Rolling blog. More Mancunian meandering…

30 Tuesday Apr 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Community rail, Community Rail Network, Greater Manchester, History, Manchester, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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Community rail, Community Rail Network, History, Manchester, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

11:45.

As the weather’s picked up and we’re being treated to some blue sky today I’ve journeyed back to Manchester to pick up where I left off yesterday by exploring the rail lines to the East of the city in order to get shots of some of the trains, but also the stations they serve as community rail volunteers are very active in this area. They’re doing some great stuff, both with gardening and artwork. So, here we go – on the train from Piccadilly to Marple…

14:00.

Phew! Back again. I’ve been doing a lot of walking and exploring since my last update. Getting to Marple was the easy part. But, as the line’s closed beyond New Mills services are restricted and I really wanted to get a shot of the return train working ‘bang road’ – a railway term I’ll explain later.

Having an hour to kill gave me time to explore and take pictures around Marple. Did you know that the place is famous because of the writer Agatha Christie? She visited snd decided to name one of her most famous fictional Detectives after the town. The station contains history boards which tell all about it the connection – and more. I’ll add pictures later.

14:45.

Right now I’m back at Piccadilly, basking in the sun (yep, sun, In Manchester!) after heading back from Rose Holl Marple via a stop at Romily – another station with some fascinating and informative history boards. Some are railway related – others not.

Did you know this about sign language? No, neither did I…

Here’s something a little more railway related fom Romily…

18:45.

Back again! I’ve been busy. After leaving Romily I headed back to Piccadilly in glorious weather. The sun was shining and temperatures were in their mid teens for the first time this year. It actually felt like spring for a change. I took a break at Picc in order to grab a bite to eat, get a few pictures and spend 30 minutes doing my best basking lizard impression at a platform end. Suitably rejuvenated I headed abck down the Buxton line, changing trains at Hazel Grove before arriving back at New Mills Newtown. Unlike yesterday I disn’t cross between stations. Instead I headed back to Woodsmoor in order to get pictures of the station artwork. Realising I’d 30 mins to wait for a train but the next station was only 25 mins walk I elected to explore and walked between the two through the leafy backstreets that make up these affluent suburbs.

When I got back to the city it was rush-hour and a good time to think about heading home. I wore out some more shoe leather walking from Picc to Vic where I was in time to catch the 18:21 to Leeds. Right now I’ve got my feet up, relaxing before the last leg from Halifax to home.

22:30.

I’m home and editing a few pictures which give more of a flavour of today. Here they are.

One of the history boards at Marple station explains all about Agatha Christies links with Marple, the North and also railways…

195125 arrives at Marple, working ‘bang road’ from Mills Hill Central.

A lovely bit of whimsy from the friends of Rose Hill Marple station.

I’ve lots more pictures to edit, so that’s tomorrow’s working from home sorted out…

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

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Rolling blog. The Surrey shuffle…

24 Wednesday Apr 2024

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

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London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

11:30.

I’ve had a leisurely morning at home sorting out some paperwork and chores so there’s been no early start today, much as that would have been tempting in order to make the most of the improving weather. But now I’m on the move again, heading from Halifax to Leeds before taking a trip down the East Coast Main line to London.

Leg one was far less glamorous. I took a trip on this old thing which is working the Huddersfield to Bradford Interchange shuttle.

Now I’m on something a little more modern in the shape of a CAF built Class 195. It’s running slightly late but no big deal as I wasn’t planning to get to Leeds before 12:00 anyway.

12:45.

Getting to Leeds was in fits and starts dues to my train being delayed by late running services (often a problem at Leeds, a station with too many trains and no spare capacity) however, it didn’t stop me making the Harrogate-Kings Cross service, whose departure was also delayed for the same reason! We’re now speeding South towards Doncaster. I expect the few minutes we’ve lost should be made up along the way, unless something dramatic happens on the ECML. This trains a 9-Car ‘Azuma’ and reasonably quiet, so I’ve been able to colonise a table bay in order to set up the mobile office and start the task of editing all the past few days pictures…

13:45.

Time’s flying! I’ve had my head buried in my laptop as I edit pictures and declutter my email inbox. I’m now signed up to several press events that’ll see me rather busy at the beginning of May. These include a press trip to Germany and some more HS2 visits (watch this space). The picture editing’s gone well too. So much so that I’ve ony just noticed how the fields of rape along the railway have burst into bloom. The countryside’s dotted with yellow, marking the change of seasons. It’s ages since I’ve been able to get out to photograph at the lineside this time of year. Will I find time in 2024? I hope so, but blue skies remain elusive. There’s the odd patch here South of Peterborough but hardly wall to wall.

14:05.

I was right about making up time. Say what you like about the ‘Azuma’ trains but they can’t half shift. Our 2 minute late departure from Leeds has morphed into passing Hitchin 2 minutes early! Shame the weather’s not been as scintillating as we seem to be heading into a mass of clouds…

17:15.

S’cuse the gap but it’s been a hectic few hours. I didn’t hang around for more than a few minutes at Kings Cross. only long enough to grab a couple of pictures before making my way across to Waterloo via Thameslink and London Bridge, thence SoutheEastern to Waterloo East. The reason for my haste was that the ‘celebrity’ BR blue liveried Class 455 was in traffic and due to pay a visit on the country end of a service. Here it is.

Shiny! Well, the paint job is. The train underneath it is a different matter!

I didn’t stay for a ride, instead I caught an earlier service to Clapham Junction so that I had a second bite of the photographic cherry.

Frustratingly, the sun remained hidden behind clouds until the last few minutes before I had to leave. What a difference a bit of sunshine makes.

Now I’m heading to Farnham on a packed 17:02 off the Junction. Today’s obviously not the day people are working from home!

20:20.

And relax!

I’m now at Platt mansions in Tilford and it’s time to relax with Dawn for the evening. Tomorrow we drive back to Yorkshire so there’s no trains for me – although there may just be chance to take a look at an HS2 worksite on the way back. We’ll see…

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Rolling blog. West Midlands wandering…

23 Tuesday Apr 2024

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

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09:15.

I’m having another crack at a day out with the camera and hoping for better weather than the miserable conditions I encountered yesterday. At the moment thinks are looking up. There’s clearing blue skies here in the Calder Valley although I’m not hanging around.

Right now I’m on a Northern service from Sowerby Bridge to Manchester, after which I’ll be heading to the West Midlands for the day. Let’s see how the day unfolds….

10:30.

The first leg into Manchester was a doddle. My train wasn’t busy so there was no problem finding a table bay to set up the laptop on – although the lack of power sockets on Northern’s Class 158 fleet can be a pain as you have to rely on laptop battery power. Many of the fleet (esp the ones cascaded from other operators) don’t have USB sockets either, so I always make sure my batteries are fully charge before leaving the house.

On arrival at Victoria I strolled across to Piccadilly. It can be a grim walk some days as the number of homeless seems to ebb and flow. Fourteen years of Tory (mis)rule and austerity have done the city and its population no favours at all.

Right now I’m leaving the city behind aboard on of Transport for Wales new CAF built Class 197s which is heading for Cardiff. This busy 2-car train will carry me as far as Crewe, my next stopping point.

17:00.

S’cuse the gap but I’ve been on the move all day with little time in between changes. From Crewe I headed down to an old haunt – Stafford. I spent many an overnight shift there in 2014-15 working for Network Rail on the Staffordshire Area Improvement Plan. This time my stop was just a few minutes. Long enough to change trains to head down to Wolverhampton where I changed once more before reaching my goal – Birmingham.

Unfortunately the weather didn’t live up to the forecast. Skies stayed grey and the temperature struggled to make it into double figures. Even so, I headed off on the cross-city line towards Lichfield, stopping off several times to take pictures en-route. I’ve not traversed the route for several years but changes are afoot as the old Hunslet built Class 323s are starting to be replaced by the new Alstom built Class 730s – a pair of which were out earning their keep, running between Lichfield and Bromsgrove. I’ll add some pictures later. Including shots from what’s the most interesting and historic station along the route at Sutton Coldfield.

There was another station that caught my eye. Wylde Green. It’s been adopted by a local station friends group who’re doing great work to make the pedestrian approaches a bee-friendly area.

Typically, just as it came time to head back the weather improved and the sun started to appear! Bugger! I reluctantly headed back into Birmingham New Street in time to get a few pictures in the Stygian gloom that constitutes platform level before catching the train I’m typing this on, a Cross-Country service heading to Leeds, then onwards to Glasgow.

17:36.

I’m glad I got to Sheffield ahead of time. The Cross-Country train I was going to catch is already 30 mins late at Birmingham!

23:00.

There’s plenty more stories I could add to this blog, but it’s late and I’m back at home trying to sort out stuff for my next trip tomorrow, which will see me travelling to Farnham via London. So, I’ll leave you with a couple of camera pictures from today – but expect another blog tomorrow…

The old (and soon to vanish) order on Birmingham’s cross-city line. Hunslet built 323205 arrives at Wylde Green en-route to Birmingham and beyond.

The new order. Alstom (nee Bombardier) built 730005 sits at Four Oaks with a service from Lichfield to Bromsgrove.

There’s posh. The ticket office windows at Sutton Coldfield.

Rolling(ish) blog. Best laid plans…

22 Monday Apr 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Manchester, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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Manchester, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

11:15.

I was full of good intentions today. Dawn’s away on Platt family duties down in Surrey whilst I’m at home in West Yorkshire, so the idea was I’d be up and out at ‘sparrow fart’ and exploring with the camera. Then, last thing last night, I saw the weather forecast and thought ‘uh-oh!’. Still, I set my alarm for 06:45 with the optimism that things might get better. Only my alarm didn’t go off. I was woken at 07:00 by a phone-call from Dawn, who’d been woken early by the sunlight streaming through her window. In contrast, I was woken up to this view from our bedroom window.

Sowerby Bridge, literally under a cloud…

Bugger! Why didn’t I go with Dee when I had the chance?

So, instead of being out and about I’m having a morning at home, catching up with some bits and picture editing. I was out yesterday when the weather was very different – as this shot from Todmorden shows. Blue skies and cherry blossom. What more could you want?

This afternoon I’m going to head over to Manchester regardless as I’ve arranged to meet up with an old friend (Hassard, who you’ll have seen mentioned in many previous blogs) who’s up her from London for work. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get a few useful pictures and find a few things to blog about. Feel free to pop back later to see what I get up to…

13:05.

Finally, I’m on my way. As you can see from this picture, the weather hasn’t improved here in the Calder Valley. The Wainhouse Tower in the background (we live just beneath it) is disappearing into the clouds. I can only hope traversing the Pennines does it’s usual trick to bring better weather.

14:10.

I stopped off at Todmorden en-route in order to grab something to eat before catching a different train. To be honest, ‘Tod’ as it’s known to locals, deserves a blog all of it’s own. It’s a curious little place full of contradictions that I haven’t got time to describe now. I nipped over to the market but as it’s Monday the only things that were open were the coffee shop and this little bar, which looks to have amazingly cheap prices. I’ll revisit soon.

The Market Tavern, inside Todmorden market hall.

Managing to source a sandwich from a local supermarket I made it back to the station in time to catch the 13:54 towards Manchester. It should have been working Headbolt Lane (Kirkby) to Blackburn was was terminated at Todmorden due to late running. Apparently, there’s been a bridge-strike somewhere which is causing quite a few delays.

This is a Class 150/156 lash-up. The Class 150 has been cascaded to Northern from another operator. You wouldn’t know unless you’re sharp-eyed as there’s one tell-tale in this picture.

16:10.

Sadly, the trick of crossing the Pennines into better weather has failed today. There’s rain-filled, leaden skies here too. Even so, I decided on a little side trip to visit a station I’ve been meaning to stop off at for years. Bromley Cross, on the line from Bolton to Blackburn. I’d have got there yesterday, but the train from Blackburn was rammed with pissed football supporters. Testosterone, Tribalism and alcohol’s a heady mix, so I decided to wait for another day. Unfortunately, that day’s been a rainy one!

As well as retaining one of its old station building Bromley Cross possesses one of the few working signalboxes in the North-West. Nowadays it’s kept to protect the station’s foot-crossing as there’s no footbridge.

21:20.

Homeward bound. Having returned to Manchester to meet up with Hassard the pair of us had a fun few hours catching up whilst sampling some of Manchester’s ale houses. Like this one in the Northern Quarter.

Now I’m heading back across the border into West Yorkshire to prepare for another adventure tomorrow. Hopefully, one where the weather plays ball…

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Rolling blog. More TRU travels…

17 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, Travel, West Yorkshire

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Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, Travel, West Yorkshire

09:30.

Today we have blue skies and sunshine – and little threat of rain. So, having finished the paperwork that I needed to do I’m heading out with the camera to have a look at more progress on the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade. I’ll blog throughout the day (easier as I’m only going local) so feel free to see what I get up to and where. Right now it’s time to pack my kit and head down to Sowerby Bridge station…

11:35.

Having caught the train from Sowerby Bridge my first stop was at Mirfield where I had to change trains anyway. For once TRU work was in full swing during the day. I’m assuming that’s because the work in question was sheet piling – which is an activity that’s best carried out during daylight hours if you want to be a good neighbour!

Right now I’m taking my ease at Ravensthorpe as there’s a couple of interesting train workings due – and I have time to admire TRU progress before strolling on to Dewsbury. Here’s how the site of the new Ravensthorpe station looks as more of the old embankment’s removed.

14:00.

Whilst it was sunny at Ravensthorpe the wind was less than kind. Whilst I was there an old chap turned up with his video camera and stepladder. Apparently, a steam train was due (I didn’t know as I don’t pay the preserved world much attention). He plonked himself in the worst possible location on the bridge, leaving the TRU staff having kittens as part of the road bridge is closed whilst the one lane open has a steady stream of HGVs coming on and off the TRU construction site. Having sympathy and understanding I stayed out of the way, but even so one member of staff came and tried to persuade me what was a public right of way wasn’t. I gently stood my ground and pointed out that – as I was stood behind a lampost on a pavement if my safety was in danger they need to look at the quality of their HGV drivers rather than me!

(evening update)

On checking various websites I’ve found that Ravensthorpe Road and the bridge are indeed officially closed to traffic until June 10th, although pedestrians are allowed to cross for now. So, I’d advise any photographers to stay away from the area until then as there’s a lot of HGV traffic and there’s other locations that can be used in the meantime.

Still, I can sympathise with their concerns. I wouldn’t have dreamed of glueing myself to where ‘flat cap’ did and assured the chap I’d be out of his way soon. Here’s what I snapped whilst I was there.

The empty Preston – Lindsay oil tanks hauled by 70814 pass Thornhill LNW Junction at Ravensthorpe.

Rebuilt ‘West Country’ Pacific 34046 ‘Braunton’ working a Northwich – York charter.

Moving on I caught a train to Huddersfield to see how the ongoing roof removal’s impacted on the station.

Roof in retreat. The first few spans of the main trainshed roof have been removed at the West end of the station.

Having grabbed the shots I wanted I caught a train across the Pennines to the other part of the TRU work, where the overhead wires are now in place in Stalybridge. Here’s the view looking West towards Manchester.

Stalybridge looking East. This is as far as electrification will get for the foreseeable future as little work is taking place between Stalybridge and Huddersfield and there’s no timetable for the wires to be extended.

21:15.

I’m now home and it’s time to bring this blog to a close. By late afternoon the clouds closed in, leaving me playing ‘tig’ with the sunshine (and the rain). There seemed little point in battling out with the weather as it always wins! Instead I nipped into central Manchester to pick up some edible supplies from Chinatown before heading back home via busy rush-hour trains on the Calder valley.

Tomorrow’s another (different) day which will see me in DIY rather than photographic mode as we’re back to rainy days. Still, it’ll keep me out of trouble – and the wet!

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Rolling blog. Stormy weather…

15 Monday Apr 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Climate Change, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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12:00.

What a contrast to yesterday when we enjoyed a country walk uninterrupted by rain. Today we’re back to climatic conditions that can best be described as Baltic with torrential rain! If I wasn’t popping over to Preston to meet up with some friends for an hour I’d have quite happily stayed home at Bigland Towers, watching the rainstorms sweep across the valley from indoors. As it was, Dawn gave me a lift to the station under approaching clouds that were black as Hades. No sooner had I arrived at the station and got under cover before we were hit by two amazing cloudbursts where the rain was sweeping across Halifax in sheets. I’ve seen rain like this many time in Asia, but rarely in the UK.

Right now, after being caught by the tail end of such a burst I’m drying off aboard the 11:30 to Preston whilst watching more cloudbursts sweeping across the Calder valley. Hopefully, I might be in the right place at the right time to get some pictures later as the mixture of sunshine, black skies and rain ir really rather dramatic. I can honestly say I’ve never known a year so changeable or so wet. It looks like 2024 will be setting weather records for all the wrong reasons.

22:00.

Sorry, that was a pretty crap rolling blog. Mainly because the rolling that was done was with laughter once the gang was all together in the wonderful Black Horse pub in Preston.

Our merry band ended up talking about everything railways and a few other subjects in between, all leavened with lots of humour and lubricated with some great beers.

When we left I realised there was little point in trying to do much photographically so I made my way home to Halifax, arriving just in time to walk home before the arrival of the next deluge. Here’s the sky that greeted me as I reached the summit of Spring Edge and began the drop into the Calder Valley.

I’ve a busy day at home tomorrow so the weather’s not going to bother me either way, but let’s see what Wednesday brings…

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Rolling blog. Meandering my way to some Merseyside manoeuvres…

11 Thursday Apr 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Liverpool, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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Liverpool, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

11:25.

Having spent the early part of the week working from home it’s time to get out and about on the railways again, despite the weather. At least it’s not rained today. Well, yet! I’m currently on a train from Sowerby Bridge heading for Manchester in order to head over to Merseyside for another meandering visit. The Merseyrail Class 507 fleet’s hanging on by the skin of its teeth and ‘celebrity’ BR blue/grey liveried 507001 is working Ormskirk line services today. But first, I’ve got to get over there.

I’ll blog throughout the day, so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to….

12:25.

As I drift Westward the weather’s improved and I’m beginning to think I may be a tad overdressed fot the conditions! I’ve changed trains at Salford Crescent where I swapped my pair of diesel 158s for electric 331s heading for Blackpool North. I as going to catch the elderly Class 156 working to Southport via Bolton, but the 331s are running late so it’s been hd to let them past. It’s a sensible bit of regulation as you don’t want the 331s to introduce delays on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) at Preston,whilst a few mins on a Southport services causes no problems anywhere.

12:40.

My ekectric dash to Bolton gave me a few minutes to get some pictures before joining the Southport bound 156 I’d fkagged at Salford Crescent. Having stopped st intermediate stations en-route it ambled in 8 minutes late.

With the through tracks long gone and now occupied by OLE masts a pair of 331s stand at Bolton station with a Blackpool North – Manchester Airport service.

What kept you? The Southport bound train calls at Bolton’s platform 5, which was only reinstated during electrification work.

13:45.

Having travelled from Wigan Wallgate to Headbolt Lane I’ve now swapped diesel for battery power. Well, as far as Kirkby anyway!

16:30.

Apologies for the break but I’ve been busy with the camera at Kirkdale. As it’s the Grand National weekend Merrseyrail has put out 3 sets of 2x507s on the Ormskirk services. I only found out as I arrived at the station, so the past couple of hours have been spent getting pictures in the area.

I’ve never seen so many rail enthusiasts on Merseyrail. I even bumped into James, an old friend from Chorley who’d had the same idea as me.

507001 leads 507014 past Kirkdale depot on a return working to Liverpool Central from Ormskirk.

Now, having managed various shots including ‘celebrity’ 507001 I’m heading into central Liverpool for a little while. I’m fascinated by the amount of redevelopment going on around the old dock between Sandhills and Liverpool. It’s such a contrast to the dereliction I remember as a youth – and wonderful to see.

19:15.

My visit to Liverpool was brief for two reasons. The weather deteriorated and the place was packed due to the Grand National. Still, it made for some great people-watching as I made my way between Central and Lime St stations. On the way I traversed Gt Charlotte St which has become ‘murder mile’. Why? Well, it’s now wall to wall bars, many with open fronts. 99% have live music (competing with each other) and most of them are killing cover versions of popular songs!

Spot the obligatory ‘plastic Paddy’ pubs – and a Wetherspoons.

19:30.

I retraced my way to the end of the Merseyrail network at Headbolt Lane as there really wasn’t much point in hanging around. I’d have like to have got photos of racegoers in their finery but it was far too late in the day for that – even if the weather had stayed dry. It’s a lesson I learned 20 years ago when I was working for ATOC (the Association of Train Operating Companies) and covered rail travellers heading to Ascot. What goes out can look very posh. After a day on the drink what returns is often anything but.

Right now I’m heading for Manchester aboard Northern’s service from Headbolt Lane to Blackburn via Manchester and Todmorden worked by an elderly but refurbished pair of Class 150s. They’re not my first choice of train but there’s no point in stopping off/changing en-route to Manchester due to the weather. A pity really as I’ve noticed some real progress with electrifying the line around Hindley – which isn’t bad considering I was there last week!

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Rolling blog. A capital day out…

27 Wednesday Mar 2024

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

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London, Photography, Railways, Travel

07:30.

I’m on my way to London for the day to catch up with an old friend from Singapore, who’s over in the UK for a few days. I’ve known Nicholas Lim for around 10 years. Having first met up in Thailand we’ve kept in contact through the power of social media. Our last meeting was in Singapore almost exactly a year ago, so it’ll be good to see him again and look at some changes to the capital’s rail network.

Sadly, the wet and grey weather we’re still suffering from in the Pennines is going to be replicated in London. Still, there’ll be plenty to see and do…

Right now I’m on Northern’s 06:53 from Halifax to Leeds to catch my onward connection to London. I was tempted to catch Grand Central’s 07:11 direct service to Kings Cross which is being worked by one of their leased Class 221s today, but this way I get there ahead of it, giving me chance to get pictures of it arriving.

Feel free to pop back later to see how the day unfolds…

07:50.

Of course, there’s another compensation of travelling to London via Leeds rather than direct. My capital bound service is LNER’s 07:41 which originates in Skipton. It’s diagrammed to be worked by one of the company’s loco-hauled sets and true enough (albeit running 7 minutes late) I’m now being pushed to London by this machine. 91111, named ‘For the fallen’. There’s a second bonus. The old Mk4 train sets have a ‘quiet’ coach at the very rear, behind the engine. You can almost always get a table seat here.

09:20.

Today’s not been a vintage one when it comes to timekeeping. We’re currently speeding towards our next stop at Peterborugh 15 minutes later than scheduled as we’ve accrued further delays en-route. Still, the weather’s picked up. There’s sunshine, blue skies and cumulus clouds filling my window – and I have coffee – so I’m not complaining!

18:55.

Well, that was a crap rolling blog, wasn’t it? The day started so well too. Nick and I met up at Kings Cross as soon as I arrived in London. After getting a few pictures the pair of us headed for St Pancras where we caught a Thameslink service to Farringdon in order to board a ‘Lizzie line train Westwards to Ealing. That’s when things started to fall apart. Lizzie line services towards Heathrow were either cancelled or delayed. We decided to make our way to Paddington, then await further instructions. Problem was – the instructions we got after an enquiry at Paddington meant we wasted time. TfL staff directed us up to the mainline station, where a member of GWR staff denied all knowledge of trains to Ealing and brusquely directed us back to the TfL station. That’s when I spotted this.

By the time we returned to the Lizzy line station information (and trains) had been updated, enabling us to get a packed service to West Ealing in deteriorating weather. Then another disappointment kicked in. The battery train wasn’t running. It’d been replaced by a two-car diesel. As Nick had never travelled the route we completed an out and back trip anyway. Bad move! By the time we got back to West Ealing there’d been a power failure which led to many TfL and GWR services being cancelled. After hiding from the rain for 25 mins whilst we weighed up our options a London-bound service arrived from Heathrow, so we made our way back to Paddington. After grabbing a few pictures we swapped to the Underground for the short hop to Euston Square. It was time for lunch, so I took Nick to an old haunt. The ‘Ravi Shankar’ Indian veg restaurant in nearby Drummond St, where we both consumed one of their excellent ‘Mysore thalis’

Suitably stuffed and with the weather brightening up I gave a brief tour and explanation of the stalled HS2 construction work before we headed to Euston so that Nick could exprience the train transition between the ‘old’ Siemens built class 350s and new Alstom built Class 730s – which I consider the best of the company’s new trains.

By now we’d eaten into most of my day so it was time to head to Kings Cross and routes home – until our next meeting…

Right now I’m heading back to Leeds on a packed LNER service whilst Nick’s headed South of the river.

I’ll add the few pictures I’ve managed to get to my Zenfoilo website 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(ish) blog. The Community Rail Awards 2024…

18 Monday Mar 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Community rail, Community Rail Network, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Swansea, Travel, Wales

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Community rail, Community Rail Network, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Swansea, Wales

09:30.

The wet and dismal day that greeted us when we woke up this morning has morphed into something far more pleasant as blue skies and sunshine have appeared to brighten the day. We’ve been up early and breakfasted as the CRN team will be off to the venue shortly, preparing for tonight’s event. It promises to be a brilliant evening. The Community Rail Awards don’t have the pomp or stuffiness of some ceremonies, they’re much more relaxed. I’ve been roped in to help with some of the prep so I’ll be heading over to the arena for a couple of hours too. Obviously I’m not going to be blogging and spilling the beans about what people can expect, but later on I’ll have chance to have a wander around Swansea to get a few pictures and check out the Maritime museum and marina. Expect some thoughts and pictures later, and then some of this evening’s highlights…

16:30.

Today’s not exactly gone to plan blogging wise as I’ve been roped into several different things and haven’t had time to blog. However, I did get time off to visit the Maritime museum – which is about much more than just the sea.

From old motorcycles to a solar car that travelled from Athens to Lisbon…

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

Rolling blog. Swansea shenanigans…

17 Sunday Mar 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Community Rail Network, Railways, Rolling blogs, Transport for Wales (TfW), Travel, Wales

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Community rail, Community Rail Network, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Transport for Wales (TfW), Wales

08:25.

We’ve been up since 07:00, not a time we’d normally expect to be supping coffee on a Sunday, but today we’re heading to Swansea for tomorrow’s Community Rail Awards. This could be an interesting trip. First we head to Manchester to meet up with other members of the CRA team, then we catch a Transport for Wales service all the way to Cardiff, which takes 5 hours. That could be the first ‘fun’ bit as (having checked) I can see that it’s worked by a two-car class 197, so it could get cosy! It being Sunday, the line from Cardiff to Swansea is closed for engineering work to take place, so it’s the dreaded ‘bustitution’ for the rest of the way. Just what you need when you’re carrying all the kit you need for an awards ceremony and a couple of nights away!

Feel free to pop back later and see how the journey unfolds….

10:00.

We’re on our way on our first train of the day – Northern’s 09:50 from Halifax to Manchester Victoria. As it’s early on a Sunday and it’s a four-car there’s no problem in finding a seat.

10:30.

We’ve left the wet weather behind by crossing the Pennines into Gtr Manchester. Whilst our train filled up after calling at Rochdale the journey’s still relaxed. Next stop is Victoria…

10:45.

Ha! I should’ve known better. We’re in Manchester, so of course it’s raining! Not that it natters as we’ve just joined a packed TPE service bound for the airport which will deliver us to Piccadilly.

11:40.

Half A dozen of the team have met at Piccadilly and joined TfW’s 11:29 to Cardiff. Thankfully, it’s one of the new CAF built Class 197s and we’ve managed to secure a couple of tables behind the cab despite the usual scramble for seats. Now the tables are awash with laptops and mobile phones as folk make final preparations for the awards and a few days away.

13:40.

We’ve had a surprisingly good journey so far. At one point we were losing time to Shrewsbury but now we’ve mad that up on the approach to Hereford. The biggest surprise has been the amount of flooded fields around Moreton-On-Lugg. It’s horrendous. Fields have become vast lakes and some roads look like they’re impassible unless you have a 4X4. I really feel for the farmers as the rivers draining the area clearly can’t cope, so planting anything is impossible.

17:00

Made it! All in all, that’s been a very good journey. We were into Cardiff on time and the dreaded ‘bustitution’ worked like a dream. We were off the train and after a toilet stop we were straight onto a coach for the rest of the trip to Swansea. The group’s now checked in at our hotel on the Tawe Basin, right by the Swansea seafront. A short walk away is the National Waterfront Museum (which I’m hoping to have time to check out in the morning) and the venue for tomorrow’s awards (Swansea Arenea) is 5 minutes walk away.

19:01.

Time for the team to dine – at…

22:30.

Well, that was a great (if different) night, but one that had to end early as some of us have to be on duty tomorrow. After the meal where we were joined by old friends such as Richard Salkeld – ex LNER and now ‘Lumo’ – when the wit and laughter was flowing, a few of us met up with other community rail colleagues and ‘newbies’ such as train driver Bessie Matthews, who’s written the Arlo adventures books at a Gin bar called Hogarth’s. Now, you wouldn’t normally find me dead in a karaoke joint, but as I was with friends it turned into an interesting exercise in people watching and insight into Swansea on a Sunday. After all, the Welsh have a reputation for singing, don’t they? True enough. The place was mostly men, and some actually knew how to sing – as did one of our own group – Karen Bennett – who bashed out a great rendition of a Bonny Tyler number whilst getting support from the audience!

Now it’s time to call it a day. I’m looking to seeing more of Swansea in the morning…

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

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Paul Bigland

~ Blogging on transport, travel & whatever takes my fancy.

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