Category Archives: West Yorkshire

21st October picture(s) of the day…

21 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Flora and Fauna, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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Another day that didn’t quite turn out to be as expected. The day’s plans were changed by two events which diverted my time. Firstly, I’ve been invited to be a judge in a photographic competition run by one of the UKs train operating companies. They contacted me at short notice, asking for a biography and a mugshot. Having sorted those out I then received a phone call from a magazine asking for potential pictures for their next cover. Searching through my archive for the subject matter and sending them links kept me busy for a while. Still, it should help my bank balance! As I sat at my computer I was enviously watching the sun breaking through the racing clouds to send rays of light scudding across the valley like searchlights hunting for a fugitive. The scene would have made for some great moody photographs. Sadly by the time I was free to pick up the camera the sun had lost its battle with the clouds which swamped the valley with more mist and rain. Bugger!

When I did manage to get out for a walk conditions were less than ideal as light levels were set to full dull, but – I did manage to find something of interest which gave me chance to exercise my 105mm micro lens. Here’s the results.

If anyone can ID these two types of mushroom, feel free to drop me a line.

I’m no mycologist, so I’ve no idea what types of mushrooms I’m looking at here (all I know it – don’t be daft enough to try and eat ’em). A single old tree stump in our local woods is home to several different types which attracted my attention.

As the rain worsened I retreated back to the cottage to dry out before preparing food for this evening. Poor Dawn had a dental appointment to fix her tooth where she lost a filling last week. Now the hole in her tooth’s fixed, but there’s an even bigger hole in her purse! Our dentists are excellent and have managed to save the tooth, but have recommended Dee gets it crowned to ensure there’s no further issues. Both filling and crown will set her back over £1000 in total. Even so, it could have been a lot worse (and more expensive) if the tooth couldn’t have been saved. After the fun and games with the car, it’s been an expensive month. Fingers crossed the rest of the year is more of a breeze…

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

Brighouse interlude.

21 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Brighouse, Photography, Railways, Travel, TRU, West Yorkshire

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On Friday, despite the weather being grey and autumnal I needed a break from staring at computer screens, so walked into Halifax for a trip to nearby Brighouse to indulge in a spot of rail photography. Due to the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) construction at Huddersfield drastically reducing the number of platforms available, Brighouse is currently a railhead for services from my neck of the woods. Instead of hourly trains to Huddersfield, a two-hourly shuttle service runs from Bradford Interchange to Brighouse, where it connects with buses to Huddersfield or to Leeds via Mirfield, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury and on to Leeds as the local service from Wigan Wallgate to Leeds via this route has been diverted to run through Halifax.

Brighouse is also a good location for photographing freight services running via the Calder Valley. Hence some of these pictures…

150004 was doing the honours on Friday. After reversing at Bradley Wood Junction it’s returned ready to work 2J66, the 14:30 to Bradford Interchange.
66431 approaches the station with a trainload of ballast from the quarry at Shap. The service is 6E73, the 0910 Shap Summit Quarry to Doncaster Up Decoy yard. The train runs Tuesday to Friday.
Heading in the opposite direction was DBs 66017, hauling 6M16, the 05:40 Wilton to to Knowsley Freight Terminal empty ‘binliner’

Brighouse station’s a well-kept place with a very active friends group who’ve worked wonders over the past few years, transforming a basic station with a profusion of colourful flower and shrubs – both in planters on the platforms and actual gardens. Adding to the interest are a series of history boards which tell tales of local people and industries, including the story of one local man who inspired a well known song by breaking the bank of Monte Carlo. Yes, it really happened!

Here’s someone else with a local connects and famous in a very different way. I doubt he’d have approved of gambling for a start!

I suspect William wouldn’t have approved of another institution that’s nearby. The Commercial Railway Inn is right outside the station and offers a range of real ales, wines and spirits, as well as snacks. It’s an ideal place to bide a while in-between trains. This multi-room pub has one dedicated to music.

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

20th October picture of the day…

20 Monday Oct 2025

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

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There’s been a dank and dismal start to the week here in the Calder valley, which is hardly surprising as that’s how last week ended so set the tone. Sunday was miserable weather-wise as low clouds and rain obscured the sides of the valley and made walking a very damp experience. Today’s been little better, the only bright spot being the fact the weather’s still mild, for now at least.

I’ve spent the majority of the day at home, ploughing through yet more picture editing and filing. I’ve only a few more left to do now before I’m up to date. All but a handful of the Portuguese pictures have been uploaded to my Zenfolio website. You can find the railway ones here and the travel pictures here.

With the weather looking the same for tomorrow I’m planning to have another day working at home and staying warm and dry – although with the autumn leaves starting to take on some dramatic colours I’m hoping there may be an opportunity for some pictures in the surrounding woodland when I get out for a walk. If not, I’ll be able to catch up on some blogging as I did manage to get out last Friday, even if was only as far as Brighouse!

In the meantime, here’s an illustration of how the Calder valley looked yesterday.

Wet and windy, with Norland moor on the opposite side of the valley hidden by low clouds.

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

15th October picture(s) of the day…

15 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Flag shaggers, Huddersfield, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, Railways, Travel, TRU, West Yorkshire

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Another day that didn’t quite go to plan – although that was more for Dawn than me. Dee’s outbreak of the lurgi meant she had a restless night and felt crap this morning, so her dental appointment was the first thing to be cancelled. Then a phone call to Honda about the fun and games with the car meant they came and collected it within an hour, taking it away for diagnostic checks. So, with no car, no Dawn and me still with a dental appointment it meant I was bound for our dentists in Huddersfield by bus!

That was no big deal, I had plenty of time and managed to get in a long walk to a bus stop that was convenient for some railway shots whilst I waited. As chance would have it, one of the seasonal railhead treatment trains was due just before my bus. Hence this shot.

A pair of Colas Class 66s top and tail the RHTT over Dryclough Junction. This train began its journey in Grimsby and ended it in York after going around the houses to reverse at Halifax. The spray from the powerful water jets mounted on the rear wagon is evident.

My dental appointment was a breeze. I’m not one of these people who’s frightened of visiting dentists, so it’s not a stressful experience at all. The dentist gave me a clean bill of health and the hygienist confirmed his view after giving me a clean, so that’s me done for another 6 months!

As I was close to the centre of Huddersfield I decided my walk to take in a detour to the station to see how the place looks now it’s reopened after the month-long blockade. The answer is – very different!

150007sits in the extended Sheffield bay platform whilst a TPE 185 calls at the widened and extended Westbound platform. The Northern side of the station has vanished. Both platforms and tracks have disappeared with the area becoming a building site.

Catching the bus back we passed through Elland, where the ‘flag-shaggers’ have been busy. Most lamp posts on the main road have had flags cable tied to them. Let’s face it, nothing says ‘patriotism’ more than cheap Chinese-made Union or England flags draped like limp rags around the place. Still, it’s a good indicator of places to avoid. Elland’s always been a shithole with a reputation as a place where the far-right hang out. The flags merely confirm it. I’m sure they’ll do wonders for house prices…

Back in Halifax (where flag-shagging is very much a minority sport) I strolled home, finding Dawn feeling better. Her car had been returned, complete with new rear offside wheel sensor as the old one had failed, causing all the problems. Fortunately, the £280 cost was covered by the extended warranty Dee had been smart enough to take out. Sadly, the fun and games weren’t over! No sooner had we eaten supper than poor Dawn had a large filling drop out! Today of all days!

Looks like the dentists haven’t seen the back of us yet…

Tomorrow I plan to spend the day working from home. Hopefully there’ll be no more excitement and I’ll be able to catch up on blogging and picture editing. 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/

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

14th October picture of the day…

14 Tuesday Oct 2025

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

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Tuesday’s the new Monday here at Bigland Towers, at least for this week due to a long weekend. I’ll blog about our final day in Chester and environs tomorrow. I’d hoped to have written it up today but I’ve been up to my eyeballs in picture editing, paperwork, fixing lights in the house and keeping an eye on a poorly wife! Poor Dawn’s coming down with some form of lurgi, so I’m dusting down my nurses uniform…

To add insult to injury, her car is playing up too. We started getting error messages from its computer yesterday, but they cleared and we drove back without an issue. This afternoon they returned – with a vengeance! Everything that could flash red did – and then some. Yet again, they mysteriously disappeared and we were able to complete our mission of picking up a new light-switch to replace the one that had blown the other day. But tomorrow the phone line to Honda is going to be buzzing. Dee’s only spent over £1600 on a new timing belt and other gubbins for her Honda Civic but it’s been a PITH ever since and had to go back for rectification once already after it started burning so much oil you’d have thought someone had elected a new Pope! Ho Hum…

We have another ‘treat’ in store for tomorrow – a trip to the dentist and hygienist, so it won’t just be the car getting some attention. So, as you can see, today’s not quite gone to plan…

I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which is from yesterdays explorations. I’ll leave you guessing where this was taken until tomorrow. Unless you want to post a guess?

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

This wasn’t in the plan…

07 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Railways, Travel, West Yorkshire

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18:57

After a very busy day at the community rail conference (hence no rolling blog this time) myself and many other staff members and delegates were heading North on Northern’s 16:14 to Leeds. All was going to plan until we entered West Yorkshire, where we started to get news of a problems in the Leeds and Halifax area which mean that no trains are running through the Calder valley, which has buggered up several of us.

Rather than get stuck in Leeds four us decided to jump ship at Wakefield Kirkgate in order to catch Grand Central’s 18:36 which was shown as still running through Halifax to Bradford, having avoided the Calder valley route. This would have got two of three of us home, whilst our colleague heading to Accrington would be nearer his.

So much for cunning plans. A further signalling fault at Greetland Junction (just South of Halifax) put the mockers on that idea. Fortunately, our intrepid Grand Central crew and Grand Central’s control team were up to the challenge. We’re now running direct to Bradford Interchange via Wakefield Westgate and Leeds. It will involve a reversal at Whitehall Junction in Leeds, but at least we’ll get to Bradford in comfort! After that? Who knows? It would seem that trains have started running through the Calder Valley (and Halifax) again, so something will turn up sooner or later.

I’ll be happy to get home as I’m on the rails again tomorrow heading down to Swindon for another job with the Permanent Way Institution. Hopefully that trip will be incident free!

19:24.

We made it to Bradford Interchange in good order. Needless to say, there was a melee on the platforms as people milled around, hoping for a train going in their direction. I was one of the lucky ones as a service bound for Wigan was following behind us. It’s busy, but not unbearably so – and at least I’m on the move again.

The welcoming sight of approaching headlights!

21:00.

Phew! I finally made it home. Dawn offered to pick me up from the station which saved me a 30 minute walk and got me home earlier. Now I’ve put my feet up to relax before another busy day tomorrow. I’ll leave you with a few pictures taken in Nottingham today.

A cyclist passes a tram on Middle Hill in central Nottingham. The area contains some very colourful murals which certainly brighten the place up.
It’s leaf-fall season on the railway, so Network rail has deployed its fleet of railhead treatment trains (RHTTs) which blast leaf mulch off the rails with high pressure water jets. Here’s one passing through the station earlier today.

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

When the wind blows…

04 Saturday Oct 2025

Posted by in Food and drink, Musings, Photography, West Yorkshire

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We’ve spent our day here in West Yorkshire being battered by ‘storm Amy’, the latest weather front to pass through and cause chaos as it brought torrential rain and heavy winds that ripped small branches off the trees opposite the cottage. Not that the conditions affected us that much as we had no plans to do anything other than stay at home – which we did!

Whilst the rain battered on the windows the pair of kept occupied with various work tasks as both of us had stuff to catch up on. I’ve still got a backlog of pictures to edit and caption before next week, whilst Dawn’s keen to get on top of her work before the two of us head off to Nottingham for the Community Rail Network conference.

Eventually, the storm abated long enough for me to get out for a walk and do some shopping in order to cook this evening. I fancied trying a different Indian recipe, so after scouring various cookbooks I plumped for a North Indian dish – chicken in a cashew nut sauce. Our extensive spice collection meant the only things I needed to buy was chicken from Tesco and fresh coriander from our local Asian supermarket. As I feel in the mood I also bought bunches of Methi (Fenugreek leaves) to use in another recipe.

Here’s a few phone pictures of my day.

Walking back from shopping I stopped off on the promenade to watch the weather. I love a good storm and as I was wearing full waterproofs I wasn’t too perturbed watching the latest rain front approach along the Calder valley.
Dropping down from the promenade I walked through Scarr woods which were showing the effects of the storm. Even though, it was a lovely, peaceful place to walk.
The ingredients for tonight’s meal – bar a bit of plain yoghurt…

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

1st October picture(s) of the day…

01 Wednesday Oct 2025

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

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October’s got off to a slow start, mainly because I’ve spent most of the day glued to a computer screen as I continue to clear the backlog of picture editing, along with associated paperwork. My optimism that I’d broken the back of editing all my Portugal pictures turned out to be misplaced. As I integrated all the edited and captioned pictures back into the main database I realised just how many pictures from the Douro valley and elsewhere I’d skipped. They’ve now joined the queue to be dealt with by the end of the week.

I did manage to get out for my daily constitutional by wandering down the valley into Sowerby Bridge in order to pick up some shopping, the first time I’ve visited the town since we’ve got back. Sadly, despite the opening of the refurbished market square the rest of the place seems to remain in decline. The number of vacant shops has increased, another pub appears to have closed (the ‘Sore Bee’. That’s two going now as the ‘Loose Goose’ is to be converted into HMOs, a laundrette and office space) and the canal remains closed to traffic due to low water levels. In fact, the Rochdale canal resembles more of a flowerbed with a water feature than a canal! Here’s a few camera-phone pictures from my excursion.

Oh, to be back in Portugal…

The Rochdale canal looking towards Tuel Lane lock. It’s haighly unusual to see it like this so late in the years, although this section being closed to navigation is becoming more frequent due to lack of rainfall.
In contrast to the canal the River Calder has obviously been high in recent weeks – hence this old tree stuck on the weir, which is a recent addition. I wonder how long it’ll remain stuck there?
One thing we’ve seen in abundance this year has been fruits and berries. We’ve had a cracking blackberry season and acorns aplenty. This bush in the centre of town is showing the same spirit.

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

Reservoir (and more) blogs. Part 7…

22 Monday Sep 2025

Posted by in Climate Change, Photography, Railways, Reservoir blogs, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, West Yorkshire

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After Sodden Saturday we had Sunny Sunday, a day which encouraged the pair of us to get out and make the most of things. As we’d heard about all the rain Yorkshire had seen whilst we were away in Portugal we thought we’d check out how things stand with some of the local reservoirs. However, there was something else I was keen to have a look at seeing as we were out in the car – and that was progress on rebuilding Huddersfield station. Dawn kindly detoured so we could take a look. Here’s some of what we saw.

The view inside the trainshed seen from the nearby road bridge (which offers a grandstand view). To the right is the newly extending bay platform used by terminating services from Sheffield. The old Platform 1 have been extended outwards, taking over the course of the old track, which has been re-laid closer to the old platform 3. Originally there were four tracks running through this part of the station, but the centre two roads were removed in the 1980s.
What a change! This was the site of platform 8 and the stabling sidings. The smaller station roof has been removed and all tracks lifted. Eventually, a new island platform will be built here.
The area in the centre of the picture was the site of the two short bay platforms. They’ve disappeared completely. The only remains are the wooden platform end fence to the right of the yellow crane. The Eastward extensions of the through platforms, which have been built over the replacement William St bridge.
A general view of the North side of the station and old island platform. The roof’s gone, as has the signalbox. Only the lift shaft and an equipment room remain.

Having checked out TRU progress we headed out to the M62 for a short trip to Junction 22 where we passed the Booth wood reservoir. We’d visited it back in August when it was looking perilously low. To be honest, there seemed little difference in the levels, as this picture shows.

From Booth wood it was a short drive to Baitings, where we got a surprise as levels have increased by around 3 meters.

Looking towards the dam from the new road bridge. Just a few days ago an earlier dam could be seen in the foreground. It disappeared again virtually overnight thanks to the recent rains.
The old bridge has water under it once more as the Ryburn has started bringing water down from the moors.
A torrent of water is entering the reservoir from Horse Hay Clough which runs off the moors to the North of the res’.

Does this mean an end to the drought? I doubt it. No more rain’s forecast, and there’s still a lot of ground (or should that be water) to make up…

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


Ready, steady…

04 Thursday Sep 2025

Posted by in Photography, Portugal, Travel, West Yorkshire

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Today’s been a tying up of loose ends sort of day here at Bigland Towers, as tomorrow the pair of us head off for a much-needed break in Portugal. Dawn’s been busy sorting out stuff for her employer, Community Rail Network, whilst I’ve been busy editing pictures, getting others out to clients and chasing paperwork and potential jobs. To be honest, it’s not been a bad day to be stuck at home as the weather’s still deteriorating and there’s a distinct autumn chill beginning to creep in – which I’ll be happy to leave behind for warmer climes. It’s a much nicer 29 degrees in Faro tomorrow!

We’re in no panic to pack as we don’t fly from Leeds/Bradford until tomorrow evening, which gives us a relaxed morning. I should even have time for some blogging! But right now it’s time to enjoy our last evening here in the UK for a while. I’ll leave you with a picture from our last trip to Portugal, which we may get to reprise. Lisbon’s old trams are a delight to both travel on and watch pass by for entertainment value – especially as many people would ‘tram-surf’, like these three young women…

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