Manchester At Night
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- Опубліковано 13 січ 2024
- Why are the headlights so poor? A common question but it’s actually the GoPros that don’t do well at night so I rigged up a dashcam which does. This short film follows a set of empties from Slade Lane to Ardwick Depot but contains some really nice nighttime scenes around Manchester.
Incredible how busy the lines are at night! Makes me appreciate how many people have to work hard for me to be able to catch my train at 6:34 every morning.
We have a job that starts at 03:19 so I set my alarm for 01:30 for that. We have another booking on before midnight which is all depot runs getting trains ready for the following day.
Very educational and informative. I was much impressed by the picture quality and a little surprised at how much visibility there is in urban areas due to artificial lighting.
It came out better than I expected to be honest.
I'm glad you posted it - I thought the picture quality was fine, and there were lots of new, interesting things. I was staggered at just how far round you had to go to reach the depot; I know there's an explanation - but I had to go to google earth afterwards and trace the route. All places we know well from your other videos, (and I went to uny there MANY years ago) but quite a different slant. Thanks so much!
The UMIST building to the left after Piccadilly is where I went for my trainee driver interview twenty years ago Lesley.
Thanks for that one Don. I love night rides, makes even the trashiest places look interesting. Seeing everything under lights puts a completely different perspective on things. Need more!
I’d need to figure out a better way of mounting the camera but it might happen.
A spectacular piece of railway in daytime. Even more so at night. I have to admire you Don. Really enjoyed the video as always. Many thanks. All the best. Mick.
There isn’t a day I don’t pinch myself Mick. I consider myself very lucky.
Don, what's not to love about this? Interesting night views, bang road (kind-of) through Oxford Road, Ordsall Curve, and the Midland Junction line.. Perfect! Must get you to Wirksworth!
We keep saying that Neil. This year definitely!!
Great video Don, driving at night must present a different set of challenges to daytime running. Keep up the excellent work
It does Andy. So much so that a drivers training must include at least 40 hours in the dark.
Yet again. a first class production affording us a fascinating view of Manchester's rail operations by night.
Much appreciated John 👍
Very interesting and unusual to see the city looking rather magical at night
What a fascinating video Don and so atmospheric with excellent picture quality. It was interesting to see the non-passenger platform at Ashburys , a station I use quite frequently. Fly tipping is a disgrace and must cause safety issues. Keep the videos coming.
Funny you should say that Clive. The following week I was delayed an hour round Phillips Park because the locals had set fire to the rubbish..... little darlings ;-)
Terrific video! 🚅🚃🚃🚃🚃 I love watching railway journeys, especially at night! 🌃Thank you!
Thank you very much!
Absilutely superb, loved every minute. Sub titles fantastuc narration, Thank you more please
Glad you enjoyed it Richard. It was an experiment that paid off. It’s been very popular.
Thanks for this fab video, Don.
I'm reminded of this opening line...
"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel”
William Gibson, Neuromancer, 1984.
The clouds actually added a lot in my opinion Jess. They helped to emphasise the buildings. Good to see you as always 👍
Excellent trip around Manchester. Very atmospheric 👍
Glad you liked it Stephen.
Surreal, fantasy of lightly cruising through signals and moving city lights, mindful of all the sleeping peoples.😊
I liked the cloud backdrop.
As a narrow gauge driver in Norfolk, my only experience of railways, it is fascinating to see these’ big railway’ videos and the working and signalling arrangements. Very interesting, good to see a stopboard at the end just like the ones used on my railway. We use Radio Signalling to get permission to pass the stop boards. Thank you for your time and patience making these
Cheers Mark. Keep up the good work on your railway too 👍
A fine night time train ride. I really enjoy the train rides you present. Always interesting to watch. Thank you Don. 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸
Many thanks and take care over there Martin.
I always look forward to your videos Don, they're educational, entertaining, and relaxing. Thanks for another great view from the cab!
My pleasure
Manchester at night is stunning. Always wanted to go to Manchester. Brilliant video as always.
I’m usually more keen to leave Manchester but that’s the familiarity of working there I suppose 😉👍. Take care Andrew.
Thank you so much. I find your videos fascinating, educational and also remarkably relaxing. The cab view is always amazing, this night vision was a revelation.
Glad you enjoyed it Martin. It was just on a whim that I tried to film it and it seems to have worked and been well received.
Same as said below, that was very interesting Don... Well done...:):):)
Good to see you Harry. Glad you enjoyed it 👍
Thank you Don, even at night your videos are fantastic
I consider that an accolade 👍
Nice one Don. The headlights are something I didn't see back in the 1960s on the Midland Main Line. Just headcodes rushing towards us in the old signalbox. In fact I was based at Loughborough Midland signalbox and my desk was positioned about 3 feet from the down main line. I do remember one winter night the up Thames Clyde hauled by a Leeds 'Peak' sped past and we were warned that a carriage door had been removed due to some damage and the passengers moved out for safety, the connecting doors locked and a strap across the open gap. The driver still kept making up time if you know what I mean.Wonder what would happen nowadays? Just to let you know, the Immingham to Ratcliffe On Soar Power Station coal trains have had a reprieve but for how much longer, who knows. Would that be a possible video for you?
When I started driving in 2003 the lights were hopeless even then. Ironically, they aren’t for our benefit, they are to warn people on the track of our presence.
Excellent coverage on a rather circular route. Informative as always. Thank you for uploading.
Glad you enjoyed it David. Empty stock moves are sometimes much longer!
Excellent stuff! It's good to see things from a different perspective, and I just like the look of the lights at night.
Glad you enjoyed! I must adit I find it atmospheric and captivating too.
Thank you Don for a ride round Manchester in the what a nuisance having to all the way round. Very impressed with the quality
Good to hear from you Robert. It was an experiment that came out better than expected so I’ll investigate that more and see what I can get.
Really interesting and enjoyable video and some quite spectacular sights. Many thanks for the opportunity to see what goes on at the end of the day. Just one thought - is there any reason why trains cannot be routed into the non-through platforms at Piccadilly and then simply reverse back to the depot from there? I would have thought that there would be quite a number of empty platforms in the late evening.
It’s not just the empty platforms Bob, it’s accessing them too. We also need to load the depot from both ends and then there’s the all important route retention for drivers.
It was interesting to watch driving at night, Don and thank you very much for the entertainment, which I really enjoyed! And while passing many iconic stations and buildings I’m proud to watch the train hovering around my city Manchester as well. 😃👍
When you drove along the track at the Phillips-area - I don’t know why that’s called, while a lot of rubbish are along the tracks… I’m wondering why you don’t call this the Indian/Asian street, as I remember seeing such tracks when I was on holidays in the region of Chennai, India? 🤔 Ah, well…
What happens with the trains at TransPennine Express? I know that the 185 is still around for the time being and I think that they are OK, but rumours are persistently negative about the trains from Hitachi or (parts of) these pull/push trains, though I think that the locomotives are good-looking, strong and fast as well. 🤔
Thank you for the feedback. Your comment about the rubbish, I do feel it has cultural similarities but I’m not able to point the finger 😉. The trains, well I think the 185s are amazing but they are not as modern as other fleets. The 800s get criticised all the time but I don’t feel that way.
Rare! Best thing to appear in my feed all day! Cheers, Don. Simon 😄
Glad you enjoyed it Simon 👍
Absolutely fascinating, thanks.
Loved that, thank you for posting, not just this but all the interesting content you have uploaded. I especially like the info on screen about the things of interest, not just railway info but about the things you see in passing. Very informative and well put together. Once again, Thank you for the content. Regards, John.
Thanks for the positive feedback John 👍
Excellently atmospheric. Thanks, Don.
Glad you enjoyed it Paul.
The wonderful night and street lights of Manchester. Very informative as about the movement via the freight lines and a full circular route :-)
Glad to share what goes on in the background Rick.
Can I just say how much I enjoy that video don hopefully you will do more like someone else said I’m amazed how far you had to go round to get to the depot I’m already looking forward to the next one thank you for doing the videos don keep up the great content
Next video soon Steven.
What a palaver, all the way around and then a reverse. I am surprised they have not found a better way to get the trains into the depot. Wonderful video, great explanation as usual Don, thank you.
It seems so Terry but it does two things. It loads the depot evenly from both sides and it provides important route retention for drivers.
Brilliant as usual
Thanks Dave, much appreciated 👍
Superb video as always Don. Good idea to use a dashcam in place of the the gopro 😃 I haven't got any experience of the gopro myself but I use a 4K dashcam in my car and I'm amazed at the quality of the videos it produces during night-driving. I'm going to have to change my normal walking route now as well coz everytime I'm at Bennetland Xing and there's a 185 coming, I try to see if it's you driving.......I get some weird looks if there's anyone else waiting to cross ! 🤣🤣
They’re hard to see in to from the line side but I usually pip if someone waves.
Thanks for another interesting vid Don. I was intrigued to see that the fly-tipping problem between Phillips Park and Ashburys is every bit as bad as it was when I used to drive freight trains along there 40 years ago. Maybe it's a localised custom that's passed down through the generations...? There used to be a traincrew operated ground frame just near there on the Down Line that gave access to Manchester Steel / Johnson's Wireworks, and the Guard had to plug in a field telephone to communicate with Phillips Park No2 box to get the release (a fixed telephone being deemed to be much too prone to risk of vandalism). I remember dropping down out of the sidings to the ground frame one day after picking up the empty steel wagons, only to find that the local kids had set it on fire - along with the field telephone, which was reduced to a blob of molten green plastic! Suffice to say, that turned out to be a long shift....Hope your ECS journeys to the depot through what we used to refer to as 'bandit country' aren't as fraught as they were back then!
They have their moments. Only last week I had to wait an hour while the fire brigade tackled that very heap of garbage which was ablaze and a couple of nights later a diverted stone train got stuck on the curve at Phillips Park. They wouldn’t let me pass because of a weight restriction on a bridge so I had come out wrong direction and back around Manchester.
Very interesting account of early days by the way - thanks.
Monsieur Coffey, you are spoiling us. And not even a Ferrero Rocher is sight.
I try to look after you Jenny!
Excellent as usual - thanks Don
Thanks Ray, much appreciated 👍
Fascinating perspective.
Really enjoyed this trip through Manchester
Great stuff Don, more please!
I’ll experiment Paul. It might not come out as well at speed out in the sticks.
Wonderful as per usual very informative.
Glad you think so!
Another great Video Don fantastic to see a night run
Glad you enjoyed it 👍
Excellent video. Very interesting to see the scenes familiar from your other videos in a different context.
Yes, it turned out better than I expected so might do another night video.
thank you that was very good to see Manchester at night.
Glad you enjoyed it 👍
I was surprised how clear the video was, a really enjoyable watch Don
It came out better than I expected Martyn 👍
@@doncoffey5820 always enjoy your videos Don, do you ahve any unusual routes in the pipeline ?
All sorts Martyn. Keep an eye on the community page or the Facebook group. Crewe to Derby on Wednesday.
A really interesting perspective don, thanks for this, now i know whats going on as were prepping to take our posessions when im working in and around Manchester
I imagine you have to make similar preparations. Thanks for looking after us - you guys are the unsung heroes.
Well done!
Regarding the bridge, it is the one at Ardwick station, somewhere around 3:30 in the video. I wondered if the video had the new bridge included, depending on when the video was filmed. Seem to think the new one was installed in December just gone.
You’ve got me there because the only overbridge is the footbridge on the station which is old and all the underbridges to my knowledge are the original viaduct arches. Are you sure you don’t mean Ashton? Several bridges there have been renewed to accommodate the overhead wires.
In the mid-90's I used to work in a nightclub called 'The Brickhouse' on Whitworth Street West. It was built into one of the arches between Oxford Road and Deansgate Stations. Even with the music blasting you hear and feel the trains rumbling overhead, especially if you worked upstairs like I did.
I imagine that was quite an experience Chris with the music and the rumbling 🤔👍
Very nice surprise, even got me away from my regular Sunday night woman (Vera!!!!)
Crikey, you’d be good company for my mrs! She watches Vera every time.
Can we have a Heart of Wales line drivers eye view? National Rail did one but they stopped at Knucklas and I'd like to see the whole route!
I can’t promise that I’m afraid but if TfW want to invite me officially then I’d love to.
Nice video. Obviously a different set challenges driving at night.
Yes, that’s right so in a typical driver training period of 300 hours, 40 must be in the dark.
Amazing work I’ve subbed
Glad to have you with us 👍
Hello Don: Another well-done--and very relaxing--vid...a different perspective, indeed. I find the differences between our (US/UK) words/terms very interesting: What ya'll call "fly tipping" over there is what we call "dumping/littering" over here (done by "litter bugs"). You'll find a number of "No Dumping" and "Don't Be A Litterbug" signs in various areas. Also, "goods trains" over there are "freight trains" here. I've a question: Were cabooses in use on trains in the UK? If so, when were they removed from trains. The KCS RR in my area removed them in the late-1980s...it was a sad time for me, as--IMO--a freight train without a caboose is like a sentence without a period (.)--and FRED (Flashing Rear-End-Device/End-of-Train-Device) is a sorry replacement!
Good to see you again David. We didn’t have cabooses as such but we did have what were often referred to as Guards Vans but were in reality Brake Vans. Until quite recently our goods/freight trains were unfitted (no brakes) so they all had a brake van at the back. These two axle huts weighed in at 20 tons and had a large winding handle to apply the brakes and help to keep the couplings tight and control the train. They had a little stove and side windows but they were only as good as the guy inside.
ua-cam.com/video/6kK6sMIGpuc/v-deo.htmlsi=MMpVWbnToe8yRdhJ
Excellent video Don. Was really nice and different seeing Manchester on the train at night. I also thought about why not reverse at Piccadilly to enter the depot via Ardwick. Now I know the depot is entered at both ends, I get why reversing isn't always possible. Is the new bridge at Ardwick station included as it was too dark to tell when watching? Thanks.
I can’t think which bridge you mean. Leave a new comment and tell me, don’t reply to this as it will drop right to the back of the queue.
Great stuff Don, can't beat the Home City and the Ghosts of Phillip's Park No1 & 2 Boxes before the joys of Beswick & Bradford R.T.S . ?
Aye that’s it Rick. Dont start Mr Buchanan off or he’ll be reminiscing about Miles Platting!!!
Hello from Brazil Don! Great video as always. Just a question. I spotted an Avanti 390 in the Piccadilly through platforms at 5:34. Was this also on an empty stock movement around town? It seems unusual for it to be using that platform.
Hi Mark. Yes it is quite unusual. They sometimes divert them off the main line at Euston Jn to get them around engineering work. It would be headed for Longsight where it would be serviced for the following day.
Fabulous video from a City I totally adore. But possibly I'm biased as my late mother is a Mancunian.....
Glad you enjoyed it Mark.
Hi Don,
I was just thinking, Pendolino is a fascinating trainset, yet there are so very few cab ride videos of good quality - certainly between London and Manchester. Do you know any associates that might be able do one for the channel?
Yes, it is on the list although we can’t organise anything yet because they are busy introducing new trains but I will be filming Crewe to Holyhead with them at some stage. I’ve got Piccadilly to Reading with XC so with the TP to Wembley, we don’t need any more WCML just yet.
Was that a 390 I saw going through P13 at Piccadilly?? I guess that comes under unusual night movements!
I thought they all started from the bay platforms...
It was yes. As I say, strange things happen through the night 😉👍
do you sometimes go in to Platforms 1-4 at Manchester Piccadilly Station? The circular may be useful for route knowledge & wheel wear though
Yes we do Stephen. The trains are loaded on the depot from both ends so we do that quite a lot too. I’ll film it one night.
Amazing video! I’d also like to know why a 390 was at Piccadilly Platform 13?
They do that occasionally at night. It was probably diverted via the Bolton Line to get back to the depot at Longsight.
Thanks Don, that made a very interesting change. Dave..
Thanks Dave. It was just a quick experiment but it turned out better than I expected.
@@doncoffey5820 Glad you did it, it was very interesting. Dave.
Some nice lighting in this, didin't expect it so bright.
They go brighter on the day setting.
Omg that was great
Interesting comparison with the GoPro and Dash Cam. I remember the tunnel views (under the pennines) and its a lot better. I am amased how wide the headlamp beams are but with a hard vertical cut off. Better than 'dipped beams' on a car! Are these lamps standard on most modern units? HNY Don and thanks, Steve
The super bright LEDs are pretty well standard now Steve. They’re actually intended to let people see us rather than us see where we’re going.
Great video....is there 2 depots at Ardwick for TPE units because ive always thlight there was jist the 1 next to Ardwick ststion but the depot in the video is nwxt to Ashburys so would it not be better to call it Ashburys depot
It’s the same depot Mark but we can approach it from either end.
Might be a silly question, but why not change ends in Piccadilly Pl1-6 then head into the depot through Ardwick Station?
It says in the text Chris. The depot is loaded from both sides basically to get them on. They have around forty trains to fuel and service every night.
Is this a Viofo by any chance? The font on the (minimalist) caption seems familiar.
It is yes - well deduced 👍
I hate that light pollution too, sir. I used to admire the night sky when I was kids and nowadays you barely see any stars up there.
It’s not as bad now as when they used the orange sodium lights. I think in this case, the clouds helped the atmosphere by silhouetting the buildings.
That was great! With that faf no wonder we pay so much! Great tho. XXX
It seems a faff Andrew but it’s the most efficient way.
Those headlights seem very bright; are you dazzled by those of oncoming trains?
Sometimes Keith. A bit like some cars more than others.
Man this makes me want to be a train driver
Go online and look at the careers page of your local train operator. Don’t bother with the big boys like Avanti, LNER etc because they mostly take qualified drivers.
Don, why was that long train you had to wait for called a 'Binliner?'
It is a train carrying the containers of waste from one location to another. If you have a look I’ve got a film called Binliner that explains everything. ua-cam.com/video/2lLAMwR0HPw/v-deo.html
Wow don enjoyed it
What camara do you use for these videos
That was a dashcam in that video but I normally use GoPros.
What time was this video Filmed
Not that late - about 10pm I think.
ive alwats wondered how you can do these no issue but 'traindriverbrian' is barely allowed to even film in the cab?
I can’t just do it, I have to have special permission.
Is biomass a euphemism? What is that train actually carrying?
Haha, it carries domestic waste for incineration and power generation.