Day 1, Part 2: PLUSBUS is my saviour

Yet again, I type this in my hotel room, but at 7:08 in the morning this time. I did have a good night's sleep (or I would've got my money back... it's a Premier Inn!) but there may still be some errors! Also, Blogger isn't working very well on this iPad, so there may be some unnecessary lines left etc. Sorry if there are errors in this post (please point them out, it's how I learn!) Anyway, here's what happened during the rest of yesterday:

After the tricky trip to Torquay, I decided to buy PLUSBUS. I never knew that you could buy it after you had bought the ticket, but you can. So, I was going to go on some buses, but tiredness was kicking in by now. I decided to go to my hotel room (which is great, by the way - much bigger than other Premier Inns) and unpack. It was about 15:00 by then, so great timing!

A rather nice photo, I'd say, just opposite my hotel (where I am now!)

After a quick lie down, it was time to use PLUSBUS! However, I went to the tourist information first and the walk there was via a road, with buses running down it. Here are some photos:

The first day of Torbay Buses operating the 62 to Cockington

A 'Hop 12' Enviro 400 making a trip towards Brixham, seen right next to Torre Abbey Sands

'Rail River Link' Y808 TGH working a short route 100 journey to Churston.

Disgraceful isn't it? They can't be bothered to think of a name other than 'Hop'? A 22 Enviro 400 runs a trip to St Marychurch

 The first bus of the day was an Enviro 400 on the 'Hop 12' route to Brixham. I decided to go all the way, as the unexpected high-backed, leather seats were very comfortable!

WA61KLK on an unusual 'Hop 12' short working to Newton Road ASDA

This part of the post is written the night after, at 22:28

The 'Hop 12' is a very handy route and the only frequent route to Brixham, so it was the same old, same old to get back to Paignton. However, Brixham was a convenient place to stop for dinner and had a Wetherspoon pub. Why not? 😂

Upon arrival back at Torquay, it was decided that I would get a Hop 22 up to St Marychurch, where I could 'Hop' on a 34 (not Hop-branded though!) back into town.

The 'Hop 22' that I 'hop'ped on to St Marychurch, not the Harbour!

A Co-op provided pot porridge for one morning's breakfast (not had it yet, probably will on Thursday) and it was time to walk back to the bus stop! The 34 pretty much pulled in as I got there and the last bus of the day was a rather nice, but rattly Dart back to Cary Parade.

WA56 NNG, after working my 34 back into town

A better day than I thought, apart from the delay on the train. I would've preferred to go on more than 4 buses, but it was definitely worth the money! Today will be put up very soon too!

Hope you enjoyed,

Jezza

Day 1, Part 1: Tricky train travelling

It's 21:27 and I'm sitting in bed at my hotel room typing this, so sorry if there are some errors! For once, auto-correct is my friend, not my enemy! 🙂

Torquay is a nice place, but I'd have to wait quite a while to discover that, for reasons that will become apparent later. After the normal journey across London (although surprisingly less tedious than usual), the 11:06 to Plymouth awaited me on Platform 2. It didn't just await me though, it was rammed, with only a few seats to spare! There were signal problems in the Reading area, so here's the real time information:

Station, Expected dep - real dep (DELAY)

London Paddington, 1106 - 1106 (ON TIME)

Reading, 1133 - 1150 (17 LATE)

Pewsey, 1203 - 1222 (19 LATE)

Westbury, 1221 - 1242 (21 LATE)

Castle Cary, 1239 - 1302 (23 LATE)

Taunton, 1302 - 1327 (25 LATE)

Tiverton Parkway, 1315 - 1342 (27 LATE)

Exeter St Davids, 1332 - 1359 (27 LATE)

Newton Abbot, 1352 - 1418 (26 LATE) arrival time

The Class 43 that hauled the very late 11:06!

And then, on the way to the toilet via some running, this greeted me!

43002 or 253001 hauling a Torbay Express service towards London Paddington 

And, on the same platform, 150232 pulled in working a service to Paignton. Admittedly the one after the planned 14:10 (14:42 leaving Newton Abbot), but I only arrived about 30 minutes late!

150232 in the new GWR livery, taking a service from Exmouth to Paignton.

That's it for Part 1. Part 2 (about the second part of the day) will be coming soon.

Southern Day Part 7: Hastings is a nice place. With lots of buses. And trains to London.

On February 18th (long time ago now, I know!) I went out and bought a Southern DaySave. Took my life into my own hands. Not just a single or return, but a Southern day ticket! this is how it panned out...

After arrival in Hastings, I walked to the seafront with some opportunities for bus photos. Here are some of the best:

SN66VVM, an unbranded E400 MMC on 'The Wave' 100, usually run with branded MMCs

MV54BLU, An ex-Bluebird (Manchester area) Dart working Hastings - Ore rail replacement

Evening light on the seafront and GN12CMV runs a 'Hastings Arrows' 20 to Hollington

SV53DDU, a Dart, runs a 26 to Conquest Hospital. 

Well, it seems the 'Hastings Arrows' 22A and 'The Wave' 99 have swapped vehicles for the day! 'The Wave' GN61EVY works a 'Hastings Arrows' 22A to Hollington and 'Hastings Arrows' GN12CMX works a 'The Wave' 99 to Eastbourne!

With that short walk over, it was time to eat! 'The John Logie Baird' looked like a nice place to eat and Wetherspoons is always cheap, so I went there. A bus-loving human with a satisfied stomach then moved up to the Station. Having just missed a train to London, there was time for some more bus spotting at the main terminus, but (because it was dark) I couldn't get many good shots. There were some GAL commercial buses there for the rail replacement, but the best and most interesting photo is below.

WHAT? AN OLYMPIAN! Wow, I never expected that! R61LHK working rail replacements at Hastings Station

Shortly afterwards, I decided to go into the station to catch the 18:58 towards London Victoria. Freezing to death on the platform, the train finally arrived, 5 minutes after it was supposed to depart. A quick turnaround meant that, about 8 minutes late, we were on the move for the hour and a half journey back to East Croydon.

377136 arriving 5 minutes late into Hastings.

You won't find the 18:58 in the timetable though, as I believe it usually continues to Ore. After arrival in Croydon, it was a normal and very uneventful journey home, arriving at 22:30 - too late!

All in all, a great day!

Hope you enjoyed,

Jezza

Southern Day Part 6: Change, Change and Change again!

Sorry I'm so behind on these now!

On February 18th (long time ago now, I know!) I went out and bought a Southern DaySave. Took my life into my own hands. Not just a single or return, but a Southern day ticket! this is how it panned out...

After leaving Newhaven on the 15:04 train towards Brighton, Lewes was a good place to change for the train to where I was going next.

Another 313 - YES! This one only took me to Lewes though, where I changed

I was going to a seaside town next and then the train to Eastbourne pulled up! So, on the train and to the station... before Eastbourne? What? Yep, 'twas time for another change, at Hampden Park! Trains go to Hampden Park, then go one stop further to the end of the line (Eastbourne), where they reverse - taking 8 minutes - and then call at Hampden Park again, to take the line off to the right which continues all the way to Ashford. I really wish I could've gone to Doleham...

377450, my train towards Eastbourne, seen here at Lewes

At Hampden Park, it was time to change for the Hastings train

377124, the aforementioned Hastings train, with another service after arrival at Hastings

I believe it was Normans Bay where the platform was only long enough for 3 carriages... but Southern don't have any 3 carriage trains! Before it was time for me to eat, I had some important business to do... BUS SPOTTING! That'll have to wait until part 7 though...

Hope you enjoyed,

Jezza

Southern Day Part 5: Not what it may seem!

On February 18th (long time ago now, I know!) I went out and bought a Southern DaySave. Took my life into my own hands. Not just a single or return, but a Southern day ticket! this is how it panned out...

Newhaven. It's full of warehouses. It's all industrial. It's got 2 Stations (Harbour and Town) and a ghost station (Marine). Right? Nope. The Harbour and Town stations have something that I'm really in to at the moment, but we'll get to that later. Firstly, there's the well-known, abandoned Newhaven Marine Station, with its rusted (not-much-of-a) roof - the main reason I came. There's also an abandoned ferry terminal next to it, where ferries used to run to France from. (A great video of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTmumbrKohs). Except now it's demolished:

Trains to Seaford go left, but the branch to the right is where Newhaven Marine once stood.

But at least there was still one good reason... Take a guess - I'm obsessed with them at the moment!

If you said something that is short and red, you're right! Well, kind of - the Southern machines are green, but still...

The one working machine at Newhaven Harbour. The other had the 'Not In Use' light on

As I was walking to Newhaven Harbour (There was 15 minutes until the train and it was a 10 minute walk - I would probably be able to get another 3 pieces of paper from a short, green machine there too) I stumbled across a yard full of buses! At first I thought it was preserved buses, but after some research I've found out that it seems to be the depot of a company called either Victoria Coaches or Victoria Travel. It's very hazy, as they don't have a website and there is barely any information on them, but I think they're probably defunct now. Here is a selection of the best photos I could get without trespassing:

Believe this is a Leyland National 'Greenway', but not 100% sure. This actually has Victoria Coaches branding 

Something else to throw into the mix - a Seaford & District coach!

There really was everything there... A health and wellbeing bus? I think the rest of the buses need to go on here!

A Wrightbus and a Dart parked up, with a well-restored Scania peeping through

A seemingly neglected Wilts & Dorset branded Bristol VR

The only modern (ish) vehicles there - three coaches, one of which is branded for Victoria Travel

And finally, after a nice walk through Newhaven (not to offend anyone there, but it was the walk that was nice, not Newhaven :-P) It was time for another (not at all) clean, (but very) green machine at Newhaven Town!

Newhaven Town's only PERTIS machine.

So Newhaven is actually interesting! Don't go there for the sights, but it's got a kind of empty feel to it, which is quite nice on a sunny day. It's good for transport enthusiasts too, with two stations, three PERTIS machines (two working) and a yard full of buses!

Hope you enjoyed my review of Newhaven!

Jezza

Southern Day Part 4: NEVER plan a tight connection!

Sorry about the wait between posts, kind of forgot about this :-P

On February 18th (long time ago now, I know!) I went out and bought a Southern DaySave. Took my life into my own hands. Not just a single or return, but a Southern day ticket! this is how it panned out...

After a quick look at Worthing beach, time to walk back to the station! Except it wasn't a leisurely walk, it was more of a RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!! kind of walk. I had a 4 minute connection at Brighton for the Hastings train, so if I didn't catch this one, I wouldn't make the connection. Luckily, it was a few minutes late leaving Worthing. I just made it with about 1 minute to spare! Phew!

377128, the fairly fast train I caught from Worthing to Brighton. Sorry for the quality, couldn't get a photo at Worthing and had to run for my next train on Platform 8, all the way over the other side of the station!

The train was fairly fast, speeding through about half of the stations between Worthing and Brighton. As the train was pulling in to Brighton, I encountered lots of old Gatwick Express '442' units, including 442406 and 442413

I thought you were supposed to be in Ely?

As I arrived at Brighton, I sprinted for platform 8 and the train had just left... 30 seconds early (Bad for me, but amazing for Southern!). There was a train along to Newhaven in about 20 minutes, so I decided to reverse the plan and go from Brighton to Newhaven, then go to Hastings instead of going from Brighton to Hastings, then to Newhaven. It was a 313, finally! The first non-377 of the day!

313207 at Brighton, about to leave on the train to Seaford

313s are actually fairly nice trains and this one was heading for Seaford. Newhaven was my destination, for multiple reasons! Find out what happened when I got there in part 5!

Southern Day Part 3: Beachy Bognor to Waterside Worthing

On February 18th (long time ago now, I know) I went out and bought a Southern DaySave. Took my life into my own hands. Not just a single or return, but a Southern day ticket! This is how it panned out...

After a nice little trip to Bognor Regis, the next stop was... you guessed it, Wor... Barnham! The title misled you. Or did it?

377413 after dropping me back at Barnham, having just run a trip from Bognor Regis

After (obviously) a hot chocolate from the on-platform coffee shop (handily located on the platform for the London/Brighton trains), it was time for another 377 (377472) for a fairly long trip - about 30 minutes - to Worthing - the title kinda gave it away... right?

377472 on the Southern route towards Brighton.

Then, at Worthing, I only encountered one bus - on route 5, but I got a wave from the driver! Here it is, in lovely light:

The only bus I saw in Worthing (Route 5), with a wave from the driver!

So I ran down to the seafront and then there was a bit of drama... but you'll have to wait until part 4 to hear about that!

Southern Day Part 2: City to the Seaside

On February 18th (long time ago now, I know!) I went out and bought a Southern DaySave. Took my life into my own hands. Not just a single or return, but a Southern day ticket! This is how it panned out...

A busy 377430 going towards London Victoria (don't worry - not heading back yet!) took me to Barnham Station. Yes, Barnham. You've probably never heard of Barnham... well, now you have! No need to look it up, it's the station after Chichester on the lines towards London and Brighton. It's just a village, but is the place to go for trains to Bognor Regis if you can't get a direct one.

377430 arriving at Chichester with a London-bound train

So, after a 7 minute ride to Barnham, time for a 7 minute ride from Barnham on 377413! It actually turned out to be closer to 5 minutes, but it's better than having a really long journey like the first hour and a half!

377413, another Electrostar to take me down to Bognor Regis

And then I was there! I know 20 minutes isn't long for a whole section, but I'm splitting it into places I went. In Bognor Regis, I only encountered a few buses, but one was nice and I got a great photo!

YY66PFZ, a Compass Bus Enviro 200 standing near Bognor Regis seafront on... well, I'm not sure!

I went to the seafront, but you won't really want to see that I don't think! Find out more in part 3!

Southern Day Part 1: Southern's not too bad!

On February 18th (long time ago now, I know!) I went out and bought a Southern DaySave. Took my life into my own hands. Not just a single or return, but a Southern day ticket! This is how it panned out...

After a nice early start, I hopped on the c2c, Jubilee and Overground and made my way to Croydon. There are coffee shops in Croydon - the only good thing about it! Quite a wait there, but there was a train to catch, so I couldn't drink sitting in the coffee shop unfortunately. 377118 and another unit I didn't get the number of took me down to Horsham, where the train divided.

377118, the front of the dividing train, that took me to Chichester, before continuing to Portsmouth Harbour

I purposefully got in carriage 2 of 8 to be on the Portsmouth Harbour train, not the Bognor Regis part. After Horsham, the Portsmouth Harbour part of the train (that I was getting to Chichester) went pretty fast, calling at Barnham and Chichester before continuing, but the Bognor Regis train went all stations. I'd planned in a while at Chichester, so time to do some bus spotting! Here is a small selection of the best photos:

417DCD, a Stagecoach Enviro 200 with the numberplate from a PD3 on route 600 to Elmer

GX12DXR, a Stagecoach Enviro 400, by 'Chichester Cross' on 'Coastliner' route 700 to Portsmouth

SL64HXJ, a 'The Witterings' branded Stagecoach Enviro 200, by Chichester Cathedral - a great spot for photos!

GX11 AKP, an unbranded Stagecoach Enviro 400, on 'Coastliner' route 700 just opposite Chichester Cathedral.

Find out what happened next in part 2...

PERTIS, PERTIS, PERTIS, PERTIS, PERTIS, etc.

Sorry for no posts lately, got other things to do, but I'll really try and post as often as I can!

On Thursday, I went to all the 'working' PERTIS machines in London. This is how it turned out...

Getting into London wasn't a problem and obviously I had to have a 'DING!' hot chocolate at Fenchurch Street. The Central Line wasn't busy at all, but still stuffy, so after the journey from Bank I tried the Queensway to Bayswater walk. It takes literally 2 minutes, so is probably quicker than taking the train to Notting Hill then a Circle to Paddington. After arrival at Paddington, I was back on time and jogged through the station to Platform 11 for the 10:45 to Hayes & Harlington.

The 10:45 London Paddington - Hayes & Harlington standing at Paddington Platform 11.

The new GWR Electrostars are lovely trains and I definitely recommend a ride on them - they've even got free WiFi! I had to walk through to carriage 7 to get off at Southall, as it has a short platform.

Carriage 7 of GWR Electrostar 387134

The announcer on the trains seems to have a very bored voice, but it doesn't stop the journey being good! There are loads of disused carriages with graffiti on them in some sidings near Southall and there's also a PERTIS machine! The only problem is, I went when it was staffed - the 'Pay at Ticket Office' light was on.

The PERTIS machine at Southall, unusually embedded into the wall.

Obviously, what I didn't realise was that West Ealing was staffed as well, so a short train ride later I found the 'Pay at Ticket Office' light on again.

West Ealing's PERTIS

I luckily didn't have long to wait for the next Heathrow Connect that would take me to Hanwell, where there was another PERTIS with no lights on! YES! I put a 5p in and... it rejected it. Tried again and... same thing. Only then I remembered they didn't take 5p coins after 2010, so I tried an older one and it worked! I got my first Permit to Travel and 2 others just for fun!

My first Permit to Travel, from the machine at Hanwell.

The first working PERTIS of the day, at Hanwell

I had about 25 minutes there, as the trains are every 30, so admired the old station signs and wonky platform before catching the Heathrow Connect back to Paddington. Another 'DING' from Starbucks! From Paddington, the District Line runs every 10 minutes to Wimbledon, but I just missed one so caught a Circle to High Street Kensington and then a District all the way through to Wimbledon. I had a two minute connection there, but luckily the Thameslink I was catching to West Sutton was delayed by five minutes - a seven minute connection, phew! Anyway, just a boring old 319 to West Sutton for my first Thameslink machine! And it worked... for a while. After I printed my first Permit (I got 3 from each machine), I inserted another 5p and it started printing the next, all ok - and then it just stopped and I couldn't reach the Permit! The 5p dropped through and the 'Not In Use' light came on. 😢Only one Permit from West Sutton.

The West Sutton PERTIS, before it failed!

My only Permit from West Sutton, with a slight ink splatter

Then another old 319 to St Helier, where the machine worked but it was a real rush, as my train there was about 7 minutes late (again - what troubles were Thameslink having that day?) and I ran up the stairs, really speedily grabbed 3 Permits and got a photo.

The  St Helier PERTIS - a surprisingly good photo considering it was so rushed!

Note how the top of the date, time and amount paid is just about cut off from the St Helier Permits!

I just made the train, another 319 to Sutton Common, where it was just another machine. I visited loads on this day, but I'm not sick of them - oh no, not yet!

The Sutton Common PERTIS machine, with a lot of scratchings on it

There's a lot of ink in the machine at Sutton Common, clearly!

Oh no, not another 319! This one to Haydons Road - I was constantly thinking that this was Wimbledon Chase - not sure why. Anyway, the PERTIS there was working well, but I'd run out of 5p coins by now, so had to start using 20p coins.

Nice machine at Haydons Road

Quite faded, but still a nice Permit for my first 20p

A bit of a change now, a nice new 700 for 2 stops to Wimbledon Chase (I don't think you usually get these on the Sutton line). These trains actually have announcements, unlike the 319s. Anyway, the Wimbledon Chase machine was working well too, but the first Permit I got was extremely ink splattered!

This is the Wimbledon Chase PERTIS machine

An amazingly ink-splattered ticket here! The 2nd and 3rd tickets were less ink-splattered

 The good thing about Wimbledon Chase is that it seems to be nearly the only station on that row of stops with things around that aren't houses! I even got a 'DING!' from there! YES! A final 319 for 20 minutes to Herne Hill and then that was the Thameslink hops were over! An Orpington train (15 minutes earlier than planned - YES!) took me to... you guessed it - Orpington! It was a 465 with an odd water sloshing sound that happened every time we got into or out of a station (it sounded like it was coming from inside the sides of the train!) I then caught my first ever 376 - lovely trains, they are - to Knockholt. It was bound for Sevenoaks, which is outside the London Oyster card boundary. Anyway, I'd come a long way for this machine, so it'd better be worki... AAARGHHH! IT ISN'T! IT'S GOT THE 'NOT IN USE' AND 'PAY AT TICKET OFFICE' (which wasn't open, by the way) LIGHTS ON! So, that was pretty much a wasted trip, but at least I'd seen it!

Knockholt's machine, with both lights on!

It makes me wonder whether children have to pay the adult fare, as I couldn't find a child option on the ticket machine... Another nice 376 took me back to London, where I also altered the plan a little. Instead of going to Charing Cross and just getting the Bakerloo straight to Marylebone (Mar-lee-bone), I got off one stop earlier at Waterloo East, before strolling to Waterloo (it's a nice, enclosed tunnel thing) and grabbing an SWT timetable booklet (I LOVE TIMETABLE BOOKLETS - can you tell? Review up some time next week hopefully!) and then I had to barge through the crowds.

The crowds at Waterloo - after all, 99 million people did visit last year!

With that out of the way, I ended up catching a Bakerloo to Marylebone and sprinting all the way through some small crowds and up stairs (really should've taken the escalator!) and all the way to the 18:28 to West Ruislip. Just made the busy commuter train, but realised it was 2 carriages - come on Chiltern, you can do better than that, can't you? - and could barely get on. Just squeezed on though, and stopped at Wembley Stadium station before getting to the 2nd least used station in London, Sudbury & Harrow Road. But that's not the only reason I was there... Yep, there's a PERTIS! The train got there at 18:40, so was the last train from there to West Ruislip of the day and the 2nd to last train of the day there at all. There are 2 trains in the morning peak (7:01 and 7:56), 1 train a bit later (9:05) and one in the slightly later morning (10:41) to London Marylebone. There is 1 train just before the Evening peak (16:45) to West Ruislip, 2 trains in the Evening peak (17:39 and 18:40) to West Ruislip and another train after the Evening peak (19:48) running all the way to Gerrards Cross. Anyway, it was late now, so I just wanted to get Permits and go home! But obviously, the machine had the 'Pay at Ticket Office' light on. NOOOOOOOO!!! I'VE GONE FROM SOUTH-EAST TO NORTH-WEST LONDON (Bear in mind I live in North-East London!) JUST FOR THIS??? Anyway, there's no ticket office or ticket machines at Sudbury & Harrow Road, so that's disgraceful! People would have to fare evade!

The 'Pay at Ticket Office' light was on at Sudbury & Harrow Road, even though there's no ticket office or machine there!

After that, I changed the plan again. Instead of getting the 18 to Wembley and then the Bakerloo, I decided to walk 5 minutes down the road to Sudbury Town station. I must say, night is the best time to visit, with the yellow-y glow in the huge windows, it looks lovely! But there are works in the forecourt at the moment, so don't go if you want to get photos without all of it being dug up!

The lovely old station at Sudbury Town, on the Piccadilly Line

The main entrances aren't open anyway, so you have to use an old footbridge to get in. I went down onto the platfom with Cockfosters trains, so headed over to the other platform. Hang on... Ruislip? Cockfosters and Ruislip are both North! Then I remembered that Cockfosters trains went through the city... DUH! Didn't miss one though, as there was a 7 minute wait which was reduced to about 3 by the time I got there. Then I noticed the roundels, with a non-standard font! NO! Doesn't fit with my need for all fonts to be correct and uniform! Anyway, the train took me to South Kensington/Gloucester Road (I've forgotten, I think it was Gloucester Road) and then went home from there.

All in all, a great day - I got 16 Permits to Travel (I hoped to get 30, but oh well...) from 6 different stations. Expect more posts soon!

Hope you enjoyed,
Jezza