HMS Ark Royal
Established Member
The day started well with one of TPE's rebranded 185's standing ready to take me on 1P11 0548 Hull to Manchester Airport as far as Selby
185108 at Hull by N7242C, on Flickr
Arrival at Selby was on time and, after watching the unit depart, I sat and waited at a sunny Selby and used the free wi-fi coming from the next door bus depot from Arriva's MAX fleet. Why they leave it on all night, I do not know, but there you go... After updating my twitter followers using the hashtag #RedcarRequiem, I saw 158910 hove into view with the empty stock working from York for the shuttle back there. (Note: According to RTT, two trains should have entered Platform 3, but there was only the one. Now a pacer *did* enter Platform 1, so I assume that RTT is incorrect in this regard. If anyone can help me out, here, I would appreciate it)
158910 at Selby by N7242C, on Flickr
Now, this is where things get interesting... The online fares database kept sending me via Doncaster, but as the tickets said ANY ROUTE PERMITTED I confirmed with NRE and Northern that a via SBY and YRK routing was permitted instead. Once passing Colton Jn, I got up and headed to the doors ready for a dash to the platforms as, thanks to some clever driving and greens all the way from Selby to York, we actually arrived three minutes early which gave me enough time to dash from Platform 1, run up the steps, along the bridge, charge down and perform a forward half dive into the rear carriage of 185107. The female guard came through a few minutes later and said that it was one of the most bravest thing she had ever seen and that she'd kept the doors open for me to make it onboard 185107 which operated 1N79 0718 York to Middlesbrough.
[youtube]ka4NpOweZag[/youtube]
Northallerton by N7242C, on Flickr
I crossed under the tracks and went to the station ticket office to purchase my Tyne Tees Rover only to find the station was only accepting cash purchases and not card - TPE had said nothing about this online... After being given two stories about buying it on the train, something I tend not to do, I walked into the town, found a cash machine, walked back and purchased the ticket. After arriving at Middlesbrough, I played a safety shot by getting a train from there to Redcar Central and back so that I could at least say that I had passed through Redcar British Steel in case delayed or cancelled trains would not allow me to get in position for the sole stopping service that afternoon - 142022 performing this vital duty whilst 142079 would arrive a minute or two later with a trip to Darlington which was taken all the way back
142022 - Redcar Central by N7242C, on Flickr
Redcar Central by N7242C, on Flickr
IMG_20160423_094336[1] by N7242C, on Flickr
I transferred to an unknown 185 that already had drunken "ladies" onboard for a quick run to Durham, before making my first ever trip onboard a crosscountry service - 221119 carrying me to Newcastle.
221119 by N7242C, on FlickrNow I was able to make use of the onboard wifi and tweeted this bit of "news" and they were actually kind enough to reply. I should really tell them that their First Class wifi system has a spot of leakage as it could be received from outside the First Class compartment. I had to stand between Durham and Newcastle, but it gave me the great opportunity to capture two bridges from the train as we passed by them on the approach to the station
Bridges at Newcastle by N7242C, on Flickr
Lunch was the order of the day and, after going to the Sainsbury inside Newcastle station, I decided to go as far north as I could and went to Morpeth with 142095 obliging me greatly.
142095 - Newcastle by N7242C, on Flickr
After returning on the same unit, I quickly found out from my good friends over at VTEC Twitter Desk that 91118 was working southbound with one of the Plush Tush rakes that I had been wanting to try out for some time. The noble train took me back to Darlington...
VTEC 91118 at Darlington by N7242C, on Flickr
Where 142022 was waiting to take me to Thornaby
142022 - Darlington by N7242C, on Flickr
Upon arriving there, and on a whim, I got off and waited for the next train to come along which was, to my surprise, a 156. It was the first Northern 156 I had travelled on in five years as they are rare visitors to Hull now. This was taken to Middlesbrough ready for the main event!
156463 - Middlesbrough by N7242C, on Flickr
I am afraid to say that I did not get the 142 that carried me to Saltburn, but I arrived there and had enough time to grab a picture of the station sign and watch the guard have a crafty smoke on the end of the platform before getting back on and heading off to Redcar British Steel and eternal glory!!!
Saltburn station sign by N7242C, on Flickr
My original plan had been to quickly jump off and get the guard to take my picture under the sign, but a battalion of pushchairs blocked me in my seat which I was most annoyed about, so I attempted to go to selfie mode on the tablet and take an image, but the screen locked up and refused to snap an image. What I did not know, until I was sorting out the pictures for this trip report, was that it had, in fact, taken a picture in the forward viewing mode
Redcar British Steel Railway Station by N7242C, on Flickr
After that, I got off at Middlesbrough for a nice cup of tea before being refused boarding by two trains, Northern and TPE and, wanting to get the last York to Hull train, was forced to buy a Durham - to Northallerton ticket (which I am attempting to claim back as well as delay repay as, in total on the way back, I was delayed by a full three hours). The only bright spot in the event was finding NVM on the self service ticket machines
An unusual destination by N7242C, on Flickr
Conclusion:- A great day out except for the non functioning card readers at NTR and the cock-up by Northern and TPE in not running additional carriages from Middlesbrough when they knew it was going to be busy due to the football. As a result of which, I ended up getting the last train back from York (2R17) which was held at Selby for 18 minutes after police assistance was requested. I don't entirely believe that as I was sat in such a position that I could see along the platform and could not see either BTP or the normal police attend. Indeed, i did not know about the supposed police attendance until I tweeted Northern the following day and no announcement was made by 2R17's guard for the real reason. The rest of the run kept getting later and later until arrival at Hull was 21L - meaning I missed the last few buses home and had to get a taxi back.
Anyway, Your views, please...
185108 at Hull by N7242C, on FlickrArrival at Selby was on time and, after watching the unit depart, I sat and waited at a sunny Selby and used the free wi-fi coming from the next door bus depot from Arriva's MAX fleet. Why they leave it on all night, I do not know, but there you go... After updating my twitter followers using the hashtag #RedcarRequiem, I saw 158910 hove into view with the empty stock working from York for the shuttle back there. (Note: According to RTT, two trains should have entered Platform 3, but there was only the one. Now a pacer *did* enter Platform 1, so I assume that RTT is incorrect in this regard. If anyone can help me out, here, I would appreciate it)
158910 at Selby by N7242C, on FlickrNow, this is where things get interesting... The online fares database kept sending me via Doncaster, but as the tickets said ANY ROUTE PERMITTED I confirmed with NRE and Northern that a via SBY and YRK routing was permitted instead. Once passing Colton Jn, I got up and headed to the doors ready for a dash to the platforms as, thanks to some clever driving and greens all the way from Selby to York, we actually arrived three minutes early which gave me enough time to dash from Platform 1, run up the steps, along the bridge, charge down and perform a forward half dive into the rear carriage of 185107. The female guard came through a few minutes later and said that it was one of the most bravest thing she had ever seen and that she'd kept the doors open for me to make it onboard 185107 which operated 1N79 0718 York to Middlesbrough.
[youtube]ka4NpOweZag[/youtube]
Northallerton by N7242C, on FlickrI crossed under the tracks and went to the station ticket office to purchase my Tyne Tees Rover only to find the station was only accepting cash purchases and not card - TPE had said nothing about this online... After being given two stories about buying it on the train, something I tend not to do, I walked into the town, found a cash machine, walked back and purchased the ticket. After arriving at Middlesbrough, I played a safety shot by getting a train from there to Redcar Central and back so that I could at least say that I had passed through Redcar British Steel in case delayed or cancelled trains would not allow me to get in position for the sole stopping service that afternoon - 142022 performing this vital duty whilst 142079 would arrive a minute or two later with a trip to Darlington which was taken all the way back
142022 - Redcar Central by N7242C, on Flickr
Redcar Central by N7242C, on Flickr
IMG_20160423_094336[1] by N7242C, on FlickrI transferred to an unknown 185 that already had drunken "ladies" onboard for a quick run to Durham, before making my first ever trip onboard a crosscountry service - 221119 carrying me to Newcastle.
221119 by N7242C, on FlickrNow I was able to make use of the onboard wifi and tweeted this bit of "news" and they were actually kind enough to reply. I should really tell them that their First Class wifi system has a spot of leakage as it could be received from outside the First Class compartment. I had to stand between Durham and Newcastle, but it gave me the great opportunity to capture two bridges from the train as we passed by them on the approach to the station
Bridges at Newcastle by N7242C, on FlickrLunch was the order of the day and, after going to the Sainsbury inside Newcastle station, I decided to go as far north as I could and went to Morpeth with 142095 obliging me greatly.
142095 - Newcastle by N7242C, on FlickrAfter returning on the same unit, I quickly found out from my good friends over at VTEC Twitter Desk that 91118 was working southbound with one of the Plush Tush rakes that I had been wanting to try out for some time. The noble train took me back to Darlington...
VTEC 91118 at Darlington by N7242C, on FlickrWhere 142022 was waiting to take me to Thornaby
142022 - Darlington by N7242C, on FlickrUpon arriving there, and on a whim, I got off and waited for the next train to come along which was, to my surprise, a 156. It was the first Northern 156 I had travelled on in five years as they are rare visitors to Hull now. This was taken to Middlesbrough ready for the main event!
156463 - Middlesbrough by N7242C, on FlickrI am afraid to say that I did not get the 142 that carried me to Saltburn, but I arrived there and had enough time to grab a picture of the station sign and watch the guard have a crafty smoke on the end of the platform before getting back on and heading off to Redcar British Steel and eternal glory!!!
Saltburn station sign by N7242C, on FlickrMy original plan had been to quickly jump off and get the guard to take my picture under the sign, but a battalion of pushchairs blocked me in my seat which I was most annoyed about, so I attempted to go to selfie mode on the tablet and take an image, but the screen locked up and refused to snap an image. What I did not know, until I was sorting out the pictures for this trip report, was that it had, in fact, taken a picture in the forward viewing mode
Redcar British Steel Railway Station by N7242C, on FlickrAfter that, I got off at Middlesbrough for a nice cup of tea before being refused boarding by two trains, Northern and TPE and, wanting to get the last York to Hull train, was forced to buy a Durham - to Northallerton ticket (which I am attempting to claim back as well as delay repay as, in total on the way back, I was delayed by a full three hours). The only bright spot in the event was finding NVM on the self service ticket machines
An unusual destination by N7242C, on FlickrConclusion:- A great day out except for the non functioning card readers at NTR and the cock-up by Northern and TPE in not running additional carriages from Middlesbrough when they knew it was going to be busy due to the football. As a result of which, I ended up getting the last train back from York (2R17) which was held at Selby for 18 minutes after police assistance was requested. I don't entirely believe that as I was sat in such a position that I could see along the platform and could not see either BTP or the normal police attend. Indeed, i did not know about the supposed police attendance until I tweeted Northern the following day and no announcement was made by 2R17's guard for the real reason. The rest of the run kept getting later and later until arrival at Hull was 21L - meaning I missed the last few buses home and had to get a taxi back.
Anyway, Your views, please...
