ALR06/02 Day Five - Friday 13th at the 13th Note

Posted in Railways on Friday 13th October 2006 at 11:46pm

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Today started with an unusual occurrence on my travels - a bus journey not only planned but welcomed. I'd noted some odd bus connections in the timetable linking Hull Paragon and Barton-on-Humber, south of the river. The bus linked into a departure for Grimsby Town which was the perfect positioning move for the next bit of new track. Having had almost no problems sticking to my plan, and given it was Friday 13th, I was a little apprehensive - sometimes these buses seem not to run, or to be fairly obscure in their origin. I'd tried to get Northern Rail to commit to a location for a pick-up, and they'd offered "on Ferensway, outside Debenhams's opposite the station". Considering Ferensway is almost 50% missing at present, and that there is no Debenham's opposite the station, I didn't believe them. So I made the trip to the station early, and found a helpful staff member who directed me to Anne Street beside Kingston Communications HQ. Eventually a 350 bus to Scunthorpe via Barton Station did indeed appear, and we set off in deepening fog. By the time we got to the Humber Bridge, another reason I was curious about this service, it was clear that we'd get no view of the estuary today through the pea-souper that had developed.

Only a few minutes at Barton before a 153 arrived at the rather forlorn little platform, and we set off for Grimsby through a series of rather remote little communities, each with their own small station. Perhaps the oddest of all was Thornton Abbey where I could see no dwellings at all and no clear access to any populated area, although in fairness I couldn't see very far in the fog! I can only guess that visitors to the nearby Abbey must have justified the presence of a station here when the line was built nearly 150 years ago. The service today was well used, and a good number of us alighted at Grimsby Town. Made straight for 'The Mariners' for breakfast, a traditional station cafe on the platform. Overheard a conversation about a service being late, but as nothing untoward was showing on the screens, tried not to worry about it. It turned out that a Transpennine service was experiencing difficulties somewhere locally, and that the Central unit from Newark was behind it. Eventually, customers expressing concerns that our departure time had come and gone with no hint of information coaxed an announcement from staff that the unit would arrive soon and would depart immediately. I had no particular timing concerns as yet, but I had the slightly sickening feeling that this, perhaps the most complex day of changes, might not go to plan after all.

Soon found myself boarding the second 153 of the day and progressing as far as Wrawby Junction in really fine weather - so much so that I stowed my coat in my bag for the first time all week. Soon plunged back into the fog however, and this persisted throughout the journey via Market Rasen to Lincoln. At Market Rasen we were joined by a pair of rather gothic-looking youngsters with an impressive array of piercings. Mused on the tendency of these fairly obscure places to generate rebellion - thinking of a similarly attired young woman at Dingwall earlier in the week. It must be fairly lonely to be a rebel out here, or in the Highlands - but I can definitely see the attraction. Most of the train disembarked at Lincoln Central, and we had a slow run non-stop to Newark Northgate, halting at almost every signal. Left the train at a damp and foggy Newark, taking the opportunity to 'phone home before the next northbound service arrived.

Pleased to see the very apposite 91107 'Newark on Trent' hauling the 11:26 to Leeds, which I was to take as far as Wakefield Westgate. A nice, quiet and quick trip through a busy Doncaster and into Wakefield on time. Grabbed a coffee and waiting for the Huddersfield train, which was formed by a rather tired looking 142001. We left the station via the curve to Kirkgate before reversing and heading West. Took the southernmost line through Healey Mills, enabling me to get a look at the locos stored at the depot. Amazed, given the fairly out-of-the-way spot to find that many of the 37s were too badly grafittied to identify. The elusive stored 56s were concealed behind the line of 37s and 47s much to my frustration. Passed a few 185s on the journey into Huddersfield too, noting their increasing dominance of the Hull service as the 158s move south to First Great Western and South West Trains.

A short wait for the arrival of the stock of the Manchester Victoria service - this time an equally dilapidated 150/1 which made some fairly alarming noises as it was forced to perform on the gradients here, and sounded particularly rough through Standedge Tunnel. It's always a pleasant journey this way, and I regretted not being able to stop off at Stalybridge for a liquid lunch. After a slow approach to Victoria, headed over the bridge making an easy connection into the Kirby service. This was to provide perhaps the last bit of new track of the week (depending on diversions over the weekend) via Atherton and the curiously named Hag Fold to Wigan. I'd tried to do this a while back, but got on a different service at Wigan (thinking I was going to be clever and early) and scored the route via Westhoughton instead. Dozed slightly as we meandered west, stopping at all shacks along the way. Noted a couple of stations appeared to be island platforms with fairly impressive canopies. Seems to be worth looking into the history of these routes at some point, along with the Merseyside lines which still fascinate me.

I seem to have spent a fair bit of time waiting at Wigan over the past year, as I've tried to mop up all the routes in the North West. Had an hour this time, and tried in vain to find somewhere pleasant to eat and drink. No more success than on previous occasions, so gave up and headed for the station very early. This rewarded me with the sight of 47501 and 47802 storming through on a short rake of tanks. Why is my camera never out at the right times? 390041 crawled in a little early, and it took a while to find a seat on this very well patronised train. Sat back and enjoyed First Class service Pendolino style. Some nice touches and much better than the Voyager offering, but it lacks some of the charm of GNER's rather more classic approach for want of a better term. The Pendolino is not the greatest stock for sight-seeing either, with its tiny 'porthole' windows preventing really panoramic views as we stormed north over Shap and Beattock. Arrival in Glasgow was, as always, a fine experience. Noted that the Clyde Bridges have been lit in a variety of different ways to enhance the night-time view along the river. It was very good to be back.

Immediately set out for a wander and inevitably several pints at the 13th Note. As a member of staff there declared, I am after all a creature of habit. Tried Tennent's new brand 'Versa' too, which was fairly good from a non-lager drinker's viewpoint. Not so gassy and a little stronger - which can only be good things. Feeling sleepy, decided on a wander back west through Merchant City to Central Station. Could happily have stayed for several more days, even if the bit of the Central Hotel I was camped in this time was on the even spookier fifth floor! I'd be mad to bail out now though - strangely, so far my plans were working out - even today, which should by rights have been unlucky.