It was Saturday. No restrictions so an early start. We caught the 0714 off Leeds to Selby. It was going to be a tight 2 minute connection onto Hull Trains service to Doncaster. As it turned out our train was early and went into the bay next to the platform we needed anyway!
I needed this train so that the junction from Selby onto the East Coast mainline was done. It was also the first time I had a proper run in a 180. I like them and look forward to them returning to the Great Western. I missed them last time and if they sort out the reliability problems with the work currently being done they will be great. Last and only 180 I went on was a few chains in Manchester on a Northern service.
We had a little time in Doncaster and some photos of freight were taken. The sun was out so they were easy to take. We then were planning to take an out and back to Swinton ready to get a train to York. It went wrong!
After a dud 142 to Swinton we were waiting for our train back. The CIS on the platform said the next train was to Scunthorpe which would stop at Doncaster. And was on time. Brilliant. Then in rolled 142029! Great! Kept seeing the old fgw hire ins so I guess it was inevitable I would end up on one at some point. So on we got. I didn't notice it was not our train until it went straight at the junction! Great! Dud and wrong train. A quick check on the NRE said that it was a late running Leeds train and the train we needed was 5 behind. Well thanks Northern (or whoever looks after the screens at these remote stations). Quite a few people as it turned out were now on the wrong train.
This meant it was impossible to get to York on the train in the plan. Which in turn meant missing out on a bit of track between York and Gilberdyke.
To get back on track we bailed at Wakefield Westgate. It was then back to Doncaster. Then I saw a move that would enable us to catch the train in the plan at Sheffield instead of Doncaster.
It was then the frustratingly slow TPE to Cleethorpes. Between Grimsby and Cleethorpes it takes the Micky! How slow for how short a distance?
From here we caught a winning 153 to Barton on Humber. And we came straight back. How boring was this line? So glad it's done and that does not need to be done ever again!
After an incredibly late lunch of fish and chips we started the Saturdays only, 2 hour, 71 mile journey on a pacer to Sheffield via Gainsborough! It's a nice enough journey but again, glad it's done!
Ok time to add some miles to the day! A trip back to Doncaster via a change at Meadowhall. Then a winning HST to Newcastle. We grabbed something I eat from the Sainsburys and then headed back to Leeds via Doncaster with a winning 91 and dud 321. Apart from the earlier hiccup a lot of awkward route done so a good day.
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