Which lines are you hoping to do in 2012?

[Anon Mouse]

I might take the Wife to North Wales at some point. All I need now is an excuse to do The Welsh Highland in its enterity. She's agreed to do the Snowdon Mountain mind.....just hope its a diesel

 

[33056]

Shame you havn't got anybody who runs tours like this from the North East. I am sure your good lady could be persuaded by a trip in First Class Dining if your finances would stretch that far, I am also willing to bet that UK railtours will do this particular trip on more dates in due course.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Got Shotts and GLQ-CUB done today so far, as well as the Subway Next stop Neilston!

 

[Anon Mouse]

Shame you havn't got anybody who runs tours like this from the North East. I am sure your good lady could be persuaded by a trip in First Class Dining if your finances would stretch that far, I am also willing to bet that UK railtours will do this particular trip on more dates in due course.

yeah something like that would be nice, The Northern Belle is far too expensive!

 

[David Goddard]

Started planning our ALR and was suddenly suprised how difficult it got trying to clear Devon and Cornwall in a weekend. We want to include the Okehampton SuO service as well, and still get back to Exeter at a reasonable time for dinner. After two evenings with the timetables we have opted to miss out the Gunnislake branch as connections at Plymouth were so bad (ie -2mins).
On the other hand, I managed to plan two days covering the main routes of Wales in the space of about half an hour!

 

[33056]

Tally of new track so far (all in Germany):
Pressnitztalbahn, Weimar to Kranichfeld and Kempten (Allgäu) to Reutte in Tirol.

Next weekend: very short length of required UK track, Carlisle London Road Jn to Currock Jn; likely to be the only bit of new track scored in the UK this year at the current rate of knots.

 

[theblackwatch]

Tally of new track so far (all in Germany):
Pressnitztalbahn, Weimar to Kranichfeld and Kempten (Allgäu) to Reutte in Tirol.

Next weekend: very short length of required UK track, Carlisle London Road Jn to Currock Jn; likely to be the only bit of new track scored in the UK this year at the current rate of knots.

Didn't you require Wolverton on the Concrete Cow?

 

[33056]

Didn't you require Wolverton on the Concrete Cow?

Thanks, forgot about that trip, seems like an awfully long time ago now following two weeks abroad (also can be ascribed to "brain rot" due to getting up a silly-o'clock the last couple of days)

Have also trawled through my diary since last posting and remembered that I have booked on the BLS trip at the end of March; can't remember exactly where it is going right now but will almost certainly yield the odd bit of new track.

 

[starrymarkb]

I'll be doing Berlin to Leipzig in May...

Also might do some Dutch stuff later this year

 

[TGVDUDE]

Considering I've done a lot of track coverage on rovers & toursover the past two years, this year I'm taking it easy. I'd like to cover the NYMR and already plan ob attending the ELR diesel gala in march. I plan to cover the eastleigh depot and soton dock on the Hampshire hopskotch tour if I have the funds, also plan on visiting poole with cheshire cat which will be new track. Also the possibility of crossing off new track when I attend Leeds away games, ill see what happens!

 

[trentside]

I'm actually planning a second EM rover for later this week, hoping to clear Oakham - Kettering via Corby, Nuneaton-Coventry-Rugby and Stafford to Stone.

Well, I managed to cover all of those except Oakham - Corby - Kettering. Next time (that's what I've said the last 3 times now). Next on the list is GEML and Norwich to Peterborough. After that, I'm not sure - maybe a Southern Daysave to cover the Brighton line, amongst others.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

*Bump alert*

So how is everyone doing with theirs then? I've not really got started on NR, but I've cleared the Nottingham, Sheffield* and Manchester tram networks, as well as the DLR and Glasgow Subway, and only need small bits and pieces in Croydon. I've done minimal amounts on the Tyne & Wear Metro (just the city centre north-south), and not started on the Midlands Metro or Blackpool though.

As for the LUL, in the past month or so I've spent quite a few Saturdays on the system and now need just Harrow & Wealdstone-Stonebridge Park, the Hainault Loop, Loughton-Epping, Barking-Upminster and Balham-Morden to finish the network.

I've actually realised I don't need that much NR now (I predict I've done roughly 90% of the network). All I need is things like the Frome Loop, Castle Cary-Yeovil Pen Mill, Johnstone-Milford Haven, and the Falmouth branch, all of which are almost impossible day trips from my location!

* - Except the third side of the triangle between Sheffield Station and Nunnery Square.

 

[Temple Meads]

Stourbridge Junction for the 139's, Cardiff to Gloucester, Weymouth to Southampton, and hopefully, some of the London Overground network.

Well I've got the first 2 done, Weymouth to Southampton is likely to fall on my next FoSS bash, and the LO network should also go when I finally get up to London again.

 

[trentside]

Of the list I posted when I started this thread, I've achieved my aim of covering the Brighton main line.

Other lines I've covered this year are the GEML between Liverpool Street and Norwich, then Norwich to Ely and Peteroborugh, Hitchin to King's Lynn (via Cambridge), the Skegness line, the West Coastway to Portsmouth Harbour (plus Littlehampton and Bognor Regis), the Arun Valley line (Horsham to Barnham), the Seaford branch, Lewes to Haywards Heath and Three Bridges to Horsham.

Next on the list (how many times have I said it) is Oakham to Kettering via Corby. With that done, I've pretty much cleared the EMT network with the exception of Manchester Piccadilly to Liverpool Lime Street - but that's on the list for the summer.

 

[Lrd]

I have done none on my previous list but have done other bits and bobs, I only need one more curve (Tulse Hill - Streatham Hill) and will have completed the entire Southern network. Only got one thing planned in June but thats it for the year, need to get that sorted!

 

[anthony263]

Well I finally managed to do the last bit of the Berk & Hants route between Reading & Westbury on friday.

My next aim is to do the line between Worcester & Oxford as well as between Bangor & Holyhead

 

[NY Yankee]

Assuming I visit London next year, I want to ride the S Stock on the Metropolitan Line and the 2009 stock on the Victoria line. I also want to ride the Jubilee Line-Canary Wharf station is beautiful. I will also ride the Docklands Light Rail since it is very scenic. I likely won't be riding the British National Railway, but I will stop by St. Pancras and take a picture of the Eurostar.

 

[anthony263]

Assuming I visit London next year, I want to ride the S Stock on the Metropolitan Line and the 2009 stock on the Victoria line. I also want to ride the Jubilee Line-Canary Wharf station is beautiful. I will also ride the Docklands Light Rail since it is very scenic. I likely won't be riding the British National Railway, but I will stop by St. Pancras and take a picture of the Eurostar.

Going to do the cable car as well?

 

[Badger]

I'd love to get a train to Matlock, as it's somewhere I used to go a bit as a kid. I think that would be from Derby. I rather like EMT 153s so long as they're not standing room only.

 

[trentside]

I'd love to get a train to Matlock, as it's somewhere I used to go a bit as a kid. I think that would be from Derby. I rather like EMT 153s so long as they're not standing room only.

I finally did the branch earlier this year, it's handy now the trains run through to Nottingham. I got a 156 out and 2x 153 back - for awhile 158s were a regular sight but now the refurbishment programme is nearing completion it seems 153s and 156s are again the norm.

It's a great little line, I must do it again in summer - Matlock seemed a little bleak in January!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Even though I cleared it ages ago, I've done the Matlock branch just to go to the railway bookshop on Matlock station. I've done similar for Oakham (it's a beautiful town too), though I will tie that in again with getting the line east to Peterborough done. Just a shame it's always a packed out 170 you have to do it on.

 

[trentside]

Even though I cleared it ages ago, I've done the Matlock branch just to go to the railway bookshop on Matlock station. I've done similar for Oakham (it's a beautiful town too), though I will tie that in again with getting the line east to Peterborough done. Just a shame it's always a packed out 170 you have to do it on.

Unless you get the 0556 Norwich service from Nottingham, which works via Oakham with a 158. The 2100 from Spalding also works back to Nottingham this way - I'm presuming any EMT Sprinter could turn up on this. Neither are convenient for someone travelling any distance to do the line though.

 

[NY Yankee]

Going to do the cable car as well?

I forgot about that. I will ride the cable car (but not the London Eye since I'm scared of heights).

 

[Ivo]

My priority is to finish off the extended south-west and Wales, which includes most of the network west of Exeter, west of Shrewsbury, Hereford and Swansea to Shrewsbury some of the Valleys north of Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Basingstoke to Fareham via Southampton Central, Salisbury to Exeter, Oxford to Worcester and the routes that cross the North Wales route at Llandudno Junction and Shotton. I also intend to complete the Underground - having now done the whole of the Met I can do that which remains on a basic 1-6 Travelcard in one day - and also London Midland and Chiltern, which means the Chase Line north of Walsall and the routes into Stratford-upon-Avon.

At a push, I would also like to say what is left of SWT after this, but that might be asking a bit much in terms of how much access I will have to the London area next year; I also need to do the Marlow and Henley branches (and also Heathrow), which would fit in well here. If everything was to go perfectly I would also add what is left of NXEA, which allowing for me hopefully doing the Braintree, Walton, Sudbury and Harwich branches later this month would in practice mean most of the West Anglia route (the Lea Valley, north of Seven Sisters and Clapton (except to Walthamstow) as far as Stansted Mountfichet, north of Cambridge to King's Lynn and Newmarket) and also Peterborough. At a push, I'd then like to add Cambridge to Hitchin, but that might be a step too far.

I've had several disappointments so far, due to illness and money. Nonetheless, I have managed a little of the above, including Newton Abbot to Plymouth, Yeovil to Exeter, some of the Valleys, the connections between the various Heathrow terminals and some of the Underground including the entire Hainault Loop. I have also managed several stretches I didn't expect, including Shipley to Settle and Edinburgh to Inverness on two different alignments.

 

[gnolife]

I'm hoping to finish up the North West and West Yorkshire areas, including
Stockport - Guide Bridge
Mossley - Huddersfield
Huddersfield - Mirfield
Bolton - Blackburn - Clitheroe
Wigan - Kirkby
Preston - Liverpool
Colne - Blackburn - Preston - Blackpool South
Accrington - Hebden Bridge
Helsby - Ellesmere Port
Bidston - Shotton - Wrexham Central
Merseyrail
Marple - Chinley

I've achieved very little of the above . I'm putting the bits taht I have done in bold
I have managed some that I wasn't expecting, such as
London Vic - Gatwick
Edinburgh - Aberdeen
Aberdeen - Inverness
Inverness - Edinburgh
Kings Cross - Edinburgh
Nottingham - Peterborough
Carlisle - Barrow in Furness
Sheffield - Gainsborough L. Rd
Dalston Junction - Canada Water
Rugby - Northampton - Wolverton
West Hampstead - Dalston Kingsland
Heald Green - Styal (avoiding Man Airport)
Severn Tunnel Jn - Cheltenham (via Lydney)
Clapham Junction - Richmond (via North Sheen)

 

[Drsatan]

I've now done the Cambrian Coast Line along with Birmingham New Street to Manchester Piccadilly via Crewe: however, I've still got a lot more lines to do.

Depending on what I'm doing this summer, I'm planning on taking the sleeper from Euston to Fort William, and covering as many lines in Scotland as I can over the course of two days, staying overnight somewhere. This is because I've never been to Scotland! Following that I might aim to do Carlisle - Newcastle, and possibly all the lines north of Manchester.

Starting closer to home, I've done all the lines in Devon and Cornwall, so I need to do the Seaford, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton branches, along with the Uckfield and Oxted branches. I've done most of the rest of the Southern network except the Caterham branch, the Hove - Preston Park curve, the Epsom Downs branch, the Beckenham branch and the Wimbledon loop.

Also to be done on SWT is the Alton branch, Aldershot -Ascot, the Chessington branch, the whole of the Hounslow loop, and Virginia Water - Reading. Since I'd like to colour in the Thames Valley branches and the SouthEastern network, I'll have a busy summer!

 

[Blindtraveler]

so far I have done the Man Vick to Leeds run and Inverness to Kyle, the latter being on my hitlist for the year. The former was a 185 avoider move and much to my amazement threw out a mursyrail spec pacer!
had been wanting to do it end to end for a while and was delighted I did and am thinking will use again!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
didnt think the mursyrail units worked this stretch?

 

[Johnuk123]

Over the years I have been on most lines except for a few Welsh valleys and South East suburban lines.

I haven't as yet been on a Eurostar to France so perhaps I'll do that this year.

 

[Blindtraveler]

likewise an ambition. Was planning an ALR For round now but not been able to afford.
Maybe later. For certain I must Must Must do the WAG before its route changes.

 

[Crossover]

We will have to see how things pan out but a few possible thoughts are the Penistone line, the Island line and down to Portsmouth Harbour.

Wouldn't mind doing the S&C sometime either.

With some luck, I'll get some new areas with some of the upcoming meets (the GMPTE challenge will hopefully allow me to travel on some of the local Manchester lines that I haven't as of yet)

The ones above were mainly either scenic lines or "unusual" ones

Not really much of a challenge but I have done the S&C (twice in fact!) and the Penistone Line, both on the Northern offer.

Island Line and a trip to Portsmouth Harbour is planned for later this month

Also got plans to travel a fair bit of the North Wales coast (though it looks like it may miss out Wrexham Central this time ) and also travelled on a few other lines I didn't expect to when I first thought of the above - namely the ECML to Edinburgh (the bit I hadn't done before), the A-B line, Barrow Line (that was a long time on a 156!) and (unexpectedly) Crewe to Shrewsbury via the Welsh Marches, to name but a few.

Also hoping to get out round West Yorkshire again before the end of summer and complete all the lines in the area for local stoppers (only a few short stretches now and only one or two lines that I have never travelled on before)

Somehow, with a little planning some good luck, I have also travelled with almost every GB TOC in 2012, but that's for a different thread!

I have managed some that I wasn't expecting, such as

Heald Green - Styal (avoiding Man Airport)

Which service did you do that on?