West Yorks Challenge report

[Dewedin]

Well here's my report for the day.

Obviously with the crowd doing the 'triangle' Leeds-Burley in Wharfedale-Shipley-Steeton & Silsden-Bradford Forster Square (13 stations) arriving two down at Forster Square with a seven-minute connection to Interchange.

Made it but then made the mistake that cost me the day. Should have carried on this York service to East Garforth and turned around but instead bailed at Leeds and went to Headingley and back, costing me a station. I was planning to catch the 13:20 to South Elmsall but missed it, return service from Headingley being late. The addition of Bradford, New Pudsey, Burley Park, and Headingley bringing me up to 17.

Got myself on a pacer to Wakefield Kirkgate and happened upon the tail end of the 'grand tour' Sprinter to Wakefield Westgate. Those two stations plus Woodlesford, Castleford, and Normanton making it 22.

While on the Pacer I was frantically researching where to go next when I happened upon my masterstroke move, the two-hourly 435 bus to Denby Dale happened to depart 30 minutes after arriving at Wakefield Westgate and took 30 minutes to get there, making a great connection with the 15:24 service to Huddersfield.

All stops to Huddersfield (bringing the total to 30) and I've got a 40-minute wait for the all stops to Leeds which is timed to arrive in Leeds at 17:08. On another day I could have gotten to Brighouse on a bus and back to Huddersfield on the train in time, but the train is running late, too late to manage it. So I wait and catch the stopper to Leeds (final station call Cottingley 16:59!) bringing my score to 37, it arrives in Leeds at 17:04 so I only need to deduct one point.

Final score 36, joint first scorewise, which I'm happy with but annoyed that I could have edged it! However, I believe I'm the only person to have done the Penistone line so if there were bonus points for scoring stations no-one else visited it would have been different!

With regard to stock I have a new-found respect for 150s, lovely nippy little trains.

 

[Crossover]

Thanks for a great day out guys, especially to my teammates Mike395 and ALR. I will probably do a bit of a report and post it in the stories section at some stage
Has been good to put some more faces to usernames
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'll now post in here as the mods have kindly split it from the meet thread Cheers

If anyone is interested, the railtour from Leeds this morning was The Waverley

 

[bb21]

It was a tale of fun, drama and spontaneity.

Having fallen victim to the flu bug on the last two occasions of challenge meet, I was determined to stay fit this time in order to put my carefully planned itinerary into practice in this first ever contest that I have taken part in.

The day stated with a bit of a twist. I took the 0736 EMT service to Sheffield, only to be told a few minutes later that there was a maintenance issue and the set, 222022, would be taken out of service at Derby. The TM announced over the tannoy that it was due to the rear windscreen wiper not in working order and that all passenger would have to detrain at Derby. However there was to be no delay to the journey as she then announced that a unit had already been prepared and was in place on Platform 2, further up the same platform that we would be stopping at. She apologised profoundly for this inconvenience. I was intending to catch XC's 1S71 Glasgow train from Sheffield, 29 minutes after the arrival of the EMT train, in order to make maximum use of EMT's free wifi in Coach D. Given the circumstance, I decided that I would just catch the XC train from Derby instead, and save myself an unnecessary change.

As we pulled into Derby, just as the TM mentioned earlier, the replacement set, 222014, had already parked there. Full marks to EMT and the team on duty. As the other passengers scrambled towards it for the purpose of bagging themselves a better seat, I took a few pictures of one of Network Rail's New Measurement Train that seemed to be on duty next to Platform 6.

The Glasgow train, 221128, left Derby, Chesterfield and Sheffield on time and filled up with more and more northbound travellers en route. Just as my thought turned towards the itinerary in my bag having finished my sandwiches, the TM came onto the speaker, apologised for the out-of-order reservation system in Coach D and appealed to people with reservations for Coach D not to get into any arguments with those who have occupied their seats. He then mentioned that Coach B towards the front of the train was totally unreserved and had a few seats in it. He assured everyone that he would try his best to find all of them a seat. Another example of good customer service in times of adversity.

I disembarked at Wakefield Westgate in order to catch the Northern service ex-Doncaster 9 minutes after us, so that I can get Class 321 ticked off my list. The departure board tried to tell the passengers something nevetheless I could not make out when the next train departs.

321901 brought me into Platform 12 of Leeds station 1 minute earlier at 1013 and I swiftly made my way to the meeting point at Platform 6. Everyone else has arrived by then and there were seven teams in all, I think. After matching our watches to the station clock, we were on our way.

Six teams made their way to Northern's 1032 Ilkley train, except Mike395, sellis89 and All Line Rover. The plans had been astonishingly synchronised with the teams, barring JoeGJ1984 and 142094, remaining on the same services to Burley, then back to Shipley, out to Steeton, and eventually back to Bradford Forster Square 2 minutes down at 1212, giving a total of 13 stations including all the stations en route. Organisers yorkie and Mojo definitely hadn't done their homework, and tried to plan the next move with a large collection of Metro-branded timetables in hand. Their team member John @ Home was clearly experienced in his travels in the region as he recalled train times off the top of his head.

(to be continued)

Photos: (l to r then top down)
1. EMT 222022 with replacement 222014 in front where the lights are
2. NMT fronted by 43014
3. NMT logo
4. NMT tailed by 43062
5. EMT 222022 driving back to Etches Park
6. XC 221128
7. XC door plate
8. Wakefield Westgate departure board trying to tell me something that I can't figure out
9. NT 321901
10. Everyone making off onto NT 333009, the 1032 service to Ilkley, with 91128 to the left

 

[bb21]

(continued)

This is where plans diverged, with some making a mad dash to Bradford Interchange and others elsewhere. gnolife and I intended to catch First Bradford's 72 bus to Bramley, which was due to leave from Hall Ings at 1217. We ran off the moment we got to Forster Square, and made it just as the last two people in the queue were boarding. Of course this was only a job half-done. Neither of us knew where to get off, and were looking on nervously as the bus stopped and started in traffic and had to pick up pass-holders at almost every stop along the way. The bus, a Wright Eclipse Gemini-bodied Volvo B9TL numbered 37706, speeded up a little after it left Bradford, however we sensed that we were already behind schedule once again. We had a 5 minute connection at Bramley station, and the moment could not come soon enough when the driver told us to get off and showed us which turning to take. We were two minutes late off the bus and therefore had 3 minutes to catch the Manchester Victoria service. We got onto the platform with 1 minute to spare, only to realise that the train departed from the other side. Cue more running down the stairs, across the road and up some very long and steep slope. We made it as the train, 158903, was pulling in.

It gave us 7 more stations by the time we got off at Hebden Bridge. The next train was crucial in our attempt to make a total of 35. We had planned alternative scenarios, however none of them gave us as many. There were two ways it could be made, yet both had weaknesses. If the Leeds train, the one we intended to catch from Hebden Bridge, were on time at Mirfield, it would give us a 2-minute connection to cross to the platform on the other side and catch the Huddersfield train. Nevertheless if it were late by even one minute, it would have been impossible to do that and instead we had to change at Brighouse and rely on the Wakefield Westgate stopper to be on time, which would allow us a mere 2 minutes at Huddersfield for the stopper to Leeds on the next leg.

By that time I had found out that the 1341 Leeds train, 155341, was as much as 4 minutes late on its way in from Manchester Victoria. This would scupper our first plan unless the Huddersfield train was also late. Moreover, I found out that the Wakefield Westgate stopper was also between 2 and 3 minutes late, meaning that there was no chance that we would be able to catch the stopper to Leeds from Huddersfield. We needed another plan.

The 20 minutes on 155341 between Hebden Bridge and Brighouse would produce the master-stroke of the day. gnolife spent almost all that time looking at the timetable printouts and the map, and declared just before we reached Brighouse that he had discovered an alternative plan taking in the Pontefract Baghill - Moorthorpe run and it would give us one more point due to the bonus awarded for Baghill. We quickly went through it and established that it was doable. Hi-five time!

We remained on the train to Leeds, missing out Ravensthorpe and Cottingley for an additional 5 stations, bringing the total up to 25. We had a break of 28 minutes at Leeds so took that time to top up some fluids and get ready for the 10-minute run between the Pontefract stations.

Northern's 1500 service to Pontefract Monkhill, formed of 150218, left Leeds on time. By that time, the train was getting busy and we were a minute and a half late leaving Castleford, the crew having taken a good two minutes to swap ends. Every minute lost increased the difficulty in completing the run exponentially for us.

We stopped at Pontefract Monkhill a minute and a half late at 15:28:32, taking in another 4 stations, and immediately dashed off over the footbridge and out. Neither of us knew where the other station was and how far away it was, despite having maps of various zoom levels in our hands. We took organiser yorkie's words that 10 minutes would be enough under hasty steps and ran for our dear life. I have not had any physical exercise of such intensity for a long time. The fact that we had no idea how far the station was made it even worse, psychologically.

We got to the station with one minute to cross the underpass. 142071 was already waiting there. It appeared that the guard was standing by the passenger door chatting to the driver and the implication was clear that there were lots of padding in the timetable. At we got on, I explained to the guard that we'd run from Monkhill to Baghill in 7 and a half minutes and he looked genuinely surprised by it as I looked like I had just come out of a steam room. After gnolife produced the Family DayRover, he confirmed that there was plenty of padding so that the 2-minute connection at Moorthorpe was more than enough. By then I was already feeling that I had almost used up the last ounce of my energy. We had been laughing on the 150 earlier about how we had spent all day in Northern territory yet had been able to avoid a Pacer and Wakefield Kirkgate. It turned out that we spoke too soon. The final train that was to take us back to Leeds from Moorthorpe also turned out to be a bone-crunching 142, albeit that the front carriage had a very neat name, 55555.

By then our total stood at 32, including the bonus point. We felt into silence on the way back to Leeds, as we both felt the exhaustion setting in. We took in a further 4 stations along the way for a grand total of 36 and arrived back at Leeds first out of all the teams at 1640. I even had time along the way to collect my Starbucks macchiato.

With that score, we tied for top place and were both mightily pleased, however the contest was incredibly close with most teams finishing on 35, 34 and 33 stations. It would seem that it does pay to do your homework and the afternoon I spent last Saturday looking at a range of permutations of journey opportunities was definitely worth it.

Well done to all who have contributed to a fun and entertaining meet. After the meal at the Slug and Lettuce, we went to Wetherspoons across the road and the crowd gradually started dispersing from there.

The day was not to finish without one more twist for me though. It turned out that I had planned for how to get to Leeds in the morning and how the day would pan out in various guises, however I forgot to plan my way back to Leicester. I then, in a moment of madness, took the 2020 Doncaster service, formed of 321901, the train that I took in the morning into Leeds, with the intention of changing onto the Sheffield stopper at Wakefield, which departed Leeds 10 minutes later. I decided to do that so my rather oddly, but perfectly legitimately, routed split tickets would not cause any argument with the guard. What I did not realise, though, was that the Doncaster train stopped at Wakefield Westgate, whereas the Sheffield stopper stopped at Kirkgate. Ouch! There was no way this connection would have been made and I would not be able to get back to Leicester on the same day, but luckily I had a back-up plan to stay a night with a friend at Sheffield. So I settled for the short hop across Wakefield on the 2050 Huddersfield-bound train, made up of 153317 and 158796, and eventually boarded the 2107 Sheffield stopper, in the shape of 144018. All the running around during the day had clearly taken a toll on me, and I had a surprisingly comfortable sleep onboard this Pacer as it crawled down the track, finally reaching Sheffield 5 minutes early at 2154.

So, couldn't avoid Pacers after all, and nor did I avoid a visit to Wakefield Kirkgate station at the end, in nightfall. The meet was such a great occasion and I would definitely do it again.

Photos: (l to r then top down)
11. NT 333001, the 1059 Forster Square service at Burley which a majority of teams used to get to Shipley
12. NT 333011, the 1141 Forster Square service at Steeton
13. NT 155341 at Hebden Bridge, the train on which the master-stroke was formed
14. NT 155341 after arrival at Platform 12 at Leeds
15. NT 142071 at Moorthorpe awaiting departure to Sheffield
16. NT 142014 with its distinct carriage number after arrival at Platform 12 at Leeds (the third time I alighted at that platform that day)
17. NT 153317 + 158796 at Wakefield Kirkgate ready for Huddersfield after crew swapped ends
18. NT 153317 + 158796 at Wakefield Kirkgate
19. Passing Darton, a station missed during the challenge, onboard NT 144018

 

[Crossover]

Nice summary bb21

You weren't the only one who had the same train into Leeds as out as I had 185121 both ways, even standing in the same coach on both occasions!

Loving the picture of the board at Wakefield Westgate and I'm surprised you are still able to tell us about your day after your late night wander through Wakefield Kirkgate!

More about mine, Mike395 and ALR's day is to follow

 

[142094]

Here's a quick note of what I did, can't remember the numbers or times.

Jumped on the 10.32 off Leeds with most others, but stayed on as far as Ilkley. Plan was to get the bus to Steeton and Silsden, but stopping off for a timetable let me down and ended up missing that bus. However managed to et an X86 to Skipton, getting another 333 back into Leeds.

From Leeds it was a 15 minute wait for a 144 on the all stops to Huddersfield, where the plan was to get in the Penistone line and return via Barnsley to Wakefield. Was tempted to join the stopper to Man Vic from Huddersfield to get in Slaithwaite and Marsden, but connection back at Hudd was +2 and the train is normally full with those doing the rail ale trail. Instead had a cup of tea at the buffet.

Cue the farce of the day - 158 arrives into the western bay from Lockwood, and is promptly failed at Huddersfield for reason unknown. Guard informs us that the service will not be cancelled but the unit replaced at Huddersfield. For those who now WY like me I assumed correctly that one of the extra units stabled at Huddersfield would be used. Sure enough a 150 was brought into service, and trundled off towards Deighton to turn around to get into platform 1. This involves 3 reversals - one after coming out of the sidings, the other in one of the eastern bay platforms, and again at another signal to get into plt. 1. about 35 minutes down at this point, we eventually left along the Penistone line.

At this stage the +30 minute wait at Barnsley for the Sheffield - Leeds local service was in serious doubt. To make things worse, Barnsley box had sent a unit up the single line between Dodworth and Penistone, so another 5-10 minute wait at Penistone. Arrived into Barnsley to see a unit in the opposite platform, ran across the footbridge and hopped on board. In fact this was the Nottingham - Leeds express, so quickly got off and waited for the delayed local stopper. This had the advantages of getting in Darton, Kirkgate, Normanton, Castleford and Woodlesford. However the delay meant I missed the train to Horsforth or Headingley, which would have added another 2 stations. Along with Marsden and Slaithwaite, this would have put me on course for 37 IIRC, but only managed 32 due to the delays.

One thing to note is that all trains were Northern-operated, so I may have been able to get a few more if I hadn't used the free pass!

 

[Crossover]

Sorry for the delay in getting round to posting this, but here is a rundown of what happened for us

The day started on the 09:37 service from Dewsbury towards Middlesbrough operated by 185121. It was an uneventful run although the train was reasonably well loaded and I was stood for the duration of the journey. Arrival into Leeds was early (pre 09:50) giving even more slack in the already slack station call before its onward journey. I alighted and crossed from platform 15 towards the pre-arranged meet point. A few descriptions of who would be there had been posted on the forum and on arrival at the meet point, sprite was already waiting. By 10:20 everyone had arrived (or returned from McDonalds!) and teams were sorted. Along with me were All Line Rover and Mike395. As the start time of 10:30 approached, there was a shift towards platform 5 as it become apparent that everyone apart from me, All Line Rover and Mike395 were heading for the 10:32 service to Ilkley. 10:30 arrived and we all set off (mostly in one direction!)

The first train for us was the 10:37 departure towards Manchester Victoria which we were going to be taking as far as Walsden, the boundary of the West Yorkshire Metro zone. Departing from platform 11b, 150271 was all ready and waiting as we headed across the bridge. We boarded and set off on time. Including Leeds this journey was to give us our first 10 stations. The journey gave us an opportunity to look over the days’ plans as it was mainly planned the night before the meet, as well as to get to know each other a bit as none of us had met before. The journey seemed to go through an endless number of tunnels making conversation sometimes tricky but was otherwise enjoyable, the seats of the 150 not being all that bad, although a little cramped.

We were due to have a 9 minute connection at Walsden for our next train back to Bradford Interchange and although we were running to time as we left Hebden Bridge we consulted the LDB to check our first connection of the day. The news was not so good. The train was showing as indefinitely delayed due to train failure prior to leaving Manchester. We had to continue to Walsden by this point and decided to look for buses on arrival. The time to Halifax was quoted as 56 mins and with an ETA now showing on the connecting train, we decided to wait it out.

Little over an hour in and the plan was looking in doubt as we were to only have 15 minutes to catch the train from Bradford Forster Square according to our original plan. After a number of quiet announcements, the train was finally announced as due! We were entirely expecting a shaky 142 to roll in but got a surprise when 158796 appeared round the corner. This was the 11:48 service that departed at 12:11, well over 20 minutes down. The train was fairly quiet and although we got sat opposite a group who were rather drunk, they didn’t cause too many problems. The guard came round to check tickets and advised us that due to the late running, we should leave the train at Hebden Bridge as it was going to run non-stop to Leeds and to catch the train running directly behind us. We jumped ship at Hebden Bridge, what turned out to be a very pleasant station, along with pretty much all of the train to catch the semi-fast Selby train running behind. No more than 5 minutes of waiting and 142031 pulled into Hebden Bridge on the 12:21 service, departing at 12:25. We shuddered along to Bradford Interchange, losing slightly more time on the way as we had now become a stopping service, but eventually arrived into Bradford Interchange just before 13:00.

We had been advised the quickest way to Forster Square was to walk, but since none of us were sure of the way and knowing the time to the next connection, we opted for the Free City Bus arriving at Forster Square just as our connection was also arriving to turn round. The plan to go on the Ilkley branch first was now changed and we boarded the 13:11 service towards Skipton, operated by 333008, a nice break away from the diesels we’d had up to now. The problems earlier had put us 25 minutes behind plan. Lunchtime called as we made our way to Steeton and Silsden where we were to have a +3 onto a service back towards Shipley, collecting a further 8 stations along the way. We were positioned at the front of the train in case we had decided to jump ship at Keighley, nearest to the bridge. Unfortunately we were to find this was the wrong end for Steeton and Silsden as we passed the exit from the platform as we pulled into the station and carried on along the platform. Having felt like an age for the guard to release the doors (to the point Mike395 went to see if the doors we were at were actually faulty) we made haste back along the length of the train and to the exit whilst trying to work out how to get across the line. This turned out to be by means of the road bridge, involving more stairs than we would have liked! We got to the opposite platform (though not without incident!) to be greeted by a departure board showing the next three trains towards Shipley as delayed and with no ETA…this really was not our day!

Expecting the worst we started contemplating our options when without warning a train rolled round the corner. It was the delayed 13:26 service to Leeds, operated by 144023 (as it turns out, unusually under the wires from Skipton rather than Carlisle) running 14 minutes late. The journey went without incident and we arrived 20 minutes later into a packed platform 1 at Shipley. Heading for the bridge, the boards were showing the 13:53 to Ilkley, our next port of call, as delayed. Heading across the bridge we saw it sat in platform 3 and didn’t think we had much chance of making it. As the train we had arrived on pulled out of platform 1 heading to Leeds however, we realised it would block the path of the Ilkley service and made haste yet again, across the bridge, across the station forecourt and dived onto the train about 20 seconds prior to departure. Our luck was finally looking up and we took in another 6 stations en route along the line.

We decided to leave this train at Ilkley and take a break to gather supplies before the journey back to Leeds, rather than taking the same train back to Guiseley. We left the train and headed along the platform – we’d had 333002 – due to the rush to board, this was the first time we had been able to check! The train departed prior to the connection arriving and although it was late arriving, we boarded 333011 and we left on time for the journey back to Leeds. As with the majority of the journeys on the Airdale and Wharfdale lines, the journey passed by quite quickly though annoyingly, it was the third 333 we had been on with a non-working toilet…not good Northern!!!

The journey back, though brief, gave us time to contemplate our options on arrival at Leeds. Arrival was 3 minutes early and gave us a 35 minute break and another point to take on supplies. After our short connections at Steeton and Silsden (even though it turned out not to be!) and Ilkley, the break was much appreciated. We boarded the 15:43 all shacks stopper to Huddersfield in good time and left on time on 150270, which was to net us our final 8 stations of the day. On the way we encountered quite a few groups on the TransPennine Real Ale Trail (which may have come as a surprise to Mike395 and All Line Rover!), with groups boarding at Batley, Dewsbury and Mirfield and alighting at Dewbury, Mirfield and Huddersfield respectively. Although some were vocal, it seemed to be northern spirit (pun not entirely intended!) and they didn’t cause us any problems.

Despite getting signal checked after Mirfield awaiting being passed by a slightly late running First TransPennine Express service, it didn’t cause any major delay to our arrival into Huddersfield where we arrived on platform 4a with a well-timed 4 minute wait for the 16:27 First TransPennine service back to Leeds at platform 8. Not long after crossing the island, 185117 came in, we boarded and left on time, only calling at Dewsbury on the way back. We arrived into Leeds a few minutes early at 16:48 and crossed back to the original meet point with our count of 32 stations. Not quite as good as the 34 we originally had planned but good considering the problems we had.

On arrival, we were greeted by the majority of the group with only CompactDstrxion having not arrived back. With CompactDstrxion arriving back 4 late and incurring a time penalty, the winner was finally said to be bb21 and gnolife with 36 stations.

Following a meal at the Slug and Lettuce, not far from Leeds station, and a drink or two at the Wetherspoons opposite, the group slowly began to disperse.

Heading back to the station with Yorkie, bb21 and Lampsahde, bb21 left to head his way while the rest of us had a little time to kill. A slow wander along the bridge and my final train arrived, the 20:40 towards Manchester Airport. I left Yorkie and Lampshade and headed down to the platform which (along with the train itself) was pretty packed with punters from the Ebor raceday that had been held at York. I boarded while only able to use the carriage number for reference as to the final unit of the day as I boarded and prepared to stand for the short journey. It was only 185121, the same unit as I had in to Leeds in the morning!

Well done to everyone who was involved and contributed to another great meet, especially to my team mates Mike395 and All Line Rover.

 

[bb21]

After a number of quiet announcements, the train was finally announced as due! We were entirely expecting a shaky 142 to roll in but got a surprise when 158796 appeared round the corner.

So 158796 was a replacement unit?

No wonder it looked messy and dirty when I got on it later that night. It wasn't prepared in the first place.

 

[Crossover]

It may have been although even after leaving Manchester it experienced further problems it seemed but that could have been a reporting problem I guess.

On the dirty thing, not guilty :P
Didn't seem too bad when we were on it so we'll the other punters :P

 

[gnolife]

Not all that much I can contribute to here, bb21 has already done a pretty exhastive summary of our day! Basically, what's here is me getting to Leeds, my own take on one or two things and me getting from Leeds.
The day started for me with a mad dash across Wythenshawe for my bus to Manchester Airport (route 18 to Altrincham). The driver, choosing to be a bit of a *Insert 4 letter word here*, saw me running toward him in the bus station, shut the doors in my face, and drove off. Cue first change of plans of the day. Mad dash to Heald Green to try and make the train that I wanted from the Airport (0725 to Edinburgh, call HDG 0729). Made it just before it started to shut its doors, and off we went! Got into Piccadilly 0741 (2 early), and decided to make a second change of plans - a mad dash to Victoria for the 8:00 stopper to Leeds, instead of the 0828. Got to Victoria about 5 mins before it was due to go, went to Platform 1, and there was nothing there. There was, however 155341stood in platform 2 with Leeds on the blind, but the boards were saying that that was the Huddersfield stopper. after about 10 mins of a fair sized crowd staring at this train, the powers that be must have realized that there had been a mistake, and told us that this was the Leeds train. Panic as everyone trys to barge their way on. Left Victoria 7 down. It was just after this train was leaving that I realised that the one solitary stop that it didn't call at was the one that I'd gone and used to split tickets at (Walsden). Luckily for me, the guard didn't have a clue of what I was going on about when I asked to excess my Littleborough - Walsden CDR to Todmorden - the extra 50p would have well and truely scuppered me (I used my last pennies in the Slug and Lettuce ). Got into Leeds about 09:35 on platfom 10b, and made my way over to the meeting point. I was thoroughly confused by the lack of people, and when they started to show up, I was still confused because I didn't recognise any of them, having never been to one of these meety type things before.
From when the challenge actually started, bb21's summary pretty much covers it, with just one or two things to mention from my own point of view.
Firstly, I had forgotten where we were going in Bradford, so had to produce laptop on the 333 in to remind myself (I panic a bit if i don't know my way round a place
Secondly, I have a completely different opinion to bb21 of what the (as he puts it) "master-stroke of the day" was, I personally think it was the bus to Bramley that was the most cruicial part of the challenge for us
And finally, an apology to him for my own really stupid blunder of the day - I'd forgotten something fairly important as far as our plan, and thats the fact that my asthma basically means I can't run very far or very fast, and that very nearly ruined the plan for us.
So after the challenge we all wandered down to the Slug and Lettuce, where I had a very nice beef vindaloo, although it was a bit hot for me (but I could never know unless I tried it)
After the meal, I realized that I'd forgotten my ID when the rest of you were going over to Spoons (plus the fact that I was completely without money at this point), so I had to leave. Another person (sorry, I didn't pick up your name) left with me, and we made our way back to the station. On getting there, i saw that my train out was in approximately 2 mins, so had to charge off (sorry again to you who was with me at this point), to make it. I only made it onto this train because the conductor let me in through his door. What I didn't know at this point was that a load of drunks were going to be joining this train at Hebden BRidge (very pretty station that). This train took me right back full circle - it was the same train that took me out of Victoria. It even went back into the same platform!
My getting back from Manchester to the Airport was a bit of a diasaster though. I caught the 20:46 Wilmslow via Man AIrport train, but i dozed off on board, and was woken up by the conductor doing his ticket check after Airport, where I was supposed to be getting off. He told me to stay on, and get off at the Airport on the return trip. I only went and dozed off again didn't I, waking up when we left Piccadilly heading back towards the Airport. Got back into Airport only 3 hours after I was planning on