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Shred`s UK trips.

shredder1

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Heritage Shunter Trust Gala and Peak Rail. Sunday 8th September 2019.

A more leisurely start from Youlgreave YHA, breakfast and a couple of brews before departing for Rowsley and Peakrail and even then, I was still waiting for them to unlock the gates. The event started at 11.00, it had been two years since I was last at the Shunter Gala, and every year never ceases to please.

The star attraction this year was Class 06 D2420 in BR Green livery, the first 06 to be seen in BR Green in over 30 years. Also running on guards van rides were, Barclay 01, D2953 in a fresh coat of Mid Brunswick green paint as well, plus the 07001 and the PWM654 both being in BR Blue and last but certainly not least, the 02, D2854, and 04's, D2205 and D2284 , with resident industrial "Bigga".

I took a number of rides on the guards vans and went everywhere in the yards and depots, excellent value at £16, a big well done to John and the lads at the Heritage Shunter Trust, keep up the excellent work guys.

I later drove down to Darley Dale as class 44, D8 Penyghent, along with Former NCB industrial J94 design saddle tank was running on Peakrail and I wanted a few photographs of them going through Darley Dale and later from the A6 looking down on the track bed.

I later returned to the Shunter Trust and took another guards Van ride to the depot, as the sun had moved around by that time and I wanted to obtain a few more photographs of the various locomotives.

Returning to Rowsley South station I took a trip behind the class 44 down to Matlock and back, £8 for an all-day rover. Leaving Peakrail, I drove back up the A6 to Buxton for a few photographs of the present railway station, and was amazed to find the scale model of the former Buxton Midland station and finally another visit to Peak Forest and a pleasant surprise, a class 60 parked up beside the former railway station. Another hours drive and I was back home, it had been a fantastic weekend at two great galas.

Heritage Shunter Trust website, https://www.heritageshunterstrust.com/

Peakrail Website, https://www.peakrail.co.uk/

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shredder1

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Manchester, Doncaster, Mexborough. Saturday 14th September 2019.

This was a last miniate trip because I`d messed up big time and missed an early train I`d stupidly not set the alarm right on my new phone. For weeks I`d been waiting for and planning a trip to the Blaenavon steam gala, it’s a fantastic railway and I`ve only visited it on a non-event day, and missed the last gala because I was out of the country at the time, so this was to be a great weekend. To get me down to Blaenavon at a reasonable time, I needed to be up at 04.00 and drive down to Manchester for the 05.11 Cross Country service to Bournemouth, with a change at Crewe, for the Cardiff train as far as Cwmbran, which would have got me in the town for 08.30 and then a bus ride up to Blaenavon would have got me there for around 09.30. I actually woke up at 01.30, went back to sleep and woke up again at 05.00, so that was it, Blaenavon was out of the window until next year probably now.

So, like a fish out of water, I had no idea where to go, and most of the galas were down south, so I opted for a ride over to Doncaster, you never know what you might find at Doncaster. I caught a TPE 185 direct and arrived on the platforms for around 08.30. It was a little slow on the freight front although we did get a few class 66`s through in various liveries, a few class 56`s, the new class 195`s and 331`s were being played with in the sidings in front of the works, some sort of driver training. This was the first time I`d seen the new class 331`s, the only external difference I could see between a 195 and a 331was the pantograph on the latter, both body designs look identical.

Things are changing at Doncaster again, the Azuma`s are slowly taking over, some class 91`s are due to be withdrawn, (I think some already have been). An influx of class 170`s from Scotrail, some still in Scotrail livery, Former GWR HST`s have also made an appearance and still carry First livery. The weather was good too and action was steady throughout the day. I took some time out to get lunch and opted for a Subway in order to keep to my diet, and later I visited the guitar shop and bought some Jazz 3 picks. I got back to the station and got chatting to some lads who had come up in a Mini bus from South Wales, an enthusiast mate of their had died and they drove up to Doncaster to scatter his ashes on the track bed, quite touching really.

I passed Roberts Road freight depot on the way out of Doncaster, and apart from a number of class 66`s in the yard, I also saw “Tornado” with its support coach parked up. I caught a local service, a Pacer, back as far as Mexborough, once the site of a very large steam motive power depot in the 1960`s, and one I only saw from the train, but didn’t visit. The station building`s have however survived, a magnificent work of Victorian art. My next move was another Pacer back into Sheffield and a TPE back to Manchester, so it didn’t work out such a bad day after all.

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shredder1

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Manchester, Preston and Wigan. Sunday 15th September 2019.

Unless I`m away for the weekend, on Sundays I`m usually in the gym for 08.00 and back again at 18.00, I had nothing else planned for the day though, so after my gym session I decided to take a tram into Manchester and have a ride on one of the new class 195 DMU`s. I alighted from the tram at Manchester Victoria and caught a Transpennine 185 around the Ordsall Link to Manchester Oxford Road, just in time to catch a class 195 on its way to Barrow, but things didn’t go to plan.

My intention was to catch the 195 to Wigan and catch another one back into Manchester. No sooner had I boarded the train though, the guard came down the gangway to inform us that the service was going directly to Preston, on the Bolton and Blackrod route, but we could catch a train back to Wigan, all free of charge. Some people were really put out by this. I enjoyed the extra ride, but it did cost me time and I didn’t have a ticket to Preston anyway as I was using my free bus pass, which only takes me as far as Wigan, so I was ticketless.

I asked the guard how do we explain this on the next train back to Wigan “why we don`t have tickets”, and he told us to ask the train manager if its alright, we did and it was, not a great position to be in though having to beg for a free ride because Northern had messed up. Unfortunately, the class 195 went into the south bay platform at Preston, so it was difficult to get a decent photograph of it.
I next travelled to Wigan Northwestern on a Virgin Voyager, but a lot of trains were either delayed or cancelled, so we were advised to walk over to Wigan Northwestern and change at Salford Crescent for Manchester Piccadilly. A tram back to the car and then back to the gym, not a bad Sunday.

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shredder1

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Middleton Railway Leeds, Heritage Diesel Weekend. Saturday 21st September 2019.

I was looking forward to the “Everything Goes” gala at the Middleton Railway and had it marked in my diary for a few months, Leeds isn’t really too far to travel for me, so I drove over the Pennines at a reasonable time on Saturday morning, but was surprised to find that the Anything Goes gala had been changed to a Heritage Diesel Weekend and only had two diesels operating. Apparently the organisers had changed the event details on the Middleton Railway website and ran the main event the week before, but they hadn’t changed it on the Heritage Railway website, so I was a bit disappointed, especially since this is the second time this year something like this has happened, the other time was the Battlefield Line event, which had been cancelled, but was still showing on the Railway`s website. In the case of the Middleton Railway, it was apparently the council who had pulled the plug on the original event dates. I think the Middleton Railway did what they could under the circumstances and still managed to arranged running to Balm Road, although trains no longer go beyond the last level crossing and indeed one of the gates is now missing.

Despite the change of events, I did have an enjoyable day, I took a few rides on the railway between Moor Road, Park Halt and Balm Road and for £7 for an all day ticket one can hardly complain and I even treated myself to one of the excellent 00 gauge Middleton Waggons, for one of my display cabinets. I took photographs from a number of locations and the weather was glorious. The Middleton Railway have an excellent museum and I noticed on this visit that the Belgian Cockerill vertical boilered 0-4-0 shunter was no longer on site, apparently this has been bought by one of the chaps on the North York Moors Railway who is due to run it up there in the near future, so I really must pay another visit and see her in action.

Locomotives operating on my visit were, Hunslet 1786 0-4-0 diesel mechanical locomotive "Courage" and recently transferred, Mersey Docks & Harbour Board No 45 [HCD1373/65] has been transferred to Middleton by the Sentinel Diesel Preservation Group, based on the East Somerset Railway, as they wish to see it preserved and operated in the city of its manufacture.

I also visited Leeds, Midland Road Freightliner depot, both before visiting the Middleton Railway and on leaving, as the sun had moved around, lighting up the line of class 70 locomotives. I always take a large pair of step ladders when visiting Midland Road to enable me to gain views over the bridge parapets.

I drove back on the A roads and called in at Dewsbury on the return journey and had a lovely Yorkshire style fish and chip tea in one of the town`s chip shops, arriving back in my home town, which incidentally is also called Middleton, by around 18.00, a good day out, many thanks to the staff at the Middleton Railway for an enjoyable visit.

https://www.middletonrailway.org.uk/

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shredder1

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Midland Road, Leeds. Saturday 21st September 2019.

I always called at Midland Road, Leeds when visiting the Middleton Railway, its only essentially around the corner of course and opposite Balm Road where lines from the Middleton Railway used to access the main line. In addition, I always take step ladders too, to enable me to take photographs over the bridge parapets.

The line of class 70`s still stands alongside of the main line, switched off, stored, some say waiting for parts because of design faults, other say short of work, but whatever the issues, these locomotives have been there for some time now. A number of class 70`s however were moving around the yard, which was refreshing to see.

I do like the class 70`s and do hope they all see action again soon, although I must say I was a little apprehensive about the design when I first saw them, but they have since grown on me.

It was a bright and sunny day and I visited the depot both before and after my visit to the Middleton Railway because of the sun positioning, mornings in these conditions are not good for Balm Road bridge parapet photographs of the class 70 lines, because you are more or less shooting directly into the sun. you need afternoon`s for these shots, the mornings however are good for photographs from Midland Road when the sun is at an angle to you. I take all my photographs by poking me lens through the perimeter fence, which depending on where the locomotives are parked, you can often obtain some good photographs, I then move to the Pepper Road bridge to the East end of the depot, and use a long lens, 300mm usually, to obtain photographs.

Such a shame the Midland Depot don`t run a charity open day, like Toton, they would do really well.

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shredder1

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Manchester Piccadilly and Airport. Sunday 22nd September 2019.

Just a short run out today, I was in the gym by 08.00 and afterwards decided to drive towards Manchester and Pick a tram up to take me into Piccadilly to see what was around. Things are changing in the region with the 350`s, 319`s and 322`s likely to move on to pastures new, and the 142`s on the way out, plus the new 195`s making an appearance. So plenty to photograph at the moment. The weather was poor though, with torrential rain in the morning and generally a dull day. I took a class 319 down to the Airport and picked up a class 195 for the ride back into Manchester Piccadilly. Lunch in Manchester and then back to the gym for the evening session.

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Techniquest

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You've sure been busy lately!

Very true with the changing scene on Northern, going to be strange when I next head up to Manchester (no idea when) and potentially see no Pacers!

Kudos, by the way, for not only sticking to going to the gym but going on a regular basis. I keep saying I'm going to get back there and re-register, but then I end up instead booking a holiday or something. Maybe once I clear my bucket list...
 

shredder1

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Location
North Manchester
You've sure been busy lately!

Very true with the changing scene on Northern, going to be strange when I next head up to Manchester (no idea when) and potentially see no Pacers!

Kudos, by the way, for not only sticking to going to the gym but going on a regular basis. I keep saying I'm going to get back there and re-register, but then I end up instead booking a holiday or something. Maybe once I clear my bucket list...

Thanks Tech, ah the gym, yes I`ve been going regular for the last 50 years really, in fact its 06.30 now and I`m on my way, lol
 

shredder1

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Manchester and the Rose Hill line. Monday 23rd September 2019.

When I`m not away on Monday, it is usually my practice day with the band, but Barry the Bass phoned me Sunday night and had to cancelled, so I had a free Monday on the rails. I was at the gym for 06.00, home for breakfast and then drove down to Crumpsall tram stop for Manchester Victoria. It was a lovely day with plenty of sunshine.

My intention was to do a bit of Pacer photting and bashing, after a spell at Victoria, I intended catching an Airport train around the Ordsall curve to Piccadilly, but the Airport was undergoing a bomb scare of types and armed police had been called over a suspicious package in a van, so all trains to the airport had been stopped, in fact it lasted for over 3 hours apparently.

My other option was a tram across the City to Piccadilly station, where I boarded my first class 142 Pacer of the day, and a double at that. The line from Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill, Marple was operating 5 Pacer`s on the line, which gave a half hourly service, one single unit and two doubles.
My intention was to photograph class 142`s at various station along the line, as the new class 195`s are due to take over from December 2019.

I took the first train into Rose Hill and returned on this as far as Romiley, and then waited for the next service to take me to Woodley. From Woodley I caught another Pacer back to Rose Hill and returned on this to Hyde Central, before boarding the next service directly into Manchester Piccadilly and arriving home for 16.00 and in time for another gym session to finish an excellent weekend off.

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shredder1

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Llangollen Diesel Gala. Saturday 28th September 2019.

My last gala before I fly off to Italy next week. I left work early on Friday afternoon and drove down to Llangollen. I was catching up with a mate, Mark, who although I`d still been in contact with him since he left Manchester and moved to Llangollen, I`d not actually seen him for 25 years, so it was great to catch up with an old friend and we did a round of the local pubs, it was a great night.

I was staying in the Llangollen Hostel on the Friday evening and Mark knew the guy who ran it, so he came back with me while we broke the guitars out. I later said my goodbyes and retired to my dormer for the night. Mark isn’t a railway buff and was looking after his daughters the following day, so we didn’t get chance to meet up again on the Saturday, but will catch up again in the distant future at some point.

I was up early and out of the Hostel before first light and down on the depot for a few early morning photographs as dawn broke. The lads at Llangollen have always been a very friendly and accommodating bunch and I was allowed a depot visit. Breakfast was taken in the station café before departing on the first train up the line to Carrog behind class 47 1566 in corporate BR blue.

The temporary station at Corwen has now been dismantled, this was because it was costing too much money with the scaffolding in place and I was told the new station should be open at some point next year. The railway has done really well and I look forward to travelling into the new Corwen station.

I had a number of rides up and down the line, the weather was very good considering the forecast was poor. After a fish and chip tea in the town, I left Llangollen at around 17.30 and after just over an hour’s drive, I was home for 19.00, well done to the Llangollen Railway and its volunteers for a great day.

Locos running were Class 31271, Class 47 1566 and visiting loco class 25 D7535, also Class 104 DMU M50528 and M50454.

https://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/events/

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AnthonyRail

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Superb pictures, nice scenery to photo trains in. Will have to go up there one day.
 

shredder1

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Mills Hill, Greater Manchester on the Calder Valley line. Monday 30th September 2019.

A new but temporary footbridge is presently being erected at my local station, while lifts are being built, so its Monday morning and I`m usually in the gym for 06.00, but instead I opted to drive up to Mills Hill and photograph the local workings with the temporary footbridge in the background.

It was a very misty and atmospheric morning, and nice to see the local working, classes 142 Pacers, and Sprinters 153, and 150`s. I take a strange delight being on a railway station at morning rush hour, knowing that unlike the commuters on the platforms, I don`t work on Mondays.

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shredder1

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The Battlefield Line, 50th Anniversary. Saturday 19th October 2019.

I was away early on Friday afternoon from the office, home and changed and driving down Leicestershire via the Woodhead Road and the M1. I`m not a great lover of driving any distance these days, nor in the dark, so I had a bit of a rough drive down the M1 in heavy rain and trying to read the Satnav to get me to the Victoria Bikers Hostel in Coalville, which turned out to be quite a good find, they had two young rock bands on, on the Friday night and I stayed up until turned 01.00 watching them. It was a great night.

I also had an 8-bed dormer bedroom to myself for the night for £20 and slept like a log. A nice lay-in Saturday morning, bedfast in the pub and a 20 minutes’ drive to Shakerstone. It was turning into a bright and warm morning, a nice change from the night before.

After a short drive down the old track bed to the gates at Shakerstone, we were let in by around 08.00, when I had a quick look around the old storage lines on the former Coalville Branch, before making my way to the ticket office. A day rover ticket senior cost £23, so good value there and I was soon in excellent station café for a latte to set me off on the first train down the line to Shenton behind ex GWR Manor 7820 Dinmore Manor, which gave a good account of herself. I returned to Market Bosworth, a good photographic location and spend some time there.

The railway had arranged live Gauge 1 steam in the former goods shed, some amazing engines were running around the layout, but at 4-6K a loco I`ll stick with the N Gauge a little longer yet. A few stalls were also present in the good warehouse and I spent another £20 on books before leaving.

I returned to Shackerstone and took another run to the bottom of the line at Shenton and back to Shackerstone and then out to Market Bosworth again to photograph the last train of the day, doubled headed 7820 Dinmore Manor leading the recently restored Hall from the Buckingham Railway, 6989 Wightwick Hall, they looked very well together.

The other locomotive that was running was GWR 2-6-2T Small Prairie Tank No. 5542.

I returned to Shackerstone on the last train returning, and then drove to Ibstock for a chip shop tea before the long drive home back up the M1 and across the Woodhead, arriving home by 21.00 Saturday evening, a great day out, and a really big well done to all the staff at the Battlefield Line Railway, a great job guys, thank you.

https://www.battlefieldline.co.uk/

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shredder1

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East Lancs Railway Winter Steam Gala. Sunday 20th October 2019.

Sunday morning and I was in the gym first doors and then drove over to the East Lancs Railway to catch the steam gala. The weather was good in the morning, but it turned dark and overcast as the day progressed, it was quite cold also.

I chose a few of my usual locations from Ramsbottom to Somerseat and back up to Rawtenstall, then Bury and Heywood, I went location photting only, and didn’t ride the trains, but bought a ticket anyway, I never feel comfortable taking photographs at galas without contributing in some form.

The East Lancs put another exceptional gala together with a good variety of locos including Streak 9, Union of South Africa, BR No. 52322, Ex-Southern Railway Bullied Light Pacific No. 34092 "City of Wells", Schools class SR No. 926 "Repton" making her first appearance on the East Lancs, LMS Stanier Class No. 44871, BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T No. 80080, BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T No. 80097 and 2890 Hunslet built Austerity Douglas. A really big thank you to everyone involved at this superb gala, great job guys.

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

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AnthonyRail

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The Battlefield Line, 50th Anniversary. Saturday 19th October 2019.

I was away early on Friday afternoon from the office, home and changed and driving down Leicestershire via the Woodhead Road and the M1. I`m not a great lover of driving any distance these days, nor in the dark, so I had a bit of a rough drive down the M1 in heavy rain and trying to read the Satnav to get me to the Victoria Bikers Hostel in Coalville, which turned out to be quite a good find, they had two young rock bands on, on the Friday night and I stayed up until turned 01.00 watching them. It was a great night.

I also had an 8-bed dormer bedroom to myself for the night for £20 and slept like a log. A nice lay-in Saturday morning, bedfast in the pub and a 20 minutes’ drive to Shakerstone. It was turning into a bright and warm morning, a nice change from the night before.

After a short drive down the old track bed to the gates at Shakerstone, we were let in by around 08.00, when I had a quick look around the old storage lines on the former Coalville Branch, before making my way to the ticket office. A day rover ticket senior cost £23, so good value there and I was soon in excellent station café for a latte to set me off on the first train down the line to Shenton behind ex GWR Manor 7820 Dinmore Manor, which gave a good account of herself. I returned to Market Bosworth, a good photographic location and spend some time there.

The railway had arranged live Gauge 1 steam in the former goods shed, some amazing engines were running around the layout, but at 4-6K a loco I`ll stick with the N Gauge a little longer yet. A few stalls were also present in the good warehouse and I spent another £20 on books before leaving.

I returned to Shackerstone and took another run to the bottom of the line at Shenton and back to Shackerstone and then out to Market Bosworth again to photograph the last train of the day, doubled headed 7820 Dinmore Manor leading the recently restored Hall from the Buckingham Railway, 6989 Wightwick Hall, they looked very well together.

The other locomotive that was running was GWR 2-6-2T Small Prairie Tank No. 5542.

I returned to Shackerstone on the last train returning, and then drove to Ibstock for a chip shop tea before the long drive home back up the M1 and across the Woodhead, arriving home by 21.00 Saturday evening, a great day out, and a really big well done to all the staff at the Battlefield Line Railway, a great job guys, thank you.

https://www.battlefieldline.co.uk/

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Did they know you didnt have a bike at the bikers hostel.
 

shredder1

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Churnet Valley Railway, Super Power, Gala. Saturday 26th October 2019.

The Super Power Saturday event had been on my mind for some time, the Churnet Valley Railway, home to Britain`s S160 fleet, of 6046 and 5197, had arranged a gala with visiting locomotive USATC 2253 “Omaha” in resplendent Lined maroon livery, 3 Class 160`s in one location, probably the only time this has ever happened since World War 2, so it was to be one hell of an event.

My mate Rob, was sorting out his new pad in Yorkshire and came over to stay on the Friday evening, and drink all my whisky. We had arranged an early start, I was doing the driving from North Manchester to Cheddleton to catch these giants on shed prior to the event, so the alarm was set for 04.30.

We left Rhodes Village at around 05.30 and conditions were horrendous, I`d never seen so much rain, in fact a number of roads on the way down were flooded and we were diverted, so much so that it took us twice as long to get down there and the going was tough and slow.

We arrived on shed, still in darkness, my intention was to get on the depot early and hopefully the rain may have eased at that hour, it hadn’t, I set up a tripod and also set the camera on manual and B and tried to fit my cable release, until I realised it wouldn’t fit, I don’t use a cable that much these days, but I’d use it a few times on my Nikon D800 for longer exposure night photography, I however had my Nikon D810 with me and realised the D800 cable release won’t fit on the D810, so Nikon had quietly stitched me up again, anything for a quick buck Nikon, I think it’s time to look into alternative camera brands.

The lads at the Churnet Valley Railway are truly amazing, we were allowed in the yard and sheds while it was still dark, to take our photographs, the rain however was continuous and I had a lot of trouble keeping the lens clear, so apologies for the poor-quality photographs.

The Churnet Valley Railway had cleverly designed the gala with a constant change of S160 locomotives operating out to Ipstones from Froghall, none stop, quite an innovative idea. A lot of unsung heroes are involved in the Churnet Valley Railway, it’s certainly one of my favourites.

After an excellent bacon muffin and Latte at the Froghall station café, I boarded the 09.15 with Rob and we managed to get a compartment to ourselves, it was an unusually long train and we eagerly awaited the S160`s to arrive from Cheddleton, by 09.25 however the locomotives still hadn’t shown and shortly after this time an announcement came over the tannoy in the coaches say that because of flooding at Consall, the locomotives couldn’t get through, a short while later the railway announced that the event was cancelled.

All credit to the railway here, it was simply beyond their control, we were all disappointed of course, more so for the railway and its volunteers who had turned out on a day like that to provide a gala, they had however made the achievement of getting 3 class S160`s together in one place and it must have been with a very heavy heart, but with health and safety in mind, that they had to cancel the gala. The last train of the day was going to be 3 class S160`s leading with 2 class 33 diesels to the rear, what a great lost for everyone that this didn’t materialise, but knowing the Churnet Valley Railway, such an event will happen again, I`m sure of that. A really big well done to all the volunteers at the Churnet Valley Railway for pulling all the stops out and doing the best job possible under dire circumstances, which were beyond anyone’s control. All three class 160`s were later parked up on the platforms of Cheddleton station for people to see and photograph, but it was certainly a very wet one with the river having burst its banks in a number of places.

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

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shredder1

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Rudyard Lake Steam Railway. Saturday 26th October 2019.

After our experience at the Churnet Valley Railway, we headed back to Manchester earlier than usual, but decided to see if the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway was open, as Rob had never been on the line. The Rudyard Lake Steam Railway is a 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) narrow gauge railway that traverses the banksides of Rudyard Lake on the former track bed of the standard gauge North Staffordshire Railway between Macclesfield, Leek and Uttoxeter. The Rudyard Lake Steam Railway is very progressive and offers much potential, its next major project is to extend back towards Leek, now they have the track from the Mull Railway and I would expect they are likely to return to Leek before the Churnet Valley complete their own Leek extension, so all looks good in that part of the country.

We were surprised to find it was open on such a day, but welcomed it of course, however the road to Rudyard was flooded, so we did, very slowly drive through the flood though and only just avoided the water seeping through the car doors. However, arriving at the car park, the first train had gone up the line to complete an inspection and we managed to photograph the train on its return to Rudyard. The line was clear at the time and we waited for the first train of the day at 12.00 to depart, and had a brew in the station café while we were waiting.

I was very kindly given permission to look inside the depot, they are a very friendly lot at Rudyard and despite it being a narrow-gauge railway, they are still very health and safety conscious, so I signed in the disclaimer book and had an excellent shed visit.

The first train left on time and we travelled behind ex Mull locomotive “Victoria”, “Victoria was built in 1993 specially for the Isle of Mull Railway in Scotland by David Vere of Mouse Boiler Works. Designed to haul heavy trains it is based on the Baldwin locomotives of the Puffing Billy Railway in Australia. It was a very successful engine and the mainstay of train services on Mull until the railway sadly closed on 1st September 2011 and was removed in 2012”, (Source Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website 2019).

Despite the line inspection previously though, a small overflow on an inlet stream, was now accessing a small section of the track bed, nothing too serious though and we left the train as the engineers very slowly and carefully edged the locomotive and stock over the effected section, but without issue, we were soon on our way again to the top of the line at Hunthouse Wood.

We returned to Rudyard and realised we could not exit the station via the exit road, because the flooding below the railway on the main road had unfortunately increased in depth, so I had to put my hazards warning indicators on, and exit through the way in road and drove into a slightly shallower road at the opposite side of the railway bridge.

After passing through a few more deep fords on the way back to Manchester, we called in at the Brookside Miniature Railway since we were passing through Hazel Grove, but this was also closed due to flooding, but we did get chance to look around the extensive model shop and garden centre, and we were also very kindly shown around the refurbished ticket office, by the manager, which he very kindly opened up for us.

I drove Rob back to his new accommodation in Ripponden, but we called in at the former site of the branch line station, at the top of the valley at Rishworth, amazingly you can still see where the station platforms and yards used to be, I really must walk the track bed back to Sowerby Bridge sometime.

Despite the wet weather, floods and cold, we still had an excellent day, so thanks again to all the guys at the Churnet Valley Railway and the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway for a first-class day, we will see you guys next year now.

http://www.rudyardlake.com/rudyard-lake-steam-railway/

http://www.rlsr.org/about-the-railway/victoria.html

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shredder1

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Aberystwyth. Saturday 2nd November 2019.

No events on this weekend, but I noticed Transport for Wales had a Club 50 ticket on offer, I`d never used one of those before, but used to use the Arrive Club 55`s a few years ago. The rules on the new Club 50 however have changed in that you have to use the return portion of you ticket on the same day as you start the journey, and you can no longer use other rail company trains that travel on the same lines, plus it’s a lot more expensive now at £29. Not bad value though if you are travelling a distance.

I checked TfW route maps and first decided on a run up to Holyhead, but noticed bus replacement services were operating, because of planned engineering works, so my second choice was Aberystwyth because it has a funicular and one I`d never visited before. I also noticed on the Vale of Rheidol website the following information, “Sorry there are no trains running today, Aberystwyth, Booking Office and shop open. Workshop Tours please enquire at booking office”. So great I thought, I can do the funicular and also have a workshop tour on the VoR.

I was up at 03.30 and drove down to Manchester Piccadilly to catch the 05.11 Cross Country Voyage to Southampton alighting at Crewe, this was the first train I could catch to get me down to Aberystwyth for 09.30. I booked my £29 TfW Club 50 ticket, (to Pwllheli, as I wanted a run up the Cambrian Coast line after my Aberystwyth trip, time permitting), plus another £9 to get me down to Crewe on the Cross Country voyager now the rules have changed, I also booked an addition ticket from Machynlleth to Aberystwyth return, £4.80, so it was becoming more expensive, but a good day out was planned.

The day started going wrong early when I realised I`d knocked the autofocus button off on my camera, and didn’t find out until I was at Shrewsbury, by which time I`d lost a few pictures, including a Class 56 at Shrewsbury on engineering work. I changed trains at Crewe and Shrewsbury, where I had a horrible sausage muffin for breakfast from Starbucks with a latte which cost over £7 quid., (I`ll starve next time). I then caught a direct TfW service into Aberystwyth.

On arrival, I made my way out to the Funicular Railway and I was very impressed, it climbs Constitution Hill, quite high above the town and offers some excellent photographic opportunities from the top, its actually the longest electric powered rope hauled funicular in Britain and only £3.50 for a senior return journey. I took a latte at the café at the top and waited for the gift shop on the top of the hill to open at 11.00pm. It was quite nice inside and it had a children’s model railway, with the addition of a model of the funicular. They didn’t sell fridge magnet totems, but they did sell the keyring ticket magnets, so that’s another one for the fridge.

I returned to the town and went out to visit the Vale of Rheidol Railway for the workshop tour, but was told they didn’t run workshop tours when the railway wasn’t running, so I explained the wording on the website, and the chap in the shop was very apologetic and said he would have a word with those in charge of the website. So, I didn’t see any locos, but did buy a Devils Bridge fridge magnet which I didn’t get on my last visit.

I returned to the town to see if they had a guitar shop, surprisingly they did, although it is a university town. I needed a strap for my new Gibson Explorer, but they didn’t have any decent ones and only as few guitars in stock, they did however have a second-hand PRS Santana SE in Tobacco Sunburst, a Korean model, (the Korean`s have never been noted for building great guitars, but they have been improving in recent years), going for £375, it was in excellent condition and I plugged it in and ran it through its spaces, quite an impressive guitar for the price and for saying its Korean built under license, it played well, but these things are only £480 new, so no great deal really.

I had lunch at the large chip shop facing the station, Express Fish and Chips and later arrived on the platforms in time for the 12.30 back to Machynlleth. After waiting 5 minutes or so, the board came up saying it was cancelled and the next train would be 13.30, great. I went to the bus station next door and was just in time for a bus to Machynlleth, they didn’t except cancelled train tickets, (so much for integrated transport), and it cost me another £4.80 on the bus, more that a return ticket on the train in fact.

I eventually arrived at Machynlleth railway station and found out that trains were only going as far as Barmouth and then a replacement bus service was operating up to Pwllheli, so I aborted my trip, another washed out weekend, still not a bad day. I caught a TfW back to Shrewsbury and then a TfW Class 175, still in old Arrival colours, back directly to Manchester Piccadilly, arriving at 17.15 and after running down to Piccadilly Garden`s and into Dawson’s Guitar shop, just before it closed at 17.30, I picked up a Gibson guitar strap, phew! After the drive back home, I was in the house for 18.40, so despite being my second wash out in two weeks, it wasn’t a bad trip really.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberystwyth_Cliff_Railway

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Techniquest

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Ooh it is a shame you didn't get to do the run north of Dovey Junction. I reportedly did it decades ago, according to my Mum, in childhood but never as an adult. Back when I was still scoring stations I did the first one after Dovey Junction, and even just that short section was scenic.

Rather expensive little day trip in the end there, with the extra fares. I've not done Aber by rail since October 2004, good grief I've just realised it's been over 15 years since I had 7802 Bradley Manor and, more importantly, 37203. Time flies! However I am glad to hear there's a good chippy there, on my childhood trips there we almost always went to a cafe/diner in the town centre for food.

Anyway, I digress. I would recommend doing the trip to Pwllheli one day, it's one I keep saying I'm going to do as it is the only part of the network I've not seen as an adult! However I would be looking at doing it on an Advance fare, which going by the new rules for the 50+ ticket would probably be better value for you too.
 

shredder1

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Thanks Tech, I`ve done the line to Pwhelli a number of times over the years and also got off at Dovey junction, chasing Osprey once, lol
 

D841 Roebuck

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Thanks for the gen on "Club 50", which I qualify for. Just need to get a passport to make use of it, as it appears that photo ID is required. Also, thanks for the info on the Aberystwyth funicular (on the to do list) and the rancidity of Starbucks Banger Butties (on the to avoid list).
 

shredder1

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Haha, cheers mate, yes avoid Starbucks at all costs, If you have a senior railcard that is accepted for the Club 50. I though I saw you at Rawtenstall today at the railcar gala?
 

shredder1

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East Lancs Railway, Scenic Railcar Day. Saturday 9th November 2019.

Vehicles operating,
Class 104 2 car (Birmingham RCW)
Class 105 2 car (Cravens)
Class 110 3 car (Birmingham RCW - Calder Valley Unit)
Class 122 1 car (Gloucester RCW "Bubbles")

Featured events include:
DMU "drag" using the Cravens (Class 105) being hauled by D5054 (Class 24).
DMU (Class 122 "Bubbles") hauling "Stove R".

My favourite DMU events are usually held at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, the Llangollen Railway and my local railway the East Lancs, today was my turn to visit the latter, who as usually put on a first class DMU event. The star of the show, for me was the Calder Valley Birmingham RCW, class 110, which operated on my local line for many years, although I was born in 1951 and the steam age and have to confess, I was never a great DMU fan in my earlier days, however, I do miss them now they have gone.

The Cravens 105 set was another favourite, a classic East Lancashire DMU from one of my old stomping depots, Accrington in the 1970`s, the depot was always full of them.

The East Lancs Railway is only a ten miniate drive from my village and I was up at Bury Bolton Street station early on the Saturday morning and it wasn’t long before I was catching up with old friends, indeed the first person I met at the station entrance was Steve Holt, a stalwart volunteer who originally inspired me to volunteer for the railway, although he probably doesn’t realise it.

The next person to appear at Bolton Street station was my mate Barry the Bass, who is now part of the new super group I`m presently putting together, Barry is the best bass player this side of the Mississippi. Barry had joined me for the day and we had a few rides up and down the line behind the various DMU`s operating. We took lunch at J.D. Weatherspoon’s, The Robert Peel in the centre of Bury, Robert was Burys’s most famous son, a Parliamentarian and Prime Minister, responsible for the formation of the modern Police Force, (known at the time as Peelers or Bobbies).

The food wasn’t too bad, in the John Peel, I had a Barbequed chicken with chips and peas which took 20 minutes to arrive, while Barry had some sort of steak pudding with chips, that he didn’t stop complaining about, despite throwing it all down in record time.

It was generally a damp, overcast and cold day, but this is November in Northwest England, so I suppose you can`t hope for much more, I met up with a lot of friends, some for the first time and others I`d volunteered with on the East Lancs, yes it was a good day, a big well done to the East Lancs Railway and all involved in what was an excellent event.

http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/2019/11/scenic-railcar-day.aspx

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shredder1

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Great Central Railway, Last Hurrah. Saturday 16th November 2019.

Locomotives operating on the day, 9F 92214 "Leicester City", Stanier 8F 48305, 6990 "Witherslack Hall", BR Standard 5 73156, Stanier Class 5 45305"Alderman A.E. Draper", Fowler 3F 47406, (Final Last Hurrah appearance before overhaul), English Electric Type 1 D8098, and Metro Cammell Diesel Railcar.

I drove down to Coalville on Friday evening after work, trying a new route this time, via the M6, Stoke and the A50 which probably took me about 2.5 hours in dark and wet conditions, apart from a bit of congestion around Stoke however, it was a good run down.

I took tea in Coalville and then made my way to the Victoria Bikers Pub, my second stay in this place, although it was quieter than last time as sadly no live bands were playing. A great location though both for the Great Central and Battlefield line when I`m in that neck of the woods, and saves me an early morning drive on a Saturday morning,

Accommodation was £20 for the night and I had a complete 6 bed dormer to myself again, an early night and I slept like a log. The next morning, I was up showered and out for 06.00 and made the short drive over to Loughborough, breakfast in the town and on shed for 07.00 to get a few early morning atmospheric shots of the locomotives steaming up.

I purchased an all-day rover, but only used it on the first train out, the 3F Jinty to Rothley, a short trip running stopping at Swithland sidings to let the second train of the day passed, a double header running on the up to Leicester North.

I returned on this service back into Loughborough Central and then took the car to the various locations along the line. First with the step ladders from the road bridge at Beeches Road, then the estate behind this bridge, and next onto Woodthorpe and later Kinchley Lane before returning to Loughborough Central. I took tea at Georges Chippy, before driving home, back along the M50 via Stoke and the M6, arriving back for around 19.00, it was a great trip despite the weather being overcast for most of the day, the Great Central Railway put on another first class event, a big well done to all involved.

Lineside passes, apparently a new scheme has been put in place and potential members need to write in to apply, as only around 30 people currently hold one. It would seem the railway are asking for a great commitment from lineside pass holders, and rightly so, the most important thing is to protect the railway, especially in this day and age.

http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/special-events/

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shredder1

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Heaton Park Tramway, 2019 Season Swansong. Sunday 17th November 2019.

A nice local event for me, Heaton Park Tramway and the end of the season Swansong. I caught the bus to the main gates, only 4 stops away for me, free on the bus and saved me £3.00 in the car park, I`m tight like that. A little rain when I arrived, but that stopped as the day progressed.

I arrived at 11.30 as I`d been to the gym since 08.00, so missed the first tram out, three vehicles however were running, which were former Blackpool Brush Car 623 dating from the 1930's and made its preservation debut in January 2012, single decker. Manchester 765 - single deck 'combination' car dating from 1914, and former Hull/Leeds tram 96/6, single decker built in 1901 by Hurst Nelson for the Hull Corporation.

An all-day rover for this event was a mere £5.00. and the tramway now runs from the Main Gates on Middleton Road, through to the Lakeside Café where the new tram depot is located. The tram depot is due to be extended and the tramway also have longer term plans to eventually extend the line through to Heaton Park Metrolink station.

I had an enjoyable day travelling up and down the tram line and later in the afternoon met up with my eldest granddaughter, her husband and two of my great grandchildren, so we all enjoyed a ride on all the trams that were running.

I stayed until the end to photograph the trams being put away. Heaton Park is also hosting a light show later in the week and have a special light team working on the project, these guys have travelled all the way from Singapore and were doing a light trail while I was there, so I stayed behind and took a few late evening photographs of the various displays. Only however to get locked in the park and I had to get security to let me out, still I`ve been locked in worst places. It was a great event, a big well done to the team and volunteers at Heaton Park tramway.

https://www.facebook.com/HeatonParkTramway/

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shredder1

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Manchester, Preston, Carlisle. Saturday 23rd November 2019.

The end of the gala season and I was looking for somewhere to go, so opted to track down a few NOVA`s and unbranded Pendolino`s on a run up to Carlisle.

I drove down to Manchester Piccadilly and was on the platforms for just turned 05.00. A NOVA 3, behind class 68026 "Enterprise" was on a test train in the platforms and I was treated to a look around the cab of the DVT, which has a similar set up to the Class 68. I caught a late running 05.42, a new Northern Class 195 on the Windermere service, as far as Preston, from where I changed for an unbranded Pendolino up to Carlisle.

It was a wet and cold day, but atmospheric all the same. Lots of unbranded Pendolino`s now operating on the WCML ready for the “Trenitalia” take over. The day included some loco action, a Colas class 56 on tanks, 3x class 66`s and class 2 x class 88`s on the Teasco`s, plus a test train for NOVA 2`s.

I took an excellent lunch in the City and later walked out to the guitar shop, before returning to Carlisle railway station and catching a Virgin Voyager to Preston and then a Northern train, via Bolton back into Manchester Piccadilly, before driving home, a nice day out.

Transpennine NOVA`s 1, 2 and 3.

https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travelling-with-us/the-nova-fleets/nova-1

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