Category Archives: Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade

17th May picture of the day…

17 Saturday May 2025

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, West Yorkshire

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Hmm, where have the past few days gone? Well, they’ve disappeared in a blaze of sunshine. Sunshine that I’ve been thoroughly enjoying, even if other aspects of the week have been a bit mixed. The highpoint was Wednesday when I slipped the leash to get out and about across West Yorkshire, looking at various railway locations old and new – plus the Trans-Pennine route upgrade (TRU). I’ll be blogging more about TRU when I’ve finished editing the pictures.

Thursday saw me back at Bigland Towers, sorting through more old stuff, deciding which will stay and which will go. It’s a process triggered by the fact I’m moving out of my office here in Bigland Towers so that Dawn can take it over. Working from home has become a permanent feature for her, so she needs the space more than me. Plus, that way we get a living room back as a living room. Who knew when working at home became a function of the Covid pandemic that it would become the norm for many people?

Friday saw me heading into Halifax in order to get my knees x-rayed. I’ve been having problems with them recently. An appointment at our local GPs with a nurse led to a diagnosis of early signs of Arthritis, but the chap wanted to be sure, so arranged for me to have x-rays in order to confirm or deny his assessment. The staff at the health centre were excellent. Two young Asian women and a black woman radiographer looked after me (do you hear that, Reform voters? The very people you’d ‘send back’). The unit itself was less than a year old and a had a laugh with the nurse who helped me position myself for the radiographer as she kept giggling at the tanned strips on my feet which are due to wearing sandals so much. She apologised for being ‘unprofessional’ but to be honest, it broke the ice.

A few hours later I got the results via text. I don’t have arthritis and my knees are ‘normal’. So why do they hurt so often? Looks like there’s more to find out…

Today the pair of us have been out and about shopping for plants and DIY bits, not exactly the rock and roll lifestyle but hey – we’d originally planned to go walking but Dawn’s mum had a last minute hospital appointment for some tests so we decided to stay nearer to home just in case we were needed. Fortunately, we weren’t so the two of us managed an hour in the sunshine in the beer garden of our local pub before returning home to a quiet evening in.

The plan now is for an early start in the morning in order to head over the border into Greater Manchester and climb some hills, making the most of the sunshine whilst it lasts. Expect a few pictures at some point.

Meanwhile, here’s today’s picture which is from Wednesday’s excursion. Mirfield station continues to be rebuilt as part of the TRU work. The latest chapter has included opening part of the rebuilt island platform after one of the tracks has been slewed. It’s created the opportunity to get shots of trains passing like this.

185105 working 1P66, the 0858 Redcar Central to Manchester Airport passes Grand Central’s 180105 which is heading South on 1A63, the 1023 Bradford Interchange to London Kings Cross.

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

5th March picture(s) of the day…

05 Wednesday Mar 2025

Posted by in Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, TRU, West Yorkshire

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Another short blog from me tonight as I’ve been out all day and only got home late. The pair of us were up early as we had a dentist’s appointment at 08:30 over in Huddersfield – one of our regular 6 month check-ups and visit to the hygienist for a wash and brush up. I’m not someone who’s afraid of dentists and rather enjoy coming away afterwards feeling the new definition in my teeth after having the hygienist gave ’em the once over – not that there was much to remove.

As we were in that neck of the woods and the weather was ideal for photography I decided to have a day out exploring Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) territory. I’ll explain more at greater length tomorrow, but for now here’s a couple of pictures.

A TRU engineers train passes Bradley Junction with the single line spur towards Brighouse heading off to the left. This section will be four-tracked with the new fast lines being laid on the old trackbed to the right.
A TPE service takes the Huddersfield route at Heaton Lodge Junction. The line to Brighouse is in the background. The new 100mph fast lines will be laid to the right of the train. The new bridge pier is for the road down to the waterworks between the two railways which will replace the one I’m standing on..

I’ll be back working from home tomorrow, so expect more pictures and a vastly expanded blog 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

27th September picture of the day…

27 Friday Sep 2024

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, TRU, West Yorkshire

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Today would’ve justified a rolling blog but it wasn’t to be as I was moving around too much and at short notice. I’d intended staying at home but the weather picked up and Dawn had an appointment over in Marsden, so I thought ‘why not’? and hitched a lift over to the Colne valley where I could catch a train Eastwards to have a look at progress on the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) around Deighton. There’s some major civil engineering going on here to allow four-tracking to be reinstated and the station to be relocated.

However, it’s not a place with a great reputation. A legal friend of mine has always been grateful to the area as it’s provided him with plenty of work. To put it another way, it’s (allegedly) so rough even the XL bully’s walk round in twos! But I couldn’t resist the opportunity to get the shot below.

Here’s the view from a local (renewed) footbridge to the West of Deighton looking back to the station. The embankment around the station’s gradually being stripped back to make room for the relocated platforms which will be on the Slow lines, whilst the first part of the new alignments been laid – even though the short length of track’s completely isolated from the current running lines.

To give a bit of perspective, here’s a shot without the zoom.

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. Weather-wise…

13 Friday Sep 2024

Posted by in Greater Manchester, Manchester, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, Travel

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09:30.

Make hay whilst the sun shines is the old saying. Only in my case it’s make pictures! After yesterday’s climatic shenanigans we’ve a warm(ish) but sunny day, so I’m off to Manchester once more. Today’s trip is complicated by the fact the railway is severed at Castleton, where the bridge over the M62 is being replaced. This means I’m taking the scenic route. Right now I’m waiting for a train from Sowerby Bridge to Mirfield where I can pick up a Trans-Pennine service through the Colne Valley to Manchester Piccadilly. Let’s see how the day goes…

10:00.

The diversion was painless, and actually – rather useful as it gave me chance to check on TRU progress. I had less than 10 mins at Mirfield but that gave me time to document progres on the new island platform and  other work, which includes an extention to platform 3 in order to move the entrance to it, plus new vistas opened up by vegetation clearence.

The view from platform 3 looking across to the island and the new platform 2 face. It seems a string of rails are in place just waiting for the sleepers to arrive before the new platform track is laid.
An extension to the extension on the East end of platform 3.

Passing Deighton station I could see I need to pay another visit. The cutting has been widened with a lot of muck moved to accommodate a realigned slow line track – a short section of which has already been laid and ballasted.

12:00.

That’s two more stations of the list, one of which is the delightful Woodsmoor near Stockport. The station friends do an excellent job looking after it with planting and artwork. Plus, I do like a good local history board.

A local service to Hazel Grove calls at Woodsmoor.

Now for my next challenge. A station with no trains today…

14:00.

Three more stations down, including Reddish South which only sees one return train a week (Saturdays).

All dressed up with no trains to go…

A surprise for me was Brinnington, where the ticket office doubles as a charity shop.  The walk from Heaton Chapel through Reddish to Reddish North was fascinating and depressing in equal measure with some excellent examples of community spirit but government indifference or downright destruction. I’ll add more pictures later. Right now I’m heading back into Manchester Piccadilly on a positioning move.

16:00.

Things started to go wrong at Piccadilly. Several services on lines I was intending to use were cancelled due to staff shortages. Main line trains were getting disrupted too so it was time for plan B. A cheeky loco-hauled (or rather – pushed) train to Stockport saw me ready to head down the Buston line.

Bizarrely, Stockport had an entire platform out of commission due to staff shortages. Platform 0, but as that’s isolated from the rest of the station you kinda see why.

Right now I’m having a swift pint outside a pub called the Royal Oak in the nearby village of High Lane, just 15 minutes walk along the Middlewood Way (a cycle route on the abandoned railway from Macclesfield to Marple) from the station of the same name. The train service is two-hourly, so a walk to a nearby hostelry made sense as there’s bugger-all by the station!

17:40.

Time to call it a day and head home. I’ve ticked off some of the most difficult stations access-wise. Now I’m heading home via Huddersfield. I’ll add some camera pictures later.

Right now I’m on a rammed 17:30 all-stations to Leeds worked by a 3-car Class 185. I’ve made someone turf their bag off a seat so that I can sit down and free up more standing room in the vestibule. Some people are far too polite and let folk seat-hog.

20:50.

I’m home after a really interesting day. I said I’d add a few more pictures, so here they are.

Artwork (and a statement) on Woodsmoor station.
South Reddish station only sees passenger trains (one return trip from Stalybridge to Stockport) on a Saturday morning, but it’s still an important freight link. Here’s Freightliner’s 66604 passing through on a light-engine move from Leeds to Crewe.
The station building at Brinnington isn’t just a ticket office. It’s also a local history picture gallery and home to Brinnington Station Swap Shop – a community hub where people can leave unwanted items and take items they need all free of charge.
Middlewood station looking towards Buxton. The bridge carries the Middlewood way, a footpath/cycle route along the old railway from Macclesfield to Marple.
A scene that’s becoming rare on the railways nowadays. A train from Buxton passes the Distant signal outside Middlewood. Fewer and fewer of these signals (especially working ones) survive. This one protects Norbury Hollow level crossing further up the line.

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. Penistone peregrination…

23 Tuesday Jul 2024

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

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10:40.

Stop sniggering at the back! Yes, I know the name Penistone always attracts giggles from those who enjoy innuendo, but the Penistone line between Huddersfield and Barnsley is a very scenic railway. Today I’m off exploring in order to get some lineside shots. The weather’s not exactly wall to wall sunshine, but I should be able to play with the shadows and light if the weather plays ball.

Right now I’m sat at Huddersfield, getting a few pictures after catching the local service from Halifax. Sadly, the timing off the two services couldn’t be worse. We were scheduled to arrive at 10:12 – at exactly the same time the Sheffield train departs! Still, it gives me time to get some other shots. Here’s a few,

Moody skies over Halifax and the sun battles with the clouds whilst 195109 leaves with a service to Manchester Victoria.
150211 is one of the units working today’s Bradford Interchange – Huddersfield shuttles.
Due to having to label and catalogue every piece in order to aid rebuilding, progress on demolishing the tea rooms at Huddersfield was slow. Now work has stepped up a pace.

15:00.

Time for an update.

As I suspected, I’ve been playing hide ank seek with the sun. That and the fact I was an hour later than hoped so its position was getting quite acute to the viaduct I wanted to shoot trains on. In the end I managed a decent shot but know there’s others to be had earlier in the day and when clouds are in a minority.Having explored Penistone I moved back up the line to Denby Dale, where the cloud was even thicker! I did manage one decent shot as a train traversed the viaduct but it’s going to need tweaking. The bright side is that I’m putting today down to an exploring day. I’ve not been to Denby Dale for years. This trip’s given me chance to explore local footpaths and work out positions for some great scenic shots when the weather’s right. Oh, and I’ve already got 18,000 steps under my belt!

The first of its type. Class 150 number 150001 crosses the viaduct at Penisone with a service to Sheffield.
The same unit cross the Denby Dale viaduct. Oh, for a bit of sunshine. The good news is that I’m now au-fait with the footpaths in the area (including the one in the foreground).

16:45.

I’m now kicking my heels back in Huddersfield. The train from Denby Dale was 20 minutes late, not that it mattered as my onward connection to Halifax was cancelled!

Better late than never! 150005 working 2B58, the 14:35 Sheffield to Huddersfield arrives at Denby Dale 22 minutes late. The service left Sheffield 11 down and lost more time en-route.

Now I’ve over an hour to wait, so I’ve retreated to the ‘Kings Head’ on the station for a beer and a chance to update this blog. In passing I saw that staff from the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) had set up an information stall on platform 1. As well as useful information leaflets they’d a range of freebies, from pens to jelly-babies. I snaffled a pen…

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

I’m back…

21 Sunday Jul 2024

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, Travel, West Yorkshire

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Sorry for the lack of blogs but I’ve both been busy and had the muse desert me. That’s not to imply there’s been nothing to write about – far from it, but I’ve struggled with the time and the inclination as there’s simply not enough hours in the day to do all the things that I want to achieve. Still, I’m back now and a new week begins tomorrow.

Thursday and Friday saw me back on the rails as the weather picked up. After our fortnight in Dorset I was keen to catch up with progress on some of the local rail improvements, so on Thursday afternoon I decided to go West and check on how electrification of the line from Lostock Junction (near Bolton) to Wigan was progressing. The answer is – very well. Much of the route has had masts installed although there are gaps, the biggest being from Crow Nest Junction to Hindley and also East of Westhoughton. Since my last visit in April many of the masts have had the horizontal beams and top ties added along with the registration bracket, as you can see in this picture from Hindley.

A pair of Northern Class 156s head for Wigan just West of Hindley station.

Hindley station garden’s recovering well considering its had mast bases sunk in prominent parts. The station friends have wasted no time in making temporary use of these surfaces…

Something else that’s getting renewed at Hindley is the life-expired signalling which dates from the early 1970s when the West Coast Main Line was electrified.

Rusty, much?

Friday saw me explore closer to home with a trip from Huddersfield to Leeds and back to Mirfield to have a look at Trans-Pennine Route upgrade (TRU) work. This was made harder by the fact trains were either replaced by buses, or diverted. One place I popped into was Wakefield Kirkgate, which is now on the Trans-Pennine route map. The only problem is that it’s now rendered hopeless for photography by the addition of a fence running along the tracks between the platforms. Well, that’s when you can see it as it’s mostly hidden by Buddleia!

The Wakefield Kirkgate linear garden…

The direct route between Huddersfield and Leeds via Dewsbury was closed with services replaced by buses, but I managed this shot from a diverted train on the line to Healy Mills. The bridge in the background carries the existing line over the River Calder. This whole section is going to be replaced with a new formation (and bridge) which will run in the foreground, roughly where the pile driver is in this image.

Here’s Mirfield, where the new (extended) station platforms are really starting to take shape.

Having got a train to Mirfield the only way to get back to Halifax was on a rail replacement bus. Friday was the last day of the current blockade and not a great one to end on. Traffic through Mirfield was horrendous and my bus was almost an hour late.

Nope, not this one. After waiting 40 mins we’d built hour hopes up. Instead, it was another 20 mins before a less fancy vehicle turned up.

Tomorrow a new week begins which will see me working from home. I’ve another RAIL magazine article to finish writing and lots of other stuff to prepare for later in the week – as well as plan my round Britain trip for RAIL (which I’ve had to postpone for a couple of weeks due to other pressures). Still, never a dull moment, eh?

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. Out on the TRU rails again…

12 Wednesday Jun 2024

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

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12:20.

I’m currently in Huddersfield, having travelled in with Dawn in order for the two of us to work from the Community Rail Network office in the old water tower at the station. Getting in to the office is ‘fun’ nowadays as it sits inside a fenced off TRU compound!

The CRN water tower surrounded by building materials and plant. We have to skirt the edge of this lot to get into the office…

My morning’s been spent on a couple of ‘teams’ calls with some Northern Rail staff as background for a forthcoming RAIL magazine article. The chats were really informative, which will really help the article. Now, they’re finished I’m heading out to have a look at some more upgrade work on the line from here to Leeds. Feel free to pop back and see what I get up to…

14:20.

Platforms at Huddersfield slowly disappear under scaffolding.

I’m currently at Mirfield, where the new platform 2 is really starting to take shape.

Earlier I popped in at Ravensthorpe where an awful lot of earth is being moved around.

The new alignment is going to pass through the middle of this picture taken from the existing Ravensthorpe station. The existing alignment to the left will be abandoned.

17:30.

After a very long diversion at Ravensthorpe due to a footpath closure, I made it to the bridge West of Ravensthorpe where I got these pictures (captions later). As you can see there’s going to need to be some tree trimming before the line’s electrified!

185134 passes the site of the new Ravensthorpe station whilst working 2M78, the 1458 York to Manchester Piccadilly which is routed via Castleford and Healey Mills.
Whilst the other side of the line at Ravensthorpe has had vegetation cut back, the Eastbound side is in serious need of the same treatment.

21:45.

I’m back at home on what’s turned out (weatherwise) to be a lovely evening – something all too rare this year. Now it’s time to bring this rolling blog to an end with a couple more pictures from my TRU travels.

This scene will change dramatically over the next few years. Here’s 66847 approaching Thornhill LNW Jn from Healey Mills.
The site of the new Ravensthorpe station slowly takes shape. The bridge some of the other pictures were taken from is seen in the background.

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

Trans-Pennine Upgrade update and a touch of politics.

09 Sunday Jun 2024

Posted by in Photography, Politics, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, West Yorkshire

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I’ve taken a short break from blogging these past few days. It’s not that there’s been nothing to write about, I merely wanted to change focus slightly and give myself some time off. Dawn’s been away with friends so I’ve had the place to myself and decided to catch-up on reading rather than writing. Plus, the absolute shit-show that is the Conservatives election campaign could have led me to another bout of spleen-venting. I really don’t know what to say about Sunak. His incompetence and arrogance (in equal measure) have led him to make the most jaw-droppingly ridiculous mistakes – and there’s still several more weeks of the campaign to go. Rather than narrowing the polling gap with Labour he’s actually managed to increase it! God knows what foul-ups he’ll make next.

Away from the political circus I took time out late last week to have a look at progress on the Trans-Pennine route upgrade between Huddersfield and Dewsbury. One of the biggest worksites is at Ravensthorpe. Not only is the existing station being relocated, there’s also a flyover and brand new section of line being built to the South of the existing alignment. Right now there’s a huge amount of earthmoving going on to prepare formerly derelict land to receive the new railway. Piling work has also commenced. Here’s a few pictures taken from a passing train.

Meanwhile, Huddersfield station roof is gradually disappearing as the area’s being shrouded in scaffolding.

The Sheffield bay platform seen through the scaffolding.
Over in the old goods yard this massive office block has appeared.

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. More TRU travels…

17 Wednesday Apr 2024

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

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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!

Mirfield piling work.

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!

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

13th April picture(s) of the day…

13 Saturday Apr 2024

Posted by in Food and drink, Huddersfield, Photography, Rail Investment, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade

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Today’s very much been a mixture here at Bigland Towers. Yesterday evening I was sat outside in the garden, enjoying a beer and soaking up the rays of the sun for the first time this year. This morning? We were back to rain, miserable temperatures and low cloud, so a lie-in seemed like the only sensible course of action. This afternoon was different. The weather was still diva-like, but we decided to ignore its strops and have a day out, heading over to Huddersfield for lunch. Whilst the town doesn’t have the attractions that it once did there’s still an oasis and reflection of how things used to be. We ate at Arcade, in the Byram arcade on Westgate. It’s a lovely little cafe that has a Bohemian feel and clientele in an arcade which has its own vibe due to the arts and craft shops the cafe rubs shoulders with. We both plumped for the same dish, Turkish eggs – with added Chorizo.

It was delicious! Whilst Dawn had a coffee I indulged in a Vocation brewery Hazy Pale beer.

Afterwards, whilst Dee checked out the nearby woolshop I wandered up to observe the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade at the station. There’s another blockade on the line this weekend as major work’s started on the station roof.

This section of the trainshed roof is scheduled for demolition as the whole area is going to be redeveloped due to the addition of two more through platforms.
This is why the line’s closed! You can’t get heavy plant in without closing the railway entirely!

Bidding adieu to Huddersfield we headed back from Colne to Calder valley for an expensive side-trip to Garden centres, DIY stores and supermarkets – all in the midst of another downpour. Well, that’s the gardening taking a rain-check then!

Back at home Dawn decided to get stuck into baking whilst I nipped out to get my steps in and have a ‘swifty’ in the Big 6 where this range of beers was on offer.

Now the pair of us are enjoying a quiet night in with the hope of better weather tomorrow…

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