South Pennines Day Ranger

[jnjkerbin]

Right, here we go with a trip report from my South Pennines Day Ranger on Saturday:

After finally getting to sleep at about midnight, the 0515 alarm wasn’t the most welcome thing in the world but at least it should be worth it. A check of my Open Train Times reveals a T3 possession at Sevenoaks. The first departure is meant to be there soon and some freight trains are being held at Orpington. That certainly shouldn’t be happening. The 0530 up the Bat and Ball line has already been cancelled. I start making plans to go to Otford and pick up an Ashford starter but at about 0530 the T3 possession disappears and the trains get on the move, including one freight that’s been sat at Orpington since 2 in the morning.

I’m out of the house just before 0600 in time to make the 0609 from Dunton Green to Orpington. Normally formed of a 465 and 466 combo I’m slightly surprised to see the CIS sayings it’s 4 coaches and sure enough a single 465 rounds the curve, 465914. Well that’s a bit of a bonus! Although not uncommon to find 465/9s on the stoppers, it is slightly unusual. I would have sat in the 1st class section since the train wasn’t booked to have any but opted for standard so as not to share the little section with someone else.
Just before Knockholt, dud 66710 nips past with the empties to Mountfield. As we depart we seem to have a bit of wheel slip but arrive into Orpington a minute early at 0619. Under the subway to a surprisingly busy platform 2 to await the 0624 to Charing Cross, formed of 375828 and 375702. The journey to London Bridge goes faster than normal and I see work on the Bermondsey diveunder is coming on well. Arrival into London Bridge is a minute early at 0638 and its time to head for the underground, the northern line to be precise. The NR barrier doesn’t like my ticket (probably because it’s a little bit odd (Tonbridge – Dore Super Off Peak Return – thanks to Yorkie for the info) but I get let through with nothing more than a glance and it’s down onto the tube. I notice there’s windscreen wipers at the end of the middle cars – is this so the train can be split in two in the depot?

At Euston I hop off and make my way up to the station after being thoroughly blown about on the escalators in the tunnel wind. At Euston, I head to the Virgin ticket office to pick up a South Pennines Day Ranger which I pay for using some RTVs I had hanging around. There’s no problem in issuing it whatsoever. A check of the boards reveals the 0723 to Brum is on platform 15 and there’s a ticket check waiting at the end of the ramp. The revenue protection guy seems a little sceptical of the routing but I offer to show him my reservations for a later service and he shrugs his shoulders and lets me through. 57302 is in the adjacent siding. The outside screens of the train is showing the 0703 to New Street but the TM comes on over the tannoy to tell us it’s the 0723. Despite getting the signal clear at 0722 we don’t get the RA until 0724. I notice the end of the sleeper over on platform 1 as we pull out and despite slowing down about Camden we have a fast run onwards. 90028 passes us at Camden and then 86401 and 87002 are seen at Willesden with a load of unidentifiable locos as well as 66014 and 66198 at Wembley. We pass the Highlands sleeper around Harrow and then a pair of Freightliner 80-somethings come past around Bushey. Arrival into Watford Jn is more or less on time and it turns out the seat I’m in is reserved but because of the issues with the computer back at Euston. Finding another seat, we’re on the way and the train is quite busy with a large number of somewhat domineering mothers and uninterested teenagers on their way to university open days.
At Bletchley 66004 is seen and then just south of Milton Keynes we pass either one or two 377/7s. We’re now fast to Coventry and we really get shifting with the tilt being especially noticeable. As much as the Pendolinos are not particularly nice inside, I do think the tilting idea does somewhat redeem them. After Coventry we serve Birmingham International and now the train is quite busy. I end up being hedged in by someone sitting next to me who, despite a brief delay outside New Street, doesn’t realised we’ve arrived there meaning I’m one of the last people off. Not too much of a problem since the next train to Sheffield is the 0903. As I disembark I notice 46233 hauling a railtour leaving towards Soho with 47773 on the rear.

The next Sheffield train is the 0903 so it’s over to platform 10A (as opposed to 10B where everyone was waiting) meaning I get a seat on 220015. Happy with what should be my second 220 for haulage I get on and settle down. It’s not until I get home and go to mark off 220015 in my spreadsheet that I find that that’s the only 220 I have got :-x. Most of the seats in the coach state “Reserved from Chesterfield”. The journey to Sheffield is uneventful with only a few more Mother-Child couples on their way to open days. As we pull in there’s a group of men with “Big Tim’s Stag Do” t-shirts on. I opt to make my way down to another coach and decide to stand for the last 14 minutes to Sheffield. Arrival is 3 minutes late at 1020 and my plan is to head ford Huddersfield. I can’t find any departure screens so it’s over the footbridge from platform 1 towards the tram exit trying to find a board, negotiating the rather over the top one way system, eventually find a board over at the Supertram exit displaying that the 1036 Sheffield – Huddersfield will leave from platform 1 so it’s back over the footbridge and I come down in time to see a Transpennine 170 leaving for Cleethorpes and it’s good to hear those diesel sounds again after spending so long in the south east.

Well that'll do for now - more later

 

[Techniquest]

A fantastic read so far, enjoying it for sure with plenty of detail which I do like to see

Bring on the next part

 

[jnjkerbin]

A fantastic read so far, enjoying it for sure with plenty of detail which I do like to see

Bring on the next part

Thanks for the kind comments Techniquest

Part 2

142070 rolls in at about 1032 for the run to Huddersfield. We’re off on time, reasonably lightly loaded and soon reach Meadowhall where more people board, including a gentleman who’s facial expression rather nicely sums up the phrase “Grim oop North”

At Chapeltown, more people board and we’re now reasonably busy. I enjoy listening to a conversation about someone’s surprise when they asked the driver of a train in southeast London where the guard was and was told there wasn’t one! The line up to Huddersfield is very scenic and well worth the ride, even if it does mean a pacer! By the time we reach Silkstone, it’s drizzling and there’s a fair bit of wheel slip on departure. It also appears that one of the doors on the right hand side of the train is not working properly and at several stops, someone is nearly carried on! The 142 isn’t exactly the most homely of environments and I’m starting to get cold so the thought of Huddersfield is warmly received. Arrival into Huddersfield is a minute early at 1148 and it’s time to look for a train to Manchester. A 185 rolls in with a service to Piccadilly, running late meaning the next Victoria train is also late. It rolls in and we’re on the move at 1205, 3 down.

185114 is providing the traction for this leg and we have a ticket check immediately after leaving Huddersfield. Finally, warming up after that chilly 142, we get held outside Standedge tunnel for a moment, before thundering through it. Arrival into Victoria is three minutes late, at 1236, and I have 12 minutes until the 1248 to Leeds via Bradford. I opt to grab some food but it appears the station is being worked on and there’s a bigger problem… the train is advertised as platform 2 but there seems to be no signs for it. At that moment it changes to platform 5. Over the footbridge, and 158754 is just arriving. Quite a few people disembark here but no one seems to get on meaning I do that thing of getting on, getting off, getting on, getting off, before finally getting on again when I see someone else.

I’ve always loved the 158s and 9s from a passenger point of view. They seem to be consistently comfortable and fairly pleasant. We’re off on time and someone wanders through selling raffle tickets or something and tickets are checked straight away. I’ve been looking forward to this line, since we were considering going on holiday here and I was interested to have a look at it. As we leave Rochdale we have a race (well sort of) with a tram departing at the same time. At Todmorden, a rather wet little dog and an equally wet owner get on. This line isn’t quite as scenic as the Sheffield – Huddersfield line, but is still very pleasant. At Halifax, we pick up a large group of teenagers and on the approach to Bradford, I’m treated to the site of a siding with a sign reading “Stop. Examine Points.” Immediately prior to a place where the points have been removed. At Bradford, there’s a Grand Central 180 in the platform next to us, and we quickly reverse to head in to Leeds, sighting 66023 as we arrive. Arrival into Leeds is at 1407, 3 early and 1 hour and 19 minutes after leaving Manchester.

13 minutes until the next Piccadilly train, so I opt to go and get a warm drink, a hot chocolate from the Upper Crust, which helpfully is the platform side of the ticket barrier. £2.40, or £1.92 with a 20% bite card discount and its over to platform 16 for the 1420 to Piccadilly and 185113 arrives a few minutes early and a seat is easily got for the run down to Piccadilly. There’s a couple sitting opposite with bags tagged for Rome, no doubt off to the airport. As the doors shut at Huddersfield a man hears the announcement that the next stop is Manchester and rushes for the doors, thinking that Huddersfield was Manchester Piccadilly until someone tells him. At Ardwick, I catch my first site of one of the new TPE 350s and we arrive into Piccadilly at 1515.
With about half an hour to waste here, I wander out onto the concourse where there’s the peculiar site of a departure board advertising the 1100 to Ramsgate. Underneath is a sign reading “FOR DEMONSTRATION ONLY”. Wondering exactly what it’s meant to be demonstrating, I pop to the toilets (30p) and the head over to platform 13 to await the 1543 to Norwich. As I arrive, a 350 is setting off westwards from the eastbound platform and several trains roll in heading to the Airport. Just before the 1543 is expected a 175 arrives and some passengers get on, thinking it’s the Norwich train. The train is being taken out of service and appears to be running nearly an hour late due to a fatality at Colwyn Bay. Eventually, 158858 arrives about 4 minutes down and I board. We’re off at 1548 and the run to Sheffield via Stockport is not particularly interesting. At Sheffield, I make my way down the coach to disembark, noticing a cab connection at the end. Assuming this to be like the 158s in service with FGW, I assume it’s the same unit and get off.

Once again negotiating the one way system at Sheffield, I make my way over to platform 6 for the 1649 to St Pancras. It’s only when I’m settled down on 222012 that I notice that our train had 2 units, but annoyingly, it’s too late to get the other number. Meanwhile, our 222 is in power saving mode and it take a minute after setting off right time at 1649 for the lights to come on fully. I’m, rather amazed by how quiet the train is. As we leave, 66718 comes past, looking rather nice in its dark TfL livery. The run to Derby is boring and I nearly drop off after a long(ish) day. As we depart for East Midlands Parkway, I note 37670, 37405, 67025, as well as the two Balfour Beatty Class 20s, 189 and 142.

At Long Eaton, a man boards and asks someone if this is the Leeds train, seems rather insistent that it is, then says “Only Joking” and walks off. And then walks past again. And then again. After East Midlands Parkway and Leicester, where 950001 passes us, we’re fast to St Pancras and it’s time to start to consider connections across London. Without having timetables and what with EE not being particularly helpful with my contract, I have to work out train times home myself. I somehow come up with a 1921 off London Bridge which should connect with the stopper at Orpington which should get me home at 1953. Otherwise, I’ll have to wait for the 1937ish or the 1943ish which should get me home half an hour later. A check of our booked arrival time into St Pancras reveals that I’d have a +21 across London. Tight, but should be possible. We’re running a few minutes late though, and I spend the rest of the time looking at mileposts, and working out average speeds and so on. 66150 is seen at Bedford as well as 66725 a little later on. As we pass through West Hampstead I get up and start making my way towards the last doors in Standard Class. Annoyingly, the run into St Pancras is slow since we’re double docking with another 222.

The doors are released at 1902 so that leaves me a +19. I’m the first off the platform and I forget that it’s such a long walk to the Northern line platforms. I half power walk – half jog through the crowds of tourists, past the musical (and not so musical) on the pianos and get into the London underground part of the station, eyes firmly on the time. Of course, as luck would have it my shoelace comes undone so it’s a one legged stand on the escalator whilst temporarily tucking it into my shoe. A bit of jogging later and I get on the southbound platform just as a train is about to depart and I hop on. Shoelace tied and eye on the time reveals I've got less the 5 minutes as we leave Bank. At London Bridge I've got 3 minutes and I weave through the crowds and past the man being sick all over the ramp up to platform 5 and get onto the platform just as the train (which is actually the 1923 is arriving.
We’re off on time on 375830 (clearing it for 100 miles) and 610. We pass nearly new, Colas 70807 on the Southern side with an engineers’ train. Now just to hope I got the time of the stoppers right. At Petts Wood, sure enough we pass a train for Sevenoaks and so at Orpington it’s the obligatory calm walk over the footbridge to pick up 465044 and 166 for the short trip to Dunton Green.

So, final stats for the day:

Total mileage: 597m 30ch
Total time on trains: 10 hours 49 minutes
Total new mileage: 403m 49ch

Overall 8/10 for the day.

 

[Kite159]

Sounds like you've had an rather excellent day trip

 

[Techniquest]

Wow, sounds like quite the adventure all in! I was fortunate when I did Huddersfield to Sheffield, with 1587xx. Next one would have been a 142 and the one after a 144 so I was counting my lucky stars on that one!

Calder Valley's not bad aye, the bit from Hebden Bridge to Burnley's better though in my eyes. Surprised you didn't enjoy the journey along the Hope Valley though, although I was lucky to have had glorious days every time I've been on it as well as the luxury of HSTs on it way back in 2004!

Jealous of you getting 158754, my last of Northern's 3-car 158s to score!

Quite the variety of routes and traction all round, not bad bit of mileage but I daresay it wasn't cheap! Finally for now at least, hope you'll post more trip reports as I've enjoyed reading this one!

 

[jnjkerbin]

Sounds like you've had an rather excellent day trip

It was indeed great fun

Wow, sounds like quite the adventure all in! I was fortunate when I did Huddersfield to Sheffield, with 1587xx. Next one would have been a 142 and the one after a 144 so I was counting my lucky stars on that one!

Lucky! TBH, the pacers can be alright for the novelty value when they're not your everyday traction.

Calder Valley's not bad aye, the bit from Hebden Bridge to Burnley's better though in my eyes. Surprised you didn't enjoy the journey along the Hope Valley though, although I was lucky to have had glorious days every time I've been on it as well as the luxury of HSTs on it way back in 2004!

It wasn't that it wasn't enjoyable, just that it was not as good as the others IMO.

Were the HSTs on XC services? I can't imagine what services would go that way. Were they on diversion?

Jealous of you getting 158754, my last of Northern's 3-car 158s to score!

Funnily enough, it was my first 3 car Northern 158!

Quite the variety of routes and traction all round, not bad bit of mileage but I daresay it wasn't cheap! Finally for now at least, hope you'll post more trip reports as I've enjoyed reading this one!

Actually, thanks to advice from Yorkie, I managed to grab a Dunton Green - Dore return for £5.70 instead of the usual £57.70, thanks to an error with the online bookings, and the SPDR was a pretty reasonable £14.50 with a YP railcard, although I paid some of that using RTVs.
Overall that works out as about 3.4p per mile, compared to my everyday commute, which works out at 35p per mile

 

[FQ]

Were the HSTs on XC services? I can't imagine what services would go that way. Were they on diversion?

The HSTs were indeed on diverts.

Brilliant report.

 

[FQ]

Jealous of you getting 158754, my last of Northern's 3-car 158s to score!

Hi, the only time I visited York in AGES and look what I saw...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I really enjoyed reading your well-written two-part report and you do seem to have covered quite a number of destinations en route. I wonder if this was your very first experience of a Class 142 Pacer.

 

[sprinterguy]

Were the HSTs on XC services? I can't imagine what services would go that way. Were they on diversion?

In 2004 Midland Mainline regularly operated HSTs over the Hope Valley line, at the behest of the SRA, as "Project Rio" services between London St Pancras and Manchester. Not technically diversions, but an alternative to the WCML while the upgrade was in full swing.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Surprised you didn't enjoy the journey along the Hope Valley though, although I was lucky to have had glorious days every time I've been on it as well as the luxury of HSTs on it way back in 2004!

Come to think of it, 2004 was a good year for HSTs over the Pennines by unusual routes. It was also the first year that GNER instigated their HST diversions between Newcastle and Edinburgh via the Tyne Valley.

I am also a little surprised to see the Hope Valley to have ranked so low in terms of scenic interest.

 

[jnjkerbin]

The HSTs were indeed on diverts.

Brilliant report.

Thanks

I really enjoyed reading your well-written two-part report and you do seem to have covered quite a number of destinations en route. I wonder if this was your very first experience of a Class 142 Pacer.

Thanks, it was indeed, although I have experienced the 143s down in the SW

In 2004 Midland Mainline regularly operated HSTs over the Hope Valley line, at the behest of the SRA, as "Project Rio" services between London St Pancras and Manchester. Not technically diversions, but an alternative to the WCML while the upgrade was in full swing.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Come to think of it, 2004 was a good year for HSTs over the Pennines by unusual routes. It was also the first year that GNER instigated their HST diversions between Newcastle and Edinburgh via the Tyne Valley.

I am also a little surprised to see the Hope Valley to have ranked so low in terms of scenic interest.

Thanks for the info.
I may have been a bit tired by then, especially considering the previous late night.

 

[317 forever]

I used one of these tickets in March. I was able to travel from Heaton Chapel to Huddersfield, Sheffield and home again. The only oddity is that it was printed as "South Pennies Day Ranger"! As the name is just 1 letter too long, I wonder why not "South Pennine Day Ranger" or "Sth Pennines Day Ranger"?