Rover 2006: Thursday
| Depart | From | Arrive | To | TOC | Train | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled | Actual | Scheduled | Actual | ||||
| 09:14 | 09:21 | Aigburth | 09:23 | 09:31 | Liverpool Central | ME | 507014+508137 |
| 09:57 | 09:57 | Liverpool Lime Street | 10:54 | 10:51 | Preston | NT | 150211 |
| 11:19 | 11:48 | Preston | 12:28 | 12:57 | Carlisle | VT | 390026 |
| 15:03 | 15:03 | Carlisle | 17:40 | 17:37 | Leeds | NT | 156463 |
| 21:08 | 21:08 | Leeds | 22:57 | 22:53 | Liverpool Lime Street | TP | 158972 |
| 23:13 | 23:13 | Liverpool Central | 23:22 | 23:21 | Aigburth | ME | 508131 |
Today's objective: a ride on the Settle & Carlisle line and a meeting with an old friend.
I've ridden on the S&C a couple of times, the last time in 2004 when a pair of class 37s was in charge of the train. The shoestring nature of the Northern franchise precludes any such extravagances these days, but the journey is still enjoyable in the class 156s which are the normal stock on the line these days.
First things first: we need to get to Carlisle, involving a nice run up the West Coast Main Line. My Merseyrail train into town was late (again!) but not enough to cause any serious problems to my itinerary. At Lime Street I found the Preston train formed of 150211, which I had ridden on from Wigan to Liverpool just over 14 hours ago!
At Preston, I found most northbound trains being delayed. Of interest in the far platform was a class 185 unit “on test”.
Here's 390026 arriving with the 11:19 to Glasgow Central, which departed 25 minutes late at 11:48.
As we headed north through the Lake District, the weather took a turn for the worse.
Arriving at Carlisle, I was pleased to find preserved Deltic 55022 Royal Scots Grey, occupying one of the centre roads waiting to head south.
57302 Virgil Tracy was lurking in the sidings.
I had a while before the train to Leeds was due, and I spent a while wandering around Carlisle town centre, which, as I soon learned, is not a fun place when it's raining. I was soon back at the station where 156463 in Northern Spirit livery was waiting to work the 15:03 to Leeds (on the right, with classmate 156469 just worked in from the Tyne Valley line).
The picture below shows the view from the train as driving rain and gale force winds battered against the windows. Going over Ribblehead Viaduct with a crosswind lifting the train on its suspension is an unforgettable experience.
The poor weather failed to halt our progress and we were in Leeds 3 minutes early. From there it was off to meet a friend from school, Rob Baldwin, to catch up on the past few years.
I was back at Leeds in time for the last Liverpool train at 21:08.
My camera doesn't do too well in artificial light without a flash, but I tried to get some pictures of the many ECS units lying about, including 185125:
158806:
156479, which eventually coupled up to a 158 and 153 to form a 5-car ensemble which headed off to the depot.
And finally, 158972 with the 21:08 service to Liverpool Lime Street. The class 158s are gradually being displaced by the new 185 units but at the moment there are still plenty to be seen in service with Transpennine Express.
I found this poster (advertising the Transpennine Student Getaway ticket) deeply offensive. :-)
