Day 6 : Friday 31 August 2001

[2001H059] 08410 at platform 8 at Plymouth with the London sleeper (05:08 arrival from Paddington).
[2001H060] 09016 om mail vans at Plymouth.
[2001H061] 43187 arriving at Plymouth with the 08:25 to Paddington.
[2001H062] 158833 arriving at Plymouth with the 08:55 to Manchester.
[2001H063] 57601 running round at Plymouth.
[2001H064] 57601 running round at Plymouth.
[2001H065] 57601 at platform 6 with 1A43, the 09:20 to Paddington. 43063 at platform 7 with the 09:12 to Glasgow.

The single carriage for the Plymouth portion has been dropped off and then shunted along the platform by 08410. It's showery this morning and grey. 57601 pulls in with the empty stock from Laira, then runs round. The engine has a deep throb and the whine of the turbo is loud. We are delayed departing because of an electrical fault on two of the carriages - fitters in attendance. The first faulty coach is fixed quickly, but the fitters are unable to fix the second. At 10:45, the decision is made to lock the rear 3 carriages out of use and not to cancel the train. Then, there's no power in the buffet. We finally get underway at 10:56. We accelerate rapidly out of the station. We soon slogging up the grade to Rattery, then winding through the hills. We are checked by a signal before Marley Tunnel and then we have a yellow on the approach to Totnes. A 47-hauled VT passes us just outside Totnes, then a 37-hauled two wagon freight about half way to Newton Abbot. 150248 is held for us on the Paignton line as we approach Newton Abbot. As we depart, the turbo whine is reminiscent of an HST power car.

It's raining as we traverse the Teign estuary, but there's a break in the rain as we run along the sea wall and up the Exe valley to Exeter. Lots of people on the sea front taking pictures and waving. We've made up some time, but we spend 7 minutes at Exeter and depart at 11:10 - 33 minutes late. We speed past the traffic on the adjacent motorway until we stop at Tiverton Parkway. After the climb to Whiteball, we hurtle down the far side. 66091 is light enginer at Taunton yard. It looks like it has just dropped off a mail train. Photograhers at Taunton. The sun comes out. Reading and Paddington passengers are advised to catch the following 12:01. We leave 31 down. Another long wait at Bristol, and we leave 30 minutes late. We branch right here onto the line via Bath. A narrowboat is heading upriver as we arrive at Bath Spa. Another is just tying up as we depart. A number of coal trains in the vicinity of Didcot power station (2 x 60, 2 x 66). 60's and 66's in the yard. A Voyager in Reading. We depart at 13:33. More photographers. We're travelling at just about 100 for most of the way between Reading and London. Two GNER liveried half Eurostars are in the depot at North Pole. Paddington at 13:59. There are no westbound tubes for 20 minutes. I catch an easbound train to Notting Hill Gate and then Central Line to Liverpool Street.

[Tea-Receipt] Afternoon tea and tea receipt.

At Liverpool Street, 86252 "Sheppard 100" is on the rear of the 15:00 to Norwich. 86246 "Royal Anglian Regiment" arrives just before we depart. Mainly electric units occupy the other platforms. The station is light and airy with its high overall roof and nothing to obstruct it. There's a restaurant car on the service and I order afternoon tea with tea. The tea pot has arrived even before we depart! Definitely good value at £7.05. A Stansted Express departs along with us and heads north after Bethnal Green. We cross the Regents Canal shortly afterward. Cranes are demolishing the remains of Stratford Works. There is a long traffic jam eastbound on the motorway approaching Chelmsford. A large, green roofed tower on the hill marks Colchester - our first stop. We're 6 down after waiting for a freight at Witham.

Over the river at Manningtree - ships visible at Ipswich ahead. A faint rainbow is visible ahead as we near Ipswich. A we get closer, it becomes more defined and makes a full arc. By the time we arrive, we're in the rain. A pair of Frieghtliner 47's and a row of 86's are stabled in the yard. While we're standing in the station, the rain becomes a downpour. Bright sunshine again after Stowmarket. Cloudy to the north. The countryside is flat. Lots of level crossings over minor roads. We cross over the line from Ely and then join it. Over the river, and we arrive in Norwich at 16:44. Norwich has departures for both Liverpool Lime St. and London Liverpool St. - a bit confusing! A pair of 170's on the 17:19 arrival from London. The front one forms the 17:32 to Great Yarmouth and the rear the 17:35 back to Liverpool St. I was originally going to catch this, but I decide to wait for the 18:00 instead. This arrives with 9713 and 86215.

[2001H066] 86252 "Sheppard 100" at platform 3 at Norwich with the 17:00 to Liverpool St.
[2001H067] 9713 arrives at platform 2 at Norwich.
[2001H068] 86215 at platform 2 at Norwich with the 18:00 to Liverpool St.

One of the pair of 67's stabled south of the station moves off, ready to pick up its train, and then we're off too. Back to Ipswich - lines of containers waiting for loco's - 66704 at the head of one. A pair of DRS 20's nearby. 47721 "Saint Bede" is sat outside Colchester shed. Running late again, we don't arrive in Liverpool Street until 20:00, not helped by coming to a stand for several minutes outside Maryland. Circle line to Euston. 90031 "The Railway Children Partnership" is on the buffers and 90030 "Crewe Locomotive Works" is at the head - both freshly painted. I look out of the window as the long train snakes up Camden Bank. No EMU overtakes us today.

Day 7 (Saturday)

Introduction Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Timetable Mileages

Text and photographs Copyright J.D.Coleman 2001.