NorthWestRover
Established Member
- Joined
- 24 Aug 2018
- Messages
- 1,468
When I came back to the hobby in 2018, I started a thread to query how much things would have changed and to feed back on my experiences. Time has moved on and I thought I'd start a new thread to record my toings and froings in 2021. My railway trips are a mix of days out, visits to family and some more "bashing" type days when I try tick off units for "carriage" as I prefer to call it. Italics if it was required, italics and bold for locos. Some of this may be of mild interest to someone or other at some point, but hey ho it's good for me to write it down too.
Well, the first three months of the year, we were in pretty much a lockdown and, perhaps appropriately, my first train trip was to St Helens for my first vaccination.
Friday 26th March 2021
319381 09.48 Wigan NW to St Helens Central (I've had all of Northern's 319s).
Walk to The Totally Wicked Stadium for a very well-run process and all done and dusted in less than half an hour. No side effects either (AZ)
331018 11.53 St Helens Central to Wigan NW
Saturday 17th April 2021
The first easing of lockdown had been on 12th April 2021, so I decided to venture out and take advantage of having recently turned 55, so I could use the Northern Explorer 55 ticket which allows a day's unlimited off peak travel anywhere on the Western part of Northern's network (their trains only) for the ridiculously good price of £15.90.
I decided to go to Ulverston which is easy to get to and would offer some healthy exercise as I intended to do a bit of gentle walking.
195131 08.18 Wigan NW to Ulverston
I'm slowly working my way through the 195s (which to me as a passenger rather than a basher are great trains for this sort of journey) and having Northern allocations on Real Time Trains does allow some planning, where convenient.
So, I got to Ulverston and wandered through the town, picking up a bottle of water, before taking on the walk up to the Hoad Monument which is quite a steep climb at some points, but offering great 360 degree views of the Southern Lake District and Morecambe Bay once you get up there. Lots of sheep up there and on this quite pleasant spring day a fair few fellow day trippers. I sat and had a snack before taking the more gentle descent and making my way to the Ulverston Canal which is only a mile long! I strolled along here which was very pleasant and was delighted to find an open pub - The Bay Horse - at the mouth of the canal where I sat in the beer garden with a pint of Jennings Cumberland Ale eating my packed lunch. Wonderful.
A meandering walk back through the industrial estates of Ulverston brought me to the station and my train home.
195108 14.10 Ulverston to Wigan NW
Saturday 24th April 2021
Visit to the folks for first time since Christmas...
221117 09.29 Wigan NW to Warrington BQ (paired with another 221 but by my rules, I only count the one I travel in)
Bit of pottering around Warrington Town centre..
195105 11.58 Warrington C to Padgate
195105 15.02 Padgate to Manchester Oxford Road
195130 15.51 Manchester Oxford Road to Wigan NW
That's your lot for now. More mindless ramblings when I get round to it, lol.
Well, the first three months of the year, we were in pretty much a lockdown and, perhaps appropriately, my first train trip was to St Helens for my first vaccination.
Friday 26th March 2021
319381 09.48 Wigan NW to St Helens Central (I've had all of Northern's 319s).
Walk to The Totally Wicked Stadium for a very well-run process and all done and dusted in less than half an hour. No side effects either (AZ)
331018 11.53 St Helens Central to Wigan NW
Saturday 17th April 2021
The first easing of lockdown had been on 12th April 2021, so I decided to venture out and take advantage of having recently turned 55, so I could use the Northern Explorer 55 ticket which allows a day's unlimited off peak travel anywhere on the Western part of Northern's network (their trains only) for the ridiculously good price of £15.90.
I decided to go to Ulverston which is easy to get to and would offer some healthy exercise as I intended to do a bit of gentle walking.
195131 08.18 Wigan NW to Ulverston
I'm slowly working my way through the 195s (which to me as a passenger rather than a basher are great trains for this sort of journey) and having Northern allocations on Real Time Trains does allow some planning, where convenient.
So, I got to Ulverston and wandered through the town, picking up a bottle of water, before taking on the walk up to the Hoad Monument which is quite a steep climb at some points, but offering great 360 degree views of the Southern Lake District and Morecambe Bay once you get up there. Lots of sheep up there and on this quite pleasant spring day a fair few fellow day trippers. I sat and had a snack before taking the more gentle descent and making my way to the Ulverston Canal which is only a mile long! I strolled along here which was very pleasant and was delighted to find an open pub - The Bay Horse - at the mouth of the canal where I sat in the beer garden with a pint of Jennings Cumberland Ale eating my packed lunch. Wonderful.
A meandering walk back through the industrial estates of Ulverston brought me to the station and my train home.
195108 14.10 Ulverston to Wigan NW
Saturday 24th April 2021
Visit to the folks for first time since Christmas...
221117 09.29 Wigan NW to Warrington BQ (paired with another 221 but by my rules, I only count the one I travel in)
Bit of pottering around Warrington Town centre..
195105 11.58 Warrington C to Padgate
195105 15.02 Padgate to Manchester Oxford Road
195130 15.51 Manchester Oxford Road to Wigan NW
That's your lot for now. More mindless ramblings when I get round to it, lol.
Last edited: