Midlands Trip-Thundercats, Skips and Starships

Thankfully Network Rails strike was called off 24hrs before my sojourn to the Midlands, Phew!!!!!!! I'd been swearing a lot and panicking even more so at the thought of losing a day of my Heart of England 3 in 7 Rover, nevermind, how the hell I got home.
Everything planned, I was up at 0500 hrs, the 3 S's done, breakfast consumed, cup of coffee, quick check of the bag, ciggy and thanks to my flat mate, a lift to Central, which turned out to be lucky because the high winds and rain from the night before, had blown a chimney off a roof, into the middle of the road, to the point, the fire brigade had to secure the roof and the police closed the road, so the 06.16 bus, never turned up, lucky escape No.2.
I had just over 2hrs on Central Station, nowt of any significance materialised but I did manage to collar 2 VTEC coaches.
At 08.35 I boarded winner 221138 for the haul to Derby, for the start of what should be a very productive 3 day trip to the Midlands. It's not about shacks or mileage for me, its lines under great swathes of requirements, of which there's many in that region.
The journey down to York didn't exactly get the red pen (well black in my case) excited but 66759 just outside York did, at Donnie I just missed a Fred on a liner going South but I was primed by the window for Roberts Road, 47739, always nice to see a beloved brush, the 2 GB (visible) sheds were dud, the 3 others were hidden by a huge rake of wagons
Sheffield set the ball (point-Sorry) rolling again with 222006, whey hey!!! Lets hope it's the first of many, I need a fair chunk of those Meridians. We arrived at Derby bang on time and I was first one off that Voyager, inside I was screaming THANK THE LORD THATS OVER and trust me I'm paraphrasing what I actually said, straight over the bridge for a quick ciggy and back to see whats floating round.
A few more were added to the cops list before I made my way over to Crewe, last time I made this move it was in the hands of a green liveried(i think)170502 going and a 150 back but that was moons ago. Today's trip is entrusted to Dogbox 153383 on the 11.42 to Crewe, the intention was have half an hour and go for a couple of hours on Stafford, as it turned out I had the grand total of 18mins, enough time to view what was on the platforms and find my platform to join winner all round 350257 on my maiden voyage on a class 350. As were leaving, I'm shocked to see a Thameslink 387 passing, I manage to note the back one which is 387102. A sure cop indeed. Regarding the 350's, I quite like them, the seats aren't really made for comfort but inside they're nice enough and fairly quick off the mark too.
Stafford I was hoping for a fair bit freight, however the time spent there, didn't really produce much of it, 3 to be brutally honest but nothing I needed, however I did get the last 4 of the 9 car pendo's I was after, if they hadn't renumbered them, they'd have been cleared now and a couple of the 11 car ones got scratched off too and the Thameslink 387 returned, it's partner in crime was none other than 387101 every cloud an all that. However, it high time to move, for today's primary objective, to get to Leamington Spa before 18.03.
I boarded yet another all round winner 350374 on the 15.39 Birmingham New St for a spin to Wolves, here techniquest proffered his advice via text, to get to Smethwick Galton Bridge, go up and get a train to Solihull to access the Moor St lines and you'll meet your connection there and get a couple more moves in too. Great advice to me, pretty standard advice if in the know but I would've walked from New St to Moor St. Anyway, from Wolves To Smethwick GB, I jumped on wining Arrivas 158822 and winner all round 158829. Luckily I found the high level no problem and within 2mins I was aboard winner all round172214, another maiden voyage too. I like the 172's there a bit like the 156's in my opinion. Off we whizz to Solihull, whilst enjoying the ride, at Hawthorns, I think, I'm seeing the trams too, could I hell find the numbers on them, eventually I see a number 18 on one of them at Snow Hill. I jump off 172214 at Solihull and thankfully because it's chocker block now with commuters in the rush hour, sure enough 3 mins later I jump on a equally packed 168215 another (AR)-All round)winner for the +20 wait at Leamington Spa for the highly anticipated Cat on the Chiltern turn. I arrive on the opposite platform and cop Virgin mark II coach 3386, is that the one that had the fault and was taken off the tour the Western did and dumped? if so, it's been there a good while, not that I'm complaining, for good measure 165023 adds itself to the ever growing cops list too. Bang on time I see a silver cat come into view, I make my way down the platform to the area where the front coach will stop. I have to say these 68's look mightily impressive, whatever the livery, be it Chiltern or DRS. 68011 is a sure fire AR winner. The noise off them is awesome, if the Chiltern coaches had drop down windows, I'd have had them open to enjoy the noise even more, however I sat back, plugged my phone in for some much needed charge and listened to the orchestra the cat was producing, All too soon it was over, so I made my way over to check in to my base camp for the next 2 nights.
Short taxi ride, taking in which way to go back, I checked in, dropped off my huge holdall, put a few things in my havasack and set off on the 10min walk to New Street. At New Street, I decided to go to Rugby, two reasons, 1 for to see if the 92 and 57 were there (they were but they were both dud) and to see if any modals went through. AR Winner 350116 done the honours out of New St and on arrival at Rugby, I was rewarded with cop 66569 on a modal, I bagged a few more winning 350's but as I'd been told, IT WOULD, Rugby died on its backside, 90042 went through but nothing else of note. A youth made me laugh, strange because he'd been annoying the life out of me earlier, tear arsing round the station under passes on his bike whilst screaming at the top of his voice, it quietened down, I just thought he'd got bored and went on his merry way. I was wrong, I was stood on the opposite platform where the old Motorail coaches have been dumped, nearby the offices are on the same platform, I'm stood and this head comes above the wall and in a thick midlands accent, goes peek a boo, then disappears, 5 secs later it reappears and does exactly the same, I was in fits, he'd climbed one of the posts, needless to say, he was quickly told to get and down and go by the station staff but I have to admit it made me giggle.
Soon after I made tracks on another(AR) winner350267 this time to Birmingham International, for a quick spin on (AR)wiining Starship 323222, to New Street. Yet another maiden voyage, I sat under the pantograph, well in the coach, not literally but a text off techniquest told me to shift my butt quickly to the motor coach, I did just that and have to say, I wondered what all the fuss was about, now I know, they're old school EMU's, noisey and damn good fun. It was now way after 11, I needed food and a bed, I sourced some fish and chips and a can of coke, I wolfed them down, the batter on the fish was brick hard, I still ate it I was starving, got in had a shower, wrote the days notes up and crashed out. I ended up with 58 cops over the day, 10 winners for haulage and 5 of which were maiden voyages on the class, not a bad start for day 1.

 

oh fantastic mate, their engines sound like someones hybrid a western and a 47, they sound awesome.

 

do i get a badge

 

thanks for the kind words folks much appreciated.
Day 2
I set the alarm for 6.40 with the intention of getting sorted, showered ready, have breakfast and away, even though the Rover doesn't kick in till 9, I wanted to see if I could be a bigger hole in Tyseley's finest before I nipped over to Moor St. My best laid plans, failed miserably, I woke up at half 7, still after yesterdays slog the extra hour would come in handy for the rest of the day, well that's what I said to myself anyway.
Quick shower, ready down for breakfast where I gorged myself on toast, a mega bowl of muesli with fresh fruit, croissants, fruit juice and 2 cups of coffee, taking an apple for later. I marched out the hotel at 8.30 prompt, through the subways, stopping at a paper shop for a bottle of water and a can of Orange Rockstar.
I got to Moor St for 08.45, went through the gate and jumped on the first thing to Snow Hill, or as I call it now, the Sunderland of the Midlands, Snow Hill is very similar to Sunderland Station, albeit a little lighter where the Trams come in. First up was dud 172214 but with winner 172215 for company, I jumped on that for the short hop. Up the stairs and back down for the 1st trip back to Moor St, (AR)winner 168106 does the job and takes me back. I stay on the platform I've arrived on because techniquest text me last night about the Chiltern 172 turn being at 09.15, funnily enough, the 09.15 was in my plan but had no idea it was a Chiltern 172. (AR)winners 172102 and 168109 get added to this mornings few cops made and its off to Solihull with them, 950001 has left Tyseley but over the far side there's an UID 31, of which I'm fairly positive, it looks like 31601 but its tucked right at the back and barring a miracle it'll stay unidentified too. I've got about a 10 minute wait at Solihull before more (AR) winners 168002 and 168219 take me back to Moor St. I go off the Station for a quick ciggy before returning to see what comes through and wait for the 10.55 Chiltern Cat. Its a gorgeous day and if you cant enjoy the day in the surroundings of Moor St, well your just silly. As Stations go, it's a fine piece of Architecture, a real throw back to it's GWR days, even in the toilet, there's a sign that says, please adjust your dress before leaving, which just threw up images of well dressed moustacied victorian gentlemen in top hats, checking their pocket watches and straightening their attire before leaving(strange I know-I blamed the Meusli).
Anyway after a while staring up the line at 172's, 168's and sometimes space, eventually todays Thundercat came into view, now I'm not silly, last one in should be 1st one out and today's was Silver again, I had a feeling it'd be 11 but hoped for 15, when fresh dud 68011 came into view i wasn't disapponted at all, after all, if this ones going, I knew it'd be a different one back. I sat in the back coach and listened to it roar behind me, my phone went on charge again, I'd forgot to do so last night, all too soon we were at Warwick Parkway, I bailed because we were 4 down, not risking missing the one back, I stood watching 68011 thrash away, leaving my dictaphone on, to record it. the driver opened it up and I'm quite audible on the dictaphone saying, ah listen to that man.
Straight back over the twisting staircases that are quite popular in this neck of the woods, over to the other platform, where I get speaking to a fellow Geordie, well, he's Northumbrian, he was from Morpeth but now lived in York, for those none the wiser, it's like Geordie but those Northumbrian's get sentimental about it, they're happy, let them be Northumbrians. It was nice to hear a more native accent for sure.
Anyway I make my down to the front coach position, look round and sure enough another Thundercat approaches this time its blue, (AR) winner 68008 joy of joys, I sent techniquest a text that simply said, "Meeooooww", it fairly thundered out of Warwick, how I wished for drop down windows. All too soon we were back at Moor St, where I bid farewell to the Northumbrian fellow and his friend and made for New St or the bat cave as I named it, I fully expected to see the bat sign above the station and the caped crusaders whizz out and go help some old folk up the stairs with their cases(it must have been the meusli).
The plan now was to get to Wolves, so I jumped aboard winning pendo 390011 and sped off and waited for another move, this time to Stafford, not long after (AR) winner 350374 took me off to Stafford where I'd wait for another pendo to Crewe, aother cop to the list too, when 66430 trundled through on an Intermodal. Not so long after winner 390132 took me to Crewe passing 66430 and 68003 on the way. I found myself a seat but I was on the wrong side for the DRS Depot and LNWR, fortunately as we approached I got ID a bit of what was on, just as a couple of 37's came into view, the guy opposite stood up and put this HUGE bag on the table, blocking my view out of his window, he looked at me, my face must;ve been a picture cos I scowled at him, we both got off at Crewe and to add to his huge bag, he had 2 mega sized suit cases too, did I help him off, the decent thing to do would've been and I really should have but I didn't and marched off, to find out what platform, my hippo was leaving from, for the next part of my adventure, this time down to Hereford, for a few beers with techniquest and a little old matter of more loco hauled travel, this time on the WAG. (AR) winner 175001 pleased me no end but it was rammed and guess who joined me, yeah, that same guy with all his cases, this time he blocked the door, there was nowhere to sit and he'd blocked the single seat in the vestibule.This bloke looked like Dick Van Dyke from Diagnosis Murder(one for the kids to Google)and kept staring at me, before coming and checking his cases and bag, I'm thinking, if he looks at me like that again, next stop, I'm hoying them bloody cases off myself I wouldn't have ofcourse, thankfully he got off at Church Stretton and eventually I got to sit down for the rest of the journey to Hereford. Anyway I digress, we leave Crewe and come round the back near Gresty Bridge and I manage to see 90016, 66431 and winner winner chicken dinner 68012, totally unopposed cos of Dick Van Dykes cases not allowing anyone near the door.
The run down to Hereford was a nice run, very leafy with some nice scenery but it dragged until I actually got a proper seat. By the time I got off, I was gasping for a pint and a ciggy too, I found my way to the Kings fee and awaited tech, I'd downed my 1st pint by the time he got there from work. Gotta say, the lad is a railway nut and very knowledgable about his hobby. We chewed the fat about all things railway and life in general, safe to say, it was a pleasure meetig him and he joined me on my maiden voyage on skip 23, as far as Shrewsbury and was present when 170506 at Hereford became my 100th cop of the trip. I bade him farewell as I progressed forwards to Chester with winning 67023, drop down windows helped savour the sound of my chariot of choice.
I had 10 or so minutes to kill before my next move to Crewe, 142005 parked in the bay was another cop for the ever growing list, I missed a mersey rail unit, unless that would've been one too:cry: but (AR) winner 175003 more than compensated and before long I was off towards base camp in it, towards Birmingham via Crewe and Stafford. Crewe Electric provided 2 more cops out the stored 90's in there I need, theres basically nothing in Crewe although 57302, seen at Rugby yesterday, is revving it's engines for the off. 5 mins before my train arrives it's away in a plume of screamage. Next up is a deserted winner 350259, I have the entire coach to myself. I bail at Stafford and wait for the next winner to New Street, i'm voyagered to death for a while i wait before winner 350260, saves my soul and off to Brum. What are the chances of picking off two numerically cosecutive loco's like that.
Needless to say I'm paggered and I'm starving, I find food and make my way to base camp, only this time I take a wrong turn ad end up atasking the doormen of a strip club where the hotel is, down there and to the right mate I'm told. I get back and go straight to bed after my grub, weirdly today I've picked up another 58 cops, 3 loco hauled trips and winners galore on the haulage front. DAY 2 finished, totally shattered but happy as a pig in.....
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Certainly sounds like a plan kite

I agree the acceleration probably isn't great but when they turn that power handle, to get em going, they sound awesome.

Yeah you need to get it going techYou wont be sorry

 

I won't count 175111, the Chirk Logs that past and a 70 on the way to Hereford.
You can nick the Bat Cave reference, feel fee.
Fishquinn, when you eventually get to Sunderland station you'll see what I mean.

 

So the last day, I got up bright and early, 6.30, done the neccesary things you do, packed my holdall and went down for breakfast. Today I started with cornflakes, the meusli avoided and basically gorged myself, taking an apple and a ham sarnie with me as I checked out.
Today was the day I'd put my feet up, the plan was to have a session at Nuneaton before heading home via Leicester and Nottingham, to be in place at Derby for the 20.09 back to Newcastle.
I arrived at Bat Cave for around 8.30 and wandered up and down the platforms picking off the morning rush hour units. The plan was to get a XC 170 straight to Water Orton and then on to Nuneaton, however (AR)winner 323204 turned up on the platform I was standing at and thought, a bit more starship action would'nt hurt, so I jumped in the Motor coach and enjoyed that screaming it's way to Wolves. Surprisingly there was no winners going my way, so when fresh duds 158822 and 158829 came my way, I thought sod it, I jumped on and made for Smethwick Galton Bridge, I jumped off and made my way to the High Level, with the intention of jumping aboard the 1st train that arrived, as it turned out, winner 172220 done the honours and before you could say the word Thundercat i was in place for the 10.55 to Warwick Parkway, I just couldn't resist one more return trip on the cats.
Good job i did too, I could see the silver cat coming towards us, Im thinking, oh I've got 011 again, oh so what, I'll enjoy it none the less, only to rewarded with (AR)winner 68010, usual rules apply, coach nearest the loco, have to say, all did not seem to well with number 10, took some grunt to get us moving this morning but it did and we fairly thrashed away from Moor St. Tyesley was farly packed with units I couldn't ID AGAIN!!! the LM 153 again tucked away, which made me groan cos I got bowled by a pendo at the Bat Cave this morning from seeing the one accompanying LM's 150105, grrrr:roll:. Iwatched the cat disappear from sight at Warwick Parkway, wondering when I'll be back, sampling the Chiltern cats again, however I was safe in the knowledge as I made my way round the staircases and under the station, over onto the opposite platform, I had one last one to sample, unless ofcourse, required for sight 67014 turned up, it didn't it was a silver cat, this time (AR)winner 68014, get in!!!! My decision, to sample more Thundercat action paid off big time. On arrival at Moor St, I kissed my hand and placed it on the loco, bidding farewell, tto the chiltern turn and the wonderful Moor St Station itself.
some 3 hrs later than planned, i was off to Nuneaton, I jumped aboard winner 172339 for the hop to Smrthwick, i know I could walked to New St but hadn't done the line into the bat cave from there, wise choice to because I clicked No.10 tram ad even better 66176 on route, which was ahuge bonus, I arrived at SGB and tried to make my way down to the low level, which sounds easier than done, I tried the lift down but as soon as I got down to platform 2, said lifts doors wouldn't open and I went straight back up, after 15mins of ending back at the same place one of the staion staff showed me the way and I plonked my butt on a seat, cursing inside at how stupid I was. Anyway 10mins later I'm rewarded with fresh dud 323204 for more starship action into the bat cave.
I bounded up the Stairs and bought 2 cans of Monster, the first was guzzled, barely touching the sides, before I munched my ham sarnie and my apple before jumping aboard XC 170 and winner 170112 for the spin and a couple of hours at Nuneaton. Good job I did becuase I copped 66541 at Lawley St, then 31601, had it moved from Tyesley, were my suspicions right, quite frankly I don't know but it was stood outside a siding which had 08782 shunting wagons with welded rails on them, just before Water Orton I clicked 66164 too, whey hey!!!!! 2 reed sheds in one day, it's a dogs age since I clicked 1, nevermind 2.
We were bang on time into Nuneaton, even so I was about 3 and half hours down, from my original plan but hey what the hell. Nuneaton Station is good for freight but the station looks more than a bit beleagured, it's a shame that pendo's race through like tracer bullets, rather than stop there. A station that big, should surely be used more. The freight came through readily enough, although I was told, Tuesday's the best day to come, I clicked a few more XC turbo's, plus the 153 from Coventry, 153364, which had entered the equation to get here in the 1st place but I'd neglected it, 66954 was the only cop I got out the freight that came through. However as I made my way back down the platform towards the end where the XC units come and go, Im told that theres a Colas 70 due through at 14.54, my ears pricked, my 15.20 outta there would now be 15.50 and still afforded me a plus 15 for my Leicester to Nottingham connection. To cut a long story short, it didn't turn up but for the 3rd day on the spin I bumped into 387101 and 387102 on test again, with patience wore thin and connections to make I jumped on the 15.50 to take me to Leicester, it was none other than 170112, the very same turbo that brought me here and to make matters worse, it was rammed to the hilt.:roll:
I bailed off said turbo and made my way over to the end of the platform where the grids are stored and was rewarded with 86702, i crossed over the nridge and jumped aboard (AR)winner 156405, yes I could jumped aboard an HST but 43049 and 43061 were duds and if I have any soft spots for units, then 156's tick that box, 66756 hits the sweet spot at Loughbrough and my 1st GB Shed copped on this trip. I enjoy the miles on 156405 and the guard is a cheery fellow too, when checking the tickets, he gets to the end of the train and says, well thank you for all having valid tickets, you've all been very good today, much to the amusement of many on board.
i quickly get off and do a sweep of the units on Nottingham before retiring over the bridge and out for a ciggy. im standing there and over the road is the tram station, I'm will I, won't I. i decide not to, I return and cop more EMT units, 5 of which are 156's, which are major gap fillers. Im stood on the platform, when something surreal happens, one of the Station staff comes over to me, I'm thinking, oh what are you up to, is gonna be asked, when she says, Excuse me, i hope you dont mind me asking but everytime you wander past me, I keep getting a whiff, I was wonderig what aftershave or deoderant you have on? I say I'll get them out my bag and you can see which one it is, ofcourse it 's worked it's way to the bottom of the bag, inside Im hoping, that my previous 2 days underwear doesn't come out the bag, unless she'll not stop till she reaches Beeston, however she smells the aftershave and says thats it, may I, she asks and squirts a bit on her wrist, writes the name down and says thank you very much, I think I'll buy that for him indoors:cry::cry: (Enrique Inglesias Red if your remotely interested or if you wanna whoo EMT's rail staff) I said, no, thank you, it's not very often I get told by random ladies i smell nice.:roll:
Not long after I jump aboard winner 170103 for my last spin of the Rover and destination Derby, making sure I'm on the right side for RTC, however i manage to pick off most of whats on bar a 37 and a 31, blocked by the flying banana.
I have an hours fester at Derby where I get a meal deal, then a coffee and a ciggy, a few more cops, two rakes of EMT HST stock, take my cops up even more, shortly before my slow death(voyager) arrives, 156415 takes my total cops up to the magical figure of 150.
I board my voyager, find my seat and realise, I'd forgotten to check which one it was, oh well I'll find out at Newcastle, we arrive into Sheffield at 20.38 where the guard tell us we're not due to leave till 20.53, is this normal, 15 early, surely not, so I get off and check to see which voyager it is, its winner 220011, I also bag 2 EMT 158's into the bargain too. 20.53, we leave bang on but I'm thinking where we going, I look out the oppsite window and see Booths Scrapyard and on my side Rotherham United's new ground, then Rotherham Central and Mexborough Stations, new territory for me but is this train, always diverted that way?7
Roberts Road at Doncaster has about 7 GB sheds on again but the 4 I can ID are no good and nothing noteworthy in Donnie station either. at York its dark now, theres a DRS shed in the parcel bay but I cant ID it but 150269 is and that takes the final total up to 153 for 3 days and ironically my first loco on the Rover was none other than a 153 to Crewe. i have 10mins to get over for my bus home, I charge off 220011, over the bridge and up to the bus stop and manage to catch the bus and get home for just gone 11.20pm
I had 3 great days, the cops total was 33 more than I had hoped for, which pleased me no end, I also aimed for variation, I think I managed that too and to ride behind a Deisel loco again, was just brilliant, obviously I was a fan of the cats before I went, now I just love em, riding the skip was a great experience too and to be joined by techniquest added to what was a good ole day.
Again many many thanks to ALL who shared knowledge with me before this trip, I cant thank you all enough. MUCH APPRECIATED
47403

 

thanks for that kite, I just wondered thats all, certainly a new route for me.

 

Thanks tech, yeah I hope that lady got whoever that aftershave, It does smell nice, to be fair. I'll look forward to you visiting Tyneside, certainly will have to go for a few bevvies.