I was up with the larks this morning – even though I wasn’t going anywhere special. As part of my New Year refocus I’m trying to make as much of the day as possible – although waking up when it’s still dark and it’s chucking it down kinda tests your motivation!
Having spent an hour or so soaking up some coffee, scanning a few old slides and catching up on the world’s news I decided to take advantage of a gap in the rain to get out and try for my first rail pictures of the year. I’d seen that Grand Central’s hired-in ‘Voyager’ was working the 10:20 service from Bradford through Halifax. I hadn’t got a shot of one of these GC 221s before (remiss, I know) so I packed the camera in a waterproof bag and walked down to Salterhebble where there’s a good view of the lines to Brighouse and Sowerby Bridge diverging at Dryclough Junction.
I was pushing my luck. Whilst the rain held off dark clouds were heading my way. So much so that by the train arrived I’d lost two full stops of light. At that location the speed it’s travelling at is more of a crawl, which was just as well. Here’s the shot I managed.
221142 drops down towards the Salterhebble tunnels whilst working 1A63, the 1023 Bradford Interchange to London Kings Cross.
There was no point in pushing my luck to try and get another other shots as the rain returned with a persistent attitude. Taking the hint I gave in and walked into Halifax with half a mind to try other pictures but the rain was having none of it. Instead I walked home having at least achieved my 12.5k step count for the day – if nothing else! I must admit, I do enjoy mooching around the streets and cobbled alleys of Halifax. Not having grown up in a mill town but at the seaside (far more genteel – and with cleaner air) I find it fascinating looking around terraced streets of back-to-back houses, little cottages and grand houses surrounded by walled gardens. Then there’s the mills, some of which still remain. Admittedly, having an interest in both history and architecture helps…
Back home there was little choice left but to retreat to the office and sort out some paperwork – which will bear fruit in the next few days (hopefully) whilst watching the rain drip off the stone walls outside. It was in complete contrast to the slides I was scanning – pictures of Social housing in East London built in the 1970s and demolished in the 1990s – then a selection of images of India and Tibetan refugees.
So, here’s a bonus picture for tonight. Here’s shot from the Tibetan refugee self-help centre in Darjeeling, India. More than just a refugee centre, it’s a place where exiled Tibetans can keep traditional crafts alive. This old boy caught my eye and was happy for me to take his picture. Shot in April 1998, I don’t expect he ever got to see his homeland again.
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To be honest, I’m not sad to see 2023 go. It’s hardly been the best of times so this blog’s going to resemble the proverbial Curate’s egg – good in parts!
Admittedly, 2023 started well for me as I spent the first couple of months of it indulging my lifelong passion for travel by wandering solo through haunts old and new in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. It was a joyous experience to get away and spend time in a part of the world I’ve loved for over 30 years, although at times it made me realise how much the UK is slipping behind other developed countries. Watching Singapore investing billions in continuing to improve it’s public transport infrastructure whilst hearing that the Conservatives were continuing to prune back HS2 construction in Britain was a classic example. The same story was playing out in Malaysia and Thailand. There was new construction everywhere I went – and long-term planning too – another thing absent in the UK.
Returning to the UK in March I got back into the swing of things and recording and reporting on the UK railway scene, which was mixed to say the least. Beset by industrial unrest, a lack of a rolling stock strategy and what must be the most anti-rail Government and PM we’ve seen for decades, it was a torrid time. However, I feel enormously privileged as a railway journalist to have the access I have to people, places and events – such as covering the continued construction and progress on building HS2. Well, the bits that Rishi Sunak hasn’t stymied for now – but more of that later…
Other bright spots in the year were several holidays. A group of us (‘the 5 from the 6’ – a reference to our local pub, the Big 6) had a break in Istanbul at the beginning of May. It’s a city and country I’d never visited before but I’d certainly return. The people were welcoming and entertaining whilst the city has a fascinating history and a real vibrancy – as you’d expect from somewhere that straddles both Europe and Asia. Back in the UK, Dawn and I (along with her parents) had holidays in North Norfolk and also Cambridgeshire – an old haunt of mine but virgin territory for the others so it was fun showing folks around towns they’d never explored before like Cambridge and Ely. They were wowed by the Cathedral whilst pretty St Ives became a favorite location. Remarkably, we had gorgeous weather for both our UK breaks. Sadly that wasn’t to be the case for the rest of the year. As regular readers of this blog will know, the weather’s one of my preoccupations due to being an outdoor photographer. It often governs what I can and can’t do.
Now to politics. See, I said this would be a curate’s egg sort of blog! What can I say, other than what an utter shit-show 2023 has been on the domestic front. The Tories seem to have become a death-cult, drifting further and further to the right whilst displaying their utter contempt for ordinary voters as they try and cling on to power. They’ve given up all pretense of governing the country for the benefit of the populace and made it clear they’re only there to enrich each other. Just when you think they couldn’t get any worse in their choices for PM, the next one comes along and says ‘hold my beer’…
After the lying, lazy incompetence of Johnson we had Truss, who was so dogmatically batshit even the financiers and bankers of the City of London rejected her, leading to the economic crash that saw her off within a few short weeks. Then along comes Sunak, the ‘also ran’ who got a second chance. A man with no political antenna and no connection or empathy with ordinary people. A man who promised ‘integrity’ in government then spectacularly failed to deliver it. Billed as a ‘details man’ by his supporters he displayed all the recall of someone with Alzheimers during his questioning at the Covid enquiry. His contempt and disdain for the democratic process and accountability was obvious. A millionaire autocrat who’s chosen the most ridiculous political hill to die on (Rwanda) because he hasn’t the acumen or common-sense to stop making impossible promises he can’t deliver, yet who scraps a project he could (HS2) that has had over a decade of cross-party consensus and support. And for what? The ridiculous ‘Network North’ which even a fag-packet would be insulted to have been used to draw it up on? Sunak is so tin-eared he can’t even see how a boastful tweet about scrapping HS2 sent from a private jet looks. It’s that level of disconnect.
Thankfully, 2024 will see a general election called. Personally, my money is on May although I suspect even Sunak (a man who shows no attempt to think things through) really knows when he’ll call it. His impulsiveness and ability to listen to bad advice means it could be called anytime. Only one thing’s clear – the Tories inability to move the electoral needle. Barring a miracle (or disaster, depending on your political viewpoint) Labour are favorites to win and Keir Starmer to be our next Prime Minister. OK, he’s not the most inspiring politician. He certainly doesn’t have the charisma or power of oratory that Tony Blair had, but I really don’t care. Right now all I want to see is a Government run by adults who actually care about the country, not this bunch of right-wing, swivel-eyed loons who’re more concerned with feathering the nests of themselves and their friends.
Right, enough of politics. There’s going to be plenty of time for spleen-venting in 2024, beginning next month when the next Brexit fiasco kicks in at our ports as the Government finally starts checking food imports, having delayed this five times before.
On a more personal level. January promises to be an interesting month. Having been bedevilled by a series of minor injuries this year which have meant my fitness levels have dropped but my weight hasn’t I’ve decided to begin the new year with a reset, giving up alcohol (yep, the infamous ‘dry January’) whilst boosting my exercise regime – whatever the weather throws my way. Please God, all I ask is – don’t let Sunak call an election in January!
On other fronts 2023 has seen me blog on 308 days. I’m amazed and humbled that these and older blogs have been read 78,400 plus times this year whilst over 265,000 people have popped in since I started blogging in 2015. Thank you all for your support – especially those who’ve contributed towards the costs of running this blog by clicking on ads or buying me a coffee via Ko-Fi. It’s greatly appreciated.
I’ll do my best to keep you entertained with stories of travel, the railways and politics throughout the year.
Of course, a lot of what I’ve achieved couldn’t have been done without the love and support of my incredible wife, Dawn. I’d just like to pay tribute to her for all she’s done – despite the grief I sometimes cause her!
So, all that remains is to wish you all a prosperous and peaceful New Year and hope you all have a great 2024. See you on the other side. Right now, we’re off to the pub for a couple of hours…
The last blog – and last picture of 2023. Happy New year from ‘Happy Valley’. Taken on my walk earlier…
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/
So, here we are. The penultimate day of 2023. Not that you’d know if you didn’t possess a calendar as it’s been exactly the same as almost every day in December here in the Calder valley. Gloomy and wet. At this rate you’ll easily be able to tell someone from the Calder valley. They’ll be the ones with the webbed fingers! Right now it’s a miracle if we go more than a couple of hours without rain. We really have had an awful December that’s followed on from an equally wet November.
With the weather being so crap there was nothing else for me to do but concentrate on home life, so the day’s mostly been spent working and cooking. Yesterday I made a spicy vegetable hotpot with dumplings in the slow cooker. I’ve never made dumplings before but the whole recipe seemed to suit the season and I enjoyed something different. Today’s effort was designed t use up some of the Xmas veg we’ve got left – so Carrot and Parsnip soup it was. Admittedly, I may have overdone the Chili flakes for people with a more sensitive palette – but for us they give the warm glow you need this time of year. Besides, some of it’s to stock up the freezer and I’m sure it’ll be idea if we have a cold spell – although there’s little sign of that at the moment. I’m not a great one for New Year’s resolutions but I do have a few things planned and one is to spend more time in January cooking different dishes (mostly vegetarian) – which should keep me out of trouble and give Dawn a break.
I’m really hoping the weather does a volte face in January otherwise I’m going to have to cast my photographic net further afield, which will be a bit of a bugger in some ways as I have two articles lined up either side of the Pennines. That said, there’s a decaying national rail network to report on – and some interesting stuff on High Speed 2 on the bit Rishi Sunak hasn’t made a mess off (but more of that in my end of year review).
Right now it’s time to switch off for the evening and indulge in some escapism. I’m not a great watcher of TV. In fact, I can’t think of any programmes I watch on a regular basis apart from (when they’re on) ‘Dr Who’ and ‘Have I Got News For you’ and ‘The Last Leg’. The oxymoron that’s ‘Reality’ TV leaves me cold, so if I want to indulge I’m more likely to find a film or series on Netflix or Amazon Prime. Right now we’ve been enjoying the Amazon Prime series ‘Reacher’ which is based on the character invented by the author Lee Child. The books often turn up in travel libraries in homestays and hotels across Asia, which is where I first encountered them. The Amazon series isn’t bad, so that’s tonight’s TV sorted.
All that’s left now is the picture of the day – which comes from sunnier climes as I’m in desperate need of some sunshine and photographs are the only way I’m going to get it! Here’s Tangalle beach in Sri Lanka on this very same day 20 years ago when I was there with friends. How time flies – and if only I could…
Funny how fate works. We spent the Christmas season of both 2002 and 2003 on Sri Lankan beaches, as we often used to get away that time of year. If it wasn’t Sri Lanka it would be India, or elsewhere. The one year we decided to say in the UK for Christmas as we’d travel plans for later was 2004. And what happened here, then? The Tsunami…
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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/
This article originally appeared in RAIL magazine back in October 2023.
Built as a single track line by the Wycombe Railway and opened in 1879, the line between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury has always been a bit of a Cinderella line. Its only claim to fame was the fact it was the last place in the UK to run BR built Class 121 ‘bubble cars’ which were finally retired in May 2017, having been introduced to the line by Chiltern railways in 2003. However, thanks to the arrival of Phase 1 of High Speed 2, this sleepy backwater’s currently having a makeover. HS2 will pass under the existing line to the West of Aylesbury. To do so the EKFB Alliance and Network rail have closed the line from August 19th until the 30th October. The closure has allowed a culvert close to Aylesbury to be rebuilt and a new 1.8km long embankment and bridge to be constructed to replace the 1879 formation. To future-proof the line the new bridge can carry two tracks and the linespeed has been raised from 40 to 90mph. Unlike other bridges on or over HS2, this bridge has been built by sinking four 2.4m diameter piled piers to a depth of 57 meters, making them the biggest piers on HS2. Each pier took between 36-48 hours to pour. Atop the piers sits a 100m long double-track width steel bridge which was built in 30m sections in the North-East before being transported South and assembled on site. To complete the work Network Rail has used 3000 sleepers and 14,000 tonnes of fresh ballast on the new alignment. A high-output track laying machine installed the rails over a single weekend.
When I visited on September 25th 2023 Colas Rail had begun tamping the new track ready for the lines reopening. Once tamping is complete 200 tonnes of check-rails will be installed on the bridge to mitigate against the chance of any possible derailment on the bridge affecting HS2 services. Meanwhile EKFB had begun excavating the clay underneath the bridge to form the HS2 cutting which is exposing the top 8 meters of the piers. This bridge is unique amongst HS2 bridges in that it was constructed at ground level and then the ground’s being dug out from underneath it.
The new bridge on the Aylesbury-Princes Risborough line with excavators beginning to dig out the route of HS2. This view’s looking South towards LondonBeginning to excavate around the bridge piers.The first few meters of a pier’s exposed.
The excavation work’s being done in stages from the North to the South due to the proximity of the old railway formation which still carries fibre-optic signalling cables and has the disconnected track still in situ which will be recovered at a later date. On the South of the old formation EKFB are building the piers and deck of a road bridge over HS2 as passive provision for the South-East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR) whilst another road bridge over HS2’s being built further to the North-West as part of another link road scheme.
The new bridge with track in situ looking towards Aylesbury.Check rails waiting to be installed on the bridge after the line’s been tamped and levelled. In the foreground is the old railway line. Behind it in the light coloured troughing are the signalling cables which have been lifted and protected whilst work goes on. Looking South from the new railway bridge along the trace of HS2 towards London.The Colas tamper waits to begin work. In the foreground is one of the new culverts which improve drainage on the Aylesbury-Princes Risborough line. This photo gives a better impression of the length of the new bridge over HS2.
Future work to the line will see the half-barrier level crossing at Marsh Lane near Little Kimble upgraded and replaced with full-width barriers (which will allow linespeed improvements) and resignalling.
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/
Apologies for the lack of blogging recently but the end of last week was rather convivial, with some unexpected consequences. Dawn and I had planned to stay at her parents over in Huddersfield on Friday night as we were spending Saturday enjoying a festive meal with some of the past and present Honley Male Voice choir members as a guest of Tony, and old friend of John and Norah (my in-laws). A lovely meal was rounded off by the choir members carol-singing outside Tony’s neighbours. All was well until be got back to find Norah had fallen outside the house and badly gashed her right hand as well as scraping her arm. Sadly, 83 year old don’t bounce very well, so there was nothing for it but a trip to Huddersfield A&E department to get the would cleaned and possibly stitched. A&E is hardly the place you want to spend a Saturday evening but thankfully (although they were short-staffed) we were there early enough to miss the pubs chucking out rush. The lack of information was frustrating, but everyone sang the praises of the staff who looked after Norah. By the time we left there was no way Dawn and I were heading home, so a 2nd night at the in-laws was arranged in order for us to be there on Sunday morning if we were needed. Norah had been a real trooper on the Saturday but was obviously suffering more by Sunday as she had a restless night. I’ve told Norah that I’m buying her a ‘onesie’ lined with bubble-wrap for Xmas and it’s to be worn at all times when she’s out with us - from now on!
Dee and I returned home that afternoon and I started to pick up the threads of work but my heart wasn’t in it and I made a trip to my local pub and ended up having one to many beers with the boys. Not my most sensible decision…
So, today’s been a busy day where the only time I’ve moved out of the office is to go to the loo or the kitchen! Mind you, the weather’s defaulted back to ‘miserable’, so I’ve hardly missed anything. Most of the morning it felt like living in the twilight zone! Still, I’ve managed to get a fair bit done including sorting out a many old photos that were held in queue for editing. Today’s picture is one of them. It was taken 19 years ago, on the 24th November 2004 when we were busy building High Speed 1 and the new domestic stations at St Pancras as in those days we had a Government with a sense of ambition and purpose.
This is what was known then as the Thameslink box. Now it’s the site of St Pancras International’s Thameslink station. The brick tunnel in the middle is the original Thameslink tunnel under St Pancras. This view is looking South towards the Euston Rd with part of the framework for the new St Pancras station West side buildings just visible above the box.
If you want to see many more pictures of High Speed 1 being built, follow this link.
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’m on my way to London to attend the annual Railway Christmas carols but as is often the case on the railways at the moment, it’s not a smooth journey.
I’m travelling on Grand Central’s 08:11 from Halifax to Kings Cross. This is a well-loaded train – as are all GC services nowadays. They’ve bounced back from the pandemic and then some! I’m on one of their Class 180s, which is showing its age. The front car saloon’s certainly comfortable and warm, but the wifi is kaput which is a bit of a bugger.
London bound…
What’s also kaput is a track circuit in the Elland tunnel just outside Halifax. This brought us to a stand before we could be signalled through the affected track section so now we’re running late. How late yet I don’t know. Fortunately this train gets me into London well in advance of the carol service. To the credit of GC staff the young lady in 1st Class has been excellent in briefing passengers about what’s happened.
08:38.
We’ve just arrived at Brighouse where dozens of passengers are waiting. This train is going to get cosy!
10:10.
Having bimbled our way through the West Riding of Yorkshire to reach Doncaster where we took on so many passengers we’re bursting at the seams we’re now racing non-stop to London. The Class 180s may be in need of TLC (especially below the solebar) but when they get chance to stretch their legs they’re still good 125mph trains.
En-route we’re passing field after field that’s full of water, a testament to just how much rain we’ve had recently. The leaden skies we’re travelling under look to promise more.
11:55.
Having stretched its legs my 180 made up half the delay to arrive in Kings Cross just 7 minutes down. Noy bad for a hybrid set made up from two different 180s! Kings Cross was open access central when I arrived, with all three OA operators dominating one side of the station.
The station’s feeling very festive at the moment, but then so is St Pancras.
Now it’s time for me to hotfoot it over to Eversholt St. See you soon…
17:00.
What a lovely afternoon. The carol service was well attended by people from different branches and ranks of the railway family with lessons read by several well-known people. Afterwards we adjourned to the adjacent hall for mince-pies, nibbles, sherry or soft drinks. Sadly, St Mary’s church is under threat of closure so many people attending signed the petition to save it.
After the service a select few of us (as is traditional) retreated to a local hostelry to catch up with each other and swap gossip/news about the industry. Of course, names and discussions are covered by Chatham House rules! Much as I’d have loved to have stayed I’ve too much to do so right now I’m on LNER’s 16:03 back to Leeds which is formed of a Class 91 and Mk4 set.
21:45.
Back home! The journey North was uneventful. LNER performed impeccably – albeit a couple of minutes late – and my Northern connection whilst packed was also fine. There was one light-hearted moment. On the way from Leeds I had two conservatively dressed young Asian girls sat opposite who were chatting ninety to the dozen. So much so they were oblivious to the fact the train had reversed at Bradford (their stop) and it was only when the Conductor announced that our final stop was Halifax that they snapped out of their reverie with some very entertaining expletives – much to the amusement of passengers nearby! I asked them ‘didn’t you notice the train change direction at Bradford’? With a laugh they admitted they were so absorbed talking they hadn’t noticed a thing! I directed them to the Bradford bound platform with a smile! I’ve missed a stop in the past so I’m in no position to criticize…
Strolling home I did stop in our local pub for a ‘swifty’ and time to catch up with local friends, which felt a world away from where I’d just come from. Sometimes, as an ex-Londoner I very much feel caught between two worlds. Those two worlds will collide again tomorrow as I’m back in London again in the morning, this time for a different gathering, so expect a rolling(ish) blog on the morrow.
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/
That’s not me you understand. That’s the remaining members of Northern’s class 319 fleet! Whilst most have gone for scrap and the last few have had no booked work since the December 10th timetable change the trains are still appearing in traffic. The transfer of newer CAF built electric trains from the Yorkshire (East) side of Northern’s domain has been delayed, so the 319s are being pressed back into service on some of their old routes from Liverpool only now spreading their wings as far as Manchester Airport services.
So, this morning I decided that as the weather’s picking up and I’m fed up of being cooped up in the office I’d venture out on the hunt for some of these trains. Right now I’m on a late-running York – Blackpool North service from Halifax bound for Preston. For once I’m glad the trains a few minutes late, otherwise I’d have missed catching it! The doors had already closed as I dashed onto the platform but the friendly young conductor me-mo’d to be to get on through her door. I’m now settled at a table with the mobile office up and running. This is a quiet train, so I can work undisturbed.
Preston bound aboard 195117.
I’ll blog throughout the day so feel free to come back and see how the hunting goes…
11:00.
The mobile office (and Northern’s wifi) allowed me to establish that just two class 319s are in service right now. Both are on Manchester Airport – Blackpool North diagrams, one after the other. The weather over here in Lancashire is bright and sunny, leaving Preston in heavy shadows so I’m now Blackpool bound with the intention of catching the 319s on their way back from the Airport.
14:30.
Ever had one of those days? Arriving at Blackpool I was well ahead of the trains I was after so I decided to take a short stroll on the prom to enjoy the glorious sunshine before catching a train out to Layton, the first stop out of Blackpool. I had two motives. I’d never been here before and wanted to photograph the interesting old station building. My second motive was to get shots of the two inbound 319s and catch the first one back which stopped at Layton. Then it all went ‘Pete Tong’. There’s no PIS or tannoy at Layton, so you can imagine my surprise when my 13:29 thundered through without stopping. It had been cancelled between Blackpool and Preston due to crewing issues. Bugger! Plan B saw me hop on a bus to get back to Blackpool North just in time to catch the 2nd 319 on the 13:58. Only that was cancelled too! Instead it’s running ECS to Manchester Airport!
I’m now on the 14:04 following on behind and working out where to go now as the light is rapidly failing…
17:30.
Plan C turned out to be a stop at another station I’ve not visited in a very (very) long time. Leyland. It’s over 50 years since I was last here. Somewhere in the Bigland family vaults there’s some cine film taken in the late 1960 of me and my two younger sisters playing on railway wagons in the old goods yard!
The place has changed a bit since then. The goods yard was torn up in the 1970s and only one of the original station buildings remains. I’d planned to try and get some pictures here but there’s building work going on and trackside views are overgrown so I ended up having a wander into town and found a little oasis a few minutes walk from the station. The Golden Tap is a lovely little micropub in an old shop. There’s a good range of cask, keg and bottled beers including some names I’d never seen before.
I stayed long enough for a slow pint and chat with the landlord. I was pleasently surprised to find this place so I doubt it’ll be my last visit. Tearing myself away I finally caught up with a Class 319 which was stopping on its way back to Blackpool. My plan was to catch it to Preston where I’d connect with the 16:44 service back to Halifax. Surprise, surprise – when I got to Preston I found the 16:44 was cancelled. Now I’m heading into Manchester instead. Only the connection with the train I’m on has also been cancelled! I give up trying to plan now – I’m simply going to catch the first train heading in the right direction that turns up!
19:00.
I’m on the last leg now. After changing at Salford Cresent only to find the next two trains heading across the Pennines were cancelled I caught a Rochdale bound stopping service then connected with a Leeds train. It lessened my wait in the cold as the night’s turning chilly. I have to admit, I’ve lost patience with Northern’s PIS messages excusing cancellations as “short-notice timetable changes”. It’s akin to a politicans weaselling as it’s the fery defination of a cancellation but without any explanation as to *why*…
22:00.
I’ve been home for a couple of hours now so I’ve had chance to download a few pictures from the camera for your delectation.
The old station building at Layton just outside Blackpool. The main building is in use as what appears to be private accommodation but the rest of the buildings are boarded up and appear disused. This wooden structure sandwiched between two of the brick buildings fascinated me. I’d llove to know its history. 319368 speeds past Layton en-route to Blackpool. It *should* have formed the 13.29 from Layton but ran fast from Blackpool to Preston, presumably because it was lacking a Conductor. The only surviving station building at Leyland has been refurbished and is to let. Originally, there was a footbridge projecting from the right-hand side which spanned all four tracks to allow access to the platforms. I’ve no idea when this was removed but I’m assuming it was fairly recently. Got you! 319368 calls at Leyland whilst working 1N50, the 1517 Manchester Airport to Blackpool North.1N50 disgorges passengers (including me) at Preston en-route to Blackpool North.
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/
It’s been another day spent cooped up in Bigland Towers for me although Dawn’s gradual recovery from the lurgi has enabled her to fly the coop and head off to meet her colleagues at the Community Rail Network in Huddersfield for the day.
Mind you, I’ve not missed much. We’ve had thick, low cloud throughout the day here in the Calder Valley. Initially I thought it was fog but this afternoon, after finishing penning my latest article for RAIL magazine I ventured down into Sowerby Bridge. After dropping a hundred meters I realised that actually, it wasn’t fog – I’d been in cloud level all day! I must admit, I’m beginning to tire of the endless dull days and wet weather. It saps the soul after a while. That’s why I’m looking forward to being able to get out and about more from today. I’ve still got stuff to do that requires the mobile office, but that can be done on the move as I don’t need the reference materials that line my office shelves. The only question’s going to be – where to go? Where’s the weather going to play ball? The answer seems to be – go West…
An attraction in that direction is that whilst Northern trains no longer have any diagrammed work for their shrinking fleet of class 319 trains (more of the fleet have gone for scrap already) several sets still get pressed into daily use between Liverpool-Wigan-Manchester and Blackpool. Maybe one last spin and photographs?
As I type this the news has just come in of the latest Tory psychodrama in Parliament. Sunak’s managed to get his Rwanda bill passed with a majority of 44. This is no victory, there’s lots more stages in the process which will drag out for a long time yet. Parliament goes into Christmas recess on the 19th December and doesn’t return until January 8th. The farce will drag on for months, then there’s consideration of the bill by the House of Lords who are almost certain to reject it in its present form (if the Commons don’t beat them to it after the Committee stage). It’s madness – utter madness. How can the Tories govern the country when they can’t even govern themselves? Whilst the rest of the country is bothered about real issues, like the economy, climate change, the NHS and more, the Tories are now stuck in an endless Rwanda loop. Of course, some backbench Tories will be very happy about this as it brings them into the limelight – especially those ‘red wall’ Tories like Miriam Cates (Penistone and Stocksbridge) with wafer-thin majorities who’re going to be binned on current polling projections. They know the Government’s toast. They’re just hoping a spell centre-stage might just save their own skins.
Expect little political or economic cheers this Christmas. The Government’s caught in a death-spiral and Sunak doesn’t have the nous to get himself out of it. Just look at his recent evidence to the Covid enquiry. Sunak was ‘bigged up’ by the Tories as a man with attention to detail. In contast, his evidence to the enquiry showed up a man with none at all. A man with such selective amnesia he couldn’t remember going to meetings, what was said in briefings, or even what direct advice he was given. As for Whatsapp messages – FFS! How is it Sunak and Johnson are the only people on the planet whose Whatsapp messages disappear when they change phones? They’re taking the piss! If Sunak ever writes his memoirs it’s going to be the thinnest book ever as the man can’t remember a bloody thing…
OK, time to go. I’ll leave you with a picture taken a few years ago. This is what the Calder valley is meant to look like – when it’s not got its head in the clouds! This is the view over Sowerby Bridge and the valley looking West from atop the Wainhouse Tower adjacent to our house, taken in August 2019.
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/
Apologies for the lack of promised blogs these past couple of days. My absence was due to events beyond my control. But now I’m back, with a visit to the HS2/East West rail interchange site at Calvert in Buckinghamshire. It’s an important site as not only does it contain the intersection of E-W rail and HS2, it’s also the location of HS2’s IMD (Infrastructure Maintenance Depot). Tracklaying from E-W into the site has been ongoing for weeks and the main earthworks and bridge over the HS2 route has now been handed over. I’ll add pictures after the visit.
It’s bleeding Baltic here in the Pennines and very icy. So much so Dawn insisted on giving me a lift to the station as the pavements and cobbles (yes, we do still have ’em here) are so slippy and treacherous. It took us a while to defrost the car as the frost was so bad. But thanks to may wonderful wife I made it to the station in one piece.
Right now I’m on Northern’s 06:45 from Halifax to Manchester Victoria. This train’s made up of a pair of CAF built Class 195s but despite the fact it’s a four-car it’s very busy. Lots of us have laptops out as this is a popular business train. Whilst we’re busy typing, other passengers are busy dozing and making the most of the chance to catch some shut-eye in the warm and quiet.
I’ll blog throughout the day as I can, so feel free to pop back later to see what I get up to.
09:15.
Frustrating. I’d published a blog update from my refurbished Pendolino but the damned thing hasn’t loaded due to the wifi repeatedly dropping out. Ho hum. Let’s tey again…
Whilst I was wrapped up warm for my stroll across Manchester city centre I couldn’t help but feel for the poor homeless souls I passed asleep in doorways. At the Arndale centre I passed a group of six people huddled together for warmth under a mess of sleeping bags and blankets. They were lucky. I saw many solo sleepers with no-one to offer warmth or companionship. It’s a tragedy, and one our cynical government is exploiting as a distraction. The poor aren’t screwing the country the Tories friends are. The wealthy tax-avoiders and those who’ve raked in millions off the sale of dodgy PPE.
At Piccadilly I joined Pendolino 390132 working the 08:15 to Euston. Most of the trip’s been through thick fog with odd clear patches like this one as we crossed the famous viaduct at Stockport.
The frost and fog covered countryside looks lovely, but then I’m in the warm with a flask of coffee. I might feel differently if I was in the outside looking in!
10:07.
My Pendolino rattled its way to Milton Keynes where I’m now waiting for fellow journo and snapper Phil Marsh who’s kindly offered me a lift as we’re both going to the same event.
16:30.
I’m currently speeding North again after a busy but fascinating day where we were given a grand tour of the EKFB construction site at Calvert that allowed us access to places the public never get to visit. Our small group were given a full briefing by project managers on the work that been completed, is still underway or has yet to start. Some of the statistics are mind-boggling. The old E-W rail ‘Varsity line’ embankments have been raised by 6 meters where it crosses HS2. This is a complete reversal as originally, the Great Central trackbed that HS2 reuses passed over the ‘Varsity line’ at that point.
The East-West rail intersection bridge over HS2 looking East. This is the final phase, the 400m long ‘plug’ between tracklaying from the West (behind the camera) and the East. Below the bridge to the right can be seen the HS2 trace heading South. A similar view looking further South-East, showing the HS2 trace and the edge of the Calvert Jubilee nature reserve that the Wildlife Trusts claimed had been ‘destroyed’ by HS2. As can be seen, it’s actually in rude health as HS2 is merely clipped off what was originally old railway land. Looking West along East-West rail with the intersection bridge behind me. Tracklaying on this section will be completed in very early January 2024. There used to be a road overbridge in the middle foreground of this picture but with the E-W embankment having been raised 6 meters at this point the road’s been diverted under a new road underbridge.
17:55.
We’ve just left Doncaster en-route to Leeds. The 16:03 from Kings Cross is being worked by one of LNER’s Mk4 and Class 91 loco sets and been busy all the way. Many passengers appear to be dozing in the heat after what’s been a cold day all round, although I suspect we’re all going to get a rude awakening when we step off the train on arrival in Leeds!
19:25.
It wasn’t just the cold weather that was a problem at Leeds, it was the usual late-running and cancellations that added to it. My LNER service was late into the city, then my next connection to Halifax was late. Admittedly only only 8 mins, but. Once we all piled onto the Hull – Halifax 3-car (which became rammed) we were stuck in the station awaiting the road due to congestion. Of course by 2033 congestion at Leeds would have been a thing of the past as the newly opened HS2 station would have solved that problem. Then a bunch of incompetents masquerading as a government cancelled it.
Things didn’t improve en-route. The Conductor came onto the PA to announce our service would be canned at Bradford Interchange – but there was a late running Chester service only a few minutes behind! So, that’s alright then (you’re being sarcastic again, aren’t you? Ed).
To Hull and back – but from Bradford, not Halifax…
I’ve managed to find a seat on the Chester service which (thank the Gods – or Northern Control as they’re known) is a pair of 2-car class 195s. Now I’ll arrive in Halifax 40 mins late. Thankfully, Dawn’s waiting for me so I won’t have to slip and slide walking home as it’s certainly another cold one tonight…
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 