1st – 3rd April, Trip to Manchester & Yorkshire
Friday (1st April)
It's time for another weekend getaway to the North, originally I was going to book 2 nights in the Manchester area but hotels for the Saturday night were just silly money (£60 for ones with limited public transport options) so I looked further afield, ending up booking the Travelodge in Bradford for the Saturday night, with Stockport on the Friday night. The weather forecast looked reasonable for walking (i.e. no rain) so I was looking forward to getting away once more. Also I was looking forward for my first decent fast run on a Pendo from Euston for a while, but maybe I spoke too soon!
The trip began with the 17:59 service from Grateley to Basingstoke, a reasonably busy single 159. At Basingstoke I changed onto a pair of 444s from Weymouth which were busy in parts (and quiet in others) for the fast run towards Waterloo, calling only at Clapham Junction. After visiting Tesco for some dinner items, I headed up the many stairs to Waterloo East, jumping on a pair of 707s to London Bridge.
376017 at Waterloo East
In my view South Eastern have done a good job with the insides of the 707s they got from South Western, new seat covers & colours inside. They also look quite smart in the dark blue, shame I was only on them for a few minutes. At London Bridge I crossed over to the Thameslink platforms, jumping on the first train towards Blackfriars, stepping back to board the following train to St Pancras. I just love the view of the River Thames at night from Blackfriars station.
At St Pancras I walked over to Euston, a station in a bit of chaos due to damage to the overhead wires at Rugeley, I did ask staff if I could board an earlier train to Manchester (the heavily delayed 20:40 Manchester, I was booked on the 21:36 Manchester) but they said no (I’m sure in the Virgin Trains days when issues like this happened, they would have relaxed any ticket restrictions to get people moving, even if they were on an earlier train). The train to form the 21:36 was on the platform, but there was no staff, so it was a case of keeping eyes peeled for when it would get announced (doesn’t help that the screens next to the seats near the toilets at P1 were broken).
390009 at London Euston
Eventually the train got announced for boarding around 22:26 with the expected rush of passengers heading to try and claim an unreserved seat (or the sort who were lazy and just sat down at any old seat before moaning when they were asked to move). The train departed around 22:45 but due to engineering works was put onto the slow lines until south of Leighton Buzzard where they went onto the fast lines. I was surprised this train didn’t call additionally at Milton Keynes as the 21:00 service got cancelled [the one before hand went via Crewe, not much help for any Stoke or Macclesfield passengers].
When on the 2-track section via Weedon, the train slowed down, coming to a stop due to a track circuit failure up ahead, which cost us another 25 minutes of delays before the train cleared the area. At Rugby we got lucky as the mainline towards Rugeley had been reopened after the incident earlier in the day when a 350 decided it wanted to become a 91 and eat the wires (mmm yummy overhead wires). I dread to think how much later the train would have got if it went via Birmingham, although it did loss more time due to being on the slow line from Nuneaton towards Lichfield (now a mere 115 minutes late).
The train went via Colwich, passing Stone, which is where things went wrong once more, this time with the level crossings at the ghost stations of Barlaston & Wedgwood. Another 15 minutes lost before the train arrived at Stoke (where it did empty out). Thankfully for those wanting Macclesfield the train went as booked via Macclesfield (for a moment I was worried it would be forced to go via Crewe due to Macclesfield being closed for overnight works). Arrival into Stockport was at 01:51, a mere 134 minutes late, needless to say I was glad to get off that train on what felt like the journey from hell, getting to the hotel. Thankfully I had no issues checking in, so went straight to the room, turning off the heating (putting on the AC on full as it was sauna like), before crashing out.
Stockport Viaduct
Saturday
Thankfully unlike other times when I’ve come to Stockport, I didn’t really have a plan, other than a canalside walk from Mossley. When on the train heading to Stockport I noticed a required 769 was allocated to the 09:06 Southport service so that formed the basic of my plan when I woke up around 8am. After a quick scan of RTT highlighted neither of my remaining 2 769s were out, nor were my last 2 TPE 802s gettable I decided on a Tram & Train Ranger, just to save some money over getting a Wayfarer.
The day began with visiting Sainsburys for breakfast, before picking up my ranger from the ticket office (finally making use of a voucher I got from SWR last year when they overcharged me for parking at Romsey!). I headed up to platform 1-2, noticing that platform 2 was very busy (at first I was expecting them to try and fit on a 3 coach 175 for Wales but most remained in place, so I would imagine it was either London or a Nottingham train). As for me, it was onto a 769 for the lead to Cheadle Hulme to make a 5-minute connection to required 769424 coming the other way.
769442 at Cheadle Hulme
Why Cheadle Hulme? Just to clear it for ten miles by the time it reached Salford Crescent to save time. A short wait at Salford Crescent for a busy 3 coach 331 to take me back towards Piccadilly (noticing a 3 coach 195 was on a Wigan – Leeds service, which looked a bit out of place). At Piccadilly I had a short walk across to platform 1 to take a seat on a 185 working the next Huddersfield stopper which took me towards Mossley, going via platform 3 at Stalybridge (which did confuse me at first as I was expecting the more usual platform 4). Anyhow I alighted from the train at Mossley and started my walk.
Down a steep hill from the station to reach the bridge over the River Tame, followed by the bridge over the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, where I headed down a narrow path to join the towpath. A very pretty tree lined canal were my impressions as I walked along the towpath, although walking through Scout Tunnel was interesting as there wasn’t much headroom, and the tunnel gave walkers a free shower! Low bridges were a feature on this canal in places, but nothing too major (just needed to remember to walk close to the edge, watching my foot).
Who doesn't love an old canal tunnel?
I continued my walk along the canal, the rural nature giving way to industrial & residential as it reached Stalybridge, passing a Tesco & noticing the volume of litter & other fly-tipping had increased the closer I got to the town centre. I carried on along the towpath crossing over the River Tame on an aqueduct reaching the Ashton area where I had to leave the towpath to pass an Asda (the canal goes via a short tunnel here). The path running alongside the railway viaduct at this point, giving some nice views of the river on the opposite side. I feel the road crossing could have been improved as it did include a small dogleg before re-joining the towpath.
The next area of interest was Portland Basin where the Peak Forest Canal branches off to head towards New Mills. Also, at this point the Huddersfield Narrow Canal turns into the Ashton Canal for the next stage towards Manchester. The towpath runs close to the Guide Bridge Freightliner depot with a separate path coming away to head over the railway line (something on my list to do on another day). I carried on my walk passing Guide Bridge station, going underneath a motorway (and a freight line).
Ashton Canal
I carried on my walk along the canal towpath as it carried on heading towards Manchester, going via Droylsden & Openshaw (where the old Stockport canal branched off which I walked last December). The canal reached the area where the Commonwealth Games were held in 2002 (and where Man City play their kickball). The towpath got busier at this point as I continued heading towards Manchester city centre, passing some older buildings & some newer buildings, crossing over the area near New Islington tram stop. I carried on as the buildings close to the canal were now mostly residential. I crossed another aqueduct (this one going over a road) as I reached the end of the canal as it ran into the Piccadilly Basin.
Now onto the Rochdale Canal I was in two minds whenever to continue along the canal to reach Deansgate, but I decided enough was enough for today and headed towards Morrisons (which has certainly changed since the last time I visited, in terms of store layout, although the baguettes weren’t as nice as they normally are). I ended the walk at Market Street Metrolink, the city centre was very busy, so it was time to go play with some trams, hunting down both some of the newer batch which have slowly been entering service in the last few months (3121 and above) plus to see if any of my “Sub-Mile” trams would pop up.
In the words of Moby, Lift Me Up
First up was a pair of trams which I took to St Peter’s Square, before in a linear fashion scored 3128, 3124, 3127 & 3133 ending up at Sale Water Park (making a splash!) I headed back towards Morrisons at Chorlton (use of the toilet and also to grab some drink), before a few sub-mile trams were ticked off, with new trams 3135 & 3132 also ticked off.
Tram 3133
I was at Cornbrook and had an idea earlier on to head towards Victoria to try and catch the 17:55-odd Wigan service for the slight novelty of a 195 on the line via Swinton, got that idea got binned as I headed towards Harbour City on winner 3130. A short walk followed towards the Imperial War Museum stop to try and intercept a low mileage tram, but due to a mistake on Google Maps suggesting a path was available (where in fact it was private and was gated) meant I missed it (so gave chase to Barton Dock Road on the following service). The area around the docks is on my list to visit (I have a lot of things on that list in the Manchester area).
Old Railway Bridge in Salford Docks
The revised plan was successful as I grabbed low mileage 3030 back to Village, returning to The Trafford Centre on the following tram, solely to tick off the opposite platform (the preferred platform got switched a few months back), also for the novelty of a pair of trams to the renamed stop. Certainly, felt like it needed pairs out with the shoppers heading back to the city centre! At Cornbrook my plan changed again (was going to head towards Piccadilly to take a train out towards Woodsmoor for a better photo) but required tram 3136 was heading towards East Didsbury. However a good thing I checked train times as there was nothing towards Manchester for the next hour so I bailed at St Werburghs Road.
Back towards Manchester, however I mistimed as the kickball at Old Trafford had finished so the tram got very busy at Trafford Bar tram stop and I made the mistake at changing at Cornbrook (should have stayed on to Deansgate). I eventually squeezed onto a double from Trafford Centre which was terminating at Deansgate (guess that makes sense, considering the centre platform is available again). I gave up with the trams and headed across to Deansgate station to catch a busy 331 to Piccadilly, making a tight connection onto a pair of 185s on a Cleethorpes service.
End of the Trafford Centre Branch
I was shocked that when I boarded the front coach was empty, a family followed me on board (and like me they were only going to Stockport). I was expecting the train to be a bit busier (it was busier in the rear coaches though). At Stockport I had a short wait before a bit of a novelty in the shape of a pair of 323s from Stoke (first time having a pair of Northern 323s, although very common in Birmingham). I took these back to Piccadilly, where I grabbed dinner before heading to the Metrolink platforms for a tram to Victoria. I made a tight connection to a pair of 150s heading towards Salford Central, allowing me to board a 3 coach 158 on what should be my booked train to Bradford (the theory in boarding at Salford was in case there was a large crowd waiting for it at Victoria).
A rare Electric Train calling at Salford Central
158752 rolled in from Wigan to terminate at Victoria, a Brucie bonus in this unit having USB sockets fitted (allowing me to charge my phone up) and where it was busy on departure (calling additionally at the stops before Rochdale to cover for a cancelled train) it soon emptied out. Soon enough the train had reached Bradford Interchange, where I had a short walk to the Travelodge outside Forster Square station (I could even see a 333 from my room window!). No issues with getting checked in and soon enough it was time to relax (after a much-needed shower). An enjoyable walk along the canal towpath, seeing parts of Greater Manchester I’ve not seen before, followed by a good tram hunt.
View from room at Bradford Travelodge. Spot the 333!
Sunday
The original idea for today was to walk the old railway line from Low Moor towards Dewsbury, however due to the TPE strike I changed my mind. As I did a canal walk on the Saturday I didn’t want to do another canal walk from Shipley towards Leeds (or towards Bingley & beyond), so I settled on the old railway line walk from Castleford towards Garforth as that had stations at both ends (rather than needing to use buses like a couple of the other disused railway line paths in Yorkshire). This line closed in the late 80s and looking at Wikipedia was mainly used by freight & coal trains from the various Collieries.
After a decent sleep, I checked out of the hotel, going via McDonalds for something warm to eat for breakfast before heading to Forster Square station to buy a West Yorkshire Train Day Ranger and waited for the first train towards Leeds rolled in from Leeds, where I was welcomed onboard (the 333s are ever so polite). At Leeds I swung via Boots to grab some bits for lunch before heading to platform 14 to take a 158 forming a Selby stopper to Garforth, where todays walk was starting. I decided to swap direction of walk to avoid a longer fester at Leeds.
"Welcome to the Leeds Train"
The first section of the walk was on the streets around Garforth before picking up a footpath which led towards to the former trackbed. I did a small double back to Ninelands Lane where the trackbed (known as “The Lines” path) ended, to be honest it would have been easier to reach this point from East Garforth but never-mind. I returned to follow the path in a mostly southern direction, going via some woods (which were quite pretty), passing the site of the long-closed Kippax station (no real evidence other than the road being called “Station Road”).
Old Garforth - Castleford Railway Line
I carried along the path reaching the area where Bowers station used to be (again no evidence that it existed), where I turned away from the mainline onto another mixed used path leading towards the former St Aidan's opencast mining site, which has been turned into a lake & RSPB Nature Reserve. It was rather beautiful, lots of birds flying around and I did a nice gentle loop around the main Bower’s Lake, pausing at the old Walking Dragline machine (called Oddball due to being built in America). Certainly, this is an area I wouldn’t mind revisiting again for a decent explore.
Bower's Lake (RSPB St Aidans)
I returned towards the old railway route (still with tracks in one of the roads), and headed towards another lake, this time Lowther Lake. It wasn’t as pretty as Bower’s Lake, made worse as the path I was following was muddy in places (also it was tree lined so options to view the lake were limited to walking onto fishing pontoons for photos). Soon enough I was back on my outward journey re-joining the main line around Bowers, to continue along the path to reach the settlement of Allerton Bywater.
This Railway Path Walk Terminates Here
This is where the former railway path comes to an end, the route has been partly built over before disappearing (in terms of public access). I headed onto the road, pausing at a little Tesco Express to grab a bottle of pop before heading towards Newton Lane, for a spot of on-road walking to reach a path which ran alongside the edge of RSPB Fairburns Ings, another pretty area of wetland. This path came out going underneath the Castleford viaduct (where the old railway route went over the River Aire on a large viaduct) to join a path which runs alongside the River Aire, before following the Aire & Calder Navigation to reach a road bridge to head towards Castleford itself.
Castleford Viaduct
I had one eye on the time so didn’t really slow down during the last section via Castleford high street to reach the station with 5 minutes to spare. Since my last visit there is a new station building (very fancy), and it looks like the former 2nd platform is getting restructured (future engineering works maybe?) Anyhow the train from Sheffield rolled in, a 150 attached to a 158. Sadly the 158 was locked out of use due to short platforms at a couple of the stations on this route so it was everybody into the 150. I got lucky to get a seat in the luggage area, unlike those who boarded at Woodlesford who had no such luck.
The train arrived in Leeds a few minutes early, giving me a couple hours to waste before my booked train home, so I headed over to a busy 333 on a Skipton service which I took to Saltaire (I needed some better photos), returning to Shipley on another 333. I changed over to board a 331 on an Ilkley service, changing my mind to bail at Menston to take the next Bradford train (another 331) to Bradford Forster Square. Solely because it had a power socket and also to clear the Leeds Electrics network for 331 coverage.
331110 departs Menston
I had a gentle walk across the city centre to reach Bradford Interchange, where I noticed a 195 for Manchester looked quite cosy, but I was aiming for a 150+158 combo from Huddersfield. The 158 was nice and quiet as I took it back to Leeds, to finish my time with the Northern trains for this trip. I headed out of the station at Leeds to change my socks and also to grab dinner from Boots before heading to my booked train to London.
Winner 800201 was leading dud 801105 on the 16:45 service to London, which due to engineering works around Wakefield, was going via the Hambleton East – South chord (near South Milford). It felt strange departing Leeds heading to London going via Neville Hill! Acceleration on the 800+801 combo was a bit slow on diesel (the 801 being dragged by the 800), but soon enough the wires were reached on the ECML and it switched over to electric.
800201 at Leeds
A short delay at Doncaster on this busy service, but that delay was made back up with calls at Newark & Peterborough, arriving at Kings Cross near enough bang on time (if not a minute or 2 early). I went straight to the underground with the usual Victoria line followed by Bakerloo to Waterloo, heading towards the 19:45 Salisbury service which SWR had very kindly sent out a single 158.
I boarded it around 19:25 (so 5 minutes after an Exeter train had gone) and it was already busy. It only got worse as time went on, but not as bad for overcrowding as some trains as the aisle wasn’t full (but every seat looked like it was taken, even in 1st class). An hour and a bit later I alighted from the train at Grateley to walk home, the end of an enjoyable weekend. Two nice walks in decent weather.
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