Category Archives: Photography

12th December picture of the day…

12 Tuesday Dec 2023

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

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It’s been another day spent cooped up in Bigland Towers for me although Dawn’s gradual recovery from the lurgi has enabled her to fly the coop and head off to meet her colleagues at the Community Rail Network in Huddersfield for the day.

Mind you, I’ve not missed much. We’ve had thick, low cloud throughout the day here in the Calder Valley. Initially I thought it was fog but this afternoon, after finishing penning my latest article for RAIL magazine I ventured down into Sowerby Bridge. After dropping a hundred meters I realised that actually, it wasn’t fog – I’d been in cloud level all day! I must admit, I’m beginning to tire of the endless dull days and wet weather. It saps the soul after a while. That’s why I’m looking forward to being able to get out and about more from today. I’ve still got stuff to do that requires the mobile office, but that can be done on the move as I don’t need the reference materials that line my office shelves. The only question’s going to be – where to go? Where’s the weather going to play ball? The answer seems to be – go West…

An attraction in that direction is that whilst Northern trains no longer have any diagrammed work for their shrinking fleet of class 319 trains (more of the fleet have gone for scrap already) several sets still get pressed into daily use between Liverpool-Wigan-Manchester and Blackpool. Maybe one last spin and photographs?

As I type this the news has just come in of the latest Tory psychodrama in Parliament. Sunak’s managed to get his Rwanda bill passed with a majority of 44. This is no victory, there’s lots more stages in the process which will drag out for a long time yet. Parliament goes into Christmas recess on the 19th December and doesn’t return until January 8th. The farce will drag on for months, then there’s consideration of the bill by the House of Lords who are almost certain to reject it in its present form (if the Commons don’t beat them to it after the Committee stage). It’s madness – utter madness. How can the Tories govern the country when they can’t even govern themselves? Whilst the rest of the country is bothered about real issues, like the economy, climate change, the NHS and more, the Tories are now stuck in an endless Rwanda loop. Of course, some backbench Tories will be very happy about this as it brings them into the limelight – especially those ‘red wall’ Tories like Miriam Cates (Penistone and Stocksbridge) with wafer-thin majorities who’re going to be binned on current polling projections. They know the Government’s toast. They’re just hoping a spell centre-stage might just save their own skins.

Expect little political or economic cheers this Christmas. The Government’s caught in a death-spiral and Sunak doesn’t have the nous to get himself out of it. Just look at his recent evidence to the Covid enquiry. Sunak was ‘bigged up’ by the Tories as a man with attention to detail. In contast, his evidence to the enquiry showed up a man with none at all. A man with such selective amnesia he couldn’t remember going to meetings, what was said in briefings, or even what direct advice he was given. As for Whatsapp messages – FFS! How is it Sunak and Johnson are the only people on the planet whose Whatsapp messages disappear when they change phones? They’re taking the piss! If Sunak ever writes his memoirs it’s going to be the thinnest book ever as the man can’t remember a bloody thing…

OK, time to go. I’ll leave you with a picture taken a few years ago. This is what the Calder valley is meant to look like – when it’s not got its head in the clouds! This is the view over Sowerby Bridge and the valley looking West from atop the Wainhouse Tower adjacent to our house, taken in August 2019.

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

11th December picture of the day…

11 Monday Dec 2023

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Yorkshire

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Another week that’s begin very much glued to my office chair – but at least my nurse’s uniform has been consigned to a cupboard for the foreseeable future! Dawn’s feeling a lot better and my brief fear that I was the next in line to go down with the lurgi appears to be unfounded. To add to the joy the latest storm has passed and we’ve even had some sunshine today.

Even so I’ve been confined to barracks as I’ve spent the day sat in front of a keyboard type-swiping. I’ve been kept occupied writing my next article for RAIL magazine which is on the High Speed 2 and East -West rail interface around Calvert in Buckinghamshire. My previous scribblings on the former Woodhead railway around Manchester and Sheffield will be published in the next edition of the mag which will hit the news stands on the 13th December.

I’ve a few more office-based bits to finish off tomorrow, after that I’m looking forward to getting out and about again. It’s been a torrid time on the railways this past week due to power and train failures along with a new timetable that’s seeing reduced services and overcrowding on some routes. Just what you don’t need in the run-up to Christmas. I’ll be blogging from my travels as later in the week I’ll be heading to London on one (if not both) of the affected routes. Oh, and there’s still the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) work to catch up on…

But, for now I’m going to leave you with today’s picture. which was taken on the former Woodhead railway route at Beeley wood near Stcoksbridge on the 25th October. This abandoned freight line has bee included in Rishi Sunak’s ridiculous ‘Network North’ con job masquerading as an ‘alternative’ to HS2. From a transport and economic perspective it a cross between a dead-duck and a turkey. There’s only one reason I can thank of that the line was included. It’s located in the ‘Red wall’ Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency of Miriam Cates MP, a socially conservative evangelical Christian Brexiter Tory (Oh, God… Ed) who won her seat in 2019 but will very much struggle to hold it. Funny, that…

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 December picture of the day…

10 Sunday Dec 2023

Posted by in Calder Valley, Huddersfield, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day

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We’ve had a mixed weekend here at Bigland Towers. mainly due to the weather – as in Dawn’s been under it whilst the real stuff has been a real pain in the arse! Thankfully, the bug that Dee contracted has responded to antibiotics so the cough that’s been giving us both sleepless night is receding. I’ve not known Dawn be off work this long or laid so low for a very long time indeed. Now all that’s needed is for her to regain her stamina and strength.

That was tested yesterday as it was the annual Christmas Concert in Huddersfield town hall which features the Honley Male Voice choir which Dee’s father sings in. She was loathe to miss it so we had an easy morning before sallying forth. That wasn’t easy as our timing co-incided with the arrival of yet another bloody storm! This time it was Storm Elin which brought high winds and torrential rain – just what you need when you’re walking across town to a concert as you can forget using an umbrella unless you fancy doing a Mary Poppins impression.

Thankfully we made it to the town hall soggy but intact and spent the next two hours getting into the Christmas spirit in fabulous surroundings. The town hall boasts a wonderfully decorated 1200 seat concert hall which is dominated by the massive organ behind the stage. The choir were accompanied by one of the best brass bands in the country Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band as well as the young ladies of Rastrick High School Chamber Choir. It was a great afternoon full of festive cheer.

Afterwards we had a couple of drinks with some of the choir members in the old courthouse inside the town hall before heading home to be battered by the wind and rain once more. It really was a filthy night and I didn’t envy the guys and gals who would be working trackside overnight at Huddersfield station and surrounds as part of the Trans-Pennine route upgrade.

Having picked up a very rare takeaway on our way home (we reckon it’s only the fourth we’ve had since Covid kicked in) the pair of us hunkered down for the night to listen to the wind and rain battering the cottage.

Today’s been very much home focussed. The storm beat itself out overnight but the rain remained along with flood warnings and notice of the next storm on its way. We’re expecting ‘Fergus’ tonight, apparently. I’ve spent much of the day swapping between garden and office in between showers as I’ve been desperate to get the gardens tidied for the winter. That’s not easy in these conditions as you need to be a mountain goat at the best of times to access the terraces at the back of the cottage. When stones and steps are wet and covered in slime and leaves you tread carefully. Still, between us we got a lot done. Whilst I was occupied outside Dawn beavered away inside, so we feel like we’ve achieved something this weekend in preparation for a busy week from tomorrow.

Now Dawn’s on the road to recovery I’ll be on the road too – so expect a few blogs from ‘out and about’ later in the week. But first I’ve got to get an ailing laptop repaired (the fan’s are suffering from asthma) as well as sort out some camera kit – and finish my next RAIL article.

In the meantime I’ll leave you with a picture and a video from yesterday so you can see the opulence of the concert hall in Huddersfield and also enjoy the finale of the concert. See you tomorrow….

Huddersfield Town hall concert hall.

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

6th December picture of the day…

06 Wednesday Dec 2023

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

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It’s already midweek here at Bigland Towers but the days have been merging somewhat. Poor Dawn’s really been knocked by the virus she picked up so her nights (and mine) have been disrupted by coughing fits. Our local GPs surgery have been excellent, so Dee’s now on a course of antibiotics which will hopefully shift the infection. In the meantime I’ve been around to cook, clean and mop (metaphorical) fevered brows. The weather here in the Calder valley’s been cold and mostly miserable, although we did have a stunning winters day yesterday as the sunshine was wall to wall. I’d love to have got out but there’s too much to do at home right now. As well as being a good husband/nurse I’ve been busy sorting out pictures and preparing for my next series of articles for RAIL magazine – as well as researching pictures for and publishing yesterday’s blog on the Class 319 trains.

In between I’ve been watching the slow implosion of the Government as the Conservative party continues to rip itself apart over an impossible policy (Rwanda) and their obsession with immigration, as if it’s somehow going to save their skins politically.

Yesterday they announced an utterly mad and on the hoof idea to restrict immigration by raising the wages threshold for people wanting to bring their spouses to the UK. It would mean 75% of Britons being banned from doing so as they don’t earn enough money. The policy started to fall apart as soon as it was announced, like all knee-jerk ideas that ignored expert opinion, reality, facts and law.

Today the shitshow has reached new levels, or more accurately – plumbed new depths. Former Home Secretary Cruella (don’t you mean Suella? Ed) Braverman, surrounded by a coterie of Tory ultra-right wing MPs made a speech to the House of Commons denouncing the PM in which she said the quiet bit out loud, admitting that all this is about one thing and one thing only, keeping the Tories in power (and her as new Leader, obviously). As if it couldn’t get any worse, the Home Secretary James Cleverly announces a revised Rwanda policy that is so right-wing (throwing down a ‘I dare you’) challenge to the judiciary and international law even the Rwandans back away from it, saying they can’t be party to an agreement that doesn’t respect international law! Can you imagine? Finally, Immigration Minister, Robert Jenrick – the man who insisted cartoons in detention centres to calm incarcerated children should be painted over ‘cos it made them too ”welcoming’ has resigned because all this wasn’t right-wing enough! To add the icing on the cake we’re now told right-wing Tories are submitting letters to the 1922 Committee to precipitate YET ANOTHER tory leadership election, which would lead to the 6th Tory PM since 2010!

Mad, utterly mad! But this is the state of the Tory party (and sadly, our Government) in 2023. We have a dysfunctional Goverment intent on keeping itself in power to continue picking at the carcass of the British economy and damn the consequences for ordinary people. They’ll be alright Jack. They’ll have their Government pensions and the rest od us can go swing as they reckon they’ll have done enough damage that Labour won’t be able to survive more than one term in office before they stage a return to suck more out of us. Jesus, what has the UK become? And yet, there’s still around 20% of voters who think this bunch are doing a good job and are worth re-electing. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry…

Meanwhile, in the background, the Covid enquiry is playing out with that sack of custard Boris Johnson taking the stand and blustering, lying and evading all the way through.

So, what happens next? God knows. It’s like the introduction of the 1970s American spoof TV series ‘Soap’ which had the introduction “confused? You will be – after the next episode of – Soap!” Only ‘Soap’ was funny – and more plausible…

So, what picture am I going to leave you with today? I know. The Grim Reaper has been shopping early for Christmas, having taken several people this past couple of weeks, including politician Henry Kissinger, musician Denny Laine and former UK Transport Minister and Chancellor, Alistair Darling.

Darling was everything this Tory bunch shysters and chancers will never be. A serious politician who, on his death, no-one had a bad word to say about (even if they hadn’t agreed with him politically). Imagine if it had been Boris Johnson and not Alistair Darling as Chancellor during the 2008 world banking crisis? It wouldn’t just have been his wife, mistresses and the UK he’d have screwed….

I photographed Darling several times. This occasion was the National Rail Conference in March 2006.

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

It’s the end of the line for the class 319…

05 Tuesday Dec 2023

Posted by in British Railways (BR), Class 319, Northern Rail, Photography, Thameslink, The end of the line

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The December 10th timetable change was due to see the last of the BR built Class 319s leave passenger service*. 86 of these 4-car, 100 mph dual voltage units were built in two batches between 1987-88 and 1990. The original stomping ground was the new ‘Thameslink’ service from Bedford, through central London on the reopened Farringdon – Blackfriars route and out to Brighton.

Since being displaced by Siemens built Class 700s in the early 2010s they’ve had a varied career working for Northern and London Midland as well as some units being converted to bi-mode diesel-electric (Class 769) or even hydrogen. Right now, the final handful left in service are operating Northern services between Liverpool-Wigan-Blackpool, Wigan-Manchester or even Manchester Airport-Bolton-Blackpool.

So, here’s the start of a blog looking back at their lives and times…

Only 3 years old, 319024 on their original Network South-East livery is seen departing from Luton with a Southbound service on the 2nd March 1990. As they were new and film wasn’t cheap I rarely photographed these trains, which in retrospect was a mistake.
On the 28th April 1990 319047 leaves Bedford empty stock before reversing in the nearby sidings and working a later service for the South. Network South-East red paint is very much in evidence in this shot!
It was to be another 6 years before I took another shot of a Class 319, 21st April 1996 to be precise. Here’s 319163, a set from the 26 strong 1990 batch pictured at Purley in between turns
319004 wearing Connex livery sits under the skeletal roof of the old Rugby station on the 9th August 1999 whilst waiting to work the 18:39 to Gatwick airport. This cross-London shuttle between the two destinations was introduced in June 1997 but cut back to Watford Junction from the December 2000 timetable change.
Now we move forward in time from the BR to the Connex era and the 10th April 2001 when 319220 is pictured leaving London Victoria with an express service to Brighton. Seven Class 319s were renumbered from the 0 to 2 series in 1997 when they were altered internally to provide lower density seating and a ‘lounge’ area with buffet counter in the pantograph car.
With pantograph down and operating on 3rd rail, Thameslink liveried 319427 speeds towards London Bridge from Brighton through South Croydon on the 6th May 2004
Between September 2004-May 2005 the central Thameslink core was shut to allow construction of the ‘Thameslink box’ below St Pancras which would house the new Thameslink station, replacing the cramped Kings Cross Thameslink station. As a result, Thameslink services from Bedford and St Albans terminated in the new Eastern side of St Pancras International that’s now used by South-Eastern. Here’s 319001 and 319450 seen in St Pancras on the 29th October 2004.
It’s the 19th February 2005 and Thameslink’s 319422 is seen at St Pancras sporting ‘back the bid’ branding in support of London’s (later successful) attempt to win the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games. What a different country we seem to be now compared to those heady, optimistic days!
London’s skyline has changed dramatically during the 21st century as this view of 319441 Heading East from London Bridge on the 5th April 2005 demonstrates.
Here’s another London scene that’s changed out of all recognition! It’s the 11th July 2006 and 319449 is sporting the later Thameslink livery, seen with a sister unit in Southern colours, departing from the old Blackfriars station and crossing the Thames with St Paul’s cathedral in the background
We move forward in time to the 24th October 2007 when First Capital Connect had taken over Thameslink services. Here’s 319431 caught in the daylight between tunnels in Central London on its way from the old Kings Cross Thameslink station towards Farringdon.
Also on the 24th October 319380 arrives at the cramped old Kings Cross Thameslink station with a service to Bedford.
Between morning and evening peaks sets 319453 and 319002 are stabled in Moorgate station on the 23rd July 2008. This FCC rush-hour service was living on borrowed time as the branch from Farringdon was soon to be severed to allow platforms at Farringdon to be extended.
On the 30th June 2016, 319439 puts in an appearance at Brighton, the Southernmost end of the Thameslink route where it’s seen waiting to work a service to Bedford.

On the 24th February 2015 the press were invited to Allerton depot in Liverpool to see the unveiling of the new ‘Northern electrics’ Class 319s which received a new livery and internal refresh that included new seat moquette. Afterwards we were treated to a run on one of the sets and opportunity to visit the cab. Here’s a few pictures from the event.

319362 sporting the new livery outside Allerton depot.
The refreshed interior of the press train (319365) showing the new seat mocquette.
Driver Jason Wakefield at the controls of 319365.
Another view of the refreshed interior of 319365.
On their transfer, the Northern Class 319s acquired a new ‘Northern electrics’ livery and branding. 319364 is sporting the colour scheme in this shot taken at Crewe on the 11th May 2015.
Exactly a month later on the 11th June 2015, 319368 is seen at Salford in Manchester with a service tp Liverpool Lime St from Manchester Victoria. This area’s changed completely as the Ordsall chord and Viaduct cross the foreground now!
On the 9th August 2016, 319441 and a sister unit sit empty at Euston before working an afternoon rush-hour service North. Several sets had been loaned to London Midland to replace their Class 321 units which were bound for Scotrail.
London Midland’s successor, London North-Western retained the class 319s until the 27th November 2023. Here’s one of them, 319214 seen at Euston on the evening of the 3rd December 2019. The set bears no branding or livery.
How they look now. Here’s 319369 sporting Northern livery as it arrives at Liverpool Lime St on a service from Wigan North Western on the 24th November this year.

UPDATE: 19th December.

At the time of writing the last handful of 319s remain available for traffic and – whilst they have no booked work – anything between 1-4 get pressed into service to cover for unavailable units. I managed to get out on the 12th when a pair of the sets were working Manchester Airport – Bolton – Blackpool North diagrams although crew shortages meant some of the trips were cancelled or the trains run as empty stock.

Here’s 319368 working 1N50, the 15:17 from Manchester Airport to Blackpool North, seen calling at Leyland.

If you want to enjoy more pictures of the Class 319s you can find them in the following galleries;

Thameslink

First Capital Connect

London Midland

Northern

The current Northern operation

*Yes, I know the bi-mode Class 769s remain in service with Northern, but as they’re converted Class 319s they don’t count!

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

3rd December picture(s) of the day…

03 Sunday Dec 2023

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

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The pair of us have had a quiet day here at Bigland Towers due to the weather, as in Dawn’s under it – and the real stuff is delivering fog and snow!

Poor Dee’s still struggling with a virus (not Covid, just a run of the mill one) that’s left her feeling listless and fed up, so I’ve been on nursing/shopping/cooking duty and not ventured far throughout the day. That said, as the Calder Valley’s been hidden by fog all day there’s really been no point. Plus, I’ve plenty to keep me occupied with in-between supplying Beecham’s powders and food!

One thing I’ve discovered today is that Magpies love Yorkshire pudding! Maybe it’s the way Dawn makes them but there was one left in the fridge with a bit of veg which I was throwing out when I thought ‘I wonder if the birds will eat it’? So, I chopped everything up and left it in the garden. The pud’, roast potatoes and parsnip disappeared within an hour as Magpies, Blackbirds and Robins polished it off in short order.

This afternoon the snow returned earlier than forecast. I wasn’t convinced it was going to stick but stick it did, which made my evening walk rather interesting. Today’s pictures are from that stroll.

Savile Park looking very moody as I walked home after having a ‘swifty’ in our local, the Big 6. I love it when fresh snow sticks to trees.
Later, my walk home took me through Scarr Woods which look very eerie and very serene in this weather. We’re blessed with some great places to walk right on our doorstep. Sometimes you encounter deer in these woods, but I wouldn’t be in the least surprised if a Unicorn crossed my path in conditions like this.

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

2nd December picture of the day…

02 Saturday Dec 2023

Posted by in Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways

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I can’t quite believe that we’re in the final month of 2023 and the festive season is just a few weeks away. Where’s the year gone? Admittedly, part of me is impatient to see the back of 2023. It’s not been a vintage year and 2024 offers the possibility of getting rid of this corrupt, shambolic Government once and for all – before they do even more damage. Sunak’s had his chance. He had the opportunity to prove he wasn’t like Johnson. Problem is, he was more like Truss! The Tories are staring into the electoral abyss but all Sunak can do is listen to the wrong people whilst showing he doesn’t really give a damn about the UK or its future. It’s all an egotistical game to him. His levels of posturing and game playing are off the scale whilst he ignores the real issues that matter.

Political pondering aside the vast majority of my day has been spent wearing my (metaphorical) nurses uniform as Dawn’s once more fallen foul of the lurgi that’s bedeviled her for the past few weeks. So, today’s been a day where I’ve been occupied with shopping, cooking and being on-call to supply a stream of hot drinks, snacks and suchlike to Dee whilst she’s been in her sickbed. Mind you, it’s been a good day to be confined to barracks. The snow that arrived the other day hasn’t really gone anywhere due to the freezing temperatures. A day of sunshine has helped clear some of the pavements but many are still treacherous. More snow is on the way according to the forecast, so I’m glad I’ve spent time cooking and topping up the freezer with a variety of spicy delights – just in case.

Now, having kept myself busy with all manner of tasks it’s time to wind down with a glass of wine and select today’s picture. What to choose? How about this, from my brief visit to London earlier in the week.

The Caledonian sleeper sits at Euston station on a rainy Sunday night before beginning its journey to Scotland. This is 1S25, the 21:15 from London Euston. The train divides at Edinburgh where it splits into separate portions to Inverness and Fort William. The train’s hauled by a Class 92 locomotive. 46 were ordered by British Rail to haul heavy freight trains through the channel tunnel but were always sadly under-used, Many have now moved abroad to Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania. A few, like this one, have been bought by GBRf to provide traction for the Caledonian Sleeper.

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. I’m back – with another HS2 visit…

29 Wednesday Nov 2023

Posted by in East-West rail, Hs2, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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07:00

Apologies for the lack of promised blogs these past couple of days. My absence was due to events beyond my control. But now I’m back, with a visit to the HS2/East West rail interchange site at Calvert in Buckinghamshire. It’s an important site as not only does it contain the intersection of E-W rail and HS2, it’s also the location of HS2’s IMD (Infrastructure Maintenance Depot). Tracklaying from E-W into the site has been ongoing for weeks and the main earthworks and bridge over the HS2 route has now been handed over. I’ll add pictures after the visit.

It’s bleeding Baltic here in the Pennines and very icy. So much so Dawn insisted on giving me a lift to the station as the pavements and cobbles (yes, we do still have ’em here) are so slippy and treacherous. It took us a while to defrost the car as the frost was so bad. But thanks to may wonderful wife I made it to the station in one piece.

Right now I’m on Northern’s 06:45 from Halifax to Manchester Victoria. This train’s made up of a pair of CAF built Class 195s but despite the fact it’s a four-car it’s very busy. Lots of us have laptops out as this is a popular business train. Whilst we’re busy typing, other passengers are busy dozing and making the most of the chance to catch some shut-eye in the warm and quiet.

I’ll blog throughout the day as I can, so feel free to pop back later to see what I get up to.

09:15.

Frustrating. I’d published a blog update from my refurbished Pendolino but the damned thing hasn’t loaded due to the wifi repeatedly dropping out. Ho hum. Let’s tey again…

Whilst I was wrapped up warm for my stroll across Manchester city centre I couldn’t help but feel for the poor homeless souls I passed asleep in doorways. At the Arndale centre I passed a group of six people huddled together for warmth under a mess of sleeping bags and blankets. They were lucky. I saw many solo sleepers with no-one to offer warmth or companionship. It’s a tragedy, and one our cynical government is exploiting as a distraction. The poor aren’t screwing the country the Tories friends are. The wealthy tax-avoiders and those who’ve raked in millions off the sale of dodgy PPE.

At Piccadilly I joined Pendolino 390132 working the 08:15 to Euston. Most of the trip’s been through thick fog with odd clear patches like this one as we crossed the famous viaduct at Stockport.

The frost and fog covered countryside looks lovely, but then I’m in the warm with a flask of coffee. I might feel differently if I was in the outside looking in!

10:07.

My Pendolino rattled its way to Milton Keynes where I’m now waiting for fellow journo and snapper Phil Marsh who’s kindly offered me a lift as we’re both going to the same event.

16:30.

I’m currently speeding North again after a busy but fascinating day where we were given a grand tour of the EKFB construction site at Calvert that allowed us access to places the public never get to visit. Our small group were given a full briefing by project managers on the work that been completed, is still underway or has yet to start. Some of the statistics are mind-boggling. The old E-W rail ‘Varsity line’ embankments have been raised by 6 meters where it crosses HS2. This is a complete reversal as originally, the Great Central trackbed that HS2 reuses passed over the ‘Varsity line’ at that point.

The East-West rail intersection bridge over HS2 looking East. This is the final phase, the 400m long ‘plug’ between tracklaying from the West (behind the camera) and the East. Below the bridge to the right can be seen the HS2 trace heading South.
A similar view looking further South-East, showing the HS2 trace and the edge of the Calvert Jubilee nature reserve that the Wildlife Trusts claimed had been ‘destroyed’ by HS2. As can be seen, it’s actually in rude health as HS2 is merely clipped off what was originally old railway land.
Looking West along East-West rail with the intersection bridge behind me. Tracklaying on this section will be completed in very early January 2024. There used to be a road overbridge in the middle foreground of this picture but with the E-W embankment having been raised 6 meters at this point the road’s been diverted under a new road underbridge.

17:55.

We’ve just left Doncaster en-route to Leeds. The 16:03 from Kings Cross is being worked by one of LNER’s Mk4 and Class 91 loco sets and been busy all the way. Many passengers appear to be dozing in the heat after what’s been a cold day all round, although I suspect we’re all going to get a rude awakening when we step off the train on arrival in Leeds!

19:25.

It wasn’t just the cold weather that was a problem at Leeds, it was the usual late-running and cancellations that added to it. My LNER service was late into the city, then my next connection to Halifax was late. Admittedly only only 8 mins, but. Once we all piled onto the Hull – Halifax 3-car (which became rammed) we were stuck in the station awaiting the road due to congestion. Of course by 2033 congestion at Leeds would have been a thing of the past as the newly opened HS2 station would have solved that problem. Then a bunch of incompetents masquerading as a government cancelled it.

Things didn’t improve en-route. The Conductor came onto the PA to announce our service would be canned at Bradford Interchange – but there was a late running Chester service only a few minutes behind! So, that’s alright then (you’re being sarcastic again, aren’t you? Ed).

To Hull and back – but from Bradford, not Halifax…

I’ve managed to find a seat on the Chester service which (thank the Gods – or Northern Control as they’re known) is a pair of 2-car class 195s. Now I’ll arrive in Halifax 40 mins late. Thankfully, Dawn’s waiting for me so I won’t have to slip and slide walking home as it’s certainly another cold one tonight…

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. Anyone for tennis (elbow)?…

24 Friday Nov 2023

Posted by in Class 319, Northern Rail, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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09:45.

Regular readers of this blog will know I’ve talked about a problem I’ve been having with my right elbow. Well, this morning I had a call from a lovely Physio nurse down at our local GPs surgery who gave me a consultation over the phone. By the end of it we still weren’t sure of the problem so Emma asked if I could make an appointment to see her. As it was, I was free and could be there in 20 minutes, so we arranged for an 09:00 consultation today How’s that for service?

A face to face visit and chance for Emma to physically get to grips with my arm revealed the problem. I had what’s known as ‘tennis elbow’. “Dunno why”, said Emma, “I’ve never met a tennis player with it, I’ve never met a golfer with golfers elbow either. I suppose it’s just easier to say than lateral epicondylitis”.

It transpires it’s just another hazard of my occupation. Essentially, it’s a repetitive strain injury. Now I know I can change my behaviours that led to it. It will eventually go away, it’s just one more bit of my body to add to the list of those that have suffered for my art!

As I was already in Sowerby Bridge and it was early (and I had the camera bag) I decided to make hay whilst the sun shone, so I’m now on my way to Manchester to add more library images of Northern’s Class 319s before they go. My train’s a packed pair of Class 195s forming the 09:22 to Chester. I’ve no idea why it’s so busy but it’s good to see.

11:15.

After changing at Manchester Victoria for a fast TPE service to Liverpool I’ve made it to Lime St, the haunt of the trains I’m here to shoot. Here’s one of them with the type of train due to replace them. Class 323s are being displaced from the West Midlands, when they’ll head North to boost Northern’s existing 323 fleet – of which this is one..

319366 and 323224 both between turns at Liverpool Lime St.
319370 arrives at Wigan North Western whilst working 1F07, the 13.05 Blackpool North to Liverpool Lime St.
There roughly a fortnight left to see sights like this, although the number of 319s in service is declining week by week. Here’s 319386 about to work 2W90, the 1542 Liverpool Lime Street to Wigan North Western whilst 319366 waits having arrived on 2C19, the 1452 from Wigan North Western.
319386 leaving Lime ST, working 2W90, the 1542 to Wigan North Western.
Whilst the 319s are mostly found on the Liverpool – Wigan – Blackpool corridor there are a few peak diagrams that take them from Liverpool and Wigan to Manchester Victoria. Here’s 319386 at Victoria, waiting to leave after a fast turnaround due to late running. It’s forming 2G95, THE 1713 Manchester Victoria to Wigan North Western.

18:50.

Apologies for the blogging gap but I’ve been on the move a lot so had little time to bash the keyboards. Right now I’m at Hebden Bridge on my way home. Everything’s gone a bit ‘Pete Tong’ with many trains cancelled or delayed – including my connection to Sowerby Bridge. I only found out when I got here otherwise I’d have stayed on my original train to Halifax. Still, there’s worse places to be stuck for a while and the waiting room’s as warm as toast!

Just about every train I’ve been on today (and that’s been a few) has been packed. There’s certainly no shortage of passengers, especially on the Liverpool – Blackpool route. This may become a squeeze when train capacity’s cut by 25% come the December timetable change.

In the meantime, the 319s are soldiering on, although they are looking a bit careworn. Still, as their next destination’s the scrapyard, is anyone too bothered?

From a photographic perspective, today’s been a reasonable day. I’ve managed to add some new locations (for 319s, anyway) to the library even if I couldn’t make full use of the glorious sunshine. This evening the mercury is dropping rapidly, so I’m happy to head home. Besides, I’m on my travels again on Sunday/Monday so I’m going to give the elbow some room to rest!

19:41.

Almost home. There’s just time for a quick pint of hazy IPA at the Hogshead Brew House in Sowerby Bridge to fortify myself for the hike uphill to Bigland Towers. Cheers!

Saturday 26th update.

I’ve added a few more pictures to this blog from yesterday.

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

22nd November picture(s) of the day…

22 Wednesday Nov 2023

Posted by in Merseyside, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Travel

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After yesterday’s adventures chasing trains today’s been a complete contrast and very much home-based. Our day started earlier than planned as the window company who were fitting some new windows to the cottage turned up at 08:00 instead of the 09:00 they’d told Dawn! Cue a mad scramble to get ready earlier, not so big a deal for me as I’d been up early, moving things out of the way of the workers, but women do take longer over their toilette! (You’ll get killed for that: Ed).

The chap who’d turned up to fit the windows was relaxed about the muddle and retreated to his van for another brew until we were ready. Not that the work started immediately. It turns out his family are from the same West Yorkshire village Dawn’s parents grew up in – Marsden. Not only that, but Dee’s mum knew his family and used to take one of his Uncles to school! So, as you can imagine, some reminiscing went on – especially when Dee’s mum rang and was put on speakerphone…

All our upstairs windows were being replaced, including the one in my office so I was exiled downstairs to share the living room with Dawn whilst Andrew and his oppo worked away in the bedroom, bathroom and office. Talk about a bad day to have new windows put in. Our run of crap weather continued with rain and drizzle hanging around for much of the day. Then, late morning, the gales arrived and stayed with us all day. Upstairs was like a wind-tunnel and downstairs wasn’t much better as the guys had to constantly traipse through the house. Conditions weren’t much fun for them either. Whilst I kept everyone topped up with tea, coffee and biscuits Dee decided that lunchtime meant it was egg and bacon teacakes* all round. Her culinary efforts in the kitchen were certainly appreciated by all. After all, none of us are Tories so we really were all in this together!

The guys finished around 16:00 which gave me time to do some clearing up whilst Dawn continued working, after which we swapped roles so I could get back into the office to do some of the stuff I couldn’t with just a laptop perched on the edge of a settee. I’m loving my new office window. The old three panel one’s been replaced by a single pane which is letting in a lot more light. It’s also obstruction free for when I want to take pictures of the birds hanging off the feeders or foraging on the plants and rocks on the terrace. There feels to be a noticeable drop in draughts too – although that could be wishful thinking at this point. Time will tell.

Right, time to call it a day and leave you with a picture rather than get into some spleen-venting over today’s latest Tory lies around the autumn statement. I’ve a fun day tomorrow so that can wait. Here’s another picture from yesterday’s travels.

The number of signalboxes on the UKs railways is dwindling at a steady rate. Slow modernisation of signalling systems which concentrates control in just a handful of Regional Operating Centres (ROCs) is sounding the death-knell of local boxes, especially the old mechanical ones. Only a handful survive, but one that does – despite the line having been electrified and resignalled in recent years is the old LMS box at St Helens Central. Admittedly, it’s changed a bit. Here’s two pictures to illustrate the difference. The first was taken yesterday, the second was taken 32 years ago in 1991.

The box seen on the 17th June 1991 when there were still active Civil Engineers sidings in the old goods yard behind the box. Nowadays the tracks are still there but overgrown by the trees you see in yesterday’s shot.

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