The VSOE 'Northern Belle' had come down during the day and I had the gen that one of the 67s (67002) hauling it was required for sight. So after work it was off to Truro (it's destination) for a photo. However after my train left St Austell I got news the locos had left Truro and were heading to St Blazey! Not good. Had I known minutes earlier I would have bailed at St Austell!
They passed me in a blur on a curve (curving the wrong way), so even though I was checking out the drop down window no chance of a photo. 67019 I clearly saw as it was leading but 67002 on the rear was gone!
So at Truro I saw the coaches but was unable to get a decent photo. Now my parents were en route to my house in Plymouth. My dad was going to be popping by Truro to see what I had come down for. As it wasn't there I let him know where they had gone. Instead of returning on the train I was picked up and we went via St Blazey to Plymouth. Again, no chance of a photo (bring back the old days of being able to look around!) but I could see 67002 on the fueling point. So I saw what I needed so not a total loss!
43182 1C86 (1841) PLY - TRU
53 miles travelled.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Thursday, 19 May 2011
17th May 2011 - Devon Day Ranger with a trip to Tiverton
Well my final Devon Ranger for the month would take me to Tiverton (the town not just Parkway) to see the Tivvy Bumper and to finish off the remaining Wetherspoons in Devon, I needed to visit. The trip to the Tiverton (used cheap advance ticket as ranger wouldn't be valid for another hour and half) would be with Peter so we could both see GWR 0-4-2T 1400 Class at the museum. A quick cup of tea at the Wetherspoons before it opened ensured that one has been done.
Once completed we headed back to the station. Peter left the train at Exeter and I continued in my hunt for my last Voyager and HST power cars for haulage. A few trips up and down the sea wall and no winners I decided for a bit of variety. I knew no winners would be produced but I headed to Crediton to visit the last Wetherspoon in Devon i needed.
It was then back to Exeter for a couple more trips before catching the Tavistock Tanks train. Being hauled by 66111 with the Highland stag (seems to be following me around since i saw it in Carlisle earlier in the year!). Then back home.
No winners but 304 miles taking my yearly total so far to 13,676.
43037 1A77 (0748) PLY - TVP
220009 1V47 (1214) TVP - NTA
43378 1S51 (1303) NTA - EXD
43024 1C79 (1333) EXD - NTA
43301 1S55 (1403) NTA - EXD
142030 2B78 (1427) EXD - CDI
142068 2F39 (1537) CDI - EXD
143621 2P93 (1608) EXD - NTA
43175 1A91 (1640) NTA - EXD
220023 1E67 (1723) EXD - TVP
220003 1V59 (1758) TVP - EXD
43189 1C87 (1821) EXD - PLY
I have to admit I am glad I won't be doing a Devon Ranger for a few weeks!
Once completed we headed back to the station. Peter left the train at Exeter and I continued in my hunt for my last Voyager and HST power cars for haulage. A few trips up and down the sea wall and no winners I decided for a bit of variety. I knew no winners would be produced but I headed to Crediton to visit the last Wetherspoon in Devon i needed.
It was then back to Exeter for a couple more trips before catching the Tavistock Tanks train. Being hauled by 66111 with the Highland stag (seems to be following me around since i saw it in Carlisle earlier in the year!). Then back home.
No winners but 304 miles taking my yearly total so far to 13,676.
43037 1A77 (0748) PLY - TVP
220009 1V47 (1214) TVP - NTA
43378 1S51 (1303) NTA - EXD
43024 1C79 (1333) EXD - NTA
43301 1S55 (1403) NTA - EXD
142030 2B78 (1427) EXD - CDI
142068 2F39 (1537) CDI - EXD
143621 2P93 (1608) EXD - NTA
43175 1A91 (1640) NTA - EXD
220023 1E67 (1723) EXD - TVP
220003 1V59 (1758) TVP - EXD
43189 1C87 (1821) EXD - PLY
I have to admit I am glad I won't be doing a Devon Ranger for a few weeks!
Saturday, 14 May 2011
12th May 2011 - Devon Day Ranger
Another Deveon Day Ranger! I was meeting Peter for this so sanity would be maintained! I started before the Devon Day Ranger was valid with an advance. I'm glad I did this as I got a winner out of it. I was waiting for the Devon Express and a Super Voyager heading to Paignton came in that was my last XC one for haulage. I decided to wait until its return (incase the Devon Express was a winner). I then got a message from Peter saying he would meet me at Totnes (he didn't realise I was already out). I let him know what I was doing and we did our usual moves to get the up Devon Express and it meant I got my winning Super Voyager. After that a series of moves for get HST power cars was made. It wasn't a good day for Peter (he only needs 9 power cars), but shortly after he left to get home an HST power car we both needed rolled into Exeter. A ride behind was made to Newton Abbot before I headed back towards Exmouth. There was one 153 on one of the the diagrams (hoping it was the one i needed!). I met this at Digby and it was not a winner. During this I saw an unusual train consisting of 153369 and half of 150221 pass Newton Abbot. I then saw it at Exeter Depot with its numbers being covered. Upon my return from Digby it had a new number, 153399. Some photos of this were taken (luckily before it went out of view). Apparently the other half caught fire and they made a two car unit back up with some modifictions to the 153. Numbering it as a 153 means it wouldn't be diagrammed for a service beyond Portsmouth where a 153 isn't cleared.
A good day. Winners in red.
43175 1A77 (0748) PLY - EXD
43128 1C73 (0932) EXD - TQY
221131 1M41 (1012) TQY - DWL
158956 2C67 (1050) DWL - TRR
43134 1A82 (1116) TRR - NTA
43158 1C76 (1143) NTA - TOT
220032 1M49 (1215) TOT - NTA
43189 1C77 (1230) NTA - PLY
43384 1S55 (1323) PLY - NTA
220013 1M93 (1418) NTA - DWL
43127 1A87 (1446) DWL - EXD
43024 1C84 (1518) EXD - NTA
43366 1E63 (1603) NTA - EXD
43070 1C85 (1621) EXD - NTA
143603 2F47 (1713) NTA - DIG
153380 2T26 (1812) DIG - EXD
221130 1V60 (1848) EXD - PLY
348 miles travelled. Year so far 13371.
A good day. Winners in red.
43175 1A77 (0748) PLY - EXD
43128 1C73 (0932) EXD - TQY
221131 1M41 (1012) TQY - DWL
158956 2C67 (1050) DWL - TRR
43134 1A82 (1116) TRR - NTA
43158 1C76 (1143) NTA - TOT
220032 1M49 (1215) TOT - NTA
43189 1C77 (1230) NTA - PLY
43384 1S55 (1323) PLY - NTA
220013 1M93 (1418) NTA - DWL
43127 1A87 (1446) DWL - EXD
43024 1C84 (1518) EXD - NTA
43366 1E63 (1603) NTA - EXD
43070 1C85 (1621) EXD - NTA
143603 2F47 (1713) NTA - DIG
153380 2T26 (1812) DIG - EXD
221130 1V60 (1848) EXD - PLY
348 miles travelled. Year so far 13371.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
4th May 2011 - Thames Day Ranger
I was very indecisive about what to do today. I knew that Peter wasn't out so doing a Devon Day ranger wasn't very appealing, as there is a limit to the slow Devon banks after a while. The weather didn't look that great and the last two Devon trips have produced no winning trains for haulage. My first option was a cheeky trip to London via Salisbury (using network rail card) and then I remembered I wanted to look at a Thames Branches Day Ranger. Admittedly I would get to Reading (where it was valid from) well into the day but I thought I'd would give it a go anyway! A reasonable £40 for all relevant tickets for what would be a full day out!
I headed off of Plymouth on 0925 1S39 XC service to Aberdeen. I changed at Exeter St David's for the SWT service to London Waterloo and changed at Basingstoke for Reading!
From Reading I caught the next HST to London Paddington. From here I set off to do the branches in order towards Reading. First off was Greenford. Yes this is within the zones of a London Travelcard, but it would be very low on the agenda if I had one of them. I made my way there via FGW and Heathrow Connect services. I then headed back to Ealing Broadway to make my way to Windsor and Eton. Again a combination of FGW and heathrow connect services got me there. I had half an hour here until I had trains to connect me to Henley-on-Thames (I skipped Marlow until next time). So off to the two Wetherspoons (The King and Castle & The Windlesora) for 2 quick pints!!! It was then off to Henley-on-Thames. I planned 30 odd minutes here which would allow me to connect to all trains back to Plymouth. In those 30 minutes a visit to the Whetherspoons (The Catherine Wheel) was achieved. It was here I had a message informing Peter had uploaded new photos. I knew he'd been away in Brighton and London but my question of whether he was doing a Thames Ranger was never answered. The photos did answer it! A quick flick to my messages said he'd been to the same 3 Whetherspoons I had just done! I knew he'd been to 3 but didn't take in which ones! Lol! So we had practically done the same thing! I know he went off to do a lot more (with what i assume was his head start to the day as I have yet to see his blog) based on his pictures.
Anyway I have strayed! I headed back to Twyford and it went a bit wrong. I got off and train was coming in. I couldn't see any displays saying where anything was going so I asked a member of staff. She told me it was going to Reading. Good! Until it went back up the branch!!! This meant I would miss the last train. The only way home now was FGW via Taunton. My ticket wasnt valid but a quick phone call meant it was. Well done FGW!
I ended up home earlier as well, well by 13 minutes! Winners in red.
220026 (0925) 1S39 PLY - EXD
159016 (1026) 1L40 EXD - BSK
165123 (1307) 2J34 BSK - RDG
43002 (1332) 1L54 RDG - PAD
165137 (1427) 2N44 PAD - EAL
360202 (1441) 2T48 EAL - WEA
166215 (1457) 2G38 WEA - GFD
166215 (1516) 2G39 GFD - EAL
165104 (1535) 2N48 EAL - STL
360204 (1549) 2T52 STL - HAY
166205 (1602) 2R49 HAY - SLO
165126 (1621) 2W65 SLO - WNC
165126 (1710) 2S70 WNC - SLO
165133 (1718) 2R53 SLO - BNM
165221 (1725) 2R53 BNM - TAP
166217 (1736) 2R54TAP - MAI
166216 (1747) 1H48 MAI - HOT
165122 (1846) 2H51 HOT - TWY
166218 (1858) 1H52 TWY - HOT
165135 (1916) 2H53 HOT - TWY
165116 (1937) 2R69 TWY - RDG
43094 (2012) 1C96 RDG - PLY
A total of 484 miles travelled. A good day if a little rushed!
I headed off of Plymouth on 0925 1S39 XC service to Aberdeen. I changed at Exeter St David's for the SWT service to London Waterloo and changed at Basingstoke for Reading!
From Reading I caught the next HST to London Paddington. From here I set off to do the branches in order towards Reading. First off was Greenford. Yes this is within the zones of a London Travelcard, but it would be very low on the agenda if I had one of them. I made my way there via FGW and Heathrow Connect services. I then headed back to Ealing Broadway to make my way to Windsor and Eton. Again a combination of FGW and heathrow connect services got me there. I had half an hour here until I had trains to connect me to Henley-on-Thames (I skipped Marlow until next time). So off to the two Wetherspoons (The King and Castle & The Windlesora) for 2 quick pints!!! It was then off to Henley-on-Thames. I planned 30 odd minutes here which would allow me to connect to all trains back to Plymouth. In those 30 minutes a visit to the Whetherspoons (The Catherine Wheel) was achieved. It was here I had a message informing Peter had uploaded new photos. I knew he'd been away in Brighton and London but my question of whether he was doing a Thames Ranger was never answered. The photos did answer it! A quick flick to my messages said he'd been to the same 3 Whetherspoons I had just done! I knew he'd been to 3 but didn't take in which ones! Lol! So we had practically done the same thing! I know he went off to do a lot more (with what i assume was his head start to the day as I have yet to see his blog) based on his pictures.
Anyway I have strayed! I headed back to Twyford and it went a bit wrong. I got off and train was coming in. I couldn't see any displays saying where anything was going so I asked a member of staff. She told me it was going to Reading. Good! Until it went back up the branch!!! This meant I would miss the last train. The only way home now was FGW via Taunton. My ticket wasnt valid but a quick phone call meant it was. Well done FGW!
I ended up home earlier as well, well by 13 minutes! Winners in red.
220026 (0925) 1S39 PLY - EXD
159016 (1026) 1L40 EXD - BSK
165123 (1307) 2J34 BSK - RDG
43002 (1332) 1L54 RDG - PAD
165137 (1427) 2N44 PAD - EAL
360202 (1441) 2T48 EAL - WEA
166215 (1457) 2G38 WEA - GFD
166215 (1516) 2G39 GFD - EAL
165104 (1535) 2N48 EAL - STL
360204 (1549) 2T52 STL - HAY
166205 (1602) 2R49 HAY - SLO
165126 (1621) 2W65 SLO - WNC
165126 (1710) 2S70 WNC - SLO
165133 (1718) 2R53 SLO - BNM
165221 (1725) 2R53 BNM - TAP
166217 (1736) 2R54TAP - MAI
166216 (1747) 1H48 MAI - HOT
165122 (1846) 2H51 HOT - TWY
166218 (1858) 1H52 TWY - HOT
165135 (1916) 2H53 HOT - TWY
165116 (1937) 2R69 TWY - RDG
43094 (2012) 1C96 RDG - PLY
A total of 484 miles travelled. A good day if a little rushed!
Monday, 2 May 2011
2nd May 2011 - Off the mark for May!
Today saw me head to Falmouth with my wife for the day and a quick visit to my parents in Perranwell. As expected, nothing new was ridden.
150243 (0920) 2T08 PLY - TRU
150121 (1050) 2F74 TRU - FMT
150121 (1523) 2T82 FMT - PRW
153382 (1920) 2P89 PRW - TRU
150243 (1955) 2P95 TRU - PLY
A total of 130 miles to kick start May off!
150243 (0920) 2T08 PLY - TRU
150121 (1050) 2F74 TRU - FMT
150121 (1523) 2T82 FMT - PRW
153382 (1920) 2P89 PRW - TRU
150243 (1955) 2P95 TRU - PLY
A total of 130 miles to kick start May off!
Friday, 29 April 2011
29th April 2011 - Devon Day Ranger
Well for the Royal Wedding Bank Holiday I got another Devon Ranger. I was out early as there were no restrictions but it was a fruitless day. My last 9 FGW HST power cars, last 153, last 220 and last 221 were nowhere to be seen. Well I tell a lie! One of the required power cars was on the back of a train, much like one was on Tuesday. In fact today saw me behind two trains I caught on Tuesday, one of them on the same service!
221139 1S98 (0520) PLY - TOT
43163 1A75 (0557) TOT - NTA
43161 1A09 (0617) NTA - TVP
220023 1C11 (0720) TVP - PLY
43015 1A78 (0853) PLY - NTA
43154 1C73 (0955) NTA - TQY
221127 1M41 (1012) TQY - TVP
43088 1C76 (1104) TVP - TOT
43170 1A83 (1227) TOT - NTA
220020 1M49 (1228) NTA - EXD 24 late
142029 2F29 (1318) EXD - EXC
142009 2T19 (1350) EXC - EXD
43130 1C81 (1408) EXD - PLY 13 late
345 miles travelled which meant i ended April on 1433 miles (a bit better than i had expected at one point!). Bring on May which should be a lot better with trips to London, the West Midlands and another tour planned.
221139 1S98 (0520) PLY - TOT
43163 1A75 (0557) TOT - NTA
43161 1A09 (0617) NTA - TVP
220023 1C11 (0720) TVP - PLY
43015 1A78 (0853) PLY - NTA
43154 1C73 (0955) NTA - TQY
221127 1M41 (1012) TQY - TVP
43088 1C76 (1104) TVP - TOT
43170 1A83 (1227) TOT - NTA
220020 1M49 (1228) NTA - EXD 24 late
142029 2F29 (1318) EXD - EXC
142009 2T19 (1350) EXC - EXD
43130 1C81 (1408) EXD - PLY 13 late
345 miles travelled which meant i ended April on 1433 miles (a bit better than i had expected at one point!). Bring on May which should be a lot better with trips to London, the West Midlands and another tour planned.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
26th April 2011 - Devon Day Ranger
Well April has and will be a slow month! With the exception of my London daytrip all I have done was a trip to Newton Abbot and one Devon Day Ranger, mainly due to Easter and work comitments. Before today I hadn't even done 1000 miles!
Today would be nothing more than another Devon Day Ranger. I left Plymouth on the usual 0925 and met Peter at Newton Abbot. The day proceeded with nothing of note. All trains were dud. I saw 43018 on the back of a train which i needed but it wasn't due to return back to the Westcountry until after 2230.
The day wasn't a complete waste though. We did see 66177 on the Exeter Scrap Train (which was new for me not sure about Peter!).
220029 1S39 (0925) PLY - NTA
221122 1M41 (1023) NTA - DWL
150233 2C67 (1050) DWL - TRR
43149 1A82 (1116) TRR - NTA
43024 1C76 (1143) NTA - TOT
220022 1M49 (1215) TOT - NTA
43170 1A83 (1240) NTA - EXD
142063 2F29 (1318) EXD - EXC
142063 2B78 (1417) EXC - EXD
43378 1S55 (1425) EXD - TVP
43130 1C84 (1501) TVP - TOT
43071 1A91 (1627) TOT - EXD
43143 1C86 (1735) EXD - PLY
Total miles travelled was 240.
Today would be nothing more than another Devon Day Ranger. I left Plymouth on the usual 0925 and met Peter at Newton Abbot. The day proceeded with nothing of note. All trains were dud. I saw 43018 on the back of a train which i needed but it wasn't due to return back to the Westcountry until after 2230.
The day wasn't a complete waste though. We did see 66177 on the Exeter Scrap Train (which was new for me not sure about Peter!).
220029 1S39 (0925) PLY - NTA
221122 1M41 (1023) NTA - DWL
150233 2C67 (1050) DWL - TRR
43149 1A82 (1116) TRR - NTA
43024 1C76 (1143) NTA - TOT
220022 1M49 (1215) TOT - NTA
43170 1A83 (1240) NTA - EXD
142063 2F29 (1318) EXD - EXC
142063 2B78 (1417) EXC - EXD
43378 1S55 (1425) EXD - TVP
43130 1C84 (1501) TVP - TOT
43071 1A91 (1627) TOT - EXD
43143 1C86 (1735) EXD - PLY
Total miles travelled was 240.
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