"All-Liner" Bashing

Nigel Benning on a week's searching for required haulages.....

When my wife announced that she was to spend a week at her sisters, I immediately started to think as to what I would do whilst she was away. An all-line railrover soon came to mind and, having checked my diary, it appeared that I was free during the week in question. I had many times considered doing an all-liner, but finance or work pressures have always meant that I have usually opted for regional 3-day flexi-rovers, which I've used to bash various passenger lines around the country. But now was the time for the big one. But what would I do during the week? There seemed to be three approaches to take.

Option 1. Bash the various passenger lines I needed - but these are mainly unit run branches scattered around the country. This didn't really appeal as an aim for the week, and anyway, the lines should hopefully be there for many more years to come.

Option 2. Go spotting the various new locomotives and units that have appeared over the past couple of years. This option was quickly discounted as being too dull, not really making use of the rover, and also the stock in question is going to be around for quite a while.

Option 3. Try and clear as many required "passenger" locomotives and power cars for haulage as possible. This was the preferred option.

So, the targets:

The chances of getting the 37's was so remote (unless I got some gen) that I decided not to go for them. But given the short life expectancy of the 73's, I would have a go at getting one or two (201 & 202 rarely work Gatwick services). Given the numbers, I would concentrate on the GWT and GNER loco's and power cars with maybe a quick look at the Anglia and Virgin electrics (hopefully I will be able to pick off the remaining Virgin diesels when they visit Bournemouth!).

This was the extent of my planning, and so we reached day 1. Note that loco's that I did not require for haulage will be shown in brackets. I do not know which units I required or not.

Day 1 - Saturday 5th August

1. 1319 - Start by walking to Pokesdown station (only 10 minutes away) for the 6:34 to Brockenhurst to enable me to pick up the first Virgin service of the day.
2. (47810) - Took this as far as Reading, as I had decided that today would be a GWT day.
3. 43127 & 43140 - First two power cars in the book as I caught the 08:52 to Paddington (meeting up with a friend who was en-route to the Old Oak Open Day). Much of the Open Day exhibits could be viewed at a distance on passing the depot, only partially obscured by a line up of withdrawn loco's which included 08414 and 37719 which were required for sight! Also scored my penultimate 60 - 60015, which was working the Langley tanks.
4. 43016 & 43137 - I had hoped to catch the 09:33 service from Paddington which is 47 hauled, but this had the only non-required GWT 47 (47813) at its head, so joined the 09:30 to Reading instead.
5. 43130 & 43171 - 10:08 Reading to Paddington.
6. 43017 & 43023 - 11:06 Paddington to Reading.
7. 47742 - Based on previous days Rail-Gen information I was aware that this was probably on the Brighton - Edinburgh and so it was. Took it as far as Reading.
8. 165117 - Positioning move back to Didcot Parkway.
9. 43025 & (43185)  - Bit of a fester before catching the 13:12 back to Reading.
10.  43030 & 43134 - Then onwards to Paddington again.
11. 43126 & 43149 - Back to Reading.
12. 43145 & (43146) - Back to Paddington. On the approach to London, required 47741 was spotted on the Brighton - Manchester service. Given the slow crawl the service makes to Reading, it would be possible to get back to Reading in time to catch it.
13. (43132) & 43139 - So back to Reading.
14. 47741 - as far as Oxford.
15. (47722) - Edinburgh - Brighton service as far as Reading. Not required as loco was scored at Bournemouth in June!
16. 43147 & 43148 - And onwards to Paddington.
17. 43010 & 43032 - And back to Reading.
18. (47848) - Down to Brockenhurst.
19. 2401 - And home to Pokesdown (arr. 21:55)

So a good start to the week with 2 'freight' 47's and 19 power cars scored.

Day 2 - Sunday 6th August

20. 2414 & 2421 - No early Virgin services today, so took to 07:09 service from Pokesdown to Clapham Junction.
21. 5843 - Since Gatwick Express still operate a 15 minute service on Sunday and most other operators don't wake up until lunchtime, I popped into Victoria to see what was working the Gatwick Expresses.
22. 73204 - After an hours wait, one of my required 73's was on a diagram, so this was taken out to Gatwick Airport.
23. 319459 - Then via Thameslink to Kings Cross. Only one GNER service in Kings Cross (couldn't be bothered to see what the 91 was) and St. Pancras was deserted, so on to Euston.
24. (86229) - No required loco's about, but I wanted to see what loco's were on Wembley so took the first train out to Watford Junction. Departure was 18 minutes late as the driver was reported to be still on his way, via tube, from Wembley! Copped a few 66's, 67's and 92's then sat at Watford for an hour to see if anything required would take me back to London.
25. 321401 - Nothing appeared so back to Euston and on to Paddington.
26. 43142 & 43186 - Two more in the bag out to Reading.
27. 43151 & 43152 - And back to Paddington.
28. 43183 & (43192) - And back to Reading.
29. (47841) - Onwards to Brockenhurst.
30. 1319 & 1399 - And back to Pokesdown (arr. 21:10).

Not a very productive day, but then again it was Sunday. Got one of my 73's though and 5 power cars.

Day 3 - Monday 7th August

31. 1320 & 1563 - Started with the 05:37 Pokesdown to Brockenhurst in order to pick up the first Virgin service of the day.
32. 47750 - The 06:06 service from Brockenhurst was announced as being at least 45 minutes late as there had been a derailment in Bournemouth depot and the stock had only just left the sidings. Eventually, 68 minutes late, required 47750 arrived, freshly painted and named 'Atlas' for the OOC Open Day. Good job I hung around and didn't opt for a SWT unit to Waterloo. Took this as far as Basingstoke, as the following Virgin service was only 10 minutes behind.
33. (47822) - I suppose it was too much to ask to hope for another required 47 to be following and it wasn't, but took this up to Reading for another day on GWT.
34. 43019 & 43188 - A short wait saw these take me out to Swindon.
35. (43142) & (43186) - Rather than fester at Swindon, took these straight back to Reading.
36. 43036 & 43037 - Then had a brief wait before onwards to Paddington in time for the first 47 departure of the day at 12:03
37. 47832 - One down, five to go. Taken as far as Reading.
38. 43129 & 43176 - Back to Reading for the second 47 departure at 14:03.
39. 47830 - Strike two, out to Reading.
40. (43041) & 43169 - To Paddington.
41. 43141 & 43181 - To Reading.
42. 43015 & 43031 - To Paddington.
43. (43016) & 43133 - To Reading, just in time for the 47 on the Penzance - Paddington.
44. 47811 - Strike three, as we crawled along the slow lines to Paddington.
45. (43151) & (43152) - Nothing required at Paddington, so took these back to Reading to meet up with the Virgin service home.
46. (47807) - To Brockenhurst.
47. 2416 & 2417 - To Pokesdown (arr . 22:05).

Not a bad day. 4 x 47's and 12 power cars. Time for a change though, so tomorrow will be a GNER day.

Day 4 - Tuesday 8th August

48. 1547 & 3542 - Again started with the 05:37 Pokesdown to Brockenhurst. On arriving at Brockenhurst, a check of the platform monitors revealed that the 06:06 Virgin service had been cancelled! Too late to leap back on the train I had just arrived on, so had to wait for the next London bound train (wasn't going to waste an hour waiting for the next Virgin service).
49. 2411 & 2412 - Up to Waterloo (arr. 08:06). I would normally get to Kings Cross by mainline services via London Bridge, but as there are no Thameslink services at this time of the day I had to pretend to be a sardine on the Northern line. As this passed through Euston, thought I'd better check if anything was about.
50. 90006 - The first departure at 08:33 for Glasgow had a required 90 at the helm, so forgot about my GNER plans and took this out to Milton Keynes (first stop).
51. 86233 - After 10 minutes at Milton Keynes, a required 86 appeared on a Wolverhampton service. So onwards to Coventry.
52. (86261) - Only at Coventry for 15 minutes before an EWS 86 arrived for London. Now this was not actually required as I have vague notes of having it between Birmingham New Street and Crewe whilst on a school trip between Northampton & Blaenau Ffestiniog on 3rd April 1976 ! But worth having again though back to Milton Keynes.
53. 86424 - After an hour at Milton Keynes, another EWS 86 arrived. And so on to London (arr. 12:27). Nothing of interest at Euston and so headed off the Liverpool Street.
54. 86235 - First departure for Norwich had a required 86 at the helm, so boarded this for Colchester. We crawled out of London in a heavy rainstorm. Apparently the track was flooded in the Manor Park area and so we ended up going over the Ilford Flyover (required!) and arrived at Colchester 30 minutes late.
55. 86250 - Long wait at Colchester before another required 86 appeared. Took this down to London and then moved to Paddington.
56. 43022 & 43164 - Out to Reading ready for the 18:11 loco service.
57. 47846 - Four down, two to go. Taken back to Paddington.
58. (43135) & (43137) - As per Monday, nothing required at Paddington, so took these back to Reading to meet up with the Virgin service home.
59. (47747) - To Bournemouth (arr. 21:40) then taxi home (I needed my bed!).

So much for a GNER day, but a pretty good day with 1 x 47, 4 x 86, 1 x 90 and 2 x Power Cars bagged.

Day 5 - Wednesday 9th August

60. 1319 & 1392 - 05:37 Pokesdown to Brockenhurst (again).
61. (47807) - 06:06 to Reading. It's running and it's on time!
62. 43012 & 43136 - Not long to wait before two required power cars arrived heading for Paddington.
63. 91008 - After another sardine move to Kings Cross, my first required 91 of the day was at the head of the 09:00 departure. As we departed, noted 90025 at the head of the 09:10, so I knew what my next move would be on arrival at Peterborough!
64. 90025 - Taken as far as Grantham so I could catch the next southbound HST.
65. 43039 & 43110 - Back to Peterborough.
66. 91001 - Back to Grantham.
67. 91031 - Back to Peterborough.
68. 156405 - Positioning move back to Grantham.
69. 91014 - And back to Peterborough again.
70. 91029 - Now up to Doncaster.
71. 91021 - Then an hours wait before back to Peterborough.
72. 91017 - And onwards to Kings Cross. But what next? Having done a lot of short hauls, decided I had to do something a bit longer, and so it was over to Euston for the 21:33 Caledonian Sleeper to Dundee.
73. 90029 - When I first saw a reddish loco at the front of the train I thought it was 90019 which had hauled me to Scotland and back at Easter. However as I got closer I realised it was the 'DB' liveried example. I fortunately had a cabin to myself and thought I would sleep like a log as I was feeling well tired. However, was still awake by Crewe. Also awake when we pulled into another station, which I assumed must be Preston. However, a glance out of the window revealed it to be Edinburgh - so I had slept! Watched 37405 shunting about before we departed behind an as yet unidentified 47 (bound to be a cop as I required 4 of the 5 Scottish 47's).
74. (47792) - After early morning views of the Forth and Tay bridges, we arrived at Dundee at 06:01 where our loco was revealed. Oh dear, it wasn't what I wanted to see. It wasn't even a Scottish 47 as far as I was aware. The worse thing was that I had had 47792 a month ago between Bournemouth and Brockenhurst! Oh well, can't win them all.

Another good day with 2 x 90, 7 x 91 and 4 x power cars scored.

Day 6 - Thursday 10th August

75. 158718 & 158732 - Needed the Dundee - Perth line so took the 06:34 Glasgow service to Perth.
76. 170415 - Then a quick change at Perth for Edinburgh.
77. 91013 - Hung around for a required 91 heading southbound. There was an early morning farce at Craigentinny with stock late coming off the depot, so the 09:30 did not depart until 09:49. Had considered taking this as far as Dunbar to change to a northbound HST service. But since I was worried about getting stuck at Dunbar if there was a problem, I carried on to Berwick.
78. (91006) - Rather than hang around at Berwick caught the next service to Newcastle.
79. 43038 & 43108 - Caught the next required southbound service. Noted required 'Thunderbird' 47726 leaving the bay platform, presumably to rescue something somewhere. And so to York.
80. 47726 - Again waited for a required loco on a southbound service. Well pleased when 47726 turned up on a Virgin service - so that's what it was up to! Took this as far as Doncaster.
81. (91004) - Headed off to Peterborough so I could connect with a southbound HST.
82. 43115 & (43119) - And onwards to Kings Cross.
83. 43125 & 43189 - Then from Paddington to Reading. The 47 on the Paddington wasn't required so was able to catch the slightly late running Virgin service.
84. (47854) - Down to Brockenhurst.
85. 2404 & 2412 - To Pokesdown (arr. 20:55). (But no early night as I had to head to Tesco to stock up ready for my wifes return (with assorted relatives) the following day).

Rather a quiet day with 1 x 47, 1 x 91 and 5 x power cars in the book.

Day 7 - Friday 11th August

86. 1313 & 1573 - Another early start with the 05:37 Pokesdown to Brockenhurst. Feeling tired now!
87. (47839) - 06:06 to Reading.
88. (43027) & 43172 - In to Paddington for tube to Kings Cross. Had a quick look at St. Pancras first - required 43075 was at the stops. Checked the departure board to find it was due off in 5 minutes time, first stop Bedford. Might as well bag it then. Walked down the platform to check out the front power car which turned out to be 43066 - my other required MML p/c. Can't believe my luck as I board the train.
89. 43066 & 43075 - First stop Bedford!
90. (43044) & (43083) - Back to St. Pancras then over to Kings Cross as originally planned!
91. (43105) & 43118 - Only a few minutes before I head off to Peterborough.
92. 3301 & 3302 - After a long wait, decided to head back to Kings Cross on one of the Regional Eurostar trains working a White Rose service for GNER. Then head to Paddington for the rest of the afternoon.
93. (43015) & 43042 - Out to Reading.
94. (43149) & 43179 - Back to Paddington.
95. 43024 & (43145) - Back to Reading ready for the 47 diagram.
96. 47815 - So five out six bagged during the week - only 47816 outstanding. This had worked the empty stock a few times but was rumoured to have speedo problems and thus unlikely to venture far. Still, can't complain.
97. (43025) & (43185) - Back to Reading.
98. 165119 - Although the Virgin service was supposedly on time, opted to take this Turbo as far as Basingstoke.
99. 2404 - The Virgin service was now reported as 25 minutes late so took this unit to Southampton.
100. 47712 - And finally, the delayed Virgin service came up with a required 47. I had hoped this loco might turn up as according to the previous days duties picked up from Rail Gen last night, following diagrams would result in it appearing on this working.

Days scores : 2 x 47 and 7 x power cars.

So the results for the week were :

Which leaves the following:

Overall summary - a really enjoyable and profitable week. Can't really complain about anything but would have maybe liked to have done better with GNER stuff. Maybe next time!!!!!

Nigel Benning

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