anti-pacer
Established Member
Today I have been out for the day with my ticket shown above. As it was a return ticket where I could choose the destination, I opted for Whitehaven. The reason was so I could travel from Leeds to Carnforth via the 'Little North Western' route, then up the Cumbrian Coast to Carlisle, then back down the Settle & Carlisle. Whitehaven therefore seemed the logical choice to enter on the ticket.
So, after a TPE train from Huddersfield to Leeds and a much needed McDonald's breakfast, I boarded the 0819 service to Lancaster and was surprised to see it was a Class 150 formed of 4 carriages. Every time I travel this route it has ALWAYS been a Class 144.
We left Leeds a few minutes late and proceeded between Shipley and Skipton pretty slowly, so I'm guessing a stopper was in our way. After Skipton the lovely countryside started and before long we were approaching Carnforth. I had 10 minutes here before my next train due to our delay, so I rushed to the Co-op for some food and drink to see me through the epic trip round the coast. I was pleased to a TPE Class 185 entering so immediately headed for the First Class section as I knew it would be declassified. Luckily no quibbles from the very pleasant lady guard.
My journey to Barrow took me through the beautiful village of Arnside and over the Kent estuary. I have never actually visited Arnside itself, but it looks nice and will do this another day. Next was the cute town of Grange-by-the-saltmarshes (to give it an accurate description), but officially called Grange-Over-Sands. The countryside around here is underrated and I always enjoy this part of Cumbria. Shortly after is the bridge over the Leven estuary, complimented by the currently snow-capped Lakeland fells in the background, and then the handsome market town of Ulverston, famous for Laurel & Hardy, and overlooked by what looks light a lighthouse on a hill. The ruins of what I believe is Furness Abbey soon follow, before the industrial sprawl of Barrow and its shipyards.
We arrived slightly late into Barrow meaning a 3 minutes connection to the 1120 service to Carlisle, formed of a Class 156 unit. We travelled up one side of the Duddon estuary, over it, and down the other side to Millom, before travelling north to the lovely little village of Ravenglass where you can alight for the narrow gauge Ravenglass & Eskdale railway. Three rivers meet here (Esk, Irt, and Mite) before they meander into the sea. Shortly after is Drigg, home to a nuclear waste repository, before the much nicer coastal village of Seascale. Last time I was there it was very sunny and the Isle of Man was clearly visible. No such luck (or look) today! The huge Sellafield site soon followed where the train got fairly busy with workers heading home, including one to Carlisle which is a fair old commute. The train then hugs probably the filthiest bit of coastline I have ever seen. Rubbish everywhere! What's even more ironic is that people live there, albeit in grotty looking wooden houses. Not long after is an improvement in the form of the village of St Bees, where the nearby St Bees Head is the most westerly point in England. It is also the start of the 'Wainwright Coast to Coast Walk' to Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire.
Leaving the scenery behind, we entered the former port town of Whitehaven which has clearly seen better days. Sadly it is now known for the 2010 shootings carried out by local taxi driver, Derrick Bird, who later killed himself. On departure from Whitehaven the train again hugs the coast where views of Dumfries and Galloway could be seen. It is very industrial at this point, emphasised more in the town of Workington. Maryport, a more pleasant coastal town to the north followed after, before the farmlands of North Cumbria and the little towns of Aspatria and Wigton. Before long the train curved round and joined the WCML before entering the impressive station at Carlisle.
After a quick refuelling stop at Carlisle, it was aboard the 1404 train to Leeds, formed of 3 Class 153 units. Carlisle is a city I like, but the rail approaches are disgusting. Trackside rubbish everywhere! Things improved dramatically after passing under the M6 motorway and into the gorgeous Eden Valley, and after purchasing a lovely cup of tea and some flapjack. Snow capped fells to the left and to the right far in the distance could be seen, as well as the more closer forests and bending River Eden, dotted with nice little villages. This train was the faster service to Leeds, so we passed through some of the village stations without stopping. Appleby is next, a picturesque market town on the banks of the above river. I noticed 2 police vans and an ambulance parked up at the station, but not sure what was occurring. I also noticed workmen constructing a new waiting shelter on the northbound platform.
The countryside gets really special after Kirkby Stephen, one of the few stations with accommodation on the platform. The sweeping valley with large fells and sporadic farms looked stunning in the afternoon sun, before Garsdale station and then Dent, another station with accommodation. It's worth pointing out to those unfamiliar with the local geography of this area that Dent village is 4 miles from the station down a majestic valley. Ribblehead viaduct, probably the icon of this route marks the entry into North Yorkshire, and this stretch affords views of the Three Peaks as the trains traverses Ribblesdale. The small town of Settle marks the end of the really scenic parts of the line, but this doesn't mean the views end there. After the villages of Long Preston, Hellifield, and Gargrave, the overhead wires indicated that we were entering Class 333 country and the terminus of the 'Airedale Line', Skipton, which is also famous for its castle, markets (street market, and cattle market), and being the 'Gateway To The Dales'.
Skipton saw the dynamics of this service change somewhat, with noisy school kids boarding. Keighley, Bingley and Shipley also saw the service become much busier, before we entered Leeds at the start of rush hour. From there I boarded a very full TPE service home.
All in all a good day with some amazing scenery. However, one thing that is becoming evident, especially in West Yorkshire, is the increase of lineside rubbish. Whilst it didn't spoil my day, it is spoiling the state of our railways. Having travelled a lot in London and the South East recently, it is by no means a 'Northern' problem, however, it does seem much worse around here.
Anyway, rant over. If you haven't done the Bentham, (Little North Western), Furness/Cumbrian Coast, or Settle & Carlisle lines, they are certainly worth a look.
So, after a TPE train from Huddersfield to Leeds and a much needed McDonald's breakfast, I boarded the 0819 service to Lancaster and was surprised to see it was a Class 150 formed of 4 carriages. Every time I travel this route it has ALWAYS been a Class 144.
We left Leeds a few minutes late and proceeded between Shipley and Skipton pretty slowly, so I'm guessing a stopper was in our way. After Skipton the lovely countryside started and before long we were approaching Carnforth. I had 10 minutes here before my next train due to our delay, so I rushed to the Co-op for some food and drink to see me through the epic trip round the coast. I was pleased to a TPE Class 185 entering so immediately headed for the First Class section as I knew it would be declassified. Luckily no quibbles from the very pleasant lady guard.
My journey to Barrow took me through the beautiful village of Arnside and over the Kent estuary. I have never actually visited Arnside itself, but it looks nice and will do this another day. Next was the cute town of Grange-by-the-saltmarshes (to give it an accurate description), but officially called Grange-Over-Sands. The countryside around here is underrated and I always enjoy this part of Cumbria. Shortly after is the bridge over the Leven estuary, complimented by the currently snow-capped Lakeland fells in the background, and then the handsome market town of Ulverston, famous for Laurel & Hardy, and overlooked by what looks light a lighthouse on a hill. The ruins of what I believe is Furness Abbey soon follow, before the industrial sprawl of Barrow and its shipyards.
We arrived slightly late into Barrow meaning a 3 minutes connection to the 1120 service to Carlisle, formed of a Class 156 unit. We travelled up one side of the Duddon estuary, over it, and down the other side to Millom, before travelling north to the lovely little village of Ravenglass where you can alight for the narrow gauge Ravenglass & Eskdale railway. Three rivers meet here (Esk, Irt, and Mite) before they meander into the sea. Shortly after is Drigg, home to a nuclear waste repository, before the much nicer coastal village of Seascale. Last time I was there it was very sunny and the Isle of Man was clearly visible. No such luck (or look) today! The huge Sellafield site soon followed where the train got fairly busy with workers heading home, including one to Carlisle which is a fair old commute. The train then hugs probably the filthiest bit of coastline I have ever seen. Rubbish everywhere! What's even more ironic is that people live there, albeit in grotty looking wooden houses. Not long after is an improvement in the form of the village of St Bees, where the nearby St Bees Head is the most westerly point in England. It is also the start of the 'Wainwright Coast to Coast Walk' to Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire.
Leaving the scenery behind, we entered the former port town of Whitehaven which has clearly seen better days. Sadly it is now known for the 2010 shootings carried out by local taxi driver, Derrick Bird, who later killed himself. On departure from Whitehaven the train again hugs the coast where views of Dumfries and Galloway could be seen. It is very industrial at this point, emphasised more in the town of Workington. Maryport, a more pleasant coastal town to the north followed after, before the farmlands of North Cumbria and the little towns of Aspatria and Wigton. Before long the train curved round and joined the WCML before entering the impressive station at Carlisle.
After a quick refuelling stop at Carlisle, it was aboard the 1404 train to Leeds, formed of 3 Class 153 units. Carlisle is a city I like, but the rail approaches are disgusting. Trackside rubbish everywhere! Things improved dramatically after passing under the M6 motorway and into the gorgeous Eden Valley, and after purchasing a lovely cup of tea and some flapjack. Snow capped fells to the left and to the right far in the distance could be seen, as well as the more closer forests and bending River Eden, dotted with nice little villages. This train was the faster service to Leeds, so we passed through some of the village stations without stopping. Appleby is next, a picturesque market town on the banks of the above river. I noticed 2 police vans and an ambulance parked up at the station, but not sure what was occurring. I also noticed workmen constructing a new waiting shelter on the northbound platform.
The countryside gets really special after Kirkby Stephen, one of the few stations with accommodation on the platform. The sweeping valley with large fells and sporadic farms looked stunning in the afternoon sun, before Garsdale station and then Dent, another station with accommodation. It's worth pointing out to those unfamiliar with the local geography of this area that Dent village is 4 miles from the station down a majestic valley. Ribblehead viaduct, probably the icon of this route marks the entry into North Yorkshire, and this stretch affords views of the Three Peaks as the trains traverses Ribblesdale. The small town of Settle marks the end of the really scenic parts of the line, but this doesn't mean the views end there. After the villages of Long Preston, Hellifield, and Gargrave, the overhead wires indicated that we were entering Class 333 country and the terminus of the 'Airedale Line', Skipton, which is also famous for its castle, markets (street market, and cattle market), and being the 'Gateway To The Dales'.
Skipton saw the dynamics of this service change somewhat, with noisy school kids boarding. Keighley, Bingley and Shipley also saw the service become much busier, before we entered Leeds at the start of rush hour. From there I boarded a very full TPE service home.
All in all a good day with some amazing scenery. However, one thing that is becoming evident, especially in West Yorkshire, is the increase of lineside rubbish. Whilst it didn't spoil my day, it is spoiling the state of our railways. Having travelled a lot in London and the South East recently, it is by no means a 'Northern' problem, however, it does seem much worse around here.
Anyway, rant over. If you haven't done the Bentham, (Little North Western), Furness/Cumbrian Coast, or Settle & Carlisle lines, they are certainly worth a look.
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