Miniature Railways at Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan

We recently visited Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan to play the two minigolf courses there. We'd also seen there were two Miniature Railways in the park, so had to have a look.

Quite a big engine for a miniature railway

There's a 'Miniature Railway' and a 'Miniature Gauge Railway' at Haigh Woodland Park. The Miniature Railway (and larger of the two) was running on our visit.

Bargain

The engine in action approaching the halt at Haigh Woodland Park. We're looking forward to returning and exploring more of the large park in the future

Visit the Haigh Woodland Park website for more information about the two railways and opening times.

Check out our other Miniature Railway blog posts.

Pacer Railbuses at Ashburys and Stockport

Riding a much maligned workhorse of the north's rail network.  

Prior to yesterday I had only ridden on one Pacer Railbus - from Paignton to Torquay on our South West Minigolfing Roadtrip in 2015. They're a 'popular' train up north and we quite often see - and hear - them squealing along the many lines in Greater Manchester.

At Paignton station in the summer of 2015

While in the city I managed to make a trip from Ashburys station in Openshaw one stop along to Manchester Piccadilly riding in Pacer Railbus 142037.

I wasn't the only one catching the train from Ashburys. However, I was probably the only person who'd specifically gone there to get on a Pacer Railbus

Prior to its arrival a four-coach Pacer had sped through the station. I also saw a Class 323 and a Class 150 heading towards Hadfield and New Mills Central respectively.

Ashburys railway station

My final destination was back home to Cheadle Hulme, but as I didn't fancy waiting around for the next train I hopped aboard my second Pacer of the day, 142013 to Chester via Stockport where I alighted for a walk home.

Back in the borough

Quite the day out!

Ashburys railway station is in Openshaw, Manchester. Ashburys doesn't refer to the area, rather it's taken from the name of the company that built the station in 1850

The station is the closest to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium

There was some unexpected greenery under the stairs on an unused bit of the other platform

One of the most interesting things at Ashburys station was this abandoned glove

Network Rail have a signalling centre very close to the station

323230 arriving at Ashburys station

I was looking in the wrong direction and hadn't even heard this Pacer until it was almost too later

Sprinter 150147 heading away from Ashburys station

Pacer Railbuses 142037 & 142054 at Manchester Piccadilly station

Down the other end they were Pacer Railbuses 142030 & 142054

Earlier in the day I'd seen Pacer Railbus 142067 at Manchester Piccadilly

Related blog posts:
- Trains
- Manchester
- Stockport
- Top Trainspotting

Videos:
- Pacer Railbus 142037 at Ashburys railway station in Manchester
- Pacer Railbus 142013 at Stockport railway station

Class 121 'Bubble Cars' at Aylesbury

Yesterday I noticed a post about an old type of train in the Dull Men's Club Facebook Group.

My fellow Dull Men's Club member had spotted a Class 121 'Bubble Car' at Princes Risborough railway station and it reminded me that I'd seen them before at Aylesbury station.

What a mixture of trains at Aylesbury Maintenance Depot back in July 2011

What I hadn't realised at the time was they are the longest serving DMUs in the UK, having started life in 1960. I thought they were en route to a heritage day or line, not that Chiltern Railways were still regularly using them in service!

Unfortunately the end of the line is nearing for the Class 121 'Bubble Cars' as spare parts are becoming more difficult to source and the engines are getting ever more frail.

Top trainspotting

Well done to Emily who wins this week's prize for trainspotting having seen this Pacer Railbus at Manchester Piccadilly yesterday.

A Class 142 Pacer Railbus at Manchester Piccadilly. Yesterday

What's so special you may ask? Well, take a look at the number. It's the James Bond of Pacers!

Last year we traveled on the old London Underground tube trains in use on the Isle of Wight's Island Line and were carried to Shanklin in number 007.

No more trainspotting

In what could spell the end for my train nerdery I've heard word that trainspotting is to be banned next year!

Don't walk this way. Trainspotting ban to be enforced next year

Until recently train nerds were more than welcome to indulge in their passion for spotting the wide variety of different engines and rolling stock on our rails, no more so than at Stockport station.

Signs like these will be a thing of the past in a year today

But from 1st April 2018 - the same year the withdrawal of Pacer Railbuses is due to begin - Northern, along with other rail operators, will not allow non-travellers on the platform, bringing an end to a much loved (though often maligned) pastime.

Two things of the past - no more railbuses and no more train nerds in 2018

At least my YouTube Channel is well stocked with vids of the wide range of trains we get up north. Enjoy them while you can, as you won't see the likes of this cracker from next year.



I'll have to take up a new pursuit - any suggestions on what is a step-up/down from trainspotting or minigolf course hunting?

Related blog posts:
- Train Nerdery
- Dull Men's Club

Steam train at Davenport railway station in Stockport

Catching a glimpse of BR Standard 4 76084 Buxton Spa Express at Davenport railway station in Stockport.

Steam Engine 76084 aka the 'Lancashire Lazarus' (and 45690 Leander) passes through Davenport railway station in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport at 9.35am on Saturday 25th February 2017.



The BR Standard 4 2-6-0 locomotive and carriages formed 'The Buxton Spa Express' special charter mainline service.

76084 at Davenport railway station

The back of the last carriage forming the Buxton Spa Express

Just as 76084 passed through a two-coach Northern rail Class 150 Sprinter (150116) called at the station heading north to Manchester and Bolton.

If this Class 150 Sprinter had been 30 seconds faster it would've ruined the view for the trainspotters on the other platform!

For further information visit the 76084 Standard 4 website.

76084 was preceded by a Class 185 TransPennine Express and followed by a Northern Class 142 Pacer Railbus.





Related blog posts:
- Stockport
- Train Nerd
- Trains

A visit to East Didsbury railway station

Maximum Train Nerdery at East Didsbury railway station.

Since moving to the north of England we've been travelling to a lot of new places. This has given me the chance to see some new railway stations and a lot of different trains too.

Train nerd Richard Gottfried at East Didsbury railway station

My new favourite railway station is East Didsbury in Manchester. It's actually one of the closest to ours and we stopped by on Friday prior to going tenpin bowling over the road at Parrs Wood. In just ten minutes six trains passed through the station, although only one stopped. And that was en route to Llandudno!



Check out my YouTube Channel and the links below to see some of my other recent train nerdery captured on camera.

Related blog posts:
- Train Nerd
- Train
- Trains
- A trip to Ashton-under-Lyne railway station
- Tube trains on the Isle of Wight

Videos:

- Crazy Golf and a train at Vickersway Park in Northwich

- GBRf 66737 with Drax freight trucks at Cheadle Heath

- Northern Sprinter train on a railway bridge in Cheadle Heath

- Northern Sprinter and Pacer Railbus trains at Ashton-under-Lyne station

- Pacer Railbus train in Cheadle Heath

- Class 150 Sprinter Northern service from Altrincham to Stockport

- Trainspotting at East Didsbury railway station

- First TransPennine Express Class 185's passing East Didsbury station

- Arriva Trains Wales Class 175 stopping at East Didsbury station

- Northern Class 150 Sprinter passing East Didsbury station

- Northern Class 156 passing East Didsbury station

- Northern Electrics Class 319 passing East Didsbury station

A trip to Ashton-under-Lyne railway station

Visiting Ashton-under-Lyne railway station.

While visiting Ashton-under-Lyne and the great Portland Basin Museum for the first time we swung by the railway station for a quick look for some classic Northern trains.

Train nerd

We were in luck as we saw BOTH 16:34 services arriving at and departing from the station! One was a two-coach Class 150 Sprinter heading to Huddersfield, the other was a four-coach Pacer Railbus en route to Wigan Wallgate.

Bound for Wigan Wallgate

Off to Huddersfield

One of the non-stopping trains passing through Ashton-under-Lyne station

Videos:
- Northern Sprinter and Pacer Railbus trains at Ashton-under-Lyne station
- Northern Sprinter train on a railway bridge at Normanton Road, Cheadle
- GBRf 66737 with Drax freight trucks at Cheadle Heath

Related blog posts:
- Train nerd
- Trains

A trip to Reddish South railway station

Visiting Reddish South railway station.

Last year we watched the TV programme Paul Merton's Secret Stations and were interested to hear about the once a week 'parliamentary' rail service from Reddish South railway station in Greater Manchester.

Reddish South railway station. A very quiet spot

When we moved to Cheadle Hulme last summer we noticed on a local map that Reddish South was one of our closest stations here in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport!

The station's timetable makes for grim viewing

Yesterday we went to explore the station. Unfortunately we didn't see any trains pass through Reddish South and we didn't fancy waiting for the next and only service - the 09:27 to Stalybridge. On Friday!

Five days early, or two days late, for the next train from Reddish South

The station is one of the quietest in the UK, and the least used in Greater Manchester, with only 38 passengers using the station in 2015/16.

A view of Reddish Station from down the line

Ticking off another railway station visit on our travels

The station has a Friends group that are campaigning for a regular service from Reddish South

Practicing my hailing motion for when we actually catch a train from the request stop

An old unused tunnel to the right

A view of one of the old and unused platforms

The station has no facilities for passengers at all. At least Denton, another station on the Stockport-Stalybridge Line, has a bench.

Distinctly lacking in facilities

You can find out more about the station and service from the Friends of Reddish South Station group.

Watch episode 3 of Paul Merton's Secret Stations to see Reddish South station.

Further information about the station can be found on the Northern Railway website.

Tube trains on the Isle of Wight

Train nerdery of the highest order.

An old London Underground tube train in the sidings at Ryde St John's Road station

There's something very pleasing about seeing old London Underground tube trains in regular service on the Isle of Wight.

Trains in the sidings at Ryde St John's Road

Another view of the trains from the bridge

Train 007 from Shanklin to the Pier Head

007

007 heading to the end of the line

007 on its return to Shanklin

On our Crazy Golfing day out on the Isle of Wight we rode the rails from Ryde St John's Road to Shanklin, and then from Shanklin to Ryde to catch the hovercraft.

Advert for Shanklin Seafront on the Island Line 'tube' trains on the Isle of Wight

Related blog posts:
- Isle of Wight
- Trains

Link:
- The Island Line

Dragon Miniature Railway at the Wyevale Garden Centre in Marple

Visiting the Dragon Miniature Railway at Marple Garden Centre.

Driving from the Brookside Miniature Railway in Poynton to Werneth Low to take a look at the spectacular view over the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport and beyond we passed through Marple and spotted another miniature railway! So we had to call in for a ride on the little train.

The Western Champion engine waits at Otterspool Junction

The Dragon Miniature Railway can be found at the Marple Wyevale Garden Centre in Otterspool, Stockport.

The Flying Dragon engine

Heading into a tunnel

At only £1 a ride it was marvellous value, and we got to sit in enclosed carriages for our fare too.

Classy carriages

About to get underway

Links:
- Wyevale Garden Centre, Marple
- Miniature Railway World

Related blog posts:
- Miniature Railways