For my day off this week I decided a West Midlands Day Ranger was in order. Main aim was to try and find and ride my last 172 for haulage.
An early start meant leaving Plymouth at 0600. My wife came with me so it wasn't too bad. We drove to Droitwich Spa and then headed into Birmingham. She was planning to meet her mum. When we arrived at Kidderminster the day was all of a sudden easy! There it was! 172333 sat waiting for the following service off Kidderminster. I said my goodbyes to my wife and got off. Well that was easy. The 172s done and now I could look for other required trains. I bailed at Smethwick and headed to the low levels. A dud 323 took me to New Street and then I literally wondered from platform to platform until I found a train that was needed. It wasn't too long a wait. 158830 was heading to International so I duly caught it.
I then caught a dud pendo to Coventry before returning to New Street on a required 11 car pendo. Much more frequent now but I need most of them still. 390117 was doing the honours.
Once at new street I headed over I see what super voyager was heading north. It's only the virgin ones I need and it's the easiest way to try and get them. Bombardier liveried 221115! Required. I caught this to Wolverhampton. I decided to head to Crewe. Two reasons. I need the Wetherspoon's and I needed to put my mind at rest that my final 90 for sight at Crewe electric couldn't be seen (or maybe seen!!!!). A winning 350 to Crewe was next!
Since my last visit (ages ago now!) all the 56s have moved! Bonus for me as one was needed and could now be seen!
It was then off to the Wetherspoons. It's a hefty walk from the station. Especially when it's warm and you're tight of time! Anyway I got there ordered a curry and a pint and the wolfed it down! It was then back to the station via Crewe Electric!
As I thought you could see nothing! Only one thing left to do! Go on a train on the line that passes it. it was required route so I stumped up the extra for a day return to Chester.
Before I headed to Chester I spotted three DRS 37s in one of the bay platforms. A quick photo (they left pretty much as I saw them!) and then another winning Super Voyager to Chester so that was good! As we passed Crewe Electric I saw some 90s but none I needed! My final one is deep inside I believe and I'm unlikely to ever see it!
Once at Chester I waited a while for the next train back. I spotted two new emus from the mersey. Not hard as I have seen about two in my lifetime. (Should change next week that!).
So in rolled my ride back to Crewe. A double super voyager. 221101 ( currently in four car formation thanks to a recent fire) and 221104, a winner!
At Crewe where the 37s were was now a different loco. I thought it was a 47 but as I got closer I realised it was a 57. A WCRC one too. I didn't expect to see 57006 nicely painted and running! Only DRS 57s left to see now.
So my train back to Birmingham area was another Super Voyager. And quite unbelievably it was a winner! I now only need 3 more to ride for the lot! I have never had 4 virgin ones that were winners in a row. Not even when I'd been on none! Lol!
I bailed at Wolverhampton. Good job. I saw my final ATW 158 for sight so caught it to Shrewsbury. This got my the curve into Shrewsbury. I'd got the freight curve last time I was here when on a tour to Llandridnod Wells. I'll have to return at some point as the wetherspoons are needed. And the ones on the way at Wellington and Telford.
A double dud 158 combo took me back to Wolves and then a dud 350 back to New Street. Now was time to head to Coventry to pick up the 1K39 Pretendolino. A winning 390 to International and a winning 350 to Coventry followed.
Now at this point I have to admit i hadn't heard much about the 90 of late so I didn't even know if it was running. The next train to come in was a required 350. I decided I'd take that to international and get the 90 if running, from there.
It was running. But not the usual service! I forget what I read the next day but it ran something later and 11 car pendo ran the 1K39. At least it was a winner!
It was then time to meet the missus and head back to Droitwich. My final LM 3 car 170 slowly took us back to a long drive home! A brilliant day! Obviously bagging my final 172 was good but four 221s was a big gain. Next up my 3 day trip up north.
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