NorthWestRover's trip reports: Will it be the same?

[Kite159]

Sounded like you made the most of that rover

 

[NorthWestRover]

Lancashire Day Ranger, Monday 23rd September 2019

After starting the day with a trip to the seaside, I was planning to tick off some units for "carriage" today, but if things fell right, I might pick up some 67 or 68 haulage.

331 005 Wigan NW to Preston

This was my first trip on the electric version of the new CAF units spreading like wildfire across the North West. I think they are smart inside and out and despite the generally poor commuter experience offered up by Northern, these new units offer some respite and a good travelling experience.

156 441 Preston to St Annes

A quick tootle around this lovely little resort with coffee and cake before

150 144 St Annes to Preston
350 402 Preston to Bolton
153 360/150*** Bolton to Man Vic
68 025 Man Vic to Liverpool LS
Woo hoo. Good thrash across Chat Moss and whilst tempting to take it back to Victoria, a required unit was available and ticking off numbers for carriage was the order of the day, so...

323 229 Lime St to Manchester Picc
185 129 Piccadilly to Preston (the 397s hadn't started at this point)
150 226 Preston to Ormskirk (second time in a month on this route after decades of not doing it)
508 115 Ormskirk to Kirkdale
507 019 Kirkdale to Moorfields
507 033 Moorfields to Lime St
185 124 Lime St to Man Vic
156 424 Man Vic to Wigan NW

The end.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Northern Delay Repay complimentary pass
Saturday 19th October 2019

I had a free pass to anywhere on the Northern network. As I had a newspaper weekend rover coming up which meant I could go literally anywhere on Northern, I decided to use my complimentary ticket for a tourist day out and chose York. The weather was OK for October and I'd not been to York as a tourist for a while.

The traction was not very exciting as you can imagine, but I'll provide it for completeness.

150 123 & 150 122 Wigan NW to Man Vic
150 107 Man Vic to Leeds
158 752 Leeds to York

My first destination was the National Railway Museum. Obviously a good destination for a rail enthusiast and this would be my fourth time visiting. My last time was probably in 2010 or so, previous to that around 2000 and my very first visit was back in 1976. That was actually my first day spotting - 9th July 1976 of that long, hot summer. Anyway, back to the present.

One could spend hours there if you wanted. There is a lot to see and do, but I was really just having a wander round and spent about an hour and a half there. From an enthusiast's point of view, I particularly liked seeing D1023 Western Fusilier, 55 002 King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and best of all, D200 (aka 40 122) lined up together, albeit stuck in a corner. The museum was pleasingly busy.

From the NRM, I walked up to the Roman Walls and set off on an anti-clockwise stroll which would eventually take me pretty much all the way around. I stopped off to eat my sandwiches halfway and spent a while on the banks of the River Ouse. Again, this took a couple of hours in total and was very enjoyable. Some great views of the city and particularly the Minster.

Once I'd finished on the Walls, I dropped into the city and spent some time in the lovely narrow streets, Shambles and all that. Again, very busy and spoilt a little by the large number of stag dos and hen parties that seem to have migrated to York.

It was time to start working my way home but after a pint (or two) at the station buffet. I would have gone to one of the many excellent pubs in the city, but the aforementioned party groups and football fans put me off that.

I'd had a good day in York and it was time for my uneventful journey home...

158 784 York to Leeds
150 122 & 150 123 Leeds to Wigan Wallgate

More 150 mileage than I was happy with, but hey ho, a unit is a unit is a unit.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Northern Delay Repay complimentary pass
Saturday 19th October 2019

I had a free pass to anywhere on the Northern network. As I had a newspaper weekend rover coming up which meant I could go literally anywhere on Northern, I decided to use my complimentary ticket for a tourist day out and chose York. The weather was OK for October and I'd not been to York as a tourist for a while.

The traction was not very exciting as you can imagine, but I'll provide it for completeness.

150 123 & 150 122 Wigan NW to Man Vic
150 107 Man Vic to Leeds
158 752 Leeds to York

My first destination was the National Railway Museum. Obviously a good destination for a rail enthusiast and this would be my fourth time visiting. My last time was probably in 2010 or so, previous to that around 2000 and my very first visit was back in 1976. That was actually my first day spotting - 9th July 1976 of that long, hot summer. Anyway, back to the present.

One could spend hours there if you wanted. There is a lot to see and do, but I was really just having a wander round and spent about an hour and a half there. From an enthusiast's point of view, I particularly liked seeing D1023 Western Fusilier, 55 002 King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and best of all, D200 (aka 40 122) lined up together, albeit stuck in a corner. The museum was pleasingly busy.

From the NRM, I walked up to the Roman Walls and set off on an anti-clockwise stroll which would eventually take me pretty much all the way around. I stopped off to eat my sandwiches halfway and spent a while on the banks of the River Ouse. Again, this took a couple of hours in total and was very enjoyable. Some great views of the city and particularly the Minster.

Once I'd finished on the Walls, I dropped into the city and spent some time in the lovely narrow streets, Shambles and all that. Again, very busy and spoilt a little by the large number of stag dos and hen parties that seem to have migrated to York.

It was time to start working my way home but after a pint (or two) at the station buffet. I would have gone to one of the many excellent pubs in the city, but the aforementioned party groups and football fans put me off that.

I'd had a good day in York and it was time for my uneventful journey home...

158 784 York to Leeds
150 122 & 150 123 Leeds to Wigan Wallgate

More 150 mileage than I was happy with, but hey ho, a unit is a unit is a unit.

Rather unfortunate to have the same 150 pairing in both directions, it happens to me a lot too! Still a good day and nice to have some non train time but using trains to get to/from.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Northern Weekend Rover (newspaper offer), £17.50

Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd November 2019

I had got my three tokens from the local paper and decided to go for the weekend ticket, £17.50 for the two days. Unlimited travel on Northern network.

I wanted to get good value, but bashing units all day was not enticing, so I decided to aim for a faraway city I did not know at all. That would also get me travel on a few new units, so double whammy. Where had I chosen for the Saturday? Lincoln.

Well, more of the city later, but here was my journey there...

195 125 Wigan NW to Manchester OR
319 374 Manchester OR to Piccadilly
150 118 & 150 149 Piccadilly to Romiley
150 268 Romiley to Sheffield (the ever beautiful Hope Valley)
158 793 Sheffield to Lincoln

An interesting trip including particularly Worksop where there were lines of units I didn't recognise. That yard used to be full of 31s, 37s, 56s...

Lincoln was great. In fact, very very good. There is a street up to the cathedral and the castle called Steep Hill. It is. Very. I was so surprised at the city and would recommend it to anyone who likes wandering around some different shops and is interested in things like castles and cathedrals. Good stuff.

I thought I'd make an indirect route back...

150 277 Lincoln to Sheffield
153 332 Sheffield to Meadowhall

What a throughly bizarre station Meadowhall is. Trains from all directions and ridiculously busy. Back in the day, only a London commuter station would be like that. Whatever you think of the operating model of the railways and the traction nowadays, there are so many more trains and passengers than there were in the 1980s.

170 473 Meadowhall to Doncaster

This was my first trip on a 170. Well, being aware of it anyway. I've done a lot on 185s and a bit on 175s. For units, they're all not too bad. And I'll add the 170s now too.

Some time on Doncaster station, this former Mecca for trainspotters (and I realise it still is). I was a bit sad/Nostalgic really looking at the works and thinking what had been there on my previous visits (and even sadder, what had been cut up there).

331 109 Doncaster to Wakefield Westgate

Utterly bizarre to go on an EMU between these most diesel of places. Last time I did that sort of journey, you'd have seen all sorts of locos - 20s, 31s, 37s, 40s, 56s... Plus some of the rubbish ones. And a large number of the trains would have been coal merry-go-round trains from and to the collieries and power stations.

Back to life, back to reality...

150 104 Wakefield Westgate to Leeds
195 119 Leeds to Man Vic
142 032 Man Vic to Wigan Wallgate

End of a long day that had included an unexpectedly good visit to Lincoln, many many miles on units, some reminiscing.

And on to Sunday...

Why not go back to my favourite place on the Northern network...

195 120 Wigan NW to Preston
150 218 Preston to Hebden Bridge

Bumble round the town, market open too. All good.

158 861 & 158 791 Hebden Bridge to Leeds
153 331 & 144 011 Leeds to Halifax via Bradford, changing from one unit to the other at Bradford.
158 869 Halifax to Preston
195 107 Preston to Wigan NW

Ticked a few units off for "haulage" and my usual enjoyable couple of hours in Hebden Bridge.

I did two Saturday versions of this newspaper offer in March 2020 which I'll get to eventually. Just before lockdown, don't know if I'll get to the reports before lockdown ends...

Keep safe all.

 

[Iskra]

Good to hear Lincoln is worth a visit, I've not left the station there for a while so I might give it a go after lockdown.

Yes, Meadowhall is a most interesting station and it's quite easy to kill a bit of time just watching what is going on there. I just wish it had a few more interesting traction types/services, it's mainly units and class 66's with an occasional HST.

You certainly covered a lot of ground on that trip.

 

[Kite159]

The units you saw at Worksop were probably ones destined for Crossrail and London Overground as they have been stored in that yard due to the delays to Crossrail

 

[NorthWestRover]

Thank you, Kite.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Greater Manchester Rail Ranger

16th November 2019

This was a Saturday and I was actually going to see my mate's band in Manchester in the evening. However, I didn't have much else to do, so I decided to take advantage of this very good value Ranger around Greater Manchester. It doesn't stretch as far as the Wayfarer, but the money saved would buy a pint and some chips. I just trundled around really, picking up Pacers where I could and a few other units for "haulage". Not sure it's valid on TfW but I appear to have jumped on one of their services. Oops.

Anywhere, here are the moves for the day...

142 046 & 142 042 Wigan Wallgate to Hindley
156 424 & 142 017 Hindley to Bolton
150 147 Bolton to Man Vic
150 204 & 142 004 Vic to Stalybridge
185 114 Stalybridge to Picc
323 236 Picc to Stockport
175 101 Stockport to Picc
142 062 & 150 214 Picc to Romiley
142 003 & 142 034 Romiley to Guide Bridge
323 228 Guide Bridge to Picc
185 117 Picc to Vic
156 480 Vic to Stalybridge
185 110 Stalybridge to Picc

Gig

142 058 & 142 090 Vic to Wigan NW

Pacers galore. I'll never have that many 142s in a day again. And never two of things together (three pairs on this day).

Keep safe.

 

[Kite159]

I believe it is valid on all the TOCs within the GM area (regarding TfW)

All the Pacers!

 

[NorthWestRover]

Last trip of 2019

GM Wayfarer, Saturday 21st December 2019

I had to make a visit to Warrington to deliver Christmas presents, so thought I'd buy a GM Wayfarer and chalk off a few units for "haulage". I thought I might find a glorified unit of the Nova 1 or Nova 2 variety for the short hop between Manchester Airport and one of the central Manchester stations, but nothing fell into my lap, so those delights will have to await a future date, perhaps a Lancashire Day Ranger to get a little more mileage.

Anyway, I'll just list the moves for the day as there was nothing very exciting. I did manage to ride on my first 195/0 sub class for what it's worth...

195 001 Wigan NW to Manchester OR
195 010 Manchester OR to Warrington C
150 109 Birchwood to Manchester OR
195 103 Manchester OR to Airport
185 141 Airport to Picc
390 011 Picc to Stockport
220 008 Stockport to Picc
185 118 Picc to Airport
195 118 Airport to Picc
150 119 Picc to Wigan Wallgate

All winners for "haulage", so not too bad.

I then had a couple of barren months with just some evening trips to Warrington to visit family.

Next trips I'll report on (although not too exciting) are two 10p Northern trips at the end of February. Then you'll get two newspaper £10 Northern Day Ranger Saturdays and that will take us up to lockdown...

Keep safe.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Northern 10p tickets

Monday 24th February 2020

I struggled to find 10p tickets which would be of any use. Could sometimes find one to go pretty far, but then couldn't get back. However, eventually I found a couple of trips and here they are.

Firstly, I had dental check up in Warrington, so jumped on Pendolino 390 124 from North Western down to Bank Quay. After the all-clear at the dentist, it was off to use my first four 10p tickets. So, the following round trip cost 40p and also gave me an unexpected trip in a class of unit I hadn't had since I restarted noting these things.

195 122 Warrington BQ to Leeds (ticket 1)
195 102 Leeds to Church Fenton (a bit bleak here, it was wet and windy - lots of TPE traffic)
155 342 Church Fenton to Selby (this was the new class of unit and completed the journey on my second ticket. Selby used to be on the ECML, didn't it?)
158 756 Selby to Leeds (ticket 3)
158 753 Leeds to Wigan Wallgate (ticket 4).

The 155 was exciting in one sense. The rest of the day was humdrum, although what I'd give for such a day now...

Tuesday 25th February 2020

My birthday and a quick trip up the WCML to Lancaster, a city I barely knew and which gave me an enjoyable few hours. The city centre is not so bad with some historical parts and I enjoyed the walk up to and around Williamson Park. I also treated myself to a very good waffle. It was Shrove Tuesday, but pancakes were coming later in the day .

Oh yeah, it was 195 008 there and back. 20p.

Stay safe

 

[NorthWestRover]

Northern Day Ranger (newspaper offer), £10

Saturday 7th March 2020

Things appeared to be ramping up in terms of the virus around this time, although there were no restrictions on travel. More frequent handwashing, the 7 day self-isolation and some sense of the 2 metres were starting to be talked about. That was six and a half weeks ago and I had a £10 Northern Day Ranger in my hand courtesy of JPI Media. I fancied a nice day out and some sea air, so where was I to choose? I was recovering from a cold (I think), but I felt up to a long day. It would always be easy to choose Lytham or St Anne's, but that seemed a waste of the ticket. So, I found myself on Wigan Wallgate at 07.45 boarding a train for Manchester.

150 134 + 150 204 Wallgate to Picc

Uneventful journey and a quick change from the hell hole of P13/14 into the wonderful trainshed and onto another exciting Sprinter.

150 108 Piccadilly to Sheffield

A fairly crowded trip across the Hope Valley with the usual walkers and climbers getting on and off at Edale, Hope etc.

Sheffield Station was its usual self. Norwich football fans around as they were playing Sheffield United (1-0 to the home team in front of a crowd of 31k; you'd imagine Norwich would like the season declared null and void, Sheff United would be gutted) and potential university students arriving for an Open Day at one of the city's institutions. I had a coffee and cake before boarding my train to go to my ultimate destination.

170 474 Sheffield to Bridlington

A fairly long journey, but the 170s are fine for that sort of journey. Compared to that rubbish I'd had across the Hope Valley, it was luxury.

I'd never been to Bridlington before and, as has often happened on my travels over the past couple of years, I was pleasantly surprised. The first surprise was in fact the station which is a marvellous little gem. Very good.

I was aiming for the sea and it was only a ten minute stroll before I came to the harbour area and then the large beach. Great stuff! I first picked up a bag of chips (of course) and then walked a fair way along the beach enjoying the freedom to do so, little realising that such things we took for granted wouldn't soon be possible for x number of weeks (well not unless you live there).

After the beach, I spent a while investigating the harbour. I always find working fishing harbours interesting places and this one didn't disappoint. I walked round the harbour to the line of cafes and tourist shops where I picked up a lovely lemon sorbet cornet. Yummy.

From there, I started to make way back to the station, popping into Tesco for supplies for my return journey.

I timed my departure to pick up the York service rather than the Sheffield, so I could get one of the rarer Sprinter types.

155 347 Bridlington to Hull

Into the city to take a photo of a phone box.

158 784 Hull to Leeds
195 128 Leeds to Man Vic
156 440 Man Vic to Wigan NW.

A throughly enjoyable day. Trains perhaps starting to see fewer daytrippers, but still the country going about its normal business.

One more trip to report on in due course...

Keep safe

 

[Skymonster]

Nice trip... Bridlington is a place I had on the list - sadly it’ll have to wait a while although you’ve persuaded me I need to go.

 

[NorthWestRover]

I've got a delay repay complimentary pass for when things are back to normal. I may even go back to Bridlington. Or possibly Scarborough if the York to Scarborough Northern route is open and do a round trip. Can you break your journey on complimentary passes?

 

[NorthWestRover]

Northern Day Ranger (newspaper offer), £10

Saturday 14th March 2020

My second newspaper rover turned out to be my last trip on the trains for what will probably turn out to be a long time. I used it for a bit of day tripping and also to get in some new lines I'd never travelled on.

150 116 + 158 789 Wigan Wallgate to Man Vic
195 109 Man Vic to Bradford Interchange

I then visited Waterstones in Bradford which is a remarkable building if you don't know it (inside that is). I had a browse and then a coffee and cake. I'll go back to Bradford after lockdown as I don't really know the city.

331 106 Bradford FS to Ilkley

I hadn't been to Ilkley on the train before, although I had been to the town. I wandered up and down the main road, adding to my book collection from charity shops. Was still quite busy 10 days before lockdown.

333 008 Ilkley to Leeds
170 476 Leeds to Knaresborough

This was again new track and although I had been to Knaresborough before, I enjoyed a couple of hours there, walking along the river, up to the castle, then a pint in the wonderful Blind Jack's on the Market Square.

170 472 Knaresborough to York

Completed the line...

An hour or so on York observing the changes in TPE traction - 68s and 802s. Plus the ECML stuff. A few 144s around too.

195 105 York to Leeds
158 758 Leeds to Wigan Wallgate

That's it.

Finito.

Stay safe

 

[Jamesrob637]

Northern Day Ranger (newspaper offer), £10

Saturday 7th March 2020

Things appeared to be ramping up in terms of the virus around this time, although there were no restrictions on travel. More frequent handwashing, the 7 day self-isolation and some sense of the 2 metres were starting to be talked about. That was six and a half weeks ago and I had a £10 Northern Day Ranger in my hand courtesy of JPI Media. I fancied a nice day out and some sea air, so where was I to choose? I was recovering from a cold (I think), but I felt up to a long day. It would always be easy to choose Lytham or St Anne's, but that seemed a waste of the ticket. So, I found myself on Wigan Wallgate at 07.45 boarding a train for Manchester.

150 134 + 150 204 Wallgate to Picc

Uneventful journey and a quick change from the hell hole of P13/14 into the wonderful trainshed and onto another exciting Sprinter.

150 108 Piccadilly to Sheffield

A fairly crowded trip across the Hope Valley with the usual walkers and climbers getting on and off at Edale, Hope etc.

Sheffield Station was its usual self. Norwich football fans around as they were playing Sheffield United (1-0 to the home team in front of a crowd of 31k; you'd imagine Norwich would like the season declared null and void, Sheff United would be gutted) and potential university students arriving for an Open Day at one of the city's institutions. I had a coffee and cake before boarding my train to go to my ultimate destination.

170 474 Sheffield to Bridlington

A fairly long journey, but the 170s are fine for that sort of journey. Compared to that rubbish I'd had across the Hope Valley, it was luxury.

I'd never been to Bridlington before and, as has often happened on my travels over the past couple of years, I was pleasantly surprised. The first surprise was in fact the station which is a marvellous little gem. Very good.

I was aiming for the sea and it was only a ten minute stroll before I came to the harbour area and then the large beach. Great stuff! I first picked up a bag of chips (of course) and then walked a fair way along the beach enjoying the freedom to do so, little realising that such things we took for granted wouldn't soon be possible for x number of weeks (well not unless you live there).

After the beach, I spent a while investigating the harbour. I always find working fishing harbours interesting places and this one didn't disappoint. I walked round the harbour to the line of cafes and tourist shops where I picked up a lovely lemon sorbet cornet. Yummy.

From there, I started to make way back to the station, popping into Tesco for supplies for my return journey.

I timed my departure to pick up the York service rather than the Sheffield, so I could get one of the rarer Sprinter types.

155 347 Bridlington to Hull

Into the city to take a photo of a phone box.

158 784 Hull to Leeds
195 128 Leeds to Man Vic
156 440 Man Vic to Wigan NW.

A throughly enjoyable day. Trains perhaps starting to see fewer daytrippers, but still the country going about its normal business.

One more trip to report on in due course...

Keep safe

7th of March was the last day I took a British train. Numbers were a little down as you say apart from football fans as all games were still taking place with spectators. The Cheltenham festival was additionally still going to take place the following week, bringing crowds to the line between Bristol and Birmingham.

 

[NorthWestRover]

I went on my first trains since 14th March yesterday (Saturday 20th June).

I do get Northern's desire to guarantee that people who need to use the trains to get to work or do food shopping are able to travel, but I find their Twitter messages very aggressive and unpleasant. The government have said that people can travel if they want (without overnight stays in the main) and to avoid public transport if they can. However, I got rid of my car last year as I have a 10 minute walk to work and no other desperate need to pay road tax and insurance for an occasional drive. So, to be able to travel to the coast for some fresh air, a good walk and a small contribution to the local economy I have no option beyond public transport. I had not left Wigan since March although I have been for a walk or run every day as well as working from home. I was comfortable in my intention to take the train and the actual experience was not problematic; it's just that Twitter account...

Anyway, I planned to go to the Fylde Coast. I took two face coverings and some hand sanitiser. I put the face covering on as I entered Wigan North Western, buying a day return to St Anne's on Sea from the Avanti machine. I went straight to platform 4 for the 09.21 to Preston (Manchester Airport to Windermere service) which ran to time as 195 118. The biggest surprise was the number of seats not in use, although no issue with availability for the number of passengers. With face coverings obligatory, it did seem a bit over the top, but I guess they have done the calculations. I do hope they can increase the number of seats available if 2 metres becomes 1 metre in the next week or two. This train takes the slow line around the Leyland area to let an Avanti Glasgow service pass, so takes a little longer than others.

At Preston, there were Avanti staff at the bottom of the ramp for platforms 3 and 4 (perspex masks), seemingly only checking tickets (reservations?) for travellers entering the platforms. I walked past them with no interaction and wandered around Preston for a while before my train to St Anne's was due. That was 156 420 which was lightly loaded and I watched the countryside pass by as wearing the face covering steams up my glasses, making it difficult to read. Hmmm.

I picked up a cappuccino in St Anne's and went down to the prom to have a chill and watch the world go by. Quite busy with families and couples. Nice to see. I took a very gentle walk along the front to Lytham - just over 3 miles - and most of the coast walk is now possible (they have been doing wall defence work).

Lytham busier than St Anne's and the queue for the chippy was too long to wait, so I had a supermarket meal deal before treating myself to an ice cream. In and out of a few charity shops for my usual book purchases (Toni Morrison and Evelyn Waugh - beat that for diversity) before catching the 15.24 back to Preston; this was 150 140 (even quieter than the morning train). I made the connection onto 390 138 with the 15.59 as far as Wigan North Western, a very quiet train but with no seats taken out of use as far as I could see.

I was back in Wigan by 16.10.

Summary of the day - great to get out, I don't like wearing the face covering, particularly as it makes reading difficult, on Wigan and Preston stations I'd say the balance of people wearing face coverings is around 70/30 whereas the trains was pretty much 100%.

When cafes are open, I think I'll go to Alderley Edge for a similar sort of day - a few hours out.

Here are the trains I travelled on at Wigan, St Anne's, Lytham and Preston.

 

[Oscar46016]

Sounds like a nice chilled day out NWR.

 

[Andy Pacer]

I assume you had to get a prior seat reservation for your journey on 390138?

 

[NorthWestRover]

No. I think it's LNER that are insisting on the reservation, Avanti are merely advising it, although with Kings Cross closed on Saturday, they did say they expected it to be busy (ha!) and that boarding would be refused if no space; if that had happened I had a Northern train ten minutes later. I didn't get my ticket checked all day either at a station or on a train.