German railways let me down again this morning. My inbound train was 25 mins late so I didn’t get to Innotrans until way after 09:00. First job was to check in with my clients and find out what’s happening today. Luckily their presentation (which is on another stand) is literally next door – I was fearing it’d be in a hall on the other side of the Messe!
Next port of call was the press centre where I’ve bumped into a large chunk of the UK trade press. Tips and gossip swapped and pictures downloaded it’s time to hit the halls…
Another busy day beckons…
13:10.
Finally, a chance to sit down for a few minutes before the next gig. The problem with Innotrans is that there are so many launch or other events you’re always running from one to the other. I had Hitachi Energy unveiling a new transformer back to back with Talgo hosting the Spanish transport minister who was having a look at one of their new coaches for DB. Next I have a joint UK-Saudi signing. Still, it’s kept me occupied. Here’s a few phone pictures
Here’s one of two UK pavilions. This one has a Welsh flavour and a plan of the new £250m test track that’s under construction It’s not just trains either. Transport needs to be integrated (and green). Here’s a new electric bus with a 450km range.
The countdown nears its end as Hitachi Energy prepare to unveil their new transformer that’s lighter and greener.
Don’t worry, there’ll be more trains soon!…
22:11.
Yet another day where my step count is getting silly! Right now I’m sat on the (late running -surprise, surprise) RER train to Frankfurt (Oder) after another great day. I still haven’t seen anywhere near enough of Innotrans but then I’ve been busy with various assignments. Then there’s the amount of people you bump into at random or by design. Innotrans is such a seminal event in the rail industry calender that almost everyone is here. It’s difficult to explain just what a vast event it is. A map doesn’t do it justice as it doesn’t give away the fact these huge exhibition buildings have several floors. I ended up recce’ing how long it would take me to get from one stand to another in a completely different building so that I knew I could do certain launches – hence one of the reasons for my step count.
We’re half way through the event so now I’m listing the trains/stands/people I’ve still not seen. Thankfully, my work calender should thin out a bit tomortow.
This evening I bunked off before the show closed as a bunch of us UK rail people had arranged to meet in the city centre for beers and food. The beers weren’t sobering but the reminiscing could be when we counted down the time and realised we’d been involved in group trips to Europe for 17 years – and I have the website pictures to prove it!
It wasn’t all a trip down memory lane, we had some new people join us which swelled our group to 13. It wasn’t a bad place to eat and drink either. It’s a bar in the railway arches West of Alexandetplatz that brews its own beer.
Apologies for not blogging before but it’s been a busy day and I didn’t want to start anything until I was on the train to Berlin.
It’s wonderful to be back in mainland Europe. I realise now how much I miss my time this side of the channel – for a whole host of reasons. It’s cleaner, the infrastructure’s modern, prices are cheaper and it just feels more relaxed.
Arrival…
The ferry trip from the UK was great and having a cabin felt very luxurious – a far cry from my old backpacking days when I’d have just curled up in a corner for a few hours. We arrived on time at the Hook of Holland, a place that’s changed hugely since I was last there. There’s no international trains anymore. In fact, the railway station has been made redundant. It houses a Japanese restaurant but no trains. Now the line’s become part of the Rotterdam metro but the new station’s unfinished. Instead there’s a temporary one which is a good 10 minute walk – which is ironic as the ferry stops right opposite – but then you walk down a very long gangway to get off and pass through customs and immigration to get questioned on the purpose of your visit and get your passport stamped (thanks for nothing, Brexiters).
The trip into central Rotterdam’s painless, if not particularly fast. It takes around 40 minutes. That said, it’s fascinating to see all the traffic in the docks as you pass. I bailed at xxxx station and elected to walk to Rotterdam Centraal which took me about 12 minutes. I calculated it because of my return trip where timings are tight. I now realise they’re too tight so plans are going to have to change.
Rotterdam was a doddle that time of day as the place hadn’t really woken up yet. Centraal station surprised me as it has a ticket gateline – something I’m used to in the UK but not in Germany. Otherwise the station’s typically European with a long subway lined with shops and eateries which provided me with a cheap breakfast.
The station architecture’s modern and quite striking. I’d several hours to wait for my train so spent the time wandering with the camera. Even though I had a suitcase in tow I still managed to get my daily step total in before I left. Those long platforms soon eat up 12,500 steps!
Big yellow taxi – my train from Rotterdam to Amersfoot to connect with DB’s Intercity train to Berlin.
My Dutch train left at 12:35, heading for Amersfoort Centraal. Travelling overland rather than flying was a lovely experience as I had the opportunity to appreciate how many waterways this part of the Netherlands contains. Homes backing onto a canal isn’t too unusual where I live in West Yorkshire but then I’m spoiled. Here everyone seems to have access to water. You even see blocks of flats on stilts that are surrounded by a lake. Plus, there’s not the scenes of dereliction so common back in the UK. Here, everything feels better maintained or renewed.
I did have a momentary feeling of ‘oh, shit’ when my train to Amersfoot was signal-checked and ran late. I had a 5 minute cross platform connection with the Berlin train. As it was, the pair of trains arrived at exactly the same time and the coach I had a reservation in pulled up almost opposite me!
Now I’m on IC147, a loco-hauled intercity service to Berlin Ostbahnhof where we’re due to arrive at 19:34 local time.
International intercity travel, old school German style.
16:10. (German time).
The trip was going really well (apart from the heavy showers, but hey – I’m on a train!) until we got to the Dutch/German border station of Bad Bentheim where we swapped locos and crews. Dutch engine 1765 was replaced by a DB ‘lok’ of unknown heritage. Well, for now anyway. The crew also changed nationality. The whole operation is meant to take seven minutes but with DBs crumbling edge of efficiency it took far, far longer, meaning we left 25 minutes late. No announcements were made either, we just started pulling away.
This delay means my connection at Berlin Ostbahnhof will be tight. I should have had 30 mins to connect with my train to Frankfurt (Oder) but that’s looking dodgy now. Never mind, I’m not going to let it worry me or spoil the trip.
Now we’re over the border Covid facemasks are mandatory on trains. It feels a little odd wearing one again but people are more relaxed about them than they were. Right now as well as enjoying the scenery I’m people watching. There’s a table opposite me containing four middle-aged women with a fifth friend behind. One of them has been to the restaurant car (at the back of the train for some reason) and stocked up on Bitburger beers! They’re now making merry but not messy…
16:33.
We’ve now left Osnabruck which has a large railway yard full of car transporters moving VW cars and vans around the country. There’s even a hump for sorting and shunting wagonload traffic – a sight that disappeared in the UK in the 1980s…
18:00.
We’ve now pulled out of Hannover and made up quite a bit of time. I was surprised to see that most of the occupants of my coach bailed out here but I’ve no idea why. Fair play to DB, I was wortied about the delay but they send you emails to keep you updated about connections. The latest one tells me we’ll be seven minutes late in Berlin which gives me plenty of time to make my connection. Thankfully, that connection will be made undercover as the weather’s gone to ratshit. We’re running under stormy skies and patches of heavy rain.
This rail trip highlights the great difference between the UK and Germany. Germany still makes stuff – hence all the railfreight yards I’m passing. The UK has become a service sector – which makes Brexit even more stupid. What tangible exports we had (mostly food and drink) are now hamstrung by red-tape. Germany? They have all of Europe and the world whilst we just posture.
19:00.
I tempted fate, didn’t I? I praised DBs emil system that let’s you know if your connections are up shit creek. Almost as soon as I’d mentioned it we came to a stand in the midfle of nowhere for no apparent reason. The latest helpful missive tells me we’re now running 40 mins late and my connection’s up the Swannee. Ho hum…
21:20.
Today’s been a long day! My express finally arrived into Berlin Ostbahnhof 50 minutes late, adding another hour to my schedule as my next onward train wasn’t until 21:04. I’m noow on another loco-hauled service made up of a rake of Double-Deck coaches. Even this train’s running five minutes late! I reckon I should get to my hotel around 22:30 and frankly, I’ll be quite happy to just crawl into bed and get some kip. The next few days are going to be hectic to say the least so recharging the batteties now whilst I can seems an eminently sensible idea.
Oh, a little aside. I’ve travelled all the way across Germany without once having my ticket checked..
22:50.
Finally! I’ve made it to my hotel care of this beastie.
I must admit, I wasn’t expecting a suite. Shame I’m not here longer, I could get used to this!
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/
And we’re off! Well, I would been much earlier if I hadn’t been kicking my heels in Huddersfield for the past hour. As I’m handicapped by a suitcase and Dawn was driving in to Huddersfield so kindly offered to give me a lift I decided to head to Harwich this way.
What I hadn’t bargained on was Trans-Pennine Express excerable timetable. Forget the 5 trains an hour of the real timetable. Leeds are now hourly. I’d actually have been better sticking to Northern via Halifax. Ho hum…
Even so, i’m in no hurry. My ferry doesn’t leave Harwich until 23:00 so I’ve plenty of time to get there. Despite running such a wafer-thin service TPE still can’t run to time. The 12:10 arrived and left 7 minutes late. It’s a 6-car service that’s an all-stopper and it’s rammed. Some people have come from Manchester Airport with humongous suitcases which isn’t exactly helping.
Suitcase? I’ll bet my ferry will be carrying smaller life rafts!
13:07.
After the schlep from Huddersfield it’s a relief to be on LNER’s 13:05 from Leeds to Kings Cross. This is another busy train but I’ve managed to blag a table – for now anyway. The reservation system’s kaput so I might get turfed out at Wakefield or Doncaster.
14:05.
All’s well that ends well. Whilst we’ve picked up a load more passengers at both Wakefield and Doncaster no-one came forward to claim my table. Now we’ve just left Newark so it looks like I should be safe as far as my destination – Peterborough – as there’s plenty of spare capacity. I note from the news that people have been told not to travel to London to join the crowds queuing to pay their last respects to the Queen, so I don’t expect to encounter anyone on any of my trains today.
15:00.
Another train, another operator. Now I’ve swapped my fancy intercity ‘Azuma’ for an example of BRs finest “garden shed engineering” as the Class 158s were once described due to the many faults that bedevilled the first examples. Mine is one of East Midlands Railway’s fleet of 2-cars with high-backed seats but no USB or power-points, which is a retrograde step in this day and age.
My train arriving at the ‘new’ island platform at Peterborough en-route to Norwich having started from Sheffield at 12:45.The high-backed seats are comfortable but they do make the unit feel claustrophobic.
15:40.
I’m now kicking my heels for an hour at the sleepy little junction of Ely. There’s not much happening here of a Sunday, so the local Starling population has found a different use for the overhead wires.
16:45
I enjoyed my break at Ely. Even on a Sunday the station has both a shop and cafe on platform 1 that remain open so I had time for a ‘swifty’ and chance to get a few pictures before moving on. Now I’m on what’s regarded by many (including myself) as the best modern train on the UK network, the Stadler Class 755 bi-modes. Swiss engineering at its best. They’re comfortable, have level access, a variety of seating configurations and plug-sockets and USB ports at every seat. Their performance is just as good too, they shift like sh*t off the proverbial shovel!
Heading for Stowmarket…The smart, multi-level (and comfortable) seating aboard my Stadler train.
As you can see, this is a quiet train. A fair few got off at the newly reopened station at Soham which was good to see, otherwise this feels very much like a Sunday afternoon service.
18:45.
I’m getting closer to escaping…
I swapped trains yet again at Stowmarket, mainly for one purpose. I’ve always had an interest in railway architecture in general but signalboxes in particular and I’ve never managed a picture of the abandoned example at Stowmarket until now.
I only had a few minutes to wait before my next train which was a case of swapping to the Stadler 755s bigger Intercity brother to get me to Ipswich where I took another short photographic break and went from the sublime to the ridiculous. Greater Anglia has the best train fleets but it also has one of the worst. Yet it’s brand new – and units are still being delivered!
These things are bloody awful. I’m not overweight but even I struggle to make my way down the narrow aisles – not helped by the fact the grab-handles are so low they dig into your ribs and made the space even more constricted.
22:30.
Is that the time? Apologies for the blogging gap but I’ve always been on the move and sometimes it’s about experiencing things so that you can write about them later. Right now I’m sitting on the ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland waiting for departure time. I’ve not done this trip for so, so long. In fact the last time I did this the film they were showing was the then blockbuster ‘Flash Gordon’ with a soundtrack by Queen and the famous line from the actor Brian Blessed (delivered in his customary gusto) “Gordon’s alive!”. Gosh, so many things have changed since then. In those days I was hoping to make a home in Amsterdam with my girlfriend of the time. It never worked out but I’ve no regrets. It all seems like a different world. Mind you, so does this ferry. It’s massive compared to what I remember from those days. I’m on the ‘Stena Britannica’ and even have a cabin – but only because they’re mandatory nowadays. In the 1980s we used to get on as foot passengers and just curl up in a corner.
I arrived in Harwich in plenty of time and had chance to explore. It’s funny how things work out sometimes. I’d not been around this neck of the woods for years then end up here twice in the space of twelve months! Harwich Town’s a curious place that’s worth exploring because of it’s history and architecture, but like a lot of UK seaports it’s lost its mojo. The days of the train ferries are long gone. Now the port’s been eclipsed by Felixstowe due to the move to containerisation. Like this.
Looking across to Felixstowe from Harwich
Still, I’m looking forward to leaving Brexit Britain and the social and political museum the country’s fast becoming. The next week is going to be very different. And this ain’t a bad way to get there either..
One of several restaurants on board.I’ve not had a cabin on a ferry for years!
23:15.
We’ve left port and we’re on our way, so it’s time for me to sign off until tomorrow. See you on the other side as they say…
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
We’ve a full day in London today and we’re about to head out and make the most of it. There’s very much a feeling of two cities right now. There’s the classic city with Londoners and tourists going about their normal lives and then there’s the other city which is coping with the late Queen lying in state until her state funeral Monday. Today we’ll be exploring both, so expect flow of pictures throughout the day…
10:40.
I nipped out to buy some snacks for breakfast whilst Dee gets ready. The Bayswater Rd is traffic free but you can tell you’re in ‘posh’ London as the local petrol station has a mini Waitrose supermarket rather than the usual Tesco! Petrol’s surprisingly cheap too. £1.63 a liter (we were seeing it at £1.75 in Norfolk last week). I nipped into Kensington Gardens to sit and watch the world go by for a while. Life appeared normal. The paths were full of runners and dog-walkers or tourists out for a stroll. Back at the hotel the TV announced that the ‘queue of queues’ as it’s becoming known is so long it’s been closed. Newcomers are being kept in holding pens in a park in Bermondsey and it’s been announced no-one else should try to join until after 4pm today! Somehow, I can’t see that happening…!
13:20.
Having wandered back down to Leicester Square then across the Thames at Charing Cross we’re now sitting outside the Founders Arms on the South Bank (one of our favorite spots) watching the queue of queues and enjoying a view of the river and city of London beyond.
15:21.
Crowdwatch – pt 2
22:15.
We’re now back at the hotel after yet another full day walking around London and experiencing what’s going on in the capital due to the death of Queen Elizabeth. It’s been a fascinating experience on so many levels. I’ll add more about this soon when I’ve more time to go into detail. But here’s a few shorts. As far as we could gauge (and we saw a lot of it) the queue was almost evenly balanced between genders. It was overwhelmingly older, with most folk over 30 years old – and also mostly white, although Asian communities were a significant minority with (from what we saw) the African and Afro-Caribbean less represented. It was also good-humored and stoic – despite the length of time. Here’s a few pictures from our observations.
A Pigeon decides to take a close look at the queue near Blackfriars.Ex-members of the armed services were much in evidence. Not everyone came with others. There was a significant number of people who came on their own to pay their respects. The queue by the Globe theatre with Tourists strolling past in the opposite direction. More medals on display…The queue by Tower Bridge. This was far from the end. Grandad and Grandson by HMS Belfast.Vanessa Feltz from Talk TV out interviewing members of the crowd.
Having walked for miles around the South bank we headed back to London Bridge and crossed to the North bank of the Thames for a wander past St Pauls, Fleet Street and the Inns of Court before heading up to Euston where we dropped into Drummond St to eat at an old haunt. Ravi Shankar is a long established Indian vegetarian restaurant which I’ve been frequenting since the 1990s. It didn’t disappoint..
Chana dahl.Uthappam – South Indian pizza!
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
We’ve had an excellent week here in North Norfolk which has been made all the more enjoyable by the fact the weather’s been far better than was forecast. Oh, we’ve had a few thunderstorms and torrential rain, but the downpours have been during the night and the thunderstorms have merely added some dramatic skies as a backdrop. Now it’s time to pack the car and begin the trip back to West Yorkshire, although we’ll be taking the long way home as we’re in no rush. Besides, we have to be out of our accommodation by 10:00 so we have plenty of daylight to play with. Stay tuned to see what we get up to…
10:45.
We’re taking the scenic route along the coast from Cromer to Kings Lynn which is proving to be fun! Heavy rain has flooded the road in many places, especially at Cley next the sea.
Shortly afterwards we passed a new Landrover which had it and totalled someone’s car at a crossroads. Nasty…
11:45.
Having traversed the coast we made a pit-stop in Hunstanton at the site of the old railway station. There’s not a lot left.
We didn’t hang around. The weather’s cold and cloudy and the place is pretty deserted. We’re heading for Kings Lynn instead.
14:30.
Kings Lynn was far more interesting. The town has a fascinating collection of old buildings including the last remaining Hansatic league structure left in the UK.
Another interesting structure I had time to get shots of (thanks for stopping, Dawn) was the old rail/road swing bridge known as Cross Keys Bridge at Sutton Bridge.
The grade 2 listed Cross Keys Bridge was built in 1897 at a cost of £80,000. The nearest (Westbound) span was the one used by the Midland and Great Northern joint railway (M&GNR). Here’s a look down the old railway side.
20:45.
We’ve made it home finally after dodging some torrential rainstorms en-route. I’m beginning to hate the A17. Whilst traversing it on the way out we learned that the National Rail Awards was being postponed due to the rail strikes. This time on the way home we learned that the re-arranged awards was being postponed yet again (this time until October) due to the death of the Queen. Sadly, the revised date means that I’ll be unable to attend for the first time since 2003, but then so many things are up in the air right now.
The rest of the trip was uneventful – unless you count keeping out for people who really shouldn’t be let loose behind a steering wheel. The standards of driving we saw on the A1m, M1 and A616 (never mind in North Norfolk) was often awful. Thankfully we made it home in one piece. Mind you, it’s not just the standards of driving. I was looking at some of the stuff around the Queens funeral plans and came across this absolute gem of misinformation and sloppy journalism from @TimeOutTravel on Twitter. Not having checked any facts and having cribbed from 18 month old articles in newspapers they came up with this guff about the Royal Train being used to convey the Queen’s body from Scotland to London.
Thankfully, such a nightmare scenario has been avoided by flying the Queen’s body back from Scotland, much to the relief of ordinary passengers, rail staff and the British Transport Police. It’s bad enough when the general public cause chaos on the line as the ‘Flying Scotsman’ goes past. People throwing bunches of flowers onto 25,000 volt overhead wires on the East Coast Main Line or trespassing to do so doesn’t bear thinking about!
Over the next few days I’ll be catching up with editing all the pictures that I’ve taken over the past week. There’s not a huge amount as I’ve mostly been on holiday (honest!). Even so, there’s enough to keep myself and viewers occupied. I’ll post links to my Zenfolio website when they’re viewable.
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’ve left the rest of the family sleeping whilst I’ve hot up early to indulge my joint passions of walking and exploring. Next to where we’re staying is a remnant of the old Midland and Great Northern Railway (M&GNR) which closed to passenger in March 1959 and completely on the 1st January 1966. This section has been converted into a footpath known as the ‘Weaver’s Way’ so I’m off to explore.
I’ll post pictures and updates later…
10:00.
I’m now taking a break at North Walsham station after a beautiful walk. This is a fantastic time of year for rambling as the hedgerows are bursting with summer fruits. As I was starting from the middle of nowhere the initial part of the route was deathly quiet. I passed a couple of cyclists and thatcwas about it. The old line’s heavily overgrown in parts but still easily navigable. It makes a superb wildlife cortidor. There’s a mixture of cuttings and embankments so the line has a variety of structures (over and underbridges) plus the remains of the single platform station (complete with old building) at Framlingham. Here’s some initial pictures
Summer bounty…The road bridge near Pine Tree farm where I first accessed the old line.Mature trees have grown up along the line since it closed 66 years ago.The well preserved platform at the old Framlingham station, looking East towards North Walsham.Platform and former station building at Framlingham.
11:00.
I decided to flag the next train from North Walsham in order to look around and get some pictures. I must admit, it’s not the most exciting place and a bit of a disappointment. It’s run down compared to the other market towns we’ve visited. Still, it gave me chance of a break.
One of Greater Anglia’s excellent Stadler built 4-car bi-mode trains working to Cromer and Sheringham.
Right now I’m waiting for the return working of this unit which I’ll catch as far as Hoveton and Wroxton on the edge of the Norfolk broads where I’ll meet up with everyone else.
11:50.
Train time!
22:00.
The end of the day. There’s so much more I could write about our travels as we went on to explore the Norfolk broads but I’m meant to be on holiday! Instead, I’ll leave you with a final picture from Hoveton and Wroxham on the Bure Valley Railway as one of their services arrives at the end of the line – just as a freight train heading for North Walsham passes on the main line. If only one had been earlier and the other later…
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/
The last day of my trip is about to start here in Glasgow. I had an enjoyable (and unexpected) night with an old friend whom I’ve not seen for a couple of years. As you can imagine, Glasgow on a Saturday night was buzzing. I really like this city and always look forward to visiting as it’s such a historic, vibrant and multicultural place. Here’s a couple of pictures from last night.
I love the architecture here…The Steps Bar. A classic old boozer in the centre of town.An old friend from the South still in service.
But now it’s back to ‘work’, exploring some of the city’s suburban rail network before ending my trip elsewhere this evening. Where? Feel free to pop back later to find out!
08:25.
Glasgow is still asleep this time on a Sunday. I wandered over to Sauchihall Street to buy breakfast from Tesco and the only people around were a few cleaners waiting to start work mucking out the mess from a nearby club. My hotel’s right next to Charing Cross station so catching my first train of the day’s easy.
08:30.
My first train of the day is a class unique to Scotland. The Alstom built class 334 EMUs.
16.21.
I’m at Journey’s end, Having arrived on Oban on the west coast of Scotland. But the blog doesn’t end just yet. I’m merely taking a break for a few hours to enjoy some downtime. I’ll update things a bit later when I’ve had chance to relax – and enjoy the weather.
Lovely, isn’t it?
Mind you, the trips isn’t entirely over. I may have finished my seven day rover, but I’ve still got to get back to Yorkshire tomorrow which will be a trip in itself…
21:45.
Well, I had great plans for updating this blog with thoughts, feelings and pictures from Oban tonight, but the hotel wifi is useless. Sooo – we’ll all have to wait until tomorrow when I can access wifi elsewhere. I’d tether my phone snd usr that but that’s some serious Mb I’d be using. Instead, I’m going to have an early night and make the most of tomorrow. I’ve not been back to Oban for 17 years so I’m going to enjoy it. Who knows when I’ll be back again?
After a quiet night at home in which my wardrobe was replenished or washed (no more carting around old sweaty socks!) I’m back on the rails again and ahead of schedule. I’m currently on Northern’s 07:38 from Halifax to Leeds. Today I’m making my way to Scotland via a roundabout route that will take in some more lines I’ve never covered on these RAIL rovers in the whole of the 18 years I’ve been doing them. This is my tenth. I started them in 2004 (God, just typing that makes me feel old!) and the changes I’ve seen in that time have been quite remarkable. Who’s have thought back than that I’d be typing this on one of the Northern franchise’s fleet of new trains?
Feel free to pop back during the day to see what I get up to.
09:00.
Having changed trains at Leeds I’m now on my way to York behind this beastie..
10:30.
I didn’t hang around at York but almost immediatly caught a rather quieter TPE device, a Class 802 as far as Darlington, where I joined a rather older mode of rail travel.
15:45.
Apologies for absence but I’ve been a busy bee. My trip to Saltburn was excellent. It’s left me lots to write about and the weather was perfect. The old station building has been given over to private uses but it still looks magnificent. Extar colour was added by the fact there’s a flea-market outside on a Saturday. I couldn’t stay long but I did wander down to admire the views over the coast and beaches, as well as spot a railway my Rover isn’t valid on.
I stopped off a couple of times on the way back. First at Redcar, then Middlesbrough – which possesses yet another magnificent station building. I swapped trains again in order to head up the Durham coast line which has changed enormously sine I last traversed the route. Arriving in Newcastle I flipped from local to Intercity trains and now I’m on my way to Edinburgh. Here’s a selection of pictures from the trip so far, including an observational test…
The flea-market outside the old station building at Saltburn.‘Do you accept Rail Rovers’? The Saltburn tramway down to the pier.The stunning station booking office at Middlesbrough.An observational test. Feel free to post the answer when you spot it…
17:20.
Back in civilization…
The waiting room at Edinburgh Waverley.
I’m on the second leg of my journey, from a packed Edinburgh Waverley station to Stirling before heading for Glasgow. I’m on the Kings Cross – Inverness ‘Highland Chieftain’ which is running 15 mins late due to speed restrictions and extra stops inserted into its timetable due to other trains being cancelled.
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I’ve had a good night’s sleep here in central London, now it’s time to explore the city’s railways and those of Essex and Herts before beginning my roundabout journey North. Feel free to keep popping back to see where I get to…
Not a bad place to start the day…
10:45.
I’ve ventured out into darkest Essex, having caught a quiet Crossrail service to Farringdon I changed on to Crossrail – sorry, the “Elizabeth line” (pix later) to reach Liverpool St for a above surface Crossrail train to Forest Gate and a short walk to Wanstead Park on the ‘Goblin’ line (my old local line) for a trip out to its new terminus at Barking Riverside, an extention that only opened the other month. It’s impressive but I see the station follows the modern trend for roof canopies that are neither use nor ornament!
Doubling back to Barking I’ve travelled to Southend via Grays to see the enormous amount of railfreight traffic this area generates.
The weather’s beautiful in ‘Sarfend’ but I can’t stay. I’m here to swap routes and head back into London…
13:30.
I’m now back in London after sampling a Greater Anglia Class 720 ride from Southend Victoria. Those 3+2 seat coaches are horrible. Even Twiggy would struggle to get down the gangways!
Now I’m about to venture North from Euston to Birmingham on an Avanti West Coast service. When I can find one running…
In the meantime, here’s a couple of Lizzy line pics.
15:30.
I’ve left London and the South-East behind – as well as the sunshine! I’m currently on an Avanti West Coast service to Birmingham New St. I’d expected the trip to be crowded, especially as some services have been cancelled, but in fact it was only packed as far as Milton Keynes. I’m on an old friend – set 390014, which Richard Clinnick and I once spent 26 hours on, following its whole diagram! Now it’s been refurbished and looks rather different on the inside.
19:30.
I’ve been on the move too much and swapping between trains to blog. Now I’ve swapped West for East coast via the Midland Main line. Here’s my train from Doncaster to Leeds which is pulled by an earlier East Coast racehorse in the shape of 91111 ‘For the fallen’ which is looking superb in its renewed wrap.
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 arriving in Exeter I had a quiet night in my lovely old hotel, The Mercure right across the road from Central station. The kind and friendly young lady on reception offered me an upgraded room and complimentary breakfast. Having a large room in such a grand (if slightly faded) hotel was luxury so I made the most of it and spread out on the king size bed to catch up with some writing and paperwork. Here’s a few pictures.
Free buffet breakfast? Oh, go on then!…The foyer of the grand, but slightly faded and frayed Mercure Exeter Rougemont hotel. The rather grand staircase and stained glass windows.
Now, after not kicking the arse out of the free breakfast (I limited myself to bacon, beans and scrambled eggs, honest!) I’m on the 07:29 to Waterloo as far as Salisbury which is worked by a pair of SWR Class 159s. These units are tired and seem a throwback now. I’m in 159001 which has no power sockets or USB and where the noise from the a/c is a constant presence. At least it’s helped drown out the chatter from the two middle-aged women on the table opposite. Animated and coffee and cake fueled, one hasn’t paused for breath since we left Exeter. I think she must be able to breathe through her ears!
10:50.
I changed trains at Salisbury, swapping from SWR to GWR who were running a pair of Class 158s down to Portsmouth Harbour which I used to get to Southampton Central. It seems I’m on the edge of the heavy rain passing through the South-East. There was a real scrum at Southampton with people everywhere. I’m assuming a cruise ship has docked. My next train was a 4-car Southern service – which looks like this. Hardly a pleasent travelling experience. It also shows the entitlement of some people. Just how many seats do you need?
13:05.
I abandoned my even more packed train (you should have seen what it looked like after stopping at Chichester!) at Barnham for a trip down the branch to King George 5th’s favorite town – or not – if you believe the alleged death-bed quote!
After seeing a series of basic stations in Wales and the South-West I’m now back amongst Victorian finery and in 3rd rail land.
14:40.
The weather’s slowly improving as I head Eastwards along the South coast but it still looks unpredictable. What it isn’t is cold, which makes lugging my combined camera/day bag somewhat sweaty – especially when I’m on the move so much. Of course it could be worse, I could still be stuck in the conditions I encountered in Southhampton. Now I’ve no worries about weilding the camera.
I arrived in Brighton aboard one of the oldest passenger trains still in daily use – the class 313s. These were built in 1976 for the newly electrified suburban services from Kings Cross and Moorgate. The last survivors of the class are now exiled to the South coast.
313208 at Brighton.
Right now I’m continuing my journey East on another Southern service to Hastings via Eastbourne.
22:30.
I’ve moved – a lot. Right now I’m signing this blog off from my hotel room opposite St Pancras station in the heart of London. It’s a cheap and cheerful hotel that’s much more upmarket from the days when this area was famous for rooms you could rent by the hour! Getting here was fun as I traversed such a variety of railways, including the ‘Marshlink’ line from Hastings to Ashford, then onto the most modern line we have (for now) – as I took ‘High Speed One’ from Ashford right into the centre of London. I’ve had another fascinating day exploring the UK rail network in 2022 – and there’s lots to see yet…
Meanwhile, here’s a couple more pictures from today.
My Javelin train from Kent to central London rests at the blocks at St Pancras. I spent years photographing the stations transformation back in the 2000s and still have a sense of awe when I experience the result. Time for a ‘swifty’ before bed. I nipped down the road to an old haunt – the Euston Tap for a pint as an end to the day.
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 