RochdalePioneers
Member
- Joined
- 2 Jan 2009
- Messages
- 527
Up at what I thought was early o'clock (but my cat didn't think early enough...) for 1P13, the 06:00 from Thornaby to Manchester. The plan this trip is do various weekend 1st upgrades so straight into coach C I go, noting that even on this early train much of standard has reservations set out.
1st on a 185 is a pleasant environment with plush reclining seats and both ceiling spots and table lamp. And curtains of course.
Ticket was gripped without more than a quick glance as I offered my £6 for weekend first. I'm travelling on a roundabout but legal route but was pleased not to have to defend it. The other nice thing about today is that when I bought the tickets they cost 80p cash (the rest in RTVs) so it's a cheap day out.
Neville Hill is a hive of activity as we crawl past in a queue towards Leeds - East Midlands and Northern signs competing for space adorning maintenance sheds of what apparently is a "Train Maintenance Depot" - whatever happened to "Traction?" 67 018 resplendent in full Canadian flag livery is on its way onto shed with an East Coast HST at the stop board awaiting a road to Leeds. After a spirited run through an unexpectedly gloomy Pennines I'm off at Piccadilly.
Its the expected hive of activity with the concourse buzzing. Its all rather different to the rather smaller concourse that used to be here in my youth. After a Subway leap, past the long line at Greggs (inferior breakfast vs Subway for superior price) I'm on the end of the 13/14 island. The old parcels building is now a Network Rail HQ, complete with large square window on the side where the bridge to Mayfield used to be.
Onto 1C71, another 185, this time for Windermere. The usual scrum on the western end of 14 and we all pile on. Spot that the cab end of Coach A is unreserved and dive onto the end seat.
This service is non-stop Deansgate to Preston, running via Parkside Junction and the WCML. Yeah, its not the fastest route is it? 20mph round the curve plus the need to drop to that speed comfortably before the junction signal?
After gaining the main line we do blat along to be fair, including a full speed pass of Wigan North Western.
Off at Preston for a 10 minute connection to a Pendolino to Glasgow. There is engineering work at Cambuslang which means TPE and XC aren't running through. So obviously a 9-car Pendolino turns up on 1S42. Happily I'm in 1st once again and take a seat in Coach H. Yes the seats are nice yes they are at a table aligned to a window, but it's still a small wind's isn't it. My favourite train these are not, even though I find the speed at full tilt to be impressive.
Was served a danish and coffee after Lancaster (nice it was as well) with the steward telling us all to get water from the fridge in the middle of the coach.
You can tell its weekend, various tables with kids. Ticket check and I had to remind the guard that Anytime tickets get a free upgrade, ("I see so few of them at weekends").
After Carlisle a trolley goes through and offers snacky goodness. We get a pack containing an Egg Mayo seeded roll, a mini bag of mini fingers, and a similarly miniature bag of Cathedral City baked bites. Then another drinks round. To be fair I don't feel neglected.
West of Motherwell we crawled off through Newton due to an overbridge being dismantled over the main. The line towards Mount Florida is even slower than Parkside curve but has a great view over the city towards Loch Lomond.
At Glasgow I wander off for a a quick pint in Weatherspoons before restocking on snacks in Lidl. An hour goes past fairly quickly before boarding 1L55, a single 156 which is heading for Carlisle via the GSW departing at 13:12. Haven't done this route for almost 20 years so an opportunity for some 156 action (can't help liking them...). Am briefly entertained by the ocean of alcohol that has been drunk on the inbound train from Kilmarnock before sticking the empties (which seem to adorn almost every table!) in the bin.
It's a long ride (2 and a 1/4 hours) and having passed Kilmarnock various groups of passengers get on and off at places like Sanquar. At this station a ladies bike nestles under the foot bridge not locked to anything - assuming its not been stolen it's good to see towns where you don't have to worry about things getting stolen...
At Carlisle there is a railtour attracting attention from spotters despite only having a DRS 57 on the back and a pair of 37/6s up front. Also of note is the Transpennine Edinburgh - Manchester service sat "delayed" on platform 4 awaiting a guard. That forces all other trains to use platform 1 which means a Glasgow and a London departure within minutes from the same platform. Keeping the platform crew on their toes if nothing else. I walk off the station on a Tesco leap, 20 minutes later and the errant 350 has gone.
I await my following Manchester service ( I have a ticket split at Penrith which the earlier one didn't stop at) which rolls in mostly empty from Lockerbie forming 1M90. The Cambuslang bridge works means that TPE Glasgow services are caped at Lockerbie with coach transfer (nice). Evidently people can't be bothered with that so I board an otherwise empty 1st class compartment. Despite the relative low loading in standard I've decided to upgrade anyway - its blissfully peaceful in here, and a tenner for 5 hours seems like good value. Or at least it would be - no ticket check at all between Carlisle and Manchester!
Compared to the 185 earlier its whisper quiet - having 1st in the trailer car really helps minimise noise and vibration. The steward is clearly happy to see a customer and I'm immediately offered a drink and a snack box. The coffee is a bit thin for my liking but has the required caffeine hit. The snack box is a bit of a mix - shortbread finger, flapjack, cheese and cracker and a miniature mini bag of pretzels.
The train remains very quiet until Lancaster where there's a big crowd getting on. I remain the only passenger in 1st.... We continue south and I'm offered another drink (coffee please) and a snack, there's a choice and I take a chocolate tiffin. At Preston there's another big crowd getting on. And our old friend the railtour to Chesterfield with various passengers milling around on the platform. And we actually pick up more passengers in 1st class, four of them!
Past Wigan and Springs Branch depot is still clinging to life with an assortment of maintenance vehicles parked there. The actual branch line still disappears behind a thicket of trees - does it lead anywhere these days or is it just a headshunt. And the same with the Ship Canal branch from Eccles - any life left? Oh, and its now drizzling. Like it was earlier in Manchester...
I'm off in Manchester furnished with still water and biscuits which the steward insists I take.
At Piccadilly there isn't that long until my Middlesbrough service is due, so after a bit of fresh air I'm on platform 3 where a locked 185 sits as the middle set on the platform. An earlier leg to the Airport was caped after Kate running so tonight 1P58 starts here. And as its lightly loaded and I'm planning to watch TV on my tablet, I decline the 1st class upgrade and sit in a lightly loaded Coach C. To be complete I do go into 1st but it's stiflingly hot and there is rubbish strewn about - a cooler cleaner standard compartment seems like the better option.
After a spot of slow running to Diggle we make spirited progress to Huddersfield, and then pass that double headed tractor railtour heading for Chesterfield... At York the drunken hoarded board after York races. And that's with an additional service having left 10 minutes before! And eventually, 20 minutes late, arrival home, after 705 miles.
1st on a 185 is a pleasant environment with plush reclining seats and both ceiling spots and table lamp. And curtains of course.
Ticket was gripped without more than a quick glance as I offered my £6 for weekend first. I'm travelling on a roundabout but legal route but was pleased not to have to defend it. The other nice thing about today is that when I bought the tickets they cost 80p cash (the rest in RTVs) so it's a cheap day out.
Neville Hill is a hive of activity as we crawl past in a queue towards Leeds - East Midlands and Northern signs competing for space adorning maintenance sheds of what apparently is a "Train Maintenance Depot" - whatever happened to "Traction?" 67 018 resplendent in full Canadian flag livery is on its way onto shed with an East Coast HST at the stop board awaiting a road to Leeds. After a spirited run through an unexpectedly gloomy Pennines I'm off at Piccadilly.
Its the expected hive of activity with the concourse buzzing. Its all rather different to the rather smaller concourse that used to be here in my youth. After a Subway leap, past the long line at Greggs (inferior breakfast vs Subway for superior price) I'm on the end of the 13/14 island. The old parcels building is now a Network Rail HQ, complete with large square window on the side where the bridge to Mayfield used to be.
Onto 1C71, another 185, this time for Windermere. The usual scrum on the western end of 14 and we all pile on. Spot that the cab end of Coach A is unreserved and dive onto the end seat.
This service is non-stop Deansgate to Preston, running via Parkside Junction and the WCML. Yeah, its not the fastest route is it? 20mph round the curve plus the need to drop to that speed comfortably before the junction signal?
After gaining the main line we do blat along to be fair, including a full speed pass of Wigan North Western.
Off at Preston for a 10 minute connection to a Pendolino to Glasgow. There is engineering work at Cambuslang which means TPE and XC aren't running through. So obviously a 9-car Pendolino turns up on 1S42. Happily I'm in 1st once again and take a seat in Coach H. Yes the seats are nice yes they are at a table aligned to a window, but it's still a small wind's isn't it. My favourite train these are not, even though I find the speed at full tilt to be impressive.
Was served a danish and coffee after Lancaster (nice it was as well) with the steward telling us all to get water from the fridge in the middle of the coach.
You can tell its weekend, various tables with kids. Ticket check and I had to remind the guard that Anytime tickets get a free upgrade, ("I see so few of them at weekends").
After Carlisle a trolley goes through and offers snacky goodness. We get a pack containing an Egg Mayo seeded roll, a mini bag of mini fingers, and a similarly miniature bag of Cathedral City baked bites. Then another drinks round. To be fair I don't feel neglected.
West of Motherwell we crawled off through Newton due to an overbridge being dismantled over the main. The line towards Mount Florida is even slower than Parkside curve but has a great view over the city towards Loch Lomond.
At Glasgow I wander off for a a quick pint in Weatherspoons before restocking on snacks in Lidl. An hour goes past fairly quickly before boarding 1L55, a single 156 which is heading for Carlisle via the GSW departing at 13:12. Haven't done this route for almost 20 years so an opportunity for some 156 action (can't help liking them...). Am briefly entertained by the ocean of alcohol that has been drunk on the inbound train from Kilmarnock before sticking the empties (which seem to adorn almost every table!) in the bin.
It's a long ride (2 and a 1/4 hours) and having passed Kilmarnock various groups of passengers get on and off at places like Sanquar. At this station a ladies bike nestles under the foot bridge not locked to anything - assuming its not been stolen it's good to see towns where you don't have to worry about things getting stolen...
At Carlisle there is a railtour attracting attention from spotters despite only having a DRS 57 on the back and a pair of 37/6s up front. Also of note is the Transpennine Edinburgh - Manchester service sat "delayed" on platform 4 awaiting a guard. That forces all other trains to use platform 1 which means a Glasgow and a London departure within minutes from the same platform. Keeping the platform crew on their toes if nothing else. I walk off the station on a Tesco leap, 20 minutes later and the errant 350 has gone.
I await my following Manchester service ( I have a ticket split at Penrith which the earlier one didn't stop at) which rolls in mostly empty from Lockerbie forming 1M90. The Cambuslang bridge works means that TPE Glasgow services are caped at Lockerbie with coach transfer (nice). Evidently people can't be bothered with that so I board an otherwise empty 1st class compartment. Despite the relative low loading in standard I've decided to upgrade anyway - its blissfully peaceful in here, and a tenner for 5 hours seems like good value. Or at least it would be - no ticket check at all between Carlisle and Manchester!
Compared to the 185 earlier its whisper quiet - having 1st in the trailer car really helps minimise noise and vibration. The steward is clearly happy to see a customer and I'm immediately offered a drink and a snack box. The coffee is a bit thin for my liking but has the required caffeine hit. The snack box is a bit of a mix - shortbread finger, flapjack, cheese and cracker and a miniature mini bag of pretzels.
The train remains very quiet until Lancaster where there's a big crowd getting on. I remain the only passenger in 1st.... We continue south and I'm offered another drink (coffee please) and a snack, there's a choice and I take a chocolate tiffin. At Preston there's another big crowd getting on. And our old friend the railtour to Chesterfield with various passengers milling around on the platform. And we actually pick up more passengers in 1st class, four of them!
Past Wigan and Springs Branch depot is still clinging to life with an assortment of maintenance vehicles parked there. The actual branch line still disappears behind a thicket of trees - does it lead anywhere these days or is it just a headshunt. And the same with the Ship Canal branch from Eccles - any life left? Oh, and its now drizzling. Like it was earlier in Manchester...
I'm off in Manchester furnished with still water and biscuits which the steward insists I take.
At Piccadilly there isn't that long until my Middlesbrough service is due, so after a bit of fresh air I'm on platform 3 where a locked 185 sits as the middle set on the platform. An earlier leg to the Airport was caped after Kate running so tonight 1P58 starts here. And as its lightly loaded and I'm planning to watch TV on my tablet, I decline the 1st class upgrade and sit in a lightly loaded Coach C. To be complete I do go into 1st but it's stiflingly hot and there is rubbish strewn about - a cooler cleaner standard compartment seems like the better option.
After a spot of slow running to Diggle we make spirited progress to Huddersfield, and then pass that double headed tractor railtour heading for Chesterfield... At York the drunken hoarded board after York races. And that's with an additional service having left 10 minutes before! And eventually, 20 minutes late, arrival home, after 705 miles.
