Returning To My Favourite Hobby Of Trains - Some Questions.

[BR60062]

Hello Everyone.

Its been a while since I have covered trains but I am making a full comeback into the hobby and I want to kickstart my long-loved hobby with style. I plan to get myself one of those East Midlands 3 in 7 day Rover cards as I intend to do a lot of train-riding and filming at various stations .

However I have plans to film some of those DB Schenker and Colas Rail Class 60's and also I would like to grab some stills of those Serco Scotrail Class 92 Locomotives as well. Back in 2008 when I was filming trains, I remember when places like Barnetby were crawling with Class 60's and mainly 66's on the freight and passenger trains there were 153's and 185's.

So I would like to know where the best areas would be now so that I can grab some footage of the Class 60's in DB Schenker and the Colas Rail liveries as well as the possibility of getting some Class 92's in action as well.

Here is the map of the zone where my rover would be valid
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/promotions/East_Midlands_Rover.pdf
So I appreciate any advice on my planned train-feast of photography and filming .

Best Regards
Ash.

 

[Kristofferson]

As you might expect, you'll get the 92s on the south WCML - not sure if they venture into your rover zone


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[Iskra]

As you might expect, you'll get the 92s on the south WCML - not sure if they venture into your rover zone


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You see the odd one at Doncaster, but they are often in the yards South of the station.

You get Colas 60's a Doncaster too, so that's where you need to be heading.

Neither of them are the most numerous though so you could be in for a long wait.

Perhaps spending some time at Rugby might be a good idea too for the 92's.

 

[37038]

No 92s floating around Doncaster these days. Stick to the WCML for those.

Again Colas 60s can be found in the yards but you want to head towards Immingham and Barnetby for those. DB 60s slightly more common through Doncaster station on engineers.
Lincoln and Nottingham also see both visit.

 

[BR60062]

Hello folks,

Many thanks for the information. I am currently scoping out my plan for the use of the rover. So I will do the following.

Trip 1:
Oakham-Peterborough (170), Peterborough-Grantham (HST/225), Grantham-Doncaster (180), Doncaster-Barnetby (185) Film and Photo at Barnetby for a bit. Then Barnetby-Doncaster (185), Doncaster-Peterborough (HST/225), Peterborough-Oakham (170). Alternative route Doncaster-Grantham (180/225/HST), Grantham-Nottingham (153/156/158), Nottingham-Leicester (HST/222), Leicester-Oakham (170).

Trip 2:
Oakham-Leicester, Leicester-Nottingham (HST/222), Nottingham-Sandiacre (Bus), Sandiacre-Toton Bank (Walk), Layover for Photos/Videos/Dinner, Toton Bank-Sandiacre (Walk), Sandiacre-Nottingham (Bus), Nottingham Station for Photos/Videos, Nottingham-Grantham (153/156/158), Grantham-Peterborough (HST/225), Peterborough-Oakham (170), Oakham-Home (Taxi).

Trip 3:
Oakham-Nuneaton (170), Nuneaton Station for Photos/Videos, Nuneaton - Stoke-On-Trent (350/390/Voyager?), Get a Return from Stoke to Crewe (350/390/Voyager?), Crewe Station for Photos/Videos, Crewe - Stoke-On-Trent (350/390/Voyager?), Stoke-On-Trent - Nuneaton (350/390/Voyager), Nuneaton-Oakham (170), Oakham-Home (Taxi/Walk).

I will post more later once I have worked out some more trips .

 

[Kite159]

Remember you could also grab the tram from Nottingham station to Toton Lane park & ride and walk to the bank overlooking Toton from there

 

[47403]

Id have said Water Orton is as good a place as any for the 60s. The Oxwellmains to Seaham Harbour cemment train, i believe is booked a colas 60, if you fancy travellibg further affield.
Yeah whoever said Barnetby, thats a great shout too. With the humber oil trains and iron ore traffic. I seem to remember seeing about 4 there, albeit earlier this year.

 

[BR60062]

Hi folks,

All duly noted and logged for further reference. I quite like the idea of going to Toton by tram from Nottingham as I like to try new stuff and also riding the Nottingham tram sounds good . So that's booked for Friday and if the weather is like anything I have had today at Marholm. I am going to be one happy chappy on the day . Better load up on some Pepsi and some barm cakes for lunch. Man I am just getting excited by thinking about it.

For Barnetby, judging from recent YouTube videos. I will do that on a Wednesday as you get more freight and more 60's through Barnetby on that right if I remember right. The gurus are always welcome to correct me .

 

[Kristofferson]

Sounds promising - enjoy it!


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[FQ]

Tuesday looks best for Barnetby.

 

[BR60062]

Right here is the plan as I have had to shift things around as I have been called away for Friday to do other things.

So the week adventure commences starting Saturday and the 7 day ticket gives more value as I am getting at least a couple of days free travel with that pass.

For Saturday 6th Aug:
Oakham-Nuneaton (170), Nuneaton for filming/photos of trains, Nuneaton-Leicester (170), Leicester-Nottingham (222/HST as I plan to film this ride if the train is not busy), Nottingham-Grantham (153/156 again another train ride video if not too busy), Grantham-Peterborough (HST/225), Peterborough-Oakham (170) and that will be the day of haulage.

Monday 8th Aug:
Oakham-Leicester (170), Leicester-Nottingham (222/HST), Nottingham-Toton Park and Ride (Tram), Toton Park and Ride-Toton Bank (Walk), Toton Bank for Videos and Photos of all visible trains there, Toton Bank-Toton Park and Ride (Walk), Toton Park and Ride-Nottingham (Tram), Nottingham Station for Film/Photo Trains (if time permits), Nottingham-Leicester (HST/222), Leicester-Oakham (170).

So that's the first two trips booked and made as the Toton haul would have been done tomorrow. But ah well, things happen .

 

[FQ]

For Saturday 6th Aug:
Oakham-Nuneaton (170), Nuneaton for filming/photos of trains, Nuneaton-Leicester (170), Leicester-Nottingham (222/HST as I plan to film this ride if the train is not busy), Nottingham-Grantham (153/156 again another train ride video if not too busy), Grantham-Peterborough (HST/225), Peterborough-Oakham (170) and that will be the day of haulage.

Nuneaton isn't great for freight on Saturdays.

 

[BR60062]

Thanks for that mate. I will do it in the week as I will perhaps just focus on passenger trains just for tomorrow as I think freight is pretty much dead at weekends? So perhaps Toton and Nottingham tomorrow would be a better bet? .
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
My haulage today. Late start, so it all starts with a Centrebus number 9 Bus to Peterborough with a YX63-reg Alexander-Dennis Enviro 200. Then I buy my East Midlands Rover from Peterborough from a helpful chap that loves Class 58's (I cannot for the life of me remember his name ), Due to missing the 225 destined for Grantham. I caught the 11:24 East Midlands Trains Class 158 (nothing special but it does the job of getting me from A to B), Then a trip to Toton Lane on a round ticket (really enjoyed the Nottingham NET Trams), A walk to Toton Bank (Photos/Videos and a natter to other train fans alike as I am a friendly person ). A snack and some WARM coca-cola (due to being 5 hours in my rucksack from this morning!, tsk tsk tsk). Another walk back to Toton Lane (nice walk along the field and I sure as I am loved it) to get the Tram to Nottingham's Ice Cream Parlour (Train Station and yes I am having a joke as I have a BIG sense of humour - that's me) for Filming/Photos of Trains. I then catch the 17.44 service to Grantham to then get a VTEC HST to Peterborough that is the last stop permittible on my East Midlands Rover. I had a good mind to get the 180 on a round trip to Doncaster for more train footage but it was late and I was getting tired. So I called it a day and caught the train home that was a 170 to Oakham. All in all, a grand day that I am proud of and there is more of that to come this week .

 

[FQ]

Glad to hear that your first day went well!

 

[Kristofferson]

Grand day out indeed! Will you be sharing the pictures and video on YouTube or Flickr?

Ps there's nothing worse than warm Coke...


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[Kite159]

Grand day out indeed! Will you be sharing the pictures and video on YouTube or Flickr?

Ps there's nothing worse than warm Coke...


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Warm flat coke is worse

-----

Sounded like a good day

 

[Techniquest]

Warm flat Pepsi is worse

An excellent first day, and welcome back to the hobby!

 

[BR60062]

Thanks all. For those that want to see my photos. I have finally got them up on my Flickr. Also I have got some videos with three more pending to go up on my channel tonight which is a couple of train rides and a random Class 156 video.

I am doing Barnetby and Doncaster tomorrow as the weather for Barny is wet for Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday (Bah humbug). But still that won't stop me filming trains as I could take refuge under the bridge where the ramps are if I wished. But I really don't fancy the risk of totalling a £600 pound DSLR as I am not a risk taker to be honest. So I will work around the weather and go to other areas that are dry on those days .

My Youtube channel is at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzul55E7inTlSBagtsLOutQ

I know its a load of random mumbo-jumbo for the url .

My Flickr is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishrail60062/

As for the warm coke. I learned my lesson well as I bought a nice cold vanilla coke on arrival to Toton and then had a pepsi at Grantham once I did the 153 train ride that consisted of 153308 and 158812 in that formation. Once it separated from 153384 that was left all alone in Platform 2 at Nottingham. Poor thing .
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
EDIT: Update this week.

Monday 8/8/2016. My trip to Barnetby-le-Wold. Oakham-Peterborough (170), Peterborough-Doncaster (VTEC HST with VP185 bliss!) Doncaster-Barnetby (185), Bagged a couple of gems but not Colas 60 . I did however bag a DB Schenker Class 60 though on the later oil train that was about 6pm-ish . I think I can safely comfirm that the Rectory Junction oil train is a permanent Class 66 operation as I tried to get it twice this week and it was a 66 on both leads. On my return trip home. It was another lovely Class 185 back to Doncaster, Doncaster-Peterborough (225), Peterborough-Oakham (170) and that brings an epic day for me to a close.

Tuesday 9/8/2016. My trip to Tamworth. Gripe here is that I had to use a makeshift tripod as there just isn't room for a proper one as the platforms are just too narrow for a cumbersome tripod. So my rucksack became the tripod instead . So here is the trip summary. Oakham-Leicester (the usual 170), Leicester-Derby (222, not bad units IMO and better than 220/221's), Derby-Tamworth (170). Tamworth for photos and videos and I bagged some great stuff there too . Tamworth-Nuneaton (350), Nuneaton-Leicester for a burger and chips as I was getting hungry again (170), Leicester-Oakham where today's awesome trip ends.

I am certainly say that I am enjoying the benefits of the rover and travelling sure does broaden our horizons in my opinion anyway .

 

[FQ]

Shame you didn't see a colas 60 at Barnetby but it sounds like a good time at both Tamworth and Barnetby. The platforms at Tamworth are certainly narrow in areas!

 

[Techniquest]

Good to see someone making the most of a rover, I love the freedom they bring!

 

[BR60062]

I really did enjoy myself there. As I am keeping my expectations realistic as I was well pleased when I bagged 60100 on Monday at Barnetby and a Colas Rail Class 56 at Tamworth was a pleasant trip down memory lane for me as that trademark screechy scream they make with the wraith of the power it brings when its coming towards you got me smiling all the way home with sheer delight of my childhood days when as a kid. The noise they made was deafening but I loved it. They are still beasts to this day and to see one on the mainline again just made my day.

10/08/2016. I went to Barnetby to try and grab another try of getting a Colas 60 on the tanks. No joy on that one, but my bus was delayed entering Peterborough for a few mins due to traffic at Stamford (I missed the train due to oversleeping! ). So I missed the Doncaster bound VP185 hellathrash HST. So I switched to plan B and here is the summary .

Oakham-Peterborough (Enviro 200 Bus), Peterborough-Grantham (225), Grantham-Doncaster (180) (I've always wanted to ride a space ship! ), Doncaster-Barnetby (185). Barnetby for another wave of photos and videos and I sure bagged a gem there which was 60020. Though no Colas 60 but I don't give up that easily as I have another plan up my sleeve - trust me! . Then its Barnetby-Doncaster (185), Doncaster-Peterborough (unrefurbished 225 set ), Peterborough-Oakham (170) and that draws another epic day to a close.

Man I am sure having some serious fun this week. For the Colas Class 60's. I am thinking of doing Newark Northgate but also Loughborough has been suggested as well! Which of those two would be the best bet? Suggestions and timings would be most appreciated please. Thank you! .

Videos and Photos are coming to both my Flickr and YouTube channel (search BritishRail60062 and you will find my work) as soon as I am able to get it uploaded as my video and photo work is seriously mounting up! .

I got to agree about those rover tickets. As they are amazing value and I have racked up nearly £200's worth of travel in 4 days already and I have two days left to go. So its more playtime tomorrow and also friday that will bring a close to this epic trek I have had and I am loving every moment of it. Another thing that you learn about when you do random travels with the rover is that you find that you have some lovely countryside in your backyard (country) and these lovely places were only discovered due to the rover. As I must admit. I love seeing the landscape whizzing past when I did all those rides .

So on the cards for the 11th (today) is Nottingham (might do Toton again from the footpath next to A52 this time to get those Class 60's I cannot reach from Toton Bank). Then Loughborough or Newark Northgate with a trek to the public path near the crossover and the river if that would increase my chances of getting a Colas 60 on camera .

 

[47403]

Your certainly putting the leg work in. Shame them Colas 60s seem to be hiding. Maybe an extended stay at Donnie might help on that front. Always seems to be at least one Colas 56 or 60 kicking round there.

Dunno if its still the same but a few months back on the way to Edinburgh one weekend, trip to the zoo with my daughter, there was about 4, maybe 5, Colas 60s parked at Oxwellmains. Maybe a reason theyre hiding.

Will check out the youtube channel, after i eventually catch up on here.

 

[FQ]

There was about 4, maybe 5, Colas 60s parked at Oxwellmains. Maybe a reason theyre hiding.

Wow! Oxwellmains has only got me 1 at each time!

 

[BR60062]

I am determined to get a Colas Class 60 at some point. I went to Newark Castle station yesterday (11th of August) and I pressed my luck to see if I could bag a Colas 60 there. But I found out that there is a daily Colas 60 that runs through Loughborough. So I might try that. The clouds were becoming unpredictable about 4pm so the only oil train I got was another 66 on the Rectory Junction that passed through the station at about 1505.

So here is my travel summary for that day . Oakham-Peterborough (170) as I took the long route round as RTT didn't report on any other oil trains. I caught the 1300 Peterborough-Newark Northgate HST as I was thinking it was going to be something like a leased DMU to Virgin Trains East Coast. But the HST was headed by the NRM 43238 so I was going to Newark in style . A 20 minute walk to Newark Castle from Northgate where I stayed at the station from about 1400 to 1630 where I did some videos and photos. The 66 hauled TEA oil train passed by at about 1505. The coulds were somewhat unpredictable that day with some specs of rain and risk drenching a Canon DSLR was not a risk that I was going to take. So I packed in at about 1630 and called it a day at Newark with my hopes of bagging a Colas 60 were sunk. So I went to Nottingham as I didn't want to walk all the way back to Northgate. So I took the 1639 East Midlands Trains service to Nottingham where I managed to bag a Colas 56 which was at about 16:32 as I think that is the daily 56 to Boston Docks if I recall correctly . The sight of the 56 sure brightened my day, so it wasn't a complete waste of time in the end . Then it was Nottingham-Leicester (HST) and then Leicester-Oakham (170) which drew my day to a close.

So my next trip is Nottingham, Toton and Loughborough where I am going to max out my chances of getting a Colas 60. I am darn determined to bag one by the end of the year as my next haul will be for October as I have to save the pennies and plan these trips . So my rail odyssey finale ends on the 12th . Ah well, I had some awesome trips this week and those rover tickets are a epic money saver if you pick the right one .

 

[Dhassell]

There always the Once a Day return working from Chirk (North Wales) to Carlilse which runs most days and is Colas 60 hauled.

 

[FQ]

Shame about missing a Colas donut again but I'm sure you'll see one soon!

 

[BR60062]

Hello folks.

Due to my oversleeping. I changed my plans around today and I went to Leicester and luck was on my side. As I bagged a Colas 60 on an oil train this evening which was 60096 that I assume would be going towards Lindsey Oil Refinery. The 6E45 from Bedworth sidings was pulled but I think that one would have been a Freightliner 66 as RTT reported that it was cancelled by the customer for FL. So it would have just been another 66 for the 1741 timing anyway.

However the 60 hauled oil train at about 1830 was running and I got my chance to bag that beast. As they say, perseverance pays off! .

So the summary for today was just a round trip on a Class 170. I would had done Loughborough and Nottingham, but I just didn't get time. However that will be booked in for October when I do my next wave of train-feasting . I will be uploading my videos and photos to my gallery and channel over the next week. As I have a shedload of footage to process. So its lots of coffee and work from now on as my playtime finale ended today and man what an epic week its been! .

Thanks for all your support and suggestions folks. I am certainly going to try the other rover tickets in due course as and when time and funds permit .

 

[Techniquest]

Glad to hear you finally got a Colas 60!

Inspired I be to do another rover trip now!

 

[FQ]

Inspired I be to do another rover trip now!

I finished my positioning move for a North East yesterday. It's great!

 

[Techniquest]

I finished my positioning move for a North East yesterday. It's great!

Hush you! I do have a rover planned, although equal chance of it juat being a couple of rangers. FoNE might be done next year...