Friday 26th April ~ On Route 24

My aim today was to ride the full route of the 24, this route being the first scheduled to go over to 'Borismaster' operation in the near future. Thus I required to make my way over to Hampstead Heath... started with Solo OS10 on the W5 from Endymion Road at 12.05 to Archway, and then to another single decker, Enviro200 DE1136 on the C11 from Archway to Hampstead Heath (Fleet Road). Thence to the 24 stand at South End Green...

Gemini-2's VW1286 and VW1389 at the 24 stand at South End Green, Hampstead. I took VW1286 all the way to Pimlico.

My ride was Gemini-2 VW1286 on the 24 which I took all the way to Grosvenor Road, by the Thames in Pimlico.

ElectroCity WHY9 with a 360 on Lupus Road, Pimlico

Hybrid Gemini-2 VWH1361 nears the end of its route 24 journey on Lupus Road

After a walk across Chelsea Bridge and back it was on to Gemini-2 VW1295 on the 24 from Grosvenor Road to Trafalgar Square, then on to another Gemini-2, DW475 on the 29 from Trafalgar Square to Harringay Green Lanes.

This is Gemini-2  DW472, starting it's route 29 journey at Trafalgar Square

Wednesday 24th April ~ Silent Souls

Started with a visit to Tottenham Marcus Garvey Library. This I achieved by way of Enviro400 T159 on the 341, from Harringay Green Lanes to Tottenham Green. After taking out 'Silent Souls', I then caught Gemini-2 WVN33 on the 476 from Tottenham Green to Euston, then it was on to Enviro400 TE896 on the 91 from Upper Woburn Place to Aldwych, and then Vyking VLE16 on the 9 from Aldwych to Green Park via Pall Mall.

This is Big Bus Tours' DHM964 - a Dennis Condor which operated in Hong Kong in a previous life - seen at Green Park

Then it was on to Gemini WVL71 on the 22 from Piccadilly to King's Road, and finally a cross town journey on hybrid Gemini-2 WHV22 on the 19, from King's Road to it's Finsbury Park terminus.

Tuesday 23rd April ~ To the farm

Just the one today, Gemini-2 WVN14 on the 259 from Manor House to Caledonian Road tube.

Monday 22nd April ~ Victoria and back

A walk across Finsbury Park to catch Gemini-2 WVL484 on the 19 at 12.38 for a ride to Cambridge Circus. For my next move I was at Oxford Circus to catch Enviro400 9547 on the C2, which I took to it's terminus at Victoria. Time to head home now, which I did via hybrid Gemini-2 HV57 on the 73, from Victoria to Newington Green, and then Gemini VLW79 on the 141 from Newington Green to Harringay Green Lanes.

Friday 19th April ~ Rainy day in Warsaw, then back to London.

Last day in Warsaw. Started with type 105N tram (2050 +)  2051 on line 26, from Plocka to Park Praski, just across the Slasko Dabrowski bridge in Praga. Then I walked back west across the bridge...

1996 built 105Nm tram 1458 + 1457 on line 18, heading east across the Slasko Dabrowski Bridge

2007 built 123N tram 2160+2161 ( I rode on this yesterday) on line 26, exits the Trasa W-Z Tunnel into Stare Miasto tram stop

Unfortunately I lost my records for the next few rides. After a walk round the Nowego Miasta (New town), and across Saxony Park, I found myself at Krolewska tram stop, where I boarded a tram for Ratusz Arsenal.

1992 built 105Ni tram 2008+2009 at Ratusz Arsenal with westbound line 23

Then it was another tram from Ratusz Arsenal to Plocka... Time now to head back to London. I boarded a line 8 tram from Plocka to Pl. Zawiszy. Then a short walk to Warsaw Ochota, where I waited a while then boarded a Class 27WE 'Elf' Emu to Warsaw Lotnisko Chopina (Chopin Airport).

Got to the plane on a terminal-plane transfer bus, then it was onto Ryanair Boeing 737-800 EI-DAR with the 21.10 from Warsaw to London Stansted Airport. After arrival back in the UK it was onto  Terravision Irizar coach from Stansted to Victoria, arriving at Victoria around midnight. Nightbus time now, at Victoria I boarded Gemini-2 DW234 on the N38 and took it to Piccadilly Circus, then walking across Leicester Square to catch Enviro400 T228 on the N279 at 01.04 for the ride back to Manor House.

Thursday 18th April ~ Stare Miasto and the Dekalog

Started with type 123N tram (2160 +) 2161 on line 26 for the ride east to Stare Miasto.

123N tram 2160+2161 arrives at Plocka on eastbound line 26

123N tram 2140+2141 on line 23 at Stare Miasto. Behind is the Trasa W-Z tunnel.

Urbino 8823 at Stare Miasto

105N-MW tram 1364+1363 on eastbound line 26 at Stare Miasto

Then joines a walk around Warsaw Stare Miasto (old town), after which I found myself at Krolewska tram stop, where I boarded type 105N 1376 (+1375) on line 4, and took it to Centrum.

OmniCity A516, followed by Urbino 8505, head west along Miodowa

Warsaw City Tour bus M002 heads north along Krakowskie Przedmiescie

105Na tram 1133 + 1124 at Krolewska on northbound Line 35

Then it was on to Warsaw's only metro (underground) line. Firstly on 2027 (+2028), I travelled in the front vehicle, 2027. 2028 was the rear vehicle and the trains have six carriages in total (I think).I took this from Centrum to Ursynow. Later I returned from Sluzew to Ratusz Arsenal in carriage 455, on of the middle cars. Front car was 018. Finally it was back from Ratusz Arsenal to Plocka aboard type 105N tram (1364 +) 1363 on line 26.

Wednesday 17th April ~ Kieslowski and the communist tour

Started with a single car 105N tram 1070 on line 27, from Plocka northeast to Powazkowska. After my visit to Krzysztof Kieslowski's grave in Powazki cemetary I walked to nearby Rondo Radoslawa tram stop and boarded type 120N tram 3214 on line 17, to Anielewicza, and from there another single car 105N, 1072, on line 16, to Dw. Centralny.

105Na no. 1344+1343 at Powazkowska with a northbound line 1 service

2010 built 120Na no.3135 at Rondo Radoslawa

MAN Lion's City 3455 at Rondo Radoslawa

Single car 105Na no,1072, dating from 1976, approaches Anielewicza, on southbound line 16

Later I made my way up Nowy Swiat and Krakowskie Przedmiescie to the Old Town.

1984 built 105Na tram 1118+1119 crosses Rondo de Gaulle'a on a westbound 9

2008 OmniCity A529, and 2007 Urbino A126 at the top end of Krakowskie Przedmiescie

Later on at around 19.00, after the walk, I found myself at Muzeum Narodowe tramp stop, where I boarded type 120N no.3204 on line 7 for the short hop to Centrum, there I boarded another type 120N, 3129, on line 8, for the ride back to Plocka.

Tuesday 16th April ~ A Varsovian Tram & Train Odyssey

My first full day in Warsaw and time to get my bearings. Armed with my 3 day travel pass I set forth, and headed from my 13th floor apartment to nearby Plocka tram stop...

Bus 2207, a Mercedes Conecto, with a southbound service on Plocka, in the Wola district. Though I didn't actually travel on any buses during my trip.

It was on to Type 116N tram 3012 on line 8 as far as Pl. Zawiszy, then a short walk to Warsaw Ochota train station where I boarded EMU EN57-1654 to Warsaw Zachodnia (Warsaw West).

Type 116Na low floor tram no.3030, built in 2000, at Pl. Zawiszy with a northbound line 8 service

At Warsaw Zachodnia I crossed platforms and waited for a loco-hauled train to arrive for a short move. This arrived in the shape of electric loco EU07-217 with the 06.47 Szczecin Glowny - Warsaw Wschodnia (Warsaw East), which I innocently boarded for the short ride to Warsaw Centralna... Unfortunately not so innocent as a guard came to check my ticket, which despite me not understanding Polish, I gathered was not valid on this train. He asked to see my passport but nothing further. I got off at Warsaw Centralna, which is entirely underground. Glad to get a Polish loco in the bag anyway ;-) After a bit of sightseeing round the Palace of Culture I headed for Centrum tram stop, where I boarded a type 105N tram, (1278) + 1277 on line 35, for the ride north to Ratusz Arsenal.

Type 105Nm tram 1467+1468 head north at Centrum on line 4. This tram might look quite old but was only built in 1996.

1278+1277 at Ratusz Arsenal. I had travelled from Centrum on this tram.

At Ratusz Arsenal I changed to the west-east platforms and boarded type 105N tram 2042 (+ 2043) on eastbound line 26 for a ride across the Vistula river to Dw. Wilenski, in the Praga district. From there I came back the way I had come, but on foot, walking across the Slasko-Dabrowski bridge to Stare Miasto.

Type 116Na-1 tram no.3023 starts the crossing of the Slasko-Dabrowski bridge on westbound line 23

At Stare Miasto I boarded type 120N tram 3137 on line 20 for the short ride to Ratusz Arsenal, from where I headed south back to Centrum aboard type 105N tram 1400 (+1399) on line 18.

Two 116Na-1's, 3030 on southbound line 8, and 3014 on northbound line 25, pass at Centrum

Next it was another ride east across the Vistula river, this time across the Poniatowskiego bridge. This I did aboard modern type 120N tram 3141 on line 22, from Centrum to Kijowska.

120Na tram no.3221, introduced in 2012, at Kijowska. A loco hauled train is passing overhead.

My next move was aboard one of the older type trams - type 105N no. 1272 (+1271) on line 22, from Kijowska to Most Poniatowskiego, followed by a walk west across the Poniatowskiego Bridge.

Type N2K no.2060 + 2061  calls at Most Poniatowskiego on line 24

I walked thence to Warsaw Powisle train station, and boarded Pesa ELF EMU no.27WE-009 (same one I had from the airport yesterday) with an S2 line service to Chopin Airport. I took it to Warsaw Ochota.

EU07-516 passes Warsaw Powisle with an express heading for Warsaw Centralna

Finally it was type 105N tram (1296 +) 1295 on line 8 from Pl. Zawiszy to Plocka.

Monday 15th April 2013 ~ Flight to Warsaw

Today I set off for five days in Warsaw. I headed for Harringay station to catch 313 058 on the 09.55 to Moorgate which I took to Moorgate. A walk over to Bishopsgate to catch a coach to Stansted Airport, Terravision Irizar YN06 NZA.

Terravision Irizar coach at Stansted Airport. I had arrived on this from Liverpool Street.

Then it was into the airport for my flight. This was in the shape of Ryanair Boeing 737-800 EI-EFN, with the 13.05 to Warsaw Chopin airport.

Boeing 737-800 EI-EFN on the tarmac at Stansted Airport with the 13.05 to Warsaw Chopin airport

EI-EFN after arrival at Warsaw

The flight took around 2 and a half hours. After arrival, passengers alighted onto the tarmac and were taken to the terminal by a couple of buses. My bus was no.2077, leaving the plane at 16.42.

One of Chopin airport's plane-terminal transfer buses

After leaving the terminal I headed for the train station (Warszawa Lotnisko Chopina), which was only opened in June 2012. My train was a new Pesa ELF EMU, no. 27WE-009, on Line S2, with the 17.35 to Sulejowek Milosna. I took this to Warsaw Ochota. 

EMU EN57-1778 calls at Warsaw Ochota with a westbound local service

From Ochota I walked to Pl. Zawiszy tram stop and boarded Type 120N tram 3211, a modern low-floor tram, on Line 8 for the ride to Plocka, near to where my apartment for five days was located.

Saturday 13th April ~ Darting to Archway

I set out on a trip to Hornsey Library today. Walking to the Harringay Sainsbury's W5 stop I was surprised to see one of the old order on the W5, Dart/Nimbus DCS4, heading for Sainsbury's. When I arrived at the stop it became apparent though, to my slight disappointment, that DCS4 had failed.

Failed Dart Nimbus DCS4 at Harringay Sainsbury's

My ride to Hornsey Library then was in the hands of Solo OS2 on the W5. However on exiting the library a noticed a Nimbus at the westbound W5 stop on Crouch End Broadway so I decided to head over for it. However this was not a revived DCS4, but another Nimbus, DCS7. So it was a noisy and rattly Dart Nimbus DCS7 on the W5 from Crouch End Broadway to Archway. Return was aboard Solo OS12 on the W5, from Archway to Endymion Road.

Friday 12th April ~ I forgot something...

After my psych appointment I boarded Enviro400 T147 on the 341, intending to take it into Central London, but I bailed early at Manor House as I realised I had forgotten something (I forget what...). So I took Enviro400 T153 on the 341 back to Harringay Green Lanes. Setting out for the second time, it was onto Gemini-2 DW480 on the 29 from Harringay Green Lanes to Finsbury Park. Alighting there I crossed over to the bus station for hybrid Gemini-2 WHV19 on the 19 to Green Park. At Green Park it was on to New Routemaster LT5 on the 38 for a ride to Charing Cross Road, then on to Gemini-2 DW483 on the 29 back to Harringay Green Lanes.

Thursday 11th April ~ An evening walk through Islington

It was around 17.30 when I boarded Gemini-2 WVL490 on the 19 at Finsbury Park and took it to Highbury Corner. After the walk it was on to Enviro400 T159 on the 341 at Angel for the ride back to Harringay Green Lanes.

Wednesday 10th April ~ Park Lane Medley

Started off with Gemini VLW48 on the 141 from Harringay Green Lanes to Wood Green, then it was on to Enviro400 T217 on the W3 from Wood Green to Finsbury Park via Alexandra Palace. After a quick change from Finsbury Park north to Finsbury Park south bus station I boarded President TPL269 on the 4 to Aldwych. This was diverted at St Pauls to run via Queen Victoria Street and New Bridge Street, and then back on to it's regular route at Fleet Street.

This is ALX400 no.9842 passing St Clement Danes church on the Aldwych with a 172

After a coffee I then boarded OmniDekka SLE31 on the 13 at it's first stop on the Aldwych to Oxford Street (Selfridges). I then went for a walk to Marble Arch and then down Park Lane...

OmniDekka SLE22 passes Selfridges with an eastbound 13

ALX400 TLA2 on the 94, followed by President VP520 on the 6, outside Selfridges

Polish coach of Kamel Travel, Lublin, on Park Lane

French coach of Lisieux Voyages on Park Lane

French coach of Girardot on Park Lane

Enviro400 E228 on the 436, followed by Gemini-2 HV78 on the 73, northbound on Park Lane. Note the Enviro is advertising the same Evil Dead film as ALX400 no.9842 seen earlier at the Aldwych.

I eventually ended up at Victoria, where I boarded Enviro400 no.9553 for the ride to Waterloo on the 211.

Enviro400 no.9553 at the 211 terminus outside Waterloo station. Another Enviro400 is parked behind, also on the 211, whilst Citaro MEC30 is arriving with a 507 from Victoria.

Finally my ride home was courtesy of Enviro400 T166 on the 341, from Waterloo (County Hall stop presumably...) to Harringay Green Lanes.

Thursday 9th April ~ Another Gemini-2

Just the one today, Gemini-2 WVN24 on the 259 from Caledonian Road to Manor House.

Monday 8th April 2013 ~ A trio of Gemini-2's

Started with Gemini-2 DW499 on a 29 from Harringay Green Lanes, getting off on Gower Street, by Bedford Square. Next I found myself at Cambridge Circus, from where I caught Gemini-2 DW259 on the 38 to Piccadilly (Waterstone's).

New Gemini-2 DW504 with a southbound 29 on Charing Cross Road

Then it was back north on hybrid Gemini-2 WHV25 on the 19 from Piccadilly (Royal Academy) to Finsbury Park.