Tag Archives: Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade

I’m back…

21 Sunday Jul 2024

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, Travel, West Yorkshire

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Sorry for the lack of blogs but I’ve both been busy and had the muse desert me. That’s not to imply there’s been nothing to write about – far from it, but I’ve struggled with the time and the inclination as there’s simply not enough hours in the day to do all the things that I want to achieve. Still, I’m back now and a new week begins tomorrow.

Thursday and Friday saw me back on the rails as the weather picked up. After our fortnight in Dorset I was keen to catch up with progress on some of the local rail improvements, so on Thursday afternoon I decided to go West and check on how electrification of the line from Lostock Junction (near Bolton) to Wigan was progressing. The answer is – very well. Much of the route has had masts installed although there are gaps, the biggest being from Crow Nest Junction to Hindley and also East of Westhoughton. Since my last visit in April many of the masts have had the horizontal beams and top ties added along with the registration bracket, as you can see in this picture from Hindley.

A pair of Northern Class 156s head for Wigan just West of Hindley station.

Hindley station garden’s recovering well considering its had mast bases sunk in prominent parts. The station friends have wasted no time in making temporary use of these surfaces…

Something else that’s getting renewed at Hindley is the life-expired signalling which dates from the early 1970s when the West Coast Main Line was electrified.

Rusty, much?

Friday saw me explore closer to home with a trip from Huddersfield to Leeds and back to Mirfield to have a look at Trans-Pennine Route upgrade (TRU) work. This was made harder by the fact trains were either replaced by buses, or diverted. One place I popped into was Wakefield Kirkgate, which is now on the Trans-Pennine route map. The only problem is that it’s now rendered hopeless for photography by the addition of a fence running along the tracks between the platforms. Well, that’s when you can see it as it’s mostly hidden by Buddleia!

The Wakefield Kirkgate linear garden…

The direct route between Huddersfield and Leeds via Dewsbury was closed with services replaced by buses, but I managed this shot from a diverted train on the line to Healy Mills. The bridge in the background carries the existing line over the River Calder. This whole section is going to be replaced with a new formation (and bridge) which will run in the foreground, roughly where the pile driver is in this image.

Here’s Mirfield, where the new (extended) station platforms are really starting to take shape.

Having got a train to Mirfield the only way to get back to Halifax was on a rail replacement bus. Friday was the last day of the current blockade and not a great one to end on. Traffic through Mirfield was horrendous and my bus was almost an hour late.

Nope, not this one. After waiting 40 mins we’d built hour hopes up. Instead, it was another 20 mins before a less fancy vehicle turned up.

Tomorrow a new week begins which will see me working from home. I’ve another RAIL magazine article to finish writing and lots of other stuff to prepare for later in the week – as well as plan my round Britain trip for RAIL (which I’ve had to postpone for a couple of weeks due to other pressures). Still, never a dull moment, eh?

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

Rolling blog. Out on the TRU rails again…

12 Wednesday Jun 2024

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, Travel, West Yorkshire

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12:20.

I’m currently in Huddersfield, having travelled in with Dawn in order for the two of us to work from the Community Rail Network office in the old water tower at the station. Getting in to the office is ‘fun’ nowadays as it sits inside a fenced off TRU compound!

The CRN water tower surrounded by building materials and plant. We have to skirt the edge of this lot to get into the office…

My morning’s been spent on a couple of ‘teams’ calls with some Northern Rail staff as background for a forthcoming RAIL magazine article. The chats were really informative, which will really help the article. Now, they’re finished I’m heading out to have a look at some more upgrade work on the line from here to Leeds. Feel free to pop back and see what I get up to…

14:20.

Platforms at Huddersfield slowly disappear under scaffolding.

I’m currently at Mirfield, where the new platform 2 is really starting to take shape.

Earlier I popped in at Ravensthorpe where an awful lot of earth is being moved around.

The new alignment is going to pass through the middle of this picture taken from the existing Ravensthorpe station. The existing alignment to the left will be abandoned.

17:30.

After a very long diversion at Ravensthorpe due to a footpath closure, I made it to the bridge West of Ravensthorpe where I got these pictures (captions later). As you can see there’s going to need to be some tree trimming before the line’s electrified!

185134 passes the site of the new Ravensthorpe station whilst working 2M78, the 1458 York to Manchester Piccadilly which is routed via Castleford and Healey Mills.
Whilst the other side of the line at Ravensthorpe has had vegetation cut back, the Eastbound side is in serious need of the same treatment.

21:45.

I’m back at home on what’s turned out (weatherwise) to be a lovely evening – something all too rare this year. Now it’s time to bring this rolling blog to an end with a couple more pictures from my TRU travels.

This scene will change dramatically over the next few years. Here’s 66847 approaching Thornhill LNW Jn from Healey Mills.
The site of the new Ravensthorpe station slowly takes shape. The bridge some of the other pictures were taken from is seen in the background.

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

Trans-Pennine Upgrade update and a touch of politics.

09 Sunday Jun 2024

Posted by in Photography, Politics, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, West Yorkshire

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I’ve taken a short break from blogging these past few days. It’s not that there’s been nothing to write about, I merely wanted to change focus slightly and give myself some time off. Dawn’s been away with friends so I’ve had the place to myself and decided to catch-up on reading rather than writing. Plus, the absolute shit-show that is the Conservatives election campaign could have led me to another bout of spleen-venting. I really don’t know what to say about Sunak. His incompetence and arrogance (in equal measure) have led him to make the most jaw-droppingly ridiculous mistakes – and there’s still several more weeks of the campaign to go. Rather than narrowing the polling gap with Labour he’s actually managed to increase it! God knows what foul-ups he’ll make next.

Away from the political circus I took time out late last week to have a look at progress on the Trans-Pennine route upgrade between Huddersfield and Dewsbury. One of the biggest worksites is at Ravensthorpe. Not only is the existing station being relocated, there’s also a flyover and brand new section of line being built to the South of the existing alignment. Right now there’s a huge amount of earthmoving going on to prepare formerly derelict land to receive the new railway. Piling work has also commenced. Here’s a few pictures taken from a passing train.

Meanwhile, Huddersfield station roof is gradually disappearing as the area’s being shrouded in scaffolding.

The Sheffield bay platform seen through the scaffolding.
Over in the old goods yard this massive office block has appeared.

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

Rolling blog. More TRU travels…

17 Wednesday Apr 2024

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09:30.

Today we have blue skies and sunshine – and little threat of rain. So, having finished the paperwork that I needed to do I’m heading out with the camera to have a look at more progress on the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade. I’ll blog throughout the day (easier as I’m only going local) so feel free to see what I get up to and where. Right now it’s time to pack my kit and head down to Sowerby Bridge station…

11:35.

Having caught the train from Sowerby Bridge my first stop was at Mirfield where I had to change trains anyway. For once TRU work was in full swing during the day.  I’m assuming that’s because the work in question was sheet piling – which is an activity that’s best carried out during daylight hours if you want to be a good neighbour!

Mirfield piling work.

Right now I’m taking my ease at Ravensthorpe as there’s a couple of interesting train workings due – and I have time to admire TRU progress before strolling on to Dewsbury. Here’s how the site of the new Ravensthorpe station looks as more of the old embankment’s removed.

14:00.

Whilst it was sunny at Ravensthorpe the wind was less than kind. Whilst I was there an old chap turned up with his video camera and stepladder. Apparently, a steam train was due (I didn’t know as I don’t pay the preserved world much attention). He plonked himself in the worst possible location on the bridge, leaving the TRU staff having kittens as part of the road bridge is closed whilst the one lane open has a steady stream of HGVs coming on and off the TRU construction site. Having sympathy and understanding I  stayed out of the way, but even so one member of staff came and tried to persuade me what was a public right of way wasn’t. I gently stood my ground and pointed out that – as I was stood behind a lampost on a pavement if my safety was in danger they need to look at the quality of their HGV drivers rather than me!

(evening update)

On checking various websites I’ve found that Ravensthorpe Road and the bridge are indeed officially closed to traffic until June 10th, although pedestrians are allowed to cross for now. So, I’d advise any photographers to stay away from the area until then as there’s a lot of HGV traffic and there’s other locations that can be used in the meantime.

Still, I can sympathise with their concerns. I wouldn’t have dreamed of glueing myself to where ‘flat cap’ did and assured the chap I’d be out of his way soon. Here’s what I snapped whilst I was there.

The empty Preston – Lindsay oil tanks hauled by 70814 pass Thornhill LNW Junction at Ravensthorpe.
Rebuilt ‘West Country’ Pacific 34046 ‘Braunton’ working a Northwich – York charter.

Moving on I caught a train to Huddersfield to see how the ongoing roof removal’s impacted on the station.

Roof in retreat. The first few spans of the main trainshed roof have been removed at the West end of the station.

Having grabbed the shots I wanted I caught a train across the Pennines to the other part of the TRU work, where the overhead wires are now in place in Stalybridge. Here’s the view looking West towards Manchester.

Stalybridge looking East. This is as far as electrification will get for the foreseeable future as little work is taking place between Stalybridge and Huddersfield and there’s no timetable for the wires to be extended.

21:15.

I’m now home and it’s time to bring this blog to a close. By late afternoon the clouds closed in, leaving me playing ‘tig’ with the sunshine (and the rain). There seemed little point in battling out with the weather as it always wins! Instead I nipped into central Manchester to pick up some edible supplies from Chinatown before heading back home via busy rush-hour trains on the Calder valley.

Tomorrow’s another (different) day which will see me in DIY rather than photographic mode as we’re back to rainy days. Still, it’ll keep me out of trouble – and the wet!

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

13th April picture(s) of the day…

13 Saturday Apr 2024

Posted by in Food and drink, Huddersfield, Photography, Rail Investment, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade

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Today’s very much been a mixture here at Bigland Towers. Yesterday evening I was sat outside in the garden, enjoying a beer and soaking up the rays of the sun for the first time this year. This morning? We were back to rain, miserable temperatures and low cloud, so a lie-in seemed like the only sensible course of action. This afternoon was different. The weather was still diva-like, but we decided to ignore its strops and have a day out, heading over to Huddersfield for lunch. Whilst the town doesn’t have the attractions that it once did there’s still an oasis and reflection of how things used to be. We ate at Arcade, in the Byram arcade on Westgate. It’s a lovely little cafe that has a Bohemian feel and clientele in an arcade which has its own vibe due to the arts and craft shops the cafe rubs shoulders with. We both plumped for the same dish, Turkish eggs – with added Chorizo.

It was delicious! Whilst Dawn had a coffee I indulged in a Vocation brewery Hazy Pale beer.

Afterwards, whilst Dee checked out the nearby woolshop I wandered up to observe the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade at the station. There’s another blockade on the line this weekend as major work’s started on the station roof.

This section of the trainshed roof is scheduled for demolition as the whole area is going to be redeveloped due to the addition of two more through platforms.
This is why the line’s closed! You can’t get heavy plant in without closing the railway entirely!

Bidding adieu to Huddersfield we headed back from Colne to Calder valley for an expensive side-trip to Garden centres, DIY stores and supermarkets – all in the midst of another downpour. Well, that’s the gardening taking a rain-check then!

Back at home Dawn decided to get stuck into baking whilst I nipped out to get my steps in and have a ‘swifty’ in the Big 6 where this range of beers was on offer.

Now the pair of us are enjoying a quiet night in with the hope of better weather tomorrow…

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

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

Trans-Pennine (TRU) changes in West Yorkshire. 3rd April 2024.

03 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Photography, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, West Yorkshire

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Today I had a little job to do in Huddersfield, which I managed to combine with a look at some of the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade (TRU) work as well as a meander from Huddersfield to Dewsbury. To be honest, the weather wasn’t exactly promising. But tide and tide – or in this case a 10 day rail blockade wait for no-man! Huddersfield station was closed to all rail traffic so the first leg of my journey was by the dread rail replacement bus service. Only in this case it was rather easy. The buses left from right outside the station where there were plenty of staff on hand to point you to the right one. I caught a coach as far Deighton, the first stop up the line. This was no battered old vehicle, instead, Star of Batley provided a brand new Volvo. Shame there was only two of us passengers!

I’d come to Deighton as major work was underway to reprofile the railway embankment on the Northern side of the line. Deighton station’s going to be completely rebuilt as this section of line will regain four tracks. Here’s what I saw.

The Flannery machine in the foreground’s working on what will be the new Fast lines.
As you can see, there’s some serious earth-moving going on! Meanwhile, the workers behind the platform fence are cutting back the vegetation.
Looking East from the footpath down to the Huddersfield bound platform at Deighton. The arch was over the former Kirkburton branch which left the main line at this site. The branch closed to passenger traffic in 1930 and freight in 1965, although traffic ran for a mile along the branch to an ICI works until 1971. As I had time to kill before the bus arrived I ventured down a rubbish strewn path off the main road to check out this – the old seven arch Whitacre Mill viaduct.

Hopping aboard the following RRB an hour later I turned out to be the only passenger for the trip as far as Mirfield, travelling along a route that often followed the existing railway whilst passing the remains of many others.

Was it something I said?

This area was once rich in local lines all of which (apart from the Trans-Pennine route) are history. On the bright side, the journey did show me a few new photographic locations which I’ll do my best to exploit over the course of the year.

Rejoining the railway at Mirfield I had time to check-out progress around the station, which has seen more of the former platform 2 fall to bulldozers as the site’s slowly cleared to allow the new station and track layout to take shape.

Catching the next available train I moved up to Ravensthorpe, an area which is also undergoing major changes. The station here will be moved to the West of the existing junction to the site you see in this picture.

.GBRf’s 66769 hauls TRU engineers train 6G88, the 1353 from Heaton Lodge East Jn to Belmont Down Yard over Thornhill LNW Junction and the site of the new Ravensthorpe station.

Rather than wait for the next train I decided to stretch my legs and walk from Ravensthorpe to Dewsbury. It takes 45 minutes, but it’s hardly the most scenic of trips. This is not a rich area. It’s a mixture of old and new industrial sites, shops and homes. Like much of post-industrial West Yorkshire, it’s seen better days. There’s a distinct lack of civic pride all along the route, with litter-strewn streets, unkempt building and closed and empty shops.

Empty and disused shops on Calder Rd on the way from Ravensthorpe station.

Despite the roughness, you still come across some interesting architecture. This unusual building caught my eye. It’s part of Our Lady & St Paulinus church on the way into Dewsbury.

That was as good as it got! I took a detour off the main road down to the River Calder which I followed into town. Well, I say footpath. It was more of a linear rubbish dump and really quite depressing. Then again, you could say that it’s a good preparation for Dewsbury itself!

There was one ray of sunshine, although today wasn’t my day for sampling it. The excellent West Riding refreshment room on the railway station is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. It’s well worth a visit – even if you swerve the rest of the town and never leave the station. Although, if you did, you might be pleasantly surprised when visiting the old Calder and Hebble Navigation canal wharf in Savile town and the Leggers Inn. There’s also some good cycle routes on the old railway nearby which is part of the Spen Valley greenway.

Sadly, the weather closed in once I’d reached Dewsbury so there was little left for me to do but return home. However, this won’t be my last visit by any means. I’ll do regular (irregular) updates on the TRU work and nearby sites of interest as the work progresses.

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

23rd December picture(s) of the day…

23 Saturday Dec 2023

Posted by in Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, West Yorkshire

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All change!

I’d originally planned to head over to my old home town of Southport but an early morning email and the appalling weather made me change my plans. I’ve been arranging to get the asthmatic cooling fans in my laptop replaced by a very helpful guy in nearby Brighouse who runs Smile Computers but it’s been difficult to make our dairies sync. Today they did so I hastily re-arranged things. Dawn was a trouper as usual and rejigged her diary so she could drive me over there – with the added bonus of us having more time together. Plus, I can arrange to go to Southport another time when more of my family are around.

Having dropped off the laptop the pair of us went exploring. As I’ve mentioned in a previous blog, I’ve been keen to check-out the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) work in the Mirfield – Ravensthorpe corridor which is one of the most important areas. So, here’s a couple of pictures from Ravensthorpe which shows what’s happened in the past few months. If you want to see how this corridor will look in the future, this Network Rail video recreation will show you.

Here’s looking towards Ravensthorpe station (which is going to move behind the camera) and the junction between the line to Dewsbury on the left and Healy Mills on the right. This was the view in April.

Here’s how it looks today with all the lineside (and more) vegetation cleared.

The area to the right of the footbridge will be the site of the flyover where two extra fast line tracks are added heading left towards Dewsbury. The existing Up/Down lines will be separated to accommodate the new lines whilst the whole formation towards Dewsbury will be moved to the right as a new 4-track bridge over the Calder will need to be built, then the original bridge and formation will be abandoned. That means the road bridge I’m standing on to take this picture will disappear – along with almost everything else in the picture.

Here’s looking the other way from the bridge at what will be the site of the new Ravensthorpe station to the right, whilst the fast lines will be to the left. It’s early days yet so the most noticeable change is the way the lineside has been denuded of vegetation.

Here’s the same location (Thornton LNw Junction) but looking from the opposite side of the bridge. The flyover carrying the fast tracks will be built to the left of the existing tracks whilst the site behind with the yellow plant will be the new car-park and entrance to Ravensthorpe station which will be accessed by a footbridge cutting right across the centre of the picture.

As we had a few hours to kill, and despite the crap weather we headed back via Mirfield, which is also going to see some changes. Here’s the view East from the Huddersfield bound platform which was only built in recent years. This will be swept away as four tracks will be reinstated at this point with the fast lines being where I’m standing now.

Here’s looking the other way (West) from the end of the platform at the original Mirfield station and island platform which will be heavily rebuilt.

The weather worsened after taking these pics (no, really!) so we headed home to pick up some last bits fr Christmas shopping before getting a call from Chis at Smile Computers to say he’d repaired my laptop – and a very good job he’s done of it too as it also had some damage due to overheating (that’s probably what you get for prolonged use of a European designed machine out in SE-Asia in conditions that aren’t always what they’re ‘speced for). Chris was very helpful, informative and a pleasure to deal with, and his prices are very competitive. So, if you ever need computer repairs in this neck of the woods…

Now we’re back at home, relaxing before a busy day tomorrow. Dee’s going to be the hostess with the mostess, pre-preparing food for Xmas whilst I’ve got an interesting day ahead trying to plug leaks in our cottage porch that have come to light because of all the heavy rain and winds we’ve had these past few weeks. Once the festering season’s over I’ll be back on the rails as I’ve quite a few adventures to look forward to and a fair bit of the country to cover. But for now, happy Christmas!

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

Rolling blog. Making (photographic) hay whilst the sun shines.

14 Saturday Oct 2023

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, Travel

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10:35.

Today’s a day full of sunshine and the promise of decent photographic weather. I’ve a dinner date with my in-laws this evening near Huddersfield so I’m going to take the long way there, taking the camera with me to have a look at progress on the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade to see if there’s anything worth getting shots of. I’ll blog through the day, so feel free to pop back and see what I get up to…

12:00.

I’ve made it as far as Dewsbury having arrived here from Sowerby Bridge. Trains are packed today. My three-car was full and standing from Sowerby and rammed after Mirfield. The good weather’s bringing everyone out – including the rail-alers doing the railway pub-crawl. This isn’t the best day for exploring as the Trans-Pennine route West of Huddersfield is closed so services are much reduced. Even ao, there’s a few pictures to be had and sites to note.

My train departs from Dewsbury.

15:15.

Sorry for the gap but I’ve been busy shuttling between Dewsbury and Brighouse whilst enjoying the gorgeous sunshine – and dodging torrential showers! I’d intened to get a few lineside shots but the combination of low sun and rain made that foohardy, which is a shame – but hey ho. Instead I took the opportunity to enjoy Brighouse station joining the TPE network. Right now I’m on my way to Huddersfield, having stopped the latest weather bullet in the shape of this storm that’s just passed over Dewsbury. I didn’t make it to the cover of the canopy before the heavens opened.

Here’s 802213 working 9M32, the 1244 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street.

At Brighouse – which joined the TPE network for the day – I captured 802209 stopping at the station whilst working 1P25, the 1154 Liverpool Lime Street to Newcastle.

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

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