Round Trips

[Kevin]

My week last week. Had the plan to do a holiday using an "Explore North Wales" ticket - 4 days in 8 train plus all buses and 50% discounts on some of the "Great Little Trains" in the area, and basically go to all these places I always thought "I'd love to go there once", even in a lot of cases just to get the next train/bus further on
Alas, illness struck part way through the week and scuppered some plans
Here goes my adventure anyway:

Saturday 1st Aug
NXWM 4532 - X51 - 07:37 Tower Hill to city
ATW 158834 - 08:25 Birmingham New Street to Harlech - explore castle and have a pub lunch
ATW 158830 - 14:31 Harlech to Criccieth - another castle and another pub
ATW 158833 - 17:00 Criccieth to Pwllheli

Sunday 2nd Aug
NatEx FJ11 GLV - 545 - 07:30 Pwllheli to Caernarfon
Welsh Highland Railway (loco 87) - 10:30 Caernarfon to Nantmor
nice walk along the Aberglaslyn pass back to Beddgelert and a pub lunch there, plenty of time to see the train head north before my next one further south
WHR loco 138 - 14:55 Beddgelert to Porthmadog
Ffestiniog Railway "Earl of Merioneth" - 15:45 Porthmadog to Penrhyn - walk to the NR station
ATW 158822 - 16:39 Penrhyndeudraeth to Porthmadog (got to sation just in time to get a nice video of it leaving the previous station and curve all the way round the bay towards me)
Arriva Cymru 2480 - 3 - 17:55 Porthmadog to Pwllheli

Monday 3rd Aug
ATW 158836 - 09:34 Pwllheli to Minffordd
Ffestiniog Railway "Prince" (double headed - didn't get the other name) 10:20 Minfford - Dduallt
Ffestiniog Railway "Linda" 11:30 Dduallt - Blaenau Ffestiniog
Express Motors EM06 ORS - X1 - 12:15 Blaenau Ffestiniog to Betws-y-Coed (lunch and a quick mooch in the museum)
ATW 150256 - 13:58 - Betws-y-Coed to Blaenau Ffestiniog
Express Motors R795 URM - X1 - Blaenau Ffestiniog to Roman Bridge (beautiful route over the hill and couldnt resist when this beast turned up)
ATW 150256 - 15:07 Roman Bridge to Llandudno
Great Orme Tramway - Tramcar 4 --> Halfway, Tramcar 7 --> Summit, walk back down
Arriva Cymru 3175 - X5 - 17:45 Llandudno to Conwy - pub dinner
ATW 175005 - 19:53 Conwy to Holyhead

Tuesday 4th Aug
Arriva Cymru 4187 - 4 - 08:55 Holyhead to Valley
Lewis Y Llan DD10 NNN - 61 - 09:52 Valley to Amlwch
Arriva Cymru 2437 - 62 - 10:45 Amlwch to Menai Bridge (terrible bus, struggled uphills, driver kept apologising)
Arriva Cymru 2637 - X4 - 11:57 Menai Bridge to Llangefni
Arriva Cymru 4187 (again!) - 4A - 13:07 Llangefni to Llanfairpyllgwyngyll.....
ATW 158841 - 13:55 Llanfairpyllgwyngyllgogerrychwryndrobullllantysiliogogogoch (purely so I can say I've been there) to Llandudno Junction
ATW 175115 - 14:49 Llandudno Junction to Manchester Picadilly
...and on to a gig with some friends

Wednesday 5th Aug
I'll post today's separate, didn't really count as any part of the North Wales tour
However it is also where illness struck, and from here certain bits of plan were altered or left out completely

Thursday 6th Aug (original plan included a loop of Wrexham - Chester - Crewe - Whitchurch - Wrexham, alas I just wanted to get to hotel and do nothing strenuous)
ATW 150255 - 10:32 Bidston to Wrexham Central and back to Wrexham General
Spent a while resting in Wetherspoons
GHA Coaches YR14 HLU - T3 - 13:30 Wrexham to Pont Borthnwog (near Dolgellau)
...already mentioned elsewhere but that bus journey was hell, an Omnilink on twisting country roads is not fun, less fun when you're ill...

Friday 7th Aug (tentatively a bit better - but still kinda taking it easy and not as much as planned)
Lloyds Coaches Y161 OTL (a breadvan!!!!) - 28 - 11:10 Dolgellau to Tywyn
Talyllyn Railway "Tom Rolt" - 13:25 Tywyn Wharf to Nant Gwernol - gentle stroll back to Abergynolwyn
Talyllyn Railway "Tal-y-llyn" - 16:15 Abergynolwyn to Dolgoch - gentle stroll to the lower falls
Lloyds Coaches YJ14 BLX - 30 - 17:20 Dolgoch Falls to Dolgellau
GHA Coaches YJ04 BVC - T3 - 17:55 Dolgellau to Pont Borthnwog

Saturday 8th Aug
Went for a walk, got sidetracked but thought it's ok, theres a bus that will still get me into Barmouth in time for the 12:55 train. Said bus didn't turn up but mysteriously left Barmouth on time at 12:50 to Wrexham, with me gesturing wildly at the side of the road at him when he passed.... eventually after an hour waiting in the middle of nowhere:
Express Motors - 38 - 13:32 Farchynys to Barmouth (I've noted a reg but it seems to be exactly the same as a later journey I made with a different company...)
ATW 158840 - 14:55 Barmouth to Aberdovey (guard announced everyone from Aberystwyth was going to be boarding because their train was broken, and this train was already pretty full - good luck suckers I'm outa here)
Lloyds Coaches BX04 CRV - X29 - 16:24 Aberdovey station - Penhelig Arms
ATW 158839 - 17:35 Penhelig to Machynlleth
ATW 158834 - 18:46 Machynlleth to Aberystwyth

Sunday 9th Aug (wanted to play on the Vale of Rheidol railway but felt ill again so straight home)
ATW 158837 - 10:30 Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury
ATW 150285 - 12:31 Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street
NXWM (too ill to look for a fleetnumber) - 13:54 city centre to Tower Hill
- collapse

[Kevin]

Wednesday 5th August - A little play on the trams in Manchester

...walk from friends house to nearby Wetherspoons for breakfast, then...
Metrolink 3003/3029 - Old Trafford to Trafford Bar
ML 3094/3081 -10:17 - Trafford Bar to East Didsbury
NT 323233 - 10:57 - East Didsbury to Manchester Airport
ML 3084 - 11:25 - Airport to St Werburghs Road
First 66896 - 22 - 12:26 Mauldeth Road West to Mauldeth Road station
...met some friends, went for lunch...
ML 3095/3061 - 14:33 Burton Road to Deansgate
ML 3074/3090 - 14:59 Deansgate to Eccles
NT 319363 - 16:11 Eccles to Manchester Victoria
NT 143051/142012 - 16:57 Manchester Victoria to Ashton-under-Lyne
ML 3028 - 17:25 Ashton-under-Lyne to Manchester Victoria
ML 3001 - Victoria to Piccadilly
NT 319374 - 18:55 Manchester Piccadilly to Liverpool Lime Street
Stagecoach Merseyside 19070 - 472 (or maybe 471 I don't remember now) - Liverpool to Prenton (Birkenhead)
...walk to my Uncle's

[James4368]

12/08/15 N-Bus Day
0805 957 (6714) Coventry Road/Sunnymead Road-Solihull Rail Station
0833 S2 Diamond (20014) Solihull Rail Station-Dorridge Rail Station
0908 S3W Diamond (30133) Dorridge Rail Station-Solihull Touchwood
0935 71E Sunny Travel (R823HCD) Solihull Interchange-Hobs Moat
Got A Drink (Tesco)
0956 71E Claribels (YJ54CEA) Hobs Moat-Solihull Interchange
1030 S10 Silverline (SN60EDO) Solihull Interchange-Coalway Avenue
1102 71E Sunny Travel (V895DNB) Sheaf Lane-Marston Green Rail Station
1130 71E Claribels (YJ54CEN) Marston Green Rail Station-Chelmsey Wood
1200 71E Sunny Travel (LF52TKJ) Chelmsey Wood-Sheaf Lane
1225 900 (6709) Sheldon Wheatsheif-Gilbertstone Avenue

[Alex]

Stuck up in the north, so might as well make use of the £34 I spent in week tickets!

15907|STG 61|0951 Clifton Arms to Preston Bus Stn, Bay 66|0954>1049 (PE13 LSN)
then breakfast
40606|PRB 8|1120 Preston Bus Station to Preston Bus Station (via Moor Nook)|1119>1154 (PR62 TON)
19036|STG 1|1159 Preston Bus Station to Ribbleton Lane|1157>1211 (SN56 AWF)
47710|STG 1A|1218 Ribbleton Lane to Preston Bus Station|1217>1229 (MX54 YZT)
27115|STG 3|1230 Preston Bus Station to Penwortham Library|1230>1241 (SL14 LMN)
37129|STG 3|1252 Pewortham Library to Preston Bus Station|1252>1303 (YX14 RZM?)
15909|STG 61|1315 Preston Bus Station to Blackpool, Corporation St|1313>1428 (PE13 LSU)
295|BTS 15|1445 Blackpool, Corporation St to Marton Mere Camp|1443>1532 (YJ08 PFE)

[John]

6719 - 997 - Beeches Road - Pheasey
4734 - 934 - Pheasey - Walsall
Bumped into Nathan in Bradford Place
1858 - Walsall - West Brom
1838 - West Brom - Oldbury (I wanted to get on an Ex-Perry Barr Scania)
756 - Oldbury - West Brom (Couldn't be bothered with the 4)
Metro 24 - West Brom - Wednesbury
Went up to the bus station, too quiet, so looked at the times for the 79, couldn't be bothered to wait 15 minutes for a 25 minute ride, so walked back to the metro)
Metro 29 - Wednesbury - Bilston (Couldn;t believe my luck becuase as soon as walked up to the Bus Station, 4310 was loading on the 25)
Metro - Bilston - Wolverhampton (forgot to look what tram)
Saw Nathan again
Metro 23 - Wolverhampton - Jewelry Quarter (as a broken down tram had blocked the line after St. Pauls)
Walked to Great Hampton St and got on 4977 into Old Square
6726 - 997 home

[Reece]

11/08/2015 Yesterday I decided to visit Stagecoach in Gloucestershire...

London Midland | Kidderminster Station - Worcester Foregate Street > (172 331)
Great Western | Worcester Foregate Street - Worcester Shrub Hill > (180 102)
Great Western | Worcester Shrub Hill - Cheltenham Spa Station > (150 202+153 333)
( Met up with a mate )
Stagecoach | 'D' > Cheltenham Spa Station - Cheltenham, Chapel Walk (37244) SN64OME
Stagecoach Gold | 94 > Cheltenham, Promenade - Gloucester, Market Parade (15522) VX09NBE
Stagecoach | 9 > Gloucester, Clarence Street - Tuffley (15968) YP14GYX (A BEAST of a Gold spec E400 and on the as well 9 which is also a rare working.)
Stagecoach | 9 > Tuffley - Gloucester, Clarence Street (15968) YP14GYX
Stagecoach Gold | 94 > Gloucester, Market Parade - Cheltenham, Promenade (15521) VX09NBD (We sat down stairs at the back on this E400 it didn't sound very healthy.)

( We had 25 mins till the 61 to Stroud was due to leave so we went to Cheltenham Model Centre the other side of town and then I released that we only had 7 mins to run back across town to catch the 61. So away despite running and cutting through every side street in Cheltenham the driver pulled off just as I turned the corner to do the last 20 yard sprint for the bus and left a minute early!!  >:( ::) )

Stagecoach Gold | 10 > Cheltenham, Promenade - Brockworth (15846) VX62CVS
Stagecoach Gold | 10 > Brockworth - Cheltenham, Promenade (15852) VX62CXR
Stagecoach | 'B' > Cheltenham, Pittville Street - Charlton Kings (36260) VU11BUJ
Stagecoach | 'B' > Charlton Kings - Cheltenham, Pittville Street (36260) VU11BUJ
Stagecoach | 'D' > Cheltenham, Pittville Street - Cheltenham Spa Station (37341) SN64OMA
( left my mate at Cheltenham Station )
Great Western | Cheltenham Spa Station - Worcester Foregate Street > (158 952)
London Midland | Worcester Foregate Street - Kidderminster Station > (172 334)
Diamond | 2L > Kidderminster, Town Hall - Home (20848) KU52RXW (20848 decided it would not let its engine be started from cab. So the driver started it from the engine and then spluttered and screech into life!)

[MW]

6719 - 997 - Beeches Road - Pheasey
4734 - 934 - Pheasey - Walsall
Bumped into Nathan in Bradford Place
1858 - Walsall - West Brom
1838 - West Brom - Oldbury (I wanted to get on an Ex-Perry Barr Scania)
756 - Oldbury - West Brom (Couldn't be bothered with the 4)
Metro 24 - West Brom - Wednesbury
Went up to the bus station, too quiet, so looked at the times for the 79, couldn't be bothered to wait 15 minutes for a 25 minute ride, so walked back to the metro)
Metro 29 - Wednesbury - Bilston (Couldn;t believe my luck becuase as soon as walked up to the Bus Station, 4310 was loading on the 25)
Metro - Bilston - Wolverhampton (forgot to look what tram)
Saw Nathan again
Metro 23 - Wolverhampton - Jewelry Quarter (as a broken down tram had blocked the line after St. Pauls)
Walked to Great Hampton St and got on 4977 into Old Square
6726 - 997 home

@John is the staff card valid on the Metro?

[John]

@John is the staff card valid on the Metro?

Yes it is

[James4368]

13/08/15
0745 957 (6718) Gilbertstone Avenue-Moor Street
0815 9 (6119) Colmore Row-Stourbridge Bus Station
0940 228 Hansons (YY15NHX) Stourbridge Bus Station-Merry Hill
Did some photographing till 1020
1025 228 Hansons (YY15NHX Again) Merry Hill-Stourbridge Bus Station
1105 287 Hansons (SN51SZV) Stourbridge Bus Station-Merry Hill
Did a little more spotting and spotted @RS photographing
1148 250 Hansons (KX60DVO) Merry Hill-Stourbridge Bus Station
1210 9 (6106) Stourbridge Bus Station-Colmore Row
1310 957 (6714) Moor Street-Coventry Road/Sunnymead Road

[Alex]

Went on another trip out, this time with 3 scores!:

352|BTS 15 0926 from Marton Mere Camp to Mereside Tesco| 0918>0933 (E19 BTS)
225|BTS 14 0935 from Mereside Tesco to Mereside, Windmill| 0934>0938 (T935 EAN)
15905|STG 61 0952 from Windmill to Preston Bus Station| 0953>1051 (PE13 LSK)
30123|PRB 19A 1103 from Preston Bus Station to Royal Preston Hospital Grounds| 1102>1124 (YJ61 JJE)
40621|PRB 23 1136 from Royal Preston Hospital to Preston Bus Station| 1136>1156 (PE13 JZA)
(Stood round spotting)
18156|STG 125 1232 from Preston Bus Station to Bamber Bridge, Station Rd| 1225>1249 (PX04 DPV)
15580|STG 125 1257 from Bamber Bridge, Station Rd to Preston Bus Station| 1257>1312 (PX59 CTU)
15911|STG 61 1315 from Preston Bus Station to Clifton Arms| 1314>1411 (PE13 LSX)

[MrBevan2000]

13/8/15
NXWM, WB 5, 4048 Kingstanding Circle-Scott Arms NXWM, WA 51, 4867 Scott Arms-Walsall Bus Station
NXWM, WA 997, 6720 Walsall Bus Station-Aldridge
Diamond, Tividale 56,  30861 Aldridge-Perry Park NXWM, PB 33, 4477 Perry Park-Perry Barr
NXWM, WA 934, 4801 Perry Barr-Walsall Bus Station (with @BU07 LGO driving)
NXWM, WA X51, 6719 Walsall Bus Station-Birmingham Moor Street
NXWM, PB 904, 4915 Birmingham Moor Street-Lancaster Circus
NXWM, PB 67, 4254 Lancaster Circus-Castle Vale
(Got a lift to Perry Barr)
NXWM, WA 935, 4878 Perry Barr-Kingstanding Circle.

[BK63 YWP]

14.08.15 Yo-Yoing Around Birmingham

6106 5:58 PN 9 Stamford Road to Birmingham
4881 7.02 WA 936 Birmingham Bull Street to Brownhills High Street
4125 8.09 WA 10A Brownhills High Street to Walsall Bus Station
6726 8.45 WA X51 Walsall Bus Station to Birmingham Moor Street Queensway
6714 8.27 BC 957 Birmingham Moor Street Queensway to Solihull
1939 10.14 AG 37 Solihull to Birmingham Carrs Lane
4870 11.05 X51 WA Birmingham Bull Street to Walsall Bus Station
4801 11.57 (PB) WA 935 Walsall Bus Station to Birmingham Bull Street   @P419 EJW got on at Perry Barr and disappeared when got off at Bull Street
6120 13.35 PN 9 Birmingham Colmore Row to Stamford Road

[Tara4352]

Igo 4017 24 Merry Hill Bus Stn to Cradley Heath stn
LM 172 213 Cradley Heath to The Hawthorns
MM22 The Hawthorns to Wednesbury Parkway
MM25 Wednesbury Parkway to Wednesbury Great Western Street
MM16 Wednesbury Great Western Street to Birmingham Snow Hill
MM33 Birmingham Snow Hill to Wednesbury Parkway
MM24 Wednesbury Parkway to Wolverhampton Saint Georges
4586 WN 529 Wolves Bus Stn to Walsall Bus Stn
1436 WA 29 Walsall Bus Stn to Coalpool Lane
4737 WA 29 Coalpool Lane to Walsall Bus Station
LM 170 *** Walsall to Birmingham New Street
LM 172 *** Birmingham Moor Street to Cradley Heath
4193 PN 53 Cradley Heath to Merry Hell

[Ashley 60171]

Saturday 15th August

NXWM 2029 - 3 - town
LM 170508+170514 -Birmingham New Street
LM 350101+350261 - Birmingham International
LM 350125 - Coventry
LM 153365 - Nuneaton
LM 350376 - Rugby
LM 350106 - Watford Junction
LM 321413 - St Albans Abbey
LM 321413 - Watford Junction
LM 350103 - Berkhamsted
LM 350*** -Bletchley
LM 153356 - Aspley Guise
LM 150105 - Bletchley
LM 350255 - Northampton
LM 350238 - Birmingham International
LM 323217 - Birmingham New Street
LM 170505 - Hednesford
AM 3702 - 25 - Cannock Bus Station
AM 3794 - Stafford Rail Station - 74
LM 350244 - Wolverhampton
Taxi home

[T840MAK]

Saturday 15th August

NXWM 2029 - 3 - town
LM 170508+170514 -Birmingham New Street
LM 350101+350261 - Birmingham International
LM 350125 - Coventry
LM 153365 - Nuneaton
LM 350376 - Rugby
LM 350106 - Watford Junction
LM 321413 - St Albans Abbey
LM 321413 - Watford Junction
LM 350103 - Berkhamsted
LM 350*** -Bletchley
LM 153356 - Aspley Guise
LM 150105 - Bletchley
LM 350255 - Northampton
LM 350238 - Birmingham International
LM 323217 - Birmingham New Street
LM 170505 - Hednesford
AM 3702 - 25 - Cannock Bus Station
AM 3794 - Stafford Rail Station - 74
LM 350244 - Wolverhampton
Taxi home

Missing one shows up in my log as 350246, 350105 was the one we had from Rugby - Watford rather than 106 aswell. @Ashley 60171