Category Archives: Rolling blogs

Rolling blog. Back to the North…

03 Friday Jul 2026

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

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13:00

My time here in London’s come to an end. It’s been a lovely break. Staying with a dear friend whilst having the opportunity to visit HS2 construction sites and just enjoy being back in a city that I loved living in. The trip’s not entirely over yet. I’m booked on a train out of Euston later this afternoon so I’ve still some time to explore, but right now I’m helping out by waiting in for a parcel whilst Hassard’s off at an event. As soon as said parcel arrives I’ll be off on my travels again.

I did manage to nip out earlier to grab some shots at Clapham Junction. It feels very strange nowadays, the old Class 455s which dominated suburban services when I first moved here (they were new then!) have all disappeared. Now the South-West Railways ‘Arterio’ Class 701s have taken their place whilst Southern services have gained a variety of ‘Electrostar’ type units transferred in from GWR and GTR, which adds some livery variation at least.

A Waterloo bound Arterio wends its way through the maze of tracks outside Clapham Junction station.
An Alstom built ‘Juniper’, Class 458/4 calls at Clapham Junction. The skyline is constantly changing here. You can see a crane building the lift tower of yet another high-rise block in the background.

14:00.

Hassard’s son Dante has arrived to take up parcel duties, so I’m off to meander across the city. In some ways the timing couldn’t have been better as a magazine’s contacted me about a cover picture – of London’s railways! Right, back to Clapham Junction is is then. The sun’s shining and conditions are ideal for what they want…

17:09.

For the second time in a week services out of Euston are stuffed! I made sure I arrived early, only to find the concourse crammed with people. Apparently, two seperate incidents have caused chaos. Avanti have cancelled several services and my 16:46 to Crewe didn’t leave until 17:09, which completely screws my connection to Liverpool Lime St. This might turn out to be a long day!

Euston how you don’t want to see it…

18:45.

We’ve just left Lichfield 30 mins late. To add to the fun the young lady Conductor has announced that the delay means we’ll be terminating at Stafford, not Crewe. Hopefully, I’ll be able to pick up a Liverpool bound service from there. It’s a shame, as the jourbey fom Euston’s been pretty good. I managed to secure one side of a table bay on this new Class 730. The train wasn’t too packed either. The only negative was that 2 out of the 3 toilets were out of order.

19:20.

The trip doesn’t get any better! Like far too many stations nowadays, lifts at Stafford were out of order. That wouldn’t normally inconvenience me but I’m dragging a suitcase today. Everyone scrambled over the footbridge from platform 1 to 5 only to find the next Liverpool bound service was actually an hour late and terminating at Crewe! Apparently, there’s another just a few minutes behind this 4-car Class 350, but I decided to catch it to Crewe – just in case!

I’m starting to look forward to a weekend without travel…

It’s a shame. The evening’s lovely and the countryside sublime as so many crops look to be on the cusp of being harvested. It’s just the journey that’s been fragmented and not as relaxing as I’d wanted. Plus, I’ve not been able to grab any pictures because of the melee.

19:55.

Said melee continued at Crewe when a trainload of people headed off in different directions in order to find out where to go next. Myself and several others ended up on a late-running Avanti Class 807 heading for Liverpool. Dispatch staff had checked that ticket acceptance was in place – so pile on! As this one only stops at Runcorn and Liverpool South Parkway I’m making up a little bit of time.

Despite the problems I’ve really enjoyed my trip over the West Coast Main Line. It’s part of my blood. I’ve travelled on it since I was a teenager. I’ve worked on it and it’s kept me linked with family and friends through good times and bad. I’ve never had the same relationship with its East Coast rival.

21:10.

Having arrived in Liverpool courtesy of Avanti instead of West Midlands trains I took a quick break (time for a pint) before catching a train to Southport. The contrast between London and the North is quite stark in my mind. London’s so much younger than the North, and I mean the people, not the history. It’s horrendously expensive compared to when I lived there but there’s still a real buzz and youthful feeling – a million miles away from Halifax  – or Southport.

One thing that amused me is the way the political right-wing try to paint London as a hellhole led by a Muslim Mayor. It’s world’s apart from the truth, as is some Northerner’s ideas that Londoners are stand-offish. Both are so far from the truth they’re laughable to anyone who’s ever lived or spent much time in London.

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/

Cheers,

Paul

Rolling blog. Capital times. Day 2…

01 Wednesday Jul 2026

Posted by in Hs2, London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs

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08:00.

I’m here in South London, preparing to start the day. First up (after coffee, of course) is a trip across the capital to Willesden Junction where I’ll be meeting up with an old friend and colleague, Andy Roden of Modern Railways. We’re off for a visit to the HS2 station construction site at Old Oak Common. I’ll blog more about that later, but you’ll be able to read the full details of the visit in a forthcoming edition of Modern Railways.

But first, I have to get there…

09:18

And getting there has proved to be fun! Having arrived at Clapham Junction I’d intended to get the Overground direct to Willesden Jn, only to be greeted by PA announcements telling me the service has been suspended for some unknown reason.

So, plan B it is. I’ve caught a train to Waterloo where I’ll jump on the Bakerloo line. I was hoping to avoid the tube on a warm day like this but hey ho…

On the bright side, my train to Warerloo is a Class 458, which are in their final weeks of service.

09:40.

At Waterloo I had a surreal experience. A young nember of security staff spotted me taking a picture of the 458 and accosted me from the opposite platform, telling me my mirrorless camera was ‘too big’ and that I needed permission to take pictures so needed to sign in. I explained I was only there for a minute as I was catching another train, her her next line was that I could only take a picture with my phone! I politely but firmly declined, took my pictures and walked away…

Well, that’s a new one!

I’m now rattling and screeching my way to Willesden. Well, not me personally, but the ancient underground train I’m on is! We discussed these trains at the Siemens lunch yesterday. Soares are impossible to come by, so a machining shop has been established at Stonebridge Park depot to make any metal parts needed. If the part takes weeks to make, the train remains out of service until it has been.

15:15.

I’m back! Our visit to the HS2 site at Old Oak Common was a really full tour. Not only dis we descend into the HS2 station box to see how progress on constructing the 6 platform station is progressing, we also visited the Western approaches to the new station on the Great Western Main Line (GWML) where tracklaying has already taken place. Here’s a couple of shots.

Myself and Andy Roden pose for a picture on platforms 5-6 of the new HS2 station. We worked out that the last time we worked together on a similar project was HS1 at St Pancras way back in 2004!
Looking towards Paddington from the new tracks being laid for the GWML station. The tower cranes in the background will be involved in constructing the roof for the interchange station. The new track on the Right will be part of the slewing of the existing GWML in order to create room for platforms 1-2 of the new station.

18:00.

Watching England play in the world cup in a pub in London with two Scousers and an Irishman…

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/

Cheers,

Paul

Rolling Blog. Capital commitments…

30 Tuesday Jun 2026

Posted by in London, Photography, Rail Investment, Railways, Rolling blogs, Siemens, Travel

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08:00.

I’m off on a journey I’ve not done for ages but once did almost weekly, taking Grand Central’s service from Halifax to London. GC started running this route in the same year that I moved from London to Halifax – 2010. It was a godsend in those days as it allowed me to commute to the capital for work.

A lot’s changed in 17 years. Nowadays I’m semi-retired so the pressures aren’t the same. The railways have changed too. I’ve just traversed the section of line from Mirfield to Wakefied which is being rebuilt as part of the Trans-Pennine route upgrade. The recent blockade’s seen a lot of progress with civils work and the appearence of overhead electric masts.

Now we’ve swung off onto the route to Doncaster via ‘Pontycarlo’ (as Pontefract is often known). A line once thriving with coal traffic that’s a shadow of its former self. Knottingly depot’s a great example of this. Once it was an important base for freight locos that boasted a modern 2-storey office building and shed that housed a fleet of locos. The office building’s been demolished, many staff ‘let go’ and the tracks see more weeds than locos.

Unfortunately, the wifi on this GC Class 221 isn’t working, so I’m reduced to blogging via my Smartphone which is a bit of a bugger. Never mind…

09:20.

I’m speeding through the Cambridgeshire countryside on a train that’s been packed since Doncaster. A bright side is that the passenger who booked the airline seat next to mine from Mirfield to Lobdon was a ‘no show’.

The fields North of Peterborough are full of cereal crops that like ripe for harvesting. The golden glow of wheat spreads for miles around. Very different to the grasslands of the Pennines.

17:00.

Well, that was fun! This year’s Siemens press lunch was held in Wood Lane in West London at a venue called the Broadcaster, which is right outside the old BBC television centre where many programmes from my childhood were made (including ‘Blue Peter’). These events are an informal chance to chat with Senior leaders of Siemens over lunch. We always cover a wide range of subjects. Today, that was widened to include the performance of the German football team in the World Cup match last night!

Heading back in to Central London I stopped off at Euston station which is not having a happy time due to cattle on the West Coast Main Line near Lichfield earlier. You couldn’t moo-ve on the concourse!

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/

Cheers,

Paul

Rolling blog. Three peaks by rail 2026. Day 1…

25 Thursday Jun 2026

Posted by in 3 peaks by rail, Never a dull life, Photography, Rolling blogs, The Railway Children, Travel

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10:30.

The adventure begins! Despite the weather I had a decent night’s sleep last night, which is just as well as that’s a commodity that’s going to be in very short supply for the next few days.

Having packed all my kit – including stuff to cope with all the vageries of the British weather I’m on my first train of the day. As many services have been cancelled across the network I’m giving myself plenty of time to get to Crewe. Dawn’s been a star and given me a lift down to Sowerby Bridge station in time to catch Northern’s 10:20 to Manchester Victoria, so I’ve not started the day off hot and sweaty!

This train’s pretty empty. It looks like many folk have heeded to call not to travel. The few who have are dressed for the weather with shorts being de rigueur!

158843 has carried me across the Pennines to Manchester Victoria.

12:00.

I can breathe easy now. I’ve made it as far as Manchester, a city baking in the sun. A condition which is ruining its reptation! There’s no shortage of trains from here to Crewe so I can take time to get a few pictures here before heading off again for the final leg to Crewe where I don’t need to be until later this afternoon as when registration starts. The train itself doesn’t leave for Bangor until this evening.

13:05.

Nothing’s stopping me now! Having hung around in Manchester to enjoy the sun, do a bit of work* and get some pictures I’m now aboard a vintage Class 323 to Crewe. This is one of the former West Midlands units transferred to Northern, who’re now the sole operator of these 1990s built trains.

My chariot awaits…

Now I’ll be in Crewe before temperatures reach their zenith. The information screens at Piccadilly bore witness to the cull of train services that have already taken place due to the weather. Some already planned, others not.

On the bright side (ish). I’m on an old train with opening windows and no air-conditioning, so there’s nothing to break down!

16:45.

The teams from all corners of the country  are gathering at Crewe. It’s great to see so many old friends and familuar faces amongst them.

*the work I was doing means thay you’ll be able to read about the 3 Peaks challenge in a future edition of RAIL magazine.

19:30.

We’re on our way! We’ve already had fun as a short notice loco change has meant our train in now being hauled by a Class 45  ‘Peak’ locomotive 451118. Now the 3 peaks has become the 4 peaks!

Ready to leave Crewe.

23:00.

Sorry for the gap. We’ve had a few technical issues with tge train’s power supply which has meant I had to take time off to power up my laptop and phone.

We left Crewe on time but ran into problems on the North Wales Coast whilst the volunteers were serving the walkers a cooked dinner followed by cheesecake. A failed train ahead meant we had to work ‘bang road’ (wrong line) between Mostyn and Rhyl, so any hope of a spirited run to Llandudno Junction were dashed. Even so we were only a few minutes late into Bangor where the teams departed by bus to get to Snowdon. I stayed on the train with other volunteers who were busy cleaning the train and also preparing food so that everyone could eat when the train arrived at Holyhead. It may have been an ’empty’ train but it was still a hive of activity!

Now we have a little time to relax before we bed down for a few hours sleep. We’re due back in Bangor around 0400 tomorrow to pick up the weary walkers. Let’s see what happens. But for now, good night!

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/

Cheers,

Paul

Rolling blog. Bound for Banbury…

31 Sunday May 2026

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

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10:45.

After a long day exploring Southport yesterday I’m on the move again today, this time I’m bound for Banbury as a positioning move to be ready for the opening event of community rail week which starts tomorrow.

Walking to Southport station’s a lot easier than back at home as the town’s flat. The only hill I encounter is a railway bridge! Even so, I’ve already clocked up over 6000 steps.

Right now I’m on a Merseyrail Class 777 to Liverpool. From a passenger’s perspective they’re not bad trains. They’ve level boarding, a/c, power points and plenty of space. From an operators point of view they’re a bit of a nightmare due to ongoing technical issues with various bits of kit – including the passenger information system. Still, this one should get me to Liverpool OK.

The line to Liverpool’s changed enormously since the days of my youth. The freight lines that dominated the docks have almost all disappeared, along with the coal yards and sand traffic. Yet rail traffic from the docks still exists, with regular intermodal trains and biomass being moved to Drax power station

12:45.

The trip to Liverpool was painless even if the train was busy. I’d time to kill in Liverpool and spent it people-watching, sitting outside Lime St station as throngs of travellers made their way to and from trains whilst seagull sat shouting at each other on the station roof, or occasionally dive-bombing unsuspecting people as they scavenged for food.

I’m booked on London North-Western’s 12:33 to Birmingham New St, but we’re already late leaving do to a ‘spillage’ needing cleaning up. I can’t say I’m too surprised as this 8-car Class 350 service was bursting at the seams on arrival. It’s far more relaxed at the moment and I have a table bay to myself, which has allowed me to set up the mobile office.

12:55.

We left 12 minutes late. Annoying, but as I have a lengthy connection time at Smethwick Galton Bridge is makes little difference to my journey. As we headed through Edge Hill we passed rakes of wagons used for the biomass traffic I mentioned earlier as GB Railfreight who haul the trains have a depot there. Today there was an unusual visitor in the shape of one of the company’s new tri-mode Class 99 locomotives, presumably on test.

13:37.

We’ve made it as far as Crewe. I’ve enjoyed the trip so far as the line form Liverpool to Weaver junction is one I rarely travel along nowadays compared to when I lived in London. Then I was up and down almost every month and I can’t even remember the last time I was on a train that stopped at Herford or Winsford! Now I’m back on much more familiar territory as we head for Birmingham.

16:45.

The last leg…

Having swapped to a battered and rather dirty Class 172 for the trip across Birmingham via Moor St to Dorridge I’ve swapped to and equally battered and dirty Chiltern Class 165 which will carry me to Banbury. Both units are badly in need of new seat upholstery as they’re threadbare.

The weather’s not looking too good either as there’s a build-up of heavy grey clouds that could herald rain. As long as it doesn’t arrive before I get to my hotel I’m not too bothered!

22:30.

Time to bring today’s blog to a close. I joined the other members of the Community Rail Network for an early evening meal, then retired to our hotel on the redeveloped canal wharf in order to do some work.

Hotel to the right, bars and eateries to the left.

However, I did notice this interesting bit of local history…

In railway circles LTC Rolt is best known for his seminal work on railway accidents, ‘Red for danger’.

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/

Cheers,

Paul

Rolling blog. Another day, another commute…

29 Friday May 2026

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

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12:40.

After a restful night at Bigland Towers I’ve had a busy morning sorting out stuff for my next set of travels and work whilst helping Dawn at home. Dee’s gradually completing wallpapering the living room but needed help taking down the big TV we have wall-mounted above the fireplace. With that little chore done I prepared lunch (chickpea, vegan Feta and Tuna salad with black olives and red onion garnished with lemon juice, oregano and parsley – yum!) before my final task – watering the gardens, which are really starting to look good after our trips to garden centres last weekend.

The weather’s cooler and overcast today, making it a good one for travelling if not for Photography.

Right now I’m on Northern’s 12:00 from Sowerby Bridge as far as Wigan Wallgate which is operated by a 2-car 158. Whilst it’s crowded I’ve managed to set up the mobile office to do some work en-route.

The Sowerby Bridge station friends were busy planting for the summer season during my visit. Here’s one of their efforts which will no doubt look gorgeous in a few weeks time.

12:55.

Having arrived at Manchester Victoria we sat for 5 minutes waiting time as paths are tight here – a legacy of BR’s 1990s rationalisation of the station which decimated capacity. A mobile cleaner took advantage of our layover to whip through the train emptying bins and collecting rubbish left behind on seats and tables by lazy travellers.

Heading onwards towards Salford Crescent we passed the new carriage sidings which are being laid in recognition of the station’s growing importance in the role of the Trans-Pennine network and consequent upgrade. They’ll never replace the scale of the famous Red Bank sidings (the site of which is now being redeveloped) but it’s still good to see.

13:30.

As we made our way to Wigan via the former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway main line via Atherton (now a shadow of its former self) I tucked into the lunch I’d prepared earlier. Sorry, pie and chip shops of Wigan, I’m giving you a pass today!

Burp!

13:40.

Arrived.

End of part 1. 158793’s carried me all the way from Sowerby Bridge to Wigan. Now to make my way to Southport. I’d half-considered stopping off at the rural station of Hoscar en-route, but as the station only has a 2-hourly service and one of them has just been cancelled maybe that’s a trip for another day when I’m not carrying so much kit and the weather’s not so cloudy.

To be continued…

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/

Cheers,

Paul

Rolling blog. Heading for the coast again…

26 Tuesday May 2026

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Southport, Travel

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10:10.

After a baking hot bank-holiday weekend where we celebrated Dawn’s birthday (blog to follow) I’m abandoning the Pennines to head back across the West Lancashire plain to Southport and another birthday. This time it’s my ‘kid’ sister Anne.  

Right now I’m on Northern’s 10:00 from Sowerby Bridge which is heading to Manchester. Fortunately, the air-conditioning on this 3-car Class 158 is fully functional, giving me chance to cool down after walking down to the station from Bigland Towers.

Today promises to be another hot one…

10:35.

Having slowly filled up en-route my train’s arrived at Rochdale where dozens of summer-dressed travellers were waiting for us. Now we’re almost full as we head for Manchester Victoria. The weather this side of the Pennines is just as good as in West Yorkshire, which makes a change! Most of my fellow passengers appear to be leisure travellers. Only the wonan sat across the car from me is working away on a laptop, almost everyone else is staring at a smartphone screen.

11:00.

Wonder of wonders! We pulled into Victoria 5 minutes early, which put us ahead of a GBRf hauled freight train, giving me enough time to leap out, grab a picture of it as it passed through the station and then rejoin my train. Talk about a lucky break. Now I’m arriving at Salford Crescent for a change of train in order to take the route via Bolton instead of the slower (all stations) route via Atherton.

Platform capacity at Salford Crescent is about the increased by 1/3 as the new platform 3 is complete and awaiting the first services to call when the new timetable comes into force.

11:25.

I’m now heading fast to Bolton aboard a packed Class 323 EMU heading for Blackpool North which is running just ahead of the Southport train. These 90mph EMUs only used to be seen South of Manchester but new electrification and an influx of cast-off 323s from the West Midlands has allowed them to extend their area of operations to include Blackpool, Wigan and Liverpool. The only problems with ’em is their lack of air-conditioning and 3+2 seating arrangement.

11:40.

This is more like it! I abandoned the 323 at Bolton, crossed the platform and caught the Southport train which is being worked by a bi-mode Class 769. Having seen it at Salford Cresent I was wise to the fact this former Thameslink unit had the old 1st Class seating at the front of the train – which is where I’m now relaxing in a comfy single seat. Whilst not as crowded as the Blackpool service there’s still plenty of the ‘bucket and spade brigade’ who’re obviously heading for a day out at the coast.

A commuter train heading to Blackpool is less than ideal due to the lack of luggage space but at least there’s plenty of seats.

Rolling blog. Over the hills…

23 Saturday May 2026

Posted by in Architecture, Down memory lane, Musings, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Southport, Travel

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10:00.

It’s the weekend so I’m heading back to West Yorkshire for the bank holiday weekend and to celebrate a special event on Monday.

But first, I’ve nipped into town to pick ip some shopping. The sun’s shining and the town centre’s slowly coming to life with early shoppers and the first pensioners (batteries fully charged) starting to race their chariots up and down Lord St. Talking of Lord St, I couldn’t resist having a look at the wonderful Art Deco Garrick Theatre building. It’s been empty since Covid struck time but an exciting restoration is due to start anytime now with the building being converted into a spa hotel and theatre with the original architecture restored, although some traditionalist bodies remain unconvinced. Personally, I’d rather see it repurposed than see it left in the state it’s in now. The Garrick featured in a famous railway poster from the 1930s painted by Italian artist Fortunino Matania which celebrated a very different age!

No tracksuits or electric chariots in those days! Now it looks rather less grand…

Right, time to start travelling…

11:15.

Having picked up some bits I’m on my way East. En-route I found this street artist who’s picked up the Sandgrounder* vibe by making sculptures from sand.

Right now I’m heading for Wigan aboard a vintage BR built Class 156, my favourite multiple unit of the era. Big windows and table bays make it an ideal regional train.

*Sandgrounder is a nickname for someone who hails from Southport.

12:05.

Having crossed the West Lancashire plain I’ve made it as far as Wigan (or Wiggin, as the locals pronounce it) to arrive at Wallgate station. I’m not saying I feel old but I remember the old Lancashire and Yorkshire railway building and the station being illuminated by gas lighting!

I resisted the temptation of the areas excellent real ale pubs and merely stopped  for lunch on the hoof – chips and curry sauce from the chipshop outside the station. Making my way to North Western station which was thronged by young girls who seemed to be wearing more make-up than clothing and lads with cans of lager glued to their hands, I’m now waiting for a train to Preston.

Burp! International cuisine has hit Wigan as you’re now offered a choice between English or Chinese curry sauce on your chips!

13:45.

Having made it to Preston aboard a very busy Northern service bound for Blackpool I’ve now swapped to a more sedate service – a local Preston to Colne stopper which will carry me as far as Blackburn.

It stops at all stations en-route, which includes some well-kept stations that are maintained by local adopters (Pleasington being a good example). I’ve been meaning to stop of at some of these stations for years but have never found the time. Maybe one day…

20:15

I was greeted at Halifax by both Dawn and fabulous weather, so the two of us decided to get out onto the moors for a walk and catch-up whilst we enjoyed the great outdoors. We drove up through Ripponden to the moors and reservoirs above Cragg Vale, where these views awaited us.

Light Hazzles and Warland reservoirs on the moors above Walsden.

Looking the opposite way across to Manchester with Hollingworth Lake Country Park in between.

Now we’re back at home for a quiet evening in. Time to relax before a busy day outdoors tomorrow as we’ll be making the most of the weather in order to prepare the garden for the summer…

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/

Cheers,

Paul

Rolling blog. Wolverhampton wandering, part 2…

21 Tuesday Apr 2026

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

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12:45.

I’m back – and it’s been a long day! The hotel I stayed in last night was fine, with one odd exception. They wouldn’t let you leave any luggage after check-out. So, having already changed into my PPE I ended up carrying a rucsac full of ‘civvies’ around with me. Fortunately, the site was only 35 mins walk away.

My morning has been spent on a steep embankment where McGinley contractors have been busy digging boreholes to allow the condition of the embankment to be monitored. You may think the Victorians were great engineers, but you’d be shocked if you knew how they built railway embankments. They’re often impossibly steep and constructed out of any old rubbish, which is why they slip, so need monitoring. I was out with a team doing exactly that. It’s not the easiest of assignments due to the ground conditions.

Pictured in action…

Still, we got the job done so I’m free for the rest of the day.

Having been dropped off at Wolves station I’ve decided to explore. Right now I’m heading for Birmingham New St…

13:05.

I’m off again. After a cold start in Wolves this morning the weather’s warming up and there’s lots of sunshine in the offing so I’m having a spin out to Birmingham International on one of the new Class 730/2 trains. They’re the longer-distance version of the Class 730/0 and I have to say I’m rather impressed. The seating’s very good as is the layout – although the fact there’s not many table bays will annoy some.

19:00.

Back again en-route home after a busy day exploring Birmingham and Wolves. With the weather in my favour I spent the best part of an hour at International station grabbing pictures before heading back to the city and a break from national rail to photograph the tram extension to what will be the HS2 station at Curzon St  – where work is really moving forward. After that, there was time for a trip to look at dome of the new stations which have been built on the Camp Hill line. How can you resist a station called ‘Pineapple Rd’?

The quality and thought that’s gone into the new stations is a credit to TfWM.They’re really rather good. If I had one gripe it would be the lack of toilets, but otherwise they’re very well laid out and landscaped. I’ll be interested to see the actual first year footfall statistics compared to the estimates.

Back in Brum I took another West Mids service via two other new stations on the route through Bescot. Willenhall especially  brings back lots of memories for me as I spent several days here back in 1977 job-hunting in the lock trade. But that’s another story!

Having returned to Wolves I couldn’t resist nipping in to a local institution for a swift pint. The Great Western  pub is tucked away in a back street below the surviving station but adjacent to the one that inspired its name.

19:30.

Now I’m heading to Manchester on a beautiful spring evening. I’d have been tempted to linger, but it’s been a long day and I’ve another busy one tomorrow. Due to some Cross-Country services being late I caught an Edinburgh bound Avanti Pendolino to Crewe where I had just enough time to catch another Pendolino bound for Manchester. It beats Voyagers hands down! Both trains have been busy but relaxed and at 9 -11 cars length very different to a Sardine-can Voyager.

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/

Cheers,

Paul

Rolling blog. Wolverhampton wandering, part 1.

20 Monday Apr 2026

Posted by in Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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10:10.

Another week, another dollar…

Having spent the weekend at Bigland Towers and the Calder valley, it’s time to wander further afield as I’m working for a rail company in Wolverhampton first thing tomorrow, so I thought I’d make the most of getting there and the overnight stay the job entails.

My first leg of the journey is from Sowerby Bridge to Manchester aboard one of Northern’s old Class 158s where I’ve been able to set up the mobile office. Today’s a lovely day for travelling. Spring’s very much in the air and the Calder valley is bursting into life with cherry blossom much in evidence in towns like Todmorden. The valley’s quickly turning green as leaf-growth expands at a rate of knots. All we need now is for the weather to warm up!

Train 1 from platform 1…

My 2-car train isn’t to crowded as yet, despite it being the first off-peak service, but as it’s Monday that’s hardly surprising. The story may be very different once we’ve traversed the Pennines and reached Rochdale.

I’ll be blogging throughout the day, so feel free to pop in later and see what I get up to…

10:45.

As expected, this train’s almost full after leaving Rochdale, having picked up other passengers en-route. We’re now speeding towards Manchester under clear blue skies.

12:00.

Ho hum! I walked across Manchester city centre in glorious sunshine, looking forward to the next leg of the journey. I’d planned to catch Transport for Wales’s 11:30 to Crewe where I’d have a short break to get pictures before my next train to Wolves. Then I saw the crowds waiting on the platform and realised it was a two-car train! What’s the Welsh for ‘Sardine can’?

Maybe not…

Thinking ‘bugger that’ I dashed across from 10 to 4 and joined a five-car Cross-Country Voyager heading for Bournemouth. It’s just as busy, but at least there’s breathing space in the vestibules.

Now I find myself recreating a regular commute from 12 years ago when I worked on the Staffordshire Area Improvement Programne (SAIP) which rebuilt the West Ciast Main line through and around the county town. How time flies!

Here we are again…

12:47.

Stafford’s bathed in sunshine, so I may linger…

14:10.

And linger I did! I stayed for on hour in which time I managed to get some useful pictures, swap banter with station staff – and soak up the sun.

Now I’m on the last leg to Wolves aboard another XC service. This one’s less busy but no more quiet. There’s an ‘interesting’ British family in my car where the matriach of the family is watching (and broadcasting) one of those conspiracy/get rich Facebook channels. I’m sure that will work…

15:30.

Having arrived in Wolves I’ve wandered to the hotel in order to dump all my PPE. For the cost I’ve stayed in far worse.

2230.

I’ve really enjoyed today and a huge part of that has been because of the people that I’ve met. I’ve mentioned my love of this neck of the woods in bĺogs passim. Now, the only thing that’s spoiling stuff is technical shit that’s stopping me adding more pics

I’ve a very busy day tomorrow but hope to have the problem fixed soon.

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/

Cheers,

Paul