HMS Ark Royal
Established Member
Incorporating Big Joan's Big Day Out
Day 1
After convincing my 91 year old grandmother that it would be perfectly safe and valid, she decided that she'd quite like a trip to Liverpool. After obtaining a pair of weekday rangers using horded tokens from the recent newspaper offering (I'd purchased two of every day's issue) and obtaining myself a weekend ranger for the following two days, we were off to Doncaster with 158848 in command. Whilst waiting to set off from Hull, and after obtaining a set of four plus the table for our own use, I convinced my Gran to put her ranger inside her bus pass so that she could display it to the guard without having to keep rummaging through her handbag. During the trip, I had her write down the number of our unit so we could claim she was most likely to be the oldest female train spotter active that day! When asked, Northern certainly thought so...
Big Joan On The Move by N7242C
158848 at Doncaster by N7242C
After taking the above image, I indicated to my Gran how to work the camera mode on my tablet and she took this - not too bad I thought!
158848 and Me by N7242C.
Whilst waiting for our electric service to arrive, I made a tweet using the Hashtag #BigJoansBigDayOut. I also spotted:
Unknown Carriages at Doncaster by N7242C
and
Redundant Coaches at Doncaster by N7242C
And I would very much like to know what they were. Whilst waiting a few more minutes, i also happened to notice a all over blue 67 and half of a GWR 150 in GWR green
67003 and half a GWR Class 150 by N7242C
A moment later, and I saw our train pulling in. After explaining to Gran the art of what I call "Sitting in the Nose" in order to save valuable seconds at Leeds, we boarded an unknown 321 and headed off to Leeds. With nothing else to do, I introduced my Grandmother to the art of selfie taking... Your thoughts, people?
Me and the Gran by N7242C
After boarding 158759, we arrived at Manchester Victoria where Big Joan's camera skills suddenly failed her...!
Big Joan at Manchester Victoria by N7242C
Me at Manchester Victoria by N7242C
Arrival at Liverpool Lime Street with the somewhat lacking 319367 was about two minutes down but we still had more than enough time to go to the White Star and claim a table and display a small picture of the white rose and claim it for Yorkshire! After downing a tea and a pint, me having the beer, and using the pub's free wi-fi, it was back downstairs to the concourse to grab some baguettes for the leg to Manchester Piccadilly. After seeing all the different fillings, I got my Gran a tuna one and had it warmed for her. After sitting down next to our ride for the next segment, she then complained of it being too hot!
142027 at Liverpool Lime Street by N7242C
142087 became our next ride to Manchester Oxford Road... Or would have been if I had not noticed that the connection time was a little too close with an elderly lady with me. After consulting RTT, which Grandma thought was a "smashing little place with all the times neatly written" we decided to hop off at the stop before hand which was Deansgate. Performing the "Sitting in the Nose" trick again, we got off at Deansgate and boarded a 321 from there to Manchester Piccadilly. After Big Joan had visited the ladies room to powder her nose, we looked for somewhere that did tea and coffee that was not too pricey and found nothing. We were going to try our luck at Sheffield when I remembered the £1 tea cube which was quickly swamped and two coffees purchased. Before going on, I must highly recommend them for low cost, generous takeaway cup sizes and the fact they bumped me up a few places up the queue when they saw I was keeping a constant eye on my Gran.
We then boarded an unknown 142 which took us to Sheffield where we had a half hour wait for a direct train back to Hull in the hands of 158859.
#
Day 2
Day 2 started out a little wrong as I should have been catching the 0520 to Doncaster but, as a result of going back to Gran's house the day before and making sure she was warm, safe, had a tea, something to eat and the house secured for the night, I did not return home until just before midnight. After rushing down a breakfast and a cup of tea that was half drunk on the way to the station, I obtained a lift in my dad's van which got me to the station in reasonable time to resort to Plan B which was to go to Leeds via Selby. Waiting for my York train, I happened to notice the Hull Executive was being advertised by a TOC that no longer existed
East Coast Lives On! by N7242C
158859 at Hull by N7242C
150211 at Selby by N7242C
After the crew arrived, I boarded 158759 for a spirited run up to Selby where 150211 was ready and awaiting my arrival. This formed Plan B and got me to Leeds in plenty of time to catch the Manchester Victoria train as far as Bradford Interchange - 158905, a massive visitor to Hull, in charge.
158905 at Leeds by N7242C
After looking around what is, frankly, a somewhat grubby "interchange", I decided to return to Leeds onboard 144016
144016 at Bradford Interchange by N7242C.
Looking at what options were open to me, I decided to head up to Carlisle with 144023 forming a Leeds - Heysham Port service I took as far as Lancaster. I was beginning to wonder if I would clear the 144's this weekend!
144023 at Leeds by N7242C
144023 at Lancaster by N7242C.
After waiting for a train to Barrow in Furness, it came over the PA system that it was cancelled which caused the following all stops service to Carlisle, 156490 in command, to be full and standing. At one point I was asked to move out of my seat to make way for a mother and child - to which I refused and told the guard standing nearby that I was not going to move as I was not in a designated special place. I also, based on his look that he gave me, decided to be somewhat awkward and decided to inform him I would be alighting at Drigg... If he wanted to be silly sods, so could I!
156490 at Lancaster by N7242C
However, the huge delay in leaving Lancaster due to the amount of passengers trying to board that should have got on the cancelled Barrow service meant that my plans for Drigg were now upset and so, on arrival at Barrow in Furness, I got off the 156 and transferred to the 37 and the rake of MK2's it was hauling which i took all the way to Preston.
37409 at Preston by N7242C
Name plate of 37409 by N7242C
DBSO 9710 at Preston by N7242C
After visiting the Gents, I found out that the train I wanted had left already and I was stranded. Not wanting to trust my getting home safely to a very dodgy connection time, I paid for a Preston to Manchester Piccadilly service on TPE which meant my first ever trip on a Class 350
350410 at Manchester Piccadilly by N7242C.
After visiting the £1 tea and coffee bar for a hot chocolate, I headed with the help of an unknown pacer and then 144003
144003 at Sheffield by N7242C
I took the Goole train as far as Doncaster as I needed to stop off and buy some food. With help from a BTP Sgt, I was directed to a backstreet corner shop type of place where I stocked up on a packet of sandwiches, some Salt and Vinegar Pringles and a bottle of Irn Bru for under £3.50. After that, I returned to Doncaster station and caught 158907 back to Hull with an enthusiastic and cheerful young lady guard. I will not be rude and say things that may get me a suspension from the forum, but lets say that she was slim but almost out of uniform!
Day 3
I am afraid I did not take many notes, so images will have to serve as a partial clue as to what I did. This was because of the fact I was now three days of train spotting action with just ten hours sleep over three nights.
Meadowhall station sign by N7242C
142087 at Horsforth by N7242C
Station sign at Horsforth by N7242C
142087 at Horsforth by N7242C
155 and 150 at Bradford Interchange by N7242C
Todmorden station sign by N7242C
Sunset over York by N7242C
185 at York by N7242C
Well, your thoughts please, ladies and gentlemen...
Day 1
After convincing my 91 year old grandmother that it would be perfectly safe and valid, she decided that she'd quite like a trip to Liverpool. After obtaining a pair of weekday rangers using horded tokens from the recent newspaper offering (I'd purchased two of every day's issue) and obtaining myself a weekend ranger for the following two days, we were off to Doncaster with 158848 in command. Whilst waiting to set off from Hull, and after obtaining a set of four plus the table for our own use, I convinced my Gran to put her ranger inside her bus pass so that she could display it to the guard without having to keep rummaging through her handbag. During the trip, I had her write down the number of our unit so we could claim she was most likely to be the oldest female train spotter active that day! When asked, Northern certainly thought so...
Big Joan On The Move by N7242C
158848 at Doncaster by N7242C
After taking the above image, I indicated to my Gran how to work the camera mode on my tablet and she took this - not too bad I thought!
158848 and Me by N7242C.
Whilst waiting for our electric service to arrive, I made a tweet using the Hashtag #BigJoansBigDayOut. I also spotted:
Unknown Carriages at Doncaster by N7242C
and
Redundant Coaches at Doncaster by N7242C
And I would very much like to know what they were. Whilst waiting a few more minutes, i also happened to notice a all over blue 67 and half of a GWR 150 in GWR green
67003 and half a GWR Class 150 by N7242C
A moment later, and I saw our train pulling in. After explaining to Gran the art of what I call "Sitting in the Nose" in order to save valuable seconds at Leeds, we boarded an unknown 321 and headed off to Leeds. With nothing else to do, I introduced my Grandmother to the art of selfie taking... Your thoughts, people?
Me and the Gran by N7242C
After boarding 158759, we arrived at Manchester Victoria where Big Joan's camera skills suddenly failed her...!
Big Joan at Manchester Victoria by N7242C
Me at Manchester Victoria by N7242C
Arrival at Liverpool Lime Street with the somewhat lacking 319367 was about two minutes down but we still had more than enough time to go to the White Star and claim a table and display a small picture of the white rose and claim it for Yorkshire! After downing a tea and a pint, me having the beer, and using the pub's free wi-fi, it was back downstairs to the concourse to grab some baguettes for the leg to Manchester Piccadilly. After seeing all the different fillings, I got my Gran a tuna one and had it warmed for her. After sitting down next to our ride for the next segment, she then complained of it being too hot!
142027 at Liverpool Lime Street by N7242C
142087 became our next ride to Manchester Oxford Road... Or would have been if I had not noticed that the connection time was a little too close with an elderly lady with me. After consulting RTT, which Grandma thought was a "smashing little place with all the times neatly written" we decided to hop off at the stop before hand which was Deansgate. Performing the "Sitting in the Nose" trick again, we got off at Deansgate and boarded a 321 from there to Manchester Piccadilly. After Big Joan had visited the ladies room to powder her nose, we looked for somewhere that did tea and coffee that was not too pricey and found nothing. We were going to try our luck at Sheffield when I remembered the £1 tea cube which was quickly swamped and two coffees purchased. Before going on, I must highly recommend them for low cost, generous takeaway cup sizes and the fact they bumped me up a few places up the queue when they saw I was keeping a constant eye on my Gran.
We then boarded an unknown 142 which took us to Sheffield where we had a half hour wait for a direct train back to Hull in the hands of 158859.
#
Day 2
Day 2 started out a little wrong as I should have been catching the 0520 to Doncaster but, as a result of going back to Gran's house the day before and making sure she was warm, safe, had a tea, something to eat and the house secured for the night, I did not return home until just before midnight. After rushing down a breakfast and a cup of tea that was half drunk on the way to the station, I obtained a lift in my dad's van which got me to the station in reasonable time to resort to Plan B which was to go to Leeds via Selby. Waiting for my York train, I happened to notice the Hull Executive was being advertised by a TOC that no longer existed
East Coast Lives On! by N7242C
158859 at Hull by N7242C
150211 at Selby by N7242C
After the crew arrived, I boarded 158759 for a spirited run up to Selby where 150211 was ready and awaiting my arrival. This formed Plan B and got me to Leeds in plenty of time to catch the Manchester Victoria train as far as Bradford Interchange - 158905, a massive visitor to Hull, in charge.
158905 at Leeds by N7242C
After looking around what is, frankly, a somewhat grubby "interchange", I decided to return to Leeds onboard 144016
144016 at Bradford Interchange by N7242C.
Looking at what options were open to me, I decided to head up to Carlisle with 144023 forming a Leeds - Heysham Port service I took as far as Lancaster. I was beginning to wonder if I would clear the 144's this weekend!
144023 at Leeds by N7242C
144023 at Lancaster by N7242C.
After waiting for a train to Barrow in Furness, it came over the PA system that it was cancelled which caused the following all stops service to Carlisle, 156490 in command, to be full and standing. At one point I was asked to move out of my seat to make way for a mother and child - to which I refused and told the guard standing nearby that I was not going to move as I was not in a designated special place. I also, based on his look that he gave me, decided to be somewhat awkward and decided to inform him I would be alighting at Drigg... If he wanted to be silly sods, so could I!
156490 at Lancaster by N7242C
However, the huge delay in leaving Lancaster due to the amount of passengers trying to board that should have got on the cancelled Barrow service meant that my plans for Drigg were now upset and so, on arrival at Barrow in Furness, I got off the 156 and transferred to the 37 and the rake of MK2's it was hauling which i took all the way to Preston.
37409 at Preston by N7242C
Name plate of 37409 by N7242C
DBSO 9710 at Preston by N7242C
After visiting the Gents, I found out that the train I wanted had left already and I was stranded. Not wanting to trust my getting home safely to a very dodgy connection time, I paid for a Preston to Manchester Piccadilly service on TPE which meant my first ever trip on a Class 350
350410 at Manchester Piccadilly by N7242C.
After visiting the £1 tea and coffee bar for a hot chocolate, I headed with the help of an unknown pacer and then 144003
144003 at Sheffield by N7242C
I took the Goole train as far as Doncaster as I needed to stop off and buy some food. With help from a BTP Sgt, I was directed to a backstreet corner shop type of place where I stocked up on a packet of sandwiches, some Salt and Vinegar Pringles and a bottle of Irn Bru for under £3.50. After that, I returned to Doncaster station and caught 158907 back to Hull with an enthusiastic and cheerful young lady guard. I will not be rude and say things that may get me a suspension from the forum, but lets say that she was slim but almost out of uniform!
Day 3
I am afraid I did not take many notes, so images will have to serve as a partial clue as to what I did. This was because of the fact I was now three days of train spotting action with just ten hours sleep over three nights.
Meadowhall station sign by N7242C
142087 at Horsforth by N7242C
Station sign at Horsforth by N7242C
142087 at Horsforth by N7242C
155 and 150 at Bradford Interchange by N7242C
Todmorden station sign by N7242C
Sunset over York by N7242C
185 at York by N7242C
Well, your thoughts please, ladies and gentlemen...
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