09:00.

I’ve had a busy time at home these past few days (hence a lack of blogging) but today we have lost of sunshine in ‘God’s own country’, so I’m going to get out and about on the rails across West Yorkshire in order to make the most of the weather. I’ll be blogging throughout the day, so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to. But first, it’s time to pack the camera bag and head off to Halifax station…

1050.

I’ve made it as far as Shipley. Having walked into Halifax I arrived just in time to walk straight onto a Blackpool – York service which was rammed, despite it being operated by a 3-car Class 195. Mind you, the amount of buggies and double buggies getting off and on along the narrow platform didn’t exactly help matters.

Standing as far as Bradford Interchange where I disembarked, wasn’t too big a deal. I’ve not traversed the city centre for a while so I was pleasantly surprised at the way it’s being pedestrianised.

Another change is over at Forster Square Station, where the arches that provided refuge to many homeless people and their tents have been blocked off. I hope the people displaced have been found permanent accommodation and not just displaced

The station’s new fourth platform is now complete and waiting to enter service from the new timetable.

12:30.

I spent some time exploring Shipley to check on the progress of the new Shipley depot which is being built on the site of the old Crossley Evans scrapyard site (which took over the former railway goods yard). Progress is slow as there was a lot of clearance work needed. Now groundworks have started whilst site clearance continues. Rather ironically, Northern are gaining this new depot due to the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (which is funding it) as the TRU work around Leeds will severely hamper Northern operations at the Leeds Neville Hill depot. Here’s some pictures of progress.

Right now I’m taking a quick break in Leeds before heading towards Huddersfield to check on TRU work…

17:30.

I’m back in Leeds after having visited Morley, Mirfield, Huddersfield and Dewsbury. I’d not traversed the line from Leeds to Morley for sometime so I was surprised to see how far electrification has progressed (just don’t talk about White Rose station). Bailing out at Morely I headed up to a footbridge I know that’s East of the station to get this shot.

The footbridge replaces a foot crossing which has a tragic history. That history is recognised by Network Rail who’ve named their access point in remembrance.

Here’s the tragic story of Natasha Elliott.

Next stop was Mirfield where the rebuilt station’s coming on great guns. Here’s the new station entrance under construction.

Meanwhile, in Huddersfield, the restoration of the station roof is starting to see the light of day…

19:10.

Home time. I spent time in Leeds getting a variety of library shots but the day’s moving on and so am I. I’m on a train from Leeds to Chester which has just left Bradford (or Bratfud, as they say in these parts). Clouds are rolling in, heralding the fact tomorrow’s meant to be another wet day – although wet is very subjective as all we’ve seen this week has been drizzle at best.

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