16th February – Glasgow Daytripper

After arriving into Paddington we had an hour to get across to Euston. We made our way over to Euston Square on the Hammersmith line and once we arrived we had a wonder round to see what was here. With the renumber of the Pendolinos I still needed a fair few to see (and one 350 and 378 unit). Saw a new 390 and that was it. About 20 minutes before our train was due to leave a Class 47 rolled in near our platform with a charter train to Carlisle. A photo was taken of this and then it was onto a dud Pendolino to Glasgow. I've not done the West Coast in its entirety in daylight before so it was a bit new for me. There wasn't much to see for the first hour or so as daylight was only just appearing. Luckily we needed the most light as we passed the likes of Crewe and Carlisle. Of all the locos spotted on the way only one required 66 was seen at Kingmoor. Better than nothing!

As we neared Glasgow this was the time I needed to be most alert. I still need a lot of Scottish units. We arrived on time and we bought forward the plan I had set by an hour (made for contingency). We grabbed some lunch and then went for a trip down to the newly electrified Paisley Canal branch. This on a winning 314205 and we returned on the same unit. Next up was a trip to Gourock on 380006. We then headed back to Paisley Gilmour Street on 380014. We had a short wait for the train to Wemyss Bay so we popped out of the station to get a drink in the Wetherspoons. It was then onto Wemyss Bay on 380008.

Now because we were an hour ahead and we needed to get back onto the plan (it wasn't all clockface) we had spare time. Once we got back to Glasgow we did a Central to Central train to cover some new route on 314216. It was then back onto plan and off to Largs. Another 380 unit (010) took us there and then back to Saltcoats. Whilst we were waiting for the train to complete the Ardossan Harbour branch we popped into the Wetherspoons. It was then off to the Ardossan Harbour before returning to Glasgow on 380110. Back at Glasgow it was time to find the travelodge and check in.

Upon doing that we headed out to find something to eat at a Wetherspoons not yet visited. After this we popped back onto the train for a bit. We walked to Charing Cross and headed to Partick on 320310. We then headed back on 318252 (my first ever 318!) before jumping on 334012 to Dalmuir which meant I completed the Yoker route. It was then a return to Queen Street on 334019 before we used the clockwork orange to Buccanan Street which was the nearest station to our travelodge.

A good first day. Plenty of winners for both sight and haulage. Also a lot of new route now covered over the 635 miles we travelled. Tomorrow would be the start of the Central Scotland Rover.