Ha ha, ah well, one day. It's one of them, it is round the corner so you'll do it anyway one day in your head. Ha ha. On a bit of a sad note tonight there was a suicide at my local station, West Allerton. Much love to all those involved.Don't worry mate, neither have I!
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Juliano's World Frenzy/Tech's Trip Reports
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
Cheers squire, it is indeed an impressive feat and not one you can do too quickly!
Finding scores on LU isn't too difficult still for me yet, as I still need 700 units on the system. I did need 990 or so much earlier this year mind!
Aye I think you're right there, it's been fairly noticeable in my previous trip reports of late that, while it's been good, it's not quite been Carling (not that I like Carling, referencing the adverts) and the mood hasn't been so grand. The bank balance was always known to be taking quite a hit, I just didn't factor in the food costs as much as I should. It's one thing I miss about Travelodge, having a kettle in the room, no such thing in easyHotel!
Don't worry, like I did last time, I'll take your advice on that too!
Other comments will be read and replied to soon, I've got to get to bed!
Kite159
Veteran Member
The Zone 1-9 clearance club has been replaced with the "Oyster area" clearance club (owing to the number of shacks outside the 'Zones' but are covered by Oyster, i.e. Hertford East branch, towards Gatwick etc)
Just be thankful you still got localish shacks to get, I think the closest for me now are those on the southern end of the Marches line
Last edited:
Keith Jarrett
Member
Tech, that was yet another fab read and you managed to have a good weekend in the Smoke filling your boots, whoops, I meant books, while leaping around the metropolis. So despite the aggro with the fire alarm, you went back to set up Base Camp at Croydon? It seems that you needed a good old fashioned leap around the public transport network to lift your mood. Works wonders for a lot of us hardened bashers especially when we achieve targets such as clearing a distinct group of traction or classes. And given that you are already thinking of sneaking back to the capital again very soon, there's obviously still a lot of work to do.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
The Zone 1-9 clearance club has been replaced with the "Oyster area" clearance club (owing to the number of shacks outside the 'Zones' but are covered by Oyster, i.e. Hertford East branch, towards Gatwick etc)
Just be thankful you still got localish shacks to get, I think the closest for me now are those on the southern end of the Marches line
Oh I won't have local-ish shacks to get soon, after all there's almost none within 60 miles of home that I need now.
The 'Oyster Acceptance' Club will be joined by me by 2017, of that much I'm fairly certain. Plans are certainly afoot to have a mini London bash at least twice in Q4!
I finally had some peace and quiet, and no trip reports loaded to read, on my commute home so I finally got Scores on the Doors done. I don't know about you guys, but these numbers are quite impressive:
106 new sights
59 shack scores
105 winners
London is something like 24 shacks away from being cleared I think. I need to check that actually...Updates for Red Pen 2016 etc threads will follow in due course, and I am absolutely not planning to go anywhere this Monday. Tech's Bookwork Weekend will be in full effect, and I have many different things to plan and research on top of that. I won't go into details on that, a few of you will know what I'm working on. Yes it's The Grand Plan (revised 2016 edition!), but right now Step 1 is complete following signing a new contract at work. For the first time ever I have a full-time deal, which now means various things are affordable for the first time ever. Step 2 is still to be decided, and it's a huge decision. It's currently time for a major Pros and Cons session, a couple of you can expect me to seek advice in the near future!
As for the bashing, don't worry that's not going to stop. This weekend was a good reminder of just how much I love the railway, so don't worry Normaldom is back out of the window! Quite, I'm playing a video of 43087 and 43070 thrashing out of Newcastle at present, enjoying some nostalgia. I plan to enjoy my next pay packet, with some hardcore bashing, the pay packet after which I'll be doing the serious stuff. So for now, all systems are go but 2017 will be different!
Kite159
Veteran Member
God knows how long it will take you to update your Rail Miles account, not to mention your books with all those leaps 
Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,132
Epic numbers there!
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Sorry I didn't reply last night Keith, your post came through when I was replying to Kite and I didn't see yours.
You're not wrong about an incredibly good bash lifting the spirits. Reality has well and truely landed today, the mood is disappearing fast. It will rise again soon enough though, the Pros and Cons lists are nearly done. It's still 50-50 for both major decisions, so when I find a coin (I don't tend to use cash often) I'll flip it and see what happens.
A lot to do indeed, with many shacks still remaining to be scored alone. Many of us are on Foreign Territory (SWT) so that's where focus will be next time. 700 LU sets to go for haulage, never mind the hundreds of MUs I still need in London and the many, many new sights I still have to chase! I'm just glad I don't spot buses down there these days too...
Techniquest
Veteran Member
12/09/2016 - Get Ready For The Launch
As I began to type this a few days in advance, I couldn't decide upon a title, eventually I settled upon the chosen one on the way to town. It is of course a musical reference, this time a classic from when audio cassettes were still around, DJ Jean's The Launch. I've been on low amounts of data allowance too, so for the first time in longer than I can remember, there was no Live Trip Report on Twitter! I was still toying with not going anywhere on this date on 9th September, but it was decided on the walk to the bus that morning that I'll never hit 12,000 miles this year if I stay at home. The other factor was that I couldn't stomach the 2 and a half week gap between my last bash and the next one! It was therefore decided, I was heading out, but to where? With a very limited budget, it wouldn't be anything too epic, and I was deciding between a couple of shack scores on the ATW empire or a bash in Birmingham. This decision raged on for days, even until the day of the bash I was undecided but had several options up my sleeves.
0630 the alarm was due to sound, but I wake up at 0649 to find it hadn't gone off. This is now the third time it's happened in a month! I turn over and say stuff it, I can't be bothered today. Once the internal organs got their way, I started hearing thrash from a 68. Sadly no recent railway extension has been built, it's in my head. After rushing and getting out of the house in just 15 minutes, foregoing breakfast, a coin flip tells me to head to Wales, which I reason is logical as it's more of an adventure, involving a required bus route. So I get to the bus stop, and I see my local double decker, an Optare Spectre, is out to play for the first time in months. OK, another coin flip. Heads for Birmingham, that's me sorted then, stuff Wales I want some thrash off this hellfire bus! It's school and college season again now, so it's a slow ride for the first 6 miles, but the open road thrash where applicable was more than welcome!
After a 75 minute journey, I rush to the ticket office where the queue is most acceptable. The first move of the day falls to 153334 and 170509, and I spend just under 90 minutes furiously scribbling into my notebook. Finally, the moves and sights from the recent London bash are all in! The moves book still remains to be done however...Breakfast time with a bacon roll and coffee for £3.50 from the GWR lounge at Birmingham Moor Street, and after a PNB I discover 68012 is to push the 1055 to London Marylebone. I was of course hoping for 68008 but no matter! After a fast trek to Solihull town centre for some supplies, I race back in case the 1112 from Snow Hell [Fishquinn's name for Snow Hill, which I'm adopting! - Ed] turfed out a 168/3 as it has done in the past. No such luck, it was dud 168218. I source a coffee after checking the next Snow Hell-bound 168, alas it was Super Dud 168219. Good things come to those who wait, however, as winner 68008 was on the other daytime 68 diagram! Happy days, at last it is in the book and quite a healthy sounding beast!
It's now time to hunt Midland Metro trams, and understandably right now I'm on Cloud 8 [in honour of 68008 you see - Ed] having finally filled an annoying gap in my NREA and getting my last required regular Chiltern 68. Dud after dud after dud on the Metro, and I take dud 29 to Snow Hell's tram stop to await the next tram. Dud, and a 12 minute fester gives me dud 18. Nope, I'll finish updating my trip report and NREA first! Dud 36 followed, no thanks. 8 minutes to wait, so I walk back to Bull Street with plenty of time to spare. I didn't realise at this time of day it's an every 8 minutes service, so with 8 trams noted in service by now I surmise it's time to give up after this one. Again a case of good things come to those who wait, as winner tram 37 turned up! I take this to Grand Central for a fast walk to Moor Street, and I'm at the London end of the 1255 to London in 7 minutes.
All the MK3s in this set are dud, following the scoring of 12617 earlier. 3 Chiltern buffet cars and 1 Standard Class MK3 remain to be scored with Chiltern now, happy days! I do a fast walk again to Solihull town centre, this time to score winner Spoons The White Swan. I am spoilt for choice here, a small fortune could have been spent, along with quite some time! Two halves of winner beers had, in an early celebration of an excellent day, and I head back to the station for what should be a 168/3. The 1210 from London does indeed produce a single 168/3, alas it's 168324 which I don't need. Oh well, might as well Super Dud it now! My next move is still to be decided at this point, as the every 6 minutes frequency does not kick in until 1700 on the Metro.
It suddenly dawns on me, on the walk to the Bat Cave, that I still need the new loop at Alvechurch. That's that sorted then, and I pay the £2.50 to upgrade to a Daytripper Plus. I also need the Spoons in Redditch, so a good move. I have to walk past M&S Food to get to platform 12, which sees me remembering they do a nice selection of beers that I don't get in Herefordshire. Two small cans sourced, and I remember why I don't get beer from M&S often, at £2.19 a can! Down to platform 12 to await my first Starship in quite a while next, and eventually 323204 arrives to take me to the end of the line. Another Starship slightly closer to Super Dud status! Two winner halves in winner Spoons/Lloyds No1, The Royal Enfield, one of which was the worst beer of the day by far, and I'm back on the station for Super Dud Starship number 14 to University. The new Bromsgrove, re-located and vastly improved, shack needs to be scored, so stuff festering for potentially no winner trams, I'm getting it done. Granted, I'll be visiting Bromsgrove again one day when the wires reach there, but I'm getting slightly competitive with Kite159 and am adament he won't get the new Bromsgrove before I do!
I was so busy updating my trip report and texting that I didn't notice our stop at Alvechurch! The +20 at University dragged like mad, unusual in an urban enviroment, but I blame that on needing coffee. 170633 eventually rolls in to cart me off to Bromsgrove. The shack here is far nicer than the old one, and after just under 30 minutes here results in the rain starting, while I board 170511+170514 forward. I could bail in Worcester for a GWR service to Great Malvern, but that's booked for a 180. Staying on board this pair of 170s gives me a +100 or so between arrival and my lift home however. It's a tough choice, obviously I would source some food in Hereford for a combined ultra-late lunch and tea, but I can also do that in Worcester and board a different pair of 170s home, with a more reasonable +65 or so. A decision to be made at Worcester, in the meantime I get Tech's Mobile Disco on for the first time today! After Worcester I finally start the major moves book update, after Ledbury I take a break from it but I got a fair bit done in that time.
Large chicken curry and chips goes down beautifully but too quickly. No winners on that I can't get later this week in Spoons, so I end up trekking to the other side of town in preparation for meeting my sister after work. I can't resist stocking up on some Wychwood beers for later this week in Home Bargains first, then I go with my Mum to B&Q to look at new extendable ladders before heading home.
Overall a most productive day in an area where I need very little. Now roll on this weekend, when I'm next on the rails! #TechsTurboPower is the hashtag, which launches around 1730 on Saturday 17th September!
As I began to type this a few days in advance, I couldn't decide upon a title, eventually I settled upon the chosen one on the way to town. It is of course a musical reference, this time a classic from when audio cassettes were still around, DJ Jean's The Launch. I've been on low amounts of data allowance too, so for the first time in longer than I can remember, there was no Live Trip Report on Twitter! I was still toying with not going anywhere on this date on 9th September, but it was decided on the walk to the bus that morning that I'll never hit 12,000 miles this year if I stay at home. The other factor was that I couldn't stomach the 2 and a half week gap between my last bash and the next one! It was therefore decided, I was heading out, but to where? With a very limited budget, it wouldn't be anything too epic, and I was deciding between a couple of shack scores on the ATW empire or a bash in Birmingham. This decision raged on for days, even until the day of the bash I was undecided but had several options up my sleeves.
0630 the alarm was due to sound, but I wake up at 0649 to find it hadn't gone off. This is now the third time it's happened in a month! I turn over and say stuff it, I can't be bothered today. Once the internal organs got their way, I started hearing thrash from a 68. Sadly no recent railway extension has been built, it's in my head. After rushing and getting out of the house in just 15 minutes, foregoing breakfast, a coin flip tells me to head to Wales, which I reason is logical as it's more of an adventure, involving a required bus route. So I get to the bus stop, and I see my local double decker, an Optare Spectre, is out to play for the first time in months. OK, another coin flip. Heads for Birmingham, that's me sorted then, stuff Wales I want some thrash off this hellfire bus! It's school and college season again now, so it's a slow ride for the first 6 miles, but the open road thrash where applicable was more than welcome!
After a 75 minute journey, I rush to the ticket office where the queue is most acceptable. The first move of the day falls to 153334 and 170509, and I spend just under 90 minutes furiously scribbling into my notebook. Finally, the moves and sights from the recent London bash are all in! The moves book still remains to be done however...Breakfast time with a bacon roll and coffee for £3.50 from the GWR lounge at Birmingham Moor Street, and after a PNB I discover 68012 is to push the 1055 to London Marylebone. I was of course hoping for 68008 but no matter! After a fast trek to Solihull town centre for some supplies, I race back in case the 1112 from Snow Hell [Fishquinn's name for Snow Hill, which I'm adopting! - Ed] turfed out a 168/3 as it has done in the past. No such luck, it was dud 168218. I source a coffee after checking the next Snow Hell-bound 168, alas it was Super Dud 168219. Good things come to those who wait, however, as winner 68008 was on the other daytime 68 diagram! Happy days, at last it is in the book and quite a healthy sounding beast!
It's now time to hunt Midland Metro trams, and understandably right now I'm on Cloud 8 [in honour of 68008 you see - Ed] having finally filled an annoying gap in my NREA and getting my last required regular Chiltern 68. Dud after dud after dud on the Metro, and I take dud 29 to Snow Hell's tram stop to await the next tram. Dud, and a 12 minute fester gives me dud 18. Nope, I'll finish updating my trip report and NREA first! Dud 36 followed, no thanks. 8 minutes to wait, so I walk back to Bull Street with plenty of time to spare. I didn't realise at this time of day it's an every 8 minutes service, so with 8 trams noted in service by now I surmise it's time to give up after this one. Again a case of good things come to those who wait, as winner tram 37 turned up! I take this to Grand Central for a fast walk to Moor Street, and I'm at the London end of the 1255 to London in 7 minutes.
All the MK3s in this set are dud, following the scoring of 12617 earlier. 3 Chiltern buffet cars and 1 Standard Class MK3 remain to be scored with Chiltern now, happy days! I do a fast walk again to Solihull town centre, this time to score winner Spoons The White Swan. I am spoilt for choice here, a small fortune could have been spent, along with quite some time! Two halves of winner beers had, in an early celebration of an excellent day, and I head back to the station for what should be a 168/3. The 1210 from London does indeed produce a single 168/3, alas it's 168324 which I don't need. Oh well, might as well Super Dud it now! My next move is still to be decided at this point, as the every 6 minutes frequency does not kick in until 1700 on the Metro.
It suddenly dawns on me, on the walk to the Bat Cave, that I still need the new loop at Alvechurch. That's that sorted then, and I pay the £2.50 to upgrade to a Daytripper Plus. I also need the Spoons in Redditch, so a good move. I have to walk past M&S Food to get to platform 12, which sees me remembering they do a nice selection of beers that I don't get in Herefordshire. Two small cans sourced, and I remember why I don't get beer from M&S often, at £2.19 a can! Down to platform 12 to await my first Starship in quite a while next, and eventually 323204 arrives to take me to the end of the line. Another Starship slightly closer to Super Dud status! Two winner halves in winner Spoons/Lloyds No1, The Royal Enfield, one of which was the worst beer of the day by far, and I'm back on the station for Super Dud Starship number 14 to University. The new Bromsgrove, re-located and vastly improved, shack needs to be scored, so stuff festering for potentially no winner trams, I'm getting it done. Granted, I'll be visiting Bromsgrove again one day when the wires reach there, but I'm getting slightly competitive with Kite159 and am adament he won't get the new Bromsgrove before I do!
I was so busy updating my trip report and texting that I didn't notice our stop at Alvechurch! The +20 at University dragged like mad, unusual in an urban enviroment, but I blame that on needing coffee. 170633 eventually rolls in to cart me off to Bromsgrove. The shack here is far nicer than the old one, and after just under 30 minutes here results in the rain starting, while I board 170511+170514 forward. I could bail in Worcester for a GWR service to Great Malvern, but that's booked for a 180. Staying on board this pair of 170s gives me a +100 or so between arrival and my lift home however. It's a tough choice, obviously I would source some food in Hereford for a combined ultra-late lunch and tea, but I can also do that in Worcester and board a different pair of 170s home, with a more reasonable +65 or so. A decision to be made at Worcester, in the meantime I get Tech's Mobile Disco on for the first time today! After Worcester I finally start the major moves book update, after Ledbury I take a break from it but I got a fair bit done in that time.
Large chicken curry and chips goes down beautifully but too quickly. No winners on that I can't get later this week in Spoons, so I end up trekking to the other side of town in preparation for meeting my sister after work. I can't resist stocking up on some Wychwood beers for later this week in Home Bargains first, then I go with my Mum to B&Q to look at new extendable ladders before heading home.
Overall a most productive day in an area where I need very little. Now roll on this weekend, when I'm next on the rails! #TechsTurboPower is the hashtag, which launches around 1730 on Saturday 17th September!
Blindtraveler
Established Member
Does the new shack at Bromsgrove bost much in the way of facilities? It aught to as it will be the new X City terminus. Well done on the new track and winners too, a nice little day there.
185143
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2013
- Messages
- 4,874
Where will #TechsTurboPower take you? I'm guessing a Thames Branches Day Ranger?
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Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Kite159
Veteran Member
Sounded like a good mini day
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Ha ha, yeah, umm no. No lavatories noticed, but there are lifts and PIS screens in place. Not enough shelters though! Even so, the old Bromsgrove shack was grim!
A nice little day indeed, hopefully next time my last 3 Midland Metro trams will turn up too!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I did mean to meet up for a coffee on H62, but the lure of winning track was too much to pass up! Was good to catch up with him again, albeit briefly. Certainly wasn't expecting to see him!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
North Downs actually
Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,132
A short day out, but well worth it!
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Keith Jarrett
Member
Tech, that was yet another fab read and you managed to get some winners on home soil. Well done! You must be well pleased with yourself even though you must be the last person in the world to get Avenger. Have no fear, those last few trams will succumb sooner or later.
47403
Established Member
Wey hey Tech, congrats on getting 68008 in the bag plus the winner tram and shack. Look forward to reading the next trip report.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Well done on getting 68008 scooped in.
It's always a good feeling when you get the last of something, the trouble is that warm glow doesn't last long before "right, what's next?" becomes the dominant thought
You know, you're not wrong on that! In terms of my stomping grounds, I only have 3 Midland Metro trams to get. The Chiltern 165s, 168/3s and 172/1s can all be found outside the area after all.
So I don't know what will be my next target. Depending how the weekend goes, I could have a 166 lined up for it. I've planned my moves for Sunday, it's an early start (0603 out of Reading!) but it'll be well worth it. Wanborough is proving slightly irritating, but I'll figure it out. No more spoilers...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Next trip report should go live by Monday
Glad you enjoyed the read!
Kite159
Veteran Member
You've made a plan?
Techniquest
Veteran Member
You've made a plan?
I know, it's very unusual for me!
17/09/2016 - Tech's Turbo Power, Day 1
No pop culture reference, no musical reference, this trip title was inspired by Kite159 when I issued a tweet asking for suggestions, and he suggested Turbo Power. As the trip involves a megaton [official unit of measurement, I'll have you know! - Ed] of moves on GWR 165s and 166s, it only made sense! It's been a long time coming, and a long-desired trip to do, but I was to finally to do a North Downs Day Ranger. All those shacks have been waiting to be scored for far too long, and I do love a good bit of GWR Turbo thrash. So very much superior to the Chiltern Turbos, although I realise that's a little subjective!
So after work it was a fast march to the station to join the 1740 to Birmingham New Street, taking 170516+170517 only as far as Worcester Foregate Street. I'm informed I'm due to get a 165 or 166 onwards through Middle Earth, which is even better! Tech's Mobile Disco is on just as we left Hereford, in an attempt to drown out the lawnmowers and their droning on. In case you're wondering, the nickname lawnmowers or Flymos gets earnt for 170s for the horrendous racket the fans make during leaf fall season, when the vegetation gets stuck in the grills. En-route to Worcester, at 1801, I set my alarm for 0500 and I'm informed it's going off on just 10 hours and 59 minutes time. That's an awful thought! Yes I am getting up that early, as I plan to be on the 0603 from Reading to Reigate [engineering works beyond there - Ed] to maximise my day. Even with such an early start, I still won't be back in Reading before 1835, more likely after that!
Changing out of the work shirt and a PNB see me feeling more human. I see Sainsburys Local is near Foregate Street now, but I still pop into Tesco for beer and a meal deal. Brisk & Ham's Rock Da Party helps fill the fester before I board dud 166220 on the 1835 Great Malvern to London Paddington. One more step until it becomes a Super Dud! The meal deal helped fill a gap, but I suspect I'll be wanting more food before I reach Reading. 492 brews logged now on Untappd, nearly at my Q4 target of 500 before the end of Q3, and I suspect that will easily be passed before the end of the month! After Moreton-in-Marsh I bang Tech's Mobile Disco back on. "But Tech!" I hear you bellowing. "You're on a 166, don't you want to hear the thrash?!" you may well be asking. Well to be honest, 166220 isn't overly vocal, and as I'm scheduled to get a ton of Turbo thrash this weekend anyway it's not so bad. I was going to do some work on my moves book on this journey, but very much cannot be bothered with that, tomorrow I'll have some festering of significant lengths so it can be dealt with then!
We marry another Turbo at Oxford, but I don't discover which one until Reading. However I discover there it is winner 165125 much to my delight! After scoring The Hope Tap (Spoons) with a winner beer, I finish the 23 minute walk and check in. Base camp is Crescent Hotel, and I have a shared bathroom deal. Two nights for £78 at fairly short notice wasn't too bad in all fairness, and the room is quite modern. Now bring on the main event!
Kite159
Veteran Member
Bring on the Thames Turbos
Kristofferson
Member
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,132
Following on Twitter of course good start to the bash, long may it continue!
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good start to the bash, long may it continue!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Following on Twitter of course
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Don't worry, I'm not planning to stop bashing any time soon! Good to hear you're following on Twitter, and I finally got the WiFi to work on this 166 this morning!
Day 2 should go live by 2100 tonight, I'll be on the rails for many hours to go yet. Yes it's 0619 and I'm already on the move, on a Sunday!
Kite159
Veteran Member
- Status