Preston to Tunstead
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- čas přidán 20. 09. 2023
- It’s a stunning winters morning in February 2023 and our train has made the short move from Fox Brothers Stone Terminal alongside the WCML at Leyland. We start after the loco - 66601 has run round and attached for the southbound journey. It runs all the way down to Hartford before picking up the Cheshire Lines route as far as Northenden Junction then we run up the freight only line to Hazel Grove. We then go up the Midland route via New Mills and Chinley before finally taking the freight only branch right to the signal box at Great Rocks (Tunstead). As always, we talk about the train, the history and point out the landmarks. Put on your thick coat, it’s cold out there..... very cold!
Addendum
One day hopefully there won’t be an addendum but true to form, my dyslexia ensures there will.
Euxton Blashaw Lane Station should of course read Euxton Balshaw Lane.
Site of Bamfurllong Station should be Site of Golbourne Station.
I’m watching from my iPad, are you receiving folks
Evening folks, thanks for joining.
Thank you for posting these videos. I find them fascinating.
Glad you like them Kevin.
Excellent video, beautiful country , I think freight drivers get the best because of all these byways and rabbit holes they get sent down . Grand frosty morning . Good health 👍🇬🇧
It was a really nice run wasn’t it Stephen! I enjoyed it too, I love being out on those cold sharp mornings.
Now that I have had the chance to watch in its entirety,I really enjoyed the video. However it reminded me of something I haven't experienced for a decade or more ! Bitterly cold frosty mornings !!!!! Rather you than me Don 🤣
I gather you’re in warmer climes Brian, nice!
Your videos are so interesting and informative, they are just brilliant you learn something every time.
thank you for your time.
My work here is done! Just kidding, glad you like them.
👍Looking forward to this one, must remember to get the shandy and crisps in !
Chicken are my favourite but I’ll cheerfully scoff any.
First class vid ad usual. Since following your vlogs, I know so much about the workings of the system than I ever did. These Frieght journey's are my favourite, travelling the backwaters. Thank you for all the hard work and the hours you put in.
Glad you like them Peter, plenty more to come.
Love me a 66, as they're so similar to the locos I'm used to hearing in my part of the world, right down to the same prime mover.
I like the freight videos and your commentary that give good insight into the different challenges faced by freight drivers, and how that involves yet another skill set that passenger drivers don't have, just as passenger drivers have a skill set that freight drivers don't necessarily have.
That’s it John and that sound like you say is recognised by rail enthusiasts the world over.
Thanks again Don for a great cab ride. The quality of the video is superb, and the tidbits of information add context to what is being viewed. Until the next one...
Glad you enjoyed it. I add different information in each video. Next is Trafford Park to Wembley.
Another great video Don and your continuous lines of information are second to none as always.A huge thank you Don.
Thanks Barry. I try to include all the stuff I would find interesting as an onlooker and I’d certainly talk you to death as a passenger in my cab!
Thank you for another absolute gem Don; particularly enjoyable thanks to the winter morning light and weather conditions. We really do appreciate your effort!
Much appreciated James 👍
It has been a while since I last watched one of your videos, no fault of yours or the videos, I find them fascinating. I really could not have picked a better one to resume my armchair train driving! Very entertaining and informative. I wanted to mention the new (to me at least) information captions, assorted colours and screen positions, great idea. Thanks for all your hard work and effort in putting these together.
They’ve evolved over the years Chris. Glad you enjoyed it and welcome back 👍
What great news - looking forwards to another quality presentation
Great editing, fantastic commentary, cannot fault it. Well done, great work - I particularly like the comments on lines, places and so on as we pass. Absolutely amazing. Thank you.
Much appreciated William. I try to tell you all the things I’d be explaining if you were with me in the cab.
Another interesting and intellectually entertaining video. Always look forward to the new ones. Thanks for your labors involved with these, Don. See you on the next. Cheers Mr. Coffey! 😊
Next one is an epic Trafford Park to Wembley Martin.
as ever Don , nice one x
Magnificent! Those 66's have got some power! There's a great skill in operating those massive trains, your cab videos help appreciate it fully.
Glad you like them! That sound is also iconic now.
Fabulous as always Don - so full of interest. Thank you
Many thanks!
Amazing! Thanks for this one Don 😊
My pleasure Duaine 👍
Very atmospheric video. Light a problem for the drivers at times. Good info and enjoyable trip. Thanks Don.
Yes, strong light like that could be a problem but I prefer it to rain!
Great video again Don. Love it when they go passed my old factory
Which is it Mark?
Another great video, keep them coming and thanks to all that built our wonderful railways.
We will Ian, thanks 👍
Another great video. Thanks Don.
Very welcome Bernard, much appreciated 👍
Great video , Don. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from Australia.
Good to see you Richard. Take care over there 👍
As always, a pleasure to watch Don. I’ve got my old railway atlas following the trip! One thing worries me however - 6H66 with 66601. Too many sixes for the superstitious 😀
Haha, I’ll ask Vinny to choose more carefully in future 😉
Very nice Don ,definitely one of the best you’ve posted .many many thanks .please keep em coming 😊
Thank you, I will Vicky 👍
Great video. Did you all spot the youngster giving the driver the "fist" at 1.14.53 from the left-side of the pedestrian green bridge? The youth of today!
I did see him but I wasn’t sure if he was doing the sound the horn please gesture. Vinny didn’t so you may well be right!
Parts of the last 20 minutes; with sun reflecting on rails like they were shining a way through wilderness; should feature in art 'installations', adverts, and pop videos: especially if speeded up. Obviously you and your charities should benefit.
The driver was impressive as well. He crawled up to the red after 2:05 in a way that gave him the green whilst his train was still moving. That saved so much fuel, time, and carbon emission. Well done.
Cheers Glyn. That driver has driven the route many times and he knows exactly the signals and the timings involved. Thanks for the comments 👍
Beautiful journey from sunrise, mist/fog, frost and then a clear pastel blue winters day. Great viaducts, and early catkins adorning the trees!
Yes, I agree, it is lovely footage - thanks to my mate at Freightliner.
Thanks Don. A great journey, good weather too! You get such a good view from those cabs, it’s not like a car journey. I bet those embankments are very welcome by the wildlife. Dave.
There is no doubt they form habitats but it’s a love hate relationship because trains can be dangerous when they slide but residents don’t take well to devegitation.
Another great freight video Don Thank You .very informative and good to see lines that are not normally used. I will be on the west coast mainline 2moro going to Carlisle
Have a good trip 👍
I have just found your vlog. I was fascinated to have a drivers view, and then the explanations about the signals and the line, made it so much more interesting. Thank you 😊
Welcome aboard Susan. Each video covers different subjects so hopefully you’ll keep watching with us.
Another brilliant and atmospheric video. Thanks so much.
Thanks also for giving us the full transit of the Disley tunnel. It's great on a bright day like this when you can see the eastern portal before you enter the western one.
Glad you enjoyed it and if you want to see the full uninterrupted run the opposite way, it’s in here;
czcams.com/video/2IfQyC9SgfM/video.htmlsi=5r9TD16VVC_qba_Q
And the quality continues.....loved it Don. Will have to get the old rail atlas out and watch it again though.
I use Track Atlas but New Adlestrop is very good too Roger. www.systemed.net/atlas/
Absolute stunning morning for a cab ride. Great footage and line information. Thanks for sharing 👍
Glad you enjoyed it 👍
Another great video Don, 👍 definietly the best time of the day, providing the weathers good and early starts don't bother you.
I love earlies IF I can get a good night’s sleep!
Excellent video, as always. Thanks, Don! 🙂
Very welcome Martin 👍
Once again you’ve created a magnificent video with superb details - much appreciated
Glad you enjoyed it Chris 👍
I do like your videos and I also like seeing freight trains out and about that are really useful for transporting heavy goods and to take them off roads and onto railways.
That’s right Andrew. We still need trucks of course but moving large quantities over long distances should be done by rail.
Another interesting video Don, thanks.
Fox Brothers did a short video of their terminal, also the head welder and fabricator has has own CZcams channel called Welderfaber. Fox's are friends with Danny at Ashville Aggregates (he has a popular CZcams channel) who also get rail fed stone delivered to what was previously Bardon Aggregates Thorney Mill depot at West Drayton.
I might send them a link in case they find it of interest.
Always following with my 1985 rail atlas.
Great video. I particularly enjoyed seeing the freight-only line from Northenden to Hazel Grove for the first time. TfGM has studied sharing the ex-MML portion of this line for a tram-train Metrolink extension from East Didsbury to Hazel Grove. I imagine this would entail redoubling, at least in part, but it looks as if there are not many encroachments on the alignment.
I think that might be the line that left us up to Edgeley but I could be wrong 👍
Superb indeed
Thanks Les
Great line
Great stuff Don, them pesky Freights always took an age along that Single Line from Northenden after giving the slot @ Hazel Grove PSB, thanks for the Chopper Crescendo.
Cheers Rick and by the way, you are on the list for the signaller sim, it’s just a big list!
one of my earliest memories is seeing a train from a bridge above the track come twards me and me old man, i thought this huge yellow thing which sort of looked like it had eyes, (windows of cab) was a robot or alive in some way, I was about 3 mind you lol. its astonishing also the work, time and effort that has designed and built these great structures and railways. very interesting subject. am i right in thinking the first use of the gauge we use today was taken from the rail gauges in welsh coal mines? The first occasion on which a railway locomotive pulled a train carrying passengers was in 1804 at Penydarren Ironworks in Wales, when 70 employees of the ironworks were transported 9 miles by an engine designed by Richard Trevithick. did you know ?
I didn’t know but it makes perfect sense. The gauge origin there are many theories. Of course, Brunei’s wide gauge was his design to improve stability but the 4 feet, 8 and a half was to do with the width of a pony and it’s shackles was the one I heard most.
Great trip Don. As always enjoy travelling along with you. Who knows you might even pass or stop at Sunny (Today 25th Sept) Didcot one Full Moon!! ... Roger
I’ll be filming with Cross Country on the 30th Oct as it happens 👍. Not sure what time yet.
Hey I love your videos
Cheers Ben.
1:17:27 Grimly industrial area around Northwich. A very interesting cab journey! 🚂👍
It used to be a hive of train activity Dave and it’s all in decline now. Sad to see - progress the ogress.
Thanks for showing. It does highlight the condition of the WCML in that only part of the line travelled has high speed switches (points). There are still a lot of original design 25 mph limited with limited locking still in stations and for sidings. How do they maintain that 'short cut' Cheadle to Hazel Grove with no access or storage siding for equipment? A loop would help and would provide a passing point to double the lines capacity. There is a bridge over the Chapel - Glossop road just before the turn south by railway after Chinley. It is limited clearance unless in the centre of the road. Will convert curtain side trailers to flat beds if taken off centre as my friend found out.
There are various access points hidden in the undergrowth Brian but they go a long way to it’s upkeep by keeping the speed right down. I live in Chapel and know that bridge very well as it is my normal route to work. I’ve frequently stopped curtainsiders heading that way as they can’t get under and usually end up knock the wall down at what used to be the Crown And Mitre pub by the bridge. Unfortunately it’s often too late and the tailback is horrendous.
Class 66's are one of my favourite loco's to drive on Train Sim. Just wish they had more routes available to drive them on! I used to pick up stone from Tunstead and Doveholes quarries when I was on tippers 15 years ago.
I did the same when I drove Foden S80s in my mechanicing days. You could walk faster out of Tunstead.
Was this return journey along the same route as the outbound laden journey? I ask because in the Hindlow Quarry to Crewe video the fully laden train reached WCML via Romily and Guide Bridge. I had never appreciated how important the connection to/from Deansgate Junction on the Atlrincham line to Stockport and Hazel Grove remains. All brilliant especially the heavy haul through the Hope Valley to Bedford.
It is a very important link Bill and it sees a healthy amount of freight most days. It’s a good question about the route and the planners choose various ones depending on the time, weight and path available. They also consider route competency so drivers get chance to refresh multiple routes. I’d have to ask Vinny to be sure. It probably went the same way but my gut tells me they’d maybe try and avoid loaded freight on such long stretches of the WCML during the day but overnight is a different matter. It was unloaded overnight so that could well be the case.
Very interesting your videos, i learn a lot from them. I wonder if there are documentary films about how the railway was built in the first half of the 19th century, during the time of George and Robert Stephenson. I am interested to see how they built the bridges, viaducts, tunnels, embankments, cuts.
There’s lots on CZcams. This is my favourite on tunnel making, I’ve watched it several times.
czcams.com/video/_c8jvixQGpQ/video.htmlsi=2NwxJ2-Hri13GQUQ
Five star coverage
I notice that 'lost' wagon is still outside Northwich, on that siding.
I know, I’m amazed that hasn’t been nabbed for preservation.
Fairly complex layout at Wigan.
Yes, it has recently enjoyed a comeback having been mothballed for years.
Preston is my home station 😄 it's the coldest station known to man 🤣
Naw, Buxton is Anthony 😉 🥶
Good evening, some single track museum railways in the United Kingdom are still operated with staff or token blocks although all their stations are equipped not only with home signals but also with starting signals. It is therefore not clear to me the need to have a staff or token block in the presence of starting signals. In other words, couldn't the signals that authorize the sending of trains in the opposite direction along the single track section be interconnected to avoid head-on collisions? If I'm not mistaken, as far as physical Europe is concerned, only in the United Kingdom, Man and Ireland is the staff or the token-block used, while in the other railway networks of continental Europe, telephone block or Sole Management apart, electric locking systems are used which do not provide for the delivery of staffs, tokens, keys or other suitable metal or wooden objects to the train driver. If I'm wrong, correct me! Grateful for the attention given to me, I would like to take this opportunity to extend cordial and sincere regards
Thank you Luigi and the same to you. Absolute Block refers to one train in one section at one time. Within that system, the starter is usually the signal at the end of the platform at a station. A staff is usually a token that allows entry to a single line and is used as a lock at each end of the single line. While a train has the staff, a second train can’t enter. Of course, systems have evolved and we also have single lines that are interlocked electrically like the single line in the film. There was an incident in Germany just a few years ago where a signaller let two trains into a single line causing a serious head on collision. It seems bizarre to me that they could have a system where this is possible.
Top Drawer as usual ! Pity the face book channel hasn't reached the same heights.
It’s growing Brian. One of the reasons for starting that group was so you guys could chat while I was editing but I do sprinkle corn about new videos there to. I also publish the monthly analytics there 👍
Site of Bamfurlong Station @ 41:23 should read - site of Golborne Station! Bamfurlong was before Haydock Junction. There are plans for the re-opening of Golborne but not in my time!
Thanks John, I’ve put an amendment in the description 👍
Thank you for another great video, the scenery looks great on a frosty morning. Just a question from someone who’s interested in the railways, is there a reason why there is off cuts of rail track left inside the gauge thank you
Hi Jeffrey. Yes, if you follow the channel I try to answer all possible questions and that does come up. Sometimes, new lengths of rail are left to just repair a bad section of maybe rail burns or a crack. Long lengths of new rail are in preparation for a rerail as we call it. They lay everything close by then they’ll hit with men and machines overnight or at weekends. The old length need to be short enough to fit inside a two axle wagon so they have a machine that indexes forward at the correct distance then snaps it like a branch over your knee. The rail is flexible over long lengths but the short lengths just snap.
Hi Don Just wondering what you stated as the site of Bamfalong Station I thought that was the site of Golborne Station.
I’ll look into it Paul. I’ll put an amendment in the description if it checks out.
It's unbelievable that the WMCL is just two lines in places,Hs2 was supposed to relive this but the northern leg is in peril (don't get me started,what £100bn could have done for the network).
Well it would be nice to have both but the costs keep going up. We’ll see what happens.
1:44 My house, 1:51, Cheshire Lines tavern, great pub!!
Nice one Chris 👍
Mr Coffey, you say it is the site of Bamfurlong station, but I thought it was actually Golborne? Happy to be corrected if I am adrift... Cheers, but thank you for the videos, they are excellent. Now live in the West Mids region but grew up watching the trains between Winwick Junction and Acton Grange.
You are correct Stuey, there is an amendment in the video description.
Great video as always. I've wanted to know for a long time what allowances are made on longer trips if you get caught short or an upset stomach?
Yes, that thought fascinates many viewers. Being a train driver teaches you to be disciplined in your preparation so thinking forward about such things is high on your priorities. Of course it’s easier for me driving passenger trains because in an emergency I could use an onboard toilet. A freight train driver with a tummy problem has a different dilemma. He or she would have to find something along the way like a station or other premises or as a last resort - bushes or tucked out of sight under your own train. I bet many a freight train driver has a loo roll in their bag.
I was over in the UK near the site of the Tunstead Quarry back in the early 2000's and was informed that this quarry had been trying to get governmental permission to extend their operation into
received
It is well and truly extended now Richard. Have a look on Google Earth.
Once again Don, a cracking video, especially the lines around the peak district, as a matter of interest, would you happen to know where I can purchase an old railway map of the midland railway line maybe back in the 1960s before closure, I've tried to get one but to no avail, many thanks.
There are various books you can piece up but the Liverpool and Manchester Atlas is superb up until about Chinley
amzn.eu/d/h4DCNqO
New Adlestrop is very good as it shows closed lines in grey,
www.systemed.net/atlas/
This is also very good,
www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php
What are the 'plates' that are across the slow lines at 00:14:44 ? I see they might allow something to roll over the tracks, but they don't extend to the fast lines.
They’re called track access platforms. They allow engineering machines to access the track.
Ironically in this video, despite the rolling comment, the semaphore signals here appear clearer at distance than a lot of the light signals, against the background of the sky (1:22:14, 1:23:09, compare 1:30:45 for example), although I appreciate that won't necessarily be true for the drivers in real life. And conversely, although semaphores do (in principle) include a light shining through a coloured filter, its very hard to tell in the video, at least in the daytime. They clearly don't produce anything like the same light strength as modern signals. Anyway, another enjoyable route, thank you as always.
It’s amazing how the light interacts with different signal types.
Assuming no specific speed restrictions, what is the permitted maximum line speed of these freight trains?
Most of the stone trains are Class 6 which permits them to run at 60mph. The next video is Trafford Park to Wembley which is a Class 4. That ran at 75mph where possible.
Is there a button you have to press regularly to make sure ok in the cab
There are buttons but the main one to check if you are still with us is a pedal called the Drivers Safety Device.
Euxton Balshaw Lane
I know, I’m dyslexic but I’ve put a correction in the description.
Has the 66 got a good heater
It does Tim. I noticed he didn’t have it on when he left Preston but he soon gave in 😉
Lovely editing, but was the labelling of the Down lines at 1:00:32 an error?
No it isn’t. It’s a very unusual arrangement but it shows just how anomalies pop up on the railway.
Have you ever thought of doing a video of a drivers eye view from London Paddington to Plymouth
I have Tim and it was organised but then Covid came along and spoiled everything. Maybe I’ll resurrect one day 👍
Active ground signal off in the weeds at 1:16:09.
Oh aye, it happens a lot 👍😉
I like to follow the journey in Google Maps, open on another page in my browser, but it's heavily biased towards motoring, and the railway routes are not as clear as they could be.
New Adlestrop is pretty good. Try this John;
www.systemed.net/carto/New_Adlestrop_Railway_Atlas.pdf
Sorry the comment was cut short.
666 is the Australian Devil. I take it the driver isn't an Aussie......
Haha, no far from it, he lives just up the road from me in Derbyshire and as far as this channel goes, he’s got wings!