Day Nine,
I had an exam this morning which meant I missed one hour of work experience, but Anthony kindly offered to pick me up after school, but he was at an incident so I would have to walk home and he would pick me up in half an hour, after some boring daytime TV we went to Healey Mills once more to get some pictures of the redundant stock, including a class 47, as Anthony was on M.O.M duties today we had to be near Leeds, so after this we headed over to the Office and watched videos, read magazines and talked until 7PM.
Just as we were heading home, there was single line working imposed on one of the Shipley lines, we had *just* missed out on the action!
After Anthony set the other M.O.M up with sheets and details we headed home.
What a brilliant 2 weeks this has been, if anyone younger than me is reading this and is interested in the railways, try get a placement! it took me a year to organise, but was worth all of it. I now have to face the prospect of going to school, I really hope I have the opportunity to work for Network Rail in the future.
Finally, thank you to Anthony, Lisa and Julie for everything, if it wasn't for these three people, I would of been stacking shelves in the co-op.
This has probably been one of the best 2 weeks in my life.
See you on the railway!
Monday 21 May 2007
17/5/2007
Day Eight,
We spent most of the morning on duties I cannot tell you about due to legal reasons, but after waiting in the car while Anthony showed someone around the trackwork we dropped him back off at Leeds and proceeded to Neville Hill depot, there wasn't much going on except the passing of several trains, but I managed to get some photo's.
During this time a teacher from school rang to see how I was doing, and I got a glowing report.
We decided there wasn't much to see so we drove into Leeds Midland Road Freightliner depot where we saw some class 66's "up and personal" including one being washed down.
Then we drove up to Whitehall Junction where the view was amazing, I could see the whole of Leeds approach from the car. I got loads of pictures from there and we drove all the way up the Harrogate lines, amazing from the lineside, with Anthony pointing out various bits on the tracks and what they were for.
After a calm day, we went home.
We spent most of the morning on duties I cannot tell you about due to legal reasons, but after waiting in the car while Anthony showed someone around the trackwork we dropped him back off at Leeds and proceeded to Neville Hill depot, there wasn't much going on except the passing of several trains, but I managed to get some photo's.
During this time a teacher from school rang to see how I was doing, and I got a glowing report.
We decided there wasn't much to see so we drove into Leeds Midland Road Freightliner depot where we saw some class 66's "up and personal" including one being washed down.
Then we drove up to Whitehall Junction where the view was amazing, I could see the whole of Leeds approach from the car. I got loads of pictures from there and we drove all the way up the Harrogate lines, amazing from the lineside, with Anthony pointing out various bits on the tracks and what they were for.
After a calm day, we went home.
16/5/2007
Day Seven,
Today we planned to round off what I had seen in the past week or so, so we re-visited Elland signal box so I could get some photos before it gets knocked down later this year.
We then drove up to Ravensthorpe and walked trackside and watched various trains go past , we also had a look at the old Ravensthorpe panel, watching trains approaching us on the panel. After this it was over to Healey Mills where we watched a class 60 run around it's binliner train (also known as a shit train!)
The next stop was Horbury Junction which was extremely interesting as this was where the two lines for Healey Mills diverged into four for Wakefield. We watched the previous 60 run through with its binliner train, and after watching piles of freight run through we decided to take refuge in the signalbox as it was throwing it down.
We talked with the signaller for almost an hour and I watched as Anthony helped the signaller pull the levers off through the Junction.
Wakefield Kirkgate was where we went next, not much was visible as it was a tiny portacabin and there were overgrown bushes all around.
After some time at Wakefield we visited Oakenshaw North signal box, we didn't stay long as it isn't a very busy box at all.
After standing on the bridge watching several types of freight run underneath us we went over to Castleford, where I was allowed to operate the level crossing barrier under supervision of the signaller, and we watched as several trains ran through and reversed back at Castleford, after many thanks to the signaller we quickly went over to the station to inspect claims of drug users using the station, nothing was there so after another brilliant day we headed home.
Today we planned to round off what I had seen in the past week or so, so we re-visited Elland signal box so I could get some photos before it gets knocked down later this year.
We then drove up to Ravensthorpe and walked trackside and watched various trains go past , we also had a look at the old Ravensthorpe panel, watching trains approaching us on the panel. After this it was over to Healey Mills where we watched a class 60 run around it's binliner train (also known as a shit train!)
The next stop was Horbury Junction which was extremely interesting as this was where the two lines for Healey Mills diverged into four for Wakefield. We watched the previous 60 run through with its binliner train, and after watching piles of freight run through we decided to take refuge in the signalbox as it was throwing it down.
We talked with the signaller for almost an hour and I watched as Anthony helped the signaller pull the levers off through the Junction.
Wakefield Kirkgate was where we went next, not much was visible as it was a tiny portacabin and there were overgrown bushes all around.
After some time at Wakefield we visited Oakenshaw North signal box, we didn't stay long as it isn't a very busy box at all.
After standing on the bridge watching several types of freight run underneath us we went over to Castleford, where I was allowed to operate the level crossing barrier under supervision of the signaller, and we watched as several trains ran through and reversed back at Castleford, after many thanks to the signaller we quickly went over to the station to inspect claims of drug users using the station, nothing was there so after another brilliant day we headed home.
15/5/2007
Day Six,
Today was interesting for me as we visited Huddersfield signal box first, a local station to me. We met an ex-Doncaster signaller and an experienced signaller training him. We looked around the signal box and had a good conversation with both signallers, I caught a photo of a freight thundering through towards Manchester. Now came the interesting bit! we drove over to Marsden and captured another picture of the freight we had seen pass through Huddersfield, and after this we decided to drive through Standedge tunnel, the longest canal tunnel in Britain, 3 mines and 57 yard *eek*
We started to drive through and it was so dark I could not see my hand infront of my face, the light behind got smaller and the light at the end of the tunnel got no bigger!, we stopped in the middle of the tunnel where there is a crossover between the up and down tunnels, and they used to say devil worshippers were there! it was really really dark, and there were no mobile signals and no radio waves to contact the outside world, we kept driving on which seemed like forever! it was getting really bumpy and jittery and just when I thought I wanted out, we were at the end! I was impressed with how I had overcome myself from automatically not going in, it was great to see daylight once again!
After that we had a drive around the Calder viewing Heaton Lodge and Bradley Junction, watching trains zoom past at high speeds.
After an action packed day I was exhausted, and we went home!
Today was interesting for me as we visited Huddersfield signal box first, a local station to me. We met an ex-Doncaster signaller and an experienced signaller training him. We looked around the signal box and had a good conversation with both signallers, I caught a photo of a freight thundering through towards Manchester. Now came the interesting bit! we drove over to Marsden and captured another picture of the freight we had seen pass through Huddersfield, and after this we decided to drive through Standedge tunnel, the longest canal tunnel in Britain, 3 mines and 57 yard *eek*
We started to drive through and it was so dark I could not see my hand infront of my face, the light behind got smaller and the light at the end of the tunnel got no bigger!, we stopped in the middle of the tunnel where there is a crossover between the up and down tunnels, and they used to say devil worshippers were there! it was really really dark, and there were no mobile signals and no radio waves to contact the outside world, we kept driving on which seemed like forever! it was getting really bumpy and jittery and just when I thought I wanted out, we were at the end! I was impressed with how I had overcome myself from automatically not going in, it was great to see daylight once again!
After that we had a drive around the Calder viewing Heaton Lodge and Bradley Junction, watching trains zoom past at high speeds.
After an action packed day I was exhausted, and we went home!
14/5/2007
Day Five,
Wow, the first week over, and what a first week it has been! these next few days were a little more relaxed before as we didn't have to do the Box Audits or any paperwork. Upon arrival at Leeds we saw a 67 idling in Leeds platform, just as I got out my camera, it had gone! so we headed over to Ferry Bridge to see the new NX panel, the signalman there let me take a few photos, and after a brief explanation, we decided to hit the road once again. We headed over to Knottingley which is very busy with freight, upon arrival a GBRf coal train came through with brand new GBRf HHA coal wagons. Just then, the same 67 from before rounded the corner and pulled into the sidings and I finally got a picture of it. After watching several freights run through Knottingley we headed over to Milford box, upon arrival, the barriers were down and we watched a Freightliner coal train swap drivers on the level crossing, such a simple task but brilliant to watch the 66 power away. After an extremely brief view of Milford we decided to get out of the way of all the LOM's who were coming to visit the box.
Around mid-day we headd over to Great Heck and visited the site of the great train crash, it was also a personal experience from me as my good friend James' dad died driving the Freightliner train that hit the GNER train, after getting a couple of photo's for him we got some lunch in a nearby village.
After this we headed over to Monk Fryston and visited the box there where we met another nice chap on duty, and discussed aspects of rail life, we then went track level and watched a EWS 66 couple up to wagons.
The final visit was Gascoigne Wood, a shadow of its former self. We captured some freight on the camera and headed home, a long day!
Wow, the first week over, and what a first week it has been! these next few days were a little more relaxed before as we didn't have to do the Box Audits or any paperwork. Upon arrival at Leeds we saw a 67 idling in Leeds platform, just as I got out my camera, it had gone! so we headed over to Ferry Bridge to see the new NX panel, the signalman there let me take a few photos, and after a brief explanation, we decided to hit the road once again. We headed over to Knottingley which is very busy with freight, upon arrival a GBRf coal train came through with brand new GBRf HHA coal wagons. Just then, the same 67 from before rounded the corner and pulled into the sidings and I finally got a picture of it. After watching several freights run through Knottingley we headed over to Milford box, upon arrival, the barriers were down and we watched a Freightliner coal train swap drivers on the level crossing, such a simple task but brilliant to watch the 66 power away. After an extremely brief view of Milford we decided to get out of the way of all the LOM's who were coming to visit the box.
Around mid-day we headd over to Great Heck and visited the site of the great train crash, it was also a personal experience from me as my good friend James' dad died driving the Freightliner train that hit the GNER train, after getting a couple of photo's for him we got some lunch in a nearby village.
After this we headed over to Monk Fryston and visited the box there where we met another nice chap on duty, and discussed aspects of rail life, we then went track level and watched a EWS 66 couple up to wagons.
The final visit was Gascoigne Wood, a shadow of its former self. We captured some freight on the camera and headed home, a long day!
11/5/2007
Day Four,
Today would prove extremely interesting in terms of freight operations around Leeds. We picked the car up from Leeds again, not being a 4x4 meant we could not do much trackside driving, but we drove over to Leeds Midland road where there were one or two Freightliner 66's stood ready for service, we saw where all the vandals had broke into the site and stolen all of the copper.
We stood on the bridge overlooking Stourton and Leeds Midland Road and watched various trains go past at high speed, and, yes you guessed it! the tamper we saw yesterday, now learning the Leeds - York section of line. Anthony then took me to the old Stourton box which can still be switched in if York IECC goes down, it was very smelly, dank and....empty! we watched some trains approach on the panel and then went outside and watched them pass, we then decided it was time for dinner.
We bought our dinner from the local Fish & Chip shop and parked up directly next to a Freightliner 66
We had previously seen this loco doing shunting movements at the container depot in Stourton, it was amazing to see a 66 up close. We then remembered that we still had to watch the signallers change over at Hebden Bridge, so pedal to the metal and we drive over to Hebden Bridge, where we meet a nice talkative chap on duty, about 15 minutes later his relief arrives on time on his bike, and, almost as if a curse, the tamper we have seen 3 times previously arrives at Hebden Bridge learning Manchester - Hebden Bridge, and we watched him turn around at Hebden Bridge.
After a brilliant day, we call it a day and head home.
Today would prove extremely interesting in terms of freight operations around Leeds. We picked the car up from Leeds again, not being a 4x4 meant we could not do much trackside driving, but we drove over to Leeds Midland road where there were one or two Freightliner 66's stood ready for service, we saw where all the vandals had broke into the site and stolen all of the copper.
We stood on the bridge overlooking Stourton and Leeds Midland Road and watched various trains go past at high speed, and, yes you guessed it! the tamper we saw yesterday, now learning the Leeds - York section of line. Anthony then took me to the old Stourton box which can still be switched in if York IECC goes down, it was very smelly, dank and....empty! we watched some trains approach on the panel and then went outside and watched them pass, we then decided it was time for dinner.
We bought our dinner from the local Fish & Chip shop and parked up directly next to a Freightliner 66
We had previously seen this loco doing shunting movements at the container depot in Stourton, it was amazing to see a 66 up close. We then remembered that we still had to watch the signallers change over at Hebden Bridge, so pedal to the metal and we drive over to Hebden Bridge, where we meet a nice talkative chap on duty, about 15 minutes later his relief arrives on time on his bike, and, almost as if a curse, the tamper we have seen 3 times previously arrives at Hebden Bridge learning Manchester - Hebden Bridge, and we watched him turn around at Hebden Bridge.
After a brilliant day, we call it a day and head home.
10/5/2007
Day Three,
When Anthony arrived today we had to go to Leeds straight away as we would be covering LOM's (Location Operations Managers) duties today, which basically covers the correct running of signal boxes. We picked up Mark's car and the first box we were to visit was Mill Lane just outside Bradford Interchange. As we went over to Bradford Anthony pointed out the railway lines we were passing under or passing over, and we finally arrived at Mill Lane, we put the hi-vis on and had to raise our arms to an approaching 158 coming into Bradford, this is just to confirm to the driver we are aware he is there. Into the box we go and meet a nice chap in there, Anthony starts to do the checklist for the box and I take a seat and take photo's. It was here that the signaller had to deal with a tamper that was doing about 20mph from Halifax which made it had for the signaller as he was delaying express trains behind. The tamper trundled into Bradford and headed back to Halifax.
After we left the box we got some dinner from Sainsburys and ate it in the offices under Halifax signal box. We then went up to do the box audit where there was a nice man working the box, after an un-eventful audit we left Halifax for Leeds, before we dropped the car off Anthony showed me around Whitehall yard and we saw the tamper that had been route-learning earlier in the day.
We dropped the car off, and went home.
When Anthony arrived today we had to go to Leeds straight away as we would be covering LOM's (Location Operations Managers) duties today, which basically covers the correct running of signal boxes. We picked up Mark's car and the first box we were to visit was Mill Lane just outside Bradford Interchange. As we went over to Bradford Anthony pointed out the railway lines we were passing under or passing over, and we finally arrived at Mill Lane, we put the hi-vis on and had to raise our arms to an approaching 158 coming into Bradford, this is just to confirm to the driver we are aware he is there. Into the box we go and meet a nice chap in there, Anthony starts to do the checklist for the box and I take a seat and take photo's. It was here that the signaller had to deal with a tamper that was doing about 20mph from Halifax which made it had for the signaller as he was delaying express trains behind. The tamper trundled into Bradford and headed back to Halifax.
After we left the box we got some dinner from Sainsburys and ate it in the offices under Halifax signal box. We then went up to do the box audit where there was a nice man working the box, after an un-eventful audit we left Halifax for Leeds, before we dropped the car off Anthony showed me around Whitehall yard and we saw the tamper that had been route-learning earlier in the day.
We dropped the car off, and went home.
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