27th – 30th October, A long weekend in the North West
When the Branch Line Society announced details of a “Mainline EMU Tour” I decided to book my usual place in Crewe for a long weekend considering it had free cancellation so if the tour wasn’t that interesting, I could still do something else. Needless to say, when the details came out for a 508-farewell covering not only the main terminals (less Kirkby) but having some more unusual track thrown in (sidings/depots) I decided to book the tour, just to say farewell to the old Merseyrail units as they are slowly getting replaced by the modern Stadler units.
27th October – Onwards to Crewe
The trip began with the 17:59 service from Grateley towards Basingstoke, unusually formed of a single 158881 (usually this service is a single 159), so it was a bit busier than usual. Arrival into Basingstoke was on time so making the connection to the 18:35 was quite easy as I did my usual trick in moving towards the rear of the train as 444030 rolled in with 444016 on the rear. The front coaches looked quite busy (based on when it rolled into the station), but I managed to get a private table in the 9th coach which was lightly loaded.
These 444s took me to Waterloo, even featuring a ticket check. At Waterloo I had around 75 minutes to reach Euston for my booked LNR service so with the weather being dry I set off on one of my usual Underground avoidance walks. Nothing too exciting as it was the usual route (across Waterloo Bridge, then towards Holborn & Russel Square), might not be the shortest but it’s the easiest. A beautiful view of the buildings from the River Thames when I crossed it on Waterloo Bridge and around 40 minutes later, I arrived at Euston.
444016 at London Waterloo
After popping to the toilets, I hung back until the 350s which would form the 20:46 to Crewe would roll in, taking a seat as soon as the platform got confirmed (just in case LNR decided to do a set-swap). 350126 was at the front with 350373 on the rear as I took a seat on the extra legroom table seat behind the drivers cab on 126, settling down to waste some videos on my tablet for the journey to Cheshire. A quiet service which was uneventful, arriving at Crewe a couple of minutes early.
I headed towards the shared house, locating the key to the single room and sorted my bag out for the long weekend (always feels nice to take all the weight of clothes & bottles of water out). Sadly, there was a couple in one of the other rooms who decided to watch TV in the early hours (2/3am) before moving downstairs to talk loudly, the lady having a really annoying high-pitched laugh which she laughed at nearly everything the gentleman said. So, sleep was a bit rough trying to drown out that noise.
28th October – The Walk to Wigan Pier
Today I decided to walk the Bridgewater Canal to its end at Leigh before the Leigh of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. This was after some research using Google Maps to the towpath quality as this time of year the more rural towpaths (based on grass/soil) start turning muddy (especially after all the rain the country has had recently). The weather forecast was quite changeable but was mostly overcast in the morning with rain moving in come the afternoon, I had the potential break point at Leigh (to make use of the guided busway) in the event the weather did turn nasty.
The day began with the 06:29 service towards Stockport, formed of 197007 & 197018 where I quickly exited the station to acquire a GM Rail Ranger from the Avanti TVMs before returning to the platform to jump on a quiet pair of 150s (115 + 225) on a train from Buxton. At Piccadilly I made a tight connection onto a pair of 331s (024+022) which were heading towards the Airport to alight at Heald Green, simply as a time-wasting move before 331012 rolled in from the Airport on the Liverpool stopper which I took to Patricroft. At one stage I was considering bailing at Eccles but that can wait for another trip.
331012 departs Patricroft Station
I soon joined the Bridgewater canal where I turned north underneath the railway line following the towpath towards Worsley where it headed west away from the urban area and into a very rural area with some moss land to the south of the canal (sadly this did mean this part of the canal was noisy from road traffic from the M62, being carried across the wilderness). This section of the canal also featured dual towpaths which unusually both looked decent quality. My walk continued reaching Astley Green and Leigh with some more beautiful countryside, unspoiled by modern developments.
All good things sadly must come to an end as countryside gave way to the town of Leigh, which looked a bit rough round the edges, both with older industrial buildings left to rot & tall fences. Anyhow I continued along the towpath as the Bridgewater Canal came to an end with the junction with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, these days the junction simply being a couple of signs between the privately owned Bridgewater Canal & Canal + Riverboat Trust owned Leeds & Liverpool Canal. I managed to get a photo of the “Welcome to the Bridgewater Canal” sign but the “Welcome to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal” sign was covered in various artwork.
The start of the Bridgewater Canal in Leigh
The weather was still reasonable, the sun had even attempted to come out a few times, so I continued my walk along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, heading towards the settlement of Plank Lane alongside the Pennington Flash. A flash is a body of water that forms where the land below it has subsided (to quote Wikipedia). Quite beautiful in places with the autumn colours of the trees and peaceful as the canal went into more countryside, before passing an old pub (Dover Lock?) which was part destroyed.
I continued along the path, swapping banks north of the Abram area before the path headed underneath the WCML (I dread to think how many times I’ve been on a train on that bridge over the years). The area went quite scenic with some more ‘flashes’ before going underneath the Wigan – Liverpool railway line (a bridge which looked like it used to be 4 tracks by the width of the brickwork). Next up was the Wigan Flashes Country Park, a beautiful area before the outskirts of Wigan was reached in the Poolstock area. One minor dislike with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal I found was with the distance signs, rather than giving an actual distance they gave a time which I found was a bit worthless because everybody walks at different rates. I would rather the sign said, “3 miles” rather than ’60 minutes’ (for an example).
Wigan - Liverpool railway line bridge over the Leeds & Liverpool (Leigh Branch) Canal in Wigan
Anyhow signage rant over, the canal continued with more industrial buildings before it reached the junction with the main Leeds & Liverpool Canal and I headed towards Wigan Pier where the rain did eventually start. At Wigan Pier where my walk ended, I headed along the road to reach Wigan North Western station (passing a revenue block and via the Morrisons Daily outside Wallgate station for some lunch). 319368 took me one stop to Bryn (as I needed some better photos of the station) where I could relax on a station bench before 319385 rolled in to take me to Wigan North Western. Who knows that could be the last time I travel on a 319 in Northern.
319368 departs Bryn
Back at Wigan I walked the short distance to Wigan Wallgate to board 150122 & 156411 on a Manchester Oxford Road service from Southport, which I took to Deansgate (after wasting around 10 minutes caught up in congestion). I dashed to the tram stop for trams 3043+3020 to take me towards Victoria for I had noticed something a bit unusual with TPE today. It would have been quicker to walk due to congestion in the city centre caused by some sort of protest march (I wasn’t really paying attention). This tram was meant to go via Exchange Square but was diverted via Market Street causing extra delay (had I known Manchester city centre was that bad I would have changed at Salford Crescent for something towards Victoria!
Anyhow the tram made it to Victoria as I had a fast walk towards platform 3 to board a slightly late running 802202 on the next Manchester Airport service, busy in places but I managed to get a seat for the trip towards Piccadilly for the novelty of an 802 via the Ordsall Chord (and first time I’ve been on a train which made use of the overhead wires on the white elephant chord). Another slow crawl caused by congestion the train even randomly getting put into platform 14 at Piccadilly (using 14B) which I think is the first time I’ve used a train from 14b (think it was due to following an EMR service which was doing the usual EMR trick in having a 90% turnover off passengers causing delays due to the narrow doors of a 158).
802202 at Manchester Piccadilly
For lack of a better idea, I headed towards the main train shed to take a seat on 323239 for the run to Flowery Field station for a short walk via a housing estate to reach Hyde North, a station I needed for some better photos. It wasn’t long before 150144 & 156405 arrived so I could escape Hyde (which isn’t the nicest area of Manchester), I still think it’s strange how the Hadfield electrics skip Gorton + Fairfield whereas the slower diesels call at those stations. Anyhow this 150+156 combo took me back towards Piccadilly where I had a short walk back over to platform 13 as winner 197008 rolled in along with dud 197002. Onwards to Manchester Airport, probably the first of many runs to the Airport on required 197s when I’m on a GM Rail ticket).
197008 at Manchester Airport
Arrival into the Airport was on time, allowing an easy connection onto 331028 on the next Blackpool train, unusually running solo, and needless to say it was quite busy after Oxford Road where I alighted to wait for winner 197106 to eventually pop up as once more the Castelfield corridor had somewhat fallen over with delays. The 197 was on time when it passed Eccles but lost 10 minutes by the time it reached Oxford Road. I took this 3 coach 197 (aka the Kit Kat Carrier) to Manchester Airport, remaining on board for the return to Piccadilly, where I made a tight cross platform leap onto 158864 + 158785 on the next Nottingham service to take me towards Stockport to intercept a required pair of 197s on the next Manchester service which would split at Piccadilly to form the 19:30 & 20:30 services (due to the loco hauled set which arrives at 20:10 going ECS to Crewe).
Winners 197046 & 197042 rolled in to take me back to Manchester Piccadilly, where I remained on 197042 on the 19:30 service which I took to Wilmslow. I was originally meant to alight at Stockport, but I couldn’t get off the train due to the overcrowding. Anyhow a quick change of platform at a very wet Wilmslow (for the heavy rain had finally arrived) for DVT 82201 leading a former GC set with 67015 on the rear giving it a good push on the next Manchester service.
A big red skip at Wilmslow
This loco hauled set took me back to Manchester Piccadilly for the last time and I climbed onto 197046, managing to get one of the few seats remaining as it departed Manchester rather cosy (for it was the last direct train for stations beyond Shrewsbury). The train did the usual trick in emptying out at Crewe as I headed back towards the shared house, swinging via Tiger Bite for a meaty pizza (and garlic bread) which was consumed in the lounge when it was quiet. Sadly, the quiet in the house was short lived as the loud couple returned and resumed the loud high-pitched laughing at everything. Although I think the gentleman in the downstairs room asked them to be quiet around midnight as they soon went to bed, and the house went quiet.
Anyhow a good day in Manchester, an enjoyable canal walk from Eccles towards Wigan, a decent towpath near enough throughout (a few puddles but no waterlogged muddy sections). A few more 197s into my book plus some other sprinter-based noise (for they do make a nice noise on the fast section between Bolton & Salford).
29th October – Saying farewell to the 508s.
The main event of this weekend trip, the “5:08 Sunset” tour run by the BLS as a little farewell to the old 508s on Merseyrail. The day began for me with a walk to Crewe station to board 158840 on the first TfW service for Holyhead to Chester where I made a tight (and unplanned) connection to the 09:00 Merseyrail service (only because said Merseyrail service was running a couple of minutes late). I was surprised when 507033 rolled in to take me to Hooton. As I was thirty minutes ahead of my plan (to reach Birkenhead Central) I hung back to photograph the tour as it passed Hooton (going via platform 2) before jumping onto winner 777015 for the run to Birkenhead Central for the next official pick-up (the 777 overtook the tour as it reversed into one of the bays at Rock Ferry).
After popping out of the station at Birkenhead Central (being surprised at the lack of barriers considering its location) for a photo, I returned to the platform with the tour train, formed of 508141 & 508139 arrived. I was in coach C, so thankfully a motor coach as I grabbed a seat as the tour set off towards the tunnels. The first bit of unusual track was the Stock interchange line linking James Street & Liverpool Central, as the tour paused for the final pick-up at Liverpool Central before heading into the reversing siding to the south of the station (well it wouldn’t be a BLS tour without the odd siding thrown in for good measure).
508139 passing Hooton
The tour continued with the unusual use of the bi-directional track by travelling northbound on the normally southbound track via Moorfields (some confused looking faces on that platform) before heading towards Ormskirk. A quick reversal at Ormskirk and it was back towards the Kirkdale direction, reversing outside the station near the junction to head towards Kirkby. Another reversal was made on the single-track section between Fazakerley & Kirkby (as 6 coach 507/8s can’t run into Kirkby these days as part of the 3rd rail got pulled up). The tour headed back towards Sandhills with a little trip via Kirkdale depot.
Another unusual move was made at Sandhills as the train reversed on the platform to head north (using the bi-directional track) passing Bank Hall the wrong way before gaining the regular northbound line near Bootle Junction (where there is a connection between the Liverpool docks branch & the Merseyrail network). The tour continued heading north and into the wall siding just beyond Hall Road, reversing twice to carry on north towards Southport (both driving cabs had drivers in, to make the multiple reversal moves a lot easier).
Arrival into Southport was near enough on time, giving around 40 minutes for a break. After some photos and seeing the queue for the toilets I noticed a Northern 150 on platform 6 which wasn’t due out for 15 minutes, so I popped onto the 150 to make use of the toilet on there (sneaky I know, but better than waiting for 10+ minutes). I exited the station, noticing there was a Tesco Express outside the station (which will be useful for future trips) and popped into Boots for some food before returning to the station to eat said food on one of the station benches before going back on board.
508141 alongside 507032 at Southport
Departure from Southport was made with a reversal to the south of the station to access one of the sidings on the former 3rd side of the triangle (in the olden days used to be a direct link between Birkdale & Meols Cop avoiding Southport, but this area lost a lot of railways in the 60s). After a visit to the carriage siding, it was back heading south (some nice noise from the motors at high speed), the next unusual bit of track was going via the northbound platform at Moorfields going south before a break at Liverpool Central. The tour continued towards Hunts Cross where it headed into platform 2 for another short break before heading back into the city centre.
The Stock interchange line was traversed once more as the train headed underneath the river and onto the Wirral with a run towards Bidston, reversing into the reversing siding (the remains of the former 3rd side of the triangle which gave access towards New Brighton). After a further reversal it was a trip to West Kirby for a short break before heading back towards Birkenhead North, using platform 1 and reversing on the opposite side of the station to head towards New Brighton for a longer break as darkness had fallen.
507004 & 508131 at New Brighton
Back on the move once more as the train did a little reversing move outside the station at New Brighton to access one of the carriage sidings (number 1) before heading towards Birkenhead North, heading into the main shed within the depot itself. Another couple of reversals saw the tour back onto the main network and heading towards Liverpool, pausing at Lime Street where a good few passengers alighted before the tour continued (very slowly) towards Birkenhead North where I decided to bail. I would have liked to have continued towards Chester but I noticed the train it was following was running quite late so the run wouldn’t have been that fast. Just meant I missed out on going via Hooton P3 heading south, but I can live with that.
The next train at Birkenhead Central was a slightly late running 777001 on an Ellesmere Port service which I took to Bebington, intercepting 777015 to take me back towards Lime Street, just to push 015 over ten miles. At Liverpool Lime Street, I headed out of the station to grab some dinner, noticing that Northern were having a bad evening with a couple trains for Manchester via Chat Moss cancelled as well as a Blackpool stopper. I turned down the option of the direct route to Crewe (either on a pair of 350s or a 390) to head back to the Merseyrail platform for an unknown unit on Chester services.
777015 at Liverpool Lime Street
The gamble paid off with winner 777004 (which seemed to have run nonstop from Hooton to Moorfields as this would have been the late running unit the tour was stuck behind). I took this all the way to Chester, for a short 20-minute wait (turning down a busy looking 158+150 on a Holyhead – Birmingham via Crewe & Shrewsbury train, which I swear used to be the Sundays booked 175 via Stafford before TfW changed the timetable and ditched going via Stafford). The wait paid off with winner 197001 on the Crewe shuttle, with around 4 other passengers in the leading coach. This 197 took me to Crewe, ending up on platform 10 (first time in quite a while I’ve been on a train which used platform 10 at Crewe).
I exited the station, walking slowly back to the shared house where thankfully there was no sign of the noisy couple, and it was peaceful throughout. Staying in Crewe on the Sunday night was a wise decision as it meant I didn’t need to rely on Avanti to get back to London for the 23:35 Salisbury train. An enjoyable tour, covering much of the Merseyrail network plus the depots & a few sidings. A good way to say farewell to the older units as I’m not sure when the next time I will be in Liverpool will be, probably won’t be until February at the earliest, by which time the newer units might be in the majority of services.
197001 resting on platform 10 at Crewe
30th October – Heading home via the West Midlands
I was in a few minds what to do on this Monday, originally, I was considering walking the Trent & Mersey between Northwich & Sandbach to fill in a gap but decided that would be better waiting until the new year and to head towards Birmingham. The main goal would be to cover the latest extension to the West Midlands Metro network, the short section at the Wolverhampton end to the station. The day began with leaving the shared house (back in 3 weeks with any luck) and catching 390011 towards Wolverhampton (after catching 805005 passing the station on test, looking quite good in Avanti colours).
At Wolverhampton I managed to catch eyes on a dud 196 on a late running train to Birmingham before hanging back before dud 196104 rolled in (originally, I had it as a winner, but I forgot to remove it from my list back in August, oops!). This 196 took me to Birmingham (where it would go ECS to the depot) and I popped out of the station (after buying a Daytripper from the Avanti TVMs). First up was winner tram 58 which I took to Edgbaston Village, where it used the platform on the left-hand side on arrival (previously I’ve used the platform on right hand side, so a little bit of new track).
West Midlands Tram 58 at Edgbaston Village
I remained on the same tram for the run back towards the city centre, alighting at Corporation Street to walk back to New Street station (for no reason other than to waste time). I had time to kill before winner 196106 rolled in from Shrewsbury around 20 minutes late, and thankfully it departed before the stopper. I took this 196 to Wolverhampton, exiting the station and having a walk to Pipers Row (just outside the bus station) for tram 58 to the Wolverhampton Station stop. Once more I remained on board for the trip back to Pipers Row as earlier, I saw tram 50 following this one, but it must have been swapped over for tram 44.
I took this tram to The Royal stop, changing platforms for tram 46 for the slow journey back towards the station stop, just to cover the new track in both directions. At Wolverhampton I headed towards platform 5 to board 350258 on the Walsall stopper to take me to Tipton where a little walk began. This walk was following some paths which I think followed part of the old route of the Wednesbury Oak Loop canal, leading towards the Willingsworth Linear Park & the remains of the Gospel Oak branch of the Walsall Canal. Nothing really of interest along this section other than evidence of old bridges which have been infilled.
350258 alongside 350261 at Tipton Station
The first part of the walk ended when I reached the Walsall Canal, going underneath the tramway and coming away on a path alongside the remains of the Bradley Lock Branch (now part of the Moorcroft Nature Reserve). This area was quite scenic with trees and a partly watered canal which came to an end near some old locks near a railway bridge carrying the tramway. After this point the canal has disappeared with some evidence of old bridges at the roads. The path continued towards the Weddell Wynd and Bilston, where the canal resumed with the Wednesbury Oak Loop.
West Midland Metro bridge over the remains of the Bradley Locks Branch Canal, Bilston
I continued along the towpath of the Wednesbury Oak Loop canal, no evidence that is gets used by boats (well it is a dead-end) but the towpath was good quality. I had a little detour towards Loxdale tram stop where I did consider calling an end to the walk but as the next tram wasn’t required, I returned to the canal to follow the towpath which was in no means straight to the end of the canal where it met up with the Birmingham Canal Main Line. I headed south along this canal, keeping my eyes on the sky as it was looking more and more moody as time went on, reaching Coseley station just as a Walsall train had departed, not to worry I was thinking as a Wolverhampton bound train would be following a few minutes later.
Well, that train wasn’t running, neither was the following service as both were showing as cancelled on the PIS, so it was backup plan as I headed towards the main road (the A4123) as the heavens opened, jumping on a National Express West Midlands route 8 bus (6779) for the trip to Wolverhampton bus station. Quite a nice interior to these buses as it made its way towards the bus station, and I had a short walk (via Sainsburys for some late lunch) to the railway station to board 350374 leading 350255 on the train from Liverpool.
Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line from top of Coseley Tunnel
This service took me to Birmingham New Street, where I made an easy connection onto the next London train formed of 350253 & 350108 (no prize at which unit I was sitting in). Both toilets on 108 were out of use with a few announcements from the guard to say the toilets in the leading unit were available. That was until Northampton where the guards changed over and the first thing the replacement guard did was to lock out the gangway doors to prevent anybody walking between the units.
Arrival into London was near enough on time, and I set out on a gentle walk towards Waterloo, going via Gordon Square, Russell Square before heading into theatreland towards the Strand. I cut via Charing Cross station to reach the Golden Jubilee Bridge across the Thames and then towards Waterloo, going in via the Sidings entrance. Just to waste some time as the weather was dry. At Waterloo I took a seat on the 19:20 to Exeter, formed of 159019, 159002 & 158880 for the journey to Grateley, before walking home in the mist.
River Thames at night (from Golden Jubilee Bridge towards city)
An enjoyable day, a couple more bits I can remove from my “West Midlands” list, and an enjoyable weekend away. A good end to October with some more photos taken from this weekend available here Flickr Link: Have a good day :)
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