Tag Archives: Class 319

Rolling blog. Working overtime…

13 Wednesday Dec 2023

Posted by in Class 319, Northern Rail, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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09:55

That’s not me you understand. That’s the remaining members of Northern’s class 319 fleet! Whilst most have gone for scrap and the last few have had no booked work since the December 10th timetable change the trains are still appearing in traffic. The transfer of newer CAF built electric trains from the Yorkshire (East) side of Northern’s domain has been delayed, so the 319s are being pressed back into service on some of their old routes from Liverpool only now spreading their wings as far as Manchester Airport services.

So, this morning I decided that as the weather’s picking up and I’m fed up of being cooped up in the office I’d venture out on the hunt for some of these trains. Right now I’m on a late-running York – Blackpool North service from Halifax bound for Preston. For once I’m glad the trains a few minutes late, otherwise I’d have missed catching it! The doors had already closed as I dashed onto the platform but the friendly young conductor me-mo’d to be to get on through her door. I’m now settled at a table with the mobile office up and running. This is a quiet train, so I can work undisturbed.

Preston bound aboard 195117.

I’ll blog throughout the day so feel free to come back and see how the hunting goes…

11:00.

The mobile office (and Northern’s wifi) allowed me to establish that just two class 319s are in service right now. Both are on Manchester Airport – Blackpool North diagrams, one after the other. The weather over here in Lancashire is bright and sunny, leaving Preston in heavy shadows so I’m now Blackpool bound with the intention of catching the 319s on their way back from the Airport.

14:30.

Ever had one of those days? Arriving at Blackpool I was well ahead of the trains I was after so I decided to take a short stroll on the prom to enjoy the glorious sunshine before catching a train out to Layton, the first stop out of Blackpool. I had two motives. I’d never been here before and wanted to photograph the interesting old station building. My second motive was to get shots of the two inbound 319s and catch the first one back which stopped at Layton. Then it all went ‘Pete Tong’. There’s no PIS or tannoy at Layton, so you can imagine my surprise when my 13:29 thundered through without stopping. It had been cancelled between Blackpool and Preston due to crewing issues. Bugger! Plan B saw me hop on a bus to get back to Blackpool North just in time to catch the 2nd 319 on the 13:58. Only that was cancelled too! Instead it’s running ECS to Manchester Airport!

I’m now on the 14:04 following on behind and working out where to go now as the light is rapidly failing…

17:30.

Plan C turned out to be a stop at another station I’ve not visited in a very (very) long time. Leyland. It’s over 50 years since I was last here. Somewhere in the Bigland family vaults there’s some cine film taken in the late 1960 of me and my two younger sisters playing on railway wagons in the old goods yard!

The place has changed a bit since then. The goods yard was torn up in the 1970s and only one of the original station buildings remains. I’d planned to try and get some pictures here but there’s building work going on and trackside views are overgrown so I ended up having a wander into town and found a little oasis a few minutes walk from the station. The Golden Tap is a lovely little micropub in an old shop. There’s a good range of cask, keg and bottled beers including some names I’d never seen before.

I stayed long enough for a slow pint and chat with the landlord. I was pleasently surprised to find this place so I doubt it’ll be my last visit. Tearing myself away I finally caught up with a Class 319 which was stopping on its way back to Blackpool. My plan was to catch it to Preston where I’d connect with the 16:44 service back to Halifax. Surprise, surprise – when I got to Preston I found the 16:44 was cancelled. Now I’m heading into Manchester instead. Only the connection with the train I’m on has also been cancelled! I give up trying to plan now – I’m simply going to catch the first train heading in the right direction that turns up!

19:00.

I’m on the last leg now. After changing at Salford Cresent only to find the next two trains heading across the Pennines were cancelled I caught a Rochdale bound stopping service then connected with a Leeds train. It lessened my wait in the cold as the night’s turning chilly. I have to admit, I’ve lost patience with Northern’s PIS messages excusing cancellations as “short-notice timetable changes”. It’s akin to a politicans weaselling as it’s the fery defination of a cancellation but without any explanation as to *why*…

22:00.

I’ve been home for a couple of hours now so I’ve had chance to download a few pictures from the camera for your delectation.

The old station building at Layton just outside Blackpool. The main building is in use as what appears to be private accommodation but the rest of the buildings are boarded up and appear disused.
This wooden structure sandwiched between two of the brick buildings fascinated me. I’d llove to know its history.
319368 speeds past Layton en-route to Blackpool. It *should* have formed the 13.29 from Layton but ran fast from Blackpool to Preston, presumably because it was lacking a Conductor.
The only surviving station building at Leyland has been refurbished and is to let. Originally, there was a footbridge projecting from the right-hand side which spanned all four tracks to allow access to the platforms. I’ve no idea when this was removed but I’m assuming it was fairly recently.
Got you! 319368 calls at Leyland whilst working 1N50, the 1517 Manchester Airport to Blackpool North.
1N50 disgorges passengers (including me) at Preston en-route to Blackpool North.

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

It’s the end of the line for the class 319…

05 Tuesday Dec 2023

Posted by in British Railways (BR), Class 319, Northern Rail, Photography, Thameslink, The end of the line

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The December 10th timetable change was due to see the last of the BR built Class 319s leave passenger service*. 86 of these 4-car, 100 mph dual voltage units were built in two batches between 1987-88 and 1990. The original stomping ground was the new ‘Thameslink’ service from Bedford, through central London on the reopened Farringdon – Blackfriars route and out to Brighton.

Since being displaced by Siemens built Class 700s in the early 2010s they’ve had a varied career working for Northern and London Midland as well as some units being converted to bi-mode diesel-electric (Class 769) or even hydrogen. Right now, the final handful left in service are operating Northern services between Liverpool-Wigan-Blackpool, Wigan-Manchester or even Manchester Airport-Bolton-Blackpool.

So, here’s the start of a blog looking back at their lives and times…

Only 3 years old, 319024 on their original Network South-East livery is seen departing from Luton with a Southbound service on the 2nd March 1990. As they were new and film wasn’t cheap I rarely photographed these trains, which in retrospect was a mistake.
On the 28th April 1990 319047 leaves Bedford empty stock before reversing in the nearby sidings and working a later service for the South. Network South-East red paint is very much in evidence in this shot!
It was to be another 6 years before I took another shot of a Class 319, 21st April 1996 to be precise. Here’s 319163, a set from the 26 strong 1990 batch pictured at Purley in between turns
319004 wearing Connex livery sits under the skeletal roof of the old Rugby station on the 9th August 1999 whilst waiting to work the 18:39 to Gatwick airport. This cross-London shuttle between the two destinations was introduced in June 1997 but cut back to Watford Junction from the December 2000 timetable change.
Now we move forward in time from the BR to the Connex era and the 10th April 2001 when 319220 is pictured leaving London Victoria with an express service to Brighton. Seven Class 319s were renumbered from the 0 to 2 series in 1997 when they were altered internally to provide lower density seating and a ‘lounge’ area with buffet counter in the pantograph car.
With pantograph down and operating on 3rd rail, Thameslink liveried 319427 speeds towards London Bridge from Brighton through South Croydon on the 6th May 2004
Between September 2004-May 2005 the central Thameslink core was shut to allow construction of the ‘Thameslink box’ below St Pancras which would house the new Thameslink station, replacing the cramped Kings Cross Thameslink station. As a result, Thameslink services from Bedford and St Albans terminated in the new Eastern side of St Pancras International that’s now used by South-Eastern. Here’s 319001 and 319450 seen in St Pancras on the 29th October 2004.
It’s the 19th February 2005 and Thameslink’s 319422 is seen at St Pancras sporting ‘back the bid’ branding in support of London’s (later successful) attempt to win the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games. What a different country we seem to be now compared to those heady, optimistic days!
London’s skyline has changed dramatically during the 21st century as this view of 319441 Heading East from London Bridge on the 5th April 2005 demonstrates.
Here’s another London scene that’s changed out of all recognition! It’s the 11th July 2006 and 319449 is sporting the later Thameslink livery, seen with a sister unit in Southern colours, departing from the old Blackfriars station and crossing the Thames with St Paul’s cathedral in the background
We move forward in time to the 24th October 2007 when First Capital Connect had taken over Thameslink services. Here’s 319431 caught in the daylight between tunnels in Central London on its way from the old Kings Cross Thameslink station towards Farringdon.
Also on the 24th October 319380 arrives at the cramped old Kings Cross Thameslink station with a service to Bedford.
Between morning and evening peaks sets 319453 and 319002 are stabled in Moorgate station on the 23rd July 2008. This FCC rush-hour service was living on borrowed time as the branch from Farringdon was soon to be severed to allow platforms at Farringdon to be extended.
On the 30th June 2016, 319439 puts in an appearance at Brighton, the Southernmost end of the Thameslink route where it’s seen waiting to work a service to Bedford.

On the 24th February 2015 the press were invited to Allerton depot in Liverpool to see the unveiling of the new ‘Northern electrics’ Class 319s which received a new livery and internal refresh that included new seat moquette. Afterwards we were treated to a run on one of the sets and opportunity to visit the cab. Here’s a few pictures from the event.

319362 sporting the new livery outside Allerton depot.
The refreshed interior of the press train (319365) showing the new seat mocquette.
Driver Jason Wakefield at the controls of 319365.
Another view of the refreshed interior of 319365.
On their transfer, the Northern Class 319s acquired a new ‘Northern electrics’ livery and branding. 319364 is sporting the colour scheme in this shot taken at Crewe on the 11th May 2015.
Exactly a month later on the 11th June 2015, 319368 is seen at Salford in Manchester with a service tp Liverpool Lime St from Manchester Victoria. This area’s changed completely as the Ordsall chord and Viaduct cross the foreground now!
On the 9th August 2016, 319441 and a sister unit sit empty at Euston before working an afternoon rush-hour service North. Several sets had been loaned to London Midland to replace their Class 321 units which were bound for Scotrail.
London Midland’s successor, London North-Western retained the class 319s until the 27th November 2023. Here’s one of them, 319214 seen at Euston on the evening of the 3rd December 2019. The set bears no branding or livery.
How they look now. Here’s 319369 sporting Northern livery as it arrives at Liverpool Lime St on a service from Wigan North Western on the 24th November this year.

UPDATE: 19th December.

At the time of writing the last handful of 319s remain available for traffic and – whilst they have no booked work – anything between 1-4 get pressed into service to cover for unavailable units. I managed to get out on the 12th when a pair of the sets were working Manchester Airport – Bolton – Blackpool North diagrams although crew shortages meant some of the trips were cancelled or the trains run as empty stock.

Here’s 319368 working 1N50, the 15:17 from Manchester Airport to Blackpool North, seen calling at Leyland.

If you want to enjoy more pictures of the Class 319s you can find them in the following galleries;

Thameslink

First Capital Connect

London Midland

Northern

The current Northern operation

*Yes, I know the bi-mode Class 769s remain in service with Northern, but as they’re converted Class 319s they don’t count!

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

Rolling blog. Anyone for tennis (elbow)?…

24 Friday Nov 2023

Posted by in Class 319, Northern Rail, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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09:45.

Regular readers of this blog will know I’ve talked about a problem I’ve been having with my right elbow. Well, this morning I had a call from a lovely Physio nurse down at our local GPs surgery who gave me a consultation over the phone. By the end of it we still weren’t sure of the problem so Emma asked if I could make an appointment to see her. As it was, I was free and could be there in 20 minutes, so we arranged for an 09:00 consultation today How’s that for service?

A face to face visit and chance for Emma to physically get to grips with my arm revealed the problem. I had what’s known as ‘tennis elbow’. “Dunno why”, said Emma, “I’ve never met a tennis player with it, I’ve never met a golfer with golfers elbow either. I suppose it’s just easier to say than lateral epicondylitis”.

It transpires it’s just another hazard of my occupation. Essentially, it’s a repetitive strain injury. Now I know I can change my behaviours that led to it. It will eventually go away, it’s just one more bit of my body to add to the list of those that have suffered for my art!

As I was already in Sowerby Bridge and it was early (and I had the camera bag) I decided to make hay whilst the sun shone, so I’m now on my way to Manchester to add more library images of Northern’s Class 319s before they go. My train’s a packed pair of Class 195s forming the 09:22 to Chester. I’ve no idea why it’s so busy but it’s good to see.

11:15.

After changing at Manchester Victoria for a fast TPE service to Liverpool I’ve made it to Lime St, the haunt of the trains I’m here to shoot. Here’s one of them with the type of train due to replace them. Class 323s are being displaced from the West Midlands, when they’ll head North to boost Northern’s existing 323 fleet – of which this is one..

319366 and 323224 both between turns at Liverpool Lime St.
319370 arrives at Wigan North Western whilst working 1F07, the 13.05 Blackpool North to Liverpool Lime St.
There roughly a fortnight left to see sights like this, although the number of 319s in service is declining week by week. Here’s 319386 about to work 2W90, the 1542 Liverpool Lime Street to Wigan North Western whilst 319366 waits having arrived on 2C19, the 1452 from Wigan North Western.
319386 leaving Lime ST, working 2W90, the 1542 to Wigan North Western.
Whilst the 319s are mostly found on the Liverpool – Wigan – Blackpool corridor there are a few peak diagrams that take them from Liverpool and Wigan to Manchester Victoria. Here’s 319386 at Victoria, waiting to leave after a fast turnaround due to late running. It’s forming 2G95, THE 1713 Manchester Victoria to Wigan North Western.

18:50.

Apologies for the blogging gap but I’ve been on the move a lot so had little time to bash the keyboards. Right now I’m at Hebden Bridge on my way home. Everything’s gone a bit ‘Pete Tong’ with many trains cancelled or delayed – including my connection to Sowerby Bridge. I only found out when I got here otherwise I’d have stayed on my original train to Halifax. Still, there’s worse places to be stuck for a while and the waiting room’s as warm as toast!

Just about every train I’ve been on today (and that’s been a few) has been packed. There’s certainly no shortage of passengers, especially on the Liverpool – Blackpool route. This may become a squeeze when train capacity’s cut by 25% come the December timetable change.

In the meantime, the 319s are soldiering on, although they are looking a bit careworn. Still, as their next destination’s the scrapyard, is anyone too bothered?

From a photographic perspective, today’s been a reasonable day. I’ve managed to add some new locations (for 319s, anyway) to the library even if I couldn’t make full use of the glorious sunshine. This evening the mercury is dropping rapidly, so I’m happy to head home. Besides, I’m on my travels again on Sunday/Monday so I’m going to give the elbow some room to rest!

19:41.

Almost home. There’s just time for a quick pint of hazy IPA at the Hogshead Brew House in Sowerby Bridge to fortify myself for the hike uphill to Bigland Towers. Cheers!

Saturday 26th update.

I’ve added a few more pictures to this blog from yesterday.

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

Rolling blog. North-west foray…

21 Tuesday Nov 2023

Posted by in Class 319, Greater Manchester, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs

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12:10.

Discretion being the better part of valour and with having a judging meeting this morning I decided not to sally forth this morning until afterwards just in case I couldn’t find a decent wifi connection and location to hold such an event. Now, with the meeting done and the picture shortlist agreed between CRN’s Alice Mannion and I, I’m venturing West for a few hours to document the last days of Northern’s Class 319 fleet – all of which will be off to the scrapyard between now and the December 10th timetable change.

Right now I’m on Northern’s 12:02 from Sowerby Bridge which is formed of a quiet (but warm) 2-car class 158. In fact, it’s one of the later batch purchased by funds from the West Yorkshire PTE.

12:48.

A journey by train through the Calder Valley’s a lovely experience this time of year due to the autumnal colours from the woodland covering the valley, although last weeks high winds and rain have taken their toll, dropping a huge tonnage. My train remained quiet all the way to Rochdale where (as always) we filled up with dozens of folk heading into Manchester. I’m resisting the temptation to join them. Instead I’ll stay onboard all the way to Wigan where I can connect with the main diagrams (Liverpool, Wigan, Preston and Blackpool) the 319s are allocated to nowadays.

13:20.

Having swapped one load of passengers for another at Manchester we’re now burbling our way over the old Lancashire and Yorkshire railway main line between Liverpool and Manchester via Walkden. It’s a line I’ve known since childhood, although it’s almost unrecognisable now. One four-track it was reduced to two in the 1960s. The mines, power stations and other industrial sites that I remember from the 1970s are all gone. Sometimes it’s hard to picture exactly where they were as the landscape’s changed so much few points of reference remain. Only the stations survive, although they enjoy a much more frequent service (it’s doubled) since I was a kid.

13:55.

Having been deposited at Wallgate station I dashed across to nearby Wigan North Western just in time to catch my quarry. 319384 arrived working a fast Blackpool North to Liverpool service – first stop St Helens.

319384 arrives at Wigan North Western whilst working 1F07, the 1305 Blackpool North to Liverpool Lime Street.

16:15.

I’m taking a short break in Liverpool, waiting for the light to change after having visited St Helens and Huyton. Here’s a few pictures.

319381 approaches St Helens Central, past what used to be extensive sidings and goods yards on 2C17, the 1353 Wigan North Western to Liverpool Lime Street.
319368 passes the only remaining signalbox left on the route as it arrives at St Helens Central with 2C18, the 1421 Wigan North Western to Liverpool Lime Street all stations service.

The station building, athough only recent – hasn’t aged well. The railways have changed since it was designed and the 1st floor cafe (always a marginal business) closed years ago. The waiting area is pretty unkempt too. It’s a shame, as it’s an interesting design. I wonder if a micro-pub could take over the cafe?

The waiting area in the main building is unkempt and in need of a good clean. A simple coffee kiosk might work in here rather than the cafe upstairs which never really stood a chance.
The frontage of St Helens Central’s rather impressive and reflects the glassmakers art. The building opened in September 2007 at a cost of £6m

18:45.

Homeward bound. I’ve had a good – if rushed – day. I hadn’t realised my last explorration of the line through St Helens Central was so long ago. Vegetation has really grown up in certain areas. Combining that with electrification of the line and many photographic locations have disappeared. That said. I managed a reasonable selection of pictures from different vantage points and checked out others for another foray. I’d have liked to have got shots of the Xmas market opposite Lime St station but I didn’t have time to hang around, so that’s snother mission for another trip.

With the light in the ‘blue hour’ 319385 calls at Huyton with 2F52, the 1645 all stations from Liverpool Lime Street to Wigan North Western.

Having retraced my steps on the road to Wigan I swapped old Class 319s for even older trains. I’m currently on a vintage Class 156 heading to Stalybridge from Southport. The plan is to change at Manchester Victoria but as we’re running late the connection time may be tight…

Not my 156 but the empty stock from a previous service that was late being shunted between platforms, helping to delay my train.
The quietest train I’ve been on all day. Having dropped of its human cargo en-route 156425 passes through Salford bound for Victoria where it’ll fill up once more.

19:14.

Oh, the joys of late-running! Connections were touch and go in Manchester. My delayed train arrived at platform 6 at 19:55. My connection was due out of bay No 2 at 19:57. The next Leeds service was cancelled, so a sprint was order. Thankfully, the 19:57 hadn’t got the road so I made it with a couple of mins to spare, saving me an hour’s fester in the cold and temptation to visit the station’s new micropub. Swings and roundabouts…

21:45.

Time to bring this blog to a close. Despite the fact I only had a few hours I think I’ve added some valuable library shots to the collection – some of which are shown here. I’ll edit the rest over the next few days. I hope you’ve enjoyed the trip.

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