Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[SM42]

5 hours ago, s182ggu said:

L76 ??

 

1L76 perhaps

 

Andy

[big jim]

5 hours ago, s182ggu said:

L76 ??

The reporting number, couldn’t work out which service it was though

 

today was indeed a trip to East Midlands gateway, got the train from crewe to Nuneaton where I met it 

 

freightliner 90s

 

my train

 

we headed to hams hall to run round 

 

 

Then headed off to East Midlands gateway 

 

running round again after uncoupling for unloading 

and on the other end 

 

We set off for there back to hams hall for another run round where I got off and caught the train from coleshill back to Nuneaton 

 

66 passing through with the Scunthorpe to Eastleigh rail train 

 

My train to nuneaton 

 

unfortunately it was late so I missed he direct service to crewe so had to wait for a Manchester train via Stoke 

 

Pendolinos passing through 

 

 

 

And the train I got off at hams hall came back through again!

 

Manchester train

 

Off at Stoke for the local to crewe, still 30 mins quicker going this way compared to my diagram that sent me via Birmingham 

 

Got to Crewe and spotted @Big jim s dad lurking at the platform end having had a days spotting in derby so I went over to see him, the Royal Mail service passing by as I was there

 

a slight change of job tomorrow as long as the additional but doesn’t get cancelled, I hope it doesn’t as I’ve got my booked crewe to hams hall and back to do before hot footing it by train to Darlington into lodge for my Thursday morning job 

 

 

 

[berwicksfinest]

5 hours ago, SM42 said:

 

1L76 perhaps

 

Andy

Apologies it was 4L76, East Midlands Gateway to Felixstowe South !! 

 

As jim wasn't in the way, we managed a 64 min early departure from Gateway and a 66 min early departure from Castle Don🤣

[big jim]

A long but relatively simple day, started with a Crewe to hams hall service 

 

off colour freightliner 66 

 

didn’t bother with pics of my train until we got to hams hall, had someone road learning with me so I let him drive 

 

Shunted and fuelled up 

 

Run round and back to crewe 

 

where I went up to the station and caught a train to lodge 

off to stockport on the loco and stock 

 

Where I had about 30 mins to wait so did the usual and went to the platform end for some pics 

 

Easyjet A320 

 

 

 

DB 66 off to ardwick 

 

Voyager 

 

The stone train was top and tail, probably as new mills is closed so the service needed to reverse en route 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and another DB service from Ashburys this time 

 

 

 

 

My train to Sheffield 

 

Where it was a quick dash over the bridge to get the voyager 

 

Past the dreamy spires of Leeds

 

through York 

 

Quick window pic, royal 47 on the NRM, nice to see it in the old RES version of the livery 

 

And off at Darlington 

 

 

a very odd station, I went out front and had to double check it was actually the front of the station, not particularly inviting! 

 

And that was that, off to the hotel for the night before working an 807 back to oxley tomorrow morning, going to be a long day and the booked trip is going to have to be revised so I can get my required breaks en route, unfortunately it’s looking like I won’t be able to cast my vote in the election as I won’t get back in time, I was hoping to get a 45 min stop in crewe to speed off to the polling station but it’s been turned down by NR

 

 

 

 

Edited July 3 by big jim

[big jim]

Time to head back south via the north!

 

the 807 was pulled from merchants park with a class 69 into Darlington where I met it

 

69010 was the loco 

 

it was uncoupled and I headed to the north end to set up the cab 

 

brothers! 

 

And another 

 

And off I went, conducted from Darlington to Carlisle, first stop for a few minutes was Newcastle 

 

 

And away to Scotland, stopped in Morpeth for a bit before getting a good run to Edinburgh, 20 mins there 

 

92 in the Klondike siding 

 

Next stop was Carlisle where I had an hour break as I’d been driving for almost 5 hours so it was a required PNB, the route conductor also got off there, even had time to go and spend some money with @Mike at C&M 

 

 

 

left there 45 late but as we were booked to stop in Eden valley loop for an hour I passed there 20 mins early, Preston box kept me going as well, just a couple of minutes in Preston 

 

Got to Warrington an hour early and asked if I could leave early to crewe so I could pop off and vote but they held me there until time! 

 

 

A Biomass train pulled in along side me which the signaller then annoyingly put out in front of me so I ended up following it all the way to Acton bridge running signal to signal at 20 mph before overtaking it before it had even reached the end of Hartford loop

 

This was just plain annoying!

 

had a good run from crewe to wolves where I changed ends to head to oxley 

 

 

 

A pic by one of the platform staff 

 

got away early from there to oxley, arriving some 30 mins early, stabled up and made a dash back home in time to vote which I didn’t think I’d manage to do 

 

Day off tomorrow (deserved) then a possession on Saturday toton to northenden via the hope valley 

[5BarVT]

Pleased you managed to get to vote.

Paul.

[mikejames]

like 5barvt, glad you managed to vote.

I've had a postal vote for several years and It's very convienient 

think about it?

mike j

Edited July 5 by mikejames

[Ray M]

And remember to not leave your travel bag, in the cab.

for someone nearly drive away with.

[big jim]

4 hours ago, Ray M said:

And remember to not leave your travel bag, in the cab.

for someone nearly drive away with.

I left it in the wrong end when I changed ends in oxley, luckily the travelling fitter bought it though for me otherwise I’d have lost more time walking back and forth for it! 

[big jim]

Only 3 from yesterday, toton to Altrincham possession train, turns out there was another driver on it too as we needed to split the train on site however we both got relief at the marker boards so I didn’t actually need to be in (or he didn’t) still I got to go to the model railway show in Buxton and have an ice cream in Matlock bath on the way in to toton so it wasnt all bad! 
 

toton 66 variety 

 

my loco 

 

into Altrincham where we got off, there was some confusion and delay getting into the possession so we arrived late, we should have been getting off in knutsford! 

 

Sundays job is to bring one off site at plumley and take it back to bescot and I’ve been asked to then work one from bescot to Stafford! 
 

next week is a mixed bag, intermodal from manchester (I think) a car train from Carlisle to crewe and a couple of nights of 805s to and from Holyhead 

[big jim]

Back from site yesterday, no pics from northwich as the other driver had parked in the goods line behind the platform and it’s so overgrown I couldn’t a pic at all!

 

so first shot is after I got to bescot, came via soho and perry Barr so had to back in 

 

into the yard 

 

Couple of 66s waiting their next turn 

 

joined by mine 

 

I had to wait around to work another train to Stafford, it started to absolutely lash it down while I was there so got a couple of good rainbow shots 

 

 

not the best shot as I couldn’t get the Lens clean, my train to Stafford 

 

nice little crewe to rugby job tonight unless it gets changed 
 

 

[corneliuslundie]

At least the locos got a free wash.

J

[newbryford]

52 minutes ago, big jim said:

Back from site yesterday, no pics from northwich as the other driver had parked in the goods line behind the platform and it’s so overgrown I couldn’t a pic at all!

 

joined by mine 

 

I had to wait around to work another train to Stafford, it started to absolutely lash it down while I was there so got a couple of good rainbow shots 

 

 

 

Nice pic showing all ex-Euro locos - highlighting a few detail differences

[big jim]

Bit of a cock up of a job last night!

 

lots of words and only a couple of pictures 

 

i got a call at 23:15 from control asking me where I was as the signaller hadn’t heard from me, at the time I was in bed waiting for my alarm to go off at 01:00!

 

Turns out they had swapped my job but neglected to tell me, quickly got up and dressed and phoned the box to tell them I was on the way, it turned out my train was stood on the fast line north of crewe station, luckily I’m only about 5 mins from the station so I got there pretty sharp and I left about half an hour late from there headed to rugby via the West Midlands, the train was an intermodal that runs to rugby and runs round in the yard and sits in rugby for 4 hours before heading to hams hall, by the time I got to stetchford I was back on time, got to long lawford in just outside rugby and the signaller rang me to tell me that the up side of rugby was under possession and would be blocked until 05:30 so could I go to Northampton to run round, I can’t as I don’t sign past rugby (hillmorton) 

 

panic stations all round as there was a DRS service behind me waiting to go into Daventry, after a bit of thinking I suggested we drop into the station to let that train pass then see if there was anyone at Daventry who could conduct me into the terminal to run round, they decided to go with that idea, get the driver on the drs train that was  passing to walk up and meet me at the gate to dirft and see me in (I used to sign with DRS but it’s been 15 years since I went there!)

 

To let him pass I did an unusual move on position lights into platform 2 from Trent valley jn, a new move on me, sat in the platform waiting

 

they then decided I could run round in the station but it meant bringing the rear of the train in clear of the north signal so I was signalled south and once in clear I uncoupled and drew away with the loco behind the signal to bring me north again over the flyover, however as I expected my train was sat on the track circuit from platform 2 so the signal or points couldn’t be changed to let me go north, so I  had to change ends and go south again to hillmorton to pass back though the station by a different route not effected by the wagons, once I did that move I was back onto the train but I then needed to move the whole lot north again to clear the track circuit to the south to allow other trains to head south over the flyover (they were all routed that way due to the possession) 

 

got it moved along and brake tested before I got off and headed home, a poor pic as there was a stantion in the way 

 

hopefully tonight might go better, carlsile to crewe but I’ve got to go via Warrington arpley yard to collect some wagons, somewhere else I don’t sign so I’ve got to be conducted in! 

Edited July 9 by big jim

[big jim]

No mess ups tonight!

 

caught the train from crewe to Carlisle, got chatting to a friend who works at LSL who in turn got chatting to someone else who then introduced him self to me and it was none other than our own @russ p , nice to speak to you briefly! 
 

153 heading to shrewsbury 

 

my train to Carlisle 

 

And waiting there for my working back south, freightliner passing through 

 

and my train back to crewe 

 

stopped at oxenholme to let the Windermere branch train go in front of me 

 

 

I had to go via Warrington arpley yard to pick up an extra wagon, conducted in as I’ve never been in there before, shame about the shadow on the loco front 

 

 

another Shunter’s garden complete with koi carp

 

And into crewe 

 

805 to Holyhead for the next couple of days 

 

[russ p]

4 hours ago, big jim said:

No mess ups tonight!

 

caught the train from crewe to Carlisle, got chatting to a friend who works at LSL who in turn got chatting to someone else who then introduced him self to me and it was none other than our own @russ p , nice to speak to you briefly! 
 

153 heading to shrewsbury 

 

my train to Carlisle 

 

And waiting there for my working back south, freightliner passing through 

 

and my train back to crewe 

 

stopped at oxenholme to let the Windermere branch train go in front of me 

 

 

I had to go via Warrington arpley yard to pick up an extra wagon, conducted in as I’ve never been in there before, shame about the shadow on the loco front 

 

 

another Shunter’s garden complete with koi carp

 

And into crewe 

 

805 to Holyhead for the next couple of days 

 

 

Nice to put a face to your name Jim 

Hope you had a good shift, Dave Pemberton who I was with is also ex Thornaby I've known him over 40 years 

[big jim]

1 hour ago, russ p said:

 

Nice to put a face to your name Jim 

Hope you had a good shift, Dave Pemberton who I was with is also ex Thornaby I've known him over 40 years 

Dave started at DRS as a fitter the same day as me, a really nice guy 

 

if you get a chance ask him about the Grimsby prawn peeler

[russ p]

9 hours ago, big jim said:

Dave started at DRS as a fitter the same day as me, a really nice guy 

 

if you get a chance ask him about the Grimsby prawn peeler

 

Ah right,  I hadn't seen dave in ages 

Was nice to catch up with him over a beer in Nantwich last night

[big jim]

805 test tonight, only got to Chester and the thing we were testing didn’t work so we turned back, the other diver taking it back to oxley for me so a nice early finish 

 

oxley 

 

 

crewe

 

68 passing through 

 

 

Chester 

 

replica station boards 

 

Changed ends 

 

Back into crewe 

 

Change of job tomorrow, Trafford park to nuneaton 

[big jim]

Only a few from tonight, trafford park to Nuneaton 

 

caught the train to Manchester 

 

Passing a freightliner 66s on the independent lines 

 

loco under the crane 

 

 

and away to Nuneaton via the Midlands 

 

thats me too Sunday now, weedsprayer out of kings norton round the Birmingham area I think then I’ve not a clue what I’ve got the rest of the week yet apart from the trafford park to Nuneaton job for a couple of nights 

[5BarVT]

On 10/07/2024 at 22:30, big jim said:

replica station boards 

That’s new.  Go on holiday for two weeks and everything changes!

I’ll have to look out for it tomorrow.

Paul.

[gismorail]

It’s nice to see the picture of the shutters garden at Warrington Arpley nice showing that there is still a little bit of pride left in the railway 

[big jim]

Back to it last night, weedspraying trip kings norton to Worcester via snow hill and Kidderminster 

 

MPV on kings norton, it’s nearly that time of year again!!

 

rail adventure power cars 

 

Fresh RHTT wagons 

 

My locos 

 

 

if I changed ends once I changed ends a hundred times, left kings norton, changed ends, down to duddeston jn, changed ends, into tyseley, changed ends 

 

away to Worcester where I changed ends again, first time I’ve driven it at night on position lights, need eyes in the back of your head incase you miss one but I made it! 
 

from there it was back to tyseley where I changed ends again

 

to duddeston, where I changed ends and back to kings norton, where it get back in I had to change ends again before stabling the train!

 

 

thats me until Tuesday evening now, possession train banbury to greenford via 2 change ends at Neasden jn and west Ruislip for some strange reason! 

[SM42]

2 hours ago, big jim said:

Back to it last night, weedspraying trip kings norton to Worcester via snow hill and Kidderminster 

 

MPV on kings norton, it’s nearly that time of year again!!

 

rail adventure power cars 

 

Fresh RHTT wagons 

 

My locos 

 

 

if I changed ends once I changed ends a hundred times, left kings norton, changed ends, down to duddeston jn, changed ends, into tyseley, changed ends 

 

away to Worcester where I changed ends again, first time I’ve driven it at night on position lights, need eyes in the back of your head incase you miss one but I made it! 
 

from there it was back to tyseley where I changed ends again

 

to duddeston, where I changed ends and back to kings norton, where it get back in I had to change ends again before stabling the train!

 

 

thats me until Tuesday evening now, possession train banbury to greenford via 2 change ends at Neasden jn and west Ruislip for some strange reason! 

 

There's probably a train or two about so they are keeping you out of the way in that special way that only planners can  

 

Otherwise it does seem a bit odd.

 

I presume you meant Neasden South Jn rather than Neasden Jn.  The latter  might make more sense though in terms of being out of the way.

 

Not the most salubrious part of London  to go traipsing about in.

 

Still think of  the steps you'll get in.😁

 

Andy

[corneliuslundie]

And do yo7u get a shoeleather allowance?

J