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!
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