13:11.It’s been such a busy day there’s been no time to blog, despite there being a huge amount to blog about! Right now I’m on the W7 bus travelling through my old home – Crouch End in North London – and so many happy memories are flooding back. I’m on my way to Crouch Hill station to do the third of three after doing two of today’s three jobs and to meet up with Michael Williams again. Here we were yesterday.

Today’s adventure’s been made more interesting by rich and varied weather as well as visiting old haunts across London. As well as carrying out the commission I’ve had the opportunity to get a few library pictures too.I’ll blog more later, once the next job’s done.17:54.Commission completed, Michael and I had a very enjoyable lunch together and caught up on times old and new, including his next book project. I’m looking forward to accompanying him on at least one of his jaunts.Now I’m making my way back North via the East Coadt Main Line, although I wish I had more time as the weather’s ideal for lineside photography.The past couple of days have been very enjoyable. I’ve had chance to catch up with two old friends, do some work and explore old stomping grounds, one of which was the Hertford loop line. When I lived in Nirth London Lynn and I would often use it to go walking in the Hertfordshire countryside and many of the plants in our Crouch End garden came from the garden centres clustered near Grange Park station. Nearly everything was brought back on the train. It must have looked odd to other passengers when two people boarded the train carrying enormous black bamboo plants. Now I see the station’s slowly slipping backwards down the embankment…

18:50.

After a brief stop to change trains at Doncaster I’m now on my way to Leeds and (eventually) home. The station yard nearly always holds something of interest and today was no exception. You could see the railway version of the changing of the guard as several brand-new Northern Rail Class 331s rubbed shoulders with LNER’S 91119 which has been repainted into its original BR Intercity livery. The 91 passed me earlier today when it was being hauled by a classmate along the Hertford loop from Bounds Green dept in North London. Looking at it now I’ve noticed the damage to the front-end fairing below the coupler, which suggests that it’s hit something, which might explain why it’s here.

19:37.

Having arrived in Leeds my first train home is the 19:38 to Chester. Made up of a 153 plus 2-car 158. I was amazed how quiet it was and also how many folk were bailing off it. All was revealed when I grabbed a table seat in the 153 and the friendly conductor explained that – due to a blockage on the line between Bradford and Halifax – we were being diverted via Brighouse, so Halifax would be our first stop! No wonder so many folk were bailing, they were going to Bradford!

20:00.

We’re now bowling along the line through Brighouse non-stop, which is a rare treat. Our Conductor has been excellent, constantly keeping passengers informed and even talked over the Tannoy about route knowledge. He explained the we were allowed to come this way because both he and the driver ‘sign the road’ via Dewsbury, whereas the Blackpool bound train behind us is stuck in Leeds because the crew don’t!

20:09.

We’re sat at Greetland Jn waiting for a clear road to Hakifax but there’s congestion due to the fact many trains will have to reverse at Halifax, there’s 6 trains in the way so we’re being diverted to Sowerby Sowerby Bridge instead. The problem? He explained. A lorry has struck a bridge and knocked a lamp post onto the track, which was then struck by a train.

20:55.

A welcome sight as I walk up from the station. Not only is it a beautiful evening, this signals the fact I’m almost home!

After a series of shit election results which have culminated in the severe arse-spanking Labour have been given in the EU elections held last week it’s clear that the cult of Corbyn and all those who sail in her have learned nothing.

In the run up to the election anyone who was following social media or talking to disaffected Labour members could see that the Corbynista’s fence sitting over Brexit was going to seriously hurt the party. Everyone was tired of the party trying to face both ways whilst maintaining the complete fantasy of it’s ‘jobs first Brexit’ position. A unicorn’s a unicorn. It doesn’t exist. It doesn’t matter what colour you paint it or flag you wrap it in.

Labour members, voters and party stalwarts were reaching the end of their tether as it was becoming painfully obvious that ‘Magic Grandad’ Corbyn and his crew were not going to be honest with the electorate over Brexit. So, they were punished at the polls, even by Labour party members, who were sick of being ignored.

One of those was Alistair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former Press Secretary, who admitted (after the polls had closed) that for the first time he’d voted for a party other than Labour.

Retribution was swift and today he received an email telling him he’d been expelled from the party. Talk about a classic own goal!

The outrage on social media was a joy to behold as many people pointed out the utter hypocrisy of this from a party that’s dragged its feet over expelling known anti-Semites, abusers of women and MP’s who’ve joined with the hard-line Brexiters to campaign against Labour values. Yes, you Kate Hoey! Oh, and there’s the small matter of this – a tweet from Corbyn found by David Ross. This was ‘Magic Grandad’ congratulating a man who had stood against and beaten an official Labour party candidate. Galloway had even been expelled from the Labour party.

Corbyn is the ultimate hypocrite. A man who demands loyalty yet rebelled so many times against his own party to vote with the opposition. Of course, ordinary voters can see this. Corbynista’s remain blind, which is why the party’s no longer fit for purpose. Expect to see a lot more former members of the Labour party. It’s an absolutely tragedy to see a political party that was set up to represent the best interests of the poor and disenfranchised turn into a narrow ideological cult that cares more for dogma than the people who will suffer if it enables Brexit.

After spending the best part of a week travelling in the UK and Austria I’ve rather enjoyed having a day at home to start catching up with the plethora of pictures and notes. Mind you, the weather’s been conducive because today we’ve had some cracking showers and dark brooding skies that would’ve suited a horror/end of the world sort of movie.

After wading through my email inbox the first task was to get a load of old slides that I’d scanned last week edited and onto my website. Here’s a sample, taken in April 2000.

And people complain about Pacers! On the 12th April 2000 1st generation diesel multiple units Numbers 51189. 54085 and 53211 sit at Manchester Piccadilly. Unit 101657 was ready to work the 13.08 to Rose Hill Marple.

I’m gradually wading through several hundred new pictures to load to my Zenfolio website (you can find them here). I hope to have the job finished by the weekend, but I’m on the road again tomorrow as I’m visiting the rebuilt station building at nearby Mytholmroyd tomorrow along with the local station friends group who’ve been the powerhouses behind the project.

Meanwhile, here’s a shot from yesterday, showing how much services out of Paddington station in London have changed.

Gone (mostly) are the diesel ‘Thames Turbos’ that dominated suburban services out of Paddington since the early 1990s. On the left we have one of GWR’s ‘Electrostars’ which have taken their place on most Thames Valley services. On the right is a new ‘Aventra’ which is working the London Overground services to Hayes and Harlington. 

07:13 (all times in German time for now).Another day, another early start. The weather’s pretty dismal in Vienna today but there’s lots to look forward to before I fly back to the UK later. At least I managed some decent sleep – even if there wasn’t enough of it! Here’s the view from my hotel room, looking back to the hill and the location of the vineyard we ate at last night.

The hotel’s in two parts as there’s offices above until you get to the roof, where there’s a restaurant and bar. Here’s the view from last night.

08:35After an excellent breakfast we’ve checked out of our hotel and been loaded into a coach to head off to our first assignment. The chance to see an autonomous bus at the new Viennese suburb of Aspern Seestadt.10:08.Here’s the bus we came to see.

The whole area’s fascinating. The suburb’s designed to be a modern city that has a low ecological impact. I’ll add some more details and links later. Right now we’re on the move again..11.29.We’re currently being conducted around Siemens Vienna factory which is building a variety of main line, metro and light rail vehicles. Here’s new vehicles being constructed for Nuremberg.

This is one of the cars for the Rhine-Ruhr Express.

13:32.

It’s been a fascinating tour of the Siemens factory and chance to learn a lot about developments at the plant since my last visit in 2012. I’ll add more pictures and details later. Right now it’s time to head off to the airport and begin the journey back to the UK…

14:51

A small group of the British contingent and a friend from Siemens UK are now camped out at Vienna’s Terminal 3 where we’ve got a couple of hours to kick our heels before we catch the plane to Heathrow. Sadly, this new terminal has been ‘Jamie Olivered’. I’ve nothing against the guy but when all three eateries in the place are his, it’s a bit overkill!

May 1st Update.

I’ll add more to the end of this rolling blog when I get home. Right now, another day’s got in the way!

I’m currently enjoying one of those incredibly rare things, an Easter holiday with good weather! We’ve got wall to wall sunshine here in the Calder Valley, which makes it a perfect time to be at home, catching up on various bits as well as having some time to relax. Even the Brexit madness has paled a bit.

I spent the morning catching up on some picture editing, sorting out shots from a friend’s 50th birthday.

Now we’ve headed out for a stroll in the sun along the canal into Sowerby Bridge. Master’s traditionally the start of the boating season and the local hire company, Shore cruises is busy showing new customers the ropes…

After spending most of the week scanning old pictures from the 1990s to add to my Zenfolio website I’ve managed to escape for a day out in the present world!I got a lift into Huddersfield with Dawn this morning as my first mission was a haircut. I’ve acquired the Yorkshire habit of canniness with money and found a barber that only charges £3 for a haircut. Admittedly, I’ve not as much to cut nowadays and a No 1 isn’t exactly a hard style to execute, but even so…On the way I cut through the old graveyard surrounding one of the churches. Gravestones from the 18th & 19th centuries are now used as flagstones, which struck me as rather sad as the stories and names of those buried there are slowly being erased by the passage of feet as well as time.

Huddersfield town centre’s not in a healthy state nowadays. More and more shops are closing down with little sign of new tenants to take them on. How Brexit is meant to reverse this trend is a mystery that even it’s believers can’t explain. I’m now en-route to Manchester to recce a rail route I’ve not taken many pictures on for years, the WCML from Stockport to Crewe via Sandbach. Hopefully, the weather will play ball…11:35The old omilitary therum that no plan of attack survives first contact with the enemy held true today. As soon as I got to Manchester the weather turned and the clouds rolled in! Luckily, I had a plan B, so I’m now en-route to Liverpool to get shots of folk heading for a day at the races by rail. Like this pair!

I only hope the weather picks up for them otherwise there’s going to be some cases of hypothermia reported today!

15:09

Well, that was an interesting interlude as I’ve never shot the Aintree crowd before, only the Ascot and York! The trick is to get them on their way there, before they get trashed. The scenes aren’t as pretty on the way back. Merseyrail were running six-car trains every seven minutes on the Ormskirk line, and they had lots of staff on hand to shepherd travellers, so it was a well organised event.

On my way back into town I stopped to have a look at the new depot that’s taking shape at Kirkdale in readiness for Merseyrail’s replacement train fleet which is being built by Stadler.

Now I’m back in the city centre, ready to begin my journey back to Yorkshire (bit by bit).

16:02.

I’m now on a late running Trans-Pennine Express service back to Manchester which is (surprise, surprise) full and standing.

16:40

It’s Friday, the weather’s hardly condusive to scenic photography or interesting cityscapes, so I’m calling it a day and heading home in time to meet up with friends in my local pub for the groups quiz night. This time I’m on a packed Northern Rail service from Manchester Victoria to Leeds which is worked by my least favourite type of train, a Class 150 – even a refurbished one…

18:01

Having walked the 1.2 miles (All uphill) to the ‘Big 6’, I’m in need of this…