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I've been up and down the West Coat Main Line many times since 1986 but never have I ever been on the one via Northampton. Time to do that and why not try a few other lines!
The trip was pretty much a last minute organised for me. Usually a trip is planned weeks in advance and the info and times are stored in my "Crazy Trips Plans" folder. Trust me it's rather full with full plans, odd ideas, times and notes of various stations, lines and places.
In what seems to me a regular train for me I caught the first one of the day:
9S00 East Croydon to St Pancras International 700102
A casual walk along Euston Road to Euston station gave me enough time for a spot of breakfast before catching my train.
1Y15 Euston to Rugby (via Northampton) 350233, 350253
The train stops at Northampton for a little while and a check of Traksy revealed that behind the train was 0M45 which I realised was a Light Loco move. but it stopped south of Northampton and my train left on time and onwards to Rugby.
I have only occasionally spent a little time at Rugby station over the years as it's one of those stations that was generally used to change trains or a stop on one of the express trains I have been on.
Today I had about 30 minutes before my next train. Wandering around the station there re still a few old reminders of the railways of yesteryear.
Through the station came a few freight moves and the 0M45 which was a pair of cl.43 HST Power cars (43423, 43467).
All too soon it was time to catch the next pair of EMUs to Nuneaton.
1U27 Rugby to Nuneaton 350403, 350234
Maybe it was me but Nuneaton is a rather uninspiring station but I didn't have long before my next train which was to be a new class 196.
2G74 Nuneaton to Leamington Spa 196004
I have to be honest here the Class 196 is not a bad ride and one of the better modern day units I've travelled on over the past few years.
Nuneatcon to Leamington Spa line ✅
On route to Birmingham Moor Street I decided that I'd grab myself some food and a pint. A search online and I had the walking route to 'The Dragon Inn'. I have to be honest it was one of the most disappointing ones I have ever visited. No burgers at all because they had no buns! A sunny weekend and lots of people out you'd think Burger buns would be quite high on the list of things to have in stock!
A walk around to New Street station to do the next leg of my Midlands adventure.
2H51 Birmingham New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley 350114
Another new line covered - Bescot Stadium to Rugeley Trent Valley ✅.
The day was heating up considerably and it was a relief to get on the next air conditioned train.
1U34 Rugeley Trent Valley to Lichfield Trent Valley 350107, 350240
At Lichfield I walked up the stairs where I was greeted by a pair of Class 323s. This class of units are being moved out of the west midlands and will be plying their trade on Northern in the future. I had a chat with the guard and enquired what services went beyond Lichfield Trent Valley station on the high level. Apparently only the occasional freight and some weekend diverted Cross Country trains when there is engineering works. I am going to have keep an eye on when this next happens.
2O42 Lichfield Trent Valley to Birmingham New Street 323211, 323217
Lichfield Trent Valley to Birmingham New Street ✅
Whilst heading to Birmingham I loaded up RTT to check trains for my next attempt of a new line. Of course there was some problems and trains were being cancelled along the line to Nuneaton through Coleshill Parkway. Dayum!
Emergency plans put in to place and I had to travel back to London on a class 390.
9M55 Birmingham New Street to Euston 390103.
Thankfully the air conditioning was working and we did get back to London on time.
A walk back to St Pancras with rather a lot more tourists than my earlier walk along the road.
9R47 St Pancras International to East Croydon 700002
2J60 East Croydon to Selhurst 377301, 377302