Tag Archives: Travel

24th April picture of the day…

24 Monday Apr 2023

Posted by in Calder Valley, Flora and Fauna, Hs2, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways

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Today’s been an odd start to the week. I was full of determination to hit the ground running after a lovely weekend and the day started well as I hit all my targets for exercise, then spent several hours working in the office getting paperwork and pictures organised. I even managed to tear Dawn away from her computer so that the two of us could go for a walk together. Then, all of a sudden my batteries drained, leaving me completely out of energy. It happens to me maybe once or twice a year and I’m assuming it’s down to doing too much whilst running on a nearly empty stomach (although I’d have thought a gut full of porridge would have kept me going). Poor Dee was quite concerned as it’s never happened when we’ve been together before.

As a supermarket shop was part of the plan I had a short sit-down whilst Dee stocked up on various bits which included cereal bars – one of which I soon scoffed in order to give me the boost I needed to get home. It seemed to work although it was a couple of hours before I felt energised enough to get my last couple of thousand steps in to hit my daily target.

Now I’m having a relaxing evening at home. Dawn’s been fabulous and sorted out jacket potatoes with tuna, mayo and a side-salad whilst I’ve been ‘busy’ watching the Public Accounts Committee hearing on the debacle of the HS2 station at Euston which has been ‘paused’ for a couple of years whilst the Govt and DfT work out what to do. I’ll blog at greater length about this when the transcript is published. I took copious notes but there’s nothing like having it verbatim.

My take from the hearing is that this really is just a pause and HS2 will make it to Euston. The railway’s an expensive white elephant without Euston as Old Oak Common simply doesn’t have the capacity to be the London terminus. Mark Thurston made it clear that whilst contractors are being stood down, the contracts haven’t been ended, there’s merely an agreement to pause them. Plus, some work at Euston (to the tune of £200-220m) will continue until the autumn as the TfL substation, skills centre and Euston station facilities block will be completed whilst the station site is made secure. So, in theory, the ‘pause’ could be as little as 18 months – if people can come up with a viable new station design in that time, although the depressing thing seems to be the focus on cost, rather than anything else – like what we need the station to actually do.

Interestingly, what wasn’t mentioned at all was Bernadette Kelly’s claim at the Transport Select Ctte hearing that opening Euston later was the plan all along.

Right, onto the picture of the day and another sign that spring is here – seen in our local woods earlier…

Hopefully my batteries will be recharged by the morrow as I’ve lots I want to do this week…

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!

22nd April picture(s) of the day…

22 Saturday Apr 2023

Posted by in Calder Valley, Food and drink, Musings, Picture of the day, Pubs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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It’s not exactly been a vintage Saturday here at Bigland Towers, not that we’ve spent much of the day at home. The weather here in the Pennines has been erratic to say the least with temperatures just breaking into double figures but often reduced by hazy cloud, poor visibility and a cold wind that made you feel like you’d gone back a season.

Still, we’ve been getting about a bit. Having had to pop over to Ossett this morning we decided to take a detour on the way home and go out for a late lunch at the Robin Hood pub in Pecket Well which we’d visited the other weekend and really enjoyed. Today the pub was quieter as we’d arrived between sittings so getting a table was no problem. I couldn’t resist having the giant stuffed Yorkshire pudding again, only this time with a lamb casserole filling. It was a good job I was hungry as the portion sizes are large, especially when you consider the meal comes with a selection of veg as well as the chips which form part of the main meal. Dawn opted for one of the dishes off the specials board and had Sea Bream, which whilst a smaller portion was just what she was looking for. Both meals were delicious and good value for money in this day and age. My meal cost £12.50 and I had a pint of a decent local draught bitter which was on sale for £3 – winner!

Yum!

Rather than stay for another drink we decided to try out another pub in the nearby village of Chiserley called the Hare and Hounds. It’s a great location as it sits high on the valley side above Hebden Bridge with commanding views across the valley as far as Stoodley Pike and beyond. It looks like a typical country pub from the outside (the inside is another matter).

The Hare and Hounds.

The place is a Timothy Taylor’s pub so only their beers were on sale and there were four to choose from. Not a problem as I don’t mind Tim Taylor’s beers although they’re not my favourite. I ordered a pint of Golden Best and a half pint of coke for Dawn. The bill? 8 bleedin’ quid! £5.50 for the beer and £2.50 for the coke! For a minute I though I was back in London! We stood at the bar as the inside of the pub’s far smaller than the outside suggests, a situation that isn’t helped by all the weird and wonderful tat that clutters the place. The places makes a great play of the fact it’s in Yorkshire (easy to forget when you see the prices) and of the pub name – apart from the problem the decor is mismatched? Why’s the bar cluttered with Alice in Wonderland white rabbit models when it’s called the Hare, and why a huge pictures of a stag – but no hounds? Oh, and as for the loud music…

We finished our drinks swiftly and moved on, still in shock at how much we’d paid. Dawn’s parting comment was ‘thank God I hadn’t asked for a pint of Coke!” To restore our equilibrium we called in at a proper pub with proper prices – the other Robin Hood, this time in Cragg Vale. No robbery happens here, despite the name! There’s no loud music either, just decent conversation as it’s a friendly little place. When paying for our our drinks Dee couldn’t help mention where we’d just come from, which sparked an interesting round of comments from others in the pub who’d had similar experiences. Ah well, you live and learn…

Now we’re back at home and settled in the for night. I’m still stuffed from my earlier meal so there’s no need to eat tonight. Meanwhile Dee’s been busy in the kitchen making one of her fabulous Bakewell Tarts as cooking therapy. Tomorrow’s going to be a domestic day, but we might get out for a walk at some point, but I know one place we won’t be visiting!

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!

A look at the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade and other works between Batley and Cottingley.

20 Thursday Apr 2023

Posted by in Abandoned railways, Photography, Rail Investment, Railways, West Yorkshire

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I’ve been looking at progress on the trans-pennine railway route upgrade for some time now, both the record locations before the work started and now as it progresses. Last month I visited Stalybridge to see the result of the long blockade. You can find that blog here.

Yesterday I ventured out to an area I’d not visited since the upgrade began, the line between Batley and Cottingley. Some major work’s happening here in preparation for electrification. On this section it includes the physical relocation of two stations The first is Morley, the second is Cottingley where the new station will be renamed White Rose. Although happening during the TRU work, this replacement station had been planned for some time. Other works include the closure of Lady Anne crossing just outside Batley which involves removing the old Great Northern Railway bridge abutment to create the space to install a large footbridge. This will replace the road/foot crossing. It will also entail the closure of the last remaining manual signalbox on the route.

Here’s a selection of pictures from my trip.

Class 68 number 68025 ‘Superb’ approaches Batley with 1U52, the 1248 Scarborough to Manchester Piccadilly. It’s passing the newly laid crossing between Up and Down lines installed as part of the TRU upgrade to increase operational flexibility. The yellow digger above the signal is working grading the old GNR embankment at the site of Lady Anne crossing. The haul road on the right is built on the formation of the old GNR Batley branch which went to Birstall and Bradford, crossing over the present line at Lady Anne crossing.
A 2009 archive shot showing the Signalbox at Lady Anne Crossing and one of the abutments of the old GNR line. The new footbridge will be built to the left of this picture.
Seen from the opposite side of the tracks to the last picture, the signaller opens the gates to let a car across the line. The new footbridge is being built where the old bridge abutment is.
Another view of Batley and the TRU work. It’s hard to imagine now but not only was this a four track line, it was also the site of three junctions. Between the yellow digger and the house on the right is the course of the GNR’s Beeston and Batley branch via Tingley. Where you can see the pile of sleepers in the cess on the left hand side of the tracks was the site of the junction for the single track LNWR Birstall branch.

Meanwhile, further up the line at Morley…

Here’s the existing station at Morley seen from above the tunnel mouth which literally on the stations doorstep. In the background you can see the site of the new station which is only a few hundred metres away.
Work on the new station’s progressing well. As you can see, it’s a little more breathing room than the old station, but those reverse curves…
Here’s Cottingley station which only opened in 1988. Passenger numbers have always been low, apparently, which is why its been proposed for replacement for quite some time.
Seen from the footbridge at Cottingly station (behind the camera) TPE’s 185127 speeds past whilst working 1K23, the 1354 Liverpool Lime Street to Hull. In the background, just over the flowering Hawthorns you can see the buildings of the new ‘White Rose’ station.

I’ll be making regular visits to TRU locations over the next few months, showing the before/after as the route’s transformed.

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!

19th April pictures of the day…

19 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by in Dewsbury, Picture of the day, Railways, Travel, West Yorkshire

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It’s a short blog from me tonight as I’m on nursing duty as Dee was truck down by a bad migraine this afternoon.

Today’s been another day of two halves. The morning was spent working from home, wading through yesterday’s picture haul whilst keeping on top of paperwork and household chores. The weather wasn’t brilliant and the temperature distinctly nippy, so much so I wasn’t sure I that was wasting my time when I pegged out a line full of washing. Despite the lack of sunshine I decided to nip out for a few hours to check on the Trans-Pennine route upgrade (TRU) work East of Huddersfield. Dawn was meant to be having an evening out with friends so I thought I’d get out too.

Luckily, by the time I got the train from Sowerby Bridge to Dewsbury the weather had changed and I was treated to some glorious sunshine, even if temperatures were still on the chilly side. I’m going to write about the TRU work in a separate blog as it deserves its own. I saw a lot of changes at the places I visited, some substantial. Here’s a couple of pictures to whet your appetite.

The new station at Morley begins to take shape. It’s being built a very short distance away from the original station which is just out of sight to the right. This view’s looking East.
A TPE service races through Cottingley station. Opened in 1988 it’s being replaced by the new £26.5m ‘White Rose’ station built further West and will close as a consequence, probably at the timetable change in December 2023 if the new station’s ready in time.
It wasn’t just new railways I looked at as I also stopped off to have a wander around Dewsbury, a town that used to have far more railways than the one it does now. Here’s the (sadly closed) Station hotel in the town centre. To the right was the site of the GNRs Dewsbury Central station which closed in 1964. The course of the railway is now part of the A638 ring road, hence the new bridge behind the hotel.
Dewsbury still possesses some very grand buildings that reflect the towns Victorian wealth. Here’s the Town Hall. This Grade 2 listed building opened in 1889.

My day was cut short when Dee texted me to say she was unwell, but I’ve plenty of pictures to add to a blog tomorrow, and all taken in great weather too!


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. Going to Goole…

18 Tuesday Apr 2023

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

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07:45.

Walking to Halifax station was enjoyable this morning. No rain for a change, even if the Calder valley was shrouded in mist.

Traffic was light too though dog-walkers were out in force. Having left the house at 06:50 I had time to spare to catch the 07:39. I ended up walking straight on to the 07:20 which was running 7 mins late due to a fault on one of the two Class 195/0s forming this four car train.

This service calls at Low Moor, the new (ish) intermediate station between Halifax and Bradford. I’m rarely on services that call here so I was impressed to see dozens of folk waiting to join us.

After a rapid exchange of passengers at Bradford Interchange and with enough time for the crew to swap ends we’re now on our way to Leeds. Looking around I’d say this car is 50-60% full. I’ve no doubt that’ll increase on our way into Leeds.

0755.

Sure enough, our call at New Pudsey resulted in one departing passenger replaced by seven joining – and that was just in my car. Passengers on this train are a mix of commuters and holiday-makers. I’m sharing a table with a couple in their mid 30s in high-vis cycling jackets and a young lad whom I’m assuming’s on his way to work.

08:45.

Being ahead of schedule has allowed me to get ahead of myself and take the scenic route. I had 6 minutes in Leeds to make a dash for LNER’s 08:15 to Kings Cross which I’m taking as far as Doncaster. Yes, Doncaster. OK, I lied about the ‘scenic’ bit! My trains formed of a 9-car Azuma and the loadings are healthy. Here’s coach H.

09:05.

My visit to Doncaster was brief. I had long enough to grab a couple of pictures and admire the varied collection of stock outside the Wabtec works (an AET ”Networker’ and Chiltern’s 165004 plus sundry Mk3 coaches) before it was time to jog over to platform 0, which I’ve never used before. I’m now on Northern’s 09:05 to Goole which is being worked by a 2-car class 158.

11:40.

S’cuse the gap. As soon as I arrived at RaiseE I was thrown into a round of introductions or discussions with old friends. Sadly, many of the conversations were pessimistic. Wether it’s Brexit or the shambles that’s government policy and rail finances (not to mention internal problems of some major players) the picture’s not a happy one.

However, the event focussed on the positive aspects and opportunities for the future. More of that later..

Harry Hill from Enable Ltd and Lucy Prior from Trough-Tec Systems Ltd with a joint presentation on collaborating with the supply chain to create a greener rail industry.

17:35.

The conference finished after lunch and after saying some goodbyes I left to make the most of the glorious sunshine. I realised I’d never really taken pictures around this way and that my ladt visit was in 2010 so I decided to make amends. The rail network’s a shadow of its former self as the dock lines are disused and the new Siemens factory – whilst rail connected – isn’t generating any traffic.

However, the docks are still used by shipping and the distinctive ‘salt and pepper’ buildings dominate the skyline nearby.

There’s also this rather interesting building that looks remarkably similar in style to certain London Underground stations. I’m guessing they were designed by the same architect.

Having spent an hour exploring I took a trip to the end of the line at Hull to add a few more library pictures. I’m glad I did. The classic view of the station throat is rapidly being closed off by tree growth.

22:00.

I’m now back at home after retracing my steps from Hull to Goole, back to Doncaster and thence on to Leeds and Bradford before arriving back in Halifax. The weather’s been glorious and the travel really interesting. I’ll flesh out more of this blog shortly but for now here’s a couple more pictures from my travels.

158853 works a Hull – Doncaster service past ‘salt and pepper’ the two water towers that dominate the Goole skyline.
Hull has become a good place to find the seven members of Class 155. Built by British Leyland in 1988 for Calder valley services they’re rarely seen on their former home turf although they do put in appearances on the Hull – Halifax shuttles.
Goole signalbox. It was built in 1909 by the North-Eastern railway to their standard ‘S4’ design. Over the years its lost the external wooden walkways with metal handrails that allowed access to clean the windows. The locking-room windows have also been bricked up which was probably done during World War 2 to add protection from bomb damage.

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!

15th April picture of the day…

15 Saturday Apr 2023

Posted by in Food and drink, Picture of the day, Travel, West Yorkshire

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Today’s been one of unexpected variety and visits to places I’d no idea that I’d end up in. Because of that it’s now late, too late to write a blog that does the day and the places we visited justice – so this is going to be a very short blog indeed. I’ll explain more in detail tomorrow.

Our impromptu afternoon meant that we ended up having lunch in the Robin Hood Inn at Pecket Well high up in the hills on the road between Hebden Bridge and Oxenhope. This is a lovely pub in a great location and the food is well worth calling in for. Dawn had the fish and chips whilst I enjoyed a huge Yorkshire pudding stuffed with beef and gravy, served with chips and vegetables which I struggled to finish. At £12.50 one can hardly complain about the price. Feel hungry yet?

Dawn’s was a small portion!
The exterior of the Robin Hood. They have a beer garden to the right which has some great views across the Calder Valley.

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!

11th April picture of the day…

11 Tuesday Apr 2023

Posted by in Arambol, India, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

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There’s not much of a blog from me today. Not that there’s nothing to say, rather that there’s too much and I’m not in the mood for polemics. Much of my day has been spent catching up on bits of work and planning my diary, a task made slightly harder when a a press lunch invite is sent out (so entered into the diary) only for it to be cancelled without reason just a few hours later. Ho hum!

My morning was spent glued to my desk, which wasn’t much of a hardship as the weather here in the Pennines has been pretty miserable with lots of cloud, temperatures way short of double-figures and buckets of rain. I did venture out this afternoon as I needed to drop a parcel off at the Post Office in Sowerby Bridge and pick up a few bits of shopping, but it wasn’t much fun walking back along the canal as the rain decided to follow me. Even the dog walkers I passed looked like they’d rather be somewhere else. I know the feeling!

This evening the rain appears to have stopped, but only because the winds sprung up. The forecast suggests we’re in for another wet and blustery day tomorrow so it looks like another day working from home is the best plan. No matter, I’ve got plenty to be getting on with…

With the weather being so miserable I’ve opted for a more colourful picture today so here’s one from the archives. I didn’t really make it to a beach on my recent Asia travels, unless you count stopping off to admire one whilst waiting for a bus on Penang Island. In retrospect I wish I’d had some beach time, but it wasn’t to be. Here’s a beach I used to frequent on a regular basis but I haven’t been back for 20 years now and I doubt it looks this empty anymore. This is the long beach at Arambol, North Goa, India seen on the 31st January 2000.

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!

9th April picture of the day…

09 Sunday Apr 2023

Posted by in Food and drink, Huddersfield, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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Today’s been one of those rare days that has absolutely nothing to do with railways. Instead it’s been all about the holiday – and food…

Dawn’s been a busy Easter bunny over the past couple of days, cooking up an absolute storm as we’ve spent to day with her parents over in Huddersfield, having prepared a festive feast for the four of us. I played my part as kitchen assistant and chief washer-up, but the lions share of the work’s been done by Dee. We’ve eschewed the traditional Easter fayre of lamb and went for pork and duck instead. But even that wasn’t particularly traditional as the Duck was served cold or in a stir-fry medley mixed with Hoisin sauce. So, for the past few days our cottage has been filed with the most delicious smells as the pork was prepared in a slow-cooker and the duck in the oven.

The idea was to get as much prepared at home before we ferried the food (and ourselves) over to Dee’s parents where everything was assembled in their kitchen. Oh, I forgot to mention the home-made gravy with apples, Shallots, Dijon mustard, celeriac, white wine, chicken stock and honey garlic and Thyme. Then there was the pork crackling, made from the fat off the joint and crisped to perfection at home. Plus – as a dessert – sticky Ginger puddings with a ginger wine and brandy sauce…

Feeling hungry yet?

In preparation for such a repast the two of us stretched our legs and burned off a few calories by wandering around a local beauty spot. Beaumont Park is on the edge of the valley looking out towards Castle Hill and a place called Armitage Bridge. It was the nearest I got to a railway today as there’s an impressive viaduct below which allows Penistone line services to cross the gap.

Now, having stuffed ourselves, we’re back at home. The surplus food’s stashed away. It’ll feed us for the next few days, allowing us to concentrate on other holiday activities. We’d planned to have a long walk tomorrow but the forecast isn’t looking like the weather’s going to play ball. Even so – tomorrow’s a day for just the two of us. We’ll get out somewhere – we just don’t know where yet. Meanwhile, i’ll leave you with today’s picture, which is one of the views from Beaumont Park. I must come back with the proper camera one day…

With Castle Hill in the background, the Honley viaduct on the Penistone line dominates this view from Beaumont Park.

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!

Stalybridge rebuilt…

08 Saturday Apr 2023

Posted by in Photography, Rail electrification, Rail Investment, Railways, Travel

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On Friday I paid a visit to Stalybridge station to see the result of the engineering blockade that had transformed the stations Western junction. This is been totally remodelled and resignalled. The resignalling has extended to the Eastern side of the station although the track layout here remains unchanged. As well as track and signals a large number of overhead electrification masts and portals have appeared, although there’s still many more to be installed at further weekend engineering possessions before the wires can be extended.

Here’s a selection of pictures showing how the place looks now.

Looking West to Stalybridge Junction from the end of platform 3. This junction was remodelled as recently as 2011. This time some of the switches have been removed and replaced with a flat crossing (just out of sight around the curve). The formations been expanded by the removal of the old ATO oil siding in the far left, which has allowed tracks to be slewed. The remodelling appears to remove conflicts and certainly allows for faster line speeds across the junction.
Bi-mode 769424 pulls into the bay platform 5 with a Southport-Stalybridge service.
185151 approaches platform 3 working 2E73, the 1158 Manchester Piccadilly to Huddersfield.
185151 sits waiting time in platform 3. The newly installed portals are very much in evidence.
802208 approaches from the East whilst working 9M10, the 1006 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street. The new portals have usurped the signal gantry that was installed (at great expense) at this location in 2012.
And there it was – gone! The substantial signal gantry that was installed as part of the original Trans-Pennine electrification scheme but (apparently) was now in the way of the revised scheme for some reason. It’s no wonder many rail improvements cost so much money when plans constantly change and investment like this is wasted. It’s seen here in 2016.
New signalling and OLE masts that have been installed at the East end of the station between platforms 3 and 4.
Looking East along platforms 5 and 4 with new masts and portals in place where the former through tracks were situated.
Looking along the railway viaducts by Waterloo Road. The bracket where the 2012 signal gantry was fixed to the side of the piers remains.
185107 calls at platform 4 outside the famous buffet bar whilst working 1K23, the 1354 Liverpool Lime Street to Hull.

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!

5th April picture of the day…

05 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by in Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, TPE, West Yorkshire

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Yesterday we had wall-to-wall sunshine, today we’ve had wall-to-wall rain! It’s been a thoroughly miserable one here in the Calder valley. Half the time you couldn’t even see the valley tops. Still, I had plenty to keep me at home today so the my time wasn’t wasted. I managed to finish editing all my pictures from last weeks trips to Nottingham and the various HS2 sites – as well as yesterday’s jaunt over to Manchester and Stalybridge. I’ve also made a serious dent in some paperwork as well as getting another selection of recent eBay sales off to the successful bidders. So, all in all – not a bad day. The eBay sales involved a trip down to the post office in Sowerby Bridge so I still managed to get in my daily constitutional, even if I was looking rather soggy by the time I returned. I’m missing the warm rain of SE-Asia!

Another day working from home beckons tomorrow as I’ve a load more stuff to stick on eBay as well as adjusting the postage rates for the previous batch of stuff that remains unsold. It’s a chore but it has to be done. Hopefully, by Friday I’ll be free to sally forth once more…

Yesterday’s pictures can have been divided between several galleries. There’s Northern rail services here, Trans-Pennine services here and infrastructure and engineering pictures here.

Now, having cooked a meal for the pair of us (Dee’s still slaving away over her keyboard downstairs. The end of the financial year’s a mad time for her work, which involves long hours) it’s time for me to switch off at least. Therefore I’ll leave you with today’s picture which features on of the current crop of Trans-Pennine express services diverted via the Calder Valley. The Diggle route via Stalybridge reopens on the 7th April so these trains will revert to their normal paths during the week until the next blockade takes place. I’ll bring you pictures of the rebuilt Stalybridge station just as soon as I can.

TPE’s Hitachi built unit 802209 speeds through the classic old station at Hebden Bridge with 1P32, the 1543 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street, making an interesting contrast from the staple diet of Northern DMUs which work the line.

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