Palmersears' Jaunts

[palmersears]

i might suggest a time limit at each terminus station and then Clapham Junction with time on the SWT and SR platforms

It'll be a Saturday, so a day return is actually affordable, I'm thinking of getting a 7am(ish) train to Euston, heading home at about 6pm. I don't really need to do Euston, unless I get some info that the final three missing 390s are going to be there, so I'll probably be looking to head out elsewhere.

I definitely want to do these:

• Paddington (Maybe make camp at Acton Main Line?)
• London Bridge (maybe an hour on the Southern side and an hour on the Southeastern side?)
• Clapham Junction
• Fenchurch Street (West Ham as a camp?)
• Liverpool Street (Bethnal Green?)
• Marleybone (Harrow-on-the-Hill?)

 

[DarloRich]

I would stick to terminals on the central london part of the underground as the transit time will be less

 

[Cletus]

Royal Oak Underground station is possibly a better bet for Paddington?

From Marylebone, one of the Jubilee Line stations between Kilburn and Neasden as Chiltern services split near Wembley?

 

[Techniquest]

I think a spot on London Bridge's platform 6 at the country end will net the Southern stuff as well as the Southeastern stuff

 

[fishquinn]

Go for Barking instead of West Ham because you've got the LO 172s and extra services to Liverpool Street as well. As for Marylebone, I'd suggest the station itself.

 

[Techniquest]

Far end of platform 4 will get pretty much everything at Marylebone, pending anything stabled alongside platform 1. A trip to Wembley Stadium will also get anything on the depot IIRC.

Kentish Town for stuff on the MML. Balham's also good for Southern stuff, Wimbledon will get you 319s on Thameslink as well as London Tramlink and SWT stuff.

EDIT: Bethnal Green will do you well, highly recommended!

 

[Kite159]

I think a spot on London Bridge's platform 6 at the country end will net the Southern stuff as well as the Southeastern stuff

Good luck accessing platform 6 at London Bridge at the moment

Problem with terminal stations is when you get double or triple units, involves a bit of walking to grab the numbers, which is something I would avoid at London Bridge as some of the platforms are narrow in places.

 

[palmersears]

Another week passes, and it's been solid, if unspectacular once again:

11/4/16

A grand haul to start the week, from all corners of the class lists. I could sense it was going to be a decent day when, for the first time in seemingly forever, a fresh sighting presented itself on the morning commute, as 150268 rolled in to take me and the significant other to work. I also spied ATW's 158840 as we arrived into Piccadilly.

A glorious day (by Manchester standards) unfolded, and as such I perched at the end of platform 13 for a wee bit on the way home, capturing another XC 220, as well as the daily Trafford Park to Felixstowe freight. Sadly I fear these lovely little half hours will become more and more fruitless as our journey progresses, certainly until the MASSIVE stock cascade/new stock arrives as part of the latest Northern franchise. Going to be quite a wait for that!

The spotting highlight of the day was a pair of 66s bookending 70017 as they sat on Stockport viaduct waiting for their path across Heaton Norris Junction on their way to Leeds. Needed the TOPS thread team to get the numbers, but still, a winner is a winner!

66505
66544
66585
70017
150268
158840
175116
220029

12/04/16

Not much to set the pulse racing today, just a couple of Northern DMUs and two freight workings; 66420 running light engine from Crewe to Trafford, and 66566 doing likewise, but dragging a fair weight with it.

66420
66566
142092
150110

13/04/16

A truly unremarkable day, with nothing other than three further Northern DMUs. Still, better than nothing, eh?

142024
142070
150223

14/04/16

Another busy day work-wise meant I was unable to get to Deansgate for the lunchtime freight, so instead had only two XC voyagers and an ATW 175 to show for my efforts. Exponents of the 'vomiter' tag will be pleased to hear 220034 absolutely stunk as I walked past, even at 07:15 in the morning...

175103
220034
221125

15/04/16

As noted in the opening to this week's round-up, Friday was very good, ala Monday. Once more a required Northern 156 trundled into town to take my and the other half to work (I'm beginning to think she's a lucky charm!), and as we departed Stockport I also caught 66155 coming onto the viaduct on its way from Wakey to Wigan NW (To do what I'm not sure?).

Lunch was split into two halves, the first spent devouring a large bowl of leftover chilli, the second at Deansgate to catch 66415 on the Crewe-Trafford light engine run. I even had time to pop into town and get a nice wee notepad in preparation for Derby next week. Whilst the online spreadsheet does the job whilst in Manchester, when I go on a dedicated spotting pilgrimage I find the sheer weight of numbers coming at me requires a more traditional method. Sadly I appear to have recycled, inadvertently, the old log book, but a newer, sturdier model has been purchased in its place. Rock. And. Roll.

With the girlfriend out for the night () I hung around Hazel Grove after work to catch an extremely late 66122 heading towards Peak Forest on it's jack jones, and then returned a couple of hours later to catch the very prompt 66020 waiting for 158847 to clear Hazel Grove Junction before carrying on up the Buxton line (which I recall only happens once a day for any freight workings?) to Dowlow.

66020
66122
66155
66415
142046
156426
158847

Wishlist

A new feature! Never let it be said that this thread isn't afraid to keep it fresh and cutting-edge!

Here I'll quickly document those classes/sub-classes/operators which I'm tantalizingly close to clearing. It'll help me remember what I'm looking out for/can discount mainly, but is also nice to chart progress in a quick snapshot.

150 (Northern) - 206/220/277
158 (EMT) - 774/783/846/863/889
185 - 106/109/133
319 (Northern) - 367/369/374
390 - 107/115/128

And that's it for another week. I may get down to Stockport tomorrow before watching County v Corby Town, but only if there's any interesting freight workings early afternoon. Other than that I have a two day week, then it's off to Derby for the day!

 

[Techniquest]

Not your most productive week, but still a lot better than what it will be like on your stomping grounds soon!

Love the wishlist thing, I did similar in 2005 in my A4 book, made a note of the one number in each class which would make my book look much better. Things like a missing tick in the middle of a massive group of ticks, that sort of thing. If I was doing such a list now it would be for haulage, as I really don't need much for sight any more. The two stars on that list would be 158754 (last Northern 3-car 158) and 158884 (last SWT 158)...

 

[fishquinn]

Sounds like a fairly good week! Good call on the notebook for Derby!

The two stars on that list would be 158754 (last Northern 3-car 158) and 158884 (last SWT 158)...

But they're both is the same class so a very tough question comes. Which one?

 

[Techniquest]

Agreed too on the notepad, meant to comment before but over-estimated the time needed to pack my bag, hence me being back on the forum now!

FQ: It would have to be 158884, it is an insanely annoying gap in the book, especially as almost everything near it are all Super Duds!

 

[Kite159]

Agreed too on the notepad, meant to comment before but over-estimated the time needed to pack my bag, hence me being back on the forum now!

FQ: It would have to be 158884, it is an insanely annoying gap in the book, especially as almost everything near it are all Super Duds!

And a shame you couldn't get it a few months ago when it appeared on a Salisbury express as the sets got swapped over

 

[palmersears]

18/04/16

What was essentially Thursday in terms of the working week threw up three nice winners, including a lesser-spooted 156 on a Nottingham-Liverpool run.

156408
220016
221122

19/04/16

And with startling speed Friday is here! I celebrate with an early morning spot of one of three remaining Northern 319s, 369, and another voyager. Nowt else.

220014
319369

20/04/16

Awaking to a glorious day, I headed down to Hazel Grove for the 09:04 to Stockport, which, as per usual now, was a dud 150. Alighting, there was just enough time to grab a 'mint blend' tea from Starbucks (Why they cannot just call it 'peppermint' I have no idea), before heading to platform 1 to catch the 09:28 to Sheffield. Low and behold though, as I came out of the aforementioned coffee shop what should roll in but one of the three remaining 390s, 390128. An excellent start to the day.

The dud pair of 170s that arrived to take me to Sheffield were absolutely rammed, bizarrely, so I had to settle for a fold down seat in one of the vestibule areas. Not an ideal spot from which to take in whatever was parked up at Hope sidings, but nonetheless I still managed to grab 66528, 66610 and 66614 as we powered past.

Sheffield soon appeared, and a twenty minute wait here allowed for a few more Northern bits and bobs to be ticked off, as well as the first of many 222s for the day, 222010. With these safely secured in the new notepad (which performed admirably on its first outing!) it was aboard a dud 221 for the final 25 minute hop to Derby. I've experienced very little actual haulage aboard any Voyagers, but I can't say I'll be returning anytime soon if given the choice. One of few trains to give me a headache, which I attribute partly due to the fact it was hotter than the centre of the earth, and partly due to the fact it stunk.

Once Derby arrived and fresh air had set the head back on an even keel the plan enacted was to quickly pick up 43014 and 43062 coming out of the NR depot, before hopping aboard 153319 and 153379 to Long Eaton, so as to grab as much as possible from the EMT and NR depots. This yielded a veritable goldmine of numbers on the way out from both sides, and I then settled in for the short journey to Long Eaton.

Alighting at the charming, tree-lined Long Eaton I ambled under the road bridge and onto the opposite platform, where I had a short 8 minute wait for 156497 to return me to Derby. Yet again I snaffled a decent amount from the depots on either side, before setting up camp on the wall at the front of platform 5, which provided an excellent vantage point across all 6 platforms, whilst also allowing for work on the tan! 170s and 222s were the main source of winners, with the odd 220/221 thrown in for good measure. Freight was sparse, but I did score 66711 on its way to Bardon Hill. I soon begin to score duds, with the 170s returning from Nottingham and 222s from Sheffield. This was further exacerbated by the eventual return of the 170s from Birmingham.

In the end- a couple of hours and a bombay-spiced vegetable wrap later- I decided to stick around for 66041 as it headed north through to Dowlow, before heading back to Sheffield aboard 222006. Here I had 20 minutes or so in which I hoovered up a bit more Northern stock, and a bonus of 66604, before heading back to Stockport aboard a sparsely populated dud 158. Sadly Hope sidings were less welcoming on the return, as an unkown loco and rake of wagons blocked the view to any of the remaining 66s behind. I've tried in vain to work out what this loco working was (It looked white and blue, that's all I know!), but I'm sure it'll come out to play again.

All in all, a decent day out, and with the sun shining throughout it was good to be out. When the duds started appearing I did contemplate a quick dash across to Nottingham, but I'll save that for another day. I think my expectations have been unnecessarily raised by doing Doncaster at the beginning of the month. Whilst I wasn't far off in terms of volume (54 today as opposed to 87 at Donny), I need to realise not everywhere is as busy as there!

31106
37175
37403
37421
37603
37682
43014
43062
66041
66528
66604
66610
66614
66711
82111
82124
97303
142071
142090
144017
153319
153357
153376
153379
156401
156410
156497
158794
158795
158797
170106
170115
170116
170397
170518
170520
170638
220009
220013
221126
221129
221133
221136
222001
222002
222004
222006
222007
222010
222012
222013
222014
222015
222018
222021
222103
222104
390128

Wishlist

Knocked off a 319 and a 390, with the 220s replacing the EMT 158s on the list after a bumper haul of them today.

150 (Northern) - 206/220/277
185 - 106/109/133
220- 008/028/032
319 (Northern) - 367/374
390 - 107/115

 

[fishquinn]

Sounds like a very fun day in Derby! You certainly got a lot there. The blue and white loco was probably one of the two Hope 20s, which are used for shunting and stuff. Did it have a big number 2 or 3 on the side?

 

[Kristofferson]

Love the wish list feature! You're still making amazing progress and I wish you luck with the last few of those classes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[palmersears]

Sounds like a very fun day in Derby! You certainly got a lot there. The blue and white loco was probably one of the two Hope 20s, which are used for shunting and stuff. Did it have a big number 2 or 3 on the side?

It did! A big 2. Mystery solved!

It was indeed enjoyable. Whilst less busy than Doncaster the weather was far nicer, as was the station, so it balances itself out.

Love the wish list feature! You're still making amazing progress and I wish you luck with the last few of those classes

I must admit I didn't think I'd be doing this well at this stage. If I can get these 185s and 390s knocked off then I can relax a bit more on the daily commute!

Next big trip will probably be London in June, when it looks like I'll have a Saturday there, followed by a Tuesday evening (going down for a meeting the day after). Might means I can spend a bit longer at each major station.

If I get a day off in May then I might head for Birmingham NS or Leeds. Other suggestions welcome as always.

That's it for the week now, off to a spa with the better half!

 

[fishquinn]

That'd be 20168 then.

 

[Techniquest]

Ooh you're going to love Birmingham New Street (which you'll notice some of us call the Bat Cave), so much you're going to need. Difficult to recommend one decent spot, but the end of platform 5 (at the B end) will get you pretty much everything. Do remind us nearer the time and I'm sure me and Fishquinn can advise!

 

[palmersears]

Ooh you're going to love Birmingham New Street (which you'll notice some of us call the Bat Cave), so much you're going to need. Difficult to recommend one decent spot, but the end of platform 5 (at the B end) will get you pretty much everything. Do remind us nearer the time and I'm sure me and Fishquinn can advise!

I can't recall having ever been to New Street, I always seem to branch off somewhere else on my travels before reaching it. Hopefully by the time I do go I will have knocked off the remaining 220s and 390s, enabling me to concentrate on the ATW stuff, more local LM services and the XC 170s.

Also thought a quick trip to Bescot Stadium might be good for some freight whilst there as well.

 

[fishquinn]

If you head to Brum then I don't suggest staying in the same spot. Moving about is what's best there. I'd look at the departure boards and go to different platforms for each train. Don't forget that you have Moor Street nearby, which would get you London Midland 172s and various Chiltern stuff, including the 68s. Having a ride out to Solihull on a 68 is almost essential and you'd pass Tyseley depot by doing that (right hand side if heading away from Brum). Not sure if you're interested in trams but Jewellery Quarter is good for them, and you've also got the 172s as well.

 

[47403]

just caught up with these, very good reading. I would advise a few Day Rangers and when you get used to them, try the multi day rangers, if you can afford it ofcourse, try this page http://www.railrover.org/ it'll certainly open your boundaries too. Also, I use a dictaphone, very handy especially when passing the likes of Derby RVEL and Etches Park, like you did.

Its great when the needed sightings(cops) come at you when you get started and equally frusrating, when your down to just a few of a class.

When in the Midlands YOU JUST HAVE TO SAMPLE THE CLAAS 68's out of Birmingham Moor St and back, again if funds are there a West Midland Day Ranger http://www.railrover.org/pages/west-midlands-day-ranger.html is good value, plus with it's boundaries, you'd only need a day return to Crewe or wherevers closest and travel the rest within the Rangers boundaries. Plus if you need any advice, do what I do and pester this lot on here, theyre a very knowledable lot.

Also worth a visit is Carlisle, Nuneaton, Water Orton, Stafford and Willesden Junction

Happy Hunting

 

[Kite159]

Agreed with Water Orton, but beware the service levels there are not the best (2 hourly in each direction), but for a supply raid IIRC there is a Tesco Express a minute or two outside the station

 

[palmersears]

Thank you for your kind words, 47403. Nice to know my inane ramblings are deemed interesting by the wider world!

On the topic of Birmingham, I have a day off confirmed for 20 May, so I shall be venturing to the Midlands!

Question; can I buy a WM Day Ranger at Stockport on the day? Would mean I can get that and a day return from Stockport to Stoke and just sit on a voyager for the whole journey. Or would I need to get it from Stoke?

I then need to plan where to go. Thinking of starting at New Street for an hour or so, then hitting Moor Street for a ride out to Solihull. Also try to fit in a wee squirt to Bescot, and possibly Water Orton if there's much there and the service patterns allow. I feel this is a trip that's going to need meticulous planning!

 

[rg177]

The general frequency at Water Orton is 1tp2h with departures from Birmingham New Street being at the even hours of xx52 getting in at the odd hours of xx02.

Returns are exactly one hour later, being at the even hours of xx02.

And if Newcastle can issue a West Midlands Day Ranger, Stockport should, as should any decent ticket office in the UK!

 

[Techniquest]

Get your WMDR and a fare to cover you from Hazel Grove/Stockport, and you can get yourself a Voyager all the way through. Or maybe get a fare to Crewe, then you'll be able to get a 175 from Stockport to Crewe for a 350 or Virgin service onwards.

Leamington Spa over Solihull, more freight and passenger trains overall.

 

[47403]

Nuneaton is a good place for freight too, the pendolino's rocket through but theres the Croos Country 170's, plus the 350's on stoppers and also the 153 unit from Coventry. Forgot to mention Tamworth too, bit more difficult with 2 levels.

Coming out of New St towards Wolves, get on the left side for passing Soho depot and out of Moor St, right side for Tyseley Depot, sure the folk on here will share more, nuggets of wisdom.

Getting to Moor Street from the Bat Cave(New Street) is easy enough but it maybe easier and more fun going for via Wolves, then to Smethwick Galton Bridge Low Level and going up the stairs and getting a train, that'll take you straight to Mooor St or Sloihull, it easier than it sounds, honest. Also if you feel the need, you can easily to the leap from Moor St to Snowhill, for a quick ride back n forth on various units.

Could always have a bit time at Staffiord too, theres a bit of everything there, whatever you do TRY the 68's, you wont be disappointed, the times are on here, Heres the link, saves you looking http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1478545&postcount=4
Feel free to ask for any advice, Ive been where you are, trusst me, theres some very knowlegable folk on here, who'll tell you how long to wait to get you a 68 back too.

(Shouts Loudly)- Quuuuuiiiinnnnn(his neck of the woods)

I concur with rg177, every Ranger for wharever part of the country I bought in Newcastle too but beware once you get one Ranger your looking quickly at another, plus advamce tickets and overnight stays in hotels, all good fun too.

 

[fishquinn]

I agree with the others. Leamington over Solihull on the cat and if you don't fancy walking between New Street and Moor Street then get a train out to Smethwick Galton Bridge (from New Street) and then onto the high level for a 172 to Moor Street. Not sure if it's your thing but if heading towards Moor Street from Smethwick, you run next to the Midland Metro (tram) tracks between The Hawthorns and Snow Hell. They'd be on the left hand side if heading towards Brum, right if heading away.

 

[Techniquest]

Tyseley it's difficult to view much on, as the fast trains are on the lines furthest away from the depot. Even the slower trains don't get you good views of the numbers. Obviously you'll see it all, but not ID anything. It's mostly 170s in there during the day, which tend to start getting chucked out around 1630 for the peak time extras.

Without checking I couldn't advise on times etc, but from memory they all (there is possibility of the odd couple doing some weird moves to access New Street from the south, not sure) enter New Street from the eastern/north end (ie, the 'A' end of the platforms) so camp out on that end around 1630-1750 and you'll get almost everything off Tyseley anyway.

Obviously there are 172s and 153s on there too, some of the 153s will come out with 170s. The 172s will mostly be those on exam but some do end up adding capacity on the Snow Hill lines too.

 

[fishquinn]

For Tyseley, I suggest getting the last 3 digits of the coach number, which will be the last 3 digits of the unit number. If you know what unit it is and you get those three digits then you know the number.

 

[palmersears]

Lots to digest here, thank you all!

Regarding Nuneaton and Stafford, whilst they will be visited at some point it won't be soon. Given I'm now just one 390 away from the full set, and only a few 221s, it'd be a bit too patchy at both to make them worthy of inclusion on the next jaunt.

Having had a quick look for Birmingham, I think the vague outline of the day will be thus:

1. 08:17 Hazel Grove to Stockport 08:24
2. Purchase WM Day Ranger (WMDR)
3. 08:35 Stockport to Birmingham 09:58 (Departs Stoke 09:06 so the WMDR is valid)
4. Do New Street for a couple of hours, hoovering up all that I can there including the XC HSTs at 11:09 and 13:08.
5. 13:27 to Bescot Stadium to get whatever may be sitting in the yard there, depart 14:05 for return to New Street 14:29
6. Head to Moor Street for an hour or so, pick up the offerings there
7. Back to New Street, 16:57 to Stockport 18:24, then 18:36 to Hazel Grove

Now that's the first draft, I'm sure you wise men can refine it! Is Bescot worth going to in terms of seeing much in the adjoining yard? I considered going to Leamington Spa as suggested, but not sure just how many winners would present themselves if I'm only going to be there an hour or so?

With regards to recent winners, it's been a typical tale of two halves really. The end of last week/beginning of this was deathly quiet, but things picked up this weekend.

21/04/16

After a delightful short break at our favourite spa the fiancee and I headed back on Saturday via Buxton, which allowed 66054 to present itself to me whilst waiting at Dowlow. Looked resplendent in the spring sunshine.

I then saw a grand total of zero winners on the first two days of the working week. I had hoped to get the lunchtime light engine move through Deansgate, but arrived to find four BTP officers chasing a local youth along the tracks towards Castlefield junction, which threw a spanner in the works there.

27/04/16

Just the two on Wednesday, 175010 at Piccadilly, followed by 390107 at Stockport on the way home. Just one 390 left now...

28/04/16

Again just the two today, with another ATW 175, and the half four freight through Deansgate on the way home.

66503
175009

29/04/16

The working week was rounded off with a decent mix of winners, thanks mainly to the fact I ended up at Stockport for almost half an hour due to a game of 'can a 390 leaving Piccadilly 7 minutes after a 150 beat it to Stockport?' The answer is sadly no, as I arrived on platform 0 at Stockport to find the 150 just pulling away. To be fair, it was my own fault for somewhat randomly deciding to get the tram to Piccadilly instead of walking, which is karma for being lazy. All this meant I did get the 16:15 working on its way to Peak Forest, as well as one of three remaining Northern 150s, whilst I waited for the next Hazel Grove service to arrive. Every cloud and all that.

66134
66534
142020
150277
175107

30/04/16

I spent the Bank Holiday weekend visiting friends in Nottingham. Whilst much alcohol and food was consumed each night I still awoke each morning at half seven (a lie in these days!), so whilst the rest of the group slept in I went for a run down the canal, before spending an hour or so at the station. No real highlights, just a good mix of units to keep things ticking over.

43050
43059
153311
153313
156404
156406
156414
156470
158784
170398
170519
222009

02/05/16

As above, really.

43046
43066
43075
43076
153381
156405
156473
158783
158910
222011

Wishlist

All of the above leaves the wishlist slightly better off, with 150277 and 390107 the two to really aid the cause. Still these bloody 185s allude me, I just keep seeing 107 and 134 everywhere.

150 (Northern) - 206/220
185 - 106/109/133
220- 008/028/032
319 (Northern) - 367/374
390 - 115