Sorry for the lack of blogging recently but life has got in the way and my attention’s had to go into far more important things. You might find things are a bit intermittent until Thursday when I join the Railway Children’s annual ‘3 Peaks by Rail’ event as their photographer. Then I’ll try do some rolling blogging and give a flavour of what a fantastic (if ever so slightly crazy) the three day event it is. In the meantime what I will do is post a daily picture so you at least have something to look at!
Today’s pictures a little different. Our front garden is in full bloom at the moment which means its (literally) a hive of activity as it’s full of all sorts of different types of bees. Whilst sitting outside having an evening beer I decided to put my micro lens on the camera and photograph some of the little critters. It ain’t easy – they don’t hang around for long. One day I’ll take this as a serious project, but here’s what I managed to capture in-between sips!
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
After all my travels over the last week I’ve spent the past few days based nowhere but home, which has been a pleasant change as I needed time to relax and catch up on editing and collating all the pictures I’ve taken over the past month which runs into several thousand images. I’ve now uploaded the vast majority of the edited ones onto my Zenfolio website. If you follow this link it’ll show you which galleries they’ve been added to. Several have already made it into magazines, including the cover of RAIL magazine and the first edition of Inside Track mag to be produced under the Editorship of an old friend and former RAIL colleague – Richard Clinnick.
Of course, my time hasn’t all been work and no play. Dawn and I both met up with a former Community Rail Network friend for drinks yesterday in the excellent Sportsman pub in Huddersfield where we were joined by several other CRN stalwarts for a very convivial evening over a few beers.
Today’s been far quieter as the pair of us have been slaving away at home – although I did manage to nip out for a long walk down to Sowerby Bridge to pick up a bit of shopping and enjoy the sunshine. Tomorrow we’re back on the social circuit as we’ll be joining many other community rail folks at a Queen’s Jubilee soiree held by the friends of Mytholmroyd station.
Now it’s June and I’ve a new free sales quota I’ve relaunched selling off original old rail slides on eBay. There’s over 500 from the UK, India and Ireland to choose from with bids starting at £1.99. You can find what’s for sale by following this link.
OK, it’s picture of the day time – and I’ve loads of new ones to choose from. The question is – what should it be? How about this one of the restored Folkstone harbour railway station which has become a stylish tourist location with lots of bars and cafes?
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
After our brief visit to Surrey the pair of us are now back in West Yorkshire – although that’s for just one night for me. We left Tilford this morning to drive back North. With it being Sunday the roads were pretty quiet all the way until we hit the M1 motorway which proved to be a real pain in the arse. Almost as soon as we hit it after coming off the A43 we hit traffic and then a tailback caused by an accident North of Watford Gap services. We also left the good weather behind which was a double blow. Something else that was left behind was motorists common-sense. The way some folk were driving was atrocious – hence us passing a second accident further North. At least we made it home without getting caught up in anything more than traffic.
Roll on being back on rails – which will be tomorrow for me. It’s the start of Community Rail Week and I’ll be covering a couple of the events, starting with an event in Bradford and Bingley tomorrow. After that I’ll be heading down South again in a different role(s) as Crossrail opens to the public on Tuesday which promises to be a really exciting day. That done I’ll be back up North as it’s Dawn’s birthday, but then I’ve go to hot-foot it down to Kent for another Community Rail Week event on Thursday. Hopefully – unless things change -as they often do, I’ll be home on Friday.
So, there’s lots of rolling blogs and pictures to come. For now I’ll end with a picture from today’s travels and why I much prefer rail to road.
This was the front vehicle in a shunt consisting of half a dozen cars on the M1 North of Watford Gap services 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/
After yesterdays travels today’s been a quiet one so there’s only a short blog from me. I’ve been in Tilford most of the day, enjoying the weather and chance to feel the sun on my skin again. I have done some work, all yesterday’s pictures are edited and awaiting their captions so they’ll appear on my Zenfolio website soon. In the afternoon Dee and I popped into Guildford to pick up some bits which is always enjoyable as it’s a fine little town with a variety of independent shops and more upmarket chains than you’ll find in our neck of the woods. Needless to say, with the weather being so good the town was packed.
We only stayed for a couple of hours then returned to Tilford where I went for an evening wander and dropped by the local pub to watch the cricket. It’s a quintessentially English scene, sat outside the pub with the locals watching the local team playing on the green opposite. So, here’s today’s picture (with a bonus).
Cricket on the green outside the Barley Mow in Tilford.
Tomorrow we return to Yorkshire, but only for a while for me. I’ve got a hectic week that’ll see me traversing the country once more on various assignments. Watch out for a few rolling blogs…
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/
Today’s been a catching-up sort of day but also a long one. The pair of us were up early, Dee because she had work stuff to sort out on-site rather from home and me because I’d lots of picture editing to plough through whilst I still had the time – because tomorrow the pair of us head South to Surrey for a few days.
Whilst the day’s been busy the sunny weather did tempt me to venture out for more than my daily constitutional, so much so I’ve nearly 10 miles under my belt today as I wandered down into Sowerby Bridge to pick up some shopping then meandered back along the canal and tarried in the local woods before hitting home. The Calder Valley looks glorious this time of year and the views should be savoured. Much as I miss Asia, days like this are a form of recompense. Sitting outside the house in the sunshine whilst sorting out paperwork certainly beats being holed-up in a claustrophobic office.
However, tomorrow’s all-change. I’ve my regular appointment over in Milnsbridge tomorrow which will see me out and about. Afterwards the pair of us will be travelling to Surrey for a few days whilst Dee fills in for her brother to be there for her nephew and niece whilst he’s away. I’m coming along too to offer support and because I’ve things I can do in that neck of the woods. Have camera (and laptop) – will travel! Expect a few rolling (and not so rolling) blogs whilst we’re away – and many more the week after as I’m going to be doing a lot of travelling.
In the meantime I’ll leave you with the picture of the day which is one from our recent trip to Berlin, Germany and that encapsulates the country’s torrid history in the 20th Century.
In the foreground is the ‘Topography of Terror‘, a museum documenting the systemic atrocities carried out by the Nazi regime before and during World War 2. The museum is on the site of the former Gestapo HQ where so much of the terror was organised from. In the background bordering Niederkirchnerstraße is a large chunk of the former Berlin wall. It’s not an easy place to visit. There’s something spine-chilling about the way the Nazis turned the extermination of millions of people into a bureaucratic exercise, as if it was a normal inventory, not a mass slaughter.
The fact the site is bounded by one of the largest fragments of the Berlin wall that still exists in the centre of the city adds another dimension.
I have to admit, I love Berlin as a city, even if its history can sometimes be uncomfortable. It’s shaken that past off now, although reunification still causes echo’s and ripples. I’m looking forward to going back later this year for business rather than pleasure – although visiting the city’s always a pleasure!
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
After a busy week we’ve had a quiet weekend here at Bigland Towers. Catching up on sleep was important as next week’s going to be another active and varied one – as will be the next few. Saturday’s weather was glorious with lots of sunshine and balmy temperatures, so the pair of us decided to walk into Halifax and visit the Piece Hall where a friend was exhibiting some of her charcoal artwork as part of a charity fundraising sale. The building and its internal square was packed with people enjoying the weather, bars and shops. It’s such a special place that it’s sometimes hard to remember that you’re actually in West Yorkshire and not somewhere in Italy.
Today the weather’s not been as generous although the threatened rain never materialised. Not that it mattered as we didn’t venture outside until late afternoon when we enjoyed a long stroll around the local area in order to get in some exercise. Halifax possesses some fascination old buildings, many of which have been repurposed over the years, so a wander invariably ends up in a game of ‘guess the house’s original purpose’.
Now we’re back at home and relaxing for the evening. Dawn’s cooking roasted vegetables with lamb rolls and I’m catching up on a spot of picture editing, trying to clear the backlog of pictures I’ve taken over the past few days. OK, it’s not exactly the ‘rock and roll’ lifestyle, but it suits us! Although talking rock and roll (and the Piece Hall, we’ll be back there twice over the next few weeks to see Nile Rogers and Chic, then Paloma Faith.
I’ll leave you now with today’s picture, which was taken at the Piece Hall yesterday, just so you can see what I mean about the building…
I’ve a 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/
We’ve had another low-key day here at Bigland Towers. It’s a bank holiday Monday so (of course) the weather’s been dull and wet! Not that it mattered as we spent most of our time pottering around indoors, catching up on a few chores but generally taking it easy. Well, isn’t that what bank holidays are for?
Later in the day we did sally forth to brave the drizzle and walked down to Sowerby Bridge which was surprisingly quiet, but then many restaurants were closed as the bank holiday coincided with the end of Ramadan and the Eid festival. Still, we enjoyed the chance to stretch our legs and watch ‘newbies’ cautiously navigating their first locks on canal narrowboats they’d hired from local operator Shire Cruises. We stayed long enough to have a couple of drinks in less than packed local pubs before strolling back along the canal, where we kept an eye out for this season’s ducklings. We passed a couple of broods en-route and it’s fascinating to see how different in size the little beggars are when there’s literally only a few days between the hatchings. These little balls of down certainly grow up fast. Heading back uphill from the canal we traversed our local woods which are ablaze with carpets of Bluebells, making it a lovely time of the year for a woodland walk.
So, here’s today’s picture – from said woods…
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Well, that’s another month ticked off on the calendar, we’re now in May although the weather belies that fact. It’s bleedin’ chilly up here in the Pennines. The days may be getting longer but the temperatures aren’t keeping up with the spirit of the seasons. Today’s drab conditions meant that neither Dawn or I have been particularly active, instead we’ve spent most of the day recharging our batteries and pottering around at home, sorting out bits and bobs for the future and our impending trip to Berlin.
Late in the day we did slip into another gear, Dee headed for the kitchen to prepare us a gorgeous evening meal (lamb and lots of veg) whilst I made it outside for a semblance of exercise by walking for an hour but failing miserably to hit my daily targets. Ho hum! Still, it’s a bank holiday weekend, so I’m not going to beat myself up too much – at least it’s not all been spent in a pub! Plus, tomorrow’s another day…
What I have managed to do to redeem myself is get more old railway slides sorted ready for sale on eBay. You can find out what’s on offer by following this link. Right now there’s over 500 diverse slides that include rail images from the UK, Malaysia, India and Ireland – with hundreds more to add. The next batch will feature some historic shots – one of which is today’s picture of the day.
Back in 1991 I visited India which still had hundreds of steam locomotives working on both the broad gauge and metre gauge networks. They weren’t in isolated areas either. Steam could still be found in the capital, New Delhi. I managed to blag my way around the steam shed at Old Delhi railway station. The dilapidated state of the she was reminiscent of pictures of the end of British steam back in 1968. So, watch out for this slide being offered for sale tomorrow. Here’s one of the majestic WP Class broad-gauge 4-6-2 ‘Pacific’ locomotives seen on the 17th October 1991.
I’ve a 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/
I’ve had a few days off blogging to concentrate on more family orientated activities over the weekend and also to spend time ploughing through 100s of old slides that are surplus to requirements and have now ended up on eBay. Like the scanning and editing of their luckier cousins it’s a long, laborious process getting them prepared for sale but by the end of today I’ve added over 500 UK, Indian, Irish and Sri Lankan railway pictures to my account. You can find them here. Prices start from £1.99 but each image is in an auction as many go for a lot more – so place your bids now. The first sale ends in a couple of days with each tranche being made available for 5-7 days before the sales close. I’ve still several hundred more slides to add which I’ll be doing over the next week or so. There’s also other railway memorabilia (badges, notebooks, branded merchandise, old TOC souvenirs etc) to add which I’ll do as time allows.
However, tomorrow I’m having a day away from the scene. The weather’s been rather mixed of late. There’s been a fair bit of sun but the wind has taken the shine off it (so to speak) leaving the temperature feeling decidedly chilly. The forecast’s not much better tomorrow but an old friend will be gracing West Yorkshire with his presence so I’ve arranged to meet up with Richard Clinnick, late of RAIL and the International Railway Journal who’s taken over as editor of Inside Track magazine, one of the stable of magazines published under the Rail Business Daily flag which I’m also lucky enough to write for. No doubt my day out will include a rolling blog and a few pictures from within ‘God’s own country’ as I’ll be journeying to and from Sheffield for our rendezvous.
In the meantime, I’ll leave you with today’s picture which is of rather a railway bywater nowadays, although at one time this was the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway’s main line from Liverpool to Manchester. Engineered to the gradients you’d expect of a main line it boasts some substantial structures, but now it ends at a set of bufferstops at Kirkby in Merseyside where the line from Wigan ends. You have to change trains and catch a Merseyrail electric train to get to Liverpool nowadays. I took this shot on my day out last week. It’s from Rainford, which was once a busy junction. Nowadays it’s the end of the double-track line from Wigan but it still possesses a signalbox and semaphore signals as trains need to collect the single-line token to proceed West. Miraculously, it still carries freight to/from a waste terminal near Knowsley where ‘binliner’ trains remove containerised trash to landfill at Wilton in Teeside.
150143 working a Kirkby to Blackburn service passes 66187 hauling empty ‘binliner’ containers from Wilton to Knowsley whilst being protected by traditional semaphore signals – an increasingly rare sight on UK railways.
I’ve a 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/
It’s been another mixed but productive day here at Bigland Towers. The pair of us have been busy beavering away at home and enjoying the fine weather which is gracing us once again. Well, when I say ‘enjoying’ I mostly mean looking at it through windows as we’ve both spent most of the day staring at screens of one sort or another. Still, I can’t complain. I’ve occupied my time alternating between writing and preparing surplus slides ready to restock my eBay account after a years break from selling. As well as old railway slides I’ve still got a selection of railway memorabilia to put up for sale – all of which will appear over the next week or so as it’s a labor-intensive process when you have hundreds of unique items to catalogue and add, but more of this anon.
Away from screens I did manage to get out for a daily constitutional later in the afternoon, which was glorious as the sun was really starting to show its strength. I don’t mind having to take vitamin D tablets but I’d much rather top up my levels by basking in the sun – something I’ve missed terribly over the pandemic years…
Tomorrow I’ve an appointment over in Huddersfield, so I’m looking forward to having some time out and perhaps a bit of rolling blogging, depending on events. In the meantime, here’s the picture of the day which come from the end of another old slide album which I’ve finally completed. This is the penultimate one remaining from my 1990s years and the final one before my world changed when I gave up working as a Housing Officer in London to travel the world for 18 months. Little did I know then what the future would hold…
Today’s picture dates from August 1997 when Lynn and I were cycling around Norfolk on a long weekend. We’d often load our bikes onto a train and head off into East Anglia. North Norfolk was a favorite as it wasn’t as flat so had more of interest – as well as a great coastline. On this trip we discovered the Slipper Chapel in Little Walsingham, which has a fascinating history.
Our bikes are resting outside a chapel built in the mid-14th century that’s dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The chapel served pilgrims on their way to England’s Nazareth (Walsingham). Saint Catherine was the patron saint of pilgrims to the Holy Land and her knights kept open the road to Nazareth during the Crusades. Her tomb lies in the Mount Sinai Monastery, in the Basilica of the Annunciation. As on Mount Sinai where Moses took off his shoes because he was on holy ground, pilgrims to England’s Holy Land used to remove their shoes and walk the Holy Mile into Walsingham from the Slipper Chapel – hence its name. After the Reformation the Chapel was used variously as a poor house, a forge, a cow shed and a barn. It was restored to the Catholic Church in 1896.
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Paul Bigland 