Category Archives: Photography

19th March picture of the day…

19 Wednesday Mar 2025

Posted by in Covid 19, London, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

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Bliss! When I woke up this morning the Covid aches had receded. All I was left with was the remnants and the usual aches you get used to as part of everyday life at my age! I feel like I’m over the worst now, even my energy levels seemed to have increased. This gave me the confidence to drag my arse out of bed (with Nurse’s permission of course), get dressed and potter around the house. I even made it outside – but only as far as the back garden in order to feed the bird and top up their water supply! Today’s been another lovely sunny day which has also helped to lift my spirits. I’d have been tempted to have sat outside on the front bench in the sun but with temperatures still in single figures that might have been tempting fate! Still, the change of scenery was much appreciated – as was the ability to move into the office and get a few more things done ready for when I can venture further afield. Oh, and thank you to all those people who’ve wished me well!

There’s not going to be much of a blog from me today as I want to crack on with other things. I’ve a much longer blog I want to write which will be about my recent Norwegian trip, but first I need to do some more research. In the meantime, here’s today’s picture. Now that spring is very much in the air I’m looking forward to sights like this;

Hawthorn blossom in St James’ Park in London on the 30th March 2001. This picture was used in a Lonely Planet guide that year although I can’t remember whether it was the London or England guide now. The long-gone days when you could make money from pictures in travel guides…

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

18th March picture(s) of the day…

18 Tuesday Mar 2025

Posted by in Covid 19, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways

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Four days in and Covid is still giving me grief. Whilst I don’t feel quite as crap as I did and managed to get a half-decent nights sleep the aches are still with me. Mind you, lying in bed all day doesn’t feel like it’s helping, but Nurse Dawn is insistent that’s where I should stay and I’m not going to argue with her as she’s probably right. I remember that I pushed myself too soon the first time I had Covid, which led to me tiring very quickly, so I’m not going to make that mistake again (even If I was allowed to). It is frustrating as we’ve had wall to wall sunshine today, although temperatures haven’t exactly matched. It’s still chilly up here in the Pennines although we’re promised warmer weather soon.

I’ve kept myself occupied dealing with paperwork and other admin tasks in order to feel like I’m achieving something. The rest of the time has been spent watching Netflix or watching the world going mad on social media. I can’t help thinking that if – say – 20 years ago you’d pitched what’s going on in the White House as a film script it would’ve been dismissed out of hand as too far-fetched and unrealistic. Now, nothing that Tangoed fool in Washington does surprises me. He’s clearly the best President that rubles can buy.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to rise from my sickbed tomorrow (if Nurses’ permission is granted) and start to potter around the house again. Just getting back in the office will be a welcome change of scenery. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with today’s picture which is one of a bunch of archive pictures from 2018 I’ve rooted out to add to my Zenfolio website when time permits. It shows an aspect of the railways which is little changed in over 175 years.

The Signaller at Rainford Junction on the Kirby-Wigan line collects the single-line token from the Driver of a Wigan bound train. Kept in leather bags on the end of a metal loop these tokens are the authority to proceed for a train to travel over the single-track line from Rainford to Kirby. This form of train control is known as Absolute Block, only allowing one train onto a section of track at a time. There are fewer and fewer locations where you can see this happen due to signalboxes being abolished with token equipment being relocated to anonymous metal cabinets on station platforms which are opened by the train Driver, who uses a telephone to contact the nearest signalbox (which may be many miles away) in order to get the token released. Here’s an example. This is at Battersby in North Yorkshire.

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

17th March picture of the day…

17 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by in Covid 19, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, Sri Lanka, Travel

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I’d forgotten just how shit having Covid is. I had a lousy nights sleep as the aches meant I just couldn’t get comfortable and settle. Trying to toss and turn whilst groaning silently in order not to disturb Dawn was an effort in itself. By the time it came to wake up I was knackered so ended up having a lie in, having guzzled Lemsip and swallowed Ibuprofen in order to feel vaguely normal. This has meant today’s been another one where I’ve confined myself to bed.

I have managed to get some things done, mostly research for future projects. Apart from that it’s been another frustrating day. I’m hoping the aches will ease tomorrow as I’m fed up of being bedridden. I want to be able to potter around the house but I remember from the first time I contracted Covid that it’s unwise to push oneself too quickly.

Sadly, being bedridden with access to the internet has meant I’ve spent far too much time paying attention to the implosion of democracy in the USA. Trump has been in office for less that two months but he and his fellow kleptocrats are making huge strides in turning the ‘land of the free’ into a dictatorship. God knows what that country will look like in six months time.

Today’s picture is to take my mind off all that crap. Much as I enjoy exploring cities sometime later this year I’ll need beach time and the opportunity to listen to the timeless sound of the sea breaking on a beach, as it has done for millions of years, well before our distant amphibian ancestors crawled out of the primordial oceans to start fucking the planet up. The question is – where? Maybe somewhere palm-fringed with golden sands like this?

One of the beaches at Tangalle on the South-Eastern coast of Sri Lanka, seen on the 30th December 2003. I left only footprints and took only 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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

16th March picture of the day…

16 Sunday Mar 2025

Posted by in Covid 19, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day

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Oh, bugger…

By the end of last night I wasn’t feeling at my best. I was under the impression that I was coming down with a cold as I was aching and sneezing, the usual symptoms. This morning after a restless night’s sleep I felt like shit so stayed in bed as I also had the shivers. Dawn, fearing it was more than just a cold picked up a Covid test whilst she was out shopping. Within a minute of me completing the test two very strong lines showed up on the indicator, meaning I’ve contracted Covid for the 3rd time, which is going to screw my plans for the next few days. With the incubation period being between 1-14 days (with an average of 3-5) I could have contracted the ‘rona’ at either of the two events I’ve attended recently – or even somewhere else. Who knows? All I can do now is rest and hope it passes quickly. Still, now I have time to catch up on some reading. And maybe blogging too…

For now I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which is of a type of establishment I won’t be visiting for a while until I’m no longer infectious (and feeling better). Here’s the Norfolk Arms pub in Marple Bridge, Greater Manchester.

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

15th March picture of the day…

15 Saturday Mar 2025

Posted by in Musings, Newcastle, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, Travel

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After the fun and games of last week this weekend’s been one of consolidation as I’d a huge tranche of awards pictures to edit and get out to Community Rail Network. This kept me busy all day but by the end of it the job was done, freeing me up to edit the library images I’d taken whilst I was in Newcastle. You can find them in these galleries;

Tyne and Wear metro

Northern rail

LNER

Trans-Pennine Express

Arriva Cross Country

Having been away for a few days I hadn’t been following politics as I normally do. Being home gave me chance to catch up on the latest madness on both sides of the Atlantic. I was pleased to see that in the UK different factions of the Reform party (well, PLC really) are still knocking chunks out of each other! Of course, there’s only going to be one winner out of all this, Nigel Farage, as he effectively owns Reform. However, how this warfare will affect their voting base and attractiveness to floating voters is open to question. We’ll find that out in May.

Meanwhile, across the pond, Donald Trump continues to tear America apart, trashing the country’s reputation abroad whilst damaging its economy at home. The man is utterly without shame. No lie is too outrageous to tell, and no act too stupid. His latest wheeze is to close down ‘Voice of America’ along with Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia. These radio channels have been an extension of US soft power across the globe for 75 years providing an alternative source of news to former communist countries as well as theocracies like Iran and dictatorships in Asia like Myanmar. Vladimir Putin must be laughing his head off! As some commentators have noted, if Trump WAS a Russian asset, what would he be doing differently to what he’s doing now?

It seems that even some of Trump and Musk’s supporters are starting to feel uneasy at the shitshow that’s unfurling. The pain the pair are causing is starting to ripple across the states and the ones that voted for Trump as some of the least capable of weathering the storm. I find it hard to imagine the US is going to put up with four more years of this. Time will tell.

In the meantime, life continues here at Bigland Towers as the pair of us prepare for a new week ahead. I’m hoping to get out with the camera later in the week as the weather forecast is predicting sunshine. I’m not sure where I’ll go just yet but I’ve time to plan…

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which is another one from Newcastle. I do love a good clock – and this one has added lustre!

The 93-year-old timepiece on the corner of Westgate Road and Clayton Street has towered above shoppers since 1932. The clock was one of two commissioned by Northern Goldsmiths in 1932 outside its branches in the centre of Newcastle. Both clocks were finished in 24-carat gold leaf and adorned with a statue of Venus with outstretched arms to symbolise progress.

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Newcastle explorations…

14 Friday Mar 2025

Posted by in History, Newcastle, Photography, Railways, Travel

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Whilst I was up in Newcastle for the Community rail awards I did have a couple of hours spare each day where I was able to nip out and explore in order to get a few pictures. On the Thursday I opted to explore part of the Tyne and Wear metro system as they’re introducing new trains to replace their existing fleet which dates from the opening of the system in 1980.

The weather was less than ideal due to constant heavy rain showers but I was lucky enough to hit clear weather at the right time. Time constraints meant I couldn’t go too far afield, but I did make it out as far Pelaw, which is the junction of the T&W metro routes to South Hylton and South Shields as well as the national rail routes to Sunderland and the former Leamside line which has been abandoned since the early 1990s

The truncated remains of the Leamside line at Pelaw junction disappear under the T&W metro flyover to the right. The national rail route to Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough are in the centre whilst the single track to the left is the spur to Jarrow oil terminal.
One of the new Stadler built Class 555s (555004) arrives at Pelaw whilst working the South Hylton – Airport line. This is the first of the new sets I’ve seen since they entered passenger wervice in December 2024. 46 of these 5-car trains are on order. They’ll replace the 90 Metro-Cammell built Class 599s which have worked the system since it opened.
A pair of the original T&W sets (4029 and 4085) pass Felling on their way to South Shields. One of the pleasure of travelling in these seats is the fact the drivers cab only takes up a third of the front, allowing passengers grandstand views of the route from the adjacent seats.

Having sussed out some likely photographic locations on my trip to Pelaw I retraced my steps to Felling station where I found some fascinating (and tragic) local history as well as a surprising survivor of the original railway route.

Just to the East of Felling station are the steps of an old footbridge. On the Northern pier is this blue plaque which commemorates the Felling mining disaster of 1812 in which 92 people were killed. The rail connected pit was just to the North-West of the bridge although nothing remains of the site now.

Next door to the old footbridge is the original station building which dates from 1843. It was built by the Brandling Junction railway and remained in use until 1896 when it was replaced by a new station on the widened lines (which are four-track here).

I wish I’d had time to explore further but the clock and the weather were against me. But, I can see me making a return trip soon as there’s lots to explore in the area. Who knows what unexpected gems I’ll find next time?

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

The 2025 Community Rail awards.

13 Thursday Mar 2025

Posted by in Community rail, Community Rail Network, Newcastle, Photography, Railways

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Sorry this is a bit late as the two days of the awards were hectic to say the least. Now I have all the pictures edited and the winners names are out – so I’ve added a link to the Community Rail Network website and details of who the winners were.

Here’s a selection of pictures from the evening which includes the range of presenters and guest speakers at the event.

The scene is set and the tables all laid at the Civic centre in Newcastle.
With just a couple of minutes left before the awards start guests take their seats. There was a record attendance of over 500 people this year, the biggest awards in its 20 year history. More people wanted to attend than the venue could accommodate.
This year the awards trophies have been redesigned. 19 of them await collection by deserving groups and individuals.
Vicky Pipe (now Head of Audiences and Programmes at Bletchley Park) was one of the two main hosts for the evening.
Our other main presenter was Martijn Gilbert, MD of Hull trains and LUMO. LUMO were the awards headline sponser.
Peter Wilkinson (Department for Transport, Major Rail Projects Group) has been a long-time supporter of community rail. He gave an address celebrating the work of volunteers at this years awards which he’s attended for many years.
The irrepressible rail broadcaster Tim Dunn presented two of our awards.
The father of community rail, Prof Paul Salveson presented a special trophy to Hazel Lavery, who’s organised all 20 of the community rail awards.
Headline winners for their outstanding contribution to community rail were Kent Community Rail Partnership.
After the serious stuff was over the tables were cleared, the band appeared and the dancefloor filled up!

Now I can relax a little bit and concentrate on adding some of the other pictures that I managed to take during a few hours free time in Newcastle…

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Rolling blog. Newcastle bound…

12 Wednesday Mar 2025

Posted by in Community rail, Community Rail Network, Newcastle, Photography, Railways, Travel

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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.

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

10th March picture of the day…

10 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, West Yorkshire

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Another week beckons. It’s not quite been the start I’d planned but nevertheless it’s been reasonably productive. All the pictures I took on Sunday have been edited, captioned and are now on my Zenfolio website. Follow this link to find out which galleries they’ve been added to.

A frustrating part of the day was that the weather was far better than had been predicted, with several hours of clear skies and sunshine. The snow and rain that was predicted last week has disappeared off the charts, not that it really matters as I’ve too many things to sort out before heading off to the Community Rail awards on Wednesday. Hopefully I can have another productive day tomorrow, ensuring the decks are cleared as the awards will be a busy few days.

As usual when I’m working from home I’ve been keeping an eye on the political news, which has provided some moments of schadenfreude. The Reform party continue to disintegrate as the war of words between their main characters escalates and becomes more bitter. This saga is going to run and run! There’s only going to be one winner (Farage) but that could prove to be a costly win. It’s clear that Farage isn’t openly racist enough for some Reform supporters, who’re rallying behind Rupert Lowe as he talks their language. The potential for a party split looms large…

Meanwhile, across the Pond, Elon Musk is having a bit of a ‘mare. Twitter (or X as he insists we call it) has had several outages today which he’s blaming on attacks by hackers. Of course, the fact he’s sacked many staff and is running the platform on a shoe-string won’t have helped! To add to his woes, Tesla’s share price is losing ground fast. Oh, and he’s managed to alienate both Poland and US senator Mark Kelly with widely publicised insults. The irony of an unelected South-African calling Kelly, an American war-veteran and ex-astronaut a ‘traitor’ has not been lost on people – even on Americans, who normally struggle with irony!

I can’t help wondering what mess Trump and Musk are going to create next…

Right, it’s time for me to go. I’ll leave you with a picture to brighten the evening up with. Here’s a view of the Victoria tower atop Castle Hill just outside Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, that I took last Saturday.

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Rolling blog. Sunday mixture….

09 Sunday Mar 2025

Posted by in Food and drink, Manchester, Photography, Railways, Travel

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After last night’s shindig the pair of us have had a low morning here in Manchester. Not that we were up late, more that we took our time before heading down to breakfast – and an excellent repast it was too. The Doubletree Hilton cater for all tastes, from traditional English (with added flair) to continental and Asian. Mind you, the clientele are so varied that the food has to be.

An English breakfast to set me up for the day.  It’ll be walked off by this evening!

Manchester wakes up late on a Sunday. Most shops don’t open before 11:00 – 11:30 which makes rushing rather pointless.

In the end, we did visit some shops, but it was more window than real shopping, then I said goodbye to Dawn at Victoria station whilst I stayed behind to get a few library shots. Retracing my steps to a rather quiet Piccadilly (due to engineering works and cancellations), I took a packed Transport for Wales service out to Stockport in order to bag a few long lens shots along the viaduct (pics later).

15:14.

Now, I’m heading back to Piccadilly to try a few more locations around the city. Low cloud’s creeping in on the fringes and the intensity of the sun’s dropping, so I may not hang around too long.

17:15.

Time to head back across the Pennines. I’ve had an interesting afternoon in the city, enjoying the weather, people-watching, and a few trains – although they’ve been in short supply. I ended up walking back through the city from Oxford Rd to Victoria. This allowed me to get a few architecture shots where the sun was just in the right place. As is usual, when I’m wandering around with a top-flight camera with a long lens attached, I ended up in a couple of conversations with other street photographers. It’s part of the fun! In one case, I even let a guy have a play with the Z9 with a 100-400 lens attached. I’m not trying to show off – I just knew they’d appreciate being able to handle and try out the camera. Just like I used to be.

Now I’m stood on a busy 2-car train heading East…

22:00.

I’m now back at Bigland Towers, giving me the opportunity to add a few camera shots from today.

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312