Shred`s UK trips.

[shredder1]

West Midlands Sortie. Saturday 2nd March 2019.

I was driving down to the West Midlands to collect a guitar and decided to call in at some of the region’s railway hot spots. My first one was to drive over to Bescot, but only a pair of EWS 66`s were parked up in the yard. My next move was to drive over to Water Orton, a known freight area, but Saturday probably isn’t the best day for freight workings, it was mainly Cross-Country Voyagers and class 170`s, after an hour and a half there however, I was rewarded with Class 60 040 Territorial Army.

My next move was to drive up to Brownhills for the Chasewater Railway, known as the Colliery Line, although not operating on my visit, I did manage a look around the depot, which has quite a range of industrial stock and an excellent workshop, definitely worth a visit on operating days, this was only my third visit to the railway, but I`ll certainly be back again.

http://www.chasewaterrailway.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2102333213147520&type=3

 

[AnthonyRail]

When you coming down south west?

 

[shredder1]

When you coming down south west?

Hi mate., April for the South Devon Railway anniversary

 

[AnthonyRail]

Oh that sounds good, liking the idea of night time running

 

[AnthonyRail]

6th/7th April?

 

[shredder1]

6th/7th April?

Yes that sounds like it, I`ll be there for both days and running through the night, should be great. Always something exciting about running on a preserved railway at night, we use to do it here on the East Lancs, but sadly they stopped it.

https://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/2019-2/golden-anniversary-steam-gala-2019/

 

[AnthonyRail]

Yes that sounds like it, I`ll be there for both days and running through the night, should be great. Always something exciting about running on a preserved railway at night, we use to do it here on the East Lancs, but sadly they stopped it.

https://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/2019-2/golden-anniversary-steam-gala-2019/

What’s your plan regrading accommodation and journey down?

 

[shredder1]

What’s your plan regrading accommodation and journey down?

I`m booked in an hotel in Torquay on the Friday night, travelling the trains all night Saturday and staying with a girlfriend in Bristol sunday night, cheers.

 

[shredder1]

Somerset and Dorset Railway. Saturday 9th March 2019.

I travelled down to Bristol on Friday evening after work on a Cross Country Voyager from Manchester Piccadilly, with a change at Birmingham New Street for Bristol Parkway and then a bus out to Downend as I was staying with a mate over the weekend.

Saturday morning and we caught the 07.20 number 19 bus into Bath with a change for the 174 out to Midsomer Norton We were visiting to the Somerset and Dorset railway for their diesel gala. It was only my second visit to the railway, my first one being a look around the site a few years ago when nothing was running, so it was nice to be able travel the line. The next extension now runs up to the cutting at the start of Chilcompton Tunnels, the final section just needing ballasting.

It was a great visit and a good gala, well done to the Somerset and Dorset railway, all very friendly people. I managed to spend £130 on totem fridge magnets alone, they had a full collection of the original Somerset and Dorset stations, so who could resist. Two diesel shunters were operating on the day, a 08 and an industrial working various turns with also a goods train operating.

The Midsomer Norton site also offers an excellent museum and restaurant car on site, shop and sales, plus original station building and goods shed. This was the diesel gala event, but I also have an interested in the rare Sentinel vertical boiler steam loco, so will defiantly revisit.

We later left the railway and took another bus out to Wells, Britain`s smallest City, to visit both the Cathedral and also the former Wells’ Somerset and Dorset Railway goods warehouse which still stands although now under other usage.

https://www.sdjr.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2112618102119031&type=3

 

[shredder1]

Bristol Temple Meads. Sunday 10th March 2019.

Travelling back to Manchester on Sunday afternoon after a lovely breakfast in Bristol Docks. A few photographs of Bristol Temple Meads without an HST on the platforms seems a strange to me. Things have changed so much since I first visited Bristol in the early 70`s, long gone is the depot at Bath Road, with just a hole in the space it once occupied, no Warships, Westerns, Hymeks, Peaks, all gone, and now most of the HST`s have also departed, the future looks grim.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2113167012064140&type=3

 

[AnthonyRail]

Seems you need a two day rover to be able to travel overnight, I’d want to just sleep. Fried Breakfast on train in morning sounds good.

 

[shredder1]

Seems you need a two day rover to be able to travel overnight, I’d want to just sleep. Fried Breakfast on train in morning sounds good.

Yes I bought a two day rover on line, Ill sleep as I get tired, I`m a good catnapper, lol

 

[Techniquest]

I'd be fine, as I can hardly sleep at all on transport even if super tired! All night running on a preserved line sounds interesting!

 

[shredder1]

I'd be fine, as I can hardly sleep at all on transport even if super tired! All night running on a preserved line sounds interesting!

We use to have it on the East Lancs but sadly they no longer do it.

 

[shredder1]

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Multiple Memories event. Saturday 16th March 2019.

I had the choice of the Severn Valley Steam Gala or the Ecclesbourne Valley diesel unit gala, I opted for the latter, mainly because of the drive and the weather. I left Manchester in heavy rain and high winds. The Ecclesbourne Valley always put on a good gala and I`ve been to the Multiple Memories events before and they are always well worth the effort.

The drive down through Derbyshire was alright apart from the odd flooded section of road and fallen branches that I had to drive around, I left North Manchester by around 07.00 and arrived at the railway for 08.30, Its only around a 100-mile round trip for me, so not too bad. The first thing I noticed on arrival at Wirksworth was the new build station building well underway and progressing very quickly, it looks like its going to be a magnificent building, built to the original design. I usually visit the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway at least once a year and each year I see more progression. In addition to the new station building, new drains are being laid towards Shottle and an extension to the locomotive works is also taking place, so the railway is progressing very nicely.

I took breakfast in the excellent station coach café and had a very enjoyable day, taking a few trips up and down the line to Duffield and a run up to Ravenstor, I had a tour into the yard and workshops, which were being organised by a volunteer, and I also caught up with a few friends.

The weather was dry for most of the day without too much wind in the valley, although the rain did return towards the end of the day. The drive back up to Manchester was again a wet one, with more flooding in places and more fallen branches across the smaller roads and it was dark by the time I arrived home. However, a big well done to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for another excellent event.
Diesel Multiple units’operating

Class 119 W51073 and Class 108 E53599 hybrid pair, Derby Lightweight M79900 Iris, Gloucester Class 122 W55006, Metro-Cammell Class 101 E51505, and Metro-Cammell Class 101 former Strathclyde 101692, E590170/E59303/E50253 and on display was Derby Lightweight M79612 and M79018 under restoration.

https://www.e-v-r.com/

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2120174408030067&type=3

 

[shredder1]

Ribble Steam Railway, diesel gala. Saturday 23rd March 2019.

Another relatively local gala for me, around a 45 minutes’ drive up the M61 Motorway and I was soon in Preston docks and at the entrance of Preston South, the Ribble Steam Railway for the diesel gala. I`d arrived at the gates by 08.30 and was, I thought, just in time for the gates to be unlocked, a gentleman at the gates opened them for me and allowing me to drive in, and then closed them behind me, which drew me to two conclusions, “A” I had been kidnapped because they`d heard what a great job I did volunteering on the East Lancs, or “B”, he thought I was one of the volunteers there? Either way I was inside the perimeter.

I had a little cheeky walk around the depot, just in time to see one of the Dutch shunters being draw out of by Stanlow number 4, I was lucky seeing this one because it didn’t run all day, so it’s the only photograph I got of her. I didn’t see the other Dutch shunter either as it had been moved from the museum. Also moved was ex LMS Ivatt Class 2 No.46441 of 1950, which was taken to the Lakeside and Hathertwaite Railway in April last year, so hopefully we will see her running up there at some point in the future.

After a wonder around the yard I retired to the car, listened to the radio and grabbed another 40 winks, until the ticket office finally opened at 10.00am. A senior all-day rover ticket was only £5, no printed timetables though, so I had to jot the times down from the screen in the station, and they don`t sell fridge magnet totems.

Traction operating on the day were, star of the show visiting engine: Colas 56090 which is what most people had come for, especially since apparently it was only the second one in the class to have hauled a passenger train. Other locos operating was the home fleet, Dutch loco NS663, Teddy Bear D9539, Stanlow number 4, and ex BR Class 05 Hunslet D2595.

My first move was to see the Class 56 090 stood on the platforms and she was due to take a demonstration goods train along the line for photographers, due one of the locos had derailed in the yard, which cause the first movement to be cancelled. All credit to the Ribble steam railway though for getting the problem solved in record time and catching up throughout the day.

I then had a visit to the museum to photograph the exhibitions. I next drove out to the lift bridge to photograph the Teddy Bear and 56 to the rear of the first passenger working of the day at around 11.00, and after photographing it returning, I drove back to the station to catch it on the second run, with me on the train this time.

I next drove to the end of the operating line at Strand Road. My next move was to drive to the park and ride back at Strand Road and take a few pictures lineside and from the road bridge, before returning to the swing bridge for a few more photographs and finally returning to the station for the last ride of the day.

It was a great gala as usually from the Ribble Steam Railway, a big well done to everyone involved, nice to catch up with a few friends and we had sunny weather too, a nice change from the floods of last weekend, until next time guys.

https://ribblesteam.org.uk/event/spring-diesel-gala/

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2129675687079939&type=3

 

[shredder1]

Doncaster. Friday 29th March 2019.

I`d mis-planned my holiday days at work, and had a day left over from last year, so decided to use it on a midweek day out to Doncaster to see what was around. An earlyish train from Manchester Piccadilly saw me into Doncaster for 08.00. I was the first Crank on the station, but it soon got busier as the day progressed. On the freight side though it wasn’t as busy as expected with only around 9 though all day.

A few more loco movements though including a cavalcade of 4 Freightliner class 66`s 66523, 66568, 66522 and 66546, and a pair of DRS 66`s shunting around the station environs. A nice surprise in the form of a class DB 67, 67029 with the DB Schenker Company rake from Kings Cross to Wakefield Europort for a 66-naming ceremony, Maritime Blue 66005 and 66047, with original names, Maritime Intermodal One and Maritime Intermodal Two, must have taken a while to think those two up.

I also got my first sightings of the LNER Azuma`s, three were out on trials, 800 102/104 and 113. Lunchtime and I paid a visit to the Frenchgate Café, excellent well priced meals and very friendly staff. I left Doncaster on the 15.44 Transpennine back to Manchester, a very enjoyable day.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2139246012789573&type=3

 

[Techniquest]

Surprised at the lack of freight, considering it's Doncaster, but I guess it might have just been a quiet day for it?

Looked like an enjoyable day out still!

 

[shredder1]

Surprised at the lack of freight, considering it's Doncaster, but I guess it might have just been a quiet day for it?

Looked like an enjoyable day out still!

Cheers mate, yes a lot of stuff listed, but didnt come through, a good day though with the loco movements.

 

[shredder1]

Manchester to Paignton. Friday 5th April 2019.

I was heading to Devon for the South Devon Railway 50th Anniversary gala and travelled down on the Friday morning from Manchester Piccadilly to Paignton with a change at Bristol Temple Meads. It was a smooth journey down there, sunny and mild as I left Manchester and surprisingly raining and windy on my arrival into Devon, its usually the other way around.

I stayed in the Richmond Hotel close to the sea front at Torquay, not bad for £27 and a good start to the weekend. I settled for a few ales in the bar before retiring for an early night, I had a busy weekend ahead.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2152541728126668&type=3

 

[Cowley]

Shred - I’ve been too busy with work to do anything much recently, although Paul said that he saw you down at Buckfastleigh at the weekend and said hello.
I’ll read your reports on it when you’ve posted them.
To be honest I’d completely forgotten about it or I would have said stay here again if you want.
It was only when he texted that he’d just seen you that I realised what weekend it was or I’d have gone down.

 

[shredder1]

Shred - I’ve been too busy with work to do anything much recently, although Paul said that he saw you down at Buckfastleigh at the weekend and said hello.
I’ll read your reports on it when you’ve posted them.
To be honest I’d completely forgotten about it or I would have said stay here again if you want.
It was only when he texted that he’d just seen you that I realised what weekend it was or I’d have gone down.

Oh shame mate, would have been nice to catch up, yes nice to see Paul again, it was a fantastic event, just going through the pictures. Thanks for the offer of accommodation too Nick, I`ll take you up on that next time mate.

 

[shredder1]

Dartmouth Steam Railway. Friday 5th April 2019.

I arrived into Paignton from Manchester late afternoon and in time to see 7827 "Lydham Manor" arriving from Kingswear. I was however visiting the South Devon Railway on this occasion, I have visited the Dartmouth Railway many times over the years, but not on this visit.

https://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/

 

[shredder1]

South Devon Railway, (Formerly the Dart Valley Railway), 50th Anniversary gala. (Day 1), Saturday 6th April 2019.

I was taking 4 days away down in the West Country to visit the South Devon Railways 50th Anniversary Gala, leaving Manchester on the Friday morning and coming back Monday evening.

I left Manchester Piccadilly at 10.00 on Friday morning 5th April, with a split ticket to Paignton which worked out at just over £70 on a railcard, so not too painful. The Voyager Cross Country service took me down as far as Bristol Temple Meads with a change for Newton Abbott and another change at Newton Abbott for Paignton arriving in the town for around 15.30.

When I left Manchester, the weather was bright and sunny in the City, but began to change by the time I got to Birmingham, and by the time I`d arrived into Paignton it was raining, its usually the opposite way around travelling North to South West.

My first stop was the platforms of the Dartmouth Steam Railway and I was just in time to see the arrival of 7827 "Lydham Manor" arriving from Kingswear, but I didn’t travel on the railway on this visit, although I have done it a few times in the past.

I was staying in the Richmond Hotel at Torquay, so caught a bus over the bay from Paignton bus station and checked in. It was good for £27 for the night. I had a meal in the town and then a few ales in the hotel bar before retiring to bed for an early night, I slept well.

I was up next morning for 07.00 and caught a bus back into Paignton with a quick change for another bus over to Totnes and arrived in to the town at 08.30 and just in time to take breakfast in the Totnes main line station café which is actually the old signal box. The breakfast was excellent and well-priced.
After breakfast I made my way over to Totnes Riverside railway station, on the South Devon Railway, in time for the first arrival from Buckfastleigh. I was treated to an auto-train behind Churchward`s GWR tank loco 5526, one of the 4575 Class of 2-6-2T steam locomotives.

I spent a lot of my first day riding up and down the line and checking out locations, some where around the area of Staverton, the path at the side of the line and the fields. The weather had taken a turn for the better with bright sunshine at times, and public access around the railway was very good, with visitors being allowed in most areas around the workshops and depot. A London Transport route master bus was also giving rides up to Ashburton, where the line used to terminate.

After a ride on the bus and having traversed the railway a number of times throughout the first day, and with the prospect of night riding, as trains were running through the night, I decided to have tea in the excellent station restaurant at Buckfastleigh. Sadly, they had finished serving hot food by 14.30, everyone was complaining, very bad planning, so a few of us had to leave the railway and go for tea in the various pubs and cafes in the surrounding towns.

I returned to the railway after tea and then spent the rest of the night sharing a compartment with a lovely couple while the train ran through the night. I nodded off on a few occasions and on some trips just woke up at each end of the line. It was however exciting stuff travelling behind steam locos throughout the night, something I`ve not done for many years.

https://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2154142051299969&type=3

 

[Cowley]

Was there any mention of the snoring..?
It was good weather that weekend, and the line is very picturesque in places. Especially around Hood Bridge and Staverton.
I assume that the cafe is a franchise job? That does seem like extraordinarily bad planning to stop doing hot food on the busiest afternoon of the year.
There’s lots of work going on around Buckfastleigh with new sidings and sheds appearing at the moment. It’s looked untidy around sheds for decades (although always interesting for the likes of us), but it’s going to look quite smart in the future.

I can’t remember what you said but have you been on the line before?

 

[shredder1]

Was there any mention of the snoring..?
It was good weather that weekend, and the line is very picturesque in places. Especially around Hood Bridge and Staverton.
I assume that the cafe is a franchise job? That does seem like extraordinarily bad planning to stop doing hot food on the busiest afternoon of the year.
There’s lots of work going on around Buckfastleigh with new sidings and sheds appearing at the moment. It’s looked untidy around sheds for decades (although always interesting for the likes of us), but it’s going to look quite smart in the future.

I can’t remember what you said but have you been on the line before?

Cheers mate, I`m not sure about the snoring, but no one complained this time, lol. I`ve visited Buckfastleigh a few times before when I`ve passed and been working in that direction, but I`ve always been there mid week when nothing has been running, so this was the first time I`ve actually travelled on the line, yes we did well with the weather, it was a great weekend mate, cheers.

 

[Techniquest]

Sounds like a busy time there, I know the feeling about falling asleep as I did so on a PLEG event on the Weardale years back. Crawling along with an 08 didn't help keep me awake after an all-night journey mind! So I probably kept the full compartment awake with snoring hahaha!

I think the SDR last got a visit from me in spring 2008. Can't remember the name of the long-gone freight operator now, but they had a 47 visiting. I could swear it was 47375, but I may be wrong.

 

[shredder1]

Sounds like a busy time there, I know the feeling about falling asleep as I did so on a PLEG event on the Weardale years back. Crawling along with an 08 didn't help keep me awake after an all-night journey mind! So I probably kept the full compartment awake with snoring hahaha!

I think the SDR last got a visit from me in spring 2008. Can't remember the name of the long-gone freight operator now, but they had a 47 visiting. I could swear it was 47375, but I may be wrong.

Very nice, the Weardales on tomorrow, 31 event, I`ll be up at 4am in the morning to visit, lol

 

[shredder1]

South Devon Railway, (Formerly the Dart Valley Railway), 50th Anniversary gala. (Day 2), Sunday 7th April 2019.

I was taking 4 days away down in the West Country to visit the South Devon Railways 50th Anniversary Gala, leaving Manchester on the Friday morning and coming back Monday evening.

I was still a little groggy as daylight broke, but did manage some sleep in the night chugging up and down the line between Totnes Riverside and Buckfastleigh. Time for breakfast however and the breakfast car opened at 09.00, but at £12 a head, I thought it was a bit prohibited, especially having spent nearly £70 on fridge magnets the day before, so I took breakfast elsewhere.

I spent a little more time lineside in the fields above Staverton, before returning to Buckfastleigh to catch the London Routemaster back out to Ashburton and I was dropped off on the old railway track bed and followed this to the end of the line.

I was surprised at what was left at Ashburton, many of the original buildings albeit in other uses now, the old locomotive depot, goods shed, station buildings, the latter being occupied by a car breakers yard. The station hotel opposite the station had changed its name to the Silent Whistle, very appropriate and sad, but over all it was an interesting walk and visit.

The London Routemaster picked me up in the town and took me back to Buckfastleigh and I was just in time to catch the last train of the day back to Totnes Riverside. I made my way to Totnes main line station and caught a London bound Class 800 as far as Newton Abbot with a change for a Cross Country Voyager to Bristol Parkway as I was staying with a friend on the Sunday night. Monday morning and I made my way back to Manchester and arrived back in the City later afternoon. It had been a fantastic trip and a special thanks to all involved at the South Devon Railway for a fantastic weekend.

Locomotives rostered, Churchward`s GWR tank loco`s 5526 and 5542, 4575 Class of 2-6-2T steam locomotives. Collett 6412 and 6430, 4600 Pannier tank 0-6-0 PT, GWR Hawksworth Pannier Tank class 9400, number 9466, Hawksworth GWR 1500 class 0-6-0PT number 1501, and Andrew Barclays, Caledonian Works shunting in the yard.

https://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2155731321141042&type=3

 

[Techniquest]

Very nice, the Weardales on tomorrow, 31 event, I`ll be up at 4am in the morning to visit, lol

Ooh it's been a long time since I last had a 31! I'll be awake at 4am too, but I'll be having a coffee etc before I head to work. Not even remotely jealous, therefore!