Visiting Cambridge North
I decided on a quick drive by night exploration of Cambridge as a precursor to my upcoming trip to remote Scotland in a couple of weeks to get back into the swing of long-distance driving and bagging station 2563 (using All The Stations counter).
The evening began with a drive through Aspull to the M61/M60 to Oldham, through Lees and taking the A635 all the way to the A1(M) near Doncaster. The twilight sky was a lovely setting as I drove over the tops of the moors bisecting Oldham and Holmfirth picking up pace on this straight section. The moors gave way to the long descent into a Saturday night in Holmfirth, with the streets and people looking very resplendent.
I led a convoy of cars from Holmfirth upto Denby Dale before the crossroads split us all off. The full moon silhoutted the viaduct for the Penistone line which would probably be awaiting it's last usage for this evening.
An unexpectedly twisty section of road led me to the edge of Barnsley. I drove around the north side gingerly as the road signs are a bit unclear. Also the very steep approach to the town centre isn't amenable to my car. Barnsley's subrbs began to thin out as Dearne Valley villages came into view.
Some roundabouts later, I reached a disappointment. The A1 had '50' signs for animals in the road that were not there. A second disappointment was overnight roadworks encouraging southbound drivers to take the M1 and an extra 50 miles on to the journey. I began to regret my decision to not take the M6. However the motorway was a great run all the way down to Catthorpe interchange which looks 80% complete and very impressive.
I take the A14 and am surprised at the flow of traffic towards the east of the country at this time of night. Kettering seems to entice speeding drivers, at least on this section of dual-carriageway.
The approach to Cambridge slows to 40mph due to roadworks. There is a light mist in the area. I reach Cambridge North 3.5 hours after I set off which I think is good timing for the route.
I'm impressed by the wall design inspired by the great mathematician John Horton Conway and take some time to walk around this empty station apart from many cars still in the car park.
I drive home via Peterborough services on the M1 where I pick up a latte and decide upon a cross-country route through South Witham, Melton Mowbray, and Derby to join the M6 for the traditional route from London to the North West of England.
I reach the gorgeous Derwent Valley and Belper at about 5am and decide to take a closer look and a bit of a catnap at Cromford station based on Geoff and Vicki's (All The Stations) re-imaging of the Oasis album cover. Cromford is most charming and has a guest house on the disused platform.
At Cromford, I wonder if the village of Crich, high above the Derwent, would permit easy access to their heritage tram network. A 20 minute climb up the valley led me to a fence through which I take in a view that's little changed in many years. It appears that Tramway World is an enclosed section of Crich and not integrated into the whole village as I imagined. Still, this place would be worth a return visit.
I drop back to the A6 and stop at Matlock station because I forget what it looked like. Many birds were calling within the station, some of which I disturbed as I had a good look around.
I continue through the Peak District in the morning sun with no other cars until a solitary lorry passes me just outside of Buxton. I opt to stop at Chapel-en-le-Frith and seem to snooze for 40 minutes waking up to the people who put the timetable posters up at stations packing up and ready to leave. I also leave shortly afterwards.
The A6 is breached by roadworks forcing Manchester bound users to deviate through New Mills, Strines and Marple. I rejoin the A6 south of Levenshulme and turn off it again for a McDonalds breakfast.
I make my pilgrimage to Ardwick station. I haven't been here in a while. There is work on the wall above turning the imposing walk into a partly darkened tunnel adding further to the reluctance for people to use this station, except for inquisitive persons and spotters.
I arrive home 40 minutes later to a very sunny Wigan.
Travelling along the once-daily (M-Sat) Parkside Junction West chord
Today I take the only route out of Wigan I have never done - the 0644 to Liverpool Lime Street via Newton-le-Willows.
The train is a 150+142 combination and I arrive to see a fellow passenger - a man and his pushbike. We join for the fast hop to Golborne and sluggish right turn through Parkside Junction. I am pleased to tick this niggling bit of track off so close to home. I wonder if Lord Techniquest and other forum members have turned up bleary eyed or bright eyed and bushy tailed for this curve.
The rest of the morning's outward journey adds single-digit passengers at every station until I depart at Whiston. I knew I'd have a bit of a wait at Huyton so I thought I'd use the 20 minute walk to Prescot to be a bit productive. I arrive with ten minutes for my return journey to Wigan which is uneventful bar from my dismay at Bryn - the odd one out on this line which is run by TfGM (not Merseytravel) and is looked after by sod all in my opinion.
I decided on a quick drive by night exploration of Cambridge as a precursor to my upcoming trip to remote Scotland in a couple of weeks to get back into the swing of long-distance driving and bagging station 2563 (using All The Stations counter).
The evening began with a drive through Aspull to the M61/M60 to Oldham, through Lees and taking the A635 all the way to the A1(M) near Doncaster. The twilight sky was a lovely setting as I drove over the tops of the moors bisecting Oldham and Holmfirth picking up pace on this straight section. The moors gave way to the long descent into a Saturday night in Holmfirth, with the streets and people looking very resplendent.
I led a convoy of cars from Holmfirth upto Denby Dale before the crossroads split us all off. The full moon silhoutted the viaduct for the Penistone line which would probably be awaiting it's last usage for this evening.
An unexpectedly twisty section of road led me to the edge of Barnsley. I drove around the north side gingerly as the road signs are a bit unclear. Also the very steep approach to the town centre isn't amenable to my car. Barnsley's subrbs began to thin out as Dearne Valley villages came into view.
Some roundabouts later, I reached a disappointment. The A1 had '50' signs for animals in the road that were not there. A second disappointment was overnight roadworks encouraging southbound drivers to take the M1 and an extra 50 miles on to the journey. I began to regret my decision to not take the M6. However the motorway was a great run all the way down to Catthorpe interchange which looks 80% complete and very impressive.
I take the A14 and am surprised at the flow of traffic towards the east of the country at this time of night. Kettering seems to entice speeding drivers, at least on this section of dual-carriageway.
The approach to Cambridge slows to 40mph due to roadworks. There is a light mist in the area. I reach Cambridge North 3.5 hours after I set off which I think is good timing for the route.
I'm impressed by the wall design inspired by the great mathematician John Horton Conway and take some time to walk around this empty station apart from many cars still in the car park.
I drive home via Peterborough services on the M1 where I pick up a latte and decide upon a cross-country route through South Witham, Melton Mowbray, and Derby to join the M6 for the traditional route from London to the North West of England.
I reach the gorgeous Derwent Valley and Belper at about 5am and decide to take a closer look and a bit of a catnap at Cromford station based on Geoff and Vicki's (All The Stations) re-imaging of the Oasis album cover. Cromford is most charming and has a guest house on the disused platform.
At Cromford, I wonder if the village of Crich, high above the Derwent, would permit easy access to their heritage tram network. A 20 minute climb up the valley led me to a fence through which I take in a view that's little changed in many years. It appears that Tramway World is an enclosed section of Crich and not integrated into the whole village as I imagined. Still, this place would be worth a return visit.
I drop back to the A6 and stop at Matlock station because I forget what it looked like. Many birds were calling within the station, some of which I disturbed as I had a good look around.
I continue through the Peak District in the morning sun with no other cars until a solitary lorry passes me just outside of Buxton. I opt to stop at Chapel-en-le-Frith and seem to snooze for 40 minutes waking up to the people who put the timetable posters up at stations packing up and ready to leave. I also leave shortly afterwards.
The A6 is breached by roadworks forcing Manchester bound users to deviate through New Mills, Strines and Marple. I rejoin the A6 south of Levenshulme and turn off it again for a McDonalds breakfast.
I make my pilgrimage to Ardwick station. I haven't been here in a while. There is work on the wall above turning the imposing walk into a partly darkened tunnel adding further to the reluctance for people to use this station, except for inquisitive persons and spotters.
I arrive home 40 minutes later to a very sunny Wigan.
Travelling along the once-daily (M-Sat) Parkside Junction West chord
Today I take the only route out of Wigan I have never done - the 0644 to Liverpool Lime Street via Newton-le-Willows.
The train is a 150+142 combination and I arrive to see a fellow passenger - a man and his pushbike. We join for the fast hop to Golborne and sluggish right turn through Parkside Junction. I am pleased to tick this niggling bit of track off so close to home. I wonder if Lord Techniquest and other forum members have turned up bleary eyed or bright eyed and bushy tailed for this curve.
The rest of the morning's outward journey adds single-digit passengers at every station until I depart at Whiston. I knew I'd have a bit of a wait at Huyton so I thought I'd use the 20 minute walk to Prescot to be a bit productive. I arrive with ten minutes for my return journey to Wigan which is uneventful bar from my dismay at Bryn - the odd one out on this line which is run by TfGM (not Merseytravel) and is looked after by sod all in my opinion.
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Saves staying overnight in Wigan to do it early morning 