Today’s been a quiet one here at Bigland Towers. Both us us have been at home working away in our respective office spaces. Poor Dawn’s feeling frazzled as it’s coming up to the end of the financial year – which always leaves her buried under a mound of invoices and other paperwork. This year it’s coincided with an early Community Rail Awards, and now – Easter, so the midnight oil’s ablaze. Whilst Dee’s been busy bashing the keyboard I’ve tried to keep her topped up with coffee in-between tackling my own paperwork and picture editing. Still, the holidays start tomorrow, which means work will wind down – even if it doesn’t stop completely. We’ll at least have the opportunity for some quality time together, although if we have nothing in the way of exciting events or days out planned, which is probably just as well because the forecast is predicting just the sort of weather you associate with Bank Holidays. Wet! Maybe we’ll have one of those DIY and cooking sort of breaks. I’m quite happy staying away from the roads and railways over a holiday like Easter as it’s much more relaxing than joining the throngs all trying to get away at exactly the same time. We’ll see…
Right now, whilst Dawn’s still wading through papers, I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which was taken yesterday at London’s Kings Cross station. I’ll bet it doesn’t look this quiet tomorrow! Here’s two of open access operator Grand Central’s small fleet in-between duties. On the right is one of their Alstom built Class 180s, which form the (temperamental) backbone of their fleet. In fact, GC are the sole operator of the class nowadays. On the left is one of the two Bombardier built ‘Voyagers’ the company has leased to cover for unavailable 180s. Seeing them side by side gives the opportunity to compare and contrast the styling of the two different 125mph fleets, both built at the same time (2000-2001). Of course, the Voyagers were built as tilting trains so the bodyshell profile is rather different to the non-tilting 180s.
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I’m on my way to London for the day to catch up with an old friend from Singapore, who’s over in the UK for a few days. I’ve known Nicholas Lim for around 10 years. Having first met up in Thailand we’ve kept in contact through the power of social media. Our last meeting was in Singapore almost exactly a year ago, so it’ll be good to see him again and look at some changes to the capital’s rail network.
Sadly, the wet and grey weather we’re still suffering from in the Pennines is going to be replicated in London. Still, there’ll be plenty to see and do…
Right now I’m on Northern’s 06:53 from Halifax to Leeds to catch my onward connection to London. I was tempted to catch Grand Central’s 07:11 direct service to Kings Cross which is being worked by one of their leased Class 221s today, but this way I get there ahead of it, giving me chance to get pictures of it arriving.
Feel free to pop back later to see how the day unfolds…
07:50.
Of course, there’s another compensation of travelling to London via Leeds rather than direct. My capital bound service is LNER’s 07:41 which originates in Skipton. It’s diagrammed to be worked by one of the company’s loco-hauled sets and true enough (albeit running 7 minutes late) I’m now being pushed to London by this machine. 91111, named ‘For the fallen’. There’s a second bonus. The old Mk4 train sets have a ‘quiet’ coach at the very rear, behind the engine. You can almost always get a table seat here.
09:20.
Today’s not been a vintage one when it comes to timekeeping. We’re currently speeding towards our next stop at Peterborugh 15 minutes later than scheduled as we’ve accrued further delays en-route. Still, the weather’s picked up. There’s sunshine, blue skies and cumulus clouds filling my window – and I have coffee – so I’m not complaining!
18:55.
Well, that was a crap rolling blog, wasn’t it? The day started so well too. Nick and I met up at Kings Cross as soon as I arrived in London. After getting a few pictures the pair of us headed for St Pancras where we caught a Thameslink service to Farringdon in order to board a ‘Lizzie line train Westwards to Ealing. That’s when things started to fall apart. Lizzie line services towards Heathrow were either cancelled or delayed. We decided to make our way to Paddington, then await further instructions. Problem was – the instructions we got after an enquiry at Paddington meant we wasted time. TfL staff directed us up to the mainline station, where a member of GWR staff denied all knowledge of trains to Ealing and brusquely directed us back to the TfL station. That’s when I spotted this.
By the time we returned to the Lizzy line station information (and trains) had been updated, enabling us to get a packed service to West Ealing in deteriorating weather. Then another disappointment kicked in. The battery train wasn’t running. It’d been replaced by a two-car diesel. As Nick had never travelled the route we completed an out and back trip anyway. Bad move! By the time we got back to West Ealing there’d been a power failure which led to many TfL and GWR services being cancelled. After hiding from the rain for 25 mins whilst we weighed up our options a London-bound service arrived from Heathrow, so we made our way back to Paddington. After grabbing a few pictures we swapped to the Underground for the short hop to Euston Square. It was time for lunch, so I took Nick to an old haunt. The ‘Ravi Shankar’ Indian veg restaurant in nearby Drummond St, where we both consumed one of their excellent ‘Mysore thalis’
Suitably stuffed and with the weather brightening up I gave a brief tour and explanation of the stalled HS2 construction work before we headed to Euston so that Nick could exprience the train transition between the ‘old’ Siemens built class 350s and new Alstom built Class 730s – which I consider the best of the company’s new trains.
By now we’d eaten into most of my day so it was time to head to Kings Cross and routes home – until our next meeting…
Right now I’m heading back to Leeds on a packed LNER service whilst Nick’s headed South of the river.
I’ll add the few pictures I’ve managed to get to my Zenfoilo website tomorrow.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
I didn’t expect to be blogging today and what there is will be short and sweet as it’s late and there’s so much to talk about that will have to wait until tomorrow.
My laptop problems were resolved just as soon as I got home and plugged in a reserve charger. Suddenly the machine’s battery began to charge and normal service was resumed. That allowed me access to pictures and chance to update the BIOS. Once the battery was full charge and just out of interest I swapped chargers. Lo and behold, the one I’d been using these past few days also decided to work. Ain’t technology wonderful?
I’d expected to be sans laptop for the next few days. Now that normal service has been resumed I can rejig my plans once again and write a blog that will do justice to our trip – which has seen us explore places neither of us have visited before. Looking back at the variety of towns and scenery we’ve experienced I’ve realised that we haven’t at any point left the county of Yorkshire – something that those who claim it’s ‘God’s own country’ would say ‘Told ya’!
We haven’t just come back with memories either – as the car boot’s contained a variety of edible goodies – from fish to pork pies. Rhubarb chutney to ‘chocolate surprise’. Oh, and a few locally brewed beers too…
OK, now it’s time for me to call it a day but I’ll leave you with a couple of pictures.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Sorry for the lack of a blog yesterday. That was due to the fact that – by the end of the day – we were both knackered, having walked between 16-19* miles. We’d completed a circular walk from Glaisdale to Danby and back via Lealholm and the moors above the valley. Walking into strong winds added to the exercise and gave us both the ‘windswept and interesting’ look. En-route we tried local pubs and cafes (more about which later) before ending up at our temporary home to have a hot bath full of Epsom salts and home-made chili con carne before curling up in front of the log burner to watch ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ on TV.
As much as all this was pleasure, there was a slight divert into business as I managed to get several shots along the Esk valley railway due to being in the right place at the right time, which isn’t easy when there’s only five trains each way a day!
Today (Sunday) we’re giving the old knees a bit of a rest. We’ll still go out walking later – but not anywhere near as far. I’ll add more to this blog after our return this evening.
Sunday. 22:30.
Sorry, plans for a major picture and other update of today’s blog have gone a bit ‘Pete Tong’. That’s not because we’ve had a bad day – far from it as we’ve been on the coast. We popped into two places neither of us visited before. Staithes being one. The weather’s bern stunning again too. The problem was when we got home and I fired up the laptop, only to find the battery wouldn’t charge and it refused to run off the transformer. I refused to kick things and swear despite the temptation. It’ll be sorted out, but for now you’ll have to make do with a couple of phone pictures of Runswick and Staithes.
*I’d done a few more than Dee as I’d nipped out to Glaisdale station to get shots of the first train of the day.
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Greetings from deepest North Yorkshire! For the next few days the pair of us have relocated to Glaisdale, which we’ll be using as a base to explore the area, enjoy some walking on coast and moors as well as sampling some local food and drink. We’re off to a good start. I’ve already stocked up on mince, eggs and Black Pudding from the local family butchers just a few doors down the road. The village also possesses a combined post office and general store which is good for buying basics. We’ve struck lucky with the weather too as we’re enjoying some glorious sunshine, although a bitingly cold wind is taking the edge off things slightly. Here’s a look at where we’re based now.
I’ll blog more later when we’ve been out and about. Right now it’s time for lunch…
18:30.
What a stunning day! Whitby looked at its best due to the weather. We walked around the town for a few hours rediscovering old nooks and carnnies as well as trying out new delights in the cafes, bars and shops. Here’s a few pictures to pique your interest.
Now we’re back at the AirBnB, changing from scruffs to more suitable attire as we’re off for a meal at a rather nice hotel not a million miles away. More later…
22:00.
The two of us are now back at our temporary home with feet up in front of a log fire, digesting the lovely meal we enjoyed at the Horseshoe Hotel in nearby Egton Bridge. This dog-friendly pub and hotel has internal decor that’s rather eccentric for this neck of the woods as it’s African themed, but the food is very British. Dawn and I shared a scallop starter before diverging on main courses. I opted for the belly pork with scallop and black pudding whilst Dee satisfied her carnivore instincts with a steak. All three meals were very good and the prices commendably competitive.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
There was no blog from me yesterday as we were too busy recovering from Monday’s Community Rail Awards and travelling back home from Swansea. Ourselves, the rest of the CRN team and the 440 people attending the event enjoyed a great night with some richly deserved awards presented, followed by fun in the main hall where a band kept people entertained (and dancing) until late in the evening, followed by a mixture of staff and attendees adjourning to our hotel bar until the small hours.
However, my job wasn’t over as I spent most of the train trip back slaving over a hot laptop, editing the pictures in order to get them ready for circulation and out to the winners themselves. Today’s been spent catching up with other work and clearing the decks as tomorrow Dawn and I are taking a break for a few days. We’re heading off to the Whitby area of North Yorkshire to recharge our batteries and enjoy coastal walks, good food and the odd real ale. There may even be time for the occasional bit of blogging…
In the meantime, here’s today’s picture, which is from Swansea.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
The wet and dismal day that greeted us when we woke up this morning has morphed into something far more pleasant as blue skies and sunshine have appeared to brighten the day. We’ve been up early and breakfasted as the CRN team will be off to the venue shortly, preparing for tonight’s event. It promises to be a brilliant evening. The Community Rail Awards don’t have the pomp or stuffiness of some ceremonies, they’re much more relaxed. I’ve been roped in to help with some of the prep so I’ll be heading over to the arena for a couple of hours too. Obviously I’m not going to be blogging and spilling the beans about what people can expect, but later on I’ll have chance to have a wander around Swansea to get a few pictures and check out the Maritime museum and marina. Expect some thoughts and pictures later, and then some of this evening’s highlights…
16:30.
Today’s not exactly gone to plan blogging wise as I’ve been roped into several different things and haven’t had time to blog. However, I did get time off to visit the Maritime museum – which is about much more than just the sea.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
We’ve been up since 07:00, not a time we’d normally expect to be supping coffee on a Sunday, but today we’re heading to Swansea for tomorrow’s Community Rail Awards. This could be an interesting trip. First we head to Manchester to meet up with other members of the CRA team, then we catch a Transport for Wales service all the way to Cardiff, which takes 5 hours. That could be the first ‘fun’ bit as (having checked) I can see that it’s worked by a two-car class 197, so it could get cosy! It being Sunday, the line from Cardiff to Swansea is closed for engineering work to take place, so it’s the dreaded ‘bustitution’ for the rest of the way. Just what you need when you’re carrying all the kit you need for an awards ceremony and a couple of nights away!
Feel free to pop back later and see how the journey unfolds….
10:00.
We’re on our way on our first train of the day – Northern’s 09:50 from Halifax to Manchester Victoria. As it’s early on a Sunday and it’s a four-car there’s no problem in finding a seat.
10:30.
We’ve left the wet weather behind by crossing the Pennines into Gtr Manchester. Whilst our train filled up after calling at Rochdale the journey’s still relaxed. Next stop is Victoria…
10:45.
Ha! I should’ve known better. We’re in Manchester, so of course it’s raining! Not that it natters as we’ve just joined a packed TPE service bound for the airport which will deliver us to Piccadilly.
11:40.
Half A dozen of the team have met at Piccadilly and joined TfW’s 11:29 to Cardiff. Thankfully, it’s one of the new CAF built Class 197s and we’ve managed to secure a couple of tables behind the cab despite the usual scramble for seats. Now the tables are awash with laptops and mobile phones as folk make final preparations for the awards and a few days away.
13:40.
We’ve had a surprisingly good journey so far. At one point we were losing time to Shrewsbury but now we’ve mad that up on the approach to Hereford. The biggest surprise has been the amount of flooded fields around Moreton-On-Lugg. It’s horrendous. Fields have become vast lakes and some roads look like they’re impassible unless you have a 4X4. I really feel for the farmers as the rivers draining the area clearly can’t cope, so planting anything is impossible.
17:00
Made it! All in all, that’s been a very good journey. We were into Cardiff on time and the dreaded ‘bustitution’ worked like a dream. We were off the train and after a toilet stop we were straight onto a coach for the rest of the trip to Swansea. The group’s now checked in at our hotel on the Tawe Basin, right by the Swansea seafront. A short walk away is the National Waterfront Museum (which I’m hoping to have time to check out in the morning) and the venue for tomorrow’s awards (Swansea Arenea) is 5 minutes walk away.
19:01.
Time for the team to dine – at…
22:30.
Well, that was a great (if different) night, but one that had to end early as some of us have to be on duty tomorrow. After the meal where we were joined by old friends such as Richard Salkeld – ex LNER and now ‘Lumo’ – when the wit and laughter was flowing, a few of us met up with other community rail colleagues and ‘newbies’ such as train driver Bessie Matthews, who’s written the Arlo adventures books at a Gin bar called Hogarth’s. Now, you wouldn’t normally find me dead in a karaoke joint, but as I was with friends it turned into an interesting exercise in people watching and insight into Swansea on a Sunday. After all, the Welsh have a reputation for singing, don’t they? True enough. The place was mostly men, and some actually knew how to sing – as did one of our own group – Karen Bennett – who bashed out a great rendition of a Bonny Tyler number whilst getting support from the audience!
Now it’s time to call it a day. I’m looking to seeing more of Swansea in the morning…
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
After one more soggy day in the Pennines yesterday I’ve made another bid for freedom, thus time heading Westward to Preston and district in the hope of getting some library shots and bits for a client. The forecast isn’t promising sunshine, just no rain!
Having walked down to Sowerby Bridge station I waited for the train to Hebden Bridge and my connection to Preston. Whilst I was there I noticed this local history board which tells the story of a musician few will have heard of, but you will have heard of some of the famous film scores he played on – and the major artists he recorded with. Then there was Mike Batt…
11:15 we’re on our way from Accrington now, one of those Lancashire towns I’ve never really explored. I keep meaning to as the serried streets of traditional terrace houses look like they’d make an excellent photographic opportunity. Maybe this summer…
The train I’m on is busy, but strangely subdued. Normally these Blackpool services can be rather riotous with families heading to Blackpool, but this one’s obviously too early in the season. I’m sharing a table with a young chap sat diagonally opposite. He appears to be suffering from the advanced stages of ‘Liquormortis’ – also known as a hangover! The rest of the passengers are a real mix – although a large percentage seem to be solo women travellers of all ages.
12:45.
Wonder of wonders – the train I was hoping to get pictures of actually ran – and ran to time, giving me the opportunity to get a shot of it in Preston. The new Hitachi built Class 805 bi-mode sets for Avanti West Coast are currently on test on the West Coast Main Line before they enter service and replace the company’s diesel-only Class 221 ‘Voyager’ fleet. I’ve seen a few 805s but never been in the right place at the right time to get pictures. Today I was.
14:00.
Whilst at Preston I couldn’t resist taking a minor detour/backtrack to Bamber Bridge to photograph a structure that’s seen better days. Here’s the old signalbox, with some new(ish) additions…
The box is coccooned by suppurting girder to stop it collapsing completely. The facr many of its timbers are rotten doesn’t help. Neither does its narrow base, but the road crossing is also suffering from subsidence too.
16:30.
Mind the gap…
Sorry about that but I’ve been busy and too busy observing things to live blog. After getting back to Preston, where the weather was indifferent I decided to make my way back via Wigan so that I could check on progress with electrifying the line between there and Bolton.
Bad move.
Catching a packed Pendolino to Wigan was OK, it’s only a 15 minute trip. It was the fact that when I arrived it was chucking it down through leaden skies and all trains to Manchester from both stations were cancelled due to signal failure that I thought, bugger!
There was only one thing for it, a pint in Wigan’s metaphorical version of the Winchester whilst I waited for the whole thing to blow over (sans Zombies, thankfully).
Fortunately, there was one train running even if everything else either side had been cancelled. I’m aboard the 16:07 from Wallgate to Victoria (ex Southport) worked by one of the bi-mode class 319 conversions. I’d expected it to be packed but that was far from the case.
Photographically this part of the trip was a bust but now I’ve seen the changes along the route I know where to return to. OLE mast bases have appeared between Winan and Hindley along with a smattering of masts. The biggest visual impact is 4-5 decades of tree and vegetation clearence whic has really opened up some vistas. I’ll be back…
17:30.
Getting home is proving to be fun today as the railways are not having a good one. On arrival at Manchester Victoria I thought I’d just miss the 16:57 to Leeds. Fear not! Due to yet more disruption it’s only just left – 23 mins late. Many other trains are still waiting, with passengers none the wiser as no-one’s making any announcements. The Internet’s no help either as there are no realtime updates. I was waiting on a following train (the 1704 to Rochdale) before taking a punt based on my railway knowledge.
22:45.
Time to bring this blog to an end from the comfort of home. Thankfully, there were no more problems after Manchester. Mind you, as the last leg was via shank’s pony – what could possibly go wrong? Tomorrow I’ll be working from home, sorting out today’s pictures and preparing for Sunday’s trip to Swansea and the Community Rail Award, so expect a few more pictures and possibly a beer-pump clip or two…
Goodnight!
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Despite the dreich weather here in the Pennines, or rather because of it – I’m having a day out and heading back to Merseyside where the rain’s forecast to clear for the day. We might not get wall to wall sunshine but time’s running out for me to document the final days of the old Merseyrail electric trains. The Class 508s have already gone along with half of the 33 Class 507s. Meanwhile, the last of their Stadler built replacements are on their way across Europe from Switzerland and Poland.
As someone who grew up on Merseyside roving the areas rails is something I’ve been doing since I was a young teenager. In those days we used to be able to buy a ticket names after the title of this blog. It was valid from 18:00 on a Friday all the way to Midnight on Sunday and presented excellent value. Here’s an original.
Feel free to pop back during the day to see where and what I get up to…
10:00.
I’ve escaped the valley aboard Northern’s 09:22 from Sowerby Bridge to Chester which is a reasonably busy pair of 2 car Class 195s. Ensconced in the rear car I’ve set up the mobile office for the trip. For once, crossing the Pennines hasn’t improved the weather – it’s just as miserable around Manchester as it is in West Yorkshire!
The forecast is that the rain is gradually clearing from the West so I’ve decided to stay on this service all the way to join the Merseyrail network at its most Southerly point.
10:20.
I’m now heading West from Victoria where this service pretty much emptied out. I’ve just taken a quick walk through the rear unit and counted 16 other passengers. Next stop is Newton-le-Willows which always seems busy, so I’ll be interested to see how many folks leave the service at journey’s end. The weather’s slowly brightening up. The oppressive low cloud that’s hemmed in the Calder Valley for the past week has given way to higher. more diffused formations, with a band of brightness on the horizon. I doubt I’ll see more than the watery sunshine I’m experiencing now, but there’s contrasting skies and actual cloud patterns. Plus, from a photographers perspective, the light’s improved by several stops.
10:50.
I’m handing back my weather forecaster’s badge. I’m as bad at predicting it as the professionals! We’re leaving Warrington under blue skies – which wasn’t on anyone’s card! Our next stop is our final one – Chester – and I count 20 people aboard for the final leg, although I’ve no idea how many are in the front unit. This Leeds-Chester service started in May 2019 and it’s proved to be a valuable service as it allows easy access to Wales via a historic old town – and provides a useful connection with the West Coast Main Line at Warrington Bank Quay.
12:15.
I didn’t stay in Chester long as there wasn’t much around to photograph despite the sunshine. It’s a far cry from the 1970s wgen I used to come here on a Merseyrover. Chester loco shed was known as an easy depot to ‘bunk’ as the staff were very relaxed. I remember turning up at the shedmaster’s office with a couple of friends one weekend around 1973. On asking if we could look around we were told. “Yes, just don’t wander onto the main lines and don’t fall into the pits”. In those days the shed would house old class 24s and 25s used on freight workings and the occaisional Class 40, along with some 08 shunters and dozens of diesel units. It’s unrecognisable now as it was first rebuilt by Alstom back in the early 2000s and now it’s run by CAF who maintain their new DMUs for Transport for Wales.
Right now I’m making my way up the old Great Western Main line to Birkenhead. Once four-track it was reduced to two in the 1970s.
Blogging may get a bit patchy now as I’m stopping off en-route. Plus, services are so frequent there’s lots to photograph. Like this service at Bromborough Rake.
14:00.
I’ve made it into Birkenhead but not without difficulty as Merseyrail are cancelling several services today. My kast stop was Rock Ferry, once tge terminus of the Mersey Railway electric services from Liverpool until electrification was ecentually extended to Chester and later, Ellesmere Port.
15:10.
Remember those cancellations I mentioned? They got worse. At Birkenhead I found that due to Police dealing with an ‘incident’ on the railway, New Brighton services were cancelled with trains turning back at the scenic location of Birkenhead North. To add to the fun the weather reverted to forecast type – making the scene even duller! Undeterred, I caught a 507 to Birkenhead and managed to get a reasonable picture of 507001 passing Birkenhead depot. I’ll add the pic later. Right now there’s little more for me to do but head back into Birkenhead aboard 001 and work out my next move.
And again.
15:55.
It seems my trip today quite literally bombed, according to the Liverpool Echo…
19:30.
I’m back in West Yorkshire, making my way home via a slightly convoluted route in order to drop in to Huddersfield station so I can see what’s afoot with the route upgrade work. The old wooden building on the island platform is being carefully dismantled so that it can be rebuilt at a different location on the station in the future.
The wtripping process has revealed many old posters from the BR era, including gems like this!
Now I’m on the final rail leg, aboard Northern’s Huddersfield – Bradford shuttle which will carry me back to Halifax. It’s a quiet train this time of night and week, but then the station’s not exactly buzzing either. I’ve not been into either of the station pubs but both look empty.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/