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

[Peter Mugridge]

It will probably be split into different sectors. Although I've not looked into it in much detail yet

I'd recommend the same four portions that we did, then. They're roughly equal in length to each other and fairly close to a station at each end. If you have enough energy left when you reach Harlow Mill on the first leg, you could carry on to Harlow Town where the station is closer, but you'll then end up with a shorter second section which, if you extend it, would make the last two bits less balanced.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

02/08/21 and 03/08/21

This was the outward part of a mini break with my wife.

In the early evening of the former date, we left Epsom on 455 861 + 455 857 + 456 018 as far as Wimbledon then took 21513 + 21514 to Paddington, ate at the Garfunkels ( now rebranded as a Frankie and Benny's but the menu is identical - it's two brands owned by the same company... ) then continued on 21331 + 21332 to Euston.

At Euston, 92 006 was on the blocks having brought the empties in and 92 018 was on the country end; the rather long rake in between was 15010 + 15109 + 15210 +15339 + 15312 + 15303 + 15302 + 15214 + 15005 + 15110 + 15204 + 15304 + 15310 + 15319 + 15315 + 15308 and within this lot our cabin was room 1 in 15204.

Several comfortable hours later, we woke up at Carstairs just in time to see 88 005 trundling past with a freight and the next sighting was 92 014 at Polmadie.

Breakfast at the Central Hotel followed, after which we walked the short distance to Queen Street ( and yes, the statue did have the mandatory traffic cone hat in place!! ) from which we decided to go the slow way to Edinburgh on 334 030 + 334 014 because my wife needed the track for her atlas. On arrival at Waverley, I noted 92 010 in the Klondike siding and we had a bit of time to spare so we boarded 385 109, which was required, to North Berwick ( she needed the branch ) and had an hour at the beach before catching double required 385 033 + 385 025 back to Waverley. The Craigentinny pilot was noted to be 08 742.

After a short wait we caught 800 101 to our destination, Dundee.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

This post and the next post are more pictures from 03/08/21 plus some from 04/08/21 in Dundee, with particular emphasis on the Tay Bridge, of course...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

More Dundee pictures...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

05/08/21 and 06/08/21

The way back was to be rather convulted as it involved some track bashing for my wife combined with having quite a bit of time to spare. We started off with 43026 + 43134 hauling 42046 + 42561 + 42004 + 40601 to take us from Dundee to Queen Street. On the way I took a picture of 385 002 at Stirling and once we had walked back across to Central our next move was 320 302 to Wemyss Bay; we had a good look round at the immediate area and the impressive station before catching required 385 032 as far back as Port Glasgow. From there we had ( dud ) 385 022 to Gourock and back; deteriorating weather precluded a look round there.

After reaching Central, the next line on the list was the Paisley Canal branch, which turned out to be 320 302 again... Following that, we had a meal in a nearby restaurant then, with some time to spare and RTT telling me that two of my few remaining required 380s were easily available, we did a quick trip out to Paisley Gilmour Street on 380 017 and returned a few minutes later on 380 011.

Back at Central the empties were brought in by 92 028 and it turned out to be the same rake we had on the way out - and also we would again have 92 018 for haulage! This time we had room 1 in 15210, so at least I could mark a different Mk 5 for having slept in it.

Once we were back in London, we had breakfast at Euston and then walked across to St Pancras for 700 153 to London Bridge and then 377 309 + 377 306 + 377 467 home to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

More pictures from our return journey:

 

[Peter Mugridge]

07/08/21

This was just a shopping trip, but I broke my journey briefly at Clapham Junction as RTT revealed that my final two 450s for photo were not only coupled together, but were due through at a very convenient time! These were 450 045 + 450 066, but I did also take pictures of 701 011 in Clapham Yard and then one of 458 534 partly as a rehearsal for the 450s that were due through a few minutes later and partly because the sky was very dramatic and photogenic at the time.

The haulages for the day were 377 424 from Epsom to Clapham Junction, 455 826 from there to Thornton Heath with the return being 455 807 to Balham and 377 615 + 377 624 back to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

09/08/21

I was back to haulage collecting and a bit of photography in the East End this time, but first having to deliver something to someone...

Starting from Epsom, I had the same trio as on that shopping trip with 377 467 + 377 306 + 377 309 taking me to London Bridge for 700 105 to Finsbury Park. The onward move was 717 023 to Welham Green, where I handed over what I needed to ( thus taking the risk of the Royal Snail out of the equation ) then headed back in on 717 006 to Moorgate for 21309 + 21310 to Liverpool Street.

The first move was dud 720 562 + 720 550 to Stratford, but immediately returning on dud 745 006 because typically a required pair went past seconds before I reached Stratford...!!! While I was on this return, doubledheaded 90 047 + 90 049 trundled past. The required pair, 720 549 + 720 551, took me from Liverpool Street out to Romford for a successful interception on required 345 058 back towards London, which I rode to Ilford knowing another required one was only two diagrams behind, this being 345 048 and I took this all the way to Liverpool Street; incidentally both using the up fast as there was some issue with the up slow at that time.

Back at Liverpool Street I took a chance on taking a dud pair, 720 542 + 720 543, out to Stratford and this time it paid off as only duds came past on the way but moments later 720 537 + required 720 556 turned up on an up working; this allowed me to grab 720 537 + required 720 552 on another outbound a short while later and I followed this with a second dash to Romford, this time on 720 562 + 720 550 ( remember them from earlier? ) expecting to intercept a required unit inbound from Southend, but it had alas failed at Southend and the diagram turned up with well dud 321 341 + 321 323 instead.

Rode that back to Liverpool Street anyway, then dud 720 564 + 720 539 back out to Straford, saw 66 559 pass through, then took 96011 + 96070 across to West Ham, snapped 387 304 to clear not just the subclass but the entire Electrostar build photographically and immediately took 96095 + 96024 back to Stratford, then had my second ride of the day on 720 549 + 720 551 to Liverpool Street, 21399 + 21400 to Farringdon, 700 148 to London Bridge - on the way getting a picture from Blackfriars of Tower Bridge famously jammed open - and then had, yes, the same triple set of 377s back to Epsom...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

14/08/21

Walk with the wife time again, the objective on this mission being the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal and then the Grand Union proper as far as Hayes and Harlington.

We started with 455 917 + 455 731 + 456 003 from Epsom to Wimbledon, 21535 + 21536 to Paddington and 800 032 to Slough for the outward leg and the return some hours later was 345 023 from Hayes and Harlington, 21425 + 21426 to Wimbledon and 455 869 + 455 856 back to Epsom. Other sightings on the day were 66 772 and 66 528 at Acton and 66 601 at Southall.

Picture 114 in the below selection, incidentally, is what the very end of a canal looks like...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

23/08/21

Another mission to the East end of London!

This time the traction from Epsom to London Bridge was 377 306 + 377 323 + 377 134 and 700 122 took me on to Farringdon with 21091 + 21092 across to Liverpool Street.

My final 710/1 for photo was out, so first things first... 710 126 to Bethnal Green, snap 710 107 which fortunately turned up very quickly, then ride 710 124 + 710 106 back to Liverpool Street for the main event. This started with a required pair, 720 563 + 720 561 out to Stratford, at which I photographed - unexpectedly - 755 418 and more expectedly 66 525, 66 596 and 59 205 before riding 745 001 back to Liverpool Street as a required 720 had switched from platform 9 to platform 5 at the last moment... grrr...

Having chased it, 720 511 + required 720 553 brought me back to Stratford where I added 66 785 and 66 722 to the photographic tally before spotting a required 345 heading to Liverpool Street. As you might expect, the next up service was well dud with 321 330 + 321 338, but I didn't really have a choice as I needed 345 054, which took me back to Stratford again from which I caught 720 540 + required 720 548 to Liverpool Street, required pair 720 538 + 720 564 back out again and 720 522 + required 720 557 in again... then it was time to intercept some required renumbered 357s so with no more required units in sight, dud 321 424 + 321 312 were next as that was the first departure for Stratford.

This time it was 96015 + 96024 across to West Ham where I did a considerable volume of photography getting a serious proportion of my targets off my list. After doing that I took 357 322 + 357 034 in to Fenchurch Street, 21521 + 21522 from Tower Hill to Blackfriars and 700 040 to London Bridge for 377 142 + 377 305 + 377 325 back to Epsom.

 

[Kite159]

What is the surface of the Slough arm like? (As it's on my list of potential things to do in the next week but will put back until the spring if it might be muddy).

You have been busy with a nice trip to Scotland and knocking back some of the new stuff

 

[Peter Mugridge]

What is the surface of the Slough arm like? (As it's on my list of potential things to do in the next week but will put back until the spring if it might be muddy).

You have been busy with a nice trip to Scotland and knocking back some of the new stuff

Well, those six photos of the Slough Arm should give some idea; the water quality is excellent throughout - didn't see any duckweed at all and because there is very little boat traffic it doesn't get stirred up much either. Really, it's a very good one to walk. Lots of wildlife to be seen, and considering it runs past so many busy areas the towpath, at least when we went, was surprisingly quiet - there were times when we didn't see anyone else for 15, 20 minutes a stretch. Another advantage is the way it runs east / west; if you start from the Slough end like we did the sun will be to your right and behind you instead of in your eyes and if the weather is particularly hot when you go, the shade is on the same side as the towpath, so it's more sheltered as well.

 

[Kite159]

Well, those six photos of the Slough Arm should give some idea; the water quality is excellent throughout - didn't see any duckweed at all and because there is very little boat traffic it doesn't get stirred up much either. Really, it's a very good one to walk. Lots of wildlife to be seen, and considering it runs past so many busy areas the towpath, at least when we went, was surprisingly quiet - there were times when we didn't see anyone else for 15, 20 minutes a stretch. Another advantage is the way it runs east / west; if you start from the Slough end like we did the sun will be to your right and behind you instead of in your eyes and if the weather is particularly hot when you go, the shade is on the same side as the towpath, so it's more sheltered as well.

So similar good quality as the Paddington branch (which is similar in being quiet in places and offers a different view of London (ranging from residential, rural, commercial & industrial) although one best to break into two sections, I used Harslesden.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

So similar good quality as the Paddington branch (which is similar in being quiet in places and offers a different view of London (ranging from residential, rural, commercial & industrial) although one best to break into two sections, I used Harslesden.

Yes, it's a good quality construction and walk.

We made the mistake in September 2019 of doing the Paddington Arm in one go... it's 14 miles...!!! Feet really protested by the time we reached the last couple of miles, but by then it would have been as much walking to abort as to carry on...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

28/08/21

For the bank holiday weekend, we were off to stay at one of the wife's friends in Norwich - with a couple of steam train trips planned - so we first had to get to Norwich, obviously.

The usual route to London provided 377 319 + 377 324 + 377 458 followed by 700 108 and then 21323 + 21324 and we found 745 010 waiting to whisk us out of London. Ipswich provided a collection of 90s this time; 90 004, 90 014, 90 042, 90 016, 90 011 and 90 045 while 37 402, 66 432 and 66 108 were all parked at Norwich.

Having dumped our bags at the house, we had some spare time before all of us had a meal and a walk in Norwich; my wife naturally wanted to catch up with her friend ( yap yap yap yap yap... ) so I opted to walk down to the station for a couple of hours. As it happened, one of my few remaining 755s for haulage was in and departing shortly so I picked up 755 404 with a return to Great Yarmouth, which also afforded me the opportunity to snap a large number of the carriages in store at that location, along with 08 870 and 31 452.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

...a few more of the variety of types and liveries in store at Great Yarmouth, the signal box there and a couple of the locomotives back at Norwich:

 

[Peter Mugridge]

29/08/21

Today was a visit - by car unfortunately - to the Mid Norfolk Railway, which yielded GWR 813 for haulage and the rake in use was 9010 + 1842 + 4702 + 5211, the latter freshly ex-works from restoration and didn't even have the numbers applied yet, so identifying it was a bit of fun...

I'm not going to list all the stock seen as it is generally well documented what is where when it comes to heritage lines, but some of it is evident in the photographs...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

A few more Mid Norfolk Railway images:

 

[Peter Mugridge]

30/08/21

The target this time was the Bure Valley, and by train as well.. we started with 755 401 from Norwich to Hoveton and Wroxham and switched to the narrow gauge with the BVR's sole diesel, 3, to take us on to Aylsham. The rake of carriages was 8 + 9 + 16 + 334 + 82 + 34 + 4 + 19 + 6 and on the way we passed 1 at Coltishall while 6, 8 and 5 were both evident at Aylsham. We would pass 6 again on the way back at Coltishall; our return haulage being 1 with rake 12 + 11 + 18 + 35 + 81 + 31 + 7 + 10 + 15.

Our train back to Norwich from Hoveton and Wroxham was 755 409, but shortly before that I obtained a photograph from the walkway of 755 402 heading north to Sheringham.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

31/08/21

Returning home, I noted that 66 432 and 66 108 were still parked at Norwich and we had 745 001 as our service to London. The collection of locomotives at Ipswich was somewhat larger and more visible this time, and I noted 66 562, 90 016, 90 011, 90 044, 90 014, 90 042, 90 045, 66 568, 66 512 and 90 007 while we passed 66 713 at Manningtree.

Nothing much else was seen on the way and from Liverpool Street we had 21411 + 21412 to Farringdon, 700 053 to London Bridge and 377 423 + 377 312 + 377 301 for the final leg to Epsom.

There are no photographs from the way back, but I cannot resist posting these four sunsets that I took from our walk round Norwich on the evening of the day of our arrival, the 28th. You know that lake in the country park immediately behind Crown Point depot? Which you can also glimpse from the train between Crown Point and Whitlingham Junction? That's where I took these...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

04/09/21

Another Saturday, another walk - this time in the New Forest, exploring in detail the area around Beaulieu Road and then a linear walk to Brockenhurst. This meant starting from Waterloo, so we set off from Epsom with 455 911 + 455 707 and from Waterloo we had 44 017 + 444 035. Brand new 701 029 was observed at Wimbledon.

The stopping pattern meant a change of train at Winchester for 444 020; there was much of interest at Eastleigh, namely 66 006, 73 128, 73 212, 73 141, 66 715, 66 764, 08 511, 66 705, 73 136 and 73 201 with, unsurprisingly, another extensive gathering at Redbridge: 66 776, 70 006, 70 008, 70 002, 70 019 and 70 020.

During the linear part of the walk the path parallels the railway for about half the distance, and a number of photographic opportunities presented themselves, including one instance with a New Forest Pony in the same shot as a train. After the walk we had 44 042 + 444 037 straight through back to Waterloo, in the course of which I added 66 414 and 70 007 to the list at Redbridge and 66 154 at Eastleigh.

The final leg from Waterloo to Epsom was on board 455 912 + 455 851 + 456 007.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

06/09/21

My primary target for this mission was to get one of my two remaining 168/3s off my photographic hit list; I did not exactly take the most direct route to Marylebone, though - the gen only became available when I was already en route to London Bridge on board 377 130 + 377 321 + 377 326. Not that it made much difference; a quick hop to Farringdon on 700 149 then 21105 + 21106 to Baker street and a short bit of mole mode with 3267 + 3446 soon sorted that out.

Departing Marylebone on board 165 007 + 165 037 I swiftly located the purpose of the mission, 168 321, in the south sidings and plotted my angle to snap it on the way back. Prior to that, though, I took a picture of 66 040 from the bridge with the depot in the background. 165 003 took me back to London with the required photograph in the can.

My next intention was further 357/3 photographic progress, and to this end I crossed London on 3250 + 3443 and then 21517 + 21518 to Tower Hill for the short walk to Fenchurch Street, where I boarded 357 325 + 357 029 to Barking; no other /3s were parked in a convenient location and I already knew the one I was riding was the only one on my list that was out, so I swiftly headed back to West Ham on 357 201 + 357 208 then nipped across to Stratford on 96079 + 96038 to see if any required 720s would turn up.

None did, so after a while and with time running out I boarded double dud 720 548 + 720 550 to Liverpool Street, took 21023 + 21024 across to Farringdon and then 700 052 to London Bridge for 377 323 + 377 306 + 377 474 onwards to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

09/09/21

Railtex... and a total signal failure at Wembley!!!

Having made my way to Euston via 455 917 + 455 903 to Waterloo then 51502 + 51503, a total suspension of services in and out of Euston just moments before departure forced me to bail out and make my way to Marylebone with the assistance of 11091 + 11092 and then 3245 + 3437 to continue my journey with 68 013 to Leamington Spa ( the rake was 12623 + 12604 + 12617 + 12613 + 12602 + 10274 + 82304 ) and then after grabbing a couple of pictures of 66 117 an annoying fester for 220 016 + 221 134, finally arriving at Birmingham International some 2½ hours down on the original plan and by then most of the people I was hoping to catch up with had left the show and even some of the stands were starting to be closed...!!!

After what was left of the show, I nipped up to New Street on 350 261 and took a photograph of road-rail track thingy 910159 before boarding 390 047 for the run back to a now-normal Euston. the only sightings of interest on that journey were 66 136 and 86 259 at Rugby plus 47 727, 66 110, 66 011 and brand new 720 569 at the Willesden / Wembley complex. I did observe that new 710 378 was out on the Watford locals, but I did not have either the time nor the correct ticket to pursue it.

Crossing London on 51661 + 51662, my final train of the day was 455 719 + 455 716 + 456 013 from Waterloo back to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

11/09/21

No long walk this Saturday; instead we visited the museum at Kew Bridge in the former water pumping station, which does have some railway interest - see the photos below... This was followed by an attempt to visit a nature reserve in South London, only to find the place was closed so a quick pre-planned visit to Tesco at Thornton Heath ended the day's activities.

With just pure "A to B" type movements, the trains utilised were Epsom to Clapham Junction on 455 706 + 455 909 + 456 016, to Kew Bridge on 458 523 + 458 534, back to Clapham Junction on 450 099 + 450 065, to Honor Oak Park with 377 128 + 377 312 + 377 314, same set back to Balham, 377 205 + 377 214 to Thornton Heath, 455 836 to Balham and 377 702 back to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

18/09/21

Another canal walk, this time the relatively short stretch of the Grand Union from Hayes and Harlington to Brentford followed by a visit to Syon Park.

Starting with 377 607 from Epsom to Victoria, we passed 67 021 + 67 024 with the matching Pullman stock at Mitcham Junction we accessed Paddington with the help of 11009 + 11010 and 3234 + 3452 ( the Wimbleware was closed for engineering work hence this longer way round ) before taking 345 040 out to Hayes and Harlington. Only three locomotives were seen at Acton, 66 176, 66 231 and 66 511, but a further example, 66 622, was noted at Hayes.

During the course of the walk a glimpse type photograph was taken of Piccadilly Line 864 near Boston Manor and 458 505 near Brentford. After our visit to Syon Park, we took 450 008 + 450 106 from Syon Lane to Clapham Junction and then 455 707 + 455 911 back to Epsom.

I am now only three months behind with these reports! I will try do do some more catching up tomorrow...

 

[Techniquest]

You really did have a good year! Good to see some more of your trips going up, here's hoping you'll be all caught up soon.

I especially like the combining of keeping fit with the enjoyment of the railway!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I especially like the combining of keeping fit with the enjoyment of the railway!

Ah, now that's me being somewhat sneaky there... the wife likes long walks and likes to see different areas, so it's quite easy to combine those two factory with the use of the train to get there. Plan it right, and there's also the chance of dropping on a required haulage in the process...

For example:

I can also take into account that she likes to mark off in a rail atlas where she has been; by some strange coincidence a lot of the lines she still needs that aren't too far away are those currently being converted to class 720 operation, so there's a reason I've held back on doing anything in those areas for the time being - but I'm sure they will systematically feature in 2022's day out plans... She also needs most of the Valley Lines and of course there's a fleet renewal about to start in that neck of the woods...

 

[Techniquest]

Fair enough, that's a good way for you both to enjoy it so why not! I'm also looking forward to the new order in South Wales, and I think your wife will enjoy some of the scenery as she does the lines. Similarly I'm also now waiting on more 720s to arrive so as to revisit areas I've not done for years, which I did a bit of on a cycling holiday in September. Good grief that feels like a long time ago now! By the time I revisit Southminster, for example, I suspect it will be all 720s, so I'll combine a revisit to the area with a cycling tour and the opportunity to mark off as done on 720s!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

20/09/21

In possession of gen that my last remaining 168/3 for photo was available at Aylesbury, this time knowing it before I set out I figured it would it would be better to make way for it at flank speed, so just for a change I headed to London with 456 012 + 455 710 + 455 901 to Waterloo, where I saw brand new 701 031 on test, and then burrowing my way across to Marylebone with 3231 + 3467.

Departing Marylebone on 165 007 + 165 028 and knowing that this time my target was outside the depot rather than in the south sidings, I took the opportunity to also get the short stretch of track to Aylesbury Vale Parkway in my atlas. Sure enough 168 323 was there and although it was a very tight photographic angle, being on the road immediately adjacent to the running line, I did manage to picture it along with getting a few other images, including one of 01 509.

Having returned to Marylebone on the same pair of 165s, I had one 357/3 left to photograph and that would be my next target. My route east would be 3256 + 3433 to Baker Street, 21035 + 21036 to Aldgate and then 21363 + 21364 to Tower Hill. Mind you, I could probably have walked it from Aldgate to Fenchurch Street in the time it took to wait for the Circle train to turn up... Anyway, let the fun begin...

The unit I required was known to have been out in the morning but then gone to East Ham, so the first thing to do would be to see if the rake was outside... so the first available train out of Fenchurch Street, being 357 320 + 357 018, took me to Barking. No sign of what I was looking for, although something was shunting out of the shed into the washer road. Let's get 357 042 + 357 021 straight back again... watching carefully as we pass the depot... yes, that was the one I needed but I wasn't ready.... drat, right... bail out at West Ham and get 357 315 + 357 008 back to Barking, sight 66 565 and then get 357 014 + 357 034 straight back again, camera at the ready.... MERDE!!! It's shunted back inside!!! Right... bail at West Ham again... and wait....

...and wait....

...and wait...

Check with someone. Hmmm... yes.... in theory there is one 12 car rake which emerges from East Ham for the evening peak... it should be that one...

More waiting...

Eventually, yes, the ecs comes through at it is indeed the rake with 357 318 on it. *click* Job done. Now I'm a bit tight on time as I need to get some shopping done as well, so 357 210 + 357 319 to Fenchurch Street, 21343 + 21344 to Blackfriars, 700 103 to East Croydon... this is tight and it's already in there... at least it's cross platform and half an hour until the next one... dive onto 455 835 + 455 843 just as the door alarms start and hopefully it is the Thornton Heath train... *phew*... it is...

Shopping done, my return route was 455 804 + 455 818 from Thornton Heath to Tulse Hill, 700 010 to Sutton and consecutive pair 377 703 + 377 704 back to Epsom.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

04/10/21

Having done that particular mopping up operation, I decided to turn my attention to my remaining IETs on the LNER side of things. Not an awful lot left, so when it falls that I can get two of them with a single return trip to Stevenage, it's worth doing even if the timings preclude doing anything else useful before or afterwards.

The obvious route to King's Cross is via Thameslink, so I left Epsom on 377 328 + 377 325 + 377 472 for London Bridge and then made use of 700 149 to cut across. I had plenty of time to spare, so had a bit of lunch from Costa ( heated sausage bap x2 if you must know... ) before scratching 801 218 off my haulage hit list. The only sighting of note on the way out was a very filthy 66 114 at Harringay on RHTT duties, with an equally filthy partner at the other end ( unidentified due to the muck plastering it all over, but probably 66 206 ).

During my hour long fester at Stevenage 66 750 came past and so did 37 884 with defunct 465 247 in tow, presumably on the way to Worksop. As expected, 801 101 materialised to whisk me back to London. I did not return home immeditely, however, but I walked across to st Pancras to take 700 122 back out to Finsbury Park and then 717 023 to New southgate in an attempt to get a better picture of something at Bounds Green, but it had been moved before I got past!

That mean 717 005 straight back again followed by 700 132 from Finsbury Park to London Bridge and then home on the same three 377s that I had started out on.