Sunrise

The early morning sunrise can be a beautiful thing, likewise the sunset is magical.

The lovely colours, red, oranges, deep and rich can be seen reflecting on the side of this train.

Leaf Fall Season

It is now coming towards the end of October, we are definetely in Leaf Fall Season, where the track can become a mulch of leaves which sends the wheels spinning, slipping and sliding along the rails.

This is oneof the Network Rail MPV which go along and blast the rails clean and spread a substance on the track to help adhesion to the rails.

Seen here near to Little Sutton.

Bank Holiday Weekend 25th August 2008

25th August proved to be extremely busy for rail services in the Merseyside area, as well as the 2008 CofC events, it was the Matthew Street festival and as many trains on the Merseyrail network were pressed into service.

Although Network Rail tried to scupper long distance travellers into the city , with engineering works, there were more than a few that managed to visit Liverpool.

This photo shows one of the strengthened services, a view from Everton Valley across to Wallasey, with a Northern Line 6 car working, taking people home from the day's events.

It's August already - Where has the year gone?

508 134 at Manor Road (Blue C of C one)


Well it is now August and the Capital of Culture celebrations are well and truly with us.


Liverpool is busy, but there is so much going on with things like the new arena, wonder if CofC has really made much of a difference.


Tall Ships weekend brought many visitors .... would it have happened anyway?


August bank holiday, is always a Beatles and general music festivaly type of weekend - transport will be stretched!


As Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention sang - Where does the time go?

More Culture

507 019 seen here at Ellesmere Port is another unit that has been finished in Capital of Culture livery.

This time it is in red and advertises Sport as it's theme.

Capital Of Culture

This is the second Merseyrail train to be outshopped in the 2008 Capital Of Culture advertising garb, this is 507 008 as seen on the 15th March 2008 at Bidston.

The first one to take to the rails was 508 134, there are to be a total of four Merseyrail unit in this scheme and I believe two Northern Rail DMU's are to be done.

Steam On The Wirral (Put the kettle on)!!

An afternoon down in Royden Park, Wirral found these minature Steam (and a Diesel) running.

I haven't seen these for years, they also have a new track on the ground that runs into some fields, although the old track that was raised from the ground was still in situ in the woods. That has seen use from the 1960's.

There were 4 engines in use that day.

Helpful & Compassionate Passengers ...

Looks like any normal winter's evening, except for it was raining at this point !!

The guard on this train was getting quite a bit of stick from passengers, who on the way home towards West Kirby had been delayed at Conway Park for 11 minutes, due to an 'Incident on the line ahead of this train'.

It turns out that someone in the Wallasey area had tried to commit suicide by lying on the rails, luckily the train driver had seen him and been able to stop before any damage had been done to said person. Due to this the electricity is cut off to prevent people getting a good old frying, they then switch it back on section, by section and get other trains and lines back to normal as soon as possible.

Certain passengers were very disgruntled and told the guard so, that the person trying to kill themselves was selfish and they had delayed them getting home to their sad little lives !!! Was it going to be back to normal later, will there be cancellations ??? Why did they have to try and kill themselves in the peak hour, why didn't they do it when it was a bit quiter and they wouldn't inconvenience many people !! Yes, this is absolutely true.

To be honest, I would shoot those that showed the compassion of a battering ram !!

So here is a word of advice ..... If you ever plan to kill yourself, think about others first and don't inconvenience them !!

Welcome to 2008, Liverpool, Capital of Culture year

Happy New Year and welcome to 2008

What did I do ?

I had to go to work, no fun and frivolity for me last night :(