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Stuart Boyd • Jul 26, 2019
Monday 22nd July 2019: North East - It was a pleasure.
Well today was my final day in the North East and it was looking like it was going to be a scorcher. Thankfully i didn't have many stations planned today, that is partly to allow time to travel to Manchester to meet up with my partner, but also so i could have time to visit Locomotion which is a 5 minuet walk from Shildon station.
My day started with a quick trip to Allens West then went back on myself to Eaglescliffe. At Eaglescliff I got my first sighting of a Grand Central train. Up until now i'd only ever see them on pictures on social media. I think their units looked rather slick and stylish. In addition to this, when at Hartlepool the previous day i noticed that they were offering fares from as little as £14.50 from Hartlepool to London which i thought was remarkably cheap!
After a short wait at Eaglescliffe i waited for the service that would take me to Doncaster. On arrival at Doncaster i decided to save myself some time and do a sneaky taxi maneuver. I hopped into a taxi and asked him to take me to North Road station, to say he was a bit perplexed was an understatement. Anyway he took me as i requested. I arrived at North Road and found a single platform that was located next to some old sidings with some very rusty old units sat in the yard. There was also what looked like to be the old platform further up which is now disused. All in all it was a very interesting station that i definitely wasn't expecting.
After a short wait at North Road my train arrived in the form of 142091 which i traveled on up to Shildon. My last station on the Bishop Line. Also Shildon is the home to railway museum "Locomotion'. After some advice on twitter from Jan (@AvfcSquirrel) that i must allow some time to visit the museum i did just that.
Now i will add all my photo's from my visit to my gallery page (which hopes to be launching this weekend). After a lovely walk around the museum i headed back to Shildon station to catch the train southbound, and back to Middlesbrough where another taxi move was in the waiting.
I hoped in a taxi to take me to Marton station. A taxi was always in mind for the upcoming three stations due to the frequency of services it was a lot easier to start in the middle of the three. On the way in the taxi the driver asked me what i was doing so i explained my challenge to him and he told me loads of things about how there used to be more stations in the area many years ago, how he lives near to Great Ayton, but when he catches the train to Whitby he goes into Middlesbrough first as its only way of guaranteeing a seat. Local knowledge is priceless to hear about.
Marton station is a single platform station that serves the Middlesbrough suburb Marton. I was surpriced as the station had a slight rural feel to it up on the platform. Although when i was travelling in the taxi it certainly didn't feel rural, funny what a few bushes and trees can do the mind.
Time for the short hop up the line to Gypsy Lane. While on the short hop i chatted to the guard who had dropped me off earlier in the day at Darlington so was a little puzzled to be picking me up at Marton only a few hours later. Anyway after the quick explanation we arrived at Gypsy Lane where I alighted. Gypsy Lane is a single platform station on the outskirts of Nunthorpe. I had a 5 minuet connection here for my train that would take me to my final station.
Heading back south through Marton i arrived at my final station of the trip. James Cook, Or James Cook University Hospital Station as some people might know it as. Or you might even know it as James Cool depending on which sign you read [See picture below].
After alighting at James Cook i headed towards the main road where i caught the first bus heading into Middlesbrough.
And that was it, that's the end of my North East Adventure for now. I hope to be back by the end of the year to finish off Newcastle/Middlesbrough area.
Until my next blog update.
Happy travels
Stu.
P.S:
On a slight side note, the following day i was at hospital with my partner near Wigan. While travelling to our appointment I was able to tick off another station, Appley Bridge was the one. We can both confirm that the pub (The Boathouse Pub & Kitchen) by the canal near Appley Bridge station serves a fantastic pint! Strongly recommended!
Kildale station is located on the very scenic Esk Valley Line that runs from Middlesborough to Whitby. From the June 2024 timetable change the station will see 8 trains per day, 4 in each direction! Although this is a limited service it does give you the opportunity to do some exploring of the area.
I set of on a walk with my sisters dog and headed for the disused canal from Kendal. I followed along disused canal to the village of Natland. I then swapped the disused canal for the river. After following the riverside path, I came across a footbridge that I had planned to use, annoyingly it was closed! Annoyingly I was planning to use this footbridge, due to this there was a lenghty diversion. Thankfully the diversion wasn't a total waste of time, I was able to walk through the beautiful Sizergh Castle and then head back up to my original route plan and headed to Helsington church and view point. After spending a little time chatting with my Dad (who's ashs was scattered there) me and Bailey then headed up to Scout Scar before setting of back down towards Kendal. Upon reaching the River Kent I decided that my feet was still feeling good and I headed back along the river to Hawes Bridge. I then headed up into the village of Natland and then up to Oxenholme where my walk came to an end!
A blog about the new Northumberland Line that is scheduled to start opening in the Summer of 2024.
This walk was a tail of two halves! The day started with walking through Reading suburbs and then through the city centre. Things mid morning took a positive turn as we headed to the The Kennet and Avon Canal which I then followed for the remaineder of the day. Only hopping away from the canal to go on to station platforms. A very enjoyable walk, even in the scorching heat! Stations visted today was: Reading, Reading West, Theale, Aldermaston & ended the day at Midgham. By walking between Aldermaston and Midgham I actually have managed to get a station ahead on my plan which can only be a good thing as I head down to the more difficult reagions of Somerset & Devon next week. Until tomorrow :)
Todays walk was a little bit of a tough one, mainly due to the excessive heat which is only going to get worse as the week goes on. Thinking there will be some early starts coming up to try and miss the worst of the heat! Today was a mixture of roads and walks across fields. Discovered there is some beautiful countryside between Maidenhead and Twyford. I strongly encourage you to take this walk! Stations visited today: Burnham, Taplow, Maidenhead and ended at Twyford. Was great to have Nick Badley along with me today. Make sure to check out and subscribe to his YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@NickBadley . After the walk myself and Nick headed to Windsor where we met up with Coastway Will and had a Nandos dinner where the unlimited refils was very much used again and again! Until tomorrow :)
Todays walk saw me starting at Southall and heading straight to The Grand Union Canal. We followed this for most of the walk today. Stations called at today was: Hayes & Harlington, West Drayton, Iver, Langley before finishing the walk at Slough. Was great to have pals Jack and Dave with me today. Laughed for the most part, especially when we got the wrong place for the London/Buckinghamshire borders. That video on twitter got filmed twice lol. Massive thank you to everyone supporting the event via donations to either/both: Donate to Samaritans: https://justgiving.com/page/greatwesternwalk Support me with the challenge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/GreatWesternWalk My photos from today are below. Daves photos from today can be found here on his Flickr photostream: https://flic.kr/ps/3ppCTV Until tomorrow :)
The first day of the walk from London Paddington to Southall saw me call at Acton Mainline, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing & Hanwell. On the way we saw unexpected viaducts, fancy McDonalds, pretty gardens & nice market squares. Today I was joined by a couple of friends who can be found online at the following places, Please do check their accounts out. Jack All Station: twitter.com/JackAllStations Midland London: youtube.com/@MidlandLondon Below is a selection of photos from today.
Walk around Windermere:
All photos © Every Last Station. Reuse only by permission.
On 31st July at just before 5am Thanet Parkway became Britain's newest station in Great Britain (at the time) and is the first station to open in Kent since Ebbsfleet International opening in 2007. As you approach the station you are greeted with what looks like a lovely and well designed station. The car park complete with 293 spaces which includes 16 spaces for Blue Badge holders and a number of charge points for electric vehicle charging. BUT, here is the stations first of several oversights: none of the vehicle charge points are in one of the 16 Blue Badge spaces and the charging bays don't have enough space for those with limited mobility to get in and out of their cars. As we approach the station from the car park the actual station looks rather impressive. The brick work along with the stylish mettle mesh on the stair case and lift shaft really makes it look the part. There is also some raised flower beds which add to the overall positive experience of the station .