Having read about the new Northern Rail Explorer pass, in special offers section, I couldn’t wait to use this for a really good day out wandering around the Northern Network, so decided to do this day out on Sat 20th June, starting from Sandbach. Reason for choice of this station was ease of access from M6 , which useful as I was driving up from near Tiverton which was about 200 mile drive, and it has a Northern Rail Tvp so easy to buy pass.
So on Sat 20th June, i set off about 00.45 am for the overnight drive to Sandbach, for 05.52 to Man Pic which produced 331104, with an on time arrival in Man Pic at 06.40, with approx 20 mins to next train, i grabbed a quick Costa Hot chocolate, then caught 07.00 to Man Airport which was 195117, then 07.29 man airport to Barrow In Furness which again 195117, with arrival about 5 late. Barrow was a pleasant enough station to wait hour approx for next train, with nice Semaphores Signals, and grabbed a Costa Hot chocolate, before catching 10.49 to Lancaster which produced 195112, then from Lancaster after short wait caught 12.11 to Morecambe which was 158842, then 158842 again on the 12.33 to Leeds, which was a nice scenic run and old railway feel about it with Semaphore signals and nice stations, and 158s had no air con in my coach which known for, with some of the windows not being able to be opened, but with temperature not too hot was not too un bearable.
With about 30 mins before next train I grabbed a Costa cold Frappe drink to refresh myself a bit, before catching 15.06 to York which was 170745, and I was enjoying doing routes not done for ages, with the Leeds-Harrogate-York line being one not done before i think, or was very long time ago. After a 50 minute wait in York, and grabbing another Costa cold Frappe, caught unit 150114 on 16.53 to York, which went via Uleskelf-Pontrefact Baghill-Rotherham, which was interesting route as its a limited service of few trains a day, though didnt think much of the 150 as was 3 abreast seating and worst train of day in my opinion. After about hour wait in Sheffield and grabbing another cold drink. caught the 20.14 to Man Pic, which produced 195114, and a nice scenic run to Manchester. Then last train of day was 331108 to Sandbach.
I had a great day wandering around the Northern Rail network, with my main objective being visiting scenic lines and ones not done for while or before, and though noted units on each train im not into spotting trains and logging them all, though like know which units etc been on. All trains were within 10 mins of time and some spot on time, and no cancellations, so feel had a pretty lucky day out. As expected after about 9am the trains started to get busy with some having standing passengers, so overall a great day out and im going to do another Northern Rail Explorer pass day out, to cover more of the Northern Rail Network which not done before or for long time and scenic. I can highly recommend getting this ticket as great value, as I got £166.90 worth of fares out of it, but next time probably just not concentrate so much on getting high value out of it.
So on Sat 20th June, i set off about 00.45 am for the overnight drive to Sandbach, for 05.52 to Man Pic which produced 331104, with an on time arrival in Man Pic at 06.40, with approx 20 mins to next train, i grabbed a quick Costa Hot chocolate, then caught 07.00 to Man Airport which was 195117, then 07.29 man airport to Barrow In Furness which again 195117, with arrival about 5 late. Barrow was a pleasant enough station to wait hour approx for next train, with nice Semaphores Signals, and grabbed a Costa Hot chocolate, before catching 10.49 to Lancaster which produced 195112, then from Lancaster after short wait caught 12.11 to Morecambe which was 158842, then 158842 again on the 12.33 to Leeds, which was a nice scenic run and old railway feel about it with Semaphore signals and nice stations, and 158s had no air con in my coach which known for, with some of the windows not being able to be opened, but with temperature not too hot was not too un bearable.
With about 30 mins before next train I grabbed a Costa cold Frappe drink to refresh myself a bit, before catching 15.06 to York which was 170745, and I was enjoying doing routes not done for ages, with the Leeds-Harrogate-York line being one not done before i think, or was very long time ago. After a 50 minute wait in York, and grabbing another Costa cold Frappe, caught unit 150114 on 16.53 to York, which went via Uleskelf-Pontrefact Baghill-Rotherham, which was interesting route as its a limited service of few trains a day, though didnt think much of the 150 as was 3 abreast seating and worst train of day in my opinion. After about hour wait in Sheffield and grabbing another cold drink. caught the 20.14 to Man Pic, which produced 195114, and a nice scenic run to Manchester. Then last train of day was 331108 to Sandbach.
I had a great day wandering around the Northern Rail network, with my main objective being visiting scenic lines and ones not done for while or before, and though noted units on each train im not into spotting trains and logging them all, though like know which units etc been on. All trains were within 10 mins of time and some spot on time, and no cancellations, so feel had a pretty lucky day out. As expected after about 9am the trains started to get busy with some having standing passengers, so overall a great day out and im going to do another Northern Rail Explorer pass day out, to cover more of the Northern Rail Network which not done before or for long time and scenic. I can highly recommend getting this ticket as great value, as I got £166.90 worth of fares out of it, but next time probably just not concentrate so much on getting high value out of it.