For the last few days of my holiday I went North. Courtesy of my free return ticket from East Coast (I didn't realise I had collected enough points) I headed to Leeds. All I had to pay for were the advance tickets to London.
Having been to Leeds earlier in the year whilst on a North East Rover I went mainly to bash as many trains as possible. For this I decided that Friday would be spent on a West Yorkshire Day Ranger, Saturday on Manchester Day Ranger and Sunday on another West Yorkshire. With this in mind I based myself in a Travelodge in Huddersfield (bonus as it is in the West Yorkshire Ranger).
There were a few bits I needed to do on the West Yorkshire Ranger. There were two bits of track I need to scratch that I missed when up earlier in the year and the fact I was able to also travel on Grand Central services (apparently the PTE element of the ticket allows it where as a normal area ranger/rover doesn't!).
There were two Grand Central trains I was able to catch so planned for both of them. This would naturally scratch off one bit of track (a short bit between Wakefield Kirkgate towards Halifax). The other bit was between Castleford and Wakefield Kirkgate. I could have incorporated that bit at the same time but the connection would have been tighter.
So my day went like this. No probs on the usual 0557 off of Plymouth to Paddington. Getting to Kings Cross was also a breeze. Time for breakfast in McDonalds and then off to Leeds. A great start too (don't count leaving Plymouth as starting as I had had all the FGW HSTs now). A winning East Coast power car. Slowly knocking them off.
I saw a couple of winning FCC units at Welwyn Garden City. As we passed Peterborough there was a few 66s stabled with one being a winner. Then at Doncaster a winning 60 in the yard was spotted.
Once at Leeds my next move took me to Wakefield Kirkgate. It is still a dump despite work signs everywhere. But no workman!
From here it was a short wait for the Grand Central to Bradford. When it did roll in it was 180102! Still in First livery this was my last 180 for sight when I saw it back in Feb. We passed a massive and looks like disused freight yard and then I realised I forgot my map! Will have to look that up when i get home. Arrival into Bradford was on time and I was soon heading back to Leeds on a winning 150.
My next planned move was Leeds I Wakefield Kirkgate via Castleford. That is all the track scratched in the area then. Also spotted a winning 66 at Midland Road (missed it last time as I was focussing on the what turned out to be dud 70s!). Once at Kirkgate I caught the next fast back to Leeds on a winning 158.
There was then time for a non planned move. Decided to head to Shipley and back to grab a couple of winning 333s. It was then time for the planned and same move as earlier to Bradford. Another 158 in the bag and second 180 of the day. This time at least it was in Grand Central livery.
I was getting hungry now and needed a drink. So whilst in Bradford went to look for the Wetherspoons. I found the first one but only had a drink. Was very busy and noisy. Also didn't seem to be any menus. No matter the other one was only up the road. So off I went and had a brunch burger and Guinness!
It was then back to the station and from now on there were no plans. The only plan was to get winners.
So the first one was a 158 back to Leeds. I was then off to Wakefield Westgate in front of (!) 91131. My return produced the nice sight of 91101 rolling into Wakefield. I'll take that!
Next train I was able to catch was off to Huddersfield via Bradford. It was a winner but I bailed at Bramley (gets that one in the book) and returned to Leeds. Two more 158s also done.
Next up was a winning 91 to Shipley. The return produced another winning 333 and then it was home time. Well go to hotel and check in!
So the next train to Huddersfield was a TPE one. Normally a 185 and normally a dud (I struggle with the Desiros like their emu cousins!) despite needing 75% of them. Well it wasn't this time. It was a 170 and a dud! I know they don't have many but I've only been on one and now been on it 3 times! Ah well!
Fantastic first day. 17 winners for haulage and 635 miles in the bag.
No comments:
Post a Comment