Northern Weekend Rover (and a bit more) 11th/12th June.
After my last Northern Rover left me with unfinished business due to a Rail Replacement Bus and the lack of a Sunday Service on the Esk Valley (why?!), I needed to take care of some major, and fairly local coverage gaps. The recurrence of the Northern/Johnstone's Press offer, was too good a deal to miss.
Saturday 11th June
Unusually for me this trip started with an omnibus, in the form of Arriva West Yorkshire's 0656 229 service to Leeds, a Max(i?) bus that now comes with wi-fi and leather seats. It executed its duties superbly on a quiet Saturday morning dropping me a short walk from Leeds station. After alighting, I did briefly think I was going to die as I overtook a gentleman wearing headphones rapping to himself about stabbing people, but I was spared on this occasion. Not dead, I reevaluated what was important in life and promptly headed to Starbucks (there being no Costa at Leeds Station).
0757 XC (Birmingham NS) Leeds-Darlington (Glasgow Central) XC 221. 1st Advance c. £9
Despite being on a Northern ticket, I needed to get to Darlington from Leeds so it was either XC or TPE as Northern don't run North of York on the ECML. The lesser of two evils was chosen, the better 1st class offering swinging it for me on this occasion in favour of XC. This service was awash with XC staff, with a driver travelling pass taking it upon himself to act as the 1st class host. An elderly couple opposite had forgotten their 2 together railcard, so the TM excessed them but told them they could claim their money back once they found their card. A fairly amicable resolution, I thought.
At York, I was lucky enough (yet not quick enough with the camera) to see
Tornado in steam at the NRM. A black 5 and a pair of Deltics were also present, I did manage to grab a quick snap of one the two:
No matter what I do to this photo, I can't get it to display the right way up. Please tilt your head 90 degrees or use your imagination
As I stood up to alight at Darlo, the driver/1st class host was passing through with a selection of crisps, he insisted I take some for the road before discussing that nights England match with me. Top bloke. At Darlo, despite having a tight connection, I was expecting it to be a guaranteed one as the Voyager and my next train were set to leave from the same platform. I was shocked that the voyager bypassed my waiting pacer and used the points to cut in further up the platform. I was now completely in the wrong place and I had no choice but to run the length of the voyager and then on to the 142. The guard held the 142 for one other passenger from the Voyager and then we were on our way.
0900 (Bishop Auckland) Darlington-Middlesbrough (Saltburn). Northern 142.
This was new coverage for me as far as Eaglescliffe due to the previously mentioned Rail Replacement Bus on my last rover. It was quick but fairly uninspiring ride. I did see an abandoned RES 08 at Tees Yard.
At Middlesbrough, TPE services and some Northern services were in meltdown for some unknown reason. I had around an hour to kill so I went for a wander around the town centre as it's somewhere I've never really visited. It was better than I was expecting to be honest but nothing to make me want to return.
1031 Middlesbrough-Grosmont (Whitby). Northern 156.
The plaforms were busy ahead of this service, but I couldn't tell if that was to do with the TPE issues or not. I managed to position myself perfectly for the lead door of the 156 which allowed me to get a table seat next to a window, midway down the saloon to avoid the bogies, so I was quite happy with that for the long journey. The train filled up and continued to do so. It's quite a strange service this, there's an awful lot of stops for such a remote area. The guard certainly had his work cut out on such a busy train with frequent stops, but he handled it well. As urban became rural, the countryside on this line became something unexpectedly special. It's much better than the highly praised and nearby NYMR. Speaking of which ...Grosmont was my destination on this service. Middlesbrough-Grosmont was new coverage.
After watching 156444 depart, I headed off to buy a Full Line Ticket on the NYMR which was quite pricey at £28. I then made a better investment in a rather cracking chip butty at the station tea room before heading off to snoop around the engine sheds before my train arrived.
I found
The Green Knight looking rather sad in the sidings, I had this kettle for haulage on my last visit to the NYMR quite some time ago. There was also a 37, a WD Austerity, another Deltic and a USATC S160 around the sheds.
On my way back to the station I caught a class 26 on a movement, I've never seen a 26 so that was a nice surprise- they also sound pretty good.
I then took a seat on the platform in the half sun, half light drizzle. Black 5
Eric Treacy soon appeared on a Pickering-Whitby service, while the class 26 zipped up and down for the hell of it, before coming to a rest at the head of some smart-looking Pullman Stock on platform 3. A short while later,
76079 appeared coming from Whitby towards Pickering, which was to be my train. This then meant there were 3 trains at Grosmont all at the same time, which mustn't happen very often on a preserved railway.
I boarded and paid a nominal fee to sit in 1st class to avoid screaming children (I don't normally bash on weekends) and also to not annoy anyone else with my window-hanging. This meant that I got a 6-seater compartment to myself, which was rather nice. After I boarded, the Standard 4,
76079 was removed from the head of the train and replaced with the class 26 and its over-excited crew. I was initially disappointed by this, but I've never had class 26 haulage being only 26 myself, so it was a rare experience and the sound of the 26 more than made up for it, it was amazing (or as amazing as things can be at 25mph
) We were delayed (not that it matters on a preserved railway) at a couple of stations en route while waiting for trains to pass us.
0-6-0 63395 passes (sideways)
Sheep in a field
Some typical NYMR Scenery
On arrival at Pickering, I sought out food. The quaint high street being a short walk away. I found a local bakery and bought the holy grail of sausage rolls- pork and sweet chilli was the one I opted for. It was beyond description, and no other worldly sausage roll will ever seem as good again
I sat on a bench at the top of the hill to kill time before heading back to the station:
Pickering Station
45428 Sir Eric Treacy then rolled in, which was to form my train back to Grosmont and onto Whitby:
I duly boarded and pondered that this was the first time I've ever travelled in a carriage painted in BR Grey/Blue- you don't see too many around, they're mainly maroon or blood and custard Up North. This train, being a later service was much quieter, although there were still some loud, obnoxious folk around so I relocated to the rear of the carriage for a more pleasant journey. On leaving Pickering we were treated to views of some wonderfully restored LNER stock:
I very much enjoyed my first steam run for a long time, the only downside being Eric Treacy wasn't steaming very efficiently which meant my white shirt was struggling to remain white. The effects of coal dust are not something I usually consider when choosing what to wear on my trips. We passed a class 37 heading in the opposite direction. After Grosmont, when we moved on to Network Rail metals, the fun really began. Mainline steam is something I've not experienced for a long time, and boy it's good travelling at speed. I had a lot of fun window-hanging on this stretch.
The approach to Whitby.
Grosmont-Whitby was also new coverage and a Black 5 was new haulage on the mainline. At Whitby, I was sad to leave the NYMR having quite enjoyed the more relaxed pace compared to my usual trips as well as refreshing my coverage of the NYMR and got some unusual haulage.
I sought out the bus station to find that I'd just missed a service to Scarborough and would now need to dwell for around an hour. Here, I got a phone call from my hotel for the night asking me where I was as I was supposed to have checked in by that time apparently, it was only around 18:30 so I thought it a bit bizarre. I updated them with my arrival time and they said they'd make sure someone would be there to check me in. Hunger had now set in again, and naturally Fish and Chips was the appropriate remedy in Whitby. This was a chippy just over the road from the station, opposite the Coop. The portion sizer was huge, they were good value and of very high quality- a very successful day for food having walked into 3 random establishments and being very impressed with all 3.
I then got my 2nd bus of the day; the X93 another Arriva service, this time a Sapphire service, so another with leather seats, wi-fi etc. I found it necessary to employ my musical ear defenders on the top deck listening to
The Last Shadow Puppets new album and some
Arctic Monkeys. The scenery was pretty nice on this service, but as we climbed fog set in. About 20mins into our journey we were stopped by a police car blocking the road as there had been a crash. The poor driver then had to perform a heroic many-point turn on the narrow country road and then find his way to Scarborough on the back roads which were not entirely suitable for a double decker bus.
At Scarborough I was faced with a fair walk down to my hotel which I was eager to get to in order to watch the England match. Scarborough town centre on a Saturday night was a scene of rowdiness and chaos. I arrived and was able to pick up the football match only 10mins in, which I thought was a good result all things considered.
Day 2 to follow.
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Sunday 11th June
After a Full English and settling my bill, I had a relaxed walk back up towards the station on a gloomy and cool morning.
With the first Northern train not being until 1111 on a Sunday I killed time by visiting Costa for a black Americano. I then walked the short distance up to the station and took residence on the bench beside the 158 that I had assumed would form my service. TPE services were again subject to delays and cancellations.
1111 Scarborough-Meadowhall (Sheffield). Northern 2 Car 158.
This was quite a busy service, but I got a good seat again on a bay of 4. The interior had become rather shabby however. The train continued to busy-up as we headed towards Hull. It's another scenic journey. At Bridlington a skinhead got on with his family and managed to avoid numerous passes of the conductor without the 4 of them needing to buy a ticket. Closer to Hull the conductor did ask him if he needed a ticket and he just said 'no' and the conductor walked off. Hopefully barriers were in operation at Hull that day and they got caught. At Hull the train emptied out and it became quite a peaceful journey along the Humber estuary. Just before Doncaster I saw a Colas 56 and 60, as well as some LM units and a green class 47 at the head of motley selection of ex-VT Mk2's in the Wabtec Yard. Scarborough-Doncaster was all new coverage.
I chose to alight at Meadowhall as it's an easier interchange than Sheffield station. At Meadowhall the heavens opened while I was awaiting the train back up to Leeds.
1423 Meadowhall-Leeds. Northern 2 Car 158.
This is a journey that I'm becoming a regular on. It's another surprisingly nice journey in places via Barnsley. On the approach to Leeds we passed the FL depot where there were loads of Fl66's and a 70 present.
The rest of the day was to be devoted to finishing some shameful coverage gaps in West Yorks.
1516 Leeds-Shipley (Skipton), Northern 333.
A fairly standard journey. I then crossed platforms at the rather different Shipley station, with its triangle of platforms. I was now heading for Bradford FS.
1548 Shipley-Bradford FS. Northern 333.
This service gave me new coverage all the way. Just outside Shipley were 3 ex industrial shunters in various states of decay. The guard was very chatty and nice when she came around, commenting that she normally worked the Sheffield area.
1627 Bradford FS-Ilkley. Northern 333.
This service gave me new coverage from Shipley to Ilkley. It becomes a pleasant line after Shipley and it doesn't feel like you're in West Yorkshire at all, and the fact that you're on what feels like a rural branch line in a (relatively) modern EMU just feels a bit strange. The same female guard came to check my ticket again approaching Ilkley, but once she recognised me she said she didn't need to see it again. She was lamenting Ilkley station being so busy and commenting that everyone should be at church instead on a Sunday evening.
1705 Ilkley-Leeds. Northern 333.
New coverage down the mainline, which completes my coverage of West Yorkshire. The same guard was still on, and at Leeds we wished each other a nice Sunday evening as I got off and she finished her shift.
1745 Leeds-Bradford FS. Northern 333.
This was just a positioning move really to get to my lift home. The train slowed for Kirkstall Forge as if it's timed to stop there in future. At Apperley Bridge, the other new station on this line a good 40 people must have got off, so it's clearly doing a good trade.