Well the start of the day hasn't been good. I was booked for the 0553 off Plymouth to London. But there was no train at Plymouth when I arrived. There was however another HST on platform 7 which as far as I know isn't normally there. We were waiting for stock from Laira so I don't know if the train on 7 was originally ours but developed a fault on the way and they put it out of the way! Either way the train arrived and we left Plymouth at 0616, 23 late! I wondered how late we'd arrive at Paddington but it would mean I'd wait till off peak kicked in on tube before heading to Liverpool Street. Glad I booked a later train to Ipswich, that's for sure!
We arrived 40 late. Good job I did book the 1100 and not the 1000! Once I arrived at Liverpool Street I had 40 mins till my train. No chance of a quick out and return on the Stanstead expresses. So a cup of tea in the Wetherspoons for free was had. How? I went to pay by card and the machine wasn't working. So they let me have it on the house!
90012 was my traction to Ipswich. First winner of the day. The leading DVT was also a winner. At Ipswich I took photos of what was in the yard. Was a lot busier than the last time I was here but only one loco was required but one is better than none!
The main plan for today was route scratching. So I caught a winning 170 to Cambridge. As I passed Stowmarket there were several DRS locos stabled. Two 57s and three 37s. None were required. I'd have to check my records but I'm sure that 57003 and 57004 (the ones i saw) are the most spotted of DRS 57s for me! I didn't have time at Cambridge for lunch anywhere but from Upper Crusts (but I do like their baguettes). I waited for a train to Norwich. I looked to see if the XC 170 to Birmingham was required (I could bail at Ely) but it wasn't so I caught the NXEA 170 to Norwich.
When I arrived at Norwich things weren't looking good for winners! Everything in the station was dud from the NXEA 90 to the East Midlands 158. Luckily they weren't any train I planned to catch. My train to Lowestoft wasn't in. When it rolled in it was a winning 156! I also saw 150280 (on hire from Arriva Trains Wales) roll in a I was leaving.
Onwards to Lowestoft. By now it was nearly pitch black. I arrived just after 1630 and waited for a train back to Ipswich. It was cold and luckily the train arrived fairly quickly. It wasn't due to leave until 1708 but it was warm! The Lowestoft - Ipswich line is painfully slow and I'm glad I've got that out of the way! All that is left for me to scratch off on an Anglia Plus ranger now is the Felixstowe branch and the line between Ely and Kennet. I'm pleased with that.
Once I was back at Ipswich it was a short wait for the 1909 back to London. It ended up being 90012 doing the honours, the same as earlier in the day!
When I arrived at London I took a longer route to my sisters! I went Liverpool Street - Tottenham Hale - Vauxhall - Earlsfield. This meant I could get some 379s part of the way home!
A good day in all. Lots of new route and a fair bit of new traction.
No comments:
Post a Comment