West Yorkshire Shacks- 17/06/17
Well ive been away for a while in terms of trip reporting. Ive still been out a bit on the rails as the shack attack threads etc. have shown, but ive had bother with my neck a lot which has meant that ive been trying to avoid using the computer too much, and ive also had A Level exams. With the hardest ones over now though (4 of 7 complete with the other 3 being next week) I knew I needed a break and some time on the rails just to take my mind off things. I was originally going to do an Explorer North East and get the bus up to Berwick via the coast then return south and do the three limited served shacks between Alnmouth and Morpeth, then was looking at a Lancs Ranger to do the likes of the Burnley stations, Rose Grove, Rishton, etc, before deciding on a West Yorks Rover because with I still had a fair few shacks to tick off that way. I should add that no winners were had on the rover, but this is due to winners potential being restricted to 1 156 if it showed on the Pennine Stopper via Marsden, two straying Mersey 142s, 150141, 180101, 180107 or 180108!
It was an 0515 alarm so that I could pop down to the station and get my XC Only Return to York (£11.90, suddenly making a spontaneous trip south highly affordable versus the Any Permitted £24.90 day return) and a day return to Leeds, before seeing that I had 220032 in charge on the 0623 to Reading. It was a nice quiet run down to York, although we lost a few minutes south of Thirsk for reasons unbeknownst, arriving into York at 0725 (though the 0623 has 6 minutes booked dwell here and another 7 at Doncaster so it naffed off on time) where I decided to buy the West Yorkshire Rover seeing as it was a bit closer to the rover area (ive had some VERY funny looks off bus drivers, including one where it was issued at Newcastle on season ticket stock upside down) and the ticket woman instantly interrogated me on how I was planning on getting to the area. I have a return to Leeds issued at Newcastle already. was my firm response, as I wasnt repeating the Stroud incident of having the ticket bloke rip everything out of my hands and give me a pile of abuse. That did however satisfy her and she gave me the ticket without any other issues.
The next service was the 0737 TPE but I decided to get the 0745 HST (which is, outside of summer Saturdays, the 0645 Newcastle to Plymouth, annoyingly changed to a York to Penzance service during the summer) which had 43321/43384 in charge today. I sat myself in the tiny bit of Coach B that was standard class and enjoyed complete solitude through to Leeds, arrival being at 0811. Having planned my next moves, it was a quick cross of the platform onto 322482 on the 0821 to Doncaster, which was lightly loaded for the run to Wakefield Westgate, picking up a fair few people at Outwood however. I picked up breakfast here, being a bacon roll and juice from Greggs for £2.25 before having a rather convoluted morning stroll to the bus station, seeing as I had 25 minutes to get there. See, the first two shacks on my list were a bit awkward as they were on the Knottingley to Wakefield Kirkgate line, and that service had just left, so I decided to seek the help of a bus. Wright Cadet 1401 working the 0855 Route 149 to Knottingley was taken along to Streethouse, Whinney Lane, arriving in at 0914 and giving me sufficient time to stroll along to shack 1, Streethouse.
43321, York by Richard Green, on Flickr
Streethouse by Richard Green, on Flickr
I had a 20 minute wait in the sunshine here until 142095 came along, completely empty, but with three of us joining it. It was a short hop along to shack 2, Featherstone, where I jumped off and noticed that there wasnt an awful lot around. Thankfully it was only a +21 here anyway, so it wasnt long until 144020 came along (seems like overkill when single 142s were out on the Dearne Valley) and took me to Wakefield Kirkgate, where I nipped outside and awaited the free bus. Unlike last time, where it was formed of a sweaty and rammed Optare Solo, Arriva seemed to be a bus down so we had a fairly quiet Enviro 200 with us, complete with miserable driver. It was only a 10 minute trundle along to Westgate, where I bought myself a return from Moorthorpe to Bolton on Dearne and was rather pleased to see a low mileage 150269 turn up for the 40 minute journey to shack 3, Bolton-upon-Dearne. This was another rather quiet area with not much going on, but thankfully it wasnt long until the slightly late 142022 had me on the hop to shack 4, Goldthorpe. Lunch was sourced after a 10 minute walk to the Asda as well as drinks, before I took the stroll through a sort of park towards Thurnscoe. The issue was that my stomach wasnt on my side today (another issue ive been dealing with for a week or so) and I ended up with a rather large stitch-like pain as I ended up shuffling my way to the platform and collapsing on the bench. If I hadnt had 55 minutes to do a 25 minute walk, id have probably gone back to Goldthorpe! Goldthorpe was shack 5, clearing the Dearne Valley, and happy days, the train was 12L, leaving me to roast for about half an hour.
142095, Streethouse by Richard Green, on Flickr
144020, Featherstone by Richard Green, on Flickr
Thurnscoe by Richard Green, on Flickr
A well loaded [v]142090[/b] eventually staggered in, though due to a 9 minute scheduled wait at South Kirkby Junction, we made up all the time into Leeds. The issue was however that we had all seats taken by Moorthorpe, were full and standing by Sandal and Agbrigg, and were dangerously overloaded by Outwood. 2 carriages was a joke and shame on Northern for putting larger trains on services like the Pontefract Line and letting the busier ones get overcrowded! Thankfully, the on time running did however mean that I could make the slightly delayed 185144 on the 1344 to Liverpool down to Huddersfield, for a smooth connection to shack 6, Berry Brow aboard 144018. I had 25 minutes here, so shade was found in the shelter before 144011 trundled in for the short hop to shack 7, Lockwood. That just left Shepley to do on the line, but I didnt feel like taking another two hours to get it in. I then had a short walk to the main road, and awaited Route 324, operated by Tiger Blue, on the 15:02 to Huddersfield Bus Station. This was a thrashy little Optare Solo but it was in a weird layout with very few seats. Seems it was more of an accessible on demand style bus! It didnt take long to get to the bus station, and I made it in time to nip over to the railway station and onto 156482 for the run to shack 8, Marsden. But oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
144018, Berry Brow by Richard Green, on Flickr
144011, Lockwood by Richard Green, on Flickr
The ale trail bods were out. The train was completely full and standing complete with police. Oh well, I thought, as they were all getting off at Slaithwaite. The inbound service was late so hopefully id make that straight back provided that we made good time getting everyone off. Fat chance of that. Everyone piled off at Slaithwaite and another lot piled on, meaning that we lost another NINE minutes there, and I was squished in for the journey to Marsden with a bunch of delightful drunks. Everyone piled off here, and 150270 was still on the other platform, but having noted the evil bridge and ramp required to change, I decided to go for a stroll. I ended up heading along the canal in the shade, eventually coming to Standedge Tunnel with a rather nice viewing point for 185s turning into the tunnel, as well as a cafe where I decided to plonk myself down for half an hour and have an ice cream. I did however persuade myself to face the drunks again and head back to the station for 150201 to Huddersfield, well loaded but not quite as squishy, thankfully. I just cant see how ruining the entire service on the TransPennine Route for the sake of some drinkers is economical for the railway, to be honest. Later in the day the whole stopping service was cancelled and everything else disrupted due to a police incident with some of the drinkers, though I will accept that the weather probably brought out a lot more of them.
156482, Marsden by Richard Green, on Flickr
Marsden by Richard Green, on Flickr
Class 185, Standedge Tunnel by Richard Green, on Flickr
I was off at Huddersfield and headed for the air conditioned bliss of 158794[/]b on the 1659 stopper via Dewsbury, which was taken along to Ravensthorpe where I noted the rather fancy looking display board, before taking 144015 along to Deighton. These were merely time killing moves to position me for my Low Moor leap, and from Deighton, I had a minute or so wait until 155343 was taking me along to Mirfield. Hilariously, I noticed that the ex Manchester service was being worked by a lone 153378, which I can imagine caused somewhat of a mess further back, although by Mirfield it was less heavily loaded, acting as a stopper via Batley. My traction was 150225 along to Brighouse, with a handy connection onto 142004 to shack 9, Low Moor. The 142 was clearly struggling a little, and was also stuck behind another ailing train, so my wait at Low Moor was mercifully reduced to about 24 minutes rather than 30, but still unpleasant versus the scheduled 7! Indeed, the Grand Central service was 29 late due to a lineside fire, though it made up 8 minutes up to Brighouse, then lost all of that time again outside Halifax! Sadly, my only potential for a winner was lost as 180105 took me to Bradford Interchange.
158794, Ravensthorpe by Richard Green, on Flickr
142004, Low Moor by Richard Green, on Flickr
180105, Low Moor by Richard Green, on Flickr
My haulage to Leeds was a quiet 158755 which had been stuck behind us since Halifax, meaning that arrival was a little late at 1926. Off I went to Tesco for some dinner, returning to see that I could catch 144019 on the 1952 to York instead of spending longer on a crammed Voyager. It was a nice quiet thrashy run after Micklefield, though arrival was at 2030, meaning that I had two minutes to run to Platform 10 for 220002 up to Newcastle, very well loaded indeed meaning that I only had an aisle seat as far as Darlington, though a pair of seats became free there.
That said, with 9 new shacks in the bag, it was an excellent day!
Well ive been away for a while in terms of trip reporting. Ive still been out a bit on the rails as the shack attack threads etc. have shown, but ive had bother with my neck a lot which has meant that ive been trying to avoid using the computer too much, and ive also had A Level exams. With the hardest ones over now though (4 of 7 complete with the other 3 being next week) I knew I needed a break and some time on the rails just to take my mind off things. I was originally going to do an Explorer North East and get the bus up to Berwick via the coast then return south and do the three limited served shacks between Alnmouth and Morpeth, then was looking at a Lancs Ranger to do the likes of the Burnley stations, Rose Grove, Rishton, etc, before deciding on a West Yorks Rover because with I still had a fair few shacks to tick off that way. I should add that no winners were had on the rover, but this is due to winners potential being restricted to 1 156 if it showed on the Pennine Stopper via Marsden, two straying Mersey 142s, 150141, 180101, 180107 or 180108!
It was an 0515 alarm so that I could pop down to the station and get my XC Only Return to York (£11.90, suddenly making a spontaneous trip south highly affordable versus the Any Permitted £24.90 day return) and a day return to Leeds, before seeing that I had 220032 in charge on the 0623 to Reading. It was a nice quiet run down to York, although we lost a few minutes south of Thirsk for reasons unbeknownst, arriving into York at 0725 (though the 0623 has 6 minutes booked dwell here and another 7 at Doncaster so it naffed off on time) where I decided to buy the West Yorkshire Rover seeing as it was a bit closer to the rover area (ive had some VERY funny looks off bus drivers, including one where it was issued at Newcastle on season ticket stock upside down) and the ticket woman instantly interrogated me on how I was planning on getting to the area. I have a return to Leeds issued at Newcastle already. was my firm response, as I wasnt repeating the Stroud incident of having the ticket bloke rip everything out of my hands and give me a pile of abuse. That did however satisfy her and she gave me the ticket without any other issues.
The next service was the 0737 TPE but I decided to get the 0745 HST (which is, outside of summer Saturdays, the 0645 Newcastle to Plymouth, annoyingly changed to a York to Penzance service during the summer) which had 43321/43384 in charge today. I sat myself in the tiny bit of Coach B that was standard class and enjoyed complete solitude through to Leeds, arrival being at 0811. Having planned my next moves, it was a quick cross of the platform onto 322482 on the 0821 to Doncaster, which was lightly loaded for the run to Wakefield Westgate, picking up a fair few people at Outwood however. I picked up breakfast here, being a bacon roll and juice from Greggs for £2.25 before having a rather convoluted morning stroll to the bus station, seeing as I had 25 minutes to get there. See, the first two shacks on my list were a bit awkward as they were on the Knottingley to Wakefield Kirkgate line, and that service had just left, so I decided to seek the help of a bus. Wright Cadet 1401 working the 0855 Route 149 to Knottingley was taken along to Streethouse, Whinney Lane, arriving in at 0914 and giving me sufficient time to stroll along to shack 1, Streethouse.
43321, York by Richard Green, on Flickr
Streethouse by Richard Green, on FlickrI had a 20 minute wait in the sunshine here until 142095 came along, completely empty, but with three of us joining it. It was a short hop along to shack 2, Featherstone, where I jumped off and noticed that there wasnt an awful lot around. Thankfully it was only a +21 here anyway, so it wasnt long until 144020 came along (seems like overkill when single 142s were out on the Dearne Valley) and took me to Wakefield Kirkgate, where I nipped outside and awaited the free bus. Unlike last time, where it was formed of a sweaty and rammed Optare Solo, Arriva seemed to be a bus down so we had a fairly quiet Enviro 200 with us, complete with miserable driver. It was only a 10 minute trundle along to Westgate, where I bought myself a return from Moorthorpe to Bolton on Dearne and was rather pleased to see a low mileage 150269 turn up for the 40 minute journey to shack 3, Bolton-upon-Dearne. This was another rather quiet area with not much going on, but thankfully it wasnt long until the slightly late 142022 had me on the hop to shack 4, Goldthorpe. Lunch was sourced after a 10 minute walk to the Asda as well as drinks, before I took the stroll through a sort of park towards Thurnscoe. The issue was that my stomach wasnt on my side today (another issue ive been dealing with for a week or so) and I ended up with a rather large stitch-like pain as I ended up shuffling my way to the platform and collapsing on the bench. If I hadnt had 55 minutes to do a 25 minute walk, id have probably gone back to Goldthorpe! Goldthorpe was shack 5, clearing the Dearne Valley, and happy days, the train was 12L, leaving me to roast for about half an hour.
142095, Streethouse by Richard Green, on Flickr
144020, Featherstone by Richard Green, on Flickr
Thurnscoe by Richard Green, on FlickrA well loaded [v]142090[/b] eventually staggered in, though due to a 9 minute scheduled wait at South Kirkby Junction, we made up all the time into Leeds. The issue was however that we had all seats taken by Moorthorpe, were full and standing by Sandal and Agbrigg, and were dangerously overloaded by Outwood. 2 carriages was a joke and shame on Northern for putting larger trains on services like the Pontefract Line and letting the busier ones get overcrowded! Thankfully, the on time running did however mean that I could make the slightly delayed 185144 on the 1344 to Liverpool down to Huddersfield, for a smooth connection to shack 6, Berry Brow aboard 144018. I had 25 minutes here, so shade was found in the shelter before 144011 trundled in for the short hop to shack 7, Lockwood. That just left Shepley to do on the line, but I didnt feel like taking another two hours to get it in. I then had a short walk to the main road, and awaited Route 324, operated by Tiger Blue, on the 15:02 to Huddersfield Bus Station. This was a thrashy little Optare Solo but it was in a weird layout with very few seats. Seems it was more of an accessible on demand style bus! It didnt take long to get to the bus station, and I made it in time to nip over to the railway station and onto 156482 for the run to shack 8, Marsden. But oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
144018, Berry Brow by Richard Green, on Flickr
144011, Lockwood by Richard Green, on FlickrThe ale trail bods were out. The train was completely full and standing complete with police. Oh well, I thought, as they were all getting off at Slaithwaite. The inbound service was late so hopefully id make that straight back provided that we made good time getting everyone off. Fat chance of that. Everyone piled off at Slaithwaite and another lot piled on, meaning that we lost another NINE minutes there, and I was squished in for the journey to Marsden with a bunch of delightful drunks. Everyone piled off here, and 150270 was still on the other platform, but having noted the evil bridge and ramp required to change, I decided to go for a stroll. I ended up heading along the canal in the shade, eventually coming to Standedge Tunnel with a rather nice viewing point for 185s turning into the tunnel, as well as a cafe where I decided to plonk myself down for half an hour and have an ice cream. I did however persuade myself to face the drunks again and head back to the station for 150201 to Huddersfield, well loaded but not quite as squishy, thankfully. I just cant see how ruining the entire service on the TransPennine Route for the sake of some drinkers is economical for the railway, to be honest. Later in the day the whole stopping service was cancelled and everything else disrupted due to a police incident with some of the drinkers, though I will accept that the weather probably brought out a lot more of them.
156482, Marsden by Richard Green, on Flickr
Marsden by Richard Green, on Flickr
Class 185, Standedge Tunnel by Richard Green, on FlickrI was off at Huddersfield and headed for the air conditioned bliss of 158794[/]b on the 1659 stopper via Dewsbury, which was taken along to Ravensthorpe where I noted the rather fancy looking display board, before taking 144015 along to Deighton. These were merely time killing moves to position me for my Low Moor leap, and from Deighton, I had a minute or so wait until 155343 was taking me along to Mirfield. Hilariously, I noticed that the ex Manchester service was being worked by a lone 153378, which I can imagine caused somewhat of a mess further back, although by Mirfield it was less heavily loaded, acting as a stopper via Batley. My traction was 150225 along to Brighouse, with a handy connection onto 142004 to shack 9, Low Moor. The 142 was clearly struggling a little, and was also stuck behind another ailing train, so my wait at Low Moor was mercifully reduced to about 24 minutes rather than 30, but still unpleasant versus the scheduled 7! Indeed, the Grand Central service was 29 late due to a lineside fire, though it made up 8 minutes up to Brighouse, then lost all of that time again outside Halifax! Sadly, my only potential for a winner was lost as 180105 took me to Bradford Interchange.
158794, Ravensthorpe by Richard Green, on Flickr
142004, Low Moor by Richard Green, on Flickr
180105, Low Moor by Richard Green, on FlickrMy haulage to Leeds was a quiet 158755 which had been stuck behind us since Halifax, meaning that arrival was a little late at 1926. Off I went to Tesco for some dinner, returning to see that I could catch 144019 on the 1952 to York instead of spending longer on a crammed Voyager. It was a nice quiet thrashy run after Micklefield, though arrival was at 2030, meaning that I had two minutes to run to Platform 10 for 220002 up to Newcastle, very well loaded indeed meaning that I only had an aisle seat as far as Darlington, though a pair of seats became free there.
That said, with 9 new shacks in the bag, it was an excellent day!
