Category Archives: Rolling blogs

Rolling blog. Locations, locations…

06 Tuesday Jun 2023

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

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08:10.

After a last glorious day of sunshine in the Calder valley which I spent working and pottering around at home I’m heading South again. The walk to the station was distinctly chilly due to low cloud and a slight breeze knocking the temperature down to where it was struggling to stay in double figures. That wouldn’t have been a problem except for the fact i’m travelling light (OK, OK – I know the camera bag’s anything but light!) so I’m dressed for the temperatures I’m expecting to find in Kent.

Right now I’m on Northern’s 07:54 to Leeds which is full and standing after leaving Halifax – despite being a 3-car.

Hopefully, I might get a seat after Bradford. I’ll be blogging through the day (with the occasional interruption so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to…

08:12.

My hope of getting a seat was dashed at Bradford by the fact only a couple of folks got off but dozens joined us! Looking around it seems this train’s popular with both commuters and students, hence it being rammed.

09:50.

I’m now speeding South aboard an LNER service from London to Leeds consisting of two 5-car ‘Azuma’ sets on what must be the quietest Intercity train I’ve been on for ages. I’m in the rear seat with a handful of people (maybe a dozen) in each car. It’s a heck of a contrast to the Northern set I was on previously! So far, the sunshine I’ve dressed for has failed to show its face even though we’ve already hit Cambridgeshire..

10:25.

We’re currently hunting through Huntingdon! I’m sat over the rear bogie in coach B of the rear 5-car set and the oscillations are so bad at speed I’ve had to stop using my computer mouse! The motion started when we reached over 120mph after our stop at Peterborough and they’ve continued on and off ever since. I’ve never known an Azuma ride this badly.

13:50.

Apologies for the gap but I’ve been busy travelling and note-taking. After arriving at Kings Cross I made a beeline for Thameslink at St Pancras where I caught a train to London Bridge for my onward connection to Swanley. I was there to catch another service down the Darent valley line to Sevenoaks. The route’s a community rail partnership (CRP) and the subject of my ‘recce’. I’ve not traversed the route for several years so needed to check it out for a feature – including the fabulous restored station at Bat and Ball. This now boasts community rooms, historic displays and a lovely cafe.

I can recommend the freshly made sandwiches, and at 2.95 they’re a steal!

The station has an interesting history. Ever wondered how it got its name?

Now I’m on my way to a more somber event, although it will be the celebration of the man’s life and legacy. Brian Morrison’s funeral.

01:30.

Sorry folks, it’s been a long day and the rest of what happened will have to be in tomorrow’s blog as I head home for 24 hours(ish). In the meantime I’ll leave you with this final picture.

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

Thank you!

Rolling blog. One strike, but I’m out…

02 Friday Jun 2023

Posted by in Liverpool, Merseyside, Photography, Rail Investment, Railways, Rolling blogs

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09:15.

I’m currently in Huddersfield waiting for the first train of a strike day across the Pennines to Manchester, TPE’s 09:32. Dawn’s been a star and driven me over from home as there are no services through the Calder valley today (or tomorrow) which is making this job more challenging than usual.

Fortunately, the Northern service to Liverpool Lime Street that I’m due to connect with is also shown as running. The only question now is how busy they’ll be. Most people seem to have given up on the idea of travelling by rail today. Huddersfield station is unnaturally quiet. There’s a handful of RMT pickets outside and a few dozen people inside.

09:35.

It’s a strike day and bugger-all is running, but TPE are still struggling to run anything to time! We’re being told the 09:32 is currently running 9 minutes late. Looking at ‘Realtime trains’ it’s shown as losing time at every station it’s stopped at. I count around 40-45 people here waiting to catch it, including several prams and one guy with a humongous e-bike.

All aboard…

09:50.

Rolling! We all managed to squeeze on with a few seats still spare. I can’t see us picking up vast numbers en-route and some folk will be getting off on the way. In fact, as I type this we’ve stopped at Slaithwaite where several from the front car have left, including the guy with the e-bike.

We’re running 10 late now but it’s not going to affect my connection at Piccadilly so there’s no stress there. Instead I can relax and enjoy the trip across the Pennines in glorious sunshine.

10:40.

I arrived in Manchester late but unruffled, unlike the crowds waiting to board our train for the return trip to York! The platform was packed, with a few anxious faces wondering if they’d secure a seat. Piccadilly has several services running. Avanti, TfW, Cross-Country are operating as well as Northern and TPE. Over on pkatform 14 I saw TfW were operating a 2-car Class 197 to Llandudno, which is going to be ‘cosy’ judging by the amount of folk waiting to catch it. At least my Northern service to Liverpool’s diagrammed for a 6-car!

Piccadilly. Hardly a hive of activity.

11:30.

Success! I’ve set up the ‘mobile office’ aboard the 10:52 to Liverpool Lime St, having bagged a table in the front car. I’ll now be on time to meet old friend and colleague Pip Dunn so we can carry out a train test of the new Stadler built Class 777s which are slowly taking over Merseyrail services to displace the oldest electric trains on the national network, the BR built Class 507/508’s. I’ve a previous pictorial blog documenting their lives on Merseyside which you can find here.

I may be going off grid for a while whilst we’re working, but I’ll be back later…

18:00.

Job done, I’m back! I’m now heading to Southport where I’ll be stayiing at my sister’s this evening. Today’s been spent shuttling up and down between Liverpool, Ormskirk and Kirkby. My biggest challenge was to get Pip to realise the second K in Kirkby was silent so my fellow Scousers wouldn’t keep looking at him sideways whilst muttering “woolyback” under their breaths!

We journeyed on several of the new trains in order to get a decent sample, plus we talked to the crews. You’ll be able to read our views of the new trains in a forthcoming edition of RAIL magazine.

When Pip headed off I hung around to make the most of the glorious weather to get a few external shots of trains old and new. Here’s a couple of samples.

Shiny! The interior of one of Merseyrails new Class 777s.
777010 calls at Kirkdale.
The Daddy of the old fleet (507001) calls at Maghull with a service from Ormskirk.

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

Thank you!

Rolling blog. Out and about once more…

01 Thursday Jun 2023

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

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Apologies for the lack of blogging these past few days but I’ve really not been in the mood. It’s not that I’ve nothing to say (far from it) but I wanted to spare you from the splenetic invective! Today I’m back on the move as I’ve a dentists appointment over in Huddersfield, after which I’ll be popping into the town before taking the camera for a walk. Compared to the past few days when we’ve had masses of sunshine and warm weather today’s reverted to cold and grey weather, but as we’re in the midst of the next tranche of rail strikes there was no chance of me getting out anywhere yesterday anyway!

Feel free to pop back later to see what I get up to…

10:45.

I’m getting to the dentist via a combination of shank’s pony and bus so I’ve left in plentyof time to enjoy the walk through our local woods. This year’s been a fabulous one for Hawthorn blossom. I passed this display en-route.

There’s local and political history here too. I walked through an area called Skircoat Green past the pub called ‘The Standard of Freedom’. A blue plaque outside explains how it got its name.

10:55.

Rather conveniently, the bus stop I was walking to sits on the main road atop Salterhebble Junction where the lines from Halifax to Sowerby Bridge and Brighouse part company. I was just in time to get this shot of a Grand Central service heading for London

11:05.

I now have a grandstand seat at the front on the top deck of the 503 bus. It’s a bit of a circular tour as it passes through Elland, a small town between Halifax and Huddersfield. It’s an odd little place on the banks of the River Calder. Once it was famous for the Gamnex clothing factory. They were made famous because former Prime Minister Harold Wilson (who was born in Huddersfield) always wore one of their Mackintosh’s. The factory is long gone and the old mill it used has been converted into housing. The town centre’s very quiet nowadays with nany businesses closed and buildings up for sale. The irony? It’s a very Brexity area and the expression ‘be careful what you wish for’ springs to mind. Still, there is a good craft beer micropub to visit where you can drown your sorrows.

The Ellend Craft and Tap is across the road, next door to the post office.

11:45.

Having arrived in plenty of time I decided to go exploring. Whilst Huddersfield town centre is run-down and rough nowadays, this area is still rather posh. Down the many tree-lined streets and often hidden behind thick hedges or Rhodedendrons there’s a mix of housing, from soot-stained monumental Victorian piles to smaller Edwardian elegance and more modern stock from the 60s through to the present day which have been built on land freed by demolition of some of the old piles which must be a nightmare to heat and light in this era. Here’s a selection of what I saw.

Quirky…
When you pass someone’s front garden and go ‘wait, what’?
One of the more substantial terraces – and with Wysteria too…

14:30.

I’m back! I was given a clean bill of health at the surgery by both the hygienist and John, our dentist, who jokingly offered me £30,000 for my teeth as they’re in such good condition!

On leaving the surgery I walked into the town centre, ppassing this wonderful restored old tram shelter on the way.

Now I’m taking the long way home via train as I’m currently en-route to Stalybridge aboard a Trans-Pennine service from Hull to Liverpool Lime St. Still, it’s good to see that the Dept of Transport taking Trans-Pennine Express back under its control has solved the problems of cancellations and poor performance. Oh, wait…

16:10.

A quick trip across the Pennines aboard a TPE Class 185 deposited me at Stalybridge where progress on electrification of the route is steady if not spectacular. New OLE portals appear each time I visit, whilst the existing ones continue to be fitted with stovepipes, registration arms and all the other gubbins needed for the wires to be strung up.

Stalybridge. It’s like a giant Meccano set – if you’re old enough to remember that toy..

I hadn’t planned to hang around long but my plans were foiled by Northern cancelling the next Southport service due to one of the bi-mode Class 769s that ply the route breaking down. There was only one think for it – a swift pint in the buffet bar before catching a following TPE service to Manchester Victoria!

I’m now making my way back Eastwards across the Pennines aboard one of Northern’s venerable Class 150/1s. Hardly my favourite train but Northern have acquired the whole fleet (for now). Plus, they’re the oldest surviving BR built diesel multiple unit fleet so have some heritage value I suppose.

17:10.

I’m now back on the ‘right’ side of the Pennines! I changed trains at Todmoden where I was greeted by a familiar sight. I’ve posted pictures of the two ducks who inhabit platform 2 and follow you up sbd down the platform from behind the fence. Well, they’re here again today and this time I have a short video of their antics.

19:30.

Home again! It’s time to relax for a bit after walking 26,000 steps, then prepare to head off to Liverpool tomorrow for an assignment. This could be ‘interesting’ as it’s a one-way trip. Tomorrow’s another strike day which means there are no Northern trains running through the Calder Valley and TPE are running a skeleton service between Leeds and Manchester. I can (hopefully) still get to Liverpool and our target (Merseyrail) isn’t on strike and will be running a full service, but it means a night away from home as there’s no trains to take me back. Watch this space…

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

Thank you!

Rolling blog. Community roving…

26 Friday May 2023

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

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07:30.

Apologies for the lack of a blog yesterday but it was my wife’s birthday so we had a lovely day away from screens and keyboards. Today I’m back on the road. I’ll try and make this a proper rolling block after the the other day’s failure to communicate. This should be easier as I’m not venturing out into the wilds where’s there’s no wifi or phone signal!

Right now I’m on Northern’s 07:07 from Halifax to York as far as Leeds which is worked by one of their 3-car Class 195s. It’s early enough in the day that it’s not packed so I’ve found a free table where I’ve been able to set up the ‘mobile office’. We’ve yet another beautifully sunny morning here in West Yorkshire and I’m hoping the good weather will stay with me as I traverse the country. I’ve a fair bit of travelling to do today and this is just the start.

The day begins…

I don’t know about where you live if you’re reading this in the UK but here the countryside is alive with Hawthorn blossom. For some reason the flowers seem really intense this year and really stand out against the lush greens of the countryside. I’ll see if I can get some pictures later as my job will be finished by mid afternoon…

08:25.

Oh, joy! My Cross-Country train to Derby is now running 15 plus minutes late after getting stuck at Garforth for some unknown reason. That means its now lost its path and will accrue even more delays so my connection at Derby to Beeston is looking lost. When a TPE service running in the opposite direction occupied our platform (15a) there was a mad scramble as knowledgeable folk twigged the problem and looked for updates. There were none on the screens and it was only because a member of platform staff had the gumption to ask some of us if we wanted the Plymouth train that we found it had sneaked in on platform 12c. We left a few minutes afterwards and I suspect some less savvy travellers will have been left behind.

08:55.

The 08:11’s a busy 4-car Voyager, so I’ve taken up position in the former shop area in coach D where I’ve set up the ‘mobile office’ on one of the luggage shelves. I may have to stand and there’s no power socket, but it’s better than being jammed in the saloon. We’re currently 17 late which means that unless we make up some time I’ll arrive at Derby after my Beeston connection has left. But, we have Sheffield to get through and train drivers don’t call it ‘the crucible’ for nothing (you have to get a red before you get a green). On the bright side, the trains CSA has just come through with the trolley, so I have coffee. He’s an affable Geordie who told me the issue at Garforth was with a Northern unit having electrical problems. This train was 2nd in the queue behind it, so was stuck until the Northern unit was fixed.

Now, having left Wakefield, I wait to see what happens at Sheffield…

09:20.

We left a bright and sunny Sheffield 18 minutes late, so unless there’s a warp drive that’s been fitted to this Voyager there’s no way we can make up enough time to catch my connection in Derby. However, I had a cunning plan – I’ve time in the bank as the train of last resort doesn’t leave Derby until 09:50, I was simply hoping to get to Beeston earlier.

09:50.

The irony! I made it to Derby only to find the Beeston train’s also running late, albeit only by a couple of minutes. So, I’m now back on track…

Derby’s expanded station

10:50.

– and to work! I met some of our East Midlands Railway and station friends groups on the train to Beeston where we all decamped to be welcomed by others. Beeston’s a lovely old station (with a fantastic pub next door, but that’s another story). The local friends group in conjunction with local authorities have done a splendid job in transforming previously overgrown areas like this.

The group listening to Sarah Hampton from the station friends explaining what the group’s been involved in.
Beeston station.

17:30.

Finished! Our trip to Matlock Bath by train proved to be a grand day out. Participants were given leaflets and a running commentary that described the scenic line from Derby to Matlock and included the history of the line as well as famous historical sites along the route. At Matlock Bath we detrained to enjoy an excellent buffet lunch laid on by CMAC, one of Community Rail Network’s corporate sponsors which was served in one of the old station buildings which is now a centre for the local Wildlife Trusts. A few short speeches followed, after which, participants could either return by train or enjoy a few hours exploring Matlock.

My job done I retraced my steps to Derby only to retrace them again to head North to Sheffield. Sadly it’s no longer possible to change trains at the most logical place (Belper) as for most of the day it’s only served by Matlock line trains.

19:00.

My stop at Sheffield was brief. I’d intended to stay longer but cloud cover started to roll in and a combination of the wrong trains and the wrong weather made me adjourn to the Sheffield Tap for a ‘swifty’ on the way home. Besides, today’s ‘poets day’ (Piss-Off Early, Tomorrow’s Saturday). I may have lived by that in my day as a Government employee but it doesn’t really apply in the world of the self-employed. Still, the day’s been long – so a pint was in order…

And relax…

19:15.

My Cross-Country train from Sheffield to Leeds was a double-set so there were seats aplenty. Most of the folk in my car seemed to be young people heading for a night out in Leeds. The Northern service I’m on now is a different matter. OK, it’s only a 4-car but it’s busy but it shares a characteristic with my previous train – it’s full of folks on a night out. What I find interesting is their destinations of choice are Halifax, Hebden Bridge and….Rochdale! I’m sharing a vestibule with a group of young Asian girls heading for Hebden Bridge. Next to me are some middle-aged folk talking about going to Rochdale and Halifax. God knows where everyone else is going but I’ll be fascinated to see who gets on/off in Bradford…

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

Thank you!

Rolling blog. Local variations…

18 Thursday May 2023

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

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I wasn’t intending to be out and about today but having checked ‘realtime trains‘ this morning I found that there was something different (railway wise) happening on my doorstep. Halifax and the line to Bradford Interchange have a staple diet of Northern and Grand Central passenger trains and bugger all else. Freight disappeared back in the 1980s when newspaper trains disappeared when the print media abandoned the railways and went to road transport as the result of too many strikes. That’s left this area with very little in the way of variety apart from the occasional special train or engineering trains. Today, in fact this week, has seen such a cycle. Freightliner are running what looks like route-learning trips using locomotives locomotives from Leeds to Bradford Interchange via Greetland and Halifax to Bradford Interchange and back. These services are always hit and miss as they often get cancelled but today was my lucky day…

66529 arrives at Bradford Interchange past the abandoned Mill Lane Jn signalbox which nails the location.
On the return from Greetland Jn to Bradford and running late 66529 passes through Halifax.

So, now I’m out and about I might as well try for a few more shots in the area. See you later…

15:30.

As the rest of the diagram for these route-learners all went a bit ‘Pete Tong’ I decided to abandon the railways for a while and head back to Bradford to look at a place I’ve promised myself to visit for a few years now. Years ago, when I was wandering across Bradford taking pictures of some of the amazing architecture on the way I was stopped by an elderly Asian gentleman who asked of my interest. When I told him of my interest in architecture he told me about an area of the city centre known as ‘Little Germany’. I’d never heard of it before but decided to do some research on his recommendation.

Now, I have a confession to make. I rather like Bradford. Yes – I know – it’s a deeply unfashionable thing to say. Even the locals give the place a hard time. It’s not a place you’d head to for its nightlife or real ale pubs. Dawn and I once went to the ‘world curry festival’ in Bradford which was a singular disappointment (I think the word I’m actually looking for is crap) but there’s one thing the city excels in and that’s architecture.

‘Little Germany’ is a quarter of the city that was built from the 1850s onwards. It got its name because a lot of the people who built the gorgeous Italianate buildings were German companies (many of them Jewish). There’s a famous name or two involved too. The idea was to take advantage of Yorkshire very profitable woolen trade – as well as exploiting Lancashire’s cotton trade) which involved building impressive offices and showrooms. Sadly, the Franco-Prussian war of 1871 killed off some of the trade, but the buildings were taken over by other companies.

Today the area has large amount of listed buildings. Here’s a few pictures.

The architecture’s not all Italianate. Here’s a good example of Scottish Baronial. This building was constructed in 1871 as the warehouse of Heugh, Dunlop and Company, the partners of whom were John Heugh of Manchester and Walter Dunlop of Bingley – both of whom were Scottish.

As you can see, the area has some beautiful buildings, some of which have been restored and turned into offices and apartments, but many still seem empty. There’s obviously been a conscious effort to regenerate the area, but it’s strangely quiet on the streets. I suspect Covid has a lot to answer for. There are few shops or cafe’s (and no bars) and the ones I saw were closed. If this was Glasgow the place would be buzzing. Instead it’s like a lot of quarters in many English provincial towns – deserted. So much for the governments much vaunted claims of ‘levelling up’. Poor Bradford has been shafted several times recently, which is a crying shame as it really is an architectural gem.

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

Thank you!

Rolling blog. Coastaway…

16 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Transport for Wales (TfW), Travel, Wales

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Heading East I caught a train as far as Abergele and Pensarn which is another favorite photo location from the 2000s when I spent a week or so staying in the area to get pictures for the first Lonely Planet guide to Wales. God, that seems such a long time ago as so much has changed since. The days when you could make money out of travel photography seem long gone, but at least the rail shots I took have historic value. I’ll add the shots I took at Abergele at a later stage.

08:45.

I’ve escaped the Pennines once again today. After some thought and looking through the list of pictures I need to get for clients I’ve decided to make the most of the good weather and head to the Welsh border and onto the North Wales coast. So, to that end, I’m now on the handy 08:22 from Sowerby Bridge direct to the gateway to Wales – Chester.

Today the train’s formed of a 3-car CAF built class 195 – and it’s busy with people travelling to work in Manchester.

There’s few seats left and we haven’t reached Hebden Bridge or Todmorden yet. I’ve managed to bag an airline seat but I’m hoping to grab a table after Manchester Victoria so that I can set up the mobile office and do some work as we don’t arrive in Chester until 10:00.

As usual, I’ll be blogging on and off throughout the day so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to – and where…

08:55.

Having stopped at Rochdale where the platforms were surprisingly empty of custom (another service was 10 mins ahead of us) we’re now on the outskirts of Manchester where a depressing number of clouds are muscling in on the blue skies…

09:10.

As expected, the train emptied out at Victoria, allowing me to dive forward and secure a table just behind the driver’s cab. With the laptop plugged in and powered up and a connection to the wifi secured i’m all set up for the rest of the trip to Chester.

As I needed to use the loo – and out of interest – I’ve walked through the entire train to do a headcount. There’s 31 passengers aboard. Judging by the number of folks using laptops many are working. Others appear to be students, and a few leisure travellers (one woman’s carrying a bag full of plants). Interesting, the gender balance is over 80% female. Of the handful of males aboard there’s a retired gent who’s bus-spotter (I know that by the pictures he’s reviewing on his camera) a couple of Asian lads, a businessman – and me.

09:45.

We’ve now called at and left Warrington Bank Quay station where we threaded our way through Arpley yard and stabling point. This was once a thriving place where coal trains from Scotland and elsewhere reversed before heading along the low-level line to Fidlers Ferry power station. Now the power station’s closed and the coal traffic’s disappeared. There’s still some old coal wagons in store here and a few remain in service carrying other heavy loads, but the majority have gone for scrap, leaving the yard much quieter, although DB still had several locos on the stabling point or shunting. To the East of the yards where factories once stood a huge housing estate is rising. I often wonder where people who will inhabit these places actually work, having displaced industry.

10:07.

That was a turn-up for the books! I’d antiicipated having around 20 mins in Chester but after grabbing a couple of pictures I heard the sound of a locomotive arriving at the adjacent platform 4. To my surprise a TfW Class 67 hauling a rake of ex-Grand Central Mk4s (acquired for the abortive Blackpool service killed by Covid) which remain in black but with TfW branding.

The crew were changing ends and an enquiry with a Dispatcher established this was a late-running Cardiff- Holyhead service (AKA ‘Gerald’) calling at Llandudno Junction – happy days!

TfW contrasts. A single-car Class 153 rests in the bay whilst 67012 waits to head to Holyhead with the late-running service from Cardiff.

12:50.

Time to catch my breath back after a very quick visit to Holyhead. I hadn’t intended heading this far West but as the weather was so good and the train so comfortable I thought what the hell. Besides, it’s nice to visit Holyhead in the daylight and not preparing to bed down in a rake of coaches in the sidings, which is my usual modus operendi as part of ‘3 peaks by rail’. That will be next month! Besides, the relaid sidings at Holyhead are playing host to ranks of stored TfW class 175s, which is worth a picture.

Off to pastures new soon?

By pure co-incidence and the power of social media I found an old friend was also in Holyhead. Jon Veitch and his wife Tina were in town, so Jon and I quickly met up between trains.

Now I’m on Avanti’s 12:46 heading for Llandudno Junction. This service is operated by an ex ‘Virgin Voyager’ (221117 to be exact). They’re not everyone’s cup of tea but they’re due to be replaced by new trains from Hitachi, which have just gone on test.

14:15.

I’m now at Llandudno Junction to get a few more pics and update on old magazine cover. I’ve ‘fond’ memories of this place as a kid from family holidays to Anglesey where my mum had family. We had plenty of time to admire the likes of Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction and Conwy in those days of the late 60s-early 70s – because we spent so much time in my Dad’s car stuck in miles-long traffic jams, going nowhere fast. Not a problem by rail…

221117 at Llandudno Junction on its way to London Euston. The Holyhead crew will work this diagram out and back.

17:20.

Now, where was I? I really enjoyed my break at Llandudno and wander towards Conwy as the weather’s superb. It’s a place I’ve more recent fond memories as Dawn and I came here a few years ago, aalking along the estuary from Llandudno to enjoy some superb Mussels served on Conwy Quay as part of a food festival. Here’s how things looked today.

17:37.

Right now I’m at Rhyl – another place from childhood memories but not a place I ever remember exploring by either road or rail. It has some family history from the days of ‘Mods and Rockers’ when one of my brothers was very much on the ‘rockers’ side and the place was infamous for pitched battles between the two.

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

Thank you!

Rolling blog. Awayday…

15 Monday May 2023

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

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13:15.

Well, more like ‘half-day away’ really but that doesn’t have the same ring to it!

Monday’s dawned bright and sunny here in the Pennines. I apent the morning working from home but at lunchtime I had an appointment at our Doctors in Sowerby Bridge to have blood taken as part of a regular personal MOT. Being thorough, my GP had arranged for a panoply of tests so when I saw the nurse she wanted four different vials. Not quite Tony Hancock’s famous armful, but still…

I was in and out in no-time so decided to make the most of the weather by heading over to Manchester to get some pictures, including Transport for Wales new Class 197s which are starting to appear on a regular basis. You may have read the recent train test that my old friend Pip Dunn and I did in RAIL magazine. Our opinion? They’re good units and certainly an improvement on some of TfWs ex-BR fleets.

Right now I’m on one of those old BR sets which is still working for Northern. 3-car 158757 is on the 13:02 Sowerby Bridge to Wigan Wallgate.

Pre Covid you’d have been more likely to find a 2-car ‘Pacer’ railbus on this diagram. Now we have the luxury of a 90mph air-conditioned train with tables and USB chargers! OK, call me weird but I admit – I do miss the railbuses!

14:25.

Having taken the ‘scenic’ route via Salford Crescent to change trains I’ve wended my way via acres of new multi-story developments to arrive at Manchester Oxford Rd where this beast was sitting in the bay in-between working services to Southport. The ex-Thameslink Class 319s (and those converted to bi-mode Class 769s) have worked Northern services for nany years now but I still can’t quite get used to the fact after spending over two decades travelling on them around London.

16:45. I’ll catch-up with blogging shortly but I’ve been on the move quite a bit so writing’s been rather difficult. Right now I’m taking a quick break in the city centre to upload a couple of camera pictures before returning to Piccadilly. I realised I’d not really spent much time at the station in recent years as I’m normally just passing through. Today’s chance to make amends. The variety of units has certainly changed as Northern’s new CAF built trains have taken over many services, plus, there’s these new arrivals for Transport for Wales…

197002 works a Manchester Airport to Llandudno service at Manchester Piccadilly
TfW’s 197009 heads in the opposite direction shortly afterwards.

22:00.

I’m now relaxing at home after a few hours in Manchester watching the new trains go by. As I mentioned earlier, the rail scene at Piccadilly has changed due to so many of Northern’s CAF built diesel and electric fleets usurping older traction. You can still find the older BR built Class 150 and 156 diesels, and the electric Class 323s, but the 319s were noticeable by their absence – as were the Transport for Wales Class 175s but that’s mainly because so many of them are out of service now. Instead, TfW are sending older Class 150s on epic journeys from as far away as Milford Haven! The new Class 197s seem to be confined to Manchester Airport – North Wales coast services – for now, anyway.

Here’s another couple of shots to reflect the contrasts.

From left to right. One of the old stalwarts in the shape of Hunslet built Class 323 number 323233 heading for Glossop passes a CAF built DMU (195113) whilst an identical (bar the fact it’s electric, not diesel) CAF built 331023 heads for Manchester Airport.
Here’s another CAF product, this time it’s one of Trans-Pennine Express’ Class 397 ‘Civity’ fleet in the shape of 397008 heading for Manchester Airport with a service from Glasgow Central. First Group will lose TPE from May 28th when the operation will be taken back ‘in-house’ by the Dept of Transport, who will run it via their ‘operator of last resort’ – Directly Operated Railways (DOR).

I’m hoping to get out and about again tomorrow, only this time head further East. Watch this space…

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

Thank you!

Rolling (ish) blog. Istanbul day 3…

08 Monday May 2023

Posted by in Istanbul, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, Turkey

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12:30.

Today the 5 became 4. Aubrey’s had to head home early as a jury’s being sworn-in (long story not for me to tell, but he works in the legal profession), so our numbers have shrunk. This morning I let the girls go off on their own for some female time whilst I wandered solo with the camera.

Having seen the antiquities yesterday I’ve stayed ‘our’ side of the river to wander uphill to Taksim in search of one of the vintage tram routes. It’s been an interesting trip as I can go at my pace ans stop and stare as I will. This side of the city has a different feel. There’s a bit of a boho air in some parts that belie the current conservatism of the government – but that’s capital cities for you. There’s some fascinating architecture – and cats. Lots and lots of cats. They’re one of the reasons I like the place. A city where people think cats are cool can’t be all bad!

Eventually I tracked (literally) the trams. Or I should say tram as there’s only one running. It’s difficult to get a decent picture of it due to the preponderance of people who like to have their picture stood in the way of things, but here it is…

Tram 410 at Taksim.

13:45.

Having worn down a fair bit of shoe-leather I’ve stopped to rest my weary feet and have a beer close to home. I’m sat outside a bar in the backstreets enjoying an Efes and listening totheir choice of music. Right now it’s Johnny Cash singing ‘House of the rising sun’ which brings back a few memories.

I’m having a fantastic wander with the camera, people and architecture spotting (as well as the odd tram, obviously!) earlier I passed the Greek consulate which was indulging in some top trolling by flying both their national flag and that of the EU.Remember when ‘vote leave’ ran their lying campaign claiming Turkey was about to join the EU and 80 million Turks would be flooding into the UK? It was total bollocks of course, but it did appeal to some Britons racism and xenophobia. Truth is, Turkey is further away than ever to joining the UK due to the actions of the Erdoğan government.

Politicans aside, I have to admit I’m really enjoying Turkey. I’ve found people really friendly. Sure, in the tourist areas you get the usual salesmanship and hassle from a few people but once you get away from those areas it’s far more relaxed. I love street photography and Istanbul’s a wonderful place to practise that art because there’s so much life on the streets.

To give you an idea of how relaxed things are here, the bar I stopped at has two parts – on opposite sides of the street. The staff consisted of one chap with very little English and his young son, aged about 12. I was the only customer, so dad wandered off to do some shopping, leaving the young lad in charge of both establishments. When I’d finished my beer and wanted to pay there was only the young lad there, who then had to shoot off to find dad, leaving me in possession of two bars! Here they are…

14:50.

I’ve had to nip back to the hotel as I realised I’d left my phone charging cable behind, so despite having a power-pack with me I’d no way of connecting the bloody thing! As I was back at home I’ve taken a few minutes to download the camera, so here’s the first of the street photographs. This guy was happy for me to take his picture, but you have to wonder who owns whom? A minute before the cat was sitting across his shoulders…

20:30.

Here’s another shot I took earlier of the fishermen on the Galata bridge. There’s dozens of them lining each side and they hook a huge amount of fish.

I met up with the girls a few hours ago in time for dinner at what became our ‘go to’ restaurant – the Afrodit on the harbour front in Karakoy. We discovered it a few days ago when we popped in for a drink and to admire the views across the harbour from the top floor. Yesterday we tried the food and we enjoyed it so much we went back today. Not only is the food excellent, the staff are also. Oh, and the views across the Bosporus and the shipping lanes are brilliant – as you can see from this shot taken with a 400mm lens.

Tony Smith is a Bulk Carrier sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands. Her gross tonnage is 33044 and deadweight is 56498. The ship was built in 2011.

Right, time to bring things to an end. We’ve had a wonderful time here in Istanbul but we fly back to the UK tomorrow. I’kk try and blog about our return and talk more about Istanbul when we get back.

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

Thank you!

Rolling blog. Turkey travels day 1…

05 Friday May 2023

Posted by in Air Travel, Airports, Istanbul, Photography, Rolling blogs, Travel, Turkey

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07:15.

Finally, after having this break planned for so long that we kinda forgot about it – we’re off to Istanbul with the gang. Dee’s finishing her packing whilst I’m on coffee duty and pottering around and making sure various devices are fully charged so that I can cut down on the amount of kit I’m carrying. We’re only away a few nights so it’s hardly packing for Asia.

Today’s a good day to be heading off. It’s snother grey, misty day here in the Calder Valley alhough this morning’s political news has added a bright spot. The local election results that have come through in overnight counting show the Tories suffereing heavy defeats, UKIP being annihilated and the Reform party getting nowhere. It’s not looking good for the Tories in either ‘red wall’ seats or their Southern heartlands…

We’ve less than an hour before we get picked up to begin our journey to Manchester Airport to join a Turkish Airlines flight. Admittedly, I’d rather be getting there on the Orient Express, but those days are long gone and Brexit has just killed off the last lingering UK leg of that romantic train. I’ll blog through the day (time and wifi) permitting. It’s a four-hour flight and Aubrey’s arranged transport at the other end to get us straight to the hotel, so we should be having a pleasant late afternoon in Istanbul. Let’s see how it goes…

09:45

We’ve had an easy and stress-free taxi trip from Halifax to Manchester Airport, even the infamous ‘cobbled motorway’ (M62) played ball. Now it’s time to check in at terminal 2.

11:40.

Here we go…

The 5 off on another adventure…

Our flight with Pegasus was rather good. An Airbus A321 Neo carried us to Istanbul. Here’s take-off from Manchester.

For much of the 3hr 40m flight it wasn’t possible to glimpse ground due to heavy clouds but every so often we got a decent break to compare different field systems in different countries. The one thing all the countries had in common was rapeseed crops. The bright yellow flowers are a bit of a give-away.

Once off the plane we breezed through customs snd immigration, which made a pleasant change. Aubrey has arranged a vehicle to take us straight to the hotel so that part was simple too. The roads were rammed but surprisingly free of hassle. No-one used their horns but the amount of people driving whilst using their phone’s was a bit of an eye-opener!

My first impressions were that arriving in Istanbul was very similar to arriving in Athens. Busy roads, lots of concrete and apartment blocks. The only difference was mosques and minarets.

We’re staying in the Wolf Hotel in the Karakoy district. The barrow streets are full of cafes, restaurants and bars – but not cars, which makes for a relaxed atmosphere and outside tables are great for people watching. There’s a fascinating mix of people, both tourists and locals. The biggest difference to the UK is the amount of smokers. Even conservatively dressed young Moslem women can be seen sitting outside cafes puffing away, something you’d rarely see in Britain.

More to follow…

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

Thank you!

Rolling blog. Trans-Pennine route upgrade visit No 3…

03 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by in Calder Valley, Photography, Rail electrification, Rail Investment, Railways, Rolling blogs, Trans-Pennine electrification, TRU

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11:30.

The sun doth shine so I’ve escaped the office and the Calder Valley to have one of my regular looks at progress on the Trans-Pennine route upgrade. Right now I’m on a Northern service heading into Manchester from Sowerby Bridge in order to access the route from the West and begin my examinations there before heading through the Colne valley back into West Yorkshire.

I’m not the only one making the most of the weather. This off peak 2-car Class 158 is busy with day-trippers doing the same.

I’ll be updating this blog throughout the day so feel free to keep popping back to see what I get up to…

158860 arrives at Sowerby Bridge en-route to Wigan Wallgate.

12:20.

Due to disruption and late running with services via Victoria I’m taking the ‘scenic route’ via Salford Crescent where I picked up a very busy Northern Class 331 electric to get me to Manchester Piccadilly where I’ll connect with a Newcastle bound TPE service to Stalybridge. Here it is, worked by 802213.

12:45.

I’m now on the late-running 12:33 which still has plenty of free seats at this point in its journey. It won’t be like this once it gets to Huddersfield.

I don’t envy the passengers joining the nearby Transport for Wales service to Cardiff Central. They’ve got this 75mph ‘delight’ in store today…

13:30.

On the move again! The trip to Stalybridge via Guide Bridge was interesting as it allowed me to glimpse the work done on the curve between the two. The chord’s now full of TTLs (two-track cantilevers) waiting to be fitted out and the wires added. The irony? This section of track was originally electrified as part of the 1500v DC Woodhead line scheme from the 1950s and some of the original lighweight masts survive – although not for much longer.

Things hadn’t changed majorly at Stalybridge despite bank holiday works. No new TTLs or portals had appeared but the structures that did were being fitted out with downpipes and registration arms.

I didn’t hang around. Now I’m on a local TPE service to Huddersfield. Thus section of the route shows no descernable progress other than vegetation clearance and a few concrete hardstandings installed for future worksites or lineside cabinet locations. Don’t even ask about the new line from Liverpool to Marsden which exists only in the imagination..

13:50.

My stop at Huddersfield was brief in the extreme. 5 mins to change trains and grab a quick picture. Huddersfield stations about to undergo major changes as part of the TRU, so savour views like this whilst you can.

The grade 1 listed Huddersfield station will be seeing a major rebuild with the two small bay platforms behind the camera abolished and two new through platforms provided instead.

14:50.

At my next stop (Dewsbury) train times went pear-shaped again as my connecting service is 20m plus late. Oh, well. Time for a swift half in the station’s West Riding refreshment rooms. Choices, choices…

16:45.

I’m now heading home from Batley after an interesting interlude looking at the TPU work and also reminiscing about the town which is hardly a place I can say I know well but it seems to keep cropping up in my memories and mentions.

The work to install the footbridge and abolish the foot crossing is well advanced. Most of the earthworks are complete and sections of the footbridge have arrived on site. On a Facebook forum one of the signallers working the box has said it will close on June 23rd. Here’s a look at work today.

The location of the footbridge is made clear by the abutment wall next to the rails.
The wider view from Lady Anne crossing looking towards Batley. The two people in PPE in the left foreground are standing on what will be a tarmac’d ramp from the footbridge down to the site of the level crossing out of shot to the left.
Sections of the footbridge have already arrived on site. They can be seen in this picture sat on the back of a pair of HGV trailers.
A TPU compound has been established adjacent to Batley station on the site of the old GNR platforms and yard. It extends beyond the industrial unit to the left. You can see one of the new tilting, ladderless signals that are being installed in the cess to the right of the picture.

21:55.

I’m now back at home and winding up today’s blog after an interesting day out. Walking back into Batley I noticed that that the pub next to the station had reopened. Located in the basement of one of the lovely old Victorian buildings that line the exit to the station, the Cellar Bar closed suddenly in December 2022 after six and a half years but reopened under new management at the end of January this year. It’s well worth a visit as it has a selection of hand-pump real ales as well as the usual lagers, wines and spirits.

Having had a swift half I made my direct train back to Sowerby Bridge with minutes to spare. After picking up some shopping en-route I’ve had a leisurely evening being a good husband and cooking for us both whilst Dawn’s been out to visit her hairdresser! Tonight’s meal was made up from these ingredients. To use the catchphrase of a discredited Australian artist – ‘can you tell what it is yet’?

I won’t keep you in suspense. These are the ingredients of a hearty chorizo and Cannelloni bean stew.

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

Thank you!