21st - 24th December, Central Scotland Rover (and London)

21^st December – Central Scotland Rover Day 1

The day begins between Carstairs & Edinburgh when I woke up from my sleep for the approach into Edinburgh Waverley, passing through the station and ending up somewhere near Dunbar, for the sleeper had come to a rest on platform 7.  Dud 92043 had hauled me for the run to Edinburgh, but I knew the odds of getting another winner 92 would be small.  With time to grab some breakfast before I headed over towards the Tweedbank train, as I decided to try and get the stations I needed on the Borders Line done early before the trains get mega busy (after-all it was the Saturday before Christmas, and the Edinburgh Christmas market was in full swing).

First unit up was 158740 which I took to Shawfair, noting there was a potential +3 connection, so over the footbridge I went and waited for 170393 to roll in from Tweedbank to take me back underneath the wires at Brunstane, and for a short wait for 158729/158715 to appear to take me towards Gorebridge, a short wait before 170470 rolled up to take me to Eskbank, noting this was a busy train.  At Eskbank I had a short wait before 170401 arrived to take me back one stop down the line to Newtongrange, where I managed to grab my last station photograph.  158740 was back from Tweedbank and I was expecting the worse, but it turned out to be quiet, I even had a private table in the 2^nd coach until Newcraighall!  I was expecting to have to stand for the trip back to Edinburgh so to get a seat was a nice surprise.

A warning of cold weather!

I met up with Dan when in Edinburgh and jumped on a low mileage 385119 for the run to Edinburgh Park, for a short wait before 334020 & 334028 took us one stop to the noisy Uphall, before 334035 took us to Blackridge, with 334014 & 334040 returning us to Edinburgh, a couple more stations done for photographs (my aim was to get the stations I needed for photographs which were within the Central Scotland Rover area, but outside the Daytripper/Roundabout areas, and as my remaining stations needed were at the Glasgow end they were doable on another trip).  After a visit to Boots we walked over to platform 7 where winner 385041 was on the next North Berwick service which we took all the way to North Berwick for a thirty minute fester before the next service arrived, with 385009 leading winner 385043 for the run back to Edinburgh.  This featured an assistant ticket examiner who pounced on some folk straight away who had boarded without tickets, oops.

385041 at North Berwick

Back at Edinburgh, with nothing better to do we decided to jump on a Glasgow Central stopper with the aim of visiting Breich as I needed the Edinburgh bound platform, but sadly 385005 kept on losing time so the +6 at Breich had vanished as, so we decided to remain on board to Cleland for a station photograph.  Winner 385037 was up next to take us back towards Edinburgh to Curriehill (including a 10 minute dwell at Shotts), with 385045 & 385031 taken back towards Glasgow to Carfin.  385026 was up next to take us to Breich where I got the platform I needed, and a half hour wait before winner 385032 arrived from Edinburgh to take us to Glasgow Central.  I was happy because I don’t have to do a stopping 385 via Shotts again!  At Glasgow we headed to a nearby Pizza Hut, for dinner (and I went to check into my accommodation for the next couple nights, getting lucky with a room on the back of the building which reduces road noise).

After I dropped Dan off at the bus station, I headed to Glasgow Queen Street and took winner 385001 to Croy, followed by 385010 to Lenzie and a late running (required) 385021 & 385033 to Bishopbriggs, sadly the connection to the next northbound service had been lost so faced with a thirty minute fester, I headed to a nearby Morrisons for some drink.  I have no idea what happened to 385021 as 385033 returned on its own, so it was back to Queen Street on the return of 385001, where it was a case of dodge the drunks heading home, for it was nearly time for the last trains.  I crashed in the private room at the hostel and reflected on a good day.

HST at Queen Street

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22^nd December – Central Scotland Rover, Day 2

I had a few options at what to do this morning, deciding on doing some of the stations needed for photographs on the Airdrie line before heading further afield, so it was a gentle walk to Queen Street to board an Edinburgh bound 334006 & 334004 to take me to Garrowhill, returning to Carntyne on 334011 & 334033 before 334010 & 334003 took me to Shettleston, with 334023 & 334024 taken back to Queen Street where I headed up to the high level station to board a 170+158 which was on the Aberdeen bound.  Sadly due to an incident around Larbert, all trains heading in that direction had been cancelled, so it was onto another plan, as I took a seat on 385043 & 385009 for the trip to Linlithgow, going via Cumbernauld (engineering works on the line via Croy).  As this was the final Edinburgh train going via Cumbernauld, it meant I only had a 15 minute wait at Linlithgow for 385118 & 385123 to take me to Haymarket, where we run in alongside a pair of 170s from Dundee, the front unit ringing a bell as being required for mileage.

I popped out of the station to grab lunch from a nearby Co-Op before returning, noticing a diverted Perth – Edinburgh service (I assume it ran non-stop from Perth to Haymarket via Ladybank due to the issues at Larbert) and the rear 170 also rang a bell as being required for mileage.  Plans formed in my head as I waited for the Dundee train to arrive.  170429 was leading low mileage 170425 which I took to Inverkeithing, the rearmost coach being lightly loaded as this pair departed from platform 1 at Edinburgh.  At Inverkeithing I had two options, either wait for the other 170 to return from Edinburgh (for it was on the Fife Circle services), or see what 800 rolled in from Aberdeen.  That 800 was winner 800112 which I took to Haymarket, once I managed to get on board (for it was very busy).  Sadly due to the delay it missed an unofficial connection with a Glenrothes service which I was going to use to intercept that 170 in Fife.

800112 departs Haymarket

I decided to take 334024 & 334023 for the run into Edinburgh, and a short break, before returning to South Gyle on 158727 & 170418 and a short fester before 170411 popped up to take me to Dalmeny and another short fester (might as well get these two stations out of the way) before low mileage 170407 rolled in with 170415 on the rear, back to Edinburgh.  I was quite pleased I got my last two Scottish 170s needed for mileage, as it means no more keeping my eyes peeled for them.  The next Aberdeen bound 800 wasn’t needed and nothing else was of interest within the station, so I decided to jump on 170393 for the run to Dunfemline Town, returning to Edinburgh on 170415 & 170407 (again!).

The Inverness bound LNER was running late, and sadly the Dunblane stopper was put out first so it was time to make an adjustment to my plan as winner 800105 rolled in from London to take me to Stirling (running on electric).  I had a short fester at Stirling before the next Alloa service which was 385035 leading winner 385044 for the short run to Alloa, where I visited the nearby Asda for a snack before returning to the station with 385044 & 385035 taken to Larbert.  Swapping over platforms and back to Stirling on a pair of winners on the next Alloa service, 385008 & 385039, not cleared for ten miles but the 8 miles is a good start.  It was a short wait at Stirling for a random Perth terminating service formed of 170413 & 170411, these lightly loaded units took me to Bridge of Allan and I had an extended fester due to a late running Inverness – Glasgow train before 385007 took me to Linlithgow, the train getting very busy at Stirling from that unit from Inverness.

385s at Alloa, last time I came here it was covered in snow!

I swapped platforms at Linlithgow and boarded a busy 385041 to Falkirk Grahamston, returning to Edinburgh on 385033.  I had hoped to grab Falkirk Grahamston from the Inverness LNER but it was behind the Dunblane stopper earlier, hence why I needed to go back, otherwise it would have been an annoying gap.  At Edinburgh I visited a nearby McDonalds for dinner before heading to platform 8-9 where a late running XC HST mopped up a lot of the waiting passengers for Motherwell & Glasgow Central, before winner 801209 arrived to take me to Glasgow Central, being my first 9 coach 801 and also marks off a bit more of the LNER network map (for I had Edinburgh to Motherwell on a 91 a few years ago when I changed for the XC which goes via the Edinburgh Sub).  This 801 was very lightly loaded, which made a nice change from the last few busy trains, it certainly put on some speed as it attempted to regain some lost time.

A 801 at Glasgow Central

At Glasgow Central, I wasn’t quite ready to call it a night, as I headed to the low level platforms with 318268/320317 taken to Exhibition Centre before 320311 & 318251 took me back to Glasgow Central.  I headed back to the hostel, relaxed and reflected on another good day in Scotland.

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23^rd December – Central Scotland Rover Day 3

I was booked on the sleeper back to London so I had the full day to do stuff, a later start due to the rover not being valid until after 9am, as I checked out of the hostel into the rain and to Glasgow Central where 385015 took me to Uddingston before a pair of winners in the shape of 385046 & 385040 rolled in to take me to Carluke for a short fester before 380113 arrived to take me to Carstairs for a platform score.  Carstairs makes for a good station to spot at, although it is a bit bleak in terms of facilities.

Freight at Carstairs

 Winner 385023 arrived from Edinburgh which took me to Motherwell (where I met up with Dan) and we headed over to platform 4 for 320411 to take us to Cumbernauld, returning on the same unit to Greenfaulds.  A short fester at this park & ride station before 385107 rolled in from Edinburgh to take us to the newest station on the network in the shape of Robroyston.  The station itself is basic, and is more a park & ride site as it’s near to the motorway network.  It wasn’t long before 385028 & 385043 arrived from Glasgow to take us to Gartcosh, with a light shower as we headed over to the opposite platform for 385037 for the tiny leap to Stepps, returning towards Falkirk on 385107.

Robroyston, Tick

Somewhere under the rainbow...

We remained on this 385 to Haymarket, turning down a Perth bound 170, in exchange for a Glenrothes bound 170403 which we took to Dalgety Bay, returning to Inverkeithing on 158735 where me and Dan parted ways for he didn’t fancy an afternoon full of 170 based fun.  For me 170408 was up next on a Cowdenbeath terminator, where I made the most of the time to visit a nearby Morrisons for a late lunch, before returning to the station with 170432 taken to Cardenden before 170426 took me back one stop to Lochgelly.  This is the time of day the timetable goes a bit strange as these two stations are normally hourly served, but the unit which would turn back at Glenrothes continues on the inner circle, meaning I had a thirty minute wait before 170450 arrived to take me to Dunfermline Queen Margaret.

A short 15 minute (or so) fester before I heard 68016 rolling in on the Fife commuter set which I took a seat in the leading coach for the trip towards Glenrothes, continuing to Burntisland, my last station in Fife needed for a photograph (and last station needed in the Central Scotland rover area which wasn’t covered by the Glasgow area tickets).  A tight connection at Burntisland saw me onto 170430 for one stop to Kinghorn before 170428 took me to Kirkcaldy.  A short wait at Kirkclady before 170426 reappeared to take me back towards Edinburgh, the time I spent sitting in first class catching up with bits on the tablet.

I was looking at RTT to give me ideas at what to do next, where I noticed the Stirling LNER service was running late and a connection would be available at Haymarket.  I was expecting an Azuma so I was surprised when 91128 rolled in (with 82212 on the rear), and with nothing better to do I decided to board for the novelty of a 91 loco to Stirling (as it probably would be the only time I would get the chance).  Local door only at Falkirk Grahamston before the loco continued to Stirling, just a bit of a novelty to arrive behind an electric loco!

91128 rests at Stirling

The next Edinburgh bound service wasn’t of interest, but in the bays was a low mileage 385039 which I took to Croy (as the Edinburgh bound service due to follow also wasn’t of interest).  At Croy it was a short wait before 385116 & 385115 arrived to take me back to Edinburgh, the final Scotrail service of the trip, as there was nothing else of interest around the station, so it was to a nearby KFC for dinner, relaxing on the concourse before I made my way across to the sleeper with 92033 hauling the Edinburgh portion to Carstairs.  The Edinburgh seats were quite busy considering it would arrive in London on Christmas Eve, I will admit to getting thrown at Carstairs as I was expecting to be behind the loco, but the Glasgow portion was behind the loco, which was 92038.  In a way I was glad as the 92s can be quite loud at full speed.  I swapped over to a pair of seats after Carlisle just to spread out a bit more, and ended up getting some good sleep.

On reflection, I revisited a few stations needed for photographs in Central Scotland, got a few more Azumas ticked off, along with some more 385s, sadly my next trip north of the Border probably won’t be until April time as there is a rumoured multiday BLS tour.

68016 at Glenrothes with Thornton.  Purr Purr

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24^th December – A short day in London

As I had a deadline to be home for 3pm due to a family related event, it meant having to come home on the 13:20 service from Waterloo, which gave me a couple options at what to do for the few hours I had in London after arriving around 06:50 on the sleeper.  In the end I decided to do some station photographs staying within zones 1-3.  So after grabbing breakfast from Sainsburys it was to the London Overground platforms with 378232 taken to South Hampstead with a 15 minute wait for 710263 to Willesden Junction.  I made a tight connection to a late running low mileage 378228 on a Stratford service to take me to Gospel Oak.

Disused platforms at South Hampstead

710105 was up first to take me to Crouch Hill returning to Upper Holloway on winner 710260, before 710268 arrived to take me to South Tottenham and a short fester with 710260 returning from Gospel Oak which took me to Wanstead Park, where I made use of the 15 minute gap before the next train to walk to Forest Gate station for a photograph (not needed, but gave a gap in the oyster system).  Back at Wanstead Park it was one stop to Woodgrange Park with 710266 to clear the Gospel Oak – Barking line for photographs, and a gentle walk to Manor Park with 315847/315829 taken a couple stops to Maryland and a ten minute wait before 345044 rolled in to take me to Stratford, which was an ideal place to break my journey and have a PNB in a nearby shopping centre.

Back at Stratford, it was onto the Jubilee line with 96104/96017 taken to Canada Water, heading upstairs to jump on 378233 to take me to Brockley for a short linear fester before 378139 arrived to take me to Sydenham, and another short fester before 377440 & 377153 arrived to take me to Crystal Palace where I made use of the extended dwell to head over to platform 1 for 455825 & 455837 to take me the short distance to Gipsy Hill before 377440 & 377153 arrived to take me to Streatham Hill.

377s depart Streatham Hill

I had another short break before 377324, 377312 & 377460 rolled in to take me to Clapham Junction, walking over to platform 1 for a busy 378218 to Imperial Wharf followed shortly by 377212 & 377206 to West Brompton and a short wait before 378222 arrived to take me back to Clapham Junction, where I exited the oyster network for the final time of the trip, changing over to paper tickets as I made my way over to platform 9.  I was at the front of a lightly loaded 159103, with 159108 & 159014 bringing up the other two units for the run back home to Grateley, where after a gentle walk home I could relax.

Overall a productive few hours in London, I only need a couple of the 378 served stations for photographs (on the West Croydon route), plus a handful of the LO stations from Liverpool Street, I wish I could have stayed for longer to make the most of the oyster capping but it wasn’t to be.

Imperial Wharf Station

20th December – The Day in London before heading to Scotland

20^th December – The Day in London before heading to Scotland

I was booked on the lowland sleeper to Edinburgh on the Friday night for 3 days in Scotland as a Pre Christmas treat, and with having finished work for the year earlier in the week, I decided to make the most of the Friday and head to London, no real plan in mind other than a request at a couple of my last units (as 321448 is making a comeback to all accounts), getting lucky with my last Chiltern 165 being on a service which calls within the zones (as there is quite a few 165 operated services which are first stop Denham or Gerrards Cross, or even in the peak first stop Amersham).

With the strike timetable, it was to Grateley for the 09:33 service to take me to Basingstoke (158881, 159003 & 159012), where it was onto a busy 221132 (which is currently running round as a 4 coach unit due to an incident with one of the coaches) for the run to Reading (something which will be happening a bit more often due to the new GWR timetable meaning the connection to a GWR stopper is lost).  At Reading it was a short walk over to platform 14 where I took a seat on winner 345064 for my first TfL Rail service from Reading to take me to Burnham, a station I needed for both photograph & platform.  30 minutes later winner 345063 rolled in to take me to Southall, where I took 345011 to Hayes & Harlington, followed by 387147 & 387159 to Ealing Broadway, to intercept the 2^nd unit on Hayes shuttles, this being winner 345059 which I took to Hayes, remaining on board for the trip to Paddington.  I got 3 more 345s into my book, which is a good result, as I grabbed some lunch before heading to the underground, where my travelcard stopped working (worked the barriers to exit Paddington, but failed to work for the rest of the day, which is very annoying.

345064 departs the island platform at Burnham

3255/3533 took me to Marylebone, where as a time wasting move I took 168325 to Northolt Park, returning to Wembley Stadium on 165012, before 165034 took me to South Ruislip (with NSE era platform signage), returning to Marylebone on 165024.  Those moves were solely for station photographs and clears Chiltern within the zones, I also noticed there was no queue at the ticket office, so to waste some time I purchased my rover for Scotland from there, before heading back, noticing some busy single 3 coach units on Birmingham services departing rather busy looking, before low mileage 165032 rolled in from the wall siding, and I had a trip to Harrow on the Hill, which was enough to clear it for ten miles, my last Chiltern 165 for this target.  At Harrow I headed over to the Met line platforms and jumped on 21049/21050, flipping a coin in my head at what to do, either mileage hunting on South Eastern, something involving 700s or Great Northern 717s for photographs.

68012 at Marylebone.

I ended up deciding on Great Northern as it hadn’t collapsed (yet), so it was to Moorgate on that S8, changing to platform 10 for winner 717016 to Hornsey (got very busy at Highbury).  Winner 717023 was up next to take me to Grange Park, for a tight connection to 717012 back one stop to Winchmore Hill, before 717001 took me to Cuffley, followed by dud 717024 to Bayford, changing over for the return of 717001 to take me back one stop to Cuffley, with 717016 shortly following to take me to Crews Hill and a short wait before 717025 was my next winner 717 for the run to a busy Alexandra Palace.  All stations needed for photographs and it makes a start with the mileage building for the 717s!

A 717 arrives into Bayford

A busy 717004 was up next to take me to Oakleigh Park, followed by a peak time additional service formed of 700045 to Potters Bar (pushing it over ten miles in the process), a short wait before 717014 was the next 717 to get a tick in my book for the run to Brookmans Park, followed by a short wait for 717016 to get taken over ten miles with the run to Welwyn Garden City (I didn’t need Welham Green for a photograph).  A short wait here before low mileage 700017 took me to Welwyn North, followed by 700058 to Knebworth and a little vocal treat for 365512 & 365504 to take me non-stop to Hitchin (can’t beat some 365 motor noise!).  Low mileage 700023 was up next to take me to Stevenage, followed by 700127 for the long run to City Thameslink.

700049 was up next to take me to Elephant & Castle, followed by 700059 to Loughborough Junction (since when did this station get barriers?), a 15 minute break allowed me to visit a local Tesco Express for dinner, before returning to Blackfriars on 700046, stepping back onto 700129 to take me to St Pancras, where I exited the system for the final time of the day and walked slowly to Euston, where after picking up some cookies from Sainsburys, it was to the platform with the lowlander.  Interesting to note when I walked to the front, the Edinburgh seats was around half full (this was at 23:15), but the Glasgow seats looked lightly loaded.  I was happy as winner 92006 was up front which I believe is my last “Cally” coloured 92 (I think I’ve got one 92 left which has been modified to haul the new stock, 92020).

92006 at Euston

I got settled in for a cold night, the toilet going out of use before the train had even departed Euston, but I was quite pleased, a handful of 700s cleared for ten miles (including a very low mileage 700/1), my last Chiltern 165 has been ticked off, and I’ve made a small start with the 717s, at least for some of the units when they pop up it shouldn’t be a full run to Enfield/Barnet.  Having a 345 out from Reading felt strange, they are a bit rough riding at top speed between Twyford & Maidenhead, but they do take off like rockets.  Also I've cleared the majority of my "717" served stations for photos, just Hatfield & Watton-at-Stone left.

390122 at Euston, forming the last Wolverhampton service on "Manic Friday".

13th Dec - 15th Dec, West Midlands, Grotto Grid Tour, Warrington West

13th Dec - 15th Dec, West Midlands, Grotto Grid Tour, Warrington West

13^th December – An evening in the West Midlands

I was booked on the latest Pathfinder tour (scary to think my first with the operator since the overnight Thames Branches trip in February), which was picking up in the Birmingham area, annoyingly with the original timings it was going to be picking up at Northfield to bypass New Street and the timings meant no overnight in Walsall (for it would be a bit tight).  So I ended up booking a city centre hostel I’ve used in the past (the other one seems to have doubled their prices), not the best in terms of noise but other than paying over the odds for a hotel room in Birmingham city centre (and getting woken up at 2am when party goers return).

I finished work in time to catch the revised 14:33 service from Grateley, formed of 159005, 159104 & 159004 for the run to Basingstoke where I had a ~ 40 minute fester for the next northbound XC service which was 220020, I managed to get a seat for the trip to Reading, shifting to a better one (one which wasn’t reserved from Oxford) for the next leg because as per usual it got a bit wedged out after Oxford.  I alighted at Banbury and had a short wait before 68014 rolled in for the next leg to Moor Street and enjoyed a private table (until Solihull), listening to the sound of the 68 working hard.  With a few hours in Birmingham I had a couple units on my target list, thankfully both were working all-day services on the Snow Hill lines so didn’t need anything more than a regular Daytripper.

Being forced to change at Banbury does have it's benefits... Meow

First move was on a very busy 172335 to take me one stop to Small Heath for a picture, followed by 170502 & 153366 with another 153 on the rear, but I couldn’t quite ID it when I boarded, thankfully when I alighted at Whitlocks End where it terminated, it was indeed 153364, my final 153 for ten miles.  After a quick photograph it was back onto this trio of units to take me to Hall Green, returning to (Don’t call me) Shirley on 170630.  172333 rolled in from Stratford to take me to Spring Road for a short wait before 172212 & 172214 rolled in for the leg to Yardley Wood, just to get some more stations for photographs before my final 172/0 for mileage, 172006, rolled in with 172008 for company.

*Insert joke about not calling someone this station name here*

I took the former London Overground units to Birmingham Snow Hill, but that wasn’t enough for 172006 (for it was on a ~1 mile bus stop leap), so I remained on board for the trip towards Acocks Green, again for a photograph.  A short wait before 172343 & 172220 rolled in from Dorridge to take me back to Snow Hill, and after a quick supply raid at the nearby Tesco I walked over to Bull Street tram stop to await the next tram towards the recently opened extension to Centenary Square, it had no wires!

West Midland Metro Tram 20 had the honours for the first trip beyond Grand Central, a bit stop start in places with traffic lights, but it reached Library (for Centenary Square), time for a quick photo before hopping back on board for the run back down the hill to Town Hill (Victoria Square). The next Library bound service was running a couple minutes late so I decided to return to Library on low mileage tram 37, before heading back to the Grand Central New Street stop.

The Town Hall towers over Tram 20 at Town Hall

Tram 37 at Library.

Due to a fire alarm in Euston, the WCML had fallen over, I boarded 390042 for the short run to Birmingham International (for a station photograph as the ones I have the signs are unreadable), before an extended wait before 390127 arrived to take me back to New Street, where I called it a night, walking to the hostel, checking myself in, getting surprised that I got given a bottom bunk and the room already was full (so no idiots coming in during the early hours throwing on the lights).  A bit noisy with a group of football supporters staying close by, but overall it was alright.

A productive evening where both my last 153 & 172 needed for mileage fell, plus a handful of stations ticked off for photographs.

172006 at Snow Hill

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14^th December – The Grotto Grid Tour

When this tour went on sale, it ticked the boxes for required Baker (atlas) level track, both big & small, where it did start from Westbury, I didn’t fancy the drive from home there early on a December morning (nor driving home after the tour), plus it would give no chance to get supplies as it was an all-day tour with only a short 45 minute break in Barnetby, a place famous for not having a lot around (it has a pub, a chippy & a small shop), so buying before hand was needed (as on board food can be hit & miss at what is on offer).

With the tour getting rerouted to go via New Street instead of via Camp Hill meant a slightly later start for me, and a small cost saving, as after swinging via Tesco to get supplies, I headed towards the depths to await the arrival of winner shed 66099 from Trowbridge, hauling the usual selection of Mk1 coaches.  Due to it being advertised Mk1 I was in the posh seats (it was a long day after-all), so located the coach, said morning to the neighbours (who were a very chatty bunch, making a very welcome change to some grumps who stay silent throughout the day).  Further pickups were made at Coleshill Parkway, Burton on Trent [quite a few boarding here] & Derby before the train headed towards Chaddesden Sidings where 66099 was removed with another 66 & 56113 attached to the rear.

Departure from Chaddesden went via platform 7 at Derby (the pilot line) and towards Nottingham, doing a little weave after Beeston and before Nottingham where we managed to pass non-stop, before carrying on towards Lincoln, a bit stop/start in places with the signalling and awaiting the path across Newark Flat Crossing, through a very busy Lincoln before heading towards Market Rasen and Barnetby for the break.  I took the most to photograph the locos, sadly the one I had of 66099 was a bit burred.

66171 at Barnetby

56113 at Barnetby

I noticed TPE were their usual state of collapse [lots of cancellations showing], and during the break the 56 ran round to be at the standard class end of the train, leaving required 66171 at the first class end for the reversals.  The 56 departed heading towards Scunthorpe, doing a little weave in a loop before heading towards the waste disposal place at the end of the near 5 mile long Roxby Gullet branch.  Another reversal with 66171 under power for the first time (quite a few red pens were out in force) to take us back towards the main-line and into Anchor Sidings on the British Steel site.  A further reversal with the 56 in charge, and it was around the Scunthorpe station avoiding lines and towards Doncaster.

After Kirk Sandall the train turned left to take the flyover over the trains leading to the Doncaster avoiding lines (which was a little bit of required baker track as I’ve only ever used these lines heading towards Hatfield).  A few more stations passed, the trip via the Swinton avoider was cut due to flood damage, and the train went on the “old road” after the former Rotherham Masborough station towards Barrow Hill, where the train reversed once again to head towards Woodhouse and went into the little used sidings alongside the station.  Another reversal and it was back on the line towards Barrow Hill, pausing at Chesterfield to drop off passengers before the train took the line towards Nottingham, using the goods loops along the way [I swear I have used the goods line which goes behind Langley Mill more times than I’ve used the regular tracks now!]

A small highlight for me was the tour turning left at the northern end of Toton to head towards Nottingham, where it took the Lenton curve to reach Beeston, before entering the Toton complex from the southern end, where the 56 was detached with the 66 leading the way back towards Birmingham.  The 66 took us via the Castle Donnington line to rejoin the main line for a short distance before going via Burton East Yard, surprisingly being given the signal ahead of a late running fast XC service to call at Burton station.  I was also surprised we didn’t get looped before Tamworth for the XC to pass, but we went straight through Tamworth before heading towards Coleshill for a further drop-off, before a slow trip towards New Street, arriving near enough on time.

The end of a successful tour, but when I was at New Street, my eyes picked up a low mileage XC 170 on a Leicester service, so after grabbing dinner I picked up a return to Coleshill (after checking for return options) and took a seat at the front of 170637 leading low mileage 170113, using the theory that people don’t like walking far and I was proved correct because there was 3 other passengers in that coach on departure!  A trip to Coleshill Parkway and a 25 minute fester before 170398 & 170397 rolled in to take me back to New Street and a walk to the hostel, where I attempted some sleep.

The train at Barnetby

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15^th December – Warrington West

I did have a plan to cover both Warrington West & Worcestershire Parkway, but as the later has been delayed it allowed me to change my plan for Warrington West, a station which has been “coming soon” for a while.  It is a new station a couple miles west of Warrington Central and effectively replaces Sankey (reduced to a token service of two trains a day, although I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t regain an hourly service).  Visiting on a Sunday would mean using Northern on a Sunday, what could go wrong?

I was booked on the 09:20 Glasgow service, which was formed of 221106 for the fast run towards Warrington Bank Quay, felt strange not calling at Sandwell & Dudley.  At Warrington I had around 45 minutes to reach Central, so I took my time, looking at RTT for cancellations and being thankful that it appears the two trains I wanted to catch hadn’t been cancelled (yet), and after a short wait at Warrington Central it was onto the stopper formed of 150104 & 156440 for the short distance to England’s latest station, Warrington West. (It held the title of GB’s latest station for all of 20 minutes until the first train stopped at Robroyston in Scotland!).

A 156 departs Warrington West

Sign at Warrington West

The station at platform level is quite basic, little shelters and bench seats, a nice ticket office with some inside seating, some staff members giving out free drinks & flapjacks, but it wasn’t long before I was back on the Manchester bound platform, the last stopper had been cancelled but as the next service calls here first after South Parkway it shouldn’t make that much of an impact, but I was quite wrong as winner 195101 rolled in, doing a very good impression of an eastbound 345 at Stratford during high peak, for it was completely wedged.  I managed to squeeze in by asking two gentlemen with oversized backpacks if they wouldn’t mind removing them (seems the idea of using overhead luggage racks to store luggage is lost around here).

195101 at Oxford Road

The 195 lost more time, leaving more passengers behind at Warrington Central & Birchwood, but on the bright side didn’t stop at Castlefield junction!  This one only runs to Oxford Road, so everybody off and everybody onto an already busy 185129 which was delayed due to the ECS being given the road first.  I bailed at Piccadilly and somehow made a busy 220031 on a Bournemouth train, changing seats at Stoke.  A bit of a farce outside Wolverhampton as we lost a bit of time waiting for the voyager from Lancaster to go first due to a stopper being on platform 3 (as a 323 had broken down in the usual bay platform).

Thankfully when the voyager was late, the train I was hoping to catch from New Street was also running late (with the backup option being behind the voyager), so I had time to wait before 350120 & 350368 arrived from London for a short turnaround.  Needless to say I sat in the 350/3 and was considering bailing at Long Buckby, but decided against it as I wanted to get home (for Grateley was still only every 2 hours on the strike timetable, and was on the 2 hourly “Exeter” trains so were going to be extra busy), besides I was comfortable with a plug socket for the fast sprint to Euston.

It took around 1 hour 55 minutes to reach Euston, which isn’t that bad as it went via Northampton and called at some stations (fast from Leighton to Watford, also International only between New Street & Coventry).  I headed to the toilets, before getting struck down, my legs & body just felt heavy.  I made it to the Northern line with 51668 & 51669 taken to Waterloo and made it onto the Exeter train (159014, 158884 & 159108) and collapsed onto the seat for the trip back to Grateley, where I made it home, unpacked my bag and went straight to sleep where I slept for nearly 12 hours.  My body felt like it had hit a brick wall and came down with a cold which took a couple days to recover from.

Other than the end, it was a productive weekend, getting a required 195 was a bonus (even if it was for standing), plus means I only have Robroyston left before being able to claim clearance of all currently rail served national rail stations in Great Britain again, and that is on my list to do this weekend when in Scotland.