So I finished work at 2000 after a 12 hour duty manger shift and it was the start of two weeks of holiday. My wife didn't have time off until Thursday so I planned a little trip away. Partly decided by the fact I could get London - Leeds Return tickets for free thanks to East Coast rewards, I decided it was a good base to stay at. I've stayed here several times before and is pretty central for quite a lot as you will see. Travelodge booked at £20 a night for two nights and right by the station. Happy with that. My plan would basically give me near on 3 full days in the North.
So I left Plymouth on the Sunday night on the Sleeper at 2320. Again it was only a seat but I can never seem to pick up the bargains. Anyway we travelled to London via Bristol Temple Meads behind 57604 and arrived bang on time at 0505.
My train from Kings Cross to Leeds was at 0705 so there was no massive rush. I had a McDonalds breakfast and then headed to the Circle Line. I was going to take my time getting to Kings Cross. I got off at each stop until I got there. I managed to bag 9 new units doing this and easily swallowed an hour (the gaps between trains was still fairly big).
Once at Kings Cross I went and picked up my tickets. Whilst here I decided to get both my South Pennine and Lancashire Rangers that would be needed. It was soon time for the dud 1D03 hauled by 91107 to Leeds.
It left on time and the only thing of note was a winning 66 at Peterborough. And not a GBRF one! A Freightliner one! As we passed Doncaster I saw a few more DBS ones but all were dud. A cluster of them were not uid and I have a feeling they were the Eurocargo ones heading to Toton. Annoying as I needed them when i found out what they were, but i couldn't guarantee ot was them! As we passed Doncaster Works a Scotrail 320 was sat outside and was also required.
So once at Leeds I set out on my plan of day one. It was basically to complete nearly all the route left to do within the South Pennine area. The first train was to Meadowhall on winning 158861. I had time to kill so I bashed between here and Sheffield until the train I needed towards Manchester left. This picked me up 5 winning trains of a class 142, 150, 170, 185 and 144. I also spotted 70014 passing through Meadowhall. Shame no picture but it caught me by surprise!
Now was nearly time for my next part of the plan which would lead to new track scratching. I spotted 158844 at Sheffield just as I was leaving which was good. 150140 was doing the honours of taking me to Romiley. This would get me the tiny bit between Chinley and Romiley. Then I waited for the next train to Rose Hill Marple to complete that branch. It was a double unit of 150117 (dud) and 142014 (winner). I did these back to Piccadilly. From here I headed back to Romiley via Guide Bridge. 142037 (winner) did the honours. That was that bit of track scratched too and then back to Piccadilly on an old friend! 142001 complete with its Devon sticker still on the front.
The next train was the 1548, 2H76 Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Piccadilly via Glossop and Hadfield. This would get me all three sides of the triangle in. Quite annoyingly 323236 rolled in to form the service! I've only had three Northern 323s and this one twice now!
With that complete I headed east towards Huddersfield. A dud 185 (I've said it before and I'll say it again, i have a habit of riding the same Desiros over and over. Be it diesel or electric!). Then it was for the final bit of required track in my plan. Huddersfield to Barnsley. Winning 142018 took me there.
I had an hour here to visit both Wetherspoons. I found the first one quite quickly. I had a quick drink. Didn't fancy eating there. Couldn't find the cask marque certificate to scan do that was an email to say I visited! The other Spoons was much nicer and friendlier. I ate here and found the certificate to scan.
Next up was to spin back to Sheffield and then Manchester. 158861 (again!) tool me to Sheffield and then finally a different TPE 170 other than 170305 took me to Piccadilly. I was then going to head to Leeds but the train was cancelled. So I headed back to Sheffield and went that way. It was another dud 185. The train to Leeds was going to be an EMT HST. I'm glad I did this move as leading the train was 43083 and very much required!
A very long and tiring day but a lot of new track now scratched. I haven't worked out the exact mileage yet as I am writing this on the go but I managed well over 760 odd miles in the 24 hour period! Eleven winning trains were also caught whilst track scratching so was pretty pleased with that.
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