Monday, 22 October 2012

Monday 22nd October ~ Misty trip to Highgate

Started around 10.30 with Gemini VLW72 on the 141 from HGL to Wood Green, where I visited the library to return 'Street of Joy', a good film it was. From there it was Enviro400 T203 from Wood Green to Finsbury Park on the W3 via a misty Alexandra Palace. From Finsbury Park I took another Enviro400, TE1079 to Highgate Village on the 210, then it was Enviro400 TE921 on the 271 to Finsbury Square, running via Canonbury Road and New North Road.

Enviro400 TE1079 at Highgate Village

Enviro400 TE921 after arrival at Finsbury Square

Had a coffee at Pret-a-Manger on Finsbury Square, then walked to Bishopsgate and caught Gemini VLW90 on the 242 to High Holborn, just after the Kingsway junction. Then it was Gemini 9039 on the 188 from Kingsway to Waterloo.

Two ALX400s on the 243 parked at Waterloo

From Waterloo I caught Citaro MEC27 on the 521 to Holborn Circus which ran through the Strand Underpass which was pretty exciting. Still a misty and murky Autumn day, I had another coffee break at Holborn Circus before walking down Fetter Lane at around 15.30 to catch Enviro400 T157 on the 341 back to HGL.

Sunday, 21 October 2012

Saturday 20th October ~ Bloomsbury

Took Gemini VLW187 on the 253 from Manor House to Euston at around 12.30. Then it was dim-sum yum yum, Jeremy Bentham in a cupboard, Zoology Museum - Crocodile skull, Moles in a jar, Hedgehog skeleton etc. Then burger and drinks. Returned on Enviro400 T162 from Aldwych to HGL on the 341 at around 23.30.

Friday, 19 October 2012

Thursday 18th October ~ Solo to Archway

My first London Solo's today. OS16 on the W5 on the 10.04 from Harringay Sainsbury's to Archway via Crouch End, and OS10 returning from Archway to Harringay Sainsbury's at around 14.30. Surprisingly civilised rides they were too!

Solo OS15 on Highgate Hill with a Harringay bound W5

Solo OS12 turns from Hornsey Lane on to
Highgate Hill bound for Archway

Enviro400 TE1092 on the 210 heads south down 
Highgate Hill, passing another Enviro heading north



Wednesday October 17th ~ A trip to Birmingham

Got the tube from Manor House to Euston (Piccadilly then Victoria line). Got me a coffee from AMT then onto new 11-car Pendolino 390 154 on the 10.43 to Birmingham New Street. It was a nice Autumn day. At Birmingham I bought m' Daytripper then did two return trips to Wolverhampton. First 158 840 (with 158 834) on the 1224 to Pwllheli, returning on Cross Country Voyager 220 007 on the 12.45 to Bournemouth. Then Virgin Voyager 221 114 (no name plates) with the 13.20 to Glasgow Central, returning on 390 124 'Virgin Venturer' on the 13.45 to London Euston.

158 840 (and 158 834) depart Wolverhampton
with the 12.24 Birmingham to Pwllheli


The aim then was to get some Chiltern class 67 haulage. I walked across to Birmingham Snow Hill and got on my first 172/3 172 344 on the 14.37 to Dorridge, which I took to Solihull. The 172/3s are visually very different from the London Overground 172/0s, and they do have beautiful peppermint green seat covers. At Solihull the 15.05 (13.37 from London Marylebone) to Birmingham Moor Street arrived, with 67 013 'Dyfrbont Pontcysyllte' pushing on the rear (to my slight consternation as I had moved to the north end of the platform expecting it to be on the front!). As a bonus it was announced on the train that it would be running through to Snow Hill. At Snow Hill the 67  with the unpronounceable name and it's train formed the 15.50 to London Marylebone (with the 67 now on the front of course), which I took back to Solihull. From there it was 172 339 back to Snow Hill with the 16.17 to Kidderminster.

67013 'Dyfrbont Pontcysyllte' at Solihull with the
15.50 Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone

172 339 calls at Solihull with the 16.17 to Kidderminster

172 220 at Birmingham Snow Hill
with a southbound train



A little break from the trains and some bus observation. The main double decker bus type in Birmingham seems to be the ALX400, with plenty of Gemini's and Enviro's as well. Single deck wise there is lots of variety, including OmniLinks which I don't see in London. Some of these were in an articulated (ie bendy-bus) version.

An ALX400 in Birmingham

A Birmingham Gemini

...and a Birmingham Enviro400




I was interested to see that the three accomodation towers at Aston University were being pulled down and replaced with brand new accomodation. Stafford Tower was still standing but Laurence Tower and the other one were going and gone!

Back on the trains it was 172 334 from Snow Hill to Dorridge with the 1735 to Leamington Spa. I was hoping that the 18.18 back to Moor Street (16.46 ex London Marylebone) would be a class 67 but it turned out to be a DMU - 168 003! Nevertheless I took it back to Moor Street.

168 003 after arrival at Birmingham Moor Street
with the 16.46 from London Marylebone


It was now dark and across from Moor Street I spent some time watching the evening buses and the city lights. Some routes I recognised from past times - the 50 to Druids Heath via Moseley, the 6 to Solihull, the 60 to Cranes Park... I meditated and reflected for a while, feeling nicely peaceful. Went for a stroll around Birmingham city centre, I am impressed by the improvements made - the pedestrianisation, the fountain and it's coloured lights, it's quite pleasant. Got a coffee from Starbucks. Unfortunately had one of my panic attacks on the way back to New Street station though. Feeling under attack from people, they want to hurt and humiliate me... I have to defend myself and I kick the back of a womans boot.... sigh....

Onto New Street station to try and calm myself... anyway time to head back to London. 390 038 'City of London' doing the honours with the 20.10 to Euston (19.45 ex Wolverhampton). At Euston filthy 66's 66138 and 66232 are parked tnt'ing an RHTT train. My final move of the evening is Gemini DW446 on the 253 to Manor House.




Monday 15th October 2012 ~ A trip to Brompton Oratory

10 or 11 in the morning and I started with Gemini VLW76 on the 141 from Harringay Green Lanes to Wood Green. There I went to the library to return a DVD the Portuguese film "Our Beloved month of August", and took one out - a 70s Japanese film entitled "Street of Joy". From Wood Green it was on to Enviro400 T156 on the W3 to Finsbury Park, running  the scenic route via Alexandra Palace with it's views towards the distant city. At Finsbury Park I walked from the North to the South bus station terminal and hopped straight on to Gemini WVL492 on the 19 for a ride down to Hyde Park Corner.

At Hyde Park Corner I stopped in Pret-a-Manger and got a coffee and ate my sandwich, watching the buses. Busy busy busy! Weather was a bit dull to tell the truth. Then got on President VPL182 on the 52, which I took to Kensington Road. From there walked down to Brompton Oratory, which I'd wanted to visit after listening to the Nick Cave song. It's a beautiful catholic church, dark, incense and an organ playing pretty wildly! Darker and more mysterious than Westminster Cathedral. Right next door is the old Brompton Road tube station. Pretty. Walked to the Russian Orthodox All Saints church, opened the door. Looked pretty and candle lit. There was a bearded priest sat talking to someone, but no-one else in there. I was too shy to go in...

President VPL198 on the 52 at Hyde Park Corner



Brompton Oratory


Routemaster RM1627 and a President head west
 down Kensington Road

At Royal Albert Hall I boarded OmniCity SP163 on the 10, which I took to Oxford Street, junction of Wardour Street. There I walked back to Debenhams and bought m'self a new shoulder bag. Coffee in Cavendish Square followed... I then decided to board ALX400 no. 17787 on the 8 at it's start in Holles Street. It ran around Cavendish Square, across the top of Regent Street and down Great Portland Street on to Oxford Street. I took it to Holborn Circus. From there it was Enviro400 T157 on the 341 for the journey back to Harringay Green Lanes, arriving back around 19.00 I think.