Green Lane
Member
Hi all,
Very fortunate that back in January I happened to have booked this week off work. So with the class 319s starting in passenger service from last Thursday (If I remember correctly). Tuesday 10th March was the day I would take the trip to Manchester and back.
My full album for the day is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/121958154@N04/sets/72157650842833307/ although it is mostly non-rail as I tend to photograph many buildings etc.. for Wikipedia among other things.
I left the house relatively late around 09:45am for a walk down to Birkenhead Central, where after waiting about three minutes I took a train to Liverpool Central. On the way I observed the progress of the renovation at Hamilton Square station, which I hadn't seen for a few weeks. (Although I work in Liverpool, on a day-to-day basis I usually get the bus). Looks like a lot more work had been done since last visit.
Next I had about an hour and a half to walk around Liverpool city centre, which I used to bag a few more grade II listed buildings for Wikipedia, mainly in the Duke Street/Chinatown area. Brilliant weather for it, but had to wait a bit to get some clear shots since as Hanover Street is currently closed due to roadworks, a lot of traffic is being diverted up Duke street including a number of frequent bus routes.
Strolled in to Lime Street main line station at around 11:30 or therabouts where I bought a £12.30 day return to Manchester stations.
About a minute after buying my ticket, it was announced that there was a platform alteration, my train the 12:15 to Manchester Airport had changed from platfrom 1 to platform 2. Not being able to see the train from this part of the concourse, I momentarily feared the electric service might have been cancelled.
However, my fears were immediately allayed as I went straight to platform 2 and took my first photo of a 319 (319363) at Lime Street:-
I then walked down to the front of the train (see album for more shots):-
Around about this time a 4-car mixed-set DMU (156+142?) also came in to platform 2 but then went out again at 12:00. It was right up to the very end of the platfrom more or less.
The 319 set off about three minutes late by my reckoning, but we really did shoot through Broad Green and Roby at the sort of speeds the like of which I have never personally witnessed on the line. It was noticeably fast. (Well maybe the Blackpool North service also goes this fast too, but that one doesn't have to stop at Wavertree Tech Park, whereas the 319 currently does).
Then, a quick interior shot as some passengers vacated their seats in the vicinity of Newton-le-Willows:-
On arriving bang on time, I alighted at Manchester Oxford Road where I took some more photos of the unit:-
It was initially cloudy in Manchester as the 319 had overtaken the eastward-moving sunny weather. However, the clouds would soon blow away to the east and by mid-afternoon it would also be sunny in Manchester too.
In Manchester, I had about three and a half hours on this occasion, so first thing was a stroll over to a station I have never visited on foot before - Ardwick (The least used station in the City of Manchester? I read that somewhere, not sure if it still true!). The Entrance on Blind Lane:-
A couple of rail workers were just leaving as I arrived and they mentioned to me about the high frequency of trains passing by. They were completely correct about that. I think there must have been a train passing about every 30 seconds either through the station or on the adjacent tracks. In fact two trains passed me simultaneously as I approached the plaftorm. I like it here!
I sat in those seats in the background to eat my sausage roll. Whilst doing so a Piccadilly-bound 142 waited in the platform for a minute or so (on a red signal).
Also another Northern electrics service went past whilst I was at Ardwick. Again it was 319363:-
After about probably 15 minutes at Ardwick and many passing trains later, I embarked on the rest of my planned walk for the day to the univeristy of Manchester, plus some streets in the city centre I had not visited before.
Finally, I nipped across the Irwell for a few snaps in Salford before walking to Piccadilly via the Arndale Centre.
Caught the same unit 319363 on the 16:55 from Piccadilly platform 14 back to Lime Street (After seeing the ATW loco-hauled/slam door stock stop there a few minutes earlier - that was nice to see).
Alas did not photo the above since it was approaching peak time and a little crowded on the Piccadilly through platforms.
I did deliberately sit in a seat more or less directly under the pantograph on the way back for the enjoyment of the electrical sound effects, which did not dissapoint.
Finally Merseyrail train back from Lime Street low level to Conway Park and then the short walk home, where I got back for about 18:15 or so.
Overall a great, enjoayble day. Everything ran like clockwork and of course great to ride on the 319 twice.
Hope you enjoyed reading!
Very fortunate that back in January I happened to have booked this week off work. So with the class 319s starting in passenger service from last Thursday (If I remember correctly). Tuesday 10th March was the day I would take the trip to Manchester and back.
My full album for the day is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/121958154@N04/sets/72157650842833307/ although it is mostly non-rail as I tend to photograph many buildings etc.. for Wikipedia among other things.
I left the house relatively late around 09:45am for a walk down to Birkenhead Central, where after waiting about three minutes I took a train to Liverpool Central. On the way I observed the progress of the renovation at Hamilton Square station, which I hadn't seen for a few weeks. (Although I work in Liverpool, on a day-to-day basis I usually get the bus). Looks like a lot more work had been done since last visit.
Next I had about an hour and a half to walk around Liverpool city centre, which I used to bag a few more grade II listed buildings for Wikipedia, mainly in the Duke Street/Chinatown area. Brilliant weather for it, but had to wait a bit to get some clear shots since as Hanover Street is currently closed due to roadworks, a lot of traffic is being diverted up Duke street including a number of frequent bus routes.
Strolled in to Lime Street main line station at around 11:30 or therabouts where I bought a £12.30 day return to Manchester stations.
About a minute after buying my ticket, it was announced that there was a platform alteration, my train the 12:15 to Manchester Airport had changed from platfrom 1 to platform 2. Not being able to see the train from this part of the concourse, I momentarily feared the electric service might have been cancelled.
However, my fears were immediately allayed as I went straight to platform 2 and took my first photo of a 319 (319363) at Lime Street:-
I then walked down to the front of the train (see album for more shots):-
Around about this time a 4-car mixed-set DMU (156+142?) also came in to platform 2 but then went out again at 12:00. It was right up to the very end of the platfrom more or less.
The 319 set off about three minutes late by my reckoning, but we really did shoot through Broad Green and Roby at the sort of speeds the like of which I have never personally witnessed on the line. It was noticeably fast. (Well maybe the Blackpool North service also goes this fast too, but that one doesn't have to stop at Wavertree Tech Park, whereas the 319 currently does).
Then, a quick interior shot as some passengers vacated their seats in the vicinity of Newton-le-Willows:-
On arriving bang on time, I alighted at Manchester Oxford Road where I took some more photos of the unit:-
It was initially cloudy in Manchester as the 319 had overtaken the eastward-moving sunny weather. However, the clouds would soon blow away to the east and by mid-afternoon it would also be sunny in Manchester too.
In Manchester, I had about three and a half hours on this occasion, so first thing was a stroll over to a station I have never visited on foot before - Ardwick (The least used station in the City of Manchester? I read that somewhere, not sure if it still true!). The Entrance on Blind Lane:-
A couple of rail workers were just leaving as I arrived and they mentioned to me about the high frequency of trains passing by. They were completely correct about that. I think there must have been a train passing about every 30 seconds either through the station or on the adjacent tracks. In fact two trains passed me simultaneously as I approached the plaftorm. I like it here!
I sat in those seats in the background to eat my sausage roll. Whilst doing so a Piccadilly-bound 142 waited in the platform for a minute or so (on a red signal).
Also another Northern electrics service went past whilst I was at Ardwick. Again it was 319363:-
After about probably 15 minutes at Ardwick and many passing trains later, I embarked on the rest of my planned walk for the day to the univeristy of Manchester, plus some streets in the city centre I had not visited before.
Finally, I nipped across the Irwell for a few snaps in Salford before walking to Piccadilly via the Arndale Centre.
Caught the same unit 319363 on the 16:55 from Piccadilly platform 14 back to Lime Street (After seeing the ATW loco-hauled/slam door stock stop there a few minutes earlier - that was nice to see).
Alas did not photo the above since it was approaching peak time and a little crowded on the Piccadilly through platforms.
I did deliberately sit in a seat more or less directly under the pantograph on the way back for the enjoyment of the electrical sound effects, which did not dissapoint.
Finally Merseyrail train back from Lime Street low level to Conway Park and then the short walk home, where I got back for about 18:15 or so.
Overall a great, enjoayble day. Everything ran like clockwork and of course great to ride on the 319 twice.
Hope you enjoyed reading!
Last edited:
good to see some photos as well.
