Spotting 2024 – Week 5

I was unsure how this week would play out with train drivers striking at different companies on separate days and a blanket overtime ban across the network from Tuesday to Tuesday next week. The mood of uncertainty played its part on my Monday run out – I left the house with no firm decision on where I was going! By the time I got to East Finchley station I’d decided to go to Upper Holloway and make a decision there 😅

The Goblin line Overground service is operated by class 710 units and I still need six of these to complete the set. So, on the walk down from Archway to Upper Holloway I opted for going east on 710259 to South Tottenham and change to the Overground services running through Seven Sisters – This is one of those changes where there is a short walk involved between the stations. It was a nice bright morning, so it was good for walking anyhow😎

From Seven Sisters I rode 710109 to Hackney Downs where I made a brief stop before boarding 710118 into Liverpool Street. I never saw any of the 710’s that I needed but ‘109 and ‘118 were new ones for haulage so it wasn’t a bad morning and I was enjoying a run out on a less common route – it’s only the second time I have done the South Tottenham / Seven Sisters change. I have made a mental note to visit Hackney Downs soon for some mid-morning contrejour photography at the south end of the station.

Having arrived at Liverpool Street, it was only natural that I would gravitate to Stratford for lunch. There was a certain symmetry too in that, having arrived on 710118, I should travel out on 720118😂 Stratford was its usual busy self. After grabbing an Avocado and Olive Baguette I had to rush up the stairs to see 66531 passing through – one I needed for my collection😰 I didn’t have the chance to photo that loco but later on I got a nice shot of 66525 leading 66560 on the Wentloog to Felixstowe North intermodal…

…Travelling under clear signals and the locos getting a little bit of a lean on across the points.

I decided to head home at 13:30, catching 720522 back to Liverpool Street. I had a pleasant surprise when I got there – a pair of Dogboxes followed us in on the adjacent platform…

…These single car Class 153 units were never native to the busy routes around London – the nearest I’ve seen them was Ipswich. Around a third of the 60 strong class are out of service now and most of those still active work in Wales. However, some are now used by Network Rail and 153379 seen above with ‘384 are among 5 repurposed as Track Recoding Vehicles. A nice sight for the collection👍

Going home, I took the Central Line…

…to Bank and then the Northern Line. Trip statistics, 130 sightings. 16 needs and 6 new for haulage.

On Tuesday I was supposed to be photographing Wingate & Finchley away at Dulwich Hamlet but that was the day when ASLEF were striking on all three South of London train companies along with Thameslink. That meant either routing all the way round the London Overground via Highbury and Islington and Surrey Quays or taking the Northern Line down to Clapham North and a walk across to Clapham High Street – A change I haven’t tried and didn’t really fancy in the dark! I decided not to go and we lost 3-0. The strike was not the only deciding factor though – Hamlet’s floodlights are some of the worst in the league and awful for photography!

Thursday and I dropped the car off in Mill Hill for its annual service and MOT. I agreed with John that I’d collect it on Friday morning, leaving me free to do another trip out. On this occasion I did have a plan – Go south to Lewisham. So it was Thameslink 700039 to Farringdon. I had an amusing period on my journey when I was surrounded by a group of primary school children from Kentish Town. I had three little ladies for company and we exchanged shy greetings. I wished them a great day out as they got off the train at Kings Cross and another of the children shouted “nice to meet you” by way of farewell😂 I swapped to 700150 at Farringdon for the onward journey to London Bridge where I picked up Southeastern 465919 out to Lewisham. 

Part of the reason for going to Lewisham is the Class 465’s and their 2 coach sister class 466’s – These units are slowly disappearing from service despite being only around 30 years old and I still need a few of those that are running. Introduced in 1991 as the Networkers, the units have always worked the Kent lines. Here’s 465158 crossing the scissors junction at Lewisham…

…working a Victoria to Dartford service – I would later ride this unit back to Denmark Hill.

The other reason for visiting Lewisham is freight – much of the aggregates traffic from Kent routes through here to get to locations in and around London. Here’s 66025 on an Angerstein Wharf to Woking service…

…loaded with sand. And, going the other way…

…66721 ‘Harry Beck’ on empty hoppers from Acton to Tonbridge Yard. Harry Beck designed the modern ‘Tube Map’ that we use today and the loco is painted as a section of it.

I had a pleasant stay and a chat with a fellow older spotter as we took our photos. Then I started a slightly tortuous trip home – initially taking 465158 to Denmark Hill where I caught a shot of 66034…

…working the Tolworth to Hoo Junction empties – another service that goes through Lewisham and, on this occasion, running around 20mins late. 378215 on the left is going to Clapham Junction.

From Denmark Hill I travelled round the Overground, taking 378139 to Whitechapel and then changing to 378153 for my onward journey to Highbury & Islington where I caught another freight shot…

…66593 running 10 late with Hanwell Bridge to Harlow Mill hoppers. From there I took the Great Northern, riding 717014 to Ally Pally and 717002 on to New Southgate where I caught the bus home. Totals for the day = 161 sightings. 15 needs and 4 new for Haulage.

I turned Friday’s trip to collect the car into a short spotting outing, routing from East Finchley via St. Pancras to get to Mill Hill Broadway. 35 sightings. 2 needs and 2 new Haulage. That concludes week 5. Next week will see the conclusion of industrial action on Tuesday but I have football on Tuesday night, so it may be a quiet week on the spotting front – we shall see😎