Yes we are off again on our travels.
The Objective is to cover some of the lines we have yet to travel, experience FGW Pullman Brunch and keep an appointment with Bob in Norwich.
09-AUG-2015
Slightly different starting point this time around. Instead of our beloved "Shepley" we commenced the Odyssey from Wakefield Westgate.
Much improved station, with a nice view of the high security prison, makes this now an OK station, worthy of the train services it provides. 7/10 for the station....one would question the location of the footbridge, the cheapish canopy and the weeds on the track....but the concourse is fine.
.
Only down side was that one week previous when trying to reserve some seats for our trip, it did seem like it was a chore too far for the ticket man. Even though there was no other human being in sight. (More on this later)
.
So despite a circuitous route to the station we arrived in plenty of time for our trip "down south to London"
09-AUG-2015
0918 to London Kings Cross.
As it was a Sunday we were expecting a lightly loaded train with plenty of space to stretch out on our first long run of the week
.
How wrong we were....full. Good job we had reserved seats this time courtesy of Huddersfield Ticket office...request was for window seats, we got two facing backwards. Maybe, in their defence, the train was fully reserved 10 days before we travelled....maybe not.
.
Shared a table with two young businessmen...who were discussing their mate's new chair....it cost £3,800......now that's a bargain. Apparently and surprisingly they thought it was comfy!
They must have been very unimpressed with sharing a first class table with us two! Thankfully one fell asleep and the other did know a bit about trains so he was OK!
09-AUG-2015
We thought our train was early when this rumbled by.....however it was a positioning move from Leeds depot to Doncaster to form a Doncaster > Scotland service.
Our excitement and enthusiasm must be contained for a while longer
.
Note the jungle growing between the tracks......that is really embarrassing for a main line station
09-AUG-2015
You can't beat a Class 142 for thrills and spills. But a potential 4 hour trip to London on one would be just too much. We will wait for our train to come along behind.
Due to engineering work in South Yorkshire, this service was only running to Moorthorpe and not Sheffield as displayed on the front.
.
The family waiting, who had not seen the rail replacement bus service would be left high and dry in delightful Moorthorpe....which does have one of the better local stations.
09-AUG-2015
Well we eventually get underway and head south to the smoke.
The train was one of the few Virgin East Coast sets that has been fully liveried up. Seen here on arrival into Kings Cross.
.
Much more appealing than the old East Coast "mucky silver and grime".
.
Good trip down, on time, good service.
.
Virgin can have 8/10 for this.....the only failing, and its not their fault, was the very busy train and travelling backwards until Stevenage when some passengers de-trained allowing us to swop seats..
09-AUG-2015
Not having been on any of the Overground network we decided to attempt a circuit of London using Boris's nice shiny trains
Armed with the latest map of the network we jumped on the first train out.
09-AUG-2015
Not wanting to run up to Watford, we took the train only as far as Willesden Junction where we changed to get onto the Richmond branch
First impressions of the Overground units.....good.....but we are used to pacers and Class 150s on the Penistone line so most things are good in comparison.
.
Clean, quiet, fast acceleration and designed clearly with people moving in mind with the seating being "tube style"
.
Why though do we always get the happy drunk sitting next to us....he thought he could sing!
Class 378 Trains 8/10 ........drunk 3/10 (for turning up).
09-AUG-2015
What hit us first about Richmond was the sheer number of trains and destinations served by this small town in Greater London
*Underground through London to Upminster
*Overground through London to Stratford
*South West trains to Windsor, Reading and umpteen variations to get into Waterloo.
.
And all were long trains, even on a Sunday.....no worries of a two car Class 144 turning up here...but all were busy.
.
Nice station, well looked after, lacking seats in the concourse but did have an M&S so lunch was taken here! 7/10
Nice of Boris to let you know how long the train is.....do they have 2 car units?
09-AUG-2015
Richmond Underground, at this point it is just as Overground and the Overground.
Confirms the good service with trains of a length that warrant the title of "train"
.
Will be interesting if the "D" trains proposed to substitute some of the North's ageing rolling stock ever happens and just how long they will be.....bets on 4 cars maximum as in the North we have let our platforms shrink over time to match the short train length .....another fine mess Network Rail.
.
Seeing as you can't get round to electrifying the TransPennine and East Midlands routes, maybe the spare time could be used to stretch and renovate the weed covered platforms that you have fenced off to save money.....nothing like forward thinking is there! You can start with the Penistone line and while you are at it provide more double track sections to permit increased services. Bear this in mind when you finalise plans for the upgrade of Huddersfield station as well.
And at the same time, remove some of the undergrowth between the rails. We don't ask for much.
09-AUG-2015
So many options from Richmond, which way to go next?
In the end we chose the South West trains option to Clapham Junction
09-AUG-2015
So our South West train trip was short and sweet.
Not much to report but it brought us quickly to Clapham junction where we can re join the Overland system to complete the circuit of Central London
09-AUG-2015
At Clapham Junction we jumped back on the Overland trains system to go via Canada Water to Highbury and Islington.
This timing meant we were at Highbury at around half time in the football match and so should avoid the crowds. Had we known the performance of Arsenal we might have changed our plans as the homecrowds could have been leaving very early.
.
Our train is the furthest one away.
09-AUG-2015
The trip from Clapham to Highbury was interesting as it passed thru parts of London that we had not travelled thru before. Interesting to note how the new "station facilities" have been fitted into the original railway infrastructure, resulting in some short platforms that meant the last carriage was locked out.
The train was lightly loaded and it puzzled us old folk why the young lady stood all the way from Clapham to Haggerston......quite a journey when there were no more than 6 people occupying seats....strange
.
We changed at Highbury to catch another Overground train to Gospel Oak.
.
This train had some strange people on it on their way to Regents Park........but the strangest of all was to be found on the "Goblin Line" from Gospel Oak to Barking our next destination. A middle aged, slightly rotund, man wearing nothing but a vest(c/w frilly hemline) and some shoes. A "sight to behold" when he crossed his legs! Thankfully I was facing the other way or nightmares would have followed.
8/10 to the helpful staff on the Gospel Oak platforms....even though in the end the Gents they directed us to was shut.....so legs cross until Barking!!!!!!
09-AUG-2015
So here we are at Barking where the Gents, thankfully were open!
This line uses Class 172 DMUs for the service which is , from a Northerners Point of view, unbelievable.
.
Here we have a suburban line where trains trundle round at a max of 45 mph and it has what can only be described as a "luxury train" compared to the Up t'north's "142s and 144s"
.
So a trundle round North East London where most passengers are on the train for no longer than 20 mins, warrants a good quality train yet Southport to Leeds, Carlisle to Newcastle, Sheffield to York, Manchester or Huddersfield get "buses on a freight car chassis" for trains.
So much for the Northern Powerhouse!
My namesake Mr Andrew Jones has a lot of thinking to do.....to make up for broken promises.
As The Who sang..."we won't get fooled again" Mr Cameron.
So that was the last of the Overground for the day, our return to base in Paddington was to be completed by C2C, another TOC new to us and Fenchurch Street.
Marks for London Overground.....have to be 8/10. Good frequent trains on acceptable stock with helpful staff....but it was a Sunday....Monday morning might not be so comfortable
09-AUG-2015
Just in case we had lost our sense of direction the signage was there to confirm it was definitely Barking
Good service from what was quite an extensive station, very much in the Richmond mode with Tube, Overground and mainline trains at very frequent intervals even for a Sunday
.
I'll give it 8/10...but the gents needs a better sign, it was easily missed when in a rush!
09-AUG-2015
Been a very long time since I was last here.
Would have been around 1975 (40 years ago) when for my sins I was based in Essex whilst working my student workplacement with Ford Motor Company at Laindon and Dagenham. Those were the days when Ford had a real presence in this country and working in the research labs and being allowed to test drive Ford Capri RS was wonderful. Even the old foundry in Dagenham was a good place to be...this has long gone.
.
Station clearly has been face-lifted internally and though slightly gloomy with the low solid roof was OK...6/10
09-AUG-2015
However the external aspect has wonderfully retained its old looks, a little bit out of place with the glass and concrete monstrosities that surround it but what the hell it was there first and deserves to stand out from the bland crowd....9/10
C2C get 8/10 also.....I am in a generous mood today! But again it was on a quiet Sunday afternoon.
.
So that was it for day 1. back to Paddington via the Hammersmith and City line...nice tube trains....to the Grand Park Hotel ready for the morning trip to Devon.
.
The hotel was getting a 7/10 (no bath only a shower, furniture a little tired but big room, comfy bed and a/c brought it back up) but the domestic row on our floor in the early hours which required the local constabulary to attend did knock it back to a 6/10.
Dinner or "tea" as Northerners call it was taken at a local Lebanese restaurant....6/10. very confusing service, part of main course brought with the starter and my chicken could have been cooked a little longer.....and alcohol free.
Hence the trip after tea to the Victoria pub, featured in the good beer guide. Good atmosphere, good selection of beer and original fixtures and fittings....8/10
The Mad Bishop and Bear on the mezzanine floor at Paddington is a nice quiet oasis away from the mad hubbub that is going on down on the main concourse.
Not only is it in the good beer guide, though we did not sample at 9-00 in the morning it does have a decent breakfast menu and "sausage egg and chips"with red sauce of course) went down well as an appetiser to the brunch we hoped to get on the train
.
For breakfast highly recommended 8/10
10-AUG-2015
Travelling with a Glutenophobe requires careful planning for meals later in the day. At best it would be a gluten packed sandwich on the XC service back to Wakefield so provisions were required.
Fruit was considered along with a healthy smoothie but it was rejected in favour of Sushi from the local Tescos.
10-AUG-2015
With time to spare before the Cornish Rivera train departs for the West Country we took time to photograph some of the movements in the station.
Platform 1 is open access so you are free to walk down to the far end and take images of the incoming and departing trains.
.
A couple of HST sets await their departure.
10-AUG-2015
Amongst the stock movements was this one heading west to Heathrow.
10-AUG-2015
I know a bloke who gets VERY upset if someone dares to block his shot....especially ones with orange jackets on. The last bloke that did this at East Lancashire railway was lucky to survive to tell the tale.
He would be very unhappy if someone would be so bold as to walk into his shot at the moment of taking the photo along the lines of this one!
10-AUG-2015
Why is it that everywhere we go all we see is scaffolding.....just wait till you see the images of Wemyss Bay later.
Underneath all of the clutter I am sure that there is a wonderful refurbishment taking place and when all is done the station will be back to its former glory.
10-AUG-2015
Paddington is to Paddington what Harry Potter is to Kings Cross......sadly
Isambard would turn in his grave if he saw this on his wonderful station concourse.
10-AUG-2015
Eventually our train, after much debate is allocated to Platform 4 and we can board.
1. This is very classy FGW and you get...wait for it.... 10/10 It knocks Virgin and Cross Countries first offering into the proverbial cocked hat
.
2 However when there is only 1.5 carriages of first and the 0.5 is reserved for the Pullman service it does get crowded in here.....so 9/10 which is still good
.
We mistakenly thought this train would be quiet but listening to the guards announcements asking "priv" ticket holder to give up their seats to "proper" passengers and the guard also advising those standing to grab their chance at Reading and Exeter if they saw someone making a move to get off would indicate it was rammed pack full in the standard class. First was full also.
10-AUG-2015
Now it was well worth paying £18 to move into the restaurant car for brunch as once again the ticket reservations (this time it was Wakefield's Mr Happy that did it) gave us two backwards facing seats instead of the requested window seats.
I think the couple opposite were glad to see us called forward by the stewards until the bloke and his two kids took up residence.
.
Still in the restaurant car we numbered 4 persons until Reading when we claimed another two diners.
10-AUG-2015
Here we see Mr N. deciding what was going to be the best choice for him......scrambled eggs and smoked salmon I believe. Myself, Eggs Benedict...I am boring as that is my first choice for a cooked breakfast wherever possible.
Time now to give the catering crew some praise. They were excellent in a friendly jovial sort of way. Looked after everybody well and seemed genuinely happy in their work. As they said they were like a married couple...falling out and making up on every trip!
So scores for the catering ....can only be 10/10..it was very good
10-AUG-2015
So 2 hours after leaving London we arrive in the West Country, having ticked off the Newbury/Westbury line and the Pullman experience. We wave goodbye to the HST as it carries onto Penzance and await our next HST (Cross Country version) to take us back to Wakefield.
First visit to Newton Abbot and found again that the trains and station were reasonably busy.
.
Apart form two platform announcement's happing at the same time so no-one could hear either it was OK 7/10
10-AUG-2015
This group, and this is only part of the party took about 5 mins to detrain from a London bound train which was already running a little late, then took just as long to board this Torquay and Paignton train.
You could sense the frustration of the train crew trying to get the trains away on time.
.
2 adults, 4 kids, 3 dogs and two buggies.....
10-AUG-2015
Been caught out at Birmingham International before now, with our friends at Cross Country not knowing their front from their back.
Having been advised of the location of the first class accommodation we positioned ourselves exactly where the carriage would be stopping......only to find it was actually at the back of the train.....and for once we had a HST not a small Voyager ....so a bit of leg work was required.
.
Come on Cross Country...if you don't know where it is, don't guess!
10-AUG-2015
Voyager on its way to the West Country..
..sorry but these small length trains are simply inadequate for these long cross country journeys.
10-AUG-2015
And here comes our train....but according to the signs its back to front.
Never mind we made it to our carriage in time and settled down for the long run back to Yorkshire.
.
Another point....no reservations were working due to the wifi being down......6/10 for XC this time.
.
Train was lightly loaded so no big problems.
11-AUG-2015
One of the downsides of the way we organised the days out was that we did seem to be at Wakefield Westgate a lot! Once again dropped off nice and early so we could watch the cream of the Northern fleet rattle and trundle by.
Here we have a Class 142 about to take the scenic route to Sheffield
11-AUG-2015
And then we had our local train from Huddersfield enter the platform.
Normally full of students on the return trip going to the University in Huddersfield but the train would be quiet as they were all at home studying hard during their summer break!
11-AUG-2015
Today our plan was to take the XC HST set to Birmingham, cross across to Moor Street and take the 68 hauled set to Marylebone. then we would cross London and take the Greater Anglia train from Liverpool Street to Norwich.
The HST eventually rumbled into the station and we were off again on time
11-AUG-2015
This was the one train I thought we might find busy as it was one of the first trains from Edinburgh to the South West. Our worry was misplaced as the train in first class was basically empty as we left Wakefield.
I think this was the same set as we had used the day before as the Wi-Fi problem was present again and so no reservations.
.
What did amuse us was when the odd passenger joined the train they came and sat next to us...even though the carriage was empty. At one station the station staff escorted an elderly lady to her seat that was a single opposite a seat already occupied....their we loads of empty seats but they sat her facing backwards opposite someone. At least the bloke then had the nouse to move!
11-AUG-2015
Whilst this is a similar train to the FGW we used , and in isolation the carriage was fine, it was no where near as elegant and sophisticated and the Paddington to Newton Abbot train.
A hassle free run to Birmingham New Street was made.
.
Now there is a station with a problem....it is perpetually being updated, the platforms dark and dingy, totally unwelcoming. What was seen of the concourse seemed confusing and disjointed but hey let us let them finish it and review it again.....as it stands 5/10 for New Street, 7/10 for XC trains as the first class was where it should have been!
11-AUG-2015
A bit like Fenchurch Street, Birmingham Moor Street is a beacon of classical design amidst the horrors of modern architecture.
Chiltern trains have done a good job at providing a modern functioning station that still has the look and feel of the heydays of British Railways.
11-AUG-2015
I rest my case......how on earth did anyone think that the modern building behind the station had any architectural merit.
Its a monster and should never have been built.
11-AUG-2015
The first hiccup on the days itinerary manifested itself here. The planned Moor St to Marylebone service was cancelled at short notice and a reprogram was required.
Luckily a second 68 hauled set was due to pass thru Moor Strret to Snow Hill and then make the journey back to Marylebone. We would catch this at Snow Hill but would use a local train to get there first so we could witness its arrival.
.
So we waited on the platform for the London Midland, my favourite train company, service to turn up.
11-AUG-2015
3 mins later we alight at Snow Hill, it was a bit of a come down from Moor Street. A mini New Street. At least it appears to be finished but it is a sad place to be. Dark and dingy unless out on the open platforms.
Come on you architects, lets have some decent lighting in your dark monstrosities, brighten the place up and the people will respond by being bright and cheery also
11-AUG-2015
Just a depressing sight...a LM set in Snow Hill Station.
Must make note to self ...don't bother calling again.
11-AUG-2015
The Birmingham > Wolverhapton tram uses the station as a starting point for its run thru the Black Country to Wolverhampton.
Nice bright units and at least it is out in the daylight.
11-AUG-2015
A sad looking commuter...probably couldn't find his way out and has become petrified.
11-AUG-2015
At last, somewhat late, the Chiltern set pulls into the station and draws out into the daylight.
If on time we were going to be 20 mins late due to the previous cancellation and this service was a "stopper" taking 10 mins longer to get to London.....the connection will be a bit tight as we cross London.
11-AUG-2015
The Chiltern trains "silver sets" do look the part.
11-AUG-2015
Our ticket allowed us to use the so called Business zone on this train.
Once again we were let down by Chiltern as this set had a "uprated standard" carriage substituting for the normal first class stock "due to upgrade works"
.
2+2 seating, not 2+1, Very iffy wifi service, fixed arm rests making getting into the window seats hard work, and the "trolley" service could have been a table as it never moved from the vestibule....the guy stood there all the way to Marylebone with very little custom.
.
Chiltern 8/10 for Moor Street, 6/10 for the actual train journey...which was late...and so our arrival into Marylebone was now 45 down on the original plan.
11-AUG-2015
Due to the loss of time , little time to get pictures of what seemed to be a busy station.
11-AUG-2015
Having spent my mis-spent youth in Uxbridge, at Brunel University, this is a sight that I saw regularly on trips to and from London on the metropolitan line.
11-AUG-2015
A quick dash across to Liverpool Street got us there in time for our 4pm departure to Norwich.
Settled down into our rather threadbare seats we were looking forward for a quick run up to Norwich. However the train was cancelled at the last minute due to a door failing to lock and the crew unable to fix it. Half the train rushed off to catch a stopper to Ipswich.....we went for a drink.
.
The engine could do with a wash!
11-AUG-2015
I think I am getting the " hurry up" look.
30 mins later we board another train, equally shabby, for the run to Norwich.
.
Not much else to say about this greater Anglia service.....late running most of the time and just a little weary. Trains need a refurbishment, but I am sure there is some franchise issue that means the money won't be spent.
.
Once again I don't think the franchise system really works as well as it could.....but it makes a few people a lot of money so in some eyes it does.
11-AUG-2015
Norwich eventually got there, again 45 mins late, only to find that the reason we were delayed was the fact that the failed train had run up in front of us as ECS and was sitting there in the siding behind our train in the photo.
Greater Anglia match Chiltern with a 6/10 for the trip.
11-AUG-2015
So this is the end of the line for today. A quick look round the station then off to the hotel and something to eat.
11-AUG-2015
I think this is the "hurry up" look again.....I think it was time for some food, blood sugars getting low!
11-AUG-2015
What is it with Greater Anglia trains, they all look as if they haven't seen some water and detergent for a very long time...the front of the cabs in particular are filthy.
Poor show
11-AUG-2015
One more just to confirm the point. The yellow hi-viz paint trying its best to shine thru the muck.
Hey ho....off to the Holiday Inn and the Chinese buffet just across from the station.
12-AUG-2015
Refreshed from a good evening meal..the buffet gets 9/10...and a good night's sleep in the Holiday Inn (good room, aircon, and sky sports gets it 8/10 would have had 9 if we got a pitch view) we set off to meet our Bob. We had seen him in the sidings the previous night and he was looking well.
Normally a restriction sign that says "restricted to" would follow that by the items that are permitted?
"Access is restricted to authorised persons only" only for example.
.
This should read "All motor vehicles are prohibited between....."
.
....or am I just being mischievous?
12-AUG-2015
Nice old building, thankfully the Birmingham architects haven't got here yet so it remains safe from modernisation.
They were however updating inside with new barriers etc being installed and the shops that have been added to the concourse look somewhat out of place amidst the splendour of the old building they are housed in.
.
Maybe it will all gel in the end but at the moment its a mishmash of styles 7/10
12-AUG-2015
These sculptures are all over the city.
They are all painted differently with local themes.
.
This one is in the concourse of the station
12-AUG-2015
Oh dear greater Anglia.....last night was not a one off...another dirty front end to a train.
I do like the fact they have multiple versions of their livery colours though....keeps you on your toes.
.
Even the cleaner is keeping as far away as possible and not daring to look at the muck!
12-AUG-2015
So what time is it?
The big display says 09-10 (and 25 secs).
.
The smaller display on the screens shows 08-10 (and 31 secs)
.
One of them must be wrong.....lets look at the other side to see which is right!
12-AUG-2015
Not really helpful then.....07-10 (and 11 secs)
The actual average was somewhere close.
12-AUG-2015
We have blue with lighter horizontal stripe, grey with a lighter diagonal band and now a mucky pale grey. As for the carriages these also have a selection of colours...your pick.
12-AUG-2015
Eventually our loco hauled train arrives into Norwich from Lowestoft.
Our mate Bob, otherwise known as Sir Robert McAlpine, is on the back ready to drag us down to Yarmouth
12-AUG-2015
These are wonderful beasts.
Noisy and brash, just like a "big engine" should be.
.
Electrics have a lot going for them, clean (apart from in Norfolk), fast acceleration and environmentally friendly(well locally they are, we forget about the big dirty power station that makes the power) BUT a train should be more than that...they need character and our Bob has it by the bucket load.
12-AUG-2015
Having experienced the trains full of enthusiasts on the Cumbrian Coast Class 37 runs, we were expecting a few to be around on this train.....but no, a few normal passengers and us two.
DRS doing a good job, a standby 37 in the station just in case for example, but our one complaint is the seats.
.
These carriages were the same as the Business zone carriage the day before(but not quite as posh) and the centre arm rest is fixed. The gap between the arm rest and the table is a touch tight for old rotund guys like us to squeeze past.
.
Other than that 8/10 for the run to Yarmouth
12-AUG-2015
Not a lot you can say about this really.....from the platform side it looks a little past its best. Time did not allow a further exploration of the outside of the station.
.
From a google image search we didn't miss much by the look of it. 5/10 for the long platforms
12-AUG-2015
A lot of train when seen in all its glory but it has only 2.5 carriages of seats and that's not many more than a two car Class 156, but its loads more fun!!!
12-AUG-2015
And back to Norwich with Carl Haviland leading the way
.
I must confess to not knowing who Carl was or what he did to warrant an engine to be named after him.
.
A Google search would indicate he was a fitter for the Harry Needle railway company who had a hand in the refurbishment of the Class 37s for DRS.
12-AUG-2015
Talking of character.....this one seems a little short in that respect!
Red doors and light grey body paint....another variation.
.
It looked as if it had just been done as it was almost clean. The paint job was a bit rough and ready.
.
I think there are some issues in this TOC that need addressing.
12-AUG-2015
Nice to see the old lamp outside the transport police office.
12-AUG-2015
.
There is clearly a train wash issue here...yet another filthy front end...but for a fleeting moment I thought we had at least finally seen some consistency in the livery
12-AUG-2015
..but rest assured further down the train we had the clash of old and new liveries again
12-AUG-2015
A fine sight. The working set in the platform and the spare tucked away in the sidings.
.
Not a modern train in sight....10/10
12-AUG-2015
Time to say good bye to Norwich, our general impression was favourable.
.
Here is our mucky Class 170 to whisk us off to Cambridge
.
Nice to have someone else getting in the way of the picture as a change from the normal grumpy old man!
12-AUG-2015
The Class 170 had a First Class compartment so we felt at home!. It was on par with the standard set by TransPennine's 170s at home.
Very chatty guard.
12-AUG-2015
And so we arrive in Cambridge. How many Universities does a city need?
12-AUG-2015
Thankfully not our train as Cross Country once again serve up a train far too short for the duty it has to do.
12-AUG-2015
For the benefit of Cross Country trains.......this is a train! Even if its not the most salubrious it makes up for that by having more than 3 carriages!
12-AUG-2015
Great Northern would be our next TOC to tick off the list (tick/toc?)
.
They served up a grubby Class 365 to whisk us non stop to Kings Cross. And quite a hairy ride it was, once on the East Coast mainline it thrashed its way down to London shaking and rattling all the way
.
Looks like I have still got the interloper in tow!!!!
.
Interestingly this was a driver operated train. As we transferred from another train we did not pass thru the ticket gates. So we boarded this train and travelled to London and no ticket check was made, and no barriers at Kings Cross in operation.....you could have a free ride for the cost of a platform ticket.
12-AUG-2015
On arrival at KX I gave my travelling photo interloper a quick version of the tour I took with English Heritage around St Pancras and Kings Cross historical railway infrastructure.
.
A pint in the Old Parcels Office Pub finished our day before our trip home to Wakefield
.
See link below for the photos of the full day out
.
http://www.pbase.com/amjones/kingscross
.
Our HST for Wakefield was in full Virgin regalia...a pleasant change from the liveries we had endured in Norfolk. 8/10 Virgin, especially as my Glutenophobe companion got a nice salad for high tea. I believe an offer of marriage was made to the stewardess!
.
Just a small point. Our friend in Wakefield who begrudgingly made the reservations ( remember we want "opposite facing window seats" kindly reserved two singles airline style so we were one behind the other....total plonker! Plenty of space so no excuses...Wakefield ticket office 2/10
.
One small glitch before we got home though. Our 142 for Huddersfield was delayed at Wakefield as the preceding train, a Doncaster bound Northern set, had door failure in the station resulting in its cancellation and blocking of the platform.
.
Eventually the Huddersfield train pulled into the other platform but why he went halfway to Doncaster down the platform before stopping is beyond me and the other 30 people waiting at the foot of the stairs. A 50yd trudge to board was the last thing anyone needed. 10 mins late leaving but made some up en route. 3/10 Northern!
12-AUG-2015
The salad that nearly got my companion into deep water!
13-AUG-2015
Day 5 dawns and we wend our way to York on the standard TPEx, the opposite facing seats were two backwards on side by side.....:-(
York was its normal glorious self and we waved goodbye to Northern rail for a while as we headed north towards Scotland.
.
Plenty of room on the train, breakfast was served. 8/10 Virgin.
13-AUG-2015
Been many times to York station but never spotted this mile post marker before. Whilst only a replica, it is a nice touch to remember the glory days of the early railways
13-AUG-2015
Here is the Mallard class set that took us northwards.....trains can be maintained in some sort of clean state if you try hard enough.
Why do I think of "ducks" instead of A4s when I see Mallard class?
13-AUG-2015
Edinburgh Waverley was very busy. Festival goers I assume. Long queues at the platform office to buy tickets to enable them to get out of the station
Our next train was the third in line to get out of one of the bay platforms.
13-AUG-2015
At least the trains up here are bright and cheery, it was depressing in Norfolk, drab grey/blue grimey trains.
.
Our plan was now to make our way further north to......Alloa via Stirling
13-AUG-2015
Lovely weather, nice station and a chatty lady in the buffet who took great delight in telling us all the good points about Alloa...it wasn't a long conversation!!!
13-AUG-2015
Moderately impressed with the station at Stirling, plenty of platforms, covered to keep the weather at bay, buffet, and all the other facilities a man could desire!
13-AUG-2015
..and the Scottish Government, love them or hate them have made sure they get proper trains on their network......not a single Pacer or Class 150 to be seen.
13-AUG-2015
Next stop is Alloa. The birthplace of someone close to my travelling companion. I'll not mention names as it will seem like name dropping!
13-AUG-2015
Up to now Scotrail were doing fine, decent trains, clean and on time but can someone explain to me why when the station entrance is at one end of the single platform does the train run all the way down to the other end of the platform. The spur into the station a more than long enough for the train to stop as it enters the station and would save all the passengers a walk.
.
There's me being silly again, thinking the railways are run for the passengers when we know it clearly isn't.
.
Scot rail lose a mark and drop down to 8/10
13-AUG-2015
Nice new station, not sure what the sculpture was meant to represent.
13-AUG-2015
Due to essential maintenance works being required at times, the line runs to Longannet power station so see some heavy coal trains, Scotrail have been very proactive and have provided a facility for alternative travel.
Train replacement bikes...it will be the next big thing.
.
Unfortunately one machine has a wheel missing and the other is oval...there maybe some capacity constraints at rush hour, which is when Asda shuts.
13-AUG-2015
So time now to trek down to the train at the other end of the station and set off heading South West to Glasgow.
.
We were slightly sad not to spend more time here, but the fear of missing the last train out made us make a swift return down the line.
Our hotel for the night was the Grand Central right in Glasgow Central station
.
Impressive chandelier in the staircase and this is the entrance from the station concourse.
.
Dumping the bags we took the chance to beat the evening rush and headed out for another run before tea.
13-AUG-2015
A trip out to the west Coast at Wemyss Bay. Long time since I was there before and the impressive station buildings should be worth a second look.
The ferry to Bute is timed to meet the rail services
13-AUG-2015
Some nice old posters on display in the entrance vestibule
13-AUG-2015
But the station itself and the walkway to the ferry were completed swamped in scaffolding.
.
never mind its an excuse to return next time
13-AUG-2015
So as there was nothing really to keep us here, we jumped back on the train to Glasgow
.
Evening meal was taken at The Mussel Inn, good job we booked as it was busy with people waiting for tables.
.
The across the road to the whisky drinkers heaven otherwise known as the Pot Still. Busy on arrival but suddenly it cleared and the pub was a pleasant place to spend an hour or so.
Hotel.......5/10...no a/c, no bath, no sky, small room very expensive, not value for money
Mussell Inn 8/10...always a good place to eat
Pot Still...9/10...such a good selection of malts.
13-AUG-2015
The Pot Still Pub in Glasgow, famous for its whisky selection
14-AUG-2015
The following morning we jump on a Virgin WCML service as far as Lancaster.
.
We only wanted to get to Carlisle but to ensure we had time to sample Richard Branson's hot breakfast offering we went down to Lancaster and then jumped on a Northbound service back to Carlisle
.
The weather was not on our side today with heavy rain.
.
Breakfast was fine and we arrived on time in Lancaster
14-AUG-2015
You can tell we were back in England by the standard of the rolling stock on the local trains....Northern are not in the same league as Scotrail.
14-AUG-2015
Our schedule was to take the Northern rail train from Carlisle to Newcastle.
.
The objective to tick off the line and admire the views
.
The problem was the heavy rain had resulted in the Pacer being completely steamed up so very limited visibility.
.
Combined with sitting across from yet another dysfunctional family, the trip wasn't the pleasant experience we had planned.
.
Here is the mean machine awaiting for us.......we were tempted to take the Cumbrian Coast route to Barrow but the connections back to the real world from Barrow are so poor it was dismissed
14-AUG-2015
The Barrow train appeared to be made up of a pair of class 153 single DMU units...slightly out of the ordinary
14-AUG-2015
So the steamed up 142 eventually made it to Newcastle.
.
There was some problems at Alnmouth with the overhead wires which meant that trains from Scotland were not running as normal. Some trains were up to 120 mins late.
.
Luckily, or was it simply good planning, our train to take us on to Doncaster was not affected as it started at Newcastle.
14-AUG-2015
This was the Mallard Class loco that was to take us to Doncaster and it left on time.
14-AUG-2015
Yet another town proud to display its local college on the station name board
.
We must have a word with Northern and see if we can get the signs at Shepley change to read "Shepley....the home of Shepley First School"
14-AUG-2015
Not much of interest at Doncaster and the weather was foul so we were quite keen to get on the East Cost train to Wakefield
.
Cross Country Voyager heading South West and a Northern rattler heading for Lincoln.
14-AUG-2015
Northern can excel at times....its just I keep missing them when they do.
.
Here is the Scunthorpe bound 153...which they considered to be suitable and sufficient for the journey.
.
Maybe they should ask the crowd of passengers that were trying to board, which delayed its departure, if they thought it was acceptable....I think I know the answer.
.
Out train followed this in and although one carriage short of a full set it was lightly loaded and we had a comfortable run up to Wakefield, where we got the runabout to Huddersfield and home
15-AUG-2015
A very fast response from our friends at Northern Rail.....signs already changed by the following day!!!!
15-AUG-2015
The last day dawns with bright sunshine as we wait for the Shepley Flyer to trundle its way down the line and on to Sheffield.
.
Nice to see the signs fully functioning now.
15-AUG-2015
And right on time the posh pacer rounds the curve into the platform.
As it was too early for the Meadowhall shoppers this trip was not overcrowded.
15-AUG-2015
On time arrival into Sheffield where there were plenty of colourful East Midland sets looking fine in the sun
This one was off to Norwich.
15-AUG-2015
Having jumped onto a London bound service we quite quickly arrived in Leicester.
.
Quite a busy services but the fellow travellers were chatty. I was discussing Spurs and their new stadium with the gentleman next to me, while my travelling companion ( ID kept secret to avoid embarrassment) was in deep discussion with a lady about pedicures, manicures and nail varnish. I do worry about him at times.
.
Another city boasting about its educational establishments, up there with Shepley!
15-AUG-2015
The salads just keep on coming...and note the healthy drink...not a coffee bean in sight!
15-AUG-2015
My favourite train company in my favourite station!
.
A no nonsense run to New Street followed by an equally un eventful trip out to Shrewsbury on a Virgin Voyager
15-AUG-2015
One of the highlights of the Shrewsbury station area is the massive signal box and the old semaphore signals.
.
How much longer will this survive, before some big remote isolate operating centre takes over?
15-AUG-2015
This should have been a service thru the Welsh countryside to Swansea, but it appears one of the staff failed to turn up so the service up from Swansea which would be where the crews swop was not running, so this one was going half way.
15-AUG-2015
I think London Midland are stalking us...they are everywhere.
15-AUG-2015
Eventually , after much deliberation ATW decided which set was going to go to Crewe, and which was going to Aberystwyth. Multiple platform changes, trains being joined ....total chaos
Eventually our one car set became three, thankfully as it was full, and off we trundle to Crewe.
15-AUG-2015
Due to issues at Liverpool, our next destination, we contemplated aborting that option and going to Manchester on this Swansea/Manchester service but in the end we decided to risk Liverpool and what turned out to be some right wing demo that turned out to be a disaster for the right wingers....out numbered they took shelter in the left luggage office protected by the police that they probably despise.
In the end the had to sneak out in disgrace and have a special train take them out of Liverpool to Edge Hill where they were kick out and left to their own resources.
It did however cause chaos to the services out of Lime Street
15-AUG-2015
Due to issues at Liverpool, our next destination, we contemplated aborting that option and going to Manchester on this Swansea/Manchester service but in the end we decided to risk Liverpool and what turned out to be some right wing demo that turned out to be a disaster for the right wingers....out numbered they took shelter in the left luggage office protected by the police that they probably despise. The Runcorn line was the last bit of new line for the week.
In the end the had to sneak out in disgrace and have a special train take them out of Liverpool to Edge Hill where they were kick out and left to their own resources.
It did however cause chaos to the services out of Lime Street
15-AUG-2015
By the time we got to Lime Street the chaos and crowds had dispersed but the station pub had closed its door until 7pm just in case. The other pub was heaving so our last day drink was put on hold.
Despite some confusion over platforms our TPE arrived and departed almost on time.
.
Unfortunately it was stuck behind a stopper so lost more time along the way so was 15 down by the time we hit Manchester Victoria.
.
It was then stuck behind another stopper until Stalybridge, so not until we cleared Stalybridge, it was a crawl. The guard was good at keeping everyone up to date.
15-AUG-2015
So we eventually roll into Huddersfield where our "express" to Shepley was idling in Platform 2.
We skipped the chance of a drink in the Head of Steam as it was "Ale Trail" and "Saturday night out" time and was heaving with drunks.
.
It was amusing to see them all trying to board the TPE for the airport, but sadly it only managed 30 yards before yet another faulty door cause the service to be stopped and eventually cancelled. Platform 4 was put into emergency use for the west bound trains that were stacked up between Huddersfield and Deighton
.
So with that bit of excitement we settled down to rattle our way back to Shepley and home...the end of another good week out.
Highlights.....the little office in Leeds that sorted out the reservations for us eventually....the brunch on the way to Newton Abbot...and the Class 37s
Lowlights... the miserable "so-and-so" at Wakefield who couldn't be bothered....Greater Anglia trains apart from the 37s....and the northern driver who failed to stop where his customers were expecting him to, also at Wakefield although he was the best part of the way to Doncaster before he stopped! A prize plonker.
Time to start planning next year's week I think.
Summary
1 Virgin West Coast the best TOC followed by FGW and Virgin East Coast
2 Worst has to be Northern I'm afraid, they try hard but are stuck with vintage stock
3 Best Station visited has to be Kings Cross followed by Glasgow Central
4 Worst station Birmingham New Street followed by Snow Hill...dismal
5 Best staff interaction...FGW in the dining car, followed by the greater Anglia guard on the Cambridge run and the guys in Leeds who did the reservations
6 Worst staff interaction....Wakefield Westgate booking office and the northern driver at Westgate also
7 Best leg of the trip......Yarmouth and back on the 37s closely followed by FGW to Newton Abbot
8 Worst leg of the trip...Carlisle to Newcastle, steamed up and the family from hell as neighbours
That's all folks.
