud examples: 800 202 + 800 209.

Rather than hang around, I got them anyway and then made the sideways move to Liverpool Street with 21061 + 21062, getting required 345 047 out to Stratford and required 345 009 to Maryland, dud 315 852 + 315 829 back to Stratford, required 345 040 on to Wanstead Park and then required 710 271 to Leytonstone High Road. Checking the other five diagrams revealed they were all dud, so dud 710 264 took me to Gospel Oak where I changed to 378 219 to West Hampstead, 700 051 out to Elstree and Borehamwood and then 700 021 through the core to Sutton, finally finishing off with 377 613 to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

09/03/20

The last pre-lockdown bash, and something different from IET chasing!

The start from Epsom was with 377 315 + 377 304 + 377 134 to London Bridge with 700 120 forwards to Farringdon and 21499 + 21500 to Liverpool Street. There was then a bit of a fester during which 745 106 was seen on test and required 710 121 + 710 108 were ridden out to Bethnal Green, returning on 315 825 before a bit more festering until 745 010 appeared on a Norwich train.

This was ridden all the way, my first such for haulage, and at Norwich I went on a bit of a "Catfish" photography spree, with a dozen 745s and 755s photographed before catching 745 007 back to London. Transit back across to Farringdon was provided by 21053 + 21054 and the trans-core journey to Sutton was on 700 030. From there it was 377 139 + 377 328 + 377 324 for the short hop on to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Various dates - shopping trips. Part one.

Between the 9th March trip reported above and 6th July, trips were obviously confined to shopping purposes and I did manage to grab a few pictures while changing trains or through the windows on such trips.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Shopping trip pictures - part two.

My next report will be of the "return to the rails" on 6th July.

 

[MDB1images]

09/03/20

The last pre-lockdown bash, and something different from IET chasing!

The start from Epsom was with 377 315 + 377 304 + 377 134 to London Bridge with 700 120 forwards to Farringdon and 21499 + 21500 to Liverpool Street. There was then a bit of a fester during which 745 106 was seen on test and required 710 121 + 710 108 were ridden out to Bethnal Green, returning on 315 825 before a bit more festering until 745 010 appeared on a Norwich train.

This was ridden all the way, my first such for haulage, and at Norwich I went on a bit of a "Catfish" photography spree, with a dozen 745s and 755s photographed before catching 745 007 back to London. Transit back across to Farringdon was provided by 21053 + 21054 and the trans-core journey to Sutton was on 700 030. From there it was 377 139 + 377 328 + 377 324 for the short hop on to Epsom.

I really should have hit Anglia in the Summer.
A completely new traction picture around Norwich by the looks of it.
Keep the reports coming, very enjoyable to read.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Keep the reports coming, very enjoyable to read.

I will - I'm just "a bit" behind with things because I was concentrating so much on bashing this summer and autumn.

Looks like I might have a bit of time over the next month or so to catch up now!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Time I made a start on the backlog here...!!

06/07/20

This was a short trip out to do some photos from a footbridge just south of Hassocks in Sussex; the first non-shopping trip since lockdown in March, so this counts as the "return to the rails" for me even though it wasn't a particularly big day out, as days out go...

I left Epsom on board 377 422 + 377 301 + 377 326 for London Bridge and from there on 700 126 to Hassocks. There was little of note around, but of interest 73 107 was doing route training runs between Redhill and Brighton which meant that having initially overtaken it at Salfords I was able to photograph it on more than one pass even though I only spent a bit over an hour at Hassocks.

On the return, I had 700 108 from Hassocks - grabbing a picture of 313 210 at South Croydon on a Selhurst move - as far as London Bridge, where I did a quick cross platform change ( partly just for the heck of it and partly because at this stage I still needed a few 700s for photo and I was seeing if I could locate any of them ) to 700 125 back to East Croydon and then 700 113 on to West Hampstead. At this location I grabbed a shot of 66 614 before catching 700 006 to Sutton and finally 377 704 + 377 623 onwards to Epsom.

As usual, I am adding below a selection of the images from the day.

 

[Peter C]

Time I made a start on the backlog here...!!

06/07/20

This was a short trip out to do some photos from a footbridge just south of Hassocks in Sussex; the first non-shopping trip since lockdown in March, so this counts as the "return to the rails" for me even though it wasn't a particularly big day out, as days out go...

I left Epsom on board 377 422 + 377 301 + 377 326 for London Bridge and from there on 700 126 to Hassocks. There was little of note around, but of interest 73 107 was doing route training runs between Redhill and Brighton which meant that having initially overtaken it at Salfords I was able to photograph it on more than one pass even though I only spent a bit over an hour at Hassocks.

On the return, I had 700 108 from Hassocks - grabbing a picture of 313 210 at South Croydon on a Selhurst move - as far as London Bridge, where I did a quick cross platform change ( partly just for the heck of it and partly because at this stage I still needed a few 700s for photo and I was seeing if I could locate any of them ) to 700 125 back to East Croydon and then 700 113 on to West Hampstead. At this location I grabbed a shot of 66 614 before catching 700 006 to Sutton and finally 377 704 + 377 623 onwards to Epsom.

As usual, I am adding below a selection of the images from the day.

Sounds as though you had a nice day back out on the railway. I went out trainspotting a couple of times in the Summer and it was nice to be back doing it. Those photos look really good too - the first one with the 700 in front of some of the main landmarks in London is brilliant!

-Peter

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Thank you; I'll try to catch up with the rest of the backlog as quickly as I can over the next couple of weeks or so - obviously I'll ignore anything that was purely a shopping trip but I may still display some of the images from such days.

 

[Peter C]

Thank you; I'll try to catch up with the rest of the backlog as quickly as I can over the next couple of weeks or so - obviously I'll ignore anything that was purely a shopping trip but I may still display some of the images from such days.

You're very welcome - reading your thread, and various others, over lockdown has got me wanting to make my own reports again I look forward to seeing more of your reports; as a fan of the Southern Region, it's interesting to see the trains running around it.

-Peter

 

[Peter Mugridge]

18/07/20

Back to Hassocks, but this time for a walk on the South Downs with the wife, so no hanging around to do photos - although I did manage a few...

This time it was 377 620 from Epsom to Sutton, then 700 006 to Blackfriars from where 700 116 took us into Sussex. The only sighting of note was 66 708 at Tinsley Green. The return journey was 700 118 from Hassocks to Blackfriars, whereupon for the second time in the day 700 006 appeared with the Sutton train, from which we changed onto 377 707 for the final short hop back to Epsom.


Edited to remove one photo that was in fact from a different date - replaced the image with a third landscape done on the walk.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Pictures from shopping trips on 11/07/20 and 25/07/20:

 

[Peter C]

18/07/20

Back to Hassocks, but this time for a walk on the South Downs with the wife, so no hanging around to do photos - although I did manage a few...

This time it was 377 620 from Epsom to Sutton, then 700 006 to Blackfriars from where 700 116 took us into Sussex. The only sighting of note was 66 708 at Tinsley Green. The return journey was 700 118 from Hassocks to Blackfriars, whereupon for the second time in the day 700 006 appeared with the Sutton train, from which we changed onto 377 707 for the final short hop back to Epsom.


Edited to remove one photo that was in fact from a different date - replaced the image with a third landscape done on the walk.

Pictures from shopping trips on 11/07/20 and 25/07/20:

Another selection of really good photos there. I like the little unit thing in the fourth photo from 18.7.20; do you happen to know what it is?
The sixth photo from the second post I've quoted is also really nice.

-Peter

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Another selection of really good photos there. I like the little unit thing in the fourth photo from 18.7.20; do you happen to know what it is?
The sixth photo from the second post I've quoted is also really nice.

-Peter

The first - that's a battery(?) powered shunting locomotive at Three Bridges depot.

The other picture you refer to was taken from a 455 heading from East Croydon towards Selhurst; those workings often coincide with a 700 arriving from the north and once in a while both units will be in the right place for the 700 to be snapped from the 455 - as on this occasion.

I'll try to make a start on the August reports in the next day or two.