Palmersears' Jaunts

[FQ]

For the Wirral I just suggest staying at Liverpool Central because you get much more there than any stop overground.

 

[palmersears]

Can echo all that Tech has said here, except that it's Sandhills you'll want rather than Sandilands

I must say I do think Sandilands sounds like a much more quaint name!

This is taking shape quite nicely. Couple of hours at the above, couple at Central, then maybe out to Chester to see if I can clap eyes upon 175004 which I believe is currently at the ATW depot with its corrosion issues. Possibly head back via Crewe and pick up any quirky freight movements, but I will play that by ear.

 

[47403]

Tell her to make her own teaor go to the chippy/takeaway, especially if she doesn't want you back till a certain time.

You want freight and VTEC stuff, plus Northern = Leeds/Doncaster. Go to Donny first, get to Leeds around half 3, for when Neville Hill start throwing everything out the depot for the rush hour period, your also in place for a train home back in time for some domestic bliss, if there's such a thing

 

[palmersears]

Quick update as I won't have time to do so between now and my day in the capital.

06/06/16

Too many sixes in today's date for my liking, but we overcome this with a lovely lunchtime stroll down to Salford Central, for a change, to see the late running Peak Forest empties, being towed by 66053, on their way to Hope Street cement works. This was followed at home time by my first 156 since 19 May, with 156443 taking me home.

07/06/16

An absolute feast today, with no fewer than five, yes FIVE, new sightings in and around town. I started at Hazel Grove, with 66171. Running some 20 minutes late up to Peak Forest allowed me to spy it as I drove down the A6, just catching a glimpse of the number before passing underneath it. At the other end of the morning commute I clapped eyes upon 221141 sitting at Piccadilly, which takes me to five remaining 221s (four if you discount the bombardier unit at Central Rivers).

At lunch I usually amble down to Deansgate, but, whilst whiling the time away at work looking at Freightmaster and RTT, I managed to work out that I could catch both the daily Peak Forest/Hope Street working and the Basford Hall/Trafford loco in under 30 minutes, which was a nice surprise. With that it was off to Salford Central to catch the 12:17 to Wigan Wallgate, passing Hope Street to pick up 66128 as we passed. Alighting at Salford Crescent it was then a short 5 minute wait in the sunshine before the 12:26 ex-Southport service, which gets me into Deansgate 3 minutes later, in plenty of time to see 66564 roll through. Very happy to have found a nice new lunchtime jaunt with double the numbers on offer, I set off back to the office. I am aware that the above is reliant on two Northern services both being on time, but that's a risk I'll have to take! Home time saw me pick up 150253, which was working the ATW service along the North Wales coast with its friend, dud 150252, in place of the usual loco-hauled set. Ouch.

08/06/16

Speaking of the above loco-hauled set, it was back today, with 67008 at one end and 82308 at the other. I thought I'd seen the latter before, but apparently computer says no.

Sadly I forgot to check to see what was doing the Hope Street working before setting out, had I of done I would have seen it was a dud. Wasted trip, lesson learnt.

09/06/16

Having checked today(!) it was a dud 66 working to Hope Street, so I headed straight for Deansgate to see...another dud Bah. It looked like being a fruitless day, however when the 16:13 turned up to take me home at Deansgate with only two carriages, both of which were packed to the rafters, I bailed on that and took the tram to Piccadilly (along with a load of AC/DC fans heading to the Etihad), arriving just in time to see 66533 slogging through on the trek down to Felixstowe. With that I headed to platform 11 for the 16:49 home and, as we pulled away a couple of minutes later, spied my penultimate Northern 319, as 319367 whizzed passed on the way to Liverpool.


Wishlist

Looking not too bad really:

158 (EMT) - 774/846
175 - 004
221 (VTWC) - 221113
319 (Northern) - 374
332 - 003/009/014

Hope to clear the 332s when I go to London on Tuesday, and the 175 when I do Merseyside in two weeks. The 221 will need a bit of luck at Stafford or Crewe one night I reckon.

 

[Techniquest]

You've done rather well this week, that's for sure. Getting the penultimate 319 up there must have been a nice bonus. Not seen 175004 for ages but it's got to be doing something again soon!

London promises to be good for you I suspect, you might still bump into that 221 when you arrive at/leave from Euston yet!

 

[jayalongtheway]

Enjoying catching up with your exploits Carltonslugs

 

[palmersears]

You've done rather well this week, that's for sure. Getting the penultimate 319 up there must have been a nice bonus. Not seen 175004 for ages but it's got to be doing something again soon!

London promises to be good for you I suspect, you might still bump into that 221 when you arrive at/leave from Euston yet!

I did well to catch the 319, I had zoned out completely as we left Piccadilly - there's usually so little to see now I ignore it all - and only just caught on that it was a required unit.

The 175 I think is at the depot in Chester undergoing repairs for the corrosion issues the fleet have suffered. I will have to see if it's out and about again soon as apparently it has been there a while.

Enjoying catching up with your exploits Carltonslugs

Many thanks, Jay. Nice to see somebody has caught on to the username

 

[Techniquest]

You're gonna have to explain Carltonslugs to the rest of us, it's gone whoosh over my head and no doubt others too!

 

[palmersears]

Palmersears = Palmer's Ears

So named in homage to the great man himself, Carlton Palmer (More specifically his ears):

Another name for ears = lugs, hence Carltonslugs.

Hopefully that's mystery solved!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

So for tomorrow I have the option of going to East Croydon instead of Herne Hill (friend is moving house today from the latter to the former!). They are happy to meet me at Herne Hill, but I thought East Croydon for a couple of hours might yield more in the way of winners? Thoughts?

 

[jayalongtheway]

Indeed, I'm no stranger to the Cheadle End and previously the Popular Side myself so I fully understood where your name comes from!

 

[FQ]

Sounds like a great few days for winners! We must have just missed each other yesterday.

 

[Techniquest]

Ahh, that makes sense with the name thing, you can tell I don't follow football!

East Croydon will get far more winners than Herne Hill, definitely. Set up camp at the north end of the platforms and you will do well out of just an hour there!

 

[palmersears]

11/06/16 - Trooping the Colour Railway

So, today was the day I hit the big smoke once more to see if I could bite a massive chunk out of the numbers required in and around London. I wish I could say enjoyed the 06:00 alarm call, but after one too many delightful ales last night I was feeling a little rough as I arrived at Hazel Grove for the 06:35 to Kirby. Alighting at Stockport I had a 15 minute wait for the Virgin service so, in an attempt to rouse myself, I purchased porridge and peppermint tea, both of which were tentatively consumed from coach U as the 07:04 pulled out of Stockport.

Safe in the knowledge nothing would present itself until Crewe, I settled back and napped for another 20 minutes, awaking as we pulled out of Crewe (good timing!). The honour of first winner for the day went to 92018, closely followed by 350233. I actually managed to get some numbers off Basford Hall for a change, 66513 & 66433 doing the business there, before we overtook the marvelous looking 68012 on its merry way from Gresty Bridge to Wembley.

The majority of the WCML then came and went as I dozed once more, hopefully nothing interesting happened at Nuneaton or Rugby, and next in the book was 66186 as we whizzed through Apsley. I always know the capital is upon me when we hit Watford, where I added 378206 to the log, whilst Wembley sidings brought further loco winners in 66075 & 66510.

Now feeling much happier with life as we pulled in to Euston, I alighted (picking up 90046 on the sleeper), and headed straight for the Victoria Line, and indeed for Victoria itself. Here I did a quick sweep of the concourse to pick up all that SE and SN had to offer, before jumping aboard the 09:24 to Oxted, with East Croydon the intended destination. Keen observers will note this is a deviation from my original plan to tackle Herne Hil, but with my friend moving house to the throbbing heart of south west London I figured it'd be easier for her to meet me there, plus I had the opportunity of far more by way of traffic to get my teeth into than at Herne Hill.

A sneaky glance across at Queenstown Road got me 450074 as we swung over the SWML, and further SWT winners were forthcoming at Clapham Junction, namely 450012 & 450025. Balham came and went, as did 455842 & 455846, with more of the same at Thornton Heath, where 455827 did the honours. I took the opportunity of a free wee whilst on board my 377 (Better than paying 30p at Victoria!), and then it was out into the hazy sunshine of Croydon. It still looks rubbish. After a brief pause for coffee and a natter with the aforementioned friend she bid me adieu to finish unpacking her house, and I made my way to the London end of platforms 3/4 to see what would come my way. First 30 minutes I noted down everything going in and out, before then switching to just the stuff going into London in an effort to keep the dud count down. Thameslink were all over the shop due to a trespass incident at Elephant & Castle, leaving plenty of irate Londoners desperate to get to the seaside, but that aside it was largely uneventful, save for my first two 171s. A whole heap of winners though, including a number of 387/2s, which was nice. Whisper it quietly as well, but I find the 442s rather charming to watch fly by.

After just shy of two hours in Croydon, and with the duds now beginning to pepper the log, I decided new territory was needed, so it was off to New Cross Gate, where I changed to a nicely air-conditioned 378 for the stop-start journey to Whitechapel. Exiting here I swung by the Sainsburys on Brady Street, grabbed some supplies and took advantage of another opportunity for a free wee, then made the short walk to Bethnal Green. After much pondering, the bulk of which was due to the awkward height of the fence on platform 2, I settled for a spot at the London end of said platform, and concocted a plan to go for numbers coming into London only. Popcorn (sweet and salted) was opened, and I settled back under cloudy yet muggy skies, to scribble fairly furiously for two hours. It warmed my heart to see the Pretendelino is still doing sterling work in between 90011 & 82105, whilst I also had the added bonus, due to engineering work, of all the C2C 357s coming into Liverpool Street as well. The best bit of the stay here? Undoubtedly at 13:00 when all the differing aircraft involved in Trooping the Colour/the Queen's Birthday came over one after the other in perfect view. Once 315 driver even delayed leaving for a minute or so to watch!

Again the two hour mark came, and again this signalled it was time to move on. I made my way over to platform 1, and an Enfield Town service then carried me as far as Seven Sisters, and then the short hop on the Viccy Line again, this time to Finsbury Park, where I was hoping to make serious inroads into the GN stock, and plug more gaps in the VTEC stuff.

Sadly when I got there I was greeted by a departure board chock-a-bloc with cancellations as, for whatever reason(s), GN were suffering a number of driver shortages. I decided to see what was what, setting up base camp in the waiting shelter on platform 5/6, which proved particularly handy when a pretty serious shower hit not long after arrival. As I feared, not much was forthcoming in the way of traffic. A few required 43s and 91s flew through, and some GN stock did appear, but with long gaps between services I was becoming restless, and decided to make a break for it after 45 minutes. Still, made a start on the GN roster I suppose. Save it for another day.

With no firm plan as to were to head next, I got the tube and found my auto-pilot had brought me to St Pancras. Free wee done (the body doing its best to get rid of last night's excesses as quickly as possible!), I hit the Eurostar platforms for four new scores (3002, 3011, 3215 & 4015), before deciding upon a new wee journey. Having never gone beyond St Pancras low level northwards before I popped onto 319427, which moaned, groaned, and almost gave up the ghost before dropping me wearily at West Hampstead Thameslink. Lord knows if it made it to St Albans or not! Here I caught some EMT action for 20 minutes, only 222020 was a winner, before heading off to one of my favourite spots, Willesden Junction.

The world and his wife wanted on the 378 at Willesden, so I was rather relieved to be off, and I set about giving the binoculars their first spin of the day. Clearly the current works on the GOBLIN have seen TfL/LOROL decide the 172s are best off keeping the sidings at the depot warm, as I got no fewer than six of them parked up. A right result, which means the LO 172s are now cleared. I also caught the NR 313 in said depot, along with 87002. There was also a Chiltern unit there, but sadly I couldn't make out the number, so haven't put that in the book.

As quick as a flash it was 16:00, and I pondered what to do with my final hour or so before the 17:40 home. In the end I decided a trip through the depot at Queens Park on the Bakerloo would be a nice quaint way to end the day, so 5 minutes later off we went. Slightly weary at this point, I still concluded it'd be a waste of the last hour to simply fester at Euston, so I dragged myself off at Marylebone and did a sweep of the platforms there, just incase you thought there wasn't enough variety in the classes I was picking from today! Mainly 165s here, I did also pick up the DVT from the rake I was on from Moor Street to Leamington t'other week.

Resisting the urge to buy the entire contents of Patisserie Valerie, I plonked myself down aboard the 205 to Bow Church, and we plodded along Euston Road to my waiting 390. Outfoxing the masses with a quick check of RTT giving notice of the as yet unadvertised platform switch, I was stood in front of a bemused gateline staff member some 25 minute before departure. Usually they make me wait, but today she seemed so in awe of the fact I knew the departure platform before it was on the concourse displays that I found myself wandering towards coach U without having to wait. As I did the train manager approached, which I assumed was going to be for a telling off and an escort back to the gateline, but instead, noting my Stockport County badge on my rucksack, he began enthusing about buying a season ticket for the coming season. So bowled over was he by somebody getting on a train to Stockport who supported Stockport, he told me to make use of coach G, which was very nice of him. Free tea was good, whatever the 'grab bag' of food contained was not. Glad I didn't pay £15, that's for sure.

And with that I was pretty much done, both mentally and physically. Few more bits and pieces picked up as we flew home, including two further EMT 153s at Crewe, but it was safe to say I was looking forward to home now. Sadly it would appear there was rain of biblical proportions at home during my absence, causing a landslip at Disley. As such my options to Hazel Grove had halved, as they'd cancelled the Buxton services, so I had to wait an extra 15 minutes for a double 142 to crawl, kicking and screaming, to my destination.

And that's your lot. 252 winners, including all of the LO 172s, and the London list is looking a little bit better. Still miles and miles to go, particularly with SE, but they can wait until London Bridge is a bit more spotter-friendly in August or some such.

I return to the capital on Tuesday afternoon, which I reckon will be spent at West Ealing for a nice mix of freight and GWR/HC/HX.

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a very productive day in London

 

[FQ]

Holy moly! What a productive day! Soche train manager on the way back too!

 

[47403]

Certainly knocking them lists down. Some very productive days all round.

I may have to hit your neck of the woods myself sooner rather than later to knock off some of my NH requirements all 8 of my required 142s hail from that area, as well as a number of 150s too. Plus there's the bonus of trying to get the loco hauled set.

Seen as your a hatters fan best not mention Boges then.

 

[Techniquest]

Very wise move avoiding the facilities at Victoria, as they're 50p not 30p!

What a clearout you had, certainly Croydon and Bethnal Green were being very good to you there. I don't remember the fence being overly awkward at Bethnal Green, although in my defence I've not done a proper spotting session there for at least 9 years!

The flypast must have made quite the sight, that's for sure!

 

[palmersears]

Certainly knocking them lists down. Some very productive days all round.

I may have to hit your neck of the woods myself sooner rather than later to knock off some of my NH requirements all 8 of my required 142s hail from that area, as well as a number of 150s too. Plus there's the bonus of trying to get the loco hauled set.

Seen as your a hatters fan best not mention Boges then.

I wish you the best in your quest for the 142s, I really am not looking forward to having to trek to the depths of Wales and the South West to catch them when the time comes!

Bogie was an odd one. Arrived with so much promise but just didn't seem to have any self-motivation or drive, and it all petered out rather quickly.

Very wise move avoiding the facilities at Victoria, as they're 50p not 30p!

What a clearout you had, certainly Croydon and Bethnal Green were being very good to you there. I don't remember the fence being overly awkward at Bethnal Green, although in my defence I've not done a proper spotting session there for at least 9 years!

The flypast must have made quite the sight, that's for sure!

50p for a wee?! What sad times we live in

The issue with the fence was mainly that, when sat on either a bench or sign/light base, it was directly in my line of sight, meaning I had to duck down or stand up to get numbers!

Can I ask those with far more knowledge than myself as to where is best to get the Chiltern stuff in/out of Marylebone? I seem to recall West Hampstead might be best from an old cab ride video I watched, but I can't be sure.

 

[Kite159]

Probably the best place to get the Welsh pacers is on the island platform at Cardiff Central, as most will work on the Valley lines.

As for the GW 143s, Exeter St Davids will probably score you most of them, plus various other units and HSTs.

 

[FQ]

For Marylebone, I simply recommend Marylebone. Going even one stop out from there will mean that you'd lose either the Aylesbury or the Wycombe bound stuff.

 

[palmersears]

13/06/16

So I once again forgot to check what was working the Peak Forest to Hope Street on Monday, and once again it was a dud. Usually this means there's nothing to see at lunch, as the Basford Hall-Trafford light engine move doesn't run on a Monday. However imagine my surprise when, alighting at Deansgate, I instead saw 66712 rolling through. Bonus.

I also caught 150213 on the way home.

14/06/16

London-ho once more for me on Tuesday for another vaguely pointless meeting. Settling in on the 14:35 Piccadilly-Euston there was little of any interest until Wolverton today, where 350107 claimed the prize for first score. Very little else then until we reached the outskirts of the M25, but it was worth waiting for as I snaffled 387226 & 387227 on test. Hopefully they'll have a wash before entering service, utterly filthy things already. Birkhamstead threw up 350116, whilst Wembley, and the associated sidings, gave me another LM unit, 350253, and a number of locos; 66074, 66178 & 66504. I then got the first LM 319 in the book on the approach to Euston, with 319216 doing the honours.

Heading down Euston Road to the hotel I pondered where to go after checking in. Options ranged from the easy to reach (Marylebone), the most varied (Ealing Broadway), or the untapped (Finsbury Park). After the cancellation debacle at the latter on Saturday I thought I'd give it another crack, so it was off up the Victoria Line to see if the weekdays treated folk any better for service levels. I arrived to see just the one service had been canned, so things were looking up, and I settled in at the same spot as Saturday to catch 313039 & 317342 doing their things. It was at this point that I was approached by a member of staff and asked what 'my game was.' I politely stated I was wishing to stand here and watch some trains go by, but apparently this wasn't something that was to be tolerated on a Tuesday, despite being acceptable on a Saturday, and I was asked to either 'get on a train or leave.' Miffed, I jumped aboard the next service to the Garden City, and left.

Having no real plan now I'd been effectively forced from the station I almost bailed at Harringay (I think?), but it looked a bit rubbish, so I carried on. I reasoned that I'd go to Ally Pally and see what was going on there, but then suddenly Hornsey appeared, along with a number of 700s. With that I was off in a flash, and surveyed the scene with 3 700s on Hornsey, and 2 more on Freme Park. The binoculars picked up 700004, 700102, 700110 & 700112, whilst a quick walk up to the bridge that spanned the up platform allowed me to pick up 700113 at the back of Hornsey depot. Chuffed to have struck lucky with these I almost moved on as a northbound 313 pulled in, but decided it was perfectly pleasant stood on the northbound platform picking up units heading out of Kings Cross and Moorgate. And with that I spent the next 90 minutes scribbling at a brisk pace as a smorgasbord of 43s, 91s, 313s, 317s, 321s and 365s flew passed, peppered with a GC 180 for good measure. When a dud 66 trundled passed just after 1900 I decided it was time to head elsewhere, so it was all aboard 313063 and, I decided, Highbury & Islington. Catching D6757 as we set off, which looked amazing when juxtaposed next to one of the 700s, I then settled back for the new journey down to H&I.

Alighting, I couldn't resist the lure of Willesden Junction and the freight gems it might bring. RTT suggested there was to be a wee bit floating about, so off across the NLL I went. First up upon arrival was 66079, and then the binoculars came out once more to get 86101 on the LO depot. 66188 came next, whilst the throaty rumble of 66088 shunting into the NR yard to the east alerted me to its presence. 66087 trundled through the high level platforms, before my attention switched to the up slows below, where first 350238 then 350137 sped through. Various other 350s also came and went to help chip away at their numbers. With that it was 2030, a few dud 90s came through, so I decided to head for the hotel, picking up 86259 as we went.

All in all a very good day, with 68% of GN now cleared, and 66% of VTEC. The 313s are over half done (53%), whilst the 365s are even better, with only 12 remaining.

15/06/16

With the pointless meeting turning out to be as expected (pointless), I was back aboard a 390 at 1540 (the £110 ticket price putting off everybody as I had the carriage to myself!) and off up the WCML out of Euston (where I got 319460) again. This presented a smattering of locos (and two LM 319s):

Apsley

66502
319013
319441

Rugby

66019

Rugeley Trent Valley

66772

Tamworth

66546

Willesden Junction

90016
92019
92043

Crewe arrived, and I continued the good form with Basford Hall, where I managed to sneak both 66304 and 70002. After passing 37064 just outside the station I was delighted to see 68025 in platform 1, along with 'Caroline' whom I've never seen before. What a charming little thing she is!

With that I reckoned upon a boring fester at Stockport, which was duly forthcoming. I did make the 20 minute wait for my Hazel Grove service more pleasurable by purchasing a fine array of sweets from the stall in the station underpass, and returned to platform level just in time to see a dud 66 dragging 67022 down to Bescot.

And that is it. All in all very pleased with 118 new sightings, and with making such inroads into the GN stock.

Wishlist

158 (EMT) - 774/846
175 - 004
221 (VTWC) - 113
319 (Northern) - 374
332 - 003/009/014

Now if things drop nicely I may be able to tick off the 158s, the 175 and the 319 tomorrow on my proposed trip to Liverpool, but we shall see. Otherwise I intend to make a hefty initial blow into the Merseyrail stock, head to Chester for a bit, then maybe back via Warrington Bank Quay to see what I can find on Arpley.

 

[Techniquest]

Very nice bit of progress made there, those 700s will have been a nice bonus I'd imagine.

I've never had that issue at Finsbury Park, they've always been spotter-friendly before. Most disappointing and I'd get in touch with Great Northern about it, very poor customer service.

 

[palmersears]

Very nice bit of progress made there, those 700s will have been a nice bonus I'd imagine.

I've never had that issue at Finsbury Park, they've always been spotter-friendly before. Most disappointing and I'd get in touch with Great Northern about it, very poor customer service.

I must admit I was surprised by their reaction, and if it does occur again then I'll escalate it. As it is I'll put it down to a bad day at the office for the chap involved and move on.

Already got 29% of the 700s now!

 

[FQ]

You're certainly doing better than me on the 700s! I've seen 004 and 102 but none of the others. Sounds like a highly productive time in London but it sounds like the station staff at Finsbury Park are awful!

 

[palmersears]

Just a quick update for those clamoring for news from my Liverpool trip. Sadly I only managed three hours there, as an emergency back home meant I had to curtail the trip. I did managed to get out to Chester and back (out via Bidston and Shotton, return direct to Central), which was very pleasant, as well as brief visits to both lines at Liverpool Central.

Key points:

• 175004 (well half of it!) was chalked off at Chester, meaning the 175s are now complete
• The Northern 319s are done as well, with 319374 the first thing I picked up upon arrival at Lime Street
• Just the one EMT 158 to go now I've got 158846 in the bag
• Another two 37s also in the hutch, with 37602 & 37610 working the NR test train through Piccadilly on the way home.
• I only managed to grab 22 MR units, which was disappointing, but now I have my bearings the next trip will be far more productive.

Not much on the horizon for the future. I will have a few hours in London a week Wednesday as I'm down there for another meeting, so I intend to hit the GWML, probably at Ealing Broadway/Acton Mainline, for a couple of hours. That aside if I get a day off in July I will head to Tamworth I reckon, see if the last VTWC 221 presents itself, along with a healthy dose of freight and XC stuff.

Apologies for the rather brief update, life is rather hectic at present. I'll get something proper done for the London trip.

 

[FQ]

Shame you didn't get as long as planned. I hope all is going OK at home now.

 

[Techniquest]

Yes same here, I hope the emergency has been suitably dealt with. Sadly real life gets in the way of bashing, I know this from experience and am reminding myself right now of two things:

Thank Goodness I did that application for my magic plastic, it's going to get filled even more this weekend! Also that, for every time you feel like you're in a bad place or having a bad time, there's always someone worse off than you.

I have a trip to West Yorkshire this Sunday to make as my elderly godmother's cancer has spread, all they can do for her is stronger painkillers now. This weekend could well our last chance to go up there and see her. This news was received when we got back from a holiday last night. So no super fun time on the rails, merely a journey with a purpose. It'll all get recorded, of course, but it won't be hugely enjoyable.

 

[palmersears]

Many thanks both. Happily it was nothing too serious in the end.

Having been through something similar myself a few years ago I offer my deepest sympathies, Tech. It's never nice to know you may be seeing somebody close to you for the last time, but cherish every moment and make sure everybody's abiding memories are happy ones.

It seems rather churlish of me to discuss the contextually irrelevant forthcoming spotting plans in the same post, so I shall leave that for another day.

 

[47403]

By your knocking stuff right out the ball park with sightings Mr palmersears. I doff my cap to you.

As for the numpty on Finsbury Park, I'd have suggested him to go and travel elsewhere. You always get one bloody jobs worth, watch one of smilevideotrains on you tube, where a member of staff at Stratford tell him, he can't video trains there.

I really can't understand why there's some intolerance of our brethren at Stations,(soapbox alert) don't they realise, enthusiasts at stations can be a good thing, an extra set of eyes and ears for a start. Over the years, I've also pointed out to passengers, mainly elderly folk, which platform for trains, I'm sure many of you have been asked the same, at some point, is this the right platform/train for x y or z.. I've also been confronted by a huge group of blokes, for whom I thought were gonna extract the water for taking numbers at Central, this guy and his burly set of pals, basically encircled me, I'm thinking, oh dear, goodbye world, however it was, sorry to bother you but we're down for a stag do and we thought you'd be local, where's the best bars, eateries and how do we get to this place. 10mins later, I'd passed on a bit local knowledge, had a bit banter about the hobby, nowt too bad, as they left, they said their thank you's and one shouted the immortal phrase, Happy hunting.

Though station staff may not like to admit it, the average enthusiast probably is more clued up on trains and services, out that station, than they are.

Sorry didn't mean to take over the thread, shame about the mad dash from Liverpool, happened a couple of times to me in the past, so I can sympathise on that front. Kites right regarding Cardiff, Id also advise getting there about an hour or two before the evening peak as Canton, throw everything out the depot, if you can stay till about 8ish, you'll probably nail all the ATW 142s, in one swoop.

Look forward to the next installment.

 

[Techniquest]

Many thanks both. Happily it was nothing too serious in the end.

Having been through something similar myself a few years ago I offer my deepest sympathies, Tech. It's never nice to know you may be seeing somebody close to you for the last time, but cherish every moment and make sure everybody's abiding memories are happy ones.

It seems rather churlish of me to discuss the contextually irrelevant forthcoming spotting plans in the same post, so I shall leave that for another day.

Glad to hear it wasn't too serious

Sorry to disrupt your thread there, I've since spoken to her yesterday evening and we're now not going up this weekend as she's having a new shower installed and a few other bits done. So we're waiting for her to let us know when we can go now, probably the week after, so I shall be resuming my plans for a bash this Monday after all!

Please do share your latest updates, I'm enjoying them!