18th June – An Electrostar to Bristol

 18^th June – An Electrostar to Bristol

This was a short notice idea I had on the Wednesday evening to allow me to sample the novelty of the 387s to Bristol Parkway from Reading, when getting a couple bits done in that area for photographs before ending the day in Stockport via XC.  Sadly the weather was a bit rubbish so parts of my rough plan went into the bin as I didn’t see much point in getting soaked walking from Reading West to Reading when that part of the Thames Path can wait for another day.

 

The day began with the 09:59 service from Grateley to Basingstoke, a single 159 which was already busy when it rolled in and got busier along the way, the previous Waterloo service from Exeter was running late so had all the stops after Salisbury ripped out pushing the passengers onto the stopper.  At Basingstoke I popped out of the station to visit the nearby supermarket for some food before returning to the station to take the GWR stopper to Reading West (could have taken a pair of voyagers but the 165 was quiet in the first class area allowing me space to have my food).

 

I had around 10 minutes at Reading West, during time at least 4 freight services passed, before the Newbury – Reading stopper arrived, which currently is formed of a borrowed C2C 387 (due to some IETs being out of use due to cracks).  It looked a tad out of place but shows how parts of the rail industry out each other out at times of need.  I got a bit wet waiting at Reading West as the platform doesn’t have that much in the way of shelter and what it did have featured someone who decided to start smoking cannabis.  I suspect when barriers go in at Reading West with the new station entrance it will reduce antisocial behaviour.

 

"This is the C2C service to Reading"

 

Once the 387/3 arrived at Reading I had some time to fester, so with the rain continuing I decided to take up a seat underneath the bridge on platform 8-9 watching the various movements before a pair of 387s arrived on the Bristol Parkway service, which were reasonably busy, at least in coach 3 of 8.  The 387s were a bit bumpy over some of the points but was good fun at top speed, calling at Didcot, Swindon then the long run to Bristol Parkway, must have been a good few years since I lasted used a train covering this part of the GWR network in the daylight hours, passing all the disused stations which I reckon could bring benefits if they were to reopen and served by 387s.

 

Electrostar in the South West

 

At Bristol Parkway I made my way over to platform 4 to take a 9 coach 800 back to Swindon changing onto a pair of 800s for the run to Chippenham, my photo at Swindon wasn’t the greatest but it’s a station I will be returning to around August time to visit the stations on the line towards Gloucester.  I alighted at Chippenham noticing that since I was last here (a good few years ago) a new footbridge/lift bridge has been constructed at the Bath end and 3 sets of ticket barriers have been installed.  Although with only one set closed it seems a tad on the pointless side as anybody who thinks payment for fares is optional will simply use an open set.

 

I had a short wait at Chippenham before another 800 rolled in to take me to Bath, before a 165+166 combo took me to Bristol Temple Meads, getting caught behind a 3 coach 158 from Weymouth which had an engine out.  I had a another short wait at Bristol Temple Meads before boarding a 9 coach 800 for the run back to Reading, changing over to a Penzance bound 802 (which was a lot quieter than I was expecting, oddly I noticed it skips St Erth).  This 802 took me one stop to Newbury where it crossed over to go into platform 2 (due to a pair of 387s sitting on platform 1).  This gave me a chance to make a tight connection with the 387/3 on the next stopper to take me one stop back to Newbury Racecourse.

 

Newbury Racecourse from the stairs leading to platform 1 [Newbury bound]

The reason for wanting to do the stopper back to Newbury Racecourse was the next London train was due to call a few minutes later, using the platform on the loop, so a bit of a novelty to board at the longer platform before heading back to Reading once more, where I exited the station to grab dinner from a nearby KFC before returning to the station to await the arrival of the 20:15 service to Manchester, which I was on for the long trip to Stockport (it was a lot cheaper than going via London and to Stockport on Avanti).

 

A pair of voyagers rolled in, with a 5 coach unit leading a 4 coach unit, however the rear unit was locked out of use due to staff shortage, but the rear coach of the front unit never really got that busy (busiest was between Oxford & Banbury).  A relaxing trip to Stockport, on time until Birmingham where it went behind a late running Wolverhampton bound Avanti service (which called at Sandwell), but nothing that major by the time I alighted at Stockport, and headed towards the Travelodge using up one of my vouchers from earlier in the year.

 

This is a hotel I’ve used a few times in the past, however the AC in my room did sound a bit rough (not as bad at St Albans), but at least I could open the window to allow fresh air in to turn the AC off overnight.  This was the first time I had a room which overlooked the Stockport viaduct which made a chance because it is a lovely viaduct.

 

My adventures for the Saturday & Sunday will be continued