NorthWestRover's trip reports: Will it be the same?

[NorthWestRover]

After 30 years away from doing moves on trains, I'm buying a 7 day North West Rover to start 1st September (a challenge given the strike) and will post my moves on here to motivate me and for anyone to comment on. Will be interesting to see what emotions get stirred. Gonna do some routes I've never done (not many in NW), the very limited loco-hauled stuff, a bit of tourism and see where I end up. Should be fun.

G

 

[87electric]

Have fun. I'll be interested in your observations and feelings after all your time away from the hobby.

 

[55013]

Welcome back
I too look forward to hearing how you get on.
The Cumbrian coast gives you the opportunity the sample the old and the new.
It will be nice to hear your opinions of the new 68s and how they compare with the old warhorse 37s.

 

[The_Train]

As you will see from my posts on those threads where people have headed down memory lane, I love hearing about the bygone eras of rail because it stirs my own memories so I will definitely look forward to reading of your trips and how you feel they compare to when you last did it

 

[NorthWestRover]

Yeah, @The_Train, I read your thread after posting mine. Interesting stuff. I'm not into spotting as such (that lasted about six years from 76 to 82) and won't be spending 8 hours on a platform! As I say, I'm going to see where things take me - it'll even be unplanned at some points.

G

 

[NorthWestRover]

The Cumbrian coast gives you the opportunity the sample the old and the new.
It will be nice to hear your opinions of the new 68s and how they compare with the old warhorse 37s.

I will certainly be doing that. Not only for the loco-hauled, but I've never done the line north of Millom
.

G

 

[433N]

Yeah, @The_Train, I read your thread after posting mine. Interesting stuff. I'm not into spotting as such (that lasted about six years from 76 to 82) and won't be spending 8 hours on a platform!

Ah, you say that now ...

 

[55013]

If you fancy stopping off for some sightseeing, St Bees Priory (visible from the station) is well worth a visit.
The coast run is nice as well - sit on the left going North for the best views.

 

[NorthWestRover]

If you fancy stopping off for some sightseeing, St Bees Priory (visible from the station) is well worth a visit.
The coast run is nice as well - sit on the left going North for the best views.

Thanks for the tip. Reading some of the other threads, I am a little worried at the number of cancellations there appear to be on the Cumbrian Coast.

 

[NorthWestRover]

So...... The biggest obvious change in the past 30 years is the now near total dominance of units of some sort or other. What is the accepted way of recording them for "haulage"? The number on the front ? And if there's more than one forming a train?

 

[47403]

Enjoy. I loved that Rover when i done it. Im sure you'll love the 68s, I've yet to hear someone who doesn't. Given the right driver, the 37s are always fun, especially through Corkicle Tunnel.
As regards recording the number, yeah it's just the number on the front. Don't forget there's the 67 on the 16.50 Man Picc-Llandudno to go for too, which you can take as far as Chester.

 

[Kite159]

So...... The biggest obvious change in the past 30 years is the now near total dominance of units of some sort or other. What is the accepted way of recording them for "haulage"? The number on the front ? And if there's more than one forming a train?

Number on the front is the most accepted way to logging the units.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Don't forget there's the 67 on the 16.50 Man Picc-Llandudno to go for too, which you can take as far as Chester.

Morning diagram too?

Manchester to Chester is a move I have done a million times, but that was from Victoria, of course.

 

[FQ]

Morning diagram too?

Manchester to Chester is a move I have done a million times, but that was from Victoria, of course.

Indeed there is. The diagram is this:
07:11 Crewe-Chester
07:38 Chester-Manchester Picc
09:53 Manchester Picc-Holyhead
13:05 Holyhead-Manchester Picc
16:50 Manchester Picc-Llandudno
19:34 Llandudno-Crewe

 

[NorthWestRover]

Thought so from the thread elsewhere on this site. I'm quite excited about my return to a week of train travel.

 

[PeterY]

I hope you have a good time. I had quite a long time away from travelling for one reason and another. Catching up now I've my Senior Card.
Starting a 2 week ALR on Friday.

 

[NorthWestRover]

What types of units are there in the region?

 

[NorthWestRover]

Starting a 2 week ALR on Friday.

Never did one of those, but I remember there was once a promotion with Kellogg's I think which meant I managed to have a return ticket from Wick to Penzance or some such and I'm sure it only cost a tenner or was it even that? Early 1980s. I remember the guard angrily gripping my ticket in about 15 places when he saw the distance I'd covered and I'd not done anything out of order. Will have to dig my moves book out but it would certainly have included big mileage behind 37s in Scotland, 87s Glasgow to London and 50s Paddington to Penzance.

 

[PeterY]

Never did one of those, but I remember there was once a promotion with Kellogg's I think which meant I managed to have a return ticket from Wick to Penzance or some such and I'm sure it only cost a tenner or was it even that? Early 1980s. I remember the guard angrily gripping my ticket in about 15 places when he saw the distance I'd covered and I'd not done anything out of order. Will have to dig my moves book out but it would certainly have included big mileage behind 37s in Scotland, 87s Glasgow to London and 50s Paddington to Penzance.

I'm mainly using my 2 weeks ALR, to cover as many new lines as possible. I don't do unit numbers. Also a chance to see my daughter in North Wales, friends in Sheffield, Stafford and Exmouth.(Cheap nights accomodation) Starting off tomorrow from Marylebone for the Chiltern "Mainline" experience. Full report once I get back home.

 

[NorthWestRover]

I look forward to the reports. I used to have family in Exmouth so know that branch very well.

 

[55013]

What types of units are there in the region?

In the North West you could see 142, 150, 153, 156, 158, 221 and 390.
Depending on where you are you may also see a 144 if you're really lucky

 

[NorthWestRover]

Right, I'll try and travel on at least one of each of those.

 

[55013]

I forgot the TPE 350s!

 

[NorthWestRover]

What's on Merseyrail? Still 507/508?

 

[55013]

I also forgot Merseyrail was valid on a North West.
Yes, they still use the PEPs, although replacements are on their way.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Well, I am definitely doing it as I've bought my ticket now.

First recorded moves for nigh on 30 years this morning to go to staffed station to buy the ticket.

150 112 Padgate to Warrington Central
150 110 + 142 049 Warrington Central to Padgate (travelled in the latter).

So that's two unit classes ticked off already.

Saw 156 and 158 on EMT trains too.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Freedom of the North West 7 Day Rover - DAY ONE

Strike on Northern, so decided to focus early on Merseyrail before using Arriva Trains Wales to get to Manchester and then Transpennine Express.

158 813 + 158 858 Warrington Central to Hunts Cross
508 126 + 507 010 Hunts Cross to Liverpool Central
508 111 Liverpool Central to Hamilton Square
507 025 Hamilton Square to New Brighton
Walk along the prom and the "beach"
508 139 New Brighton to Birkenhead North
507 028 Birkenhead North to West Kirby
Lovely coffee at Ruben's on Banks Road, then walk around Marine Lake
507 028 West Kirby to Bidston
150 208 Bidston to Shotton - NEW LINE
150 213 Shotton to Bidston
507 028 (following me around!) Bidston to Liverpool Moorfields
507 015 Liverpool Moorfields to Chester
175 103 Chester to Manchester Airport
156 464 + 156 440 + 156 451 Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly
185 121 Manchester Piccadilly to Stalybridge
Half pint of Abbeydale "Daily Bread" in the buffet bar
185 139 Stalybridge to Huddersfield
Pint of Kelham Island "Easy Rider" in the King's Head
185 140 Huddersfield to Manchester Piccadilly
158 813 Manchester Piccadilly to Warrington Central

Classes of unit travelled on:-

150 - 2
156 - 1
158 - 2
175 - 1
185 - 3
507 - 6 (inc repeats)
508 - 2

Total - 17

One new line (Bidston to Shotton)

 

[55013]

That looks like a very good day.
A triple 156 from the airport is unusual, presumably that was because of the strike.

 

[Kite159]

A good first day

 

[NorthWestRover]

Freedom of the North West 7 Day Rover - DAY TWO

Sunday, so usual restrictions on travel in certain areas and one or two bus replacements here or there. Anyway, I've always fancied Hebden Bridge, so that was my first destination and then see where I ended up.

175 010 Warrington Bank Quay to Manchester Oxford Road
Walk to Manchester Victoria
158 753 Manchester Victoria to Hebden Bridge
Couple of pleasant hours here
150 277 + 150 210 Hebden Bridge to Bradford Interchange
158 792 Bradford Interchange to Huddersfield NEW LINE BETWEEN HALIFAX AND DEIGHTON VIA BRIGHOUSE
185 114 Huddersfield to Dewsbury
Pint of Riverhead Brewery Mild in the station buffet
185 105 Dewsbury to Leeds
158 816 Leeds to Carlisle (bit different to 40122 and a rake of carriages)
350 408 + 350 407 Carlisle to Preston
390 153 Preston to Warrington BQ

Classes of unit travelled on:-

150 - 1
158 - 3
175 - 1
185 - 2
350 - 1
390 - 1

Total - 9

One new line (Halifax to Huddersfield via Brighouse)