Requeststop
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I'm the one who missed something and I'm sorry. I've amended the day's. Thanks for the heads up.
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Requeststops 22 day UK Bash - GHU
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I'm the one who missed something and I'm sorry. I've amended the day's. Thanks for the heads up.
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Requeststop
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Day 12 Stalybridge, Snaith and Slights.
Well looking at replies to my posts and that of one arse in particular, it is highly noticeable that there has been no apology from said arse. One very kind correspondent sent me a private message telling me that I should have reported the message and had it deleted. Well my view is that by showing the message to everyone who reads my posts and my replies will see just what an arse the person actually is, as some of you have actually said in your very kind replies. My thanks to you all who took the trouble to publish your supportive posts.
About Blaenau Ffestiniog, it’s a great shame. I had wanted to wipe Wales off my map. I have looked at services for next week with the absolutely crazy idea of a run up from London, when I’m down there towards the end of next week, to Llandudno Junction on VT and cover the line, and dive back down there again. Ah well. God loved me in Scotland but maybe not for the Conwy Valley.
It has been a very successful day. Everything went very well. I had a number of services to choose to get to Stockport on time. for the only service each week from Stockport to Stalybridge. I chose the 0835 VTWC to ensure I had enough time for the connection. On platform 3 everyone was eyeing each other with that unasked question “are you also doing the line?” The train arrived and quite a number got on the service. In terms of popularity I’d say low plus to medium for the three car train. One person got on at Denton and then a long wait at Guide Bridge Station Junction with a nice bit of wheel screaming both before and after the station. Ok nice if you are a masochist. I noticed one person taking many photo’s on route, but my thoughts is that it is not the most picturesque route in the nation. Of course I did get a thrill at successfully covering the line. There were times I was thinking that the train may be cancelled.
Then a run to Huddersfield. It was good to see the line in daylight. There was some really good landscapes between Stalybridge and Standedge Tunnel. SHEEP ALERT! There will a few sheep on the Lancashire side of the tunnel but huddled together. Not like southern sheep, all independently minded and ……….
At Huddersfield a chance to look around the station and watch the services pass through, and then my train slowly makes its way slowly into Platform 6 from Selby. RTT says this service is to Leeds but the station announcer announces to Bradford Interchange. I covered the line from Huddersfield to Halifax via Brighouse the other day but that was an added extra. I’d be covering the line from Sowerby Bridge to Mirfield in the opposite direction very shortly. When we get to Brighouse we are announced to Leeds, and so onwards to Halifax but we are delayed 4 minutes due to a faulty door.
Just before Brighouse a very observant shouts about sheep in a field by shouting out “baaa”and sure enough there are two sheep. This intelligent child will certainly have a good future. At Halifax I cross the island platform to wait for the 11:26 to Manchester Victoria which will take me down to Sowerby Bridge, and sure enough on time it leaves the tunnel, and rounds the curve into the station. At Sowerby Bridge I make use of my time by parting with some cash for a bacon sandwich washed down with a hot chocolate in the Jubilee Refreshment Room. Indeed the whole place is an excellent hostelry with lots of railway memorabilia and local information. Back on the platform waiting for the 12:18 to Mirfield, I was impressed by the tidiness of thr station and again the local inforfmantion. There is a good community spirit there in Sowerby Bridge. Equally Impressive was the “station” cat, a beast of wonderful ginger and marmalade colours and an athletic creature too that jumped onto the tracks from platform one, and made its way with a tremendous leap onto platform 2 and having a good prowl around. I’m not a cat fan but the cat was friendly enough for a stroke and to have a couple of photos taken. The train was a couple of minutes late and the cat disappeared through the fence. So then back down the lane to Brighouse and then to Mirfield which gave me two more curves covered.
Mirfield has a strange layout for a station but I didn’t have too long to spend looking around as 3 minutes later my train to Wakefield Kirkgate arrived. Outside of Kirkgate we have a wait for signals before we can enter the station. I thought Kirkgate was certainly a strange station building and layout-wise especially the island platforms. The service to Knottingly turns up on time and off we go. I don’t recall too much about the journey as a very chatty 80 year old converses with me and to be honest I didn’t really mind.
At Knottingly there is not a lot to do. There is a pub up the road from the station but it’s empty and looks quite uninviting, so I walked back down to the station and sit in the waiting room and write up some notes on my phone and check my timetable for the rest of the day. I was wondering why I had the 15:26 Sheffield – Leeds from Kirkgate on my list. Of course it was because it does the Normanton and Woodlesford route which I haven’t covered. Journey back to Kirkgate uneventful but I did notice a cemetery with an amazing number of lowers all over nearly every grave. Perhaps someone can explain that?
Very windy and cold back at Wakefield Kirkgate and the 15:28 being heated was a bonus.
A walk around Leeds city centre and I catch the all-important second must do line of the day. Leeds Goole. The Goole train is full and a few in my carriage are standing. Most people de-trained at Pontefract and Knottingly. 4 people actually boarded at Snaith. Arrival at Goole delayed due to a hold up at Potters Grange Junction but only by 4 minutes by my watch. 6 of us got off the train at Goole. The train did it’s switch over the tracks just north of the station and we returned to Leeds with just 4 of us travelling in the front coach only. The other two locked off.
My final train of the day is the 20:09 TPE to Liverpool and I will get off at Piccadilly. I had a really good chat with a very charming lady in first class, and our vigilant conductor shifted out an old man who had already had his ticket inspected and moved into first. I was pleased as he seems to be eavesdropping on my conversation. Honestly some people!
Manchester suburbs tomorrow for my last day in the City. Cheers my friends!
Well looking at replies to my posts and that of one arse in particular, it is highly noticeable that there has been no apology from said arse. One very kind correspondent sent me a private message telling me that I should have reported the message and had it deleted. Well my view is that by showing the message to everyone who reads my posts and my replies will see just what an arse the person actually is, as some of you have actually said in your very kind replies. My thanks to you all who took the trouble to publish your supportive posts.
About Blaenau Ffestiniog, it’s a great shame. I had wanted to wipe Wales off my map. I have looked at services for next week with the absolutely crazy idea of a run up from London, when I’m down there towards the end of next week, to Llandudno Junction on VT and cover the line, and dive back down there again. Ah well. God loved me in Scotland but maybe not for the Conwy Valley.
It has been a very successful day. Everything went very well. I had a number of services to choose to get to Stockport on time. for the only service each week from Stockport to Stalybridge. I chose the 0835 VTWC to ensure I had enough time for the connection. On platform 3 everyone was eyeing each other with that unasked question “are you also doing the line?” The train arrived and quite a number got on the service. In terms of popularity I’d say low plus to medium for the three car train. One person got on at Denton and then a long wait at Guide Bridge Station Junction with a nice bit of wheel screaming both before and after the station. Ok nice if you are a masochist. I noticed one person taking many photo’s on route, but my thoughts is that it is not the most picturesque route in the nation. Of course I did get a thrill at successfully covering the line. There were times I was thinking that the train may be cancelled.
Then a run to Huddersfield. It was good to see the line in daylight. There was some really good landscapes between Stalybridge and Standedge Tunnel. SHEEP ALERT! There will a few sheep on the Lancashire side of the tunnel but huddled together. Not like southern sheep, all independently minded and ……….
At Huddersfield a chance to look around the station and watch the services pass through, and then my train slowly makes its way slowly into Platform 6 from Selby. RTT says this service is to Leeds but the station announcer announces to Bradford Interchange. I covered the line from Huddersfield to Halifax via Brighouse the other day but that was an added extra. I’d be covering the line from Sowerby Bridge to Mirfield in the opposite direction very shortly. When we get to Brighouse we are announced to Leeds, and so onwards to Halifax but we are delayed 4 minutes due to a faulty door.
Just before Brighouse a very observant shouts about sheep in a field by shouting out “baaa”and sure enough there are two sheep. This intelligent child will certainly have a good future. At Halifax I cross the island platform to wait for the 11:26 to Manchester Victoria which will take me down to Sowerby Bridge, and sure enough on time it leaves the tunnel, and rounds the curve into the station. At Sowerby Bridge I make use of my time by parting with some cash for a bacon sandwich washed down with a hot chocolate in the Jubilee Refreshment Room. Indeed the whole place is an excellent hostelry with lots of railway memorabilia and local information. Back on the platform waiting for the 12:18 to Mirfield, I was impressed by the tidiness of thr station and again the local inforfmantion. There is a good community spirit there in Sowerby Bridge. Equally Impressive was the “station” cat, a beast of wonderful ginger and marmalade colours and an athletic creature too that jumped onto the tracks from platform one, and made its way with a tremendous leap onto platform 2 and having a good prowl around. I’m not a cat fan but the cat was friendly enough for a stroke and to have a couple of photos taken. The train was a couple of minutes late and the cat disappeared through the fence. So then back down the lane to Brighouse and then to Mirfield which gave me two more curves covered.
Mirfield has a strange layout for a station but I didn’t have too long to spend looking around as 3 minutes later my train to Wakefield Kirkgate arrived. Outside of Kirkgate we have a wait for signals before we can enter the station. I thought Kirkgate was certainly a strange station building and layout-wise especially the island platforms. The service to Knottingly turns up on time and off we go. I don’t recall too much about the journey as a very chatty 80 year old converses with me and to be honest I didn’t really mind.
At Knottingly there is not a lot to do. There is a pub up the road from the station but it’s empty and looks quite uninviting, so I walked back down to the station and sit in the waiting room and write up some notes on my phone and check my timetable for the rest of the day. I was wondering why I had the 15:26 Sheffield – Leeds from Kirkgate on my list. Of course it was because it does the Normanton and Woodlesford route which I haven’t covered. Journey back to Kirkgate uneventful but I did notice a cemetery with an amazing number of lowers all over nearly every grave. Perhaps someone can explain that?
Very windy and cold back at Wakefield Kirkgate and the 15:28 being heated was a bonus.
A walk around Leeds city centre and I catch the all-important second must do line of the day. Leeds Goole. The Goole train is full and a few in my carriage are standing. Most people de-trained at Pontefract and Knottingly. 4 people actually boarded at Snaith. Arrival at Goole delayed due to a hold up at Potters Grange Junction but only by 4 minutes by my watch. 6 of us got off the train at Goole. The train did it’s switch over the tracks just north of the station and we returned to Leeds with just 4 of us travelling in the front coach only. The other two locked off.
My final train of the day is the 20:09 TPE to Liverpool and I will get off at Piccadilly. I had a really good chat with a very charming lady in first class, and our vigilant conductor shifted out an old man who had already had his ticket inspected and moved into first. I was pleased as he seems to be eavesdropping on my conversation. Honestly some people!
Manchester suburbs tomorrow for my last day in the City. Cheers my friends!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Quite a varied day for you there, that's for sure!
Requeststop
Member
Day 13 Manchester suburbs
Id covered a lot of the Manchester lines passing in and out of Piccadilly and Victoria but there were still a few red gaps in my map. Noticeably south and east of the city. So the night before, I planned a set of rides that would cover the gaps. Actually it turned out a lot easier than I thought. I allowed myself a decent lie in, and after a decent and for once it seemed a leisurely breakfast I climbed the incline into Piccadilly Station to catch the 10:49 Northern service from Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield as far as Chinley, departure from Platform 3 is delayed a couple of minutes, as it seems that the incoming train is packed more than a refugee boat with what seems like hundreds of passengers from the two car Northern train. It was very rainy, in fact the rainiest day of my whole trip. We are on time at Chinley which doesn’t seem to have much to offer the casual visitor on a cold and rainy Saturday morning, so I sit alone in the cold watching the departure boards scroll along to themselves and read them out pretending to be a station announcer. I think I’d do a better job than the guy at Leeds last night who was nearly unintelligible and was speaking way too fast. I’d have needed subtitles for him as I do on the rare times I get to watch Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
A TPE races through the station which surprises me, but now the rain is so heavy that I refuse to stand outside to take photos even with my umbrella. A check of RRT tells me that my train is ex Sheffield and is 5L at Grindleford. The screen says only 2L. Let’s see who is correct. Another TPE thunders through the station in the opposite station and eventually I am joined by 5 others who are taking the service towards Manchester. The Train is indeed 4L and moderately full with 10 or so loud guys preferring to stand and drink lager. Able to find a seat for the run to Romiley, I watched the looks of the other passengers as they surveyed the increasingly loud drinkers. The train suddenly becomes much quieter as the drinkers leave the train at New Mills Central, but not taking their empties with them and leaving them on the floor, along with all the other empty coffee and tea containers left scattered around the train by others too lazy to place their rubbish in the litter containers.
Arrived in Romiley to find the rain had eased somewhat and had a little time for a wander. The station is an interesting one with the ticket office at a mid-level between the road and the platforms. Romiley also seems to be a fairly decent town too. There was a pub right opposite the station and another 50 metres or so down the road on the same side as the exit. From Romiley I cleared the Rose Hill branch on the 12:35 and returned on the 12:53 via Hyde North. Not too much to report about that journey as it was nearly all housing and industrial landscape all the way. So then to Platform 9 to finish the last of my Manchester suburb runs. For the 14:36 NR service to Crewe via Manchester Airport, Heald Green and Styal as far as Wilmslow. Then a wait across the platform and a fast run on a VT service back to Piccadilly. All suburban lines in Manchester now covered. I went back to my hotel, relaxed for 15 minutes or so, when into the shopping centre and bought myself a new pair of Gore-Tex boots, (impossible in Thailand – never seen them) and went to have a decent meal and a bottle of plonk before spending the rest of the evening re-packing my suitcases ready for departure to Notting ham in the morning. On line a check of RTT to see that my journey would be bus free and to check if a run to Skegness and back would be possible. Read on for the next days’s travels.
Id covered a lot of the Manchester lines passing in and out of Piccadilly and Victoria but there were still a few red gaps in my map. Noticeably south and east of the city. So the night before, I planned a set of rides that would cover the gaps. Actually it turned out a lot easier than I thought. I allowed myself a decent lie in, and after a decent and for once it seemed a leisurely breakfast I climbed the incline into Piccadilly Station to catch the 10:49 Northern service from Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield as far as Chinley, departure from Platform 3 is delayed a couple of minutes, as it seems that the incoming train is packed more than a refugee boat with what seems like hundreds of passengers from the two car Northern train. It was very rainy, in fact the rainiest day of my whole trip. We are on time at Chinley which doesn’t seem to have much to offer the casual visitor on a cold and rainy Saturday morning, so I sit alone in the cold watching the departure boards scroll along to themselves and read them out pretending to be a station announcer. I think I’d do a better job than the guy at Leeds last night who was nearly unintelligible and was speaking way too fast. I’d have needed subtitles for him as I do on the rare times I get to watch Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
A TPE races through the station which surprises me, but now the rain is so heavy that I refuse to stand outside to take photos even with my umbrella. A check of RRT tells me that my train is ex Sheffield and is 5L at Grindleford. The screen says only 2L. Let’s see who is correct. Another TPE thunders through the station in the opposite station and eventually I am joined by 5 others who are taking the service towards Manchester. The Train is indeed 4L and moderately full with 10 or so loud guys preferring to stand and drink lager. Able to find a seat for the run to Romiley, I watched the looks of the other passengers as they surveyed the increasingly loud drinkers. The train suddenly becomes much quieter as the drinkers leave the train at New Mills Central, but not taking their empties with them and leaving them on the floor, along with all the other empty coffee and tea containers left scattered around the train by others too lazy to place their rubbish in the litter containers.
Arrived in Romiley to find the rain had eased somewhat and had a little time for a wander. The station is an interesting one with the ticket office at a mid-level between the road and the platforms. Romiley also seems to be a fairly decent town too. There was a pub right opposite the station and another 50 metres or so down the road on the same side as the exit. From Romiley I cleared the Rose Hill branch on the 12:35 and returned on the 12:53 via Hyde North. Not too much to report about that journey as it was nearly all housing and industrial landscape all the way. So then to Platform 9 to finish the last of my Manchester suburb runs. For the 14:36 NR service to Crewe via Manchester Airport, Heald Green and Styal as far as Wilmslow. Then a wait across the platform and a fast run on a VT service back to Piccadilly. All suburban lines in Manchester now covered. I went back to my hotel, relaxed for 15 minutes or so, when into the shopping centre and bought myself a new pair of Gore-Tex boots, (impossible in Thailand – never seen them) and went to have a decent meal and a bottle of plonk before spending the rest of the evening re-packing my suitcases ready for departure to Notting ham in the morning. On line a check of RTT to see that my journey would be bus free and to check if a run to Skegness and back would be possible. Read on for the next days’s travels.
Last edited:
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I can only imagine how boring the wait at Chinley must have been!
Corrie and Emmerdale I can understand just fine, although I prefer not to watch either and usually when I'm at home, I'm on the forum if it's not tea time when those are on.
It'll be interesting to see how you get on for the final days, certainly still enjoying the read!
Corrie and Emmerdale I can understand just fine, although I prefer not to watch either and usually when I'm at home, I'm on the forum if it's not tea time when those are on.
It'll be interesting to see how you get on for the final days, certainly still enjoying the read!
Thank you for a very interesting read.
Trains from Huddersfield via Halifax in the Leeds direction are not announced as through to Leeds, as it's quicker to get the direct service via Dewsbury rather than go the long way round. However, the situation then changes at Brighouse, so they then admit they are going through to Leeds. These trains used to be announced on the pis at Huddersfield as going to Bramley, which, to those not in the know, seemed at strange place to terminate a train. Perhaps that's why they now announce it to Bradford instead!
Mirfield is left with an odd layout now. It used to be 4 tracks through the area with an island platform serving the slow lines and the fast running past with no platforms. Rationalisation of the track in that area has resulted in the present situation. If I remember correctly, the Huddersfield-bound platform on what was the fast line was added later, giving a chance for Wakefield/Leeds-Huddersfield stopping services to be overtaken by faster TPE services from Leeds to Huddersfield.
I'm afraid it doesn't seem like you're going to get the Conwy Valley branch, as it is now being advertised as closed to the end of the month. I know its not the same as riding the train, but the A470 road used by the rr.bus follows the line of the track, and it can be seen from the road in several places. Perhaps that's the best you are going to get this time!
Best of luck with the rest of the trip, and I look forward to reading your future reports.
PeterY
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2013
- Messages
- 1,363
You're covering an awful of new track. Are you totalling up the miles? If I were to highlight which lines I'd been on, it wouldn't amount to much, especially up north.
Requeststop
Member
Thanks for the replies guys, as yet I've not totalled up the miles both newly covered or totally covered. That will be a project for me when I return home to Bangkok as well as editing the hundreds of photos. Anyone know of a decent free site I can post the edited pics?
Yes Chinley was a trial and not recommended in winter.
I think on the York - Leeds line via Harrogate they announce the trains to the next to last station on the route too so I understand the reasoning for the announcements at Huddersfield.
Day 14 Nottingham and Skegness
The next few days are going to be based at Nottingham. Its a place I know but Ive only done a couple of lines and many incomplete. So having had a really decent Sunday Breakfast I checked out the hotel and made my way up the incline to the platforms at Piccadilly. There I caught the 11:18 Manchester Piccadilly to Cleethorpes and then an EMT service to Nottingham. The first class was virtually empty so space to work on the way to Sheffield, covering most of the line I covered yesterday. Im in the rear section of the train which splits at Sheffield and we are in Sheffield sooner than I thought and its a quick hop over to Platform 5B for the EMT to Norwich and my journey as far as Nottingham departing on time. Of course on a two carriage train on a Sunday there would be refreshments and plenty of space for the luggage of weekend travellers. Yeah sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Not too long before the first call at Chesterfield but Im sitting on the wrong side of the train to see the twisted spire.
The seat opposite me is reserved and I wait to see if its taken as it faces forward. OK its only for one stop but an older citizen sits in the seat next to it and places his backpack on the reserved seat which is ticketed as a reserved seat from Chesterfield to Norwich. Deep inside Im hoping that the reserver comes along and has an argument with the senior citizen. Sadly Im disappointed. A quick ride to Alfreton where a lot more passengers with baggage board the train with absolutely no room for it. Then a decent swift ride to Nottingham and struggle number two with my luggage as I have to move lots of other people bags to get at my own.
So a quick check in at the hotel and a walk over the road to purchase a tram ticket for the next few days to get me to and fro to the station and back. I ride downhill to the station to catch the 14:56 to Skegness. Now this is one of the lines I have never completed and the ride to Skegness and back will if you forgive the pun, break the back of this route coverage of this area. An EMT 2 coach train with 8 times the luggage space of the earlier train takes us along the line towards Grantham. Soon we reach Netherfield Junction and I start the ride down the new line. I still get a frizzon of excitement when I travel down a new line and today is no different. As we cross a bridge between Netherfield and Radcliffe I notice that the river is very swollen and almost ready to burst its banks over onto the surrounding fields.
Into Grantham and there is a large crowd waiting to travel east. So the chance to use the 6 minute wait to take some photos is not taken. I want to keep my seat. Its a pity as Ive only passed through Grantham at 125 mph. Along the line back towards Nottingham and at Allington East and North Junctions we do a 180 degree turn to head eastwards. Most of the new passengers have connected from Edinburgh where they had been up for the weekend for the Scotland England Rugby game and they are all in good order. It was still light enough to see some interesting sights along the line such as the wonderful windmill at Heckington and a fantastic looking building with a giant swan on top at Boston. Most of the rugby guys get off the train at Boston and the train is much quieter.
Northeastwards to Frimsby which I am very interested to pass over. I notice an interesting signalboxat Sibsey where the line re-doubles after the single line section. At Frimsby the train really slows down for what looks on the map as a hairpin bend than it actually is. As soon as the curve has been cleared the train speeds up again for the run southeasterly to Thorpe Culvert and the run to Skegness. At Wainfleet, something of an ordinary station except for the level crossing, and all bar two rugby fans get off the train. Now the remainder of the run to Skegness as daylight is fading. Have to admit not a bad run by EMT.
Well you cannot help but be impressed by Skegness on a cold , windy and slightly drizzly Sunday evening in early February. Two pubs right outside the station both looking warm and inviting, well any pub would do under the weather conditions. The Lumley and The Red Lion for those who like that sort of information. A Tesco, Morrisons and Lidl all right outside the station and right across the road is a KFC, full of local teenagers missing out on divine worship at the local church in favour of a bucketful of chicken and sharing the space with what looked like a handful of immigrants. Ill leave it as just a looked like. Heaven help me, I was accused of being a racist expat, and Im not looking to be called a misogynist and queer hater too. So I called into a local convenience store and had a chat with the owner before she closed up for the weekend. And made my way back to the station for some shelter where I noticed that the only staff member to hand looked like a Scandinavian God! That should save me from the feminists and the LGBT brigades.
Back to the trains.At 1740 the train fired up its engines again and I walked to board the train on Platform 3 for the 18:07 back in the dark to Nottingham satisfied that I had covered a big red scar on my route map. Skegness Station is not what it once was and I noticed signs listing 7 platforms. A decent looking signalbox too at the end of the platform but when I walked down for a look all the lights were off.
On the journey back, a couple with a very fractious child sat in the seats opposite me across the aisle, and allowed it to stand on seats, stand on the table and run up and down the aisle shouting and screaming all the time, taking absolutely no notice and shouting with each other to make themselves heard over the noisy child. I had my Walkman on at full volume and could still hear the child so after 20 minutes I took shelter in the forward coach. Call me a child hater if you wish. We did the turn around in Grantham and didnt have anything near the invasion of passengers as we had on the journey to Skegness, and so back to Nottingham at a reported 4L. A good days travel.
Tomorrow Worksop, Lincoln, Barnetby (again) Selby, and back to Leeds.
Reprts then. Cheers.
Yes Chinley was a trial and not recommended in winter.
I think on the York - Leeds line via Harrogate they announce the trains to the next to last station on the route too so I understand the reasoning for the announcements at Huddersfield.
Day 14 Nottingham and Skegness
The next few days are going to be based at Nottingham. Its a place I know but Ive only done a couple of lines and many incomplete. So having had a really decent Sunday Breakfast I checked out the hotel and made my way up the incline to the platforms at Piccadilly. There I caught the 11:18 Manchester Piccadilly to Cleethorpes and then an EMT service to Nottingham. The first class was virtually empty so space to work on the way to Sheffield, covering most of the line I covered yesterday. Im in the rear section of the train which splits at Sheffield and we are in Sheffield sooner than I thought and its a quick hop over to Platform 5B for the EMT to Norwich and my journey as far as Nottingham departing on time. Of course on a two carriage train on a Sunday there would be refreshments and plenty of space for the luggage of weekend travellers. Yeah sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Not too long before the first call at Chesterfield but Im sitting on the wrong side of the train to see the twisted spire.
The seat opposite me is reserved and I wait to see if its taken as it faces forward. OK its only for one stop but an older citizen sits in the seat next to it and places his backpack on the reserved seat which is ticketed as a reserved seat from Chesterfield to Norwich. Deep inside Im hoping that the reserver comes along and has an argument with the senior citizen. Sadly Im disappointed. A quick ride to Alfreton where a lot more passengers with baggage board the train with absolutely no room for it. Then a decent swift ride to Nottingham and struggle number two with my luggage as I have to move lots of other people bags to get at my own.
So a quick check in at the hotel and a walk over the road to purchase a tram ticket for the next few days to get me to and fro to the station and back. I ride downhill to the station to catch the 14:56 to Skegness. Now this is one of the lines I have never completed and the ride to Skegness and back will if you forgive the pun, break the back of this route coverage of this area. An EMT 2 coach train with 8 times the luggage space of the earlier train takes us along the line towards Grantham. Soon we reach Netherfield Junction and I start the ride down the new line. I still get a frizzon of excitement when I travel down a new line and today is no different. As we cross a bridge between Netherfield and Radcliffe I notice that the river is very swollen and almost ready to burst its banks over onto the surrounding fields.
Into Grantham and there is a large crowd waiting to travel east. So the chance to use the 6 minute wait to take some photos is not taken. I want to keep my seat. Its a pity as Ive only passed through Grantham at 125 mph. Along the line back towards Nottingham and at Allington East and North Junctions we do a 180 degree turn to head eastwards. Most of the new passengers have connected from Edinburgh where they had been up for the weekend for the Scotland England Rugby game and they are all in good order. It was still light enough to see some interesting sights along the line such as the wonderful windmill at Heckington and a fantastic looking building with a giant swan on top at Boston. Most of the rugby guys get off the train at Boston and the train is much quieter.
Northeastwards to Frimsby which I am very interested to pass over. I notice an interesting signalboxat Sibsey where the line re-doubles after the single line section. At Frimsby the train really slows down for what looks on the map as a hairpin bend than it actually is. As soon as the curve has been cleared the train speeds up again for the run southeasterly to Thorpe Culvert and the run to Skegness. At Wainfleet, something of an ordinary station except for the level crossing, and all bar two rugby fans get off the train. Now the remainder of the run to Skegness as daylight is fading. Have to admit not a bad run by EMT.
Well you cannot help but be impressed by Skegness on a cold , windy and slightly drizzly Sunday evening in early February. Two pubs right outside the station both looking warm and inviting, well any pub would do under the weather conditions. The Lumley and The Red Lion for those who like that sort of information. A Tesco, Morrisons and Lidl all right outside the station and right across the road is a KFC, full of local teenagers missing out on divine worship at the local church in favour of a bucketful of chicken and sharing the space with what looked like a handful of immigrants. Ill leave it as just a looked like. Heaven help me, I was accused of being a racist expat, and Im not looking to be called a misogynist and queer hater too. So I called into a local convenience store and had a chat with the owner before she closed up for the weekend. And made my way back to the station for some shelter where I noticed that the only staff member to hand looked like a Scandinavian God! That should save me from the feminists and the LGBT brigades.
Back to the trains.At 1740 the train fired up its engines again and I walked to board the train on Platform 3 for the 18:07 back in the dark to Nottingham satisfied that I had covered a big red scar on my route map. Skegness Station is not what it once was and I noticed signs listing 7 platforms. A decent looking signalbox too at the end of the platform but when I walked down for a look all the lights were off.
On the journey back, a couple with a very fractious child sat in the seats opposite me across the aisle, and allowed it to stand on seats, stand on the table and run up and down the aisle shouting and screaming all the time, taking absolutely no notice and shouting with each other to make themselves heard over the noisy child. I had my Walkman on at full volume and could still hear the child so after 20 minutes I took shelter in the forward coach. Call me a child hater if you wish. We did the turn around in Grantham and didnt have anything near the invasion of passengers as we had on the journey to Skegness, and so back to Nottingham at a reported 4L. A good days travel.
Tomorrow Worksop, Lincoln, Barnetby (again) Selby, and back to Leeds.
Reprts then. Cheers.
sprinterguy
Veteran Member
I'm continuing to enjoy reading these reports.
I'm intrigued by this fascination with sheep on day 11 (Apologies if I've missed a previous reference, I see that they've featured elsewhere): The North East of England isn't especially noted for sheep farming as far as I am aware, outside of the Pennine dales in the west of the region. Certainly the area surrounding the racing stretch of the ECML between York and Northallerton is primarily arable crop-growing land.
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
I'd have done the same with regards to moving to a different coach to escape the noisy brat!
A good day had there, although it has to be said an HST to Skegness is far better than an EMT DMU!
A good day had there, although it has to be said an HST to Skegness is far better than an EMT DMU!
Kite159
Veteran Member
Good couple days to grab coverage
I use flickr to upload my pictures
I use flickr to upload my pictures
Requeststop
Member
Day 15.
Well the day got off to a fortunate start. I woke up wondering what the time was as my Alarm didn’t go off and as I’d disabled the hotel alarm to use the power socket for my laptop and use the other socket to re-charge my phone which I use for my alarm, I was unaware that the phone hadn’t re-charged and so that was why the alarm didn’t go off and this was something I didn’t deduce until a little later on. I checked my computer and it told me it was about 7:45 or so which was fortunate as my first train was at 08:26, so enough time for a quick shower and pack the bag for the needs of the day (the essentials and back to the tram stop to get down to the station and I got to platform 3 for the 08:26 to Worksop. A new line. The weather is fine in spite of the forecast and the train arrives from Leicester and empties. The train is not re-filled at Nottingham as it’s fairly empty. The conductor comes along and for once (hooray) my ticket is given the once over rather than the glance. “Where is the authorisation stamp?” she asks. So I point to the big 2 inch by inch and ¾ stamp that says “West Coast Train Limited, 24 JAN 2016 TRAVEL OFFICE EUSTON W NO 18” and the dates of validity filled in by yours truly. “Oh”, she says coyly, “we don’t get to see many of these”. Actually later before Worksop she sits down and has a chat with me about the ticket and where I have been, and I congratulate her on being the first to really look at the ticket. Apparently I understand from other inspectors that there is a fair amount of fraud committed using these tickets. I was so taken by the youngish lady and her conversation that I thought that given another time and place we could become good friends. There is a bonus for EMT.
So back to the journey, it is when I try to log onto RTT to check connections that I see the phone has 1% battery. What a bummer. Nottingham station by the way not very busy for rush hour. Is that because of the tram service? It was also a 2 car train by EMT. It was interesting to pass the train/tram interchange at Hucknell, but sad to see the lonely and boarded up Station Hotel at Newstead. By Kirkby in Ashfield it was raining and at Sutton Parkway the parking area was almost 2100% full. Mansfield turned out to be a far larger town than I had imagined and the station had been modernised but still some of the old building but it seemed to be out of use. At Langwith-Whaley Thorns, the train enters the station through a cutting and leaves through woods so it was difficult to see what is in the area of the station. There was not persistant rain by Worksop but you can get right off the train and enter the Railway Café. In a word, excellent. I had a Bacon and Sausage Bap and a large coffee, cheap and plentiful. It has a large menu, 16 seats inside and an equal number outside, clean toilets inside. The staff were friendly and efficient.
It was good to see the station platforms gritted in case of ice. The NR service to Lincoln is a 2 coach economy (normal and not premium or minus) and it leaves at 10:14, 1L and not 4L as it says on the information board. Gainsborough Lea Road is a very open station, and I’m trying to recall the state of Central when I passed through last Saturday of the Brigg run. Arrival in Lincoln in a cold wind with showers, and time ofr a stroll around the city centre if not to the cathedral.
Popped into Waterstones; no no no Not Weatherspoon’s (some of you have one track minds) and had a delicious find. Moleskein reporters notebooks with squared lines. Excellent for note taking and drawing (things like rail junction layouts). Been looking all over SE Asia and the UL for them for about a year and they have 3 of them in Lincoln. A walk through the market and very tempted by the hand raised pork pies and a few other local delicacies of the human kind. So, back to the station for a warming coffee and a chance to re-charge my phone a bit.
I had already covered Worksop to Lincoln on a BR Special from Bristol TM to Lincoln on a £5 special in the early 70’s when I was a student in Bristol. But I’d still to cover the line from Lincoln to Barnetby so this was my chance to clear another line of Red on my map. Platform 3A was called for the service to Grimsby on the 12:37 via Market Rasen. It was a single coach train and I waited to almost the last moment to board the train to charge my battery in the café as much as I can. Checking the phone I’ve managed to get to 75% so room for some photos and videos.
As we travel along the line I notice the transmitter at Belmont. Deeply unimpressed. I only know Market Rasen from the racing results from way back. At the station I notice the private house (Please do not disturb) and the silhouettes and local murals which make the station a little more interesting. There was a shelter/waiting room on Platform 2 otherwise nothing interesting about the station but………… better than nothing say I. Then onto Barnetby again. I have 44 minutes to wait in cold rainy windy Barnetby to connect to Selby to cover the Selby Doncaster line.. In the shelter are a couple of crashing rail bores who inform me instantly that an empty coal train is due soon and to tell me of all the various diversions that recently happened and are planned. Now my local line at home is the St. Ives Branch, and the nearest diversion is Exeter, nearly 100 miles away, and freight doesn’t exist, and I just cannot get excited on looking out for a regular freight, and then one of them (Dave if I remember correctly though I don’t really care) decides to light up a cigarette right up there in the shelter underneath a sign informing him and others that smoking is not allowed within the station area and there is a fine to be paid. So I go off the Lamb and Flag for a half of cider and its relative warmth.
The TPE ex Cleethorpes to Manchester Airport is on time at 13:52, six of us board leaving the rail bores behind at the freezing station. Highly noticeable along the line as we travel westwards is that there is a very large/canal rail side that is very full and close to flooding the nearby fields and properties and in some places it’s inches away from breaking the banks. This was very noticeable at Crowle. At Doncaster, a return Northwards to Selby to cover that red line via the Hull Trains service calling at Selby. My first time on HT. It’s delayed by 26 minutes. This is by far the longest delay of my whole trip. The delay is announced on station as faulty wiring, but on the train it’s blamed on windy conditions in the south.
During the trip to Selby I am furiously checking RTT for my connections and if I’m lucky I’ll get the service to Leeds just in time. In fact HT make up a couple of minutes and I was able easily to catch the TPE to Leeds. Chatted to a very nice couple in their 70’s from Selby on their way to Manchester airport for a holiday in Benidorm. Time in Leeds for a coffee just outside the station and back again for the 17:05 NR service direct to Nottingham which is totally packed full of passengers and which empties at Wakefield and Pontefract, and then is virtually empty the rest of the journey. Arrival in Nottingham is prompt and I make my way back to the hotel by the tram for a good beef and cabbage stew, a couple of glasses of white wine and an evening watching the TV. Filled out my map and started to write this report before tiredness overcame me, remembering to ensure that my phone was actually charging! Cheers all.
Well the day got off to a fortunate start. I woke up wondering what the time was as my Alarm didn’t go off and as I’d disabled the hotel alarm to use the power socket for my laptop and use the other socket to re-charge my phone which I use for my alarm, I was unaware that the phone hadn’t re-charged and so that was why the alarm didn’t go off and this was something I didn’t deduce until a little later on. I checked my computer and it told me it was about 7:45 or so which was fortunate as my first train was at 08:26, so enough time for a quick shower and pack the bag for the needs of the day (the essentials and back to the tram stop to get down to the station and I got to platform 3 for the 08:26 to Worksop. A new line. The weather is fine in spite of the forecast and the train arrives from Leicester and empties. The train is not re-filled at Nottingham as it’s fairly empty. The conductor comes along and for once (hooray) my ticket is given the once over rather than the glance. “Where is the authorisation stamp?” she asks. So I point to the big 2 inch by inch and ¾ stamp that says “West Coast Train Limited, 24 JAN 2016 TRAVEL OFFICE EUSTON W NO 18” and the dates of validity filled in by yours truly. “Oh”, she says coyly, “we don’t get to see many of these”. Actually later before Worksop she sits down and has a chat with me about the ticket and where I have been, and I congratulate her on being the first to really look at the ticket. Apparently I understand from other inspectors that there is a fair amount of fraud committed using these tickets. I was so taken by the youngish lady and her conversation that I thought that given another time and place we could become good friends. There is a bonus for EMT.
So back to the journey, it is when I try to log onto RTT to check connections that I see the phone has 1% battery. What a bummer. Nottingham station by the way not very busy for rush hour. Is that because of the tram service? It was also a 2 car train by EMT. It was interesting to pass the train/tram interchange at Hucknell, but sad to see the lonely and boarded up Station Hotel at Newstead. By Kirkby in Ashfield it was raining and at Sutton Parkway the parking area was almost 2100% full. Mansfield turned out to be a far larger town than I had imagined and the station had been modernised but still some of the old building but it seemed to be out of use. At Langwith-Whaley Thorns, the train enters the station through a cutting and leaves through woods so it was difficult to see what is in the area of the station. There was not persistant rain by Worksop but you can get right off the train and enter the Railway Café. In a word, excellent. I had a Bacon and Sausage Bap and a large coffee, cheap and plentiful. It has a large menu, 16 seats inside and an equal number outside, clean toilets inside. The staff were friendly and efficient.
It was good to see the station platforms gritted in case of ice. The NR service to Lincoln is a 2 coach economy (normal and not premium or minus) and it leaves at 10:14, 1L and not 4L as it says on the information board. Gainsborough Lea Road is a very open station, and I’m trying to recall the state of Central when I passed through last Saturday of the Brigg run. Arrival in Lincoln in a cold wind with showers, and time ofr a stroll around the city centre if not to the cathedral.
Popped into Waterstones; no no no Not Weatherspoon’s (some of you have one track minds) and had a delicious find. Moleskein reporters notebooks with squared lines. Excellent for note taking and drawing (things like rail junction layouts). Been looking all over SE Asia and the UL for them for about a year and they have 3 of them in Lincoln. A walk through the market and very tempted by the hand raised pork pies and a few other local delicacies of the human kind. So, back to the station for a warming coffee and a chance to re-charge my phone a bit.
I had already covered Worksop to Lincoln on a BR Special from Bristol TM to Lincoln on a £5 special in the early 70’s when I was a student in Bristol. But I’d still to cover the line from Lincoln to Barnetby so this was my chance to clear another line of Red on my map. Platform 3A was called for the service to Grimsby on the 12:37 via Market Rasen. It was a single coach train and I waited to almost the last moment to board the train to charge my battery in the café as much as I can. Checking the phone I’ve managed to get to 75% so room for some photos and videos.
As we travel along the line I notice the transmitter at Belmont. Deeply unimpressed. I only know Market Rasen from the racing results from way back. At the station I notice the private house (Please do not disturb) and the silhouettes and local murals which make the station a little more interesting. There was a shelter/waiting room on Platform 2 otherwise nothing interesting about the station but………… better than nothing say I. Then onto Barnetby again. I have 44 minutes to wait in cold rainy windy Barnetby to connect to Selby to cover the Selby Doncaster line.. In the shelter are a couple of crashing rail bores who inform me instantly that an empty coal train is due soon and to tell me of all the various diversions that recently happened and are planned. Now my local line at home is the St. Ives Branch, and the nearest diversion is Exeter, nearly 100 miles away, and freight doesn’t exist, and I just cannot get excited on looking out for a regular freight, and then one of them (Dave if I remember correctly though I don’t really care) decides to light up a cigarette right up there in the shelter underneath a sign informing him and others that smoking is not allowed within the station area and there is a fine to be paid. So I go off the Lamb and Flag for a half of cider and its relative warmth.
The TPE ex Cleethorpes to Manchester Airport is on time at 13:52, six of us board leaving the rail bores behind at the freezing station. Highly noticeable along the line as we travel westwards is that there is a very large/canal rail side that is very full and close to flooding the nearby fields and properties and in some places it’s inches away from breaking the banks. This was very noticeable at Crowle. At Doncaster, a return Northwards to Selby to cover that red line via the Hull Trains service calling at Selby. My first time on HT. It’s delayed by 26 minutes. This is by far the longest delay of my whole trip. The delay is announced on station as faulty wiring, but on the train it’s blamed on windy conditions in the south.
During the trip to Selby I am furiously checking RTT for my connections and if I’m lucky I’ll get the service to Leeds just in time. In fact HT make up a couple of minutes and I was able easily to catch the TPE to Leeds. Chatted to a very nice couple in their 70’s from Selby on their way to Manchester airport for a holiday in Benidorm. Time in Leeds for a coffee just outside the station and back again for the 17:05 NR service direct to Nottingham which is totally packed full of passengers and which empties at Wakefield and Pontefract, and then is virtually empty the rest of the journey. Arrival in Nottingham is prompt and I make my way back to the hotel by the tram for a good beef and cabbage stew, a couple of glasses of white wine and an evening watching the TV. Filled out my map and started to write this report before tiredness overcame me, remembering to ensure that my phone was actually charging! Cheers all.
A brilliant read and I like the route you took (although not so much the bit from Worksop to Lincoln). As for me, I really like Barnetby, probably because it is one of the locations that I really like going to to watch trains (I've been there loads of times).
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Another excellent day, despite the alarm issue and phone charge concern.
Out of curiosity, which hotel did you use in Manchester, and is it any good?
Out of curiosity, which hotel did you use in Manchester, and is it any good?
Requeststop
Member
Day 16 Madness!
A much later start to the day for a change. Doncaster Lincoln Peterborough to cover and Kettering to Oakham and as it happens an unexpected little bonus.
So a good breakfast. Of course a late start means a late finish and having an all line rover helps a lot. Today there are lines I have wanted to cover for a long time. It will also mean that Id have completed coverage of Lincolnshire. The day is cold but very sunny. The first task is to get to Grantham, so I have enough time to take some photos that I missed out on my trip to Skegness on Sunday. So the 10:45 EMT to Skegness is my train of choice.
Heading out of Nottingham on the left is what looks like an old station building and is now a converted business premises. I really enjoyed the ride to Grantham and I noticed the sign at Netherfield Junction warning drivers of poor adhesion on the line to Carlton and Newark. We cross a bridge over the Trent and for the second day I notice just how full the rivers are. There is a field partially flooded and very close to a housing estate. I also notice that in fields close by the line there are large patches of undrained water. Lincolnshire is very flat. On arrival into Grantham a VT service to Newark is standing on Platform two with the Battle of Britain leader. Oh how it would have been great to get a photo of that train but unfortunately, the train departs just as we stop. So I have 20 minutes to get the photos I wanted on Sunday and then I catch the 11:40 VT to Leeds and take up the chance for a free cup of coffee. As we travel north it is beginning to get cloudier. Zooming through Newark I spot the Battle of Britain again and soon after we cross over the very full River Trent.
At Retford I notice a service waiting below on Platform 3 which must have been the 11:25 Lincoln to Adwick service. North of Retford my notes tell me No sheep. Back in Doncaster yet again a walk around Frenchgate Mall, past the cholesterol corridor, into the real shopping area, but for me its only window shopping. Back to the station to Platform 5 for the 13:01 EMT single coach to Lincoln: a new line for me. Guess what. Practically every seat has bags placed next to them or the aisle seat taken, so the train looks nearly full but in fact is about 50% full, and its difficult to find a seat without asking someone to move. The overwhelming worst perpetrators of this silent anti-social behaviour are women. I notice that when the train leave Lincoln, there is only one item of luggage in the overhead baggage containers and that was belonging to a man. I put my bad under my legs. At Doncaster it was fun watching the legion of train spotters on Platforms 4-8. One poor womam sitting on a station seat, well wrapped up against the cold and still obviously freezing, hubby eating something from her bag, notepad in hand. She is really trying hard to look fascinated as 66753 trundle through the station and the cameras all turn to follow its journey through the station and as soon as it has passed the platforms, the notebooks and cameras are all put away, and no one takes any notice of what the engine is pulling. Then a VT service heading north in at Platform 2 or so, and the notepads again fly out of various pockets for everyone to check if they have that number, and then a GC passes through the station and Mrs. Boredtrainspotterswife nods her head vigorously to confirm that he already has the number.
In the meantime, we leave and tickets are immediately inspected and when the inspection of my ticket is over and its handed back I say Thank you sir, and I think the sir, surprised him so much that he looked very surprised and took a pace backwards and smiles. I have a lovely snack on board of local Sausage and apple rolls which I had bought in the market area of the mall. We had a delay outside of Beckingham SB for crossing gates, and then onto Trent West and Trent East junctions for the switch over the Brigg line so we can continue south to Lincoln. A slow ride into Lea Road. Again I notice just how many fields are sodden with water close to the lines. After Gainsborough Lea Road, we travelled down to Saxilby. There is a lovely station building which seems to be in private use either as a business or home I couldnt tell. Riding onwards to Lincoln, I remembered that the last time I covered this line we pulled into Lincoln St. Marks (I think, or maybe St Marks was still in existence). 45 minutes in Lincoln, so I went back to the Central Market to buy those hand raised pies I saw yesterday. A quick wander back to get the 14:41train down to Peterborough and again the train looks 80% full or so it seems! AGAIN! Bags on seats and aisle huggers. A dozen or so latecomers to board the train are now having to ask people to move so they get a seat. Again after we leave I check the overheads and there is one item; a gents overcoat. Again the worst offenders? Women.
Metheringham, is a small simple station, which seems to have been constructed of asphalt covered Concrete, with two small shelters, a level crossing and a signal box. The weather is now mostly mixed skies, blue sky and patchy cloud. Its the same single coach train I caught from Doncaster, but its obvious that no one has been on board to clean up the litter left on board. Ruslington is very similar in construction to Metheringham except that it has a car park but no level crossing or signal box. The scenery is flat. Only Electrical pylons are outstanding and breaking up the view. It reminded me slightly of the steppes in Kazakhstan only much greener and a few more trees. Before long we are at the Sleaford by-pass at the North and West Junctions and the large curve to take us into Sleaford Station and connect to the Nottingham Skegness line. Many get off the train here and in fact only six of us remain for the ride down to Peterborough. 4 teenagers are on the station platform thinking its fun to stand on the station seats and point their buttocks at the remaining passengers. We wait for the connecting train from Skegness to turn up as it was running late, and Im wondering as it pulls in if anyone will board the train to Peterborough. As it turns out if there were anyone who wanted to connect, they couldnt as we pull out the station. As we passed the teenagers I gave them the sign of the twin fingers as they pointed the bums at us yet again, and we left then to show their stupidity to the people going onto Grantham and Nottingham. We re-joined the by-pass line and back to the Lincolnshire Steppes. I notice that south of Sleaford the fields seem to be drier than those further north, possibly because of more drains and ditches and (dykes?).
At Spalding on the approach to the station I notice a huge cube of a building with aerials on top. Spalding seems to be a decent sized station but many of the buildings seem to be boarded up or shuttered. Quite a few passengers board there. We head off to Peterborough on time and pass a very large number of what seems like very recently built housing estates on both sides of the track. Now we are heading into Cambridgeshire and I can now claim all of Lincolnshire lines cleared of red! Or can I?
Arrival on Platform 1A at Peterborough is delayed by a passing freight that apparently needs to cross in front of us. I counted 52 Containers.
Still enough time for a quick snap and a connection to the 16:08 VT ex Leeds to Kings Cross! Yeah I know it sounds crazy but bear with me. In fact what happened was that the train I had intended to catch to Kings Cross was actually 31L at Stoke Junction according to RTT and we were advised to cross over to Platform 2 to connect with the 16:08 VT ex Leeds. On the train 2 trolley dollies of the female variety gave me a welcoming coffee and forced 4 Vanilla and Walnut Shortbread on me. We were 5E at Kings Cross and this gave me enough time for a wander around Kings Cross and to Cross the road for a wander at St Pancras too.
I was allowed onto Platform 3 at St Pancras to witness the coupling of the train to the 18:00 EMT to Melton Mobray! Being early I got myself a decent seat in First Class or so I thought. The carriage filled up very quickly and 5 minutes before departure we are informed that the carriage I am in is de-classified and that there would be no first service in that carriage. It would be the same in the 5 rear coaches too. Well I wasnt going to move and risk the other carriage being full to and standing until God knows where. Well after Luton there was only two standing in the carriage and at Bedford there was a mass exodus. So I made my way back to a practically empty rear carriage which had 1st service and I was told had been nearly empty all the way to Bedford. The declassification happed every night apparently! So I was offered a glass of wine and something to eat and offered a top up and another and I got chatting to the lovely girl who was in charge of the train! As we left Kettering having been separated from the rear of the train I was offer the remainder of the bottle of wine as it would only go down the sink at Derby! Who am I to refuse! So we arrive at Melton with about 4 passengers getting of the train which was usual I was told and I waved the train away as it made its empty way to Derby!
Then I checked my phone for the connection on RTT and the Stanstead Birmingham New Street (change at Leicester for Nottingham was 31L. I had over an hour to kill. But I noticed that there was a later train the 21:05 EMT Spalding to Nottingham service non-stop from Melton Mobray to Nottingham via my previously un-covered (Id not realised it was in passenger use) Syston East and Syston North part of the triangle departing at 22:12 arriving Nottingham 22:54. Bonus Bonus. So I found myself in the Anne of Cleves drinking wine with a helping of local sausage and mash with an onion and red wine sauce with a follow up of a large cognac by a warm roaring fire, secretly praying that the train would not be cancelled or majorly delayed. As it turned out it was on time and practically empty. Arrival on time in Nottingham back to my hotel and divine sleep and departure from Nottingham the next morning to London for the last of my 22 days!
A much later start to the day for a change. Doncaster Lincoln Peterborough to cover and Kettering to Oakham and as it happens an unexpected little bonus.
So a good breakfast. Of course a late start means a late finish and having an all line rover helps a lot. Today there are lines I have wanted to cover for a long time. It will also mean that Id have completed coverage of Lincolnshire. The day is cold but very sunny. The first task is to get to Grantham, so I have enough time to take some photos that I missed out on my trip to Skegness on Sunday. So the 10:45 EMT to Skegness is my train of choice.
Heading out of Nottingham on the left is what looks like an old station building and is now a converted business premises. I really enjoyed the ride to Grantham and I noticed the sign at Netherfield Junction warning drivers of poor adhesion on the line to Carlton and Newark. We cross a bridge over the Trent and for the second day I notice just how full the rivers are. There is a field partially flooded and very close to a housing estate. I also notice that in fields close by the line there are large patches of undrained water. Lincolnshire is very flat. On arrival into Grantham a VT service to Newark is standing on Platform two with the Battle of Britain leader. Oh how it would have been great to get a photo of that train but unfortunately, the train departs just as we stop. So I have 20 minutes to get the photos I wanted on Sunday and then I catch the 11:40 VT to Leeds and take up the chance for a free cup of coffee. As we travel north it is beginning to get cloudier. Zooming through Newark I spot the Battle of Britain again and soon after we cross over the very full River Trent.
At Retford I notice a service waiting below on Platform 3 which must have been the 11:25 Lincoln to Adwick service. North of Retford my notes tell me No sheep. Back in Doncaster yet again a walk around Frenchgate Mall, past the cholesterol corridor, into the real shopping area, but for me its only window shopping. Back to the station to Platform 5 for the 13:01 EMT single coach to Lincoln: a new line for me. Guess what. Practically every seat has bags placed next to them or the aisle seat taken, so the train looks nearly full but in fact is about 50% full, and its difficult to find a seat without asking someone to move. The overwhelming worst perpetrators of this silent anti-social behaviour are women. I notice that when the train leave Lincoln, there is only one item of luggage in the overhead baggage containers and that was belonging to a man. I put my bad under my legs. At Doncaster it was fun watching the legion of train spotters on Platforms 4-8. One poor womam sitting on a station seat, well wrapped up against the cold and still obviously freezing, hubby eating something from her bag, notepad in hand. She is really trying hard to look fascinated as 66753 trundle through the station and the cameras all turn to follow its journey through the station and as soon as it has passed the platforms, the notebooks and cameras are all put away, and no one takes any notice of what the engine is pulling. Then a VT service heading north in at Platform 2 or so, and the notepads again fly out of various pockets for everyone to check if they have that number, and then a GC passes through the station and Mrs. Boredtrainspotterswife nods her head vigorously to confirm that he already has the number.
In the meantime, we leave and tickets are immediately inspected and when the inspection of my ticket is over and its handed back I say Thank you sir, and I think the sir, surprised him so much that he looked very surprised and took a pace backwards and smiles. I have a lovely snack on board of local Sausage and apple rolls which I had bought in the market area of the mall. We had a delay outside of Beckingham SB for crossing gates, and then onto Trent West and Trent East junctions for the switch over the Brigg line so we can continue south to Lincoln. A slow ride into Lea Road. Again I notice just how many fields are sodden with water close to the lines. After Gainsborough Lea Road, we travelled down to Saxilby. There is a lovely station building which seems to be in private use either as a business or home I couldnt tell. Riding onwards to Lincoln, I remembered that the last time I covered this line we pulled into Lincoln St. Marks (I think, or maybe St Marks was still in existence). 45 minutes in Lincoln, so I went back to the Central Market to buy those hand raised pies I saw yesterday. A quick wander back to get the 14:41train down to Peterborough and again the train looks 80% full or so it seems! AGAIN! Bags on seats and aisle huggers. A dozen or so latecomers to board the train are now having to ask people to move so they get a seat. Again after we leave I check the overheads and there is one item; a gents overcoat. Again the worst offenders? Women.
Metheringham, is a small simple station, which seems to have been constructed of asphalt covered Concrete, with two small shelters, a level crossing and a signal box. The weather is now mostly mixed skies, blue sky and patchy cloud. Its the same single coach train I caught from Doncaster, but its obvious that no one has been on board to clean up the litter left on board. Ruslington is very similar in construction to Metheringham except that it has a car park but no level crossing or signal box. The scenery is flat. Only Electrical pylons are outstanding and breaking up the view. It reminded me slightly of the steppes in Kazakhstan only much greener and a few more trees. Before long we are at the Sleaford by-pass at the North and West Junctions and the large curve to take us into Sleaford Station and connect to the Nottingham Skegness line. Many get off the train here and in fact only six of us remain for the ride down to Peterborough. 4 teenagers are on the station platform thinking its fun to stand on the station seats and point their buttocks at the remaining passengers. We wait for the connecting train from Skegness to turn up as it was running late, and Im wondering as it pulls in if anyone will board the train to Peterborough. As it turns out if there were anyone who wanted to connect, they couldnt as we pull out the station. As we passed the teenagers I gave them the sign of the twin fingers as they pointed the bums at us yet again, and we left then to show their stupidity to the people going onto Grantham and Nottingham. We re-joined the by-pass line and back to the Lincolnshire Steppes. I notice that south of Sleaford the fields seem to be drier than those further north, possibly because of more drains and ditches and (dykes?).
At Spalding on the approach to the station I notice a huge cube of a building with aerials on top. Spalding seems to be a decent sized station but many of the buildings seem to be boarded up or shuttered. Quite a few passengers board there. We head off to Peterborough on time and pass a very large number of what seems like very recently built housing estates on both sides of the track. Now we are heading into Cambridgeshire and I can now claim all of Lincolnshire lines cleared of red! Or can I?
Arrival on Platform 1A at Peterborough is delayed by a passing freight that apparently needs to cross in front of us. I counted 52 Containers.
Still enough time for a quick snap and a connection to the 16:08 VT ex Leeds to Kings Cross! Yeah I know it sounds crazy but bear with me. In fact what happened was that the train I had intended to catch to Kings Cross was actually 31L at Stoke Junction according to RTT and we were advised to cross over to Platform 2 to connect with the 16:08 VT ex Leeds. On the train 2 trolley dollies of the female variety gave me a welcoming coffee and forced 4 Vanilla and Walnut Shortbread on me. We were 5E at Kings Cross and this gave me enough time for a wander around Kings Cross and to Cross the road for a wander at St Pancras too.
I was allowed onto Platform 3 at St Pancras to witness the coupling of the train to the 18:00 EMT to Melton Mobray! Being early I got myself a decent seat in First Class or so I thought. The carriage filled up very quickly and 5 minutes before departure we are informed that the carriage I am in is de-classified and that there would be no first service in that carriage. It would be the same in the 5 rear coaches too. Well I wasnt going to move and risk the other carriage being full to and standing until God knows where. Well after Luton there was only two standing in the carriage and at Bedford there was a mass exodus. So I made my way back to a practically empty rear carriage which had 1st service and I was told had been nearly empty all the way to Bedford. The declassification happed every night apparently! So I was offered a glass of wine and something to eat and offered a top up and another and I got chatting to the lovely girl who was in charge of the train! As we left Kettering having been separated from the rear of the train I was offer the remainder of the bottle of wine as it would only go down the sink at Derby! Who am I to refuse! So we arrive at Melton with about 4 passengers getting of the train which was usual I was told and I waved the train away as it made its empty way to Derby!
Then I checked my phone for the connection on RTT and the Stanstead Birmingham New Street (change at Leicester for Nottingham was 31L. I had over an hour to kill. But I noticed that there was a later train the 21:05 EMT Spalding to Nottingham service non-stop from Melton Mobray to Nottingham via my previously un-covered (Id not realised it was in passenger use) Syston East and Syston North part of the triangle departing at 22:12 arriving Nottingham 22:54. Bonus Bonus. So I found myself in the Anne of Cleves drinking wine with a helping of local sausage and mash with an onion and red wine sauce with a follow up of a large cognac by a warm roaring fire, secretly praying that the train would not be cancelled or majorly delayed. As it turned out it was on time and practically empty. Arrival on time in Nottingham back to my hotel and divine sleep and departure from Nottingham the next morning to London for the last of my 22 days!
Kite159
Veteran Member
You would imagine during the evening peaks the EMT services would either run fast past Bedford or be pick-up only at Bedford forcing the good people of Luton & Bedford onto the 12-coach Thameslink services rather than the shorter long-distance IC services
Sounds like a good day
Sounds like a good day
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Another excellent day! It's a rather dull journey from Doncaster to Peterborough via Sleaford isn't it!
Requeststop
Member
Yes boring but good to cover!
Day 17
So now down to London for the final part of my tour. The 12:32 EMT to St. Pancras. 45 mins in the first Class lounge with a nice chatty lady whilst we are alone and then joined by half a dozen or so more customers. Not much on offer, but comfortable, reasonable and warm and a decent cup of coffee and again shortbread. On the train comfortable first seats, seven of us in first class coach H and leaving spot on time. A look at the menu and chilli con carne sounds good and a decent Sauvignon Blanc to wash it down. Have to say the order was taken quickly but it took until after Kettering to receive the goods.
We seemed to arrive at East Midland Parkway in no time at all, and got a most impressive view of the cooling towers. At Leicester 7 chatty ladies and their three male friends got on the train and immediately took selfies of themselves with each of the others of them. By Market Harborough they have not stopped chatting since they got on but I have my Walkman on and I’m listening to old Just a Minutes, I’m Sorry I haven’t a Clue and Burkiss Way.
The service down to London is all on time but North of Luton we are passed by a Thameslink to Brighton. South of Luton we pass it again and then we slow down to a crawl and it passes us again. It has beaten us to Radlett and Elstree and Mill Hill and by them I’d lost interest in the race. After all that RTT tells us we are 8L at St Pancras.
So I take a taxi (non Uber) to my Hotel near Paddington and look at a bit of line I have always missed and a new piece of track not yet covered. So I take the 15:52 GWT to Oxford on the Moreton in Marsh service. A bit of a doze on the train helps and in no time I’m in Oxford. Down the way to the bus station for the connecting bus to Oxford Parkway. Bus arrives on time, and whilst waiting to depart I notice the hundreds of bicycles parked outside the station. The bus arrives at Parkway 1L and I rush through the mud into the station and up over the bridge and the train departs as I get to the platform. Now I know about timekeeping and so on, but RTT told me that the train had left 1E, not only that the train had been stationed at the far end of the platform. So even if I had arrived on time on the bus I would not have made it. In fact I believe that Usain Bolt would have missed it. So I went back over to the station and asked for the customer services manager to be told that the ticket inspector was the only on the station. I wasn’t the only person to miss the train, another much fitter male missed the train and the woman with child and pram who used the lifts to get the train wouldn’t have stood a chance. So I filled out the complaint form.
Actually what happened was that I missed the connection at Princes Risborough to Aylesbury so I could connect to Aylesbury and complete the line to the Parkway and back down via Amersham to Marylebone. So all I ended up doing was the new line via Islip and Bicester Village in a foul mood and a rip roaring complaint to Chiltern Trains.
Tomorrow, a treat. I’m going to the Isle of Wight!
Day 17
So now down to London for the final part of my tour. The 12:32 EMT to St. Pancras. 45 mins in the first Class lounge with a nice chatty lady whilst we are alone and then joined by half a dozen or so more customers. Not much on offer, but comfortable, reasonable and warm and a decent cup of coffee and again shortbread. On the train comfortable first seats, seven of us in first class coach H and leaving spot on time. A look at the menu and chilli con carne sounds good and a decent Sauvignon Blanc to wash it down. Have to say the order was taken quickly but it took until after Kettering to receive the goods.
We seemed to arrive at East Midland Parkway in no time at all, and got a most impressive view of the cooling towers. At Leicester 7 chatty ladies and their three male friends got on the train and immediately took selfies of themselves with each of the others of them. By Market Harborough they have not stopped chatting since they got on but I have my Walkman on and I’m listening to old Just a Minutes, I’m Sorry I haven’t a Clue and Burkiss Way.
The service down to London is all on time but North of Luton we are passed by a Thameslink to Brighton. South of Luton we pass it again and then we slow down to a crawl and it passes us again. It has beaten us to Radlett and Elstree and Mill Hill and by them I’d lost interest in the race. After all that RTT tells us we are 8L at St Pancras.
So I take a taxi (non Uber) to my Hotel near Paddington and look at a bit of line I have always missed and a new piece of track not yet covered. So I take the 15:52 GWT to Oxford on the Moreton in Marsh service. A bit of a doze on the train helps and in no time I’m in Oxford. Down the way to the bus station for the connecting bus to Oxford Parkway. Bus arrives on time, and whilst waiting to depart I notice the hundreds of bicycles parked outside the station. The bus arrives at Parkway 1L and I rush through the mud into the station and up over the bridge and the train departs as I get to the platform. Now I know about timekeeping and so on, but RTT told me that the train had left 1E, not only that the train had been stationed at the far end of the platform. So even if I had arrived on time on the bus I would not have made it. In fact I believe that Usain Bolt would have missed it. So I went back over to the station and asked for the customer services manager to be told that the ticket inspector was the only on the station. I wasn’t the only person to miss the train, another much fitter male missed the train and the woman with child and pram who used the lifts to get the train wouldn’t have stood a chance. So I filled out the complaint form.
Actually what happened was that I missed the connection at Princes Risborough to Aylesbury so I could connect to Aylesbury and complete the line to the Parkway and back down via Amersham to Marylebone. So all I ended up doing was the new line via Islip and Bicester Village in a foul mood and a rip roaring complaint to Chiltern Trains.
Tomorrow, a treat. I’m going to the Isle of Wight!
Keith Jarrett
Member
Those red bits of track seem to be disappearing at an alarming rate! Well done on your latest track scores including the Brucie bonus of the Syston curve - all thanks to Cross Country running late and not wishing to take you to Leicester.
A fab read!
A fab read!
Kite159
Veteran Member
That is the problem with the Bus replacement service, is that it can take ages for it to get to Oxford Parkway, especially if there is heavy traffic & it stops/starts at ever bus stop.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I too am not a fan of the silly connections at Oxford Parkway, they're just silly. I was lucky I arrived a couple of minutes early last time, otherwise I'd have probably missed the bus myself, and I walk fairly fast. It's a very poorly organised show, I'm leaving Islip to be scored when the bit to Oxford itself re-opens. Eventually it'll happen, maybe by the 2020s...
Requeststop
Member
A Brucie Bonus Indeed. The connection was almost on time. The Oxford Islip Bicester line I have to clear living so far away. What peed me off was that it was stationed at the far end of the platform well away from the staircase and lifts and it left 1E. No consideration for the customers by Chiltern. I'm hoping my complaint is seen to and I'll be following it up. There must be some disciplinary action to be taken. Chiltern are definitely in my bad books now. Equal to ATW. Todays report on the IoW will be tomorrow as I'm up early in the morning for a long day (many rides) clearing the remains of East Anglia.
Requeststop
Member
Day 18 IoW
Well a start by riding south of the river to Waterloo at rush hour. Not as bad as it seems. Most people wanting to come into London and I amongst a few others wanting to leave. As usual the departure board is very reluctant to give the departure platform. RRT Says one thing but .. well we depart 5L. It was wonderful to see all the trains snaking in and out of Waterloo, and being connected to each of the up and down lines and into the various platforms.
Even in 1st Class South West trains swing about a lot making note taking difficult but the 09:05 to Weymouth storms forward on a bright sunny day but cold enough for it to be fun inside a train to Brockenhurst. We stopped along the way at Clapham Junction, Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton Airport, Southampton Central and Brockenhurst. Ive done this line so many times but for me the new line is one that sticks out like a sore thumb on the South Coast and that is Lymington and the Isle of Wight line. We are 2-3 minutes late in Brockenhurst but the connection is there waiting patiently for us.
As we chug down the line I notice horses and ponies grazing on the heathland just like on Dartmore and the Penwith moors that I am more used to. I swear that I also caught sight of a boar in the woods. It wasnt a horse or deer, its shape was more pig like. Lymington Town station is in a well built up area with a large development alongside one side of the single platform station. It has old BR style signs a small station building. There is a marina a bit further down the line and then you are at Lymington Pier with the ferry waiting. A bit of a kerfuffle about my Britrailpass meant that I paid £10 to cross to the Island. Its a slow journey across the Solent but there are some good views including the Needles in the distance. I crossed the Island by Southern Vectis buses 7 and 2 to Shanklin via Newport. £4.50 one way. Shanklin station was locked and closed. The 13:38 arrived on time for the ride to Ryde Pier on the old London Underground stock.
Along the way:
Lake: Graffiti all over the station
Sandown: A more substantial station with Café/refreshment facilities
Brading: Buildings all closed. Bridge over to the second platform was barriered off and there was an old signal box.
Smallbrook Junction: Closed
Ryde St John Road: A passing point. A substantial station and the lines works.
Ryde Esplanade: Old Southern Style station with a downtrodden garden display
Then to Ryde Pier Head: Again a mess with my ticket. I asked if I bought a ticket from Shanklin to London Waterloo would they honour that ticket as the ferry crossing. Yes I was told, but not my ticket. So £9:45. There was a wait for the ferry to Portsmouth and no passengers are allowed outside on the catarmaran. Docking was a bit late but there was enough time for to catch the 15:11 Southern service to Horsham. The train connected to another service to Horsham to head to Victoria but I wanted to do the line from Horsham to Victoria via Dorking, Epsom, Sutton, Mitcham and Balham into Victoria as this would be a new line for me. So I wandered around the town to see all the offices etc, and took the 17:07 service into London. So 3 new lines covered in one day! And all the south coast from Penzance to Dover is now BLUE!
East Anglia tomorrows report! Cheers all!
Well a start by riding south of the river to Waterloo at rush hour. Not as bad as it seems. Most people wanting to come into London and I amongst a few others wanting to leave. As usual the departure board is very reluctant to give the departure platform. RRT Says one thing but .. well we depart 5L. It was wonderful to see all the trains snaking in and out of Waterloo, and being connected to each of the up and down lines and into the various platforms.
Even in 1st Class South West trains swing about a lot making note taking difficult but the 09:05 to Weymouth storms forward on a bright sunny day but cold enough for it to be fun inside a train to Brockenhurst. We stopped along the way at Clapham Junction, Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton Airport, Southampton Central and Brockenhurst. Ive done this line so many times but for me the new line is one that sticks out like a sore thumb on the South Coast and that is Lymington and the Isle of Wight line. We are 2-3 minutes late in Brockenhurst but the connection is there waiting patiently for us.
As we chug down the line I notice horses and ponies grazing on the heathland just like on Dartmore and the Penwith moors that I am more used to. I swear that I also caught sight of a boar in the woods. It wasnt a horse or deer, its shape was more pig like. Lymington Town station is in a well built up area with a large development alongside one side of the single platform station. It has old BR style signs a small station building. There is a marina a bit further down the line and then you are at Lymington Pier with the ferry waiting. A bit of a kerfuffle about my Britrailpass meant that I paid £10 to cross to the Island. Its a slow journey across the Solent but there are some good views including the Needles in the distance. I crossed the Island by Southern Vectis buses 7 and 2 to Shanklin via Newport. £4.50 one way. Shanklin station was locked and closed. The 13:38 arrived on time for the ride to Ryde Pier on the old London Underground stock.
Along the way:
Lake: Graffiti all over the station
Sandown: A more substantial station with Café/refreshment facilities
Brading: Buildings all closed. Bridge over to the second platform was barriered off and there was an old signal box.
Smallbrook Junction: Closed
Ryde St John Road: A passing point. A substantial station and the lines works.
Ryde Esplanade: Old Southern Style station with a downtrodden garden display
Then to Ryde Pier Head: Again a mess with my ticket. I asked if I bought a ticket from Shanklin to London Waterloo would they honour that ticket as the ferry crossing. Yes I was told, but not my ticket. So £9:45. There was a wait for the ferry to Portsmouth and no passengers are allowed outside on the catarmaran. Docking was a bit late but there was enough time for to catch the 15:11 Southern service to Horsham. The train connected to another service to Horsham to head to Victoria but I wanted to do the line from Horsham to Victoria via Dorking, Epsom, Sutton, Mitcham and Balham into Victoria as this would be a new line for me. So I wandered around the town to see all the offices etc, and took the 17:07 service into London. So 3 new lines covered in one day! And all the south coast from Penzance to Dover is now BLUE!
East Anglia tomorrows report! Cheers all!
The 17:20 weekdays Sprinter to Cardiff Central via the Heart of Wales is reliably Platform 7 at Crewe. It used to be a Dogbox run to Shrewsbury, but they changed it when they started sending it to Cardiff. One friday in High Summer, i'm going to take it all the way to Cardiff as it will still be light as far as Swansea.
I'm short Platform 2 & 8 at Crewe.
PeterY
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2013
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- 1,363
I've just caught up with your travels Requeststop. Another great read. You've got your monies worth out of your ticket.
I've been to the IOW loads of times with my daughter and I still love travelling down to Shanklin on the 38 tube stock. They bounce around all over the place.
I've been to the IOW loads of times with my daughter and I still love travelling down to Shanklin on the 38 tube stock. They bounce around all over the place.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Cheers for the gen, I'll have to use that working when I do some more shack scratching up that way. I need platforms 7, 8 and 10 but I'm not convinced about 2. I might have done it but I'll have to check if it's coloured in in the Quail.
Requeststop: Aside from the ticket faff it sounds like a good day on the Isle of Wight. The graffiti must be fairly recent as it wasn't at Lake when I visited in 2012.
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