Just like last time I returned from a week away, today plunged me into all kinds of work-related whirlwinds, and I'm still trying to catch up with all the attendant admin - downloading pictures, recording sightings and the like. I remember last time I also said I'd put a quick summary of the trip here, but didn't actually ever find the time, so here goes for this time:
Monday 4th April
Struck out eastwards on the first train off Weston. Delayed on the approach to Paddington for no obvious reason. Circle line also running slowly with long stops between stations. Got to Liverpool Street with moments to spare to find Lowestoft train ominously delayed. Incoming stock arrived over thirty minutes late due to an earlier failure at Stowmarket. Wondered whether to bail at Ipswich and head direct to Norwich - meant missing new track, but would keep me on time. 'One' made the call for me, announcing the train would terminate at Beccles with a bus forward. Spent a few minutes grabbing pictures at a wet Ipswich before heading for Norwich. Earlier than expected connection to Peterborough, then easy going up to Doncaster on a 'White Rose' service. Arrived at Cleethorpes on a brisk but pleasant evening. Checked into a very nice hotel and wandered out for a well-earned (but not great, unfortunately) indian meal and beer.
Tuesday 5th April
Set out early from Cleethorpes on an attempt to cross the country a couple of times, working my way slowly north. First to Doncaster, then Leeds where I had time for breakfast and provisions shopping. Via Bradford to Manchester Victoria running to time. Here things collapsed, the Victoria-Liverpool train just didn't appear, and it was left to a member of staff to phone for an explanation and explain the situation to waiting passengers. A fifteen minute delay on top of the time we'd already waited to find out what was happening. Uncertain now whether I could make my originally quite generous Liverpool turnaround in time. Lost confidence and hit the tram across town to Piccadilly, missing a swathe of new track in the process. Picked up a Transpennine service direct to Middlesbrough there. A very quick change on to a Newcastle bound service, followed by a pleasant evening travelling along the coast via Hartlepool. Insane queues in the Travelodge, and a desperate evening trying to find something not overpriced and achingly, self-conciously posh to eat in Newcastle of all places! In the end, impossible to escape 'pan-fried tuna with pesto mash'. Slunk off to bed feeling somewhat cheated.
Wednesday 6th April
Started today with a knee injury gained whilst stomping around looking for food the previous evening. Picked up some track I missed back in October between Newcastle and Carlisle - a wet and bleak stretch, but happy to have done it at last. Carlisle station busy - 87028 and a pair of DRS Class 33s visiting whilst I waited for a delayed Voyager to Glasgow - giving me a slightly earlier arrival time than my planned Pendolino. Weather much better as I headed north. Quick foot crossing to Queen Street, and a pair of 156s bound for the West Highlands. Awe-inspiring scenery as we headed for the coast via Loch Lomond and Ben Nevis. Decided to hop off at Fort William rather than press on to Mallaig. Instead, explored the town a little, sampled locally caught Haddock and awaited boarding time for the Caledonian Sleeper. Enjoyed some ale whilst crossing a snowy Rannoch Moor in the twighlight - almost like a lunar landscape. Last memory of the journey was Glasgow twinkling to the south as 37416 roared through the suburbs.
Thursday 7th April
Woke somewhere north of Rugby on a promising morning. Washed and dressed, and watched the world pass by - arriving a little early at Euston. Spent the extra time crossing over to Kings Cross and enjoying a huge but expensive breakfast. On to Hull Trains' 0833 departure - one of their small fleet of Class 170s. Comfortable, speedy ride along the East Coast Main Line - and plenty of evidence of their attention to good customer service. Arrived at the grand Hull Paragon and explored a little. Next, a Northern Trains service to Meadowhall. Slow running outside Hull and pointless hanging around at Doncaster gave me seconds to spare at Meadowhall. Predictably missed my Leeds service. Caught a following Midland Mainline 222 to Barnsley - my first short trip on the class. Surprisingly different feel to their cousin Voyagers. Wandered around Barnsley, almost upsetting some locals, before noting a fast service taking a similar route to Leeds and arriving in the direction of Midland Road. Made my original connection at Leeds with seconds to spare, finding myself jammed into a wedged Transpennine 158 heading for Preston. My poor luck this week so far seemed to be changing, and once again made a short connection into a Manchester via Bolton service. Voyager from Manchester to Birmingham also very busy indeed. Pleased to get back to my grandmother's house for a good sleep and a chance to rest painful leg.
Friday 8th April
Revisiting old haunts today. To Birmingham and then a rainy Crewe. A quick look around before boarding an all too familiar Arriva Trains Wales 158 for Holyhead. Stormy seas along the coast, with unintentional onboard entertainment provided by a couple of Irishmen heading for the ferry home. Arrived at Holyhead to find it little changed from my old bolthole where I would escape for weekends. Today it was wet and cold with a biting wind. Revised my plans somewhat, as a couple of hours exploring would not be fun in these conditions. Caught the same unit back as far as Llandudno Junction where I stopped in at the station tearoom to avoid the snow which had begun to fall. Another first-time trip on a class 175 to Manchester Piccadilly via a little more new track between Chester and Warrington. Running around an hour early now, onto a Crewe bound stopper and then a cross-platform change for a Pendolino to Nuneaton. Confused by the changes to the station, which leave the older buildings looking somewhat forlorn from the elevated viewpoint of the new platforms. At one strange moment snow was falling and blowing across the rather exposed new parts of the station, whilst at the other end bright, warm sunshine was beating down. Watched a parade of passing freight including a car train with 47847 tucked within its consist. Quite a wait for a Birmingham bound train.
Saturday 9th April
Today I realised a long harboured ambition! Set off for Birmingham, then onto a Manchester service as far as Stockport. Wandered the station, noting a few passing freights whilst waiting for the arrival of a 156 on platform 3b. Finally, at 11:23 exactly we departed for Stalybridge - at last I'd managed to travel on the legendary Stockport-Stalybridge 'Parliamentary'. Friendly and informative guard too. At Stalybridge joined the surprisingly large group of enthusiasts travelling from Stockport for an excellent pint in the near-legendary buffet. Resisted the urge to try other beers, and pressed on for Huddersfield where I walked into the middle of a massive Police operation to safely convey Doncaster fans to the stadium for a football match. The worst side-effect of this was the closure of gents toilets on the station! Another depot fly-past now, heading for Wakefield via Healey Mills. From Wakefield to Doncaster for the last time this week - definitely a place to revisit soon with longer to watch happenings. A pair of rather tired looking Central 153s now to Lincoln and then Sleaford. All new track except for short stretches around Lincoln station. A bit of a dull leg of the journey however. Sleaford cold, windy and abandoned. To Nottingham next - on a train which should have gone on to Derby and Crewe in the view of the timetable and station monitors, but didn't. Tried to discuss this with the guard who promptly hid from me for the rest of the journey! Perhaps after six days of travel I was looking slightly haunted and manic? Back to Birmingham after a rather quicker change at Nottingham than my leg was willing to endure. Painful ride home.
Sunday 10th April
The final day of my trip. Last time out I went home on Saturday and used the last day as a bonus, but got boxed in by engineering works. Realising that south and west of my home was likely not accessible, decided to head home via a trip north and east. Didn't avoid trouble entirely however, and a change in timings on Midland Mainline meant cutting my journey short and changing for St Pancras at Derby rather than Sheffield. Pleasant morning at Derby - chatted with the driver of 47832 who'd left it in the sidings overnight after a railtour and returned to find it heavily grafitti covered. A longer trip on a Meridian this time, and I'm very impressed. Some bonus track too, as we set off in the direction of Birmingham and reversed via Stenson Junction and Sheet Stores Junction instead of the usual route via Long Eaton. From the chaos surounding the Interim Station at St Pancras, quick underground trip to Paddington, a present for my nephew purchased, and then onto a Weston train diverted via the Berks and Hants. Beautiful sunshine, wonderful views and a celebratory pint of Bass as I headed homeward.
A crazy week of dashing around, using many more class two trains, with the attendant timing troubles, poor frequencies of service and chances to fix things when they went wrong. Overall however, I had a fantastic time, scratched a good deal of new track, and the train operators did me proud.
Got back to a pile of email this afternoon - a week is a long time on the Ubuntu mailing lists it seems, and I'm too lazy to switch off delivery while I'm away. But buried within all the messages was this press release from the Delgados:
The Delgados, influential figures in Glasgow's independent music scene for over 10 years, have announced that they are to amicably disband. The reason has been put down to the departure of their bass player Stewart Henderson who informed the band in the New Year that he did not wish to make another album. The Delgados have always been known as uniquely collaborative songwriters and as such, it was decided that the band could not continue without all of its original members.
Sad news - glad I got to see them perform on the last tour, despite it being a turbulent and strange night for me. I'll miss the Delgados, but I can't wait to see what Emma and Alun come up with next.
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the beginnings of The London & Middlesex Archaeological Society there are many special events planned - today was the first of a series of 'Central London Walks', this time visiting London Squares. Started early from Weston, with a cool and misty journey diverted via the Berks & Hants route. First to Waterloo Bridge for coffee and breakfast. Met the other walkers on the River Terrace at Somerset House. The walk started in now powerful sunshine, and headed north over Aldwych and the site of Saxon Lundenwic, to Covent Garden. The arcade, part of the extension to the Royal Opera House gives an idea of how the square looked when first built. From here to Inigo Jones curious St. Paul's church with its decorative but ultimately pointless east elevation. West again now, to Leicester Square.
It is this part of the walk I dreaded. I'm not a fan of the gaudy, crowded precincts of the West End of London. A lot has changed however since I last visited. Here Jon Finney, our guide spoke a little about the responsibility of those who conserve or preserve sites, and how doing so can change the nature of a place. Indeed Leicester Square seemed more spacious, personable and open than before. We proceeded to Trafalgar Square via the rather silly Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery, and I was impressed again by change. Gone is the impossible circuit of traffic, and a wide open prospect down to Whitehall gives fine views. The square is accessible and usable, but as our guide points out - is no longer a square!
Under Admiralty Arch next, along the Mall and past the Nash terraces - seemingly built of pink blancmange. Nash buildings always make more sense to me from a distance, and at close quarters lack any interest at all. Up the steps beside the ICA (and the mysterious doorway which haunts Subterranea Britannica), and to St. James' Square - London's first and at one point most exclusive residential square. Built as a speculative venture, it became a haunt of Dukes and Earls. No residences or indeed original buildings now surround the square. The walk ended at Burlington House - home of the Royal Academy, where a remodelled courtyard works less well. A chance to look around restored William Kent rooms before heading off into the midday sunshine.
This walk took me to areas I tend to avoid - my interest and knowledge of London lies east of here. Decided to capitalise on the opportunity and visit one or two sites which I would normally not get near. Started with a sweep through St. James' Park to Parliament Square, something I did on my first solo visit to London many years ago. Impossibly crowded, so I decided to seek out Westminster Cathedral. I'd been reading about the Cathedral recently, and the failing health of Pope John Paul II had ensured it being featured on televison recently as a backdrop to ecclesiastical vox pops. Problem was, I couldn't find it! It seems not to feature on any map of the area at all. Struck out along Victoria Street, eventually finding a direction sign - soon enough the oddly octagonal, red brick byzantine influenced tower appeared over the rooftops.
On turning into the piazza around Bentley's amazing building I was struck by the odd atmosphere. Satellite broadcasting vans everywhere, cables running to expectant cameras and off-duty newscasters lounging on bollards. People were visibly waiting for the Pope's passing. The only person really doing anything in that strangely quiet square was a Big Issue seller, proclaiming his wares from the Cathedral steps. On a strange whim, went inside. The interior was wonderful. Eric Gill's stations of the cross adorn marbled pillars, whilst overhead is blank brickwork. The usual conspicuously rich iconography of a Catholic place of worship looks less out of place here than in older churches. A small altar with a picture of the pontiff had been set up, and a continuous stream of the faithful visited it, lit a candle and moved on. The Cathedral was filling slowly and silently with people. At one point, a Cathedral official approached a microphone and called for attention - the expectation was palpable. He gave a message for someone to meet their daughter at the main doors, nothing more. An entire congregation let out a sigh of relief. Some in fact, fell to their knees. I sat for quite a while mesmerised by the atmosphere, but eventually felt extremely out of place.
Fled to more certain ground, and found myself pounding my usual beat of Blackfriars, Newgate, Smithfield and Clerkenwell before heading back to Paddington and a quiet journey home. A strange day where I challenged my prejudices in many ways.
As I managed to get out during the week, and since I'll soon be spending an extended period on the rails, I've not minded being busy elsewhere. Plan to photograph passing permenant way trains at Taunton on Friday was cut short by a water leak at the flat, and I spent most of Saturday and Sunday with family. Decided today then to take a quick spin around my local area.
Since it's usually quiet hereabouts on Bank Holidays where rail is concerned, planned my wanderings around the arrivals of 5029 'Nunney Castle' working this year's set of 'Avon Branch Explorer' tours. Sort of wish I'd booked on to the last couple of trips of the day, since one was routed via St. Phillips Marsh, and the other was a fast run down to Taunton. Arrived at Bristol on the 0832 from Weston, just in time to see 67012 haul the stock in. Soon after, Nunney Castle appeared from the mist.
Left for Westbury on the delayed 0922. Intended to make a quick survey at Westbury before heading back to Newport, but the delay kept me there for around an hour. Very misty and eerily quiet. 66088 passed on a short engineers train, and 60048 set off from the yard leading a convoy of two class 66s and a short rake of ballast wagons. Unit back to Bristol packed solid as ever. On arriving at Temple Meads, fully intended to stay on for Newport but spotted 47829 in its unique 'British Transport Police' livery arriving in the bay near platform 5 having worked a driver training run around Filton and Avonmouth. Disembarked just before departure, and got a couple of shots despite the dull conditions.
Watched another Nunney Castle departure before heading for Newport where again, not much was happening. Up to Cheltenham - with the sudden appearance of sunshine along the banks of the Severn. Refreshments, then onwards to Swindon via the Stroud Valley. Swindon was perhaps the most utterly forsaken location of the day. It's usually quite a dull spot, but today the silence was oppressive. Glad to head back to Bristol for a pleasant wait in the evening sunshine for Nunney Castle. Chatted to a few regulars, who had been on the earlier steam-hauled trips and said it had been flawless - but not, of course, as eventful as last year when we failed in Tytherington Tunnel.
Back to Weston to pick my way through the aftermath of another Bank Holiday, where a pair of exhausted looking security guards couldn't even manage the effort of asking to see my ticket.
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.
