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...
The final Saturday of the engineering possesion which has made Highbridge a railway no mans land for the past three weeks. We had planned a trip for last week, which hadn't happened for a number of reasons. So today, struggling to wake up after a very late night, the party began to assemble here at my flat for a trip to the Mid Hants Railway. Started out well, noting 59204 on 6W20 at Highbridge station as we left. Relying on GPS to get us across country, we noted we were passing through Cranmore in Mendip quarry country. Stopped off to look at the terminus of the East Somerset Railway which was being whipped by an icy wind. Not much to see this early in the day, but tried to get an angle on 47365 which was stored near to the road entrance to the site.
Pressed on, and arrived at Alresford around 11:00. A pretty little market town, which I'd have liked very much to explore further, and hope to at some point. Since we were eager to get onto the railway, visited the shop in the ex-goods shed, and booked tickets for the journey up to Alton. Quite soon after, a Pressed Steel 'bubble car' in pristine Southern Railway green livery arrived. Boarded in a prime seat for the driver's eye view which I remember from the times these operated the Cross City Line in my former home area. Soon off, with some quite lively running along the ten mile line!
Particularly intersting was Ropley where much of the MHR stock is stabled for engineering and preservation activities. Lots to see here including the mighty 'Bodmin' and a number of diesel locos. Strange topiary in evidence too, which I later noted in some very old photographs of the station also!
Arrived at Alton to find a 450 in the station awaiting departure for Waterloo. We had a number of possible plans now, but finally decided to complete the original route by travelling on to London. Rebooked and boarded the 12:44 departure. Exciting journey, especially since one of the party had never been to the capital before, and several had not been to the LSWR terminus at Waterloo. Some quite frantic EMU spotting went on along the way, much to the horror of some of the normals on board!
Not much time at Waterloo if we were to make it back for the last MHR train to Alresford. Wandered up to the Eurostar platforms, then stocked up on provisions for our journey back to Alton. Considering it was a first trip, I think at least two more members of the party left wanting to visit the city again and to explore more thoroughly. More frantic number gathering on the return journey.
Arrived back into Alton in bright evening sunshine and watched 73096 run around it's stock ready for departure as the 15:55 to Alresford. Boarded and found comfortable seats for the journey back.
Back at Alton we set off home via a less 'bendy' route at the request of our driver. Another eventful and entertaining trip, with more ideas for future jaunts thrown around during the day. Arrived back at Highbridge a little after 19:00 and waited in Arctic winds with some of the group for the bus back to Bridgwater. With them finally tucked up on the warm bus, retreated to the Cooper's Arms for a well-earned pint.
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.
