I had noticed that the Oldham loop was about to close for conversion to Manchester Metrolink. Spitfire Tours were advertising a cheap evening tour round the loop with a Class 37. Then I found a better option Pathfinder were offering a full day of Class 40 action which included some new “red” track. For those of you who do not understand the significance of red track it is difficult to cover as it normally has no passenger service over it and is coloured red in the Rail Atlas.
I decided this would be the trip to do. Some of the old crew were going as well, this is sounding better and better. Also can’t get home after the tour so will have to stay in a hotel which means I will not have to drive home which also means I can drink beer. This is just improving the more I think about it.
Problem 1 – Number one son announces he would like to come too on his first railtour. Not going to be able to drink as much. Going to have to be a responsible parent! **!!??**. OK can live with this just have to have a couple of beers then be good. He gets the chance to go round the Oldham loop before it closes.
Get a good price in the Travelodge in Crewe and it is short walk from the station according to the website so I book the non-refundable room. Working like clockwork.
Four days before the tour and check the Pathfinder website to see if the tickets have gone out so I can check if the member of the old crew has received them as they are being delivered to the other end of the country and need to arrange meeting up to hand them over. This is when problem 2 strikes Tour Cancelled though lack of bookings **!!??** again.
Need to regroup and find another plan. As mentioned earlier the room in Crewe is paid for and non-refundable so best go and use it. It would be rude not to.
Plan B.
Get a booking off quickly to Spitfire for a £10 trip round the Oldham Loop. Not a Class 40 but a 37 is also EE power so a good substitute. The tour is in the evening so it gives us all day to do something else. Number one son is keen to underline more new numbers in the book so a trip to south of London is arranged then a quick blast up the country to Manchester for the 37 and back to Crewe. This is then made more adventurous by a Merseyside circuit on the Sunday.
This is looking like the most ambitious trip to date for number one son. Two full days with a bit of heritage 37 action. A detailed plan of attack is drawn up.
The Plan:
| Saturday 03/10/2009 | | |
| | |
| Abergavenny | 07:13 | ATW |
| Newport | 07:38 | |
| 07:44 | FGW |
| Romsey | 09:51 | |
| 10:07 | SWT |
| Eastleigh | 10:20 | |
| 10:29 | SWT |
| Fareham | 10:48 | |
| 10:56 | SO |
| Brighton | 12:18 | |
| 12:32 | SO |
| Ashford | 14:16 | |
| 14:28 | SE |
| Charing Cross | 15:36 | |
| Euston | 17:20 | VT |
| Manchester Pic | 18:28 | |
| Manchester Vic | 19:41 | WCRC |
| Manchester Vic | 20:37 | |
| Manchester Pic | 21:30 | ATW |
| Crewe | 22:12 | |
| | |
| Sunday 04/10/2009 | | |
| | |
| Crewe | 09:28 | ATW |
| Manchester Pic | 10:16 | NO |
| 10:35 | |
| Southport | 11:46 | MR |
| 11:58 | |
| Sandhills | 12:36 | MR |
| 12:46 | |
| Ormskirk | 13:12 | MR |
| 13:20 | |
| Liverpool Central | 13:50 | MR |
| 14:05 | |
| West Kirby | 14:37 | MR |
| 15:01 | |
| Liverpool L St | 15:33 | VT |
| 16:18 | |
| Crewe | 16:50 | ATW |
| 17:13 | |
| Abergavenny | 19:20 | |
Saturday 03 October 2009
Weather is dry and bright in places
Although the itinerary is complex it is working very well and running to time. No problems south of London. If you are planning this type if trip remember to bring your own food as on train catering is distinctly lacking.  |
| 377412 Fareham 03/10/09 |
Get back to Euston and make the train 20 minutes earlier than planned. This is our first trip up the West Coast Mainline since the new Virgin Timetable started. It is unbelievable how empty the train is with probably only about 50 people on the whole train. That is a good part of this enhanced service there are so many trains it is easy to get a seat.
Arrive in Manchester to find that heavy construction appears too have replaced Metrolink. I had forgotten about this work. Eventually find the bus stop and head across to Victoria station. This is my first visit since it was rebuilt. It appears the same designer who did Birmingham New St has been employed and the interior of the station resembles a cave with a hurricane blowing through it. The accolade of being voted the UK’s worst station is well deserved. A brief thrash round the loop and talk of Class 31s past takes place.
Watch the 37 leave and head back to Piccadilly for the train back to Crewe.
On arrival at Crewe I realise that I have forgotten to print out the map from the Internet where the hotel is located. I am a man. I know directions to everywhere. I know which way to go and it is only 10 minutes walk, the website said it was! I can work this out I am a man I don’t need to ask directions.
After 40 minutes I have to stop and ask directions from a man with a big angry dog. Close to midnight and finally find the hotel. Both myself and number one son are exhausted. The Travelodge team sell me breakfast in a bag delivered to our room. This will save time in the morning.
Sunday 04 October 2009
Bright and sunny.
The bargain Travelodge breakfast fails to appear so we end up with take away breakfast and walk back to the station. It is much quicker when you know the way.
Head down to the platform and the train runs in early. Get on and sit  |
| 507011 Ormskirk 04/10/09 |
down. Just as the train is about to leave the announcement comes across this is the Chester service. Make a hasty departure back to the platform and join the rear half of the train that is going to Manchester. Break out the cornflakes and have breakfast. Not easy to eat cornflakes on a moving train. Get some strange looks from the other passengers.
The journey continues to Southport. On arrival see there is a Marks and Spencer food hall. Better go in and purchase lunch while the opportunity exists. Go through the ticket barrier and into M&S and find ourselves in the middle of the lingerie department. It is like the scene from Father Ted where the priests are in a similar situation and can't find their way our. Very little time so try and find our way to the food hall and make our purchases then back out the door onto the station.
Eventually arrive in West Kirby this station has improved since my last visit and the café on the station is superb and worth a visit. Good choice of snacks elect for tea and cake and number one son recommends the chocolate ice cream.
An uneventful on time trip home.
| Traction Log | |
| |
| Abergavenny - Newport | 175111 |
| Newport - Romsey | 158956 |
| Romsey - Eastleigh | 158886 |
| Eastleigh - Fareham | 444007 |
| Fareham - Brighton | 377412 |
| Brighton - Ashford | 171726 |
| Ashford - Charing Cross | 375803 |
| Euston - Manchester Pic | 390050 |
| Manchester Vic - Oldham - Manchester Vic | 37706 |
| Manchester Pic - Crewe | 175011 |
| |
| Crewe - Manchester Pic | 175116 |
| Manchester Pic - Southport | 156486 |
| Southport - Sandhill | 507014 |
| Sandhills - Ormskirk - Liverpool Central | 507011 |
| Liverpool Central - West Kirby - Liverpool L St | 508103 |
| Liverpool L St - Crewe | 221114 |
| Crewe - Abergavenny | 175009 |