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

[Peter Mugridge]

07/02/22

Once again finding myself having to change at Sutton because of a cancelled London Bridge service, I started on 377 204 + 377 322 + 377 305 to Sutton and then continued on 700 052 as far as Farringdon and 21071 + 21072 across to Liverpool Street. An unfamiliar sight was 755 413 working a Norwich service solo, but my target was more 720s and before long I had located required 720 546 + dud 720 517 for my first move to Stratford.

The weather was very cold, so straight away I decided that I would just keep moving and hope I wouldn't get out of phase with anything else required so after snapping 66 569 it was dud pair 720 552 + 720 563 back to Liverpool Street and another dud pair, 720 580 + 720 547 to bounce back out with. There was a bit more locomotive activity this time with 66 025, 66 563 and 66 508 all appearing then it was dud 720 549 in and dud 720 573 out, this time to Tottenham Hale - and once again passing a suspect required unit just outside there... so 317 882 + 317 512 straight back and this time I had read the number right; required 720 530 was present - but going out to Stratford... must have been an ecs that I had passed it on...

In any case, a few minutes later and it was no longer required and I reeturned after a short while on dud 720 561, having in the interim seen 90 006 + 90 042, 66 559 and 66 021. Suspecting I had exhausted the east side for the day, 21359 + 21360 carried me across to Paddington where 345 045, which I had bagged on the previous trip, took me to Hayes and Harlington where I settled in under the shelter to cover all the diagrams...

...fruitlessly. Nothing required was out, although I did get to note 66 591, 66 502 and 59 102 at Acton Main Line and a triple of 66 007 + 66 015 + 66 027 through Hayes and Harlington while I was there. Eventually the final diagram came round and it was dud 345 031, so that took me back to Paddington from where I boarded 21393 + 21394 to Baker Street for an urgent PNB and continued to Farringdon on 21567 + 21568. After that it was 700 151 to London Bridge and 377 612 + 377 626 back to Epsom.

 

[Kite159]

A productive few days there

 

[Peter Mugridge]

A productive few days there

Thank you, yes - and I should get a chance on Wednesday and Friday to catch up a bit more with these reports.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

21/02/22

Ah! My penultimate Zoomy Thing was showing as available on a Stevenage hop! Tally ho!! Scramble!! But first.... there would be time to try for another 720 or two...

Leaving epsom on 377 611 + 377 621 I discovered at Sutton that the connecting Thameslink was cancelled, so I boarded the following London Bridge service formed of 377 308 + 377 311 + 377 128 and then had multicoloured 700 155 to Farringdon followed by 21069 + 21070 to Liverpool Street.

Sure enough, a required 720 was lurking, specifically 720 584 + dud 720 574. This took me to Stratford where I noted 37 601 and 66 564. As luck would have it, I very soon saw required 345 028 pull in, which necessitated a subway dash ( thank goodness platform 5 is set much further forwards than the mid point of platforms 9 and 10! ) in order to utilise it to return to Liverpool Street.

Following this, I decided to position myself at Stevenage with a huge time margin to be on the safe side and to this end I made my way back to Farringdon on 21511 + 21512 and then took 700 131 direct. Upon arriving at Stevenage I discovered that there were delays on the ECML so my comfortable one hour margin was now in fact a two hour margin!!

During this extended fester, 66 776 provided some passing interest - literally - and eventually 800 109 finally put in an appearance and was duly eliminated from my haulage hit list. Upon arriving at King's Cross a short walk next door put me on 700 133 to London Bridge and from there it was 377 140 + 377 320 + 377 314 back to Epsom.

This trip, incidentally, saw the first use on the railway of my new camera. The two sunsets were from the Thameslink between Blackfriars and London Bridge on the way home.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

01/03/22

This trip started off with a different routing as I had to show my parents the way to get across to London Bridge from Waterloo ( they board at Worcester Park ) for an appointment at Guy's. Accordingly, I left Epsom on 455 858 + 455 720 rather than my usual routing. The connection at Waterloo East was 466 019 + 465 008 + 465 163 and having shown them the correct exit at London Bridge, I switched into bashing mode with 700 118 to Farringdon and had to walk to Liverpool Street because there was a tube strike on. Didn't really make much difference - overall only takes about 10 minutes longer than it would anyway!!

As it happened, I found a required pair immediately to hand: 720 530 + 720 531, so that was a good start. While en route to Stratford another required unit came past, so I performed an immediate return on dud pair 720 542 + 720 552 and caught required 720 572 + dud 720 560 back out again; 37 601 was also present at Liverpool Street but I did not have time to photograph it.

Back at Stratford, 66 511 and 90 012 + 90 045 trundled through and I saw a required 345 pull in - but rather than dash across, there was an easier was an something was imminent on the GA side of things. That something turned out to be well dud 321 323 + 321 306, but it did the job and allowed me to take the target, 345 024, back out to Stratford, where 66 773 was passing, and position myself for the expected up working of required 345 035 a few minutes later.

Having disposed of that, I immediately returned to Stratford on dud 345 051, observed 90 013 + 90 010 and then caught required 720 525 + dud 720 559 back in again. Feeling that I had exhausted that side of things, my next move was dud 720 521 to Tottenham Hale but after an hour nothing required had shown up and the next few up services were showing as 8 or 12 cars on the screen, so I took the next available service, which was 745 101 and then decided to give the other side one last spin just to see what was in Ilford depot, which meant another well dud pair back out to Romford, being 322 482 + 321 903. While we passed Stratfdord, 66 170 was present and there was nothing remarkable in Ilford, and the return was also a double dud, 720 543 + 720 571.

Following that, I walked back to Farringdon and took 700 041 to Streatham, did a bit of shopping and then caught 700 003 to Sutton and finished off with 377 613 + 377 601 to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

07/03/22

With improving weather it was time for my first longer distance trip of the year!

Leaving Epsom on 455 730 + 455 874 I made my way to Wimbledon and then on the Wimbleware to Paddington with 21457 + 21458; my haulage from there was 800 004 + 800 030 to Cardiff. Locomotives seen on the way down were 66 606 at Southall, 66 542 and 66 165 at Didcot, 66 040 at Swindon, 66 620 at Bristol Parkway and 66 186 at Alexandra Dock Junction.

My planned activity in the Cardiff area was photography, specifically with the 769s and 153/9s as my targets, so an essential tool was a Valleys Day Ranger as this meant I could pass Canton on both sides as well as making a few moves locally. First up, as soon as I arrived, 66 021 came through with a freight. Almost immediately 769 002 and 769 445 presented themselves as targets before I caught 150 279 to Queen Street with the intention of looking to see which hotels were next to the line for a planned trip later in the year with the wife. Got to make sure you get an appropriate view when you're staying somewhere don't you...?

Having done that, I immediately caught 150 278 back and stayed on it to Penarth but on the return getting off at Grangetown, at which location I added 769 421 and 769 003 to my photographic captures. The latter I boarded to Central and my next move was 150 282 past Canton with 769 006, 769 007, 153 972, 153 935 and 153 913 all getting snapped in the process. Off at Ninian Park for a quick dash over to get 150 258 straight back, adding 153 968 and 153 914 to the photographic tally.

Back at Central, 231 004 was present on test, 769 008 posed for the camera and 175 008 took me to Bridgend where doubleheaded 66 142 + 66 190 passed while I was waiting for 175 114 back, allowing me to grab a picture of 08 499. Once back at Central, 153 909 finished off the day's photographic progress and just as I was leaving back to London on 800 011 + 800 014, a Mk4 rake pulled in with 67 025 providing the traction.

Passing Alexandra Dock Junction, a second locomotive had turned up in the shape of 66 140 while at Southall 66 701 put in an appearance. My return across London was 21385 + 21386 and from Wimbledon to Epsom I concluded the day with 455 902 + 455 733.

Oh... the hotel I chose... it was the Clayton. You'll see the results when I get up to July with these reports... I'll also then put something in the bashing accomodation thread while I'm at it...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Additional photos for 07/03/22...

The view of the Uffington white horse and the sunset were both done from the IET at full speed...

I may have to edit this post later; some of the images are giving a file size error so I'll have to screenshot those ones and paste them in... done... which is why three of them are embedded rather than "click on" images.

 

[Kite159]

Nice photos

 

[Peter Mugridge]

21/03/22

Off to Cardiff again to reduce the photo hit list further! Which again required a start from Epsom on a pair of slugs, this time 455 732 + 455 865. My conveyance from Wimbledon to Paddington was 21449 + 21450 and the unit from Paddington onwards was 800 317. While passing acton the yard was observed to contain 66 738, 66 187 and 66 194 while 66 956 was sighted at Hayes and Harlington.

At Reading, the lesser spotted 769 943 was present and a short while later at Pangbourne a doubleheader consisting of 66 952 + 70 0xx went past. Bristol Parkway was home to 66 592 and Alexandra Dock Junction hosted 66 015 and 66 186.

This time my first move in Cardiff was to get 153 914 to Ninian Park and this allowed me to strike 153 972 off the photo hit list at Canton, while 56 113 trundled past on the main line. Once again the quick dash down, right and up put me on an immediate return, 150 259 this time, and I followed this up with a ride on 175 011 to Bridgend, partly to see if there was anything interesting on the north side of Canton ( there wasn't ) but also to position me to do the Vale of Glamorgan line without having to do it the slow way in both directions.

The VoG service was 150 235 solo, despite the screens at Bridgend saying it would be a four car working, and the only thing of note on the way back, apart from grabbing a picture of the withdrawn BOAC liveried 747, G-BYGC, at Rhoose, was 66 533 at Cadoxton. Once I was back at Central, 66 130 posed for a picture and I then caught 150 280 to Llanished and did a photo of 150 262 from the bridge as it came the other way - and managed to dash down in time to bash it back to Central. That was really just a time-filling move rather than a means of getting a different photographic angle.

There was still a bit of time before my London train, so why wasn't I doing any more time-filling moves? Short answer: RTT indicated one of my photographic targets was due... so while waiting, I got a number of other pictures as well and in total I snapped 153 329, 153 926, 769 002, 231 002, 153 921 and 67 013 in that order before departing on board 800 023 + 800 019.

Earlier I had seen 66 533 at Cadoxton; I overtook it again at Wentloog and added 231 004 at Newport, 66 956 - seen earlier at Hayes - was now at Bristol Parkway and 66 741 was at Southall, where I also noted 47 804. From Paddington it was 21533 + 21534 back across to Wimbledon and 455 724 + 455 872 home to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Additional images for 21/03/22:

 

[Peter Mugridge]

26/03/22

Some unexpectedly favourable weather meant an early start to this year's days out with the wife. Our big walk for 2022 would be a five stage one from Pewsey to Reading following the Kennet and Avon, and this would be the first part: Pewsey to Bedwyn.

First of all, we had to go the long way round via Waterloo to get to Paddington because the Wimbleware was closed for engineering work. Our start was on 455 727 + 455 707 from Epsom then into mole mode with 3252 + 3463. From Paddington we had 802 022, but because of one of those frequent lacks of signalling staff, this was a Bedwyn train ( the direct to Pewsey having been diverted via Swindon running non-stop Reading to Westbury ) but which terminated at Newbury when the two hour closure of teh Berks and Hants kicked in. GWR provided us with a taxi onwards.

The taxi enabled us to reach Pewsey about 45 minutes sooner than if we had waited for the block to be lifted, so we were not too far behind schedule with the walk. Unfortunately a furter two hour blockage in the afternoon, for the same reason - insufficient signalling staff - meant no trains were running when we walked past the scenic section at Crofton where the railway runs next to the canal for a considerable didstance. That meant no chance to get one of the classic photos done...

Eventually we reached Bedwn and caught 802 020 back to Paddington, burrowed across on 3251 + 3456 and caught 455 702 + 455 915 back to Epsom.

Despite the lack of trains being photographed, I did manage to include one railway related image below - the ruins of the western side of the disused junction at Crofton for the line to Ludgershall from the north.

 

[Kite159]

Brings back memories of my youth for the K&A canal.
I might have to do something similar at some point, train to Pewsey to walk back towards Bedwyn for a trip down memory lane.

 

[Techniquest]

I've done a bit of linesiding down that way many years ago, strongly recommended walk and I must return to do the whole thing!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

04/04/22

Another London area haulage hunt, starting with 377 315 + 377 328 + 377 425 from Epsom to London Bridge with 700 020 over to Farringdon and 21049 + 21050 for the sideways shuffle to Liverpool Street.

Straight away I found required 720 586 with an imminent departure which I rode to Stratford and then took well dud 321 315 + 321 309 straight back again as I wasn't sure if I'd just passed a required inbound unit or not. I did note 66 164 and 66 622 while I was there.

Back at Liverpool Street, everything was dud so I headed back out to Stratford with 720 531 + 720 547 and this time I did most definitely pass a required unit! Groan... OK... quick snap of 66 419 and then dud pair 720 525 + 720 568 back, required 720 529 back out again, then passed something else I wasn't sure about so another immediate return, this time on 321 310 + 322 485 was called for.

Once again, eveything was dud at Liverpool street, so back out again with dud pair 720 553 + 720 561, saw 66 760 at Stratford then immediately had required 720 532 turn up... rode that back in then decided to try the other side, so dud 720 558 out to Tottenham Hale...

...for a long fester with nothing required turning up. Noting no further 5 car ones on the screen for nearly an hour, I caught 317 510 + 317 886 across to Stratford then dud 720 567 to Liverpool Street. Following that, I considered it was time to try the other half of London, so I took 21371 + 21372 acrosss to Paddington and dud 345 039 out to Hayes and Harlington.

As you might have guessed, I passed a required one just before getting to Hayes... so dud 345 061 back to Ealing Broadway and wait a while... not a long wait... then required 345 019 turns up, which I ride to Southall to see what was on the following working as I missed sighting what it was. Dud 345 063. ah well... ride it out to Hayes anyway... and wait for the diagrams to circulate past.

Nothing else did turn up so when the final diagram came round, dud 345 017, I took that back to Paddington. While doing all these moves I had noted 66 021, 66 116 and 66 129 at Acton Main Line while 66 756 and 66 569 put in appearances at Southall.

The screens indicated that there were issues on the Thameslink core again, so I took 21445 + 21446 to Baker Street then 96082 + 96083 to London Bridge followed by 377 312 + 377 321 + 377 473 back to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

09/04/22

A quick mission to check something out in Elstree, nothing more than that... 377 140 + 377 314 + 377 326 from Epsom to Sutton, 700 041 from there to Elstree, 700 020 back and then the same trio of 377s home to Epsom. I took the opportunity to snap 940974 at Tulse Hill and 455 813 and 455 819 at Sutton while connecting on the way back.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

12/04/22

Time for another attempt to track down some haulages!

There was a change of strategy for this trip; I started with 455 730 + 455 912 from Epsom to Wimbledon and 21501 + 21502 to Paddington, the aim being to check out the western side first for a change. The plan was to get out to Hayes and Harlington as soon as possible and let the diagrams all come to me. This meant dud 345 048 was my first move, and I passed 66 012 at Acton and 66 620 at Southall while on this, and 60 028 at Hayes itself.

Fast forward a while and the final diagram turned up with everything having been dud, so that one - 345 014 - took me back to Paddington, passing 66 569 at Southall and 66 561 at acton. Then I received gen that a required 345 *might* be on a specific working as there was a swap taking place, which meant I dashed straight back out on the next available, which was 345 053, to lie in wait at Ealing Broadway. Unfortunately the possibility wasn't and dud 345 009 turned up instead, so that was my ride back to Paddington again. This did at least allow me to confirm two other residents of Acton Yard, namely 66 528 and 59 104.

With nothing left to be gained on the west side, I caught 21337 + 21338 to Liverpool Street to check out the east side. Once again aiming to get out quickly, I took double dud 720 586 + 720 557 to Stratford ( where 47 739 + 360 1xx came through ) and before long required 720 585 + dud 720 549 turned up; upon arrival at Liverpool Street I quickly found required 720 589 + dud 720 549 to carry me back out to Stratford.

This time 90 013 + 90 006 and 66 539 provided the freight action and as nothing else turned up after a while I decided to see what might be in Ilford, so dud 720 580 out to Romford... and pass a required unit on the way!! This meant an immediate return from Romford on 321 328 + 321 903, getting back just in time to get required 720 527 + dud 720 571 out to Stratford ( 66 522 present ) and required 720 587 + dud 720 556 back in again.


Once again, time to try the West Anglia services, so dud 720 535 out to Tottenham Hale, but I did not get there; a required one passed immediately below Hackney Downs, so a quick bail out - fortunately dud 720 574 was close behind, which meant the chase was on back to Liverpool Street. I just made it, and had required 720 579 out to Tottenham Hale. Once again, nothing else turned up so I caught dud 720 546 back to Liverpool Street the 21527 + 21528 for Farringdon followed by 700 114 to East Croydon for an immediate return to London Bridge on 377 606 + 377 615. Why? Well... just because I had time really, and so why not...?

After that, it really was time to get home and 377 309 + 377 327 + 377 158 did the honours.

 

[Kite159]

A busy few days bouncing around London

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Here goes with the start of my latest attempt to catch up...!!

03/05/22

May kicked off with another invasion of South Wales; the first train of the month being 455 732 + 455 735 from Epsom to Wimbledon then 21519 + 21520 to Paddington; I finally managed to get a picture of something on the main line below at Putney when 450 090 was in the right place at the right time!

Departing Paddington on 800 302, Acton Yard was playing host to 66 207, 66 413 and 66 748 while we passed 66 593 at Cholsey, 66 569 at Didcot and 66 186 was present at Alexandra Dock Junction. Upon arrival at Cardiff I snapped 43189, 43098 and 769 452 then boarded 153 972 to Ninian Park and 150 256 for the obvious purpose of photographing 231 005 and 231 002 on the south side of Canton.

My next move was 170 201 to finally claim the Ebbw Vale branch, but before leaving Cardiff a doubleheader came through with 66 040 + 66 172 and another working headed by 60 039 appeared moments later. Once back from scratching the track, I took pictures of 153 906 and 153 914 then boarded 153 329 + 153 312 to Bridgend in order to see if there was anything interesting on the north side of canton. Short answer was zilch, and 175 112 provided a swift return to Central.

I then went back to Ninian Park again, this time on 150 240, as 67 014 had appeared in a photographable position. Having done that, 153 362 was my return to Central and this also allowed my to snap a second locomotive, 67 010, plus some units although I missed 66 761 trundling past as it was bowled.

However, 66 059 and 66 020 made up for that back at Central and then I was out of time so it was 800 302 again for the return to London. Sightings on this leg were 66 168 at Alexandra Dock Junction, 66 620 at East Usk, 66 525 and 66 565 at Bristol Parkway, 66 537 at West Drayton then finally 59 206 and 66 025 at Acton Yard.

After that it remained only to make my way back to Wimbledon on 21545 + 21546 and then to Epsom on 455 872 + 455 865.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

04/05/22

I wasn't planning to go out on this date, but discovering that my last Zoomy Thing for haulage was available on a short Stevenage hop resulted in the "scramble" bell ringing like mad...

The resulting out and back dash consisted of 377 315 + 377 303 + 377 143 from Epsom to London Bridge, 700 152 to St Pancras, the short walk next door and the target, 801 203, to Stevenage. Then it was straight back home with 700 131 to London Bridge and 377 322, 377 318 + 377 410 to Epsom.

Only 37 610 + 37 419 parked up at Welwyn Garden City provided anything of real interest to see on this date. Didn't even do any photos...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

05/05/22

This, on the other hand, was a planned mission!

Starting from Epsom with the same pair that brought me home two days earlier, 455 865 + 455 872, I went to Waterloo then used 51683 + 51684 on the Northern Line to Euston for 390 134 to Manchester, which was a location that was getting a bit overdue for a visit.

There wasn't much I could note at the Willesden / Wembley complex, only 92 036, 66 543 and 66 518 but I did see 66 548 at Apsley, 319 220 at Bletchley and 57 307 at Rugby before the more productive territory of Crewe. This allowed me to get my first sightings of 77 014, 777 006, 777 004 and 777 012 - plus there were several others that were seen but bowled for identification. Stockport also had some interest with 66 607 passing through.

Upon arrival at Piccadilly, I soon grabbed a picture of 66 104 before starting my haulage fest with 331 015 + 331 009, both required, to Oxford Road for 331 007 + 331 024 back, the latter being required, then 331 013 + 331 020 ( the latter required ) straight back to Oxford Road then a necessary dud movement with 156 422 + 158 866 to position myself to intercept required 195 103 at Piccadilly, again to Oxford Road.

This time another dud move on 185 145 + 185 116 returned me to Piccadilly but after checking RTT for anything, I decided to make another dud move back to Oxford Road ( on 397 005 ) in order to intercept required 195 107 back again. This allowed me to get another half-required pair consisting of 331 004 + 331 025 to Oxford Road again where I snapped 66 733 before another semi-required pair, 331 030 + 331 031 brought me back again. A further required unit, 195 106, was right behind but this necessitated a trip to Airport this time - out and back on the same unit as it was also the next available return. Longsight was host to 68 030 during this passage, and 66 149 passed us at Heald Green on the return. I stayed on to Oxford Road as a further required example, 195 108, was inbound and I duly intercepted that.

By now I was out of time so I made my way to board 390 131 back to London and while I missed a photo of 66 536, I did get some units in the can while waiting for departure. On the way back I added more photos with 230 008 and 730 008 at Crewe and 66 592 at Bletchley. Sightings included 66 190 and 66 532 at Willesden / Wembley and, earlier, 90 035 + 90 0xx doubledheaded near Rugby.

Back at Euston it was 51715 + 51595 to Waterloo and by coincidence 455 732 + 455 735 back to Epsom... the same pair that I started with on the Cardiff trip two days earlier. This meant that on both big trips in this week I had started and finished with the same two pairs of units, albeit in the reverse order!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Additional 05/05/22 photographs:

 

[Peter Mugridge]

07/05/22

This was a day out with the wife, she needed the Seaford branch for the track so that's where we went...

We started from, Epsom on 377 611 to Victoria, noting some engineering trains at Clapham Junction with 66 529, 66 564, 70 810 and 66 850. Back out of Victoria we were on 377 444 + 377 118 which was advertised as "change at Haywards Heath for Brighton" thanks to the engineering... no direct trains to Brighton... but realising this would mean a busier change onto the same following service, we instead bailed out at East Croydon for 700 120 thus ensuring we had a seat! This also allowed me to photograph 66 104 on another engineering train; 66 084 was also present but out of reach beyond the station.

Arriving at Brighton, we found 377 414 for Seaford. After looking around the town and museum, we had 377 426 back, had a meal at the excellent Bystander café and then boarded 700 144 back; en route I snapped 66 849 at South Croydon and 66 526 at East Croydon. We stayed on to London Bridge and took 377 102 + 377 306 + 377 309 back to Epsom, that being the easier option - grabbing a picture of 700 117 when we were on the flyover at Selhurst.

 

[Kite159]

Some good days out

I need to try and do a 377 to Seaford, just to tick it from my list of things to do, although I suspect it won't be until next year when the weather gets a bit better so I can have a little walk towards Newhaven

 

[Techniquest]

Well done on clearing the Azumas, no easy task considering how many there are! 377s to Seaford, been there and done that many years ago I do want to go back that way some time for a proper explore though, I wasn't into exploring back then after all.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Thank you both; I'll try to get this thread more up to date over the next few days / weeks...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

10/05/22

Railtex day - so not a lot of actual travel, but I did get a bit in after doing the usual networking at the show...

My route to the show was 377 604 + 377 708 from Epsom to Clapham Junction ( where 66 106 was sighted ) and 378 211 to Olympia. afterwards I snapped 66 413 before getting 378 208 to Willesden, sighting 66 703 then proceeding to Paddington on 3247 + 3465. My plan was to see what was in Acton Yard and what the state of play was with the 345s as I still needed a small number of them for haulage at this point.

As it turned out, all the western side 345s this day were dud but 345 024 off Paddington allowed me to note 60 028, 66 057, 66 569 and 59 103 at Acton. While festering at Hayes and Harlington as the various 345 diagrams came past, I did see 66 194 before the final diagram turned up with 345 055 which I took back to Paddington; by this time 66 537 was now also visible at Acton.

Needing to do a bit of shopping on the way back I used 21407 + 21408 to reach Farringdon, 700 149 to East Croydon and dashed across the platform to jump on to 377 620 + 377 624..... realising only a few seconds too late that it was the preceding non stop London Bridge train running a few minutes late and the local for London Bridge via where the shop is at Thornton Heath, due at that time, was in fact not yet in the station... Gaaahhh...!!!!

The quickest way of remedying this, according to Real Time Trains, was to go direct to Thornton Heath from London Bridge on 455 824 + 455 842. This would be a few minutes quicker than returning to East Croydon. After shopping, my route home was 455 818 + 455 832 to Clapham Junction then 377 603 + 377 609 to Epsom.

In the photos from the day below, that aircraft is TC-JJJ working TK1 from Istanbul to New York, as photographed from Hayes and Harlington. The London views at Blackfriars were done from on board the train...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

14/05/22

This was a day out with the wife to visit the ruins of Coventry cathedral and also do a short walk by the river in Leamington Spa afterwards.

We set out from Epsom on 377 621 to Victoria, where I grabbed a couple of last day pictures of 455 805 and 455 840 before we crossed London to Marylebone on 11059 + 11060 and 3241 + 3455. Our traction from Marylebone as far as Leamington Spa on the way out was 168 113 + 168 322, observing 66 053 at Neasden, 68 008 and 68 009 at Wembley then 68 013 and 66 713 at Banbury.

The connection at Leamington Spa was a rather long one and I filled the time in by doing some pictures before 220 002 + 220 004 arrived to complete our outward journey to Coventry. After visiting the ruins we had 172 008 back to Leamington Spa followed by 168 216 to Marylebone. This time we returned via Waterloo with 3253 + 3438 providing the moleage under London and 455 912 + 455 914 onwards to Epsom.

I did many more pictures of the ruins and on the walk than the few in this post and the following "additionals" post below, but I imagine the moderators would prefer the emphasis to be on the railway images!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

...and the additional images from 14/05/22:

 

[Peter Mugridge]

16/05/22

Another 345 hunt this time... starting with 377 436 + 377 309 + 377 319 from Epsom to London Bridge then 700 119 to Farringdon and 21081 + 21082 across to Liverpool Street. Dud pair 720 580 + 720 574 positioned me to Stratford where I was careful to observe all the up 345s while hoping to pick up a 720 as well; while I was there 66 622 and 66 415 put in appearances, and before long... bingo! I was able to avoid the dash down the subway at Stratford by means of a dud 720 563 appearing at the same time as a target was acquired, so a short run back to Liverpool Street allowed me to claim required 345 050 back out to Stratford.

This time while I was there 66 533 came through, but by the time all the 345 diagrams had circulated it was obvious there were no more to be had on the east side, so dud 720 579 took me back to Liverpool Street and 21317 + 21318 across to Paddington followed by the first available outward movement, 387 154 + 387 152, to position myself to Hayes and Harlington. Acton contained 66 758 and 66 097 while 66 591 was at Southall. Before long required 345 037 showed up and I rode this back in to Southall and I waited there in case another required unit would arrive.

None did, but there was interest in the form of 66 701 and 66 413 + 59 101 doubleheading. After a while I had seen all the diagrams and took dud 345 019 to Paddington, adding 66 555 at Acton. When nearly at Paddington, there was gen on another required 345 possibly appearing on a specific Maidenhead starter, so same unit straight back out to Hayes again ( adding 66 546 at Acton ) and waiting... only to find a dud on the relevant diagram in the shape of 345 053.

I was running out of time and could not wait for the further additional diagrams on a "might or might not" basis, so I simply returned to Paddington on it ( 66 549 now at Acton as well... ) and made my way to Farringdon on 21359 + 21360 then 700 040 to Streatham, did a bit of shopping, took 700 050 to Wimbledon and 455 715 + 455 725 back to Epsom. I would have normally gone via Sutton but there were numerous delays and cancellations on Thameslink so on this occasion Wimbledon was the better choice - not least because it was a rare non stop run from Streatham to Wimbledon.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

27/05/22 - 29/05/22

"And now for something completely different!"

My wife likes to try to photograph aircraft, but she has problems aiming her camera properly with the zoom on when she tries from home and when we are out and about, so we booked a two night / one full day "planespotter package" in a runway view room at the Heathrow Rennaisance hotel - the hotel closest to the perimeter fence.

On the way out on the 27th our moves were 455 853 + 455 864 from Epsom to Wimbledon, 21555 + 21556 to Paddington and 345 054 to Heathrow, with 66 104 and 59 102 present in Acton Yard.

For the return on the 29th it was 345 051 from Heathrow, 21315 + 21316 from Paddington and 455 750 + 455 870 from Wimbledon. Acton held doubledheaded 66 155 + 66116 and 66 590 on this occasion.

As for the interim time... well, that's obvious and it resulted in about 200 pictures of aircraft for each of us...

Would anyone like me to post some more of these aircraft pictures in the Aviation area of the forum...?