Trains Spreadsheet Update 02/06/2018
If you haven't read my previous posts detailing who I am, you won't know that I'm keeping a spreadsheet dedicated to trainspotting, where I take the numbers to trains I have spotted, put them in spreadsheet format, and colour-coded in an easy to read manner. I note down the numbers of trains I have seen, and at the end of every month, I update my spreadsheet to include what has been recently seen.
As of the last amendment to this sheet, I have finally completed the ATW 150 and 153 fleets. Units 150259 and 153323 had previously escaped me, until the month of May.
As the sheet details, I am yet to spot a number of ATW 158s and two 175s. I have also seen 1 DVT (82306). I am yet to see any Arriva 67s (in the Arriva Blue livery), of which I am hoping to see before mid-October, when the Wales and Borders Franchise becomes an asset of KeolisAmey, with a new livery. The sheet also illustrates my completion of the Pacer fleets. The 769 units have not been included as of yet, due to lack of announcement of unit numbers. The same can be said for GWR's inclusion in the sheet.
GWR's fleet remains fairly untouched, with only major spotting of 150s, 158s, and InterCity stock. The recent implementation of 166 units in the Cardiff area has added colour to my sheet, after the electrification of Reading, Didcot, and the Thames Valley (with more to come, including Oxfordshire). A number of 165 and 387 units were seen on a trip to Oxford by rail via Didcot Parkway (a difficult and strenuous journey that was, I might tell the story some day). Only one 158 unit (158798) remains unseen. GWR rarely use their two car 158 fleet in the Cardiff area, only really using their 158/9 units in multiple with 150s or even, on rare occasions, 153s. A huge chunk of HST and 800 units remain unseen.I fear lack of completion for HSTs as a large number are being transferred to ScotRail. 802s remain unseen as they are not in use at this time.
CrossCountry remain fairly unseen due to the use of Turbostar units in the Cardiff area. Voyagers do make the occasional appearance (as the sheet shows). Their HSTs are never used in Cardiff, and I believe it will be unlikely that I see any before the start of 2019.
I will not go into much detail on freight spots this year, as the list is long, though I have seen a decent number of 66s from both Freightliner and EWS/DB Schenker. A few class 60s from DB Schenker have been seen, as well as the odd 67. Just under half of Colas class 70s have been seen.
In terms of spotting Train Operating Companies (TOCs), I have seen Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, GWR, Southern, and Thameslink, the latter two seen at Gatwick Airport before a flight to Norway. I will likely see Southeastern when I inevitably visit my Grandparents', whose local station is Shortlands, served by Southeaster and Thameslink.
