04-JUN-2015
"Our Harold" stands proud outside of the railway station in Huddersfield.
Whilst born in Huddersfield he was MP for Huyton in Liverpool where another statue can be seen.
04-JUN-2015
This part of the railway station was originally the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway ticket office.
Now a decent pub that forms part of the infamous "Ale Trail" that runs across the railway to Lancashire
04-JUN-2015
A grand view of the Head of Steam and the main entrance to the station.
Remarkably quiet for 8-30 am
04-JUN-2015
Almost identical in looks to the other pub this one is now occupying the ticket office of the former Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal Company which I think became part of the London and North Western railway
Recently refurbished I believe and from previous experience that would not be a bad thing. Not tried it out since the renovation work and 8-30 was a little early in the morning!
The building's symmetry is maintained.
04-JUN-2015
Plaque on the wall of the restored water tower in the yard at Huddersfield station. Whilst restored it's not a functioning watering point as no tracks run adjacent to it. The link gives the history of the project to convert to community use
Well done to all involved in saving this building
http://www.acorp.uk.com/Water%20Tower%20Page.html
04-JUN-2015
My train for the first leg of the trip is the Class 150 on the left.....09-15 to Wigan Wallgate
The Pacer will depart for Leeds shortly with the stopper service via Dewsbury
04-JUN-2015
The Class 150 in the bay platform had just arrived from Selby...going the long way round via Bradford and Halifax
I do find it strange that same train reverses its route but only goes to Leeds, never Selby...why the one way flow?
04-JUN-2015
Wide view of the Leeds end of the station taken from close by the refurbished water tower building
Why don't the longer fast trains use the "straight" road through platform 4, and who thought it a good idea to remove the through lines in the centre of the main platforms? I know part of it was due to the extension of platform 2 and the increase in width of platform1 for some H&S issues I think but it was very short sighted
04-JUN-2015
Class 185 departs I believe for Scarborough
04-JUN-2015
The real buffet by the bay platforms, not the Pumpkin outlet by the stairs, does a nice bacon sandwich. Brown sauce please!
I apologise to all those gluten intolerant readers, especially the one who missed out on this day's outing😏
04-JUN-2015
A late running TPE enters the station from the Leeds direction en route to Manchester Airport.
Lots of minor delays on the TPE this morning in this direction.
Come on Network Rail, let's get rid of those unsightly weeds in stations please. Gives a shocking impression of the rail system and the country in general.
04-JUN-2015
Ah, The Shepley flyer, aka the Sheffield train, sits burbling in platform two.
3 car pacers seem more prevalent recently.
04-JUN-2015
The Cl 150 awaits the departure of the "fast" TPE before doing the stopping run, all stations to Manchester Victoria and on to Wigan.
04-JUN-2015
An hour and a half after leaving Huddersfield we arrive at.....
Wigan Wallgate...a bit of a disappointment.
Why can't the platforms be kept weed free? It only takes a quick squirt with weed killer occasionally.
04-JUN-2015
Who thought it would be pleasing on the eye to have big bright red boxes on the platform? they clash with the yellow grit bin and the road cones for heavens sake.
If they must be there, tone them down a little to help them blend in. Maybe encourage some weeds to grow in front of them as camouflage. The platforms are a little lacking in any character.
The station is busy as the passengers await the arrival of the train to Southport....nice weather for a day at the seaside
04-JUN-2015
This almost has some character, which is more than the platforms do.
Bit cluttered with "street furniture" but there is scope here to make a big improvement for little investment. Start with the big red vending machine......in a skip.
04-JUN-2015
No entry signs, vans parked there etc...cluttered which is a shame, the nice canopy could be a very nice feature if allowed some space.
04-JUN-2015
If you thought the Wallgate station had potential just look at what the architects came up with just down the road as part of a modernisation programme.
How can something so bland be deemed acceptable. I'll never complain about Huddersfield again.
04-JUN-2015
One of the new TPEx Class 350/4 EMUs about to depart to Manchester Airport.
At least that has a bit of colour and interest.
04-JUN-2015
Not to be outshone by TPEx, Northern's new electric stock Class 319
This was the set to take me to Liverpool via St Helens
04-JUN-2015
An impressive line up by Northern Rail.
This won't fit the platforms at Shepley!
Why dont they park the unused train in the central track so that incoming passengers don't have to walk from the far end of the platform? I assume the central track was designed to be used as a storage location as it does not have platform access.
Maybe they just don't care.
04-JUN-2015
Now this is more like it ...a 4 car Class 142 Pacer......another design classic!
04-JUN-2015
Awaiting departure for a run to the North East of England a TPEx Class 185 sits at the Platform in Lime Street Station
This would be the quick way back to Huddersfield but our trip will be taking the long way round to get back home
04-JUN-2015
It would appear that those hoses are not long for this world unless they get moved before the next train runs in!
04-JUN-2015
Nice bright concourse
Has everything you need apart from waste paper bins!
04-JUN-2015
A former local MP for Liverpool.
Not sure what the significance of the egg is though
04-JUN-2015
The famous Liverpool comedian is also depicted in bronze alongside Besse.
The two sculptures are to be seen as one and is entitled "Chance meeting"
The duck is not part of the sculpture!
04-JUN-2015
No train day out is complete until you have had the pleasure of seeing a London midland Class 350.
Could only be beaten by taking the machine to Birmingham.....so that's it for Lime Street, an OK station. off now underground to catch the Merseyrail system train out to Kirkby
04-JUN-2015
A wide view of the concourse.
04-JUN-2015
Down in the depths of the Merseyrail system a class 508 had just arrived at Liverpool Central from Ormskirk and was about to return the same route.
04-JUN-2015
The Merseyrail fleet has both class 507 and 508s
04-JUN-2015
Kirkby has an unusual platform arrangement.
One platform, divided completely separate into two distinct platforms. each line is isolated from the other.
This is the Merseyrail end of the platform with the train from Liverpool central. An electric third rail unit
04-JUN-2015
Look the other way down the platform reveals a buffer stop and a break in the track.
They have waste bins...top marks
04-JUN-2015
Through the road bridge you see the Northern rail part of the platform
With its own buffer stop and the platform extension, preventing connection thru to the electrified system
04-JUN-2015
Wait long enough and the Northern Rail Class 156 train arrives for the hourly service to Bolton via Wigan.
Makes you wonder why one side gets 4 trains per hour and the other struggles to get one.....Liverpool must have a bigger pull than Bolton!
04-JUN-2015
This view shows both halves of the platform occupied with trains.
04-JUN-2015
Maybe this is why its only once per hour!
04-JUN-2015
Travelling via Wigan Wallgate again, the trip takes the spur off towards Bolton via Westhoughton.
As noted in the last trip, this is a nice station with lots of detail from days gone by.
I didn't notice these windows on our last visit.
04-JUN-2015
The train about to commence the return trip to Kirkby
04-JUN-2015
And again...I like this one.....first class and men only....heaven!
04-JUN-2015
Clitheroe train about to depart
04-JUN-2015
last shot of the day
Waiting at Salford Crescent for the Wigan Manchester Victoria train
