Tag Archives: TRU

TRU update. Batley to Ravensthorpe.

12 Friday Dec 2025

Posted by in Food and drink, Musings, Photography, Rail Investment, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, TRU, West Yorkshire

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Yesterday (Thursday) the sun shone bright here in West Yorkshire, making a change from the dank and dismal weather which seems to be the norm nowadays. It spurred me on to get out and about for a few hours to look at some of the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade work sites that I hadn’t visited this year, as well as some I’ve been popping into regularly. I was also driven by the fact Ravensthorpe station closes this weekend so that the site can be cleared for the new fast lines flyover. Here’s a selection of pictures from the day.

802204 speeds through Batley as 1K16, the 1103 Hull to Liverpool Lime Street, passing the platform extensions which are being added to both Up and Down line platforms at the North end.
Looking down on Batley station from Soothill Lane bridge. It’s hard to believe this was once a junction, with the GNR Chicken Heath branch running off to the left towards Ossett.
A 1915 OS map shows the station and goods yard.
The dingy Batley station subway is due to be replaced by a footbridge with lifts which is being constructed at the Southern end of the platforms. I’ll span the tracks between the two lamp posts on the right.
Meanwhile, at Ravensthorpe, hardcore is being laid between the two side walls of the flyover. This will be the location of the slewed lines to/from Healy Mills.
Foundations of the Northern wall of the flyover are almost complete.
A last view of Ravensthorpe station which closes this weekend. 150215 approaches with a service from Leeds to Bradford Interchange.
That’s progress! Here’s the new bridges over the Calder and Hebble navigation. Since I visited on the 25th November two of the Eastern side girders have been put into place.
A closer view of the two new girders. The pillar nearest the camera waits to receive its girder, which is already hooked up to the crane nearby.
Passing under the new girders.
The last train I’ll ever catch from the old Ravensthorpe station. 15020 calls on the 14.02 from Bradford to Leeds.

On the way back I stopped off at Brighouse to get a couple of pictures and to visit the renowned Blakeleys take-away and restaurant, which is famous for the quality of its fish and chips. It’s next door to another Brighouse institution, the Market Tavern. It seemed rude not to wash my food down with a pint, so I called in for a ‘swifty’. The beer was in great condition and the pub busy, but I couldn’t help noticing that the clientele were almost all pensioners (shit, that includes me now!). Admittedly, most younger people would still be at work, but I wonder what the place would look like at 16:00 in say, 10 years time? Times are changing, and so are demographics…

Back at the station I couldn’t resist getting a picture of this history board. I’ve mentioned the tale of the man who broke the bank of Monte Carlo before, but here’s the full story…

If you want to see more TRU construction pictures, you can find the complete gallery by following this link to my Zenfolio website.

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/

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TRU Update. A look at progress around Bradley, Huddersfield.

05 Friday Dec 2025

Posted by in Photography, Rail Investment, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, TRU, West Yorkshire

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Friday’s weather turned fine for a change. Well, for most of the day, anyway. It gave me the opportunity to catch a train from Halifax to Brighouse in order to check out progress on The Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) around Bradley, to the East of Huddersfield. The area contains Bradley Junction, where the Westward connection from Calder valley line from Brighouse joins the Trans-Pennine route, and also for me to explore closer to Heaton Lodge Junction, further East.

There’s no train service from Brighouse to Huddersfield anymore. Instead, you have to catch a rail replacement coach which stops at Deighton before heading into Huddersfield. I struck lucky, as the vehicle I caught was a brand-new Mercedes coach which was seeing its first day in revenue service. John, the driver, explained that operator S-Line travel had bought 3 of the vehicles at a cost of £1.2m. I have to say, it certainly put the Class 150 I’d arrived on to shame when it came to comfort!

There two rail replacement stops at Deighton and John dropped me off at the Easternmost, where it was only a short walk to Colliery Bridge. Sadly, this arched bridge is now closed prior to demolition as it’s being replaced by a new structure to allow this section of line to be electrified. Here’s how it looks from Station Rd bridge further East.

It may be called Colliery bridge, but the colliery it was named for (which was out of picture to the left) closed in early Victorian times. The crossover you see in the foreground leads to the single-track spur to Brighouse. This was also the site of Bradley station which closed on the 2nd March 1950. No trace of the station remains.

Here’s the view looking the other way with Colne Bridge Rd in the background. A lot has changed since my last visit in June, with the first OLE masts having made an appearance, both on the existing line and also where the new Fast lines will be installed.

A TPE service for York worked by 185124 passes 802204 on a Newcastle to Liverpool Lime St service at Bradley. In a few years time they’ll use the new Fast lines which will be laid to the right of the existing tracks.

Moving on I walked up to Colne Bridge Rd but it’s impossible to get pictures there right now. The bridge carries a very busy and very narrow road which only has an (equally narrow) pavement on the Eastern side – which is where a replacement bridge has been built that completely blocks off any view! You can see one of the bridge abutments through the arches in the picture above.

Realigning the road here presents a challenge due to site constraints and the fact there’s an equally narrow bridge over the Huddersfield Wide canal just a few 100 meters South! I’ve marked the new road in red on this satellite image. I can only assume that (at some point) the bridge over canal will be replaced and realigned as it’s going to create a real bottleneck.

As it wasn’t possible to get pictures I walked on to the next bridge which involves a trek uphill before cutting down Bog Green Lane then along a road to the old sewage works where the existing (but also to be replaced) bridge gives this view Westwards.

In the foreground is a new Fast line bridge over the Colne river. Beyond that is a new bridge over the Huddersfield wide canal whilst in the background is the new Colne Bridge Rd bridge. OLE masts have made an appearance here too.

This bridge used to offer a commanding view of the new cutting being dug for the Fast lines to avoid Heaton Lodge Junction. Only now someone’s stuck this bridge in the way!
A TPE service for Manchester speeds under the new Bog Lane bridge. The new Fast lines will run in the foreground.

Finally, here’s a look at one of the new bridge sections over the Huddersfield wide canal at Lock No 2.

I’ll pop along for another visit to this section of TRU in the next few days.

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

Cheers!

TRU: Checking out progress between Mirfield and Ravensthorpe.

27 Thursday Nov 2025

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On Tuesday the grey skies which have bedevilled us here in West Yorkshire took a day off, allowing me to get out with the camera and record progress on the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade between Mirfield and Dewsbury.

Having caught a Northern service from Sowerby Bridge we joined the Trans-Pennine route at Bradley Wood Junction, where earthmoving continues in order to create space for the new Fast lines. I’ll visit here again soon. My first stop was at Mirfield, where progress is steady but slow. Work on the new footbridge and lifts continues, as does the rebuilding of the island platform which is gradually creeping West towards Huddersfield. The most noticeable change since my last visit is that a long length of the Down Huddersfield line through the old platform 1 has been laid, although it remains unconnected and has yet to be ballasted. Here’s some pictures.

Much of the scaffolding around the lift tower has disappeared. Meanwhile, work continues on rebuilding the platform 1 side of the island.
Grand Central’s 180108 working 1A63, the. 10:29 Bradford Interchange to London Kings Cross slows to stop at Mirfield. You can see work continue on rebuilding platform 1 to the right. This scene will look very different in a few years when all four tracks are reinstated and electrification masts and wires abound!
Newly laid track in place on the formation of the Down Huddersfield which serves platform 1. This is looking East towards Ravensthorpe.

Moving on, I caught another Northern service to Dewsbury before walking back to Ravensthorpe.

Dewsbury is having platforms extended to cope with 6-car trains. Here’s progress on the Eastern (Leeds) end of platform 1.
The overbridge on George St has been replaced by a new concrete structure. The original (life-expired) structure dated from the opening of the line in 1847, so it had a good innings! Note the detailing on the concrete undersill in an attempt blend in with the original stonework.
Early embankment work on the River Calder seen through one of the arches of the double-span Butler bridge. A new river crossing will be constructed at this point with the original 1847 railway alignment and bridges being abandoned. The footpath along this stretch of the Calder is blocked off at this point. This is as far as you can go.

Walking back along the Calder to pass under the Spen valley greenway I walked down the (still open) footpath along the Calder and Hebble navigation to this point where the new railway bridges are beginning to take shape. A Northern service from Bradford to Leeds crosses the 1847 bridge in the background.
Another view of the new bridge. The different spans are because the Fast and Slow lines will converge near here. The (double track) Fasts are in the centre whilst the Up and Down Slows join on either side.

Walking on along a very muddy towpath I moved on to Ravensthorpe. Here’s the view of the station from the soon to be replaced Calder Rd bridge.

It’s difficult to appreciate how this scene will look in the future – or how it looked in the past. Here’s an artist’s impression curtesy of TRU. Everything here will disappear under a flyover and dive-under! The station will move behind the camera, to the other side of the bridge.
The current view from the station platform as workers pour concrete to build one of the retaining walls for the flyover and the line to/from Healy Mills (seen in the background) which will be diverted to pass underneath.
A TPE service from York via Healy Mills speeds past workers levelling a fresh pour of concrete.
Retaining walls for the new flyover are beginning to rise.
The existing main line towards Dewsbury curves away in the distance whilst cranes are at work constructing the bridges for the new line. This section of track will be abandoned once the new lines open. To the left of the picture is the site of the old goods yard and coal-fired power station which provided a lot of rail traffic in the past.
Here’s a 1937 map (published in 1942) showing the mass of freight lines and sidings that existed in the area. Ravensthorpe station is bottom left.
The very first of the Class 150s, 150001 arrived to take me back to Dewsbury for my connecting train to Halifax. The station will close from the start of the new timetable on Sunday 14 December 2025, so if you want to visit – be quick!

I’ll be adding another TRU update shortly. I’ll also be visiting Ravensthorpe again before it finally closes.

NOTE: All photographs in this blog are my copyright.

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

Cheers!

Brighouse interlude.

21 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Brighouse, Photography, Railways, Travel, TRU, West Yorkshire

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On Friday, despite the weather being grey and autumnal I needed a break from staring at computer screens, so walked into Halifax for a trip to nearby Brighouse to indulge in a spot of rail photography. Due to the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) construction at Huddersfield drastically reducing the number of platforms available, Brighouse is currently a railhead for services from my neck of the woods. Instead of hourly trains to Huddersfield, a two-hourly shuttle service runs from Bradford Interchange to Brighouse, where it connects with buses to Huddersfield or to Leeds via Mirfield, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury and on to Leeds as the local service from Wigan Wallgate to Leeds via this route has been diverted to run through Halifax.

Brighouse is also a good location for photographing freight services running via the Calder Valley. Hence some of these pictures…

150004 was doing the honours on Friday. After reversing at Bradley Wood Junction it’s returned ready to work 2J66, the 14:30 to Bradford Interchange.
66431 approaches the station with a trainload of ballast from the quarry at Shap. The service is 6E73, the 0910 Shap Summit Quarry to Doncaster Up Decoy yard. The train runs Tuesday to Friday.
Heading in the opposite direction was DBs 66017, hauling 6M16, the 05:40 Wilton to to Knowsley Freight Terminal empty ‘binliner’

Brighouse station’s a well-kept place with a very active friends group who’ve worked wonders over the past few years, transforming a basic station with a profusion of colourful flower and shrubs – both in planters on the platforms and actual gardens. Adding to the interest are a series of history boards which tell tales of local people and industries, including the story of one local man who inspired a well known song by breaking the bank of Monte Carlo. Yes, it really happened!

Here’s someone else with a local connects and famous in a very different way. I doubt he’d have approved of gambling for a start!

I suspect William wouldn’t have approved of another institution that’s nearby. The Commercial Railway Inn is right outside the station and offers a range of real ales, wines and spirits, as well as snacks. It’s an ideal place to bide a while in-between trains. This multi-room pub has one dedicated to music.

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

15th October picture(s) of the day…

15 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Flag shaggers, Huddersfield, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, Railways, Travel, TRU, West Yorkshire

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Another day that didn’t quite go to plan – although that was more for Dawn than me. Dee’s outbreak of the lurgi meant she had a restless night and felt crap this morning, so her dental appointment was the first thing to be cancelled. Then a phone call to Honda about the fun and games with the car meant they came and collected it within an hour, taking it away for diagnostic checks. So, with no car, no Dawn and me still with a dental appointment it meant I was bound for our dentists in Huddersfield by bus!

That was no big deal, I had plenty of time and managed to get in a long walk to a bus stop that was convenient for some railway shots whilst I waited. As chance would have it, one of the seasonal railhead treatment trains was due just before my bus. Hence this shot.

A pair of Colas Class 66s top and tail the RHTT over Dryclough Junction. This train began its journey in Grimsby and ended it in York after going around the houses to reverse at Halifax. The spray from the powerful water jets mounted on the rear wagon is evident.

My dental appointment was a breeze. I’m not one of these people who’s frightened of visiting dentists, so it’s not a stressful experience at all. The dentist gave me a clean bill of health and the hygienist confirmed his view after giving me a clean, so that’s me done for another 6 months!

As I was close to the centre of Huddersfield I decided my walk to take in a detour to the station to see how the place looks now it’s reopened after the month-long blockade. The answer is – very different!

150007sits in the extended Sheffield bay platform whilst a TPE 185 calls at the widened and extended Westbound platform. The Northern side of the station has vanished. Both platforms and tracks have disappeared with the area becoming a building site.

Catching the bus back we passed through Elland, where the ‘flag-shaggers’ have been busy. Most lamp posts on the main road have had flags cable tied to them. Let’s face it, nothing says ‘patriotism’ more than cheap Chinese-made Union or England flags draped like limp rags around the place. Still, it’s a good indicator of places to avoid. Elland’s always been a shithole with a reputation as a place where the far-right hang out. The flags merely confirm it. I’m sure they’ll do wonders for house prices…

Back in Halifax (where flag-shagging is very much a minority sport) I strolled home, finding Dawn feeling better. Her car had been returned, complete with new rear offside wheel sensor as the old one had failed, causing all the problems. Fortunately, the £280 cost was covered by the extended warranty Dee had been smart enough to take out. Sadly, the fun and games weren’t over! No sooner had we eaten supper than poor Dawn had a large filling drop out! Today of all days!

Looks like the dentists haven’t seen the back of us yet…

Tomorrow I plan to spend the day working from home. Hopefully there’ll be no more excitement and I’ll be able to catch up on blogging and picture editing. Watch this space…

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

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

31st August picture of the day…

31 Sunday Aug 2025

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

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Finally, after what’s been an incredibly dry spell, we’ve had rain this weekend. It’s nowhere near enough to fill the reservoirs (that will take months), but the showers have been heavy enough to make a difference to gardens and soak the ground enough so that the water doesn’t just run off the baked earth.

Admittedly, these downpours have made photography more challenging. I’d half-hoped to nip out yesterday to get shots of the first day of Huddersfield blockade diversions, but the weather was so gloomy and wet I gave up on the idea. Today was meant to be better. Plus, there were several engineers trains booked to run via the Calder valley from work around Mossley in the Colne valley. Dawn wasn’t feeling 100% so decided to concentrate on packing for Portugal, which gave me the time to nip out on my own and head the Hebden Bridge in the hope of getting some decent shots. Of course, the weather had other ideas. Shooting engineers trains is a hit and miss affair. The chances of them running to time are minimal, so you really are in the lap of the Gods – and today they were laughing at me! Each time one of the services I was waiting to photograph was due the heavens opened. Today’s picture tells the tale…

5 minutes before 66541 arrived the sun was shining and conditions were perfect. Then we had a cloudburst which sent me scurrying for the shelter of the station canopy. This was the result, the loco steams in the rain as it heads from Mossley to Doncaster with a train full of spent ballast from track renewals.

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(ish) blog. Making the most of the weather…

23 Friday May 2025

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Travel, TRU, West Yorkshire

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15:15

Having finished repainting my old office ready for Dawn to take it over – and with the weather about to take a turn for the worse, I’ve headed out to enjoy a last day of sunshine here in West Yorkshire as the weather forecast for the next week is wet, wet, wet. Admittedly, things didn’t quite go to plan. Dee is out with her parents looking at fireplaces (don’t ask). The idea was that I would meet them for a late lunch – wherever they were. Only I ended up in Mirfield whilst they went to where I’d left – Brighouse. That wouldn’t have been a problem if Northern hadn’t cancelled the train which would have transported me between the two in time to meet them. Ho hum. Instead, I’m now kicking my heels in the Navigation pub by the canal in Mirfield, waiting for the next train West (sorry Dawn!).

Despite the setback, it’s been an interesting day. I’ve explored some new photographic locations around Brighouse and captured some useful TRU upgrade work shots at Mirfield. Here’s a few shots..

A Drax – Liverpool empty biomass train passes through Brighouse past the site of the old rail yards (left).
No. I’ve no idea why a bloke would be riding a penny-farthing through Mirfield either! He certainly caught me by surprise.

Something else at Mirfield that surprised me was one of the TRU history boards on the hoardings hiding reconstruction of the new island platform. As they say – every day is a school day. Now I know why Geordies are called Geordies!

A TPE Class 802 speeds West to Liverpool past workers building the foundations for the new lifts and footbridge at Mirfield, which will allow access to the station from the adjacent carpark.

17:30.

Now I’m back in Halifax, having decided to cut my losses as I needed to do a little shopping en-route home. I popped in to the Piece Hall on the way where the stage is (quite literally) being set for the series of summer concerts.

22:15.

Time to call it a day. As I was back in Halifax in good time I decided to pop in to my local to meet up with friends and partake in the Friday quiz. The combination of good weather, the weekend and a bank holiday to follow meant the place was packed, but we managed to cram into our usual corner in order to enjoy a few brain-teasers, with beer!

Friday evening in the Big 6 wouldn’t be complete without free pork pie – and an ever changing range of real ales…

Now I’m back at home – in time for the weather to change. The sky’s changed from blue to moody grey, the wind’s sprung up and we’ve already had a spattering of raindrops – something we’ve not seen for weeks. Ah, well – the summer was nice whilst it lasted…

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

5th March picture(s) of the day…

05 Wednesday Mar 2025

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

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Another short blog from me tonight as I’ve been out all day and only got home late. The pair of us were up early as we had a dentist’s appointment at 08:30 over in Huddersfield – one of our regular 6 month check-ups and visit to the hygienist for a wash and brush up. I’m not someone who’s afraid of dentists and rather enjoy coming away afterwards feeling the new definition in my teeth after having the hygienist gave ’em the once over – not that there was much to remove.

As we were in that neck of the woods and the weather was ideal for photography I decided to have a day out exploring Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) territory. I’ll explain more at greater length tomorrow, but for now here’s a couple of pictures.

A TRU engineers train passes Bradley Junction with the single line spur towards Brighouse heading off to the left. This section will be four-tracked with the new fast lines being laid on the old trackbed to the right.
A TPE service takes the Huddersfield route at Heaton Lodge Junction. The line to Brighouse is in the background. The new 100mph fast lines will be laid to the right of the train. The new bridge pier is for the road down to the waterworks between the two railways which will replace the one I’m standing on..

I’ll be back working from home tomorrow, so expect more pictures and a vastly expanded blog then.

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

Let there be light…

14 Thursday Nov 2024

Posted by in Manchester, Photography, Pubs, Railways, Travel, TRU

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Today there certainly was. After all the miserable weather we’ve had recently this neck of the woods was pretty much blessed with wall-to-wall sunshine from daybreak. Such favorable conditions tore me away from my desk in order to take the camera on a little tour around the Colne and Calder valleys. Having caught a train from Sowerby Bridge to Manchester I ventured up the Colne, stopping off at various places as I headed East. Here’s a selection taken around Mossley.

Houses so close to the railway line at Mossley are proving to be an interesting challenge when it comes to electrifying this stretch of line. TRU are consulting on the options at the moment. Here’s 185114 and 185109 passing whilst working 1P66, the 08:42 Saltburn to Manchester Victoria
This is 802215 passing Mossley with 9M29, the 09:43 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street.
802211 heads East past Mossley on 1P25, the 11:54 Liverpool Lime Street to Newcastle

Having a series of shots in the bag I moved location, enjoying a lovely walk along the Huddersfield narrow canal to Greenfield in the process. The autumn leaves looked stunning.

I didn’t stay long at Greenfield as the low autumn sun was already casting heavy shadows at the locations I’d planned to get shots at, but I did still get this.

802202 snakes past Greenfield with 9M31, the 11:43 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street.

Catching a train back into Manchester I retraced my way along the Calder valley route as far as Castleton, where I popped into this excellent hostelry for a pint whilst I waited for the ‘blue hour’ where the light’s changed enough to provide some really vivid colours in the sky, just before darkness falls.

The Old Post Office micro pub is just a few minutes walk from Castleton station.

Here’s how the light looked when I left, and no – this isn’t due to beer-goggles!

156452 arrives at Castleton whilst working 2J29, the 1521 Clitheroe to Rochdale.
Journey’s end at Rochdale. The crew of 2J29 have a chat under stunning autumn skies.

Now I’m back home with an office day beckoning in the morning. Still, the light was good whilst it lasted…

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

27th September picture of the day…

27 Friday Sep 2024

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

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Today would’ve justified a rolling blog but it wasn’t to be as I was moving around too much and at short notice. I’d intended staying at home but the weather picked up and Dawn had an appointment over in Marsden, so I thought ‘why not’? and hitched a lift over to the Colne valley where I could catch a train Eastwards to have a look at progress on the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) around Deighton. There’s some major civil engineering going on here to allow four-tracking to be reinstated and the station to be relocated.

However, it’s not a place with a great reputation. A legal friend of mine has always been grateful to the area as it’s provided him with plenty of work. To put it another way, it’s (allegedly) so rough even the XL bully’s walk round in twos! But I couldn’t resist the opportunity to get the shot below.

Here’s the view from a local (renewed) footbridge to the West of Deighton looking back to the station. The embankment around the station’s gradually being stripped back to make room for the relocated platforms which will be on the Slow lines, whilst the first part of the new alignments been laid – even though the short length of track’s completely isolated from the current running lines.

To give a bit of perspective, here’s a shot without the zoom.

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