Yesterday the first refurbished four-car Voyager (220033) was unveiled to the media and invited guests at Alstom’s Derby works, where the work is taking place. Expected back in traffic before the end of the month after undergoing an exam at the Central Rivers depot, 220033 is beginning of a programme which, over the next two years, Alstom will refurbish a total of 136 Voyager (Class 220) and 176 Super Voyager (Class 221) cars at Derby, including an additional 12 trains added to the CrossCountry fleet following their release from Avanti West Coast.
Alstom’s £60 million contract is part of long-distance train operator CrossCountry’s £75 million project to refurbish all of its Voyager fleet and has been funded by rolling stock company Beacon.
The work doesn’t involve altering the internal layout of the trains (except for the ex-AWC sets) but does include new seats, tables, wall panelling, carpets and LED lighting, together with internal and forward-facing CCTV and a passenger-counting system. Double the number of power and USB sockets are being provided, allowing for one for each seat.
Here’s a selection of images from the event.
From left to right; Steve Harvey, Alstom’s Services Director UK and Ireland. Shiona Rolfe, Managing Director at CrossCountry and Adam Cunliffe, Chief Executive Officer at Beacon Rail.A pair of 1st Class airline seats. The extra seat width allows for the power and USB sockets to be fitted between the seats, underneath the armrests. A 1st Class table bay. One of the refurbished disabled toilets. A Standard Class table bay, where the power and USB sockets are table-mounted due to the seats being narrower. . Looking through one of the Standard Class vehicles, showing that the internal layout remains unchanged. What are very noticeable are the new different coloured grab-handles which are designed to be gauge cleared for catering trollies. The new seats have a longer table compared to the old version, although I’ve not tried using one with a laptop yet. In the longer term there are plans to remove the redundant heating grilles and radiators which take up space at the bottom of the bodyside to create more legroom. The radiators were heated by circulating engine coolant but if the system leaked this could cause engines to shut down due to a loss of pressure, which was less than desirable! Now all heating’s provided by the roof mounted HVAC systems.The luggage storage area remains unchanged but it’s been repanelled. The ‘funky’ lighting was temporary and fitted to help illuminate the vehicle as it had no shore-supply attached. Sockets in Standard Class airline seats, showing that the top one is mounted ‘upside down’ to avoid conflicts. Both the older and newer USB-C sockets are provided. Another feature is that the new seats offer more legroom as there’s no footrest bar. Here’s a closer look at the new seat mocquette and padding. On first try the seats seem to be firm but with sufficient padding that makes them superior to the ‘ironing board’ types fitted to some other long-distance trains…
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George Formby’s catchphrase was running through my head as I made my soggy way to Halifax station. The Pennines are obscured by mist and rain yet again today – and the forecast is no better in Derby, my final destination.
It’s grim up North – and everywhere else apparently…
Right now I’m on a packed and humid Northern service to Leeds which is full of damp humanity heading to work. We’re running several minutes late but it shoukdn’t affect my connection. I’ll be transferring to Northern’s new ‘Yorkshire flyer’ service which is a fast service to Sheffield with just one stop at Wakefield Westgate. It’ll make a useful alternative to Cross-Country trains on the same route as they’re normally packed.
Hopefully, there’ll be enough room on that train to set up the mobile office. Right now I’m jammed in an airline seat with my camera bag balanced on my lap. We’re currently reversing at Bradford Interchange and there’s not a single seat left free in my coach. This train’s going to be extra ‘cosy’ by the time we reach Leeds!
08:55.
My 10 minute late arrival at Leeds proved to be no great disaster as my connection was leaving from the opposite end of the platform I arrived in on – 12. I’m now aboard the ‘Yorkshire Flyer’, a grand name of an ex-Scotrail 2-car class 158, although I suppose its top speed of 90mph does count as ‘flying’ by Northern standards! It’s reasonably busy too – between 50-60% capacity at a guess. That’s allowed me to grab a table bay (which I’m sharing) to set up the mobile office and type-swipe. The only thing I miss compared to Cross-Country is an at seat trolley service. A coffee would have gone down very well right now as I admire the dreary skies outside. Not that you can admire very far, visibility’s limited to about 700m!
12:07.
Oh, hello!
Whilst the internal layout of the Voyagers hasn’t changed the seats have. There’s more legroom because of it.
19:10
Well, that was an interesting day! Not only did we get to explore the first of Cross-Country’s refurbished Voyagers (a project costing £70m), we also got to see a few poor old Class 455 cars hauled off for scrap, walk through the production line of the new Class 345 trains for the Elizabeth line – and have a ride on a 5-car Class 701 on the test track.
The first of the new Elizabeth line Class 345 sets on the production line.
Of course, part of the fun was talking to old friends and colleagues from the industry and his Majesties railway press corps! I’ll go into greater detail about the refurbishment tomorrow and hope to add a few more pictures when I get home later. Right now I’m heading back to Leeds on a late running ‘Yorkshire Flyer’ from Sheffield after having stopped for a quick pint in Derby with an old friend, Robert Pritchard, Editor of Today’s Railways UK.
One of the cabs of 37290 is preserved outside the Alexandra pub. It’s recieved a repaint and had its lights recomissioned.
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Normal(ish) service is slowly resuming, but it’s not been without hiccups! My laptop is back up and running, but just as that was sorted out I came down with the lurgi – hence spending the past couple of days mostly confined to bed. Thankfully, what I’ve contracted isn’t anything more exotic than a heavy cold although the initial aches and sore throat had me guessing for a while.
Still, being stuck at home has had its compensations as it’s allowed me to start editing the hundreds of pictures I took in London last week. Admittedly, that’s going to be a slow process as I’ll be off on a mission tomorrow, heading out to Derby for an event. I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it but Dawn brewed some of her excellent pick-me-up. It’s made from freshly juiced ginger, lemon, limes and apple. Add a bit of honey and it’s a powerful remedy.
I’ll try and blog through the day tomorrow as there’s going to be a lot of interesting things to see and photograph. In the meantime, here’s today’s picture from my London trip.
A busy but peaceful scene at Earls Court underground station in the West of London. The station’s the junction for several lines, including District line services that are described on the classic old indicator boards that can be seen in the foreground. The Piccadilly tube line passes through underground.
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Sorry folks, I’m still having technical issues with my laptop and computer kit, hence the lack of updates since Friday. Hopefully, things will be resolved on Monday – at least so that I can get all my London pictures edited and add a blog or two.
In the meantime, here’s a couple of pictures from Saturday. The weather in London was just as crap as it’s been up North which was a shame as my trip along the Greenford branch aboard GWR’s battery train was a really interesting experience for a whole host of reasons. The area’s changed a bit since I first got to know it in the 1990s – as the modern skyline in this picture shows.
The battery train is dwarfed by its surrounding and the new skyline of Greenford as it makes its way to West Ealing. If only the weather had been better! As you can see, the embankments on the route suffer from subsidence, leaving the track all over the place. 230001 arrives at Greenford. Dozens of railway enthusiasts turned out to sample the trip on Saturday, outnumbering ordinary passengers by several degrees.
See you soon…
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Right now I’m departing a wet and dreary Calder Valley for London. I’m later thn expected for a number of reasons.
Last night my laptop threw a strop. The battery (despite being new last year) decided that it wasn’t playing anymore and gave up the ghost, leaving the machine without power as it refused to run off the mains charger without it. Bugger!
Playing around with the benighted thing ate into the time I’d planned to get ready for going away, hence today’s delay.
I’m travelling sans laptop as a new battery won’t arrive until tomorrow, leaving me to blog/run the mobile office off my smartphone – which will restrict the number of pictures I can add.
To add to the fun and games there’s overhead line problems on the London end of the West Coast Main Line (WCML) but that shouldn’t affect services from Manchester..
So, as I’m restricted in what I can do I might as well sit back, relax and enjoy the journey. Dawn was kind enough to drive me to Sowerby Bridge station so I avoided a soaking and Avanti have provided me with 1st Class travel to/from London to attend this afternoons photo competition awards.
Bye bye Sowerby Bridge…
Let’s see how things go…
11:45.
London bound!
My trip across the Pennines was a grey and grim as ever, making me realise just how lucky I was to get out in the sunshine the other day. The stroll between Victoria abd Piccadilly in freezing temperatures was only enlivened by watching a pair of Manchester’s finest nicking and handcuffing two teenage lads!
Now I’m relaxing in coach J of an 11 car Pendolino heading for the capital. There’s only a handful of us in the coach so I have a table bay of to myself.
Drinks? Oh, go on then…
The food offering was good too. Bangers and mash – just what you need on a miserable winters day like this.
Travelling 1st Class on a Pendolino brings back memories of a different life and a different era.
20 years and more ago I was one of a small pool of freelance photographers the then Virgin Trains (who introduced the Pendolinos) employed on a regular basis. Being London-based I was on hand for some of their most prestigious events involving Sir Richard Branson and many other famous people from the worlds of film, sport and politics. I ended up covering so many jobs and locations that I was given my own 1st Class pass. Of course, in those days Virgin ran both the West Coast and Cross-Country franchises, so I could travel the length and breadth of the Country, from Aberdeen to Penzance!
12:50.
We’ve left Nuneaton, our final stop before London. Passing through the Trent Valley was interesting. The amount of flooded fields and overflowing rivers is a testament to just how much rain we’re having right now. How farmers are going to get crops in this ground is beyond me – unless they’re going to start growing rice.
This line contains so many memories and stories for me, but then I’ve been traversing it for over half a century. Nuneaton reminded me of the time we came here by train for the annual rail press corps Xmas dinner. Arriving by train we were ferried by coach to the test track near Melton Mowbray. As we changed, a screw leapt out of my glasses, which lost an arm as a consequence. We couldn’t find the screw but thankfully someone had a paperclip, which I used to jury-rig a repair!
13:05.
We’re now South of Rugby, a town I have so many memories and stories of. Not least of which is spending much of Xmas day 2005 in full orange PPE trackside, watching the rebuilding of the railway go seriously pear-shaped.
The further South we get the worse the weather seems. We’re in gog and low cloud with rain beating against the side of the train and streaming across the windows.
13:25.
The curse of the WCML strikes again! We’ve just staggered through Milton Keynes on the slow lines. Our Train Manager came on to the PA to let us know this is due to a broken-down train in the Leighton Buzzard area ahead of us. We’re now running 10 down with more delays expected. Good job I don’t have to be at the National Portrait Gallery before 16:00 then! On the positive side – the weather’s brightening up…
14:05.
After lots of stops and starts and zig-zagging between the fast and slow lines we’ve passed Watford Junction, a place I also spent many bank holidays working trackside a decade after Rugby. Now we’re on the last leg into Euston…
14:43.
Here we are again (finally)…
22:15.
Is that the time? Despite the weather I had a lovely time re-acquanting myself with the centre of London as I walked from Euston, down the Tottenham Court Rd to Trafalgar and the National Portrait gallery. Today’s event has been a great celebration of photography – and diversity. I’ll add some links tomorrow.
Right now I’m tucked up in my single bed in an intŕesting ‘hotel’ in Ealing. I’ll explain more tomorrow.
I hadn’t planned to be travelling today. I’ve stuff to do at home but when we opened the bedroom blinds this morning to see clear blue skies and this strange yellow orb I was torn between sticking to my original programme or getting the hell out for the day. After double-checking the forecast to see that this is a one day only opportunity (we’ve sleet and snow forecast for Friday) – and with Dawn’s gentle prodding I decided ‘bugger it’ and packed the camera bag. But where to go?
As this was very much a spur of the moment decision my mind I was still unsure where I was headed for until I’d walked down to Sowerby Bridge station and realised the next departure was for Manchester and Chester. A quick check of the forecast told me Chester would remain sunny almost all day – so Chester it is, although I’m not planning to stay all day…
Right now we’re passing through the West Manchester suburbs en-route to Warrington. I’ll blog through the day as and when, so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to.
Here we go…
15:35.
Ho hum. Another day that’s not exactly gone to plan. Chester was interesting and I certainly got a few steps in but the light at the location I had in mind (where the railway passes under the city walls) was less than optimal. Low winter sunlight and trees create a lot of shadows. Still, I managed a couple of shots before walking back to the station where I grabbed a quick drink in the new Brewery Tap on the station.
The brewery tap serves food, hot and cold drinks and a range of real ales.
I’d hoped that a stone train would be running but it was cancelled at the last minute so I decided to cut my losses, catch a train to Warrington Bank Quay for an onward service to Wigan North Western, where tge station’s perched high on an embankment in full sun.
A few minutes before my train arrived sraff annonced that there was a fatality on the line South of the station so all Northbound trains were cancelled.
The tragedy meant there was only one option – board the first available train towards Manchester, so here I am…
21;45.
I’m home and wondering where the day (and the weather) has gone. When I arrived back in Halifax it was like walking home through an old London ‘pea-soup’ fog! I’ll update this blog tomorrow with many more pictures, but here’s a few for now.
Walking the old city walls in ChesterCrocus’ in full bloom on Chester station.Trans-Pennine Express trains pass on the infamous Oxford Rd bottleneck in Manchester.When I said that it was foggy back home I wasn’t kidding…
At the end of the day – I returned home. My thought are with the person who didn’t…
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Typical! Just as we’re packing up to return home tomorrow, the weather picks up! Friday started optimistically enough. The skies were cloudy but the weather was dry, so I headed out with the camera in the hope of photographing some different railfreight flows. I should’ve know better! Almost as soon as I got to my favoured location atop a bridge overlooking Hall Royd junction the rain and sleet started. I managed a couple of shots, including this one of a Liverpool Docks to Drax power station loaded biomass train before the light was so low and the rain so miserable that I gave up.
GBRf’s 66755 powers a trailing load of 2400t through Todmorden, heading for Drax power station in shitty weather.
Despite the weather I was determined to have a wander and at least get my daily steps in – even if photography was a bust. It was a shame as there’s some really interesting backstreets and odd buildings I’d like to photograph. West Yorkshire’s blessed with many odd-shaped dwelling which follow strange footprints so have weird shapes. God know how you fit furniture in rooms that mirror New York’s famous ‘flatiron’ building.
Finally defeated, I called in for a pint and a warm in what’s become our local pub here, the ‘Alehouse’. I enjoyed a pleasant interlude chatting to staff and customers alike about local life and international politics. As you can imagine, Donald Trump’s latest mad utterances and disrespect of British army service men and women who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan was causing a lot of anger.
– and relax…
Back ‘home’ I took time off before Dawn finished work, when the two of us wandered back into town to reprise our great Thai meal at the Three Wise Monkeys. We’d enjoyed the fish dishes we’d had so much that we ordered exactly the same again, only this time accompanied by deliciously crisp stir-fry veg in a delicious sauce.
Suitably stuffed, we stopped for one last drink at the Alehouse before returning home, where our feline charge ‘Luna’ decided to have a mad half-hour, zooming around the place like she’d discovered a secret stash of catnip!
Today’s been our last full day, so the weather’s taunted us with the promise of better things – if only we could stay. We’ve made the most of it by walking into town to hit the market, which has become a firm favorite. Whilst the indoor section remains unchanged Saturday’s the day the outdoor section changes from bric-a-brac to food, with a wide range of fruit and veg, artisan breads and cakes and other edible delights on offer.
We stocked up on a host of things, including excellent home-made sausages from Fieldings butchers.
Here’s my weakness. A cheese shop!
After the market, Dawn wanted to check out a spiritual shop, so whilst she did that I had one last chance to explore with the camera as the sun played across the town, creating interesting opportunities with shadows and light.
A break in the clouds allowed the sun to illuminate the frontage of the grade 1 listed Tod town hall, seen from the cobbled Water St.
We’ll miss Todmorden. We’ve both seen it in a new light after spending so much time here. It’s a town with a lot to offer and it’s in a great location at the junction of two valleys surrounded by some great hill walks. But, as we only live up the road, we’ll certainly be coming here more often in the future.
Of course, we’ll also miss the feline person we came here to look after – ‘Luna’, who’s proved to be a delightful charge.
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The weather’s really cramped my style here in Todmorden as it’s been bloody awful these past couple of days. My plans to get in some walking up on the valley tops have been frustrated by rain and low cloud that’s made it pointless. I’d have spent my time slipping around in the mist for nothing.
Instead, much of yesterday was spent working from home, editing the pictures I’d taken so far whilst sorting out others for future magazine articles and blogs. The weather’s been no better today as the rain’s been almost a constant companion. Even so, I decided to get out for the day, explore more of Todmorden and get a few pictures. Here’s the results.
I spotted these buildings at the back of some large Victorian houses a few days ago but couldn’t get pictures due to cars parked in the way. I took me a while to realise that they’re ornate sheds that combined a coal store (hence the wooden hatch) and an outside toilet. They were probably still in use as both up until the 1950s. It was only after the war that the new Labour government started funding home improvements that allowed people to install indoor bathrooms. Central heating to replace coal fires wouldn’t have been common until the 1970s.Unlike most West Yorkshire mill towns sho’s economy was wool based, Todmorden was a cotton town. It’s hard to imagine how it looked in Victorian times when there were 110 mills here! Today the daily empty ‘binliner’ from Teeside to Knowsley (Liverpool) was hauled by a smart looking 66011. I didn’t hang around after getting this shot as the weather was too miserable! Thursday is ‘tat’ day on Todmorden market with stalls selling bric-a-brac, old tools, clothing plus books and CDs. It was business as usual in the indoor market. This is our favourite butchers (one of several in the market). Nick Fielden is this butchers name. They have an excellent range of home-made sausages which we’ve been busy sampling. Their lamb Koftas aren’t bad either. We’ll be stocking up on supplies to take home with us before we leave. There’s also a cracking cheese shop nearby. Exchange coffee Co is a very popular stall with an great range of coffees from around the world. Drink in or take out – or buy in bulk…Dawson’s in a classic old hardware shop and stall of the sort men especially love to mooch around or admire. For a town of its size, Todmorden has more than its fair share of antique or arts and crafts shops, along with bookshops, making it an enjoyable place to wander around.
Sadly, tomorrow’s weather forecast is no better so I can’t see me getting into the hills at all. Instead I’ll try and get pictures of some of the more interesting buildings here. Then, once Dawn’s finished work we’ll be heading out for a couple of drinks and another excellent Thai meal. It’s a hard life!
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Hooray! The weather finally cleared today, giving me the opportunity get out with the camera and enjoy decent visibility for a change. We even had some sunshine, but as usual, it was always at the most inopportune moment!
As the freight train I’d been stalking was running along the copy pit line today I decided to head out along the line to get pictures. The location I wanted was a good hour’s walk away, but that didn’t deter me as it gave me chance to explore along the Burnley road as far as my destination, just outside Cliviger, the site of the old colliery that was known as Copy Pit.
It was an interesting if somewhat sad walk, past many old mills, some converted to housing, other derelict and decaying. The mixture of housing styles was also interesting. Old stone farmhouses rubbed shoulders with Victorian terraces and bigger homes that betrayed how wealthy the area was when it was a hive of industry based around mills and coal. All these buildings were squeezed together in what’s actually a narrow valley. Nowadays much of it is tree covered, but go back 70-100 years and it would’ve been quite a bleak landscape, and polluted too, with all the soot and smoke from coal fires being trapped in the valley.
Just before Cliviger the valley opens up and you cross the modern-day boundary between West Yorkshire and Lancashire. I was headed for a bridge over the railway at a place called Dean Farm, which allows great views along the railway. On arrival I found that the train I was waiting for was running an hour late so I filled my time by walking further up the Burney road which parallels the railway at this point, allowing me to get shots like this, looking back towards Dean farm.
BR built class 150 number 150142 passes working 2K67, the 11:19 Blackburn to Headbolt Lane (Merseyside). The rural nature of this section of line is a marked contrast to the area the train’s heading in to.
Having managed various shots I headed back to the bridge in time to capture the train I wanted.
Direct Rail Services Class 66 number 66429 hauls 6E73, the 09:09 Shap Summit Quarry to Doncaster Up Decoy yard. Copy Pit was just out of shot behind the train, behind a road bridge on the Burnley Road. There used to be a loop line to the right of the train but this disappeared many years ago. Back in the 1950s-early 60s this bridge would have been shaken by the thunderous roar and clank of steam engines hauling (and banking) heavy coal trains up the hill. Looking the other way from the bridge as a Blackpool North – Leeds service passes. Where the light coloured houses are by the railway was the site of a goods yard and sidings that served Portsmouth station which was just out of sight around the curve. The station was closed in July 1958 and no traces of it remain.
Having achieved my aim I headed back into Todmorden. Remembering that I now have a bus pass (which I’d never used) I caught a bus back into town, reflecting on the fact that I’d chosen to walk all the way uphill, then get a bus back downhill. D’oh!
Back in ‘Tod’ I stopped off to get one last picture before calling it a day. I’d spotted this view the other day but wanted to wait until the weather had improved.
150144 crosses the wonky viaduct in the centre of Todmorden whilst working a train from from Headbolt Lane to Blackburn.
Sadly, tomorrow’s weather is due to revert to rain, so my chances of doing much are minimal. That said, Dawn’s not having to commute to Halifax, so I’m planning to take her into ‘Tod’ to explore, so there may be some pictures to be had…
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Another working week begins, but this one’s different due to our change of location. In truth, today wasn’t that different for Dawn as she had to head back to Halifax and work from our real home for various reasons. For once Dee had a real commute rather than just wandering across the landing for the bedroom to the office!
I stayed behind in the Todmorden ‘annexe’ to look after our feline charge, although to be fair to Luna, she doesn’t take much looking after. Being a young female cat (just a big kitten, really) she’s very independent, doesn’t crave much attention and spends most of her time outside. My main task is to keep here fed and ensure she doesn’t get up to mischief in the house.
As the weather here is so closed in, with very low clouds and mist, I wasn’t going to be venturing far anyway. Plus, most of Todmorden’s closed on a Monday, which adds to a general feeling of isolation. Undeterred, I went for a wander to at least try and get a few photos, despite the murk, and check out a few new photographic possibilities – just in case the weather does pick up. I also wanted to get a shot of the only scheduled freight service via the Copy Pit line to Burnley which is a limestone train from Shap in Cumbria to Drax power and the return empties. The loaded train only runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but the empties are scheduled to run Monday to Friday.
Long gone are the days when there would be banking engines based at Todmorden to assist heavy coal trains up the line to Burnley. The engines vanished at the end of steam traction in the late 1960s and the coal trains a couple of decades later. Until recently there was a regular oil train between Lindsay oil refinery in Lincolnshire to Preston docks, but that finished last year. Now, there’s just the stone train. So, I thought I’d try and get a picture for posterity. Only the bloody thing was cancelled! Still, I did manage a few other shots, as you’ll see here…
The classic view of Tod over the rooftops, with two trains passing on the viaduct. As you can see, the weather was less than ideal…Taken at the same location, a Headbolt Lane (Kirkby) to Blackburn service crosses Stansfield Hall Jn on the Todmorden curve which was only reopened in May 2015. Before then a short spur had been retained as a siding for banking engines, but it hadn’t been used for decades. Nearby is Hall Royd Jn where the line to/from Burnley (on the left) joins the Calder valley line. Here’s a DB Cargo Class 66 working an empty Tees Yard to Knowsley (Merseyside) empty ‘binliner’. It’s Monday, so the shops are (mostly) shut, including this cafe in the lovely former Co-op building. ‘Tod’ does have its bohemian elements, hence this book repository fixed to a telegraph pole on one of the backstreets. Having climbed the hill behind the town I found this gap in the trees for a more elevated view of the viaduct. Now, if the weather would only clear…
As the clouds closed in I returned to our temporary home to warm up and make the place cosy for when Dawn got back. I think Luna appreciated my efforts too!
Tomorrow’s weather isn’t expected to be any better than today, but I’m going to have another crack at that stone train…
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/
Paul Bigland 