Things have taken over a bit over the last month so I haven't had time to write up my trip reports for a while (nor have I really had much of a chance to read those written by others - sorry!). Anyway, I've finally got around to it, and I hope you don't mind getting several in one go!
28 August 2015: Greater Manchester bash
The original plan had been to get up early take the train to Heaton Chapel and then walk to Reddish South to pick up the once a week service there for a rare shack scratch. Baby crehld had other ideas, however, and insisted on keeping us up for most of the night, so when an opportunity for an extra hour in bed came along I took it! This meant I ended up leaving Crewe rather later than I had initially anticipated: 09:30 on dud 175006.
At Manchester I went to the ticket office to purchase my GM Rail Ranger (which was incredibly difficult to get hold of - the clerk kept insisting I wanted the Wayfarer!). I then made my way back to the platform to pick up the first winner of the day, 142007 (if James Bond had a Pacer it would obviously be this one - not quite as glamourous as an Aston Martin though!). My initial plans thwarted, I now decided to focus on getting a number of Greater Manchester shacks cleared. So I started with Marple.
I then walked to nearby station Rose Hill Marple where I was able to pick up 142060[\B] to Hyde Central. While waiting for the next train I had a quick chat with some bloke from Northern Rail who was carrying out a 'health and safety inspection'; this seemed to involve a lot of poking of fences and lamp posts and such like.
Anyway, 142043 then appeared to take me to Woodley, followed by 142003 and 142027 to Hyde North. From here I took a short walk to Flowery Field (which is most deceptive station name I've come across yet!). Dud 323233 arrives and I stay on as far as Hattersley. Here it was on to winner 323225 to Newton for Hyde and then onto dud 323230 to Godley. 323233 then takes me back to Manchester Piccadilly.
I grab a sandwich and a drink before heading back to the platforms to pick up 156423 and 156483 (a TPE service using Northern's 156s). I get off at Heald Green, switch platforms and board 323239 to Burnage. To make the most of the 30 minute fester here I decide to walk to East Didsbury where I pick up winner 323227 to Mauldeth Road. I have a 30 minute fester here so I decide to pick up my tickets to Hebden Bridge which I'll need later to get to the forum meal. In the process I end up breaking the ticket machine... not deliberately of course! It goes from "checking card details" to "card reader error - cash only" (bearing in mind this machine doesn't take cash).
Ticket collection mission failed, I board 323236 to Piccadilly. It's then a walk across town to Victoria, have another goat getting my tickets (successfully this time), and I board 158755 to Hebden Bridge for the forum meal. As usual great time is had and it's nice to catch up with some familiar faces, and meet some new ones too.
Afterwards it's back to the station to pick up 155343 to Bradford Interchange. I brave the night time walk to Forster Square station, where I pick up 333014. The last train to Hellield has long gone, so I instead get off at Steeton and Silsden, having made arrangements to kip at a mates for the night.
29 August 2015: Baby crehld takes the train!
We fancied a family day out and I pursuaded the missus a train trip is in order - namely the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. Baby crehld is in tow and it'll be her first time on
a train - she's only 8 months old, but I figure it's good start them out young!
We put baby crehld into the sling (we have a pram but it's too much of a faff to take on the train) and walk to Hellifield station, and after a short wait board 150228. Standing room only but another passenger is kind and gives up their seat to let Mrs crehld and the baby sit down. The guard comes round and we ask for our through tickets from the guard. Baby crehld's a hit with the crowd and offers plenty of smiles... although it seems this is a distraction tactic as we catch her trying to gain access to and pulling out £5 notes from the guard's wallet pouch (hope this isn't indicative of future behaviour!)!
We make it to Keighley and quickly pop into the Asda across the road to pick up some provisions for the journey, returning to the wonderful KWVR platforms. Its not long before steam locomotive 90733 hauling a rake of Mk 1s pulls in (I looked up the locomotive on the KWVR website - it has a fascinating history and has certainly been around a bit!). By happy coincidence the train stops with the real ale bar carriage right in front of us so we board there and I treat myself to a pint.
However, all the excitement is all a bit too much for the baby who has now fallen asleep and is still asleep when we get to the end of the line at Oxenhope. Now, for those that don't know, one of the first rules of parenting is that you never wake the sleeping baby! So we stay in our seats for the journey back to Keighley. There's still time for me to have a quick mooch about while the steam locomotive runs round, however.
Baby crehld wakes up just as we pull into Keighley, meaning we get to go out and have a
close look at the steam engine. Time to head home now so it's 333001 to Skipton, followed by winners 158844 and 153359 to Hellifield.
23 September 2015: a Northern Day Ranger
Northern Rail are running their fantastic offer again and my local paper is stocking the vouchers. There is still much of the Northern network I need to cover so this provides the
perfect opportunity. The advertisement which comes with the offer suggests a number of exciting and glamourous places to go and visit, such as Manchester, Leeds, Harrogate and Liverpool. I however dismiss this sound wisdom and decide to head for Gainsborough!
I start the day at Crewe where I find winner 323226 waiting at the platform bound
for Manchester (by my reckoning that leaves me with just 2 Northern 323s to get now). I
stay on all the way to Piccadilly. There's almost an hour wait until the Sheffield train departs, so I spot an opportunity for yet another shack scratch and board 142028 to Gorton. It's then 142062 back to Piccadilly. The Sheffield train is now at the platform so I board winner 142040 for the long journey (well long for a Pacer) along the Hope Valley line to Sheffield.
I have a good 40 minutes here to wait for the Lincoln train. Unfortunately I don't spot any decent shack scratching opportunities, so instead head into the city to get some lunch. I find a street food place serving burritos so go for that - a good choice as it's excellent!
I get back to the station to find 142086 pulling in. I board and stay on until I get to my goal: Gainsborough Lea Road. From the outside it looks a bit like one of those wooden kids climbing frames you find at motorway service stations. I have a little explore around the place, quickly coming to the conclusion it's not the greatest place on earth.
Back at the station, 142067 pulls in for the return journey back to Sheffield. This
is by and large the most run down train I've ever set foot on. About a quarter of the seats have covers missing, half the floor covering looks like it's been ripped up and there are piles of litter everywhere! Anyway by the time we get to Sheffield I still need to get the track to the south (towards Nottingham) covered, so jump on board 158793, staying on until Alfreton. It's then onto 158792 all the way to Leeds.
The plan now is to get the track the Selby covered. So it's on to 158853[\B] and 153330[\B] to Selby. I have a bit of time before the next train back so I decide to go for a bit of a wander. I've never been to Selby before, nor did I know what to expect but it seems like a really nice town - I'll have to come back at some point and give it a proper visit!
Back at Selby station it's back on board 158853 and 153330 back to Leeds. At Leeds the plan is to wait for the last train back to Hellifield (19:19), but I then spot an opportunity to get a winning 322: 322485. This now leaves me one 322 left to get! I get of at Shipley and manage to pick up the train to Hellifield from there, with the faithful palindrome unit, 158851, doing the honours.
26 September 2015: Mouldsworth
I had one of my regular trips to Chester today. However I had recently found out that many of the neighbouring stations offer exactly the same fare, so I decided to make the most of this and go for a required scratch. I arrived at Crewe, picked up my tickets and made my way to the platform. The sight of two 150s (winners 150236 and 150283) making up the Crewe-Chester shuttle could only mean one thing: the Chester races were on. Fortunately it was still early so there were none of the crowds yet. I took a seat in the front unit and we set off for Chester. The sun is out, offering some superb views across the Cheshire plain.
Business in Chester concluded I made my way back to the station. The place is absolutely
heaving with race-goers now. I make my way to the island platform to get away from the crowds and wait for the train. Winner 150275 and dud 142030 pull in, bound for Manchester via the mid-Cheshire line. I wait for the crowds to disembark and board to find the stench of booze and empty cans and bottles all over the place. You'd've thought they'd at least taken their litter with them!
I stay on for the one stop to Mouldsworth. It's a lovely station in surrounded by trees and appears to even have its own resident cat (although could do with a fresh coat of paint mind - the station, not the cat). I found a small leaflet dispenser on the platform containing books of railway walks along the mid-Cheshire line. This provided ample reading material while I waited the 20 minutes for the return trip and provides some inspiration for the near future? Eventually winner 150147 turned up along with dud
150116 to take me back to Chester.
The race going crowds had eased off now so my transfer to pick up the Crewe shuttle for home (still 150236 and 150286) was dead easy.
27 September 2015: Hartford and Winsford
A quick trip today to grab a couple more nearby stations: Hartford (in Cheshire) and Winsford. It was a bit too far to walk between the stations, so in true Kite159 style I assembled the folding bicycle (for what must be the first time in at least a year), pump the tyres and set off!
At Crewe I purchased a return to Hartford and then boarded dud 350239. I stay on for just one stop, getting off at Winsford. It's perfect cycling weather, so I get straight to it and cycle through the town, where I manage to pick up a very well maintained cycle path which follows the river. It's a great ride and I recommend it for anyone thinking about scratching these two shacks.
I arrive at Hartford just in time to catch winner 350251 back to Crewe.
30 September 2015: another Northern Day Ranger
The bus faces the usual battle with the Crewe traffic but I still make it to the station in time to get my ticket and jump onto 323227 to Stockport. Here I switch platforms and make a tight transfer onto double winners 156490 and 156466 for the one stop to Davenport, the first new station of the day. There's a 20 minute fester here, so I head out of the station and find a nearby park bench to do a bit of reading and have my morning pastry.
Back at Davenport and duds 150271 and 150117 along with winner 150201 arrive and it's then off to Buxton. We are delayed en route at Hazel Grove as one of the doors won't shut. It's at this point I realise Northern's 150s really are tired and perhaps poorly maintained. The seat I'm sat on has detached from the frame. The windows won't shut. The door to the back cab won't lock so the guard wander far from it. Anyway, we eventually make it to Buxton about 20 minutes late but still with plenty of time for me to have a decent look around this nice town before heading back to the station.
It's 150117 and 150201 for the journey back to Stockport (150271 has been left behind - maybe that was the one with the faulty doors?). It's now time for me to address a gap in my mid-Cheshire line coverage. So I board 150214. I am standing as far as Northwich, by which point there's no point in taking a seat as I'm off at the next stop: Greenbank. Not too much time to look around as I've got to get the next train back to Manchester Piccadilly, this time 150144.
I now want to address the gap in my coverage map between Manchester Victoria and Ashton-under-Lyne, which for some reason I still haven't got around to doing yet. So it;s a trek across town before on to duds 150141 and 156423 to Greenfield. After a short wait it's then onto 150211 towards Manchester Victoria and through to Salford Crescent.
Here I pick up 156459 to Buckshaw Parkway, followed by duds 150268 and 150274 to Leyland and then 156488 to Preston. We arrive just in time to see Tangmere pull into the old Royal Mail platforms, which is a nice bonus.
The task now is to get a bit of coverage on the Ormskirk branch line. I board winner 142042 and we set off. I have to say the countryside is really pretty along this line (even if a little flat). I stay on as far as Burcough Junction and then set off on a short walk towards Burscough Bridge station (stopping off at a shop to grab a can of diet coke along the way). Dud 150135 and winner 142061 then show up to take me to Deansgate.
There's just enough time to get in one more shack scratch before heading back to Crewe, so at Deansgate it's on to 156425 to Irlam, before getting 142028 and 150204 back to Manchester Oxford Road. A quick platform change here onto 323223 gets me to Piccadilly. I treat myself to a Burger King before getting 323230 back to Crewe.
All in all a good day - new coverage, plenty of new stations visited and some continuing good progress on clearing Northern's huge DMU fleet.
28 August 2015: Greater Manchester bash
The original plan had been to get up early take the train to Heaton Chapel and then walk to Reddish South to pick up the once a week service there for a rare shack scratch. Baby crehld had other ideas, however, and insisted on keeping us up for most of the night, so when an opportunity for an extra hour in bed came along I took it! This meant I ended up leaving Crewe rather later than I had initially anticipated: 09:30 on dud 175006.
At Manchester I went to the ticket office to purchase my GM Rail Ranger (which was incredibly difficult to get hold of - the clerk kept insisting I wanted the Wayfarer!). I then made my way back to the platform to pick up the first winner of the day, 142007 (if James Bond had a Pacer it would obviously be this one - not quite as glamourous as an Aston Martin though!). My initial plans thwarted, I now decided to focus on getting a number of Greater Manchester shacks cleared. So I started with Marple.
I then walked to nearby station Rose Hill Marple where I was able to pick up 142060[\B] to Hyde Central. While waiting for the next train I had a quick chat with some bloke from Northern Rail who was carrying out a 'health and safety inspection'; this seemed to involve a lot of poking of fences and lamp posts and such like.
Anyway, 142043 then appeared to take me to Woodley, followed by 142003 and 142027 to Hyde North. From here I took a short walk to Flowery Field (which is most deceptive station name I've come across yet!). Dud 323233 arrives and I stay on as far as Hattersley. Here it was on to winner 323225 to Newton for Hyde and then onto dud 323230 to Godley. 323233 then takes me back to Manchester Piccadilly.
I grab a sandwich and a drink before heading back to the platforms to pick up 156423 and 156483 (a TPE service using Northern's 156s). I get off at Heald Green, switch platforms and board 323239 to Burnage. To make the most of the 30 minute fester here I decide to walk to East Didsbury where I pick up winner 323227 to Mauldeth Road. I have a 30 minute fester here so I decide to pick up my tickets to Hebden Bridge which I'll need later to get to the forum meal. In the process I end up breaking the ticket machine... not deliberately of course! It goes from "checking card details" to "card reader error - cash only" (bearing in mind this machine doesn't take cash).
Ticket collection mission failed, I board 323236 to Piccadilly. It's then a walk across town to Victoria, have another goat getting my tickets (successfully this time), and I board 158755 to Hebden Bridge for the forum meal. As usual great time is had and it's nice to catch up with some familiar faces, and meet some new ones too.
Afterwards it's back to the station to pick up 155343 to Bradford Interchange. I brave the night time walk to Forster Square station, where I pick up 333014. The last train to Hellield has long gone, so I instead get off at Steeton and Silsden, having made arrangements to kip at a mates for the night.
29 August 2015: Baby crehld takes the train!
We fancied a family day out and I pursuaded the missus a train trip is in order - namely the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. Baby crehld is in tow and it'll be her first time on
a train - she's only 8 months old, but I figure it's good start them out young!
We put baby crehld into the sling (we have a pram but it's too much of a faff to take on the train) and walk to Hellifield station, and after a short wait board 150228. Standing room only but another passenger is kind and gives up their seat to let Mrs crehld and the baby sit down. The guard comes round and we ask for our through tickets from the guard. Baby crehld's a hit with the crowd and offers plenty of smiles... although it seems this is a distraction tactic as we catch her trying to gain access to and pulling out £5 notes from the guard's wallet pouch (hope this isn't indicative of future behaviour!)!
We make it to Keighley and quickly pop into the Asda across the road to pick up some provisions for the journey, returning to the wonderful KWVR platforms. Its not long before steam locomotive 90733 hauling a rake of Mk 1s pulls in (I looked up the locomotive on the KWVR website - it has a fascinating history and has certainly been around a bit!). By happy coincidence the train stops with the real ale bar carriage right in front of us so we board there and I treat myself to a pint.
However, all the excitement is all a bit too much for the baby who has now fallen asleep and is still asleep when we get to the end of the line at Oxenhope. Now, for those that don't know, one of the first rules of parenting is that you never wake the sleeping baby! So we stay in our seats for the journey back to Keighley. There's still time for me to have a quick mooch about while the steam locomotive runs round, however.
Baby crehld wakes up just as we pull into Keighley, meaning we get to go out and have a
close look at the steam engine. Time to head home now so it's 333001 to Skipton, followed by winners 158844 and 153359 to Hellifield.
23 September 2015: a Northern Day Ranger
Northern Rail are running their fantastic offer again and my local paper is stocking the vouchers. There is still much of the Northern network I need to cover so this provides the
perfect opportunity. The advertisement which comes with the offer suggests a number of exciting and glamourous places to go and visit, such as Manchester, Leeds, Harrogate and Liverpool. I however dismiss this sound wisdom and decide to head for Gainsborough!
I start the day at Crewe where I find winner 323226 waiting at the platform bound
for Manchester (by my reckoning that leaves me with just 2 Northern 323s to get now). I
stay on all the way to Piccadilly. There's almost an hour wait until the Sheffield train departs, so I spot an opportunity for yet another shack scratch and board 142028 to Gorton. It's then 142062 back to Piccadilly. The Sheffield train is now at the platform so I board winner 142040 for the long journey (well long for a Pacer) along the Hope Valley line to Sheffield.
I have a good 40 minutes here to wait for the Lincoln train. Unfortunately I don't spot any decent shack scratching opportunities, so instead head into the city to get some lunch. I find a street food place serving burritos so go for that - a good choice as it's excellent!
I get back to the station to find 142086 pulling in. I board and stay on until I get to my goal: Gainsborough Lea Road. From the outside it looks a bit like one of those wooden kids climbing frames you find at motorway service stations. I have a little explore around the place, quickly coming to the conclusion it's not the greatest place on earth.
Back at the station, 142067 pulls in for the return journey back to Sheffield. This
is by and large the most run down train I've ever set foot on. About a quarter of the seats have covers missing, half the floor covering looks like it's been ripped up and there are piles of litter everywhere! Anyway by the time we get to Sheffield I still need to get the track to the south (towards Nottingham) covered, so jump on board 158793, staying on until Alfreton. It's then onto 158792 all the way to Leeds.
The plan now is to get the track the Selby covered. So it's on to 158853[\B] and 153330[\B] to Selby. I have a bit of time before the next train back so I decide to go for a bit of a wander. I've never been to Selby before, nor did I know what to expect but it seems like a really nice town - I'll have to come back at some point and give it a proper visit!
Back at Selby station it's back on board 158853 and 153330 back to Leeds. At Leeds the plan is to wait for the last train back to Hellifield (19:19), but I then spot an opportunity to get a winning 322: 322485. This now leaves me one 322 left to get! I get of at Shipley and manage to pick up the train to Hellifield from there, with the faithful palindrome unit, 158851, doing the honours.
26 September 2015: Mouldsworth
I had one of my regular trips to Chester today. However I had recently found out that many of the neighbouring stations offer exactly the same fare, so I decided to make the most of this and go for a required scratch. I arrived at Crewe, picked up my tickets and made my way to the platform. The sight of two 150s (winners 150236 and 150283) making up the Crewe-Chester shuttle could only mean one thing: the Chester races were on. Fortunately it was still early so there were none of the crowds yet. I took a seat in the front unit and we set off for Chester. The sun is out, offering some superb views across the Cheshire plain.
Business in Chester concluded I made my way back to the station. The place is absolutely
heaving with race-goers now. I make my way to the island platform to get away from the crowds and wait for the train. Winner 150275 and dud 142030 pull in, bound for Manchester via the mid-Cheshire line. I wait for the crowds to disembark and board to find the stench of booze and empty cans and bottles all over the place. You'd've thought they'd at least taken their litter with them!
I stay on for the one stop to Mouldsworth. It's a lovely station in surrounded by trees and appears to even have its own resident cat (although could do with a fresh coat of paint mind - the station, not the cat). I found a small leaflet dispenser on the platform containing books of railway walks along the mid-Cheshire line. This provided ample reading material while I waited the 20 minutes for the return trip and provides some inspiration for the near future? Eventually winner 150147 turned up along with dud
150116 to take me back to Chester.
The race going crowds had eased off now so my transfer to pick up the Crewe shuttle for home (still 150236 and 150286) was dead easy.
27 September 2015: Hartford and Winsford
A quick trip today to grab a couple more nearby stations: Hartford (in Cheshire) and Winsford. It was a bit too far to walk between the stations, so in true Kite159 style I assembled the folding bicycle (for what must be the first time in at least a year), pump the tyres and set off!
At Crewe I purchased a return to Hartford and then boarded dud 350239. I stay on for just one stop, getting off at Winsford. It's perfect cycling weather, so I get straight to it and cycle through the town, where I manage to pick up a very well maintained cycle path which follows the river. It's a great ride and I recommend it for anyone thinking about scratching these two shacks.
I arrive at Hartford just in time to catch winner 350251 back to Crewe.
30 September 2015: another Northern Day Ranger
The bus faces the usual battle with the Crewe traffic but I still make it to the station in time to get my ticket and jump onto 323227 to Stockport. Here I switch platforms and make a tight transfer onto double winners 156490 and 156466 for the one stop to Davenport, the first new station of the day. There's a 20 minute fester here, so I head out of the station and find a nearby park bench to do a bit of reading and have my morning pastry.
Back at Davenport and duds 150271 and 150117 along with winner 150201 arrive and it's then off to Buxton. We are delayed en route at Hazel Grove as one of the doors won't shut. It's at this point I realise Northern's 150s really are tired and perhaps poorly maintained. The seat I'm sat on has detached from the frame. The windows won't shut. The door to the back cab won't lock so the guard wander far from it. Anyway, we eventually make it to Buxton about 20 minutes late but still with plenty of time for me to have a decent look around this nice town before heading back to the station.
It's 150117 and 150201 for the journey back to Stockport (150271 has been left behind - maybe that was the one with the faulty doors?). It's now time for me to address a gap in my mid-Cheshire line coverage. So I board 150214. I am standing as far as Northwich, by which point there's no point in taking a seat as I'm off at the next stop: Greenbank. Not too much time to look around as I've got to get the next train back to Manchester Piccadilly, this time 150144.
I now want to address the gap in my coverage map between Manchester Victoria and Ashton-under-Lyne, which for some reason I still haven't got around to doing yet. So it;s a trek across town before on to duds 150141 and 156423 to Greenfield. After a short wait it's then onto 150211 towards Manchester Victoria and through to Salford Crescent.
Here I pick up 156459 to Buckshaw Parkway, followed by duds 150268 and 150274 to Leyland and then 156488 to Preston. We arrive just in time to see Tangmere pull into the old Royal Mail platforms, which is a nice bonus.
The task now is to get a bit of coverage on the Ormskirk branch line. I board winner 142042 and we set off. I have to say the countryside is really pretty along this line (even if a little flat). I stay on as far as Burcough Junction and then set off on a short walk towards Burscough Bridge station (stopping off at a shop to grab a can of diet coke along the way). Dud 150135 and winner 142061 then show up to take me to Deansgate.
There's just enough time to get in one more shack scratch before heading back to Crewe, so at Deansgate it's on to 156425 to Irlam, before getting 142028 and 150204 back to Manchester Oxford Road. A quick platform change here onto 323223 gets me to Piccadilly. I treat myself to a Burger King before getting 323230 back to Crewe.
All in all a good day - new coverage, plenty of new stations visited and some continuing good progress on clearing Northern's huge DMU fleet.
Any idea what it is like from Acton Bridge to Hartford?
