The start of a new week sees me back on the rails, this time heading for Nottingham and the two-day Community Rail Network conference. Sadly, I’m travelling solo. Dawn was hoping to attend but decided to stay behind at the last moment due to pressures of work.
So, I’ve left home early in order to get a few pictures en-route and at Nottingham before this afternoon’s kick-off. Having walked into sunny Halifax I found a Hull bound service waiting at the platform, so I’m already on my way to Leeds aboard a mostly empty 2-car class 158 which is providing a relaxed mobile office environment!
I’ve worked in busier offices!
11:35.
After a brief stop in Leeds to change trains, I’m on my way again. Oddly, on another Class 158. The Leeds – Nottingham route is normally worked by the more modern CAF built Class 195s. Today, we’re having to slum it without the benefit of power-sockets. Ho hum! At least the weather’s staying good.
Not what I expected…
16:00.
Sorry for the gap, but I’ve had a busy day. I’m now settled into my hotel with time to breathe before stuff kicks off. Despite the train being busy, the trip to Nottingham was rather relaxed. Normally, there would be a gang of us, but today I was flying solo. This meant that I had a couple of hours to explore the city and get some pictures (which are downloading from the camera now). I like this city. It’s a really interesting place, full of life. Like any UK city, it’s not without its problems (homelessness and substance abuse, for example), but it’s thriving university town with a vibrant city centre – and trams – which is always a good start!
Now my camera’s downloaded I’ve a small selection of pictures for you.
DBs diversity branded Class 66 passed through hauling 6E02, the 1230 Toton Up Sidings to Boston Sleaford SidingsTo reinforce the message that the railways celebrate diversity EMRs version of a ‘trainbow’ passed through a few moments later! London Rd overbridge to the East of the station provides a great vantage point of Eastcroft depot and the running lines out to Grantham and onwards to Skegness. The view’s changed a bit over the past few years now that EMR have dispensed with their older Class 153 and 156 units. Trams on Cheapside in the centre of town.
17:10.
The stage is set, and the buffet is almost ready…
23:00.
Time to call it a day. The conference has produced lots of talking points for tomorrow, people have been busy networking and a few dozen of us have been enjoying a drink out in Nottingham. Tomorrow’s another (busy) day…
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For various reasons there’s a very short blog from me today. The weekend’s almost over and I have a busy week which begins with heading to the community rail conference in Nottingham tomorrow.
Part of my day’s been engaged in editing many more pictures from our Portugal trip, so I though I’d leave you with this one from the Douro valley.
Not so much the grapes of wrath as those of Port…
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It’s a damp and dreary day as I depart God’s own country (other epithets are available) for Derby in order to meet up with a bunch of old railway friends to remember one of our number who’s passed away. Neil Howard was an old railwayman of the BR school. Founder of the Aspergers/Tourettes Railway Touring club and leading light of the Kosovo ‘train for life’*, the stories of his life are legendary (as well as libellous). We’re meeting to swap stories of some of our exploits together around the UK and Europe and toast his memory.
Here’s Neil (left) with another sadly departed railway legend, Ray (Matey) Towell.
Right now, I’m on my first leg of the trip aboard a train from Halifax to Leeds.
*The ‘train for life’ was a brilliantly madcap scheme that saw a group of UK railway staff and others take a train of humanitarian aid from the UK across Europe to Kosovo via the channel tunnel. Hauled by a pair of Class 20s, their adventures included being held to ransom and death threats.
11:30.
After a short stay at Leeds I caught a Lincoln bound service, which has just left Meadowhall en-route to Sheffield. The further South I get the wetter the weather is. Sheffield’s looking distinctly damp, which means my camera may not see much use just yet.
21:15.
Well, that was a blast! An afternoon in the ‘Akex’ full of remiscing and laughter. Many of the stories aren’t for publication. Folks travelled from far and wide to be there, but I’m glad I wasn’t one of them as the latest storm has shut parts of the network North of the border.
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I’ve indulged myself with a lie-in after a series of ‘silly o’ clock’ starts and lots of exercise, but now I’m getting ready to spend much of the day exploring the changes to the rail network in the South Wales valleys which are seeing a massive investment in electrification and new trains. I’ll blog throughout the day and on my journey back to West Yorkshire later, so stay tuned…
Here’s a sample. These are the new bi-mode trains from Stadler which have replaced 40 year old diesel units built by British Railways.
13:20.
I’m back! I’ve not been blogging as I’ve been busy station-hopping on my way up the Welsh valley’s to (as I decided on a whim) Merthyr Tydfil. It’s been a really interesting trip as there are so many changes since I was up here for RAIL magazine last year. Now, the elderly BR built Class 150s are in the minority. Most services are worked by bi-mode Class 769s which are a step-change in comfort and environmental-friendliness. The valleys really are becoming green again.
Admittedly, the wires are discontinuous, with large gaps, including at important junctions like Pontypridd. At Merthyr I had chance to have a quick chat with the lovely woman driving my train, so I asked her how drivers cope with the electrification gaps. As I suspected, ‘pan up, pan down’ is automatic, and controlled by balises in the four foot, which takes the stress off drivers. These bi-mode trains can seamlessly switch between diesel and electric power on the move.
Right now I’m heading back down the valley towards Cardiff – final destination uncertain as it depends on the weather, which is clouding up. I’ll add some more pictures and update this blog later.
Sorry about the squashed pigeon. I’m sure it’s a metaphor for something…
16:45.
A weather front has approached from the West, costing us the sunshine – although it’s allowed me to get a few other shots. Even so, after a busy few days, I’ve decided to begin the trek back to West Yorkshire.
Right now, I’m aboard the 15:53 from Cardiff to Manchester Piccadilly, which consists of a pair of class 197s (2+3). The odd thing? My TfW wifi connection works beautifully on the rest of the fleet, but on 197s it’s an erratic nightmare – hence me typing this on my phone
Whilst I’m doing this, my laptops kept busy downloading pics from my camera, so time isn’t wasted.
17:15.
We’re now North of Leominster and the passenger composition’s changed. The Cardiff/Newport commuter belt seems to end at Hereford. Now, we’re left with more long-distance travellers – including a gaggle of women who’re off God knows where to celebrate a friends 50th. They’ve settled into two table bays and spread out tablecloths, which they’ve anchored with a variety of snacks and several bottles of fizz! Oddly, they’re all blondes, what are the chances of that?
Now we’re into Shropshire, which I’ve always maintained is one of England’s least discovered gems. Church Stretton and the hills around it have been an old stomping ground for many, many years.
20:15.
I’m now on the last leg, having made it to Manchester and traversed the city then made it on to the 19:55 to Leeds. The difference between Cardiff and Manchester city centres is interesting. In Cardiff, nearly every shop and pub has security guards stood outside. Manchester? Nah….
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I’m prepping for a day at the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway, where the PWI delegates are going to be learning practical skills trackside from experienced rail staff and volunteers, whilst I document the day, but first, it’s time for breakfast before we all climb aboard the minibus taking us to the railway from our hotel.
Fuelling…
I’ll blog sporadically through the day. At the end of it I’ll be heading back to Cardiff where I’ll be spending the night before heading back North on Friday, so expect more blogs and pictures.
08:12.
We’re at the railway (which has an interesting collection of old cabs), waiting for some of the trainers who’ve been delayed by the closure of the M4.
12:30.
We’ve had a busy morning where I’ve taken a huge number of trackside pics of people carrying out surveying, spot sleepering and ballast packing, amongst other activities. I’ll add some pics. I’ve also found more old cabs.
15:50.
The event’s finished and it’s time for us all to scatter to the four winds, including a team from Germany, who’ve thoroughly enjoyed the event, as have people from Systra, the ORR, RSSB and others- including the professionals from main sponsor Colas. To put the icing on the cake, it’s stayed sunny!
Oh, and the railway has gained an extention to its running line.
I’ve enjoyed it too as there’s always something to learn from chatting to the guys who do this stuff every day – especially as the pressure is off (there’s no possession to hand back on time) so they’re happy to talk.
21:00.
I’ve made it as far as Cardiff where I’m kicking back in my hotel, charging up various devices and downloading a sh*t load of pictures. When I arrived in Cardiff the light was just right for a few pictures. Here’s a couple of samples from the day.
Tracklaying the old fashioned way with bullhead track. It wasn’t easy. It still isn’t – but it’s a great lesson in some techniques which are still applicable today. Admittedly, lifting and securing bullhead rail to old track chairs isn’t an everyday experience on the modern railway. One of TfW’s new Stadler units catches the setting sun at Cardiff Central. The protruding section contains the diesel engines in these bi-mode units.
Whilst I let pictures upload and devices to recharge I nipped out for a drink along St Mary St, where I’m staying. How to describe it? Well, it’s lined with bars and pubs and seems to be a magnet for revelers, street drunks and Ne’er-do-wells, as well as ordinary people just trying to navigate the chaos. The giveaway is how many places have to have security on the door – including shops. It’s a far cry from where I’ve just been in Portugal -and the energy is very, very different. Portugal please.
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I’m stood on a chilly Sowerby Bridge station waiting for a late-running 07:22 to Manchester Victoria, rueing the fact I hadn’t rushed to jump on the earlier TPE service that called here due to the Huddersfield blockade.
On the bright side, I have plenty of time to get from Victoria to Piccadilly, even though I have a suitcase full of PPE in tow…
07:30.
On the move! In its wisdom, Northern have provided a 2-car Class 195 to work this peak-time service, so it was rammed on arrival with no chance of getting a seat.
Not the best start to a long day, which will see me travelling all the way to Llanelli in South Wales. I’m on my way to meet up with colleagues from the Permenant Way Institution (PWI) who’re running a practical challenge where office-based rail staff get chance to experience working trackside, carrying out tasks like spot re-sleepering, platform surveys and maintaining rail joints. The work will be taking place on a preserved railway nearby.
07:44.
We’ve now left Todmorden, and this train resembles a sardine can! Next stop is Rochdale, which is going to be ‘interesting’ as there’s always dozens of passengers waiting. I suspect we’re going to ve leaving folk behind.
08:00.
Luckily for Rochdale passengers, a large group of students disembarked, making room for all but a few folk who decided to catch the Headbolt Lane stopper running behind us, which starts here.
09:00.
My dash across Manchester got me to Piccadilly in plenty of time for my next train. I’m in no great rush to get to Llanelli, so I’m taking the ‘scenic’ route to Crewe via Manchester Airport aboard the North stopping service, which is being worked by a former West Midlands Class 323. The North-West is now the last refuge for this fleet of trains, which are popular with passengers and crews alike. They’ve got great acceleration and comfortable saloon interiors despite not having air-conditioning or plug sockets.
11:30.
My trip ‘around the houses’ to Crewe reminded me that there’s still a few stations along this line I’ve yet to photograph. I covered over 30 SE Manchester stations for a commission last year. I’ve visited many others due to my involvement with the community rail movement.But there’s still one or two I’ve missed, like Styal and Sandbach. Maybe soon…
My stop at Crewe was brief and interrupted by bumping into an old rail colleague (Graeme Bunker), so the camera saw little action. Now I’m on Transport for Wales 10:10 to Fishguard Harbour. We’ve just left Leominster after passing through Shrewsbury and the gorgeous Shropshire hills AONB and the Long Mynd, an area we were walking in earlier this year.
This particular train is a 5-car unit made up of a 3 and 2 car class 197, TfWs superior version of the CAF built 195s used by Northern. Unlike the 195s (which were specified ‘plain vanilla’ by DfT) the 197s are more luxurious internally.
12:45.
After a lovely run from Hereford we’ve made it to Newport, never my favourite town. 30 years ago, Lynn and I stayed at a B&B near Chepstow, which was run by a larger than life woman whose husband ran an airport out in the middle-east somewhere. We enquired about Newport and I’ve never forgotten her reply ‘if ever I want to be depressed, I go to Newport’ (if you live in Newport and you’re reading this, sorry/not sorry).
14:20.
I’m currently busy around Cardiff, recording scenes like this. The place (and many of the trains) have changed a bit since I was here last year..
16:15.
Having enjoyed documenting chances around Cardiff I continued on to Swansea, where I managed a few more shots before beginning my last leg. I’m now on TfL’s 16:04 to Llanelli and soaking up the lovely afternoon sunshine.
It’s funny how things come around. I’d never really explored the lines West of Swansea until 10 years ago. Since then, I’ve traversed all three lines (Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven and Fishguard Harbour). Now I’m back again.
The old…
The 1980s British Rail built Sprinter diesel trains still hang on in the valley’s but in reduced numbers. Here’s one leaving Cardiff Queen St earlier.
The new. Stadler built bi-mode Class 756s have taken over many services, albeit operating on diesel until electrification of the valley lines is complete.
Meanwhile, over in Swansea. I found one of the old Class 153 sets which have been converted to ‘active travel’ trains for use on the heart of Wales line. Journey’s end (by rail at least). This CAF built unit dropped me off at Llanelli.
17:40.
I’m now having a wash and brush up at the hotel after walking here from the station, which was ‘interesting’. Llanelli has seen better days and the 30 minute walk through the centre of town was an eye-opener. I passed several pubs, none of which looked the slightest bit inviting. You couldn’t see into any of them. Most had high, opaque glass windows. I wondered if that was so you can’t be thrown out of one during a fight? But, the hotel is lovely, now it’s time to go and meet everyone else. Catch you later…
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Which has been a bit of a shock to be honest. Neither of us were ready to return to the UK as we were enjoying our time in Portugal far too much. Travelling around the country makes one realise how elements of the UK are becoming far too much like the USA nowadays, rather then the continent we’re far more akin to and share a long history with. Europe.
Fortunately, Donald Trump left as we arrived, so we missed all the performative nonsense about his state visit. Our flight back from Faro to Leeds/Bradford went without any hitches and we breezed through passport control and baggage which allowed us to get home by taxi an hour after landing. Another positive was that the far-right flag-shaggers and roundabout painters efforts hardly registered en-route, apart from a few home-made flags of St George (that patron saint who was actually a Turkish mercenary who never once set foot on these islands) in one patch around Leeds.
Now the reality of being back is sinking in. Especially the weather! Today we’ve had wall to wall rain. It’s never stopped it’s just altered in levels. So, for the first day in a very long time my step count is well below par. Instead, I’ve been busy trying to make a dent in picture editing and preparing for getting back to work next week. Sorting out all the Portuguese pictures will take some time, but you’ll be able to find them in the following galleries. One’s devoted to the rail images, and whilst this one’s the travel shots.
I did manage to venture out a couple of times later in the day. Dawn wanted to cook a curry tonight, which involved driving to our local supermarket to pick up some shopping. Whilst she was busy being the hostess with the mostest I took advantage of a gap in the rain to walk up to our local pub for a swift(ish) pint of bitter – so welcome after two weeks of lager drinking – and a catch-up with friends before walking home again. Only this time the weather was expecting me, as you can see from this video of my sodden walk back down the cobbled hill from the Big 6 to home. When the rain’s heavy, the street doubles as a stream.
Tomorrow’s weather promises better things. Sunshine even! The pair of us plan to get out for a little while – there might even be a reservoir blog because of it! Then it’ll be time to prepare for a busy week which will see me travelling to South Wales for a rather interesting rail event. 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/
I’ve not been blogging daily from here in Olhos de Água as my writing would have resembled a teenagers diary of the ‘got up, had breakfast, went to the beach, came home’ kind. The reality was far more exciting than the routine sounds. For a start, Praia do Barranco is a beautiful beach! It’s a few kilometers long strip of golden sand bordered by amazing cliffs. Once you get away from the areas lined with sunbeds and brollies where most visitors congregate it’s pretty deserted. With it being the Atlantic, the sea’s hardly tropically warm, but it’s still a damned sight warmer than off the UK and ideal for playing in the waves. Here’s a few pictures.
The studio where we’re staying is in a peaceful, well-laid out complex that has plenty of space and includes landscaped gardens with a profusion of flowers, like these.
We’ve also been fortunate to find a really good local restaurant and bar, frequented by tourists and locals alike. Miraparque serves the best Sardines and Tuna steaks we’ve had on this trip, and the prices are hardly extortionate. 9.95 Euros for a plate of 6 freshly grilled Sardines with potatoes and a side salad, whilst the beautifully grilled Tuna steak is 12.50. To make life easier there’s a really good supermarket next door, ideal for stocking up on fruit and drink to take to the beach.
Ironically, having had only one cloudy day throughout the trip we woke up to overcast skies today, which has put the mockers on our plans to make the most of the swimming pool here. Ah, well. Maybe the weather’s trying to tell us something. In a few hours time we’ll be heading for Faro airport before catching an 18:05 flight back to Leeds/Bradford. We’ve both loved out time in Portugal and fallen in live with Porto and where we’re staying now. We’re already planning on coming back.
I’ll add more to this blog later…
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/
There’s no daily blog from me right now for various reasons. One of which is that this is meant to be the bit of the trip where we kick-back and relax. So, here’s a picture of where we’re spending most of our time right now – this beach. The temperatures fallen a bit today, it’s gone from 31 to 27 degrees…
To those of you back in the UK who’re experiencing heavy rain and gales. Sorry!…(not sorry).
It’s sometimes said that life’s a beach – a sentiment I can empathize with as I’ve spent a goodly amount of my life frequenting (or living) on ones around the world. This one’s rather nice, despite it being in a tourist area. As you can see from the picture it stretches a long way. Go past the restaurant in the middle distance and there’s oodles of scarcely-occupied space. There’s only one drawback. The sea’s bloody cold! As someone who’s used to beaches in the tropics this was a nasty shock! That said, I’m sure I’ll make the most of it before heading back to the ‘sceptic Isle’ on Friday…
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/
I’mstill 24 hours behind in my blogs but I’m hoping to catch up tomorrow as life here where we’re staying in Olhos de Água is a lot more relaxed. Our touring is over, now there’s time to enjoy beach-time..
Leaving Lisbon wasn’t without its regrets. We’d loved staying there to explore different facets of the city. It’s certainly changed since we were last here in 2010 and some of those changes haven’t been for the better, even so, it remains a great city.
Having checked out of our hotel we had one last superb pastry breakfast outside the station whilst admiring the trio of cruise ships which had arrived overnight. Some of these things are behemoths, more akin to a floating town than a ship.
Having fortified ourselves we caught a local train to Oriente station where our Intercity service to Albufeira was due to leave at 14:02. Oriente’s a really interesting multi-level, modern station built in 1998. In some ways it reminds me of Berlin Hauptbahnhof – only without the layered railways. Below tracks it’s an exercise in futuristic concrete and shopping whilst above tracks its roof owes more to Moorish traditions and austere platforms.
Dawn’s refective sunglasses were ideal for playing around with shots like this…Our train to the South, hauled by 5620, one of 30 Class 5600 electric locomotives built by Siemens and Sorefame between 1993-95 which are the mainstay of Portugese Intercity and regional services after the high-speed ‘Alfa Pendular’ EMUs.
Our train South was packed. As it was probably our last rail journey of this trip I’d booked us into 1st Class, which was an interesting experience as we had seats in the ‘half and half’ car which is split between 1st class and the buffet area. That’s fine, apart from the fact there’s bugger all luggage storage compared to a normal 1st class coach. Either you stick your cases in the overhead luggage racks or you leave ’em clogging the isles.
The train was packed, so people-watching was always going to be fun. We had one group of middle-aged American women who embarked at Entrecampos. Having dumped their bags in the racks they demanded a family move as they were occupying ‘their’ seats. Needless to say, the Yanks were in the wrong carriage! Once we were settled into the journey and Dawn was dozing in her seat I nipped next door to have a beer in the buffet car and indulge in more people watching as the coach wifi wasn’t playing ball, so the blogging I’d intended to do went out of the window.
The buffet car’s popular with late travellers who’ve booked a ticket but can’t get a seat reservation so some people ensconce themselves for the duration, either in the table bays or squatting on the stools lining the coach sides. Many others drift in and out, giving you an idea of how international the clientele are. The Portugese woman behind the counter was kept on her feet all the way but still dealt with the queues with aplomb. There’s all ages and backgrounds on these trains. One battered old Portugese chap caught my eye. His luggage consisted of a sleeping bag in a carrier bag and a small daypack. His clothes and straw hat were as weathered as his face. He kept himself to himself as he chugged red wine, but I got the impression he’d seen a few things in life. He was another people-watcher too…
What could be finer? Observing people and watching the world go by…
We arrived at Albufeira late, but that was no real problem. We grabbed one of the plentiful taxis at the station and within 25 minutes (and some confusion over door numbers) we entered our new abode – which is a lovely little villa on an enclosed estate. I’ll post pictures tomorrow.
Having settled in we explored our new ‘manor’. There’s several restaurants and a supermarket just down the road. We plumped for one local eaterie and ended up having some of the best (and best value) Sardines of the trip – just 9.95 Euros for this little lot!
Tomorrow we’ll be staying close to home and checking out the beaches as this is the restful part of the trip. Plus, we hear the weather back in the UK is less than clement, so we’re going to make the most of wall to wall sunshine and temperatures in the 30s whilst we can!
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 