andyb2706
Member
Following on from some of the other members of the forum I thought I to would start a separate thread for all of my trip reports. I will be typing up these reports while en-route on my tablet so hopefully it won't take too long to get them on the forum although I am not promising anything.
Thursday 19th February
My plan for today is to head off to Leeds and then see where I get to from there. So I was just about to leave home to the tram station when I got a phone call from work "err.....you haven't got the van keys have you?" after a few moments of silence followed by a few expletives I was jumping in the car to go to the office to drop off the keys. Fortunately my office isn't too far from Salford Crescent railway station so leaving my car in the works car park I take the short walk to station and didn't have long to wait for the late running 0925 to Manchester Airport which was 142030 and with its overcrowding it might have explained it's late running because the dwell time in the platforms was a couple of minutes due to people trying to embark and disembark the train. Although I still need a few 142 units for haulage, unfortunately this was not one of them, I can't wait to see the back of them. The train was packed, windows were steaming up and the usual quality ride was supplied. I was stood there thinking that these poor souls pay such a high price for peak travel every day and they get treated like this. Just so glad that I am not one of them. After the short journey to Manchester Piccadilly I arrive into platform 13 with 185141 and 185123 stood at platform 14 forming the Windermere service although not making a note of the unit number to begin with but making my way to the departure boards to find out what the next service to Leeds was and found out it was the 0957 to Middlesborough from platform 2 so headed over there passing through the ticket barrier when I decided to make a note of the two 185 units I saw on platform 14, but I could not remember whether one of the unit was 185141 or 185114! So there I was resided to the thought that I could not guess at it when the 0957 rolled into the station and it was 185114 , well that answered the question how lucky could I have been and even more luckier when I checked 185114 I also needed it for haulage so that leaves with me needing 14 more 185's
On arriving at Huddersfield I was debating jumping off and looking for the Wakefield service as it is usually operated by a pacer, but decided to remain on the train to Leeds. As we pulled out of Huddersfield I noticed that 142078 was operating the next Wakefield service and that it was a required unit so it has escaped from me this time!
Nothing to note on the remainder of my journey to Leeds so once I jumped off my job was to find my next unit for haulage which didn't take me too long because standing on platform 13 was 158853 forming 1056 Leeds to Huddersfield. We were delayed for a few minutes to let a late running TPE service to Manchester Airport to go before us, the TPE was only a few minutes late so if they had run my service first and seeing it was all stops to Huddersfield the TPE service would have been absolutely hammered, so correct regulation. I find the Northern 158's are the best of Northern's fleet but when you compare them to East Midland Trains and Arriva Trains Wales 158's Northerns are a bit drab and dark. So much of the original decor remains.
I've never really noticed it in the past, probably because I've been whizzing through the towns and villages of West Yorkshire on a fast TPE service but as you pass through the towns and villages along this line if you ignore some of the corrugated workshops you are left with the stone factories, shops and houses the surroundings are quite picturesque. Having just pulled out of Dewsbury it has reminded me of the pub on the station and the need to visit it again on a Saturday to partake in an ale day breakfast and yes it is a full English breakfast with a pint of real ale......hmmmmm.
On the approach to Huddersfield I turned my thought onto what would be my next move and after consulting Realtime Trains I decided to do a trip to Barnsley along the Penistone line, again knowing that it should be a pacer unit. With a 40 minute wait and it approaching lunch time I nipped out of the station to pick up a Subway to have on the train. After purchasing my Chicken Salad Sub for £3.20, which is a bit pricey but I do prefer a Subway compared to pre-packed sandwiches from a supermarket I returned to the station to find my train had arrived and was formed of 144023 , which was a good one, to operate the 1213 to Sheffield. There was still 20 minutes until departure which gave me time to remain on the platform to take photos of the trains that arrived and departed. Our departure was on time and seeing that there is nothing to add apart from the lack of leg room, I'm only 5 foot 7 inches and my knees are hard pressed again the seat in front it is time for lunch. After lunch I settled down for the journey to Barnsley. On a cold wet day there isn't much to see from a pacer unit especially with steamed up windows that I ended up waking with a jolt when a snort of a snore woke me about 10 minutes from Barnsley.
I alighted at Barnsley and decided to jump on the next service that was the express 1314 to Sheffield calling at Meadowhall first where I plan to alight and do a bit of bashing on the tram network into the city. My train pulled in and it was 158905 but this turned out to be a dud for me, actually out of the ten 158/9 this was the only one I had been on in the past.....grrrr, anyhow better luck with the supertram shortly seeing I have only had haulages on two of them in the past.
Sheffield Supertram was super!!!! Bought the £4 dayrider and did 8 trips working out at 50p a journey in 80 minutes
with the units being 122, 115, 106, 114, 104, 102, 121 and 123 all were good before ending back at Sheffield train station by which time I was desperate for the loo just to find both the one on the concourse and platform 5 being out of use, although 5 reopened few minutes late thank goodness. Anyhow after a quick check of what was in I found I needed 142019 for haulage so had a run out to Rotherham Central.
Rotherham Central is a new station for me but my return trip to Sheffield provided a dud unit with 150116. By now I was ready to head home with the first available service being the 1640 EMT to Liverpool Lime Street formed of two 158 units, the first being 158858, which was a dud but the second was 158812 which is one that I needed so guess which one I got on.
On approach to Manchester Piccadilly I encountered major delays due to a cable fault between Deansgate and Salford Crescent…great, I want to get to Salford Crescent. Anyhow after waiting about 30 minutes I end up getting on 150119 which is working the 1822 to Southport, another Northern unit knocked off my list.
So all in all a very good day with 14 new hauls and the following new shacks:
Meadowhall (NR & Supertram), Nunnery Road, Arena/Don Valley, City Hall, Fitzalan Square, Arbourthorne Road, Spring Lane, Granville Road, Rotherham Central.
Thursday 19th February
My plan for today is to head off to Leeds and then see where I get to from there. So I was just about to leave home to the tram station when I got a phone call from work "err.....you haven't got the van keys have you?" after a few moments of silence followed by a few expletives I was jumping in the car to go to the office to drop off the keys. Fortunately my office isn't too far from Salford Crescent railway station so leaving my car in the works car park I take the short walk to station and didn't have long to wait for the late running 0925 to Manchester Airport which was 142030 and with its overcrowding it might have explained it's late running because the dwell time in the platforms was a couple of minutes due to people trying to embark and disembark the train. Although I still need a few 142 units for haulage, unfortunately this was not one of them, I can't wait to see the back of them. The train was packed, windows were steaming up and the usual quality ride was supplied. I was stood there thinking that these poor souls pay such a high price for peak travel every day and they get treated like this. Just so glad that I am not one of them. After the short journey to Manchester Piccadilly I arrive into platform 13 with 185141 and 185123 stood at platform 14 forming the Windermere service although not making a note of the unit number to begin with but making my way to the departure boards to find out what the next service to Leeds was and found out it was the 0957 to Middlesborough from platform 2 so headed over there passing through the ticket barrier when I decided to make a note of the two 185 units I saw on platform 14, but I could not remember whether one of the unit was 185141 or 185114! So there I was resided to the thought that I could not guess at it when the 0957 rolled into the station and it was 185114 , well that answered the question how lucky could I have been and even more luckier when I checked 185114 I also needed it for haulage so that leaves with me needing 14 more 185's
On arriving at Huddersfield I was debating jumping off and looking for the Wakefield service as it is usually operated by a pacer, but decided to remain on the train to Leeds. As we pulled out of Huddersfield I noticed that 142078 was operating the next Wakefield service and that it was a required unit so it has escaped from me this time!
Nothing to note on the remainder of my journey to Leeds so once I jumped off my job was to find my next unit for haulage which didn't take me too long because standing on platform 13 was 158853 forming 1056 Leeds to Huddersfield. We were delayed for a few minutes to let a late running TPE service to Manchester Airport to go before us, the TPE was only a few minutes late so if they had run my service first and seeing it was all stops to Huddersfield the TPE service would have been absolutely hammered, so correct regulation. I find the Northern 158's are the best of Northern's fleet but when you compare them to East Midland Trains and Arriva Trains Wales 158's Northerns are a bit drab and dark. So much of the original decor remains.
I've never really noticed it in the past, probably because I've been whizzing through the towns and villages of West Yorkshire on a fast TPE service but as you pass through the towns and villages along this line if you ignore some of the corrugated workshops you are left with the stone factories, shops and houses the surroundings are quite picturesque. Having just pulled out of Dewsbury it has reminded me of the pub on the station and the need to visit it again on a Saturday to partake in an ale day breakfast and yes it is a full English breakfast with a pint of real ale......hmmmmm.
On the approach to Huddersfield I turned my thought onto what would be my next move and after consulting Realtime Trains I decided to do a trip to Barnsley along the Penistone line, again knowing that it should be a pacer unit. With a 40 minute wait and it approaching lunch time I nipped out of the station to pick up a Subway to have on the train. After purchasing my Chicken Salad Sub for £3.20, which is a bit pricey but I do prefer a Subway compared to pre-packed sandwiches from a supermarket I returned to the station to find my train had arrived and was formed of 144023 , which was a good one, to operate the 1213 to Sheffield. There was still 20 minutes until departure which gave me time to remain on the platform to take photos of the trains that arrived and departed. Our departure was on time and seeing that there is nothing to add apart from the lack of leg room, I'm only 5 foot 7 inches and my knees are hard pressed again the seat in front it is time for lunch. After lunch I settled down for the journey to Barnsley. On a cold wet day there isn't much to see from a pacer unit especially with steamed up windows that I ended up waking with a jolt when a snort of a snore woke me about 10 minutes from Barnsley.
I alighted at Barnsley and decided to jump on the next service that was the express 1314 to Sheffield calling at Meadowhall first where I plan to alight and do a bit of bashing on the tram network into the city. My train pulled in and it was 158905 but this turned out to be a dud for me, actually out of the ten 158/9 this was the only one I had been on in the past.....grrrr, anyhow better luck with the supertram shortly seeing I have only had haulages on two of them in the past.
Sheffield Supertram was super!!!! Bought the £4 dayrider and did 8 trips working out at 50p a journey in 80 minutes
with the units being 122, 115, 106, 114, 104, 102, 121 and 123 all were good before ending back at Sheffield train station by which time I was desperate for the loo just to find both the one on the concourse and platform 5 being out of use, although 5 reopened few minutes late thank goodness. Anyhow after a quick check of what was in I found I needed 142019 for haulage so had a run out to Rotherham Central.Rotherham Central is a new station for me but my return trip to Sheffield provided a dud unit with 150116. By now I was ready to head home with the first available service being the 1640 EMT to Liverpool Lime Street formed of two 158 units, the first being 158858, which was a dud but the second was 158812 which is one that I needed so guess which one I got on.
On approach to Manchester Piccadilly I encountered major delays due to a cable fault between Deansgate and Salford Crescent…great, I want to get to Salford Crescent. Anyhow after waiting about 30 minutes I end up getting on 150119 which is working the 1822 to Southport, another Northern unit knocked off my list.
So all in all a very good day with 14 new hauls and the following new shacks:
Meadowhall (NR & Supertram), Nunnery Road, Arena/Don Valley, City Hall, Fitzalan Square, Arbourthorne Road, Spring Lane, Granville Road, Rotherham Central.
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hock:
A good way to test your ankle out fair dos, hopefully it'll be OK tomorrow too.