Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[big jim]

7 hours ago, KeithHC said:

So when will you add the new class 99 to your traction list.

 

Keith

2025 by the sounds of it!

 

ling day today, complete change of job, first up peak forest to Burton in trent via the hope valley at 04:30, no pic until Burton though 

 

then it was over to Leicester to work one back north to peak, unfortunately it was late and there was some confusion over manning it so I ended up going to Wellingborough to possibly traction conduct it to Leicester, as it happened I didn’t need to go there in the end after all! 
 

it’s a real grey area to me the MML south of Leicester so I’ll admit I was slightly surprised to see an electric unit roll in to the station en route to Corby, didn’t even know it was electrified!

 

And my train to Wellingborough 

 

That was it for pics, nearly 2 hours late so no time or indeed not in the mood to get any photos! 
 

possession in the morning then a couple of days off and a week of the trafford park job coming up 

 

[big jim]

Right, hands in your pockets time!

 

If you enjoy this thread then I’m sure you won’t mind donating to my just giving page where I’m raising money for GBRf chosen charity, prostate cancer uk, where there is a challenge to cycle 100, 200 or 300 miles in the month of May

 

As you may know since June last year I’ve become a keen cyclist and am out and about on the bike as much as possible in and out of work to keep myself fit and healthy, so why not combine my commutes and leisure rides with making a few quid for charity!

 

im only looking at raising £300 (to start with) so £1 a mile as I’ve decided to try for the full 300 mile (it’s only a mile a day!)

 

Here is my just giving page, let’s see if we can break £300 and I can break 300 mile

 

https://cyclethemonth.prostatecanceruk.org/fundraising/jim-scotts-300-mile-in-may-challenge

 

my dad @Big jim s dad had prostate cancer a few years back but thankfully managed to beat it no doubt thanks in part to research by prostate cancer uk so get donating!

Edited April 30, 2022 by big jim

[Ian Smeeton]

I like your arithmetic, but it is just short of 10 miles per day.

 

Good luck,

 

Ian

[big jim]

18 hours ago, Ian Smeeton said:

I like your arithmetic, but it is just short of 10 miles per day.

 

Good luck,

 

Ian

 

It’s doable, I do 5 miles to and from the station on work days and I’ve got a week off up in cumbria toward the end of the month and have a couple of 40-60 mile rides planned 
 

some from today, possession in aston 

 

symmetry in crewe 

 

Bescot with 66704 leading

 

Changing ends in rugby 

 

stetchford, 66771 up front this time 

 

into the possession, the job is in connection with the new HS2 bridge that’s going to be installed at washwood heath, certainly an impressive structure!

 

and as for the crane that’s installing it!

up behind the train that was stabled in front to allow the machines on behind us 

 

 

the line is shut for 26 days while the bridge over the derby lines is demolished and the steel one installed in its place to allow HS2 to pass below as there wasn’t the room under the existing arches, the bridge deck is going to be driven in on huge walkers and the crane in the previous pic is going to lift it into place, I believe in the next couple of weeks  

 

it wasn’t until we stopped it dawned on me that we were the final train to ever pass over that bridge as once we stopped the track was cut behind us and lifted and it won’t be going back in until the new bridge is installed, I wonder how many countless trains and types of locos have gone over that bridge in the time it was there?

 

 

that’s me for a couple of days, off to the caravan so will make a start on the 300 mile challenge with a ride or two (weather dependent!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 1, 2022 by big jim

[5BarVT]

So that’s why XC through Leicester was starting at Coleshill Pwy.

Paul.

[CovDriver]

I thought that was you on the platform taking a pic as I  passed by with a pair of 350's heading south to Northampton.

[big jim]

1 hour ago, CovDriver said:

I thought that was you on the platform taking a pic as I  passed by with a pair of 350's heading south to Northampton.

yeah, caused a bit of a delay to the train behind, the possession arrival signal was a the one on the end of the platform and we had 9 minutes from arrival to get into the the possession before it arrived, no chance of managing to do that! 

[Graham108]

On 29/04/2022 at 23:07, big jim said:

im only looking at raising £300 (to start with) so £1 a mile as I’ve decided to try for the full 300 mile (it’s only a mile a day!)

 

Not too bad so far - you've raised £115 and you haven't moved a pedal yet! 

 

That amount may have just increased!

Edited May 1, 2022 by Graham108
Additional comment

[big jim]

Yeah, nearly half way there already money wise, just going for a swim then I’ll get out and try and cover the first 20 or so miles this afternoon 

Edited May 1, 2022 by big jim

[big jim]

First trip done for the challenge, 50 miles covered 

 

 

[big jim]

Thanks to everyone who’s donated so far, £190 raised and 63 miles covered 

 

https://cyclethemonth.prostatecanceruk.org/fundraising/jim-scotts-300-mile-in-may-challenge

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by big jim

[big jim]

Some from today, should have been trafford park but ended up at East Midlands parkway instead 

 

Started in bescot and went light loco to the terminal 

 

DB 66 on the adjacent line 

 

Our loco was the one that was involved in a crash last year when it hit a trailer full of hay, it’s had its cab rebuilt and cleaned but there was hay coming out from all kinds of places as were went along with the windows open! 

 

Unusual sight on the freight only stenson branch

 

Sparking new paint job on the crash end 

 

Waiting at Burton on trent 

 

 

 

Then it was off to crewe and job done, no pics though unfortunately 

 

Trafford park tomorrow night as booked 

[Iron Horse]

You looked happy going past the other day 😁

 

 

 

[big jim]

I’m always happy! 
 

honest 

[big jim]

Just a few from last night, trafford park job

 

landor st

 

Freightliner 90s running round in trafford park 

 

 

Under the crane after splitting the train 

 

 

same again tonight 

[big jim]

Only one from last night waiting at landor st, a class 170 passing by, couldn’t be bothered the rest of the night as I was on my own 

 

change of job tonight, hams hall to EMG and back then hams hall to Bescot 

 

[big jim]

Friday night/Saturday morning pictures 

 

Started in hams hall, working a train to East Midlands gateway, @Erixtar1992 bringing the loco in 

 

Running round in EMG 

 

Ready to roll

 

Back into hams hall and run round again

 

And onto a stone train for unloading 

 

Then onto another one to depart for bescot 

 

And into bescot 

 

 

Then today I went for a ride from walsall to Stourbridge 

 

walsall canal 

 

Outside wolves, the old wednesfiled line crossing the canal 

 

Horseley fields with a Pendolino passing over en route to new st 

 

Heading toward oxley, The oxley chord line crossing the canal and the viaduct toward penkridge behind 

 

I then Joined the Womborne branch toward kingswinsford, before that I crossed under a bridge that went over the canal toward an old factory of some sort 

 

And on to the branch

 

 

 

 

End of the line 

 

I then rejoined the canal to Stourbridge 

 

under the brierley hill branch 

lots of locks 

 

Stourbridge 

 

 

I was hoping to get the town car back to Stourbridge jn but it’s suspended due to a track fault so I had to ride there, caught the train back to smethwick Galton bridge then rode back to walsall 

 

challenge wise I’m now at 116 miles and have beat the £300 goal so I’ve upped it to £500 

https://cyclethemonth.prostatecanceruk.org/fundraising/jim-scotts-300-mile-in-may-challenge

 

And last nights job, bescot to Arley tunnel possession job

 

bescot 

 

Some quality wagons in the otherwise full rake of coalfish 

 

even Dutch livery!

 

Arley tunnel 

 

that’s it until Tuesday when I’ve got a week of small heath to crewe 

Edited May 8, 2022 by big jim

[Tankerman]

23 hours ago, big jim said:

challenge wise I’m now at 116 miles and have beat the £300 goal so I’ve upped it to £500 

 

 

Congratulations Jim, a well deserved result.

[big jim]

Some from last night, small Heath to crewe then crewe to landor st 

 

66759 with it’s BR logo

 

And run round ready to leave 

 

got to crewe then worked a light loco back to landor st, booked to sit in Bescot for a bit though so stopped there for a cup of tea and a power nap before heading to landor st 

colas 66 

 

and my loco 

 

Just a short small Heath to crewe via cannock tonight 

[big jim]

Same job again 

 

small heath 

 

run round ready to go 

 

Tyseley after running round again 

 

Tame bridge, guess what running round again!

 

into basford hall 

 

and off we got 

 

same again tonight 

[big jim]

Same old same old, a few different angle pics though 

 

 

 

 

different job this afternoons and the 2nd half cancelled so just landor st to crewe 

[StuartMc]

On 07/05/2022 at 23:56, big jim said:

Some quality wagons in the otherwise full rake of coalfish 

 

even Dutch livery!

 

 

If I saw this on a model I'd think it was way over the top :)

 

Happy to support your cycling challenge - looking at the pics above, I'm thinking at least Beeching did one thing for us, some lovely (and hill-free) rides and walks!

 

Stuart

[big jim]

Thanks for the donation, that applies to everyone else too, only £50 short of the new £500 target now, then I can up it to £600!

 

I do enjoy the trackbed rides when the surface is good, still got to do the woodhead at some point, will hopefully get that crossed off in the summer

 

 

 

 

[big jim]

Only one from last night, got to bescot at 15:00 for my job only to discover it was cancelled, (it was only partially cancelled when I left the house)

 

I then got asked to conduct a train landor st to Leicester st 00:15 so I had to sit around until just before midnight, not a happy bunny!

 

Just the one pic in Leicester 

 

challenge wise I’ve now passed £500 so I’m aiming for £600 now

https://cyclethemonth.prostatecanceruk.org/fundraising/jim-scotts-300-mile-in-may-challenge

 

 

[Craig1989]

Will you be at the Severn valley railway next week Jim as I see gbrf have got 2 73s and a 69 there plus the 50s 

 

cheers Craig