Southern
Member
My day started on a chilly morning at Penge West, where the destination indicator didn't seem to think that there was a 0757 to Tattenham Corner. I asked a member of staff about the train and he didn't seem to know if it was running or not but did suggest that the boards sometimes omit certain services. Eventually, 455844+839 came rolling into view and did in fact stop and let on the only passenger boarding, which of course was me.
Jumped off at Norwood Junction to await the 0815 to Victoria and watched as a couple of diverted services from the South passed through Platform 3 and up towards Bromley Junction. 456017 turned up with 456024 "Sir Cosmo Bonsor" and 455846 in tow for the 0815, quite surprising given the use of a 456's is quite rare on a Sunday. We ran non-stop to Balham, crawling most of the way, before eventually crossing onto the Up Fast. My plan was to catch the 0847 to Lewes but by this time we were a bit late so decided to bail out at Clapham to await it's arrival at 0852.
Whilst waiting at Clapham, a pair of UID 442's sped past on 1U35 0820 Gatwick - Victoria. 377162+128 arrived with my service to Lewes, which passed another 10 442 at Balham. Still not sure what these were working, certainly not an Express as these were reduced to half - hourly on Sunday...the next service was the 0714 from Littlehampton! Left the train at Lewes and joined 3132xx on the 1018 to Brighton. On the way, we passed yet another 10 442 on a Lovers Walk - Eastbourne ECS move. Got off at Brighton and had a walk around town before Lunch and my next journey. Part 2 to come shortly!
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Part 2
Got back to Brighton just after 12pm and jumped on 377438 for the short trip to Hove. Next destination was Barnham on the 1226 Portsmouth/Littlehampton splitter, worked by 377126+377xxx. 377459+452 worked my next service, the 1405 to London Bridge. Engineering work caused this service to divert, not only to London Bridge instead of Victoria but also up the Mole Valley to Dorking, then Epsom, Sutton, West Croydon and Norwood Junction. The combination of both the Arun and Mole Valley made for a very pleasant journey, half empty train wasn't bad either!
Despite making good time, we were held at Sutton for the Down Bognor to arrive and then again near Norwood, where we arrived around 6 minutes late. A nice speedy run to London Bridge, passing another 455/456/456 combination working 2P79 1439 London Bridge - Tattenham/Caterham service, with 456006 sandwiched in the middle.
The fast run ensured we only arrived around 2/3 minutes down, which was just enough time to cross from Platform 9 to 16 for the 1457 Dorking service, worked by 377120+164. Another service diverted away from Victoria, we were routed via Peckham Rye and Crystal Palace to Norwood Junction, where I left the train to await the 1533 to East Croydon. Shortly after I'd got off, yet another 455/456/456 combo arrived with 2S90 1454 Victoria - Sutton. 455844+839, my first units of the day, took me to East Croydon where a bit of disruption was occurring. I just caught the tail end of a 442 leaving Platform 3 at near enough the same time as the 1538 to Portsmouth/Littlehampton should have been leaving, which makes me wonder if these units really had been on the Westcoastway that day.
I had planned to catch the 1554 to Three Bridges but this came up on the board as delayed, possibly severing my connection with the replacement bus to Horsham. Luckily, 377xxx+426+446 were sat at Platform 2 with the delayed 1528, which was being started from East Croydon. We ended up arriving at Purley on the Down Fast instead of the Slow, leading to people panicking and clambering over the railings from Platform 3. Noted another pair of 442's in the sidings at Gatwick, which hadn't been there earlier. Upon arrival at Three Bridges, there was just enough time to use the toilets before catching the bus.
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Part 3
The fast bus from Three Bridges - Horsham failed to turn up so it was onto the all stations except Faygate, which arrived just in time for 377147+204 working the 1709 Horsham - Bognor. I took this to Ford, leaving the train here for 313201 on the 1745 to Littlehampton. My next service (1814 to East Croydon) was already waiting at Platform 2 and comprised of 377474. I'd imagined it would be the 1804 arrival from Victoria that went back up but this arrived at Platform 1, before proceeding to shunt (at a guess) into the sidings. After a minor delay awaiting clearance at Arundel Junction, we proceeded a little late onto Worthing, where 377118 came in from Portsmouth. We were joined up and the proceeded up to East Croydon, where I left the train. The underpass had been shut after I'd left earlier so it was up the ramp, over and down onto Platform 4 to await the 1952 to Norwood Junction. This was another 455/456/456 combo, comprising units 846/007/013.
From Norwood, I travelled to Billingshurst on the 2014 (Units 377452+459 again), before hopping on 377448+409 back up to Sutton. 456006 had somehow found its way onto the 2240 Victoria via Crystal Palace. 4558xx took me up to Balham on the 2243 via Mitcham, where I waited for the 2307 to Norwood. This was 455846+456024+017 again, slightly delayed but allowed me just enough time to make 455832+807 on the 2329 to Penge West. All in all, a very long but enjoyable day out on the Southern!
Jumped off at Norwood Junction to await the 0815 to Victoria and watched as a couple of diverted services from the South passed through Platform 3 and up towards Bromley Junction. 456017 turned up with 456024 "Sir Cosmo Bonsor" and 455846 in tow for the 0815, quite surprising given the use of a 456's is quite rare on a Sunday. We ran non-stop to Balham, crawling most of the way, before eventually crossing onto the Up Fast. My plan was to catch the 0847 to Lewes but by this time we were a bit late so decided to bail out at Clapham to await it's arrival at 0852.
Whilst waiting at Clapham, a pair of UID 442's sped past on 1U35 0820 Gatwick - Victoria. 377162+128 arrived with my service to Lewes, which passed another 10 442 at Balham. Still not sure what these were working, certainly not an Express as these were reduced to half - hourly on Sunday...the next service was the 0714 from Littlehampton! Left the train at Lewes and joined 3132xx on the 1018 to Brighton. On the way, we passed yet another 10 442 on a Lovers Walk - Eastbourne ECS move. Got off at Brighton and had a walk around town before Lunch and my next journey. Part 2 to come shortly!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Part 2
Got back to Brighton just after 12pm and jumped on 377438 for the short trip to Hove. Next destination was Barnham on the 1226 Portsmouth/Littlehampton splitter, worked by 377126+377xxx. 377459+452 worked my next service, the 1405 to London Bridge. Engineering work caused this service to divert, not only to London Bridge instead of Victoria but also up the Mole Valley to Dorking, then Epsom, Sutton, West Croydon and Norwood Junction. The combination of both the Arun and Mole Valley made for a very pleasant journey, half empty train wasn't bad either!
Despite making good time, we were held at Sutton for the Down Bognor to arrive and then again near Norwood, where we arrived around 6 minutes late. A nice speedy run to London Bridge, passing another 455/456/456 combination working 2P79 1439 London Bridge - Tattenham/Caterham service, with 456006 sandwiched in the middle. The fast run ensured we only arrived around 2/3 minutes down, which was just enough time to cross from Platform 9 to 16 for the 1457 Dorking service, worked by 377120+164. Another service diverted away from Victoria, we were routed via Peckham Rye and Crystal Palace to Norwood Junction, where I left the train to await the 1533 to East Croydon. Shortly after I'd got off, yet another 455/456/456 combo arrived with 2S90 1454 Victoria - Sutton. 455844+839, my first units of the day, took me to East Croydon where a bit of disruption was occurring. I just caught the tail end of a 442 leaving Platform 3 at near enough the same time as the 1538 to Portsmouth/Littlehampton should have been leaving, which makes me wonder if these units really had been on the Westcoastway that day.
I had planned to catch the 1554 to Three Bridges but this came up on the board as delayed, possibly severing my connection with the replacement bus to Horsham. Luckily, 377xxx+426+446 were sat at Platform 2 with the delayed 1528, which was being started from East Croydon. We ended up arriving at Purley on the Down Fast instead of the Slow, leading to people panicking and clambering over the railings from Platform 3. Noted another pair of 442's in the sidings at Gatwick, which hadn't been there earlier. Upon arrival at Three Bridges, there was just enough time to use the toilets before catching the bus.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Part 3
The fast bus from Three Bridges - Horsham failed to turn up so it was onto the all stations except Faygate, which arrived just in time for 377147+204 working the 1709 Horsham - Bognor. I took this to Ford, leaving the train here for 313201 on the 1745 to Littlehampton. My next service (1814 to East Croydon) was already waiting at Platform 2 and comprised of 377474. I'd imagined it would be the 1804 arrival from Victoria that went back up but this arrived at Platform 1, before proceeding to shunt (at a guess) into the sidings. After a minor delay awaiting clearance at Arundel Junction, we proceeded a little late onto Worthing, where 377118 came in from Portsmouth. We were joined up and the proceeded up to East Croydon, where I left the train. The underpass had been shut after I'd left earlier so it was up the ramp, over and down onto Platform 4 to await the 1952 to Norwood Junction. This was another 455/456/456 combo, comprising units 846/007/013.
From Norwood, I travelled to Billingshurst on the 2014 (Units 377452+459 again), before hopping on 377448+409 back up to Sutton. 456006 had somehow found its way onto the 2240 Victoria via Crystal Palace. 4558xx took me up to Balham on the 2243 via Mitcham, where I waited for the 2307 to Norwood. This was 455846+456024+017 again, slightly delayed but allowed me just enough time to make 455832+807 on the 2329 to Penge West. All in all, a very long but enjoyable day out on the Southern!
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hock:!