I wasn't sure if my first posting had made it, but I think it was awaiting moderator approval? Here is the rest, anyway...
Day 2 Sunday
I had booked myself breakfast in my Premier Inn for Sunday morning I know its not the cheapest but I thought availing myself of the buffet would be the best way to get a good selection in for the morning. In this it was successful! I checked out and headed off to Preston Station in order to seek out the Sunday only Dalesrail service across to the Settle and Carlisle, which starts out from Blackpool North. This was on time at 0905, formed of a 153/158 combo (the same 153 as on the Ormskirk branch yesterday). I wasnt sure if this was overkill, but on a sunny morning it turned out that it definitely wasnt, and although I secured a table on the 158, as we progressed along to Blackburn and up to Clitheroe the train got pretty full and by Hellifield there werent many empty seats. I left the train at Settle as Id never actually got out here before, so had a brief wander into the town, which is barely 5 minutes walk from the station.
As promised above, there was indeed a steam train on the S&C, The Waverley from York via Leeds. As Network Rail will not allow steam under the roof at York, it is diesel-hauled to Hellifield, and as we started the Long Drag I just caught a glimpse of the steam locomotive making its way across from Carnforth to Hellifield. To get a better view, I left Settle on the 1104 to Leeds, a 3-car 158, and a fair number of people were boarding at Settle on the first southbound train of the day on a Sunday. I made the short trip to Hellifield, where the steam loco (LMS No. 5699 Galatea, in maroon livery) was waiting on the goods loop. After a short while it shunted out and a Class 47 brought the railtour in, while I enjoyed possibly the best value tub of ice-cream from the buffet on the platform (just £1).
However, I had to head on as my Class 142 trundled in on the 1149 to Morecambe for my first trip over the Little North Western. Id put this trip down as pleasant but not spectacular (and on a Pacer, pretty lively!). I travelled to Carnforth, where I wanted to get out and explore the restored station, and a terrific job theyve done too at the visitor centre. As it was now lunchtime, I visited the Refreshment Room and enjoyed a Hot Chocolate and an excellent piece of Sticky Date Cake. I then joined the 1309 Transpennine service southwards to Lancaster, the ubiquitous Class 185.
At Lancaster I crossed the platform to get my badge of honour in the form of the 1326 to Heysham Harbour, formed of a Class 156. About half a dozen people travelled through to Heysham and headed into the ferry terminal, but I was the only passenger on the return 1405 departure until others joined at Morecambe. Nothing spectacular to see, but Ive been there now, even if I wouldnt again!
I arrived back at Lancaster in time for the 1438 Pendolino which I joined as far as Oxenholme, having decided that Lancaster station was decidedly dull. I arrived at Oxenholme to find it is equally dull (if not more so), and rather in the middle of nowhere, being a railhead for the area as much as anything else. My purpose was to travel the Windermere branch; I contemplated refreshment from the Café Express, but decided against the push button Hot Chocolate and opted only for a Dark Chocolate Kit Kat!
The Class 185 pulled in with time to spare before the scheduled 1535 departure, but we waited for the connecting northbound Transpennine service and so fell a couple of minutes behind time. This soon escalated as the lights at the level crossing at Burneside were stuck, and we must have waited about 10 minutes before we could advance down the branch. The ride offers a good view across to the mountains of the Lake District, but I was now becoming concerned I would miss the connection into my northbound service onwards up the WCML! We were scheduled to return from Windermere at 1558, but left about 12 minutes late, and didnt really make up time on the return journey, so I knew it would be touch and go as to whether I would make the 1628 Transpennine service; in the event it was running 4 minutes late so all was well! This was formed of a Class 350/4 which was pretty comfortable, and I found the ride through the Lake District quite exhilarating, perhaps helped by not stopping at Penrith.
I alighted at Carlisle on Platform 1 to find Galatea and The Waverley on Platform 3 waiting to head back down the S&C, so I stopped with the photographers to await its departure before heading into town to find my accommodation at the Crown and Mitre Hotel where I was booked for the next two nights. The Hotel is currently covered in scaffolding as they are renovating the frontage, but my room was fine and Id found a good value rate which included dinner. I also enjoyed a swim in the pool before dinner and then went for a brief wander in Carlisle, calling in at the station which is a fine building and in my experience a good place to watch trains go by. It was then back to the hotel for MOTD2 and bed!
Day 3 Monday
Monday began with a good buffet breakfast bonus points to the Crown and Mitre for including black pudding in their selection! My original plan, as I said above, was to go down the Cumbrian Coast and loop back up to Carlisle, but I knew the weather forecast wasnt so good for today so I decided to amend my plans and head for the Pennines.
This began on the 0853 to Leeds, just a 2-car Class 158 which was not busy on leaving Carlisle, so I had the comfort of a table seat. Little needs saying about the S&C, it remains a great experience which everyone should do, and I got talking to a couple from Canada who were travelling to London this way due to the engineering works at Watford blocking the WCML. They very much enjoyed the scenery from Kirkby Stephen southwards. As we progressed the train gradually filled up, notably at Settle, by which time there were few spare seats left and I wondered if it might have been better if we had a longer train! Perhaps it was busier on a Bank Holiday than it usually is.
I left the train at Skipton to connect into the 1103 to Bradford Forster Square. The café was closed and the toilets locked (you had to ask for a key I couldnt be bothered!) so I jumped straight on to the Class 333. I was very impressed with the quality of these, although the public address was rather loud! The toilet was showing engaged, which remained so until the Conductor eventually opened it. It was good to travel a different side of the triangle at Shipley, but Forster Square was very nondescript indeed!
I made the short walk across town to Bradford Interchange with ease, and this station was equally unexciting, albeit with more facilities. As it had a Pumpkin kiosk, I got myself a Hot Chocolate (still with 20% off with my Bite card!) before jumping onto the 1200 service to Huddersfield as far as Halifax (a 3-car Class 144). I could have waited at Bradford, but decided to gain a variety of traction and stations, so had a wait of 10 minutes or so in the rain at Halifax for the 1226 to Manchester Victoria, a Class 150/2. This was busy, although a number of people got off at the various stations en route across the Pennines. The weather was pretty dreary, but I still enjoyed the trip and it is quite scenic. I would have liked to get out at Hebden Bridge, but this would have delayed my journey to Manchester, so I stayed on through to Victoria. I do admire the station, the epitome of faded glory, and hopefully it will get as good a refurbishment as St Pancras. I had a little wander outside the station before returning to the Java Bar for a Belgian Waffle and another Hot Chocolate.
Time was already getting on so I began to head back northwards, beginning on the 1403 service to Clitheroe as far as Blackburn, a Class 156. I changed at Blackburn onto the 1503 to Blackpool South, a Class 142, as far as Preston, before joining the 1537 Pendolino for the run back up to Carlisle. Nothing particularly new or interesting in these trips they were more a matter of practicality. I found the trip through the Lake District less exciting on the Pendolino perhaps because they are more designed for high speed. The train was pretty busy, and I was relieved it was an 11-coach version.
I arrived back in Carlisle at around 5pm, so headed to the Cathedral for Evensong at 5.30pm before going back to the hotel for another swim and then dinner in the bar so I could watch the Manchester City v Liverpool match on the TV. All very pleasant indeed!
Day 4 Tuesday
Tuesday was Cumbrian Coast day, then, and it dawned bright and sunny. I had to be up bright and early for breakfast (no black pudding today, although there were hash browns) in order to check out and then get to the station for the 0838 departure. I noticed that on Monday this was a single Class 153, which concerned me a little, so I was pleased to see a Class 156 pull in. In the end, it wasnt that busy and I secured a table seat on the coast side. The first 40 minutes or so to Maryport isnt especially interesting, but for the following hour of the journey to Ravenglass I was on the edge of my seat as we never strayed far from the sea, crawling from Harrington to Parton at 15mph perhaps being the highlight. A journey Ive never taken before, and one I would absolutely want to do again, albeit assisted on this occasion by the excellent weather.
Of course, a journey round the Cumbrian Coast wouldnt be complete without the obligatory diversion at Ravenglass onto Lal Ratty, so I made the short walk to the R&E station and purchased my return ticket with 10% discount before joining the 1025 departure for Dalegarth, with River Irt, the oldest 15 inch gauge locomotive in the world, at the helm. I managed to secure the last open carriage space which remained, making for a very pleasant 40-minute journey. The length of the trip feels just right, the scenery is quite splendid, and the trains feel very sweet indeed. I didnt intend to do very much at Dalegarth, so after watching the loco being turned I re-joined the train for the 1130 departure which left as soon as the incoming arrival headed into the opposite platform.
We arrived back into Ravenglass at about 1215, and I could have headed straight back to the station as a southbound train was due just minutes later, but I elected to spend the following hour wandering around Ravenglass. Its a very small place, with few shops, but it is in a lovely setting, and I enjoyed wandering down to the waters edge and found some tea rooms where enjoyed a piece of Lemon Drizzle Cake and an ice-cream. In order to photograph the pretty view coming into Ravenglass across the bridge, I first joined the 1316 departure northbound for just one stop to Drigg (a class 156), crossing over to then join the 1324 to Barrow (2 x class 153), which was running a few minutes late. Neither train was remotely busy. The journey on from Ravenglass down to Barrow was still pleasant, although not quite as spectacular as the section further north.
On arrival at Barrow, I joined the Class 185 as soon as it arrived at Platform 1 ready for the 1440 departure southwards to Manchester. A table seat offered a welcome chance to boost the charge on my phone, which had suffered from the amount of pictures I was taking! Again, the scenery was pleasant but not as spectacular as the section further north. I did some calculations and decided that I should stay on this train through to Manchester, which at over 2 hours felt like rather a long trip. We had a 10-minute stop at Preston while another unit from Blackpool joined us and we then moved forward via Wigan and Bolton to arrive in Manchester at around 1700. I was hoping a refreshment trolley would join us at Preston but none was forthcoming.
I immediately headed to Sainsburys to stock up on water which wasnt extortionately priced, before deciding I hadnt time to fit in a stop for food in the buffet at Stalybridge, so I joined the 1725 service for the run straight back across to Leeds. This was standing room only out of Manchester, although the conductor apologised for the short formation, so maybe it is usually six cars rather than three. I found a window seat in any case, and the train emptied out at Stalybridge and Huddersfield. The automatic announcements were convinced we would also call at Dewsbury, meaning the conductor had to announce several times that we werent! After Stalybridge he came round to make a ticket check, and on my 31st and final journey using my rover was the first member of staff to look at it with complete bewilderment before handing it back to me! I must have looked slightly sheepish as I put my ticket away it feels slightly awkward to know more than the staff!
We had a short delay outside Leeds, but I still had a good 40 minutes before my booked departure back to Nottingham, so I headed for Burger King to grab a take away and then bought some Cookies from Millies to make the most of my Bite card discount! I then returned to the platforms for my 1905 Northern departure for Nottingham, ending the trip as I started it on a Class 158. I find Northerns versions comfortable, with the wide, padded seats which all line up with the windows, preferable to the refurbished EMT versions with their tall, hard seats where theyve packed in as many as they can. I spent most of this journey doing the puzzles from the I paper Id bought at Chesterfield on the Saturday morning! Arrival at Nottingham was a couple of minutes early and my housemate kindly picked me up to save me waiting for the bus back home.
Overall, a very enjoyable few days' break. I achieved pretty much everything I wanted to, with Tuesday morning on the Cumbrian Coast being the highlight, closely followed by the Tram at Blackpool. I could have travelled for longer on some days but wanted some time to relax as well which I achieved. The ticket is exceptional value really, the seven day version even more so, and there is loads to see within the area it covers.
