I thought I'd start a new thread for my trip reports! Here's my report from last Saturday, when I went out with my good friend djpontrack for the day.
507021 and djpontrack head to Yorkshire via Manchester.
Getting up nice and early for my day out, I nipped out to get my Dad's newspapers for him before returning home for something to eat. I left at about 09:25, with everyone still asleep when I left! After a ten minute walk to the bus stop and a short wait, it was Arriva North West's Volvo B5LH BW66 GYV (4830) which did the honours. I really like the Gemini3s, from both points of view.
I had a quick look around St John's Shopping Centre to pass some time, before quickly heading over to Iceland to pick up some lunch and a packet of cakes for my wife to be and daughter to share (they went down very well) when I got home later. I then headed over to Lime Street to wait for djpontrack, who was arriving at 10:26. He'd kept me up to date with his progress, which was much appreciated.
At 10:31, djpontrack arrived. As part of our schedule, we planned to leave Lime Street on the 10:55 to Manchester Oxford Road, so we went through to Platform 2 to wait for it. This train was formed of 150136 and 142047. Deciding we didn't want to sit on a Class 142 all the way to our first stop of the day, we opted for the 150. We departed on time, with djpontrack showing me the excellent progress he has made visiting stations across the network along the way.
We eventually alighted at Irlam, which was a new station for me. Whoever restored the station building and turned into a café did an excellent job, with a wide range of really interesting memorabilia on display inside and outside. I was that impressed by it I'm going to be taking my partner and daughter there on our way to Manchester on Wednesday.
Boarding the next train to leave Irlam, which was formed of 142057 partnered with 142042 (we took the former), we took this all the way into Manchester. Alighting at Oxford Road, djpontrack suggested we head up to St Peter's Square to have a look at the trams for a bit to pass the time until or next journey. This was productive for him, scoring one new tram for sight.
Heading back to Manchester Oxford Road after a detour via Sainsbury's, we boarded the 13:38 to Leeds, which was in the hands of 158753. I do like the interior of these, but djpontrack and I agreed the legroom in the centre car wasn't that great. With the Ordsall Chord in the bag for both of us (both of us "re-completing" the Northern network for coverage), we alighted at Manchester Victoria.
Our next move was in the hands of 319442, which is one of my favourite Northern units. It's a favourite because last week, my daughter and I went out for a "mini bash", and this was her favourite train out of the three we had because she liked the declassified first class seats. 319442 was a winner for djpontrack, with it being a winner for me a few days previously. Also a special mention to the guard on this service (the 14:02 Manchester Victoria-Lime Street), who was a really nice bloke and wished us a nice day when we alighted.
We alighted 319442 at Patricroft, which was a winner shack for us both. We went over to The Queens Arms for a pint to pass the time, which was very conveniently only a two minute walk away from the station. Both of us had passed this pub many times combined over the years, so djpontrack in particular was very pleased to finally get a chance to pop in.
We left The Queens Arms a few minutes before our train, the 15:04 to Manchester Victoria, was due to depart Patricroft. This was the slightly late running 319386, although we managed to make our next move with plenty of time to spare. To our amusement, the 15:26 to Leeds was in the hands of 142012, although we did manage to get a seat for our journey.
We took 142012 all the way up to Mytholmroyd, which was another winner shack for us both. Notably, this move meant that djpontrack had now had 142012 into and out of Manchester Victoria. With about 20 minutes or so to wait for our next train, we decided to go into the nearby pub (The Shoulder of Mutton Inn) for another pint. It was much busier than The Queens Arms we'd been in previously, presumably with a lot of people going in to watch the rugby.
After finishing our pints, we went back to the station to catch our next train. This was 150133, which we took one stop up the line to Hebden Bridge, which was my fourth new shack of the day. I'd always wanted to visit this one in particular after seeing it on TV a few months ago, and I wasn't disappointed.
Our next train was 158851, which was on a service from York. djpontrack then showed me the excellent progress he has made on the rail network, which is a lot more than the progress I've made over the past few years. We were on 158851 for around an hour, taking it all the way to Preston. We alighted there and decided to have a walk around outside to have a look at the rail replacement stock, mainly Blackpool Transport Enviro400s with an assortment of coaches as well.
I decided I would get the 18:29 back to Liverpool, with djpontrack deciding to join me as far as Wigan North Western. I was quite amused when 150210 arrived to take this service, although everyone waiting for this service managed to get on and get a seat. It's one of the better 150/2s in my opinion, although the interior was quite jazzy to say the least (red doors, pink door controls, brown bulkheads and beige panels).
Once 150210 arrived at Wigan North Western, djpontrack and I parted ways. I continued south, with djpontrack heading back to Preston on the next service north (he got a pair of 156s, which would have been preferred to the two car 150!). I arrived back at Lime Street only a minute or so late, and decided it was time to head home to see how everyone was. I headed over to the bus station to head home, with a Gemini3 and Enviro400 (SK15 GYN) arriving at the same time. It was easy to opt for BT66 MTX (4807), which left after the Enviro400 but ultimately got to my stop just ahead of it.
No new units today, but four new shacks on the Northern network was very welcome.
A big, big thanks to djpontrack for his excellent company which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was great to meet you mate, and the pints are on me next time!
507021 and djpontrack head to Yorkshire via Manchester.
Getting up nice and early for my day out, I nipped out to get my Dad's newspapers for him before returning home for something to eat. I left at about 09:25, with everyone still asleep when I left! After a ten minute walk to the bus stop and a short wait, it was Arriva North West's Volvo B5LH BW66 GYV (4830) which did the honours. I really like the Gemini3s, from both points of view.
I had a quick look around St John's Shopping Centre to pass some time, before quickly heading over to Iceland to pick up some lunch and a packet of cakes for my wife to be and daughter to share (they went down very well) when I got home later. I then headed over to Lime Street to wait for djpontrack, who was arriving at 10:26. He'd kept me up to date with his progress, which was much appreciated.
At 10:31, djpontrack arrived. As part of our schedule, we planned to leave Lime Street on the 10:55 to Manchester Oxford Road, so we went through to Platform 2 to wait for it. This train was formed of 150136 and 142047. Deciding we didn't want to sit on a Class 142 all the way to our first stop of the day, we opted for the 150. We departed on time, with djpontrack showing me the excellent progress he has made visiting stations across the network along the way.
We eventually alighted at Irlam, which was a new station for me. Whoever restored the station building and turned into a café did an excellent job, with a wide range of really interesting memorabilia on display inside and outside. I was that impressed by it I'm going to be taking my partner and daughter there on our way to Manchester on Wednesday.
Boarding the next train to leave Irlam, which was formed of 142057 partnered with 142042 (we took the former), we took this all the way into Manchester. Alighting at Oxford Road, djpontrack suggested we head up to St Peter's Square to have a look at the trams for a bit to pass the time until or next journey. This was productive for him, scoring one new tram for sight.
Heading back to Manchester Oxford Road after a detour via Sainsbury's, we boarded the 13:38 to Leeds, which was in the hands of 158753. I do like the interior of these, but djpontrack and I agreed the legroom in the centre car wasn't that great. With the Ordsall Chord in the bag for both of us (both of us "re-completing" the Northern network for coverage), we alighted at Manchester Victoria.
Our next move was in the hands of 319442, which is one of my favourite Northern units. It's a favourite because last week, my daughter and I went out for a "mini bash", and this was her favourite train out of the three we had because she liked the declassified first class seats. 319442 was a winner for djpontrack, with it being a winner for me a few days previously. Also a special mention to the guard on this service (the 14:02 Manchester Victoria-Lime Street), who was a really nice bloke and wished us a nice day when we alighted.
We alighted 319442 at Patricroft, which was a winner shack for us both. We went over to The Queens Arms for a pint to pass the time, which was very conveniently only a two minute walk away from the station. Both of us had passed this pub many times combined over the years, so djpontrack in particular was very pleased to finally get a chance to pop in.
We left The Queens Arms a few minutes before our train, the 15:04 to Manchester Victoria, was due to depart Patricroft. This was the slightly late running 319386, although we managed to make our next move with plenty of time to spare. To our amusement, the 15:26 to Leeds was in the hands of 142012, although we did manage to get a seat for our journey.
We took 142012 all the way up to Mytholmroyd, which was another winner shack for us both. Notably, this move meant that djpontrack had now had 142012 into and out of Manchester Victoria. With about 20 minutes or so to wait for our next train, we decided to go into the nearby pub (The Shoulder of Mutton Inn) for another pint. It was much busier than The Queens Arms we'd been in previously, presumably with a lot of people going in to watch the rugby.
After finishing our pints, we went back to the station to catch our next train. This was 150133, which we took one stop up the line to Hebden Bridge, which was my fourth new shack of the day. I'd always wanted to visit this one in particular after seeing it on TV a few months ago, and I wasn't disappointed.
Our next train was 158851, which was on a service from York. djpontrack then showed me the excellent progress he has made on the rail network, which is a lot more than the progress I've made over the past few years. We were on 158851 for around an hour, taking it all the way to Preston. We alighted there and decided to have a walk around outside to have a look at the rail replacement stock, mainly Blackpool Transport Enviro400s with an assortment of coaches as well.
I decided I would get the 18:29 back to Liverpool, with djpontrack deciding to join me as far as Wigan North Western. I was quite amused when 150210 arrived to take this service, although everyone waiting for this service managed to get on and get a seat. It's one of the better 150/2s in my opinion, although the interior was quite jazzy to say the least (red doors, pink door controls, brown bulkheads and beige panels).
Once 150210 arrived at Wigan North Western, djpontrack and I parted ways. I continued south, with djpontrack heading back to Preston on the next service north (he got a pair of 156s, which would have been preferred to the two car 150!). I arrived back at Lime Street only a minute or so late, and decided it was time to head home to see how everyone was. I headed over to the bus station to head home, with a Gemini3 and Enviro400 (SK15 GYN) arriving at the same time. It was easy to opt for BT66 MTX (4807), which left after the Enviro400 but ultimately got to my stop just ahead of it.
No new units today, but four new shacks on the Northern network was very welcome.
A big, big thanks to djpontrack for his excellent company which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was great to meet you mate, and the pints are on me next time!
