Category Archives: Photography

A look at the 08e battery shunting locomotive.

22 Sunday Oct 2023

Posted by in Barrow Hill, Class 08, Green issues, Photography, Railways

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On Thursday at Barrow Hill roundhouse near Chesterfield, Positive Traction showcased their new Class 08 shunting locomotive which has been converted from diesel to battery electric power, making it free from carbon, NOx and particulate emissions. The re-engineered locomotive (08308) has several other improvements and refinements, updating an English Electric design that dates back to 1934.

The beauty of converting an 08 compared to building a completely new design is that the 08 has ‘Grandfather rights’ so doesn’t need to go through a time-consuming acceptance procedure as it’s ‘simply’ a re-engined existing design, although that description doesn’t really do this locomotive justice.

The old English Electric diesel engine’s been replaced with Lithium-Ferro-Phosphate (LFP) 88kwh batteries supplied by Lithion Battery Inc. Up to six ‘plug in’ batteries can be fitted under the new, lower body which has replaced the fuel tank, engine and radiator assembly. The batteries and control equipment module are designed to be able to be changed in minutes using a forklift truck.

The existing cab and control desk has been retained although visibility has been improved by fitting extra windows front and back. The compensate for the 19 tonnes of weight removed 10 and 20mm thick steel plates have been fitted above the frames. The cab’s also been enhanced with double-glazing, roof-mounted heating, ventilation and an HVAC unit.

Other improvements include standard BMAC light clusters, regenerative braking and CCTV whilst the connecting rod bearings have been replaced with oil-free Vesconite units made in South Africa. These bearings reduce maintenance and prevent oil loss-making the shunter an attractive proposition in depots and lines where pollution is a concern.

A further improvement is that the 08e prototype is rated at 450hp, 50hp higher than a conventional 08. Tractive effort has been increased from 35,000lbf to 45,000lbf (200kn) the same as a Class 33 locomotive.

Whilst only a prototype the potential of these conversions is clear. UK railways (mainline, industrial and preserved) still rely on the 08 for many duties. Converting these to 08e would make a real difference to yards and railways around the country, continuing the quest to cut carbon emissions and pollution.

Here’s a selection of pictures from the day.

08308 on the turntable at Barrow Hill
A view of the cab front showing the new light clusters and extra window to aid visibility. This is enhanced by the addition of exterior CCTV.
The new body which contains the control equipment and up to six battery pods. The extra steel plating which has been added can be seen above the existing solebar.
Paul Riley from Positive Traction discussing the merits of the 08e with interested bystanders.
The new electrical socket which replaces the old oil line. The 08e is designed to be recharged off an standard 415v shore supply rather than needing specialist chargers.
The 08e cab showing the mix of old and new. The extra windows above the cab desk that have been fitted thanks to removal of the old fuel tank, diesel engine and subsequent bodyshell reduction are the most obvious change. Plus the LCD screens in the control desk.
The new Siemens Simatic control panel fitted to the right hand side of the control desk displaying the ‘Powertrain’ control software window.

And finally, here’s a video of the 08e in action. The loco still has its EE506 traction motors – hence the traditional sounds – even if there’s no longer the burble from the EE 6KT engine!

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. Chesterfield challenge…

19 Thursday Oct 2023

Posted by in Derbyshire, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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07:15.

Another day another mission…

I was up with the lark to prepare myself for another day out looking at aspects of the UK’s railways. Yesterday it was training, today it’s innovation. I’m off to have a look at a conversion of a member of a class of locomotive that’s UKs oldest design still in regular service, the venerable Class 08 diesel shunter.

1057 of the 350hp Class 08s were built between 1952 and 1962. Based on an earlier design by the LMS railway they became to standard UK shunting engine, despite their single cab and limited visibility. They’re still in service today although in vastly reduced numbers. This is 08683, seen at Eastleigh on the 29th September this year.

I’ll write about this in detail later. Right now I’ve got to make my way to Chesterfield. I’ll blog throughout the day so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to.

08:20.

Well, there’s been some spectacular skies this morning thanks to low sun and broken cloud reflecting the light, but after that things started falling apart. My first train of the day is a Grand Central service from Halifax to Wakefield Kirkgate where I have a four minute cross platform connection with a train to Sheffield. There’s just one problem. GC left Bradford 3 minutes late and left Halifax 5 minutes late – and we haven’t stopped at Brighouse or Mirfield yet! Now, in theory – we may be able to pull a minute or so back as timings on this section are pedestrian at best, but I’m not optimistic…

A rather battered 180114 arrives at Halifax from Bradford.

We’ve just left Mirfield and made up no time at all. Will I make my connection at Wakefield, well, we have a clear run, so we just might do it, but it’ll be tight!

08:48.

A check of Real Time Trains tells me that nowadays this service stands at Horbury Junction for nearly 10 mins due to pathing. It always used to do this in Wakefield itself. So, now I should make my connection as we’re passing Horbury now.

09:25.

Well, that was a classic bit of piss-poor train regulation! Having passed Horbury Jn my CG service was signal-checked twice before being allowed into Kirkgate. We sat, just outside the station to allow my connection (the service to Lincoln, which left EARLY) to speed past us in the opposite direction!

Thankfully, running just a few minutes behind is a local stopping service to Sheffield which will allow me to make my connection but reduce my time between trains. Mind you, looking at the weather that may be no bad thing. It’s grim out there!

10:05.

Not a vintage day on the railway. My 2 car train burbled its way as far as Meadowhall where it got stuck for some unknowable reason, arriving at Sheffield 5 mins late, giving me just 5 mins to make my connection with an East Midlands Railway service to London via Chesterfield. Only – that’s late too! Thank God I have a few minutes in the bank. And now for the scrum…

10:10.

We’re off. This 5 car Meridan is 25 mins late coming up from London, which hasn’t helped. Add in the usual confusion as folks try and find their reserved seats or ones that are free and the delays mount.

Still, my worries are over. I’ll make the connecting bus that’s being laid on to take us from Chesterfield to Barrow Hill so that’s all that matters. After this any delays don’t matter as I’m not against the clock.

10:35.

Impressive! Stagecoach’s Matt Kitchen in co-operation with Volvo have supplied an electric bus to get us to Barrow Hill.

11:20.

There’s a good turnout here at Barrow Hill.

Here are some technical details of the loco we’ve come to look at…

– and here’s the beast itself!

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. An electrifying day…

18 Wednesday Oct 2023

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Wiltshire

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06:30.

Today’s going to be a long one! I’m currently enjoying a coffee in my room whilst checking my kit and making sure everything’s charged up and cleaned whilst keeping one eye on the TV weather reports. Today’s going to be mixed to say the least with a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers forecast, which should make things ‘interesting’ to say the least. The trainees on the electrification course are going to get a taste of what it’s really like working trackside in all weathers! Then, when we’re finished I’ve got to head back to West Yorkshire ready for another interesting event tomorrow.

I’ll blog throughout the day as I can so feel free to pop back and see what I’m getting up to.

08:35.

We’re kicking off here at the Jane Austin training scholl with a classroom lesson on OLE. The first briefing’s being given by Gary Keenor, who’s literally written the book on OLE.

Here’s the plan. Looks simple, doesn’t it?

Here’s some technical jargon for you.

One of the things I enjoy about jobs like this is that I get to learn things, in this case about the intricacies of overhead line engineering. It’s fascinating – especially when you have such knowledgeable trainers as Gary.

13:00.

Having enjoyed lunch and chance to dry out from the rain, it’s time to go back to training.

17:00.

We might have had a soggy morning but that was nothing to what arrived in the afternoon! The forecast was well out and none of the sunny periods expected arrived. Instead we had rain. Lashings of it! Thankfully I’d anticipated these conditions by packing a waterproof housing for my camera. Without it I’d never have been able to get pictures of the group working together to roll out and tension a cable run. I’ll add a couple of camera pictures later. The conditions mirrored those that rail staff face when they’re working, but it was a baptism of fire for trainees where many had never even been trackside before. The day finished early as there was no point in starting another activity after the cable run. So, whilst the rest of the gang made their way back to the hotel to dry off (on the outside, anyway) I hotfoot it to the station to get an earlier train. I’m now on the 16:40 from Swindon to Paddington. This is a busy train but I’ve managed to find a table bay in one of the rear coaches which had free seats. Now I’m enjoying watching the flooded Wiltshire countryside flash by as I head back to the capital.

19:10.

yet again my time in London was brief. I dived off the train at Paddington having chosen the best coach for the quickest route to the Metropolitan underground station (benefits of being an ex-Londoner) so made it to Kings Cross with a couple of minutes to spare in order to catch an earlier train. I’m now on the 18:03 to Leeds which will get me home nearly an hour earlier than I was originally expecting.

Admittedly, the train’s packed, not helped by the fact it’s only a five-car Azuma to Skipton where the first stop was Peterborough. I’ve been resident of a vestibule since the ‘Cross as the seats vacated by ‘posh’ commuters were soon filled by others joining form points East.

22:00.

I’m home and dry – literally! Dawn was good enough to come to the station to pick me up so I’m now letting my PPE air. The weather here in West Yorkshire’s damp but nowhere near as wet as Wiltshire was which is a relief – especially as I’m out and about again tomorrow, only this time on a rather different event – all will be revealed as it happens!

I said I’d post a couple of camera pictures from today – so here they are…

Putting those earlier plans into practice…

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. Positional move…

17 Tuesday Oct 2023

Posted by in London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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Today I’m travelling from Halifax to Swindon where I’ll be spending the night in a hotel ready for a commission tomorrow. In railway terms it’s known as a positional move.

Right now I’m on an LNER ‘Azuma’ from Leeds to London, having travelled to Yorkshire’s most bustling city on a busy 3-car Northern service via Bradford.

800102 working the 10:45 from Leeds to Kings Cross.

11:20.

We’re currently at Doncaster, waiting for the road South. This train’s fairly quiet so I’ve bagged a table bay to myself in coach C as most people never venture towards the back of the train. There may be a storm on the way and tomorrow’s job (outdoors) may get ‘interesting’ but here in Yorkshire we’ve high cloud and hazy sunshine. I’m hoping to be able to garner some library shots on my way but as I’m loaded down with a suitcase with all my PPE I’m not going to be venturing far from stations en-route.

Right now there’s time to settle down and do some work – as well as catch up with the latest copy of RAIL magazine which includes my article on HS2 and the bridge over the route near Aylesbury.

12:20.

With the train having called at Peterborough (and stood to time as we were four minutes early) my coach has filled out a bit with a mixture of American tourists, students and what look like day-trippers, all heading for the capital. The weather’s continuing to improve the further I head South. We’ve clear blue skies and cottonwool clouds with long periods of sunshine. Long may that continue! Right now we’re speeding across the Cambridgeshire flatlands ahead of time yet again.

There’s an interesting contrast in this coach. The party of middle-aged and younger Americans are sat chatting. I can’t see them as they’re sat behind me, but I can hear them. In the table bay opposite are three women students. There’s not a word being spoken. One’s sat there with headphones on, staring at her smartphone. Of the pair opposite her one’s on her phone whilst the other has it on the table in front of her as she gazes out of the window.

13:35.

My visit to the capital was brief. I didn’t hang around at Kings Cross because it’s a regular haunt so I immediately headed for the Underground

I decided to cut time short when I arrived at Paddington and saw how devoid of trains it was and how many services were shown as delayed. That was a shame as I rarely visit nowadays but there’s little to shoot in an empty station! In contrast trip across London on the underground was quick and easy. I only had a couple of minutes to wait at Kings Cross St Pancras before a Metropolitan line train arrived to whisk me away.

Comfortable but uncrowded conditions on the Met…

Right now i’m on the 13:31 hrading for Cheltenham Spa as it was the first available train I can use to get as far as Reading

17:25.

I’ve made it to Swindon via a few stopovers on the way, including one at Didcot where I came across evidence of another terminally stupid and short-sighted Tory transport decision. The line from Didcot to Oxford was being electrified when then Transport Minister Crhis (failing) Grayling cancelled the project. Contractors literally walked away from the sceme when it was half-completed, wasting £ms of pounds. Sound familiar? Yep, it’s the usual dither and delay we’ve come to expect from this rotton government. Here’s the legacy. Electric services from Paddington terminate here with a diesel shuttle to Oxford. Madness.

Right, it’s time for me to go to work and meet the good folks from the Permenant Way Institute who are here for their two day practical course which I’ll be shadowing.

22:00.

This blog’s no longer rolling! It’s time for me to call it a day and prepare for tomorrow as I’ve a busy day ahead. Breakfast kicks off at 06:30 before we head over to the training centre to don our PPE and for the students to get experience of what it’s like actually building and installing overhead electrification trackside. There’s a great bunch of participants from all areas of the rail industry so I’m really looking forward to the challenge of getting the pictures needed – despite the weather.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with on last picture from the day. This is how electrified Thames valley services look nowadays with the diesels displaced and sent to Bristol and beyond. Here’s a Paddington – Didcot service calling at Twyford earlier this afternoon.

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 October picture of the day…

15 Sunday Oct 2023

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

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You’ll have to forgive me, as I’m having a pensive and thoughtful day so this blog is going to be hard to write. After all, humanity’s world’s not exactly going well right now, is it? I sometimes wonder how much better the planet would be if we hadn’t crawled out of the primordial swamp, grown feet then opposing thumbs and ‘developed’ into homo-sapiens as we seem hell-bent on destroying both ourselves and the planet. For an animal with such a huge brain-pan we can be incredibly dumb.

Right now I’m looking around at what’s happening in the Ukraine and also Palestine and Israel and wondering ‘what the fcuk’? Our capacity for death and destruction seems to outweigh everything else – including the ability to reason. Seeing what’s happening in Israel and Palestine (and that’s before we get into a discussion about whose borders are whose) I’m left thinking of the saying that ‘an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind’. I abhor the violence from both sides, but I’m also old enough to have followed the conflicts in that part of the world since the 1970s and know the answer is anything but black and white – just seemingly intractable.

I’m beginning to feel that the world is becoming a very unstable place for a whole host of reasons – which includes social media and the power of a small bunch of billionaires -and utterly useless, sell-out politicians. Now, I’m not a paranoid, conspiracy-loving person but I’ve always subscribed to the adage ‘follow the money’ – and the money is concentrated in fewer and fewer people’s hands – and philanthropists they ain’t.

Humanity at its best is capable of incredible things. Music, medicine, science and architecture, humour and compassion being just a few. So why’s so much of our time taken up with shit? Maybe I’ve reached that age where I look at what time I have left (whatever that is) and think it’s time explore what’s left of this beautiful planet before we completely screw it up and I can still enjoy it. Yep, I’m in one of those retrospective moods tonight. Anyway – my blog – my rules!

I’ll leave you with a picture that’s less dark than my thoughts. This is what I could do with right now. A palm-fringed beach, sunsets and solitude. Here’s a spectacular sunset at Viti Levu, Fiji, on the 7th March 1999 when the world seemed a very different place. This is the simple, natural beauty of a planet we seem hell-bent on rendering inhospitable, to ourselves and every other creature on it. But hey – it’s so important that I have that SUV to drive down to Waitrose…

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. Making (photographic) hay whilst the sun shines.

14 Saturday Oct 2023

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, Travel

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10:35.

Today’s a day full of sunshine and the promise of decent photographic weather. I’ve a dinner date with my in-laws this evening near Huddersfield so I’m going to take the long way there, taking the camera with me to have a look at progress on the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade to see if there’s anything worth getting shots of. I’ll blog through the day, so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to…

12:00.

I’ve made it as far as Dewsbury having arrived here from Sowerby Bridge. Trains are packed today. My three-car was full and standing from Sowerby and rammed after Mirfield. The good weather’s bringing everyone out – including the rail-alers doing the railway pub-crawl. This isn’t the best day for exploring as the Trans-Pennine route West of Huddersfield is closed so services are much reduced. Even ao, there’s a few pictures to be had and sites to note.

My train departs from Dewsbury.

15:15.

Sorry for the gap but I’ve been busy shuttling between Dewsbury and Brighouse whilst enjoying the gorgeous sunshine – and dodging torrential showers! I’d intened to get a few lineside shots but the combination of low sun and rain made that foohardy, which is a shame – but hey ho. Instead I took the opportunity to enjoy Brighouse station joining the TPE network. Right now I’m on my way to Huddersfield, having stopped the latest weather bullet in the shape of this storm that’s just passed over Dewsbury. I didn’t make it to the cover of the canopy before the heavens opened.

Here’s 802213 working 9M32, the 1244 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street.

At Brighouse – which joined the TPE network for the day – I captured 802209 stopping at the station whilst working 1P25, the 1154 Liverpool Lime Street to 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. Derbyshire delights…

12 Thursday Oct 2023

Posted by in Derbyshire, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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06:35.

Up at sparrow-fart once more. It’s a busy morning here at Bigland Towers. I’m preparing to head out for the day and Dawn is busy with her HIT (High Intensity Training) workout in the living room. The weather’s hardly conducive to early starts. It’s dark and cold outside now that temperatures have returned to their seasonal averages rather then the bizarre ones we’ve had recently. According to the thermometer it’s just 3 degrees.

I’ll be walking down to Sowerby Bridge station shortly to catch my first train of the day to Manchester. I’m planning another foray out to Glossop and area. I’ll be blogging throughout the day, so let’s see what happens…

07:35.

Walking downhill to the station was fun this morning. Looking across the valley from the bedroom window it looked everywhereas covered in fog. Once I’d left the house and descended ahundred meters or so the valley was clear. Then, when I looked behind me I realise our cottage was up in cloud level!

I’m now on the late- running 07:22 to Manchester which is a busy four-car set.

07:50.

We’ve now left Todmorden and this train’s getting very busy. As we traversed the Calder valley I realised Sowerby Bridge is lucky as everywhere else IS covered in fog! Today’s the first day of autumn where I’ve observed commuters wearing hats and gloves. Shorts are confined to the back of the cupboard for now. Judging by the number of people clutching hot drinks the local coffee shops will be happy with the change in the weather!

07:55.

We’ve passed through the Summit tunnel into Lancashire and – as is often the case – there’s very different weather on the other side. Rochdale has no fog at all. Instead it’s bathed in winter sunshine!

08:38.

Here’s how busy my train was as it approached Manchester Victoria – and what it was like trying to get through the gateline.

Right now I’m on the train out to Glossop which is much more relaxed as we’re going againt the flow. There’s just a handful of us in the front car. Several of those are young women all using their phones as mirrors as they apply their make-up!

09:25.

The light’s lovely this morning so I stopped off in the middle of nowhere to get a few pictures. Let’s have a guessing game with the station name. It carries the same name a former member of the band “10cc”.

Not a rubber bullet in sight…

10:20.

I’m having a quick break here in Glossop whilst I have a coffee in the lovely little Twig coffee house on the station – and respond to a couple of work emails to sort out next week’s jobs.

The old ticket office (the window is to the right).

Here’s one of my camera pictures showing the old 1,500 dc electrification structures that still predominate along the line, although this section’s had the contact wires simplified.

15:15.

That was a busy few hours! I’ve been exploring the area around Broadbottom station in order to get a few scenic shots in open country as well as check out the remains of the old fan of sidings that was Mottram yard. They were already abandoned when I was a kid, having closed in about 1970 but the arrival sidings remained open for loco changes from electric to diesel. Now the whole site’s woodland. Only a few clues as to their former use remain.

The yard was to the left. The remains of the short platforms for Mottram staff halt can be seen on the remaining lines. The view’s looking towards Manchester.

15:30.

Time for a refreshment break and a beer I’ve never tried before. The glass tells the tale…

18:35.

Home time. Well, heading back across the Pennines at least. I’ve manged to get most of the pictures I was after before the sun disappeared. Plus I’ve had an interesting time exploring and discovering new places. I’ll add a few pics from the camera later. Right now, it’s standing room only on the 18:21 From Manchester Victoria. So much for “but no-one’s travelling by train anymore”.

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 October picture of the day…

11 Wednesday Oct 2023

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

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Today’s been one of those that didn’t exactly go to plan – but in a good way! After I’d finished editing the latest batch of pictures and getting them off to a client I’d intended to catch up with sorting stuff around the office – a sort of ‘autumn cleaning’ if you like – then blogging about the latest Sunak/HS2 debacle. The weather’s certainly changed here compared to the balmy days we’ve had so far, with temperatures staying in single figures, so I thought it was time to make the place more streamlined – and cosy. Instead I got sidetracked with pitching a story to a magazine which they’ve decided to run with so I became embroiled in initial research. Before I knew it, several hours had passed. Then I had a contact about a short-notice commission which I’ve managed to squeeze into next week. So, that’s the autumn cleaning and long blog out of the window for now as I’ve events in Derbyshire and Wiltshire to attend as well as an article to write.

Now I’m prepping for another day out in the Manchester area tomorrow (expect a rolling blog) as the weather’s promising to be half-decent and I’m running out of time to get the pictures I require, which means an early start tomorrow to make the most of the shortening days. I’m going to miss the long summer evenings, but the consolation is that winter sunlight (when you get it) is far superior to harsh summer sun – especially for artistic shots. Well, if you happen to be in the right place at the right time anyway!

Now it’s time to go as I’ve stuff to prepare. I’ll leave you with an image from the Hope Valley taken on Sunday. You can find the full selection in various galleries on my Zenfolio website, simply follow this link to see which galleries have been updated.

A Trans-Pennine Express Class 185 heads West towards Manchester through the gorgeous Hope valley.

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. Sunshine interlude…

10 Tuesday Oct 2023

Posted by in Derbyshire, Manchester, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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13:15.

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/

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3rd October picture of the day…

03 Tuesday Oct 2023

Posted by in Hs2, Manchester, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, Railways

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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/

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