Zamracene749
Member
Having duly collected my tokens from the Hartlepool Mail/ Johnstone press day out offer, a free day between shifts presented itself as an opportunity to do some long neglected UK rail riding 
Starting reasonably well with an on time departure from my home village Haswell at 0948, Arriva NE Pulsar 1471 provided the link to my handiest northern rail station on a service 24 to Hartlepool. Riding familiar roads, we soon lose time. An endless parade of 'twirlies' mean we barely miss a stop, by Peterlee we are 7 minutes down and by Hartlepool we are 14 down, not helped by the ticket machine going tech outside of town. Punching, shaking and mild cussing won't fix it, the pensioners are moaning loudly about how there wouldn't be a bus service without them and their free passes, eventually we limp into Hartlepool at 1058, three pelican crossings and a 4 minute walk away from my hoped 1102 departure. It seems that the day has failed before it even got going
Joyfully,when i'm hoping that it will be late, the remote station displays show the 1102 to Hexham as on time.....I arrive with 45 seconds to spare, no queue at the ticket window and my ticket is issued swiftly and efficiently a few seconds later, and 142 070 screams around the station curves to form my first train of the day to Newcastle. Never been so pleased to see a 142
3+2 bus seated luxury throb a reasonably well loaded train along the pleasant Durham coast route to an on time arrival at Newcastle. We pass the sites of recently gone heavy colliery industry at Blackhall, Easington and Seaham, I reflect upon how quickly times change and quietly reminisce about the loaded class 56 hauled MGR trains with 36 HAAs loaded with English coal in tow that were so common around here.
Our pacer drops us at platform 8 at Newcastle http://www.railforums.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=21430&stc=1&d=1425674039
142026 lurks in the distance , waiting to form the 1222 to Carlisle, @25 minutes gives me time to buy a Sainsburys meal deal, a nice breakfast sarnie, pickled onion monster munch plus a bottle of diet coke for 3 quid. Gourmet eh?
The guard opens the doors on '026 early, a decent crowd board and we cross the Tyne on time. The journey to Hexham is uneventful, but as we pass under the classic signalbox the sun is starting to show it's face. The cold river glistens beautifully as our paths criss cross as far as Halwhistle, where we part company and head up into the wilder bits of Hadrians wall country, bits of the roman builders work visible around Gilsland. Brampton passes, then we cross the viaduct over the pretty river Eden at Wetheral. Shortly Carlisle comes into view, with what I always thought of as Carlisle's Eiffel tower, the radio mast at Harraby beckoning us into Citadel station. I've enjoyed the ride, but I can imagine that a non railfan being crammed feotus style into hard seats with one leg being roasted by the heater on a throbbing rattly railbus is is perhaps not perfect. A 156 would have been nicer
An easy 10 minute connection, 158794 heads another unidentified 2 car 158 on the 1404 Leeds service
Freightliner 70011 lurks between platforms, whilst DRS 68004 Rapid passes on a railtour. Progress!
We leave Carlisle on time, it's now well past beer o clock so I avail myself of 5 'Wyvern beers' brewed for the Settle Carlisle railway from the trolley, and very very nice they are too. The train is quiet up to Ais Gill, the weather is thankfully clear and the views defy superlatives- i've travelled many lines across Europe but this is undoubtably one of the best routes in the world on a good day such as this, not many routes run as high across the scenery. Ribblehead passes splendidly, we drop down to Horton where we pick up a decent crowd of silver haired ramblers and I eventually bail at Keighley. I have had an an amazing journey, the 158 was tired and a bit uncomfortable, I would have preferred the old type 4 hauled MK1 compartment stock that I first rode on this line lol but the journey was as stunning as possible.
An unidentified, on time 333 then took me to Saltaire where I left the railway for a short while to look around town (Fanny's Ale House, highly recommended ). A pretty and fascinating place, worth a proper visit one day it's now on my list of towns to explore properly.
The 1910 service to Leeds provided my next journey, another 333 of course. these are nice trains, IMO a worthy successor to the 308s that they replaced.
Because i'm on a Northern rover, i'm a little bit limited on my trip towards York. A 150 roars out on the Harrogate line just as we arrive, so I opt for the 1948 service, formed of 158904. 904 makes me realise just how tired the interior on 794 was, same dark blue moquette but the seat squabs on 794 were that worn out that the plastic seat dividers were sitting proud of the cushions! Not comfy on long distance.....
Another on time arrival, time for a quick pint in the york tap then it's back for my last train of the day, 220014 on the 2048 to Durham. 15 quid for a phone purchased advance, she is lightly loaded and makes easy work of the trip down the ECML to Durham, I can't help but notice that this is the first train today that I have ridden with decent legroom and half comfortable seats! Yes they are rattly, but it could be worse....
So, arrival on time in Durham, i've enjoyed a thoroughly relaxing, reliable, dirt cheap day out on our wonderful British railways. All that remains is to get home, and Arriva NE Pulsar 1417 lets us on early and runs on time from Durham on the 2212 service 24 back home.
One happy wanderer
PS, reading this report over I realise I've focused on the scenery and metalware. It should also be mentioned that without fail, on the whole trip, the rail staff I encountered were absolutely spot on, friendly, professional and a credit to the railways.... worth saying that they helped make the trip as pleasant as it was
Starting reasonably well with an on time departure from my home village Haswell at 0948, Arriva NE Pulsar 1471 provided the link to my handiest northern rail station on a service 24 to Hartlepool. Riding familiar roads, we soon lose time. An endless parade of 'twirlies' mean we barely miss a stop, by Peterlee we are 7 minutes down and by Hartlepool we are 14 down, not helped by the ticket machine going tech outside of town. Punching, shaking and mild cussing won't fix it, the pensioners are moaning loudly about how there wouldn't be a bus service without them and their free passes, eventually we limp into Hartlepool at 1058, three pelican crossings and a 4 minute walk away from my hoped 1102 departure. It seems that the day has failed before it even got going
Joyfully,when i'm hoping that it will be late, the remote station displays show the 1102 to Hexham as on time.....I arrive with 45 seconds to spare, no queue at the ticket window and my ticket is issued swiftly and efficiently
a few seconds later, and 142 070 screams around the station curves to form my first train of the day to Newcastle. Never been so pleased to see a 142 3+2 bus seated luxury throb a reasonably well loaded train along the pleasant Durham coast route to an on time arrival at Newcastle. We pass the sites of recently gone heavy colliery industry at Blackhall, Easington and Seaham, I reflect upon how quickly times change and quietly reminisce about the loaded class 56 hauled MGR trains with 36 HAAs loaded with English coal in tow that were so common around here.
Our pacer drops us at platform 8 at Newcastle http://www.railforums.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=21430&stc=1&d=1425674039
142026 lurks in the distance , waiting to form the 1222 to Carlisle, @25 minutes gives me time to buy a Sainsburys meal deal, a nice breakfast sarnie, pickled onion monster munch plus a bottle of diet coke for 3 quid. Gourmet eh?
The guard opens the doors on '026 early, a decent crowd board and we cross the Tyne on time. The journey to Hexham is uneventful, but as we pass under the classic signalbox the sun is starting to show it's face. The cold river glistens beautifully as our paths criss cross as far as Halwhistle, where we part company and head up into the wilder bits of Hadrians wall country, bits of the roman builders work visible around Gilsland. Brampton passes, then we cross the viaduct over the pretty river Eden at Wetheral. Shortly Carlisle comes into view, with what I always thought of as Carlisle's Eiffel tower, the radio mast at Harraby beckoning us into Citadel station. I've enjoyed the ride, but I can imagine that a non railfan being crammed feotus style into hard seats with one leg being roasted by the heater on a throbbing rattly railbus is is perhaps not perfect. A 156 would have been nicer
An easy 10 minute connection, 158794 heads another unidentified 2 car 158 on the 1404 Leeds service
Freightliner 70011 lurks between platforms, whilst DRS 68004 Rapid passes on a railtour. Progress!
We leave Carlisle on time, it's now well past beer o clock so I avail myself of 5 'Wyvern beers' brewed for the Settle Carlisle railway from the trolley, and very very nice they are too. The train is quiet up to Ais Gill, the weather is thankfully clear and the views defy superlatives- i've travelled many lines across Europe but this is undoubtably one of the best routes in the world on a good day such as this, not many routes run as high across the scenery. Ribblehead passes splendidly, we drop down to Horton where we pick up a decent crowd of silver haired ramblers and I eventually bail at Keighley. I have had an an amazing journey, the 158 was tired and a bit uncomfortable, I would have preferred the old type 4 hauled MK1 compartment stock that I first rode on this line lol but the journey was as stunning as possible.
An unidentified, on time 333 then took me to Saltaire where I left the railway for a short while to look around town (Fanny's Ale House, highly recommended
). A pretty and fascinating place, worth a proper visit one day it's now on my list of towns to explore properly.The 1910 service to Leeds provided my next journey, another 333 of course. these are nice trains, IMO a worthy successor to the 308s that they replaced.
Because i'm on a Northern rover, i'm a little bit limited on my trip towards York. A 150 roars out on the Harrogate line just as we arrive, so I opt for the 1948 service, formed of 158904. 904 makes me realise just how tired the interior on 794 was, same dark blue moquette but the seat squabs on 794 were that worn out that the plastic seat dividers were sitting proud of the cushions! Not comfy on long distance.....
Another on time arrival, time for a quick pint in the york tap then it's back for my last train of the day, 220014 on the 2048 to Durham. 15 quid for a phone purchased advance, she is lightly loaded and makes easy work of the trip down the ECML to Durham, I can't help but notice that this is the first train today that I have ridden with decent legroom and half comfortable seats! Yes they are rattly, but it could be worse....
So, arrival on time in Durham, i've enjoyed a thoroughly relaxing, reliable, dirt cheap day out on our wonderful British railways. All that remains is to get home, and Arriva NE Pulsar 1417 lets us on early and runs on time from Durham on the 2212 service 24 back home.
One happy wanderer
PS, reading this report over I realise I've focused on the scenery and metalware. It should also be mentioned that without fail, on the whole trip, the rail staff I encountered were absolutely spot on, friendly, professional and a credit to the railways.... worth saying that they helped make the trip as pleasant as it was
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