Today should have been a rolling blog sort of day, but to be honest, my heart wasn’t really in it. So, although I’ve been on my travels this afternoon after working from home this morning, I gave myself the afternoon off. Instead of blogging, I simply enjoyed getting out and about – even though the weather did a volte face. Recently, we’ve had wet morning and lovely afternoons/evenings. Only – as I was travelling – the weather Gods pulled a fast one on me and reversed that!
Not that it mattered too much. I’d headed over to the South-East side Manchester to check out some locations for future pictures. This took me out on the Buxton line as far as New Mills Newtown where I walked across the village to New Mills Central to head back along the route via Romily. It was just as well I wasn’t planning to head further into Derbyshire as the line From New Mills towards Chinley and on to Sheffield has been closed for several days due to track defects. This means trains from Manchester are terminating at New Mills Central, then running ‘bang road’ (wrong line) back to Marple where there’s a crossover that allows them to access the correct running line.
Having deposited me at New Mills Newtown a pair of Class 150s continue their journey to Buxton. As you can see, spring has very much sprung here in Derbyshire. All change! A pair of Class 156s from Manchester wait time at New Mills Central before running ‘bang road’ back to Marple.Haven’t I seen you somewhere before? One of the former West Midlands Class 323s that are being cascaded to Northern is seen at Manchester Piccadilly before working a service to Crewe.
Maybe I’ll have better luck with the weather next time…
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The pair of us decided to take a trip into Manchester this afternoon for a spot of clothes shopping and a bite to eat. Personally, I’m not a great internet shopper when it comes to clothes. I much prefer to be able to touch and feel things first, examine the quality and try things on for size whilst also checking for defects. In recent years I’ve found sizes don’t seem to conform to reality and the same measurements can vary considerably depending on who’s making something.
We took the train over to Manchester from Sowerby Bridge. The 3-car set was busy but after stopping at Rochdale it was packed – a portent of what was to come as Manchester city centre was heaving! Neither of us had expected it to be as busy as it was – or as noisy. In Market St various buskers with portable amplifiers competed for attention with the ‘God Squad’. Both Christians and Moslems had stalls pitching their own brand of salvation in the hope of signing up a few more folks to their respective faiths. Add in delivery cyclists whizzing through the milling crowds and you really had to keep your wits about you. Oh, and the occasional shoplifter doing a runner and bulldozing people whilst being chased by shop security guards! This was the human zoo in all its diverse glory!
After a couple of hours the pair of agreed to call it a day. The place was just too busy. Instead we adjourned to the Old Wellington pub in Wellington Square for a drink whilst and kill some time before the table we’d booked in a nearby restaurant became free. Sadly, sitting outside the ‘Wellie’ led to suffering another aural assault as someone nearby had set up a PA which was playing repetitive ‘boom boom’ music that might be fine in a dance club but is hardly conducive to enjoying a quiet drink. So, rather than stay for a second we adjourned to the Victoria Tap in the nearby railway station. They had music in there to, but it had lyrics, a tune, was melodic – and didn’t make your ears bleed or your table vibrate. They also had decent drinks at decent prices. Oh, and some lovely old black and white pictures of the station back in BR days, like this.
Soon it was time to eat so we headed over to the old Corn Exchange building and the restaurant we’d booked ‘Mowgli’ which bills itself as Indian street food. That’s a slight exaggeration as some of the dishes it serves you certainly wouldn’t find as street food in India. That quibble aside, the food is really very good. The restaurant’s spread over two floors and is clearly very popular. Dawn tells me the creator (an Indian woman from Ormskirk called Nisha Katona) has been a guest on some TV cooking programmes. I’d no idea, I just liked the sound of the place.
Served Tapas style, we ordered several different dishes, starting off with chat bombs – crispy balls stuffed with spicy yoghurt and chickpeas. Our waiter advised us to pop a whole one in our mouths as biting into then could cause a messy explosion! Our main courses consisted of the house chicken, which is cooked in coconut milk, Keralan style. The spicy house lamb, slow cooked and spicy and the Goan fish curry with Tamarind and Ginger. All the dishes were served in classic stainless-steel tiffin tins. As an accompaniment we ordered rice and roti.
On the left is the Goan Fish. Centre is the Lamb, with the chicken on the Right.
We don’t often eat Indian food when we go out as it’s something I cook a lot of at home. This was a worthy exception to that rule. All four dishes were delicious, each had its own unique blend of spices, flavours and textures. It’s worlds apart from the bog-standard dishes you’ll get in your average high street Indian restaurant. India has some fantastic regional cuisine that rarely makes its way onto ‘normal’ Indian (in reality, actually Bangladeshi) restaurant menus.
My food was washed down with sparkling water whilst Dee enjoyed a coke with hers. The bill wasn’t cheap. With a tip included in plus a £1 donation to the charity of their choice it came to £55 for the pair of us. But as a treat it was worth it. Besides, I’d half expected to have shelled out on a new suit but only bought chinos, so I felt I was ahead!
Suitably stuffed we made our way back to the station for a last drink before heading home on the 18:21 – which was absolutely rammed. It’s good to see so many people out and about again, it’s good for the railways, it’s good for Manchester and it’s good for the wider economy.
Now we’re back at home, enjoying the peace and quiet after a busy day – with more to come as we’ve work to do around the house. We’re not eating out on Sunday. Instead we’ve acquired some stewing beef from our local butcher. This is going into the slow cooker along with a selection of veg – and some red wine – to be transformed into a stew that can cook whilst we work. See you tomorrow…
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I was full of good intentions today. Dawn’s away on Platt family duties down in Surrey whilst I’m at home in West Yorkshire, so the idea was I’d be up and out at ‘sparrow fart’ and exploring with the camera. Then, last thing last night, I saw the weather forecast and thought ‘uh-oh!’. Still, I set my alarm for 06:45 with the optimism that things might get better. Only my alarm didn’t go off. I was woken at 07:00 by a phone-call from Dawn, who’d been woken early by the sunlight streaming through her window. In contrast, I was woken up to this view from our bedroom window.
Sowerby Bridge, literally under a cloud…
Bugger! Why didn’t I go with Dee when I had the chance?
So, instead of being out and about I’m having a morning at home, catching up with some bits and picture editing. I was out yesterday when the weather was very different – as this shot from Todmorden shows. Blue skies and cherry blossom. What more could you want?
This afternoon I’m going to head over to Manchester regardless as I’ve arranged to meet up with an old friend (Hassard, who you’ll have seen mentioned in many previous blogs) who’s up her from London for work. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get a few useful pictures and find a few things to blog about. Feel free to pop back later to see what I get up to…
13:05.
Finally, I’m on my way. As you can see from this picture, the weather hasn’t improved here in the Calder Valley. The Wainhouse Tower in the background (we live just beneath it) is disappearing into the clouds. I can only hope traversing the Pennines does it’s usual trick to bring better weather.
14:10.
I stopped off at Todmorden en-route in order to grab something to eat before catching a different train. To be honest, ‘Tod’ as it’s known to locals, deserves a blog all of it’s own. It’s a curious little place full of contradictions that I haven’t got time to describe now. I nipped over to the market but as it’s Monday the only things that were open were the coffee shop and this little bar, which looks to have amazingly cheap prices. I’ll revisit soon.
The Market Tavern, inside Todmorden market hall.
Managing to source a sandwich from a local supermarket I made it back to the station in time to catch the 13:54 towards Manchester. It should have been working Headbolt Lane (Kirkby) to Blackburn was was terminated at Todmorden due to late running. Apparently, there’s been a bridge-strike somewhere which is causing quite a few delays.
This is a Class 150/156 lash-up. The Class 150 has been cascaded to Northern from another operator. You wouldn’t know unless you’re sharp-eyed as there’s one tell-tale in this picture.
16:10.
Sadly, the trick of crossing the Pennines into better weather has failed today. There’s rain-filled, leaden skies here too. Even so, I decided on a little side trip to visit a station I’ve been meaning to stop off at for years. Bromley Cross, on the line from Bolton to Blackburn. I’d have got there yesterday, but the train from Blackburn was rammed with pissed football supporters. Testosterone, Tribalism and alcohol’s a heady mix, so I decided to wait for another day. Unfortunately, that day’s been a rainy one!
As well as retaining one of its old station building Bromley Cross possesses one of the few working signalboxes in the North-West. Nowadays it’s kept to protect the station’s foot-crossing as there’s no footbridge.
21:20.
Homeward bound. Having returned to Manchester to meet up with Hassard the pair of us had a fun few hours catching up whilst sampling some of Manchester’s ale houses. Like this one in the Northern Quarter.
Now I’m heading back across the border into West Yorkshire to prepare for another adventure tomorrow. Hopefully, one where the weather plays ball…
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 a few days at home blogging about our lying Prime Minister and the deceit that’s “Network North” I’m having an interlude. Don’t worry, there’ll be another blog on Sunak and his sorry sorry saga of deception and incompetence this evening!
After an appointment in Sowerby Bridge that prevented me leaving earlier I’m now on a train to Manchester as the weather’s really too good to miss and I still have a long list of pictures I need to work my way through for a client. Feel free to pop back and see what I get up to as I’m not entirely sure what that’ll be myself!
Back to short trains and no stabiliser rail…
14:35.
After a relaxing (and sunny) journey to Manchester I added to my daily step total by walking between Victoria and Piccadilly stations through a busy city centre. En-route a plan had formed in my mind, so I’m now on the 14:33 to Glossop. I’m going to be looking at a couple of potential picture locations en-route – and a stop at one of the most misnamed stations in England…
“No mate, this isn’t the train to Stoke!”
15:45.
Maybe I should retitle this blog as the sunshine interlude didn’t last long at all this side of the Pennines!
My visit to Glossop lasted all of 30 mins. Just long enough to recconoitre a few photo sites as the light changed which was rather frustrating. Still, it means I have ideas worked out for the future. Plus, I did update my images of the gorgeous station at Glossop which still boasts a ticket office, barrier staff and a great little cafe.
Glossop station. The former ticket office to the right is now a lovely little cafe. There’s still an office here but it’s moved closer to the gateline.
15:55.
Having had a spin to Hadfield on the Glossop shuttle I’m about to head back towards Manchester.
The end of the line at Hadfield. The last stop on what was then the famous Woodhead freight only route to Penistone which closed in 1981.
16:55.
The beauty of this job is that you get to explore. Some places are better than others but they all add to your knowledge and experience. Here’s a station that only opened in 1985 but those naming it obviously had a sense of humour and tongues firmly in cheek. Meet ‘Flowery Field’…
Seriously?
Apparently, the name is due to its proximity to one of Manchester’s biggest parks. You’d be forgiven for not knowing that as you pass through! I got off to explore at it’s only a few minutes walk from another station on a different line – Hyde North.
This area of Manchester is pretty run down but there was a ray of hope as I cut through a nearby cul-de-sac although it took a minute to sink in. I passed several children playing in the street, drawing on the pavement with coloured chalk – just as my generation did half a century and more ago. They were outdoors interacting with their peers, not stuck indoors in their rooms ‘virtually’ interacting with people miles (or even continents) away.
Hyde North stations and it’s environs lived down to expectations and made me realise why I’d never bothered stopping. It has no architectural merit apart from the old footbridge. There’s a couple of basic shelters of modern design but that’s it. Admittedly, the local friends group have tried to brighten the place up with some art (and good for them) but I fear they’re trying to push water uphill! The area surrounding the station’s a mix of residential and commercial with little appeal. This is as good as it got.
19:30.
My return home way delayed by ‘shit happens’. I decided to have a quick pint in the city centre and ended up helping a woman who limped into the pub after twisting an ankle. She was both embarrassed and tearful so I ended up staying with her and helping her limp to a taxi before the cavalry arrived in the shape of some of her former pupils (she’s a Teacher) in town on a night out. Good deed done for the day I arrived at Victoria to find the new pub on the station was open for business and buzzing.
I’d passed the Victoria Tap earlier but fitting out work was still going on – even though pumpclips were advertising what draught beers were ready. I asked the young lady who served me how long they’d been open. Her reply was “about 3 hours!”
The tap’s only small. It’s a narrow two room establishment at the end of the station but it has a beer garden out back which is by the tram tracks and underneath the station roof. The range of beers is good and the prices are very competitive. A pint of ‘Farmers Blonde’ cost me £4.20.
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/
As I suspected. This week’s proving very different to the last one. I’ve hardly moved from the house apart from a brief foray into Sowerby Bridge yesterday in order to pick up some shopping. Mind you, the weather’s hardly been conducive to venturing far. We’ve had more than our fair share of rain here in’t Pennines – such a contrast to the great weather we enjoyed in Surrey. So, I’ve battened down the hatche and got square eyes by wading through the hundreds of pictures I’ve had to sift through and edit before captioning them and getting them on to my Zenfolio website. The process is almost finished – the last ones will be done by tomorrow. I’ve also written an article for RAIL magazine on my visit to the HS2 bridge site near Aylesbury last week.
HS2 is taking up a lot of the media’s time right now due to the absolute car-crash that’s the Tory party conference in Manchester. That the route to Manchester might be scrapped has been widely leaked to the press and Sunak is making an utter fool of himself parroting ‘spades in the ground, spades in the ground’ whilst refusing to quash speculation that he’s started himself! The optics of this are mad. Who in their right minds would hold a party conference in a major city you’re about to deprive of a new high-speed railway? But, looking at the conference it’s clear anyone in their right mind has stayed away. Leaks from those there describe the atmosphere as like a party at a funeral. It’s more ‘the last days of the bunker’ in the levels of unreality that have crept in. One would be forgiven for thinking its really the UKIP conference with the Tories having drifted so far to the right. That Nigel Farage himself has attended and been lauded by some says it all. Then there’s the video of Farage dancing with Priti Patel. God help us! It gets worse, our esteemed (are you taking the piss? Ed) Transport Minister, Mark Harper has joined the ranks of the batshit conspiracy theorists and condemned the concept of ’15 minute cities’. Add this to Sunak announcing his going to scrap non existent plans to tax meat and make you use seven recycling bins and you can see how far from reality the Tories are straying.
The Daily Mirror newspaper has helpfully highlighted 5 of the maddest claims and outright lies used in speeches at the conference. Talk about having no shame…
Then, today, Home Secretary Suella Braverman channeled her inner Enoch Powell to give the most awful speech imaginable, full of anti immigration rhetoric and condemnation, telling people we’re facing a ‘hurricane’ of immigrants coming to take over our shores then launching into more ‘war on woke’ tirades that forced one man to grumble aloud. It wasn’t even a heckle, but he was immediately pounced upon by security and police, had his pass ripped from around his neck and was ejected in full view of the media who caught it on camera. Then it turned out the man was none other than Andrew Boff, the Conservative Chair of the London Assembly!
This car crash will hit the inveitable brick wall tomorrow, although from what I’m hearing many delegates have already left in despair. Tomorrow Sunak is due to address the conference. Will he be suicidal enough to announce the cancellation of HS2? Who knows. Whoever is advising him from the Tufton St cabal could well have sealed his, theirs and the Tories fate, because such an announcement will go down like a bucket of cold sick, no matter how he tries to spin it. ‘Levelling up’ will be exposed as a joke and the North won’t forgive, or forget. And I suspect the Labour party will be watching with bated breath as the Tories could well be about to leave them a huge open goal.
I’ll be waiting for the next set of opinion polls to come out after this shambles is over with great interest. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with today’s picture which is one of the batch I’ll have uploaded to my Zenfolio site tomorrow. Rightwinder try and pretend there’s no need for investment in the railways anymore as no-one using the trains nowadays. Really? Here’s the concourse of London’s Liverpool St station seen at 18:25 last Thursday. Just containing tumbleweeds, obviously….
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 yesterday’s photographic excursion to Manchester where I met up with an old friend for a few drinks I’ve had a quiet day here at Bigland Towers. The weather’s hardly been conducive to getting out as we’re back in the cycle of low cloud and persistent showers. There was plenty of rain yesterday but that was made bearable by some dramatic skies and pools of sunshine that made for interesting photographic opportunities. Hassard, being London-based, had never ventured out to Glossop before so I took him out on the old Woodhead railway with the intention have having a wander and couple of pints before heading back. Fat chance! Just before we arrived we found out that the next two trains were cancelled, leaving us 10 mins to have a swifty in the Star Inn across the road from the station before catching the same train on its return from Hadfield. Talk about a flying visit!
Today we’ve had gloomy weather which hid the valley from view for much of the day so I’ve been happy to be desk-bound, edit all of yesterdays pictures and get on with other work – including adding yet more rail memorabilia to my eBay account. Here’s a sample – one of the goodies that Alstom/Virgin trains produced to celebrate 100 years of Oxley depot in Wolverhampton. You can find yesterday’s picture selection by following this link to the ‘recent‘ page on my Zenfolio website.
I’ll leave you with an example of yesterday’s pictures which illustrates what I mean about Manchester’s moody skies.
Dark skies over Manchester Piccadilly were leavened by short bursts of sunshine, like in this scene of two of Northern’s new CAF built units approaching the station. On the left is a Class 195, the diesel version whilst on the right a pair of electric-powered Class 331s arrive from the Airport.
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/
Yet another day when (thanks to the glorious sunshine) it’s been anything but grim up North! T’was even cracking the flags in Manchester!
My day started pottering around at Bigland Towers before catching the train from Sowerby Bridge to nearby Mytholmroyd station to join in the Community Rail week fun with our old friends Geoff and Sue Mitchell, some of the other members of the station group plus visitors from the Calder valley Community Rail Partnership, Transport for Greater Manchester, Network Rail and others who came along to enjoy a guided walk from Mytholmroyd to nearby Hebden Bridge.
The event was meant to kick off with tours of the restored station building, but that nearly didn’t happen due to one of those black comedy moments that we can laugh about now, but at the time could have been far less funny. Since the building’s been restored it’s always been assumed there was no water supply. Today that turned out to be untrue, as when some protective coverings were being moved a pipe was exposed which then blew its plastic coupling to release a high pressure jet of water across the ground floor. Poor Geoff and Sue and another of their colleagues got absolutely drenched trying to reattach the pipe to stem the deluge, but if you’ve ever tried such a maneuver you’ll know it’s next to impossible. In the end, all we could do was open a drain in the floor, dam and divert the flow into it and wait for the water company to come and access the stopcock buried in the pavement outside. Thank God it was a bright sunny day and not January!
The irony? The door in the picture is equipped with flood protection – but only from the river outside…
Still, it provided some amusement for the visitors, who were still able to have a look around the upstairs of the old building. Tours over, everyone assembled for short welcome speech from Geoff before Sue (who’d dried out somewhat) led the walkers off on their exploration of the valley. Poor Geoff was left behind to dry off in the sun and wait for the water company!
“Can anyone hear running water”? The gang gathered outside the station building in Mytholmroyd before setting off for Hebden Bridge.
Having done all I could to help, and taken pictures of the event I headed off into Manchester for the rest of the afternoon to do some shopping and grab a few pictures. In many ways I’m still a city boy at heart, so it was lovely to be able to spend an afternoon exploring and people-watching, as well as stocking up on bits I needed that are hard to get elsewhere. I wasn’t the only one enjoying the weather, the city was very busy with many people taking advantages of the centre’s open spaces to relax or work outside.
Manchester’s old Midland Hotel basks in the sunshine.
Now I’m back at home ready for a day with a very different focus tomorrow. It’s someone’s birthday…
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/
Well, more like ‘half-day away’ really but that doesn’t have the same ring to it!
Monday’s dawned bright and sunny here in the Pennines. I apent the morning working from home but at lunchtime I had an appointment at our Doctors in Sowerby Bridge to have blood taken as part of a regular personal MOT. Being thorough, my GP had arranged for a panoply of tests so when I saw the nurse she wanted four different vials. Not quite Tony Hancock’s famous armful, but still…
I was in and out in no-time so decided to make the most of the weather by heading over to Manchester to get some pictures, including Transport for Wales new Class 197s which are starting to appear on a regular basis. You may have read the recent train test that my old friend Pip Dunn and I did in RAIL magazine. Our opinion? They’re good units and certainly an improvement on some of TfWs ex-BR fleets.
Right now I’m on one of those old BR sets which is still working for Northern. 3-car 158757 is on the 13:02 Sowerby Bridge to Wigan Wallgate.
Pre Covid you’d have been more likely to find a 2-car ‘Pacer’ railbus on this diagram. Now we have the luxury of a 90mph air-conditioned train with tables and USB chargers! OK, call me weird but I admit – I do miss the railbuses!
14:25.
Having taken the ‘scenic’ route via Salford Crescent to change trains I’ve wended my way via acres of new multi-story developments to arrive at Manchester Oxford Rd where this beast was sitting in the bay in-between working services to Southport. The ex-Thameslink Class 319s (and those converted to bi-mode Class 769s) have worked Northern services for nany years now but I still can’t quite get used to the fact after spending over two decades travelling on them around London.
16:45. I’ll catch-up with blogging shortly but I’ve been on the move quite a bit so writing’s been rather difficult. Right now I’m taking a quick break in the city centre to upload a couple of camera pictures before returning to Piccadilly. I realised I’d not really spent much time at the station in recent years as I’m normally just passing through. Today’s chance to make amends. The variety of units has certainly changed as Northern’s new CAF built trains have taken over many services, plus, there’s these new arrivals for Transport for Wales…
197002 works a Manchester Airport to Llandudno service at Manchester PiccadillyTfW’s 197009 heads in the opposite direction shortly afterwards.
22:00.
I’m now relaxing at home after a few hours in Manchester watching the new trains go by. As I mentioned earlier, the rail scene at Piccadilly has changed due to so many of Northern’s CAF built diesel and electric fleets usurping older traction. You can still find the older BR built Class 150 and 156 diesels, and the electric Class 323s, but the 319s were noticeable by their absence – as were the Transport for Wales Class 175s but that’s mainly because so many of them are out of service now. Instead, TfW are sending older Class 150s on epic journeys from as far away as Milford Haven! The new Class 197s seem to be confined to Manchester Airport – North Wales coast services – for now, anyway.
Here’s another couple of shots to reflect the contrasts.
From left to right. One of the old stalwarts in the shape of Hunslet built Class 323 number 323233 heading for Glossop passes a CAF built DMU (195113) whilst an identical (bar the fact it’s electric, not diesel) CAF built 331023 heads for Manchester Airport.Here’s another CAF product, this time it’s one of Trans-Pennine Express’ Class 397 ‘Civity’ fleet in the shape of 397008 heading for Manchester Airport with a service from Glasgow Central. First Group will lose TPE from May 28th when the operation will be taken back ‘in-house’ by the Dept of Transport, who will run it via their ‘operator of last resort’ – Directly Operated Railways (DOR).
I’m hoping to get out and about again tomorrow, only this time head further East. Watch this space…
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/
Only a short blog from me today, but I hope you enjoy it. Today was another one of those that didn’t quite go to plan as I was busy slaving away in the office this morning then thought ‘bugger it, this weather is too good to waste’ so I packed my kit and headed over to Manchester via the Calder Valley to catch some of the last Stalybridge blockade diverts and also visit Stalybridge itself – which was a bit of a time-consuming faff on rail replacement buses. On the bright side I got to see parts of Manchester I’ve never seen before – and some that I never want to see again!
I’ll write more about this at a later date. But the most surreal part of the trip was when I stopped off at Todmorden on the return. As I wandered along the Leeds bound platform I heard a quacking noise from the other side of the platform fence. When I looked I realised I was being accosted by two ducks. Said ducks then stuck to me like glue all the way along to the end of the platform. They wouldn’t leave me alone and even started pecking at my boots through the fence. I get the impression that some kind soul has been feeding them and now any passenger is seen as a meal ticket! In all my time travelling the railways I’ve never seen anything like it! So, here’s a short video of my two feathered assailants…
If you ever go to Tod’ – take food!
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/
My original plan to work at home today has been altered by a change in the weather. The forecast for the next few days is lousy but today (so far) has bucked the trend – and the forecast – so I’m heading over to Manchester for a couple of hours in the hope of checking on progress on Trans-Pennine electrification and return clothes I bought from Uniqlo the other day. I’m flattered to say that ‘medium’ size is just too big!
Right now I’m on the train from Sowerby Bridge to Manchester Victoria. It’s a Chester bound service operated by a pair of 2-car Class 195s which is pretty busy for the time of day although I had no problem bagging a table seat to set up the mobile office. This is a lovely time of year to be traversing the Calder valley as the colours in the remaining leaves on the trees are glorious and the low winter light shows them at their most intense. I only hope the sunshine I’m seeing now stays with me. Let’s see. Expect some pictures soon…
11:15.
Neither my luck nor the weather’s held, so it’s time for a different mode of transport to Shank’s pony…
13:50.
That was an interestinginterlude! I caught a couple of trams out to Ashton-Under-Lyme which turned out to be a good idea as the rain persisted until a few minutes after I arrived. The plan was to have a look at progress electrifying the line from Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge. This should have been completed years ago but it was one of the schemes delayed by political dithering. Now it’s well underway. Now, most of the masts and stanchions are in place.
802206 speeds through Ashton-under-Lyme en-route from Liverpool Lime St to Newcastle whilst the masts march towards Stalybridge.
16:00.
I chose to walk between Ashton and Stalybridge in order to check out the views from various bridges on the way. It was an interesting trip as it took me down all sorts of streets I’d never explore otherwise. The area’s a maze of brick-built, late Victorian terrace houses with patches of much wealthier properties. But not all’s well. In the space of a couple of hundred meters I passed three closed pubs. One was derelict, one was ‘closed until further notice’ and the other was up for sale.
I find derelict pubs terribly sad buildings as I can imagine all the happy times people must have had there in the past. They were community centres, but now they’re dying.
I arrived at ‘Stalyvegas’ station just as the rain did, so ended up with a soaking, but I dried out on the train back into central Manchester, where I am now, indulging in my least favourite activity. Shopping!
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/
Paul Bigland 