It's going to be great. Of course it being a Friday there's a certain Stockport to Stalybridge train to be had
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
15 May 2015: Northern Day Ranger No. 2
Upon arrival at Crewe the day ranger is purchased. The plan for today was route coverage in West Yorkshire, but also to head up to Stockport and board the once-a-week service to Stalybridge. This meant having to leave Crewe before the validity of my ranger kicked in, so a single to Wilmslow was also purchased.
While waiting for the first train of the day at Crewe I was treated to the sight of two class 20s passing through, pulling what looked like a nuclear flask train. Eventually winner
390047 appeared to take me up to Wilmslow. Now it was passed 08:45 I was able to switch to
323236 to take me up to
Stockport.
There was a little bit of a wait here until the famous Stockport to Stalybridge train turned up. This was formed of
142045 coupled to dud
150145. For comfort I made my way to the 150, but this was locked out so had to settle for the limited leg room and hard seats of the 142 instead. I counted five people (including myself) board this service. As we set off, two more people boarded at Reddish South and another three at Denton. I've seen trains with a much more frequent service receive less patronage than this!
We pulled into
Stalybridge, where it was a simple cross platform transfer to pick up
150112 to
Ashton-under-Lyne. Again a short wait was had. I eventually picked up
142044 to
Huddersfield. The sun starts to come out now and I am rewarded with excellent Pennine scenery. At Huddersfield I boarded
142064 which was ready and waiting (did this unit used to belong to FGW? It seemed to have their upholstery over the seats). This was taken one stop to
Brighouse, and after a short wait it was
158758 to
Mirfield.
At Mirfield I had a tight 2 minute connection. Having read
andyb2706's trip reports and his experience of tight interchanges I was rather worried about this! Fortunately things were running to time and the connection was made without hassle (thanks also to the fact there was no need to switch platforms). I boarded
142021 to
Wakefield Westgate (which inlcuded a reversal at Kirkgate). Westgate station (or at least the ticket hall and concourse) has recently been rebuilt and looks fantastic. I make use of the Greggs here and purchased lunch.
I now have to walk to Kirkgate station. This is an easy walk, facilitated by very clear signage throughout (not like Warrington!!) and sunny weather. As I approach Kirkgate station, however, I have a run in with a cyclist who comes round the corner on the pavement too fast and crashes into me! I am winded by the experience but the cyclist appears to have come off worse, falling off their bike. Nevertheless, they are quickly back up on their feet and after a half-hearted apology they've sped off again.
Still winded and slightly shocked by the literal run-in with the cyclist, I arrive at
Wakefield Kirkgate. The station here is undergoing a facelift - it's far from complete, but it's looking really good (mind you, you wouldn't have to have done much to improve it).
150143 is waiting on the platform. I board and, as we set off, tuck into my sandwich and gingerbread man. I alight at
Pontefract Monkhill. I cross over the platform in time to witness a Grand Central 180 pulling in. My Northern only ticket means I can't board, so it's a five minute wait for
144016 back to Wakefield Kirkgate.
It's a short wait until dud 158905 arrives for the fast service (i.e. not via Castleford) to Leeds.
The plan now is to head to Bradford to obtain Forster Square station (which avoid readers will remember was neglected from the Airedale and Wharfedale bash. It's dud 333002 to Shipley, where I pick up dud 322483 towards Bradford. I have five 333s outstanding and there's another train a few minutes behind us so I decide to try my luck by bailing at Frizinghall. This doesn't go to plan as dud 333012 turn up. Nevertheless I have now arrived into
Bradford Forster Square, thus completing all of the Airedale and Wharefale shacks and track. At Forster Square I go to the ticket office and pick up one full West Yorkshire timetables, which comes into effect next week (it's compact and very useful to have).
I treat myself in Bradford to a short coffee break, before making my way to
Bradford Interchange. Here the plan is to 'station hop' to Leeds, so it's
158816 to
New Pudsey, followed by
155346 (my first 155) to
Bramley, and then
158755 to Leeds.
The plan here is to head towards Manchester via the Calder Valley, which will be new track for me. I alight the train to find the platform displays telling me the train I've just stepped off is the next train I want. So it's back on 158755 the journey to Manchester Victoria. The views are great and a decision is made to combine some shack scratching with walking in this area in the not-to-distant future.
At Manchester it's a walking transfer to Piccadilly. Here I pick up
323223 to
Handforth. I have a 30 minute wait here so have some time to inspect the several Handforth railway station signs which are in the styles of railway companies in other countries (hard to explain - I should have taken a picture... or better yet go and visit yourself!!). I also head to a nearby Tescos for a chocolate bar to sustain me until I get home. The last train of the day is
323232 which gets me back to Crewe in good time before the bus that I reward myself after a good day out with a pint.
Some stats for you (sorry, I've forgotten to do these recently):
Total mileage: 209m27ch
Total winners for haulage: 15
Total new shacks: 14
Total cost: £19.50
Travelled lots by train for many years before of course!
hock:
