Wanderings around the Midlands

[CovDriver]

Just two pics fron today as it's been one of those days my first train this morning the 0539 Coventry to Northampton was a failure upon prep due to a broken windscreen wiper. 

Then my Driver Manager decided to give me a 2hour ride assessment covering New St - Walsall and back and onwards to Wolverhampton and return to New St. 

And as its my first time to Wolverhampton since the huge lineside fire .

The remains of the factory was unbelievable warped and twisted metal everywhere. 

Anyway here's the two pics it's the blue pullman passing through Wolverhampton as I was changing ends. 

[wombatofludham]

Nice catch snapping the "Faux Pullman".  The "real" Blue Pullman did turn up at Wolverhampton HL on footy charters, the Birmingham Pullman of course visited Low Level. Nice paint job though!

[CovDriver]

Well today is going to be an interesting one, seen as there was a slight earth fault on Soho Depot overnight some cross city services maybe single sets today. 

I've not had any more information as yet but 323221 could about on its own today. 

I've got to prep a 350 at B'ham International then take it empty to New St followed by a 323×2 to Bromsgrove then all the way to Lichfield TV and back to New St.

Then after a lengthy PnB I'll be on the 1206 New St to Northampton and back to Coventry then it's long weekend.  

But I'm in Christmas day on frost precaution duties .

If I get chance I'll post some pics later. 

 

Merry Christmas to everyone 

 

Cheers 

Colin

 

[Amnesiac]

Did you manage to catch 221 on your Bromsgrove - LTV Colin? Didn't pass it once in 4 hours today whilst on Redditch - Four Oaks so I was surprised to see that it was out!

[CovDriver]

I passed it three times today I think the Soho Depot manager is keeping me away from just incase I break it..

[CovDriver]

Well I hope we all had a good Christmas and as this morning is the first time I've touched a train since Christmas Eve. 

I had a booked turn to travel pass to to Birmingham International to prep a 350 and take it to New St ECS. 

Then I had the delights of a pair of 323's from New St to Bromsgrove and then to Lichfield TV and back to New St for a lengthy PNB. 

But I was pleasantly surprised to have 323221 and 206 on the cross city.

As some of you may know 221 is now in its near as possible original livery.

Here's the pics of this great looking unit.  

My next bit is the 1206 New St to Northampton and back to  Coventry and that's all for today.

 

 Cheers

Colin

[wombatofludham]

Are there still loads of rabbits at Lichfield TV?  Back in the 90s when a regular user of the station there were hundreds of the furry creatures, it's a wonder they didn't cause the embankment to collapse if they were using it to burrow into!

 

[big jim]

2 minutes ago, wombatofludham said:

Are there still loads of rabbits at Lichfield TV?  Back in the 90s when a regular user of the station there were hundreds of the furry creatures, it's a wonder they didn't cause the embankment to collapse if they were using it to burrow into!

 

[Ben B]

11 hours ago, CovDriver said:

Well I hope we all had a good Christmas and as this morning is the first time I've touched a train since Christmas Eve. 

I had a booked turn to travel pass to to Birmingham International to prep a 350 and take it to New St ECS. 

Then I had the delights of a pair of 323's from New St to Bromsgrove and then to Lichfield TV and back to New St for a lengthy PNB. 

But I was pleasantly surprised to have 323221 and 206 on the cross city.

As some of you may know 221 is now in its near as possible original livery.

Here's the pics of this great looking unit.  

My next bit is the 1206 New St to Northampton and back to  Coventry and that's all for today.

 

 Cheers

Colin

 

I really wanted to photograph this whilst I'm down in the West Mids for Christmas week, but WM Trains didn't seem to be working at all when I was in Brum the other day, and then typically I was driving to Stratford on Avon today and this formation rolled over the bridge right in front of me near the Lickey :)  Never a camera to hand when you need one...

[CovDriver]

Well 2nd day in row a slightly different job first it was a taxi from Coventry to Birmingham International and supposedly prep a single 350 unit but when I arrived it was still coupled to another 350 which also required prepping.

Once I uncoupled my unit I prepped it and took it empty stock to New St.

Then it was booked a round trip cross city with a pair of 323's it was New St to Four Oaks then through to Redditch and back to New St and low and behold it was 221 and 206 again. Then it was booked pass on the 1036 New St- Euston service but managed to catch an earlier Avanti service.

That's me done for today so before all the social media channels go into meltdown.

I'd like to wish all you RMwebbers a very happy new year.

 

Cheers 

 

Colin 

[Amnesiac]

7 hours ago, CovDriver said:

 

Always thought that area would be great for a photo at Barnt Green, excellent! 

[CovDriver]

Well now I've got over my few days of being spare (Cabin cat Duties) I'm back out on the mainline but to be honest there's been nothing really of interest to take a pic of.

Yesterday I forgot to upload the only pic I took as I was waiting to come out of Coventry North Yard and that was 56091 which was working 6Z46 Wembley Yard to Burton upon Trent (Wetmore sidings) aggregate working.

Edited January 19, 2023 by CovDriver

[CovDriver]

Bit of the same old mundane work this morning first it was a trip to Redditch with a pair of WMT liveried 323's 243 was my leading chariot back to New St it's odd to think this was the first mainline unit I drove back in 2016.

And as I was stopped on the approach Kings Norton for some late running XC services I managed to see the HST powercars that have been used to haul the Mersey rail class 777 units. 

And finally another pic of 323221 again at Lichfield Trent Valley. 

And back on the Cross city in the morning after a quick blast with a pair of 350's from Coventry to New St ECS I'll be on 323221 and with another 323 on the 0546 New To Four Oaks and the straight through to Redditch and return to New St for breakfast followed by a return trip to Lichfield Trent Valley. 

 

Cheers 

 

Colin 

 

Edited January 28, 2023 by CovDriver
Problems with uploading post in Microsoft Edge mobile

[CovDriver]

Hi all,

 

Been a bit quiet on here as I'm having a few issues trying to post on the forum in general.

As I usually use my mobile to post on the threads of weeks to make the size of the post absolutely huge with hundreds of spaces and gaps between sentences.

I'm not sure what the cause maybe but I have a suspicion that it could be the Microsoft edge app on Samsung mobiles.

So it's been a bit manic at work doing a bit of the dreaded overtime to pull back for the strike days and now having two Guinea pigs as my youngest thought it would be a great idea.

 

I had been volunteered to be involved with an audit by the ORR that was stressful to be honest hopefully never to be done again.

If I get 5minutes tomorrow I'll add some pics of the recent workings I've been doing.

 

Cheers

Col

[CovDriver]

Well after a cold start this morning it was a taxi to Coventry North Yard to prep a pair of 350's (267&241).

And surprisingly no faults at all this morning.

First part was ECS ino the station then work the 0533 service to New St and then the dreaded cross city, I hate this route with a passion purely because we seem to do this route all the time even though I'm based at Coventry. 

You would think New St depot would do the majority of the work but it certainly feels like we are lumbered with whilst they get the cream of the work on New St - Northampton trips. 

Anyway my 2nd part was the 0623 New St to Bromsgrove with a pair of 323's (241&203) and then all the way to Lichfield TV and return back to New St.

And time for a break. 

I should be working the 1036 New St to Rugby and pass back to Coventry, but there is a fiddle so I could get back 30mins earlier. 

Also this morning on the cross city part it was an RMweb members traincrew turn with @Amnesiacas my rear gunner. 

 

Cheers 

Edited March 27, 2023 by CovDriver

[Amnesiac]

No 323s were harmed during these trips (surprisingly)!

[big jim]

I wonder how long it will be before the residents of those new apartments being built in your class 350 picture complain about the walkway and yard lights? 
 

 

 

Edited March 27, 2023 by big jim

[298]

1 hour ago, big jim said:

I wonder how long it will be before the residents of those new apartments being built in your class 350 picture complain about the walkway and yard lights? 

 

They're for students, so they probably wouldn't notice.

[CovDriver]

Well it's been a busy few days so here are some pics over those days.

It's been the usual Joy's of cross city and it seems that 323221 the green one is following me around at the moment I can't get away from it. 

Roll on this weekend as its long weekend and for a change we are going away and this time it's not Wales it's the delights of Glastonbury for a few days with a visit to Longleat safari Park and Wookey hole. 

 

Cheers 

Colin

[CovDriver]

Just a couple of pics from this mornings turn, I was supposed to prep a pair of 350's and work the 0539 Coventry to Northampton service = 1W02.

Then travel pass to New St have a break then work a 4car 350 to Wolverhampton- Walsall and return all the way Wolverhampton and back to New St. 

But an instructor and trainee took my job from the first Wolverhampton part and completed the rest of the job.

So it's been a really easy day. 

The first pic showing 350376 and 239 on road 2 in Cov Yard now its been reopened to traffic.

 And as I was down changing the points at the South end 6Z46 appeared on the Down slow to wait time so I managed a pic of 56091. 

Wish I was driving that instead of 350's all the time

 

Cheers 

Colin 

[CovDriver]

Well that was a nice easy morning until my last bit from Redditch. 

First thing it was a taxi to Birmingham International to prep a single 350 and run ECS to New St followed by using the same unit to do a New St - International shuttle.

Then it was 30minute break before a trip to Four Oaks with a pair of 323's (211&213) and return through to Redditch and back to New St and finally pass back to Coventry and finish.

But everything was going well until my departure from Redditch, shortly after departing a felt a sudden jolt whilst taking power and then I lost traction power in the front unit. The front unit was 213 I managed to limp into Alvechurch and try a pantograph up reset I did this twice but it was no good so I decided to limp onwards to Barnt Green where I wasn't blocking the single line. 

And took instructions from our control. 

Basically a switch it off wait a minute and switch it back on and fingers crossed but to no avail.

Now with the signallers permission we had been given authority to limp on towards New St and be met by fitters. 

It was really odd driving back to New St as it was silent the only sounds in the cab was the AWS and no noise from the traction coverter and motors. And also I had no regenerative braking as it was now only on straight air brakes.

Upon arrival at New St it was declared a failure and to be sent to Soho depot for attention.

Here's a couple of pics from this morning.

 

Cheers 

Colin

Edited April 15, 2023 by CovDriver
Iffy spelling

[CovDriver]

Firstly apologies for the lack o updates I feel that the thread is just full of the same type of shots and all pretty much the same stock hence the lack of updates. 

So heres something different here's a couple of pics the first one yesterday was a new class 730 on a test run heading towards Birmingham just passing Canley Station.

And this mornings chariot from Northampton to New St 2Y09 0642 to New St.

I'll try and upload a couple more asim hoping to catch a glimpse of 1Z50 the class 50 charter at New St.

I've got a good guard so all being well I should run along side into New St. 

 

Cheers 

 

Colin

 

[CovDriver]

As promised a couple of pics from the class 50 charter to Edinburgh. 

I was taken back to being a kid on a damp Saturday morning watching 50's depart New St, there is a video clip which I'll pop on YouTube later. 

 

Cheers 

 

Colin

Edited September 16, 2023 by CovDriver
Iffy spelling

[CovDriver]

Well time has flown by since my last post, been far to busy sorting DIY jobs around the house and the main reason being that there was simply nothing worth taking pics of whilst at work.

But lastnight I had a phonecall similar to what @big jimrecieves regularly.

Well I was asked to cover a couple of New St diagrams in particular the New St -Northampton and return parts. 

I also managed to get a quick trip to Soho Depot as I needed a refresher for it. 

There was nothing of much interest on the trips to Nothampton but did get a few pics on Soho.

I took a 350 up there for stabling and as I was walking back around the shed I noticed that 730002 has had some extra paintwork applied the other unit in front has also had some extra paintwork applied. 

I'm back in now on Wednesday morning unless I get one of those phonecalls again. 

 

Cheers 

Colin 

 

[CovDriver]

Yet another farce this morning, as it was an 0427 book on it was a taxi to Coventry North Yard to prep a pair of 350's to work the 0533 service to New St that all went as expected I couldn't be bothered taking any pics as it was a bit cold.

Then I was booked to do the 0623 New St to Bromsgrove service which I dodnt mind as its been a while since I've been down to Bromsgrove.

It was a quick.turn around to work the 0703 service back to Lichfield TV, but it all went belly up as I was approaching Longbridge as there was an emergency broadcast on the GSMR. 

Problems with the overheads near Fiveways I was given authority to proceed to Northfield and await instructions. 

Almost exactly 2hrs later it was all OK to proceed to New St and terminate. Managed to squeeze my PnB in before a one way trip to Rugby and pass back to Coventry and finish.

So here are a couple of pics from today's short turn.