Keith Jarrett
Member
8th February 2015 Stoke up the Turkey
After last weekends success, a re-run was called for. End of decision making process! Buoyed by last Sundays little haul, I thought that Id chance my arm again over at Liverpool Street. While the number of 315s and 317s is ever dwindling in my wants book, theres still plenty to keep me out of mischief in the shape of 25*321 and 12*379 requiring attention.
After the dreaded tube journey to Liverpool Street (Im sure the Northern Line will go belly up sooner or later and mess my travel plans up) I emerged into the daylight to be greeted by two of my required 317/6s 653 and 655. One problem, they were both going nowhere fast although one round trip to Hertford East had been cancelled so that must have accounted for one of the two. Perhaps the other was the hot spare that AGA sometimes leave at Liverpool Street. Active 315s and 317s in the station did not correspond with my wants list but the same could not be said of the 321s which were unusually using platforms 9 and 10 rather than the sub-terrainean darkness that they normally inhabit at Liverpool Street. 321302 and friend 321330 looked like an attractive proposition for the first spin of the afternoon 302 was on the list but a run to Stratford would not sort the 10 mile thingy out but I was reluctant to go further in case either of those inactive317s suddenly decided to earn their crust. So I was off at Stratford and almost straight back with 321304+364. 321364 was another on my list as being needed for 10 miles and the run up from Stratford to The Street would solve that problem. It was just over 21 years ago when I last rode on 321364 (and it was a winner then) from Liverpool Street to Ilford so it makes a welcome return to the haulage log.
The pack had been shuffled a little by the time I returned and 317658 was the next one out for Hertford East. Id only ever had this unit once before when it was a Great Northern unit and I scored it as a winner between Finsbury Park & Alexandra Palace. As we left Liverpool Street, 317719 arrived and was due to work next to Chingford thats another 317 on the list. I needed to go to Edmonton Green with 658 to get the 10 miles on the clock but I elected to stay on to Turkey Street in order to scratch the shack there (and to reduce the fester at Edmonton Green. Things were definitely looking up as required 315821 passed me heading for Liverpool Street. At Turkey Street, dud 317513 was provided for the return journey but realtimetrains was starting to help me formulate a move as it seemed to imply that 317655 was coming out to play with a visit to Chingford. Whats more, if 317513 kept perfect time, I had a +1 across the platform at Hackney Downs for it followed by a +5 at St James Street for 317719 back to The Street. The +1 at Hackney Downs turned into a +3 but I was not complaining as 317655 showed up as I had forecast. 655 was another one that I had only had a single, short trip with back in its Great Northern days when numbered 317355. But clearing the obligatory 10 miles off of 655 would have to wait as I need to bail at St James Street for 317719 back into Liverpool Street. 317719 was another unit that Id only ever had once before; a mere 24 years ago on 15 December 1990 from Liverpool Street to Seven Sisters when it was still numbered 317319. Just as 317719 was slowing for the Hackney Downs stop, I passed 315821 heading towards Chingford. Thats another one out to play and still wanted for 10 miles, although this time it was some silly decimal of a mile rather than something more substantial. I had to weave getting that one that into my plans as well. Nothing like a challenge! Anyway lets finish the job in hand, namely knocking 317719 on the head so I stuck on to Liverpool Street.
I had been keeping half an eye on the mainline in case the West Anglia side ceased to produce (or shuttling back and forth to Tottenham Hale on 379s became the only option). There was not a lot to tempt me apart from the aforementioned 321302 which I still needed to finish off, 321319, 321362 and 315805 on the mainline. Making a mental note of their workings for a later move or two, I carried on scheming as to how Id deal with 317655. Easy! Meet it coming in from Chingford. Slight problem, I could only get out to Hackney downs and Hackney Downs to Liverpool Street would still not clear it for 10 miles. All the same I boarded 315819 out to Hackney Downs for the +3 onto 317655 then the jigsaw was starting to fall into place. The +3 wander through the subway at Hackney downs seemed to be more like a +1 or +2 but we made it and clocked up a few more miles with 317655 back to Liverpool Street. On the way into Liverpool Street, we passed 315805 on its way out to Gidea Park but it would not be back for over an hour and a half. Probably no good to me but lets file the information away just in case.
317653 was still firmly rooted to the spot at Liverpool Street and no clue what it might do later so I sort of mentally swore at it before blanking it out of my mind lest it distracted me. 317655 had about 15 minute turnaround before it headed out towards Hertford East. So I stretched my legs for a while at Liverpool Street before my third trip of the afternoon with 317655 to guess where? Hackney Downs of course and at last, 10 miles on the clock. At least 315821 would be easy as in theory it should be on the following stopping train to Enfield Town. Needing only a Bus Stop Bash to clear it for 10 miles meant that I need not go out into the wilders of outer North London. Instead, I could go to Stoke Newington for the +1.5 minute connection onto something back. I positioned myself at the front of 315821 at Hackney Downs in order to put me in pole position to leap over the footbridge at Stoke Newington. All worked to plan at Stoke Newington which incidentally was the second shack score of the day. I was greeted by the sight of 315803, which turned out to be my highest mileage 315, to take me back to Liverpool Street. A quick bit of thinking on the journey led me to wonder could I trap 315805 which would be coming back from Gidea Park in the near future. It all hinged on me making a +5 from platform 3 at Liverpool Street to platform 11. Regular bashers will know that Belly-Laugh Greater Anglia seem to regard Liverpool Street as one station despite having separate gatelines for each part of the station. Its a right pain, having emerged onto the concourse from the low numbered platforms, only to have your ticket rejected by the gates on the high numbered platforms. Seek Assistance is the error message most of the gateline staff know what the problem is but will anyone do anything about it.
Rant over. I made the +5 and had enough time to walk up to the front part of the pair of 315s that were about to depart. Dud 315828 and 315852 were my conveyance to Ilford for the +3 onto what I expected to be 315805 and partner. 315828 was yet another absentee from recent haulage logs, last featuring almost 30 years ago (14th July 1985, Rochford to Liverpool Street) although not needed for the magic 10 miles. Hordes of passenger boarded at Stratford branding paraphernalia that indicated they had decided to spend their Sunday afternoons worshipping at retail emporia. This influx put a comfortable +3 at Ilford down to a bit of a dodgy +1.5. But we made it as I had correctly positioned myself for the footbridge to cross over to the up lines. So leaving behind my highest mileage 315, I joined my lowest mileage member of the class. I only had one run with 315805 in the haulage log 9th September 1984 from Rochford to Southend Victoria. At least the run back into Liverpool Street would heave 315805 over the 10 mile barrier. For the record 315805 was accompanied by 315835 for the trip at least 835 was over 10 miles although I had not had since 14 July 1990. The run back into Liverpool Street was uneventful but thoughts were turning towards home so I made for the tube and surprisingly all work well with a sub one hour journey from platform 11 at Liverpool Street to my front door. Anything under an hour is good going but this time 51 minutes must have been a record.
Another successful afternoon (despite 317653s feeble attempts at teasing me) with six more units cleared for 10 miles and two new stations scored. That little escapade leaves only four 315s still needed for 10 miles (813, 836, 848 and 850) and as can be imagined, most have not featured in the haulage log for many a year. Im down ten 317s from AGA (not including any 317/7s that are running at present any ideas which ones as Ive lost track). So while Im tied up next weekend, it wont be long before Im back hunting the last few 315s & 317s.
For the record, on the West Anglia side of things, I also saw 315804/808/845 and 317 654/668/885 working. And here are the moves from today. .
321302+330 Liverpool Street to Stratford ---
321304+364 Stratford to Liverpool Street 321364 cleared for 10 miles
317658 Liverpool Street to Turkey Street Cleared for 10 miles, first time as 317/6, Turkey Street = new shack
317513 Turkey Street to Hackney Downs ---
317655 Hackney Downs to St James Street ---
317719 St James Street to Liverpool Street Cleared for 10 miles, first time as 317/7
315839 Liverpool Street to Hackney Downs ---
317655 Hackney Downs to Liverpool Street First time as 317/6
317655 Liverpool Street to Hackney Downs Cleared for 10 miles
315821 Hackney Downs to Stoke Newington Cleared for 10 miles, Stoke Newington = new shack
315803 Stoke Newington to Liverpool Street ---
315828+852 Liverpool Street to Ilford ---
315805+835 Ilford to Liverpool Street 315805 cleared for 10 miles
After last weekends success, a re-run was called for. End of decision making process! Buoyed by last Sundays little haul, I thought that Id chance my arm again over at Liverpool Street. While the number of 315s and 317s is ever dwindling in my wants book, theres still plenty to keep me out of mischief in the shape of 25*321 and 12*379 requiring attention.
After the dreaded tube journey to Liverpool Street (Im sure the Northern Line will go belly up sooner or later and mess my travel plans up) I emerged into the daylight to be greeted by two of my required 317/6s 653 and 655. One problem, they were both going nowhere fast although one round trip to Hertford East had been cancelled so that must have accounted for one of the two. Perhaps the other was the hot spare that AGA sometimes leave at Liverpool Street. Active 315s and 317s in the station did not correspond with my wants list but the same could not be said of the 321s which were unusually using platforms 9 and 10 rather than the sub-terrainean darkness that they normally inhabit at Liverpool Street. 321302 and friend 321330 looked like an attractive proposition for the first spin of the afternoon 302 was on the list but a run to Stratford would not sort the 10 mile thingy out but I was reluctant to go further in case either of those inactive317s suddenly decided to earn their crust. So I was off at Stratford and almost straight back with 321304+364. 321364 was another on my list as being needed for 10 miles and the run up from Stratford to The Street would solve that problem. It was just over 21 years ago when I last rode on 321364 (and it was a winner then) from Liverpool Street to Ilford so it makes a welcome return to the haulage log.
The pack had been shuffled a little by the time I returned and 317658 was the next one out for Hertford East. Id only ever had this unit once before when it was a Great Northern unit and I scored it as a winner between Finsbury Park & Alexandra Palace. As we left Liverpool Street, 317719 arrived and was due to work next to Chingford thats another 317 on the list. I needed to go to Edmonton Green with 658 to get the 10 miles on the clock but I elected to stay on to Turkey Street in order to scratch the shack there (and to reduce the fester at Edmonton Green. Things were definitely looking up as required 315821 passed me heading for Liverpool Street. At Turkey Street, dud 317513 was provided for the return journey but realtimetrains was starting to help me formulate a move as it seemed to imply that 317655 was coming out to play with a visit to Chingford. Whats more, if 317513 kept perfect time, I had a +1 across the platform at Hackney Downs for it followed by a +5 at St James Street for 317719 back to The Street. The +1 at Hackney Downs turned into a +3 but I was not complaining as 317655 showed up as I had forecast. 655 was another one that I had only had a single, short trip with back in its Great Northern days when numbered 317355. But clearing the obligatory 10 miles off of 655 would have to wait as I need to bail at St James Street for 317719 back into Liverpool Street. 317719 was another unit that Id only ever had once before; a mere 24 years ago on 15 December 1990 from Liverpool Street to Seven Sisters when it was still numbered 317319. Just as 317719 was slowing for the Hackney Downs stop, I passed 315821 heading towards Chingford. Thats another one out to play and still wanted for 10 miles, although this time it was some silly decimal of a mile rather than something more substantial. I had to weave getting that one that into my plans as well. Nothing like a challenge! Anyway lets finish the job in hand, namely knocking 317719 on the head so I stuck on to Liverpool Street.
I had been keeping half an eye on the mainline in case the West Anglia side ceased to produce (or shuttling back and forth to Tottenham Hale on 379s became the only option). There was not a lot to tempt me apart from the aforementioned 321302 which I still needed to finish off, 321319, 321362 and 315805 on the mainline. Making a mental note of their workings for a later move or two, I carried on scheming as to how Id deal with 317655. Easy! Meet it coming in from Chingford. Slight problem, I could only get out to Hackney downs and Hackney Downs to Liverpool Street would still not clear it for 10 miles. All the same I boarded 315819 out to Hackney Downs for the +3 onto 317655 then the jigsaw was starting to fall into place. The +3 wander through the subway at Hackney downs seemed to be more like a +1 or +2 but we made it and clocked up a few more miles with 317655 back to Liverpool Street. On the way into Liverpool Street, we passed 315805 on its way out to Gidea Park but it would not be back for over an hour and a half. Probably no good to me but lets file the information away just in case.
317653 was still firmly rooted to the spot at Liverpool Street and no clue what it might do later so I sort of mentally swore at it before blanking it out of my mind lest it distracted me. 317655 had about 15 minute turnaround before it headed out towards Hertford East. So I stretched my legs for a while at Liverpool Street before my third trip of the afternoon with 317655 to guess where? Hackney Downs of course and at last, 10 miles on the clock. At least 315821 would be easy as in theory it should be on the following stopping train to Enfield Town. Needing only a Bus Stop Bash to clear it for 10 miles meant that I need not go out into the wilders of outer North London. Instead, I could go to Stoke Newington for the +1.5 minute connection onto something back. I positioned myself at the front of 315821 at Hackney Downs in order to put me in pole position to leap over the footbridge at Stoke Newington. All worked to plan at Stoke Newington which incidentally was the second shack score of the day. I was greeted by the sight of 315803, which turned out to be my highest mileage 315, to take me back to Liverpool Street. A quick bit of thinking on the journey led me to wonder could I trap 315805 which would be coming back from Gidea Park in the near future. It all hinged on me making a +5 from platform 3 at Liverpool Street to platform 11. Regular bashers will know that Belly-Laugh Greater Anglia seem to regard Liverpool Street as one station despite having separate gatelines for each part of the station. Its a right pain, having emerged onto the concourse from the low numbered platforms, only to have your ticket rejected by the gates on the high numbered platforms. Seek Assistance is the error message most of the gateline staff know what the problem is but will anyone do anything about it.
Rant over. I made the +5 and had enough time to walk up to the front part of the pair of 315s that were about to depart. Dud 315828 and 315852 were my conveyance to Ilford for the +3 onto what I expected to be 315805 and partner. 315828 was yet another absentee from recent haulage logs, last featuring almost 30 years ago (14th July 1985, Rochford to Liverpool Street) although not needed for the magic 10 miles. Hordes of passenger boarded at Stratford branding paraphernalia that indicated they had decided to spend their Sunday afternoons worshipping at retail emporia. This influx put a comfortable +3 at Ilford down to a bit of a dodgy +1.5. But we made it as I had correctly positioned myself for the footbridge to cross over to the up lines. So leaving behind my highest mileage 315, I joined my lowest mileage member of the class. I only had one run with 315805 in the haulage log 9th September 1984 from Rochford to Southend Victoria. At least the run back into Liverpool Street would heave 315805 over the 10 mile barrier. For the record 315805 was accompanied by 315835 for the trip at least 835 was over 10 miles although I had not had since 14 July 1990. The run back into Liverpool Street was uneventful but thoughts were turning towards home so I made for the tube and surprisingly all work well with a sub one hour journey from platform 11 at Liverpool Street to my front door. Anything under an hour is good going but this time 51 minutes must have been a record.
Another successful afternoon (despite 317653s feeble attempts at teasing me) with six more units cleared for 10 miles and two new stations scored. That little escapade leaves only four 315s still needed for 10 miles (813, 836, 848 and 850) and as can be imagined, most have not featured in the haulage log for many a year. Im down ten 317s from AGA (not including any 317/7s that are running at present any ideas which ones as Ive lost track). So while Im tied up next weekend, it wont be long before Im back hunting the last few 315s & 317s.
For the record, on the West Anglia side of things, I also saw 315804/808/845 and 317 654/668/885 working. And here are the moves from today. .
321302+330 Liverpool Street to Stratford ---
321304+364 Stratford to Liverpool Street 321364 cleared for 10 miles
317658 Liverpool Street to Turkey Street Cleared for 10 miles, first time as 317/6, Turkey Street = new shack
317513 Turkey Street to Hackney Downs ---
317655 Hackney Downs to St James Street ---
317719 St James Street to Liverpool Street Cleared for 10 miles, first time as 317/7
315839 Liverpool Street to Hackney Downs ---
317655 Hackney Downs to Liverpool Street First time as 317/6
317655 Liverpool Street to Hackney Downs Cleared for 10 miles
315821 Hackney Downs to Stoke Newington Cleared for 10 miles, Stoke Newington = new shack
315803 Stoke Newington to Liverpool Street ---
315828+852 Liverpool Street to Ilford ---
315805+835 Ilford to Liverpool Street 315805 cleared for 10 miles