Rolling blog. It’s fun Friday…

31 Friday May 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

08:45.

It’s a bit of a busman’s holiday for me today. I’m travelling to London for lunch with an old friend, then heading back later as both Dawn and I have another (railway related) appointment tomorrow.

On my walk to the station I couldn’t resist taking a detour past the Big 6 to see what the film crew were up to. The surrounding streets are now clogged with trucks and vans whilst the pub itself has disappeared behind scaffolding which is holding the blackout curtains in place.

Right now I’m on Grand Central’s 08:13 from Halifax to Kings Cross. There’s been a last minute set swap which has led to the service being worked by one of their hired-in Class 221 ‘Voyager’ trains rather than the expected Class 180. This has caused some confusion amongst passengers as the seat reservations are all mixed up!

A sea of reservation labels aboard this GC service.

I rarely travel by GC nowadays so it was lovely to bump into an old friend working the train. Javid is one of the original West Yorkshire crews. Most have left or (like Javid) been promoted. He’s gone from a Customer Service Assistant to Train Manager (Guard in old money). Quite a few of his contemporaries are now Drivers with GC or other train companies. We had time for a catch up after leaving Halifax and before the train filled up even more at Brighouse. GC is a real success story. Their passenger numbers have grown massively with most trains being fully booked (one of the reasons I don’t use them as much) so it’s good to hear they’ll soon be introducing a 5th West Riding service.

I’d planned to do some work on the train but on unpacking my bag I realised I’l left my laptop lead at home! I’d been sneaking around this morning in order not to disturb Dawn so hadn’t checked. The battery won’t last there and back, so I’ll take it easy, save it for later and enjoy the journey instead.

09:00.

We’ve just left Wakefield Kirkgate, which is a busy exchange stop for GC because many people use the train to get there from Bradford and Halifax. They’re replaced by other passengers for Doncaster and London.

En-route I had chance to observe TRU progress. The most noticeable changes are the massive mounds of earth being moved at Ravensthorpe where the ‘dive under’ junction is being created. I need to pay another photographic visit soon. The abandoned marshalling yard at Healy Mills is seeing some changes too with many of the old sidings being lifted to create space for the new TRU construction yard.

09:55.

Having found the wifi wasn’t working on my GC set, and having something I wanted to get shots off at Doncaster I opted to change trains. This gave me just long enough to photograph what I was after, grab some library shots of the GC train and crews swapping over, then board the following LNER service. I’m now chasing the Voyager which I’ll catch up at Kings Cross! The 10-car LNER service (ex Harrogate) is the train I was originally aiming for at Leeds. It’s packed full of families and groups en-route to the capital although I have managed to bag an unoccupied seat that had been reserved from Wakefield. The wifi’s working, so I’m quickly blogging from my laptop and catching up on some work before switching off again.

11:15.

We’re now South of Stevenage and the weather’s rather disappointing. I’ve left behind sunshine in Yorkshire for the grey and dismal South! Hang on, isn’t it meant to be grim up North? Apparently (according to the Met Office) my Southern sojourn may be enlivened by heavy showers and even thunderstorms. Ho hum…

11:40.

Arrived…

21:30.

Mind the gap..

Sorry about that but I’ve had a lovely time in old haunts in North London with a group of friends from the industry where Chatham House rules (and more) apply. Gosh, did we all cover some territory – from both ends of the political spectrum – but, as old friends we still remained civil. Now I’m back in’t North, aboard a train from Leeds to Halifax.

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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

Community rail week. Day 2…

21 Tuesday May 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Community rail, Community Rail Network, London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs

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Community rail, Community Rail Network, London, Photography, Rolling blogs, Travel

07:30.

The team are preparing for today’s event in London. I can’t say anything about it until afterwards but we had a great planning session with some of the local station friends yesterday evening, so we’re looking forward to what’s going to happen. Why not pop back later to see what it is we’ve been up to?

13:05.

Phew, sorry for the gap but it’s been a busy morning. I can now reveal that we’ve been kept busy at Alexandra Palace station with an event that included a long visit by Shadow Rail Minister Stephen Morgan MP, who spent time with local MP Catherine West, Community Rail Networks Chief Exec Jools Townsend and many of the local station friends and visitors from as far afield as Gipsy Hill. Here’s a few pictures.

I’ll add more details later. Right now my main task is to get the pictures edited – and begin my journey back North…

13:45.

Having got the pictures out to where they need to go I’m footloose and fancy free again, soI’m beginning my journey back North. I’ve really enjoyed being back in my old stamping ground – even if the weather’s been iffy (at least it didn’t rain in any meaningful way) but now it’s time to hunt for some sun and the chance to get a few more libray shots in the can. Right now, the next stop’s Stevenage…

16:50.

Stevenage proved to be quite literally a washout, thanks to the weather so I boarded the next available train to Peterborough – and old haunt from the 1990s. I did manage a few more library shots but whilst the weather stayed dry the skies were dull in the extreme. Now I’m on my way to Doncaster, although I don’t know if I’ll stop off as despite my moving North sunshine’s proving to be elusive.

17:00.

Doncaster was a bust, although clouds are lifting and every so often there’s a tantalizing glimpse of blue sky. Unfortunately, the works yard is empty and the station’s just as quiet, so I’ll stay on board until York where there just *might* be a couple of worthwhile shots to be had under the station’s magnificent roof. Plus, I can get a direct train to Halifax from there, which makes life easier.

19:30.

Like most plans, mine didn’t survive long. Whilst the weather had picked up many services were running from platforms oufside the trainshed, so less photogenic. Then my direct train to Halifax was cancelled, so I had to get a TPE to Leeds and pick up a late running Halifax service

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Rolling blog. Community rail week – day 1…

20 Monday May 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Community rail, Community Rail Network, London, Manchester, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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Community rail, Community Rail Network, London, Manchester, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

10:45.

Community rail week has begun, and I’m off on my travels again as part of it. Right now, I’m on Northern’s 10:23 from Sowerby Bridge to Manchester in order to pop in on an event being held at Piccadilly station before making my way down to London this evening. After yesterday’s wall to wall sunshine the weather’s a bit of a disappointment as the Calder valley’s full of low cloud but I’m hoping things will improve as I drift South stopping off on the way. Feel free to pop back later to see what I get up to…

No 1 on day 1 to carry me to Manchester…

11:05.

Before I get to Manchester I’ve stopped off at Rochdale where the Calder Valley CRP are having an event in the station garden. There’s music – and cupcakes, so if you’re in the area feel free to pop in…

12:30.

My tour continues. On reaching Manchester I hot-foot it over to Piccadilly station where several CRPs (Community Rail Partnerships) and their friends have stalls today. There’s a lot of interest in the line and walking guides, along with the other goodies on offer. Both the Bentham and Glossop lines had sent delegations..

Now I’m on the move again, slowly heading South. Today I have a treat as far as Crewe in the shape of one of Transport for Wales locomotive hauled (or in this case, pushed) Mk 4 sets.

13:55.

I’m currently taking the scenic route as plans went slightly awry on arrival at Crewe. There was plenty of variety of traction on view – from old TfW single-car ‘Scuds’ working the Shrewsbury shuttle to brand new Hitachi built Class 805s on test before taking over from Avanti Voyagers later this year. Oh, and the nostalgia-fest that is LSL’s loco depot, which is a real 1980s throwback. Unfortunately a number of services were late or delayed, so I’m now heading for Stoke on a sideways shuffle aboard one of LNWs Class 350s. This one’s a former Trans-Pennine Express unit that used to work between Manchester Airport – Glasgow/Edinburgh before being displaced by more modern (and longer) trains.

14:50.

And relax! On arrival at Stoke I had 10 minutes to wait for a Pendolino to arrive which would whisk me to Euston via one stop at Nuneaton. There’s no more community rail events within my reach now so the rest of the day is purely a positional move. As I head South the weather’s improving. There’s clear blue skies and fluffy cumulous clouds instead of the grey I’d been used to, so now all I have to do is decide where I’m going to visit to get some library shots after hitting London.

15:33

Bugger! Just when I thought I was back on track! We’re currently running 26 minutes late (and being diverted via Northampton) due to – as the onboard screens inform us – a ‘safety inspection of the track’. Ho hum. Now I won’t reach Euston until 16:07 – and counting. We’re not the only service affected either. I’ve just had a quick look at ‘real time trains’ to check out Euston departures/arrivals. It’s not good. I expect it’ll be carnage on the concourse when I arrive.

16:40.

Carnage has been averted at Euston due to many departures leaving on time, which will keep passengers happy and the concourse uncrowded. But it’ll come at a price. Many trains will have been ‘stepped up’ (turned around quickly and reallocated to different services). Train crews bear the brunt when this happens as their dockets aren’t worth the paper they’re written on so hours get extended. Juggling the trains has issues too as some will have been heading to certain depots for maintenence to take place. They’ll end the day somewhere very different unless train controllers can get them back to where they need to be.

17:45.

Wandering down the Euston Rd from Euston to Kings Cross I bumped into Ndy Savage, an old friend and fellow Community Rail Awards judge. It’s what I love about London. You’re never far away from someone you know. Now I’m back in old haunts in Harringay, heading to tonight’s hotel…

23:30.

Time to bring this blog to a close. I’m kicking back at my hotel in Wood Green after meeting up with the rest of the CRN team ready for tomorrow’s big event. I’ll leave you with a few more pictures from today, with many more to follow tomorrow.

Manchester Piccadilly earlier, with people interested in details of some of the walking guides on offer.

Stoke station dominated by LNW Class 350s, including the former TPE unit I arrived on.

It could have been an awful lot worse. Despite the WCML disruption Euston station passenger flow remained in tolerable levels.

Buddleia’s not part of the station friends plan, but like many locations it’s encroaching on the lineside here at Alexandra Palace in North London.

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Rolling blog. Homeward bound…

10 Friday May 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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London, Photography, Rolling blogs, West Yorkshire

07:00.

My time away has come to an end. Today I head home for a while until the next adventure. But first I’ve got to get there. Thankfully, the main rail strikes are in abeyance today, but last minutes changes are still possible. Let’s see hoe things go. First off it to get across London to begin the journey North. Today I’m taking that trip via the Midland Main Line…

08:15.

The pair of us are now speeding up the Midland Main Line on a very empty (and very dirty) Meridian, the first of the class in fact. Talk about tired – the train that is – not me! This one has the new seat mocquette but the quality of the fitting leaves a lot to be desired. The carpets are still threadbare and the paintwork inside and out is in a terrible state.

Not exactly London’s busiest rail service…

11:45

I said goodbye to Hassard at Derby. He went off to his meeting whilst I stayed to make the most of the good weather to get some library shots before catching an onward service to Sheffield. Here’s a couple of camera pictures.

The Meridian I’m on now (set 13) is lucky for me as at least you can see out of the windows in this train. We weren’t so lucky in the last one…

Still, it’s swings and roundabouts. The wifi doesn’t work on this set – unlike the last one!

13:15.

Well, that was fun. I joined a 4-car Cross-Country Voyager bound for Edinburgh for the leg between Sheffield and Leeds. It was rammed! I was ‘lucky’ enough to find a space to stand opposite the disabled toilet in the rear car. It was taking a hammering due to the amount of drunks sat in the same vehicle (and others elsewhere). I have to give full credit to the Train Manager, despite the obstacle course he needed to navigate he still managed to make a full ticket check!

Rolling blog. Building bridges on HS2…

09 Thursday May 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Hs2, London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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Hs2, London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs

07:00.

In contrast to the past couple of days which has been mostly about new trains, today’s visit is going to be about building bridges – HS2 style. I won’t say just where yet, but all will be revealed soon. But first I’ve got to to to where I’m going, which means a cross-London journey from here in Clapham then a trip along the Chiltern line…

07:42.

The weather’s so good this morning I was up and out early in order to bank some time (and pictures en-route). Here’s how the changing skyline of Clapham Junction looks.

08:40.

Having arrived at Victoria I took a trip on the tube line of the same name as far as Oxford Circus where I changed to the antique line – sorry – the Bakerloo line, which operates the oldest and most decrepit trains on the network.

Now I’m at Marylebone, waiting for my next train. The station’s celebrating its 125th birthday this year so is decked out with bunting as a consequence. Not that many in the constant ebb and flow of passengers seem to notice!

At least the trains aren’t 125 years old…

14:30.

Mind the gap! Sorry about that. I’ve only just left the HS2 Thame valley viaduct site. My tour of the structure was extensive so and I was so engrossed in taking pictures and writing notes there was no time to blog.

This particular viaduct is 880 meters long. It’s a low lying structure that will carry HS2 over a flood-plain. I was here ladt year to see some of the first prefabricated concrete beams being installed. There’s been a lot of progress since.

One of two central piers in the viaduct. the poles and pile cap are far bigger as it from here the viaduct is tensioned and dynamic forces transferred. The 880m long viaduct can expand up to 450mm in each direction from these points.

Now, large sections of the viaduct are in place and progress is being made with installing the prefabricated concrete plants which form the bed of the deck. I’ll describe it in far more detail later.

15:15.

On my way back to London I couldn’t resist making a quick stop at Wendover, where the station is very close to some of the HS2 trace. Despite the claims of some residents HS2 construction doesn’t dominate the village as it’s on the opposite side of the noisy and busy A413. Since my last visit there’s been a number of changes. One road which is at the Northern portal of the ‘green’ tunnel’s been diverted over a new bridge spanning the trace. This bridge privides an excellent vantage point to follow construction of the route Northwards.

A short walk away is a footpath and the infamous memorial woods that anti HS2 protesters like Mark Keir lied about, claiming it was dedicated to dead children (it wasn’t) and it was being torn-up up by HS2 and ‘desecrated’ (it wasn’t). I covered their disgraceful, lying campaign in this blog at the time. In fact, the wood’s in rude health. I popped in and took this shot.

Meanwhile, the footpath to the South just past the memorial wood affords this view which is looking down the valley to the viaducts that cross the A413 and also Wendover Dean. Notice how the scenic nature of the valley has been ‘destroyed’ by HS2. Oh, hang on – what are those metal pylons – and how long have they been there?

23:00.

Time to bring today’s blog to a close. The weather here in London’s been lovely. Eating alfresco has returned to the streets of Clapham and the place has been buzzing. It seemed a shame to waste the eveing so the pair of us nipped out for a couple of beers to enjoy the atmosphere, but now it’s time to prepare for tomorrow which includes another early start with the pair of us travelling North together as far as Derby. Watch this space…

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Rolling blog. The Surrey shuffle…

24 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

11:30.

I’ve had a leisurely morning at home sorting out some paperwork and chores so there’s been no early start today, much as that would have been tempting in order to make the most of the improving weather. But now I’m on the move again, heading from Halifax to Leeds before taking a trip down the East Coast Main line to London.

Leg one was far less glamorous. I took a trip on this old thing which is working the Huddersfield to Bradford Interchange shuttle.

Now I’m on something a little more modern in the shape of a CAF built Class 195. It’s running slightly late but no big deal as I wasn’t planning to get to Leeds before 12:00 anyway.

12:45.

Getting to Leeds was in fits and starts dues to my train being delayed by late running services (often a problem at Leeds, a station with too many trains and no spare capacity) however, it didn’t stop me making the Harrogate-Kings Cross service, whose departure was also delayed for the same reason! We’re now speeding South towards Doncaster. I expect the few minutes we’ve lost should be made up along the way, unless something dramatic happens on the ECML. This trains a 9-Car ‘Azuma’ and reasonably quiet, so I’ve been able to colonise a table bay in order to set up the mobile office and start the task of editing all the past few days pictures…

13:45.

Time’s flying! I’ve had my head buried in my laptop as I edit pictures and declutter my email inbox. I’m now signed up to several press events that’ll see me rather busy at the beginning of May. These include a press trip to Germany and some more HS2 visits (watch this space). The picture editing’s gone well too. So much so that I’ve ony just noticed how the fields of rape along the railway have burst into bloom. The countryside’s dotted with yellow, marking the change of seasons. It’s ages since I’ve been able to get out to photograph at the lineside this time of year. Will I find time in 2024? I hope so, but blue skies remain elusive. There’s the odd patch here South of Peterborough but hardly wall to wall.

14:05.

I was right about making up time. Say what you like about the ‘Azuma’ trains but they can’t half shift. Our 2 minute late departure from Leeds has morphed into passing Hitchin 2 minutes early! Shame the weather’s not been as scintillating as we seem to be heading into a mass of clouds…

17:15.

S’cuse the gap but it’s been a hectic few hours. I didn’t hang around for more than a few minutes at Kings Cross. only long enough to grab a couple of pictures before making my way across to Waterloo via Thameslink and London Bridge, thence SoutheEastern to Waterloo East. The reason for my haste was that the ‘celebrity’ BR blue liveried Class 455 was in traffic and due to pay a visit on the country end of a service. Here it is.

Shiny! Well, the paint job is. The train underneath it is a different matter!

I didn’t stay for a ride, instead I caught an earlier service to Clapham Junction so that I had a second bite of the photographic cherry.

Frustratingly, the sun remained hidden behind clouds until the last few minutes before I had to leave. What a difference a bit of sunshine makes.

Now I’m heading to Farnham on a packed 17:02 off the Junction. Today’s obviously not the day people are working from home!

20:20.

And relax!

I’m now at Platt mansions in Tilford and it’s time to relax with Dawn for the evening. Tomorrow we drive back to Yorkshire so there’s no trains for me – although there may just be chance to take a look at an HS2 worksite on the way back. We’ll see…

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28th March picture of the day…

28 Thursday Mar 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in Grand Central trains, London, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways

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Grand Central, London, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways

Today’s been a quiet one here at Bigland Towers. Both us us have been at home working away in our respective office spaces. Poor Dawn’s feeling frazzled as it’s coming up to the end of the financial year – which always leaves her buried under a mound of invoices and other paperwork. This year it’s coincided with an early Community Rail Awards, and now – Easter, so the midnight oil’s ablaze. Whilst Dee’s been busy bashing the keyboard I’ve tried to keep her topped up with coffee in-between tackling my own paperwork and picture editing. Still, the holidays start tomorrow, which means work will wind down – even if it doesn’t stop completely. We’ll at least have the opportunity for some quality time together, although if we have nothing in the way of exciting events or days out planned, which is probably just as well because the forecast is predicting just the sort of weather you associate with Bank Holidays. Wet! Maybe we’ll have one of those DIY and cooking sort of breaks. I’m quite happy staying away from the roads and railways over a holiday like Easter as it’s much more relaxing than joining the throngs all trying to get away at exactly the same time. We’ll see…

Right now, whilst Dawn’s still wading through papers, I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which was taken yesterday at London’s Kings Cross station. I’ll bet it doesn’t look this quiet tomorrow! Here’s two of open access operator Grand Central’s small fleet in-between duties. On the right is one of their Alstom built Class 180s, which form the (temperamental) backbone of their fleet. In fact, GC are the sole operator of the class nowadays. On the left is one of the two Bombardier built ‘Voyagers’ the company has leased to cover for unavailable 180s. Seeing them side by side gives the opportunity to compare and contrast the styling of the two different 125mph fleets, both built at the same time (2000-2001). Of course, the Voyagers were built as tilting trains so the bodyshell profile is rather different to the non-tilting 180s.

Having arrived from Bradford Interchange, 221143 rests between turns, keeping company with 180103 which had worked in from Sunderland earlier that morning.

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Rolling blog. A capital day out…

27 Wednesday Mar 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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London, Photography, Railways, Travel

07:30.

I’m on my way to London for the day to catch up with an old friend from Singapore, who’s over in the UK for a few days. I’ve known Nicholas Lim for around 10 years. Having first met up in Thailand we’ve kept in contact through the power of social media. Our last meeting was in Singapore almost exactly a year ago, so it’ll be good to see him again and look at some changes to the capital’s rail network.

Sadly, the wet and grey weather we’re still suffering from in the Pennines is going to be replicated in London. Still, there’ll be plenty to see and do…

Right now I’m on Northern’s 06:53 from Halifax to Leeds to catch my onward connection to London. I was tempted to catch Grand Central’s 07:11 direct service to Kings Cross which is being worked by one of their leased Class 221s today, but this way I get there ahead of it, giving me chance to get pictures of it arriving.

Feel free to pop back later to see how the day unfolds…

07:50.

Of course, there’s another compensation of travelling to London via Leeds rather than direct. My capital bound service is LNER’s 07:41 which originates in Skipton. It’s diagrammed to be worked by one of the company’s loco-hauled sets and true enough (albeit running 7 minutes late) I’m now being pushed to London by this machine. 91111, named ‘For the fallen’. There’s a second bonus. The old Mk4 train sets have a ‘quiet’ coach at the very rear, behind the engine. You can almost always get a table seat here.

09:20.

Today’s not been a vintage one when it comes to timekeeping. We’re currently speeding towards our next stop at Peterborugh 15 minutes later than scheduled as we’ve accrued further delays en-route. Still, the weather’s picked up. There’s sunshine, blue skies and cumulus clouds filling my window – and I have coffee – so I’m not complaining!

18:55.

Well, that was a crap rolling blog, wasn’t it? The day started so well too. Nick and I met up at Kings Cross as soon as I arrived in London. After getting a few pictures the pair of us headed for St Pancras where we caught a Thameslink service to Farringdon in order to board a ‘Lizzie line train Westwards to Ealing. That’s when things started to fall apart. Lizzie line services towards Heathrow were either cancelled or delayed. We decided to make our way to Paddington, then await further instructions. Problem was – the instructions we got after an enquiry at Paddington meant we wasted time. TfL staff directed us up to the mainline station, where a member of GWR staff denied all knowledge of trains to Ealing and brusquely directed us back to the TfL station. That’s when I spotted this.

By the time we returned to the Lizzy line station information (and trains) had been updated, enabling us to get a packed service to West Ealing in deteriorating weather. Then another disappointment kicked in. The battery train wasn’t running. It’d been replaced by a two-car diesel. As Nick had never travelled the route we completed an out and back trip anyway. Bad move! By the time we got back to West Ealing there’d been a power failure which led to many TfL and GWR services being cancelled. After hiding from the rain for 25 mins whilst we weighed up our options a London-bound service arrived from Heathrow, so we made our way back to Paddington. After grabbing a few pictures we swapped to the Underground for the short hop to Euston Square. It was time for lunch, so I took Nick to an old haunt. The ‘Ravi Shankar’ Indian veg restaurant in nearby Drummond St, where we both consumed one of their excellent ‘Mysore thalis’

Suitably stuffed and with the weather brightening up I gave a brief tour and explanation of the stalled HS2 construction work before we headed to Euston so that Nick could exprience the train transition between the ‘old’ Siemens built class 350s and new Alstom built Class 730s – which I consider the best of the company’s new trains.

By now we’d eaten into most of my day so it was time to head to Kings Cross and routes home – until our next meeting…

Right now I’m heading back to Leeds on a packed LNER service whilst Nick’s headed South of the river.

I’ll add the few pictures I’ve managed to get to my Zenfoilo website tomorrow.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

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Rolling blog. Siemens surprise…

04 Monday Mar 2024

Posted by Paul Bigland in London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Siemens, Travel

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London, Photography, Rolling blogs, Siemens

06:00.

Another early start here in South London. Whilst I’m closer to where I need to be it’s still a trek to get to today’s main event. Siemens are holding a press conference at their signalling factory as Chippenham, Wiltshire, where they’re going to make a major announcement about investment. What will it be? Who will be there? I’ll found out later this morning. But right now I’ve got to get there, which means getting an 06:28 train to Reading. I’ll be blogging throughout the day, so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to…

06:40.

It’s a surprise no longer. Siemens have sent out their press release, announcing that they’re going to replace their Chippenham factory (the old Westinghouse Brake and Signal establishment) with a brand-new, state of the art production facility in a £100m investment (more later)…

Meanwhile, I’m making my way to Reading aboard an elderly class 455, not that I’m complaining. At least this service is running! When I pitched up at Clapham I noticed a series of services were cancelled, including the Shepperton line, due to a track inspection.

07:15.

If nothing else it’s a lovely journey along the Reading line today. It’s a beautifully sunny but frosty morning with low sunlight and mist that’s creating wonderful shadows amongst the trees that line so much of the route.

09:32.

Ready for the main event…

And we’re off. Look who’s here…

12:20.

Well, that was short and sweet. Announcement over the great and good (and not so good) dispersed with most folk heading back to London – including me as I travelled with an old friend from Porterbrrok who’s now working for the Rail Industry Association (RIA). Siemens had pulled off their 2nd PR coup in as many weeks, first they got the PM and Cabinet meeting at their new factory in Goole. Today they’d got the Chancellor (and so the media) along to their Chippenham announcement.

14:15.

Having passed West Ealing on the way into London and noticing this old friend (in a new guise) I couldn’t resist nipping out to get a picture. The last time I saw this unit was when I was working with Vivarail up at Cop26 in Glasgow.

17:25.

Whilst finding the GWR battery unit was a bonus, that was the last one of the day. What had been glorious weather changed rapidly as clouds moved in from the South and temperatures plummeted. Their seemed little point in hanging around so I made my way into Central London, only to find that another old friend was in the area (the power of social media) so we met up for a ‘swifty’ at Euston to catch up on each other’s railway tales. Now I’m Northbound again, heading to Manchester up the West Coast Main Line on a quiet Pendolino, which is giving me chance to set up the mobile office in order to edit some of today’s pictures – some of which will appear on this blog later…

18:35.

Ho hum. My journey back North’s dragging (but then so were the brakes). We left Euston 10 minutes late due to the Driver having an issue with said train brakes which meant he had to do a train reset. It got us moving, but we continued to lose time all along the route as we weren’t running on tilt. Now, we’re crawling along the line from Macclesfield towards Stockport as – having lost our path – we’re running behind a local all-stations stopping service. We’re currently 32 minutes behind time.

19:25.

A non-stop dash from station to station has seen me arrive in time to catch Northern’s 19:22 from Manchester Victoria to Leeds. It’s been a long day and I’m looking forward to getting home. Looking around my fellow passengers on this busy train I can see I’m not the only one feeling that way!

21:55.

I’m home and it’s time to call it a day. Here’s a last couple of pictures to keep you entertained until tomorrow.

Battery safety is being taken very seriously…

I noticed several Hitachi 800s running around with their nose end doors open today. Is there a technical issue?

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Rolling blog. Another positioning move…

03 Sunday Mar 2024

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

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London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

16:40.

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

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

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

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

18:10.

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

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

18:30.

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

19:20.

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

00:15.

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

Expect another rolling blog tomorrow as the day unfolds…

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

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Paul Bigland

~ Blogging on transport, travel & whatever takes my fancy.

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