14-JUN-2013
Once again a sunny Shepley is the start of the "adventure"
.....into the deepest wilds of West Yorkshire using the Metro Day Rover
Travelling light this time the grumpy ones are in good cheer as they wait to see just what Northern Rail throw at them this time.......it could be a long day on a Pacer!
The southbound train arrives on time as we await the Huddersfield bound train.
14-JUN-2013
Northern pull out the stops and offer up a class 150 for us today.
On time, plenty of seats, and a cheery guard(ess),(compared to us anyway!), make for a reasonable start to the trip.
The 10-30 departure is on time.......which is a late start for us old folks!
14-JUN-2013
After a hard morning's work the 150 ticks over in the bay platform 2 at Huddersfield while we work out just where next....the world is almost our Oyster
14-JUN-2013
The "Head of Steam" will have to wait till later as we head for platform 6
....and the Northern departure for Bradford via Brighouse and Halifax.
14-JUN-2013
An unusual sight at Huddersfield....
..... is to see a TPEx formation parked up in the stabling sidings usually reserved for our beloved Northern Pacers.
This train had reportedly hit an object on the line and had been sidelined for inspection before being allowed to move off.
The outcome was OK as it eventually restarted up and moved to join the mainline.
14-JUN-2013
Northern continue to excel with a three car formation of class 158 units
to do the run to Bradford Interchange.
Smartly turned out, plenty of table seats, on time apart from a minute or so thanks to a late running TPEx, and up to Bradford where we got off the train was quite with plenty of room for all....its all going very well.
Due to dietary requirements we were only allowed to smell the bacon in the buffet whilst buying the coffee!
14-JUN-2013
Despite many trips via Huddersfield station,
I have never noticed this bit of kit on the line before. it looks like a system for blocking the line to prevent premature departure of trains from platform 6 out onto the main running lines.
Will keep an eye out next time to see it in operation.
14-JUN-2013
The heady days of spotting at Bradford Exchange have long since gone.
Note book in hand and a day return from Halifax hoping for plenty of action at Low Moor Shed on the journey, ...now its part of the bus station, a cold unwelcoming modern design.
No more interesting trains unless you count the Grand Central DMUs to London....no glamour!
The downhill approach requires some significant engineering to stop potential runaways.
26 miles is the total to date at this point.
14-JUN-2013
A short walk thru Bradford takes us to Forster Square Stn.
The big hole, closed retail units and general lack of vibrancy made this part of Bradford seem a little sad. I am sure the revamped area around the City Hall is a big improvement though.
The big threat currently is to the Media Museum, the smaller of the three Science Museum northern outposts, due to budget cuts.
Its up against the NRM and Manchester Science and Industry Museums for funds
Class 333 for Ilkley was the first train out so on we jumped for a smooth departure from the really long platforms. Nice trains these electrics even if they are hand me downs.
14-JUN-2013
You can tell its posh here....passengers holding "House and Gardens Magazine"
.....compared to the "Hello" and "Heat" seen in Bradford/Huddersfield. Almost on par with Shepley!
Pleasant enough station to sit in the sun and partake of lunch.
Mr Marks and Mr Spencer provided it in line with dietary orders.....sandwich, sushi and orange juice.....not a single bacon baguette to be seen.
14-JUN-2013
First train out after lunch took us down to Leeds
A diversion from original plan to go back to Shipley, but of little consequence to overall plan.
Into Leeds makes the running total of miles now 56.
14-JUN-2013
Still looking for our first pacer of the day, we are a little disappointed when the Morecambe train rolls in as a 150 set.....only two cars though so getting close. trains should have more than 2 carriages...otherwise a double decker bus would be better! Note the drivers cab is different from the Shepley variant...ie it is designed to be coupled to something else!
What a difference from the smooth quiet 333s!
Came in from a depot, we assume, so why was the train still full of discarded newspapers?? Black mark Northern!
Good story in the Metro though about the punter ringing 999 to complain the lady of the night he had hired was not as pretty as described...claimed it was a breach of the Sale of Goods act...I know who needs locking up!
We take this one to Keighley for a nose around the KWVR before returning back to Leeds.
Mileage at Keighley 73.
14-JUN-2013
Our timing was off as the single train operating the KWVR line was not due for over 45 mins....
...but still time for a coffee and calorie free (the lady in the café confirmed this fact) piece of flapjack whilst soaking in the glory of this fine station.
Even the Northern rail part of the old building is in a fine condition retaining its old world charm. 10/10 for my friends at Northern for this.
14-JUN-2013
A wonderful platform approach...timeless in black and white.
14-JUN-2013
A bit of a jump here to Hebden Bridge.
Leaving Keighley we returned to Leeds just in time to miss the Friday rush and then hopped on a train (Class 144 2 car unit)) to Hebden Bridge going via Dewsbury and Brighouse. Then being distracted by the phone I missed a decent photo of our Class 150 train back to Halifax....that bloke keeps getting in the way!
Excitement peaked when this train stopped for 11 minutes close to Sowerby Bridge, the front carriage was evacuated and eventually we moved off. At least it was a 4 car "train".
Something to do with the lights on the front of the train...what that had to do with turfing the passengers out I am not sure...H&S eh , who would go into that field for a rewarding profession!!! Give everyone a orange Hi-Vis and all will be well.
Mileage at Hebden Bridge.....115
14-JUN-2013
A class 158 arrives from Bradford into Halifax....my home town station.
Like Bradford Exchange, a long way from its glory days but at least the buildings have been retained for use by the Eureka museum and not demolished.
14-JUN-2013
With an empty front carriage the off colour 150 departs for Bradford/Leeds.
Lights seem to be working OK now but guard ensured no-one was in the front coach.
14-JUN-2013
Part of the Eureka Museum now ,this is the old Halifax station building
with the disused platform in the foreground.
My memory says there were at least 5 or 6 platforms in use when I was a lad....now down to 2.
.
.
Memory not that bad! cut and paste the web address...7 platforms in its heady days.
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~calderdalecompanion/kk_201.html
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~calderdalecompanion/31_h2191.html
14-JUN-2013
Only two more trains to go.....will we get our Pacer?
Not on this leg...Class 155 arrives from Leeds with the train to Huddersfield. One of only 7 remaining sets in use(the rest were converted to single car 153s)
.....and they were based on the Pacer construction principles...so almost there!!!
Nestle...aka Mackintosh's Quality Street factory on the right.
123 miles at this point.
14-JUN-2013
Back at Huddersfield now....lost ticket found.....it was being sat on!
A drink in the Head of Steam.....missed one train to Shepley.... so had another.
Copper Dragon bitter and the Timmy Taylor's Landlord were fine...not so sure about the Holt's Mild though....strange taste and I am a mild liker.
14-JUN-2013
At last a Pacer Class 142 but not our train! hard to believe but these did run on the Holyhead/Scarborough cross country route...some numb bums there I would suspect.
Good news is that due to the Disability Act, with which they don't comply, they have to be withdrawn by 2019....only 6 more years to sample their delights!
..and back some 140 miles later back at Shepley. I make that 4.7p per mile...value enough for even Grumpy old Yorkies...
And yes the Class 144 is designated a Pacer...but an up market one....in fact this 3 car set is one of only 10 such 3 car "pacer units"
It does have the single axles not bogies so the ride is up to full pacer expectations!
They are Buses!
So overall, for a 100% Northern day out......8/10 not bad performance at all.
