Mad March Movements

[NorthernMonkey]

Adjustments to the NM fleet have been few and far between so far this year....other than the return of the prodigal Vel Satis currently awaiting transmission surgery down at the farm, it’s been pretty quiet really. 

Until now.

The next 48 hrs are set to include several trains, at least four cars, much distance covered and various members of the Autoshite community.

WCPGW, I hear you ask....potentially quite a lot but let’s see.

 

[andyberg]

Good luck. 

[fatharris]

Nothing will go wrong I'm sure!

Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk

[NorthernMonkey]

First movement of the day...
 

Last time I did this route, it was on a Pacer.
Don’t get me wrong...as a self confessed Leyland National licker, I’ve got a soft spot for the things but I’ve got to admit, this is a definite improvement.

 

[Twiggy]

Best of luck - nowt will go wrong...

[BeEP]

2 minutes ago, Twiggy said:

Best of luck - nowt will go wrong...

Now watch as the lovely new train breaks down, whereas the Pacer would have slowly, noisily and draughtily reached its destination...

[andyberg]

6 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

First movement of the day...

See I thought these collection threads were supposed to have a poo count? so surly this is your second movement?? ?

[andyberg]

Oh, and Leyland national.... Yes please. Used to love driving those old girls

[NorthernMonkey]

Just now, andyberg said:

See I thought these collection threads were supposed to have a poo count? so surly this is your second movement?? ?

Technically, you are correct.

The first one occurred whilst typing the initial post

#Toomuchinformation

[NorthernMonkey]

3 minutes ago, BeEP said:

Now watch as the lovely new train breaks down, whereas the Pacer would have slowly, noisily and draughtily reached its destination...

Please don’t tempt fate....the next train is allegedly one of those Azumo things? 

[NorthernMonkey]

3 minutes ago, andyberg said:

Oh, and Leyland national.... Yes please. Used to love driving those old girls

Spent many hours traveling on the things as a youngster and have such fond memories of them but despite holding a PSV licence for over 25 years, I’ve never managed to pilot one.

I came very close back in 2002ish when I went to work for Stagecoach in the midlands but my garage retired their last one a week after I started, so I left. To be fair, that was the main reason for going to work for them....

[BeEP]

9 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

Please don’t tempt fate....the next train is allegedly one of those Azumo things? 

you're doomed ?

[NorthernMonkey]

Just noticed the info screens on this 195 don’t actually mention stopping at the station I’m due to change at.

Mentioned it to the guard who says that it’s very strange but I shouldn’t worry.

I’ve got to admit I’d be slightly more reassured to hear this from the driver.

[NorthernMonkey]

The guard was right, no need to worry.

Now on board train number 2 to the deep south.
 

Managed to get a very reasonably priced upgrade so the next couple of hours catering is complementary.

Azumo seems ok but the seats no longer recline. At least the charge points work ok.

[juular]

Have not had the pleasure of an azuma yet but those seats look about as comfortable as a council bus shelter in December. 

[loserone]

I found the seats very comfortable, but the corridor by the doors is tiny, so there's no use standing up before the train stops.

[NorthernMonkey]

1 hour ago, juular said:

Have not had the pleasure of an azuma yet but those seats look about as comfortable as a council bus shelter in December. 

Believe me, if you think they look rough, you want to see the ones in standard!

[NorthernMonkey]

Now resurfaced from the depths on the underground to brilliant daylight and the final (hopefully) train of the day. It’s an overground, whatever that is.

 

I wish this bloke sat next to me on the platform would stop coughing.

I’m down to my last 217 rolls of Andrex.

[hairnet]

London on a  weekday

Knighthood right there

[bunglebus]

6 hours ago, NorthernMonkey said:

 

Azumo seems ok but the seats no longer recline. At least the charge points work ok.

 

Totally off topic but be wary of public charging points - they can be hacked and infect your phone/laptop. Honestly.

[NorthernMonkey]

First car was collected with no issues...

Due to be delivered to its new owner in around a hour whereupon car number 2 of the day will be collected.

Now off to update the pc at Reading services....

 

[Cavcraft]

This sounds a great adventure. Good luck, look forward to the updates 

[The Moog]

Is he there yet??

[hairnet]

fainted cos of all the suthnas

 

[NorthernMonkey]

It’s been a bit of a mission but it’s all gone swimmingly to be fair.

Got to Leigh Delamere on the M4 for 18.30, nicely in time to meet a very nice member of the fold, hand over the keys to his new car and relieve him of the keycards for mine...

No fuel shot as it was supplied with half a tank, now just below Manchester on the way home and there’s still two thirds of it left.

For those of you who haven’t worked out what it is, I’ll provide an in-depth photographic study tomorrow morning, before I swap cars and embark on the second phase of this jaunt, this time in the opposite direction. 
 

I must just take this opportunity to thank @andyberg for selling me this thing at what was frankly a ridiculously bargainous price and for being a thoroughly nice chap all round.

 

[Cookiesouwest]

Ahh that one. Yep bargain. Fair play

[NorthernMonkey]

By the way, despite the consumption of copious amounts of snacks and beverages courtesy of LNER this morning, the pc has remained resolutely at one.

Wouldn’t it be deliciously ironic given the state of shelves in Asda stores up and down the country if a side effect of Coronavirus was chronic constipation?

[brownnova]

1 hour ago, NorthernMonkey said:

No fuel shot as it was supplied with half a tank, now just below Manchester on the way home and there’s still two thirds left.

Whoa.... a car that generates petrol! 

[andyberg]

Pleasure to meet you Neil. Glad the motor is doing well. It is a lovely place to sit. 

[NorthernMonkey]

So, as most of you had probably guessed, the object of yesterday’s operations was this...

Yep, a very late mk2 diesel Laguna.

Basically, I agreed to buy this a couple of weeks ago from @andyberg as a replacement for the ex- @rantingYoof S60 which has been my father in laws daily transport for the last 18 months or so. Unfortunately, the clutch has recently started slipping under boost, which, along with a long term noisy DMF, a front bumper modified by a Jewsons delivery truck and a remaining MOT measured in days, has rendered it just about uneconomical to repair.

The Laguna (and a fine one it is too, I hasten to add) was located in Bath...a train down there was around £80-£90.

Upon chatting to Andy, it transpired that he was replacing the Laguna with the Tacuma from @purplebargeken, so bearing in mind a train to that there London was only £32, I offered to go and pick up the Chevy and deliver it to him on the way home. As it turns out, it actually cost me £42 as I found a cheap upgrade on LNER to first class but considering I probably consumed some £25 worth of complementary refreshments, I feel I’m in front on the game.

The Laguna performed perfectly on the way home, covering the not inconsiderable distance from Bristol to Lancashire on a third of a tank of diesel averaging out at 54mpg according to the on board computer. I’ve given it a good going over this morning and apart from blocked scuttle drains at each side, everything seems spot on.
 

It’s now going to get a bit of a service and polish before being handed over to its new driver at the weekend.

Which brings us to today’s fun and games. Outward bound transport is this....
 

and the destination should hopefully be arrived at in the next hour.....watch this space!