There’s been a change of plan. I was meant to be staying at home writing but the weather has changed and given me chance to do the exploring I need to complete an article. So I’m off to Sheffield, although I can do some writing and research on the way. Feel free to follow me through the day and see what I get up to…
09:55.
Not a bad day for being out! Here’s the view across Sowerby Bridge and the Calder Valley taken from my walk up the hill to Spring Edge on the way into Halifax.
10:45.
Hmm, timetables on the Calder Valley seem to be up the spout this morning due to late running. On the bright side I walked straight onto a busy Halifax – Hull service that was ready to depart so I should easily make my connection at Leeds for a Cross-Country service to Sheffield.
11:50.
All’s going well. The 11:11 Leeds – Sheffield is a 9 car so I’ve managed to find a seat, plug in the laptop and do some writing. Now we’re on the apprach to Sheffield where I’ll be swapping train for other public transport.
12:45.
I’ve exchanged train for tram. Now I’m exploring areas of Sheffield I’ve not visited in years!
14:25.
Now I am off piste. Here’s a clue…
It doesn’t look like this anymore!
18:50.
Sorry for the blogging gap but I’ve been busy exploring an area I’ve only passed through before so never got to know. The Don valley out to Stocksbridge proved to be really interesting for a whole host of reasons – most of which I’ll have to blog about later as I’m currently writing this update from my phone whilst sat in the luggage bay of a Cross-Country Voyager from Sheffield to Leeds!
Stocksbridge isn’t the easiest place to get to by public transport. The trams run out at Middlewood. After that its buses, which aren’t that frequent or reliable. There’s a lot of house building in the valley bottom. Much of it cheek by jowel with the old railway. That said, the railway’s really on the wrong side of the valley to be much use. Plus, the original stations closed 60 – 70 years ago. The land surrounding them is now completely built up.
22:30.
Back at home after a very interesting day that’s left me with a lot of mixed feelings and a whole load of stuff to write about if I had the time, but tomorrow I’ve an article to finish on the back of some of today’s research.
I love my job. I love being able to explore the way I have today – even when the experiences aren’t always positive – although I have to say the interactions I’ve had with the residents of the Don valley I’ve met and talked to have been good. That said, seeing someone proudly flying an Ulster Volunteer Force flag in their back garden was rater jarring. I wish I had time to write more about my trip. Instead, I’ll have to leave you with a couple of pictures.
This was once an electrified main-line between Manchester and Sheffield. Now it’s abandoned as the last freight traffic has ended. This is Beeley wood. The most powerful trams in the UK, but then when you look at the hills around Sheffield, they need to be! Here’s tram 112 on Langsett Rd, Hillsborough working a service to Malin Bridge.
I’ll publish more pictures and links to the article after it’s published. Until then…
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 was up with the lark to prepare myself for another day out looking at aspects of the UK’s railways. Yesterday it was training, today it’s innovation. I’m off to have a look at a conversion of a member of a class of locomotive that’s UKs oldest design still in regular service, the venerable Class 08 diesel shunter.
1057 of the 350hp Class 08s were built between 1952 and 1962. Based on an earlier design by the LMS railway they became to standard UK shunting engine, despite their single cab and limited visibility. They’re still in service today although in vastly reduced numbers. This is 08683, seen at Eastleigh on the 29th September this year.
I’ll write about this in detail later. Right now I’ve got to make my way to Chesterfield. I’ll blog throughout the day so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to.
08:20.
Well, there’s been some spectacular skies this morning thanks to low sun and broken cloud reflecting the light, but after that things started falling apart. My first train of the day is a Grand Central service from Halifax to Wakefield Kirkgate where I have a four minute cross platform connection with a train to Sheffield. There’s just one problem. GC left Bradford 3 minutes late and left Halifax 5 minutes late – and we haven’t stopped at Brighouse or Mirfield yet! Now, in theory – we may be able to pull a minute or so back as timings on this section are pedestrian at best, but I’m not optimistic…
A rather battered 180114 arrives at Halifax from Bradford.
We’ve just left Mirfield and made up no time at all. Will I make my connection at Wakefield, well, we have a clear run, so we just might do it, but it’ll be tight!
08:48.
A check of Real Time Trains tells me that nowadays this service stands at Horbury Junction for nearly 10 mins due to pathing. It always used to do this in Wakefield itself. So, now I should make my connection as we’re passing Horbury now.
09:25.
Well, that was a classic bit of piss-poor train regulation! Having passed Horbury Jn my CG service was signal-checked twice before being allowed into Kirkgate. We sat, just outside the station to allow my connection (the service to Lincoln, which left EARLY) to speed past us in the opposite direction!
Thankfully, running just a few minutes behind is a local stopping service to Sheffield which will allow me to make my connection but reduce my time between trains. Mind you, looking at the weather that may be no bad thing. It’s grim out there!
10:05.
Not a vintage day on the railway. My 2 car train burbled its way as far as Meadowhall where it got stuck for some unknowable reason, arriving at Sheffield 5 mins late, giving me just 5 mins to make my connection with an East Midlands Railway service to London via Chesterfield. Only – that’s late too! Thank God I have a few minutes in the bank. And now for the scrum…
10:10.
We’re off. This 5 car Meridan is 25 mins late coming up from London, which hasn’t helped. Add in the usual confusion as folks try and find their reserved seats or ones that are free and the delays mount.
Still, my worries are over. I’ll make the connecting bus that’s being laid on to take us from Chesterfield to Barrow Hill so that’s all that matters. After this any delays don’t matter as I’m not against the clock.
10:35.
Impressive! Stagecoach’s Matt Kitchen in co-operation with Volvo have supplied an electric bus to get us to Barrow Hill.
11:20.
There’s a good turnout here at Barrow Hill.
Here are some technical details of the loco we’ve come to look at…
– and here’s the beast itself!
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Today’s going to be a long one! I’m currently enjoying a coffee in my room whilst checking my kit and making sure everything’s charged up and cleaned whilst keeping one eye on the TV weather reports. Today’s going to be mixed to say the least with a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers forecast, which should make things ‘interesting’ to say the least. The trainees on the electrification course are going to get a taste of what it’s really like working trackside in all weathers! Then, when we’re finished I’ve got to head back to West Yorkshire ready for another interesting event tomorrow.
I’ll blog throughout the day as I can so feel free to pop back and see what I’m getting up to.
08:35.
We’re kicking off here at the Jane Austin training scholl with a classroom lesson on OLE. The first briefing’s being given by Gary Keenor, who’s literally written the book on OLE.
Here’s the plan. Looks simple, doesn’t it?
Here’s some technical jargon for you.
One of the things I enjoy about jobs like this is that I get to learn things, in this case about the intricacies of overhead line engineering. It’s fascinating – especially when you have such knowledgeable trainers as Gary.
13:00.
Having enjoyed lunch and chance to dry out from the rain, it’s time to go back to training.
17:00.
We might have had a soggy morning but that was nothing to what arrived in the afternoon! The forecast was well out and none of the sunny periods expected arrived. Instead we had rain. Lashings of it! Thankfully I’d anticipated these conditions by packing a waterproof housing for my camera. Without it I’d never have been able to get pictures of the group working together to roll out and tension a cable run. I’ll add a couple of camera pictures later. The conditions mirrored those that rail staff face when they’re working, but it was a baptism of fire for trainees where many had never even been trackside before. The day finished early as there was no point in starting another activity after the cable run. So, whilst the rest of the gang made their way back to the hotel to dry off (on the outside, anyway) I hotfoot it to the station to get an earlier train. I’m now on the 16:40 from Swindon to Paddington. This is a busy train but I’ve managed to find a table bay in one of the rear coaches which had free seats. Now I’m enjoying watching the flooded Wiltshire countryside flash by as I head back to the capital.
19:10.
yet again my time in London was brief. I dived off the train at Paddington having chosen the best coach for the quickest route to the Metropolitan underground station (benefits of being an ex-Londoner) so made it to Kings Cross with a couple of minutes to spare in order to catch an earlier train. I’m now on the 18:03 to Leeds which will get me home nearly an hour earlier than I was originally expecting.
Admittedly, the train’s packed, not helped by the fact it’s only a five-car Azuma to Skipton where the first stop was Peterborough. I’ve been resident of a vestibule since the ‘Cross as the seats vacated by ‘posh’ commuters were soon filled by others joining form points East.
22:00.
I’m home and dry – literally! Dawn was good enough to come to the station to pick me up so I’m now letting my PPE air. The weather here in West Yorkshire’s damp but nowhere near as wet as Wiltshire was which is a relief – especially as I’m out and about again tomorrow, only this time on a rather different event – all will be revealed as it happens!
I said I’d post a couple of camera pictures from today – so here they are…
Putting those earlier plans into practice…
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Today I’m travelling from Halifax to Swindon where I’ll be spending the night in a hotel ready for a commission tomorrow. In railway terms it’s known as a positional move.
Right now I’m on an LNER ‘Azuma’ from Leeds to London, having travelled to Yorkshire’s most bustling city on a busy 3-car Northern service via Bradford.
800102 working the 10:45 from Leeds to Kings Cross.
11:20.
We’re currently at Doncaster, waiting for the road South. This train’s fairly quiet so I’ve bagged a table bay to myself in coach C as most people never venture towards the back of the train. There may be a storm on the way and tomorrow’s job (outdoors) may get ‘interesting’ but here in Yorkshire we’ve high cloud and hazy sunshine. I’m hoping to be able to garner some library shots on my way but as I’m loaded down with a suitcase with all my PPE I’m not going to be venturing far from stations en-route.
Right now there’s time to settle down and do some work – as well as catch up with the latest copy of RAIL magazine which includes my article on HS2 and the bridge over the route near Aylesbury.
12:20.
With the train having called at Peterborough (and stood to time as we were four minutes early) my coach has filled out a bit with a mixture of American tourists, students and what look like day-trippers, all heading for the capital. The weather’s continuing to improve the further I head South. We’ve clear blue skies and cottonwool clouds with long periods of sunshine. Long may that continue! Right now we’re speeding across the Cambridgeshire flatlands ahead of time yet again.
There’s an interesting contrast in this coach. The party of middle-aged and younger Americans are sat chatting. I can’t see them as they’re sat behind me, but I can hear them. In the table bay opposite are three women students. There’s not a word being spoken. One’s sat there with headphones on, staring at her smartphone. Of the pair opposite her one’s on her phone whilst the other has it on the table in front of her as she gazes out of the window.
13:35.
My visit to the capital was brief. I didn’t hang around at Kings Cross because it’s a regular haunt so I immediately headed for the Underground
I decided to cut time short when I arrived at Paddington and saw how devoid of trains it was and how many services were shown as delayed. That was a shame as I rarely visit nowadays but there’s little to shoot in an empty station! In contrast trip across London on the underground was quick and easy. I only had a couple of minutes to wait at Kings Cross St Pancras before a Metropolitan line train arrived to whisk me away.
Comfortable but uncrowded conditions on the Met…
Right now i’m on the 13:31 hrading for Cheltenham Spa as it was the first available train I can use to get as far as Reading
17:25.
I’ve made it to Swindon via a few stopovers on the way, including one at Didcot where I came across evidence of another terminally stupid and short-sighted Tory transport decision. The line from Didcot to Oxford was being electrified when then Transport Minister Crhis (failing) Grayling cancelled the project. Contractors literally walked away from the sceme when it was half-completed, wasting £ms of pounds. Sound familiar? Yep, it’s the usual dither and delay we’ve come to expect from this rotton government. Here’s the legacy. Electric services from Paddington terminate here with a diesel shuttle to Oxford. Madness.
Right, it’s time for me to go to work and meet the good folks from the Permenant Way Institute who are here for their two day practical course which I’ll be shadowing.
22:00.
This blog’s no longer rolling! It’s time for me to call it a day and prepare for tomorrow as I’ve a busy day ahead. Breakfast kicks off at 06:30 before we head over to the training centre to don our PPE and for the students to get experience of what it’s like actually building and installing overhead electrification trackside. There’s a great bunch of participants from all areas of the rail industry so I’m really looking forward to the challenge of getting the pictures needed – despite the weather.
In the meantime, I’ll leave you with on last picture from the day. This is how electrified Thames valley services look nowadays with the diesels displaced and sent to Bristol and beyond. Here’s a Paddington – Didcot service calling at Twyford earlier this afternoon.
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 a day full of sunshine and the promise of decent photographic weather. I’ve a dinner date with my in-laws this evening near Huddersfield so I’m going to take the long way there, taking the camera with me to have a look at progress on the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade to see if there’s anything worth getting shots of. I’ll blog through the day, so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to…
12:00.
I’ve made it as far as Dewsbury having arrived here from Sowerby Bridge. Trains are packed today. My three-car was full and standing from Sowerby and rammed after Mirfield. The good weather’s bringing everyone out – including the rail-alers doing the railway pub-crawl. This isn’t the best day for exploring as the Trans-Pennine route West of Huddersfield is closed so services are much reduced. Even ao, there’s a few pictures to be had and sites to note.
My train departs from Dewsbury.
15:15.
Sorry for the gap but I’ve been busy shuttling between Dewsbury and Brighouse whilst enjoying the gorgeous sunshine – and dodging torrential showers! I’d intened to get a few lineside shots but the combination of low sun and rain made that foohardy, which is a shame – but hey ho. Instead I took the opportunity to enjoy Brighouse station joining the TPE network. Right now I’m on my way to Huddersfield, having stopped the latest weather bullet in the shape of this storm that’s just passed over Dewsbury. I didn’t make it to the cover of the canopy before the heavens opened.
Here’s 802213 working 9M32, the 1244 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street.
At Brighouse – which joined the TPE network for the day – I captured 802209 stopping at the station whilst working 1P25, the 1154 Liverpool Lime Street to Newcastle.
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/
Up at sparrow-fart once more. It’s a busy morning here at Bigland Towers. I’m preparing to head out for the day and Dawn is busy with her HIT (High Intensity Training) workout in the living room. The weather’s hardly conducive to early starts. It’s dark and cold outside now that temperatures have returned to their seasonal averages rather then the bizarre ones we’ve had recently. According to the thermometer it’s just 3 degrees.
I’ll be walking down to Sowerby Bridge station shortly to catch my first train of the day to Manchester. I’m planning another foray out to Glossop and area. I’ll be blogging throughout the day, so let’s see what happens…
07:35.
Walking downhill to the station was fun this morning. Looking across the valley from the bedroom window it looked everywhereas covered in fog. Once I’d left the house and descended ahundred meters or so the valley was clear. Then, when I looked behind me I realise our cottage was up in cloud level!
I’m now on the late- running 07:22 to Manchester which is a busy four-car set.
07:50.
We’ve now left Todmorden and this train’s getting very busy. As we traversed the Calder valley I realised Sowerby Bridge is lucky as everywhere else IS covered in fog! Today’s the first day of autumn where I’ve observed commuters wearing hats and gloves. Shorts are confined to the back of the cupboard for now. Judging by the number of people clutching hot drinks the local coffee shops will be happy with the change in the weather!
07:55.
We’ve passed through the Summit tunnel into Lancashire and – as is often the case – there’s very different weather on the other side. Rochdale has no fog at all. Instead it’s bathed in winter sunshine!
08:38.
Here’s how busy my train was as it approached Manchester Victoria – and what it was like trying to get through the gateline.
Right now I’m on the train out to Glossop which is much more relaxed as we’re going againt the flow. There’s just a handful of us in the front car. Several of those are young women all using their phones as mirrors as they apply their make-up!
09:25.
The light’s lovely this morning so I stopped off in the middle of nowhere to get a few pictures. Let’s have a guessing game with the station name. It carries the same name a former member of the band “10cc”.
Not a rubber bullet in sight…
10:20.
I’m having a quick break here in Glossop whilst I have a coffee in the lovely little Twig coffee house on the station – and respond to a couple of work emails to sort out next week’s jobs.
The old ticket office (the window is to the right).
Here’s one of my camera pictures showing the old 1,500 dc electrification structures that still predominate along the line, although this section’s had the contact wires simplified.
15:15.
That was a busy few hours! I’ve been exploring the area around Broadbottom station in order to get a few scenic shots in open country as well as check out the remains of the old fan of sidings that was Mottram yard. They were already abandoned when I was a kid, having closed in about 1970 but the arrival sidings remained open for loco changes from electric to diesel. Now the whole site’s woodland. Only a few clues as to their former use remain.
The yard was to the left. The remains of the short platforms for Mottram staff halt can be seen on the remaining lines. The view’s looking towards Manchester.
15:30.
Time for a refreshment break and a beer I’ve never tried before. The glass tells the tale…
18:35.
Home time. Well, heading back across the Pennines at least. I’ve manged to get most of the pictures I was after before the sun disappeared. Plus I’ve had an interesting time exploring and discovering new places. I’ll add a few pics from the camera later. Right now, it’s standing room only on the 18:21 From Manchester Victoria. So much for “but no-one’s travelling by train anymore”.
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 a few days at home blogging about our lying Prime Minister and the deceit that’s “Network North” I’m having an interlude. Don’t worry, there’ll be another blog on Sunak and his sorry sorry saga of deception and incompetence this evening!
After an appointment in Sowerby Bridge that prevented me leaving earlier I’m now on a train to Manchester as the weather’s really too good to miss and I still have a long list of pictures I need to work my way through for a client. Feel free to pop back and see what I get up to as I’m not entirely sure what that’ll be myself!
Back to short trains and no stabiliser rail…
14:35.
After a relaxing (and sunny) journey to Manchester I added to my daily step total by walking between Victoria and Piccadilly stations through a busy city centre. En-route a plan had formed in my mind, so I’m now on the 14:33 to Glossop. I’m going to be looking at a couple of potential picture locations en-route – and a stop at one of the most misnamed stations in England…
“No mate, this isn’t the train to Stoke!”
15:45.
Maybe I should retitle this blog as the sunshine interlude didn’t last long at all this side of the Pennines!
My visit to Glossop lasted all of 30 mins. Just long enough to recconoitre a few photo sites as the light changed which was rather frustrating. Still, it means I have ideas worked out for the future. Plus, I did update my images of the gorgeous station at Glossop which still boasts a ticket office, barrier staff and a great little cafe.
Glossop station. The former ticket office to the right is now a lovely little cafe. There’s still an office here but it’s moved closer to the gateline.
15:55.
Having had a spin to Hadfield on the Glossop shuttle I’m about to head back towards Manchester.
The end of the line at Hadfield. The last stop on what was then the famous Woodhead freight only route to Penistone which closed in 1981.
16:55.
The beauty of this job is that you get to explore. Some places are better than others but they all add to your knowledge and experience. Here’s a station that only opened in 1985 but those naming it obviously had a sense of humour and tongues firmly in cheek. Meet ‘Flowery Field’…
Seriously?
Apparently, the name is due to its proximity to one of Manchester’s biggest parks. You’d be forgiven for not knowing that as you pass through! I got off to explore at it’s only a few minutes walk from another station on a different line – Hyde North.
This area of Manchester is pretty run down but there was a ray of hope as I cut through a nearby cul-de-sac although it took a minute to sink in. I passed several children playing in the street, drawing on the pavement with coloured chalk – just as my generation did half a century and more ago. They were outdoors interacting with their peers, not stuck indoors in their rooms ‘virtually’ interacting with people miles (or even continents) away.
Hyde North stations and it’s environs lived down to expectations and made me realise why I’d never bothered stopping. It has no architectural merit apart from the old footbridge. There’s a couple of basic shelters of modern design but that’s it. Admittedly, the local friends group have tried to brighten the place up with some art (and good for them) but I fear they’re trying to push water uphill! The area surrounding the station’s a mix of residential and commercial with little appeal. This is as good as it got.
19:30.
My return home way delayed by ‘shit happens’. I decided to have a quick pint in the city centre and ended up helping a woman who limped into the pub after twisting an ankle. She was both embarrassed and tearful so I ended up staying with her and helping her limp to a taxi before the cavalry arrived in the shape of some of her former pupils (she’s a Teacher) in town on a night out. Good deed done for the day I arrived at Victoria to find the new pub on the station was open for business and buzzing.
I’d passed the Victoria Tap earlier but fitting out work was still going on – even though pumpclips were advertising what draught beers were ready. I asked the young lady who served me how long they’d been open. Her reply was “about 3 hours!”
The tap’s only small. It’s a narrow two room establishment at the end of the station but it has a beer garden out back which is by the tram tracks and underneath the station roof. The range of beers is good and the prices are very competitive. A pint of ‘Farmers Blonde’ cost me £4.20.
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/
Our time in Surrey has come to an end. Now we’re busy packing as we’ll be driving back to West Yorkshire later today. That may be ‘fun’ due to extra traffic on the roads as today sees another strike in the long-running labour dispute on the railways – which the government are doing nothing to resolve as they see it playing into their hands politically.
Plus, whilst the weather’s still lovely ‘darn sarf’ friends back home have told us to expect to return to heavy rain. Ho hum. Well, at least I won’t have to water the garden when I get in! As we’re in no rush we’ll be nipping out for coffee and cake with a neighbour for we leave. The local pub has sublet an outhouse in their beer-garden which has become a food hub. There’s now a coffe shop cafe occupying the place whilst the outside of the buildi g is home to a pizza oven run as a seperate business.
13:45.
Suitably fortified with coffee and cake we’ve made it out of Surrey, round the M25 (busy but mostly free flowing) and onto the M1.
15:30.
After our traditional pitstop at Watford Gap services we’re now whizzing up the M1 in Leicestershire. The further we get from London the more the traffic thins – although lane discipline hasn’t improved. So many folk seem to have no idea how you drive on a motorway.Thy stick in the middle lane as if their car’s on rails! This leads to lots of damgerous weaving and undertaking as others try to get past them.
16:06.
Our luck – and the weather – held as far as Junction 28 (Matlock). Now we’re driving along in clouds of spray but traffic is flowing and the M1 remains quiet.
16:40.
Good job it’s a Saturday and there aren’t many of these on the road kicking up spray.
21:30.
We’re home safe and sound, unpacked and settled in for the night on what’s a wet end to the day and real contrast to where we’ve just come from. I’ve begun the marathon task of doing the first sift of the 1000s of pictures I’ve taken over the past week whilst Dawn’s relaxing and winding down after her long drive by watching some TV. Looking at the weather here back in West Yorkshire it seems we accidentally chose an ideal time to go away!
Still, tomorrow’s another month – and who knows where that will lead…
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 rain overnight the Surrey skies are threatening to play ball and come up with some sunshine for my final day in 3rd rail land. That would be ideal as I’ve a full day planned but one that’s reliant on clear skies for scenic shots.
Here’s a teaser for you. One of the stations I’m going to visit has what’s believed to be the only one left in the UK with its own water well. Can you guess where it is? I’ll give you the answer later.
Right now I’m on an earlier train than usual as the ongoing industrial dispute has knocked my normal Farnham – Guildford service out of the timetable. So, no pictures of loadings on the 08:58 to Waterloo I’m afraid. Instead i’m on the 08:35 from Farnham formed of a 4-car Class 450. As you can see, there’s plenty of spare seats.
10:30.
The Weather’s living up to the forecast and the skies are clearing. I’ve just left Guildford after an hour there taking pictures of services through the area (pics later). There’s a very handy footbridge spanning the junctions to the North of the station that’s an ideal vantage point. It’s also a great place for people watching too as it now leads to the huge University of Surrey campus. Watching the constant stream of students made me realise just how many of our academic institutions are reliant on overseas applicants. I remember seeing all the adverts for UK universities when I was staying in Malaysia earlier this year. And yet, the government seems intent on creating a less than welcoming atmosphere for people with their rhetoric and actions.
After a quich change from a packed Waterloo bound service at Woking I’m now on a more relaxed 5 car Class 444 heading for Portsmouth the long way round via Eastleigh and Fareham. The Conductor has announced we won’t be stopping at Fleet today due to the emergency services dealing with ‘an incident’ – which sounds ominous. Hopefully it’s not a fatality.
On this part of the trip I’m using the excellent line guide published by Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership. It’s packed full of useful information on the towns en-route and includes both local and railway history, places and sights to see and pubs and cafe’s to visit.
I love guides like this as you learn so much about the areas you pass through. OK, admittedly some of it is whimsical and of little use other than for setting quiz questions. For example. The Bridge Inn, the pub you see from the train at Shawford? It was the location of the demise of Victor Meldrew in the final episode of “one foot in the grave”!
12:30.
I’m now heading for Southampton after a flying visit to Romsey which is an interesting little place. I’d liked to have explored the town but I’m on a tight schedule. The imposing station building oerched atop an embankment is only part-used although the ground floor still boasts a ticket off and waiting room. There’s a tiny cafe with seats on the platform which is run by Marco who’s now expanded to Shawford. There’s also an 1870s signalbox just a few minutes walk away which has been restored to working order and opens to the public.
12:55.
Now I’m hoping the pace will slow a little as I wait for trains and the sun to coincide at St Denys. Not actually at the station tho’ but by the river (where the tide’s in), as you’ll see shortly..
Here’s me, hard at work…
There’s a large element of chance involved here. Will the sun stay out? Will a train in the current livery arrive at the right time? It’s all beyond my control. All I can do is be patient…
15:25.
I managed to get the shots I wanted so decided to be optimist and go for a second bite of the cherry further down the line at Bursledon where the railway crosses another of the three rivers. At this point the river’s cammed with yachts and motorboats. It’s like being on the set of ‘Howards Way” (a 1970s yachty soap opera) but it makes a great scenic location for what I was after.
Now I’m on the move again, hoping to fit in one last scenic location if time, trains and weather allow…
18:45.
Things didn’t quite go to plan for a variety of reasons. The railway timetable began to fall apart as I headed East so I decided not to sally forth into the countryside. After all, I’d planned an hour long walk to get what would have been at best two pictures. Instead, I changed trains at Fratton and caught a late running Waterloo service that had most of its stops cut to get to Havant where I picked up another train to Haslemere. By then all the schools had chucked out so the trains were awash with teenagers. Some were very well behaved, others entitled arses. I’ve noticed that people putting their feet on seats is endemic down here, no matter what your social status.
After getting a few last shots of a working mechanical lever-framed signalbox (although you wouldn’t know it from the outside) I caught another late-running train back to Guildford. I’m here enjoying a quick pint whilst watching the world go by. I really like Guildford, apart from one thing. The traffic.
Getting from the station into the town centre involves negotiating multiple layers of sub-ring road full of cars where 90% have a single occupant.
As it’s a Friday it’s not just cars occupying Guildford, there’s a mass influx of people (mostly young) starting their weekend revelries. Events are fascinating to watch if you’re interested in observing the human condition. But, at the same time they’re rather depressing. There’s an element of ‘the last days of Pompeii’ about it.
19:30.
Time to go home. I’ve swum against the tide to get to the station and board the 19:23 to Farnham. I don’t envy rail staff working today as things are already getting messy – including this train – which is littered with fast food wrappers and other detritus. Standards certainly seem to have slipped in the South in the 13 years since I moved North. Many of our trains aren’t this bad!
It looks OK. What you can’t see is all the crap left on the seats or have your nostrils assaulted by the permeating smell of fried fast food…
21:00.
I’m now back at ‘home’ in Tilford, downloading today’s pictures so here’s a few images from my camera rather then just phone pictures.
GWR Class 158s 158958 and 158765 work 1F13, the 1205 Westbury to Portsmouth Harbour as it crosses the River Itchen after leaving St Denys. A few miles further East at Bursledon, 450066 crosses the river Hamble whilst working 2E40, the 1338 Portsmouth & Southsea to Southampton Central.
Oh, before I go I promised to tell you which station still has a well. I didn’t manage to get there today, so a return trip is on the cards, but the answer is…Rowlands Castle.
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 begins at Clapham. After a lovely evening in with an old friend, catching up with each other’s lives and events it’s time to start another busy day. First, I’ve got to get across London to Kings Cross…
The overbridge at Clapham Junction’s a lot less cluttered nowadays. Many of the kiosks located there never survived the Covid years.
Train No 1 is a busy Class 455 heading to Waterloo. Looking around the car I’m struck by how many people are ‘plugged in’ via headphones, cutting off one of their five senses. Most are also staring at screens. I see two people reading newspapers, a massive change on just a few short years when this train would be littered with discarded copies of ‘Metro’ on its next trip out of Waterloo.
07:40
Now I’m on an old haunt – the Victoria line, which is still quiet this time of day as the morning peak has spread out more thanks to flexibje working.
09:30.
Having had a very pleasant journey on a busy LNER train to Leeds from Kings Cross I’ve time for a coffee and to catch up with some emails before meeting Pip Dunn. The cafe on platform 4’s gone upmarket since I first started coming here…
10:00.
And so it starts. Next stop – Ipswich…
11:10.
The first train to be put through its paces is one of Greater Anglia’s Stadler built 4-car, bi-mode class 755. Whilst Pip’s busy with his tape-measure and spreadsheets I’ve been occupied taking pictures of different aspects and details of the vehicles internal layouts.
12:15.
Now for a completely different product for a trip from Ipswich to London Liverpool St. The all electric Anglia Class 720 ‘Aventras’ were built by Bombardier (now Alstom).
15:20.
We’re now on the way to Norwich on something a little more luxurious and stylish…
1st Class in an Anglia Class 745. Cycle spaces on 745007. The clue’s on the window…The best seat in the house. In this case it’s the rear cab of 745007.
16:30.
The job ended in Norwich, by which time we’d tried out, tested, photographed and measured three different types of train. What did we think? You can read all about that in future editions of RAIL magazine!
Right now I’m heading back towards London on the same class 745 we tested earlier, only now I’m in standard class! This train’s not as busy as the one we came up from London on (that was packed) but it’s filling up as we head South. Sadly, the weather’s not really conducive to lineside photography. I’d considered stopping off on the way to get some exterior shots of the train types we’ve tested today but the weather doesn’t look like it’s going to play ball. Never mind, I’ve a camera full of pictures to edit anyway.
22:00.
Home again! The weather didn’t improve en-route to the capital so I stayed on the train all the way to Liverpool St. My, how things have changed there since I was a regular visitor. Not a single BR era train is left in service with any of the operators using the station. Now it’s all ‘Aventra’ derivatives or products from Stadler – quite a transformation for a main-line London terminus as all the others (bar Fenchurch St) still see the older fleets putting in an appearance on service trains.
A greater Anglia 5-car Class 720 Aventra ready to depart Liverpool St with a service to Ely.These Class 710 London Overground Aventras have replaced the BR built Class 315/317 fleets.
Tomorrow’s our final day in this neck of the woods and the weather’s due to improve, so I’ll be making one last foray on 3rd rail metals for now. I’m not quite sure where to yet as there’s disruption expected tomorrow due to strike action ‘working to rule’ which will affect some SWR services. I’ll make my mind up in the morning.
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 