Category Archives: Rolling blogs

Rolling blog. Working overtime…

13 Wednesday Dec 2023

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

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09:55

That’s not me you understand. That’s the remaining members of Northern’s class 319 fleet! Whilst most have gone for scrap and the last few have had no booked work since the December 10th timetable change the trains are still appearing in traffic. The transfer of newer CAF built electric trains from the Yorkshire (East) side of Northern’s domain has been delayed, so the 319s are being pressed back into service on some of their old routes from Liverpool only now spreading their wings as far as Manchester Airport services.

So, this morning I decided that as the weather’s picking up and I’m fed up of being cooped up in the office I’d venture out on the hunt for some of these trains. Right now I’m on a late-running York – Blackpool North service from Halifax bound for Preston. For once I’m glad the trains a few minutes late, otherwise I’d have missed catching it! The doors had already closed as I dashed onto the platform but the friendly young conductor me-mo’d to be to get on through her door. I’m now settled at a table with the mobile office up and running. This is a quiet train, so I can work undisturbed.

Preston bound aboard 195117.

I’ll blog throughout the day so feel free to come back and see how the hunting goes…

11:00.

The mobile office (and Northern’s wifi) allowed me to establish that just two class 319s are in service right now. Both are on Manchester Airport – Blackpool North diagrams, one after the other. The weather over here in Lancashire is bright and sunny, leaving Preston in heavy shadows so I’m now Blackpool bound with the intention of catching the 319s on their way back from the Airport.

14:30.

Ever had one of those days? Arriving at Blackpool I was well ahead of the trains I was after so I decided to take a short stroll on the prom to enjoy the glorious sunshine before catching a train out to Layton, the first stop out of Blackpool. I had two motives. I’d never been here before and wanted to photograph the interesting old station building. My second motive was to get shots of the two inbound 319s and catch the first one back which stopped at Layton. Then it all went ‘Pete Tong’. There’s no PIS or tannoy at Layton, so you can imagine my surprise when my 13:29 thundered through without stopping. It had been cancelled between Blackpool and Preston due to crewing issues. Bugger! Plan B saw me hop on a bus to get back to Blackpool North just in time to catch the 2nd 319 on the 13:58. Only that was cancelled too! Instead it’s running ECS to Manchester Airport!

I’m now on the 14:04 following on behind and working out where to go now as the light is rapidly failing…

17:30.

Plan C turned out to be a stop at another station I’ve not visited in a very (very) long time. Leyland. It’s over 50 years since I was last here. Somewhere in the Bigland family vaults there’s some cine film taken in the late 1960 of me and my two younger sisters playing on railway wagons in the old goods yard!

The place has changed a bit since then. The goods yard was torn up in the 1970s and only one of the original station buildings remains. I’d planned to try and get some pictures here but there’s building work going on and trackside views are overgrown so I ended up having a wander into town and found a little oasis a few minutes walk from the station. The Golden Tap is a lovely little micropub in an old shop. There’s a good range of cask, keg and bottled beers including some names I’d never seen before.

I stayed long enough for a slow pint and chat with the landlord. I was pleasently surprised to find this place so I doubt it’ll be my last visit. Tearing myself away I finally caught up with a Class 319 which was stopping on its way back to Blackpool. My plan was to catch it to Preston where I’d connect with the 16:44 service back to Halifax. Surprise, surprise – when I got to Preston I found the 16:44 was cancelled. Now I’m heading into Manchester instead. Only the connection with the train I’m on has also been cancelled! I give up trying to plan now – I’m simply going to catch the first train heading in the right direction that turns up!

19:00.

I’m on the last leg now. After changing at Salford Cresent only to find the next two trains heading across the Pennines were cancelled I caught a Rochdale bound stopping service then connected with a Leeds train. It lessened my wait in the cold as the night’s turning chilly. I have to admit, I’ve lost patience with Northern’s PIS messages excusing cancellations as “short-notice timetable changes”. It’s akin to a politicans weaselling as it’s the fery defination of a cancellation but without any explanation as to *why*…

22:00.

I’ve been home for a couple of hours now so I’ve had chance to download a few pictures from the camera for your delectation.

The old station building at Layton just outside Blackpool. The main building is in use as what appears to be private accommodation but the rest of the buildings are boarded up and appear disused.
This wooden structure sandwiched between two of the brick buildings fascinated me. I’d llove to know its history.
319368 speeds past Layton en-route to Blackpool. It *should* have formed the 13.29 from Layton but ran fast from Blackpool to Preston, presumably because it was lacking a Conductor.
The only surviving station building at Leyland has been refurbished and is to let. Originally, there was a footbridge projecting from the right-hand side which spanned all four tracks to allow access to the platforms. I’ve no idea when this was removed but I’m assuming it was fairly recently.
Got you! 319368 calls at Leyland whilst working 1N50, the 1517 Manchester Airport to Blackpool North.
1N50 disgorges passengers (including me) at Preston en-route to Blackpool North.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

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

Rolling blog. I’m back – with another HS2 visit…

29 Wednesday Nov 2023

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

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07:00

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

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

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

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

09:15.

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

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

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

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

10:07.

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

16:30.

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

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

17:55.

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

19:25.

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

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

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

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

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

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

Rolling blog. Anyone for tennis (elbow)?…

24 Friday Nov 2023

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

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09:45.

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

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

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

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

11:15.

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

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

18:50.

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

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

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

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

19:41.

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

Saturday 26th update.

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

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

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

Rolling blog. North-west foray…

21 Tuesday Nov 2023

Posted by in Class 319, Greater Manchester, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs

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12:10.

Discretion being the better part of valour and with having a judging meeting this morning I decided not to sally forth this morning until afterwards just in case I couldn’t find a decent wifi connection and location to hold such an event. Now, with the meeting done and the picture shortlist agreed between CRN’s Alice Mannion and I, I’m venturing West for a few hours to document the last days of Northern’s Class 319 fleet – all of which will be off to the scrapyard between now and the December 10th timetable change.

Right now I’m on Northern’s 12:02 from Sowerby Bridge which is formed of a quiet (but warm) 2-car class 158. In fact, it’s one of the later batch purchased by funds from the West Yorkshire PTE.

12:48.

A journey by train through the Calder Valley’s a lovely experience this time of year due to the autumnal colours from the woodland covering the valley, although last weeks high winds and rain have taken their toll, dropping a huge tonnage. My train remained quiet all the way to Rochdale where (as always) we filled up with dozens of folk heading into Manchester. I’m resisting the temptation to join them. Instead I’ll stay onboard all the way to Wigan where I can connect with the main diagrams (Liverpool, Wigan, Preston and Blackpool) the 319s are allocated to nowadays.

13:20.

Having swapped one load of passengers for another at Manchester we’re now burbling our way over the old Lancashire and Yorkshire railway main line between Liverpool and Manchester via Walkden. It’s a line I’ve known since childhood, although it’s almost unrecognisable now. One four-track it was reduced to two in the 1960s. The mines, power stations and other industrial sites that I remember from the 1970s are all gone. Sometimes it’s hard to picture exactly where they were as the landscape’s changed so much few points of reference remain. Only the stations survive, although they enjoy a much more frequent service (it’s doubled) since I was a kid.

13:55.

Having been deposited at Wallgate station I dashed across to nearby Wigan North Western just in time to catch my quarry. 319384 arrived working a fast Blackpool North to Liverpool service – first stop St Helens.

319384 arrives at Wigan North Western whilst working 1F07, the 1305 Blackpool North to Liverpool Lime Street.

16:15.

I’m taking a short break in Liverpool, waiting for the light to change after having visited St Helens and Huyton. Here’s a few pictures.

319381 approaches St Helens Central, past what used to be extensive sidings and goods yards on 2C17, the 1353 Wigan North Western to Liverpool Lime Street.
319368 passes the only remaining signalbox left on the route as it arrives at St Helens Central with 2C18, the 1421 Wigan North Western to Liverpool Lime Street all stations service.

The station building, athough only recent – hasn’t aged well. The railways have changed since it was designed and the 1st floor cafe (always a marginal business) closed years ago. The waiting area is pretty unkempt too. It’s a shame, as it’s an interesting design. I wonder if a micro-pub could take over the cafe?

The waiting area in the main building is unkempt and in need of a good clean. A simple coffee kiosk might work in here rather than the cafe upstairs which never really stood a chance.
The frontage of St Helens Central’s rather impressive and reflects the glassmakers art. The building opened in September 2007 at a cost of £6m

18:45.

Homeward bound. I’ve had a good – if rushed – day. I hadn’t realised my last explorration of the line through St Helens Central was so long ago. Vegetation has really grown up in certain areas. Combining that with electrification of the line and many photographic locations have disappeared. That said. I managed a reasonable selection of pictures from different vantage points and checked out others for another foray. I’d have liked to have got shots of the Xmas market opposite Lime St station but I didn’t have time to hang around, so that’s snother mission for another trip.

With the light in the ‘blue hour’ 319385 calls at Huyton with 2F52, the 1645 all stations from Liverpool Lime Street to Wigan North Western.

Having retraced my steps on the road to Wigan I swapped old Class 319s for even older trains. I’m currently on a vintage Class 156 heading to Stalybridge from Southport. The plan is to change at Manchester Victoria but as we’re running late the connection time may be tight…

Not my 156 but the empty stock from a previous service that was late being shunted between platforms, helping to delay my train.
The quietest train I’ve been on all day. Having dropped of its human cargo en-route 156425 passes through Salford bound for Victoria where it’ll fill up once more.

19:14.

Oh, the joys of late-running! Connections were touch and go in Manchester. My delayed train arrived at platform 6 at 19:55. My connection was due out of bay No 2 at 19:57. The next Leeds service was cancelled, so a sprint was order. Thankfully, the 19:57 hadn’t got the road so I made it with a couple of mins to spare, saving me an hour’s fester in the cold and temptation to visit the station’s new micropub. Swings and roundabouts…

21:45.

Time to bring this blog to a close. Despite the fact I only had a few hours I think I’ve added some valuable library shots to the collection – some of which are shown here. I’ll edit the rest over the next few days. I hope you’ve enjoyed the trip.

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. Have faith…

15 Wednesday Nov 2023

Posted by in Bradford, Photography, Railways, Religion, Rolling blogs, West Yorkshire

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Gordon Bennett – has the weather forecast got it wrong again! Having thrown open the bedroom blinds expecting the promised cloudy but clement day I was greeted by the sight of trees being battered by blustery winds and rain sweeping in from across the valley. This mornings walk to the station may prove to be a bit of an endurance test.

07:50

As I mentioned yesterday, today I’m off to Bradford to meet up with some of the Northern rail company’s management team for a visit to some of the city’s religious centres as part of their annual Interfaith and Cultural awareness event. It promises to be an interesting day, but first I’ve got to get there. Let’s see how things pan out. Railhead conditions are going to be difficult today, so I expect some late running…

09:05.

Mt predictions about late-running were correct, but with weather conditions like this that’s hardly surprising. Here’s the view across the Calder Valley from my walk to the station.

It’s grim up North…

I was aiming for the 08:57 but arrived in time for the 17 mins late 08:43, one of a slew of Leeds bound trains that were arriving within minutes of each other.

Better late than never!

09:40.

The day’s starting at the Great Victoria hotel with a briefing for all those attending. So far there are representatives from the Canal and Rivers Trust (CRT). Yorkshire Cricket and me, wearing a Community Rail Network hat. Northern have a range of staff here, including some of their Conductors and train preparation teams. Here’s the group just before the off…

Our first port of call was the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, one of several Sikh temples in the city. We were given a really interesting historical background on the origins and practices of the Sikh faith by Amandeep Kaur Maan. One of the things I’d never realised was how important baptism is as that cements someone into the purer, or stricter, version of Sikhism (vegetarianism, no alcohol or tobacco) compared to Sikhs who haven’t been baptised into the faith.

Learning about the Sikh faith from Amandeep Kaur Maan.
Our group joined other visitors in the cafeteria where free food is offered throughout the day, prepared and served by volunteers. We were warned not to take more than we could eat otherwise we’d get a hard stare from the ‘Aunties’ who were doing the washing up as they hated waste! Here’s my meal. Clockwise from top left, Gulab Jamun (sweet) Veg curry, dahl, chapatti and rice pudding (Kheer).

Our second visit of the day was to the Shree Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple which was only a short walk away. A crash course in what’s considered one of the oldest (if not the the oldest) religions in the world that has over 300 million gods is no easy matter. The devotees did their best, it’s not easy – especially when you’re touching on concepts like Karma and reincarnation that are alien to Christians.

Balakhrisnan, a Sri-Lankan Hindu who moved to the UK in 1968 explains who the various Hindu deities are. The temple is named after Lakshmi, one of the most important Hindu deities.
Our group inside the temple, with statues of several Gods in the Hindu pantheon behind us.

After tea, biscuits and the chance to chat to some of the devotees our third stop was another short walk away – the Abu Bakr Masjid.

Imran (left) and Mahatb (right) were our guides to their religion and how aspects of the faith work, including rituals around prayers and the five pillars of Islam. They were both entertaining and informative.

16:15.

What an interesting day – and a bonus is that despite the hairy weather and walking between temples we didn’t get soaked once!

Right now I’m back in Halifax, wetting my whistle with a pint at the new Grayston Unity before walking home.

My final chariot home…

The Grayston’s interesting. This afternoon they’re having a Northern Soul event downstairs. It’s early days but they hope to do it every month. Judging by the numbers coming up to the bar to buy drinks it’s well attended but its obvious from the demographic it’s still the same people from the 1970s – they’re just 40 odd years older – so the dancing may be a little more sedate! Of course, in those days Northern Soul was fuelled by amphetamines, now it’s probably Sanatogen!

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.Conference time…

13 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in Community rail, Community Rail Network, Nottingham, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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10:20

This morning the pair of us head to Nottingham for the annual Community Rail Network conference. Today and tomorrow station friends, Community Rail officers, rail staff and others will congregate to listen to updates on the world of community rail, share best practice and network.

Thankfully, although we’re in the midst of storm Debi, last night’s winds and todays heavy showers haven’t caused any disruption to our travel plans. We’ll be heading to the station shortly to begin our trip South. Let’s see how things go…

12:00.

We’re on our way to Leeds on Northern’s late running 11:37 from Halifax. Railhead conditions can’t be good as the latest storm’s brought down tons of leaves overnight.

Nottingham here we come…

I’m being kept entertained by following the latest political farce following the sacking of Home Secretary Cruella Braverman.

I mean – who on earth saw former PM and MP David Cameron returning to government as Foreign Secretary! The man whose biggest political failure was in the area of foreign policy. The man who called the Brexit referendum to appease warring Tory factions and ended up dragging us out of the EU, leaving us an international laughing stock to precipitate another 8 years of Tory fueding that’s dragged the country down even further!

What on earth was Sunak thinking? What’s the Tory party thinking? There’s 350 Tory MPs and Sunak’s just admitted not a single one of them is fit for elevation to high office! I bet that’s rankling on the back benches! And there was the Brexiters complaining that we were governed by ‘unelected bureaucrats’! Who’s elected Cameron?

13:20.

Leeds was fun for all the wrong reasons – bar this one. One of TPE’s class 68s working a Manchester – Scarborough service with just weeks left to run.

When I’d checked before leaving home this morning everything was running well with just a few delays due to railhead conditions. Things had changed when we arrived at Leeds to catch our train to Nottingham. A landslip towards York, overhead wire damage near Wakefield and a broken rail in the Aire valley were causing many delays and cancellations. Thankfully, our 13:08 was running and left on time – albeit it’s a 2-car, which is ‘cosy’…

16:10.

And relax! Well, for a few minutes anyway. We’ve made it to Nottingham, with our little 2-car picking up various members of the community railway family on the way. The weather improved as we passed through the storm front which was travelling in the opposite direction to us. It’s actually a balmy 13 degrees here in the city centre – hardly what you’d expect. Our first stop was to admire the work going on outside the stations where East Midland Railway’s community rail team have arranged for a new street-art mural which is being spray painted over the next few days by artists from ‘Image Skool‘. Completion date and unveiling is planned for Friday.

Having elected to walk to the hotel we’re now unpacking at the Crowne Plaza hotel before the staff briefing and preparing to meet and greet the bulk of the delegates who’re still in transit. Later there’s a drinks reception and buffet supper when delegates will discuss and decide on what topics they want to see the conference cover tomorrow.

Here’s a few shots from the reception, after which a couple of groups headed off to explore some of the local hostelries to sample local real ales…

Members of the Penistone line partnership, including Chair Neil Bentley (left) at the reception.
Michel Lintermans from Cooperatie Stationspark Deurne in the Netherlands, a regular entrant to the Community Rail awards.

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. A bridge too far…

30 Monday Oct 2023

Posted by in Hs2, Photography, Rolling blogs, Travel

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06:45.

It’s early but I’m on the rails again. This time heading to Aylesbury from Central London in order to (hopefully) record the first beams of the deck of the new HS2 viaduct being lifted into place. I’ll blog throughout the day when I can. For now, I’ll let this picture do the talking!

08:05.

The job’s been pushed back a couple of hours so I’ve had time to take a trip out to Princes Risborough and back on the first day of the line reopening after the recent blockade.

17:00.

S’cuse the huge gap here, but that’s due to being very busy and also being knackered. Today’s been another fascinating day learning about and seeing modern construction techniques that are making HS2 such a green railway. Forget the absolute dross you hear from ani HS2 protesters, Nimbys and a former BBC Environment Correspondent who’re still chucking out a decade and more old table top calculation, this is the real world and real construction where the UKs’ importing skills from abroad and people who’ve been doing this for years. The old methods went out of the window years ago.

The site I’ve been visiting is that of the Thame viaduct. It’s nowhere near as grand as the iconic Colne Valley viaduct as it’s low-lying (3.3 meters high) and only 880 meters long as its designed to cross a floodplain – and today was an ideal time to see that floodplain in action! The reason for today’s visit was that the girders that form the deck of the bridge have started to be lifted into place and a few of us were invited along to watch the operation.

I’m currently heading back to Yorkshire from Kings Cross after returning to London, so I’ll be adding a few pictures shortly. Bear with me!

17:30.

Here’s some pics from the day.

The cranes are prepped, ready to lift the 4th girder into place.

The lorry arrives with the girder. This is a fine example of how HS2 is spreading wealth around the UK. The crane on the left is on hire from a company in Inverness, Scotland. The HGV bringing the girder in us from a company in Richmond, North Yorkshire, whilst the company manufacturing the girders and pillars is based on the Isle of Grain. Kent.

Two girders which have already been installed sitting on their prefabricated piers.
The girder is slowly, gently swung into place before being lowered onto the bearings.
Gently does it. The girder inches down onto the bearings and a jack which will be used for the final (vertical) alignment.
Here’s what you don’t see. This is the piling for pier 18, inside the coffer dam constructed to keep the flood plain water at bay. Each of these piles is 45 meters deep.
A prefabricated pier that’s already been assembled, waiting for the girders to arrive. The flooded fields in the background give away why this bridge is needed, even though it’s only 3.3 meters in height it’s 880m length bridges the area.

18:30.

We’ve just left Doncaster and I’m looking forward to getting home. It’s been a long day…

20:20.

Right, I’m home and uploading a few camera pictures of the Thame valley viaduct for your delectation. When I have time I’ll add some more technical details. But for now, this is me signing off!

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. The late show…

29 Sunday Oct 2023

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

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19:00

It may be Sunday night but there’s no rest for the wicked. I have a morning appointment to visit an HS2 construction site near Aylesbury tomorrow so I’m travelling South this evening in preparation. This late trip means I’ve been able to enjoy a leisurely day at home with Dawn, which has been lovely, especially as the pair of us were out late last night at a friend’s 60th birthday party. Kath had booked a meal for us all at the Astronomer in the Piece Hall in Halifax where we enjoyed a fantastic array of tapas dishes. It’s the first time we’ve eaten there in this incarnation, but it’s unlikely to be the last. Afterwards we adjourned to the Railway pub (an old favorite) for a last drink before heading home. The Railway has a disco night on Saturday, only this weekend with a Halloween theme. The music’s unashamedly 70s-80s but it always draws a good crowd. It was an ideal place to hide from the rail as it bucketed it down last night!

Thankfully, today’s been dry and sunny so I’ve had time to catch up with some gardening as well as other household chores, whilst still managing a few hours work.

Right now I’m on my way to Leeds on Northern’s 18:52 service from Halifax to Leeds. It’s a quiet, 2-car train as this is a neither here nor there time to be travelling.

20:00.

Leeds station was just as quiet as my Northern train tonight – although the fact it was chucking it doen with rain (again) may have had something to do with it. We’ve certainly had our fair share of the wet stuff over the past week. I was only passing through so didn’t even bother getting the camera out. Instead, I headed for the warmth of the LNER ‘set’Azuma’ set sat in the platform which was ready to form the 19:45 to Kings Cross.

This is another relatively quiet train, although my coach has been graced by a bunch of students who’ve obviously been out for a few beers and are now scoffing their vegan fast food aboard. Frankly, It smells just as greasy and unappetising as the ‘real’ stuff!

21:00.

We’re well on our way to our next stop at Peterborough right now – not that you’d know as it’s pitch black outside. Now the clocks have gone back daylight’s disappearing all too fast. I love the quality of winter light but I do miss those long summer days.

As there’s nothing to see I’ve been keeping busy working on the train. Trying to organise far too many picture folders into one coherent database for filing and to ensure everything productive has appeared on my Zenfolio website our gone out to clients. This is also a useful exercise for ignoring the depressing news that’s coming out of Israel, Palestine – and now Dagestan. Thanks to Homo Sapiens this planet is becoming ever more fcuked up. We seem to be beset by storms, political, social, economic and environmental – fuelled by populist politicians who haven’t got a clue what to do about anything other than cling to power, posture – and lie.

21:20.

We’re now South of Peterborough after being held in the station to let fast services to London overtake us. The trains still quiet although the station (being an important interchange) was full of people swapping between trains. This is like the old days for me. Back in the late 80s early 90s I’d often spend a weekend with an old friend from the Southport diaspora here in Peterborough. On Friday I’d travel up from London after work and return on trains like this. Well, not ‘exactly’ like this – the Class 91s were new in those days, so often it’d be a packed HST that would take me back to Kings Cross. Happy days in many ways.

22:25.

Arrived! I’m now indulging in a spot of night photography at Kings Cross, waiting for my steed in to return to Leeds as the 22:35. Not bad – a 30m turnaround. The weather’s been wet in London earlier but it’s dried out enough to deprive me of the puddles and reflections I’d have liked to have had. Oh, well. Blur shots it is then…

23:30.

And blur shots shots it is! Here’s my train returning to Leeds…

I find London stations fascinating places at night, but that maybe because I’ve spent over 40 years haunting them and seen some incredible changes – especially at the likes of Kings Cross. I first spent night-time here back in the 1970s when the area had a terrible reputation for drugs and prostitution. In that respect it was no different to any other gateway to capital cities but as a teenager it had a frisson of danger which made it quite exotic. It’s been cleaned up massively since those days. Back then you could go ‘off grid’ as soon as you left your house. Now, when I wander through the place I can spot the homeless and overnight travelers who gravitate to stations because they’re warm, safe and have power sockets, seats – and wifi! The modern world isn’t all bad – even if we as a developed country still have the stigma of homelessness – but that’s the Tories for you.

Ironic too when I think about it. There were always people exploiting the young homeless in London in those days, but word got around about who to trust or not. Now we know that some of the most untrustworthy people were media personalities. Funny old world…

Right now I’m updating this blog and posting pictures from the ‘Cross wifi. I was going to venture up the road to some old haunts but a signal failure at Finsbury Park has added too much of a wild card. Instead I’ll stay local.

00:30.

The last update. I’m now at Euston before calling it a day. It’s a nightmare of a sation nowadays as it’s far too small for the traffic it handles. The new ‘information’ screens don’t help. Commercial and political pressure has meant the vast majority of space has been given over to advertising.

Train information to the left, fcuk off advertising screens everywhere else. As if this will prevent the infamous Euston platform rush.

Folk who’ve missed their trains or who have nowhere else to go are bedding down here too. I noticed one lovely act of human kindness. A young African woman laden down with suitcases is holed up in a corner. One of the station security guards ( who’re hardly paid a kings ransom) stopped to chat, then slipped her a fiver so she could get a coffee in the morning. I sometimes forget that humans can can actually display humanity – and charity.

Right. Enough from me. See you tomorrow.

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. Birthday ‘bash’…

27 Friday Oct 2023

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, TPE, Yorkshire

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09:15.

Last night’s pessimism was thankfully unfounded. It seems Trans-Pennine Express have managed to get four of their class 68s into service today, so I’m off for a day out to meet up with old friends and enjoy a few trips behind these trains before their untimely demise. Or, to borrow railway enthusiast terminology, we’re going to ‘bash’ a few! The sorry saga of the Vossloh built Class 68s and their CAF built coaching sets is worthy of a blog of its own. It doesn’t show the railway in a good light, from TPE themselves right through to CAF, the builders of the coaches. Poor decision making and planning runs through the story like the letters through a stick of rock.

Right now I’m still in a very foggy Calder valley, waiting for a late running 09:22 to Manchester Victoria. I’ll be meeting some friends in the city to catch the first working which will carry us back across the Pennines. Watch this space…

A CAF train that does work…

09:50.

We’ve now burst through the Summit tunnel into Lancashire and – as is typical – we have very different weather here. The fog’s lifted, as have the clouds letting the sky tease us with glimpses of clear blue sky.

The change seems to have befuddled my train. The information screens and PA are announcing we’re approaching Low Moor (near Bradford) just as we speed through Saddleworth!

11:20.

The fun begins…

13:05.

We’re back in foggy Yorkshire. What a change from the sunshine of Lancashire. Right now we’re awaiting the road from York to Malton where we’ll be meeting another couple of the group who’ll join us for the stip to Seamer where we’ll pick up a Westbound service back to York. This train’s been busy throughout the trip with a constant churn rate of passengers. These five car sets will be missed when they revert to three car trains.

21:15.

yes, I know, there’s been a huge gap in blogging here. That’s mainly because we’ve been having so much fun together – in real life. Our plans were fluid so the gang ended up meeting up in Malton en-route to Scarbados – sorry Scarborough. Only there was a much more interesting opportunity by changing trains at a pace called Seamer, which allowed us to sample a different Class 68 and Mk 5 set to get us back to York. By which time it was beer o’ clock. So, the four of us adjourned to some of the lesser well-known real ale pubs for a bevvy or two where we could relax, enjoy each others company and talk about all manner of things.

68025. Our steed fom Seamer to York.

The hour we’d set aside turned into several. but what a lovely day. For me it was a chance to enjoy my birthday with some close friends without any pressure to ‘do’ things.

Three of the four, Mr Holcombe was hiding. Thanks to JV for the selfie!

Now I’m back at home as we’ve gone our separate ways. The trains I’ve caught have been packed – so much for the claims no-one’s travelling by rail anymore. What surprised me is that it wasn’t just trains syphoning folk into Leeds, people were travelling much wider. A night out in Halifax? Some folk were going for it!

Now it’s time for me to relax back home and sort out a few pictures. Tomorrow Dawn and I are out with different friends (the five from the 6) to celebrate Kath’s birthday, but there won’t be a train in sight…

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. Exploration…

25 Wednesday Oct 2023

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Sheffield, Travel, Yorkshire

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09:35.

There’s been a change of plan. I was meant to be staying at home writing but the weather has changed and given me chance to do the exploring I need to complete an article. So I’m off to Sheffield, although I can do some writing and research on the way. Feel free to follow me through the day and see what I get up to…

09:55.

Not a bad day for being out! Here’s the view across Sowerby Bridge and the Calder Valley taken from my walk up the hill to Spring Edge on the way into Halifax.

10:45.

Hmm, timetables on the Calder Valley seem to be up the spout this morning due to late running. On the bright side I walked straight onto a busy Halifax – Hull service that was ready to depart so I should easily make my connection at Leeds for a Cross-Country service to Sheffield.

11:50.

All’s going well. The 11:11 Leeds – Sheffield is a 9 car so I’ve managed to find a seat, plug in the laptop and do some writing. Now we’re on the apprach to Sheffield where I’ll be swapping train for other public transport.

12:45.

I’ve exchanged train for tram. Now I’m exploring areas of Sheffield I’ve not visited in years!

14:25.

Now I am off piste. Here’s a clue…

It doesn’t look like this anymore!

18:50.

Sorry for the blogging gap but I’ve been busy exploring an area I’ve only passed through before so never got to know. The Don valley out to Stocksbridge proved to be really interesting for a whole host of reasons – most of which I’ll have to blog about later as I’m currently writing this update from my phone whilst sat in the luggage bay of a Cross-Country Voyager from Sheffield to Leeds!

Stocksbridge isn’t the easiest place to get to by public transport. The trams run out at Middlewood. After that its buses, which aren’t that frequent or reliable. There’s a lot of house building in the valley bottom. Much of it cheek by jowel with the old railway. That said, the railway’s really on the wrong side of the valley to be much use. Plus, the original stations closed 60 – 70 years ago. The land surrounding them is now completely built up.

22:30.

Back at home after a very interesting day that’s left me with a lot of mixed feelings and a whole load of stuff to write about if I had the time, but tomorrow I’ve an article to finish on the back of some of today’s research.

I love my job. I love being able to explore the way I have today – even when the experiences aren’t always positive – although I have to say the interactions I’ve had with the residents of the Don valley I’ve met and talked to have been good. That said, seeing someone proudly flying an Ulster Volunteer Force flag in their back garden was rater jarring. I wish I had time to write more about my trip. Instead, I’ll have to leave you with a couple of pictures.

This was once an electrified main-line between Manchester and Sheffield. Now it’s abandoned as the last freight traffic has ended. This is Beeley wood.
The most powerful trams in the UK, but then when you look at the hills around Sheffield, they need to be! Here’s tram 112 on Langsett Rd, Hillsborough working a service to Malin Bridge.

I’ll publish more pictures and links to the article after it’s published. Until then…

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