I mentioned Trainlogger back in a February Freedom Pass Project post. I started my new train collection mid-month and I have been out on a lot of trips since then. After a good start in February and March, I slacked a bit in April as industrial action took its toll on my enthusiasm. But I’ve bounced back in May and all the chasing trains is really driving me to get out there with my camera and do some exercise into the bargain. The end of May seems like a good time to do a quick resume. Here’s a shot from Trainlogger showing my recent trips…
…As you can see, I’ve pushed on after the slump in April😎
Trainspotting, for those unsure of what the hobby is about, entails trying to see every member of every class of train. That’s a simplification but it serves for now. Clearly there are some boundaries to what is possible – trying to see every train globally would probably be physically and financially impossible, so most spotters will limit their collection to the trains in their own country. I did see all the UK’s locomotives once, a long time ago in what seems like another lifetime! But times change and many of those locomotives have long since gone to the great depot in the sky. I have to take a realistic approach to my modern collection. I doubt that I could see all the current trains – Age is against me in that regard. So I’m concentrating currently on what I can get around the London area. Later this year I hope to expand my search area by going a bit further afield with trips to the Midlands, Southwest and East Anglia. However, I digress. Here’s some highlights so far.
Clearing off a class is something we like to do. I’m frustratingly close with the Class 378’s and 707’s – wanting one of each of those classes respectively. The first class I did clear were the 803’s – I did that on 15th of May at Harringay when 803003 passed through. I was so busy checking progress on the other classes that I didn’t notice until a few days later😅 Here’s 803001 approaching New Southgate on the 11th…
…There are some other classes where I’m close to completion – I need two 717’s and I’m over 90% on the 700’s. The 345’s, 376’s and 450’s are close behind with all three classes being over 80% complete.
Freight trains often attract my camera. If you looked at my photos you could be forgiven for thinking that the only freight loco’s are class 66. It’s fair to say that the other types have become rare in London – some, like the Class 60’s were not common when I first returned to train photography in 2012 and that hasn’t changed – I saw my first one for this new collection when I visited Lewisham…
…60029 sneaking through while I was on another platform – I’ll have to plan a trip to try and catch another one😅 Class 70’s used to be regulars on certain trains but that seems to have changed too. I only saw my first one of those on the 22nd and photographed 70014 heading through Harrow & Wealdstone on Tuesday…
Loco hauled passenger trains are rare in the UK now. A small group of Class 91’s soldier on hauling trains up the East Coast mainline where the Azuma’s (Class 800) now reign. LNER, recognising the historical significance, have recently repainted those not wearing special liveries into a revamped version of their original paint scheme – a dark maroon replacing the dark grey…
…91114 accelerating through New Southgate.
Time doesn’t stand still on the railway – New trains are ordered and eventually enter service. TfL ordered Class 710 Aventra units for London Overground to operate the Goblin line, when that was electrified, and to replace obsolete units on the Cheshunt, Chingford and Enfield Town routes. Some were also ordered for the Euston to Watford Junction services. The last of these, 710379, finally entered service in February – here it is approaching Wembley Central on Tuesday…
West Midlands Railway have also ordered Bombardier (Now Alstom) Aventra units and these have started being tested. I saw and photographed my first pair of these on Tuesday too (730014 & 015)…
…passing through Harrow & Wealdstone. These Class 730 Aventra’s have a very different cab to other versions like the 710 above – I think they look smart and that’s one spectacular paint-job!
Trainspotting sometimes results in unexpected social interactions. Obviously there can be chats with other enthusiasts although I avoided the influx of half-term kids on Tuesday…
…At one point there were a dozen or so on the platforms. They are of a different generation and probably would rather avoid dinosaurs that can remember when Steam Locos were still in service. Of course, if one of them approaches me to chat then that’ll be different. Anyway, back to the main story. It was a sunny day when I arrived at Harrow & Wealdstone and I decided to sit for a while and soak up the rays. I was joined on the bench a little while later by a young Romanian lady with a toddler. We got to talking and she asked if I was there to watch the trains which I confirmed and joked that Epi likes the fact that I have returned to my old hobby because it gets me out of the house and doing some exercise! We had a laugh and she told me they were on their way to visit Grandma but had popped into the station because her son loves to watch the ‘choo-choo’ trains going past. He especially likes freight trains. I know he enjoyed watching this ‘Tesco-Liner’ passing through…
…Who knows – we may meet again on a future visit to Harrow & Wealdstone😎👍 And that goes to show that not every highlight is a new number in the notebook🤣
Images from Finchley 