RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted November 15, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 15, 2021 I see that the Hazel Grove route is being used again for the empties since the dridge job near Whaley Bridge has been done. My usual place for catching the stone trains is Marple as I walk over the bridge just north of the station two or three times a week when I am picking up my grandson from school. I usually manage to make it co-incide with the DB train to Ashburys or the GBRF empties from Small Heath, or as it is sometimes Northampton or Hams Hall. The Doncaster empties also comes around that time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post big jim Posted November 15, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted November 15, 2021 Didn’t realise the line through Whaley bridge was used for the empties, that bridge was a pain in the IM trains, we had to sit at Furness vale and wait for the passenger train to get there before we could head to Buxton (the bridge wasn’t allowed to have 2 trains on it at once, units are ok but a unit and loco hauled weren’t allowed) to be honest I’d like to get that on my card if the opportunity arose but it’s unlikely today was my first solo voyage from peak forest to hindlow, change of loco, 66730 this time while waiting at northwich for the road I managed to get a shot of the old European wagon that’s been abandoned in the old sidings The next stop was hazel grove high level, you can see the ‘new’ chord that opened in the 80s The line My train is stood on is old line to cheadle Heath, Heaton Mersey and into Manchester central The line the 150 is on is the line from hazel grove to Buxton I then headed off to peak forest and onward to Buxton and hindlow, no pics until hindlow though The line from great rocks to Buxton is token working that you hand back at Buxton, you then collect a different token for the line to hindlow, once shunting is complete you put it back in the token machine at the quarry After loading it was a wait for another train to arrive from Buxton and here it is you then head into the single line, the groundframe is locked by the shunter and the token is handed back to the driver to continue to Buxton Old sign And the token in its pouch And run round in Buxton where I got relief I then walked back to Buxton station for the train home Back of the box Looking back toward the box again, the old depot was to the left of the tracks My Train back to stockport Buxton station The booking office has an O gauge display of part of the station a brief history They have made a japanese garden at the end of the platform! And into Stockport Train home And a walk to basford hall and that was that, crewe to peak tomorrow but I’m going to stay on to Hindlow and then ride my bike from there to cromford and get a train back to crewe from there via derby! 33 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 5BarVT Posted November 15, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 15, 2021 I hope photos 3 and 4 (TPE on Hazel Grove Chord) are in the wrong order. If not, “Euston, we have a problem”!! 37 minutes ago, big jim said: I’m going to stay on to Hindlow and then ride my bike from there to cromford and get a train back to crewe from there via derby! That’s a fair ride, and better that way than in reverse. Take care on the incline, it’s quite steep! Paul. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 15, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 15, 2021 The two TPE pics are in the correct order, it’s the same train heading away from the camera, what’s the issue you are seeing? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted November 15, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 15, 2021 3 minutes ago, big jim said: The two TPE pics are in the correct order, it’s the same train heading away from the camera, what’s the issue you are seeing? I think Paul has forgotten Hazel Grove is bi-di 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted November 15, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 15, 2021 56 minutes ago, big jim said: Didn’t realise the line through Whaley bridge was used for the empties, that bridge was a pain in the IM trains, we had to sit at Furness vale and wait for the passenger train to get there before we could head to Buxton (the bridge wasn’t allowed to have 2 trains on it at once, units are ok but a unit and loco hauled weren’t allowed) There was always one path in the timetable but it was normally only used when somebody needed to get their card updated. 19 minutes ago, 5BarVT said: That’s a fair ride, and better that way than in reverse. Take care on the incline, it’s quite steep! I sometimes drive up to Hindlow and ride various mix and match routes which include High Peak Trail, Carsington Water, Tissington Trail and Manifold Valley (not all on the same day). I remember one winter day after riding down the Tissington trail then across to Hulme End to do the Leek and Manifold then across to Ashbourne and back up the Tissington Trail. When we got to Ashbourne the weather was turning bad and there was a Force 6 northerly wind blowing. Seventeen miles against the wind and mostly up hill. By the time we got to Hartington we were just about done for. Another occasion we had freezing fog for the last ten miles. By the time we got to the car I had a coating of ice all over the bike. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 15, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 15, 2021 Let’s hope the weather is favourable tomorrow, if it’s really bad I’ll just ride back to Buxton and get a train from there ive got my waterproofs whatever happens! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted November 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 15, 2021 I see the rear green 37 is carrying a nameplate. A quick search and it's named "Flossie" after Jeremy Hoskins mother. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippel Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 (edited) Whaley Bridge route has been used by 6H53 the empties (19.xx) ex Ashburys to Dowlow for years now. Paul. Edited November 15, 2021 by Hippel Added to Dowlow 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 5BarVT Posted November 16, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 16, 2021 10 hours ago, big jim said: The two TPE pics are in the correct order, it’s the same train heading away from the camera, what’s the issue you are seeing? 10 hours ago, beast66606 said: I think Paul has forgotten Hazel Grove is bi-di Paul had indeed forgotten that Hazel Grove is bidi. He will slope off and eat humble pie! :-) 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post big jim Posted November 16, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted November 16, 2021 (edited) And some from today, not many ‘work pics’ but some from my commute home passed 66792 at chinley while I was waiting to get onto the chord, tomorrow job involves me taking the same train as today to peak forest then getting in a taxi back to crewe to work that train back to walsall! i was supposed to get off at peak forest and job done, got told I didn’t have a hire car but I had a plan! I stayed on to Hindlow so I was in the right place to get in my bike and ride home from there, could have took the easy option and headed back to Buxton but had decided to catch a train from cromford on the Matlock branch, a 20 odd mile ride along the high peak trail from hindlow ready for the off The start of the high peak trail which is the old cromford and high peak railway Parsley hey, a welcome cup of tea break the old junction to Ashbourne Tunnel under the A515 would have loved to have seen a train trundling round the curves on the line! hopton incline Hopton tunnel Middleton top middleton incline And at the bottom looking back up steeple grange light railway And onward through black rocks to sheep pasture incline And looking down from the top toward cromford You can see the line to Matlock in the middle of the picture, this was the old mainline from Manchester to St Pancras via peak forest, a line I drove my train around a few hours earlier! Top of the incline Half way down And a catch pit at the bottom for run away wagons Couple of brake vans High peak jn I then planned to ride along the back road to cromford but it was shut so I had to use the towpath to cromford wharf, this picture is looking back up toward where I took the picture of the midland line from the high peak line, you can just about make out the embankment right at the top of the hill, you can see just how far the line drops in a short distance down sheep pasture incline Cromford wharf I then decided to carry on to Matlock bath and briefly called in to see @andyram in his shop before getting the train home I planned to grab a cuppa in town but realised there was a train due in 2 minutes so scooted quickly to the station and thankfully caught it to derby, strangely this is the first time I’ve ever been on this part of the line, I’ve been to cromford behind a top and tail pair of 20s back in 1989 once before but no further! a good trip, would definitely do it again come summer, next time I’ll get off at peak as booked and do Matlock via the monsal trail Annoyingly that train arrives into derby at exactly the same time the train to crewe departs so I had an hour to wait so got a bit more charge in the bike while I waited, it needs a good wash now though! longer job tomorow, same train to peak then another crewe to walsall and into lodge for the night hope you enjoyed those piccies, a bit of a change from the norm but worth documenting Edited November 16, 2021 by big jim 53 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium iands Posted November 16, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 16, 2021 Some fantastic photos Jim, thanks for sharing. 1 8 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted November 16, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 16, 2021 Did you go into the pit to look at the wagon half buried in there? 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium corneliuslundie Posted November 16, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 16, 2021 And did you get off for the inclines? Thanks for taking the trouble to take and post these great photos. Jonathan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 16, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 16, 2021 2 minutes ago, corneliuslundie said: And did you get off for the inclines? Thanks for taking the trouble to take and post these great photos. Jonathan no rode down them slowly, brakes red hot and stinking at the bottom though! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium corneliuslundie Posted November 16, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 16, 2021 No regenerative braking then. J 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 16, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 16, 2021 5 minutes ago, TheSignalEngineer said: Did you go into the pit to look at the wagon half buried in there? i did see it but didn’t bother going to have a look, to be honest there was a lot em route I could have stopped to photograph like a rotting mobile crane, incline shunting ramp, signal post etc but I’d get no decent progress done stopping all the time, and it was quite Misty too 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted November 16, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 16, 2021 (edited) 15 minutes ago, big jim said: incline shunting ramp, That ramp was where they used to park the old tenders they used for bringing water up to the top section. There are pictures of locos topping up from them. 15 minutes ago, big jim said: signal post I like getting to that when northbound as if the time is right it's five minutes to brew time. An interesting signal, reinforced concrete and still has the rusting remains of the LNWR spec plate on it. I would guess that it could be about 100 years old. There are some pictures in my Ghosts in the Machine thread. Can't believe it's six years since I took those. Edited November 16, 2021 by TheSignalEngineer 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 Hi Jim Love the pics. It was good to see you today. A shame that, due to the the zoom meeting I was doing at the time, I could not stop for a long chat. Proof that you can never predict what a day is going to be like. I agreed to the meeting because I expected it to be a quiet day. Andy 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben B Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Cheers for those pics- I visited the incline and winding house on a Geology/Industrial-Archaeology field trip when I was back at college, found it very interesting. Steeple Grange looks like an interesting setup too, have to put that on the list of places to visit next year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post big jim Posted November 17, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted November 17, 2021 Just a few from today, hams hall to peak forest then back to crewe to work another to walsall First up had to shunt a train in hams hall and my train almost ready to go basford hall Peak forest, 66730 again Back to crewe, 66792 back south walsall Same again tomorrow 32 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post big jim Posted November 18, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted November 18, 2021 Same job today hams hall Hazel grove There is a lot of talk of ‘leaves in the line’ and Rail Head Treatment Trains this time if the year, while stood at hazel grove I got a few pics to illustrate what happens, near in mind that the leaves haven’t really started to fall yet but this morning it was beginning to get a bit slippy on some of the less used bits of track here is a single leaf that’s fallen on the railhead and been run over by a train The weight of the train squashes the leaf down and pushes all the moisture and sap etc from the leaf onto the railhead, the resultant goo is very slippy, almost the same consistency as rubbing washing up liquid or soap between your finger and thumb as I say that is just one leaf but imagine a whole carpet of them falling onto the rail and 2000 ton of train pressing down on them, the result is a nice layer of black slippy ‘goo’ on the railhead It also transfers to the wheels of the train, with clasp brakes it does get scrubbed off a fair bit by the brake blocks which helps when braking but as with what happened in Salisbury when you have disc brakes the goo just builds up on the wheel flange and with no blocks to scrub the gunge off combined with any railhead contamination the wheels will simply glide on the mulch, similarly when pulling away on a train with either disc or clasp brakes the wheels will just spin on the mulch, sanding will help to get a grip but not always! But as i say, looking at the trees around here the leaf fall hasn’t really started in anger yet and it’s already getting slippy with the few that have fallen, it’s only going to get worse! and finally into peak forest It was then over to crewe for the train to Walsall but I didn’t bother with any pictures as it was the same as yesterday same again tomorrow though, last day of it 14 23 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithHC Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Thanks Jim for that insight to the leaf problem. You have explained it in simple terms and illustrated it well. Keep up the great work. I will now go back to railmap online and try to work out your routes to Peak Forest and back…….. Keith 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 18, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 18, 2021 26 minutes ago, KeithHC said: I will now go back to railmap online and try to work out your routes to Peak Forest and back…….. Keith The route is crewe-sandbach-Middlewich-northwich-altrincham-northenden jn (Heaton Mersey) -hazel grove-chinley-peak forest it comes back peak forest-chinley-new mills-guide bridge-Denton-stockport-crewe, I don’t sign the new mills to stockport buit so can’t go that way but I do go stockport to hazel grove via Davenport im in a good position that I also go over the hope valley and through Sheffield or Chesterfield so I can get out of peak forest most ways of issues arise! 5 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig1989 Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 When did hams hall become an aggregates terminal aswel as a container terminal? cheers Craig Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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