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142094's 2012 Blog
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27/01/2012 Tractorific
04.00 a time I havent seen on my alarm clock in a while and one I dont particularly want to see in any big hurry again. Yes, here I find myself getting up at what some will call early morning and what some will call late night. I couldnt really give a toss but it was one of those moments when you think Why am I up at this bloody hour? Well, as most of you will know, the Glo-Ex or Sellafield Flyer has been running for a few weeks now using prime traction in the form of a 37. So, having not set foot on a train for the past two weeks and 6 days due to work, it is decided that a special trip will be made across to Carlisle to get in both the 06.15 departure to Barrow and the return journey from Sellafield.
Up and out of the house in half an hour, still bitterly cold and my hands feel like they are going to freeze to the steering wheel. To get to Carlisle involves a drive along the A69, which pretty much follows the course of the Tyne Valley line through deepest darkest Northumberland and into Cumbria. Streets are eerily quiet, apart from the remnants of Thursday night pavement pizzas in evidence, a couple having an argument in the middle of the road, and p*ss marks up the side of a bin. Party city. More like pig sty. Im soon out of the urban sprawl and into the countryside, making good time towards Hexham and only me, a few gritters and HGVs are around on an unremarkable journey across. I arrive in Carlisle and find the free parking space as advised (cheers for the tip whoever it was), little over an hour after I had left. Not a bad time, most likely slower when the traffic builds up but still it shows what competition the railway has when it takes over one and a half hours by train. Into Carlisle Citadel station, one guy has just missed his train to Manchester Airport (echoes of that guy trying to get to Edinburgh from last time). Buy my ticket anytime return to Barrow as I cant use my pass yet. Over the footbridge to platform 1, and a few minutes later 37423 is heard in the distance coming in from Kingmoor. What a sight for sore (and tired) eyes! Better than caffeine on a drip. The only sad thing is that bashers outnumber Sellafield workers by at least 3:1 from Carlisle, but perhaps it picks up later on. Im onboard for the full whack all the way to Barrow. Too dark to see much and the carriage is too near the back to hear much, but still better than the usual Cumbrian Coast offerings. We arrive into Barrow and I grab a few pics as it reverses into the carriage sidings.
Ive been to Barrow a few times now, first time I ventured into the town and to Wetherspoons (surprise, surprise). This time Ive only got about an hour to wait so decide to sit in the station. Over to the café/shop thing - £2.50 for a crap coffee. I find a bag of salt and vinegar crisps in my backpack for breakfast. Life of luxury eh? I was looking forward to a bacon sarnie but no way in hell am I paying £4.50 for that and a coffee. Bah. Not long now anyway for the 10.16 to Lancaster. 153332 is on this working, and by this point Im getting a bit sick of the Cumbrian Coast line. Into Lancaster on time just about, and off to explore. The night before I did a bit of research and found the Sun Inn looks to be owned by Lancaster Brewery, which is a good thing. Very good food (had fish and chips since it was a Friday) and a pint of Blonde to wash it down. Starts to rain so I find the Indoor Market. Im not a particular fan of supermarkets and so Indoor Markets are like the Holy Grail of places for me lots of independents selling useful stuff normally at good prices. In common with a lot of the municipal markets that Ive been too, it is obvious that times are hard and half of the place is empty. Shame, and no doubt itll be replaced by Tesco Extra or similar.
Back to the station I go for the 14.54, which Ill be getting as far as Whitehaven. Was hoping this would be a 156, but no it is a 153 again this time 153363. Find a seat, but this one is crammed so someone sits next to me. Legroom is none existent, but pax numbers start to dwindle by Ulverston, and there are plenty of free seats together. Naturally I was hoping that the gentleman sitting next to me would vacate his seat and occupy another one, but no, he sat next to me until Barrow, where he then decided to shift seats until Askam. Very irritating. At Barrow 153307 joins with a bump at the front so I go and sit through there, and were off to Whitehaven. The plan is to get the next southbound unit from Whitehaven back to Sellafield so I dont have to endure the 1 hour fester and get strange looks from the Nuclear Constabulary and German Shepherds. Coming into Sellafield, the rake of carriages is there but no 37. Hmm, whats going on here I wonder. All is revealed at St Bees when the 47 is seen waiting for us to pass. Balls. No 37 for the return trip. To make matters worse some eejit has left a manual level crossing gate open near Braystones, so we are delayed getting into Whitehaven. I had planned to nip quickly to a shop and get some supplies, but Im stuffed now. No hot drink and no 37. What could be worse? Well, perhaps another 153. Thankfully it wasnt as 156480 was working the 16.19 to Preston. Again this one is well loaded, no doubt due to most getting off at Sellafield. Quick turnaround at Sellafield and were off with the 47 at the front. Unlucky to get bowled but it does give me an excuse to go back over (and no doubt if I do Ill not be going on the Cumbrian Coast line again this year). 47 is performing decently, and were in at Carlisle 10 early. By this point Im shattered and need a coffee and food before the drive back.
So thats 85 miles in the book for 37s, 50 miles behind a Duff and another 250 added to the total. The train is due to finish in the middle of February and then a decision will be made to see if it stays on, which will be a good thing if it comes through.
04.00 a time I havent seen on my alarm clock in a while and one I dont particularly want to see in any big hurry again. Yes, here I find myself getting up at what some will call early morning and what some will call late night. I couldnt really give a toss but it was one of those moments when you think Why am I up at this bloody hour? Well, as most of you will know, the Glo-Ex or Sellafield Flyer has been running for a few weeks now using prime traction in the form of a 37. So, having not set foot on a train for the past two weeks and 6 days due to work, it is decided that a special trip will be made across to Carlisle to get in both the 06.15 departure to Barrow and the return journey from Sellafield.
Up and out of the house in half an hour, still bitterly cold and my hands feel like they are going to freeze to the steering wheel. To get to Carlisle involves a drive along the A69, which pretty much follows the course of the Tyne Valley line through deepest darkest Northumberland and into Cumbria. Streets are eerily quiet, apart from the remnants of Thursday night pavement pizzas in evidence, a couple having an argument in the middle of the road, and p*ss marks up the side of a bin. Party city. More like pig sty. Im soon out of the urban sprawl and into the countryside, making good time towards Hexham and only me, a few gritters and HGVs are around on an unremarkable journey across. I arrive in Carlisle and find the free parking space as advised (cheers for the tip whoever it was), little over an hour after I had left. Not a bad time, most likely slower when the traffic builds up but still it shows what competition the railway has when it takes over one and a half hours by train. Into Carlisle Citadel station, one guy has just missed his train to Manchester Airport (echoes of that guy trying to get to Edinburgh from last time). Buy my ticket anytime return to Barrow as I cant use my pass yet. Over the footbridge to platform 1, and a few minutes later 37423 is heard in the distance coming in from Kingmoor. What a sight for sore (and tired) eyes! Better than caffeine on a drip. The only sad thing is that bashers outnumber Sellafield workers by at least 3:1 from Carlisle, but perhaps it picks up later on. Im onboard for the full whack all the way to Barrow. Too dark to see much and the carriage is too near the back to hear much, but still better than the usual Cumbrian Coast offerings. We arrive into Barrow and I grab a few pics as it reverses into the carriage sidings.
Ive been to Barrow a few times now, first time I ventured into the town and to Wetherspoons (surprise, surprise). This time Ive only got about an hour to wait so decide to sit in the station. Over to the café/shop thing - £2.50 for a crap coffee. I find a bag of salt and vinegar crisps in my backpack for breakfast. Life of luxury eh? I was looking forward to a bacon sarnie but no way in hell am I paying £4.50 for that and a coffee. Bah. Not long now anyway for the 10.16 to Lancaster. 153332 is on this working, and by this point Im getting a bit sick of the Cumbrian Coast line. Into Lancaster on time just about, and off to explore. The night before I did a bit of research and found the Sun Inn looks to be owned by Lancaster Brewery, which is a good thing. Very good food (had fish and chips since it was a Friday) and a pint of Blonde to wash it down. Starts to rain so I find the Indoor Market. Im not a particular fan of supermarkets and so Indoor Markets are like the Holy Grail of places for me lots of independents selling useful stuff normally at good prices. In common with a lot of the municipal markets that Ive been too, it is obvious that times are hard and half of the place is empty. Shame, and no doubt itll be replaced by Tesco Extra or similar.
Back to the station I go for the 14.54, which Ill be getting as far as Whitehaven. Was hoping this would be a 156, but no it is a 153 again this time 153363. Find a seat, but this one is crammed so someone sits next to me. Legroom is none existent, but pax numbers start to dwindle by Ulverston, and there are plenty of free seats together. Naturally I was hoping that the gentleman sitting next to me would vacate his seat and occupy another one, but no, he sat next to me until Barrow, where he then decided to shift seats until Askam. Very irritating. At Barrow 153307 joins with a bump at the front so I go and sit through there, and were off to Whitehaven. The plan is to get the next southbound unit from Whitehaven back to Sellafield so I dont have to endure the 1 hour fester and get strange looks from the Nuclear Constabulary and German Shepherds. Coming into Sellafield, the rake of carriages is there but no 37. Hmm, whats going on here I wonder. All is revealed at St Bees when the 47 is seen waiting for us to pass. Balls. No 37 for the return trip. To make matters worse some eejit has left a manual level crossing gate open near Braystones, so we are delayed getting into Whitehaven. I had planned to nip quickly to a shop and get some supplies, but Im stuffed now. No hot drink and no 37. What could be worse? Well, perhaps another 153. Thankfully it wasnt as 156480 was working the 16.19 to Preston. Again this one is well loaded, no doubt due to most getting off at Sellafield. Quick turnaround at Sellafield and were off with the 47 at the front. Unlucky to get bowled but it does give me an excuse to go back over (and no doubt if I do Ill not be going on the Cumbrian Coast line again this year). 47 is performing decently, and were in at Carlisle 10 early. By this point Im shattered and need a coffee and food before the drive back.
So thats 85 miles in the book for 37s, 50 miles behind a Duff and another 250 added to the total. The train is due to finish in the middle of February and then a decision will be made to see if it stays on, which will be a good thing if it comes through.
Blindtraveler
Established Member
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- 28 Feb 2011
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thanks for that. Id personally rather have the 153 than the 156 but thats just me. good to know the leap with the unit does work and bad luck with the 47.
Some mite say its a loco, enjoy it which these days is a fare statement but the 37 is sure better.
Some mite say its a loco, enjoy it which these days is a fare statement but the 37 is sure better.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Gutted for you having to endure a 47 on the way back! Sounds like a hellfire trip, gutted I won't be able to make it up there for some nice and noisy 37 action before it finishes 
£104.90 just for a return to Carlisle (there were no Advance fares going before anyone asks), plus the Anytime ticket to Barrow and all the rest of it would make for far too expensive a bash. I'll have to settle for a 156 or whatever when I get up there in the summer. Unless of course the loco-hauled job carries on!
£104.90 just for a return to Carlisle (there were no Advance fares going before anyone asks), plus the Anytime ticket to Barrow and all the rest of it would make for far too expensive a bash. I'll have to settle for a 156 or whatever when I get up there in the summer. Unless of course the loco-hauled job carries on!YorkshireBear
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Did the amount of workers pick up, does it look like it might get used ie continued due to a good amount of sellafield workers using it?
A lot of the workers seem to live south of Workington, so it did pick up eventually, plus there were also a few other non-Sellafield and non-enthusiasts getting on at the other stations too. Before this was introduced the first train south from Carlisle was at 07.44, so hopefully it has done it justice and they'll keep it going.
Blindtraveler
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- Joined
- 28 Feb 2011
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- 10,544
also in my experience at certain times the unit cant handle the loading resulting in standees and anti-northern railism. More of an issue when the tourists are out though I think.
When I went on it it was very well loaded north from Sellafield to Whitehaven, mostly with workers (although most of the workers at Sellafield seem to look/dress like cranks so it's not always easy to tell). It's really little more than an advertised ECS between Carlisle and Maryport or even Workington. I can see it staying on TBH.
This is why I hate 47s so much. I accept that they are good locos in a strictly operational sense, but I had hoped that the days of people get bowled for rateable traction on service trains by f***ing duffs were about 20 years in the past. But no. A new service starts to the joy of everyone and within three weeks a duff has stuck its buffers in where it so definitely is not wanted. Grrrr!
What pass couldn't you use at 06:15 BTW?
This is why I hate 47s so much. I accept that they are good locos in a strictly operational sense, but I had hoped that the days of people get bowled for rateable traction on service trains by f***ing duffs were about 20 years in the past. But no. A new service starts to the joy of everyone and within three weeks a duff has stuck its buffers in where it so definitely is not wanted. Grrrr!
What pass couldn't you use at 06:15 BTW?
Station adoption one. Only valid after 09.30. It's saved me quite a few bob in the past year, and will be using it even more this year.
I have the afternoon off on Friday so hopefully the 37 will be back on and no more 'incidents' like last week.
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