It's time I started doing trip reports...

[Peter Mugridge]

07/10/21

Expensive, but too good to resist and definitely worth it... provided everything stuck to diagram! Two return trips to Peterborough with about an hour's fester between the first and second and then the second and third moves and then a setting back hop at Stevenage on the second up run would yield me no less than five of my remaining IETs...

Managed to just miss the London Bridge train at Epsom, but no worries... a change at Sutton would do just as well, so this time I started on 377 621 + 377 624 to Sutton and then 700 051 to St Pancras. The short walk to King's Cross left me with plenty of time to spare before my first move, required 801 106 + dud 801 112.

Upon arrival at Peterborough, the first thing I noticed was my second move was showing about 25 late on the screens. Not good, but I had plenty of margin for the third move. During this fester I got quite a bit of photography done; the locomotive side of things involved 66 738, 66 004, 66 077 and 66 047 although I didn't do a picture of that one. Other pictures were of various IETs, including brand new 803 003, and renumbered 170 623.

Eventually my second move, required 801 222, turned up about 45 late and with my nearly an hour's margin now eroded to nail bitingly tight!

We made it. Just. Back at King's Cross I caught the planned required 801 228 back out to Peterborough with about two minutes to spare; this was from a platform 3 to platform 6 dash... had it been platform 0 to platform 8 it might have been a miss... and that would have messed up the remaining part of the plan as this time the margin at Peterborough would only be about 15 minutes.

This time things ran as planned and I only had a short fester, in which I saw 66 152 and 66 529, before required 801 226 arrived to convey me to Stevenage. A five minute wait there produced the expected required 801 108 to take me forwards to London.

There was a little bit of time to spare, so I took 21061 + 21062 across to Liverpool Street and made my way to Stratford as quickly as I could, which meant the well dud pairing of 321 311 + 321 343. Typically, a required 720 passed in the opposite direction, which I pursued back to Liverpool street on 345 014 and then scored the 720 back out; that was 720 560 + 720 553, the former being the required one. Nothing else required turned up in the time I had available but getting just one was still a bonus as the IETs were the only real plan for the day, so I just boarded dud 720 547 back in and caught 21023 + 21024 to Farringdon and proceeded to London Bridge with 700 153. My onward service to Epsom was 377 151 + 377 304 + 377 303.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

15/10/21

Only one IET was available today; fortunately it was obtainable with a simple outward move to Stevenage so that simplified things considerably. It also forced a Sutton move again as the time was a little too tight to risk going via London Bridge... so 377 612 + 377 606 from Epsom to Sutton then 700 006 and a walk put me on required 801 214 to Stevenage. At least I could get the easy way back this time with 700 147 to Farringdon, passing 66 775 at Hornsey, and 21361 + 21362 across to Liverpool Street from there.

Required 720 559 was obligingly waiting when I arrived, so I boarded that for Stratford where, after noting 66 953 and 66 546, required 720 566 turned up to take me back to London, and the same unit was my fastest way back out again. Once again, there was a howling and wailing and gnashing of teeth as a required one left Stratford less than a minute before I got back there... that forced dud 720 536 in pursuit, and required 720 568 + 720 548, the latter dud, was intercepted for a return to Stratford.

Nothing else required turned up, although 66 548 provided some interest, I then boarded double dud 720 517 + 720 563 followed by 21099 + 21100 to Moorgate. My objective now was to get the new Battersea branch in. From Moorgate I had 51596 + 51597 to Kennington and then 51605 + 51606 to Battersea Power Station, straight across the platform for 51609 + 51705 back out to Nine Elms so that was both platforms scratched... at Nine Elms I noticed the next inbound was late, which meant I could catch it, thus getting straight back in to the platform I had just left from; that was 51610 + 51611 and that of course meant that by crossing back to the other platform I could get the direct exit road from that side, meaning a very quick clearance of all four routes in and out of the new terminus.

It was 21547 + 21548 which completed the job there, and I rode that to Kennington and then 51558 + 51559 to London Bridge, from where I took 377 423 + 377 316 + 377 328 home to Epsom.

Unusually, there were no pictures obtained on this mission.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

18/10/21

With no IETs easily available, the primary target on this trip was west side 345s and new 378s on the Watford shuttles. This called for 456 009 + 456 004 + 455 730 to get me from Epsom to Wimbledon, where I downloaded a memory stick with Snappy Snaps for printing my April to September photographs, and then 21517 + 21518 up the Wimbleware to Paddington, whereupon I immediately located required 345 036 which I took out to Ealing Broadway. Acton yard was quite busy with 37 601 vanishing up the incline with 345 062 attached and 66 023, 66 012, 66 520 and 66 793 all present with various freights.

Required 345 053 took me further on to Hayes and Harlington, with 59 203 and 66 526 being sighted at Southall, and before long I had required 345 031 to take me back to Southall to await further action; during this short fester 66 544 passed through and before long required 345 025 turned up. This I took to Ealing Broadway, but the remaining off peak diagrams were all dud so I took the last hitherto unsighted diagram of the day, dud 346 065, back to Paddington. By this time 66 563 had joined the throng at Acton. 21371 + 21372 took me from Paddington to Euston and I then proceeded to South Kenton on 378 233.

While I was there, 66 567 came by - and so did required 710 376; I let this go knowing that the other one I needed was not far away and I would be able to effect an interception before long. At this point 57 312 passed northbound with two defunct units, 321 407 + 321 428, making a possibly final transit of their old stamping ground, in tow. The, as expected, required 710 378 turned up, which I took to Kenton and swiftly caught dud 710 377 southbound to Kilburn High Road with a few minutes to spare to claim 710 376 for haulage to Harrow and Wealdstone.

From there I had 350 108 + 350 237 for a fast return to Euston, sighting 66 560 and 66 619 while I was waiting and then 66 513 and 66 593 at Wembley / Willesden. After arrival at Euston, I walked over to St Pancras and returned home via 700 010 to Wimbledon ( to pick up the now printed photographs ) and 456 012 + 455 737 on to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Image from a shopping trip on 23/10/21

 

[Peter Mugridge]

01/11/21

News that the elusive 755 403 had re-entered service a few days earlier was, naturally, of great interest. This called for a speculative mission, even though I would have to buy the ticket the day before, well before any gen was known... As it happened, those who follow the TOPS threads will possibly remember that this day was beset with a major headache inducing level of diagram swaps which, ultimately, worked in my favour as instead of getting only one of my final three of these things for haulage, I was able to clear the class completely...

To begin at the beginning, I decided to try the newly re-opened "Drain" so I started with 455 742 + 456 010 + 456 002 from Epsom to Waterloo and then 65509 + 65510 direct from Waterloo to Bank before switching to 92141 + 92246 + 92460 + 92085 for the short hop to Liverpool Street. Brand new 720 573 was in, but this would have to wait for another day as I boarded 745 004 to rush north to Norwich.

Passing Stratford I saw 66 565 and 66 603 while both 08 588 and 08 700 were outside at Ilford and Ipswich was very crowded with 66 589, 66 508, 66 516, 66 541, 66 504, 66 569 and 66 544 all present. Another new unit, 720 569, was also there and in service.

Upon arrival at Norwich, the first thing was the 755 403 was in the sidings adjacent to the station; that was not hopeful as usually anything in there is not going to move all day. However, required 755 336 was in the station, as expected - but unexpectedly so, too was required 755 329...!!! A quick bit of checking the returns on RTT indicated that I should let the former go as it was off to Sheringham and so I boarded the latter to Brundall, grabbing a picture of 37 419 at Whitlingham Junction ( partner 37 423 was out of sight behind some trees ), and returning immediately on 755 414. Once back at Norwich, it was imperative that I caught the next available Sheringham service, 755 335, to Hoveton and Wroxham. This allowed me to intercept 755 336 on the way back, and at that point I thought that would be that.

Until just outside Norwich station, 755 403 unexpectedly came past. Gawd... where's that off to??? It had passengers on it.... A quick look at RTT showed that it was not going to escape as it was only off to Great Yarmouth, so what I needed to do was * hurriedly checking the return timings* get back to Brundall again; as it happens this was again 755 336... typical... but the move worked and I soon had that elusive and class clearing 755 403 scratched for haulage.

With no more haulages available whatsoever in East Anglia, I did a photo of renumbered 170 530 and Network Rail's 153 311 then boarded 745 003 to return to London. On the way back south I only noted two locomotives, 66 571 at Ipswich and 66 509 at Colchester. From Liverpool Street I returned the usual way with 21535 + 21536 to Farringdon, 700 016 to London Bridge and 377 310 + 377 313 + 377 418 to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

15/11/21

Hmm... two IETs were available, but at a convenient time that would also allow me to try for a 720 or two first... useful...

Off Epsom with 377 320 + 377 324 + 377 113, I had 700 146 from London Bridge and 21323 + 21324 across to Liverpool Street and I took dud 720 547 out to Stratford immediately; this time nothing required came sailing past in the opposite direction. Several freights came through, most of which I snapped: 66 524, 66 545, 66 535 and 66 956 before required 720 570 arrived; knowing where exactly another required one was I had time to deal with this but it did mean getting more dud units back out straight away, namely 321 312 + 321 424 which at least had the decency to be immediately across the platform.

Back at Stratford, 66 540 passed through and then almost straight away the expected 720 577, on the first day it was in service, showed up. Having claimed this for both haulage and photo, it was time to head to King's Cross, for which purpose I made use of 21023 + 21024. Hmm... that one seems to be following me around...

My next move was required 801 230 out to Peterborough ( Lumo's 803 002 was also in and that succumbed to my camera in short order ) and required 801 211 back, with no long fester required - but still enough time to see 66 044 and 66 549. Back in London, it would be 700 142 from St Pancras to London Bridge and 377 144 + 377 316 + 377 323 home to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

29/11/21

Another two IETs were available, which was a surprise given how few I had left to get by this stage of the proceedings; I had expected to be reduced to picking them off one at a time by now. Not that I was complaining, of course, as 377 308 + 377 307 + 377 474 carried me from Epsom to London Bridge for 700 154 on to St Pancras for King's Cross where I took the first of them, 801 204, out to Peterborough.

There was quite a fester this time, but that allowed me the opportunity to get a bit of photography in and there were quite a lot of freights to be seen. My notebook was bulging with 66 221, 66 711, 66 786, 66 090, 66 162, 66 572, 66 709, 66 764 and 66 726, plus an opportunity to snap 91 107 side by side with 158 889 before my required southbound, in the shape of 801 220, turned up.

The timings were such that once again I could not realistically do anything before or afterwards, so having initially boarded 21041 + 21042 with the thought of going after a 720 or two, I changed by mind close to Liverpool Street and, being in a lazy mood, stayed on board to Aldgate and back to Farringdon from where I had 700 136 to London Bridge and then the same set of 377s that I had started out on closed the day.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

06/12/21

Only one out of five remaining IETs on LNER available, so this time it would be a case of just picking the one off! As usual, 377 423 + 377 313 + 377 323 to London Bridge, 700 114 to St Pancras and a walk next door put me in position to ride 801 212 out to Peterborough. Mucky pair 66 114 + 66 206 were on the RHTT at Harringay and after arrival at Peterborough, knowing that nothing else required was out, I only needed to wait as long as the next up working, but that was still long enough to see 66 753, 66 024, 66 762 and 66 154 pass through.

My return south was with 801 206, and having time I went east on 21025 + 21026 to discover required 720 565 at Liverpool Street, attached to dud 720 563. Having ridden this to Stratford and seen 66 528 pass through, another required one swiftly turned up to take me on to Romford, this being 720 569. At Romford, a frantic dash through the subway followed as an up fast was pulling in just as I arrived and I knew already that it included required 720 545 + dud 720 550; once again this was a door dive just as the alarm started sounding and I rode it back to Stratford.

The next move was more relaxed - see if any other required 720s turned up ( none did ) then move to platform 5 for known required 345 033 to bring me back to Liverpool Street, after which I took 21549 + 21550 to Farringdon and 700 054 to London Bridge. The return to Epsom this time was 377 311 + 377 312 + 377 408.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

14/12/21

A routine six-monthly dental check up in the morning resulted in this trip starting from Stoneleigh, not Epsom. I was also constrained by having a routine ear implant appointment in central London in the evening. This later start and earlier finish straight away ruled out any thoughts of even checking to see if any of my four remaining LNER IETs were available, so instead I took 455 857 + 456 022 + 456 011 to Wimbledon, where 701 025 was peeping out of the depot, and then 21531 + 21532 to Paddington.

Deciding the best course of action was to get out to Hayes and Harlington and then see what would turn up, I rode dud 345 040 as a positioning move, snapping 345 068 and 345 026 at Westbourne Park and noting the trio of 66 413, 66 517 and 66 540 in Acton Yard.

The fester at Hayes was fairly long, but a number of freights liven up the boredom and my notebook was soon filled with 59 004 + 66 502, 66 607, 66 791, 59 201 + 59 206, 66 562, 66 542, 66 148, 59 104 and 66 532. Then required 345 001 turned up, which I had earlier seen heading to Reading ( maybe I should have just waited at Paddington!! ) and having then seen every off peak diagram, I crossed London with 21377 + 21378 and immediately found required 720 574 at Liverpool Street, which I took out to Stratford. Nothing else turned up after a while, so I returned to London on dud 720 522 and used 21081 + 21082 to get to King's Cross and 11017 + 11018 to Warren Street, which along with Goodge Street the hospital had listed as their nearest stations.

Bah!!! I could have just carried on to Euston Square and walked it from there; that was about the same distance as from Warren Street. Grr... gits!!!

After the appointment, naturally I used Euston Square and took 21013 + 21014 to Farringdon for 700 146 to London Bridge and then 377 417 + 377 303 + 377 327 back to Epsom.

 

[Techniquest]

Congratulations on the report catch-up and, more importantly, clearing the Anglia DMUs! From the looks of it, you won't be too far off with the 720s and picking them off one by one soon!

4 LNER IETs to go, very impressive! Much like my hunting of GWR's lot, I suspect you've spent a fair whack of money getting them. I still have 3 more GWR 802/0s to go, hoping that will change before too long but it depends when they come up my way. Time and money are not on my side enough to go across the country for them!

I'm guessing January will mostly see you focusing on those IETs and other local stuff?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I'm currently have 36 of the 720s for haulage, so there's roughly 8 available to me, increasing by I think 2 every week, so yes - there's pickings to be had there. Also on 345s; I have 13 outstanding so roughly 6 immediately available and the rest probably won't be far behind. You guess correctly that I'll be after the remaining four IETs on LNER as a priority; I'll aim to clear those before I start on the Lumo ones.

As for you, with the GWR allocations being on RTT, your last three probably won't take you long?

 

[Kite159]

I suspect most will be ticking off the Lumo units between Newcastle & Morpeth where they can be done more easily, although it does mean getting up to Newcastle (which I guess you could use Lumo for!)

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I suspect most will be ticking off the Lumo units between Newcastle & Morpeth where they can be done more easily, although it does mean getting up to Newcastle (which I guess you could use Lumo for!)

Yes, but unfortunately I'm at the wrong end of the country for that - and attempting to save on the fares by staying in Newcastle for a few days to do them that way wouldn't really save me anything overall...

 

[Techniquest]

I'm currently have 36 of the 720s for haulage, so there's roughly 8 available to me, increasing by I think 2 every week, so yes - there's pickings to be had there. Also on 345s; I have 13 outstanding so roughly 6 immediately available and the rest probably won't be far behind. You guess correctly that I'll be after the remaining four IETs on LNER as a priority; I'll aim to clear those before I start on the Lumo ones.

As for you, with the GWR allocations being on RTT, your last three probably won't take you long?

Not bad! About 6 times as many as me without checking. 345s I've got a long way to go yet, but I get bored doing those.

Correct on using the allocations on GWR, that's how my last 4 of the 802s have fallen. I'm looking every day at the allocations, most of the time the ones I am now left to get haven't come up here too recently. It's a bit too expensive to trek to Reading to get them, might have to do so soon though as I also want the 387s!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I've finally remembered, albeit eleven days late, that I needed to edit my last two reports to add the photos - that's now been done.

Meanwhile, I grabbed this picture on 18/12/21 of 377 621 at Cheam - not bad, especially considering it was taken from inside another 377 going the other way...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Apologies for delays updating this thread.

I have an annoying fault somewhere which means I can only use the forum on my home machine if I hard refresh on every page, and it takes ages.

Not quite sure why, because it only affects this forum and nothing else - and it's not affecting the forum anywhere else.

Usually a technical fault would affect every website on a given computer, or the one website on every computer. I've never come across anything as selective as this before...!!!

 

[Techniquest]

How peculiar! Good luck sorting that out!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Forum's suddenly started working again here without my having done anything.

If it stays working here, I'll try to catch up with my Januaury and February trip reports over the next couple of weeks.

 

[Techniquest]

Forum's suddenly started working again here without my having done anything.

If it stays working here, I'll try to catch up with my Januaury and February trip reports over the next couple of weeks.

Good news I've been eagerly awaiting the tale of how your recent scores in the red pen thread came about

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Good news I've been eagerly awaiting the tale of how your recent scores in the red pen thread came about

I'm just doing the annual update at the moment ( translation: I've got the 2022 Combined Volume ) which obviously takes priority over everything else for a few days and then I'll look at doing the reports...

PS I use a black pen to underline my sightings, not a red one...

 

[Techniquest]

I'm just doing the annual update at the moment ( translation: I've got the 2022 Combined Volume ) which obviously takes priority over everything else for a few days and then I'll look at doing the reports...

PS I use a black pen to underline my sightings, not a red one...

Platform 5 or a cheaper book? I use NREA books, I used to use Platform 5 but they got so expensive I couldn't justify the expenditure on something that wouldn't be used too often.

Good luck with the update, I know how much time it takes to do mine and I don't have any rules about making my underlining or ticks tidy etc. It's become a tradition to make a handful of errors as I go along

As for the pen colour, I was talking about the entries in the 2022 New Haulages thread, not the literal colour choice of pen. For what it's worth, my NREA is exclusively filled in in black ink, ticks and underlines (sights and haulages respectively) get the same colour. It's just a little more uniform that way.

You know, I've just realised I'd much rather fill my book with an orange pen, but I don't have one. I think a visit to a stationary shop is required very soon!

 

[xotGD]

I think you chaps need to refer to section 4.3.2 of the rule book: "Choice of pen colour"

Subsection 4.3.2.2 clearly states that 'a red pen shall be used for marking off haulages'.

 

[Techniquest]

I think you chaps need to refer to section 4.3.2 of the rule book: "Choice of pen colour"

Subsection 4.3.2.2 clearly states that 'a red pen shall be used for marking off haulages'.

Clearly said rule needs a New World revision! Along the lines of 'Red is dead, use whichever colour brings you satisfaction' I think will do nicely.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Platform 5.....

Underlined in black for sightings, letter (P) for haulage ( from the steam age P for Pulled by... ), letter (c) for visiting the cab and green felt pen for a photo taken of it.

 

[HSP 2]

What do you put down for a cab ride?

I put down P pulled, C cabbed, R ride. so PCR.

Getting a PCR now is very hard to get and to get one with a D on it is like hens teeth.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

What do you put down for a cab ride?

I put down P pulled, C cabbed, R ride. so PCR.

Getting a PCR now is very hard to get and to get one with a D on it is like hens teeth.

I don't differentiate - I only log a cab visit whether or not it is a ride.

Other letters I use are (s) for sleeper carriages in which I have had a berth. Obviously the (s) is for "slept in". Then there is the most coveted one of all - which I do have a few official examples of, is (d) and it should be obvious what that stands for...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Apologies for the extended delay to updates... the good news is that I should be able to start catching up again with my reports during this week...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

10/01/22

To start the new year off I didn't do a huge trip; just a haulage chase off Liverpool Street - but first I had a Zoomy Thing to chase...

From Epsom to London Bridge I started with 377 606 + 377 624 and then 700 114 through to Stevenage to intercept 801 208 inbound. With this done I boarded 21551 + 21552 for the transfer to Liverpool Street whereupon I immediately dropped onto required 720 580, albeit paired with dud 720 511. In short order I had required 720 578 + dud 720 548 back again from Stratford.

I immediately returned to Stratford albeit on a double dud pair, 720 540 + 720 556, and having noted no required units passing me, I waited at Stratford to see what might turn up. While I was doing so a number of locomotives put in appearances; a triple header of 90 042 + 90 008 + 66 564 and a more usual unassisted 66 555. These added to the sighting of 66 519 which had passed during my first trip earlier.

After a while a double required pair arrived, 720 554 + 720 574 which I took back to Liverpool Street and before long required 720 521 followed us in paired with dud 720 565. Having taken these out to Stratford, a further required unit sailed past so an urgent return on the first available train, 745 003, was called for. This allowed me to pick up 720 581 back out again, this time to Tottenham Hale.

Nothing else required appeared to be out, so after some time I returned on 720 557 and shuffled across to Farringdon on 21045 + 21046 followed by 700 102 to London Bridge for 377 625 + 377 708 back to Epsom.

In the photos below, the street scenes are views from the 377s on the way home.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

18/01/22

This time I was just potterig about in London and doing a bit of shopping on the way home.

As usual I started with Epsom to London Bridge, this time with consecutive pair 377 625 + 377 626 and 700 152 took me across to Farringdon for 21541 + 21542 to Paddington. Nothing required turned up, so it was back across to Liverpool Street with 21429 + 21430...

...whereupon I immediately dropped onto required 345 032 out to Stratford. That's more like it! After noting 66 541 I had a required pair turn up; 720 535 + 720 571, so things were very quickly getting more productive. As soon as I got back to Liverpool Street I took the first available back out to Stratford, dud 345 060, and after a few minutes required 720 567 + dud 720 568 turned up - but not before I had sighted 66 745 and 90 047 + 90 008.

Having the idea of checking out the other group of services, I then boarded dud 720 517 to Tottenham Hale and waiting a while proved fruitless so with my shopping in mind I caught dud 720 550 back. Upon arrival at Liverpool Street, it was obvious that not all was well on the Circle; there was a large number of people waiting for a westbound, so I thought it might be quicker to get 21011 + 21012 to Aldgate and then quickly changed platforms for 21059 + 21060 straight back out again.

That worked - not everyone was able to get on at Liverpool Street, meanwhile I reached Farringdon and took 700 019 to Streatham, did my shopping at the large Tesco right next to the station and then continued to Sutton with 700 033 and finished off with 377 624 + 377 612 back to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

24/01/22

For this trip, the Epsom to London Bridge service I was aiming at was cancelled but I had just enough time to catch a Victoria one consisting of 377 457 + 377 319 + 377 325 on the way out, changing at Sutton for 700 020 which would still put me on the north side of London at the intended time. Which was important because required 801 201 was available on a short hop to Stevenage...

Having done that, and having established that this was the only one I could get, I returned to King's Cross on the next availble train, which was 801 223 a few minutes later. My next move was on board 21111 + 21112 to Liverpool Street and I immediately positioned myself to stratford on dud pair 720 536 + 720 580. A couple of locomotives showed up, 66 544 and 66 601, but then I spotted a required 345 heading up... at the same time, dud pair 720 535 + 720 574 pulled in, so I positioned back to Liverpool Street and duly claimed 345 046 back out to Stratford. While I was there, 66 747 put in an appearance, and so did required 345 045 ( which I was expecting, having seen it heading out earlier and had worked out the return time ).

Back at Liverpool Street, required 720 573 + dud 720 567 appeared and conveyed me outbound again and after a while of nothing else showing up, it was dud pair 720 536 + 720 580 for the second time that day to return me to Liverpool Street for me to try the other side. The first available to Tottenham Hale was 745 105 and just outside Totteham Hale I thought I saw a required 720 passing, which meant it was 317 508 + 317 344 for an immediate return working - only to find it was dud 720 545 that I had seen; still I took that back out but after a while nothing required turned up and it was another dud, 720 560, that brought me back in again.

Following that, I was out of time which meant 21103 + 21104 to Farringdon for 700 147 across to London Bridge and 377 704 + 377 612 to Epsom.