‘Scene’ at Leeds Railway Station on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

‘Northern Rail’, part of the ‘ARRIVA’ group are the most prominent operator in and out of Leeds with services radiating to all points of the compass.

 

‘TransPennine Express’, part of ‘First’ group operate across the North of England and into Scotland serving both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

 

The link South and to London is currently in the hands of ‘Virgin East Coast’.

 

Since this blog was first written, ‘Virgin East Coast’ has been stripped of the East Coast franchise which is now being run in a form of Nationalization by ‘London North Eastern Railway’.

 

Class 142 ‘Northern Rail’ No. 142060. BREL Pacer DMU

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

I am sure that everyone by now knows the story of the trains derived from the Leyland National bus that despite their poor reputation are still in widespread use.

 

 

 

Class 144 ‘Northern Rail’ No. 144002. BREL / Walter Alexander Pacer DMU

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

‘Walter Alexander’ are part of the ‘Alexander Dennis Ltd’. group of today.

 

 

 

Class 150/1 ‘Northern Rail’ No. 150118. BREL York Sprinter DMU

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

Class 150/2 ‘Northern Rail’ No. 150275. BREL York Sprinter DMU

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Basically the Class 150 but with corridor connections.

 

Seen in a ‘Northern Rail’ livery that was new to me.

 

 

 

Class 322 ‘Northern Rail’ No. 322482. BREL York EMU

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Originally built for the London Liverpool Street to Stanstead Airport Service.

 

 

 

 Class 333 ‘Northern Rail’ No. 333 010 ‘in ‘West Yorkshire Metro’ livery. Siemans Mobility and CAF EMU

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Built for use out of Leeds and Bradford to Ilkley and Skipton.

 

These units wear a hybrid livery combning elements of ‘Northern Rail’ and ‘West Yorkshire Metro’.

 

 

 

Class 91 ‘Virgin East Coast’No. 91114, ‘Durham Cathedral’. BREL Crewe

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

This loco also carries the additional branding under the forward cab window.

 

THE VERY REVEREND

 

MICHAEL SADGROVE

 

DEAN OF DURHAM 2003-2015

 

 

 

 British Mark 4 railway coach No. 12208 ‘Virgin East Coast’. Metro Cammell / GEC-Alsthom

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

The livery used by ‘Virgin East Coast’ owes a lot to the similar livery worn by trains of the ‘Furka Oberalp’ railway in Switzerland.

 

 

Class 185 ‘TransPennine Express’ No. 185126. Siemens Desiro DMU

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

‘Scene’ at Stockport Railway Station on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Stockport station lies on the main line to London, South of Manchester.

 

It lies at the Southern end of a long viaduct which carries the line across the River Mersey.

 

Stockport No. 2 Signal Box

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

Signal boxes are an important part of the railway infrastructure and this example at the North end of the station is a magnificent example of the type.

 

 

 

Class 390 ‘Virgin Rail’ No. 390 002. Alstom Pendolino EMU

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Seen coming off the viaduct before stopping at the station on its way to  London.

 

An interesting image which also shows the complexity of the overhead catenary.

 

 

 

Class 150/1 ‘Northern Rail’ No.150114. BREL York Sprinter DMU

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

A two car unit headed for Manchester.

 

 

 

Class 150/1 ‘Northern Rail’ No.150119. BREL York Sprinter DMU

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

A three car unit headed for Manchester.

 

 

 

Class 150/2 ‘Northern Rail’ No.150271. BREL York Sprinter DMU

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Basically the 150/1 with corridor connections.

 

Heading up the long branch to Buxton.

 

 

 

Class 156 ‘Northern Rail’ No.156483. Metro-Cammell Sprinter DMU

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

Class 220 ‘cross country’ No 220009. Bombardier Voyager DMU

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

Class 323 ‘Northern Rail’ No. 323236. Hunslet Transportation EMU

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Seen on its way to Crewe.

 

 

 

Class 185 ‘First TransPennine Express’ No 185135. Siemens Desiro DMU

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Seen on its way to Cleethorpes.

 

 

 

Class 158 ‘East Midlands Trains’ No. 158799. BREL Derby Express Sprinter DMU

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

‘Scene’ on Humberside on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

W673 CWX ‘Ellie Rose UK’. Volvo B7TL / Alexander ALX 400

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Arriva Yorkshire’ as its No. 673.

 

 

 

W100 ACK  ‘Acklams’, Beverley, ’The Consortum’. Dennis Javelin / Plaxton Premiere 3200

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to the ‘Ministry of Defence’ as X201 UAO.

 

 

 

YX10 AAU ‘Acklams’, Beverley. Optare Solo SR 960

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Seen in Beverley Bus Station.

 

 

 

FXZ 8495 ‘Henshaws’. Riddings, Derbyshire. VDL FHD2 / VDL Futura /1

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Quinn’, Newry, Northern Ireland.

 

 

 

FXZ 8495 ‘Henshaws’. Riddings, Derbyshire. VDL FHD2 / VDL Futura /2

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Quinn’, Newry, Northern Ireland.

 

 

 

YX14 SDO ‘Andrews’, Tideswell, Derbyshire. Volvo B9R / Plaxton Panther

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

Class 185 No. 185106. ‘TransPennine Express’ DMU

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

The first time I had seen this particular ‘TPE’ livery.

 

 

 

‘Scene’ around Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station

One of the busiest stations in the Northwest with a wide range of operators and rolling stock on display

 

142052

 

The much derided diesel engined ‘Pacer’. Seen in the livery of ‘Northern Rail’ (NR) and dating from the mid nineteen eighties, the 4 wheeled ‘Pacer’s rough riding has become legendary. However as I have said before. On welded track they are OK. On old track they are poor riders. Maybe they will be gone before long.

 

323225

Electric inner suburban units operated by ‘NR’. Built by Hunslet Barclay (HB) in the early 1990’s for use around both Manchester and Birmingham. They were the last vehicles built by ‘HB’ before the company went out of business.

 

150111

Once more a ‘NR’ unit this time a diesel engined Class 150/1dating from the mid eighties. Built by British Rail Engineering Ltd. (BREL) at York. The first of the so called ‘modern’ DMU’s, production ran to 137 units.

 

150214

When production of the Class 150/1’s at York ceased, production of the Class 150/2 started. 85 of these units were built. The main improvement being the provision of corridor connections.

 

350 403

 

A Siemens of Germany product known as the ‘Desiro’. similar to other Class 350‘s operated by ‘London Midland’ 

 

These electric units have just entered service with ‘First TransPennine Express’. The 10 units delivered are used primarily on services from Manchester to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

 

This image was taken at Manchester Airport by friend Jim Riley and is used with his permission.

 

390 156

The ‘Pendolino’ or tilting train. These high speed electric trains were built by Alstom using FIAT’s tilting train technology between 2003 and 2004 for use on the West Coast Main Line. 

 

53 units were built in the original tranche with a further 4 trains and an additional 62 coaches following between 2009 and 2012.

 

220023

Branded as ‘Voyagers’ when first introduced by ‘Virgin Trains‘ (VT) in 2000/2001. These 4 coach diesel powered units were built in Belgium by Bombardier Transportation. 

 

34 sets were completed for use by ‘VT’ which were transferred to ‘CrossCountry’ when ‘VT’ lost the franchise in 2007.

 

319363

These dual voltage electric loco’s were built in the late 1980’s by ‘BREL’ at York  for what was then the new North/South line from Bedford to Brighton.

 

At privatisation they were operated as part of the ‘Thameslink’ franchise and there they stayed until March 2015 when the first of a batch of 20 units that were surplus to requirements with the introduction of newer units transferred to ‘Northern Rail’ for use around Manchester and Liverpool.

 

Seen at Manchester Airport.

 

175 002

A diesel engined unit operated by ‘Arriva Trains Wales’. Built in 1999 to 2000 by Alstom in Birmingham and known as ‘Coradia’s. There were 27 sets built and all are owned by Angel Trains, a rolling stock leasing company.

 

185 130 and 131

Diesel engined units built by Siemens of Germany. 51 3 car sets were delivered in 2006-7 for the exclusive use by ‘First TransPennine Express’. Known as ‘Coradia’s.

 

 

‘Scene’ at Meadowhall on the Rails

Meadowhall on the outskirts of Sheffield is a major shopping complex serving the needs of  Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley.

Built at the side of the M1, it is very well provided with transport links boasting its own passenger interchange served by trams, trains and of course buses. The bus scene was dealt with in an earlier 'blog' dated 22nd. March 2015.

There are four platform faces. Two on the mainline which runs East to West linking Sheffield with Rotherham, Doncaster and beyond and two where the line North to Barnsley, Leeds and further North diverges from the mainline.

 

144011 and 153331

 

Both in Northern Rail (NR) colours

 

Are seen standing in platforms 1 and 2 with the Class 144 heading into Sheffield. 

 

Most of the services are run by  ‘NR’ but ‘First TransPennine’ (FTP) also call and ‘Cross Country‘ (CC) run through.

144018

 

Another Class 144 in ‘NR’ colours is seen leaving platform 3 and is about to turn onto the main line into Sheffield.

 

The Class 144’s date from 1986/7 and were built by a combination of ‘British Rail Engineering Ltd’ (BREL) in Derby and by Walter Alexander of Falkirk in Scotland who supplied the bodies.

 

They have been refurbished a number of times but seem set to continue for sometime yet.

158797

 

Again liveried for ‘NR’.

 

Another product of ‘BREL’ at Derby. Built between 1989 and 1992 seen approaching platform 1 heading into Sheffield.

 

Amongst the various DMU classes, these are my personal favourite’s being fast, warm and comfortable.

 

144011

Is seen running into platform 1. These 4 wheel units together with the similar Class 142’s have had some bad press over the years due to ‘rough riding’.

Whilst by the nature of their design, they are not as smooth as bogied stock. I have found that their performance varies according to the state of the track. On welded rail, they are acceptable whilst on jointed rail they are poor. That however is a reflection on the trackwork, not the unit.

 

142088

Running into platform 2 heading East. The 142’s were a development of the earlier Class 141. 

 

185 151

Of ‘FTP’ calls at platform 2 on its way to Doncaster and then Cleethorpes. Known as ‘Desiro’s, the units were built in Germany by Siemens.

They entered service in 2006/7.

 

142017

 

Another Class 142 resting at Platform 2 on its way East.

 

221008

 

Originally operated by ‘Virgin’ as the Virgin Voyager. It still retains the ‘Voyager name but the franchise moved to ‘CC’ trains some years ago.

 

144009

Another of the BREL/Alexander Class 144’s at Platform 2 again.

 

I sometimes feel that the so called North/South divide is for real when I see the wide range of elderly and sometimes unsuitable rolling stock that is foisted onto Northern passengers.

Particularly when I see the new shiny trains that Southern England enjoys in abundance.

 

Tram 122

 

The South Yorkshire ‘Stagecoach Supertram’ terminates at Meadowhall. The close proximity to the main railway line is shown in this view as tram 122 approaches the end of its journey.

The image shows clearly the ‘South West Trains’ inspired livery.

 

The overhead catenary shows up well.

 

Tram 116 which carries an overall advert for ‘East Midland Trains’ (EMT). 

 

‘EMT’, ‘Southwest Train’s and the’ Supertram’ operation are part of the ‘Stagecoach’ group.