Went to London on the train yesterday, and by co-incidence needed to
leave just after the London-Yarmouth Flying Scotsman departed, having
watered for an hour at Ely reception siding.

People had been speculating for days about the exact time, and
apparently the date had also been brought forward from Saturday. Full
schedule was published overnight Thursday.

Whether it was the day of the week, the uncertainty about timing, or
because the station is now gated, there were only a couple of dozen
people there to see it off.

Here's a photo of me taking a photo of it:

http://www.perry.co.uk/images/FS-Ely-23June2023.jpg

The two young ladies were apparently anticipating it, and while not part
of our group also...

....departed on an almost empty service for Kings Cross, a Thameslink
train substituting for a 387. Couldn't make its mind up whether it was
additionally stopping at Finsbury Park (platform PIS said yes, train PIS
said no).

Driver announced it would be, and it did; although RTT still has it as a
"pass". +7 at Kings Cross. Ticket (for convenience, I had bought a paper
outboundary Travelcard) didn't work barriers.

Kings Cross absolutely heaving (it's 1pm now) particularly with people
dragging suitcases and staring at departure boards that don't tell you
where trains are leaving from until it's almost too late. Lift down to
tube concourse had a "three times" queue.

Western Ticket Hall, didn't work barriers. Lift down to platform had a
"three times" queue [a pattern is emerging]. Teacup Line train to
Hammersmith full, but not uncomfortably so.

Ticket didn't work barriers (tried two different ones), no staff around
so used the HELP point. Someone sauntered up eventually, desperately
trying to avoid eye contact, and the entire thing reeked of "I'm keeping
you waiting, well, you know, because I can".

Got lost looking for bus stop at Hammersmith Bus Station. Turns out
here's two bus stations - one outdoors (you can see it from across the
road) and another indoors (you can't see it from across the road).
Signage for pedestrians appalling.

My first trip on a Boris Bus, hot inside as widely reported. First five
minutes accompanied by thrashing diesel engine (just the job for inside
the shopping centre) and only when on the open road did it switch to
electric.

On the way back, encountered classic double decker, broken down at the
bus stop. Driver got out and kicked the engine compartment a few times
"it's overheated" he said. Got on the next service, which was a single
decker. This time it dropped off right outside tube station. And ticket
*did* work the barriers.

8 minutes wait inside Barking train, which filled up, and continued to
be very busy. At Kings Cross the Western Ticket Hall exit barriers had
such a huge scrum that people were jostling and tailgating one another
through. Woe betide anyone who actually needed a touch-out to complete
their journey.

<Pause for dinner in the lands to the north of the station. £100 tapas
for three, that's "London Prices" for you I suppose, but something has
to pay for all the regeneration work>

Decided not to wait for FS to return to Kings Cross (would have meant
waiting about 50 minutes for next train) but did get a blurry photo of
it as it passed southbound somewhere near Hornsey. Train - an actual 387
this time - pretty much full (but not standing). As one has come to
expect, platform number not announced until almost the last minute (but
was what RTT had been predicting).

Journey got slower and slower. Driver said something about "congestion
due to passenger being taken ill at Potters Bar", but didn't improve
even once off the main line (Letchworth +33, Cambridge +39). Delay Repay
here we come.

Looking at RTT now: most trains 8-9pm running 30-40 minutes late, with
some Thameslinks being turned short. eg the 20:23 at Royston, from
Brighton, +70.
--
Roland Perry

On Sat, 24 Jun 2023 08:01:28 +0100
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>http://www.perry.co.uk/images/FS-Ely-23June2023.jpg

Either those girls are very tall or you're very short.

>Looking at RTT now: most trains 8-9pm running 30-40 minutes late, with
>some Thameslinks being turned short. eg the 20:23 at Royston, from
>Brighton, +70.

More proof that the UK train network is a joke. There were apparently severe
delays on the elizabeth line yesterday. A brand new line, full ATO in the
central section and yet its still consistently screwed up. What a farcical
waste of money.

In message <u76b3n$2ka5$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:56:23 on Sat, 24 Jun
2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>On Sat, 24 Jun 2023 08:01:28 +0100
>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:

>>http://www.perry.co.uk/images/FS-Ely-23June2023.jpg
>
>Either those girls are very tall or you're very short.

I was never more than about 5ft 6", and as well as crouching a bit, I'm
shrinking slightly in my old age. Good news: I don't bump my head on low
door ways much. Don't think the girl in the plastic cast was taller than
me though, just say'in.

>>Looking at RTT now: most trains 8-9pm running 30-40 minutes late, with
>>some Thameslinks being turned short. eg the 20:23 at Royston, from
>>Brighton, +70.
>
>More proof that the UK train network is a joke. There were apparently severe
>delays on the elizabeth line yesterday.

My destination could have involved using then Elizabeth Line, but that
routing would have involved two changes, and I was content with just
the one.

--
Roland Perry

In message <970$iuZITplkFAHn@perry.uk>, at 08:01:28 on Sat, 24 Jun 2023,
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> remarked:

>Went to London on the train yesterday, and by co-incidence needed to
>leave just after the London-Yarmouth Flying Scotsman departed, having
>watered for an hour at Ely reception siding.

https://youtu.be/6yXXRnXnZxg

Still getting used to my new camera, no post-processing applied.
--
Roland Perry

In message <pg5K0Vp9JulkFA0S@perry.uk>, at 13:33:01 on Sat, 24 Jun 2023,
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> remarked:
>In message <970$iuZITplkFAHn@perry.uk>, at 08:01:28 on Sat, 24 Jun
>2023, Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> remarked:
>
>>Went to London on the train yesterday, and by co-incidence needed to
>>leave just after the London-Yarmouth Flying Scotsman departed, having
>>watered for an hour at Ely reception siding.
>
>https://youtu.be/6yXXRnXnZxg
>
>Still getting used to my new camera, no post-processing applied.

And on its way back, mid-evening.

https://youtu.be/Wh8-MO33U7g
--
Roland Perry