With last week's tour cancelled, and a strangely restless week off work coming to a close I had staked a lot on this tour. Set off from Redditch early in sub-zero temperatures and arrived at a bleak Barnt Green station to find a respectable and growing crowd of enthusiasts - some here to board the tour and some just to take pictures. Wished I'd brought a warmer coat, or a flask. Chatted a bit to a number of locals. A few minutes into my twenty minute wait we heard that a late arrival of the stock into Gloucester meant the tour was already 25 down. Sulked for a bit and felt colder. This wasn't the plan!
Almost exactly half an hour later lights appeared in the distance, and 66032 rolled in. Coach H landed right next to me, and I was relieved to find the heating on full. Settled back into comfy first class seats, knowing that soon enough at New Street the carriage would fill up. First leg was a run through Birmingham, and down to International where we switched to electric power. All ran smoothly and we arrived with time to spare. Back out into the cold to watch 92037 creeping around the station in preparation for our departure for Crewe. Away at booked time, and once through the suburbs via Aston and Bushbury Junction, some spirited running up the West Coast. A little outside Crewe station noted our next locmotives sitting outside the LNWR depot - DRS 37218 and 37059. Not a hope of a decent shot of our new traction at Crewe as the world and his dog had turned out to see us pass. A closed platform end on 12 added to the difficulty. Contented myself with waiting patiently to see the locos safely on the front, and returned to the relative comfort of the carriage and the real ale bar.
The next stretch was probably going to be the most fun for me. A thrash through Manchester Victoria and over the Pennines, followed by a little new track around Brighouse and a loco change in Healey Mills Yard. There were rumoured to be a few on board from Crewe who stedfastly refused to travel on any other part of the tour because they regard the pair of class 37s as the only rateable traction. Lots of speculation how they'd get off the train once the 60 was on the front at HM! Somewhere here, the sun came out and we were presented with stunning views of the snow-dusted hills surrounding us. Since I didn't get a chance to photograph this leg of the trip, I'll link to someone who got a fantastic shot of the train instead.
Much confusion as we passed through Healey Mills without stopping - as ever, completely in the wrong place to see anything on the depot. Plan was to switch locos at Wakefield Kirkgate due to 'safety concerns' at the yard. Speculation rife about EWS vs. DRS politics being the real story. Later we heard we would not be able to stop for pictures at Wakefield, but that we would stop briefly, presumably for the disgusted 37 bashers to hop off before we set off with the 60. A little before arriving in Wakefield we heard we would now be stopping for a while longer, and literally seconds later that we wouldn't, and that we'd meet the 60 at Calder Bridge Goods Loop. No idea what was happening, so sat back and watched the fun.
With the 60034 finally on the front at Calder Bridge, we set off for our destination - officially Goole! The plan was to offer people the chance to get off at Goole, and for the rest of us to complete a loop around some incredibly rare track in the Hull suburbs, and then to pick up at Goole on the way back. Amazingly, we watched huge amounts of people disembark. I later discovered that this was for a couple of reasons - firstly that the real ale had just run out on board, but also for a far more sinister reason. These people were J D Wetherspoon's pub spotters! I had heard that this was a new tendency among cranks, but I had never before witnessed the extent to which it had taken hold. The rest of us enjoyed our slow creep around the rusty rails beside Hull FC's former home, Boothferry Road and back onto the mainline near the site of the curiously named Dairycoates depot.
The next loco change was planned for Doncaster - on the two-way goods line beside the station, so again no pictures. After losing a bit of time around the circle in Hull, and some slow running over the avoider to Adwick we found ourselves a bit late. It also took some time for Freightliner's 66560 to turn up, but there was much relief for some when it did, as 66952 had been a proposed and unpopular alternative earlier. Either would have been fine by me! From Doncaster we took the Old Road to Tapton Junction where just like always, we stood for endless minutes waiting for Virgin services to pass us. This has happened on every tour which I've taken via the Old Road. Eventually back on course, and some pretty high speeds were achieved to Derby. Popped out in the cold again to watch the loco change at Derby. After a chilly wait 66063 emerged from the darkness and was attached for the final leg of the journey. Somehow from here we made up some time, with the almost miraculous feat of passing through Grand Junction and Proof House into New Street without stopping once! On my own in the carriage again for the last leg back to Barnt Green, and a short wait for the local into Redditch.
Having never done a 'Spin and Win' tour before, I wasn't sure what to expect from today. In the end it was the usual social event coupled with some new track and some interesting traction. A little before I left the train, a steward announced that this wasn't, as has been rumoured, the final such tour and that they would continue as long as we booked on them and the traction providers supported them. Long may they continue in my view.
An earlier than planned start, since I was up and had Open tickets for the first two legs of my journey. Washed, dressed and packed in record time and headed out to Warrington Central. Soon onboard the Transpennine Express service to Leeds, and passing the huge disused goods shed which still bears the names of the Great Northern, Great Central and Cheshire Lines railway companies. My first stretch of new track took me into Manchester Piccadilly once again. Its been a worryingly almost weekly visit this year, as I've explored the chords and branches emanating from the city. From Manchester, out via Stalybridge and under the Pennines at Standedge - still a favourite journey for me. None of the promised snow making a showing as we emerged on the east side at Huddersfield.
Not long at Leeds - but enough time to get breakfast, and to cross the station to platform 1 where the York-bound unit was waiting. Noted it was advertised to Poppleton only, presumably to discourage people from doing what I was trying to, and travelling the long way round via Harrogate. Boarded anyway, and when confronted by the guard made some mumbled excuse for not going 'the quick way' via the mainline. This was my second stretch of new track, and it was not disappointing. The winding line passing over impressive viaducts and through attractive little stations. Surprisingly busy too, which was pleasing to see. Harrogate appeared to be a prosperous and bustling place with architecture of impressive proportion for such a small town. All very much as it had been described to me, and I would love to visit again with some time to wander. Even more impressed by the picturesque and rather splendid Knaresborough - somewhere I realise I'd written off just on the basis of the name sounding truculent and Yorkshire-like!
Arrived at York in time for a flurry of railway related activity. Firstly noted the Network Rail liveried class 86s stabled in platform 1. Got a picture, to replace the fuzzy and distant one I took a year or so ago in Rugby.
On the way back, noted a terminating service from Tonbridge on the board. Assumed it had to be a charter, and headed over the platform 19. Whilst I awaited the charter, the HST New Measurement Train arrived too, followed by Past Times' York Flyer behind 67017 Arrow.
Set out for a wander by the usual landmarks - a quick look in at the Model Railway, then over the road and under the wall to The Maltings. Time for a pint of Black Sheep before heading back to the station to buy lunch and await the 12:25 to Bristol. An easy and relaxing journey back, making excellent time and managing a change onto my first weekend rail service into Highbridge in a month. Not quite the trip I'd planned for this weekend, but a pleasant combination of new track, old favourites and a chance to wander around York station.
Like old times - leaving work early and heading for the station. An uneventful ride up to Bristol, then time to wedge myself into a packed Voyager bound for Warrington, which stayed busy and uncomfortably warm almost all of the way. Ground to a halt at Smethwick, but soon on our way and making up time. The plan had been Pathfinder's Rutland Renegade tour, but I found out this was cancelled last weekend. During the week I managed to get myself sorted enough to utilise my Warrington ticket and hotel booking, and to book a trans-pennine jaunt for today, if nothing else just to preserve the record for new track this year.
Arrived in the dark at a very spooky looking Warrington Bank Quay, with the Unilever works belching out smoke and lit by halogen lamps from below. From the station, set out roughly in the right direction for the Travellodge, but played it mostly by instinct as there seemed to be no hope of a satellite to guide me tonight. Finally found the hotel, checked in and left to wander into the town centre. There was quite a bit of the industrial-era grandeur I'd expected - the baths and the municipal museum in particular. Aside from that, the centre of town was quiet and slightly menacing. Every pub seemed to have a disco on, but no-one was dancing. Searched for somewhere that sold cask ale but didn't have ear-splitting music blaring. Compromised on The Bluebell - still pretty loud, but the DJ seemed to have fairly good taste. Settled down with a pint and watched the world go by. There was something strangely comforting and northern about the place - the pretty barmaid had a pronounced limp, the girls drank pints, and the landlord carried a big bunch of keys on his belt. I'm almost convinced that the bouncers who spent the evening drinking massive mugs of steaming weak tea were actually off-duty PE teachers. The beer wasn't great, but I enjoyed my short stay.
Walked back to the hotel via the makeshift bus station, and through the bowels of a half-built shopping centre. There isn't much to love about Warrington, but there's little to dislike.
A lack of planning and a general feeling of foreboding left me wondering what to do today. Needed to get out and about to blow away a week's worth of cobwebs, and decided that the criteria were simple - new track with a good pub at the end of it. Some quick research, coupled with my strange inclination to be in the Manchester area lately suggested Glossop. I'd been curious about the place after reading the Howard Town Brewery page, which celebrates a town which no-one else seems to have a good word for!
Braved the Rail Replacement Bus which took me as far as Weston this time. There were no advertised Saturday engineering works until a few days ago, suggesting someone messed up somewhere. Sundays of course remain difficult until the end of March. Quick change onto a Wessex unit at Weston, and into Bristol in good time to find a quiet spot on the 0828 Voyager to Birmingham. What was supposed to be a quick change at New Street turned into a long cold wait for the 1020 to Manchester, which finally limped in with no clear reason for the delay of 23 minutes. The stretch of line between Birmingham and Manchester has become very familiar lately - even more so that when I used to aim whenever possible to catch the Manchester-Bristol Class 47 hauled CrossCountry services a good few years back!
On arriving at Piccadilly we'd managed to make up a few minutes, and with luck I was able to catch the same Glossop service I'd originally planned for. Onto a strangely damp 323 for a journey out through the suburbs. First surprise of the day was spotting a gleaming 185102 outside what will soon be its custom-built new home depot at Ardwick. At Guide Bridge, headed straight on via the former Woodhead line. Coming on a Saturday meant that there were no services from Hadfield to Manchester which avoided Glossop, so it wasn't going to be possible to do the other side of the triangle at the end of the line today. However, stunning views of the snowy High Peak compensated for that. Soon arrived in an equally snowy, but bright and sunny Glossop. I always read a little about the places I visit beforehand, and I have to say I'd not been inspired by what I'd heard about Glossop. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a bustling Peak District town, with some interesting industrial architecture. There was a genuinely welcoming feel to the place - except for the driver who shouted at me for straying into his path outside the Co-op, which was entirely down to a weird cobbled area that looked like a pavement! Explored a bit, slithering around on the snow in place, then headed for The Star, a GBG listed pub, for a pint or two before the train home. Lovely spot - almost next door to the station, with friendly staff and a fair range of ales on offer.
An uneventful ride back into Piccadilly, then a chance to grab some lunch before boarding the next Voyager back to New Street. An added bonus on the return leg of spotting a couple more spangly new 185s at Longsight. Had a very sleepy trip back, again as far as Weston where I changed for the bus. So, the new track every week record continues into March, but is threatened by news that Pathfinder's Rutland Renegade tour next weekend is postponed - probably to a week I can't do. Need to come up with some ideas for next weekend...
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
