27 – 30th August, Day Tripping in the South East
August Bank Holiday weekend, I would be doing a few day trips to hopefully clear Southern & Chiltern, with some walks thrown in. A few of the plans had to be changed at short notice due to changes in the SWR timetables.
27th August – An evening spin to Portsmouth
I had one day left on my 8 in 15 FOSS Rover I was using for the last couple weeks, and I was in two minds at either doing a random late night Exeter – Salisbury service which runs non stop from Yeovil Junction to Salisbury (all be it with 10 minutes sitting at Tisbury loop), or a late idea of doing the novelty of one of those GWR services which goes via Eastleigh & Southampton Airport Parkway.
My mind was made up when I looked at the list of what services the Southern 313s were working, and noticing that both my last low mileage units were meant to be on Portsmouth – Littlehampton stoppers so working out a plan to head to Portsmouth before another ticket to pop to Emsworth before returning to Portsmouth would get both over the line, as well as being good for timing for that last GWR from Portsmouth.
I drove to Romsey (laughing at an idiot in a campervan overtaking in dangerous places to move up a line of traffic moving at the speed limit, he never got to the front of the queue and was undertaken by those he passed when waiting to turn right). I parked in the library car park (because why pay to park in the station car park when parking in a council car park is free?), and walked to the station for a short wait before a 165+166 combo rolled in, I choose to sit in the 165 solely as it had working AC.
The train took me towards Fratton, emptying out at Southampton, and I had a short wait before the Southern Portsmouth service was due to arrive, it was running around 10 minutes late due to congestion at Havant (signalling issues earlier in the day causing delays to SWR services), and I was expecting it to get spun at Fratton (only has a 7 minute turnaround at Portsmouth & Southsea). I was surprised it wasn’t spun round, but alas it wasn’t one of the 313s I was expecting it to have been, and looking at Tiger Rail, the following service was formed of 4 coaches (so the other 313 must have been swapped over).
I took this 313 to Portsmouth & Southsea regardless, and with an hour or so to kill, popped out of the station to a new Sainsburys for something to eat, before deciding to walk back towards Fratton for the sake of doing something, and it was a decent enough walk. Not one I would want to do any later as the daylight was starting to fade when I reached Fratton.
A 313 at Portsmouth & Southsea
A short wait at Fratton before I jumped on a pair of 450s to Portsmouth Harbour, crossing over to board the GWR service, which had divided to being just a 3 coach 166, where the loadings from Portsmouth would probably have warranted it remaining as 5 coaches for it was rather busy. The train turned right after Fareham to run towards Eastleigh, where it emptied out. After a dwell for the reversal, the train set off towards Southampton Central, pausing at the Airport station, and any remaining passengers in my coach alighted at Southampton Central, so it was a private coach for the run back towards Romsey.
Sunset over Portsmouth
I headed back to the car, and had a nice drive home. My mission to get both 313s failed, but I did manage to get some more coverage of the GWR network by Turbo, a good way to end the FOSS Rover.
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Saturday 28th – West Sussex
This is one trip which changed due to the timetable changing; previously my idea was to take the sprinters to Woking, which gave a nice connection to a Portsmouth then a Redhill service (which I would take to Reigate and walk to Holmwood). However with the sprinters only running to Basingstoke my plan changed, and the walk changed to being Littlehaven to Ifield (via Faygate).
The day began with the 08:59 service (which for me is quite late for a Saturday start), which was quite busy when it rolled into Grateley (2 units, 1 which started the day in Exeter and the other at Castle Cary), and only got busier as it rolled towards Basingstoke, where it was all change, and cross the busy platform to await a pair of 444s from Weymouth. These as well were very busy, I had to ask someone if they wouldn’t mind if I sat next to them, something which hasn’t happened since life changed in March last year.
The 444s took me to Clapham Junction, where I popped out to the Sainsburys to get bits for lunch later, before heading to the Southern platforms, noticing that where the mainline was mostly 8+ coaches, the metro services were all single units (and some looked busy heading towards Victoria). Thankfully the single 377/6 on the next Horsham service was empty in the front area, allowing me time to relax and look out of the window as it made its slow way towards Dorking. I alighted from the train at Holmwood and with an hour to waste I ended up doing a little 2 and a bit miles loop to the south of the station via some footpaths and a wooded area.
A 377 departs Holmwood
Back at the station, it was a short wait before the following 377 rolled in from London to take me to Horsham, a station in a bit of chaos as due to the Thameslink timetable changing (works north of St Pancras towards Luton), the Thameslink services had a 32 minute turnaround at Horsham (picking up extra stops), and the previous service was delayed due to awaiting a driver, which was blocking both southbound platforms. Eventually the delayed service departed but due to run fast to Three Bridges, but that didn’t affect me as I would have missed that one had it departed on time. I took a seat on the following Peterborough service (noticing that the next couple departures after this was showing as cancelled), which took me the short distance to Littlehaven. I noticed the Horsham bound platform has recently been extended, but not opened for use yet, which I would guess will hold a 12 coach unit without the rear coaches blocking the level crossing.
Time for my main walk of the day, starting off heading north of the station to a woodland area near a waterway known as Channells Brook (signposted as “River Walk”), after the woodland ended, it was a walk through the housing area, passing a sports field before coming across a foot crossing, where I had good timing to capture a passing 377 which was calling at Littlehaven/Ifield to cover for the loss of Thameslink services.
Stop, Look, Listen, Electrostar
The first main detour from my rough plan came near the A264 dual carriageway as the footpath went up and over it (for some reason I had it as going via a subway, but must have been mistaken for another rough plan), thankfully there was an “alternative footpath” which went via some muddy woods at the bottom of the road embankment, to go underneath the road alongside the railway before coming back along the embankment on the opposite side of the road, adding around half a mile but worth doing as that road sounded very busy. Back on the footpath it was across fields, leaving the urban area behind gaining access to a farm track leading towards a quiet road, which took me pass a busy pub before turning off the road along another footpath which eventfully came out near Faygate station, and it would be rude not to swing by the limited served station (which seems odd as Faygate is a large village and having regular calls might see use by the locals).
After my brief visit to Faygate for some more photos, I headed back to the road and onto another footpath, before pausing at a foot crossing for some passing 700s before entering a wooded area, before more fields, giving access to a farm track (which was busier with cars/van than the road earlier!) This track went via some more woodland before dropping back down towards the railway, crossing again on a foot crossing, and once more I only had a couple minutes to wait before a 700 passed, giving me 30 minutes to reach the station.
A Peterborough bound 700 near Faygate
I was now in the Ifield urban area, but before reaching the station there was a walkway which went straight across the “Ifield Mill Pond” before heading via housing area to reach Ifield station, which clears West Sussex. I had around 10 minutes to relax before the following Peterborough service rolled in, which took me to Three Bridges, where I would change onto the Southern service behind. This was delayed by a late running Brighton – Cambridge service, but was worth the wait, as not only was the middle unit 442 (the one which got a bit hot under the dryer in Eastbourne a few years ago and was running round as a 3 coach unit when the trailer coach was rebuilt), but the rear one was my last 377 needed for mileage.
Completely unexpected, and a big bonus as I took a seat on 213 for the run back towards Clapham Junction, the train emptying out as time went on. At Clapham Junction, it was a short wait before an Exeter bound service, which was only 6 coaches and was quite busy (effectively London – Andover/Salisbury was hourly, as the Exeter trains provide the connection to the Salisbury stoppers starting at Basingstoke). I managed to get a seat opposite someone (again asking if they didn’t mind if I sat opposite, as I do try and be kind), and took the 159s to Andover (as for me 30 minutes at Andover is better than 30 minutes at Basingstoke, as Andover is quieter)
377213 departs Clapham Junction
Along the way my mum texted me, saying she fancied a KFC, so I got picked up from Andover station, and went to the local KFC for dinner, before driving home. It was an unexpected end of my day, but West Sussex is cleared. Holmwood is somewhere I will return to next year, although I suspect I will walk to Reigate from there (more trains!).
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Sunday 29th – East Sussex
During Saturday night, I was doing some research into parking, and noticed that Winchester now charge for parking in the town centre car parks on Sundays (it was previously free), so having looked at my rough plan for the day, noticing that I hadn’t updated it to take into account that I didn’t need Hampden Park, gave me an extra hour so allowed me to start the day at Romsey instead of Winchester, which also gave me more options at getting back home after the trip.
My car took me to Romsey, where I arrived with time to spare, but had to board the train without a ticket as the TVM is broken (I guess that is one way to stop it overcharging for parking!). The first 158 rolled in as I decided to head to Southampton the “long way round” going via Eastleigh, just to cut down the wait at Southampton Central before the next Southern service, also allowed me to look out of the window at the scenery near Chandlers Ford before reaching the urban area of Southampton.
After picking up more tickets, I headed towards the 377, deciding to sit in one of the airline seats thinking that it would get busy, and it was a good decision as it got quite busy after Fareham & Havant, but emptied out at Chichester, but by the time it reached Worthing it was standing room only with announcements to move down the aisles to allows others to board as it was very busy by the time it reached Hove, and then finally Brighton. How I wish Southern would use more than single units on West Coastway services, especially on Sundays where they call at many stations along the way.
377s at Brighton
I headed out of the station (not before ticking off the station loos as I noticed they were free and I needed to visit), swinging via a nearby Tesco for some lunch, before heading back to the station, with the idea of taking a seat on the next Eastbourne service (assuming the doors would be unlocked), but that plan changed when 313201 rolled in from Seaford, the 313 which is blue, one of my last couple needed for mileage, so needless to say I took it to Lewes where it was cleared for 10 miles and I had some 313 motor noise on the fast section (before the very slow approach into Lewes station).
313201 at Lewes in all it's blue wonderfulness
The 377 from Brighton rolled into Lewes which took me towards Berwick, a station which is easier to visit on a Sunday as Monday – Saturday the trains pass here, and it’s a level crossing. An area on my list to revisit again but it will be a longer walk towards Polegate via some woods. I did attempt to walk a short loop using the OS map, but a footpath which was showing on the map no longer exists so I returned to the station, noticing the barriers go down quite early. Another 377 soon arrived from Eastbourne which took me back to Lewes, where I changed platforms to await a pair of 377s on the next London train, which I took to Cooksbridge, something which would have been impossible to do a couple years ago as this station was served only in the peaks, but now enjoys an all-week round hourly service. It even has a platform extension to allow trains to call without blocking the level crossing!
A 377 departs Cooksbridge bound for London
I did another short loop near the station, only to waste some time, before heading back, getting confused with the sign about parking charges, without noticing in much smaller text that it was free on weekends. Back to the trains as a busy pair of 377s rolled in from London to take me back to Lewes, where after visiting the toilet on the station, it was onto a 313 to take me to Southease, which completes both East Sussex and Southern for station revisits.
After a couple photos, it was onto my main walk of the day, although a shorter walk than I had planned as the GWR service had been cancelled from Brighton. I headed along a little road to reach a bridge over the River Ouse, having the option of either the west bank or the east bank. I decided on the West Bank as that didn’t involve a pavementless road in the middle section, and it was a nice walk along the river side, with the path being long grass, so probably not a walk to do after the rain. Certainly some lovely views of the countryside, but soon I reached Newhaven, and the path came to an end as I returned to walking along a pavement.
I do like a nice River to walk alongside
Having just missed a Seaford bound train, after swinging to a swing bridge for some photos of the River, I decided to carry on walking towards the other station in Newhaven, Newhaven Harbour. A station which has seen better times, and one I can see getting closed if the footbridge ever needs replacing (which will block access to the northbound platform). Anyhow the next Seaford bound 313 rolled in, which I took one stop to Bishopstone as I needed some better photos of the station.
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| Old Station Buildings at Newhaven Harbour |
10 minutes later, the same 313 returned from Seaford to take me back to Brighton, and I headed over towards platform 2, noting that at 20 minutes before the train was due to depart the platform was busy, spread along the entire length (which caught a few out when the 4 coach unit rolled in). This was certainly the busiest train I’ve been on since Covid; I saw no empty seats (even “First Class”) and at least 15 passengers standing in the vestibule area. The train emptied out as it called at the many stations with the last standing passenger exiting at Goring by Sea, and it was a nice run back towards Southampton Central.
Unusually I remained on board all the way, as normally I would have changed at Cosham or Fareham to board the GWR service behind for a same platform, but as I was comfortable I decided to stay on the 377. The 166 rolled into Southampton a few minutes after I had arrived and it was reasonable on board, not that busy. It took me back the 8 miles towards Romsey, where I headed towards my car to have a drive home, the end of a nice day.
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Monday 30th August – Chiltern/Buckinghamshire
The stations between Amersham & Aylesbury has been on my to-do list for far too long, I was meant to do it a couple times last autumn time but got bowled out by flooding & poor weather forecast, so I decided I would finally get round to visiting them again (first time was December 2014 when I linear hopped them on route to Aylesbury to catch the 121).
The day began with the 07:27 service, which I took to London, enjoying a private coach on this triple 159 most of the way to Waterloo, where after swinging via Tesco for something to eat, I headed towards Baker Street on the Jubilee, followed by a Bakerloo to Marylebone, where I noticed the centre steps has been replaced by a new escalator (which was closed off), which can only be a good thing! I headed to the main concourse and headed towards the next available Aylesbury via Amersham service as it was half hourly for the moment (would drop to hourly in a couple hours time).
Feels like August has been full of these things!
I took a seat on a pair of 165s (I prefer the original 3+2 seats to the newer 2+2 seats, maybe it’s just getting used to them from my travels in the last month on GWR, or the armrests which stick out on the 2+2 seats making them a tad uncomfortable). I settled down until departure on a quiet 165 for the run towards Wendover, doubling back on an unexpected 168 to Great Missenden for a tight connection to another pair of 165s, this time taking them to the end of the line at Aylesbury Vale Parkway, as where I’ve got a photo of this station, it isn’t the greatest.
I remained on board the 165s for the run back to Stoke Mandeville where I had a gentle walk to kill an hour, doing a loop, although I had to double back on myself as one of the paths was closed for building works. Nice little village on the outskirts of Aylesbury it seems to be, and one very long ramp to the northbound platform from the road! Back the station it was a short wait for another pair of units to take me to Aylesbury, where I transferred to a pair of units on a service towards Princes Risborough.
Stoke
Mandeville station
At Princes Risborough I had a crazy idea of doing a walk, ended up doing 2 miles in just over 30 minutes with a loop, mostly on little used roads, but it crossed the single track branch at a foot crossing. I got back to the station with a couple minutes to spare before a train from Bicester North rolled in (vice Oxford due to engineering works), this was a quiet 165 as I took a seat in the front coach for the fast run towards London Marylebone.
I was toying with the idea of doing another walk, but decided against it, as I took the Bakerloo line to Paddington, swinging via Sainsburys for a late lunch, before having a look for any 345s. First up was something on a Hayes shuttle which wasn’t needed, but the next Reading was a low mileage unit, which I took to Ealing Broadway (where I can’t help thinking that the gateline in the new station building is smaller than the one it replaced), I jumped on the first train back to Paddington to connect with the following Reading service which I took to Hayes & Harlington.
Nobody Expects a Red Electrostar
At Hayes I crossed over to the bay as that unit was also needed, but the next train from Reading was running late, and that was also needed so I took that back to Paddington, waiting for the shuttle to arrive to take that back to Hayes, returning to Paddington on the same unit I started off with, and headed towards the underground. A 5 minute wait for a Bakerloo felt like it took 10 minutes, but it rolled in and took me to Waterloo and I headed to the concourse to board the Exeter train with around 4 minutes to spare.
The Exeter train was a 159+159+158 combo and I found an empty seat in the 3rd coach from the front, where the loading levels just dropped like a stone. I took the sprinters back to Grateley before walking home, the end of a busy weekend on the rails.
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