HMS Ark Royal
Established Member
With preparations complete, and confirmations that all planned Northern Rail services were going to operate as best as they could, my father dropped me off in his van at Hull Paragon where I collected my ticket for 1J23 0808 Bridlington to Sheffield with 158793 in charge
158793 at Sheffield by N7242C, on Flickr
After arrival at Sheffield, I went to collect my next set of tickets and heard that the 11:11 service I was due on was cancelled. Quickly asking the Information people what to do, I boarded the 1R66 0652 Norwich to Liverpool Lime Street which had the magnificent pairing of 158774 and 158799 in command of the trip to Manchester Piccadilly.
158774 at Manchester Piccadilly by N7242C, on Flickr
158799 at Manchester Piccadilly by N7242C, on Flickr
With two hours to kill, I decided to purchase a Day Travel Card and went on the trams for a bit. Sadly, because I was carrying two bags and my tablet was secured in the bag for the most part, I did not get names or pictures... Although I did get a picture of the works at Manchester Victoria from one of the trams later on that afternoon.
Road/Rail JCB by N7242C, on Flickr
After returning, and an encounter with Metrolink RPIs who were greatly confused as to why a posh looking and well dressed guy had got off with two bags and a straw hat, I returned to the city centre and booked into my hotel room at the ibis at New Islington - one stop up from Piccadilly and a few yards from the hotel itself! In fact, looking out of my window, I could clearly see Piccadilly station in the distance.
A Room With A View by N7242C, on Flickr
Knowing that I would be up in the late/early hours of the day, I decided to have a small snooze. Once awakened and dressed in my standard railway travelling outfit, I made my way down to the station and had a cup of tea there before collecting my tickets for 2K20 2338 Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe which had 323231 in charge for the historic final departure. Flicking my tablet to camera mode, I was just about to take a picture of the rear blind when the guard got in the cabin and flicked it to the correct Crewe display.
323231 - Manchester Piccadilly by N7242C, on Flickr
I got talking to the guard and driver who both revealed they had purposely swapped jobs/duties so they could be the final train crew for the old franchise agreement. After mentioning that I had come to Manchester just for this service, the guard, called Jonathan, handed me his pen as a souvenir - for which I thank him. Seeing him get into the rear cab to do the announcements, I mentioned to him that I was going to record the announcement for historic purposes, he agreed to make a special mention of this and gave me an extra minute to get into the rear most carriage and set the tablet to record
[youtube]xOXHa-NeaZ8[/youtube]
Departure was spot on time and we set off for the final departure. To my surprise, Jonathan exited the cab and, apart from doing his essential duties of passenger safety and announcements, spent the time with me talking. Doing this, he said he was a member/lurker on this very website and mentioned seeing fowler's comment about his last train stinking of donner meat. After arrival, which was 30 seconds early, I went to the front to talk to the driver and Jonathan came up with me - along with a Virgin Trains dispatcher. Both members of the train crew then posed for a funny photograph
Train Crew Having Fun by N7242C, on Flickr
before the driver went to the other end to ready for departure. I had a quick look around Crewe, a station I suppose I can tick off my list now, before returning to the platform to speak to the VT guy and Jonathan who told the VT dispatcher that I was an enthusiast who had come over from Hull just to travel the last service which seemed to impress him. I took a few moments to talk to the driver who was waiting for the signal to go green before we got the off.
323231 - Crewe by N7242C, on Flickr
323231 - Waiting for Departure at Crewe by N7242C, on Flickr
Cleared For History by N7242C, on Flickr
And so we set off on 2A89 0044 Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly - with a single stop at Manchester Airport.
323231 - Manchester Airport by N7242C, on Flickr
Arrival of 2A89 at Manchester Piccadilly was 45 seconds early from the booked 0126 time. My first thought was to go to the outward facing side to take a picture which I got
The Final Stop - Manchester Piccadilly by N7242C, on Flickr
and also a video to show how empty the station was. (Note: In the video you will see a Japanese man moving out my view. They'd no real idea of the historic event, having come off a late night arrival at Manchester Airport, but they took photographs of 323231 anyway and filmed the empty stock working as it left the platform)
[youtube]6SU1NAub958[/youtube]
There was just enough time for the driver to take two snaps of me by the now leading cab of 323231
Me and 323231 by N7242C, on Flickr
Me and 323231 by N7242C, on Flickr
But, sadly, all good things must come to an end and the almighty and noble stallion that had been my ride left Manchester PIccadilly for the final time as a Northern Rail train on 5H89 0131 Manchester Piccadilly to Longsight Car. M.D.
[youtube]t0CsTEXitzk[/youtube]
After bidding goodbye and goodnight to the few remaining members of Northern Rail staff that stayed behind after their shifts had ended for a picture of the last train, I boarded a taxi and returned to my hotel tired, but happy and proud that at least one enthusiast, me, had turned out to bid Northern Rail a goodnight and goodbye. I end with one final picture...
A Tried Spotter by N7242C, on Flickr
158793 at Sheffield by N7242C, on Flickr
After arrival at Sheffield, I went to collect my next set of tickets and heard that the 11:11 service I was due on was cancelled. Quickly asking the Information people what to do, I boarded the 1R66 0652 Norwich to Liverpool Lime Street which had the magnificent pairing of 158774 and 158799 in command of the trip to Manchester Piccadilly.
158774 at Manchester Piccadilly by N7242C, on Flickr
158799 at Manchester Piccadilly by N7242C, on Flickr
With two hours to kill, I decided to purchase a Day Travel Card and went on the trams for a bit. Sadly, because I was carrying two bags and my tablet was secured in the bag for the most part, I did not get names or pictures... Although I did get a picture of the works at Manchester Victoria from one of the trams later on that afternoon.
Road/Rail JCB by N7242C, on Flickr
After returning, and an encounter with Metrolink RPIs who were greatly confused as to why a posh looking and well dressed guy had got off with two bags and a straw hat, I returned to the city centre and booked into my hotel room at the ibis at New Islington - one stop up from Piccadilly and a few yards from the hotel itself! In fact, looking out of my window, I could clearly see Piccadilly station in the distance.
A Room With A View by N7242C, on Flickr
Knowing that I would be up in the late/early hours of the day, I decided to have a small snooze. Once awakened and dressed in my standard railway travelling outfit, I made my way down to the station and had a cup of tea there before collecting my tickets for 2K20 2338 Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe which had 323231 in charge for the historic final departure. Flicking my tablet to camera mode, I was just about to take a picture of the rear blind when the guard got in the cabin and flicked it to the correct Crewe display.
323231 - Manchester Piccadilly by N7242C, on Flickr
I got talking to the guard and driver who both revealed they had purposely swapped jobs/duties so they could be the final train crew for the old franchise agreement. After mentioning that I had come to Manchester just for this service, the guard, called Jonathan, handed me his pen as a souvenir - for which I thank him. Seeing him get into the rear cab to do the announcements, I mentioned to him that I was going to record the announcement for historic purposes, he agreed to make a special mention of this and gave me an extra minute to get into the rear most carriage and set the tablet to record
[youtube]xOXHa-NeaZ8[/youtube]
Departure was spot on time and we set off for the final departure. To my surprise, Jonathan exited the cab and, apart from doing his essential duties of passenger safety and announcements, spent the time with me talking. Doing this, he said he was a member/lurker on this very website and mentioned seeing fowler's comment about his last train stinking of donner meat. After arrival, which was 30 seconds early, I went to the front to talk to the driver and Jonathan came up with me - along with a Virgin Trains dispatcher. Both members of the train crew then posed for a funny photograph
Train Crew Having Fun by N7242C, on Flickr
before the driver went to the other end to ready for departure. I had a quick look around Crewe, a station I suppose I can tick off my list now, before returning to the platform to speak to the VT guy and Jonathan who told the VT dispatcher that I was an enthusiast who had come over from Hull just to travel the last service which seemed to impress him. I took a few moments to talk to the driver who was waiting for the signal to go green before we got the off.
323231 - Crewe by N7242C, on Flickr
323231 - Waiting for Departure at Crewe by N7242C, on Flickr
Cleared For History by N7242C, on Flickr
And so we set off on 2A89 0044 Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly - with a single stop at Manchester Airport.
323231 - Manchester Airport by N7242C, on Flickr
Arrival of 2A89 at Manchester Piccadilly was 45 seconds early from the booked 0126 time. My first thought was to go to the outward facing side to take a picture which I got
The Final Stop - Manchester Piccadilly by N7242C, on Flickr
and also a video to show how empty the station was. (Note: In the video you will see a Japanese man moving out my view. They'd no real idea of the historic event, having come off a late night arrival at Manchester Airport, but they took photographs of 323231 anyway and filmed the empty stock working as it left the platform)
[youtube]6SU1NAub958[/youtube]
There was just enough time for the driver to take two snaps of me by the now leading cab of 323231
Me and 323231 by N7242C, on Flickr
Me and 323231 by N7242C, on Flickr
But, sadly, all good things must come to an end and the almighty and noble stallion that had been my ride left Manchester PIccadilly for the final time as a Northern Rail train on 5H89 0131 Manchester Piccadilly to Longsight Car. M.D.
[youtube]t0CsTEXitzk[/youtube]
After bidding goodbye and goodnight to the few remaining members of Northern Rail staff that stayed behind after their shifts had ended for a picture of the last train, I boarded a taxi and returned to my hotel tired, but happy and proud that at least one enthusiast, me, had turned out to bid Northern Rail a goodnight and goodbye. I end with one final picture...
A Tried Spotter by N7242C, on Flickr
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