I’d intended to write a couple of blogs today – including a follow-up to yesterday’s exploration of West Yorkshire, but like so many plans it didn’t survive first contact with reality. Instead I’ve found myself embroiled in various chores and events at home, plus preparing for our trip to Shropshire.
The stunning weather we had yesterday was replaced by low cloud and rain which made working at home seem less of a bummer. Fortunately, by late afternoon the rain let up so I was able to get a walk in and collect shopping which allowed me to indulge in this evenings cooking therapy. I’m always up for trying different recipes and as Dawn’s been cooking a lot of excellent veggie food these past few days I fancied doing something with chicken for a change – with Indian spices. My choice was chicken Achari which is a hot, exotic dish containing fenugreek, cumin and mustard seeds, along with several other ground spices, garlic, ginger, lemon juice and more. Here’s how it looks when it’s all laid out ready for cooking.
Here’s the finished product.
Served with chapattis, it makes for a superb spicy meal. I have a proper Indian griddle I bought in Delhi many years ago which adds the finishing touches.
Whilst I was cooking I was also working out what spices and condiments to take with us to Shropshire so that we can indulge in good food whilst we’re there. The place we’re staying in looks to have a good kitchen, so we plan to make the most of it.
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It’s getting late here at Bigland Towers meaning I don’t have enough time to do the day justice in a blog – especially as we’ve had a great day exploring. Instead I’ll you with a series of pictures as a teaser for a longer blog tomorrow when I have time to write.
We made the most of the glorious weather today by nipping out for a walk around Ogden water country park which is north of Halifax on the road to Haworth and Keighley. The area offers some outstanding views across West Yorkshire. Here’s a few pictures. Firstly, and oddity…
We noticed this collection of old tram rails that had been used to build a platform in a field adjacent to the A629. They must be pretty old as the Halifax network closed in 1939 whilst Bradford trams finished running in 1950. Looking South-East across the Ogden reservoir from the moors above. The cliffs at Ogden Clough.The view from atop the cliffs.Having walked across the moors to Ogden Clough we walked back along the wooded stream which feeds the reservoir.Looking back across the reservoir from the dam, we’d walked up high above to near the wind turbines you can see in the background.
After the walk we decided to explore. I looked up a nearby real ale pub in the Good Beer Guide and we headed off to try somewhere different in an area neither of us had explored before. I’ll blog about what we found at length tomorrow, but here’s a taster.
En-route we discovered this magnificent 20 arch Thornton railway viaduct which was built by the Great Northern Railway and opened in 1878 in but abandoned in 1966. Thornton’s the birthplace of a rather famous Yorkshire literary family – as we found out…
OK, more tomorrow,
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After Thursday’s ‘grand tour’ around West Yorkshire I had a day off from blogging yesterday in order to spend time editing and adding captions to the dozens of pictures I took on the trip. You can find them on my Zenfolio website in the following galleries;
To be honest, as Friday was a crap day after the glorious weather we’d had 24 hours before it really wasn’t a bad time to be stuck behind a desk! I’d have been happy to have sat through a good storm but all we got was cold, wind and desultory rain, which was troubling as we need so much more due to the fact we’re experiencing a dry year with minimal rainfall.
Today was more of an Easter celebration. Dawn was up early as she was helping her parents who had to come over to Calderdale in order that her mum could see some hospital specialists. I won’t go into details (it was nothing to worry about) but the plan was that after all it was over the four of us would go into Halifax for a late lunch at a place called ‘La Luna’ – an establishment where Dee and I have often enjoyed brunch. Maybe because it’s Easter or maybe because the weather had picked up, but Halifax was buzzing. The Piece Hall was hosting a variety of artisan market stalls which were drawing in the crowds – as we found out when we walked to and from the restaurant. There’s no doubt the town’s fortunes as a tourist destination are on the up so I was glad I’d booked our table at La Luna in advance as it became very busy after we arrived. La Luna’s in an excellent location only a few minutes from the Piece Hall. The restaurant’s well-designed with plenty of room and lots of attentive and friendly staff. Funnily enough, us two couples ordered the same food. Dawn and I went for the lamb kofta whilst John and Norah (being gluten free) both ordered the sea bass risotto. All four of us enjoyed our meals although we struggled to finish them. Admittedly, the fact chunky chips were supplied as part of the deal didn’t help – other than as a carb overload!
Lamb kofta with peppers served on a bed of pitta bread and topped with yoghurt
Back at Bigland Towers the Platt’s collected their own car whilst Dawn and I went for a local walk to try and work off some of the food! Our local woods are bursting into life right now with the first bluebells starting to bloom making it a lovely place to walk. Admittedly, we did end up in our local pub for a ‘swifty’ before returning, but hey – it’s a holiday!
Today’s Big 6 beers. I love the ‘wobbly bob’ but at 6% one pint was enough. I’m a great fan of Phoenix beers as their creator was an old friend, but Pictish are in the running…
This evening (back at home) Dee and I are finding that eating so much red meat is laying heavily on us as nowadays our diet is mostly vegetarian, although both fish and white meat do feature, so the surfeit of lamb is having unfortunate side effects. Just as well we’re on our own really, whilst we recreate the bean eating scene from ‘Blazing Saddles’!
Tomorrow we have a day to ourselves. The weather’s looking good so the plan is to get out for a walk – although we’ve not decided where yet. Tomorrow we’ll be taking sandwiches – but they won’t be lamb…
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I’ve had a busy time at home these past few days (hence a lack of blogging) but today we have lost of sunshine in ‘God’s own country’, so I’m going to get out and about on the rails across West Yorkshire in order to make the most of the weather. I’ll be blogging throughout the day, so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to. But first, it’s time to pack the camera bag and head off to Halifax station…
1050.
I’ve made it as far as Shipley. Having walked into Halifax I arrived just in time to walk straight onto a Blackpool – York service which was rammed, despite it being operated by a 3-car Class 195. Mind you, the amount of buggies and double buggies getting off and on along the narrow platform didn’t exactly help matters.
Standing as far as Bradford Interchange where I disembarked, wasn’t too big a deal. I’ve not traversed the city centre for a while so I was pleasantly surprised at the way it’s being pedestrianised.
The greatly improved space outside Interchange station..The busy roads that used to cut off Interchange from the rest of the city centre have been done away with, opening up the area outside the fantastic Town Hall.
Another change is over at Forster Square Station, where the arches that provided refuge to many homeless people and their tents have been blocked off. I hope the people displaced have been found permanent accommodation and not just displaced
Hiding a real problem with artwork?
The station’s new fourth platform is now complete and waiting to enter service from the new timetable.
12:30.
I spent some time exploring Shipley to check on the progress of the new Shipley depot which is being built on the site of the old Crossley Evans scrapyard site (which took over the former railway goods yard). Progress is slow as there was a lot of clearance work needed. Now groundworks have started whilst site clearance continues. Rather ironically, Northern are gaining this new depot due to the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (which is funding it) as the TRU work around Leeds will severely hamper Northern operations at the Leeds Neville Hill depot. Here’s some pictures of progress.
Looking across the main part of the depot nearest the station seen from the Valley Rd (A6037) bridge which bisects the site. The site seen from nearer Bradford, taken from a footbridge. Warning! This area is rough – even the XL Bully’s walk around in twos! Looking back across the site from the rubbish-strewn footpath that leads from Otley Rd to the station. I explore all these insalubrious places so that you don’t have to!
Right now I’m taking a quick break in Leeds before heading towards Huddersfield to check on TRU work…
17:30.
I’m back in Leeds after having visited Morley, Mirfield, Huddersfield and Dewsbury. I’d not traversed the line from Leeds to Morley for sometime so I was surprised to see how far electrification has progressed (just don’t talk about White Rose station). Bailing out at Morely I headed up to a footbridge I know that’s East of the station to get this shot.
The footbridge replaces a foot crossing which has a tragic history. That history is recognised by Network Rail who’ve named their access point in remembrance.
Next stop was Mirfield where the rebuilt station’s coming on great guns. Here’s the new station entrance under construction.
Meanwhile, in Huddersfield, the restoration of the station roof is starting to see the light of day…
19:10.
Home time. I spent time in Leeds getting a variety of library shots but the day’s moving on and so am I. I’m on a train from Leeds to Chester which has just left Bradford (or Bratfud, as they say in these parts). Clouds are rolling in, heralding the fact tomorrow’s meant to be another wet day – although wet is very subjective as all we’ve seen this week has been drizzle at best.
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Oh, and a cartoon. Thanks to the orange felon in the American White House the world is still taking a very surreal turn right now – and there’s no sign of the madness abating. Far from it. Trump’s on again, off again tariffs and trade war, his threatened annexation of Greenland and his slavish sucking up to Vladimir Putin look to be a farce that will be playing for quite some time yet. No-one has a clue what he’ll do next – including (it seems) Trump himself! All we do know is that America’s reputation is going down the pan at a pace faster than Tesla’s share price!
Meanwhile, here at Bigland Towers, life continues regardless of the insanity across the pond. Dawn’s back working from home this week and I’m continuing with a spring clean that seems to be getting ever more complex as I wade through stuff we’ve both accumulated over the years. Some of it will end up on eBay later this week but other stuff is being gathered together and stored in the loft as we reckon car boot sales will be a good way to offload it at a decent price for minimal effort. Well, that’s the theory, anyway!
Sadly, the run of good weather we’ve had these past couple of weeks is drawing to a close. Rain is forecast later this week, but that’s no bad thing as we’ve had a very dry year so far. Admittedly, It may impede me getting out with the camera for a few days but as I’ve plenty to keep me occupied with at home I can put up with that. Mind you, Thursday’s looking promising and as I’ll be probably be stir-crazy by then I might have a day out locally. Besides, we’re in Shropshire for a few nights next week, so it’s not as if I’m stuck here forever.
Right, it’s getting late so it’s time to go. I’ll leave you with a picture from last week’s travels. I hadn’t realised that Guildford had a Lewis Carroll connection, so I was surprised to see this charming sculpture in a park by the river Wey.
Alice and the white rabbit. With more details in this link.
Oh, I also promised you a cartoon. I couldn’t resist this Cartland illustration of Donald Trump’s posturing on tariffs and China.
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/
Sorry, I got a bit lost on our return from Surrey as there’s been a lot to do – hence the lack of blogs. The journey back was fine. It’s the first time when we’ve travelled to and from West Yorkshire to Surrey and back when we’ve had wall to wall sunshine in each direction – even the traffic played ball and the absence of roadworks ‘up North’ (where converting the M1 to a ‘smart’ motorway took years) was a welcome change. The only thing that made the journey a bit edgy was Yorkshire drivers who saw lane discipline and speed limits as optional.
Friday was a chance to revel in the glorious weather and adjust to being back home. Dee had the day and pottered around at home whilst I managed to get out for a walk whilst preparing to edit the hundreds of pictures I’d taken over our Southern sojourn. Admittedly, I did get chance to indulge in the Friday night quiz in our local pub and catch up with Friends.
However, Saturday saw me glued to my office as I edited picture after picture ready for adding captions -another marathon task as I identify locations and individual train workings. Now that task is done and the pictures have been added to my Zenfolio website. You can find the images in these falleries.
The only shots I have left to list are the ones from my HS2 site visit. Expect those to appear tomorrow.
Today’s been rather a more active day as we travelled over to Huddersfield to see Dawn’s parents (dropping off supplies and staying for a chat) before heading back to the Calder valley and a stroll around Norland Moor, which we spy across the Calder valley from our bedroom window. Admittedly, we were up there late in the day but it’s the first time we’ve seen it so devoid of other walkers – and their dogs!
Now we’re back at home and preparing for the week ahead, which will see me based at home, catching up on lots of stuff whilst planning for future trips (we’re off to Shropshire soon). Right now I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which is a view from the edge of Norland Moor looking home.
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/
Spring has certainly sprung here in the Calder valley. This week we’ve had a run of sunny days which has only been broken by a few desultory showers today. That’s rather problematic as we’re having a very dry year so far which is leaving the ground dry and reservoirs low. I suspect we may be in for a summertime hosepipe ban and fires up on the moors.
Back at Bigland Towers life’s plodded on. I’m still in the midst of a deep spring-clean whilst also trying to get some work done. That’s not easy when much of my office is packed away! On the positive side, I have managed to get a few more old slides scanned and added to my Zenfolio website. You can find which galleries they’re in by following this link.
Hopefully, I’ll have all my re-arranging done by next week. I need to as the pair of us are off to base ourselves in Surrey for several days. That’ll allow me to look at some rail projects in that neck of the woods. In the meantime there’s plenty to be getting on with here.
Right, today’s picture. Hmm, what to choose? Well, I’ve not exactly been active with the camera this week, far from it – the slide scanner’s seen more action. Tonight, after work I popped up to my local pub to enjoy some good beer, join in the Friday quiz with friends – and sample the free pork pie…
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/
At last I feel human again. The aches have receded and life’s getting back to normal after a long frustrating week. Having got up early and spent the morning in the office in order to catch up with work and continue with the spring cleaning I actually escaped from the house for the first time. Dawn had to nip out to refuel the car and pick up the shopping, so I went with her, on the condition that (as I’m still testing positive) I didn’t go into any shops. Fine by me…
So, after calling in for petrol we headed on up to Norland Moor, a place where we used to go for regular walks but which just hasn’t been the same since the Moorcock Inn closed down, leaving the area without a welcoming watering hole to visit afterwards. Getting out for a walk in the fresh air high above the Ryburn and Calder valleys was lovely, despite the breeze and hazy cloud. Just to be out lifted my spirits. We didn’t venture too far as I didn’t want to push things, but I got more exercise than I had done all week.
Afterwards we drove down into Sowerby Bridge in order to pick up some shopping. As I was banned from venturing inside I retreated to the car-park fence to get a couple of pictures. You see, Tescos is built on the site of the old Sowerby Bridge railway good yard and the car park back onto the railway. Last year Network Rail cut back all the trees and shrubs that had obscured the view and opened up new picture possibilities of trains leaving the 657 yard long Sowerby Bridge tunnel. Like this;
195008 and 195017 arrive at Sowerby Bridge with 1E62, the 1227 Chester to Leeds. The old stone building to the right is the only structure that remains of Sowerby Bridge engine shed (closed in 1964).
Returning home the rest of the day was spent delving through various cupboards and crannies, rooting out more bits of junk as well as editing a few more pictures. I suspect the weekend won’t be much different – especially as the rain’s due to arrive. Still, a press invite’s arrived in my inbox today for an event early next month. It’ll be good to be back in the saddle…
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/
Another week beckons. It’s not quite been the start I’d planned but nevertheless it’s been reasonably productive. All the pictures I took on Sunday have been edited, captioned and are now on my Zenfolio website. Follow this link to find out which galleries they’ve been added to.
A frustrating part of the day was that the weather was far better than had been predicted, with several hours of clear skies and sunshine. The snow and rain that was predicted last week has disappeared off the charts, not that it really matters as I’ve too many things to sort out before heading off to the Community Rail awards on Wednesday. Hopefully I can have another productive day tomorrow, ensuring the decks are cleared as the awards will be a busy few days.
As usual when I’m working from home I’ve been keeping an eye on the political news, which has provided some moments of schadenfreude. The Reform party continue to disintegrate as the war of words between their main characters escalates and becomes more bitter. This saga is going to run and run! There’s only going to be one winner (Farage) but that could prove to be a costly win. It’s clear that Farage isn’t openly racist enough for some Reform supporters, who’re rallying behind Rupert Lowe as he talks their language. The potential for a party split looms large…
Meanwhile, across the Pond, Elon Musk is having a bit of a ‘mare. Twitter (or X as he insists we call it) has had several outages today which he’s blaming on attacks by hackers. Of course, the fact he’s sacked many staff and is running the platform on a shoe-string won’t have helped! To add to his woes, Tesla’s share price is losing ground fast. Oh, and he’s managed to alienate both Poland and US senator Mark Kelly with widely publicised insults. The irony of an unelected South-African calling Kelly, an American war-veteran and ex-astronaut a ‘traitor’ has not been lost on people – even on Americans, who normally struggle with irony!
I can’t help wondering what mess Trump and Musk are going to create next…
Right, it’s time for me to go. I’ll leave you with a picture to brighten the evening up with. Here’s a view of the Victoria tower atop Castle Hill just outside Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, that I took last Saturday.
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/
Today’s been another day working from home – which has been rather frustrating as the weather’s been superb. Wall to wall sunshine and rising temperatures that would have been ideal for getting out with the camera. Problem is – I’ve too much to do. Much of today’s been spent editing the pictures I captured yesterday and dealing with emails. One of which has changed our weekend plans completely. An old friend has invited the pair of us to be his company’s guest at the Confederation of Passenger Transport Awards in Manchester on Saturday. How could we refuse? Not only will it be great to catch up with Richard, it’ll also be an opportunity to meet up with other friends and colleagues before our own Community Rail Awards in Newcastle next week – which is completely sold out – and the biggest one we’ve ever had. As I’d planned to be working this weekend you can see why being stuck at home today’s worked out. The word serendipity springs to mind.
Of course, whilst I’ve been busy picture editing I’ve had another screen open which has kept me up to date with the latest madness coming out of the White House. If – 30 years ago – you’d pitched this as a script to a film company, they’d have tossed you out the door as it was too far-fetched. Now, every day delivers idiocy that makes you realise America has fallen to Putin. I’d love to know what ‘Kompromat’ the Russian Dictator has on Trump, but it must be weapons-grade. It’s fascinating (and horrifying) to see some US politicians asking what else could Trump do if he wasn’t a Russian asset? (very little: Ed). What’s been good to see is the way America’s neighbours either side of the border have called Trumps bluff over tariff’s, resulting in a reverse-ferret. But the damage is done. The farce gets worse, as now it’s reported that Trump is reining in (unelected) Elon Musk, telling him that he has no power to sack government employees. This is turning into the mother of all shit-shows!
Meanwhile, Europe has seen which way the wind’s blowing and uniting – and re-arming. Billions of Euros are being committed to Europe and Ukraine’s defense. It’s ironic really. Trump isn’t making America ‘great’ again, he’s actually sidelining it as untrustworthy and not someone to buy weapons from. The double irony? Putin’s done exactly the same. Much as I hate the idea of £bns spent on weapons, I can see the logic from a European perspective. The political world really could be changing on its axis and I’m not entirely sure the dictators in the Kremlin and White House understand what they’ve done.
OK, enough of politics. The shit-show is going to be around for some time yet. In the meantime, here’s another picture from today’s editing marathon.
This is the Bradley viaduct in …Bradley, just to the East of Deighton and on the edge of Huddersfield. It’s an impressive, 15 arch structure that bridges the River Colne and the Huddersfield wide canal. It had a very short life as a railway. It was constructed by the Midland Railway in 1910 as part of a line from Mirfield they intended to build to Bradford to compete with the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway. The line never made it further than Newton in Huddersfield, which became a goods depot. The extension was killed when the L&Y gave the Midland running powers over their route. It was made redundant in 1937. By then the Midland and L&Y had been amalgamated into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) which built a new connection from the former L&Y route at Red Doles Jn nearer Huddersfield, rendering this section of line redundant after just 27 years. Today it’s part of a cycleway and footpath.
I’ll be working at home again tomorrow, so expect Wednesday’s blog to be expanded now I’ve all the pictures edited.
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 