Tag Archives: Rolling blogs

Rolling blog. Community rail week starts today…

23 Monday May 2022

Posted by in Community rail, Community Rail Network, London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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07:30.

I’m preparing to head off to the opening of Community Rail week which is kicking off with events in Bradford and Bingley. This year the message will be centred on increasing confidence and encouraging people to travel by train with the simple call to action, ‘Give the Train a Try’. You can find out what’s happening where and when by following this link.

Afterwards I’ll be heading down South as I’m staying in the London area tonight ready for the opening of Crossrail tomorrow where I have another assignment.

Feel free to keep popping back to see how my day goes…

09:08.

The journey begins. I’m off to Bradford for our first event of the day. Taking me there is a Northern 2-car Class 195. Unsurprisingly, it’s busy!

09:45.

I’ve strolled across from Bradford Interchange to Forster Sq to await the arrival of the rest of the Community Rail Network team. It’s a walk I always enjoy as ‘Bratfud’ (as the locals pronounce it) has some fantastic buildings. I keep promising myself that I’ll have a day out in the city taking the camera for a wander to photograph some of the delights the city holds. I passed this small slice of history on the way.

Sadly, the modern versions of the city’s stations are hardly architectural gems and are vastly reduced in area and stature.

15:30.

I’m back! It’s been a very hectic few hours so I’ve not had time to blog at all as the day job’s taken precedence. We all rendezvoused at Forster Square where CRN staff were joined by colleagues from Northern Rail and other organisations as well as the women from East meets West. The idea behind this group is to bring women together from different communities by using the train. The women selected have very little or no rail confidence so travelling by train with Community Rail Partnership officers and community group leads inspires them to take further trips – alone, with friends and with their own families. The group enables the women to have different experiences which they can access locally by train. Some of the women are single mums and are from isolated backgrounds so the project has really helped raise their self-esteem and provide them with a sense of community. They were all very excited to be taking part in the the event. Before we left we were joined by Rail Minister Wendy Morton, who is the MP for Aldridge-Brownhills. Needless to say, I was kept fully occupied taking pictures on the train and at Bigley station where the Minister met other Community Rail Officers and the local station friends. It was all extremely informal. To her credit the Minister was open and approachable to all, not surrounded by SPADs or ‘minders’.

Afterwards we we took part in a walk from the station to the top of the famous Bingley five-flight locks on the Leeds-Liverpool canal, guided by staff from the Canal and River Trust. Walking backwards along a canal bank whilst taking pictures of dignitaries isn’t my favourite job as there’s always the worry that you’ll end up either going arse over tit or in the cabal, but I managed it without accident!

At the top of the lock we took over the small cafe for a lunch of tea and sandwiches before retracing our steps to the station and disappearing off in different directions. I headed into Leeds and found a quiet corner of the Leeds Tap to download and edit some pictures before sending a batch out to the various PR and Media people on my lists. Now I’m sat on LNER’s 15:15 service to London which has become a mobile editing suite as I sort out a bigger picture selection. Meanwhile, here’s a few for your delectation.

Rail Minister Wendy Morton (seated, left) talks to some of the women from East meets West on the train to Bingley from Bradford. Standing is Karen Bennett. Karen is community rail education officer at Community Rail Lancashire, and a CRN Board member.

Everyone poses for a group photograph at Bingley station with some of the excellent work of the station friends on display behind.

The Bingley station friends having a laugh and a giggle with the Minister.

Gerald Townson Chairman at Leeds-Lancaster-Morecambe Community Rail Partnership gave a presentation to the Rail Minister on the work CRP’s are doing to encourage rail travel, supported by Community Rail Officers Brian Howarth and Catherine Huddleston.

17:25.

We’re now approaching London after an easy (albeit slightly late) run from Leeds. The weather’s picked up too. It looks like there’s a nice sunny evening in the offing. I’m not going to be staying long in the centre but there is one place Im going to stop at on my way through Euston…

23:00

It’s time to call it a day folks. As I was staying in the Watford area I hooked up with a local friend whom I met when I was spending a lot of time down here working for Network Rail on the 2014-15 Watford blockades. Alan Harte is a fellow railway person, cat lover and beer aficionado – so it would have been rude not to meet up for a couple of jars.

Right now I’m back at my accommodation, repowering all my devices and editing pictures ready for another busy day tomorrow as Crossrail finally opens. Watch this space…

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

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

Thank you!

Rolling blog. A change in the weather…

20 Friday May 2022

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

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09:20.

Bloody typical! We’ve had glorious sunshine these past few days whilst I’ve been at home, but today – when I’ve a day out the weather is the South is grey, wet and miserable! I’d planned to be out and about taking pictures for a client but the scenic pictures they want are incompatible with the conditions. So, I find myself on a busy 4-car Class 450 working the 08:50 from Farnham to Waterloo whilst I rejig my plans. I’m heading into the capital, then heading East where the weather’s meant to be clearing from. A vague plan is forming in my mind but we’ll see…

Feel free to keep popping back to see where I go and what I get up to.

10:45.

The trip into London was fine – even if the weather wasn’t. The service was short-formed but the rush was over by the time the train was running. I’d have made an earlier on if it wasn’t for the fact Dawn was dropping her nephew off at school first and Farnham was chocked with traffic, ironic when some people insist that we don’t need to improve public transport and build railways like HS2 because everyone’s supposedly still working from home!

Once in London I dashed to Waterloo East and caught a train to London Bridge where I was going to buy some breakfast but the queue at the Greggs was so long I gave it up as a bad job.

Waterloo’s concourse post rush-hour is still busy.

Right now I’m on a quite SouthEastern service heading out to a place I haven’t visited for years – Abbey Wood, which is about to develop a new life from next week when it become a Crossrail terminus. I’m sorry, but I really can’t get into calling Crossrail the Elizabeth Line. Sorry your Maj, but it’s part of the national network, it’s not a glorified tube line. Besides, I suspect if any name does stick it’ll be the ‘Lizzy Line’ which is far less cumbersome!

Passing through old haunts in SE London I’m stuck by how much has changed in the 12 years since I moved away. There’s new building everywhere. What a far cry from when I moved to London back in 1986 when the city was still in decline and the population was steadily shrinking. In those days the reputation of some of the areas I’m passing through was rough to say the least. In Bermondsey it was said even the rottweilers walked around in twos!

11:10.

There’s still something slightly surreal about suddenly seeing overhead wires appearing outside the train window – and then the twin tracks of Crossrail emerging from their tunnels to run parallel all the way into a rebuilt Abbey Wood station. Crossrail Class 345s were much in evidence running the shadow service in preperation for next week’s public opening.

I didn’t hang around at Abbey Wood as the weather’s still crap. Instead I decided to do some recce’s for other pictures as I’ve spent very little time along this line in recent years.

13:30.

I’m currently taking a break in rainy Rochester after travelling as far East as Gillingham where I stopped off to grab a sandwich. I’ve known the town since 1990 when I often used to pop over from London of a weekend to photograph the variety of traction that would be stabled here then. All that’s long gone. The town looked pretty run down then. It’s fortunes haven’t improved. I braved the torrential rain and flooded main street (blocked drains on both sides) to find a Greggs. It was a depressing experience. Shops are boarded up and empty and the dereliction has spread to the population. Just 15 minutes walking down the High St let me see there’s an awful lot of deprivation and health problems here. People who believe the hypes that Kent is the ‘garden of England’ have never visited Chatham and Gillingham! I doidn’t hand around after I’d grabbed a couple of pictures. I made my way along a platform flooding due to leaks from the station canopies and headed back to Rochester which has gained a brand-new station since I stopped here last.

Gillingham. It’s grim down South too…

The new 3 platform station at Rochester opened in 2015 and replaced the old cramped one which was further East. It’s been part of a scheme to redevelop the nearby dockland area which was cut off from the town by the railway. Progress has been slow but steady with new housing springing up alongside the railways and the East end of the huge site.

I must admit to liking Rochester. It’s a place with history (hence its castle) literary links (Charles Dickens) and an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and pubs. It’s also less right-wing than much of the Medway (which is very Brexity), as this artwork by the museum attests to…

I have to agree. And it’s not done the Medway town any favours at all…

21:15.

Apologies for the ‘slight’ intermission but I’ve been non-stop for the past few hours as I made my wat back to Surrey – which is where I’m typing this from. As I left Rochester the weather really began to change making the trip much more enjoyable. I really enjoyed being back along this line, seeing the changes that have – and are – happening. It’s all a far cry from when I first explored the region back in the 1980s!

My first stop was at Gravesend, a station that’s been rebuilt in past years but still retains its Victorian buildings to complement the modern infrastructure such as it’s large cycle hub. Always on the lookout for an elevated view I found a nearby multi-story car park that afforded me this view.

Here’s the other side of the station. My pervious vantage point can be seen in the background.

Moving in once more my next port of call was Dartford – yet another place that’s changed dramatically since I first got to know it 30 odd years ago. The vintage slam door trains are long gone. Even the more recent BR built stuff has been elbowed aside by cascaded Siemens trains like this.

But, the biggest change was when I returned to Abbey Wood, the terminus of Crossrail South of the Thames. 30 years ago I’d never have imagined this far-flung corner of South-East London would have not one, but two cross-London connections. The first to arrive was Thameslink and services between Rainham and Luton, allowing to people to traverse the centre of the capital without changing trains. Now Crossrail’s arrived to add East-West to North South. As a consequence, house prices in Abbey Wood have gone through the roof and the skyline’s following suite – as this picture taken earlier demonstrates.

The changing face of South-East London. A Crossrail train arrives at Abbey Wood with the rising skyline beyond.

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

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

Thank you!

Rolling blog. Let’s try that one again, shall we?…

12 Thursday May 2022

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

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06:30.

I’m reprising yesterday’s trip to London, only today I’m hoping no-one’s been out cutting signal cables and the day’s punctual and hassle free. Today’s itinerary includes a media visit to a High Speed 2 construction site in the capital. I’ll add details later once it’s done.

Right now I’m en-route to Leeds only this time with a fully functioning laptop – even if it is light on a few programmes and features for now. The main thing is it’s fit for picture downloading and editing.

I’ll blog more later once I’m settled in on the London train…

I have this strange feeling of deja vu…

07:05.

I’m now at the part of the journey where it all went a bit ‘Pete Tong’ yesterday but (fingers crossed) there’ll be no repeat and I’ll be back in London in a couple of hours. I’m on another Azuma and everything is fine and dandy at the moment. My coach is only about a 1/3rd full so I have a table bay to myself. Now I’ve time to catch up on some work and maybe have a doze later. I must admit, I’m looking forward to having a lie-in tomorrow! The weather here in Yorkshire is glorious. Unlike yesterday it’s a fine sunny day. Hopefully London will compete…

08:40.

The trip to London’s gone without a glitch today. We’re now on the outskirts of London and I’ve plenty of time in the bank which will give me time to get pictures before I head off to the media call.

09:21.

Kings Cross looking busy.

10:30.

I’m getting nearer my next appointment and stopped off at Kilburn High Rd on the ‘DC lines’ out of Euston. It’s not a service I use very often nowadays but it has a lot of interest. I noticed this example of railway archeology on the opposite platform. The original station building perhaps (if much altered)?

The old Class 313s that worked the DC lines were replaced by Bombardier built ‘electrostars’ back in the 2000s. Now those trains have themselves been replaced with these ‘Aventra’ trains (also from Bombardier).

13:45.

OK, I can come clean on where I’ve been now. I’ve visited the HS2 tunnel vent construction site at Canterbury Rd in Kilburn, London. I was there along with the HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson MP. Canterbury Rd is the first diesel free construction site. All the vehicles run on HVO or electricity – including this enormous electrically powered crane.

Before you ask – yes we did go down the vent shaft. It’s only 22 metres deep right now When it’s finished it’ll be 55 metres deep…

15:00.

Whilst I was in London I couldn’t resist a trip on some old friends who are being retired this weekend. The 46 members of the Southern Class 455 fleet have served London and areas South of the Thames since 1982. Now government cost-cutting has forced them into retirement and a one-way trip to the scrapyard from this weekend’s timetable change.

A familiar sight that will disappear this weekend. 455813 on the blocks at London Victoria having worked in from Epson Downs.

I travelled out as far as another old haunt (Wandsworth) photographing several units on the way. I’m sad to see them go as they were part of my London life for so many years and often carried me across the Thames from Victoria to visit friends in South London. It won’t seem the same without them.

Here’s an earlier blog which looks back over their lives and times.

19:00.

Much as I’d have loved to have hung around the rush-hour was starting so it was time for me to begin my journey North as I’ve a lot of things to catch up on. Besides. I’ll be back in London again next week, even if the Southern 455s won’t be!

Right now I’m speeding up the East Coast Main Line on another trouble-free journey. Rather than wait for the 17:33 to Leeds which is often very busy I tried a slightly earlier LNER service to Hull which enabled me to bag a table and begin downloading today’s mass of pictures. I have to change at Doncaster, but I’ve had a productive time so don’t mind.

19:21.

‘Kin hell! The curse of the ECML strikes again! The direct train I swerved (but would have picked up at Doncaster) has been cancelled due to a train fault. I now have over 30 mins to wait. There’s only one thing for it – a pint in ‘The Draughtsman’ on platform 3…

20:05.

My Doncaster sojourn’s been ended by the arrival of the next Leeds train, which is just as well as ‘The Draughtsman’ closes at 20:00 and the temperature’s starting to drop. I’m obviously not a ‘proper’ Northerner anymore, many other occupants of the platform are dressed as if they’re in Greece in June! Me? No, I’ve spent too much time in tropical countries which has obviously thinned my blood!

20:45.

My final train of the day is old school – a Class 158. This one’s working Halifax – Hull shuttles. The unit’s been refurbished with new seats, PIS and USB sockets so it isn’t too bad but you have to wonder how much longer these BR built units have a future.

That said, I’d hope the Class 150s would be for the bin first!

22:27.

It’s time to bring this blog to an end. I’m back at home which is where I’ll be staying tomorrow as I’ve a huge amount of pictures from Germany and the UK to edit – plus a couple of jobs have come in which will see me on the move a lot over the next couple of weeks – and I’ve still a few magazine articles to write. Oh, and there’s a lot more slides and other rail memorabilia to add to eBay…

There’s lots to look forward to but right now that means one thing for me. Sleep! There’s only so many 04:30 alarm calls I can cope with in a week!

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

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

Thank You!

Rolling blog. Infrarail – and things…

11 Wednesday May 2022

Posted by in Hs2, Infrarail, London, Photography, Railtex, Railways, Rolling blogs, Transport, Travel

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06:30.

I’m currently sat on Northern’s 06:00 from Halifax to Leeds en-route to London to join day 2 of the Railtex/Infrarail trade fair in London.

195128 arrives at Halifax on the 06:00 to Leeds

It’s a busy time that’s being made far more complex than I’d have liked by the fact so many things are hsppening at once (fairs, press trips and HS2 protester evictions) and to put the cherry on the cake I’ve got ‘technical issues’. The local cable network went down last night – just as my laptop was installing new updates. Now the machine’s having an attack of the vapours which means I’ll have to take it back to factory settings then waste a whole day reinstalling programmes and software on the damned thing! Ho bloody hum! On the bright side, I had time to copy all my files off the machine (just in case) as I’ve learned that the wifi being kaput is the first sign of issues.

So, this blog’s being brought to you courtesy of my smartphone. The weather’s doing its best to add to the gloom as it’s wet and miserable here in the Pennines snd it’s meant to be the same in London where I’m heading. Oh, and I’m also ‘cream crackered’ due to yet another early start after a late night trying to sort out the laptop. Still, as the old saying goes – you can sleep when you’re dead!

Moan over I’m actually looking forward to the next few days. There’s lots to see/do and friends and colleagues to catch-up with. But first, I have to get there…

07:15.

My transfer at Leeds between Northern and LNER was painless as everything was running to time so I had 20 mins to catch the 07:00 to London Kings Cross. This is the fast service that only stops at Wakefield Westgate before running non-stop to the capital, arriving into London at 09:00. LNER run another (slower) departure just 15 mins later which stops at Doncaster Grantham and Stevenage to arrive in London 30 mins behind the 07:00.

Today the train’s quiet. I’m relaxing at a table in coach C where I’m going to try and grab a little more sleep. See you later…

07:25.

So much for sleep! The Train Manager’s just announced we’re stopping at Doncaster where the trains terminating at Doncaster due to cable theft on the line “further down South”. No-one’s any idea what’s happening but the 07:15’s cancelled too…

07:45.

Well, I didn’t expect to be in Doncaster today! Apparently, the theft of signalling cable is between Peterborough and Stevenage, which screws up any chance of diverts via Lincoln. The station staff did a very good job of keeping disgruntled passengers informed and a plan B was soon put in place as LNER tickets are been accepted for travel to London on the Midland route from Sheffield to St Pancras – which is why I’m now sat on a Trans-Pennine Express 185 heading for Sheffield. Judging by how empty the rear set is some people are taking their chances that the ECML will reopen quickly, but as it’s cable theft I’m not risking it.

LNER passengers streaming off the 07:00 to catch unfamiliar traction to Sheffield…
Many didn’t bother heading for the rear of the two sets. I did!

08:25.

The miserable weather’s followed me to Sheffield where I’ve swapped to a rather battered and careworn East Midlands Railway 5-car diesel ‘Meridian’ – a far cry from the smart LNER ‘Azuma’ trains we had to abandon at Doncaster.

Needless to say, the train is very busy as it’s the only way for folks to get to London right now.

14:45

Well, that’s been an interesting few hours but not in any way that I expected. By the time I arrived in the capital I was running over two hours late. Plus, the weather was crap. Taking stock, I made a series of phone calls that meant I didn’t need to be at Infrarail after all. Whilst I’m going to miss catching up with some people I’ve had different priorities to think about. Plus, I’m going to be back in London again tomorrow anyway as I’ve now got a ministerial site visit in the calendar…

So, instead of looking at an arena full of sales stands I quickly nipped over to London Victoria for a last chance to get shots of some of the old ‘Southern’ Class 455s before they disappear after next weeks timetable change. Whilst I was at Ebury St I bumped into an old friend, the former Editor of The Railway Magazine – Chris Milner – who’d had the same idea as me!

Shots in the can I made my way back to Kings Cross to ponder my next move and see what the options were. East Coast services were still disrupted with services to most Yorkshire destinations canned through cancellations so heading back before rush hour and whilst I could seemed like the most sensible plan. I’m now sat on the 13:30 from Kings Cross to Edinburgh which I’ve been using as a mobile hospital whilst I nurse a sick laptop back to health. So far, so good. Restoring it to factory settings has cured the glitches and allowed me to connect to the internet (hence you reading this) but I’ve a long evening ahead of me reinstalling a multitude of programmes to restore full functionality ready for another busy tomorrow. Still, at least I’ll be able to have a good night’s kip tonight!

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

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

Thank You!

Rolling blogs. Berlin day 1…

07 Saturday May 2022

Posted by in Berlin, Food and drink, Germany, Photography, Rolling blogs, Travel

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09:30.

We’ve had an easy start to the day due to arriving so late last night. We’d not made any plans for our first day anyway but whilst we were en-route I was in contact with a German friend and colleague who lives here in Berlin. Ellen has arranged to meet us for lunch. I’d suggested the group might like to try somewhere traditionally German, so we’re off to Sophieneck in Hackescher Markt.

The weather here in Berlin is gorgeous and such a contrast to rainy, gloomy Manchester. It’s warm and sunny and ideal for a walking tour of the city. I’ve been coming to Berlin regularly for many years now but Dawn (who used to live in Germany many years ago) hasn’t been for 20 years and the rest of the gang are city virgins. It should make for an interesting day…

23:30.

Well, that was a pretty crap rolling blog, wasn’t it? We’ve had such a fun time and seen so much that blogging was the last thing on my mind. Instead, I’ll flesh this out in the morning as I’ve a bit of time before we meet to head out and explore on day 2. Instead, I’ll leave you with a picture of the day – from today).

To me decent, energy efficient and user- friendly public transport is the epitome of a good city. Here’s one of Berlin’s modern low-floor trams which are exactly that.

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

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

Thank You!

Rolling blog. Wandering…

05 Thursday May 2022

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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09:30.

It’s Thursday so it’s time for my weekly visit to the ‘other’ valley (the Colne) and Milnesbridge. I’m taking a modified route this week but it still involves walking, trains and canals. I’ll be blogging through the day as I travel, so feel free to pop in and see what I get up to….

10:30.

Having walked down into Sowerby Bridge instead of through to Halifax I’m on my first train of the day, Northern’s 10:22 to Leeds which will carry me as far as Dewsbury. This turned out to be a wise choice as the onboard Passenger Information System (PIS) screen shows onward connections and I noticed the Grand Central service I used last week is cancelled. That would have really screwed me up! Instead I’m on a quiet 3-car Class 195 and stress-free as I’ve time in the bank.

Today’s a good day for a wander. The Mercury is creeping up and the sun is shining through high broken clouds so I’m glad I’ve brought the camera. Plus, it’s interesting to observe early progress on the Trans-Pennine route upgrade (TRU). There’s nothing major to see yet but preperations are much in evidence. Many new safe access to trackside walkways have been installed, existing work compounds enlarged with many new ones being built. Vegetation clearance has been carried out over the past few years (with more needed).

11:00.

My visit to Dewsbury was brief – around 10 minutes. I had just enough time to grab some shots of this attractive and well-maintained station before moving on. As well as being good-looking the station boasts a good little cafe and the excellent West Riding refreshment rooms with its great range of real ales.

My next train was a six-car TPE service fromRedcar to Manchester Airport. Unlike the Northern train it was rammed. A situation exacerbated by the number of students here at Dewsbury who were travelling to college in Huddersfield. Being wedged in a TPE vestibule felt like the old days had returned!

11:30.

Like the students, I decamped at Huddersfield. Running earlier than last week I had plenty of time to buy a delicious bacon roll and coffee at the cafe and get some pictures before my next train.

A few weeks ago this area between the tracks at the East end of Huddersfield was a mass of Buddleia. Now it’s all been cleared, reopening photo opportunities that disappeared several years ago.

12:55.

Everything came together. My train arrived in Slaithwaite on time and the walk along the Huddersfield narrow canal was even easier this week as a lot more of the towpath has been resurfaced. I made it in under 50 minutes. Here’s a view from my journey.

OK, back later…

16:15.

I’m back!

Meeting over I had a mooch around Milnsbridge for an hour and checked out a photo location I’ve not visited before on the road bridge high above the railway to the west of the viaduct and next to the old goods yard. Here’s the view looking West towards Slaithwaite

It won’t look like this in a few years time! Here’s looking in the opposite direction as 802208 comes off the viaduct and passes the site of Milnesbridge goods yard which is now an industrial estate.

Right now I’m back at Huddersfield waiting for the 16:35 to Halifax and basking in the sun as I do so. There appears to be quite a few traincrew issues today with several services (Northern to Sheffield and TPE to Redcar) cancelled with staff shortages being given as the reason. At least my train’s turned up in the shape of a refurbished ex-West Yorkshire PTE Class 158.

22:00.

I’n now home and putting this rolling blog to bed as I’ve got to pack. Why? Because tomorrow our little gang (the 5 from the 6) are off to Berlin for a few days. It’s mine and Dawn’s first trip outside the UK since the pandemic, so we’re really looking forward to it. The next week or so will see me doing a lot of travelling and touring as well as attending a trade fair back in the UK, so expect lots more blogs to come – starting tomorrow when our merry band make our way to Germany via Manchester Airport…

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

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

Thank You!

Rolling blog. More Yorkshire wandering…

28 Thursday Apr 2022

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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11:00.

I’m on my way to Huddersfield for an appointment that was cancelled at the last moment this time last week. Today it’s so far, so good. The meeting’s not until this afternoon but I’m taking the ‘scenic’ route on foot and public transport.

Walking from home to Halifax station I was struck by the lack of political posters. You’d be forgiven for not knowing there’s local elections happening next week! Apart from a few Labour banners I’ve seen nothing from any of the other parties. I’ll cover this more (and why we should be concerned about it) in another blog.

My first steed was Grand Central train heading for Mirfield. It’s hardly a direct way to get to Huddersfield but in their wisdom the Treasury – sorry, the Dept of Transport have reduced the hourly Halifax – Huddersfield service to two-hourly as a cost cutting measure, making it very unattractive.

On the bright side, the GC service was well loaded. As an open-access service they don’t recieve any Govt subsidy so stopped running completely during the height of the pandemic.

A short walk under the attractively lit and decorated subway brought me up to the Westbound platform where I found the 11:11 is running 3 mins late. Not untypical but not a problem as I’ve no other connection to make. This used to be a good place for photography but the growth of lineside vegetation had reduced visibility so much that any shot of a train heading East would look like it’s running through a field! All this will change soon when the Trans-Pennine route upgrade (TRU) begins. This section will be restored to four tracks, the station rebuilt and the line electrified.

11:55.

Slight change of plan. I was going to walk along the canal from Huddersfield to Milnsbridge but I got distracted by the delious smells emenating from the station buffet so I popped in for a chat with Chris and his wife and to purchase one of their delicious bacon teacakes (as they call rolls in this part of the world) and a coffee.

Now I’ll get the train to Slaithwaite and walk to Milnsbridge from there which is a bit further but should be a nicer canalside walk. I have just enough time to do it..

12:58.

Phew! A brisk 55 minute walk has got me to my appointment on time. The canalside walk’s far nicer this way and the Canal and River Trust are busy resurfacing the entire towpath, which will make for some easy walking.

Right, catch you later…

15:00.

Appointment over I caught the bus back into Huddersfield to save some time and also because that section of the canal towpath isn’t as attractive due to it being a favourite for rubbish dumping and fly-tipping. Plus, it got me back to the station in time to catch a train back towards Bradford rather than having to go via Leeds. I’m currently enjoying the ambience of a refurbished former West Yorkshire PTE Class 158/9 that’s been refurbished with new seats as well as being fitted with USB sockets and wifi (hence this update). I’m not going to go home straight away. I feel the need for some further wandering. The question is – to where?…

18:30.

And the answer was – Skipton. Having caught the train to Bradford I traversed the city twixt Interchange and Forster Square stations which neatly cut out the meed for Leeds and added to my daily fitbit ‘brownie points’. Oh, and the chance to travel on another parochial train fleet. The Class 333s are limited to the local electrified lines West of Leeds covering Bradford, Ilkley and Skipton. They’re comfortable trains that were recently refurbished – just not up to a specification folk expect now – hence the absence of power points and sockets, even if (perversely) they were some of the first Northern trains to be fitted with Wifi!.

They do look smart inside tho’

My Skipton sojourn was brief. I’d come here for two reasons and with it being such a gray day photography wasn’t one of them! Dawn had expessed an interest in some new outdoor clothing and Skipton is full of such shops. Plus, a group of retired and still serving railway staff were on on a regular outing. I’ve been invited along for years but the stars never aligned. Today I gave said stars a nudge – even if that meant I was only for an hour!

It was lovely to catch up with some people whom I’ve not ssen for years. I could have stayed a lot (lot) longer – but another time maybe..

Right now I’m heading into Leeds having missed my Bradford option by the skin of my teeth. This train’s quiet as it’s operating contraflow so it’s only carrying early revellers who’re heading for a night out in Leeds.

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

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

Thank You!

Rolling blog. Yorkshire roundabout…

26 Tuesday Apr 2022

Posted by in Community rail, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire

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09:30.

Today sees me travelling around the shire from West to South as I’ve a variety of things to do. First off this morning is one that’s familiar – and local. The friends of Mytholmroyd station are having a big volunteer event where Northern Rail staff volunteers are descending for the day to add extra bodies and muscle-power to help tackle some of the bigger and more complex jobs around the station that could do with a hand (and younger sinews). As an old friend of the group I’m dropping in to capture shots of the day, documenting what these partnerships can achieve and also showcase what the community rail sector gets up to.

After Mytholmroyd I’ll be travelling across to South Yorkshire to visit Sheffield where I’ll be catching up with at least one old friend (and maybe more). Feel free to keep popping back to see how things pan out as I document the day.

10:25.

Not the greatest start. Having walked down to Sowerby Bridge station for the short hop to Mytholmroyd I find my train is losing time by the minute. Due in at 10:24 it’s now scheduled to arrive at 10:29, having slipped as each minute’s passed. It’s a minor inconvenience in the scheme of things but it makes me late for the briefing and being late is one of my personal bugbears.

10:30.

Hmm, a 2-car 195 working all the way to Chester. That’s going to be cosy!

12:15.

I arrived just in time to miss the group briefing in the local church hall, but as I’m very familiar with the station and the group it wasn’t a big deal. Seventeen volunteers from Northern rail had turned up to offer a hand and they were allocated a variety of tasks such as digging up old Daffodils, repotting the planters on the platforms, general weeding or moving larger plants that had outgrown their spaces. The place was a hive of activity as people dressed in high-vis buzzed around like a swarm of angry bees! Here’s some examples of the activities.

Northern Rail volunteers clearing out old plants from the recycled plastic planters on the platforms before replanting them with a fresh display.
The platform approaches at Mytholmroyd have steep banks on either side. Here, volunteers clear the entrance to the car park of old Daffodils and weed the area before replanting.
Doing the hard work (digging out and moving plants) under the watchful eye of one of the station friends.
The latest art installation is these terracotta impressions of the various station friends!

Sadly, I couldn’t stay for lunch so I bid adieu and caught the 11:53 to Leeds via Bradford Interchange, which gave me enough time to download, edit and post the pictures as a Class 195 makes a decent mobile office – unlike the train I changed onto in Leeds where a Class 150/2 was waiting to take me to Sheffield. These things have neither tables nor power sockets and I dislike balancing my laptop on my knee. So, it’s back to typing via my smartphone.

My steed awaits…

18:45.

Well, that’s been an interesting day…

Due to timings Richard Clinnick and I ended up catching the same train to Sheffield. I joined it at Leeds whilst Richard picked it up at Wakefield where he’d been to meet the staff at the Rail Business Daily offices where he was inducted into his new role as Editor of Inside Track magazine. On arrival at Sheffield we met up with another rail industry partner in crime – Lucy Prior. The three of us spent over an hour swapping intel and gossip before I headed off to explore parts of the region I wasn’t familiar with. In this case, Rotherham. Having taken a short break between towns I now know why I’d never had it on my radar. It’s a depressing place. Ignoring the fact the station is famous for turning into a place where you’re more likely to use a canoe than a train in heavy rain, the town itself isn’t exactly what I’d call buzzing. Here’s my introduction to the town centre after leaving the railway station.

Nice…

Frankly, if you wanted to make a ‘zombie apocalypse’ film, Rotherham’s your place. Not only does it have the right levels of decay and dereliction it’s also pretty much deserted. Plus, many of the few souls still shambling around the town centre could easily be signed up as extras – and it wouldn’t cost you much money in make-up either…

I didn’t hang around. One lap of the centre was enough. After that I was on the train back to Sheffield!

– but not on one of these tram-trains, seen here approaching Rotherham Central central station earlier. I caught the Northern rail service following behind. At least the fact I managed this shot was worth the trip…

21:15.

I’m now back at Bigland Towers after uneventful journey’s home. Neither of my Northern trains back to Halifax was particularly busy but then neither was Leeds station. Mind you, Halifax was even quieter – almost everything seemed to have closed down for the night despite it being before 8 ‘o clock. Even the pubs had given up and decided to shut up shop.

Now I’m having an easy evening editing pictures from the day. I might as well make the most of my time – Dawn’s gone round to a friend’s for supper, so there’s only me in! Ah well, it’s another day tomorrow…

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

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

Thank You!

Rolling blog. Change of plan….

21 Thursday Apr 2022

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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10:15.

It’s a gloriously sunny day here in the Pennines – albeit a tad chilly at the moment due to a breeze that’s knocking a good few degrees of the ambient temperature. As I’d a lunchtime appointment at Milnesbridge in the neighbouring Colne valley I’d decided to make a day of it and head out early with the camera to get some pictures at the same time. Having strolled into Halifax to catch the train I’d just arrived at the station when my phone rang and the people I was meant to be seeing called off the meeting due to staff sickness. Ho hum! So, I’m now at a looser end…

The weather’s far too good to go back to the office. Instead, I’m on a half-full 3 -car Class 195 heading to Manchester whilst plotting what my next move is going to be. Feel free to keep popping back to see what I get up to and where…

11:00.

I arrived in Manchester without a plan but one soon came together after 10 minutes of checking the internet and social media. I was torn between a couple of ideas but the fact a friend from Ireland who’s travelling the UK on a railrover ticket had a visit to Wigan on his itinerary swung it for me. I’m now sat on a rather pedestrian Class 150 heading west to Southport.

The Stygian gloom of Victoria’s through platforms under the Manchester Arena is hardly a place you’d want to linger on a bright sunny day. Thankfully, I didn’t have to. The train approaching is the 10:50 to Southport, which has whisked me away from here. It’s about to pass 150003, one of Northern’s reformed sets made up by adding an extra car to a 2-car set to emulate the first 2 prototype Class 150s.

The service I’m on is an ‘all shacks’ stopper which calls at every blade of grass en-route. Stations with exotic names like Moses Gate, Kearsley, Westhoughton, Hoscar and Meols Cop. It passes from areas once dominated by the old coalfields, power stations and cotton mills to cross the West Lancashire plains and rich farmland to reach the coast. It’s actually a fascinating trip through time and one day (when I finally have enough time) I’m going to write a historical route guide as it really deserves one. Nowadays you’d have no idea what it used to like like when I was a boy. Even I struggle to remember sometimes!

12:35.

I’m now enjoying Wigan (or Wiggin as the locals pronounce it). No – seriously! I know I’ve been somewhat unkind about the place in the past as (like any old industrial town) it has its problems, but it is a friendly place and certainly has its recent upsides if you’re a fan of real ale. The area around the stations is graced with two cracking pubs. The restored and reopened Swan opposite North Western station (you can see it from passing trains) and ‘Wigan Central’ in the arches underneath North Western. Plus, the local Community Rail Partnership has commissioned a local artist who’s decorated the station subway with an attractive guide to the local lingo…

Ironic, I keep mentioning how glorious the weather is but all my pictures are taken underground! Here’s on taken above ground at Wigan North Western to redress the balance.

A Euston bound 9-car Pendolino calls at Wigan North Western earlier today.

20:00.

Apologies for the interregnum in blogging but it’s been a busy day. I arranged to meet my Irish friend in ‘Wiggin’ after which we explored local lines familiar to but unfamiliar to him. Hence us ending up in Rainford. on the Wigan – Kirby line. Unless you knew about this route’s history you’d never guess it was a former main line – unless you understand how railways were built and notice there wasn’t a single level-crossing on the route which also has some heroic earthworks and structures in order to make it as level as possible.

We stopped off at Rainford to get some shots of trains, admire the work of the local station friends – and have a pint at the adjacent local hostelry. Well, it would’ve been rude not to! The pub has some wonderful photographs from the 1960s when Rainford was a triangular junction – an era long gone.

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

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

Thank You!

Rolling blog. Back on the rails…

15 Friday Apr 2022

Posted by in Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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08:30.

After my enforced absence due to Covid I’m back on the rails today for the first time in a couple of weeks. It’s nothing terribly exciting – I’m taking a trip over to my birthplace to drop something off for my niece’s husband, but there’ll be time for a few pictures and the change of scenery is certainly appreciated. And who know what might happen?

Right now I’m crossing the Pennines on Northern’s 08:05 from Sowerby Bridge to Wigan North Western which is worked by a pair of Class 158s. Once the ‘top flight’ units in Northern’s inventory these 90 mph trains have been relegated to the 2nd Division by the newer, faster and more nippy CAF built Class 195s. With it being Good Friday there’s no commuters aboard, merely a few family daytrippers and people dragging suitcases who’re away longer. I’ll be interested to see what the footfall looks like at other stations en-route.

Feel free to keep popping back to see how my day unfolds…

08:40. My train’s the ‘all shacks’ stopper which calls at every station on the line, most of which have been very quiet. Having crossed the Pennines I’ve lost the sunshine as Lancashire’s covered in wavy low grey cloud. Add in the fact it’s a chilly start to this bank holiday and I can understand why not many people are venturing out right now – it’s a day for a lie-in! Our stop at Rochdale did manage to generate an extra dozen passengers, many of whom seemed less than enthusiastic to be travelling so I’m assuming they’re shop workers!

10:00.

As expected, Manchester Victoria was busy with day-trippers making the most of the bank-holiday but I didn’t stop as I was changing trains at Salford Crescent in order to pick up a Southport Service. There were few students about so the station was quiet. The heaviest traffic was for the bird-feeders that station staff have hung up on a station sign. These saw a stream of Pigeons, Tits and Jays taking advantage of the feeding station!

Feeding station…

I’m still getting used to seeing electric trains on this route which is a far cry from how it was in my youth. The feeling of oddness is compounded by seeing old friends in the form of ex-Thamelink trains converted to bi-modes plying the route. One of which formed my train to Southport.

100mph capable trains to Southport. Who would have thought?

Our route was via Bolton where we successfully swapped from electric to diesel power, a transition that doesn’t always go smoothly but teething problems seem to have been ironed out nowadays, reducing the numbers of failures.

Having changed traction we continued to Wigan, calling at the beautifully tended stations of Westhoughton and Hindley bothe of which have gorgeous station gardens maintained by local volunteers.

Wigan Wallgate provided plenty of custom for the train as large groups of families and friends were waiting to take a trip to the seaside. Buckets and spades may be in order, but any suntan lotion will be surplus to requirements!

11:30.

My neice was waiting for me at the station so the Tux’ was handed over in double-quick time. I didn’t want to stay long but I gave myself long enough for a quick lap of the town centre just to see what had changed. It was all a bit depressing. Many more shops are empty and shuttered, as is another old haunt – the ‘Coronation’ pub opposite the market which has been dying a death for years gas finally expired. I did pop into the indoor market which has changed completely. All the tradional stalls are gone. Instead, a large bar surrounded by tables occupies much of the space. Fast food stalls line two sides whilst on sode’s been opened up to encompass outdoor seating.

I have mixed feelings about the redevelopment. None of the food outlets appeal, it’s all bog-standard, uninteresting stuff (pizza, tex-mex etc) not world cuisine or Asian street food and it’s displaced specialist food stalls – one of which sold a fantastic array of Lancashire cheeses. I’ve no idea where to go to buy those now. Still, Ivwish it well and hope the new market prospers – even if I’ve no reason to visit anymore.

Taking my leave via the same train I arrived on I stopped off at Burscough Bridge to get a couple of pictures. After being derelict for years the old station building’s being renovated. It was a private residence so I’m assuming its finally been bought by someone. It’s a fine old building that’s very much in need of some TLC – which it’s now receiving.

14:30.

My next stop was at Wigan, a town that was really buzzing as it was match day. Not that I have the faintest clue what sport that involved. To be honest, portly blokes wandering around in very tight copies of team strips was never going to engage my attention. It might be football, it might be rugby, but to be honest, I don’t have a ‘Scooby Do’!

What was nice was the fact the atmosphere was quite relaxed (but then, it’s early doors and no-one’s lost yet). Whilst in Wigan I called in to a hostelry I’d always meant to visit but never got around to. Wigan Central is a large, railway-themed bar that fills two arches under Wigan North-Western station. The bar spills out onto the pavement to give a large outdoor seating area which copes well with events.

14:45.

I really enjoyed my visit to Wigan, a place I’ve not always flattered (sorry Sheila!) but on this occasion I found the people whom I met and talked to lovely.

Right now I’m heading back to Yorkshire. The weather didn’t pan out quite how I’d have liked so some of the photos I wanted were non-starters. Even so, I’ve ideas for the future. I’ve not expored the old Lancashire and Yorkshire main line via Walkden for years. I’ve always meant to but it’s never been prominent on the list.

22:30.

Time to bring some closure! I stayed on the train from Wigan all the way home – ish. Lulled into a false sense of security by the fact I was on a Class 195 I ignored the stopping pattern I knew in my head until we pulled out of Sowerby Bridge when the PA announced the next stop as Brighouse, not Halifax. Bugger! On the bright side – I was able to retrace my steps with a 20 minute delay – and there’s a real ale pub right next to the station…

Having met up with Dawn at home the pair of us adjourned to the ‘Big 6’ pub to join friends and enjoy the quiz. As usual our quizmaster bans me from answering the geography questions – much to everyone else’s amusement. It’s not that I’m that encyclopedic (honest), but I have travelled a bit! Dawn and I had a lovely night laughing and joking as you bounce humor off friends – the stuff you miss when you’re isolating. Hopefully, this is the precursor for the Bank Holiday…

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

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

Thank You!