Sunday 26th September 2010

My journey home from the MNR. Simples!

It was my mate's car from some lay-by in the middle of the Norfolk countryside (!) to Warrington Bank Quay via Cambridge services and then the trains home.


390003 Warrington Bank Quay - Preston
156483 Preston - St. Annes-On-The-Sea

Saturday 25th September 2010

Day 2 of the event and my last day here! Believe me, roughing it in my mates car for three nights was not that great! Thus making three days at the event hard work! I got 37003, 37037, 37109, 37219, 37275, 37423, 37518, 37601, 37906 and 97301 this day! 37003 (running as 37360) was brought back to life as too was 37518 (although 518 was not well at all!) 37601 also made an appearence for her naming and post-naming working with 37423!
37219 suffered a battery failure the previous day but, like 003 and 518, was brought back to life this day!

So today I scooped 37003 for haulage, same for 37518 and 37601 for livery.

37906+6737 Dereham - Thuxton
6737 Thuxton - Wymondham Abbey
97301 Wymondham Abbey - Dereham
97301 Dereham - Wymondham Abbey
37275 Wymondham Abbey - Dereham
37906 Dereham - Thuxton
37109 Thuxton - Dereham
37601+37423 Dereham - Wymondham Abbey
37003+97301 Wymondham Abbey - Dereham
37518+37219 Dereham - Wymondham Abbey
97301 Wymondham Abbey - Dereham
37601+37423 Dereham - Wymondham Abbey
37219+37518 Wymondham Abbey - Dereham

Friday 24th September 2010

The first day of the Mid Norfolk's Class 37 'Golden Jubilee' 50th Anniversary event. I was really looking forward to this event, I felt it appropriate I make an appearence to show my appreciation to the loco that stole my soul! LOL

The event didn't get off to the greatest of starts though, both 37003 and 37518 were sidelined with problems. Which was really annoying as I required both! But I did finally scoop in 37423 after 15 years of chasing the bugger! 423 always seemed to escape my clutches over the years but finally I caught up with her!
There was also a farce in the morning when a southbound train with 37906 on the rear was blocking the crossing at Thuxton and this saw alot of disgruntled passengers being left behind as 97301 pulled out of the station towards Wymondham! The train was turned back just north of Kimberley Park to pick everyone up who got left behind! You got to give the MNR their dues for that!

I 'caned' 37029 for her livery, same with D6737, 37109 for the MNR, 37219 for haulage, same again for 37275, and 37423, and 97301 (ex-37100 for haulage). Only 37706 and 37906 were completly dud engines! Although 706 is of course the final 'Oldham Looper' and 906 is just a caged animal! LOL

The locos that worked were: 37029, 37037, 37109, 37219, 37275, 37423, 37706, 37906 and 97301.


Here were the moves -

37109+D6729 Dereham - Thuxton
D6729 Thuston - Wymondham Abbey
37219 Wymondham Abbey - Dereham
97301 Dereham - Kimberley Park
37423 Kimberley Park - Thuxton
97301 Thuxton - Wymondham Abbey
37423 Wymondham Abbey - Dereham
37706 Dereham - Thuxton
D6729+6737 Thuxton - Dereham
37109 Dereham - Wymondham Loop
37906 Wymondham Loop - Dereham
37109 Dereham - Thuxton
97301 Thuxton - Dereham
37275 Dereham - Wymondham Loop
97301 Wymondham Loop - Dereham

Thursday 23rd September 2010

A day on the LTT-organised tram running day for the 125 celebrations. Tram cars used on the 'tour' were 'Brush' 632, 'Coronation' 304 and 'Liverpool' 762.

After the tram bash, I then headed down to Warrington Bank Quay to be picked up by some friends of mine to head down to the Mid Norfolk Railway for what was THE Class 37 event of the year...
(Also, on my journey to WBQ I saw Steam loco 61994 with it's support coach in the former platform 7 at Preston on a move from Carnforth to Barrow Hill!)


NOTE: '123' and '101 are buses, '150137' and '221103' are trains and '632', '304' and '762' are trams.

123 Beach Road (St. Annes) - Lytham Road (Blackpool)
762(Liv) Hopton Road (Depot) - North Pier
632 North Pier - Fisherman's Walk
632 Fisherman's Walk - North Pier
304 North Pier - Bispham
304 Bispham - Pleasure Beach
304 Pleasure Beach - North Pier
762(Liv) North Pier - Bispham
762(Liv) Bispham - North Pier
101 Market Street (Blackpool) - Beach Road (St. Annes)
150137 St. Annes-On-The-Sea - Preston
221103 Preston - Warrington Bank Quay

Wednesday 22nd September 2010

Oh f**k! My head hurts! Just got back from Compass' 'Snowdon Mountineer' tour with 47712 and 47802 top and tail. Plenty of laughs and drinking went on I had a bloody good day as it happens! Although 47-hauled, it was still a good day out! lol It was also nice to get 47802 in the book. I spent bloody years chasing that thing - I finally got it today!
47712 certainly did the class proud too, with it's clag and loud sound!
The only disapointment of the day being the loss of the trip to Llandudno (town).

My best wishes go to Compass and all involved behind the scenes. John, Kev - you've done it again! Keep it up guys, show all the other railtour companies how it's done! lol


Here was the moves:

150137 St. Annes-On-The-Sea - Blackburn
47802 Blackburn - Llandudno Junction
47712 Llandudno Junction - Bleanau Ffestiniog
47802 Bleanau Ffestiniog - Llandudno Junction
47712 Llandudno Junction - Blackburn
150137 Blackburn - St. Annes-On-The-Sea

Monday 20th September 2010

What should have been a straight forward out and back trip into Blackpool to purchase my tickets for Thursday's trip to Norfolk via Warrington, turned into a brief tram bash! Rarely-seen 'Balloon' car 701 was just coming off the centre track at North Pier, heading south as I was on the bus going home! So I leapt from the bus at Central Pier and piled onto 701 for a quick blast to Pleasure Beach and back!
Unfortunetly, I didn't note down the buses I travelled on to and from Blackcpool so all I have here is the tram move!

701 Central Pier - Pleasure Beach
701 Pleasure Beach - Blackpool Tower

Sunday 19th September 2010

One last bash on the number 12 Heritage bus before the service ceases for the year. The actual last day is next week but I shall be at the Mid Norfolk Railway this day, so this was my last chance. And I finished on a winning bus! Nice! This being Routemaster no. 521.
Unfortunetly I couldn't do a full day on the route as I was working in the afternoon. So it was just one round trip I'm afraid! Such is life!

521 St. Annes Square - Lytham Square
521 Lytham Square - St. Annes Square


See ya next year, no.12! LOL

Wednesday 15th September 2010

Just your average Tram bash? - NAH!!! There's always something that takes me by surprise! This one being my first ride on one of Blackpool Transport's new buses (532), 'Twin' 673+683 making a rare appearence on a passenger working, seeing 'Balloon' cars 701 and 726 on a Private Hire working and 672+682 working through until about 22:30 on Pleasure Beach - Bispham services!

So here's what I did this day! ...
NOTE: 532 and 374 are buses and the rest are trams.

532 Beach Road (St. Annes) - Lytham Road (Blackpool)
685+675 Rigby Road/The Manchester - Pleasure Beach
685+675 Pleasure Beach - Thornton Gate
675+685 Thornton Gate - Pleasure Beach
711 Pleasure Beach - Bispham
719 Bispham - Fisherman's Walk
719 Fisherman's Walk - Gynn Square
673+683 Cabin - Pleasure Beach
717 Pleasure Beach - North Pier
717 North Pier - Rigby Road/The Manchester
724 Rigby Road/The Manchester - North Pier
719 North Pier - Lowther Avenue
685+675 Bispham - Pleasure Beach
682+672 Pleasure Beach - Rigby Road/The Manchester
374 Lytham Road (Blackpool) - Beach Road (St. Annes)

Sunday 12th September 2010

A ride out on the no.12 Heritage bus jobby and then a trip into Blackpool for the final day of the Fireworks Championship, which took place between South and Central Piers.

OCK366K St. Annes Square - Lytham Square
CUV290C Lytham Square - St. Annes Square
302 Beach Road (St. Annes) - Central Pier
304 Central Pier - Beach Road (St. Annes)

Wednesday 8th September 2010

Trams again, with another ride through the illuminations on 'Western Train' 733+734 but with my Mum this time!

NOTE: 328 is a bus and the rest are trams.


328 Beach Road (St. Annes) - Lytham Road (Blackpool)
762 Rigby Road/The Manchester - Pleasure Beach
685+675 Pleasure Beach - Thornton Gate
675+685 Thornton Gate - Bispham
672+682 Bispham - Little Bispham
717 Little Bispham - Cleveleys
647 Cleveleys - North Pier
675+685 North Pier - Imperial Hotel
643 Imperial Hotel - North Pier
711 North Pier - Pleasure Beach
711 Pleasure Beach - Victoria Street (Blackpool)
719 North Pier - Rigby Road/The Manchester
647 Rigby Road/The Manchester - North Pier
675+685 North Pier - Rigby Road/The Manchester
717 Rigby Road/The Manchester - Blackpool Tower
672+682 Blackpool Tower - Rigby Road/The Manchester
719 Rigby Road/The Manchester - Blackpool Tower
733+734 North Pier - Little Bispham
733+734 Little Bispham - Pleasure Beach
733+734 Pleasure Beach - North Pier
328 Market Street (Blackpool) - Beach Road (St. Annes)

Monday 6th September 2010

A day out on the trams and a ride through the illuminations on 'Western Train' 733+734 in't evening - NOICE!!!!


NOTE: '309' and '323' are buses and the rest are trams.

309 Beach Road (St. Annes) - Lytham Road (Blackpool)
719 Rigby Road/The Manchester - Lindel Road
711 Fisherman's Walk - Thornton Gate
682+672 Thornton Gate - North Pier
717 North Pier - Bispham
724 Bispham - Blackpool Tower
717 North Pier - Cabin
675+685 Cabin - Rigby Road/The Manchester
647 Rigby Road/The Manchester - Victoria Street (Blackpool)
672+682 North Pier - Rigby Road/The Manchester
717 Rigby Road/The Manchester - North Pier
733+734 North Pier - Little Bispham
733+734 Little Bispham - Pleasure Beach
733+734 Pleasure Beach - North Pier
323 Market Street (Blackpool) - Beach Road (St. Annes)

Friday 3rd September 2010

What should have been just simple trip to Starr Gate to watch the 2010 Blackpool Illuminations launch turned into a bash! But I certainly payed the price for it - in more ways than one!
After walking up South Prom photting the lights, I then photted the trams on the loop at Pleasure Beach. It was then I noticed 706 'Princess Alice'! Noting that I'd not actually had 706 this year, I didn't want to make the only ride on 706 of the year at Heaton Park! So I took the decision to pile onto the crowded tram (top deck, naturally!) and spun her to North Pier.
After this, I then jumped the bus from Market Street (Blackpool) to head home. Yeeeaaah, wasn't that simple... I was gonna wait for the no.11 but I noted that the no.17 arrived first. Fair do's I would havwe to walk back from St. Annes Square to get home but I would still beat the no.11 to it. Or so I thought...
On the way to St. Annes, some complete eejit decided to throw his guts up on the bus after too much of the fine stuff! (Tut, tut, tut!). The driver then had to fail the bus as it was now a 'Health Hazard' so then me and the rest of the passengers had to wait for a replacement bus! The guy who throw up was not popular after that, believe me!
So eventually the replacement bus arrived and we all piled onto it. I got back to the Square at 23:30 - 15 minutes after the no.11 would have dropped me outside my gaff!

So the moral of the story is - wait for the bus you intended to wait for! lol


Anyway, here's my moves from the night -
NOTE: '706' is a tram and the rest are buses.

309 Beach Road (St. Annes) - Starr Gate
706 Pleasure Beach - North Pier
265 Market Street (Blackpool) - Highfield Hotel (Marton)
278 Highfield Hotel (Marton) - St. Annes Square