Earlier in the week I was invited to go to the Diesel Gala at Mangapps Farm Museum. To get there would be train courtesy of Dave's friends and family ticket to Paddington. It was then a NSE Open return to Southminster. So all in all a cheap day out (£21.80 including the Gala ticket!).
I met Dave and Peter at Plymouth on the Friday night as we were to head to London on the 1A40. This went via Temple Meads but not via Parkway like scheduled. Upon arrival at Paddington we headed to the underground. We took a Circle/Hammersmith train to Kings Cross where we changed for the Victoria line. We hopped from station to station getting as many units as possible until we got to Oxford Circus. We then headed to Liverpool street with two hops on some Central line stock.
It was now time to start heading eastwards. We caught two winning 360s to Stratford. We hopped onto a winning 321 to Romford. From Romford to Harold Wood was a double winning 315. Next to Shenfield on another double 315 (only one a winner). Next up was Billericay on a winning 321. We stopped here for longer as we went to breakfast at Wetherspoons.
After breakfast we did an out and back to Wickford. This bagged one winning 321 but the trains were starting to run a little late. It was back to Wickford and then onto the train for Southminster. We needed Burnham on Crouch for Mangapps Farm but made sense to complete the line whilst we were here. We then headed back to Althorne before returning to Burnham. All these little moves were to kill time and try and bag winning units.
So once we arrived at Mangapps Farm the heavens opened. We were already wet as it had been raining but good job we hadn't been any later because it was literally pouring water! Luckily it cleared and the sun came out. Throughout the day we would catch four winning 03s, one 04 and a 47 which all went up and down the short half mile stretch of track.
Once everything was caught we (well me and Peter as Dave had gone when he got 03197) headed back to London. We changed at Wickford for the train to Stratford and then again to get to Liverpool Street. As we were heading over to Paddington we saw Dave at Farringdon. We got off at Kings Cross and he met us there. It was then onto Paddington and onwards back to Devon.
What a great day! All winning locos at the Gala and plenty of units in between. Total mileage was 610.
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