TC60054's Random Trips Out

[Techniquest]

Advantages of being an old git, maybe, but a Class 40 + Mark 1s on an ADEX beats either...

Oh it would, definitely. High time we had some of these classic moves restored in railtour form. Manchester Piccadilly to Skegness with a 40 for example, Derby to Skegness with a pair of 20s too. I'd settle for Cardiff to Crewe with a 37/4 mind again, and it occurs to me now how much of South Wales I've had with 37s now. Llandrindod to Craven Arms is still an annoying gap for that mind!

Phwoar imagine the boost in passenger numbers if the Heart of Wales had regular loco haulage...

 

[TC60054]

Aaaaaand we're back. 07/01/2017!

This was orignally supposed to be a Cheshire Day Ranger, but after a short notice itinerary change, there was a real possibility of winning a lot of track and units - oh how well that went!

Just before I get into the report, tram 119 was my first for the year, and I've already had 118 this year. I'm already quite impressed

The day started with tram 111. The day also finished with 111, but in a slightly more broken form, but we'll overlook that point! Arriving at Sheffield, spending almost £30 on tickets for the day, and it was onto my first train of the year - that is, if you could call it that. Dud 142032 was taking me forwards to Worksop.


Northern 142032 Sheffield by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

Northern 142032 Worksop by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

Oooh look, we've even got accompanying photos!

This would be a long day, so my first port of call at Worksop was the cafe, where I let go of even more money to purchase some tea - although the cup was that well insulated, when it felt cold, it felt like it had burnt my throat The next move was onto the Robin Hood line, which contained quite a large amount of winning line. I was looking forwards to this, as I need quite a large amount of EMT 153s, although I was more than disappointed when dud 156411 turned up to take us forwards to Nottingham.

An hour and five minutes later, and after spending fifty of them minutes trying to resist the urge to smother some kids who wouldn't stop screaming with their parents paying absolutely no attention, and it was then to start the circular itinerary...well, kind of circular at least. Dud 170105 was the next move, forwards to Tamworth via Derby. I could tell by now that I wasn't going to win much else today, even with the high numbers of requirements on the ranger!


CrossCountry 170105 Tamworth by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

Down to the Low Level at Tamworth, and it wouldn't be one of my days out if I didn't drop onto one of my highest mileage 350s, would it? :roll: 350119 was taking us fowards the short hop to Nuneaton. Quite annoying - this was the unit I took my first ever "trip" to London on (if you could call it a trip!)....oh well, I'd win a 170 over to Peterborough, surely?

WRONG! A quick wait at Nuneaton later and dud 170397 appeared around the corner for the 71 mile hop. At least it was a three car unit I suppose. It could have so easily been worse...probably.


DB Cargo 66175 Peterborough by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

After somehow watching two freights passing through within the space of a minute, it was onto yet another dud unit, this time being 158799, back across to Nottingham. At least it was an ex-TPE one.........

By this point, my track clearance was looking pretty decent, and definitely much better than that of units! Quick lunch break in Nottingham later (definitely not because there was a very shoddy connection!) and it was then up to Lincoln, of course I'd be winning a 156 here....

Wrong again. Dud 158852, there and back. The same unit that not even a week ago had been cleared for 100 miles after taking it out of the trainshed at Piccadilly and across the Hope Valley on 1L18 :roll:

And now I'm going to do something different and be mean, and make you wait for the last half of the trip report...where my luck doesn't much improve either

 

[Kite159]

Not having the best start of the day in terms of required units

 

[Techniquest]

Crikey that is a bad start to the year!

 

[TC60054]

Aaaaand the rest. I'll confess, I slightly didn't time myself enough time to do it yesterday morning before going out

Back at Nottingham, and now with a bit of boredom before the train back to Worksop, time for a couple of short hops. But first, 158889 was arriving in on 1L14, with the rear carriage almost completely electrically dead, which had to be seen


East Midlands Trains 158889 Nottingham by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

That out of the way, and it was a hop to Beeston on dud 222017, to return back to Nottingham on a slightly late dud 222019. The plan was originally to get a required 153, but with the Lincoln Meridian running slightly late, we decided to bin that idea and get the HST at 1932 - my luck had finally changed! Dud 43082 was leading the set, with required 43083 providing the shove across to East Midlands Parkway, where true to form mega dud 222101 was taken to Derby, for dud 170519 back to Nottingham.

Finally something else decent, as winner 156403 returned us up the Robin Hood line, where I then joined dud 142065 back to Sheffield, to pick up tram 111 again back home, although this time it wouldn't go uphill, and the brakes weren't liking the idea of being released very much


East Midlands Trains 156403 Worksop by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

 

[Techniquest]

2 winners all day, harsh! Mind you, I only had one winner today...

That 158 just looks weird!

 

[37038]

Oh it would, definitely. High time we had some of these classic moves restored in railtour form. Manchester Piccadilly to Skegness with a 40 for example, Derby to Skegness with a pair of 20s too. I'd settle for Cardiff to Crewe with a 37/4 mind again, and it occurs to me now how much of South Wales I've had with 37s now. Llandrindod to Craven Arms is still an annoying gap for that mind!

Phwoar imagine the boost in passenger numbers if the Heart of Wales had regular loco haulage...

40145 is on its last mainline charter on June 9th/10th before it's taken OOS for new tyres.
9th is a Carnforth to Bury one way stock positioning move
10th in Bury to Holyhead/Blaenau Ffestiniog/Llandudno

Also June 17 will see loco haulage on HoW in the form of 55009 on a Pathfinder tour originally booked for D1015.

 

[Techniquest]

Oh very nice, that would have been bloody hellfire!

 

[TC60054]

14/01/2017

Yesterday didn't start off too well, after making it up to the tram stop for the 0836 Malin Bridge departure, realising I didn't have my wallet OR railcard and then having to return home so missing the train of choice, it was finally onto an unusually quiet 0855 tram, today formed of 122 forwards to the station.

After last week's failure, today's plan was back to the proper stuff - not least because I was having 185 withdrawal symptoms It also shows that staying local is actually beneficial (somehow!) for my requirements than spending almost £30 and doing a ranger where I need a lot of units

Having missed the TPE, I decided to chance my luck with winning a Voyager to Wakefield - although I was VERY surprised when the train rocked up at 0914, three minutes early!! Sadly, it was dud 221127, but no fretting, the day would go better I was sure - at least I was taking another unit up to three digit mileage figures. At Wakefield, a quick fester and it was onto winner 91126 forwards to Leeds, where I'd finally meet up with my two travel companions for the day.

From here, it was onto 185101 forwards to Huddersfield, griding to a halt at Morley and Dewsbury, and then passing the ex-Hull unit as it had been looped at Mirfield - something was up. Bailing at Huddersfield, and a minute or two later 185130 rolled in - on one engine this had been cancelled here at Huddersfield, and not too much longer later 185135 rolled in, hooked up to 130 to give it a helping shove forwards to Manchester. It wasn't hard to see why this had been caped in Huddersfield as we took a seat in 130 (heeding the guard's advice to sit in the middle carriage as it was the only carriage with a working engine and as such with any heat). The poor thing was struggling like crazy leaving Huddersfield, even having another three engines giving it a shove forwards! Fortunately, the amount of padding arriving into Manchester on the ex-Middlesbrough service meant that we only dropped a minute on the run across the core route, finally arriving into Manchester, and joining winner 390117 for the run through to Stockport.

Disaster struck as we departed Manchester, as one of my final Northern Pacers was sat on the station throat on an inbound Rose Hill service. A quick diagram later, and onto double duds 150138/150211 back to Manchester, it was a quick connection onto dud 142070 through to a winning shack, that of Woodley.


Northern 142070 Woodley by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

Sadly, Northern had been playing funny b*****s at Piccadilly, and dud 142038 returned us back to Manchester, where a very quick diagram replan meant I'd position myself for it later on...

Back in Manchester, it was back to Huddersfield on 185146 to grab another Pacer I was wanting today. A quick almost RT arrival and a quick connection across the platform led to winner for post refurb condition but still dud 144012 on the stopper the short hop over to Dewsbury - this was also my lowest mileage 144 so quite welcome in a way


TransPennine Express 185114 Leeds by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

Time for a proper unit again, with 185114 moving the short hop back into Leeds, where a quick supply raid of Sainsburys and then onto dud 91121 to Wakefield, where a quick connection led to dud 142095 back to Leeds.

At this point, it was time for one of us to depart after another had joined us, and it was now back to Manchester to get that blasted Pacer! Fortunately, TP Core had gone TU in at York, so a very late 185150 was the chariot forwards to Piccadilly, finally arriving 24 minutes late. I'll point out that we only left 21L, and got stuck behind two sets of stoppers (one which was looped at Mirfield, seems to be becoming a theme of today!) and the also very late running ex-York (Newcastle) service to Manchester Victoria, but this only meant there'd be less of a connection at Piccadilly.


Northern 142062 Manchester Piccadilly by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

A sprint through the barriers and the TPE revenue bods and I was finally down to one Northern Pacer, winner 142062 was to take us forwards to the winning shack of Romiley. A quick walk through the underpass and then onto dud 142009 to the third and final winning shack of the day, a very dark Ashburys. With the severe lack of platform lighting having been reported, it was to dud 323228 back to Piccadilly. From here, it was then a couple of Stockport leaps, comprising of:

Winner 390011 to Stockport
Duds 158774/158770 to Manchester (ex-TPE 158s are the best )
Winner 390138 to Stockport
Duds 150273/156428 to Manchester
Winner 390130 to Stockport
Winner 221130 to Manchester

By the way, I really hate point to point bashing like that, it wasn't my idea, but with their apparent need to go out on any 390 they see, I seem to win units like there's no tomorrow so I'm not going to complain

By now, it was hometime on 1B92, the first time this year. 185117 had the honours of transporting me across the Hope Valley today to Sheffield, where I missed my tram so spent an extra 15 minutes looking at 185s before taking 108 back home.


TransPennine Express 185111 Sheffield by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

TransPennine Express 185117 Sheffield by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

As a joke, me and some mates made a group on Facebook, the "Class 185 Preservation Group", simply because these units are so awesome. If you're on Facebook, please have a think about joining us

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a good day with some decent 185 mileage

 

[Techniquest]

I saw that 'preservation group' while flicking through something on Facebook the other day, raised an eyebrow that's for sure!

Rather decent day for you up north, especially considering how few 142s you now need. I really should be getting up north to clear some of them out...

 

[TC60054]

I saw that 'preservation group' while flicking through something on Facebook the other day, raised an eyebrow that's for sure!

Rather decent day for you up north, especially considering how few 142s you now need. I really should be getting up north to clear some of them out...

Ashamed you didn't join it Tech

Just 142034 to go now, shame it was working Liverpool - Manchester OR stoppers all day yesterday...

 

[Kite159]

Ashamed you didn't join it Tech

Just 142034 to go now, shame it was working Liverpool - Manchester OR stoppers all day yesterday...

One of the more easier workings, shame your ticket didn't cover west of Piccadilly (I'm assuming South Pennies Day Ranger), could have caught it to Deansgate to get it into the book, then either escape on the tram or wait for the next OR stopper to roll in

 

[Techniquest]

I'd have gone across the country for it, after all I did for my last 334 on Friday! Impulsively jumped to the TVM and got an Edinburgh to Glasgow piece (then a Glasgow to Partick piece) to go get it. Granted if it hadn't been a winner 170 taking me there I might have not been so impulsive!

 

[TC60054]

One of the more easier workings, shame your ticket didn't cover west of Piccadilly (I'm assuming South Pennies Day Ranger), could have caught it to Deansgate to get it into the book, then either escape on the tram or wait for the next OR stopper to roll in

You'd assume correctly with South Pennines Day Ranger. Could easily have got away with using it on a Deansgate hop tbf, it just takes too long out of the day with such a limited service west of Piccadilly so just didn't bother to ask / work out which diagram it was on!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Had an impromptu Travelmaster post-college today. Nothing really to report off it so not going to bother doing a full on trip report, although a meal in Wetherspoons was quite eventful compared to normal, and I'd forgotten the intense amount of slack in the pathing of 1B86. Other than that, no winners as XC went down the pan, but non the less here's the moves from today, courtesy of Railmiles:

http://60054.railmiles.me/journeys/?date=20170119

 

[TC60054]

28/01/17

Yes, I freely admit I could've done much more with my day yesterday, but still...

The tram of choice yesterday was the 0836, much busier than usual, however still it turned up early(?!) formed of 124. It's amazing how already I'm starting to get repeated trams this year, but oh well...

Arriving at the station two minutes early, and tickets bought, it was then onto the platform to await the usual train across the Hope Valley, which was a very awesome sounding 185137. Fortunately, reservations weren't applied, so I managed to settle down into a table seat in coach A, with the woman coming up to tell me that the seat I was sat in was reserved politely being told to find a seat elsewhere.

137 was sounding absolutely amazing as we departed Sheffield on almost full power, and kept it that way pretty much all the way down to Dore, and then all the way through Totley Tunnel, until the engine turned off at Hathersage - damnit! I used this time to imagine what a 185 would've sounded like through the Severn Tunnel (thanks Kite...), and I couldn't help but continually smile to myself at both that thought, and other 185 related thoughts in general. Fortunately, it restarted at Stockport, and the sound remained the same through to Piccadilly.

Next up from here was some 350 mileage chasing, with 350406/350408 being the chariots up the Chat Moss and then the West Coast Mainline, as far as Lancaster. I still had a bit of time to wait, so it was onto a very busy and unreserved 185104 back down to Preston, once again telling someone that since there were no reservations he had no entitlement to his reserved seat, arriving into Preston a couple of minutes late.

For some reason here I flagged a winning Pendolino for the 350 behind - which sadly was running slightly late, however a quick run back up to Lancaster on 350402 deposited me at Lancaster just nine minutes late. A brisk walk down the platform to find that, to my annoyance, I'd put myself onto 144019, yet again. It seems that every time a three car 144 turns up on a service where I've decided I'll be winning route, it's this heap of...well...

Oh well, and leaving Lancaster late, we trundled through to Bare Lane, trundling through to Morecambe (all required track still at this time!), with a quick pause at the ground frame to allow access onto the Heysham route, and then continued trundling around until we hit a straight section and finally picked up a little speed through to the first winning shack of the day, Heysham Port. I've got to admit, it's a nice little route until you reach Heysham, and then it turns extremely dull. The station itself is also extremely dull, with absolutely nothing of any interest to look at, except for the disused platform on the other side of the running line. It even started raining half way through the dwell here, so deciding to keep dry and warm, it was back onto the Pacer and shutting the doors before making the trip back in reverse - which somehow seemed quicker than on the way there, arriving back to Lancaster just two minutes behind schedule.


Northern 144019, Heysham Port by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

Sadly, there was no 350 due at this point, so it was onto dud Pendolino 390002 to Preston, where after crossing the very unusual underpass, it was onto my first winning unit of the day, 319366, across to Liverpool.


Northern 158758, Preston by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

I had quite high hopes for this trip, but 366 was a bit broken and seemingly wasn't even a decent 319 - oh well. Next up was dud 319361 as far as Whiston, shack 2 for the day. This was a much better sounding 319, and also my first one on a Warrington service, so much so that I was actually confused to see a 319 waiting with no diesel units anywhere to be seen


Northern 142034, Whiston by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

A quick cross of the footbridge, and finally the Pacer Chase was complete, just under six months after it actually started. 142034/156421 were my chariots forwards to Liverpool. It was only when we arrived at Roby that I realised quite what I'd done and a smile crept onto my face. Eventually we arrived into Liverpool three early, and after a quick, unexpected, chat with the driver, I was off to find some food, before picking up 185145 across to Manchester Victoria.

The trip across the Chat Moss was quite comfortable to say the train was reasonably busy before I boarded, taking up a reserved seat that was from York (it's amazing how people just see the reservation label and don't notice where it's reserved from!) whilst others were standing, and a bit of trip planning came into play. Fortunately I'd worked a plan that would allow me to win two more shacks, hopefully four units, and have time to grab some doughnuts and a drink from Sainsburys before the usual 1B92 back across the Hope Valley.

Not all went too well though, as dud 319377 was the chariot through to shack 3, Newton Le Willows, whilst winner 175008 was taking me back to Manchester, this time Oxford Road. A quick connection here and it was onto an even busier winner 175007 to shack 4, Earlestown.


Arriva Trains Wales 175007, Earlestown by Tom Cousins, on Flickr

It was now sadly hometime, and whilst I could've done more, I was excessively tired, so it was to dud 175101 through to Manchester again, this time Piccadilly, where a quick raid of Sainsburys left me with two drinks and some doughnuts.

I was rather surprised when a 6 car 185 formation turned up at Manchester, but sadly the front three were detached, leaving me to my highest mileage 185 across the Valley, 185134, in yet another reserved seat that people had overlooked because it was from the Airport

Making up a little time over the Hope Valley and arriving just two minutes late into Sheffield, it was up to the trams, where 113 with a brand new traction motor took me the final four miles home.

 

[djpontrack]

That was a good trip mate. You managed to get the Heysham line in too. It is a bit dull at the harbour. It's very local to me but I don't go there much now.

 

[Kite159]

Were you the only passenger heading to Heysham after Morecambe?

I think a 185 would take the tunnel of Severn without breaking a sweat.

 

[TC60054]

Were you the only passenger heading to Heysham after Morecambe?

I think a 185 would take the tunnel of Severn without breaking a sweat.

I indeed was, only passenger on the way back as well.

A 185 would take the Severn easily, probably even without using too much power in the process

 

[rg177]

Bizarrely we had quite a healthy load to and from Heysham when I did it, and I had to suffer 144017 all the way from Skipton to Heysham and back to Lancaster

 

[Techniquest]

You love the 185s don't you!

Quite the productive little spin there, more productive than my recent trips have been! The perils of doing trips on well trodden territory I suppose!

 

[TC60054]

Don't think I've actually set myself any targets this year except for finishing my last two from last year, so an earlier honest count has led to my big chase for this year - finishing (or as close to finishing) Northern's fleet as possible.

At present, I need something like
8x 150
19x 156
8x 319
1x 333

One of the 150s (150118) I believe is still out of service and 333009 still is as far as I know too, so it'll be interesting to see how close to zero them numbers can go from the current total of 36.

Until the new 319s, 195s and 331s arrive at least

 

[TC60054]

You love the 185s don't you!

Quite the productive little spin there, more productive than my recent trips have been! The perils of doing trips on well trodden territory I suppose!

Yes Tech, I do, probably a bit more than I should

 

[TC60054]

04/02/17 - The Uneventful Part

With a massive longing for some decent QSK19 thrash, it was back to the norm this weekend - however I did happen to forget to go for the 0836 tram, somehow, which left me with tram 116 forwards to the station. True to form for Supertram, the destinations weren't working and neither were the onboard announcements - although somehow when the tram keyed itself out at Park Grange Croft it seemed to fix itself??

Never mind, after reaching the station and buying the ranger, it was time for what would become my only non-185 move of the day - dud 221133 forwards to Leeds. This journey was OK to an extent - slightly rowdy, and not a 185, but it could've been worse.

Arriving into Leeds three minutes early, it was to platform 16. I was hoping to clear a few more 185s for 100 miles today, and this was done with no hassle at all as the first 185 of the day turned up as sub-100 mile 185133 - also my favourite of the lot! 133 was sounding absolutely amazing as we made our way over to Piccadilly, arriving in bang on time - I must admit, I was quite surprised!

Next up was slightly less required 185125, taken through to Huddersfield, again somehow arriving early, where some prat decided to walk in my way whilst photographing the beast upon its departure - then it was onto sister 185124 back across to Manchester. I took this opportunity to purchase some dinner, even including being swindled out of 80p at Sainsburys! This was fortunately rectified rather quickly, and then back onto the trains, as new pest 185135 turned up to take me back through to Leeds on the Middlesbrough service.

On our way I noted sub-100 miles 185120 working towards Manchester on an ex Hull service, and this was one which wouldn't take too much work to take it above the threshold, so a quick leap back to Huddersfield on 185115 was taken - sadly 115 was dud for an ex-Newcastle service so was already well above 100 miles, despite only having two or three journeys on it!

Sure enough, we arrived into Huddersfield still with zero delay minutes accrued all day - this was going well! Sadly, it was not to stay that way, as 185120 took us back forwards to Leeds, where we got held at a signal just outside Morley tunnel - however it did mean we ended up going straight through the tunnel on full power, omg!!! We arrived into Leeds a few minutes late after this, but never the less, it was a quick connection onto 185117 which was already waiting to take me through to Manchester Victoria, the ex-Hull service this time around having been cancelled.

To my surprise, this journey caused a green mark on Railmiles, arriving into Victoria 3 minutes early, so I took this extended connection as an opportunity to photograph a few trams before taking 185146 through to Huddersfield, again arriving in punctually.

I'll admit that the reliability of the TPE Core route really amazed me, I'd never seen it so reliable, ever! 185150 was the next unit over to Manchester, Piccadilly this time, where I'd formulated a plan to go to Leeds, stepping back a few units each time, and then back to Manchester and then onto my beloved 1B92. This plan was instantly ruined with the appearance of sub-100 miles 185112, which was cleared for 100 miles when we arrived into Leeds, just about half an hour earlier than I'd planned

I'd noted on JourneyCheck earlier that day that the 1844 Newcastle was calling additionally at Piccadilly, so I decided to hang around for that rather than cram onto 185124 with all the football fans - and it's a good thing I did too, as very low miler 185127 appeared working this service - turns out I'd only had a Leeds to Huddersfield hop on this one, so another journey across the Core is still required, but it's at least getting there now!

Back to Sainsburys for a few supplies across the Hope Valley, and then it was time to measure out where 1B92 would stop. I'm sure I got a few strange looks as I counted five 390 coaches on the adjacent platform, and waited for the three car 185 to appear on the Sheffield, whilst everyone was waiting at the other end of the platform, but after last week I'd become wise to the new method of operations for this working - and sure enough, I was bang on the money as an empty and locked out of use 185137 led the train into Piccadilly, with a quick detachment before boarding 185107 back through the Hope Valley - before everyone else, so no fighting to get onboard! Ahh, how a nerdy brain works well for this!

A few minutes late into Sheffield, I was immediately distracted by the 153 on the Dearne Valley stopper - or at least that's what I thought until I noticed there were two of them. And that they had a pictogram on both - of course, it was 155342! A quick photo later and up to the trams, where 122 would be taking me home.

Just in case you can't tell - I quite like 185s. Coming up next, diversions and being kicked off a TPE service at Rotherham Central, not least to say the two CrossCountry services which also terminated there

 

[djpontrack]

That sounds like a good 185 bash mate. I like the 185s too. I only need 5 of them to clear for 500 miles and 185109 is the only one I've not had in or out of Man Airport.

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a good day on the 185s

 

[TC60054]

05/02/2017

Waking up early for a Sunday, it was time to go and bash some diversions. A few weeks ago I looked at the plan for this weekend (and next weekend, for that matter) and just thought "That's not going to work".

The day started on the 1055 tram, with 105 taking the honours of this, arriving into Sheffield station two minutes ahead of schedule. From here, a 156 was noted on the Manchester stopper - so the next move was quite obviously very dud 156452 forwards to Dore & Totley, where a quick run across the road led to a wait for the bus and the arrival of First 37111, taking us back to the City Centre on the 97.

Not being able to make the TPE from Sheffield, we decided on going to catch the 1212 Purple route service to Meadowhall, this of course being a Sunday so such a thing actually existing. This was 108, and not tracking, with the driver running around using the wrong VIS code along with the wrong destination. Oh well.

I used this as an opportunity to check said "missed" TPE, and it turned out that it was running a couple of minutes late, so a quick change to the plan led to a quick bail at Arena for a photo of 185131 & 185142 working 1B74 Manchester to Cleethorpes whilst it was on diversion. Whilst here, I hatched a plan to scratch the Tinsley line for a new class, the best one too, so it was onto tram 109 across to Fitzalan Square, where 119 was picked up for the short hop across to the station.

A short fester later, and the 1311 service to Doncaster showed its face - mega pest 185134. This was a rather uneventful run up to Doncaster, and back to Sheffield on the 185, with my most dud 185 now sat at 657 miles. I don't know how either, I think I may need to order a new life.

Back to the tram stop, and now it was time to go and scratch a few photos from Valley Centertainment. Tram 118 took us around to Castle Square, where the decision was taken to take tram 110 up to Cathedral, and then back to VAC on the ex-Herdings service.

Now, I'm no longer a train spotter, but there's something so satisfying about being stood at a tram stop photographing units, especially when some QSK19s roar past - just a shame the photo I was looking forwards to taking (185118 next to tram 110) came out, well, awfully.

Photo session later, with light somehow now fading, and it was now the job of tram 119 to take us forwards to Meadowhall, where a quick glance at the ongoing engineering works later, it was onto 158901 through to Doncaster. This took us bang road from Meadowhall to Masbrough Junction, eventually arriving to Doncaster some seven minutes ahead of schedule.

Whilst my companions were purchasing and eating some food, I took this as an opportunity to go and have a walk around the "delightful" town centre, where nothing much was happening, and nothing was open, but on the plus side at least it was quiet, and it wasted some time for me, before returning to the station to take 185102 back through to Sheffield.

Or, at least, that's what we thought. Everything went quite well until Aldwarke steel works, where we ground to a halt...then at Parkgate...then at Rotherham Central. Knowing that there was pilotman working ahead due to signalling problems on the single line, I didn't think much of the wait at Rotherham. Until it reached thirty minutes. At this time, a rather frustrated woman decided to make an effort at the emergency door release (note, she actually tried to pull the passcom instead, but hey, close!), before being dissuaded. Another ten minutes later, and the doors were released, this can't be good.

Eventually another half an hour later, we gave up, and made our way over to the bus station, being yelled at by some Abellio rail replacement bod to get on the rail replacement instead, where First 35134 took us to Meadowhall in just eight minutes. Mid way through this journey, we noticed that 1B87 had been cancelled at Rotherham - so there was no real loss through this move.

At Meadowhall, the altered working continued, with tram 111 taking us forwards to Cathedral, to connect quickly onto tram 114 working a Herdings service, as far as Gleadless Townend.

At this point, I decided to walk home, instead of waiting for the Halfway service to take me another thirty chains to the next stop, as my tea had already been in the oven by an extra two hours by this point!

Just as a side note, had tram 114 again this morning, and it's got a lovely wheelflat. So has 115. But 114s is much better.

 

[Cowley]

Oh dear that day didn't end very well, that's quite a long wait and quite a burnt dinner.

 

[alexf380]

Oh dear to the burnt tea, hope it was still edible! Congratulations on the clearance of Northern's Pacers. No mean feat by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[TC60054]

I should point out that my dinner was still mostly edible, so please stop being so concerned about it