Yes it was a Sunday and is a tricky day to go out on but I have a ticket and my wife was away on a hen do. So it was HST power car hunting via Westbury to Chippenham. First train of the day was a winning FGW power car so it was worth it whatever happened for the rest of the day. On the way I saw 153399 heading to Penzance. I needed this unit and I was unsure how much longer it would be in it's temporary formation. I looked at what it should be doing for the rest of the day and worked out i needed to be at Newton Abbot by 1630. I called at Trowbridge so that I could visit both Wetherspoons before heading to Chippenham for lunch at the Wetherspoons there. It was then on the Chippenham - Newton Abbot fast HST via Bristol Temple Meads. I went first class because the train was rammed and decided to pay the £10 upgrade!
As I neared Newton Abbot i saw some gen that said 153399 was low on fuel and got swapped at Plymouth. So I stayed on the train to Plymouth. Upon arriving at Plymouth i saw 153399 in the bay platform for the Gunnislake branch. It obviously had enough fuel to go there and back so i jumped on it. 28 miles in 2 hours but at least i have this rare unit (that's both rare units this year, the other being 221144!).
Yes it was a Sunday but it was a good one!
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
4th July 2011 - FOSW Day 1
With an up and coming Stag weekend in Cardiff and days off work it was a sensible option to get another FOSW. My first day was on the Monday (not normally a day off work but my rota had changed this week). I headed to Cardiff for the ever decreasing list of units in the area to catch and hopefully get some luck with FGW power cars. There was a lot less travelling involved than usual as I waited for things that i needed. I managed to grab three new units and one power car. I also spotted 50044 passing light engine through Newport. The photo wasn't great and as luck would have it I passed it on the way to Cardiff so got a better photo there.
1st - 3rd July 2011 - Weekend to London
For the weekend me and my wife went to London. We went to several museums, walked along the Thames and saw friends. The only train related things were the getting from A to B! The only winners were therefore a few units used to get to my sisters house in Earlsfield and centre of London.
Monday, 27 June 2011
25th June - Mazey Day Spitfire Tours
Today saw three tours head to Penzance. Two from Spitfire and one from Pathfinder. I had to work so the best i got was to see the two Spitfire tours pass Plymouth. The weather was not great but saw and photographed the two tours. One winning 20 for sight too.
24th June - Bodmin Wenford Mixed Traction Weekend, Friday
My day off work got moved to Friday which was handy to attend the Bodmin and Wenford Railway Diesel day as part of their mixed traction weekend.
31110, 47306 and 50042 were out hauling trains. Haualge was had behind all three and i have finally got the branch to Boscarne Junction. So this means I only have the short Plym Valley Railway line to travel on and the Helston Railway.
My trip back to Plymouth produced a winning HST power car too so that was a good end to the day.
31110, 47306 and 50042 were out hauling trains. Haualge was had behind all three and i have finally got the branch to Boscarne Junction. So this means I only have the short Plym Valley Railway line to travel on and the Helston Railway.
My trip back to Plymouth produced a winning HST power car too so that was a good end to the day.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Blog Catch Up!
I have not been very good at keeping the blog up to date over the last few weeks! This will be a quick run down of what I have done recently.
Last Day of the FOSW 7th June
For this day I headed to Cardiff and then bought a Valley Lines Rover. I explored some more of the lines I have yet to go on. This took me to Merthyr Tydfil via the City Line, up to Aberdare, down to Barry Island and then accross to Bridgend. I visited the Wetherspoons at the same time. I got a couple of winning units during this too.
Heading to Derby via London 10th June
I was due to visit Central Rivers for a PLEG charter on the 11th June and I had the 10th off work. I decided I would get to Derby (where I was staying with the in laws) via London as it is cheaper than going via XC and more comfortable! I took this opportunity to spend the day in London. I went up on the Night Riveria. I had a berth which was much better than sitting in the seat.
In London I headed to the GOBLIN line to try and complete my Class 172/0s for sight and haulage/ I managed the sight but my final one wasn't out for haulage. I then headed over to Liverpool Street to get more Class 379s in before heading to Waterloo to bash untis there. I saw my final Class 450 for sight.
Then I headed towards Croydon via the Tram from Beckenham Junction. A few trips were then had between Croydon and Victoria and London Bridge. My train to Derby was at 2012 which was completely new route for me upto Leicester.
A good day and I managed 49 winning trains during the course of the day for haulage.
Derbyshire Wayfarer and PLEG Charter 11th June
Before the PLEG Charter at Central Rivers Depot I headed to Sheffield and bashed a few trains between Sheffield and Chesterfield. The biggest win being my final XC Voyager to complete the Class 220 for haulage. The day got even better than i ever expected however.
The PLEG Charter was a tour of the Central Rivers depot on 221144 (disbanded Super Voyager leaving to driving cars) behind 57308 and 08943. The 08 was a winner the 57 wasn't. Now before 221144 was disbanded i never got it for haulage but for the tour they ran it through the depot under its on power (has a compressor installed inside the vestibule area to allow slow speed movement of the unit!). This was mega as this is obviously a rare unit and now i have a chance to get haulage on every Super Voyager. Cab ride was also acheived.
Also present at the depot was my final Super Voyager for sight, 221102. Excellent Day and over £3k raised for charity.
Devon Day Ranger 16th June
Back to the old Devon Ranger and all I needed in the area now is 8 FGW Power Cars. So this was what I was after. No luck and I didn't even see any of the ones i need for haulage.
So that is my caught up. I have so far travelled 19,012 miles this year which I am very pleased with.
Last Day of the FOSW 7th June
For this day I headed to Cardiff and then bought a Valley Lines Rover. I explored some more of the lines I have yet to go on. This took me to Merthyr Tydfil via the City Line, up to Aberdare, down to Barry Island and then accross to Bridgend. I visited the Wetherspoons at the same time. I got a couple of winning units during this too.
Heading to Derby via London 10th June
I was due to visit Central Rivers for a PLEG charter on the 11th June and I had the 10th off work. I decided I would get to Derby (where I was staying with the in laws) via London as it is cheaper than going via XC and more comfortable! I took this opportunity to spend the day in London. I went up on the Night Riveria. I had a berth which was much better than sitting in the seat.
In London I headed to the GOBLIN line to try and complete my Class 172/0s for sight and haulage/ I managed the sight but my final one wasn't out for haulage. I then headed over to Liverpool Street to get more Class 379s in before heading to Waterloo to bash untis there. I saw my final Class 450 for sight.
Then I headed towards Croydon via the Tram from Beckenham Junction. A few trips were then had between Croydon and Victoria and London Bridge. My train to Derby was at 2012 which was completely new route for me upto Leicester.
A good day and I managed 49 winning trains during the course of the day for haulage.
Derbyshire Wayfarer and PLEG Charter 11th June
Before the PLEG Charter at Central Rivers Depot I headed to Sheffield and bashed a few trains between Sheffield and Chesterfield. The biggest win being my final XC Voyager to complete the Class 220 for haulage. The day got even better than i ever expected however.
The PLEG Charter was a tour of the Central Rivers depot on 221144 (disbanded Super Voyager leaving to driving cars) behind 57308 and 08943. The 08 was a winner the 57 wasn't. Now before 221144 was disbanded i never got it for haulage but for the tour they ran it through the depot under its on power (has a compressor installed inside the vestibule area to allow slow speed movement of the unit!). This was mega as this is obviously a rare unit and now i have a chance to get haulage on every Super Voyager. Cab ride was also acheived.
Also present at the depot was my final Super Voyager for sight, 221102. Excellent Day and over £3k raised for charity.
Devon Day Ranger 16th June
Back to the old Devon Ranger and all I needed in the area now is 8 FGW Power Cars. So this was what I was after. No luck and I didn't even see any of the ones i need for haulage.
So that is my caught up. I have so far travelled 19,012 miles this year which I am very pleased with.
Monday, 6 June 2011
2nd June 2011 - FOSW Day 6
Strange day! I decided it would be a trip to Portsmouth and go for winning 3rd rail units. I got there and after about an hour there was a problem. A bridge strike somewhere towards Havant caused most Southern trains being cancelled as they could not get through. Delays were everywhere so i headed back to Southampton via Eastleigh.
If I'm totally honest i was not with it today. I was tired and decided to call it a day quite early. I left Southampton just after 1500 and was home by 1900. I got six winners which was better than nothing but i was not with it!
If I'm totally honest i was not with it today. I was tired and decided to call it a day quite early. I left Southampton just after 1500 and was home by 1900. I got six winners which was better than nothing but i was not with it!
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