Going Loco Down In........East Lancashire - Thursday 4th July 2019
Part 2 - My first ever gala
The walk to the ELR was short but not without some more Geordie based drama as
@47403 decided it was his phone that he wanted to lose next. After another hunt through his belongings, the phone was located and we were on our way to the Bury Bolton Street ticket office where my companion had to pick his ticket up from. That will be nice and simple, I hear you say! Well it was after Mr 403 had had 3 goes at getting his postcode right....I'd been more entertained in the last 30 minutes than I had previously in a long time, so thanks for that mate
Anyway, Mr 403 had gotten all of that out of his system and it was to be all about thrash, clag, noise and classic traction for the next 7 hours or so. Our arrival onto the Bolton Street platform was met with the sight of a lovely looking
D7629 which was sat awaiting departure to Heywood
D7629 at Bury Bolton Street by
The_Train
Despite a slightly forlorn look to it, there was most definitely nothing wrong with it mechanically as when it eventually left Bury, it made sure we all knew it.
33035 was sat at the rear of that formation but it wasn't this that we were interested in as we'd quickly decided that the 1010 from Bury would be our opening haulage of the day with
D1501 offering our first traction and a winner for everything for me. We found suitable droplights to enjoy this opening run from and were definitely not disappointed as 1501 was worked hard as we headed up the gradient and through the tunnel at Summerseat. Any doubts I had about galas were gone within an instant thanks to the glorious noise we got to experience on this run. Mr 403 treated me to a coffee from the on-board buffet (I've since realised I never returned the favour - typical bloody Midlander! Sorry mate) and also threw his gala experience at me with a suggestion that we head to the rear of the set after Ramsbottom in readiness to be right behind the loco on the return journey. A wise move as the rear was empty, well until we both jumped off at Rawtenstall for pics and returned to find a mystery man had appeared at the doorway
D1501 by
The_Train
I managed to grab the opposite droplight before we departed Rawtenstall, whilst Mr 403 rolled back the years by hopping up on a table and sticking his head through the front coach window as we headed back down the line. Mr 403's knowledge of the line and a judgement that it would likely be more of a sedate run back to Bury lead us to bail at Ramsbottom, where prior to the 47 departing again I witnessed true affection for these awesome beasts as Mr 403 planted a kiss on the side.....yes I wouldn't believe it either if I hadn't witnessed it
Our arrival into Ramsbottom coincided with that of 33035 which was working it's way towards Rawtenstall
33035 at Ramsbottom by
The_Train
The plan at Rammy was to jump on the shuttle run to Bury which was headed up by a Teddy Bear in the form of
D9531. I don't have my records from when I was a youngster but I'd be amazed if I ever got to see one of these little beasts back then so to get behind one was something else
A teddy bear at Ramsbottom by
The_Train
I'd been told by Mr 403 that I may be surprised by the teddy and after what seemed like an age as we waited for D1501 to clear the line, I wasn't disappointed as it thrashed it's way to Bury. We knew it would be a quick change at Bury but luckily it was cross platform and we, and many others, hopped off this set and straight onto the next working, which was lead by
20096 and
20132 (in that lovely grey Railfreight livery with the red solebar) and had 56103 sat at the rear. It was well worth the dash at Bury as the choppers did not disappoint in the slightest as they stormed to Rawtenstall
Choppers at Rawtenstall by
The_Train
We departed from Rawtenstall with
56103 leading us
DC Rail 56103 by
The_Train, on Flickr
and it had a lot to live up to after the efforts of the choppers. It managed to do so and some as me and Mr 403 took seats to discuss our next plans whilst enjoying the noise on offer from just in front of us. It was at this point that we decided we fancied different things with Mr 403 wanting to head back to Bury to join the Warship "Onslaught" and me wanting to intercept 47765 at Ramsbottom. So as we arrived into Rammy I bid the Geordie farewell and headed over the footbridge in readiness for the arrival of my next steed and I have to say it was looking truly superb in the old ScotRail livery
47765 by
The_Train
I hopped on
47765 for the run back to Rawtenstall and after a quick pit stop for a sandwich and crisps, I was back aboard for the run to Bury. A fantastic run was soon at an end, yet again, as we arrived into Bury where I was able to spy a couple of locos in the Castlecroft depot which were later identified as
D1041 Western Prince and Hymek
D7076 (thanks Mr 403). I finally had a bit of festering time at Bury and this gave me the chance to see a bit more of the station. Whilst doing so, I also got to see the arrival of the beastly orange choppers as Harry Needle's
20311 and
20314 arrived into Bury to join the back of 1J63 which was to have 20s at either end
20311 and 20314 at Bury Bolton Street by
The_Train
Soon after these were coupled, we were on our way and as we'd already experienced the other 20s earlier in the day I wanted to remain close to 311 and 314 so took up position at the rear droplight as we departed for Rawtenstall. Yet again 20096 and 20132 failed to disappoint as they thrashed their way towards Ramsbottom, where if everything had gone to plan, I would be reunited with my comrade for the day. It certainly looked like everything was going to plan as we arrived into Rammy alongside this
A Warship at Ramsbottom by
The_Train
Yes, Warship
D832 "Onslaught" was already waiting in the station and although they are not really something I get overly excited about seeing, I have to admit to it being a nice sight. Mr 403 eventually made his way to the rear of the train for the hop to Rawtenstall but his efforts to find food failed him so he was straight to the snack bar at Rawtenstall, so returning with 2 pies. After a few pics it was over to
20311 and
20314 to take us back to Bury
20314 and 20311 by
The_Train
A stop start journey, thanks to the local sheep, allowed us to enjoy some fantastic noise as me and Mr 403 took turns at one of the front droplights to enjoy the feast of traction in front of us
The arrival into Bury again left us with a dash, this time across the footbridge to jump aboard the next shuttle to Ramsbottom which was being lead by the fantastic
50015. The service was being held for those of us who'd just arrived behind the 20s so it was boarding at the nearest door only and into a busy first carriage. A walk a little bit further down allowed us both to have a droplight, and for us both to have a breather......not sure either of us will be pushing for a place in Team GB at the next Olympics. Our fitness problems were soon put to one side as the driver spent the next 15 minutes playing up to his grateful audience, none more so than when he notched the power back on the run up to the tunnel at Summerseat and then unleashed all sorts of hellfire as we passed through the tunnel. Unfortunately the video I got in the tunnel didn't do the 50 justice but this one did a little bit more, despite being a couple of carriages from the engine
BR Blue 50015 by
The_Train
Ramsbottom came all too quickly but our short layover here did allow us to watch 33035 come and go as it completed its final move of the day
33035 at Ramsbottom by
The_Train
It was also time for the final beast of the day and what better way to end such a fantastic day than behind this....
37109 by
The_Train
Yes, the ELR had saved us
37109 for the final runs of the day and it was in fine fettle as it growled it's way to Rawtenstall. Here, both me and Mr 403 jumped off and were told that the station buffet was selling pies for a quid and that was enough for us both to visit. After our mad dash at Bury to the 50, we were both eager to pick up a zesty drink but I couldn't resist a meat & potato pie to go with it. It was the most awkward pie purchase of my life as my grabbing the last pie, left a few disappointed behind me, so we made a swift exit before someone threw their platform 5 book at me and, after watching 37109 perform it's run around duties
37109 running round at Rawtenstall by
The_Train
found some seats in the 2nd carriage. What a perfect way to end the perfect day, with the chorus of a growling 37 up front, a meat and tater pie in front of me and great company as we spent the journey back to Bury working out what had outdone everything else and with lots to choose from it was a difficult choice. I think, though, that our first traction of the day D1501 was probably the winner for me with the 20s and 50 not far behind. But as is always the case, a great day drew to a close as 37109 took us back to Bolton Street, where everything had certainly wound down for the day. We did get one last photo opportunity though, with locos galore in the station
Locos at Bury by
The_Train
And with that it was time to head back to Bury Interchange for the tram back to Manchester. Mr 403 had decided he fancied a bit of time at Piccadilly before he headed to Victoria for his train back to the North East so we awaited the tram back to there. Now here it appears that we have differing opinions with regards to which trams took us back because I've logged
3009 and
3046 which I think differs to what Mr 403 has logged down. Not a major thing for me as tram haulage is hardly top of my to do list. Whatever it was that we were on, we definitely got to see all of the following on the journey back to Piccadilly:
3004,
3020,
3016,
3045,
3013,
3037,
3035,
3033, 3021,
3104,
3029,
3096, 3053, 3059,
3106, 3015, 3022,
3095,
3024 &
3087
Back at Piccadilly we were soon roaming the platforms for any potential winners but they weren't all that forthcoming for me until
158849 and
319375 went into the book in quick succession. I was also able to chalk off
150204 but Mr 403 wasn't having any luck with the units in the train shed so I suggested a wander across to P13/14 as there was a service due that could have been a new 195......It wasn't, it was a 319
Knowing he needed to get the tram back to Victoria, Mr 403 saw that as a cue to make a move so we had a slow wander towards the concourse and as we did, a 195 crept into P14......bloody typical. Ah well, they will be around for a while yet. We bid a farewell to each other and as Mr 403 headed for the trams, I went back into the train shed to see what else I could snare. The answer was not a great deal for 20 minutes or so until
142044 seemed to open the floodgates a little bit as quickly after chalking this off I spied
350401 heading into P14 with an Anglo-Scotch TPE service and while I was over that end, I also bagged TfW
158830. A double whammy of 150s proved to be my final winners of the day in Manchester as
150276 and
150120 were marked off as well. After all of the winning haulage I'd had today, it was a shame that my final steed was dud Pendolino 390010 but I was at least able to grab a table seat on a busy service which allowed me to add a bit of charge to my phone. It was mainly a case of reading or listening to music for the journey home which took us through P1 at Crewe which was a new one for me and more importantly took us past 92006 and
92033 which were sat in the Holding Sidings. Dud 66951 passed through Stafford after I'd alighted the Pendolino but that was it for what had probably been my favourite day out since getting back into the hobby last year.
Thanks have to go to
@47403 for suggesting this outing and then offering fantastic company. There was certainly plenty of laughs along the way, to go with the awesome traction on offer.
To round this report off, my summary is below:
For Sight
Winners:
36
Coaching Stock Winners:
24
Tram Winners:
24
Classes completed:
N/A
Sub classes completed:
N/A
TOCs completed:
N/A
TOC sub classes completed:
N/A
For Haulage
Winners:
12
Tram Winners:
4
Total Mileage:
179 miles 24 chains (excluding the Metrolink mileage as no clue how to figure that out)
Classes completed:
N/A
Sub classes completed:
N/A
220029 at Manchester Piccadilly by The_Train
150105 by The_Train
