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.