james60059
Member
Monday 7th June.
With Nuneaton usually being "base camp" for when I do a Rover or Day Ranger, I made my first trip, well more of a fill in move really to Coventry and back. The 10:16 departure being in the hands of 172004. Arriving in Coventry, I went to look for some refreshments before heading back for the return to Nuneaton. 172004 yet again as there's only 1tp2h currently on the NUCKLE line, we arrived back in Nuneaton with a good 10+ minutes for my next connection.
170620 on 1L38 at 11:51 was my next chariot, for the trip to Melton Mowbray, earlier in the day I had attempted a 10 minute reservation but got informed that there was no seats available - as it happens, there was a good number of airline style seats vacant even after we departed Nuneaton so XC really need to get their act together regarding this system as someone else could easily be put off if they needed to make a trip. Flying through my own local station; Hinckley was a bit surreal but Nuneaton offers better parking and connectivity. Arriving in Leicester a few minutes late, owing to being held at Wigston for a late running Sheffield service. Even on departure from Leicester, there was still a fair number of seats available. Arriving into the charming little station of Melton Mowbray, a quick glance of RTT revealed that there was a 1Q51 Derby RTC - Eastleigh Arlington running, and it was behind 170620. A few minutes late 73963 and 73965 showed up, thanks very much . During my fester at Melton Mowbray, 66514 passed through as well as 222101 arriving on the service from London St. Pancras.
The 13:15 departure, with 222101 after it's jolly down to Syston and back was on time, and my reason for this was to travel over the Welland Viaduct (or Harringworth as it's also known), there was plenty of space on the 4-car DMU, my main aim was to get to Bedford which is at the Southern extremity of the Rover area, and a prompt on time arrival at Bedford soon came. With 30 minutes to stretch my legs, I went to various parts to note down several Class 700's which was there, plus a couple more which arrived as well as the various EMR Meridians which went flying through.
At 15:10, my next move was 230004 to Bletchley, it was a bit of a gamble owing to the teething troubles that the class had, and also that most services are also replaced with a bus too, but needless to say, the jolly to Bletchley was effortless. Vivarail should also be pleased with a great product - in my eyes anyway. The Class 230's are spacious and airy, and the seats are OK too. Just a couple of minutes late arriving into Bletchley, I was able to have a glimpse at the work that is currently taking place to reinvigorate the East-West rail link, it seems strange seeing the concrete flyover no more, but a more modern concrete one is eventually going to go in, there's already a box-type structure over the WCML.
16:15, and it was time to say bye to Bletchley, as 350108 whisked me away to Northampton, with classmate 350403, and soon enough we arrived at Northampton.
Another 30-minute wait, I was able to go to the shop on the station concourse for some food and drink, even having a quick natter with one of the ticket barrier staff too - socially distanced of course.
17:12, and another 8 car, 2-Class 350 formation arrived for the short hop to Rugby, 350239 and 350127 being the units and there was a fair few passengers on board, it is certainly pleasing to see punters return to the rail network especially in these uncertain times.
A short hope to Rugby, and the old bridge abutments of where the former Great Central Railway passed overhead still stand, despite the birdcage being removed some years ago now greet our arrival, onto Platform 1, a quick stroll downstairs, under the subway and back up to Platform 2 for my next trip, and also a cheeky photo of 57304 in the South Bay awaiting it's next call. 350267 was going to take me to Stafford (along with 350127 for company), which of course, Stafford is the furthest you can go on the WCML on this rover. Leaving Rugby, a rather tatty looking 70803 arrived from Doncaster, and a few minutes later, we overtook 66712 at Brinklow, which was working 4M47 London Gateway to Hams Hall, a look at RTT revealed that it left just over 2 hours late.
Approaching Rugeley Trent Valley, the skyline looks so different now that the 4 cooling towers of Rugeley Power Station are no more, having been demolished the day before.
Arriving into Stafford, it was over to Platform 1 for 350237 and 350241 to take me back to Nuneaton, where I ended my day - well I hung about for 90036 and 90019 working 4S47 first as that passed Brinklow as I was just getting off of the train at Nuneaton.
Miles Covered: 248.
Day #2 will be tomorrow
With Nuneaton usually being "base camp" for when I do a Rover or Day Ranger, I made my first trip, well more of a fill in move really to Coventry and back. The 10:16 departure being in the hands of 172004. Arriving in Coventry, I went to look for some refreshments before heading back for the return to Nuneaton. 172004 yet again as there's only 1tp2h currently on the NUCKLE line, we arrived back in Nuneaton with a good 10+ minutes for my next connection.
170620 on 1L38 at 11:51 was my next chariot, for the trip to Melton Mowbray, earlier in the day I had attempted a 10 minute reservation but got informed that there was no seats available - as it happens, there was a good number of airline style seats vacant even after we departed Nuneaton so XC really need to get their act together regarding this system as someone else could easily be put off if they needed to make a trip. Flying through my own local station; Hinckley was a bit surreal but Nuneaton offers better parking and connectivity. Arriving in Leicester a few minutes late, owing to being held at Wigston for a late running Sheffield service. Even on departure from Leicester, there was still a fair number of seats available. Arriving into the charming little station of Melton Mowbray, a quick glance of RTT revealed that there was a 1Q51 Derby RTC - Eastleigh Arlington running, and it was behind 170620. A few minutes late 73963 and 73965 showed up, thanks very much . During my fester at Melton Mowbray, 66514 passed through as well as 222101 arriving on the service from London St. Pancras.
The 13:15 departure, with 222101 after it's jolly down to Syston and back was on time, and my reason for this was to travel over the Welland Viaduct (or Harringworth as it's also known), there was plenty of space on the 4-car DMU, my main aim was to get to Bedford which is at the Southern extremity of the Rover area, and a prompt on time arrival at Bedford soon came. With 30 minutes to stretch my legs, I went to various parts to note down several Class 700's which was there, plus a couple more which arrived as well as the various EMR Meridians which went flying through.
At 15:10, my next move was 230004 to Bletchley, it was a bit of a gamble owing to the teething troubles that the class had, and also that most services are also replaced with a bus too, but needless to say, the jolly to Bletchley was effortless. Vivarail should also be pleased with a great product - in my eyes anyway. The Class 230's are spacious and airy, and the seats are OK too. Just a couple of minutes late arriving into Bletchley, I was able to have a glimpse at the work that is currently taking place to reinvigorate the East-West rail link, it seems strange seeing the concrete flyover no more, but a more modern concrete one is eventually going to go in, there's already a box-type structure over the WCML.
16:15, and it was time to say bye to Bletchley, as 350108 whisked me away to Northampton, with classmate 350403, and soon enough we arrived at Northampton.
Another 30-minute wait, I was able to go to the shop on the station concourse for some food and drink, even having a quick natter with one of the ticket barrier staff too - socially distanced of course.
17:12, and another 8 car, 2-Class 350 formation arrived for the short hop to Rugby, 350239 and 350127 being the units and there was a fair few passengers on board, it is certainly pleasing to see punters return to the rail network especially in these uncertain times.
A short hope to Rugby, and the old bridge abutments of where the former Great Central Railway passed overhead still stand, despite the birdcage being removed some years ago now greet our arrival, onto Platform 1, a quick stroll downstairs, under the subway and back up to Platform 2 for my next trip, and also a cheeky photo of 57304 in the South Bay awaiting it's next call. 350267 was going to take me to Stafford (along with 350127 for company), which of course, Stafford is the furthest you can go on the WCML on this rover. Leaving Rugby, a rather tatty looking 70803 arrived from Doncaster, and a few minutes later, we overtook 66712 at Brinklow, which was working 4M47 London Gateway to Hams Hall, a look at RTT revealed that it left just over 2 hours late.
Approaching Rugeley Trent Valley, the skyline looks so different now that the 4 cooling towers of Rugeley Power Station are no more, having been demolished the day before.
Arriving into Stafford, it was over to Platform 1 for 350237 and 350241 to take me back to Nuneaton, where I ended my day - well I hung about for 90036 and 90019 working 4S47 first as that passed Brinklow as I was just getting off of the train at Nuneaton.
Miles Covered: 248.
Day #2 will be tomorrow