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09:15.
Off again! Today’s a bright sunny day here in West Yorkshire although I was dismayed to see we’d had an early morning shower the forecast had failed to predict as I’d left some washing out overnight! Ho hum..
Now, after walking into Halifax whilst enjoying the rising temperatures I’m aboard Northern’s 08:54 to York which is taking me East towards my ultimate destination – the East Yorkshire coast and the rail line from Hull to Scarborough via Bridlington. I last traversed the line in 2019. Since then there’s been several changes which require a picture library update. I’m playing catch-up in this respect due to Covid clipping my travel wings, leading to a 2-year hiatus in documenting many lines. Sometimes I think we should add PC (pre-Covid) to the lexicon in the same way be have BC and AD.
Looking at the live running schedules I suspect I’m in for another ‘interesting’ day on the railways due to late-running and cancellations. My onward connection at Church Fenton’s been cancelled so I’m going to change at Leeds. There is a direct Halifax-Hull service at 09:17 but I note the next one after that’s cancelled already. I’ll see what happens when I get to Leeds…
I’ll be blogging throught the day so feel free to pop back to see how the day unfolds!
10:15.
Sometimes, trains running late works to your advantage. I’m currently relaxing aboard a TPE service to Hull which was 25 mins late at Leeds. Catching this rather than my Northern ‘stopper’ made sense. Besides, it has tables AND plug sockets, something the dear old Northern 158 can only dream of. Plus, the tables are at a sensible height and don’t cut off the circulation in your legs.
Whilst I was at Leeds this unusual visitor rolled in on service from Sheffield. One of the very first Class 150s. Built as three cars, these units spent most of their working life in the Birmingham area until they were transferred to Northern.
12:00.
I knew it was going to be one of those days! On arrival at Hull I found my 11:21 train to Brid was cancelled. This was curious as it was shown on many systems as still running. Then the penny dropped. It ‘was’ running from Sheffield to Hull – where there was a crew change for the onward journey to Bridlington. Hull (like Bradford Interchange) is one of those locations where crews change ends, so it has a traincrew depot where the staff have different route knowledge and work different diagrams, so no-one was available to take the service forward from Hull. This meant I was kicking my heels until the next departure at 11:59, which turned out to be a 2-car Class 158 to take three trainloads of people. Nice!
It’s events like this that put so many ordinary people off travelling by train. The combination of stubborn unions who can’t see the collateral damage their dispute is causing, plus and an equally obdurate government unwilling to negotiate as its playing politics is causing the rail industry untold harm.
17:30.
Apologies for the gap in updating but I’ve been busy exploring and checking out a place I’ve never really visited before and that’s never been on my ‘bucket list’ – Bridlington. Well, that was an eye-opener. I’m no stranger to UK seaside towns, I grew up in one after all – and I’ve visited them all. From Southend to Skegness, Bournemouth to Bangor. But Brid? Hmmm…
I have to be careful what I say here as some readers get upset when I talk about what some call ‘sizeism’. But we really (really) do need to talk about it. I spent half an hour around the prom and environs at Bridlington.
What I would say is that if you’re in any doubt that the UK is facing an obesity timebomb that’s going to explode on the NHS – then just spend some time here during the school holidays. Let’s just call it ‘onset diabetes on sea’ and move on – as I did – to Beverley. But before I did I garnered enough library shots that mean I shouldn’t need to darken the town’s doors for a long time – if ever.
To be fair, the town’s trying. There was some really interesting ecological landscaping around the station on the site of the old carriage sidings which was better than I’ve seen in many places – and the station staff have maintained their reputation for fantastic floral displays. It’s just a shame the famous old station pub has shut its doors for the last time.
Beverley’s a different world – and more mine. It’s an old market town with a cathedral that has a completely different atmosphere. The town was festooned with flags supporting ‘Pride’ week. Many restaurants had spilled out into the street with outside tables and people eating a variety of foods, not just fish or burgers and chips. In contrast to Brid – even the fries were skinny!
The town also boast a station with an impressive and original overall roof – although the NER footbridge is downsizing and losing its wooden roof.
19:00.
Much as I enjoyed a break in Beverley and the chance to reacquaint myself with the town I had one more place to try and tick off the list. Driffield. This is another station that used to have an overall roof but that was lost many years ago. Even so, some lovely buildings remain and the local station friends group have worked wonders with restoring derelict land at the back of some of the buildings – as well as by the extended car park.
As it’s a lovely evening I feel like I could stay out and make more of it, but I need to begin my journey West as I’ve a few more busy days ahead. Besides, the day’s not over yet…
20:00.
I was optimistic in hoping that the earlier spate of cancellations may have passed, but no such luck. Still, they’re a minor convenience and only a slight delay as the 20:15 Hull to Halifax is running. All I have to do is hang around for that. I’ve been in no hurry to get home as I’ve tried to make the most of the day even if there’s been frustrating moments when the best of the light for photography was lineside and not being on the actual train. Never mind, I’ll be making up for that on Thursday! Now I can relax a bit and enjoy the journey back to West Yorkshire.
21:45.
We’re on our way from Leeds to Bradford and my wars ar startint to stop ringing. From Hull I was surrounded by a couple of dozen young guys (and a couple of girls) who were on their way to Leeds for a festival. Considering the fact they were drinking expensive piss in the form of small bottles of lager I can only assume either they’d been drinking all day or that they were lightweights!
23:30.
Home – after walking 14.5 miles and 31,200 steps according to my Fitbit. Now it’s time to curl up in bed ready for another busy day tomorrow when I’ll add a last few pictures to this blog. Until then – goodnight!
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Paul Bigland 