4.7.19
#LSGsHeadingEast
At long last, I get the chance to get out somewhere outside the boundaries of a Tyne Tees day Ranger. In fairness this had been planned for a while, however it's still only a day out, not a multi day outing but as the Bishop said to the actress, ones better than none at all.
For once I had some company too. I cant remember how the conversation came about but I'd mentioned this trip to Mr Train, who said, he fancied a go at that. So from there, we formulated a plan and agreed to meet up on the day.
So on the morning, I'm up at 03.30, I wouldn't say I'm exactly spritely but for it being silly o'clock, I'm certainly a bit more alert, probably down to the excitement of a day on the rails.
Abloutions done, bag packed, coffee consumed, I'm out the house for the first bus into Town and at half 5 in the morning I'm stuffing a Gregg's combo of Sausage n Bacon sarnie and coffee into my face. I walk onto Central station and theres not a great deal to see, a trio of Northern units on platform 3 consisting of 156484,142017 and 158843 are all coupled together, the screens had the train on platform 3 as the 05.42 to Carlisle. I thought triple units to Carlisle, its rare enough to see double 142s or 156s on any turn up here, nevermind a triple. However the excitement was cut short when 158843 and 142017 left together, 4 mins prior to the Carlisle departure, to where, I wasnt sure and 158843s departure board was giving away no clues either.
158843 heads the "Ramblers Excursion"
67013 is the Toons thunderbird today and 180108 rolled by on the slow line with the ECS from Heaton to Sunderland. Shortly after at 05.55, in rolled my steed for the move to Manchester Victoria and much to my delight, a winning steed too in the form of
185148. Despite needing a fair ole chunk of 185s for haulage, I never seem to fall on winning ones, so a good start to the day indeed.
I got aboard and found my seat and settled in. I found some solace in some tunes en route, Joy Divisions, Unknown Pleasures album caressed my ear canals for a good while.
66014 on the Tees to Mossend Modal was just outside Tyne Yard. One of the blue 67s was parked in the middle of Tyne Yard and in the holding pen at the bottom of the yard is 3 possibly 4 Azumas, couldnt really tell due to the old hump shunt blocking the view.
I managed to snaffle 2 Tampers
DR73111 and
DR77903 for sight at Ferryhill, sadly both Robles at Darlo are dud.
At Darlo I was joined by a guy for the trip to Manchester. What a nice bloke he was too and we had a good laugh, talking football, life as well as asking what today's plans for each other were.
At York, I was hoping there'd be a TPE Cat to add to the bag, on display in one of the bays or in the parcel siding, unfortunately sadly this wasnt the case. 09017 and a tea making device going by the name of Galatea, were outside the NRM. Two EMT liveried gronks were visible at Neville Hill but as I was talking to the guy next to me, we merely flashed by them. Leaving Leeds, I was bowled by a 158 whist getting a tad excited at the chance of getting my first 195 for sight, amid swearing under my breath, I tried to convince myself theres enough time to get them. I was still slightly peeved though.
Not a great else to get excited about as we made our way over the Pennines, the guy next to me asked, told me he was going on a Course and was meeting other colleagues at Piccadilly. I asked, if he knew the way from Victoria because this train doesnt go to Piccadilly. His eyes went as wide as saucers. I advised him to get off at Vic and suggested to get the tram to Victoria, if he didnt know the way. Bang on time, we arrived into Man Vic, I told the guy to ask the gateline staff where he'd get a tram to Piccadilly and we said our goodbyes and wished each other a good day, as I went looking for Mr Train, which didn't take long. Took longer to find my tickets, I thought I'd actually lost them but found them. Sfter 66714 passed through with a Biomass train, we made our way to a cash point for Mr Train. Trying to pay for our tram tickets sounds easier than it actually was. Bloody machines weren't accepting our tenners but after faffing on for a while we got our tickets to Bury for the first day of the ELR's Diesel Gala.
The trams were kindly adding themselves to the book of sights. Both Mr Train and myself were like kids on Xmas Eve for this Gala, the organisers have had a few headaches on the run up to this event. First 47715 was pulled, as its ETH was required at Worksop, to keep the recently stored LNER coaches, from being ruined by damp. Two of the requested 20s, 087 and 110, despite valiant attempts to get them so, would not be ready to participate in the Gala but were promised locos to replace them by Harry Needle. Then 56006 failed on a test run on the line, much to the owners and enthusiasts alike disappointment, ruling the Romanian Grid out of the Gala too. Which was a shame because I was wanting a ride behind that one too.
On the way whilst trying to add as many trams to the sights list, we were trying to formulate a plan of maximising our wants. Mr Train done an exceptional job too. I was having a brain fart of a day and was constantly losing stuff in my bag all day. Even when I went to pick up my tickets, I couldnt even remember the correct post code of the house I've lived on for 4 months
. After 2 attempts, I eventually got it right and off we trooped onto the platforms of the excellent Bury Bolton St. First thing to greet us was 33035, bringing in an ECS.
We walked the length.of the train to be greeted by the little beast that is D6729. The paintwork starting to look a bit forlorn these days, however never judge a book by its cover because mechanically it sounds brilliant.
First move off the bat was none other than D1501, I'd had the pleasure of it at last years Gala but today, this ex pat Geordie, 47402 was looking no less stunning than when I'd seen it last, Mr Train and I clambered on board and found a suitable window to stick our heads out of and enjoy some suitable Sulzer thrash up to Rawtenstall. D1501 didn't disappoint either. Especially on approach and through the tunnel at Sommerseat. Very enjoyable indeed. At Ramsbottom, myself and Mr Train, moved ourselves to the end coach, so we could secure droplight windows for the spin back down the line to Ramsbottom.