Shit! We’re already halfway through April, or in other words – almost a third of the way through 2026! Where the hell’s the time going? My day seems to have flown by as much of it has been spent decorating the living room whilst I put the final (and 4th) coat of paint on the woodwork. Admittedly, I prefer modern paints to the stuff I used when I worked as a painter and decorator back in the early 1980s. Then you seemed to get more paint on everything other than the surface you were meant to be applying it to!
Whilst I was busily engaged with paintbrushes Dawn had a less pleasant task as she was at the dentists to have a molar removed. Having a tooth out is never the most enjoyable of experiences but dentistry has moved on a long way from when I was a kid in the 1960s. Then NHS dentists seemed like they were paid piece-work, the more they took out or filled, the more money they made. Fortunately, we have a fantastic dentists over in Huddersfield, the wonder of wellness. They’re so good people travel from all over the UK to visit them, so Dee was in good hands.
Even so, when she got home Dawn was still a bit woozy so has taken the rest of the day to recuperate, whilst I’ve shopped for someone who’s not allowed solid food or hot drinks for 48 hours. In the meantime – and as the living room is still topsy-turvey from the decorating I’ve reclaimed my old office in order to edit pictures and blog.
You can find all the pictures I took on Monday by following this link which will take you to the ‘recents’ section on my Zenfolio website. In the meantime. here’s a sample.
A pair of Trans-Pennine Express Class 185s round the curve into Dewsbury station under moody skies. This scene is slowly changing as station platforms are being extended (see left) and the first bases (right) have been sunk for overhead electrification masts and wires which will render pictures like this a thing of the past.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
I’m back after an Easter break. I hadn’t intended to be absent from blogging but several things got in the way and meant I simply ran out of hours in a day! Blogging late at night’s never ideal – unless you fancy spleen-venting. Instead, I savoured the holiday period, making the most of time before Trump blows up the world – by accident or design. I also took time of to enjoy the stunning imagery from the America I miss, before the country went batshit. I’ve been watching NASA’s ‘Artemis 2’ mission to the moon, which has produced some fantastic pictures and video. You can follow it here. It’s given me a new optimism in humanity which has been sadly lacking of late – for obvious reasons.
Meanwhile, back at Bigland Towers Dawn and I decided to crack on with redecorating the living room in the cottage, another project that’s kept me away from blogging. This being an old (mid 19th century) cottage there’s hardly a level surface or right-angle in the place, which makes decorating challenging – especially when we’ve decided to wallpaper the front room rather than just paint the walls. Day one was mostly spent clearing the room, buying materials and prepping surfaces. Today was more about stripping some old wallpaper, repairing plasterwork and giving the ceiling its first coat of paint. Typically, we’ve chosen a time when the weather’s made a major improvement, so tomorrow decorating’s going to take a back seat as we’re having a day out walking in Edale (so expect a rolling blog). After that it’s back to decorating as Dee’s taken the week off in order to get the project finished. After that – who knows what’s on the calendar? Well, I do to an extent as I’ve few jobs lined up, and if the weather continues to get better I’ll be out and about more – but let’s not get ahead of ourselves here!
In the meantime, here’s today’s picture which was taken last week on my phone-losing trip to Knaresborough.
Flowers in abundance at Knaresborough where the station friends have been busy planting out old trolleys which are now packed with Primulas.
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/
Where the hell’s March gone? We’re a quarter of the way through the year which seem to have flown by. Well, more like blown by up here in West Yorkshire as we seem to have had nothing but high winds for weeks! I’m afraid it’s a short blog from me today as the evening is already late. I’ve been busy catching up with picture editing after a long local stroll yesterday and preparations for the week ahead – with Easter on the horizon.
At least the days are getting longer, even if they’re not getting much drier or warmer, but I hope to be getting out and about – and further afield in April. Well, if the madman in the White House hasn’t crippled or blown up the planet before then!
In the meantime, here’s today’s picture which was taken on my perambulations around Halifax yesterday.
One of Northern’s 2-car Class 195s arrives at Halifax with service for Chester. Old woollen and flour mills dominate the landscape but the buildings just behind the train have a very different purpose nowadays. This is the Nestlé sweet factory that’s been producing ‘Quality Street’ chocolates since 1934.
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/
After walking over 15 miles up hill and down dale (not to mention up and down a bloody big viaduct) yesterday I’ve been taking it easy on the exercise front. Mind you, I’ve had plenty to do at home, so that’s no bad thing! Much of my day’s been spent editing all the images from yesterday to supply to the magazines that have requested them – along with detailed captions for one. Having prioritised the HS2 shots there’s still many other pictures remaining to caption and add to my Zenfolio website. Hopefully most will be done tomorrow. In the meantime, you can find a far bigger selection of HS2 Curzon St shots here.
I need to get the decks cleared of work tomorrow because Bigland Towers is moving! Not for long you understand, we’re relocating to Todmorden to cat-sit for a week whilst friends are off on holiday.
We’ll both be flitting between the two locations but we’re excited about having feline company again as it’s now 4 years since we lost ‘Jet’, our venerable moggie. In between being a cat servant I’m looking forward to having time to explore photographic opportunities around Todmorden without having to commute from home. Plus, I’ll get to update images like today’s picture which was taken way back in 2013.
Seen over over the rooftops, one of the old ‘Calder valley’ Class 155s crosses the wonky viaduct which bisects the centre of Todmorden on the 28th August 2013. Nowadays these units are based in Hull and rarely make it even as far West as Halifax.
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 begins, but this one sees me out and about more. Right now I’m on a Northern service from Halifax to Manchester in order to head over to Southport where the RAIL 200 ‘inspiration train’ is stabled until Tuesday. I’ve not had chance to visit this exhibition until now but seeing it in my old home town is rather appropriate. The train will continue its tour of the network through the next few months and tickets (which are free) are still available.
The weather’s decidedly mixed so it’s not the best day to be out with the camera. Even so, I’m hopeful of getting a few useful pictures. At least it’s mild (a balmy 7 degrees here in the Pennines) so I won’t be in danger of frostbite in the way I was on my last outing to Ribblehead!
My Manchester service consists of a 3-car Class 195 which is fairly empty due to the time of day, allowing to purloin a table bay and set up the mobile office in peace. I’ll be blogging throughout the day, so feel free to pop pack anythime to see what I get up to…
10:15.
We’ve now traversed the Pennines to an equally grey and gloomy Greater Manchester to call at Rochdale, which is the quietest I’ve seen it for some time. Only a handful of passengers were waiting to join us for the trip into the city.
11:30.
My time in Manchester was short, just long enough to get a few pictures around a very quiet station. You can tell it’s January as so few people are about. Everybody’s too skint to go out after spending loads over Christmas and New Year! It’s not a new phenomenon, but it is noticeable. Plus, the weather’s hardly conducive, but then I normally flee the UK in January, so I don’t normally have to experience all this.
The Wigan Wanderer. 158849 will take me as far as Wallgate
Right now I’m on another Northern service. This time as far as Wigan Wallgate via the old Lancashire and Yorkshire main line that avoids Bolton to go through the wonderfully named ‘Hag Fold’. The line’s a shadow of it’s former self, but there’s been an improvement in frequency since late BR days. I’m sat on a 2-car 158 which is virtually empty. Many passengers seem to join for short hops between stations.
11:40.
Bugger. Everthing was going so well until we reached Daisy Hill, one of those places where the lovely-sounding name bears absolutely no relationship to the surroundings.
My suspicions were aroused when we were still at the platform for minutes rather than the usual 90 seconds. The Conductor’s just walked through the train to inform us all we’ll be stuck here for a while due to a ‘problem’ on the line ahead. God knows what it is as we’ve been passed by a train in the opposite direction. Well, bang goes my connection in Wigan…
11:55.
We’re still enjoying the vistas of Daisy Hill. I’ve had a chat with crew who tell me the problem is due to the driver of a previous train having reported that they hit a swan…
Daisy Hill, with no hills or daisies.
12:35.
Hooray! We’re finally on the move, a mere 65 minutes late…
13:00.
Finally, I’m on my way to Southport. Rail services on the line through Wigan Wallgate are in disarray in all directions with many trains cancelled. Fortunately, a Southport train was running right behind mine so I had only minutes to wait in the rain befire boarding a busy 2-car Class 150 for the last leg. Sadly, the weather has dereriorated. The skies have closed in to bring heavy, peristant rain, so even if I hadn’t been delayed I wouldn’t have been able to do what I’d hoped. Maybe things will be better on the coast, but I’m not holding my breath…
17:00.
Well, that was an interesting day. The weather in Southport was drier, with cloud cover that was constantly changing to tease me. As I was late arriving I didn’t have as much time to expore as I’d have liked before I was booked onto the exhibition train so my wanderings were confined to the town centre. Not that Monday’s are a great day to explore because much of Southport seems not to bother opening on a Monday!
That said, there’s not as much to open anyways. The amount of empty shops in the town centre’s rather depressing, but that’s the nature of the modern ‘online’ world. There were some greenshoots with places that were long-closed having reopened, but trade was sparse to say the least. Some of the ‘improvements’ don’t seem to have been thought through either..
Maybe an aquatic plants display would have been sensible here outside the old market hall. At least the old ”Corrie” (Coronation) pub opposite has reopened in a new guise after being empty for very many years.
I had a bit of a trip down memory lane to pass old haunts, many of which have vanished, but after nearly half a century that’s probably only to be expected…
I arrived back at the station in plenty of time for my alloted spot on the exhibition train. Not only was it fully booked but staff did their best to squeeze on some ticketless folk. The levels of interest were really good to see. The audience was of all ages with the displays doing their best with limited space to inform, educate and entertain. What was lovely was to bump into several familiar faces from the community rail sector who’d come along to volunteer whilst the train’s in this part of the world.
With my time over on the train I hung around the station long enough to get some pictures before heading East. One thing I noticed was that Merserail’s new Stadler built trains are still having problems. If you’ll pardon the pun – their information systems are still up the Swanee…
Every train that I saw sat in the station displayed the message ‘not in service’ even though it was. Station staff kept making announcements to say ‘ignore what they train says’. Even worse was the final arrival I saw where the onboard screen insisted that the train was going to Ormskirk. What? Someone’s re-instated the Burscough curve overnight? We should be so lucky!
17:30.
I’m now on my way to Manchester aboard another venerable Class 150. It’s OK, the internals are well-maintained by the whole train’s showing its age. It’s about time these units had their swan-song (that’s enough bloody swan jokes for one blog: Ed)
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/
We’ve had another productive (but cold) day here at Bigland Towers. This morning’s brief flurry of fresh snow was washed away by the arrival of rain this afternoon which has now settled in for the evening to make the Yorkshire stone pavements and cobbled streets things to venture along at your peril. Slips and trips? Not half…
Because of the forecast both Dawn and I ventured out earlier in order to pick up some provisions and get in our daily constitutionals before settling in back at home, where it’s been a productive day. I’ve caught up with more picture editing and blogging (another reservoir walk) whilst keeping half an eye on the news.
The doom and gloom the right wing media and politicians were predicting at the end of 2025 has singularly failed to appear. If you’d believed them, high streets were deserted because Xmas shoppers were staying away in droves as no-one had any money to spend thanks to this dastardly Labour government. It was all bollocks of course. Market researcher Worldpanel said overall grocery sales were 13.8 billion pounds in the four weeks to December 28, up 3.8% year-on-year.
Meanwhile, the ‘Next’ chain raised profit forecast to £1.15bn after bumper Christmas sales. Wait – ‘bumper Xmas sales’? But I thought the media said the sales would be shit?
A new survey of senior executives by Deloitte indicates that business confidence among leading companies in the UK improved to its highest level in about two years following the Government’s autumn budget announcement. The exact opposite of the picture some have tried to paint.
To cap it all, the stock markets have also ignored the dire predictions. Today the FTSE100 closed at a record 10,122.73 points, up 1.18% on yesterday, bringing year on year gains to 22.84%. It’s a figure meaningless to some but relevant to anyone who has a pension fund or other investments.
There’s an irony to this. One of the reasons the UK markets are performing so well are the erratic actions of the orange fool in the White House. Trump’s behavior is destroying the USAs credibility on the world stage, causing investors to look at putting their money in safer markets like the FTSE 100. Plus, the fact the US is no longer seen as a trustworthy ally in the face of Russian ambitions has galvanised pan-European investment in re-arming and expanding industry, which is benefitting UK firms like Rolls-Royce and BAe.
Oh, mentioning Trump I should welcome all the new people who’ve registered to read this blog. Today I’ve had a flood of sign-ups from the USA, all using @pinchamail.org addresses. I can only assume these women are fascinated to learn more about railways, rambles around reservoirs in West Yorkshire or some of my other thoughts! Howdy folks…
Tomorrow I’m hoping for a change of tempo – and scenery (weather and train services permitting). If the forecast delivers on its predictions I’m intending to have a day out on the Settle-Carlisle railway to head out to Ribblehead, home of the famous viaduct, with the intention of updating pictures to capture some of the diverted Avanti West Coast, freight and local trains in what’s a glorious setting. This brings me on to the picture of the day. Here’s how the historic viaduct looked in October 2010. I wonder how it’ll look tomorrow? I’ll be making sure I’ll be dressed for whatever the weather can throw at me as it can get a bit changeable in these parts!
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/
With the Christmas and New Year holidays over it’s back to the grindstone for Dawn and I. To make the start of the week more interesting we’ve had an unexpected snowfall which began arriving yesterday evening. When we opened the bedroom blinds this morning we found a fresh deposit, leaving us covered in a couple of centimeters of the white stuff. It looked gorgeous, especially against the clear blue sky that’s kept us company all of the day.
However, the snow wasn’t sufficient to make me change my plans as I had work to do at home. First up was judging the Avanti West Coast photographic competition entries. I won’t let anything slip, other than to say that there were some cracking entries. Let’s see if my fellow judges agree which ones those are…
That job done it was time to sort out a few more bits to put up for sale on Ebay. I’ve added several new badges and railway-themed bits, which you can find by following this link. This particular sale finishes in five days time, so you have time to browse and get your bids in!
Next up was editing all the pictures that I’ve been taking from a series of walks the pair of us have enjoyed these last days of the holidays. I’ll be blogging about each day separately as I’m working from home again tomorrow. Well, that’s the plan anyway. We’re meant to be getting more snow tomorrow but unless there’s something significant I can’t see me venturing out with the camera, so I’ll have time to catch up with some blogging.
After that, the rest of the week’s flexible, depending on the weather. I would like to get some snow shots but if not, there’s some other interesting railway workings that I’d like to cover before the West Coast Main Line (WCML) reopens after a series of possessions along the route. Watch this space…
For now, I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which was taken in one of our local woodlands this afternoon when I managed to get out for a stroll. After what seemed like weeks of gray skies and rain it’s been lovely to see the sun again.
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/
Here we are at the end of another working week with the August bank holiday looming. It’s been an odd week here at Bigland Towers, the classic curate’s egg. I’ve enjoyed getting out and about to see the latest High Speed 2 railway construction milestone in Birmingham (a full blog and pictures to follow shortly). The weather’s been rather indifferent and the nights are certainly drawing in, heralding next month’s change of season. I’d have liked to have got out more but there’s been a lot to do at home, partly because Dawn’s had a tough week so I’ve been on hand to offer tea and sympathy. Oh, and breakfast lunch and dinner as required!
On the bright side, I’ve also booked a fortnight in Portugal for the pair of us, starting in the first week of September. This will see us exploring the Algarve, Lisbon, Porto and the Douro valley, travelling by train. We’re both really excited about the trip, we just need to bottom out a few details – like where we’re actually going to stay! That will be one of the tasks this weekend as we’re not planning to go far over the bank holiday – although there will be some walking involved – somewhere.
Right now it’s time to sign off and relax. I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which is one I’ve been meaning to use for a few days. I have a 105mm micro lens which really doesn’t see much use nowadays (I’m hoping to put that right in Portugal), but I couldn’t resist digging it out when I saw this opportunity last week.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
I’m sorry I’ve been absent for so long but the pair of us have had a rather shitty time this past week. I won’t go into details other than to say the worst is over and we’re gradually bouncing back. On the bright side, we’ll now have more time to devote to the things in life we both want to do and enjoy. In my case that means getting back to travelling and blogging, so expect a renewed stream of rolling blogs from my travels as well as wry and/or splenetic observations on the state of UK politics.
Oh, then there’s the weather. My absence has coincided with a change in the weather. We’ve actually had a few much-needed rainy days here in the Pennines, although it doesn’t seem to have made much difference to the levels in local reservoirs, which remain perilously low. I’ve visited some recently and have a new reservoir blog in the pipeline – if you’ll pardon the pun.
On Thursday I’ll be heading to Derby, so expect a rolling blog and preview pictures of a very important event in the railway calendar to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of Britain (and the world’s) railways.
Anyways, it’s good to be back. I’ll see you at greater length tomorrow. In the meantime, here’s today’s picture which is of a lovely meal Dawn rustled up using steak from the excellent Bolster Moor Farm shop. We both love Thai food – and this fiery Thai beef salad is a favourite.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
I’d an intention to write another reservoir blog today as Dawn and I were out exploring recently, looking at locations across Yorkshire and Derbyshire – but that’s going to have to wait until tomorrow as today’s proved to be a busy one – and the sun’s re-appeared (despite the threats of thunderstorms).
Having made the most of the day and called into our local to enjoy the sun and a pint in the packed beer garden we’re now back at home and I’m slowly copying more pictures of that infamous (by now) recalcitrant hard-drive. Today I’ve been moving old slide scans off it, which has prompted today’s picture. I have tens of thousands of pictures in my archive, going back nearly 40 years, so it’s easy to forget what I have sometimes, so the act of copying them over can jog my memory. This picture was taken in Georgetown, Malaysia back in 1992. I’ve always loved the fact we can be brought together or separated by the same language depending on circumstance – or spelling. Poorly translated menus have always been a favourite, but sometimes the humour is more basic. Here’s an example. I walked past this shop in Georgetown, Malaysia in May 1992 and immediately did a double-take.
If it was a delayed delivery, did you get to ask him where’s your fook hing coffin?
Sadly, this place is no longer there. He’s made his last coffin. Maybe it was his own – who knows?
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 