22-JUN-2015
Having hauled the set down from Carlisle, this loco will take a rest at the rear on the way back to Barrow
22-JUN-2015
Departure time draws close but still the platform is deserted.
Will we be alone on the train?
22-JUN-2015
Once boarded the train was still .......empty.
But in the last five minutes before departure it completely filled with people "going out for the ride".
It was due to their constant checking that halfway to Barrow we learnt that the ongoing train from Barrow to Carlisle had broken down and the service cancelled
That was going to leave 4 carriages full of "enthusiasts" with nowhere to go!
Options:-
Pub
Wait for the next train round the coast
Go back to civilisation on the next train to Lancaster.
Due to connection issues to get back in a timely fashion to Leeds from Carlisle we chose the last option
22-JUN-2015
There was a lot of chatter on a certain rail forum, populated by younger enthusiasts I think, that made a big issue out of the presence of these window stickers "obscuring the view" For us grown ups it was fine being tall enough to see over them, however I can see why children might have a problem.
How nice that the seats line up with the windows......not rocket science is it.
22-JUN-2015
Here we are in Barrow.
This set instead of replacing the cancelled set, simply unloaded its passengers and then sidled off to the carriage sidings to sit there for 3 hours before making the effort to go to Carlisle in the afternoon.
Nice clean loco but those carriages were a disgrace. 8/10 for the ride up, 4/10 for Northern's failure to sort out something to get us to Carlisle close to the time of asking.
22-JUN-2015
Wider view of the train sat in the station.
Station was Ok but what little we saw of Barrow from the train was uninspiring, but then not many cities show their best face to the railway which tends to run thru run down areas on approach. So Barrow might just be fine away from the station.
22-JUN-2015
And so that was it...the train went off for a lie down to recover.
22-JUN-2015
As the train pulls into the sidings, the sun tries its best to brighten the mood of disappointment.
Nothing left to do but wait for the two car DMU to trundle in, 20 mins late by the way, to get us back to Lancaster.
I think I have mentioned it before that a 2 car DMU does not deserve the title of "a train".
Thankfully many of the enthusiasts stuck to their plan and waited for the next Carlisle train so we weren't over loaded, simply full on the trip back
22-JUN-2015
Not much to entertain while you while away an hour or so.
Luncheon was taken sat on a bench with this view as the outlook......nice
22-JUN-2015
This was the 156 that did its best to cheer us up
At least we got a second view of the estuary at Arnside
The mystery of this Northern unit is that 5 mins after this photo was taken it morphed into a Trans Pennine Express service. Now I understand the whys and wherefore of this BUT why run it as empty coaching stock to Preston? Let it earn some revenue?
Ah well Privatisation and Franchising is working...so I'm told...though at times I find it hard to believe
22-JUN-2015
After a short wait and time for a coffee.....no hot milk the machine was u/s...
...we were greeted by this Class 150 pulling in to take us back to Leeds via the Giggleswick route.
This train is the once a day Leeds/Heysham Port/Leeds service on its way back to Yorkshire.
This train is used to connect with the Isle of Man ferry to/from Douglas. Normally with an hour connection time from the ship arriving.
I do note however that on the 16 July 2015, due to the ship's timetable being altered, the train leaves only 2 mins, yes two minutes after the ship's planned arrival time.....that's good planning and actually pathetic.
Why not delay the train to give punters a chance of getting on it, as there is nothing else to do in Heysham other than a taxi to Morecambe, and there's not that much to do in Morecambe either!
It rattled along well, with plenty of room it was a good run back to Leeds where we got the Huddersfield stopper back to Huddersfield and home.
Not quite the day we were looking forward to but after a few upsets it all worked out fine in the end.
07-JUL-2015
How can people be expected to make a two minute connection off a boat! Luggage kids and zimmer frames!
