Category Archives: West Yorkshire

8th March picture of the day…

08 Friday Mar 2024

Posted by in Musings, New Zealand, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, West Yorkshire

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Another bleedin’ Baltic day here in the Pennines where our section of the Calder Valley’s spent the entire day bathed in haze under gloomy skies, accompanied by temperatures and wind that’s made it feel like January, not March. The ‘Man flu’ I’ve been suffering from has mutated into a common or garden cold, sans sore throat and the ague – which is a relief! Having recovered enough to venture out I sallied forth to the supermarket to pick up some shopping – which is why I know just how cold it is out there. I wasn’t tempted to tarry…

Now I’m happy to be back in the warmth. Having finished penning my latest article for RAIL magazine this evening’s one for relaxing. Neither of us fancy venturing out, so tonight’s going to be a quiet one at home with some good food (Dawn’s already busy cooking up a storm in the kitchen) and a movie. We’ve time to enjoy a weekend at home together for a change. The next one will be different as we’ll be travelling to Swansea on the Sunday to get ready for the 2024 Community Rail awards. Plus, I’ve plans for a couple of trips this next week (weather permitting) to catch up with some recent changes on the rail network. But for now you’ll have to make do with another archive shot for today’s picture. Like yesterday’s, this has been dusted off for a special book.

If you think UK preserved railways have some major structures to maintain, then imagine what it’s like for this one! Here’s a train on the Taieri Gorge railway which is on New Zealand’s South Island. It runs from Dunedin all the way up to the plains at Middlemarch. To say it’s a spectacular trip is an understatement!

Locomotives 1240 and 1222 double-head our train on the return to Dunedin on the 16th January 2019.

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

7th March picture of the day…

07 Thursday Mar 2024

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, West Yorkshire

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This will be a short blog as I’m still recovering from ‘man flu’ – although you can cancel the lilies! Apart from a short walk along our road to the woods to admire the handiwork of the council staff who’ve been busy filling in the latest tranche of potholes* I’ve not been anywhere – and won’t be until the weekend at least. It’s not a problem as I’ve plenty to do at home, including a new RAIL article to finish writing. Mind you, the weather’s hardly been an incentive to go anywhere. For much of the day the valley’s been buried in fog with temperatures remaining in single figures, so being tucked up at home seemed very attractive indeed. I suspect tomorrow will follow much the same pattern.

One little job that has been completed was selecting railway pictures for a book for a young lad who’s not very well. I’m not going to go into details but I’ve chosen one of those images as my picture of the day. Some railway photographers put their cameras away in the winter, or when there’s anything but full sunshine. I don’t. In fact I love the variety that the English weather can provide as sometimes conditions can help make a picture. Here’s one. This shot was taken at Grantham on the 22nd July (yep, summertime) 2010 – just as an enormous rainstorm was passing – and so was this GNER service, hauled by 91116. A long lens (400mm) compresses the image and accentuates the weather. For the camera cranks this was taken at 1/400th on F8 with a Nikon IS lens on a D3.

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

*And if anyone dares to suggest that these fcuking potholes are only being filled in ‘cos Rishi (expletive deleted) Sunak has cancelled phase 2 of HS2 – you will be getting a piece of my mind!

Rolling blog. Another positioning move…

03 Sunday Mar 2024

Posted by in British Railways (BR), London, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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16:40.

Another Sunday and another day where part of it’s spent getting into position for the next day. When arranging their events people sometimes forget that – whilst the media is notoriously ‘Londoncentric’ not everyone actually lives in the capital anymore! I have to be in Chippenham at 09:00 tomorrow morning. Whilst that’s doable from London, it’s impossible from West Yorkshire.

So, much of today’s been spent at home. We’ve finally had a respite from the rain. Today (whilst it’s still been chilly) there’s been clear skies and sunshine. Ideal conditions for the pair of us enjoying a long canalside walk after a leisurely start to the day.

Now – fortified by a large slab of Dee’s home-made lemon meringue pie – I’m on the move again, this time aboard a Northern service to Leeds where I’ll catch an LNER train to Kings Cross. Having spent the past few weeks travelling the West Coast route I’ll be back on the East Coast for a change. Let’s see how the trip goes…

I don’t often travel at a weekend except for pleasure. Unlike my normal trips today’s Northern fellow travellers are mostly people having a day out sightseeing or visiting family and friends. Not that the train’s quiet – far from it. Sunday’s a busy day on the railways nowadays. It make you wonder why we still have a separate and very distinct Sunday timetable.

18:10.

London bound! There was a frustrating moment when I arrived at Leeds as I saw the next London train on the adjacent platform. It was worked by Mk4 loco-hauled set but there was no way I was going to make the connection. Instead, I watched as the train powered out of the station, pushed by ‘Battle of Britain memorial flight’. The next Southbound service was worked by an LNER ‘Azuma’ and I was concerned that it might be packed. As it is – it’s not too bad.

My chariot awaits…

I managed to find a vacant seat in coach C and set up the mobile office. We’ve just left Wakefield where as many passengers left as joined. Next stop is Doncaster, which should be interesting. Sadly, we’ve lost the light now although I’m grateful that’s taking longer as each day passes. I’ve had enough of winter’s long nights.

18:30.

To my surprise we’ve still lots of empty seats available after Doncaster. Coach C’s filled up but there were nowhere near as many passengers waiting as I’d thought there might be. We have two more stops to make before London, at Newark Northgate snd Peterborough.

19:20.

We’re now accelerating away from Peterborough, our last stop before Kings Cross. This brings back loads of memories for me as – back in the late 1980s, early 1990s – this was one of my regular journeys. I still lived in London then and would often come up to Peterborough on a Friday night after work to spend the weekend with Nancy, an old friend from Southport. How things have changed since then! Peterborough was the edge of the London commuter belt and obviously still is. During the week I often see people wearing Transport for London uniforms joining trains here as they commute into the capital. Key workers who’ve been priced out of the city. What surprised me today wasn’t the number of people joining the train – it was the number disembarking – and their ages. They were overwhelmingly young. What’s the new demographic I’m no longer aware of?

00:15.

Really? Is that the time? Bugger. Here endeth today’s blog. I’ve got to be up at silly o’clock in the morning to make my way to Chippenham. I’ve no idea where the time – or years, went as the pair of us have been immersed in watching old British Transport Commission films from the 50s-60s. I’ll leave you with one last picture from my trip over to Clapham from Kings Cross. Spot the interloper at Victoria…

Expect another rolling blog tomorrow as the day unfolds…

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

2nd March picture(s) of the day…

02 Saturday Mar 2024

Posted by in Food and drink, Greater Manchester, Picture of the day, Pubs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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March? Where the hell did February go – other than underwater? We’ve gone from the wettest February on record to another month that seems determined to carry on in the same vein. The past two days here at Bigland Towers have seen miserable weather as we’ve had a combination of snow, sleet and rain. The snow’s clung on to the valley tops but the rest of the valley can be summed up in one word. Soggy. The ground’s so saturated any extra rainfall runs straight off, clogging roads and drains. The roads are already in an appalling state but constant flooding’s making them worse as fractured tarmac and gravel is washed away, making potholes both deeper and wider. Still it’s OK, Rishi Sunak’s potholes won’t exist as he’s spending £bns ‘diverted’ from HS2 to fix ’em. And if you believe that I have this really nice tower in Paris to sell to you…

Today the pair of us decided to have a day out and bugger the weather, so we drove over the border into Greater Manchester to a place called Uppermill. The idea was to have lunch somewhere, but the town was packed – despite the weather. We fell back on plan B and travelled the short distance to Delph and stopped at the Old Bell Inn where we found a table without a problem. We’ve eaten here before but not for a year or two. We weren’t disappointed. I ordered a local delicacy – rag pudding. It’s similar to a steamed pudding in that it comes in a suet case, it’s also delicious! Dawn decided to go for the fish and chips which was equally tasty. Here’s the rag pudding…

As we were on the Huddersfield road we decided to come back via Marsden and the Colne valley, calling in at the Riverhead pub on the way. This popular brew-pub on the rail ale trail has only just reopened after a major refurbishment. Here’s how it looks now.

The upstairs room in the Riverhead
At the back of the upstairs is a kitchen area and hatch which serves Asian-style steamed buns
Brew tanks at the back of the ground floor.
The revamped downstairs bar area looking out towards the main street.

Now the pair of us are relaxing at home before another busy day tomorrow. We couldn’t have fitted in a dessert course earlier but Dee’s decided to make one at home. So, whilst I’m penning this, Dawn’s in the kitchen making one of her divine lemon meringue pies!

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

25th February picture of the day…

25 Sunday Feb 2024

Posted by in Food and drink, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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It’s another short blog from Bigland Towers today, mainly because it’s been a busy one and I need time to to unwind as well as prepare for the next few days away, which involves a fair bit of logistics with various bits of kit to clean, batteries to keep charged and all the other mundane activities related to being a roving photojournalist.

I’m heading back to London early tomorrow on another ‘positioning move’ ready for a job on Tuesday morning. This time it looks likes ‘third time lucky’ – so expect some rather unique and interesting rolling blogging. That said, I’ll be rolling blogging throughout tomorrow as I intend to make the most of the day as I travel. I’m not entirely sure what I’ll be doing (or where I’ll be going) en-route, so I could be as surprised as you!

Much of today’s been taken up with pottering around the cottage, keeping on top of daily life and the fun and games of living in a Mid-Victorian cottage. At least the weather played ball today. I even managed to resurrect the outdoor washing line now the weather’s improving so the cobbled passage at the back of the cottages looks like a set for ‘Coronation St’! However, we did both manage to get out for a daily constitutional, which leaves us both feeling virtuous – Dawn more so than me as she also did a HIIT session! Who says Sunday’s a day of rest?

Right, time to go. See you tomorrow. Today’s picture is from yesterday. Whilst many pubs are closing it’s always a delight to see one that’s reopened. This is the Bingley Arms, reopened last year as the Bingley by a joint venture between the Ossett pub company and SALT brewing.

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

24th February picture(s) of the day…

24 Saturday Feb 2024

Posted by in Architecture, Food and drink, History, Ossett, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, West Yorkshire

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The pair of us have had a real mix of a day here at Bigland Towers thanks to different appointments and the improving weather. I’d planned to stay at home this morning whilst Dawn went off to an appointment in Ossett but once the early morning cloud that blanketed the bottom of the Calder valley cleared and we were treated to wall to wall blue skies and sunshine it became obvious that it was too nice a day to be stuck at home. Instead, I packed the camera bag and joined Dee for the journey Eastwards. I didn’t go all the way to Ossett, instead I got dropped off in nearby Horbury Bridge, the nearest place to the old Healy Mills railway marshalling yard. Built as part of British Railways 1955 modernisation plan this huge yard was once the centre for sorting coal traffic from the vast Yorkshire coalfields. Now it lies abandoned. But, recently, parts of the yard have been cleared of Silver Birch and other trees that have taken over, to expose the tracks once more. The grapevine suggests part of the yard will be brought back into use as a staging area for the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) but I’ve yet to see this confirmed. Here’s how it looked today.

Horbury Bridge itself is cut through by the River Calder, the Calder and Hebble navigation – and this magnificent old railway viaduct, which once carried the Midland Railway’s eight-mile route from Royston Junction to Thornhill. The line closed in 1968 and the 17 arch viaduct has been disused ever since.

I’ve passed under it so many times but never been able to get pictures, so today was an ideal day to try. To be honest, it’s difficult to do it justice from the ground. Really, you need a drone as it’s hemmed in by buildings and there’s no public vantage points that give you the sense of scale.

After walking from Horbury to Ossett (a great way of getting exercise as its all uphill) I spotted something else of historical interest. Ossett has a fine collection of Victorian buildings in the centre. This one caught my eye as its an old Liberal Club. That political party vanished decades ago in a merger with the then SDP to form the Liberal-Democrats, but as a teenager I remember Liberal clubs all over the place and sometimes used to play snooker in one in Southport. Like the one in Ossett, it’s been closed for years. Mind you, with the way the Conservative party’s tearing itself apart at the moment I wonder if soon many ‘Con’ clubs will be following the Liberal ones into the history books…

The former Ossett Liberal club on Station Rd. Neither the club or the station exist anymore.

On the way home Dawn was kind enough to stop and allow me to get pictures of TRU upgrade work at a place I’d never managed to get to before. Colne Bridge Rd overbridge East of Deighton, just before the junction of the lines from Huddersfield and Brighouse. here’s how it looks today.

Looking East towards Heaton Lodge Junction. This section will regain four-track status with the new fast lines from Huddersfield being laid to the right of the existing tracks. In the middle foreground the railway passes over the Huddersfield canal.
The view looking West towards Huddersfield with Bradley Junction and the site of the former station obscured by the overbridge in the background.

Once back at home the tempo changed. I indulged in some DIY before heading out for a walk and a pint in our local (The Big 6) whilst Dawn began to cook up a storm in the kitchen. So, whilst I quaffed one of these..

The Attamire Pale was lovely…

-Dawn rustled up two very different vegetarian dishes. Here’s one – a Caulifower and Chick-Pea curry (although it has many more ingredients than that).

Now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of Dawn’s labours whilst we enjoy a quiet Saturday night at home, watching a good film. See you all tomorrow…

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

16th February picture of the day…

16 Friday Feb 2024

Posted by in Hs2, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, West Yorkshire

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Today got off to a good start when I picked up my phone, logged on to the news and saw that Labour had trounced the Tories in yesterday’s by-elections – and by a significant amount – especially in Wellingborough. Of course, the media went into overdrive, although a lot of the reports provided far more heat than light. Speculation was rife amongst readers of runes, many of whom seemed keen to put their own spin on things to make the results seem far more equivocal than they were. Let’s face it, only the other day parts of the media were trying to make out that Labour were in trouble due to Starmer’s decisions over suspending candidates due to anti-semitism. The reality was – it didn’t make the slightest difference to either result.

Others were keen to talk up the impact of ‘Reform’, the rebadged Brexit party and inheritors of UKIP’s crown (minus the odious Nigel Farage of course). Some commentators have tried to make out that Reform getting 13% of the vote in Wellingborough is, somehow, a triumph. All I can say is – they obviously have short memories and no access to Google. Why? Well, here’s the 2015 general election result – when UKIP came second with 19.6% of the vote on a far bigger turnout.

2015 was UKIP’s electoral zenith. The 2016 referendum result burst their bubble and the party faded away in the 2017 election (they only got 3.5% here that year). Oh, but how many MPs did they get in 2017? Not a one. Yesterday Reform came 3rd, not 2nd. But this is first past the post, there’s no prize for 2nd – or 3rd.

Reform are no danger to anyone other than the Tories. In fact, they’re a double danger as so many Tories can’t read the room and insist they need to tack further to the far-right to appeal to Reform voters – which will alienate ordinary voters even more. It’s a death-cult in a death-spiral, all Reform will do is hasten the Tories demise. Still, they’ll keep media commentators in column inches as they try and make-out that the next general election is going to be more of a contest than it is.

Away from politics I’ve been busy out at the back of the house, cleaning down the moss and winter grunge covered steps and cobbles which meant that I emulated the Tories and ended up on my arse! I’d been scrubbing and washing down some wooden steps when a workman called to measure up for our new front door. In my haste to get to greet him muggins here slipped on the top step and ended up coming down the whole flight on my backside before sliding several feet to a watery stop (like a kid off a waterflume) at the gap opposite the back door – just as Dawn opened it to a surprised workman! Still, I made an impression on them both! it certainly gave us a giggle after it became apparent that the only thing hurt was my pride.

I’ve eschewed the opportunity for Friday night in the pub as the pair of us have a busy weekend planned (and an equally busy week after that). Instead we’re having a quiet night in, enjoying each others company and maybe a film or two – hence this blog being earlier than usual.

All that remains now is to leave you with today’s picture. I wasn’t sure what to use today, but I’ve decided to give you a clue as to what I’ll be up to early next week.

In the meantime, enjoy your weekend!

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

14th February picture of the day…

14 Wednesday Feb 2024

Posted by in Halifax, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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There’s not much of a blog from me tonight as it’s been Valentine’s day. So, after a few hours catching up with work I’ve been out with Dawn enjoying an afternoon in Halifax. First up was La Luna, an old favourite where we enjoyed a spot of lunch, sharing some of their ‘small plates’ including the Greek Mezes. Add in another dish and their chunky chips and we were stuffed! Despite it being Valentines day the place was busy but not packed and we didn’t need to book a table. They didn’t ‘ching’ you with a special menu either and the staff were as laid-back but attentive as usual. After a quick drink in the Victorian Craft Beer Cafe which was equally relaxed we headed off to an afternoon film at the Vue cinema. Dawn fancied seeing the latest Marvel comics spin-off “Madame Web”. It was an enjoyable bit of nonsense that passed a couple of hours. Don’t expect much of a plot, or fantastic special effects just enjoy the escapism. Plus, Dakota Johnson’s easy on the eye, even if she didn’t have to act her socks off in this yarn. With it being half-term the cinema was the busiest we’ve seen it for a long time as teens (and a few older folk) had turned out to watch it. Mind you, the trailers for other films looked good. I’d love to come back and see ‘Dune 2’ and Dawn fancies the Bob Marley film. ‘Dune’ looks spectacular and I have to admit to an affinity for the series as I first encountered Frank Herbert’s novel back in the 1970s when I was an avid reader of science-fiction novels, along with the ‘sword and sorcery’ genre made popular by the likes of Michael Moorcock.

Now we’re back at home after having a last drink in the new Grayston Unity which was the quietest place we were in all day.

Anyone for Mezes?

Tomorrow it’s back to the grindstone as the work I did this morning means my diary is looking rather full over the next few weeks. All will be revealed 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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Happy Mondays…

12 Monday Feb 2024

Posted by in Halifax, Musings, Photography, Politics, West Yorkshire

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Right – I’m back! My enforced absence from blogging is coming to an end. From now (and for the foreseeable future) normal service will be resumed. There’s plenty for me to blog about as my travels around the UK rail network will resume shortly, along with magazine articles and site visits.

On Friday I spent time with friends from the nearby Mytholmroyd station group who were having a planning meeting to give new members the chance to have their say and offer idea on the groups 2024 programme. This year sees the 150th anniversary of the opening of the station building they’ve worked so hard to restore and bring back into community use. Here’s a couple of pictures from the event.

Admiring a selection of vintage photographs of Mytholmroyd and the railway which had been brought in by one of the new members.
The results of the brainstorming was a plethora of suggestions and new ideas for activities in 2024.

A you can see, there wasn’t just food for thought on offer but an excellent supply of pies, quiches, sandwiches and other goodies sourced locally from Jo’s kitchen.

My weekend’s been spent at home, sorting out the contents of my office in order to have a good clear out of stuff I no longer need but that’s been hanging around for ages. In some cases since I moved here from London. Our shredder’s been working overtime to deal with a mound of old bank statements and other confidential paperwork. The local charity shops and our recycling centre are getting a fair share of trade too! Part of the clear out saw me having to take a trip into Halifax itself and a visit to the market, so I couldn’t resist trying out my new Nikon Z9 and 50mm lens I’ve just bought to get a few shots whilst the refurbishment of the building is underway.

The multi-faced clock which dominates the centre of the covered market in Halifax.

Meanwhile, Monday has seen me busy as Bigland Towers, continuing the office clear-out and lining up various activities for the coming week – although some are dependent on the weather behaving itself, which is looking doubtful. Mind you, it’s Valentine’s day on Wednesday so my focus (as you can imagine) will be elsewhere! To add to the weeks entertainment we have two by-elections on Thursday, one in Wellingborough and the other at Kingswood near Bristol. Both were Tory safe seats but with the Conservatives being as popular as a fart in a spacesuit the chances of both seats being lost is very real. Expect lots of wailing and gnashing of Tory teeth on Friday. My reaction?

Either way, I’ll try and keep you entertained with comment, analysis (and pictures) on a regular basis from now on. Cheers…

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

8th February picture(s) of the day…

08 Thursday Feb 2024

Posted by in Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Weather, West Yorkshire

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There’s no day like snow day! Admittedly, I took some convincing this morning as when I woke up and looked out of the bedroom window all I saw was wet roads and sleet, with no indication that snow was going to stick. It was only after I’d been working away in the office for a few hours that I noticed the sleet had turned to ‘proper’ snow and that it was coming down rather heavily. Even so, I decided to stay busy indoors, finished a magazine article I’d been writing, then sorting through yet more stuff for eBay whilst preparing the latest sales for postage. Dawn had decided to cook this evening and needed some fresh veg, so by 14:00 I decided to head down to Sowerby Bridge and take the camera with me in the hope of getting some snow shots. There wasn’t a breath of wind, so the trees around us were coated in a thick layer of the stuff. They looked beautiful, so I was hopeful of finding the same effect alongside the railway in the valley below.

No such luck!

Something I’ve learned to appreciate living here in the Pennines is just how much of a difference a few hundred metres in height can make – especially when it comes to snow. By the time I got down into Sowerby Bridge conditions had changed. I was faced with more miserable sleet and trees completely clear of the white stuff. I’d half-hoped to recreate the picture I posted a couple of days ago but there was no chance. Sowerby station had a light dusting but even the ballast wasn’t covered, making pictures pointless. There was nothing to do for it but slog my way back uphill into the snowline. Here’s a couple of pictures to illustrate the contast.

Our road at 20:00 with the snow still clinging to the trees around a deserted street.
Sowerby Bridge station mid afternoon with just a dusting of snow. All a bit disappointing really.

This evening the weather still remains above freezing with the snow gradually melting. I expect most of it to have gone by morning, which is a shame as I’ll be in nearby Mytholmroyd tomorrow for a catch-up with he station friends. I’ll still be wielding the camera but it’ll be with people, not snow scenes in mind…

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