These writings were first put on my
old Rail UK thread, archived, sorry for the lack of images and poor formatting.
1st January – “What time does this
train reach Wolverhampton?”
Carrying on from the socialable evening in the Holiday Inn Express near the Birmingham NEC, the main aim of today was to cover the connection into Nuneaton platform 2 from the line from Birmingham, which is my last bit of track to score in the Nuneaton area. So after checking out of the hotel and getting a taxi back to Birmingham International, the first order of business was with the “Airtrack” cable car system to Birmingham Airport just for the novelty of doing it. After a quick trip there & back it was down to the platforms for one of the first Euston services of the day, a nice double Voyager formed of 221103 & 221109 for the run to Coventry, giving a nice connection onto 220018 working the Reading – Manchester service, I had previously reserved seats via Twitter but where it was busy there was plenty of options. A nice run to Birmingham New Street where the train reversed and headed towards Water Orton (this is when a gentleman asked “what time does this train reach Wolverhampton?”). I will admit it was a bit slow in places but eventually the voyager reached Nuneaton where the doors were released (not a booked call on RTT, but it was announced on the PIS).
A quick reversal and the 220 got up some good speed on the WCML racing towards Stafford and onwards to Stoke where we changed onto 156405 for the run to Crewe, making a tight connection onto 390153 working from sunny Blackpool for some more fast running to New Street, where we headed out of the station to get some lunch before returning to board 390042 which we took to Euston. Swinging via the TVMs at the Underground station so the member of staff could put on my gold card discount for this year (all those 80p savings add up). My first LU service of 2019 would be 11023/11024 to Oxford Circus, followed by 3537 & 3232 to Paddington. Up to the main concourse and required 800320 was sat working a Bristol service so happy days with another 800/3 into my book. Onwards to Reading where I said farewell to Dan, and boarded 165109 to Basingstoke, and to Andover on 159010/159101/159104 where due to SWR running a Sunday timetable meant I got a lift home.
A short and sweet little trip, that link at Nuneaton was one of my last bits of Baker track in the West Midlands area so to get it on a service train was good.
2nd Jan – A failed attempt at a Newbury electrics
Electrical services have started running to Newbury, on the off-peak Newbury stoppers, so with wanting a quiet day before my return to work I decided on a little trip to Bedwyn to sample a 387 from Reading to Newbury, just for the novelty of it all. I worked out a little plan which involved changing at Newbury on the way back for an IET service. I believe it was the 10:59 service from Grateley formed of 159022 to Basingstoke, with 165103 onwards to Reading. A 387 was sat on platform 1 as expected and I had 10 minutes to take a potter to Boots for some lunch, returning to see “delayed” flash up before news came round that the service had been cancelled due to the previous 387 having issues with the overhead wires being a tad high.
Not one to waste a trip, it was to Bedwyn on 165109, changing platforms to reboard the unit as it returned from the siding, and back to Newbury (I do like this line when it runs alongside the Kennet & Avon as it brings back memories of my youth). Anyhow lady luck was shining as 800316 popped up to take me to Reading. I decided to purchase a day return to Oxford to see if I could get lucky with someone heading to either Oxford or calling at Didcot. The first couple services were dud with a required unit heading towards Plymouth but first stop Taunton, but I was lucky with a pair of 802s, winner 802019 leading 802008 for the short hop to Didcot, where I didn’t hang round for long before winner 800318 took me back to Reading where I popped out of the station to do a bit of shopping, returning to take a busy 165112 to Basingstoke for 159008/158890/159006 back to Grateley.
3rd Jan – A successful attempt at the Newbury Electrics
An early finish on my first day back at work, meant I could have another attempt at a Newbury electrics service. 159015 took me to Basingstoke, with 165106 onwards to Reading. This time the 387s were behaving so I took a seat on 387151 working the next Newbury stopper for a nice quiet fast run, with a bit of dwell times at each station as the 387s are still working to diesel timings. The 387 went into the bay platform at Newbury and I went off for a little walk, returning for the final electric service which operates to Paddington and fits into the semi-fast pattern. Unusually this service departs from platform 1 (387145) so uses the crossover the opposite side of Newbury Racecourse station, and was a very nippy run. One for me to remember as it is booked to run on the mainline beyond Reading so I suspect a good 110mph non-stop run.
165110 took me back to Basingstoke, followed by 159001/159003/159102 to Grateley
Carrying on from the socialable evening in the Holiday Inn Express near the Birmingham NEC, the main aim of today was to cover the connection into Nuneaton platform 2 from the line from Birmingham, which is my last bit of track to score in the Nuneaton area. So after checking out of the hotel and getting a taxi back to Birmingham International, the first order of business was with the “Airtrack” cable car system to Birmingham Airport just for the novelty of doing it. After a quick trip there & back it was down to the platforms for one of the first Euston services of the day, a nice double Voyager formed of 221103 & 221109 for the run to Coventry, giving a nice connection onto 220018 working the Reading – Manchester service, I had previously reserved seats via Twitter but where it was busy there was plenty of options. A nice run to Birmingham New Street where the train reversed and headed towards Water Orton (this is when a gentleman asked “what time does this train reach Wolverhampton?”). I will admit it was a bit slow in places but eventually the voyager reached Nuneaton where the doors were released (not a booked call on RTT, but it was announced on the PIS).
A quick reversal and the 220 got up some good speed on the WCML racing towards Stafford and onwards to Stoke where we changed onto 156405 for the run to Crewe, making a tight connection onto 390153 working from sunny Blackpool for some more fast running to New Street, where we headed out of the station to get some lunch before returning to board 390042 which we took to Euston. Swinging via the TVMs at the Underground station so the member of staff could put on my gold card discount for this year (all those 80p savings add up). My first LU service of 2019 would be 11023/11024 to Oxford Circus, followed by 3537 & 3232 to Paddington. Up to the main concourse and required 800320 was sat working a Bristol service so happy days with another 800/3 into my book. Onwards to Reading where I said farewell to Dan, and boarded 165109 to Basingstoke, and to Andover on 159010/159101/159104 where due to SWR running a Sunday timetable meant I got a lift home.
A short and sweet little trip, that link at Nuneaton was one of my last bits of Baker track in the West Midlands area so to get it on a service train was good.
2nd Jan – A failed attempt at a Newbury electrics
Electrical services have started running to Newbury, on the off-peak Newbury stoppers, so with wanting a quiet day before my return to work I decided on a little trip to Bedwyn to sample a 387 from Reading to Newbury, just for the novelty of it all. I worked out a little plan which involved changing at Newbury on the way back for an IET service. I believe it was the 10:59 service from Grateley formed of 159022 to Basingstoke, with 165103 onwards to Reading. A 387 was sat on platform 1 as expected and I had 10 minutes to take a potter to Boots for some lunch, returning to see “delayed” flash up before news came round that the service had been cancelled due to the previous 387 having issues with the overhead wires being a tad high.
Not one to waste a trip, it was to Bedwyn on 165109, changing platforms to reboard the unit as it returned from the siding, and back to Newbury (I do like this line when it runs alongside the Kennet & Avon as it brings back memories of my youth). Anyhow lady luck was shining as 800316 popped up to take me to Reading. I decided to purchase a day return to Oxford to see if I could get lucky with someone heading to either Oxford or calling at Didcot. The first couple services were dud with a required unit heading towards Plymouth but first stop Taunton, but I was lucky with a pair of 802s, winner 802019 leading 802008 for the short hop to Didcot, where I didn’t hang round for long before winner 800318 took me back to Reading where I popped out of the station to do a bit of shopping, returning to take a busy 165112 to Basingstoke for 159008/158890/159006 back to Grateley.
3rd Jan – A successful attempt at the Newbury Electrics
An early finish on my first day back at work, meant I could have another attempt at a Newbury electrics service. 159015 took me to Basingstoke, with 165106 onwards to Reading. This time the 387s were behaving so I took a seat on 387151 working the next Newbury stopper for a nice quiet fast run, with a bit of dwell times at each station as the 387s are still working to diesel timings. The 387 went into the bay platform at Newbury and I went off for a little walk, returning for the final electric service which operates to Paddington and fits into the semi-fast pattern. Unusually this service departs from platform 1 (387145) so uses the crossover the opposite side of Newbury Racecourse station, and was a very nippy run. One for me to remember as it is booked to run on the mainline beyond Reading so I suspect a good 110mph non-stop run.
165110 took me back to Basingstoke, followed by 159001/159003/159102 to Grateley
4th Jan – London bits & pieces
Before Christmas I gave myself a list of bits in London I wouldn’t mind trying to do, either for the novelty factor or for some microgricing, I did most of it before hand but left out a few bits due to getting caught up in trespassing related delays or due to the C2C 387s being the wrong way round.
Anyhow it was home and to the station for the 13:59 service formed of 159005 to Basingstoke where I stepped back a train to board 444002 to Clapham Junction, where I had a couple options to reach East Croydon, the first had been missed due to a delay but was a single unit to Reigate (seriously run the Reigate services as a half-hourly shuttle and extend the Victoria – Reigate services to Three Bridges so they can be run as pairs, gets rid of single units using up paths). The first was to Eastbourne and didn’t feature on my list, the 2nd was to East Grinstead and featured a mileage need, 377452, 377412, 377438. To East Croydon where it was a same platform change to a pair of 455s bound for Coulsdon Town, formed of 455813 & 455843 which I took to Coulsdon Town for a short wait before they returned back towards London. I bailed at Purley and had a couple options, the first was a 377 from Reigate which I turned down, followed by former foe 700059 which I took to East Croydon, changing back to board 700141 for the fast run to London Bridge.
I somehow made a tight connection to platform 3 for 465178 & 465044 to Cannon Street, spotting a pair of mileage requirements on the opposite platform, so it was to Lewisham, sadly not enough to put 465189 or 465910 above 10 miles. I crossed over to the Hayes bound platform and waited for 465044 & 465178 to return from Cannon Street to take me all the way to Hayes, the train remaining busy to the very end. The reason for coming to Hayes is that the 17:45 & 18:15 services back to Charing Cross run fast to London Bridge and I was waiting for the 18:15 to arrive. A pair of 376s with 376007 leading 376016 on the 18:15 service, and it was good fun, the train was mostly empty and fast 376s are quite rare. At London Bridge I stepped back a train to get 375606 & 375810 to Waterloo East, the 375/6 getting very close to the 10 mile club (on 9.9 miles now, had I noticed I would have stayed on to Charing Cross and doubled back).
Before Christmas I gave myself a list of bits in London I wouldn’t mind trying to do, either for the novelty factor or for some microgricing, I did most of it before hand but left out a few bits due to getting caught up in trespassing related delays or due to the C2C 387s being the wrong way round.
Anyhow it was home and to the station for the 13:59 service formed of 159005 to Basingstoke where I stepped back a train to board 444002 to Clapham Junction, where I had a couple options to reach East Croydon, the first had been missed due to a delay but was a single unit to Reigate (seriously run the Reigate services as a half-hourly shuttle and extend the Victoria – Reigate services to Three Bridges so they can be run as pairs, gets rid of single units using up paths). The first was to Eastbourne and didn’t feature on my list, the 2nd was to East Grinstead and featured a mileage need, 377452, 377412, 377438. To East Croydon where it was a same platform change to a pair of 455s bound for Coulsdon Town, formed of 455813 & 455843 which I took to Coulsdon Town for a short wait before they returned back towards London. I bailed at Purley and had a couple options, the first was a 377 from Reigate which I turned down, followed by former foe 700059 which I took to East Croydon, changing back to board 700141 for the fast run to London Bridge.
I somehow made a tight connection to platform 3 for 465178 & 465044 to Cannon Street, spotting a pair of mileage requirements on the opposite platform, so it was to Lewisham, sadly not enough to put 465189 or 465910 above 10 miles. I crossed over to the Hayes bound platform and waited for 465044 & 465178 to return from Cannon Street to take me all the way to Hayes, the train remaining busy to the very end. The reason for coming to Hayes is that the 17:45 & 18:15 services back to Charing Cross run fast to London Bridge and I was waiting for the 18:15 to arrive. A pair of 376s with 376007 leading 376016 on the 18:15 service, and it was good fun, the train was mostly empty and fast 376s are quite rare. At London Bridge I stepped back a train to get 375606 & 375810 to Waterloo East, the 375/6 getting very close to the 10 mile club (on 9.9 miles now, had I noticed I would have stayed on to Charing Cross and doubled back).
To Waterloo via Tesco, and it was onto a trio of units to Vauxhall (455904, 455701, 456011), with 455850, 455854 & 456014 back to Waterloo, where I headed towards platform 5 where the Hampton Court Express was due to roll in. 455874 & 455857 were on this service which goes on the fast lines, runs fast to Surbiton before heading to Hampton Court, so it be a novelty of a fast 455. They don’t do speed that well, it was a bit shaky especially when a fast service rushed past, but a novelty never the less. Back to Clapham on 450009 & 450092 (which was being advertised as formed of 12 coaches), but sadly due to delays meant I missed a connection to a Weybridge train so that will have to wait for another day. Back to Waterloo on 455910 & 455870 making a connection onto the 20:20 service which was formed of a triple unit, 159015, 159108 & 159016 and after Woking the coach I was in only had a couple other passengers.
A walk home, the end of a good spin to London
5th
January – All the (London) Terminals
Originally I was going to drive to Romsey and have a little trip to Wye & back [out via Redhill, back via Eastbourne], but due to the cold weather I decided to ditch that idea and have a little trip to London instead. But as my London needs are not the greatest I decided on a random challenge to visit all the London terminals, just for some variety. There was something else on my list to do which was the diverted London Bridge – Orpington trains via the Beckenham curve, just for some quail level bits [as my only previous use of that curve was with the afternoon Beckenham Junction starter a couple years ago when that ran]. (Any unit numbers in italics are new members of the 10 mile club, seeing as I don’t need much else I’ve decided to semi-focus on clearing units for 10 miles as there is a lot on tiny bus stop leaps)
Annoyingly when I was walking to the station the temperature had risen so the car windscreens weren’t iced over (they were all frosted over on the Friday evening), but never mind, as it was the 05:59 service to Basingstoke (formed of 159103), giving me a nice connection into the first Reading shuttle formed of 165128 to take me to Reading (as going via Reading is cheaper as I can split there, and also gets rid of the ‘weekend super-off peak’ restrictions found on the SWR priced routes. First service was a pair of 800s from Swansea which were both dud, the next was the unit from Bedwyn which was 165117, my last 3-coach 165/1 for 10 miles so I took a seat for the non-stop run to Paddington.
A quick hop out to Ealing Broadway & back for no reason other than for some 387 based speed (387166 & 387153 out, 387157 & 387132 in), with a walk to the underground for the tiny leap to Marylebone (3264/3554) where I had a couple options to ‘tick’ off Marylebone, either a pair of units towards Harrow on the Hill or an unit towards Wembley, neither option gave me something of interest [mainly something I need for more miles as I’ve got a few Chiltern 165s on Wembley Stadium leaps], so it was onto 165019 to Wembley Stadium. Originally I was going to stay on to South Ruislip but the inbound service gave a bad connection to a Tring service at Euston. Walking from Wembley Stadium to Wembley Central for a Southern service to Harrow & Wealdstone (which is the first time I’ve boarded a train on the “AC” platforms at Wembley Central. 377201 & 377210, with the rear unit nearly cleared (as I’m sure Mr Keith will know when an unit gets to 9.8 miles it is annoying when you can’t take it that little bit further to get it over the line).
15 minutes of festering at Harrow & Wealdstone before the next service from Tring arrived, formed of a busy 350256 for the fast run to Euston. For some reason I decided to use the Victoria line to Kings Cross St Pancras (11051/11052) as it is quicker to walk to the Thameslink gate line at St Pancras from Euston. A Bedford service was already in so I leapt on (after checking it stopped at West Hampstead), sadly it was 700140, the next Herne Hill stopper was a 700/0 already above 10 miles so it was a short wait for a Brighton service formed of 700134 which I took to London Bridge, sadly not enough to clear it for 10 miles but another 700/1 on half-decent mileage. At London * Bridge it was a short walk over to platforms 6 & 7 for the next Hastings service, which was formed of 375616 & 375820, for the run to Orpington going via Ladywell & Beckenham Junction. At Orpington I made a tight connection onto the next London Charing Cross service (only half hourly, the services from Ashford were going into Victoria), which was 375907 & 375812 and was full & standing, but like most 3+2 seated units there was some spare middle seats. I alighted at London Bridge to step back a service with 465022/465168/466031 to Charing Cross, returning to London Bridge on 465035 & 465248. At the Bridge after a quick scan of the Southern bay platforms it was onto 700115 to East Croydon to grab some lunch from Sainsburys.
My train back to London Bridge fell to my first 171 of the year, in the shape of 171401 where I made a tight connection to a Cannon Street service for a triple networker (466020/466001/465193) which had they not sat at Cannon Street for nearly 20 minutes before forming another service I would have stayed on as I needed all 3 for decent mileage. It was down to the underground with 21525/21526 working a circle line service taken to Victoria where I headed across to the South Eastern platforms, spotting the next departure featured a low mileage 375, so it was onto 375829/375808 for the run to Bromley South, returning to Victoria on 377516 & 377503, as I made use of the plug sockets in the former 1st class area on 377516. Sadly I had no luck with the Southern side of the station for anything on my list, so it was to Clapham Junction on 377434/377405/377146 changing over to the SWR platforms, where I got lucky with the first Waterloo service being 456023/455742/455851 as it meant another 455 could be removed from my list and I can tick of Vauxhall & Waterloo from my “all the terminals” challenge.
Jubilee line time with 96015 & 96026 taken to West Ham, where I ran into crowd control measures due to football & the district line being closed so more folk were using C2C to Barking to ‘double’ back to avoid a bus. Thankfully I managed to get to the island platform to jump on a Fenchurch Street bound service formed of 357028/357328, changing over to the opposite platform to board 357033 & 357010 which I took to Upminster, with 315803 taken to Romford. For some time wasting I leapt onto a Shenfield bound pair of 315s to Gidea Park, both 315837 & 315829 remains on small distances but every little helps. 315830 & 315854 took me back to Romford, where I changed to platform 2 for a fast GA service with 360121 & 360104 to Stratford followed by a triple 321 from Southend, 321440, 321441 & 321435 for the run to Liverpool Street. I would have liked to take a London Overground service from the lower numbered platforms but I was working to a deadline (of a required 800 from Paddington).
A seemingly pointless leap to Moorgate on 21081/21082 before heading down to the Northern City Line platforms with 313056 & 313040 working the next departure, which I took to Harringay, heading back to Finsbury Park on 313029/313039, more of a time wasting move as options to Kings Cross from Finsbury Park were a bit limited, but the first service was lucky with 387124 & 387107 working a “Thameslink” service from Cambridge, and into Kings Cross to complete my challenge. A quick walk to the sub surface line platforms having just missed a Hammersmith service I leapt onto 21053/21054 to Baker Street, followed by 3536/3246 on the Bakerloo to Paddington (as I find this is quicker than waiting around Kings Cross for 5 minutes for the next Hammersmith service). At Paddington I was in for a nice surprise, as expected 800308 was working a service towards Malvern, but alongside was another required 800/3 which after checking RTT called at Didcot Parkway...
...a quick visit to the ticket office to purchase a Reading – Didcot day return later (because it is another 800/3 off my list). 800308 took me to Reading, where I swapped platforms and waited a couple minutes before 800317 appeared for the run to Didcot. Returning to Reading on 800025/800003 before boarding a near empty coach on 221138 for the run to Basingstoke with a 25 minute fester in the waiting room for 159103 to appear from Waterloo to take me back home, the end of a very varied day.
Originally I was going to drive to Romsey and have a little trip to Wye & back [out via Redhill, back via Eastbourne], but due to the cold weather I decided to ditch that idea and have a little trip to London instead. But as my London needs are not the greatest I decided on a random challenge to visit all the London terminals, just for some variety. There was something else on my list to do which was the diverted London Bridge – Orpington trains via the Beckenham curve, just for some quail level bits [as my only previous use of that curve was with the afternoon Beckenham Junction starter a couple years ago when that ran]. (Any unit numbers in italics are new members of the 10 mile club, seeing as I don’t need much else I’ve decided to semi-focus on clearing units for 10 miles as there is a lot on tiny bus stop leaps)
Annoyingly when I was walking to the station the temperature had risen so the car windscreens weren’t iced over (they were all frosted over on the Friday evening), but never mind, as it was the 05:59 service to Basingstoke (formed of 159103), giving me a nice connection into the first Reading shuttle formed of 165128 to take me to Reading (as going via Reading is cheaper as I can split there, and also gets rid of the ‘weekend super-off peak’ restrictions found on the SWR priced routes. First service was a pair of 800s from Swansea which were both dud, the next was the unit from Bedwyn which was 165117, my last 3-coach 165/1 for 10 miles so I took a seat for the non-stop run to Paddington.
A quick hop out to Ealing Broadway & back for no reason other than for some 387 based speed (387166 & 387153 out, 387157 & 387132 in), with a walk to the underground for the tiny leap to Marylebone (3264/3554) where I had a couple options to ‘tick’ off Marylebone, either a pair of units towards Harrow on the Hill or an unit towards Wembley, neither option gave me something of interest [mainly something I need for more miles as I’ve got a few Chiltern 165s on Wembley Stadium leaps], so it was onto 165019 to Wembley Stadium. Originally I was going to stay on to South Ruislip but the inbound service gave a bad connection to a Tring service at Euston. Walking from Wembley Stadium to Wembley Central for a Southern service to Harrow & Wealdstone (which is the first time I’ve boarded a train on the “AC” platforms at Wembley Central. 377201 & 377210, with the rear unit nearly cleared (as I’m sure Mr Keith will know when an unit gets to 9.8 miles it is annoying when you can’t take it that little bit further to get it over the line).
15 minutes of festering at Harrow & Wealdstone before the next service from Tring arrived, formed of a busy 350256 for the fast run to Euston. For some reason I decided to use the Victoria line to Kings Cross St Pancras (11051/11052) as it is quicker to walk to the Thameslink gate line at St Pancras from Euston. A Bedford service was already in so I leapt on (after checking it stopped at West Hampstead), sadly it was 700140, the next Herne Hill stopper was a 700/0 already above 10 miles so it was a short wait for a Brighton service formed of 700134 which I took to London Bridge, sadly not enough to clear it for 10 miles but another 700/1 on half-decent mileage. At London * Bridge it was a short walk over to platforms 6 & 7 for the next Hastings service, which was formed of 375616 & 375820, for the run to Orpington going via Ladywell & Beckenham Junction. At Orpington I made a tight connection onto the next London Charing Cross service (only half hourly, the services from Ashford were going into Victoria), which was 375907 & 375812 and was full & standing, but like most 3+2 seated units there was some spare middle seats. I alighted at London Bridge to step back a service with 465022/465168/466031 to Charing Cross, returning to London Bridge on 465035 & 465248. At the Bridge after a quick scan of the Southern bay platforms it was onto 700115 to East Croydon to grab some lunch from Sainsburys.
My train back to London Bridge fell to my first 171 of the year, in the shape of 171401 where I made a tight connection to a Cannon Street service for a triple networker (466020/466001/465193) which had they not sat at Cannon Street for nearly 20 minutes before forming another service I would have stayed on as I needed all 3 for decent mileage. It was down to the underground with 21525/21526 working a circle line service taken to Victoria where I headed across to the South Eastern platforms, spotting the next departure featured a low mileage 375, so it was onto 375829/375808 for the run to Bromley South, returning to Victoria on 377516 & 377503, as I made use of the plug sockets in the former 1st class area on 377516. Sadly I had no luck with the Southern side of the station for anything on my list, so it was to Clapham Junction on 377434/377405/377146 changing over to the SWR platforms, where I got lucky with the first Waterloo service being 456023/455742/455851 as it meant another 455 could be removed from my list and I can tick of Vauxhall & Waterloo from my “all the terminals” challenge.
Jubilee line time with 96015 & 96026 taken to West Ham, where I ran into crowd control measures due to football & the district line being closed so more folk were using C2C to Barking to ‘double’ back to avoid a bus. Thankfully I managed to get to the island platform to jump on a Fenchurch Street bound service formed of 357028/357328, changing over to the opposite platform to board 357033 & 357010 which I took to Upminster, with 315803 taken to Romford. For some time wasting I leapt onto a Shenfield bound pair of 315s to Gidea Park, both 315837 & 315829 remains on small distances but every little helps. 315830 & 315854 took me back to Romford, where I changed to platform 2 for a fast GA service with 360121 & 360104 to Stratford followed by a triple 321 from Southend, 321440, 321441 & 321435 for the run to Liverpool Street. I would have liked to take a London Overground service from the lower numbered platforms but I was working to a deadline (of a required 800 from Paddington).
A seemingly pointless leap to Moorgate on 21081/21082 before heading down to the Northern City Line platforms with 313056 & 313040 working the next departure, which I took to Harringay, heading back to Finsbury Park on 313029/313039, more of a time wasting move as options to Kings Cross from Finsbury Park were a bit limited, but the first service was lucky with 387124 & 387107 working a “Thameslink” service from Cambridge, and into Kings Cross to complete my challenge. A quick walk to the sub surface line platforms having just missed a Hammersmith service I leapt onto 21053/21054 to Baker Street, followed by 3536/3246 on the Bakerloo to Paddington (as I find this is quicker than waiting around Kings Cross for 5 minutes for the next Hammersmith service). At Paddington I was in for a nice surprise, as expected 800308 was working a service towards Malvern, but alongside was another required 800/3 which after checking RTT called at Didcot Parkway...
...a quick visit to the ticket office to purchase a Reading – Didcot day return later (because it is another 800/3 off my list). 800308 took me to Reading, where I swapped platforms and waited a couple minutes before 800317 appeared for the run to Didcot. Returning to Reading on 800025/800003 before boarding a near empty coach on 221138 for the run to Basingstoke with a 25 minute fester in the waiting room for 159103 to appear from Waterloo to take me back home, the end of a very varied day.
12th
January – A completely unplanned London trip
2nd week in a row I’m heading to London on a Saturday, although unlike last weekend I’m trying to be more focused, mainly on Moorgate & Liverpool Street services. I was originally going to buy a BZ6 – Biggleswade return to do a random microgricing move with the various crossovers south of Biggleswade (as it looked like the half hourly service was starting from P4), but that idea went out of the window as I couldn’t find a TVM which sold Boundary Zone tickets and the queue at Kings Cross was long. I was going to buy it at Grateley in the morning but the TVM had broken down so that idea went up in flames.
159010 took me to Basingstoke, with 165120 taking me to Reading, one of the 2-coach 165s which hasn’t been touched inside to remove the posh seats in exchange for a pointless bike rack. I knew from yesterday a required 800/3 would likely feature on a Malvern – Paddington service which arrived into Reading around 07:55, so to waste time it was a trip to Aldermaston & back with 387151 & 387160. My feeling was correct with 800303 rolling in from Malvern to take me down to only 2 more 800/3s left to find. A nice fast run to Paddington, via stopping at Slough, and good I got this unit now as it disappears to the depot after arriving at Paddington. Anyhow I had a short wait before 387168/387155 took me to Ealing Broadway (where I note the new stairs to the concourse at the West Ealing end are open), with 387130 & 387173 taken back to Paddington, a good little move as it clears 2 more GWR 387s for 10 miles, leaving just 387143 on that list. Both 345s out were already above 10 miles as that would have been my next move had one been on that list.
Onwards to Kings Cross St Pancras on a Barking bound 21463/21464 which sat at Baker Street for what felt like 5 minutes waiting for a path across the junction. Once at Kings Cross it was over to the suburban platforms to board 387101 & 387128 for a Finsbury Park leap, both needed for mileage, but as the next stop was Stevenage and I couldn’t buy a Boundary Zone ticket (because the option had been removed from the Great Northern machines for some unknown reason) they will have to wait for another day. A time wasting leap to Harringay was up next with 313048 & 313057, the front 313 being needed for 10 miles, so I took a note at when they were due back to intercept. The first Kings Cross service was 700034 which I took in, before returning to Finsbury Park on the same unit (for it was heading to Ely, a long way on a 700!). I headed across to the platform 1-2 Island to await the next Moorgate service, the problem is at weekends it is only 4 an hour at an uneven frequency. 313046 & 313054 were both required for miles and were running late so I bailed at Old Street. The next service heading towards Hertford weren’t of interest, so I stepped back to reboard 313054 & 313046. My original idea was to take to Alexandra Palace as it gave a +4 to the return of 048, but a late departure at Highbury & Islington (caused by an idiot keeping the door open to allow their mates to board) meant I bailed at Hornsey instead.
Lots of lovely shiny new 717s around the depot, along with various other units, but the wait in the rain was worth it as I got my calculating head on and worked out that 048 would be cleared by Drayton Park, which would give a nice connection to a northbound service. 313057 & 313048 returned to take me to Drayton Park where I crossed over to board 313063 & 313018, both featured on my list with 018 being very low down, this being the first time I’ve had it on AC power. My brain went into calculating mode, deciding to chance a +3 at Oakleigh Park; it wouldn’t clear it for 10 miles but would put it on 8 and a bit miles. I made the tight connection, considering this was only the 2nd ever time I’ve visited this station, and the first was a good 3+ years ago I guessed the location of the footbridge. 313037 & 313044 returned me to Finsbury Park with the motors on 044 making a lovely noise. A visit to the toilet on platform 4 before I headed to the underground, time for a change of scene, with some more PEPs, this time of the orange type.
11045/11046 took me to Seven Sisters for some high speed Victoria Line running, and via a RPI block I headed to the mainline platforms at Seven Sisters, the first northbound 315 was already in my club, likewise was the first southbound 315, I hung back for the engineering blockade GA service from Cheshunt, expecting a 317 I was surprised to see 379022 out and about. I alighted at Hackney Downs and spent the next 15 minutes hopping between platforms before finally 315801 arrived to take me to Bethnal Green, enough to push it over the edge. Following suit was 315807 which I took to Liverpool Street, heading over to the Shenfield side with 345005 taken to Forest Gate for a quick hop back to Maryland on 345014 to intercept 315851 & 315818, with 818 only needing a little bit of an extra push. 345015 returned me to Stratford where I decided to stay on the same platform to see what would roll in from Shoeburyness. 357015 & 357036 appeared, with 036 needed for mileage I jumped on board to Liverpool Street.
These 2 units attached to another unit which had been dumped on the buffers to form a triple unit (football was on). 036 was still below 10 miles, and with the extra unit being needed for 10 it was a no brainer, so back to Stratford with 357036, 357015 & 357203, making a tight connection to a pair of 317s from Braintree, with 317653 leading 317338, and it was a race alongside another triple 357, something you don’t see every day. Alas the 317s were delayed outside the station so a planned tight connection onto a triple 360 was missed, never mind as I made a note at what time they would return. It was over to that triple 357 I saw racing in alongside as it was 357035/357201 & 357317. Annoyingly a run to Stratford wasn’t quite enough to push 317 over the line so it was onwards to Barking, the next Gospel Oak service had been cancelled and the next Southend was a pair of units not on the list. The next Fenchurch Street service was a single 357 from Grays which was required but my eyes were focused on the next Gospel Oak service which was 172007. It was on 2 miles (not as bad a 008 which is sub 1 mile) so it was a calculation session to work out where it would be cleared, South Tottenham wouldn’t quite be enough but Haringay Green Lanes would be enough, and I could walk to Harringay on the ECML for another spin with the 313s.
The walk from Green Lanes to Harringay main isn’t one I would recommend, where they are close by, it is a long uphill climb. But it was worth it as I was rewarded with 313018 & 313063 which I had earlier, the run to Old Street was enough to push 018 over the line. The next northbound pair weren’t needed so it was a leap to Moorgate on 313060 & 313123, where 123 was needed for mileage it was another super low one and as it wouldn’t depart for 20 minutes I decided to leave it for another day. A little jump to Liverpool Street was taken on 21317/21318 where I leapt to Stratford on a triple 321, with 321357, 321408 & 321437, the extra 4 miles wasn’t enough for 437 but it will have to do. Back to Liverpool Street with 321433 & 321436 which arrived in something like platform 6, to attach to another 321.
Next Stratford bound service was a pair of 357s, both on my list but like 357317 earlier the 4 miles wasn’t quite enough so it was onwards to Barking once more, at least 357005 & 357016 would be cleared, the next Southend service was 357006 & 357012 so the run to Upminster would clear another couple 357s for 10 miles. I had the option of either heading back towards Barking or heading towards Romford, I hung around the base of the stairs as the 315 arrived from Romford and as it was 315815 I jumped on board, only 814 & 816 left of the LO 315s (plus a lot of the 317s, I can see a Friday afternoon being spent out of Liverpool Street again). Onwards to Romford where I transferred to 345005 to Stratford before 321328, 321361 & 321402 took me to Liverpool Street (both 328 & 402 needed for 10 but this leap didn’t clear them). It was over to a triple 360 which I missed earlier, 360110, 360118 & 360114 which meant I was down to only 360116 to locate to clear the class for 10 miles. Back at Stratford it was a short wait for 321366 & 321406 to appear to take me back to Liverpool Street for the final time, 366 going over the line but sadly 406 is still below it, but time to call it a day with a central line move to Bank (91329, 92088, 92192, 91007) followed by a Waterloo & City line service to Waterloo (51507 & 51508), with the final move taken care off with the 20:20 to Axminster formed of 159019 & 159108.
Another varied and productive day in London. Next weekend sees a return to Scotland where annoyingly I have to fork out for a Central Scotland Rover instead of an Edinburgh Days Out ticket as the Days Out ticket has been dropped.
2nd week in a row I’m heading to London on a Saturday, although unlike last weekend I’m trying to be more focused, mainly on Moorgate & Liverpool Street services. I was originally going to buy a BZ6 – Biggleswade return to do a random microgricing move with the various crossovers south of Biggleswade (as it looked like the half hourly service was starting from P4), but that idea went out of the window as I couldn’t find a TVM which sold Boundary Zone tickets and the queue at Kings Cross was long. I was going to buy it at Grateley in the morning but the TVM had broken down so that idea went up in flames.
159010 took me to Basingstoke, with 165120 taking me to Reading, one of the 2-coach 165s which hasn’t been touched inside to remove the posh seats in exchange for a pointless bike rack. I knew from yesterday a required 800/3 would likely feature on a Malvern – Paddington service which arrived into Reading around 07:55, so to waste time it was a trip to Aldermaston & back with 387151 & 387160. My feeling was correct with 800303 rolling in from Malvern to take me down to only 2 more 800/3s left to find. A nice fast run to Paddington, via stopping at Slough, and good I got this unit now as it disappears to the depot after arriving at Paddington. Anyhow I had a short wait before 387168/387155 took me to Ealing Broadway (where I note the new stairs to the concourse at the West Ealing end are open), with 387130 & 387173 taken back to Paddington, a good little move as it clears 2 more GWR 387s for 10 miles, leaving just 387143 on that list. Both 345s out were already above 10 miles as that would have been my next move had one been on that list.
Onwards to Kings Cross St Pancras on a Barking bound 21463/21464 which sat at Baker Street for what felt like 5 minutes waiting for a path across the junction. Once at Kings Cross it was over to the suburban platforms to board 387101 & 387128 for a Finsbury Park leap, both needed for mileage, but as the next stop was Stevenage and I couldn’t buy a Boundary Zone ticket (because the option had been removed from the Great Northern machines for some unknown reason) they will have to wait for another day. A time wasting leap to Harringay was up next with 313048 & 313057, the front 313 being needed for 10 miles, so I took a note at when they were due back to intercept. The first Kings Cross service was 700034 which I took in, before returning to Finsbury Park on the same unit (for it was heading to Ely, a long way on a 700!). I headed across to the platform 1-2 Island to await the next Moorgate service, the problem is at weekends it is only 4 an hour at an uneven frequency. 313046 & 313054 were both required for miles and were running late so I bailed at Old Street. The next service heading towards Hertford weren’t of interest, so I stepped back to reboard 313054 & 313046. My original idea was to take to Alexandra Palace as it gave a +4 to the return of 048, but a late departure at Highbury & Islington (caused by an idiot keeping the door open to allow their mates to board) meant I bailed at Hornsey instead.
Lots of lovely shiny new 717s around the depot, along with various other units, but the wait in the rain was worth it as I got my calculating head on and worked out that 048 would be cleared by Drayton Park, which would give a nice connection to a northbound service. 313057 & 313048 returned to take me to Drayton Park where I crossed over to board 313063 & 313018, both featured on my list with 018 being very low down, this being the first time I’ve had it on AC power. My brain went into calculating mode, deciding to chance a +3 at Oakleigh Park; it wouldn’t clear it for 10 miles but would put it on 8 and a bit miles. I made the tight connection, considering this was only the 2nd ever time I’ve visited this station, and the first was a good 3+ years ago I guessed the location of the footbridge. 313037 & 313044 returned me to Finsbury Park with the motors on 044 making a lovely noise. A visit to the toilet on platform 4 before I headed to the underground, time for a change of scene, with some more PEPs, this time of the orange type.
11045/11046 took me to Seven Sisters for some high speed Victoria Line running, and via a RPI block I headed to the mainline platforms at Seven Sisters, the first northbound 315 was already in my club, likewise was the first southbound 315, I hung back for the engineering blockade GA service from Cheshunt, expecting a 317 I was surprised to see 379022 out and about. I alighted at Hackney Downs and spent the next 15 minutes hopping between platforms before finally 315801 arrived to take me to Bethnal Green, enough to push it over the edge. Following suit was 315807 which I took to Liverpool Street, heading over to the Shenfield side with 345005 taken to Forest Gate for a quick hop back to Maryland on 345014 to intercept 315851 & 315818, with 818 only needing a little bit of an extra push. 345015 returned me to Stratford where I decided to stay on the same platform to see what would roll in from Shoeburyness. 357015 & 357036 appeared, with 036 needed for mileage I jumped on board to Liverpool Street.
These 2 units attached to another unit which had been dumped on the buffers to form a triple unit (football was on). 036 was still below 10 miles, and with the extra unit being needed for 10 it was a no brainer, so back to Stratford with 357036, 357015 & 357203, making a tight connection to a pair of 317s from Braintree, with 317653 leading 317338, and it was a race alongside another triple 357, something you don’t see every day. Alas the 317s were delayed outside the station so a planned tight connection onto a triple 360 was missed, never mind as I made a note at what time they would return. It was over to that triple 357 I saw racing in alongside as it was 357035/357201 & 357317. Annoyingly a run to Stratford wasn’t quite enough to push 317 over the line so it was onwards to Barking, the next Gospel Oak service had been cancelled and the next Southend was a pair of units not on the list. The next Fenchurch Street service was a single 357 from Grays which was required but my eyes were focused on the next Gospel Oak service which was 172007. It was on 2 miles (not as bad a 008 which is sub 1 mile) so it was a calculation session to work out where it would be cleared, South Tottenham wouldn’t quite be enough but Haringay Green Lanes would be enough, and I could walk to Harringay on the ECML for another spin with the 313s.
The walk from Green Lanes to Harringay main isn’t one I would recommend, where they are close by, it is a long uphill climb. But it was worth it as I was rewarded with 313018 & 313063 which I had earlier, the run to Old Street was enough to push 018 over the line. The next northbound pair weren’t needed so it was a leap to Moorgate on 313060 & 313123, where 123 was needed for mileage it was another super low one and as it wouldn’t depart for 20 minutes I decided to leave it for another day. A little jump to Liverpool Street was taken on 21317/21318 where I leapt to Stratford on a triple 321, with 321357, 321408 & 321437, the extra 4 miles wasn’t enough for 437 but it will have to do. Back to Liverpool Street with 321433 & 321436 which arrived in something like platform 6, to attach to another 321.
Next Stratford bound service was a pair of 357s, both on my list but like 357317 earlier the 4 miles wasn’t quite enough so it was onwards to Barking once more, at least 357005 & 357016 would be cleared, the next Southend service was 357006 & 357012 so the run to Upminster would clear another couple 357s for 10 miles. I had the option of either heading back towards Barking or heading towards Romford, I hung around the base of the stairs as the 315 arrived from Romford and as it was 315815 I jumped on board, only 814 & 816 left of the LO 315s (plus a lot of the 317s, I can see a Friday afternoon being spent out of Liverpool Street again). Onwards to Romford where I transferred to 345005 to Stratford before 321328, 321361 & 321402 took me to Liverpool Street (both 328 & 402 needed for 10 but this leap didn’t clear them). It was over to a triple 360 which I missed earlier, 360110, 360118 & 360114 which meant I was down to only 360116 to locate to clear the class for 10 miles. Back at Stratford it was a short wait for 321366 & 321406 to appear to take me back to Liverpool Street for the final time, 366 going over the line but sadly 406 is still below it, but time to call it a day with a central line move to Bank (91329, 92088, 92192, 91007) followed by a Waterloo & City line service to Waterloo (51507 & 51508), with the final move taken care off with the 20:20 to Axminster formed of 159019 & 159108.
Another varied and productive day in London. Next weekend sees a return to Scotland where annoyingly I have to fork out for a Central Scotland Rover instead of an Edinburgh Days Out ticket as the Days Out ticket has been dropped.
--------------------
Where
are we now?
A brief summary of my remaining bits in January, as I lay on a bed in a noisy room in a Bristol hostel.
The 18th was a London trip, after an unsuccessful attempt at a required IET towards Paddington it was a fast 387, before grabbing a few more 313s for mileage requirements (ended up with a good run of them). My first loco haulage of the year was a 90 to Edinburgh followed by a 67 to Perth.
I got bowled out as the service which is meant to start from platform 3 went from platform 5, but a good day in central Scotland as I roped in 7 more 385s (on decent runs mind, no Haymarket leaps here), with a nice couple runs via Shotts on noisy 156s (if by luck avoiding the issues caused by a failed 365 at Edinburgh Park). A couple more mileage requirement units entered my book along with platform 0 at Haymarket as an unexpected bonus.
The Sunday was a XC to Markinch via the inner circle, and a 365 to Stirling, before a HST took me back to London where for a time wasting move I decided to go from Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction on a 378 (via Canada Water!).
The following Friday was another little trip to London where I picked up 172008 for mileage (shameful was only previously had for less than a mile), followed by a few 317s for mileage requirements and also a 379 (unexpected microgricing move also into Stratford platform 12 from the Lea Bridge direction)
The Saturday was my first station revisiting day, as before Christmas time XC sent me a discount voucher and I looked up fares to Nottingham. The main idea was going for another attempt with Doncaster platform 2 but that was ditched early on as open train times map had a "Unit" sat there (most likely a pair of northern pacers).
My revised plan involved the smaller more remote stations on the Nottingham - Newark Castle line, plus Aslockton & Radcliffe (which involved a bus move from Bingham). Just reduces my EMT station needs to 6 (4 between Grantham & Skegness and 2 on the robin hood line).
The moment you know, You know.
Looking ahead to February sees my first railtour, from Lancaster to Bristol on the Saturday and from Bristol to Plymouth via Looe on the Sunday. A trip to Bristol with an overnight tour of the Thames Valley branches (and probably a loose day in London on the Saturday) followed by a long weekend involving a hotel near Golf Street and a Tyne & Wear metro tour on the Sunday. Maybe a trip to Redcar British Steel on the Monday morning as I'm in Newcastle on the Sunday night.
A brief summary of my remaining bits in January, as I lay on a bed in a noisy room in a Bristol hostel.
The 18th was a London trip, after an unsuccessful attempt at a required IET towards Paddington it was a fast 387, before grabbing a few more 313s for mileage requirements (ended up with a good run of them). My first loco haulage of the year was a 90 to Edinburgh followed by a 67 to Perth.
I got bowled out as the service which is meant to start from platform 3 went from platform 5, but a good day in central Scotland as I roped in 7 more 385s (on decent runs mind, no Haymarket leaps here), with a nice couple runs via Shotts on noisy 156s (if by luck avoiding the issues caused by a failed 365 at Edinburgh Park). A couple more mileage requirement units entered my book along with platform 0 at Haymarket as an unexpected bonus.
The Sunday was a XC to Markinch via the inner circle, and a 365 to Stirling, before a HST took me back to London where for a time wasting move I decided to go from Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction on a 378 (via Canada Water!).
The following Friday was another little trip to London where I picked up 172008 for mileage (shameful was only previously had for less than a mile), followed by a few 317s for mileage requirements and also a 379 (unexpected microgricing move also into Stratford platform 12 from the Lea Bridge direction)
The Saturday was my first station revisiting day, as before Christmas time XC sent me a discount voucher and I looked up fares to Nottingham. The main idea was going for another attempt with Doncaster platform 2 but that was ditched early on as open train times map had a "Unit" sat there (most likely a pair of northern pacers).
My revised plan involved the smaller more remote stations on the Nottingham - Newark Castle line, plus Aslockton & Radcliffe (which involved a bus move from Bingham). Just reduces my EMT station needs to 6 (4 between Grantham & Skegness and 2 on the robin hood line).
The moment you know, You know.
Looking ahead to February sees my first railtour, from Lancaster to Bristol on the Saturday and from Bristol to Plymouth via Looe on the Sunday. A trip to Bristol with an overnight tour of the Thames Valley branches (and probably a loose day in London on the Saturday) followed by a long weekend involving a hotel near Golf Street and a Tyne & Wear metro tour on the Sunday. Maybe a trip to Redcar British Steel on the Monday morning as I'm in Newcastle on the Sunday night.
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