17th January 2013 - Ghost Train

Today saw me head to London. I had two things to make sure I did. Firstly the parliamentary service from Clapham High Street to Kensington Olympia needed to be completed (before the rumoured end of it) and visit the Ship of Fools Wetherspoon (also rumoured to be closing when it's lease is up).

I caught the same trains as last week for cheapness and it would give me the time I needed. Upon arrival at Clapham Junction I caught a winning 455836 and 456003 (my first 456!!!) to West Croydon. This was also new route so all good. The Ship of Fools was directly outside the station. After a pint of Jaipur (nice strong IPA) I went in search for my wife's birthday present.

Next up I headed to Sutton to complete the bit of route on winning 455818. It was then back to Clapham on a winning 377164. I then took a risk. A cheeky trip to Victoria on winning 455821 and back on winning 455833. It was the. Onto some of the new overground route to Clapham high street. I made it with a minute to spare. It was then another 455 winner! This time 805. I took this 'Ghost train' to Kensington Olympia.

I then went one stop further on the overground. Here I gabbed another pint and food at the Central Bar at Sheperd's Bush. Then I jumped onto the Central Line and headed West to Ealing Broadway. I then headed back to Bank and changed trains at various intervals. I bagged 38 winning Central units which wasn't a bad effort for an hours work!

I got back to Waterloo on the Waterloo & City but it was a dud pair of units. The trip home was uneventful. A successful day. I did what I set out to do. I got a bit of new route, 7 winning trains and 38 underground units. Excluding underground (rail miles wasn't playing!) I managed 480 miles as well. Nearly at 1k for jan so far. Up next? A trip up to Leeds with Peter for a five day mega trip!

10th January 2013 - Thames Branches Day Ranger

So my first outing of 2013 and it feels like ages since I last went out on a train. It was in fact only 10 days but that was a short hop to Exeter and it was 17th Dec since I last went on a full blown day on the trains. My yearly target for 2013 is 26679 miles. This will see me reach 100000 since May 2010, when I got back into trains. My first major trip planned for jan wasn't due until 20th when I'd be heading away with Peter for a few days so I needed to find something to kickstart the new year. After a little searching I decided on a trip to Reading and then a Thames branches day ranger. To keep costs down I wouldn't be starting until the peak was over. A day return with my Devon and Cornwall was a nice £6.25 to Axminster and then onwards to Reading with my Network Railcard £26.40. The ranger was £11.55 with the railcard so all in all a good value day out. Only downside is I'd only have about 5 and half hours with the ranger but its a compromise on the cost and there would still be stuff to go after.

I left Plymouth (just!!!!) on the 0925 to Exeter. I changed here for the 1026 to Basingstoke. I was expecting one of the prototype 150s to roll in here to take me to Reading but it was a Turbo. Was a dud turbo though. Once at Reading it was time to look for required units. I checked the 458s in the bays but they were not required. I then headed across the bridge to where a Paddington bound train was due (even though it said Ealing Broadway).

It rolled in (166208) and was needed. So I took this to Maidenhead and jumped off. Thanks to the delayed arrival to Maidenhead I only had a few minutes to wait for the next train in. This time 166203, another winner. So I took this to West Drayton. I hadn't been to this station since the late 90s when I lived there for a short time. From here a headed west slightly when I realised a wining unit was approaching (165111). At Iver (never been here) before) I caught the next train to Paddington. It wasn't needed but I wasn't going to wait here all day until a winner came!

At Paddington I had to wait nearly an hour before a required train was ready to leave. So I popped into the Sloe Bar. That's all three pubs on the station done now and all are Cask Marqued. When a required train finally turned up, it was 165109 that did the honours to Reading non stop. I then started to get hungry so decided to head back towards Slough and get dinner in the Wetherpoons (Moon and Spoon). My ride was winning 165130 and 166202!

After dinner (a Flaming Dragon Curry - nice to see them elsewhere now and not just Wales) I saw that a quick trip to Windsor and back was possible. This was good as 165119 was on the branch and required. After this move it was time to head back to Reading to start my not so straight forward journey home. There was a delayed train which meant I caught a winning (166220) to Maidenhead before catching the one I was planning to get to Reading! This was also a winner (166212).

My train to Basingstoke was one of the 150's!!! 150002 was doing the honours! I have a soft spot for 150s and it was weird to see them up in this area. I know they've been there a while but I hadn't been on one here before. At Basingstoke I had 30 odd minutes to kill. I decided to head into the town to the Lloyds No1 Bar. I'd been years ago but I hadn't got the Cask Marque scan. With that done it was back to the station for the train to Exeter. From Exeter I got the HST back to Plymouth.

A had an enjoyable day. Yes the main bit was short but it's cheaper. And I got 9 winning units which is good and 3 more Cask Marque pubs. I'm off the mark for 2013 with 499 miles too!

2012 Review

So another year has passed since I took up this hobby and again another good year. Maybe spent a bit more than I should have but it has been good. My target for mileage was 30500 which would see me beat 2011.

The year started well. I was off the mark on New Years Day with a trip to Truro to see my parents. This was followed by a trip to London, a FOSW combined with a southern Daysave and finally a West Midland Day Ranger. Feb continued this good start. Another trip to London and a London Midland Great Escape (where I accessed the area via cheap London tickets) kept my mileage going. The month finished with a FONE with my Dad. I also bagged my final FGW HST power car in Feb on a Devon Day Ranger! 

Then thing started to slow down. I didn't do much in March. A devon day ranger followed by a Severn and Solant Rover (I used devon and cornwall railcard day return to Tiverton and it was valid. Cheaper than FOSW). This started to bag me ATW 67s that were now running the WAG. Two of the three assigned to the pool were required for haulage so this was good. A trip on Eurstar boosted my mailage whilst going to Paris in April and then I had a few days in Leeds. The only charter (full tour) I managed for the year was the East Midlands HST to Barrow Hill for the Fab Four event.

May would see me attend my first Swanage Diesel Gala. Loco failure meant that they were a few locos down but it was a good weekend all the same. I bought a FOSW and made the most of it with days off from work. I spent some time in Cardiff and Pompey and also added west midland rangers to it. 

June saw me attend Railfest. The naming of 91110 was the first train naming I had seen and I enjoyed that. A couple more galas. Paignton and Dartmouth and Somerset Railway. June also saw me get two charters for part journeys for Mazey Day to Penzance. So I had the Deltic twice in June. Once on the mainline and once on hertiage! July was a quiet month but saw another couple of trips to London (one was with my wife so no trains!).

In August a trip to London with my dad where I bagged my final 379 for haulage was the major highlight! Also a trip to Mangapps Farm with Dave and Pete where it was a good day for me with plenty of 03 and 04 action. I also got the 08 at Plym Valley finally (alarming really as I only live a couple of miles from the line!!).

September saw some action with me spending a couple of days in Leeds and doing a South Pennine Ranger and Lancashire. This was track scratching mainly but getting plenty of winners. I also completed the 333s for haulage. The end of Sep saw me scratch most of Kent off with a Kent rover. Only the High Speed connections left! Also got my first trip on a Eurotunnel train to France. I finally did the Severn Valley railway in October during their Diesel Gala. I also finally got my final FGW Class 150. The only thing in November of note was the short trip on the wonderfully restored Steam Railmotor on the Looe branchline. 

December's main event was my trip to the North East where I did a Tyne and Tees. I completed the track to Whitby and Bishop Auckland. I also had a disaster getting home thnaks to OHLE probs on the East Coast and required a taxi from London to Plymouth! 

So I finished the year with 26679 miles on the board. Over 3000 less than last year but my trips have been more confined as I complete route. I then only tend to go after units. Also I don't do much local anymore because I have had haulage off all local trains which means going further afield which in turn costs more so it happens less! 

Highlights! 

• Completing the FGW HST Power Cars for haulage
• Completing the FGW 150s for haulage
• Barrow Hill, Railfest
• Swanage and Severn Valley Diesel Galas
• 379s and 333s completed for haulage.

Lowlights 

• Not mentioned above but two railtours I was booked on cancelled becasue of Network Rail issues (and not the DBS issues which have plagued the charter market at the back end of the year!)

So for 2013? I have a target of 26679. Weirdly it is the same as 2012s total but this will mean that I will have achived 100k miles since May 2010 when I returned to the hobby. I need roughly 2223 miles a month to achive this. 

31 Dec 2012 - An unexpected trip to Exeter

It's New Years Eve and me and my wife have the annual get together with 4 of our closest friends it our place. We decided to go Exeter to scratch off some pubs on the worlds biggest ale trail courtesy of Cask Marque.

We got on the train at Plymouth and I forgot to get the number of the unit we were in! All I knew it was a XC Voyager. Nevermind. I'll get it on my way off the train at Exeter. Then I totally forgot! Couldn't believe it! No matter. A quick post onto the rail forums and after a few days I got it. So thanks to the guys on there.

I didn't forget to grab the train numbers I travelled on this day. Two 159s up to Central and the HST back to Plymouth to continue the new year celebrations.

So another 104 miles for 2012. A good day with friends and 4 new cask marque pubs visited.