Brit70013's Trips

[brit70013]

Hi All,
After reading the fantastic trip reports from others I thought I would start one myself.

Tuesday 10th & Wednesday 11th February – Anglia Plus Rover & The Royal Norfolkman

I had to get to Norwich to be in position for the return of 61306 to the mainline on Wednesday. Still requiring 12 Anglia 90s, Felixstowe and Great Yarmouth branches plus the possibility of Class 47s on the Great Yarmouth & Lowestoft route it was decided to head up early morning.

166218 – 05.50 – Kintbury – Paddington

All 166s are dud so I was hoping to bump into my last required 3 car 165, 165114. At least it was now cleared for 100 miles.

21363/21364 – Paddington – Liverpool Street (H&C)
90002 – 08.30 – Liverpool Street – Ipswich

Good start, 1 down 11 to go. P11 at Liverpool Street also scored. My first plan was to score the Felixstowe branch, P1 and U&D Lowestoft were also in the book.

153306 – 09.58 – Ipswich – Felixstowe & 10.28 Felixstowe – Ipswich

Sadly the news of 47813 failing before the 8.36 Great Yarmouth was through but I decided to still head up to Norwich to see if it was resurrected for the 12.36, covering a few more 90s in the process.

90007 – 11.08 – Ipswich – Diss
90014 – 12.08 – Diss – Norwich

90007 scored and good to get 90014 again as last had it in August 04 from Crewe – Warrington. Sadly the 47s were stabled in Thorpe Yard so it was back south on 90007.

90007 – 12.30 – Norwich – Ipswich
170272 – 13.20 – Ipswich – Stowmarket

P4 at Ipswich in the book and now back to the 90s, heading again via Norwich to see the 14.55 Lowestoft more in hope than expectation of the 47s being on it.

90013 – 13.55 – Stowmarket – Diss
90004 – 14.29 – Diss – Norwich
90013 – 15.00 – Norwich – Diss
90008 – 15.29 – Diss – Norwich

Still no 47s so conceded defeat on them coming out to play. I decided to concentrate on the 90s as I will be able to get Great Yarmouth in many times with better traction than a 153/156! With 6 of the 90 diagrams covered yielding 5 winners it was time to drop the bag off at my hotel and head back later for 4 more.

90015 – 17.00 – Norwich – Stowmarket
90006 – 17.47 – Stowmarket – Norwich
90011 – 18.30 – Norwich – Ipswich
90010 – 19.23 – Ipswich – Norwich

With the early start I was beginning to feel it so bailed continuing on a few mileage moves. Sadly with the 47s not running and not planning correctly I missed the final diagram but managed to get 8 90s leaving 001, 003, 005 & 009 for another day.

Up bright and early it was time for the main event, the return of 61306 to the mainline. Had only once back in April 09 on the Llangollen Railway it was a loco in need of some more mileage put on it, plus I needed the Windsor & Eton branch for steam.

61306 – 08.03 – Norwich – Windsor & Eton Riverside
(47580 on rear providing assistance)

All in all a good tour, helped by the fact standard was at the front and a decent amount of B1 thrash was had. A few more bits red penned in the quail and getting the Ilford flyover in for steam was an added bonus. On the final leg it was home via the southern in the hope of scratching a few units.

450113 + 450082 – 13.23 – Windsor & Eton Riverside – Staines
8013 + 8023 – 13.53 – Staines – Reading
165113 – 14.48 – Reading – Kintbury

The 450s & 458s were scored meaning the total for the trip was 15 winners, just shy of 700 miles and a decent amount of track in the book to. I could have planned the Tuesday better and got the final 90 diagram and more of the 170s on the Ipswich – Cambridge/Peterborough turns but it was still a profitable trip. Next up for me is this weekend for the Pathfinder tour to Aberdeen Waterloo and Elgin before finishing off some Glasgow track on the Monday.


Nick.

 

[Kristofferson]

That was a good read, nice and easy to follow look forward to many more.

 

[Techniquest]

I too hope to read more in the future, a very good start to the trip reporting

Which hotel was it you used and was it worth recommending?

Sounds like it was a good trip there, mind you starting out from Kintbury at 0550 must have been a challenge! I really need to get over there and get the 5 90s I need for haulage in the book, and it's a shame you didn't get to do the 47s after all. Quite the experience doing Yarmouth on a 47 and MK3s, compared to a 156 at least!

 

[Kite159]

Kintbury, brings back memories of a few years ago when we had a boat around that part of the K&A, sitting watching HSTs rushing through the station on route to the West Country.

 

[noddy1878]

Last time I was out that way I did get the 47s but not on the diagram they normally do. There were three 47s in the yard with no sign of life. I left Norwich and when I came back two were gone with the set. It then came back in and formed a service which was great but they had swapped the one loco i didn't need of the three to the front! Typical!

But sounds like you did quite a good job on the 90s. I need another 3 so need to try and get over that way and have a good run on them.

 

[55013]

A very enjoyable report, that. Thanks.
Interestingly (well, it is for me), the unit you had on the Felixstowe branch, 153306, is my last required Anglia DMU.

 

[Techniquest]

Interestingly (well, it is for me), the unit you had on the Felixstowe branch, 153306, is my last required Anglia DMU.

I seem to recall that was my first Anglia DMU ever way back when, and I also had it to Felixstowe! 16th August 2008 I did that, so not quite 7 years ago yet hock:

Just wish I knew what locos I had on my 2004 trip to Norwich...

 

[Kite159]

153306 must live on the Felixstowe branch as I had that unit when I did that branch back in May (on the same trip where I somehow managed to get 156422, 5 times in a row (Sheringham, Yarmouth & Lowestoft).

 

[brit70013]

That was a good read, nice and easy to follow look forward to many more.

Cheers, not as detailed as the likes of Techniquest, Kite & Noddy reports are but glad you enjoyed it.

I too hope to read more in the future, a very good start to the trip reporting

Which hotel was it you used and was it worth recommending?

Sounds like it was a good trip there, mind you starting out from Kintbury at 0550 must have been a challenge! I really need to get over there and get the 5 90s I need for haulage in the book, and it's a shame you didn't get to do the 47s after all. Quite the experience doing Yarmouth on a 47 and MK3s, compared to a 156 at least!

Many thanks. It was the Premier Inn directly outside the station. I will write a review on that and the B&B in Inverkeithing I stayed in this weekend in the accommodation thread later. It was certainly a struggle but at least I was able to head to the hotel early if I was really feeling the effects of the early start! It must be one of the best value rovers out there, decent amount of loco haulage, branches and you can rack up some decent mileage on the Ipswich - Norwich section. I will try and get over there again soon.

Kintbury, brings back memories of a few years ago when we had a boat around that part of the K&A, sitting watching HSTs rushing through the station on route to the West Country.

Yes it is lovely down by the canal, a pleasant place to have a few beers at the pub and watch the trains go by.

Last time I was out that way I did get the 47s but not on the diagram they normally do. There were three 47s in the yard with no sign of life. I left Norwich and when I came back two were gone with the set. It then came back in and formed a service which was great but they had swapped the one loco i didn't need of the three to the front! Typical!

But sounds like you did quite a good job on the 90s. I need another 3 so need to try and get over that way and have a good run on them.

That's the way it goes sometimes! I tried to get a decent run on them, just shy of 400 miles of 90 haulage in the end. I'm not fussed about unit mileages but I do keep track of my local units as I have them regularly.

A very enjoyable report, that. Thanks.

Cheers.


Report on my Scottish trip should be up later today.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Saturday 14th – Monday 16th February – The Great North of Scotland Reviver

Saturday 14th Feb

Simple trip up to Inverkeithing for the Pathfinder tour on Sunday.

165102 – 11.49 – Kintbury – Reading
165134 + 165120 – 12.31 – Reading – Paddington

165134 was scored which was an unexpected bonus! The screens showed this as being 4 coaches so I had hope of running into a required 2 car 165/1. That leaves me with 114, 121, 127 & 137 to get.

21331/21332 – Paddington – Kings Cross (H&C)
43311 + 43251 – 14.00 – Kings Cross – Inverkeithing

Good, a couple of required power cars on the journey up the East Coast. Not much to report on the trip but did see 67003 leading 82205/91131 on the 5G16 Berwick – Bounds Green at Newcastle, which encountered DVT problems on the 13.00 Edinburgh – Kings Cross.

Sunday 15th Feb

The reason for the trip north was to do the Pathfinder tour to Aberdeen Waterloo, Raith’s Farm & Elgin East. Locos for the day were required 66086 and mega-dud 66232. This was the 4th time I have had 66232, having had it previously on the Celtic Freighter (16.07.05), BLS tour to North Blyth (08.11.08) and even on the Caledonian Sleeper after 90026 collapsed at Warrington in April 13! Luckily 66086 was a winner as I missed the tour it did last August.

The tour went well going to the end of the line at Waterloo, Raith’s Farm and Elgin East. Sadly Craiginches loops & Montrose loop were not done. During the break in Elgin the old Elgin East station was opened for passengers to look at the old booking hall which was still in fantastic condition, you would have thought it closed recently, not in 1968!

Monday 16th Feb

The original plan was to head to Glasgow to finish off some remaining track starting off with the 7.13 Kirkcaldy – Glasgow QS service which does the Dalmeny – Winchburgh Jn line. The plan changed with 68002 being on the Ruggex back to Carmarthen, which I could do to Motherwell for a few bits of track before my booked train from Glasgow Central.

67028 – 08.09 – Inverkeithing – Edinburgh

I was hoping to run into one of my last 6 Class 67s as I require 004, 007 & 009 which are mainly Scottish based but sadly it was not to be. Last trip with 028 was from Swanage – Millbrook in April 12.

68002 – 09.48 – Edinburgh – Motherwell via Law Jn & Mossend East Jn

£20 part fare to Motherwell for my first Class 68 haulage and also scoring Mossend East Jn – Mossend South Jn in the down direction. A few bashers were out for it joining the rugby supporters for the trip south. I did toy with the idea of staying onto Crewe to get the other 68 from Carlisle but decided to get some track around Glasgow.

The plan was to get the Whifflet – Coatbridge Central section in both directions before heading back to Glasgow via the required Hamilton circle.

318251 – 11.22 – Motherwell – Whifflet
320301 – 11.47 – Whifflet – Greenfaulds
334013 – 12.10 – Greenfaulds – Cumbernauld
320301 – 12.22 – Cumbernauld – Rutherglen via Hamilton
318263 + 320313 – 13.16 – Rutherglen – Argyle Street
320302 – 13.35 – Argyle Street – Glasgow Central

I could have got the Larkhall branch in but it was cutting it a bit to fine to get back to Central in time. All the units were required but I do need an awful lot up in Scotland. I can have a serious unit bash when I come up for the track.

390117 – 14.40 – Glasgow Central – Euston

Pleasant journey home on required for extending 390117. Lost some time just north of Carlisle but arrived in Euston more or less on time.

21095/21096 – Euston Square – Great Portland Street (Met)
21443/21444 – Great Portland Street – Paddington (Circle)
43127 + 43005 – 19.45 – Paddington – Newbury
165102 – 20.33 – Newbury - Kintbury

Back on 165102 which started my journey on Saturday. 43127 mileage now over 800.

Again a thoroughly enjoyable few days on the rails. My next planned trip is on March 1st to Cardiff to get the Penarth curve diversions. I maybe tempted to pop out on the Chilterns this week if 68008 remains on the Banbury diagram.

Can someone please point me in the direction of a book which has underground numbers stock in? I have only this year started doing them for haulage and my Platform 5 pocket books are of no use to me for that.

 

[Techniquest]

I use the ST Publications UK combined book for Tube stuff, as well as track machines, Irish/NIR stuff and of course UK stock.

What RugEx was that, didn't know of one with 68 haulage!

A good trip by the looks of it, without my NREA I'm not sure what of the lot you had I need but without a doubt I'd have scored some stuff, certainly the 68!

Shame you didn't do the Fife Circle turn when I was up there last year, 67004 kept doing it lol

 

[brit70013]

I use the ST Publications UK combined book for Tube stuff, as well as track machines, Irish/NIR stuff and of course UK stock.

What RugEx was that, didn't know of one with 68 haulage!

A good trip by the looks of it, without my NREA I'm not sure what of the lot you had I need but without a doubt I'd have scored some stuff, certainly the 68!

Shame you didn't do the Fife Circle turn when I was up there last year, 67004 kept doing it lol

Great cheers for that. Will get that ordered tonight.

It was a Pathfinder/Arriva charter up from Carmarthen on Friday with 68005 to Carlisle for 68002 forward to Edinburgh and back yesterday. Apparently 68005 worked south of Carlisle.

Debating heading up again before they come off the sleepers and fife circle trains as unsure what passenger use they will see after that.

 

[Techniquest]

Wish I'd done that RugEx now, especially since it called at my local! Oh well I've got years to get the 68s in!

 

[Kristofferson]

Another good trip! All it's missing is photos of the shiny new 68s

 

[Kite159]

I use the ST Publications UK combined book for Tube stuff, as well as track machines, Irish/NIR stuff and of course UK stock.

What RugEx was that, didn't know of one with 68 haulage!

A good trip by the looks of it, without my NREA I'm not sure what of the lot you had I need but without a doubt I'd have scored some stuff, certainly the 68!

Shame you didn't do the Fife Circle turn when I was up there last year, 67004 kept doing it lol

The fife circle which might not be a 67 for much longer when Serco takes the sleeper

Sounds like you had an enjoyable day in Scotland

 

[noddy1878]

The fife circle which might not be a 67 for much longer when Serco takes the sleeper

Sounds like you had an enjoyable day in Scotland

I think you're right. I was gonna do the Fife a few weeks ago but it was a 67 i didn't need and decided not to bother going for it. I'd picked up 67 from Dalmuir to Waverley the day before.

Brit70013 - Well jealous. I haven't even seen a 68 move yet!

 

[PHILIPE]

I don't know how the Penarth Curve at Cardiff can be done on March 1st. There are no trains going that way so I don't know where you got that info from.

 

[brit70013]

Another good trip! All it's missing is photos of the shiny new 68s

I tried to add some shots but they weren't coming up, must have been doing something wrong.

Brit70013 - Well jealous. I haven't even seen a 68 move yet!

They sound quite nice for something new, certainly beats a GM device.

I don't know how the Penarth Curve at Cardiff can be done on March 1st. There are no trains going that way so I don't know where you got that info from.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=109510

They are still shown on realtime trains which ties up with what is on national rail enquiries. On the steam tour to Cardiff anyway so if not running I will go after some required units.

 

[PHILIPE]

I tried to add some shots but they weren't coming up, must have been doing something wrong.



They sound quite nice for something new, certainly beats a GM device.



http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=109510

They are still shown on realtime trains which ties up with what is on national rail enquiries. On the steam tour to Cardiff anyway so if not running I will go after some required units.

Quote me one of the trains on RTT as an example, please.

 

[brit70013]

Quote me one of the trains on RTT as an example, please.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/NNP/2015/03/01/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

[PHILIPE]

You're correct, I apologise for querying. They are in one direction only, Cardiff to Barry. I had only looked at trains going the opposite way !!!

 

[brit70013]

You're correct, I apologise for querying. They are in one direction only, Cardiff to Barry. I had only looked at trains going the opposite way !!!

Lucky you mentioned that as I didn't realise they were only going one way. Now I will have to do them again to get the curve in the opposite direction!

 

[Kite159]

Another trip to Cardiff on the Sunday, at least my FOSS will be getting well used

 

[Techniquest]

I'd forgotten about the diversions over the curve, bizarre it's only going one way though!

 

[brit70013]

Firstly apologies for the lack of reports over the last few months.

Tuesday 30th June – The Clan Line Farewell

The day had come to bid 35028 farewell after 8 and a bit years of sterling mainline service taking her well off her normal territory up the WCML to Chester.

166211 – 05.50 – Kintbury – Paddington

Nice to walk in to one my lowest mileage 166s which I haven’t had in 4 years. We were held at Newbury for the late arrival of 180108 on the 3K23 ECS before travelling via the required Reading fly under. Arrival into Paddington was around 10 minutes late.

21379/21380 – Paddington – Edgware Road

21449/21450 – Edgware Road – Victoria

Soon after arriving 67014 rolled in with the ECS from Eastleigh.

67014 at Victoria after arrival with an ECS by Nick Wason, on Flickr


35028 – 08.44 – Victoria – Chester
(67014 assisting Victoria – Ebury Bridge)

I’m not really a fan of scoring engines that bank so was glad in a way that the banker out of Victoria was dud, especially as it only assisted for 33 chains! 014 was last had on my second ever railtour back in March 2003. 12 Bloody years where has the time gone!

35028 had no trouble in keeping time on the rather slack schedule on the journey north. A slight diversion off the WCML via Coventry to Nuneaton was made to allow the crew to move coal forward. A little time was lost after being held south of Crewe before finally arriving into Chester 4 minutes late.


With 3 ½ hours to kill before the return I had planned to get some 507/508s in the book but went for the Arriva Class 67 turn which was more appealing.


67022 – 14.46 – Chester – Warrington Bank Quay

67022 at Warrington on a Llandudno - Man Pic service by Nick Wason, on Flickr


I could have travelled all the way to Manchester and back but as it was 20 minutes late and only would have provided me with a 3 minute connection back on the tour at Chester I thought better of it. It was my first visit to Bank Quay since a holiday in Snowdonia back in 2004 where I persuaded Mother to take me spotting. Enjoying the delights of 47826 into Crewe for a Class 90 forward before 47853 back to Bangor, those were the days!!

47853 at Warrington by Nick Wason, on Flickr

Back to the current day and sadly it wasn’t 47853 but a dud 175.

175116 – 16.26 – Warrington Bank Quay – Chester

45 minutes to get some grub and find a place to cool down before 35028 was back for the 21 mile run back to Crewe.

35028 – 18.04 – Chester – Crewe

35028 stands next to 90037 after arrival from Chester by Nick Wason, on Flickr

Gen earlier in the day suggested it would be required 90037 south which was waiting as we pulled in.

90037 – 19.11 – Crewe – Euston

We lost time south of Stafford where a number of slow moving Pendolinos and Voyagers went past due to a track failure at Colwich Jn. This time was all made up by cutting out the pathing stop at Rugby and heading via Weedon instead of the booked route via Northampton before finally arriving into Euston 9 early.


21083/21084 – Euston Square – Great Portland Street

21307/21308 – Great Portland Street – Paddington

43069 + 43003 – 22.45 – Paddington – Didcot

Sadly I missed the 22.15 which is the last train that connects onto the Bedwyn shuttle so it was a lift back from Didcot.

All in all a good day even though there was not much in the way of winners with only the 90 and the 4 underground sets scored. Next up for me this Sunday is another farewell this time for 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley up to Edinburgh.

 

[Techniquest]

Without having Flickr in front of me, or indeed a PC/laptop this morning (posting via the forum app):

Click on the Share button (that weirdly shaped arrow IIRC), which brings up the box with options to share to Twitter etc. There should (I've only done it once since they changed their interface yet again so I'm a bit unsure) be an option called 'Grab the link' or there will be a link under the Facebook/Twitter/etc logos. That link won't show photos on here, you need the link from the BBcode option (it should make sense when you're actually looking at it!). Choose your photo size then copy-paste the text in the box, which should have IMG in square brackets at the beginning of it and /IMG in more square brackets at the end of it.

All being well, that should work!

A good time had on your tour, I can only imagine the racket Clan Line must have made climbing out of Victoria!

No option to go back to Newbury for a lift home I take it? That must have been awkward not being able to get home to Kintbury!

 

[Kite159]

The image link to Flickr will look a bit like this:

[$url$=https://flic.kr/p/uc6uka][$img$]https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/272/18503541823_c72e9f7bb7_z.jpg[$/img$][$/url$]

Without the dollar signs

Sounds like an interesting day behind a steamer

I'm guessing it used the west london line to join up with the WCML and using some of the non-passenger curves between Victoria and the West London Line

 

[brit70013]

Without having Flickr in front of me, or indeed a PC/laptop this morning (posting via the forum app):

Click on the Share button (that weirdly shaped arrow IIRC), which brings up the box with options to share to Twitter etc. There should (I've only done it once since they changed their interface yet again so I'm a bit unsure) be an option called 'Grab the link' or there will be a link under the Facebook/Twitter/etc logos. That link won't show photos on here, you need the link from the BBcode option (it should make sense when you're actually looking at it!). Choose your photo size then copy-paste the text in the box, which should have IMG in square brackets at the beginning of it and /IMG in more square brackets at the end of it.

All being well, that should work!

A good time had on your tour, I can only imagine the racket Clan Line must have made climbing out of Victoria!

No option to go back to Newbury for a lift home I take it? That must have been awkward not being able to get home to Kintbury!

Cheers for your help. Sadly I was at the very back of the train so it was more a case of 67014 providing the thrash! Not much in the way of Merchant Navy chatter further north especially with the warm weather and potential fire risk. The slack timings allowed the crew to take it easy. It would have meant the old dear wouldn't have had to travel as far but would have meant an hour wait at Reading and getting home at gone 1.

The image link to Flickr will look a bit like this:

[$url$=https://flic.kr/p/uc6uka][$img$]https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/272/18503541823_c72e9f7bb7_z.jpg[$/img$][$/url$]

Without the dollar signs

Sounds like an interesting day behind a steamer

I'm guessing it used the west london line to join up with the WCML and using some of the non-passenger curves between Victoria and the West London Line

Thanks for that. Yes it went via the West London line after travelling via the Battersea Reversible. It did the Willesden Relief to get to the slows which is pretty rare for steam, myself having only done it once in the southbound direction.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Sadly Sunday will now not be a farewell to Sir Nigel as it has failed it's FTR adding to what has been a very bad year for multi-day steam tours. I could have found better ways to spend £350 but if you pay your money, you take the chance!