crispy1978
Member
Here is a write-up of a trip I did back in 2013, which I thought I would type up from my notes for you to enjoy.
Tyne Tees Rover – 12 October 2013
After a mammoth journey from Scarborough to Thurso and back in the two weeks previous, covering over 1,150 miles, I thought I would try something a little closer to home this time.
My friend, who is originally from the Newcastle area, and I decided we were going to have a look at the Tyne Tees Rover – I've travelled up the East Coast Main Line numerous times, but never really diverted from the route, so I knew this would be a new experience, and would visit a number of stations I have never been to before.
It was an early start – catching the 06:30 from Scarborough to York on 185111, we left on time, and arrived a minute late at 07:24. I remember being a little bit panicky, as I knew I didn't have long to catch the 07:32 from York up to Thornaby, and knew I probably had to get from platform 4 to platform 9, 10 or 11 – I think we ended up departing from 9, and luckily I wasn't weighed down with luggage as I normally am when I travel, so my running skills weren't hampered!
We departed to Thornaby on time on 185146, we arrived at Northallerton where I met my friend, and our Rover officially started. I remember we travelled very slowly around the Thirsk area, I think due to a late running HST – we arrived at Thornaby eight minutes late. Again, we had a relatively short wait before the 08:37 Northern service was due to take us to Hexham (via Sunderland, Hartlepool, etc) – the route took us around some nice scenery, if not some unpleasant characters! 142095 was on time leaving, and arriving, which was good.
Once we arrived at Hexham, we had a short wait before the same train took us back to Newcastle at 10:43 – again we left on time, and arrived in 4 minutes early at 11:23.
Once at Newcastle, we took opportunity to take alcoholic refreshment at the station bar and waited for our next train, which was to Morpeth. 156475 left on time at 12:15, and arrived a minute late at 12:36. The train then disappeared down a siding whilst a couple more HSTs flew by, and then appeared nine minutes later to take us back to Newcastle, this time arriving a minute early at 13:12.
Knowing this would be our last major stop before we got home, we went to the Wetherspoons, and had lunch and a pint, and then got some more provisions in the Sainsburys at the station.
A change of operator, as Transpennine was to take us down to Darlington. 185116 was the train – we left on time at 14:18, and arrived two late at 14:48 – a much needed opportunity for a phone recharge!
Once at Darlington, we had a short wait before our next train up the Tees Valley Line to Bishop Auckland – back on the Northern services, 142088 took us away on time at 14:54, arriving two minutes early at 15:18. Another quick turnaround and the same train took us back along the Tees Valley Line to Saltburn at 15:25, arriving at 16:49 – bang on time. We flew through the Teesside Airport stop; one which we knew we would never achieved.
We took the opportunity to stretch our legs, and then jumped back on the 16:58 service as far as Middlesbrough – passing British Steel Redcar en-route, a real “blink and you miss it” stop. It was one which we would have liked to at least stopped at, but we couldn't get it in to our schedule without missing a trip somewhere else. We arrived at Middlesbrough a minute early at 17:22.
I was booked on the 20:50 service from Middlesbrough to York service – so in theory we had time to get to Whitby and back on the Esk Valley Line – leaving 10 minutes to spare, so we went for it. 156463 was the vehicle which took us there – and we went well, leaving on time and seeing some interesting workings – such as the Battersby reverse at the junction, and the token system in operation. We were going well until we got to Glaisdale. We were held up here for a good 15-20 minutes. There was a train on the Pickering-Whitby line apparently as it was War Weekend. Being from Pickering, I should have known this – but it completely slipped my memory. We stood on the platform whilst we waited, as it was quite a mild evening – and had a good chat with the driver and guard who were both a bit perplexed as to what the problem was and were constantly in telephone contact with someone trying to resolve it. We eventually arrived at Whitby 11 minutes late at 19:18.
From then on, panic stations were in place as I knew my connection back at Middlesbrough would be very tight. The conductor was great though and managed to get the train at Middlesbrough held for me.
A very quick turnaround, and we departed seven minutes late at 19:22. If we ran to time, I would be OK. The train was full of very jovial war weekend characters. This was officially a dry train, but I think the guard was turning a blind eye.
We got in to Middlesbrough 7 minutes late at 20:48. The Transpennine Express train 185116 (the same one which took me from Newcastle to Darlington) was waiting on the opposite platform – so it was a very quick dash under the station and I made the train – but where was the conductor? He wasn't at the back of the train, and he wasn't chatting to the driver – so I walked right through it to try and find him, but to no avail. In the end, I just sat down and let him find me – which he did! We departed just two minutes late at 20:52, arriving at York at 21:41, two minutes early.
I get to York, and my train home is cancelled – so we're waiting on a bustitution – I can't remember now why it was cancelled. It would therefore have been around 23:30 by the time I got home – it was a long old day – but thoroughly enjoyable!
Tyne Tees Rover – 12 October 2013
After a mammoth journey from Scarborough to Thurso and back in the two weeks previous, covering over 1,150 miles, I thought I would try something a little closer to home this time.
My friend, who is originally from the Newcastle area, and I decided we were going to have a look at the Tyne Tees Rover – I've travelled up the East Coast Main Line numerous times, but never really diverted from the route, so I knew this would be a new experience, and would visit a number of stations I have never been to before.
It was an early start – catching the 06:30 from Scarborough to York on 185111, we left on time, and arrived a minute late at 07:24. I remember being a little bit panicky, as I knew I didn't have long to catch the 07:32 from York up to Thornaby, and knew I probably had to get from platform 4 to platform 9, 10 or 11 – I think we ended up departing from 9, and luckily I wasn't weighed down with luggage as I normally am when I travel, so my running skills weren't hampered!
We departed to Thornaby on time on 185146, we arrived at Northallerton where I met my friend, and our Rover officially started. I remember we travelled very slowly around the Thirsk area, I think due to a late running HST – we arrived at Thornaby eight minutes late. Again, we had a relatively short wait before the 08:37 Northern service was due to take us to Hexham (via Sunderland, Hartlepool, etc) – the route took us around some nice scenery, if not some unpleasant characters! 142095 was on time leaving, and arriving, which was good.
Once we arrived at Hexham, we had a short wait before the same train took us back to Newcastle at 10:43 – again we left on time, and arrived in 4 minutes early at 11:23.
Once at Newcastle, we took opportunity to take alcoholic refreshment at the station bar and waited for our next train, which was to Morpeth. 156475 left on time at 12:15, and arrived a minute late at 12:36. The train then disappeared down a siding whilst a couple more HSTs flew by, and then appeared nine minutes later to take us back to Newcastle, this time arriving a minute early at 13:12.
Knowing this would be our last major stop before we got home, we went to the Wetherspoons, and had lunch and a pint, and then got some more provisions in the Sainsburys at the station.
A change of operator, as Transpennine was to take us down to Darlington. 185116 was the train – we left on time at 14:18, and arrived two late at 14:48 – a much needed opportunity for a phone recharge!
Once at Darlington, we had a short wait before our next train up the Tees Valley Line to Bishop Auckland – back on the Northern services, 142088 took us away on time at 14:54, arriving two minutes early at 15:18. Another quick turnaround and the same train took us back along the Tees Valley Line to Saltburn at 15:25, arriving at 16:49 – bang on time. We flew through the Teesside Airport stop; one which we knew we would never achieved.
We took the opportunity to stretch our legs, and then jumped back on the 16:58 service as far as Middlesbrough – passing British Steel Redcar en-route, a real “blink and you miss it” stop. It was one which we would have liked to at least stopped at, but we couldn't get it in to our schedule without missing a trip somewhere else. We arrived at Middlesbrough a minute early at 17:22.
I was booked on the 20:50 service from Middlesbrough to York service – so in theory we had time to get to Whitby and back on the Esk Valley Line – leaving 10 minutes to spare, so we went for it. 156463 was the vehicle which took us there – and we went well, leaving on time and seeing some interesting workings – such as the Battersby reverse at the junction, and the token system in operation. We were going well until we got to Glaisdale. We were held up here for a good 15-20 minutes. There was a train on the Pickering-Whitby line apparently as it was War Weekend. Being from Pickering, I should have known this – but it completely slipped my memory. We stood on the platform whilst we waited, as it was quite a mild evening – and had a good chat with the driver and guard who were both a bit perplexed as to what the problem was and were constantly in telephone contact with someone trying to resolve it. We eventually arrived at Whitby 11 minutes late at 19:18.
From then on, panic stations were in place as I knew my connection back at Middlesbrough would be very tight. The conductor was great though and managed to get the train at Middlesbrough held for me.
A very quick turnaround, and we departed seven minutes late at 19:22. If we ran to time, I would be OK. The train was full of very jovial war weekend characters. This was officially a dry train, but I think the guard was turning a blind eye.
We got in to Middlesbrough 7 minutes late at 20:48. The Transpennine Express train 185116 (the same one which took me from Newcastle to Darlington) was waiting on the opposite platform – so it was a very quick dash under the station and I made the train – but where was the conductor? He wasn't at the back of the train, and he wasn't chatting to the driver – so I walked right through it to try and find him, but to no avail. In the end, I just sat down and let him find me – which he did! We departed just two minutes late at 20:52, arriving at York at 21:41, two minutes early.
I get to York, and my train home is cancelled – so we're waiting on a bustitution – I can't remember now why it was cancelled. It would therefore have been around 23:30 by the time I got home – it was a long old day – but thoroughly enjoyable!
