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11:52.

Dawn and I are currently in Leeds, having travelled here from Halifax in order to jeet up with other members of the Community Rail Network team before continuing our onward journey to Newcastle.

After getting a raxi to Halifax station, the first leg with Northern was a breeze. A Hull bound service which starts from Halifax was sat – burbling away – at the platform when we arrived so there was no shortage of seats.

Our trusty chariot from Halifax to Leeds. Three-car 158757 has worked across the North since it was built.

We’ve chosen a good time to leave as the Metrological office has just issued a yellow warning for snow in our area! The weather’s certainly cold enough for it and hanging around Leeds station was certainly ‘Baltic’. Now we’ve met up with four colleagues aboard the 11:45 to Newcastle.

14:15.

We’ve arrived after a journey that seemed to take no time at all – mainly because we were all busy! En-route we passed under moody skies, ominous looking clouds and the occasional shower but (thankfully) no snow. Now the team’s checked into our hotel in central Newcastle. We’ve a few hours before we’re needed at this evening’s reception, so whilst the rest of the tean use the hotel as a workbase I’m off out with the camera…

A BR era class 156 sits under Newcastle station’s magnificent curved roof.

20:50.

Phew! A busy few hours. I headed out in almost sub-zero temperatures to get some pictures of trains crossing the Tyne. This meant standing another bridge just upriver where the wind chilled the bones. Typically, just as I arrived, the sun disappeared and didn’t reappear until the last few minutes before I left! Here’s a small selection. I’ll add captions tomorrow.

Heading home to thaw out and change a few of us met up afterwards in the magnificent tiled surrounding of the Centurion bar on the station for a quick drink

Before meeting up with other CRN staff and members at the nearby Lumo trains office where the company had very kindly laid on a drinks reception. It’s quite a building their office is in!

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Community Rail awards with cake at the Lumo office.

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