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05:00.

Ugh, another silly o’ clock start as I’m heading back North to Morpeth to explore the Blyth and Tyne railway for a future magazine article. I was up there the other week but the weather was appalling and we were trapped on a train where we could only see the work to rebuild the line for passengers from inside. This time I’ll be lineside and have a local guide for part of the trip. But first I’ve got to get to Morpeth. Feel free to keep popping back to see how the day unfolds…

06:30.

After what was a lovely early morning stroll under cloudless skies and rising temperatures through deserted streets I’m now on Northern’s 06:17 from Halifax to Hull. This morning it’s operated by a long-standing member of the Northern fleet in the shape of 3-car 158753. This unit’s been allocated to the area for donkey’s years.

Whilst it’s been lightly loaded from Halifax it’s filled up at Bradford Interchange.

07:35.

On arrival at Leeds I noticed TPE was up to its usual tricks of cancelling services. Thankfully, my next train was LNER’s 07:08 to Aberdeen, worked by a 9-car bi-mode ‘Azuma’ which had arrived empty from Doncaster Carr depot.

800101 begins its day…

07:50.

We’re currently speeding along at 123mph through the Vale of York en-route to Darlington. Sadly, the blue skies that stayed with me all the way to York are being invaded by low, dappled cloud from the East which are meant to cover the whole of Northumberland by the time I arrive. In some ways that’s not too bad as I don’t have to worry about heavy shadows and backlit shots. Even so, a bit of contrast would be nice. At least conditions will be better than on my last visit when the rain p*ssed down all day!

15:30.

Apologies for the long break but I’ve just been on a whirlwind tour of the Blyth and Tyne in the company of Paul Young of Ontrackimages, who’s a former B&T signaller. Paul graciously acted as local guide and chauffer, taking me to places I haven’t visited since 1989. I’ll add more pictures (and comparison shots) later but here’s a couple to be going on with.

The old box at Marcheys House. I have a similar view from December 1989 which I’ll add later.
The level crossing and signalbox at Newsham South will both be redundent. In the background’s one of the cranes working building the new road flyover. The signalbox is in poor condition.You may notice the way the wooden structure’s leaning towards the track. What you can’t see is that the inside of the box is shored up with scaffolding!

See what I mean?

17:30.

I’m making my way home in very different weather. The sun’s dialled up the mercury so conditions are now hot and sticky. I couldn’t resist stopping of on my way home, so here’s a shot from Darlington.

18:10.

Time to change trains at York and take a little pitstop. Here’s what I’m seeing.

Double trouble. A pair of CAF built driving trailers.
And relax! The York Tap.

20:05.

Suitably refreshed I caught a TPE service that was actually running. The Scarborough-Leeds service was diverted via Milford Jn and Castleford so entered leads from the ‘wrong’direction, but at least it got me there and wasn’t cancelled like many of its bretheren. Despite being ‘renationalised’ TPE is still a complete mess as a train service, which rather proves ownership isn’t the root of the problem. Now I’m sat on a Northern service to Chester which should have left at 19:42.

20:12.

Oh joy! The Chester train’s been cancelled as there’s no Guard for it so I joined the happy throng heading from platforms 4 to 1 to catch the 20:12 to Manchester Victoria. Needless to say – it’s busy. Not just with passengers but also displaced Northern crews who’re trying to join their trains elsewhere.

22:00.

Home again. Dee was happy to pick me up for the station so I wasn’t home at too daft a time, which has given me chance to download and edit a last few pictures from today’s trip.

Bedlington North Junction with the remains of the old station on the left. This will be rebuilt for the new passenger service to Ashington which will use the lines to the left. The tracks to the right lead to Morpeth.
Bedlington North Junction signalbox. The Morpeth line runs behind the box whilst the line to Ashington and Blyth is in the foreground.
Marchey’s House Junction looking back towards Bedlington with the line to North Blyth diverging to the left. The crossover in the foreground will be removed and the track plain-lined in a blockade which started at 22:00 today.

UPDATE:

Yesterday I promised you a comparison shot. Here it is. This is Blyth staithes yard seen on the 27th December 1989 and a picture from the same spot yesterday.

Almost nothing remains, apart from the old railway bridge that we were stood on.

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