Shred`s UK trips.

North York Moors Railway, (Day 2). Sunday 30th September 2018.

We were up and out of the Safestay York by 07.00 and drove back to Pickering, deciding that the breakfast bun was not very good on the station and a bit overpriced, we found that Russell’s café on the high street was open and did a fantastic full English cheaper than the bun, which set us up while lunch time.

Returning to the railway station we caught the 09.00 again, but this time only as far as Goathland as I wanted to go over the hill on the bank and Rob went back south for some more mileage. My next move was the road bridge, where I met up with John again and arranged to give him a lift back to Manchester after the last train, as he only lives in the next village.

I had pie, peas, mash and gravy in the station café at Grosmont for lunch, plus a cream and jam scone, not bad and despite being careful not to buy any more railway books, came home with 5 new ones, I really shouldn’t look at those things.

I again spent most of my time at Grosmont station and the loco sheds before meeting up with Rob and catching a train back to Goathland and then doing the last run to Whitby and directly back to Pickering, a slightly earlier train on the Sunday evening at 17.54. We then drove back up to Goathland where John was staying and picked him up at his hotel and then I dropped Rob off at Halifax, and later John. I arrived home just before 23.00, after a fantastic two days on the NYMR. A really big well done to everyone involved for a fantastic gala.

Locos rostered over the weekend included, J27 65894, LNER B1 1 61264, NER Q6 63395, SR Schools Class Repton, Battle of Britain class 34081 92 Squadron, BR Standard 4MT Tank loco 80136, BR Standard 4MT 76079, LMS Black 5 5428 Eric Treacy, GWR heavy freight loco 2857, the Cockerill No 8 Lucy was advertised, so was the S15 but we didn’t see them anywhere?

https://www.svr.co.uk/

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the Hill looks like a good place for photography, NYMR is on the list to visit but there’s loads to get round too.

The 50 gala looks very tempting fora weekend visit

AnthonyRail said:

the Hill looks like a good place for photography, NYMR is on the list to visit but there’s loads to get round too.

The 50 gala looks very tempting fora weekend visit

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Yes supurb hills around Goathland for photography always busy. Give me a shout mate if you are going to the 50`s gala, I`ll be down saturday.

Severn Valley Railway, Class 50`s 50th Gala. Saturday 6th October 2018.

A day trip for a change and I`d decided to visit the Severn Valley Railway`s Class 50`s anniversary. I can remember these locomotives being built and new ones appearing at Crewe practically every week. The Class 50 was the first diesel loco built and outshopped in BR corporate blue livery, although back in 1968 they were just another class 47 type locomotive to us, only with 3 numbers instead of the usually 4. They filled the short gap between the West Coast Main Line electrifications between Preston and Glasgow at the time, double-headed over Shap and Beattock. We cleared most of the class as they arrived ex works at Crewe, and it wasn’t long before we were finding them at Polmadie, Glasgow, this is how I mainly remember them.

They were later moved on to the Western Region and actually named, in many cases taking the names of our beloved Warship classes who they had replaced, it was like adding insult to injury for us die hard hydraulic fans. The 50`s however did gain a following from later generations and they were withdrawn at a time when diesel preservation was coming to prominence and had money behind them, hence around 18 of these machines are still in existence, with many in preservation.

I contacted an old mate of mine Allan, who was a 50 basher back in the day and it was great to get my old mate out on a trip again, because it had been a few years since we`d been out on the rails together and the Severn Valley was a first for him.

I picked Allan up at 04.30 and we drove to Manchester Piccadilly to catch the infamous 05.11 Cross Country Voyager down as far as Crewe, where we changed trains for one of the newly liveried London Northwestern Railway Class 350 emu`s to take us as far as Gatton Bridge, with a change again for the high-Level platforms and a West Midland Railways Class 172 dmu which took us into Kidderminster.

On arrival at the Severn Valley Railway Station, Class 50`s where all over the place, they actually had no less than 11 locomotives on the railway, an amazing turn out. We first took breakfast in the station café and then took the next train out up to Bridgnorth, returning to Highley for a museum visit and then back up to Bridgnorth, before returning to Bewdley where I left Allan while he explored the line and took his videos, I returned to Kidderminster and had pineapple fritters and chips from the excellent Captain Cod chip shop across the road, I always call in at Captain Cods when I`m at the Severn Valley.

The weather was wet until around lunchtime and towards later afternoon the sun came out. I took a shed tour, these are no longer included in the ticket price and they are now charging a fiver extra, which is fine, preserved railways are expensive toys and not all of them allow you around the workshops, the ones at Kidderminster are truly amazing and our guide was a mind of information.

I caught up with Allan in time for the last train to Bewdley and back, before we caught a West Midland Railways Class 172 dmu to Birmingham Moor Street and walked across town to New Street station and then boarded a Cross Country Voyager directly back to Manchester Piccadilly, collected the car and drove home for 22.00, after a fantastic day out. A big thank you to the Severn Valley Railway for putting on an excellent event.

https://www.svr.co.uk/

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Looks brilliant, I couldn’t make it as needed to stay home.

Making it a goal for 2019 to get to more events and meet people.

Swanage looks a possibility next weekend, always wanted to see a Duchess

AnthonyRail said:

Looks brilliant, I couldn’t make it as needed to stay home.

Making it a goal for 2019 to get to more events and meet people.

Swanage looks a possibility next weekend, always wanted to see a Duchess

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Yes it was a good one, I considered Swanage next weekend, but have opted for Llangollen instead, enjoy the trip Anthony.

Llangollen Railway, Steam Gala, (Day 1), Saturday 13th October 2018.
Along Cambrian Lines 2.

Locomotives operating were, LMS 2-6-0 Ivatt 2MT 46521, BR Standard 2-6-4 4MT 80072, Pannier Tanks, GWR 0-6-0 PT 6400 class, 6430, GWR 0-6-0 PT 5700 class 7714 and GWR 0-6-0, 2-6-2 Prairie Tank, class 5100 5199.

It was an early start on Saturday morning for me and an hour and half drive down to Llangollen from Manchester, mainly in darkness. I took breakfast in the station café. A wet day on the Saturday, it was relentless right through until the evening with flooding in some parts of Wales. I was on the first train out at from Llangollen 09.30 behind BR Standard 4MT 80072 to Corwen and then back to Carrog, later returning to Glyndyfrdwy where I sat in the former Barmouth South signal box for a while out of the rain, an excellent photographic location. From Glyndyfrdwy I took a train back up to Corwen and had a chip shop lunch in the town and also visited the excellent Corwen museum, which has an excellent operating model of the line around Berwyn, upstairs on display, a must to visit. The new station is also coming on well, with the water tank now in place.

I returned to Carrog behind GWR 0-6-0 PT 6400 class, 6430 and later took the last train to Corwen and back to Llangollen behind LMS 2-6-0 Ivatt 2MT 46521. I then drove over to Ellesmere, Shropshire where I`d booked in at the Red Lion coaching Inn for the night. If was good to get a hot shower after a wet day at Llangollen, a nice place to stay at £35 including a decent breakfast, a steak tea washed down with a few beers at the bar and a very comfortable bed to spend the night in, I slept well.

http://llangollen-railway.co.uk/

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Llangollen Railway Steam Gala, (Day 2). Sunday 14th October 2018.

Along Cambrian Lines 2.

Locomotives operating were, LMS 2-6-0 Ivatt 2MT 46521, BR Standard 2-6-4 4MT 80072, Pannier Tanks, GWR 0-6-0 PT 6400 class, 6430, GWR 0-6-0 PT 5700 class 7714 and GWR 0-6-0, 2-6-2 Prairie Tank, class 5100 5199.

A more civilised start on the Sunday morning, mainly because they couldnt serve breakfast at the Red Lion before 08.30, but that was fine because I slept through until 08.00 anyway. The breakfast was excellent, a good old full English and I was away just before 09.00 and had a drive around the Mere on my way back to Llangollen, mainly because I`d misread the Satnav. However, it only took me 25 minutes before I was back and parked next to the church at Llangollen, and I was just in time for the first train out, the 09.30 behind the BR Standard 4MT, but instead I opted for the second train up the line behind the 2-6-0 Ivatt 2MT 46521.

Although it had been raining in the night, the day was proving to be much dryer and the sun actually made an appearance toward the afternoon. I alighted at Glyndyfrdwy and after a while continued up the line to Carrog. I returned to Llangollen and had a shed visit, taking advantage of the sunshine. I next caught a train up to Berwyn behind GWR 0-6-0 PT 5700 class 7714, before catching the last train up to Corwen and back to Llangollen behind the 2-6-0 Ivatt 2MT 46521. It had been a great two days down at Llangollen, despite the weather and I give a thank you to all involved in the event, it always has been a very friendly railway.

The drive back to North Manchester was uneventful and I was back in the house before 20.00 with a lovely single malt waiting for me.

http://llangollen-railway.co.uk/

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Great choice to wait for 46521, Always loved that loco after growin* up watching “oh doctor beeching”. Seen it on the south Devon Railway years ago in black, but yet to see it in green.

A friend is off to Churnet Valley Railway this weekend, I’d love to have gone to see 33021 in its new post office red livery.

AnthonyRail said:

Great choice to wait for 46521, Always loved that loco after growin* up watching “oh doctor beeching”. Seen it on the south Devon Railway years ago in black, but yet to see it in green.

A friend is off to Churnet Valley Railway this weekend, I’d love to have gone to see 33021 in its new post office red livery.

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Thanks Anthony, yes I`m a great fan of the Ivatts too, my favourite one was 46411 off Newton Heath, but it didnt survive.

Churnet Valley Railway Gala. North Staffordshire Railway 50th Anniversary. Saturday 20th October 2018.

I drove down to Cheddleton early on the Saturday morning, it usually takes me just under an hour and half to travel down there. The Churnet Valley is a very friendly railway and staff will allow you to visit the depot and workshops, it is also a railway with so much potential and in theory they can expand into 4 different directions. The railway is presently pushing for the extension back into Leek, while the rails are still in situ to Stoke, although the alignment is very overgrown. Caldon Lowe requires relaying and also the alignment south to Oakamoor, requires re-ballasting and laying again. Its one railway that require a big cash injection and the lads that presently run the railway work wonders, it’s always a great pleasure to visit this wonderful railway.

Locomotives operating were the Polish tank loco TKh49 no. 2944 "Hotspur", USATC S160 no. 5197, BR Class 08 no. 08633, D3800, repainted in BR green, No.6 "Roger H Bennett "No.6" built by the Yorkshire Engine Co, Class 33 021 “Eastleigh” in new red livery and Class 33 102 “Sophie”.

On arrival I initially visited the locomotive depot as the daylight was breaking through, and then a visit to the station café at Cheddleton as it opened, purchasing a excellent bacon barm and coffee for breakfast, this was followed by a ride up the line to Froghall behind TKh 2944, finishing my breakfast off, with a second sitting at the station café, two cheese oat cakes, (you cannot visit the Potteries without eating traditional oat cakes), washed down with another piping hot coffee. I next boarded a train behind No.6 "Roger H Bennett " double-headed with TKh49 no. 2944 "Hotspur", and travelled back down the line to Consall, as I`d been invited to visit Vince Chadwick who was operating the signal box at Consall. I`d been speaking to Vince over the years through Facebook, but this was the first time we`d actually met up and I had an enjoyable visit between trains, thanks mate.

I returned to Froghall behind the newly painted Class 08, D3800 and then caught the next service up to Leekbrook Junction and it was the first time we have been allowed to alight at Leekbrook and watch the 08 run round its train before taking us back to Cheddleton. My next move was to board a train to Ipstones behind the newly painted Class 33 021 “Eastleigh”, always a good run up this section of the line and I do hope one day it returns to Caldon Lowe. I returned to Froghall, had a lump of cake and another coffee in the cafe to keep me going, and then took another train back to Cheddleton behind TKh49 no. 2944 "Hotspur", USATC S160 no. 5197.

I had another walk around the depot and yard as the sun was bright by this time and provided some excellent photographic opportunities. I spent the rest of my time at Cheddleton and waited for the last train to return from Ipstones before leaving the railway, it had been an excellent day. A big thank you to everyone at the Churnet Valley Railway for an first class event.

I drove back as far as the Four Ways chippy at Hazel Grove and had an excellent fish, chips and peas supper along with a pot of coffee before driving home, yes it had been a good day.

https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/

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East Lancs Autumn Steam Gala. Sunday 21st October 2018.

Locomotives operating were, GWR Churchward large prairie 2-8-0 number 4270, GWR heavy freight locomotive 2857, LMS 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland” along with Home Fleet Locomotives, Lancashire and Yorkshire A Class 52322, BR Southern Region West Country Pacific 34092, Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 Tank "Gothenburg" 32 and recently restored BR Standard Class 4MT 2-6-4T loco No 80097 which was still running in light engine around the station and environs.

A visit to my local railway, the good old East Lancs. Apart from the fact East Lancs steam galas are exceptional, I had yet to see the BR Standard Class 4MT 2-6-4T loco No 80097 in steam, she was pottering around the station and looked absolutely amazing, first time she`s steamed since 1965, brought back from the dead. I was also keen to see GWR Churchward large prairie 2-8-0 number 4270, which was operating on passenger duties. The class act for most visitors however was LMS 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland”, but photographs were limited because on a few runs she was coupled smoke box to smoke box with “Wells” for some reason.

The weather could have been better, it was a very over cast dark day with rain coming in at times although it did brighten up a little after 16.00. I didn’t ride on the railway, but did make sure I put a donation in the kitty, a few lineside photographs from Rawtenstall and Ramsbottom before returning to Bury Bolton Street to finish the day off. Another first-class gala by the East Lancs Railway and a big well done to all involved.

http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/

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West Midlands Day Rover. Saturday 27th October 2018.

The Halloween season, so not many of the preserved railways running enthusiast events. I decided to visit the West Midlands and photograph some of the West Midlands Trains franchise new liveries, these are presently being applied to dmu class 170`s, the class 172 are also having it applied and so are the electric units the class 323`s.

It was another early start, driving down to Manchester Piccadilly for the 05.11 Cross Country Voyager down to Birmingham New Street. I`d purchased a day return to Crewe and a West Midland day rover at Manchester Piccadilly on a senior card at around £26, so not bad for a day’s travel for the region it covers.

From Birmingham New Street I walked across to Moor Street and caught a West Midlands class 172 to Stourbridge Junction. I was surprised to find no less than 4 sets of Chiltern rakes behind Class 68 Cats stabled up for the weekend, it is however always a difficult location to photograph, unless from a passing train.

I caught one of the class 139 Parry People Movers down to Stourbridge Town and had breakfast at the station café. I later returned to Stourbridge Junction and caught another class 172 north to Langley Green, because I wanted to photograph the tastefully designed station building which dates from the 1960`s after it was rebuilt from a junction station. It once served a route to Dudley, the branch is still visible albeit very overgrown and unwalkable.

I returned to Birmingham Snow Hill and later through the tunnels to Moor Street before walking out to Curzon Street which is earmarked be the hub for the new HS2 development. Returning to Moor Street I next caught a train down to Worcester Shrub Hill, with another train to Foregate Street, before catching a pair of WMT class 170`s back to University via the Lickey Incline and then back into New Street.

My next move was to catch a class 323 out to Litchfield Trent Valley returning into Birmingham New Street before boarding a Cross Country Voyager back up to Manchester. It had been a good day with a mixture of weather conditions, light snow at times, rain and sunny spells.

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South Pennines Day Rover. Sunday 28th October 2018.

I thought I`ve take advantage of a trip over to Yorkshire on the Sunday, this was for two reasons, firstly I was hoping to find snow, but I didn’t and secondly, I wanted to catch up with the latest transfers from Scotrail and GWR respectively, I did, or at least one of each.

I drove down to Crumpsall tram stop, a slightly later start on the Sunday morning and the clocks had gone back an hour, Metrolink was however undergoing engineering works and trams were not running until 08.00 and it was just before 07.00 when I arrived. Metrolink did however advertise a free bus service, but one poor lad had been waiting ¾ hour for this mythical and it simply didn’t arrive, another lad arrived shortly afterwards at the bus stop. It didn’t look good for the free bus service or any bus service for that matter, so I decided to drive into Manchester and offered by fellow travellers a lift into the City as both were going to work, a Pakistani lad and a French lad, lovely people I dropped them both off in Piccadilly and then drove round to the station and parked up.

I took a TPX 185 to Sheffield and was just in time to phot an engineering train running through the station, a High Output Ballast Cleaner (BCS) at around half a mile long, top and tailed with two Freightliner class 66`s, these things are quite a sight. After photting around the station, I caught a Pacer up the Leeds and noticed as I was passing through Rotherham Parkgate, a new platform had been built for the train tram and it apparently started operation last week, a shame really because, had I known I would have had a ride on it, a trip out for my next day off.

I arrived in Leeds, photted a few LNER HST`s in the platforms and headed off for the town as I hadn’t had breakfast and fancied a Sunday Roast, I called in one pub and as it was only half past eleven, they said that they couldn’t serve me until 12.00, so I had a wonder around the shops for half an hour.

I wondered in the Menkind Shop Leeds, I was having a look around the store when a chap and his wife came in to return an item they had purchased days before and it wasn't working properly, as advertised, so they asked in a civil manner for their money back, they were returning everything in its original package, but had to open it of course to try it out. The store manager however told them that he would give them a credit note for the item but he wouldn't give them their money back, we are talking about £15 worth of goods here. Anyway to cut a long story short, it kicked off and the manager called security, 3 young security lads came into the store, one aggressively grabbed the customers arm, but was sent flying over a display and into a cabinet, a second security lad managed to trip the customer from behind and the customer went flying over two more displays, the shop was just about destroyed at this point and most of the other customers walked out of the store in disgust at the manager, I was just stood at one side watching bemused. Next, all three-security lad’s management to grab the customer and walk him to the front door, although they appeared visibly shook up, they`d picked on the wrong chap. For the sake of £15 the store finished up trashed and I think the customer was right to ask for his money back anyway if the goods were faulty. Anyway, I pulled the customer outside the shop and told him I would act as a witness for him, crazy store, crazy manager. Welcome to Leeds.

I returned to the pub for my Sunday lunch, a chicken roast Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings, a tenner with a coffee, not bad value. I return to Leeds City station and was rewarded with the Red Class 90, a former GWR Dogbox still in GWR livery and a Scotrail 158 again still in Scotrail livery, also 4 East Midland HST`s passed through the station, one set collecting passengers for St Pancras and running via Wakefield and Sheffield, so I had a few good hits.

I next decided to catch a Northern Pacer doubled up with a 150 Sprinter, and travelled back into Manchester Victoria via Bradford, on the Calder Valley line, before catching a TPX from Victoria round the Ordsall loop into Manchester Piccadilly, I then walked back to the car and drove home, an enjoyable Sunday out.

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Edinburgh Waverley. Wigan, Carlisle, Edinburgh. Friday 2nd November 2018.

The usual mad rush Friday night after work and I took a Northern Sprinter service from Manchester Victoria to Wigan Northwest with a change for a Virgin Pendolino as far as Carlisle for a late running TPX into Edinburgh Waverley arriving in the Scottish Capital just after 22.00.

Nice to see the double -headed class 86`s 86608 and 86627 southbound through Carlisle and classes 92. 033 and 90.045 on Caledonian Sleeper duties at Edinburgh.

After a well-deserved ale, I spent the night in the Royal Mile backpackers. I was up for the weekend for the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway steam gala to see the two Caleys together.

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Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, (Day 1). Saturday 3rd November 2018.

I was up and out of the Royal Mile backpackers for 06.30 and on the first train out of Waverley station to Linlithgow. I bumped into a mate from Hitchin who had also come up for the gala and we shared a taxi from Linlithgow railway station to Birkhill station on the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, a good location for the first freight train out from Bo`ness behind Hunslet J94 Austerity, NCB No. 19.

The first passenger service up the line was hauled by No.1 built by Neilson Reid of Glasgow in 1899 with works number NR 5710 running in Thomas livery and the third train up the line was the two Caley`s double-headed with No 828 leading.

I got chatting with another lad up at Birkhill who kindly ran me down to Bo`ness were I took breakfast in the station café, followed by a museum visit. I next took a few rides up the line back to Birkhill, the second time behind the two Caley`s and the Caledonian Rake.

I had an excellent first day at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, a railway I`ve visited a number of times over the years and its always a pleasure to visit, I met a number of friends and acquaintances from all over the country, it was nice to catch up. A free vintage bus took visitors back to Linlithgow, where I boarded a train back into Edinburgh.

A photting session on the station produced one of the Scotrail HST`s and a Freightliner Class 90 waiting for the next Sleeper. I took tea out on the town, called in at the whisky shop for a few miniatures and retired to the backpackers for a blast on the guitars, (they had 3), before hitting the sack, it had been a great first day, although the weather was largely overcast with rain early on in the day.

Locomotives running over the weekend were Hunslet J94 Austerity, NCB No. 19, No.1 was built by Neilson Reid of Glasgow in 1899 with works number NR 5710 running in Thomas livery, Caledonian Railway No. 419 (55189), Caledonian Railway No 828 (57566), and Barclay 0-4-0 ST, NCB number 6.

https://www.bkrailway.co.uk/

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Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, (Day 2). Sunday 4th November 2018.

Locomotives running over the weekend were Hunslet J94 Austerity, NCB No. 19, No.1 was built by Neilson Reid of Glasgow in 1899 with works number NR 5710 running in Thomas livery, Caledonian Railway No. 419 (55189), Caledonian Railway No 828 (57566), and Barclay 0-4-0 ST, NCB number 6.

I over slept at the Backpackers and didn’t get up until 07.30, which is quite late for me, I did however still make the first train out of Waverley for Linlithgow and this time caught the free vintage bus directly to Bo`ness railway station. Talking breakfast again in the café, with lovely Scottish square sausages, the works, a full Scotch.

I then wondered along the line for some trackside photography. The weather had changed for the better, it was lovely and sunny for most of the day and still quite warm, not quite as busy on the platforms either.

I spent the entire day around the station environs and made full use of the sunshine. It was a fantastic day. Later afternoon I returned to Linlithgow on the free vintage bus and later caught a train back to Edinburgh for another few hours photting and another visit to the Whisky Shop for a couple of miniatures for the journey home. I later caught a TPX directly back to Manchester Piccadilly, only a 3-hour run these days and I was home for 21.00, it was been a fantastic weekend.

https://www.bkrailway.co.uk/

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Avon Valley Railway, Saturday 10th November 2018.

I travelled down to Bristol Parkway on Friday evening after work, as I was staying with a friend for a few nights in Downend north of the City. Due to engineering works around the Bristol area, I ended up catching a Cross Country Voyager to Birmingham New Street, with a change for another Cross-Country Voyager to Cheltenham Spa and then a bus replacement to Bristol Parkway. I flagged down a taxi to get out to my friend’s house in Downend and shouted if anyone else was going in that direction as I hailed the cab, a young lady who was waiting in the queue was also going in the same direction and very kindly paid for the full journey on her works expenses, which was great and saved me quite a few quid, thank you.

I arrived at my friends just before 22.00, drank all her whisky and hit the sack by around 01.00, it had been a long day. We were up early for the bus out to Bitton, a number 19 which took us more or less to the door. The weather was gorgeous in the morning, but then suddenly went very dark with heavy rain at times and then clearing again, it did this more or less all day, strange unsettled weather, but it didn’t stop us enjoying ourselves. We took breakfast in the café and then had a few rides up and down the railway in both directions, Oldland Common and Avon Riverside. The line runs for approximately 2.5 miles with Bitton being in the middle of the line.

We took lunch in the station café, an excellent cottage pie, peas and carrots, but they`d ran out of carrots so gave me a free cake instead. We had a few more trips up and down the line, a made-up freight train was also operating between both ends with a few non-stop services from one end to the other, considering the line is only 2.5 miles long, the railway certainly provided an action-packed event, so a really big well done to everyone involved, a very enjoyable visit.

We caught a bus back to my friend’s house in Downend, I was fed again and drunk a lot more of her whisky before retiring after another great day.

Guest locos were Beattie Well Tank 2-4-0WT 30587 and Brighton Terrier 0-6-0 32678, home fleet was the Polish tank loco Tkh 4015.

https://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/

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Bristol to Manchester, via Birmingham and Bromsgrove.. Sunday 11th November 2018.

I left Downend Bristol at a more civilised time at 09.00 and caught a number 19 bus to Bristol Parkway aiming to travel home via a diversion around Birmingham. Only three class 66`s parked up at Parkway. I boarded a Cross Country Voyager direct to Birmingham New Street. I decided to take a run down to the bottom of the Lickey Incline at Bromsgrove to see the new station and layout, very modernistic and basic these days. Electric trains and modern diesel traction make short work of the Lickey these days, long gone are the legendary days of Big Bertha.

I retraced my steps up the Lickey to Longbridge for another photo stop and was surprised to see an East Midlands Sprinter run up the Lickey. I later returned to Birmingham New Street and took tea in one of the City restaurants before catching a direct Cross Country service back into Manchester Piccadilly and then a tram and bus home. It had been another great weekend.

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Great Central Railway, the Last Hurrah. (Day 1). Saturday 17th November 2018.

I drove halfway down to Loughborough on the Friday evening after work and called in at Peak Forest on the way down, only 2 class 66`s in the yard though, and these dark nights are not very good for photography when in near total darkness. I took a fish and chip tea in the Coach House at Buxton, before driving to Hartington Hall YHA for the night.

Up at 07.00 for the drive into Loughborough, which started with the usual shed visit before a full English breakfast in the station café. I then went on a few locations photting the various movements, some of my favourite locations were Beeches Road bridge, Wilmington Court croft, Main Street bridge near Woodthorpe, Quorn station bridge and Kinchley Lane.

The weather was good with plenty of sunshine at times and not bad at all for November, I met up with a few friends and had a very enjoyable day, tea at Georges fish and chip shop and I retired to the Peacock Inn for an excellent nights sleep.

Locomotives operating were 70013 Oliver Cromwell. 9F 92214 ‘Leicester City’ 8F No. 48624, Fowler 3F 47406, Stanier Class 5 45305, BR Standard Class 5 73156 and BR Peak Class diesel D123.

https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/special-events/last-hurrah-of-the-season/

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Great Central Railway, Last Hurrah. (Day 2). Sunday 18th November 2018.

Sunday morning and I was up early at the Peacock Inn and down at the sheds just after dawn, breakfast again in the station café and then I drove around to Beeches Road bridge, and later onto the estate at Wilmington Court croft, another excellent location for photting.

I met up with a mate John Verne and arranged to meet up with him later as I was giving him a lift home, he only lives in the next village to me in North Manchester. My next move was Main Street bridge near Woodthorpe, and then Quorn station bridge and later Kinchley Lane before returning to Loughborough Central and meeting up with John again.

We called in at Georges chippy for some tea before the drive home, M1 and M62 and I was dropping John off two hours later, so we had a good run back. It had been a fantastic weekend on the Great Central and I give a big thank you to all involved, great event guys.

Locomotives operating were 70013 Oliver Cromwell. 9F 92214 ‘Leicester City’ 8F No. 48624, Fowler 3F 47406, Stanier Class 5 45305, BR Standard Class 5 73156 and BR Peak Class diesel D123.

https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/special-events/last-hurrah-of-the-season/

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Sheffield, Supertram and Tram Train`s. Saturday 24th November 2018.

A shorter trip this weekend as my second eldest Granddaughter is getting married next weekend and I needed to prepare a few things, being the photographer. So, I`d decided to have a run over the hill Sheffield to check out the new tram train`s that are now operating between Cathedral in the City Centre and out to Parkgate retail park, north of Rotherham.

I drove down to Crumpsall tram station, parked up and took a Metrolink into Manchester Piccadilly and arrived just in time to catch a TPX 185 across the hill and over to Sheffield, arriving for around 09.00. It was largely a dull day, but dry, with a little sun coming out for a short period in the afternoon.

I took a late breakfast in the City of Sheffield and then boarded my first Tram Train out to Parkgate, an interesting new alignment, leaving the Meadow Hall line on a very sharp junction just after South Tinsley and under the two tier section of the M1 Motorway. It then followed the freight only line until it joins up with the main line just before Rotherham Central, where extra low platforms have been built on the ends of the main line platforms to facilitate the low access Tram Trains. The Tram Train then continues along the main line until it reaches its own spare and platform behind Parkgate retail park, an interesting alignment.

I did a little shopping in the retail park, as a needed a new pair of trousers for the wedding at weekend and later returned to the station to catch another Tram Train back down the line to Rotherham Central, where I alighted to take a few more photographs. My next move was to take another tram to Woodbourn Road and walked up the incline to Nunnery tram depot, before boarding another tram back into Sheffield City centre.

Since it was some time since I`d travelled on Sheffield’s Supertram, I had a run out to Malin Bridge, back to Hillsborough and then out to Middlewood, before returning to the City for a cheese burger and chips tea in one of the local pubs. I then had a walk around the shops and eventually returned to the Midland station and caught an East Midlands, Norwich-Liverpool sprinter back into Manchester Piccadilly. It had been a good day.

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/supertram

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Doncaster and Sheffield. Saturday 1st December 2018.

I had a busy Friday doing my Granddaughters wedding. So, I`d decided to stay localish and got up at a slightly later time for me on a Saturday morning at 07.30, and drove into Manchester for a TPX 185 service direct to Doncaster. I had not been for a while and there’s always something to see at Doncaster, it was a muggy day, but it is Winter after all.

I`d arranged to meet up with a mate, Grimsby Steve and I met Steve off my train which arrived just after 10.30. Plenty of Northern units parked up at both Doncaster and Sheffield due to the strike, which included an ex Scotrail Class 170.

We have a few class 66`s on freight through the station, with one double-headed, and plenty of action from passenger workings, no Thunderbird was parked up when I arrived and a few LNER Class 91`s were working back to front for some reason, with the DVT on the North end of trains.

Around lunchtime, Steve took me to a café he`d found in the town run by Greek Cypriots, it was very good and we met up with Steve`s partner there who was shopping in the Doncaster. We later returned to the station for another hour or so, before Steve left for his drive back to Grimsby.

Thunderbird 67002 later returned to stabling sidings, so must have been out on a job somewhere. I caught a stopper back to Sheffield before catching a pair of EMT Sprinters back to Manchester Piccadilly, arriving home just after tea, a good short day out.

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Have you seen 91119 in intercity livery?

AnthonyRail said:

Have you seen 91119 in intercity livery?

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No, I was hoping to see that one too

Carlisle. Saturday 8th December 2018.

Another weekend relatively chilling out, with a localish trip up to Carlisle. Alarm set for 05.30 and a short drive to Crumpsall Metrolink station to catch the first tram out. A Burger King breakfast at Piccadilly station which was rubbish and then a TPX 185 to Carlisle. Apparently, they were running diesel units due to high winds on the West Coast Main Line, so no Class 350`s were running.

I arrived into Carlisle just before 10.00, its was mixed weather conditions throughout the day, from sunshine in the morning to rain in the afternoon. I`d essentially gone up to see if any Cats were operating and saw 5 movements for 88003, 88004 and 88010, Thunderbird, Class 57 307, Lady Penelope was parked against the wall, double headed class 90`s, 90036 and 90028 on southbound containers, and class 66`s, 66303 and a very grimy 66433 passed through on the weed train, so it was quite an eventful session.

Come lunch time I went for a Christmas lunch in the William Rufus a Weatherspoon’s establishment just around the corner from the station, not over impressed with the Christmas dinner Weatherspoon’s are doing presently, much prefer a Chicken Roast. I returned to the station just after 13.00 and in time for a 3 set Class 325 Royal Mail train and the only new liveried Virgin Voyager.

The day had turned wet and muggy and darkness was falling early so I caught another TPX 185 back to Manchester Piccadilly directly.
A good day out though all the same.

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Keeping busy in the winter months Nick

I need to get up that way, such variety.

Kite159 said:

Keeping busy in the winter months Nick

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Thanks Kite, yes, just Saturdays at the moment though, but I`m off to Czech, Austria and Italy early February

AnthonyRail said:

I need to get up that way, such variety.

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Yes its not bad at the moment Anthony.