All change! Well, apart from the weather which has remained damp and miserable as ever! I was looking forward to a week where I could stretch my legs but events have somewhat conspired against me, but the reasons aren’t bad.

Having spent a few hours confined to the office this morning I decided to fly the coop and enjoy some scenery. After picking up some stiff from her Huddersfield office Dawn had arranged to meet her parents to check out the venue and arrangements for their diamond wedding anniversary, so I tagged along for the ride and to cast a photographer’s eye over the room. All went well, after which the two of returned to the homestead and grindstone – only to get a phone call from a firm we’ve commissioned to fit some new windows to the cottage. They’re ready and can go in on Wednesday – but Dee won’t be here – so that’s my day arranged! I must admit, I’m rather looking forward to my new office window as the increase of glass compared to frame will let a lot more light in and aid me getting pictures of the birds that are a regular feature on the feeder on the other side of the glass. Only I have to strip out stuff from several rooms before they arrive. Never mind – the results will be worth it and should make a difference to how warm the cottage is this winter, as well as the bills in keeping it that way.

All this aside, I’m hoping to sneak out for a few hours tomorrow. For once the forecast is good. I’ve a Zoom judging session but that should only last an hour in the morning and can be done elsewhere as long as I have a decent wifi connection. Let’s see what happens…

The reason I want to get out – apart from the fact the weather will be good and I’m fed up being cooped up – is that another old train fleet is about to disappear from the December 10th timetable change. Northern is dispensing of its fleet of ex-BR Class 319 electric trains. They’re old friends of mine as I remember them being introduced on ‘Thameslink’ service in London and the South-East back in 1987-88 when I was living in London. I was a regular user of the trains for decades and was surprised when they followed me back up North after they were displaced on Thameslink services by the new Class 700s in the mid 2010s. Now their times up and they’re off for scrap. Only 15 units remain with Northern. Based at Allerton in Liverpool, they mostly work services between Liverpool, Wigan, Preston and Blackpool North with the odd diagram taking them to Manchester.

So, today’s picture is one of those trains which has just been towed to Newport, South Wales for scrap this very day, having left Allerton depot (Liverpool) this morning on its final journey.

I’ll be getting together a picture blog of these units during their time in the North-West before they go. In the meantime, you can find various shots of them with the previous Northern franchise here and the current management contract operator here.

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