Techniquest
Veteran Member
I know, I'm starting another one before ending the Brussels one. Logic is now that if I get another started, I might have the motivation to finish it sooner. Not sure how that works right now, but I'm just desperate to catch up with all the 2013 trip reports now. Any I've not done from 2012 can bugger off as far as I'm concerned. So let's at least start this one tonight, maybe I'll then get everything caught up with by the end of March (if I don't go on a bash on Monday)!
18th February 2013 - Tyne and Wear Metro Bash, Day 1
FINALLY! After 3 weeks of serious graft at work [that's no exaggeration at all either! - Ed], with only two days off in that time and some ridiculous amount of hours worked, I'm on my first trip away for nearly a month! Been a strange week, Friday in particular was both bad and excellent at the same time. No way am I discussing why on here, PM or not. Yesterday I lost all motivation to bother with work at all and a serious whinge was finally had. Anyway, that's all in the past now and it's into Holiday Mode! After getting the best sleep in days, it was time to carry out the usual morning routines before getting the bus into town. After picking up my ticket, pre-booked to collect loyalty points on RedSpottedHanky.com, it's time for a coffee before getting on my first train for 25 days! So nice to be chilling and doing something I enjoy, rather than rushing around like a lunatic for those who don't appreciate it! Yes, that was a work moan and I promise that's the last of it now, you might have noticed it wasn't a good first couple of months at work...175004 is my first train of the day on the 1010 to Cardiff Central, woop!
It's clearly been ages since I passed through Cwmbran and looked out of the window, as I note there's a Morrisons almost right next to the station now. That's gotta be convenient for bashes! My next train is a pair of 150s, 150126 and 150233, on the 1100 Cardiff Central to Taunton, which I'm on from Newport to Bristol Temple Meads. I had hoped for a winner 150 with FGW, as I had cleared the FGW fleet (sight and haulage) years ago but the reforming and what not of the former LM 150s has given me a lot of 150s to find across the country now. At least since this trip happened I've only got 150202 and 150921 to see to re-finish the class for sight again, who knows how long that'll take to do. Another FoSS rover may be needed, and I honestly thought I'd never need to do one of those again. Maybe I'll try for some of them when I'm next in Cornwall. Which reminds me of another trip I need to fit in somewhere this year. Don't know how I'm going to get it all in, domestic rail wise I've estimated there to be at least 15 trips to do and I do have to go to work as well. Something's going to have to give...Anyway, back at the ranch...
Time to read the Metro and it's such a lovely day today! Arrival into Bristol Temple Meads is bang on time at 1152, and I've somehow lost my pen. Again, how often this is happening is getting silly! I get 69506, a First Bristol bus, on route A1 to Bristol Airport and get there at 1227. I figure I'd best check when the flight leaves, and that I've got all my paperwork with me. Dang, the flight is at 1715, I thought it was 1625, this is going to be a boring wait...I'm hungry by now, so it's the usual sub from Subway. I end up needing to top it up at Burger King later mind, but it's a holiday, it has to be done and the diet can wait until I go back to work. Easiest diet in the world too, eat absolutely jack all then go to work all day in a physical job. Eat a fair amount when getting home 10+ hours after leaving, then sleep and repeat. Was working quite well to be honest, in one week I shedded 4 pounds of weight. I've given up on it for the time being mind, one of my key reasons for the diet has been abandoned for now. Anyway...A coffee from Soho Coffee Co gets me another loyalty card for my wallet, and a bottle of water is sourced for the flight. Eventually boarding commences at 1648, doors closed at 1705 and pushback at 1710. We're held in a queue so takeoff isn't for several minutes but eventually we're up on easyjet's G-EZFV. Can't believe it's been 4 months and 11 days since my last flight, going to have to change that and make more regular flights! It's no surprise then that the Tune of the Day is Let's Fly by Styles and Breeze!
Now bring on Newcastle! The flight goes smoothly and we arrive at 1815. More precise details not available as I'd lost my watch not too long ago and it's not been replaced yet. So I've been using the phone for time telling or asking people, which is a major inconvenience for me. At the Metro station, I discover there's a major line closure between Byker and North Shields on at the moment. Going to have to come back one day to fix that gap then, and it's a significant amount too so my atlas will look annoyingly blank in that bit until I do it. Good enough reason for me to get on Skyscanner ASAP and book another flight to Newcastle for it, or at the least some sensibly priced Advance fares on the trains! A single to cover all 3 zones on the Metro is got for £3.20, which I consider not too bad really. Refurbished 4072 and 4046 are on the 1842 from the airport to South Hylton, both winners
Shame it's dark, can't see much about. Got to be said that the refurbished Metro trains are far better looking than the unrefurbished ones that I used last in 2009!
It's a 30 minute journey through Newcastle to get to Heworth, and I give up trying to understand the map on my phone so get a taxi to Whitemare Pool Travelodge, at the cost of a fiver. At least I now know it's walkable, and got the gen on a good pub nearby that does food. After checking into my room and with home, I go to the pub [why I didn't write the name down I don't know! - Ed] and have a most delicious steak and Bombardier pie and vegetables. I also end up having three pints of Caulker from Jarrow Brewery, most awesome stuff! Back to the Travelodge then to chill out in front of the TV and get the books up to date. Been a good day but a lazy one too. Just what the doctor ordered then!
Days 2 and 3 will follow in due course!
18th February 2013 - Tyne and Wear Metro Bash, Day 1
FINALLY! After 3 weeks of serious graft at work [that's no exaggeration at all either! - Ed], with only two days off in that time and some ridiculous amount of hours worked, I'm on my first trip away for nearly a month! Been a strange week, Friday in particular was both bad and excellent at the same time. No way am I discussing why on here, PM or not. Yesterday I lost all motivation to bother with work at all and a serious whinge was finally had. Anyway, that's all in the past now and it's into Holiday Mode! After getting the best sleep in days, it was time to carry out the usual morning routines before getting the bus into town. After picking up my ticket, pre-booked to collect loyalty points on RedSpottedHanky.com, it's time for a coffee before getting on my first train for 25 days! So nice to be chilling and doing something I enjoy, rather than rushing around like a lunatic for those who don't appreciate it! Yes, that was a work moan and I promise that's the last of it now, you might have noticed it wasn't a good first couple of months at work...175004 is my first train of the day on the 1010 to Cardiff Central, woop!
It's clearly been ages since I passed through Cwmbran and looked out of the window, as I note there's a Morrisons almost right next to the station now. That's gotta be convenient for bashes! My next train is a pair of 150s, 150126 and 150233, on the 1100 Cardiff Central to Taunton, which I'm on from Newport to Bristol Temple Meads. I had hoped for a winner 150 with FGW, as I had cleared the FGW fleet (sight and haulage) years ago but the reforming and what not of the former LM 150s has given me a lot of 150s to find across the country now. At least since this trip happened I've only got 150202 and 150921 to see to re-finish the class for sight again, who knows how long that'll take to do. Another FoSS rover may be needed, and I honestly thought I'd never need to do one of those again. Maybe I'll try for some of them when I'm next in Cornwall. Which reminds me of another trip I need to fit in somewhere this year. Don't know how I'm going to get it all in, domestic rail wise I've estimated there to be at least 15 trips to do and I do have to go to work as well. Something's going to have to give...Anyway, back at the ranch...
Time to read the Metro and it's such a lovely day today! Arrival into Bristol Temple Meads is bang on time at 1152, and I've somehow lost my pen. Again, how often this is happening is getting silly! I get 69506, a First Bristol bus, on route A1 to Bristol Airport and get there at 1227. I figure I'd best check when the flight leaves, and that I've got all my paperwork with me. Dang, the flight is at 1715, I thought it was 1625, this is going to be a boring wait...I'm hungry by now, so it's the usual sub from Subway. I end up needing to top it up at Burger King later mind, but it's a holiday, it has to be done and the diet can wait until I go back to work. Easiest diet in the world too, eat absolutely jack all then go to work all day in a physical job. Eat a fair amount when getting home 10+ hours after leaving, then sleep and repeat. Was working quite well to be honest, in one week I shedded 4 pounds of weight. I've given up on it for the time being mind, one of my key reasons for the diet has been abandoned for now. Anyway...A coffee from Soho Coffee Co gets me another loyalty card for my wallet, and a bottle of water is sourced for the flight. Eventually boarding commences at 1648, doors closed at 1705 and pushback at 1710. We're held in a queue so takeoff isn't for several minutes but eventually we're up on easyjet's G-EZFV. Can't believe it's been 4 months and 11 days since my last flight, going to have to change that and make more regular flights! It's no surprise then that the Tune of the Day is Let's Fly by Styles and Breeze!
Now bring on Newcastle! The flight goes smoothly and we arrive at 1815. More precise details not available as I'd lost my watch not too long ago and it's not been replaced yet. So I've been using the phone for time telling or asking people, which is a major inconvenience for me. At the Metro station, I discover there's a major line closure between Byker and North Shields on at the moment. Going to have to come back one day to fix that gap then, and it's a significant amount too so my atlas will look annoyingly blank in that bit until I do it. Good enough reason for me to get on Skyscanner ASAP and book another flight to Newcastle for it, or at the least some sensibly priced Advance fares on the trains! A single to cover all 3 zones on the Metro is got for £3.20, which I consider not too bad really. Refurbished 4072 and 4046 are on the 1842 from the airport to South Hylton, both winners
Shame it's dark, can't see much about. Got to be said that the refurbished Metro trains are far better looking than the unrefurbished ones that I used last in 2009!It's a 30 minute journey through Newcastle to get to Heworth, and I give up trying to understand the map on my phone so get a taxi to Whitemare Pool Travelodge, at the cost of a fiver. At least I now know it's walkable, and got the gen on a good pub nearby that does food. After checking into my room and with home, I go to the pub [why I didn't write the name down I don't know! - Ed] and have a most delicious steak and Bombardier pie and vegetables. I also end up having three pints of Caulker from Jarrow Brewery, most awesome stuff! Back to the Travelodge then to chill out in front of the TV and get the books up to date. Been a good day but a lazy one too. Just what the doctor ordered then!
Days 2 and 3 will follow in due course!
A lush double beefburger and chips with a pint of Guiness is had for tea from The Five Swans, my 6th Wetherspoon in one day by my count! Back at the station, I get 4021 and 4050 both winning on a shack scratch leap to Jesmond. Dud 4058 and 4029 take me to another winning shack at West Jesmond, for winning 4044 and 4078 forward to Ilford Road with only short waiting times everywhere at the moment. 4040 and 4084 take me to South Gosforth, and 4060 and 4081 take me on a much longer (than the last few leaps at least!) leap to Gateshead Stadium.
