27th – 29th September Weekend Trips
A busy weekend with overnight stays in the Bristol area on the Friday for the opening of a new station and an overnight stay in Birmingham for the 323 Farewell tour.
27th September – Onwards to Filton… via Taunton
The trip for me began with the 16:07 service from Grateley to Salisbury, formed of a busy 159018 for the short journey to Salisbury, where I had a short wait before 158771 & 158766 rolled in on a GWR service for Cardiff Central. I managed to get a decent seat in the front coach and relaxed as the train headed towards Westbury & Bradford Upon Avon where it crawled for the next section due to signalling issues (losing 15 minutes in the progress), regaining line speed after Bathampton junction and arriving at Bristol Temple Meads where I exited the station for a stroll towards a nearby Tesco, bringing back memories of an old college friend I had (somebody whom we slowly drifted apart) whom had university accommodation in this area (memories of using his place as somewhere to crash for the night after music gigs).
Anyhow trip down memory lane over and I returned to Bristol Temple Meads deciding to take a gamble with a Plymouth bound XC service which is booked to go via Weston Super Mare but without stopping there, looking back it seems the success rate is around 66% but seemed quite reliable when the service was on time. Thankfully tonight former Avanti 221115 was on time arriving into Bristol (where it detached from another 220) and I managed to get a seat in coach F for a slightly delayed departure. My fingers were crossed and thankfully the gamble paid off as the train turned right after Worle to head via Weston Super Mare without stopping before rejoining the mainline and headed towards Taunton. One of those random XC route knowledge moves (similar to that late night Leeds voyager which goes via Tinsley etc).
 |
| A pair of 159s departing Grateley for London |
I headed via the subway at Taunton to board a late running GWR service for Gloucester formed of 802003 without first checking the route it would use (for I had assumed it would also go via Weston Super Mare) but after calling at Bridgwater the next stop was Bristol Temple Meads using the cut-off line. I was toying with the idea of a late night trip to Cheltenham to get the novelty of a XC service going Cheltenham – Gloucester – Bristol but decided that could easily wait for another trip as the busy week working trains under supervision had slowly caught up with me and I decided to remain on the 802 after Bristol Temple Meads (passing a steam train) for the slow run to Filton Abbey Wood (congestion I presume caused by a diverted London – Wales service, due to flooding on the main-line between Swindon & Bristol).
My accommodation for the Friday night was the Premier Inn located in Filton itself, roughly .75 miles away from the station, including using an unlit subway with pavements. Took me a few minutes to locate the actual hotel entrance as it was a bit hidden, but soon as I arrived, got checked in and headed to my room I relaxed with the sound of passing traffic in this older hotel. An early start on the Saturday to walk towards Ashley Down so I was asleep by 10pm.
28th September – Ashley Down & West Midlands
I left the hotel around 06:20 which I felt gave me a good cushion to swing via a Tesco Express to grab supplies for breakfast and to have a look around the new station of Ashley Down (located between Filton Abbey Wood & Stapleton Road in Bristol). Although I was feeling rubbish as a cold stuck me overnight (so much that I turned down an invite for a breakfast catchup with some friends, can’t be too careful just in case it was something more sinister, it is cold season after-all). Anyhow 40 minutes (or so) of walking along various suburban roads I reached Ashley Down, a basic 2 platform station linked by a footbridge with lifts, a single TVM located by the entrance (which was quite busy with people buying/collecting tickets) with a good crowd for when 165135 arrived on the Filton Abbey Wood service, quite busy on board the train for the short distance where I swapped platforms to board the same unit back to Ashley Down to clear the station for alighting.
166213 was up next, which was back to being quiet for the short hop to Filton Abbey Wood where I had a short wait before 802003 rolled in to take me to Newport, only switching to electric at Severn Tunnel Junction rather than Patchway. A friendly guard on this train whom I managed to get my West Midlands Day Ranger from, just to save a job for later in the day. My original idea was to head towards Worcester direct via Cheltenham but there was engineering works so it was a case of going via Hereford instead.
 |
| An IET passing Ashley Down |
At Newport I switched over to platform 4 for the Manchester train which was being delayed due to being stuck behind an Ebbw Vale service and 197118 rolled in. Sadly, my gamble at which end the posher seats would be didn’t pay off (they were at the Cardiff end) but I did manage to get a decent seat for the run north, when I noticed West Midlands Railways were having a bad day (and that was putting it kindly, does it say something when they have replacement buses running to cover for multiple cancellations?) Anyhow for lack of a better idea I stayed on board this 197 to Church Stretton (not much point staying all the way to Shrewsbury as it would miss both the WMR services for Birmingham with the next TfW showing as a 2-coach special). A station I wanted to revisit for some better photos and also for winner 197113 on the next Cardiff service which took me to Hereford where it arrived just as the Birmingham train was pulling out, because the timetable is rubbish).
So, with an hour to kill, I popped out of the station to visit Morrisons to grab lunch before returning with one of DB’s regeared 66/6 sitting on the through line for a Cardiff train to pass it. Some confusion with a late running Holyhead train causing a delay for the Birmingham service as winner 196113 rolled in to take me towards Worcester (with a further delay for a late running IET service to clear the single line). It had been a good couple of years since I last did a train from Hereford towards Ledbury so a nice reminder of the rural nature, the train getting busier at Droitwich Spa (a couple of trains for Snow Hill had been cancelled) and busy at Bromsgrove (as why take the stopper when you can take the fast service?) I took this 196 to New Street where I had a plan to intercept a service from Shrewsbury.
 |
| 196113 at Birmingham New Street |
It was a short walk to board 158835 & 158841 on a TfW service for somewhere beyond Shrewsbury (honestly, I can’t remember if it was Holyhead or for the Cambrian) for the run to Wolverhampton where I had a short wait before winner 196114 rolled in from Shrewsbury on the first day in passenger service, clearing the 4 coach 196s (my luck with the 2 coach units is still rubbish). This was a service which crawled via Tame Bridge Parkway, sitting at Soho junction for 5 minutes for late running trains to go in front, no wonder why the train emptied out at Wolverhampton.
Anyhow back at Birmingham New Street and my luck wasn’t the greatest with the 730s so I decided to cut my losses and jump on a busy 170113 on a Leicester service (featuring someone whom clearly hasn’t heard that you might have someone sitting next to you as he kicked off saying he wanted his personal space when I asked him to move his bag when seat options were extremely limited, if he wanted his personal space then the best place would be the inward facing seats behind the cab or to upgrade for 1st class (that assuming he even had a ticket in the first place). Back to the trains as this 170 took me to Nuneaton as I decided to chance my luck with the Leamington service, sadly it was dud 196004 which I took to Coventry (clears Nuneaton to Bermuda Park for 196 coverage at least), annoyingly sub-10-mile unit 196006 was the other unit out today. Ah-well, plenty more chances to hopefully get them into my book with future trips to the West Midlands. I wouldn’t have liked to have been on that Leicester service after Nuneaton as there was a big crowd waiting for it.
Next up was a 10 coach 805 set which I had mistakenly had down as a pair of winners but seems I forgot to remove 805011 from my list of wants when I scored it a couple of weeks back. Still 805010 was a winner as I took this service to Birmingham New Street where thankfully my luck with the 730s had improved with winner 730041 (and dud 730005) on a Redditch service which I took to Barnt Green, shouting at some idiotic kids whom were right on the platform edge to stand back as a XC 170 sped through for Bromsgrove before boarding winner 730020 & dud 730029 down the hill to Bromsgrove remaining on board back to Northfield where I was joined by my good friend Jules whom was also on the tour tomorrow.
 |
| A Cosy 170 at Nuneaton |
We had a nice little catch-up when doing a linear hop to Kings Norton on 730041 & 730005 where the plan was to wait for the service from Bromsgrove to take us to university where 196113 was on the next train from Hereford, sadly for some unknown reason those 730s were delayed departing Bromsgrove so the 196 sailed through (Jules not being a happy bunny as he wanted that 196). The next train from Redditch was 730033 & 730032 which we took to Five Ways, stepping back to board the late running service from Bromsgrove with winner 730024 leading dud 730007. I bid farewell to Jules at New Street and took this pair to Aston, where I headed towards my accommodation as I needed to check in before 10pm as it was rooms on top of a private member’s pub (which had already closed up when I arrived at 9pm). A sizable room which had both a double & a single bed, which came to the aid of Jules as his accommodation provider was messing him around and saved him forking out big bucks for a same day hotel!
After emptying my rucksack, I returned to Aston (very much an industrial area so it wasn’t that pretty) jumping onto 730046 on a Lichfield service (quite busy it was as well) with the idea of intercepting 024 at Sutton Coldfield but as that was delayed by around 10 minutes departing Lichfield, I changed at Four Oaks with the announcement that due to late running the last train to Bromsgrove would run nonstop after Sutton Coldfield to Birmingham New Street. 730007 & 730024 returned from Lichfield and running fast after Sutton Coldfield did claw back the 10 minutes of delay, as 024 was pushed over ten miles. I made my way across to platform 1 to board the Walsall train which was winner 730022 which I took to Aston, not wanting to take it to Walsall due to the time of night as I left it under ten miles (and hence creating a new tab on an excel spreadsheet).
 |
| 730022 at Aston Station |
I met up with Jules again and we headed towards the pub, sneaking him in via the side door (although I would imagine the main door would be locked up with the member of staff having gone home), and headed to sleep ready for another early start and another walk (with the backup option of a bus as the pub was located on the “inner circle” bus route had the weather turned out to be wet.
29th September – West Midlands 323 Farewell
I decided to book on this Railtour to say farewell to the 323s operating within the West Midlands, just feels strange being at Birmingham New Street and not seeing the 323s working Cross City line services but things move on and the 730s have slowly grown on me (although I still think the seats are too narrow). Me & Jules left the accommodation with a lovely sunrise over the city, bit noisy with the road but overall, quite reasonable for £50 for a Saturday night in near enough the city centre.
We headed towards Birmingham city centre with a short walk along the Birmingham & Fazakerley canal before cutting across the campus of Aston university (swinging via a Tesco Express to grab some supplies). On reaching the city centre we popped into Tim Hortons for something warm (and because the station doesn’t open until 8am on Sundays due to the late start up of services), first time I’ve been upstairs and it is quite nice, certainly somewhere I would return to if I ever had a long connection at New Street and wanted a comfy sofa.
Anyhow, the station was opened and the crowd of passengers headed towards the platform the 323s were due to depart from before 323222 & 323221 arriving from the depot, we were assigned coach D (sit anywhere you like within the coach) and departure was on time. The first trip was a nonstop run on the southern part of the Cross City line towards Bromsgrove pausing at Barnt Green to pick up passengers, reversing on platform 1 at Bromsgrove (probably a fair while since the wires on platform 1 saw some actual use!)
 |
| 323221 at Birmingham New Street |
The 323s climbed Lickey and headed back towards Birmingham New Street for a further pick up before heading towards Aston (using the chord usually used by Walsall trains rather than the flyover), after Aston the train continued towards Perry Barr before using the track in the Soho junction area to join the main route from Birmingham to Wolverhampton, going nonstop via platform 4 at Wolverhampton was a bit of a novelty before the units gained some speed on the run towards Stafford for a final pick-up. Next stop was Liverpool Lime Street but a bit of a farce around Crewe saw the service losing time and departing behind the 350 on the stopper (rather than being in front of it). The first section of the tour came to an end on platform 1 at Liverpool Lime Street where we decided to have a short walk to Liverpool Central to jump onto 777031 on a Hunts Cross service to cover the line between Liverpool Central & Hunts Cross for 777 coverage (and to give our phones a quick charge).
The same 777 returned us to Liverpool Central where we headed back towards Lime Street, grabbing some supplies before returning to the 323s. Annoyingly our original seats had been taken by someone else (and Molly was raging) [in relation to an advertising poster for some charity] so we had to relocate elsewhere in the coach. After a couple of photographs, it was back on the move with the tour heading towards Crewe with a short pathing stop before heading towards Stoke (with another pathing stop where the doors weren’t released because the dispatch staff had forgotten how to dispatch a 6 coach EMU). After Stoke the train headed back towards Stafford using the little used single-track chord onto the WCML near the remains of Norton Bridge station before another pathing stop at Stafford (for this afternoon was all the pathing stops).
 |
| 323221 at Liverpool Lime Street |
After the tour departed Stafford, it was a trip towards Rugeley Trent Valley crossing over the lines to join the Chase line (where it looked like West Midlands Trains had given up with running a service with multiple cancellations showing). A speedy run along the Chase line, bringing back memories of when I did a 323 on this route back in August 2019 when there was a random 323 service to Rugeley on a Saturday night. At Walsall the tour had a 30-minute photo stop, not the nicest of stations for photographs, even from the platform 1 side due to hedges in the gap between platform 1 & 2. Anyhow soon the tour departed Walsall heading towards Birmingham New Street via Soho for a brief pause before what was meant to be a nonstop run to Coventry but congestion on that route, twinned with a fare dodger whom got evicted from the train at Birmingham International meant the train lost 20-odd minutes eating into the turnaround time at Coventry and losing its path back towards New Street (departing behind a stopper).
At Birmingham International the tour was looped by both a Manchester bound Voyager and a Preston bound Pendo and I decided to call it quits as I wanted to catch a southbound voyager which was showing as a pair (and the one an hour later showing as a single 4 coach set, going via London was risky due to the 90-minute gap in trains calling at Grateley on Sunday nights (20:45 then the 22:20). So, both me & Jules called it quits (as his last-minute hotel was in the Birmingham Airport area), after a photograph of the 323s departing I jumped onto 390107 for the run to Coventry to pop outside the station to grab some dinner from the Sainsburys Local.
 |
| 221129 at Coventry Station |
The next southbound voyager was caught up in congestion caused by a late running stopper from Wolverhampton & being behind a London bound LNR service (which looked quite busy when it called at Coventry) with a busy 221138 rolling along with 221140, I managed to grab a decent seat in the rear unit for the run towards Reading (losing a few more minutes due to awaiting the 196 to clear the single track near Kenilworth so it was looking a bit dodgy with the connection at Basingstoke). A quick turnaround at Reading (not helped with the rear coaches getting locked out of use on arrival at Reading due to no staff member being available). Thankfully the train arrived into Basingstoke allowing a connection onto 159013 working the 19:45 service from Waterloo to be made. I guess in hindsight I could have forked out for the Avanti fare to London and used LU to avoid using XC but hey-ho.
The sprinter took me to Grateley where I had a gentle stroll home to relax for the rest of the evening although I was in bed by 10pm as tiredness of the last couple days early starts had caught up with me and I needed to be fresh for my assessment at the training school on the Tuesday. September had been a busy month for travelling, both local and longer distance, October is looking similar although one of the railtours I was booked on has been cancelled, the other pushed back to 2025 so I’ve got no real solid plans (although I'm keeping my booking for accomodation in Crewe from the cancelled tour). Anyhow thanks for reading :)
