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

[Kite159]

At least SWR being on RTT makes it easier to look for the former 450/5s

I'm surprised you didn't already have them all before they got changed into HC units?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I was only about half way through the whole 450 fleet photographically when they renumbered those at very short notice... I did at least snap them all as 450/5s. Only a handful left to get now...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

07/09/20

Off again, this time to Manchester for more haulages. My start from Epsom was with 455 906 + 455 849 + 456 018 to Waterloo and then burrowing under London with 51596 + 51596 to Euston, whereupon I found 390 010 working the 09.40 departure. The usual collection of locomotives at the Willesden / Wembley complex included 92 038, 92 033, 90 020, 66 147 and 66 187. Rugby had 57 309 on standby as the Thunderbird and 86 259 was tucked up in the usual place as the back.

Near Nuneaton we passed 720 542 + 720 543 which were presumably doing mileage accumulation runs and at Crewe I noted 66 724, 68 006, 90 026, 87 002 and 90 002. Continuing on to Manchester, I added 68 033 and 397 007 at Longsight before arriving at Piccadilly. My next move was 397 003, my first haulage on one of these, for the short hop to Oxford Road and then on the immediately following required pair of 331 008 + 331 022 to Salford Crescent. Meanwhile, 195 129 was in the bay at Oxford Road and 66 727 was holding on the chord at Salford.

Wanting to return quickly as I knew another 397 was imminent, I boarded the first available train back, which was 156 427 + 150 140 - both well dud - and followed that up with required pair 331 029 + 331 016 from Oxford road to Piccadilly before catching 397 012 to Manchester Airport. two more Longsight sightings were added to my notebook, namely 397 002 and 68 029.

Again seeking a quick return, it was dud 323 232 back to Piccadilly, this time noting 08 451 at Longsight, and intercepting required + dud pair 331 025 + 331 028 immediately behind for another Oxford Road hop; this time the ( dud ) return was 156 406 + 158 889, but that was a necessity in order to gain 195 119 - which I had passed while on the way back from Airport - for yet another Oxford road hop; 195 124 was in the bay this time but I ignored that in favour of 397 004 back to Piccadilly, which was a fairly tight connection for my return to Euston via Crewe.

While then waiting on board 390 141, I observed 66 714 trundle through, and also another required - but now out of reach - pairing; 331 007 + 331 017.

Passing Crewe, I was only able to add 37 688 to the list of sightings, but did add 66 079 at Rugby and 08 752 at Wolverton. There was greater interest near Bletchley as we overtook a sandwich consisting of 47 813 + 710 115 + 57 312 on a delivery move to Willesden. Talking of which... 37 601, 67 013, 92 026 and 66 592 were added to the notebook at that location.

Arriving at Euston, it was time to go into mole mode again with 51591 + 51592 back to Waterloo then to finish off with, 455 729 + 455 870 + 456 005 to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

28/09/20:

Essentially a repeat of the previous mission, with an eye on more 331s and 397s! This time the Epsom departure was on 455 874 + 455 706 + 456 005, the mole mode was on 51596 + 51597 and the 09.40 from Euston was 390 114. The visible collection at Willesden this time consisted of 92 023, 66 181 and 710 114 - everything else was bowled by a container train! At Rugby 70 816 was the only locomotive in evidence.

Crewe had 37 800 and 90 002 for interest and 397 011 was lurking at Longsight. Moments after arriving at Piccadilly, however, I had my first result with required pair 331 021 + 331 001 for an Oxford Road hop, with semi-required pair 331 022 + 331 018 back in time to intercept 397 005 for another hop, which straight away yielded required pair 331 013 + 331 014 right behind which necessitated a visit to Deansgate. Required 195 117 took me back to Oxford Road and that was followed by another semi-required pair, 331 002 + 331 027 to Piccadilly.

The harvest was clearly going well, and immediately behind those was 397 002 to Manchester Airport; again not hanging around there I just managed to dash round onto 185 110 + 185 123 to get back to Piccadilly - sighting 68 019 and 68 028 at Longsight - and immediately finding another required pair right behind me for another Oxford Road hop; this time it was 331 023 + 331 031 doing the honours with yet another required pair, 331 007 + 331 019 back again with 66 715 having trundled past in the interim few minutes. it was also at this point that I obtained a photograph of the bogless Sprinter, 150 209, thus clearing for photo all the second generation units - apart from a few 156/9s and now - aarrgghh; more re-numbering!!! - some 153/9s.

I had time for one more hop and as a semi required pair, 331 008 + 331 012 turned up I thought I might as well take it, but had no choice but to get the now dud pair 331 001 + 331 021 straight back again as I was getting a bit tight for 390 020 home via Crewe. Stafford surrendered a doubleheaded 66 707 + 66 724 in the opposite direction, and the resident at Rugby was now 66 013. Passing Willesden, the troublesome containers had cleared off and that allowed me to note the pairings of 67 021 + 67 024 and 66 548 + 66 570.

Burrowing time again and it was 51509 + 51510 across London to Waterloo for 455 724 + 455 731 + 456 009 back to Epsom.

This report leaves just six missions, excluding shopping trips, left to write up before the shutters came down again in November, so I am almost up to date on here now...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

05/10/20

This time it was a mainly Travelcard zones haulage hunt, but with a single spin up to Peterbourough and back to clear another two Zoomy Things off the list. The start from Epsom was with 377 624 + 377 603 and from Sutton it was 700 005 to St Pancras and then a quick walk next door for required 801 202 to Peterborough. Stevenage was populated with 66 099 + 66 116 on RHTT duties and during the not very long fester at "the borrow" 66 764 put in an appearance. My return to London was on board required 800 101.

Having done that, a sideways shuffle on 21087 + 21088 placed me at Liverpool Street for semi-required 710 123 + 710 119 to Bethnal Green and required pair 710 101 + 710 112 onwards from there to Hackney Downs; a rapid return to Bethnal Green on dud pair 710 116 + 710 130 allowed me to intercept another required pair, 710 118 + 710 122, back out to Hackney Downs and semi-required 710 115 + 710 127 to return again to Bethnal Green.

Loan pair 710 260 + 710 271 were the next to turn up, both dud, but I rode them to Liverpool Street anyway before realising I was out of position for the diagrams and a quick change of plan saw me heading straight back on the same pair to Bethnal Green, just in time to intercept semi-required 710 104 + 710 128 back to Liverpool Street.

My next move was a dash to Tottenham Hale on dud 379 008 + 379 025 for a known tight leap onto required Catfish 745 106 back to Liverpool Street. By now running out of time, 21065 + 21066 conveyed me to Farringdon, but I wasn't so tight on time that I couldn't take 700 007 to Elstree and Borehamwood just for the sake of it ( well, I don't want to get home too early or she'll expect me to do that every trip... strategy, see... ). The return south was on 700 030 through to Sutton then 377 601 + 377 614 to Epsom to finish the day.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

08/10/20

Yet another mixed haulage chase! 377 624 + 377 607 started the day off from Epsom to Sutton with 700 043 onwards to St Pancras; the short walk then producing required 801 210 to Grantham and required 800 106 back from there to Stevenage for the following required 800 207 on to King's Cross. While doing that trio I noted 66 147, 66 748, 66 776, 66 768 and 66 759 at Peterborough and 66 534 passing at St Neots.

Having returned to London, it was 21455 + 21456 across to Liverpool Street and required Catfish 745 109 whisked me to Tottenham Hale, with another required example, 745 101, bringing me back again after a fester of about half an hour. It was then time for another tight leap as I knew where another required Catfish was, so dud 379 008 + 379 017 were a necessity to get back out to Tottenham Hale for the very tight scuttle across the footbridge to intercept 745 108.

Running out of time following that, 21111 + 21112 relocated me to Farringdon where I boarded 700 043 to Sutton and finally 377 617 to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

12/10/20

Once again, a haulage hunt on the usual territory, so it was 377 618 + 377 702 from Epsom to Sutton then.... problems! Sutton loop not running... OK... let's carry on to Victoria... then moments later I get a message saying there's issues on the Underground as well... right... bail out at Balham, 455 838 + 455 843 down to Streatham Common and 455 815 + 455 810 to London Bridge, then 700 151 to St Pancras. Sorted! Just in the nick of time as well; my previously comfortable margin to catch known required Hull Trains 800 304 off King's Cross was now down to a few minutes, but fortunately there was no queue in the ticket office and I was on board with about five minutes to spare.

Being a Hull Trains service, that meant I was committed to Grantham, but a quick check meant it soon became obvious that I'd have a three hour fester to get anything required coming back, so I instead opted to return on the first available, which was 800 209 + 801 110. The two passes of Peterborough only yielded three locomotives; 66 147, 66 729 and 66 774.

Having arrived back in London, it was sideways shuffle time again and 21103 + 21104 swiftly deposited me at Liverpool Street but the first move out was dud pair 710 124 + 710 102 to Bethnal Green. Typically just as I left, something required headed in, followed moments later by another one, but the fester at Bethnal Green is a short one and semi required 710 107 + 710 129 took me on to Hackney Downs and the following semi required pair 710 105 + 710 103 provided the gain to Clapton, then it was a dud pair back to Hackney downs, 710 116 + 710 130, and another dud pair in the form of 379 026 + 379 001 onwards to Liverpool Street.

Across the platform was semi required pair 710 109 + 710 126, which I took all the way back out to Clapton, having a hunch as to where the other semi required pair I'd seen earlier was, and I was correct - the next train back was indeed my target: 710 114 + 710 123 which I rode all the way to Liverpool Street, knowing I'd covered all the diagrams.

On the way in, I noted a required 345 heading out on the main line. Well, that shouldn't be too difficult to chase... the next one out was dud 345 039 but time was of the essence for a successful interception on the return, so I boarded it anyway and stayed with it to Romford, passing 66 725 at Startford and 08 700 at Ilford. The first two or three up services from Romford were all dud - but that was not wasted time as had any required examples turned up they would have been a bonus that I could have ridden part way. In the event, the one I had seen, 345 056, soon arrived and I stuck with it all the way back to Liverpool Street before the next sideways shuffle on 21083 + 21084 to Farringdon for 700 022 to Sutton followed by 377 626 to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

19/10/20

This mission had a slightly different tack to it; I had one annoying bit of un-bashed track in my atlas that is in fact quite easy to get, so I decided to do something about it and go on a haulage spree at the same time. The piece of track was the route via Soham between Bury St Edmonds and Ely, so the logical thing to do was a return to Ipswich and a one-day Anglia Plus ticket.

Having procured this combination, I set out from Epsom on 377 619 + 377 625 and as time was of the essence - I intended to get the first available off peak from Liverpool Street regardless of what was on it - I went through to Victoria and then round part of the Circle on 21349 + 21350, bailing out after one stop as I realised I was on a District instead, then getting 21561 + 21562 on the correct route - and to my great delight the first available off peak from Liverpool Street was a required Catfish, 745 105.

Passing Ilford I noted 720 517 and 37 601 while 37 608 was the Manningtree Thunderbird. As usual, the stabling point at Ipswich was quite full and those I could identify were 66 538, 66 594, 66 514, 66 537, 66 593, 86 639, 86 604 and 86 609. With the Soham route being only two hourly, I realised that I had time to make use of the Anglia Plus by getting required 755 335 to Felixstowe and back while still ending up on the next available departure to get my track in. While doing this, I passed 66 745 at Derby Road.

Once back at Ipswich I added 66 569, 90 011 and 66 503 to the notebook and then boarded required 755 422 to Ely, thus sorting out the annoying gap in my track atlas. Soham itself had 66 739 passing and 66 075 rolled through at Ely before - having checked the ticket was valid - dashing to Cambridge on dud 387 113 to pick up required 755 421.

This I rode to Thurston where a quick trot to the other platform gave me required 755 410 back as far as Bury St Edmonds where I got a photo of 66 717 before catching required 755 424 on to Stowmarket. My reason for changing here was to position to Diss as I was aware of two more required Catfish being at the northern end of the route; unfortunately I didn't gain anything on that move as it was 745 105 turning up again - but time was of the essence, so I couldn't wait for the next one on the off chance.

Anyway, Diss was a good move since required 745 002 turned up within about 20 minutes, as expected, and I took this through to Colchester. Passing Stowmarket I noted 37 038 + 37 422 and other pair I couldn't identify in the sidings, which would have been on RHTT duties, and 86 607 at Ipswich. At Colchester 66 543 and 66 553 were both on shed and required 745 001 proved to be the next up express, which I took all the way back to London. From Liverpool Street, 21383 + 21384 took me to Farringdon, then it was 700 008 to Sutton and 377 602 + 377 622 from there to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

02/11/20

This was the penultimate mission before the shutters came down again; having gen that both my remaining 710/1s required for haulage were out and about, the choice of what to do was a no-brainer.

Epsom to Sutton was with 377 432 + 377 325 + 377 328 and 700 014 took me forwards to Farringdon before 21509 + 21510 completed the initial positioning move to Liverpool Street. Dashing straight out to Bethnal Green on 710 128 + 710 104 I indulged in a bit of photography while waiting for one of the targets to show up, making sure to position myself on the up platform once I could be certain that neither was behind me.

Before long, this plan worked with semi-required 710 106 + 710 121 turning up, which I duly boarded back to Liverpool Street and hurriedly took the same rake straight back out to Bethnal Green, regained the up platform and did some more photography... only for my final target to go northbound to Chingford!!!

Curses!!!

It must have passed me in the tunnels when I was on the way back out!!!

That called for an immediate change of plan - why wait the best part of 90 minutes on a cold platform when I could chase it and intercept it on the way back? The next Chingford was 710 111 + 710 119, which I used to reach Wood Street, the furthest it would be safe to go without risking missing it again... and lo and behold, after only a minor wait, semi-required pair 710 110 + 710 120 appeared as expected and I rode them all the way back to Liverpool Street.

Having some food shopping to do, I could not hang around to see if any required Catfish were on the Stansted diagrams - although freshly into service 745 110 was waiting to take a Norwich service out - so it was 21525 + 21526 to Farringdon, 700 109 to East Croydon and 455 835 + 455 824 to Thornton Heath.

Shopping done, it was 455 808 + 455 827 to Tulse Hill, an across the platform change for 700 059 to Sutton and finally 377 619 + 377 702 to Epsom.

 

[Kite159]

Good news with the 710s, something I need to start making inroads with.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

03/11/20

Curtain call - another bit of pre-lockdown shopping to stock up extra with a bit of bashing added in first.

This time the Epsom start was with 377 602 and the connection at Sutton was 700 017; at Tulse Hill I managed a picture of 377 701 waiting on the chord from Streatham Hill and a sighting of 66 051 on the high level line provided some interest at Loughborough Junction. Having gotten myself over to Paddington from Farringdon on 21385 + 21386, required 345 061 was ready and waiting to take me out to Hayes and Harlington.

On the way, I noted a medium sized collection of locomotives in Acton Yard, namely 59 102, 66 104, 66 136 and 66 540. The siding at Hayes was occupied by 66 623, and before long required 345 062 turned up, which I rode to Southall, knowing a third required unit was around and at the London end. While at Southall I added 59 206 and 66 787 to the contents of my notebook. After a short wait, as expected required 345 066 took me back to Hayes.

Of interest is that assembly of part of the new footbridge was taking place, and this gave me the chance to get some pictures of the huge crane in action - see below.

Having a bit of time to spare, I decided to fester at Hayes in the hope that a further required 345 might be out on the Reading diagrams. This time gave me the opportunity to make further observations for the day, specifically of 66 539, 66 619 and 66 614. My wait paid off when required 345 020 arrived which I took back to Paddington.

Before heading to the food shopping, I had an ear appointment within central London* and that meant putting some more Underground haulages, consisting of 21479 + 21480, 3238 + 3455, 51525 + 51717, 51505 + 51703, 51600 + 51601 and 21405 + 21406, in the book before ending up at St Pancras and boarding 700 102 to East Croydon.

The remaining moves were then 377 431 + 377 144 to Thornton Heath, 455 824 + 455 826 to Tulse Hill, 700 020 to Sutton and 377 603 back to Epsom.

*The last picture below is of the view from the hospital which deals with my ear appointments.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That brings me fully up to date with the trip reports and it remains only for me to show in the next few posts a few images obtained while on food shopping trips for November to March, also a few from purely shopping trips made in October. That will then get me fully up to date - finally - with everything, just in time for the great resumption this month!

Here's the first batch:

 

[Peter Mugridge]

This batch includes a quick visit to the bridge near New Malden on one of those shopping trips when the rules were briefly sufficiently relaxed to make that not a problem.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

...and in a similar vein, on another occasion some time at the first footbridge at Wimbledon. The second bridge would probably have been better, but I couldn't be bothered to walk that far down ha ha...!!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The snow in January fortunately coincided with a shopping trip, although it had already mostly gone by then - one day earlier and the scene would have been rather better. On the other hand, the sun wouldn't have been out, so... *shrugs*

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Finally, there's this lot - helped slightly by a convenient engineering work diversion.

That's it then - I'm finally up to date, for the first time, since starting this thread!

 

[Techniquest]

Well done on getting back up to date! Clearly you managed to keep fairly busy during the winter too, no easy feat with some of the weather endured! I'll be glad to see the back of the extremely cold mornings, and all these nasty strong winds need to go away too...

Good luck for your first red pen session when you get to it! I must confess a twinge or three of jealousy, what with all the new stuff to chase and the chance to make farewells to the old scene. I do hope to make it to London for a couple of days of red penning soon enough, I'll not be short of options out of Liverpool Street that's for sure!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Well done on getting back up to date! Clearly you managed to keep fairly busy during the winter too, no easy feat with some of the weather endured! I'll be glad to see the back of the extremely cold mornings, and all these nasty strong winds need to go away too...

Good luck for your first red pen session when you get to it! I must confess a twinge or three of jealousy, what with all the new stuff to chase and the chance to make farewells to the old scene. I do hope to make it to London for a couple of days of red penning soon enough, I'll not be short of options out of Liverpool Street that's for sure!

Thank you... Yes, there's the 720s coming on stream as well now, and I still have a lots of Catfish to chase - a few of the long ones and lots of the short ones, so I'll probably concentrate on those while there is a reduced service out of King's Cross making it more awkward to go for Zoomy Things ( which in any case if I do another Rover this summer would be easier if left for that ).

Unfortunately the way my days off work fall, combined with the bank holidays, means I can't immediately take advantage of the relaxation of restrictions. Looks like my first proper trip will be the 19th - I may well go for that bit of track I need in the West Midlands ( see the 2021 new track bashing thread ) first rather than straight into the haulages.

It's certainly going to be nice to be able to do something other than food shopping by train, that's for sure!

It's a black pen for me, though, not a red one - did you see my post in the lingo thread?

Rail enthusiast lingo

Travelling on a loco hauled train was known as a pull (by the locomotive), as in "I got a 50 pull from new street".

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Techniquest]

I've only read a couple of posts there, not going through all 7 pages When I go to that thread I get logged out, so can't view the attachment. Seems backwards that I'm logged out when being linked to a thread, but I'm still logged in on this page

For me, it's been red pen for ages, not that I use pens and books now. I chucked all my books in the recycling bin ages ago, although I have got a limited file of moves and needs on my phone.

I've been on trains after work this week, the beauty of starting work at 3am. Combining it with cycling has been fun, and soon it'll be a proper haulage fest. Got my eyes on a Thames Valley bash!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Does this screenshot work for you as it's in this thread now, then?

Can't re-post the original as I've already deleted it off my phone and even if I hadn't, I'm not switching it on again at this time of night just for a single picture!

 

[Techniquest]

I wouldn't have expected you to turn your device on just for a photo! Goodness no, but I do appreciate that image as it is nice and clear

Looks very neat, better than the freehand ticks and underlines I used to use! Got to say I can't remember knowing about the Watford incident that book mentions in 1996, something for me to look up later if I remember to do so!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Time I caught up again with the return to the rails after months of just essential food shopping trips...


03/04/21

This was just a small trip - a walk with the wife from Mile End to Limehouse via the canal clockwise, so the Hertford Union Canal, the River Lea and then the Limehouse Cut.

Epsom to London Bridge was with 377 319 + 377 309 + 377 101, then 700 109 to Farringdon for 21369 + 21370 forward to Mile End. There then followed lots of trudging along towpaths until eventually Limehouse was reached. I did a quick snap of 357 319 before we boarded 357 040 + 357 010 for the short ride to Fenchurch Street followed by 21309 + 21310 to Blackfriars, 700 132 to London Bridge and then 377 311 + 377 328 + 377 413 back to Epsom.

During the course of the walk I also did a small number of pictures of DLR units passing over the canals; specifically 10, 62, 65 and 101.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

17/04/21

Another walk, this time in two parts... part one from Whitstable to Herne Bay and part 2 from Birchington to Westgate; this was a deliberate plan to leave the long section in the middle which would require a whole day later on to do.

Anyway... we started with 377 623 from Epsom to Victoria, then 375 624 + 375 610 from there to Whitstable. After the first part of the walk we boarded 395 015 at Herne Bay ( not before I had done a picture of 395 008 ) and at Birchington I grabbed a picture of that before we started part 2 of the walk. Following that, I did a picture at Westgate of 395 006 before boarding 375 609 + 375 625 back to Victoria with the conclusion of the day provided by 377 620 onwards to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

19/04/21

This was my first proper railway trip out since the relaxation began; as described in the track bashing thread the purpose of this trip was to allow me to mark off the route from Stourbridge Junction to Worcester Foregate Street, including the short chord just below Foregate Street.

Epsom to Waterloo was with 455 902 + 455 732 and the mole mode was provided by 3241 + 3444; from Marylebone I had 168 112. A trio of consecutively numbered locomotives was parked up at Wembley; 68 010, 68 011 and 68 012 and there was a surprise at Bicester North in the shape of 37 254.

Running past Tyseley allowed me my first look at the new Dracula-fanged units as 196 102, 196 105 and 196 107 were all present and identifiable. Upon arrival to Moor Street one of my three photographically required Chiltern units, 168 327, was in the other platform so I quickly removed that from my list then dashed round to catch 172 331 to Droitwich Spa.

At Stourbridge Junction, 68 009 and 68 015 were both stabled and 139 001 was positioned neatly between the platform end and the shed; further photographic opportunities presented themselves at Kidderminster, not surprisingly, and a few snaps were obtained of the Severn Valley's collection. From Droitwich Spa it was 172 343 onwards to allow me to complete the targeted section of track; although I could have done that by going to Malvern Link, the fare to Great Malvern was the same and the fester for the return was a shorter wait for the same train as at Link, so it was a no-brainer to carry on.

While at Great Malvern, I took the opportunity to snap 158 951 receding through the cutting plus I also did some of the features of the station and then had 172 342 back to Droitwich Spa for 172 335 forward to Moor Street, where a reasonably tight connection was had with 168 214 back to London. This time the locomotive opportunity was 66 731 at Dorridge and once back in London it was mole mode again with 3262 + 3452 to Waterloo and 455 851 + 455 737 back to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

24/04/21

Another walk with the wife, but this time with a greater rail element as it was a circular walk in Ipswich - see the walking thread in general discussion for the details and a map of the route.

This time we had 377 317 + 377 301 + 377 128 from Epsom to London Bridge, 700 138 to Farringdon and 21085 + 21086 to Liverpool Street. Our steed to Ipswich was 745 107 and while passing Ilford I noted both 08 700 and 08 871 parked in the south headshunt while 755 331 was stabled in Colchester yard.

Upon arrival at Ipswich I quickly noted 66 508, 66 529, 66 504, 66 519 and new for sight 755 328. During the walk I did some pictures of 743 103 across the reed beds and afterwards one of 745 107 emerging from the tunnel before we boarded 745 104 back to London; while passing Stratford I noted 720 558 + 720 522.

Reversing our moves across London we had 21099 + 21100 to Farringdon, 700 037 to London Bridge and 377 465 + 377 416 back to Epsom.

That concludes April; I will at least start the update for May in a few days time.

 

[Techniquest]

It would appear you enjoyed your visit to Great Malvern, certainly one of the nicest stations I've ever been to. I spent an hour there recently, in less than nice weather, and some of that time was spent admiring the architecture. If it hadn't been so wet and windy, I'd have looked around even more!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It would appear you enjoyed your visit to Great Malvern, certainly one of the nicest stations I've ever been to. I spent an hour there recently, in less than nice weather, and some of that time was spent admiring the architecture. If it hadn't been so wet and windy, I'd have looked around even more!

I have to admit I was only there for the 30 minutes or so between the trains...!!

 

[Techniquest]

I have to admit I was only there for the 30 minutes or so between the trains...!!

Definitely one to visit on a separate trip perhaps, as part of a walking adventure? Mind you, the uphill walk into town is a beast on its own, let alone the adventure into the hills themselves! Strongly recommended if you're fit enough to do it, a recommendation for anyone reading this thread. The tearoom is also worthy of a visit, which I must do next time I'm in the area on a weekday.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Definitely one to visit on a separate trip perhaps, as part of a walking adventure? Mind you, the uphill walk into town is a beast on its own, let alone the adventure into the hills themselves! Strongly recommended if you're fit enough to do it, a recommendation for anyone reading this thread. The tearoom is also worthy of a visit, which I must do next time I'm in the area on a weekday.

Yes, did another flying visit on Saturday ( wife needed the track from Oxford to Great Malvern ) and the weather was too mucky to do a walk anywhere, plus we only had from 12.00 onwards available thanks to yet another blunder by her care agency over their provision hours ( so we did the 13.50 from Paddington and returned on the 17.01, which is the same diagram... ). Having thus now shown her the hills from the station we do intend to stay in the area at some point and walk up to the top to see the views.

 

[Peter C]

Yes, did another flying visit on Saturday ( wife needed the track from Oxford to Great Malvern ) and the weather was too mucky to do a walk anywhere, plus we only had from 12.00 onwards available thanks to yet another blunder by her care agency over their provision hours ( so we did the 13.50 from Paddington and returned on the 17.01, which is the same diagram... ). Having thus now shown her the hills from the station we do intend to stay in the area at some point and walk up to the top to see the views.

Did you enjoy your Cotswold Line journey? It's not an amazing line but it's quite nice in parts

-Peter