Part 1
25 February 2011
05:00
Having an increasing rare day off with coursework, dissertation and exam preparation taking its toll, yesterday was marked as a Pacer Bashing day North East style on the calendar in late January. The plan remained the same since last year: only 142s were allowed and the day would start early to maximise the mileage. So at 5 in the morning, such an ungodly hour for a student, time to get up and ready to leave York at half past. A quick dash up the A19, breaking the speed limit a few times, and accompanied by a flask of tea and Carly SimonsYoure So Vain on 104.7 Minster FM. Quite a nice way to start the day, with the sun rising to the right, sending a lovely orange glow across the North Yorkshire countryside. Arrive into Middlesbrough around 45 minutes before the first train and drive around searching for breakfast. After half an hour I give up, lost in a maze of dead ends, one way streets and pedestrianised areas, with only a McDonalds looking vaguely open. So back to the station I go, parking up right outside the front door. £1.40 for all day parking is not bad, but I wonder how much extra they make seeing as the machine doesnt give change? £1.50 it chings from me.
The first train of the day would be the 06.56 Middlesbrough Carlisle service, which, if you havent heard me talking about it before, is what I believe to be the longest straight run by a Pacer in the country, at 3 hours in duration and covering around about 108 miles and 69 chains. So long that even the staff cant stand it and give up at Newcastle. Ive done this journey twice before, and actually look forward to doing it again, nice change from some of the other recent journeys Ive had on Voyagers and 185s. One ticket window is open, so I proceed to buy an Anytime Return to Carlisle, priced at a moderate £15.90 with railcard discount.
Youre not getting the direct train are you? asks the woman behind the glass.
Aye I am, hopefully I return.
Sorry to tell you, love, that its been cancelled she replies.
Great me thinks. Up at 5 to get in as much mileage as possible and first train of the day is a no go. The 142 for this service normally travels ECS with a 156 (which goes on to work the first Whitby train of the day) from Heaton, but it the 142 failed at Heaton so they sent the 156 by itself. Quick change of plan sees me joining the 06.49 service to Newcastle, which travels via Darlington and Durham, shipping commuters into Toon from far and wide. Success as 142079 rounds the corner and we all pile on board. The train is quite full but we disgorge a lot of passengers at Darlington, then pick up everyone and their mother at Durham and Chester-le-Street. Hats off to the lady conductor who managed to get through and give tickets to those who need it before they reach the dreaded barriers at Central. Two things that struck me about this jaunt was: 1) she didnt have much of a float, being out of pound coins and £5 notes even before Middlesbrough, and 2) those card reader machines really are crap. One person used three different cards, none worked at all.
We trundle into Newcastle, using the High Level Bridge for added variety, arriving at platform 8 to be precise and I check the timetable to see what has happened to the 06.56 off the Boro. As luck would have it, and as I predicted, it was started from Newcastle (so unlucky for those on the Durham Coast), but lucky for me. No platform yet assigned I head off across Neville Street to Greggs The Bakers for a bacon sandwich and cuppa Joe. £1.99 exceedingly good value, and better than any SSP effort anyday. Back through the barrier, happy to report that there were no problems with my small trip outside the station, and a quick check to reveal that the 08.24 to Carlisle was departing from 8 yes you guessed it, 079 again. Off we trot through various villages in the Tyne Valley, over the river and across the moors into deepest darkest Cumbria and arrive at Carlisle just about on time. Quick hop over to see the 87 stabled and a few pictures of passing sheds, and back on the 10.33 to Newcastle. Going good so far. At Newcastle I had planned to jump on the 12.14 to the MetroCentre and back, not much in terms of mileage but every little helps. However 156454 arrives from Morpeth and puts paid to those plans. A 10 minute wait for the 12.24 service, which should be a 142 and Im rewarded with
079 again. A bit of variety wouldnt have gone amiss, but hey ho at least it is something of the Pacer variety. The return working from Gateshead MetroCentre goes through to Morpeth, so that will be as far north as I would get. Back from Morpeth we call at Manors, although no-one cares to get on or off.
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Part 2
At Newcastle I have a 30 minute wait for the 14.54 service to Hexham, normally booked for Pacertastic traction, so it is across the road to Greggs The Bakers again for a £2.99 meal deal. Was served by the same girl from earlier on in the morning, so must have looked like a right asshole going for both breakfast and lunch from the same place. Having consumed this, it is over to platform 8 again for the Hexham stopper. From the footbridge I can see it is a 142, however getting to the platform reveals that 079 is stalking me again. Argh. I am almost tempted to jump onto a 156 god forbid to get away from it but I hold my resolve and climb onboard. The trip to Hexham is all shacks, although having already done Carlisle and back, added nothing new to the trip. You can always tell when youre on the approach to Prudhoe by the lovely smell emanating from the sewage works. Funnily enough, right next door they make Triple Velvet toilet paper. Reminds me of a salmon going back to its place of birth, to breed and eventually die. Anyway, at Hexham the terminating train waits in the Carlisle bound platform to return east. Of course 3 people cross over the footbridge expecting the 15.44 to Nunthorpe to turn up. Thankfully someone pointed out that this was the Nunthorpe train, much to their disbelief. But surely the Newcastle train must leave from the other side? I hear one say, God help them in the real world. Oh wait
Back into Newcastle we bounce, and then onwards along the Durham Coast line. A lot has changed in the few months since I last traversed the line, with the resignalling complete and signal boxes removed in the name of progress. There is work going on at Boldon East Chord, hopefully reopening soon to send freight south this way and not along the ECML. Sunderland station has had its revamp (shame the rest of the city hasnt been touched, stinking hole it is), Ryhope Grange still stands, although Hall Dene box, the next one along the line, has bitten the dust. We crawl into Seaham, its magnificent semaphore on the soundbound platform now replaced with a modern LED type, and the box reduced to controlling two foot crossings in the town. In the future it is expected it will go too. Dawdon box, just around the corner has gone as well, and a similar fate beheld Clarence Road and Stranton in Hartlepool. Even when I was a kid, I can remember there being at least 3 working boxes in Hartlepool, the other being Cemetery Junction. Now all are gone, little more than rubble and memories left. Good to see that the other boxes south of Hartlepool are still intact, and we arrive back into the Boro. I elect to stay on to Nunthorpe, 4 miles and 55 chains away. A 20 minute wait, and back we return to my original starting point. No one joins at Nunthorpe, or at Gypsy Lane, or at Marton, so the conductor cashes up and we both leave at Middlesbrough. Next train is a quick jolly to Darlington on the 18.53 service, and thank God it wasnt 079 again. Into 4a we roll, and a quick dash to get 19.31 to Saltburn as far as Middlesbrough again, with the 142 coming off a Bishop Auckland working. Half an hour wait in the Boro, and I search for something to drink. By this time the last drink I had was around 2pm back in Newcastle, and with better planning I would have left something in the car to grab around about now. Alas, one machine was pretending to have sold everything, displaying Sold Out even though it was clear it was full to the brim, and the other machine decided it didnt like my 2010 50p. Thank you goes to Selecta and their crap vending machines. Thank you to TPE who have Sold Out and allowed them to put their crappy machines at the station. I was tempted to ask for a coffee in the BTP office but no doubt theyd be dealing with cable thieves in this part of the world 24/7, or another drunken idiot who seem to litter Middlesbrough at night.
Next train is the last one to Newcastle via the coast, the 20.30 departure. And the next train is not 079 phew. However it is 484. The observant amongst you will know that BR in their wisdom did not order anywhere near 484 142s, or that any have been renumbered as high as this. Youd be right, as this was 156484. ****e. 100% down the pan for a second time. I could have given this up for another trip to Darlo or Saltburn, but decided to get back to Newcastle for the 22.00 NCL MBR via DHM, the opposite train from what I had started on. The 156 was eerily quiet for a Friday night, and we go over the King Edward Bridge to refresh the route knowledge of our driver. For some reason we are placed into platform 11, with 7 and 5 being free. Thanks to the people in the IECC across the river in Gateshead. 13 minutes to wait and the 22.00 rolls in, and turns out to be quite full to Durham and Darlington. Useful for those going back after a few jars on the Quayside, although wouldnt like to clean the can afterwards. Back into the Boro and a search for somewhere selling a Parmo (if you dont know what it is look it up). Again it is like looking for a needle in a massive, Smoggy infested haystack, so no other option to scoot along the A19 and get something in York.
All in all a good day out, mileage over 400 despite the problem with the first train. Plus not getting 100% 142s gives me an excuse to do it again another time.
25 February 2011
05:00
Having an increasing rare day off with coursework, dissertation and exam preparation taking its toll, yesterday was marked as a Pacer Bashing day North East style on the calendar in late January. The plan remained the same since last year: only 142s were allowed and the day would start early to maximise the mileage. So at 5 in the morning, such an ungodly hour for a student, time to get up and ready to leave York at half past. A quick dash up the A19, breaking the speed limit a few times, and accompanied by a flask of tea and Carly SimonsYoure So Vain on 104.7 Minster FM. Quite a nice way to start the day, with the sun rising to the right, sending a lovely orange glow across the North Yorkshire countryside. Arrive into Middlesbrough around 45 minutes before the first train and drive around searching for breakfast. After half an hour I give up, lost in a maze of dead ends, one way streets and pedestrianised areas, with only a McDonalds looking vaguely open. So back to the station I go, parking up right outside the front door. £1.40 for all day parking is not bad, but I wonder how much extra they make seeing as the machine doesnt give change? £1.50 it chings from me.
The first train of the day would be the 06.56 Middlesbrough Carlisle service, which, if you havent heard me talking about it before, is what I believe to be the longest straight run by a Pacer in the country, at 3 hours in duration and covering around about 108 miles and 69 chains. So long that even the staff cant stand it and give up at Newcastle. Ive done this journey twice before, and actually look forward to doing it again, nice change from some of the other recent journeys Ive had on Voyagers and 185s. One ticket window is open, so I proceed to buy an Anytime Return to Carlisle, priced at a moderate £15.90 with railcard discount.
Youre not getting the direct train are you? asks the woman behind the glass.
Aye I am, hopefully I return.
Sorry to tell you, love, that its been cancelled she replies.
Great me thinks. Up at 5 to get in as much mileage as possible and first train of the day is a no go. The 142 for this service normally travels ECS with a 156 (which goes on to work the first Whitby train of the day) from Heaton, but it the 142 failed at Heaton so they sent the 156 by itself. Quick change of plan sees me joining the 06.49 service to Newcastle, which travels via Darlington and Durham, shipping commuters into Toon from far and wide. Success as 142079 rounds the corner and we all pile on board. The train is quite full but we disgorge a lot of passengers at Darlington, then pick up everyone and their mother at Durham and Chester-le-Street. Hats off to the lady conductor who managed to get through and give tickets to those who need it before they reach the dreaded barriers at Central. Two things that struck me about this jaunt was: 1) she didnt have much of a float, being out of pound coins and £5 notes even before Middlesbrough, and 2) those card reader machines really are crap. One person used three different cards, none worked at all.
We trundle into Newcastle, using the High Level Bridge for added variety, arriving at platform 8 to be precise and I check the timetable to see what has happened to the 06.56 off the Boro. As luck would have it, and as I predicted, it was started from Newcastle (so unlucky for those on the Durham Coast), but lucky for me. No platform yet assigned I head off across Neville Street to Greggs The Bakers for a bacon sandwich and cuppa Joe. £1.99 exceedingly good value, and better than any SSP effort anyday. Back through the barrier, happy to report that there were no problems with my small trip outside the station, and a quick check to reveal that the 08.24 to Carlisle was departing from 8 yes you guessed it, 079 again. Off we trot through various villages in the Tyne Valley, over the river and across the moors into deepest darkest Cumbria and arrive at Carlisle just about on time. Quick hop over to see the 87 stabled and a few pictures of passing sheds, and back on the 10.33 to Newcastle. Going good so far. At Newcastle I had planned to jump on the 12.14 to the MetroCentre and back, not much in terms of mileage but every little helps. However 156454 arrives from Morpeth and puts paid to those plans. A 10 minute wait for the 12.24 service, which should be a 142 and Im rewarded with
079 again. A bit of variety wouldnt have gone amiss, but hey ho at least it is something of the Pacer variety. The return working from Gateshead MetroCentre goes through to Morpeth, so that will be as far north as I would get. Back from Morpeth we call at Manors, although no-one cares to get on or off.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Part 2
At Newcastle I have a 30 minute wait for the 14.54 service to Hexham, normally booked for Pacertastic traction, so it is across the road to Greggs The Bakers again for a £2.99 meal deal. Was served by the same girl from earlier on in the morning, so must have looked like a right asshole going for both breakfast and lunch from the same place. Having consumed this, it is over to platform 8 again for the Hexham stopper. From the footbridge I can see it is a 142, however getting to the platform reveals that 079 is stalking me again. Argh. I am almost tempted to jump onto a 156 god forbid to get away from it but I hold my resolve and climb onboard. The trip to Hexham is all shacks, although having already done Carlisle and back, added nothing new to the trip. You can always tell when youre on the approach to Prudhoe by the lovely smell emanating from the sewage works. Funnily enough, right next door they make Triple Velvet toilet paper. Reminds me of a salmon going back to its place of birth, to breed and eventually die. Anyway, at Hexham the terminating train waits in the Carlisle bound platform to return east. Of course 3 people cross over the footbridge expecting the 15.44 to Nunthorpe to turn up. Thankfully someone pointed out that this was the Nunthorpe train, much to their disbelief. But surely the Newcastle train must leave from the other side? I hear one say, God help them in the real world. Oh wait
Back into Newcastle we bounce, and then onwards along the Durham Coast line. A lot has changed in the few months since I last traversed the line, with the resignalling complete and signal boxes removed in the name of progress. There is work going on at Boldon East Chord, hopefully reopening soon to send freight south this way and not along the ECML. Sunderland station has had its revamp (shame the rest of the city hasnt been touched, stinking hole it is), Ryhope Grange still stands, although Hall Dene box, the next one along the line, has bitten the dust. We crawl into Seaham, its magnificent semaphore on the soundbound platform now replaced with a modern LED type, and the box reduced to controlling two foot crossings in the town. In the future it is expected it will go too. Dawdon box, just around the corner has gone as well, and a similar fate beheld Clarence Road and Stranton in Hartlepool. Even when I was a kid, I can remember there being at least 3 working boxes in Hartlepool, the other being Cemetery Junction. Now all are gone, little more than rubble and memories left. Good to see that the other boxes south of Hartlepool are still intact, and we arrive back into the Boro. I elect to stay on to Nunthorpe, 4 miles and 55 chains away. A 20 minute wait, and back we return to my original starting point. No one joins at Nunthorpe, or at Gypsy Lane, or at Marton, so the conductor cashes up and we both leave at Middlesbrough. Next train is a quick jolly to Darlington on the 18.53 service, and thank God it wasnt 079 again. Into 4a we roll, and a quick dash to get 19.31 to Saltburn as far as Middlesbrough again, with the 142 coming off a Bishop Auckland working. Half an hour wait in the Boro, and I search for something to drink. By this time the last drink I had was around 2pm back in Newcastle, and with better planning I would have left something in the car to grab around about now. Alas, one machine was pretending to have sold everything, displaying Sold Out even though it was clear it was full to the brim, and the other machine decided it didnt like my 2010 50p. Thank you goes to Selecta and their crap vending machines. Thank you to TPE who have Sold Out and allowed them to put their crappy machines at the station. I was tempted to ask for a coffee in the BTP office but no doubt theyd be dealing with cable thieves in this part of the world 24/7, or another drunken idiot who seem to litter Middlesbrough at night.
Next train is the last one to Newcastle via the coast, the 20.30 departure. And the next train is not 079 phew. However it is 484. The observant amongst you will know that BR in their wisdom did not order anywhere near 484 142s, or that any have been renumbered as high as this. Youd be right, as this was 156484. ****e. 100% down the pan for a second time. I could have given this up for another trip to Darlo or Saltburn, but decided to get back to Newcastle for the 22.00 NCL MBR via DHM, the opposite train from what I had started on. The 156 was eerily quiet for a Friday night, and we go over the King Edward Bridge to refresh the route knowledge of our driver. For some reason we are placed into platform 11, with 7 and 5 being free. Thanks to the people in the IECC across the river in Gateshead. 13 minutes to wait and the 22.00 rolls in, and turns out to be quite full to Durham and Darlington. Useful for those going back after a few jars on the Quayside, although wouldnt like to clean the can afterwards. Back into the Boro and a search for somewhere selling a Parmo (if you dont know what it is look it up). Again it is like looking for a needle in a massive, Smoggy infested haystack, so no other option to scoot along the A19 and get something in York.
All in all a good day out, mileage over 400 despite the problem with the first train. Plus not getting 100% 142s gives me an excuse to do it again another time.
hock:
