Well 2010 is complete. I got back into spotting back in May and have had a good year. Travelled in excess of 15,000 miles and seen plenty of new things.
Obvisouly in my 15 year absence a lot had changed and my new Platform 5 book (whilst there were some surprises of what was left!) was quite empty! Before this year i had also only ever completed 1 Class for sight, the Class 50s! Well i have certainly added to that. So I end the year having now completed for sight Class 87s (just! 87018 was cut up weeks after i finally saw it!), Class 159s, Class 220s, Class 332s and Class 376s. Nothing quite completed for haulage yet though.
I have made the most of Ranger (Devon, Cornwall, Valley Explorer and West Midlands) and Rover (Freedom of the South West) tickets. I have also made four trips to london on cheap advance purchase tickets.
2011 will be exciting too I hope. Already i have a FOSW planned for January, a FONW planned for February and my first full tour booked for March. The Loco hauled trains in the South West may have gone but there is still plenty to do and i should have a full year so who knows what the millage will be?
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
28th December 2010 - Last Devon Day Ranger of the year!
The objective of the day was (apart from getting winning trains in!!!) to travel at least 121 miles (to get to 15k), visit Barnstaple to knock off two Whetherspoons, and get my watch strap shortened (lovely pressy from the wife for Xmas!). Well it's a Bank Holiday to to make the most of the fact there are no restrictions on the Ranger i set out on the 0550 off Plymouth.
It was safe to say this was achieved. Managed a good 260 miles taking my yearly total to 15,141. Not bad seeing as though i didn't start recording until May. I also visited both Whetherspoons and got two winning units in (159015 and 220017).
It was safe to say this was achieved. Managed a good 260 miles taking my yearly total to 15,141. Not bad seeing as though i didn't start recording until May. I also visited both Whetherspoons and got two winning units in (159015 and 220017).
Thursday, 16 December 2010
16th December 2010 - Xmas Shopping
I went to Exeter with my wife to do some xmas shopping and we went on the train. Nothing new but got 104 miles in. Only 120 needed now before I hit 15k for the year.
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
15th December 2010 - Devon Ranger
Last Devon Ranger before Christmas then! Started out with a dud Supervoyager on the 0925 off Plymouth. Met Peter at Newton Abbot before we went off to Exeter (another dud for me) on a FGW HST. Popped to Exeter Central on a FGW 142 that rolled in and then decided we would head to Axminster on the SWT 159 due in a few minutes later.
It was a dud one but we got on and moved about 2 chains down the platform before the service was cancelled and we all got off! Not a great start to the day then! Luckily things got better!
So we headed back to St Davids on 143611 which was my last FGW 143 for haulage. We attempted a trip back along the West of England line again with the next SWT 159 which was a winner! We did it to Honiton as the new timetable (which we had literally just found out) doesn't allow for a connection at Axminster! The return to St Daivds was also a winner for me. Now only three 159s for haulage to go.
Now time to get some miles in! So we headed for Plymouth and broke the journey at Newton Abbot. The first leg on XC HST gave me a winner whilst the following FGW HST also produced the goods! The return to Exeter on the now returning XC HST was not a winner however. I decided to head back to Plymouth for the day but had time to squeeze the 159s up to Central and back. Neither were winning but my final train home was a winning Super Voyager.
So my day consisted of 6 winning trains which is brilliant after a bad start and 246 miles! Yearly total is now 14777 (after correction from missing 9 miles out of last weeks West Midland Rover!).
It was a dud one but we got on and moved about 2 chains down the platform before the service was cancelled and we all got off! Not a great start to the day then! Luckily things got better!
So we headed back to St Davids on 143611 which was my last FGW 143 for haulage. We attempted a trip back along the West of England line again with the next SWT 159 which was a winner! We did it to Honiton as the new timetable (which we had literally just found out) doesn't allow for a connection at Axminster! The return to St Daivds was also a winner for me. Now only three 159s for haulage to go.
Now time to get some miles in! So we headed for Plymouth and broke the journey at Newton Abbot. The first leg on XC HST gave me a winner whilst the following FGW HST also produced the goods! The return to Exeter on the now returning XC HST was not a winner however. I decided to head back to Plymouth for the day but had time to squeeze the 159s up to Central and back. Neither were winning but my final train home was a winning Super Voyager.
So my day consisted of 6 winning trains which is brilliant after a bad start and 246 miles! Yearly total is now 14777 (after correction from missing 9 miles out of last weeks West Midland Rover!).
Friday, 10 December 2010
9th December 2010 - Midlands Day Ranger
So I decided that I wanted to do one final thing before Chistmas that was a little more than a Devon Ranger. I was going to do an East Midand Day Ranger but decided that due to the weather being uncertain West Midlands would be better (and it's closer to home therefore cheaper!)
So I set off at 5am and picked Peter up on the way. We got to Droitwich Spa where we parked, at about 0815! Traffic was non existant so we had to wait an hour until we could catch the train we wanted as the ranger doesn't kick in until 0900! Didn't matter too much as most of what came in during the hour was all new for sighting for me.
So our first journey took us to Stourbridge Junction where we did the 62 chains to Stourbridge Town. My first experience on a 139 and i don't really know what to make of it all! I suppose it does the job it needs to do and does it well. Whilst at the junction two freight trains came through at the same time which was a pleasent surprise.
Next was to start making our way to Crewe. Our mission for Crewe was to see Pendolino 390033 at the Virgin Academy. We were able to get a train to Moor Street and then back to Smithwick Galton Bridge. Then from Smithwick Galton Bridge to Wolverhampton before changing for a Virgin Super Voyager to Crewe. I have only been on one Virgin Super Voyager before and the one that rolls in was the very same one! Unbelievable!
Anyway at Crewe we headed straight out to locate 033. It was incredibly icy and a combination of slow sliding, walking in the bus lane and the verges got us there. The Pednolino is located behind the Virgin Academy at the back of the car park. Not sure if we were allowed to enter the car park but we did got the photo and headed back to the station.
Next was to head to Nuneaton. So back to New Street (a new Super voayger!) and then on to a XC 170 tp nuneaton. Quite a slow trek this was. The Voyager was timetabled behind a stopper (stupid or what) and the 170 just never seemed to get going! From Nuneaton we headed to Rugby before heading back to New street via Coventry and Birmingham International. We were going to do some commuter trains between Bournville and Kings Norton but everything was running a couple of minutes late and the connections were all wrong so we only got 3 units in.
After dinner we headed to Wolverhampton once more and then back to Rugby. It was getting late now so had to get back to Droitwich Spa. So back to New Street and then down to Droitwich Spa. Then the drive home! Long day! 5am start and got in at 2am!
But it was worth it. 17 winners for haulage, a whole load for sight, saw 390033 and managed a respectable 312 miles. Yearly total now stands at 14522.
So I set off at 5am and picked Peter up on the way. We got to Droitwich Spa where we parked, at about 0815! Traffic was non existant so we had to wait an hour until we could catch the train we wanted as the ranger doesn't kick in until 0900! Didn't matter too much as most of what came in during the hour was all new for sighting for me.
So our first journey took us to Stourbridge Junction where we did the 62 chains to Stourbridge Town. My first experience on a 139 and i don't really know what to make of it all! I suppose it does the job it needs to do and does it well. Whilst at the junction two freight trains came through at the same time which was a pleasent surprise.
Next was to start making our way to Crewe. Our mission for Crewe was to see Pendolino 390033 at the Virgin Academy. We were able to get a train to Moor Street and then back to Smithwick Galton Bridge. Then from Smithwick Galton Bridge to Wolverhampton before changing for a Virgin Super Voyager to Crewe. I have only been on one Virgin Super Voyager before and the one that rolls in was the very same one! Unbelievable!
Anyway at Crewe we headed straight out to locate 033. It was incredibly icy and a combination of slow sliding, walking in the bus lane and the verges got us there. The Pednolino is located behind the Virgin Academy at the back of the car park. Not sure if we were allowed to enter the car park but we did got the photo and headed back to the station.
Next was to head to Nuneaton. So back to New Street (a new Super voayger!) and then on to a XC 170 tp nuneaton. Quite a slow trek this was. The Voyager was timetabled behind a stopper (stupid or what) and the 170 just never seemed to get going! From Nuneaton we headed to Rugby before heading back to New street via Coventry and Birmingham International. We were going to do some commuter trains between Bournville and Kings Norton but everything was running a couple of minutes late and the connections were all wrong so we only got 3 units in.
After dinner we headed to Wolverhampton once more and then back to Rugby. It was getting late now so had to get back to Droitwich Spa. So back to New Street and then down to Droitwich Spa. Then the drive home! Long day! 5am start and got in at 2am!
But it was worth it. 17 winners for haulage, a whole load for sight, saw 390033 and managed a respectable 312 miles. Yearly total now stands at 14522.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
5th December 2010 - Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and Toton!
Went to Derbyshire over the weekend where there was plenty of snow! I was staying in Wirksworth and took a nice walk with the Wife to get some snowy photos. Managed to pop down to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway where there were no trains running due to the snow. Pics here.
On the way home we went via Toton. Been a few months since I was last here and managed to spot another 25 new locos including 3 European 66s. Could see at least 3 others but couldn't spot the numbers! Photos are here.
On the way home we went via Toton. Been a few months since I was last here and managed to spot another 25 new locos including 3 European 66s. Could see at least 3 others but couldn't spot the numbers! Photos are here.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
2nd December 2010 - Snow
Well it has snowed in Plymouth (well a slight dusting!) so I thought I would pop out for a little while, before work and get some photos whilst it was still slightly white!
I got a couple of Voyagers and FGW HSTs but the added bonus was there was some rare action at Tavistock Junction. 66160 was stabled there and 66184 and 66082 Top and Tailed came in on the 6W66. 66184 was a new one for sight. From the gen posted it sounded like more was coming but I needed to get to work so didn't see anything else. Photos are here.
I got a couple of Voyagers and FGW HSTs but the added bonus was there was some rare action at Tavistock Junction. 66160 was stabled there and 66184 and 66082 Top and Tailed came in on the 6W66. 66184 was a new one for sight. From the gen posted it sounded like more was coming but I needed to get to work so didn't see anything else. Photos are here.
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