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

[The_Train]

Looks like it's been a good opening couple of days to your rover

 

[55013]

Hebden Bridge is a lovely part of the world.
Looks like you're getting good value from the ticket, I'm looking forward to the next instalment.

 

[NorthWestRover]

FREEDOM OF THE NORTH WEST ROVER DAY 3

After barely seeing a loco in the first two days, I planned today to do the Arrival Trains Wales 67 hauled train and also cover a bit of track I'd not done before (on normal, scheduled trains that is).

150 144 Padgate to Manchester Oxford Road
150 115 + 142 052 Oxford Road to Piccadilly
67 010 Manchester Piccadilly to Chester
175 110 Chester to Newton-le- Willows
185 151 NLW to Liverpool Lime St
323 233 Liverpool Lime St to Lea Green
319 376 Lea Green to Rainhill
323 238 Rainhill to Warrington Bank Quay (did the Earlestown curve for the first time on a train that wasn't a diversion or an excursion)
I was now intending to do a few Pendolino thrashes between Warrington, Wigan, Preston before getting back to Liverpool by 6pm to get to another missing bit of track. However, I then realised that 67 010 was about to reappear so...
67 010 Warrington Bank Quay to Piccadilly
185 131 Piccadilly to Victoria (never done that before).
142 047 + 142 078 Man Vic to Wigan Wallgate via Walkden
390 009 Wigan North Western to Warrington BQ
175 103 Warrington BQ to Helsby
A Class 70 passed through on a freight working - I didn't even know there was a Class 70!!
142 042 Helsby to Ellesmere Port (NEW LINE).
Only did one way so I could complete the whole of the Wirral Line on this rover.
507 015 Ellesmere Port to Liverpool Lime St (which I'd had from Liverpool to Chester on Saturday!)
156 440 + 156 451 Lime St to Warrington Central (which was two thirds of the 3 * 156 I had from the airport on Saturday!!)
150 144 Central to Padgate (same unit I started out on this morning!!!).

With those repeats, it's lucky I'm not that bothered about recording these to clear any classes etc...

So, in summary today

A loco - yippee - twice....

Units today...

142 - 3
150 - 2 (same one repeated) plus one with a 142
156 - 1
175 - 2
185 - 2
319 - 1
323 - 2
390 - 1
507 - 1

Total - 15 plus two with locos.

New lines:-

Direct from Piccadilly to Victoria
Helsby to Ellesmere Port

I've done 4 new sections of line in the first three days plus rode on the following unit classes - 142, 150, 156, 158, 175, 185, 319, 323, 350, 390, 507, 508 (12).

On to Tuesday ...

 

[47403]

Not a bad few days there. Triple 156 is a new one on me too.
Not knowing there's 70s certainly brings back memories when I first came back, an N Power liveried 59, confused me, I remember it coming towards me, thinking what the hell is a 59 doing up here, id seen 001-004, at Merehead before i'd rapped it in, then soon after a similar looking locos in EWS livery, had me totally confused. The latter was obviously a 66. Also the 60s I was intrigued and these drew me back out. So i can certainly understand your confusion.
I look forward to the rest of your trip report.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Well, domestic strife led to Day 4 being cancelled. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

 

[NorthWestRover]

FREEDOM OF THE NORTH WEST ROVER DAY 4

Well, after yesterday's hiatus it was back out today but it didn't turn out as planned, as you will see. Also, for reasons too weird to explain, I've got overlapping rovers so will be out until Friday, then Sunday and Monday. Anyway, on to today's moves...

150 114 Padgate to Manchester Oxford Road
319 378 Oxford Road to Preston (via Golborne)
The intention was to leave this at Wigan and shoot up to Carlisle for the 12.08 loco hauled on the Cumbrian Coast. Well, signal failure at Wigan scuppered that, but as it turned out the Cumbrian Coast was a mess today so I was saved a wasted trip so far North.

390 154 Preston to Oxenholme
156 426 Oxenholme to Windermere

Walk down to Bowness to eat my lunch by the lake, then walk back up the hill...

158 791 Windermere to Lancaster
144 015 Lancaster to Skipton
Lovely trip on the Bentham Line on this 3-car unit in Metro/South Yorkshire branding.
333 007 Skipton to Bradford Forster Square
333 015 BFS to Shipley
322 484 Shipley to Leeds
Hadn't realised I was going to get these units here. Was expecting Pacers/Sprinters
185 122 Leeds to Huddersfield
Pint of Naylor's Brewery "Yorkshire Ale" in The Head of Steam at the station.
185 149 Hudds to Manchester Oxford Road (via Man Vic)
142 032 + 142 040 Oxford Road to Padgate

So, in summary units today

142 - 1
144 - 1
150 - 1
156 - 1
158 - 1
185 - 2
319 - 1
322 - 1
330 - 2
390 - 1

Total - 12

New lines:-

In and out of Bradford Forster Square

 

[47403]

That wasn't too bad a day. Shame the Cumbria Coast move fell by the wayside, there's always another day to attack it though.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Made it to the Cumbrian Coast. Report tonight.

 

[47403]

Made it to the Cumbrian Coast. Report tonight.

Look forward to it.

 

[NorthWestRover]

FREEDOM OF THE NORTH WEST ROVER DAY 5

As indicated earlier, I made it on to the Cumbrian Coast today and here's a report of the day...

390 135 Warrington BQ to Carlisle

On arrival at Carlisle, I spotted some locos lurking round the back - 37 607 and 37 175 topping and tailing a track inspection set and 57 307 on its own.

I then wandered up to Platform 2 to await the Barrow training with fingers crossed it wouldn't be a unit. Well, sure enough the scheduled 37 turned up - 37 425. I took my seat and we pulled out on time. And travelled about 100 yards before grinding to a halt! As far as the signal box for those who know it. All was quiet and the guard came through looking very flustered, followed by an announcement that there was a problem with the brakes!! Twenty minutes later we did set off (in the meantime two freight trains hauled by 66s had passed by - one double header, one on its own.

37 425 Carlisle to St Bees

Thanks to @55013 for the recommendation of St Bees. The ancient priory was very interesting and was followed by a wander to and along the beach before getting back to the station.

156 454 St Bees to Ravenglass

4 X Class 88 locos parked up at Sellafield amongst the nuclear waste flasks. How odd.

Half pint of Cumbrian Legendary Ales "Loweswater Gold" in the Ratty Arms

68 005 + 68 033 Ravenglass to Carlisle
350 410 Carlisle to Manchester Piccadilly
185 127 Manchester Piccadilly to Oxford Road
158 783 Oxford Road to Warrington Central

I must say that the loco hauled (or pushed) trains make the rest seem very dull in some ways, although I have taken quite a liking to the look of the 319s even if I've only travelled on 2 or 3. I'm building up a list of 185s I've had too - hit double figures after today!

I travelled on seven trains today and each was a different class - 37, 68, 156, 158, 185, 350, 390.

New line from Carlisle to Ravenglass.

Where to tomorrow?

 

[NorthWestRover]

FREEDOM OF THE NORTH WEST ROVER DAY 6

A short day as needed to sort out something for the car first thing. Weather forecast looked ok for Blackpool, so I thought I'd go there and then see what happened.

150 144 + 150 269 Padgate to Manchester Oxford Rd
319 446 Manchester Oxford Road to Wigan North Western
It was raining now...
390 009 Wigan NW to Preston
390 020 Preston to Blackpool North - Pendolino into Blackpool which is not rare rate as there are daily workings, but it's a bit different...
So much for the weather forecast. My intention had been to wander down to the prom and take a pleasant walk to Blackpool South and take that rarer route out of Blackpool. It wouldn't be new track for me, but there was nothing particularly exciting at North. However, it was windy and, my, Blackpool was depressing. I managed just about an hour before I'd found myself back at North to make a quick escape.

319 364 Blackpool North to Preston
142 055 Preston to Blackburn
Aha! First 153 of the week....
153 316 + 150 201 Blackburn to Man Vic via Bolton (New line for me from Blackburn to Bolton)
150 111 + 150 149 Man Vic to Stalybridge

Pint of Millstone Brewery "Vale Mill" in the station buffet

185 111 Stalybridge to Man Piccadilly
150 224 + 150 113 Piccadilly to Oxford Road
150 110 Oxford Road to Padgate

Units today...

142 - 1
150 - 4
153 - 1
185 - 1
319 - 2
390 - 2

New line - Blackburn to Bolton

And that should have been it... Six days of travel with Tuesday a washout. However, I will also be out on Sunday and Monday so will provide the moves in due course. Sunday won't be much as I'm doing a touristy bit. Monday could be very busy ...

 

[The_Train]

Blackpool certainly can be depressing but there is still something that is so loveable about the place.

Shame the weather affected your plans but still got some good moves in there. Looking forward to your reports on Sunday and Monday

 

[Skymonster]

However, it was windy and, my, Blackpool was depressing. I managed just about an hour before I'd found myself back at North to make a quick escape.

Interesting trip. Perhaps you should start doing trams, then Blackpool would have more appeal!

 

[NorthWestRover]

Never really done trams (unlike some...) but did local buses for a while...

 

[55013]

A nice bit of variety amongst that lot, interesting reading.
Looks like you got your money's worth out of the ticket, even with a day missing.

I've been past Sellafield a few times recently and there's usually one or two 88s to be seen - four is impressive, though.

 

[Oscar46016]

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

That sounds a bit like me spotting in the 70s then bashing till about 84.
The Kellogg’s thing reminded me that you used to have to take the vouchers to a railway station and they would “stamp”
The leaflet you filled out with tickets details - this was great as one of our lot got their hands on a stamp - it was like having an all line rover all summer!!!

 

[NorthWestRover]

FREEDOM OF THE NORTH WEST ROVER DAY 7

Well, a very simple day today, but had my first 221 of the week.

221 116 Warrington BQ to Carlisle
156 425 Carlisle to Hexham

Visit to Hexham Abbey and wander round the very quiet town.

156 471 Hexham to Carlisle
350 403 Carlisle to Lancaster
390 117 Lancaster to Warrington BQ

 

[PeterY]

I've now completed 10 days of my two week rover. Full report when I,m finished and using a proper keypad. So far been to Falmouth Docks and Oban (extreme lines) and lots of new lines bashed between. Tomorrow (Monday) starting in Watforf and doing Settle and Carlisle. Using Hull trains to get up to the north. Kings Cross ppeak restriction avoiding .

 

[NorthWestRover]

FREEDOM OF THE NORTH WEST ROVER DAY 8

Final day, and back to work tomorrow. I thought I'd do the 67 again today, but my train from Padgate this morning was cancelled, so changed my plans. Wanted to visit Saltaire and perhaps even pick up a 321 which was about the only unit possible on a NW Rover I hadn't travelled on (don't think there are any routes where I could have got a 170, are there?)

150 218 Padgate to Warrington Central
319 365 Warrington BQ to Earlestown
Photo of 67 013 on the Holyhead here...
175 110 Earlestown to Newton-le-Willows
185 128 Newton-le-Willows to Man Vic
185 149 Man Vic to Leeds
322 484 Leeds to Keighley
Quick look round. Nothing too great.
333 012 Keighley to Saltaire
Lunch and visit to Salts.
333 015 Saltaire to Shipley
BINGO!
321 903 Shipley to Frizinghall
333 002 Frizinghall to Leeds
185 111 Leeds to Dewsbury
Pint of Acorn Brewery Yorkshire Pride
185 139 Dewsbury to Manchester Oxford Road
150 145 + 150 103 Oxford Road to Padgate

Done. Overall summary of the week to follow...

 

[The_Train]

Sounds like a good week out on the rails, despite one or two problems.

So I think we all know the answer to your thread title but would be good to hear your thoughts as to how different things are and whether that impacted on your enjoyment of being out travelling the rails?

 

[alexf380]

You certainly got your moneys worth! Sounded like an absolutely ace time, and well done in sampling one of each class in the rover area.

 

[NorthWestRover]

One of the highlights of my week was doing the Helsby to Ellesmere Port line.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Loco-hauled travel was rare - obviously...

My first 67 after I'd travelled behind it from Manchester Piccadilly to Chester

37 425 leaving St Bees after I'd alighted having come from Carlisle.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Rainhill - historic site - with the exciting 319s...


Travelled on more of these than anything else during the week. This is Dewsbury where I enjoyed the real ales twice.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Carlisle to Leeds... Carlisle to Hexham... Take your pick...

 

[NorthWestRover]

So, overall I enjoyed the week. I can say pretty much for certainly that I won't be taking up the hobby full time. However, I think I might do three or four rovers of different types a year and record my travels.

The lack of uncertainty on modes of traction is a big change from the early 1980s. Obviously, most things are MUs of one type or another and ticking off a class still creates a bit of a buzz. I've travelled a fair bit since 1989/90 on trains (probably when I stopped recording numbers for haulage) so the culture shock wasn't what it would have been if I'd not done anything for almost 30 years! From 2006 to 2017 I've done quite a lot of TPE from Manchester to Leeds so will have cleared a lot of units there. 1996/97 I did Ormskirk to Liverpool return every day and 1998/99 I did Bache to Liverpool. I'd be surprised if I didn't have pretty much every 507/508. Also done quite a lot of WBQ to Euston so will have done lots of 390s - I'd guess at least 20 or 30 of them (how many are there?).

I'm thinking of doing a West Midlands Day Ranger on a Saturday in October. What are the motive power possibilities there? Do the Chiltern 68s work on a Saturday? Any HSTs? What EMUs? DMUs?

 

[fowler9]

Good read that mate. I kind of lost interest in the late eighties/early nineties but have ventured out more frequently the last four years.

 

[Kite159]

I'm thinking of doing a West Midlands Day Ranger on a Saturday in October. What are the motive power possibilities there? Do the Chiltern 68s work on a Saturday? Any HSTs? What EMUs? DMUs

The Chiltern 68s work on Saturdays, but only 2 come out to play normally

'Saturday

1H10 KID 0712 - MYB 0941 (1)
1H17 KID 0910 - MYB 1146 (2)
1H37 BMO 1355 - MYB 1541 (1)

1R25 MYB 1110 - BMO 1256 (1)
1K49 MYB 1710 - KID 1944 (1)
1G53 MYB 1810 - BSW 2007 (2)'

The only HSTs will be XC services and you need to be careful as not all the services will call at Tamworth, I'm not sure on the current weekend services which are HSTs which call at Tamworth. Maybe Worcester to Malvern/ Hereford as well.

EMUs within the WMDR:
323s in Birmingham (and normally on the hourly Stoke - Manchester services as far as Kidsgrove, but they don't operate on strike days)
350s
390s

DMUs:
150/153/156/158/170/172 & 220/221. Plus in the outer reaches you might get 175s (Shrewsbury - Gobowen), 165/6s & 800s on Worcester - Malverns

 

[NorthWestRover]

What services do the 170s and 172s work?

 

[Skymonster]

• WMR 172s work pretty much everything through Moor Street that isn't Chiltern
• WMR 170s work non-electrified routes through New Street
• AXC 170s work Nottingham-Cardiff, Birmingham-Leicester/Stansted Airport