7.6.19
#LSGsMissionDrive
You may have noticed, that as of late, I've been visiting my local, Newcastle a lot lately. On these once a week jaunts, I've noticed a bit of a change from the norm unit wise, AN allocated 156s, plus recently transferred jockrail 156s and 158s, even NL based 158s too.
Having neglected the local for years, with the intent of going further afield to fill gaps in my book of sights, was of more importance to me. However, I've now realised I need to get my arse in gear. The LNER zings and 91s will disappear soon, I'm now onto the 2nd time with the 91s but there's still some needed to finish them again, as are the renumbered HSTs, both have largely been ignored if truth be told. So I thought with a large variation of stuff to try and rope in, a Tyne Tees Day Ranger will eventually get me out the house and strike out a full line under stuff readily available.
A brief look at RTT in the morning, showed a few workings of interest on today too. So after making sure my daughter got on the bus to school, it was straight over to the local to see if any winner HSTs were on the 08.59, mega dud 43300 led the way but winner 43311 was the rear gunner. Oh get in I thought. Only to hear that due to the Leeds- Aberdeen been cancelled, the 08.59 was now cancelled and those awaiting it had to get on the 09.29 to London KX, as the 08.59 was now forming an 09.10 additional Newcastle to Aberdeen. Cheers for that.
Saying goodbye to 43311, stung a bit, I must say. Even the XC HST were duds 43321 and 43357. Though l may have clicked some of the stock, as I write, I've yet to check.
Next up was the West Thurrock to Oxwellmains cement. By some miracle could my last required Colas plug be on it, the simple answer was no, although it was damn close but still an unrequired 70803.
I was now watching for potential winners of which there was more than enough of too. I knew one would materialise on the 10.23 to Hexham, where I'd bail at the Metrocentre for a move I'd been finding out about on Twitter throughout this week and to also meet s fellow crank, who was out for the same move.
Winner
158869 took me the short leap to the Metrocentre, where indeed my mate was waiting and a few others out for a photo of 67006 dragging 91119 over the Tyne Valley and off to Crewe, for tomorrows Open Day. No sooner had 158869 made it's way West, when 67006 and 91119 duly trundle through.
A few minutes late, my mate n I hopped on winner, for me anyway
158791 for the short hop back
Whilst here dud after dud HSTs and Blunts went South before the Lynemouth toTyne Dock biomass, snaked it's way past the keep and into Platform 2, of which I'm told is a bit of a rarity these days.So maybe 60095 offered me the chance to get(hopefully) a decent pic of it and hopefully get the iconic Castle Keep in the background too.
Not long after my mate departed, I saw the chance to rope in another winner, this time in the form of
156487 up to Morpeth and back.
Passing Heaton, 66109 was parked up, with the Mossend to Tees intermodal, blocking a decent view of 37610 on a test train stabled within the roads of the depot. Right over the back are 2 802's, one in grey and one in TPE livery, at this point, im assuming they're 802201 and 202.
After a 10 minute layover at Morprth it was back to Toon on the same unit, taking a leaf out of 55013s book and transferring into the other coach.
Back into Toon, winners on LNER are still not materialising but 158845 is on the 12.41 Newcastle to Whitby, that'll do nicely thanks.
Winner
158845 is boarded and taken as far as Seaham, for a plus 12 back to Toon. A slow amble round to the Northbound platform kills a few minutes before super mega dud and all round HT stalker 156444, arrives, still I'd rather have 156444 than any bouncing bomb. Arriving back, I see theres another winner parked in platform 10, one of the south end bays at Central unfortunately its locked out for now but definitely one for later.
At long last LNER come up trumps, double winners too on the 13.59 to the Cross.
43318 will lead the charge whilst
43307 will be the cows tail, for the whizz down to Darlo.
Tyne Yard sees a trio of Azuma's stabled and fenced off at the bottom of the yard, good news is that 2 out of 3, 800106,
800107,
800112 are required for sight too.
( more to follow as the day goes by)