Let The Fun Begin
So after yonks since being out n about on the rails, Wednesday's trip starts later than expected but were in the Car making our way North West by about 11am. After a brief stop at Wetherby services for a much needed coffee and a Sarnie, we manage to arrive at base camp by half 2. After a quick dump of unneeded baggage and off to Bury Metrolink via a Taxi. We get our tickets and jump on winner
3046 for the ride to Man Vic, noting the passing trams as we go.
As we get to Man Vic theres a number of trams I add to the book of sights along with
195106 the sun is shining, so why not make hay. We make our way to Platform 4 and await our steed to Huddersfield. Dud 185136 arrives a couple down but its rammed, we clamber aboard and as expected its standing room only and it's so warm on board, I feel like an extra in Tenko (theres one for the kids to google).
Arriving at Huddersfield, it's a relief to get off 185136 and the blast of cool air when we step onto the platform, is an absolute God send. The other half nips to the shop to get cold drinks while I nip off the station for a ciggy. I return and we sit and watch the 185s pile into and out of Huddersfield. 802206 and 150211 save our soles and add a difference to proceedings before we get desiro'd to death. The other half and myself decide to wander up the platform, so I can show her the old coach and half of 144001 used for what I think, are some sort of classrooms, before wandering down to a different seat, to await the 17.18 to Man Vic.
Todays 17.18 Scarboro to Man Vic is in the hand of all round winner(sight and haulage)
68028 and a very welcome addition it is too. I do love the Moggies for haulage.
We get on the 2nd coach and are hit by the aircon and plenty space. We find a table seat and enjoy the Moggy thrashing it's way towards Manchester. Even in the coffin stock you can still hear the 68 thrash it's way up the gradients and through the tunnels. If they had windows you could open, the sound would be even more glorious. Like probably so many before me, I'm glad I've now done them both ways over the Pennines, as its kind of achieved a Railway bucket list by doing so. Loco hauled over the Pennines in my younger days(no doubt many others too) was an everyday occurrence but then the 158s killed it and all seemed lost to do it ever again. Unless on a rail tour. So when these loco hauled turns were mooted, I vowed to myself, any chance I could to do them, I would grasp it with both hands. As much as I love these moggies for haulage, for me they'll still not be as good as a 47(for me to say, that's hardly a statement that'll shock you all) or a 31 was, over the Pennines. but the 68s are certainly up there. I guess it's like meeting an old friend and talking about ole times.
Arriving back in Victorious Mancunia, I stood having a bit yack with the driver, who was waiting to check the guard had got off. Admitting he'd mistakenly drove the ECS away one day and taken a guard to Longsight with him and the guard wasnt exactly chuffed about it. The guard now free from tonights turn, waved to the driver, who was eagerly waiting to go and finish his shift, jumped back in the cab and growled 68028 away to Longsight.
That was our cue and we made for the tram, clicking a couple more 195s in the process. The other half wanted to ride the tram through the streets of Manchester, as she hadn't done so before. So being the gent that I am, I said no problem and after a few mins wait, in came tram
3081 which weaved us through the streets, to take us on the short trip to Pickled Mancunia, where I hoped I could add a few more 195s and 331s.
I indeed did too and after a short while of watching stuff come and go, I then decided we'd do a Stockport leap and seen as I hadnt tried a 331 for haulage, I thought now was as good a time as any to try. So when
331009 and
331022 pulled in, it was a no brainer, so we hastily jumped aboard. Both were all round winners for me. The other half laughing asked, do I need these ones, I just replied, if I need them, theres a bloody good chance you probably will. Oh that's good, I'm told. I'm not coming all this way to get duds.
My god folks, shes even grasping the terminology too.
The 331s are pretty standard fare, not a patch on the Northern Starships but I've had a go. The seats seem comfy enough, which makes a change because most of them are harder than the Hobbs of hell in this new stuff now.
At Stockport theres not a great deal to get excited about but the different liveries on an EMR 158 and 156 combo to Liverpool have the other half momentarily confused before she says, is that a 156 and 158. When I say, yes they are. Shes absolutely buzzing with herself and said, the colours threw me there. In triumph she goes and gets the coffee and a double decker as an accompaniment in, before we cross the platform and await the next winners to Piccalilly. Winner
150132 and dud 150119 do the honours. On the way back I cop
769448 and a couple more 331s yoo. Happy Days.
With the two of us starting to flag, I decide to have no more than half an hour on the station, before heading back to the trams to get back to Bury. This allows me to rope in
195105 and
397010 for the book of sights before we make our way downstairs.
3071 is our chariot, as we head back towards base camp, adding more trams to the list for the day.
It's not been a bad day. 28 new sightings. Half of which were the Manchester trams, but 1 loco and 13 new units as well, certainly pleased me.
So there endeth day 1 and which set us up nicely for Part 2 and a day at the ELR Diesel Gala.
To be continued............................
Bring it on! 
and getting bamboozled, instead of bowled but it's her rules. Who am I to tell anyone else how to do this hobby. We all have our own quirks on it.
