13th – 15th May - Powerful Pieman Panorama Weekend
When this tour from UK Railtours got announced a few months ago, it sounded interesting not just for me, but I reckon a good trip for my mum as an early birthday present. A day of looking out of the window at some lovely scenery in areas she hasn’t been before. I also decided to go for the dining option, as a on the day surprise for her (as I was telling white lies saying we would be in standard).
Friday
I booked a 2-night stay in the Travelodge in Croydon, with the trip towards East Croydon being on a 159 to Basingstoke, followed by a pair of 444s to Clapham before a pair of 377s to East Croydon itself. After we had something to eat from Wendys, we took a spin on a tram towards Combe Lane, where I failed to find the path towards the lookout area for a nice sunset view of London.
Woods near Addington Hills
Saturday
The day began with the second train towards London Victoria (we were aiming for the first, but we were running a couple minutes late due to a slow lift at the Travelodge). At Victoria we transferred to the circle line to take us round the bend to Paddington before a TfL Rail 345 took us to Ealing Broadway (my mum wanted to try out a purple train). I know this was more expensive than avoiding zone 1 by changing at Clapham then again at Shepherd’s Bush (or West Brompton) for LU to Ealing Broadway, but those are quite a bit slower.
We exited the station at Ealing Broadway to get some fresh air before returning to a busy platform for the charter train to roll in. 67016 was hauling the Mk2 coaches, and it wasn’t there for long before departing, near enough straight onto the first bit of required track for me, with the line via Acton yard (going behind the back of the platforms at Acton Main Line).
67016 arriving at Ealing Broadway
The route after Acton yard was up the incline towards the North London Line, before the charter took the Dudding Hill line towards the Hendon area, pausing before joining the fast lines on the Midland Main Line, and heading north. Further pick ups were made at St Albans and Bedford, afterwards breakfast was served. The train went on the fast lines north of Bedford (even overtaking a late running Corby 360 on the slow lines), to go into the goods loop the other side of Wellingborough station for some more standing for other trains to pass.
Back on the move, and onwards to Leicester, going via platform 1 and using a recently installed connection into the goods line after the station, carrying on via Loughborough to have a final pick-up at East Midlands Parkway (which did look like a reasonable number boarding). The train continued into the Toton north yard area, where 66028 was attached to the front of the train, this 66 being back from away in Europe for many years (I believe).
After Toton, the journey continued north via Langley Mill, Chesterfield, using the Barrow Hill lines to bypass Sheffield to the old Rotherham station. The train continued in Yorkshire to reach the Doncaster area, turning right on the curve leading south, and going via Belmont yard, passing the line-up of off-lease 91s. next up was going via the platform at the Doncaster Royal Mail terminal, before joining the line towards Lincoln via Gainsborough.
Line of stored 91s at Belmont Yard
On the outskirts of Lincoln, the train took the Pyewipe curve to head towards Newark and to Nottingham, where we had a 2 and a bit hour break. The fresh air felt good after being on the AC Mk2 coach for a good few hours, as we headed to the tram stop to take a tram all the way to Hucknall, returning on the same tram to Bulwell for a gentle walk alongside a river to reach Highbury Vale (a nice woodland path, just over a mile).
Nottingham Tram 208 at Bulwell
We returned back to Nottingham station via a Tesco to pick up a bottle of pop, and rejoined the train for the run back towards London. 67016 was in charge for the run into Toton area where the train reversed with required 67013 in charge for the run. Dinner was served along the way, it was soup, followed by chicken then tart & cheese. The train headed towards East Midlands Parkway dropping off passengers, then taking the sharp curve to the Melton Mowbray line, doing a couple more goods loops along the way.
Unlucky for some, 67013 at Nottingham
After Oakham the train headed right onto the Corby line to cross over the viaduct before waiting time north of Corby due to a 360 being in the platform. After Corby the train was on the slow lines all the way, dropping off at Bedford. Daylight was ending around Luton and had all but gone by the time the train reached St Albans. Part of me was tempted to bail here at St Albans to get back to East Croydon earlier, but |I decided to stay on. The train accessed the Dudding Mill line via the flyover in the Hendon area and used the goods lines at Acton Main Line (passing another charter). It was a case of being so near but so far as the train waited 10 minutes before heading into Ealing Broadway on time.
Dinner, yum yum
We exited the station and re-entered it on oyster/contactless taking winner 345019 for the run into Paddington. A busy Hammersmith & City line train followed to take us to Farringdon before a 700 to Blackfriars, just to show mum the river all lit up at night (one of my favourite night-time views in London). Another 700 rolled up to take us to East Croydon, where we used the side entrance and headed back to Travelodge. The end of a long day of looking out of the window at the scenery in beautiful weather.
River Thames at Night from Blackfriars Station
Sunday
The original idea for today was to head towards Southend to walk the pier (and use the pier railway), but the weather did a complete 180 to what was forecasted on Friday. Instead of it being sunny it was wet & windy, not the sort of weather you want to walk the Southend pier in. So, I put that plan on the backburner, and we checked out going to a nearby Spoons for breakfast.
After breakfast it was a case of doing a few random bits in London when avoiding most of the bad weather. Tram to Elmers End followed by a busy pair of 465s from Hayes to Lewisham, a DLR to Limehouse for a pair of 357s to Upminster. A 710 to Romford making a tight connection onto a pair of very busy 720s towards Liverpool Street (the coach we were in emptied out at Stratford).
376020 departs Elmers End
A bit of lunch before a pair of 710s to Chingford & back to Walthamstow Central for the Victoria line to Highbury & Islington for a 378 to New Cross Gate, where due to engineering works it reversed on platform 1 to return north. We took this back to Canada Water for a Jubilee Line service to Baker Street followed by a long wait for a Bakerloo (turning down the first couple services due to being completely rammed).
66848 at London Liverpool Street
At Paddington we caught a pair of 802s bound for Plymouth via Bristol, which were quite busy throughout, this connected onto the last Reading – Salisbury service of the day (I try and avoid the 17:45 from Waterloo as that is only a single unit and is very busy throughout). This 159 took us back to Grateley, to walk home, getting home before the rain returned once more.
A 802 at London Paddington
It was an enjoyable weekend, sadly Sunday was a bit of a make it up as I went along sort of day due to the weather, but my mum enjoyed her weekend away :).
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