Being someone who makes the occasional UA-cam video, I appreciate how time consuming it is. So I just want to say thanks for all the annotation work you put into these Don. They make these cab rides next level fabulous.
Much appreciated Andrew. Getting the footage comes with its own problems of cameras freezing and hanging then as you know, editing and researching takes a long time. I’m glad you appreciate the work involved.
20:07 - Mossley is such a unique sight, practically a station in a roofless tunnel thanks to the tall buildings and embankments to either side. Thank you, Don, for another informative and beautiful video.
One of the best views through the drivers I have seen; never a dull moment, navy thanjsfir the hours you have invested into this project, thank you, Patrick Northamptonshire
Recently discovered this channel and binge-watched them all! Being not from the UK (I'm from NL) the explanations are very welcome and I admire all the work that goes in these video's. I find them highly entertaining and educating. By now I kind of got to know the area around Manchester. Next time I'm going to visit my sister in Leeds, I also will visit several sites I was shown in these video's. Thank you very much indeed Don!
Great video, love the bits of information along the track.Always is a magnificent sight when the Pennines come into view! This takes me back when I lived in Huddersfield using this journey to get to work in Cheshire on a weekly basis 35 years ago.Forgot what an excellent trip it is.
Very nice with showing progress from stop to stop with a brief look at the map. Would be nice to always be able to check progress on a map - even goods trains.
Look forward to this one. Hey Don, just fell in love. I have the Leeds line at the bottom of my garden. Just seen the Midland Pullman for the first time. Beautiful ❤
Thanks for awakening childhood memories with your video. I was born in Milnsbridge in 1946 and lived there for 18 years on Manchester Road, from 1957 to 1961 I attended Crow Lane Secondary school which was at the side of the railway embankment just after the end of the Milnsbridge viaduct, it can be seen briefly on the right on the return journey. Being so close to a railway line there were a lot of train spotters in the school and if your classroom overlooked the railway and it was known a special train was going to pass the teacher let us go to the window the get the number. Swimming lessons involved a trek to Longwood and a trolleybus to Huddersfield, for a change we would sometimes catch the train to Milnsbridge station, we also stood on Cuckoo Bridge near Paddock to get train numbers.
@@doncoffey5820 Cheers, I forgot to say that at night you could always tell that there was a bad smog outside due to the percussion caps going off across the valley.
That’s exactly what I wanted to achieve. Before I went to the railway I was full of questions and my aim was to take you with me and fill in some of those blanks. Delighted you felt that 👍
Mr coffee, thank you, a video that contains, architecture, history and the best interview of a railway journey, I have seen. I like particularly the driver, ge should get an ambassador
Don, others have said it and I agree the extra work you put into these is appreciated. I will work on sharing more of my amateur videos on your Facebook page. Thanks, again from Australia. Her Majesty the Queen will be missed.
Thank you for the video. Interesting to see Stalybridge Platform 3 being used in reverse direction, the new high intensity lights give better vision in the tunnels. Interesting fact about the Stanedge canal tunnel you have to pre-book to go through and are 'escorted' by canal trust staff with it being so tight as their is no towpath. Long before motors, barges had to have men lying on their backs walking them through the tunnel. I was surprised to learn they have four checkpoint landing stages where canal staff telephone control advising they're still on the move!
Thanks Bill. Because the tunnel only has 4 adits (passages) to the adjacent escape tunnel, I’ve done quite a bit of studying about the canal, it’s interesting isn’t it 👍
Thanks once again, Don. The indications of closed stations is great. It may be of interest to know that the stopping train from Manchester Exchange (first stop Ashton Charlestown) to Huddersfield took an hour and twelve minutes in 1953.
Hi Paul. That’s interesting regarding the timing, I often wondered whether we’d improved on things because some of the old sceptics give the impression that it’s slower than it used to be. I find such comments questionable because the 185s don’t exactly push you back in the seat but you can really feel them pulling so it didn’t make sense.
in the words of the song, " that used to be my playground" so many trips over that road, often going somewhere else, but many times, behind 40's, 45's and 47's on the old transpennines, sadly never had a Deltic, and, as of now yet to have a 68, BUT after all that time finally had the Diggle AND Marsden loops three years back with a pair of 37's up front... happier times, once again Don, many thanks for a great trip out.
Good Morning Don. Thanks for a really great video of one of my favourite routes. The service is a bit more frequent that it used to be. I once got stranded at Greenfield and had to take the bus back into Manchester! Think it was a class 110 that took me up the line. Much appreciated, thank you very much!
Hi David. Greenfield seems really popular now. I worked a service that stopped there at 18:22 this evening and what seemed like a veritable crowd got off.
I always think there's some weird-looking features around the tunnels as we leave Huddersfield. Where the Penistone line curves away; if you saw that on a model railway, you'd say it looked kind of fake - same at Paddock tunnel. I can't find much online about Paddock tunnel but it's got that look about it - might have some stories to tell. Thanks for another few hours of great entertainment Don; it's a lovely journey, in either direction, but you see so much more from the front seat.😁👍
Great route taken, Don. There are no end of tunnels that make the video for great watching. The 185s are really up to it, and keep good time. As usual, Don, another pearler and extremely well described along the way. Many thanks, mate
Good to hear from you Frank. It’s is a cracking route and remarkable considering what it does. I’ll be on a faster service in the next video so we can make some comparisons.
The longevity of the Woodhead infrastructure is a reminder of how things should be done, none of the 'damage by winds' that the ECML has been subject to, perhaps this is why the GWR stuff looks horrible but is built to last? Great video again.
The Woodhead stuff is different because it was designed for 1500v dc so it has a much bigger contact wire. The GWR has Series 1 OLE which is designed for speeds up to 140mph. Apparently, conventional OLE becomes unreliable at such high speeds as the pantograph tends to bounce off it.
Lovely video from a lovely day. Mention of the Micklehurst Loop always reminds me of a junior school day trip to York in 1962/63. The only time we 'trained' Wigan Wallgate to York and back. On the way up the Tame Valley outward bound, we appeared to be racing another train across the valley. Rarely saw the train itself but the plumes of smoke and steam were the giveaway. Disappearing in tunnels, reappearing on embankments etc. We 'won' the race to Standedge.
Another great video - thank you! My late railway-mad dad would have loved these. I appreciate the time and effort it takes for you to film, produce and upload these videos - I know from the cycling videos on my own channel how long this takes!
I get this train fairly often from Mossley to Huddersfield just for something to do. Get off at Huddersfield, go and get some cheesy chips, mooch about for a while and jump on the train back. Kills a few hours and gives me a change of scenery for not much money. Fascinating to get this different view of a familiar route.
My old man drives the 185s…And assuming I pass the course, I’ll be on the 66s. (Moving up from being a Ground staff). Love watching these videos you do Don. They honestly give me a great insight into how it’s done. Keep them coming!
Hi James, I probably know your dad by sight but there’s quite a lot of us and names aren’t my strong point (it’s the age you know 😉). Good luck with the move, I’m sure you’ll make it 👍
Love the cab view videos Don. Had the pleasure not long ago of chatting to the driver in the Knowsley waste train video at Southport station. I mentioned your UA-cam videos and he said he knew you. He was with another driver on route learning on a DB Cargo class 66 ready for the RHTT season. Both of them were great ambassadors for the railway, especially when a father walked up to them with his two boys and they took the time to chat with them.
Thank you again Don for a very interesting video, I learn a lot about railway technology watching your vireos. On another subject I often wonder how DB get away running class 66 with EWS as a named company with NO DB in signage on the locomotive.
Interesting question Phillip. I know when I was at Northern and they re branded them, they had teams at every possible location to remove the old branding. I don’t know if freight franchises work differently or if DB still hold the EWS name in the legal jargon.
Great vlog... nice to see the Drivers view of Standedge Tunnel, as the only other view of I have seen, is the Standedge Canal Tunnel which took me 1.5 hours to get through. Once again great vlog...
Glad you found us. If you’re Foxes Afloat, I’ve seen your excellent videos too. I’ve been a little way through on the canal tour at the Marsden end which was interesting.
I do like the bits of railway operational information you include like what a signal means or why a particular thing is done the way it is. I often find these cab ride videos very relaxing. There's a large segment of the "ASMR" community on UA-cam who watch these for relaxation purposes too and it helps them to go to sleep. That's a good thing not a criticism LOL, I think it's kind of the same way people fall asleep on trains! Oh just thought it would be worth pointing out at 52:01 there appears to be a forgotten upper third that just says "Name". I'm curious as to what it was supposed to have said? 😃
Thanks for the feedback Keffa. I am quite capable of nodding off watching the videos but thankfully less so while driving! As for that stray captain, I haven’t got a clue what it’s there for, I sometimes shift something by dragging it along the timeline to get the timing right but it seems that one escaped despite me supposedly checking it. I’m glad to report that nothing of note is missing 🙄👍
Such a beautiful country on such a beautiful day. Yet the green sign at Slowitt shows how deep depression can be. Thanks for all you do to raise awareness and provide support, Don.
Thanks Chris. Everything but our stoppers hurtle through there at up to 85 mph and it is a hotspot unfortunately. Supporting the Samaritans is the basis of this channel and the beauty is, all the followers need to do is put up with the adverts. Thanks for your support.
Hi don-as always love your manchester videos..this is no exception..and is truelly excellent...lovely views and smooth riding...a cleethorpes to manchester would be a good one in the near future...thanks again...paul
Hello Don: While watching your very pleasant & well done vids, I notice quite a bit of discarded/disused railroad paraphernalia lying about. I can only imagine how many Millions of Dollars/Pounds of scrap metal (rails, plates, fittings, broken couplers, rail shavings, spikes, etc., etc.,) is lying along railroads throughout the US, UK and world!!!
Yes, it’s a fact that there is a lot of scrap but to get these odd pieces apparently costs a lot more than leaving it. They are better at clearing up than they used to be so with time, the railway is getting tidier.
@@doncoffey5820 it’s 50-50 mr Coffey it’s cartoony but the scenarios are Awsome would love to work in rail but I’ve had some bad experience applying for jobs because of metal illness and learning difficulties
Nice one Don. Actually makes me appreciate what a good job DTG did with their NTP route for Train Sim World, albeit earlier era and from Man Vic rather than Picc. I'll have to dust off the MetCam 101 for an all stations run later!
I don’t do the sims Vern. I suspect they use my footage on a lot of them so they will share similarities. It would be interesting to ride the 101 and see how it compares.
Brilliant, your best one yet - though I probably would say that as I'm from Huddersfield! It sounds like you're a big fan of the 185's and their power - I think they are probably the most suitable trains the Standedge route has ever seen... By comparison I always get the impression that the 802s are a bit under-powered when running in diesel mode.
I’m very fond of the 185s and they’re superb on the stoppers because they go well and they are very predictable when braking. Some of my colleagues are quite scathing about the 802s but one often leaves Huddersfield just ahead of the stopper and they look fairly spritely to me. They don’t give the impression of speed but they should know.
1:06:12 I reckon they'll just use the half gantry supported on the right hand side of view, there's quite a few places on the Manchester to Preston line where they've had to do that because of issues putting a post in on one specific side. I'm more interested in Standedge tunnel, is it gonna get an overhead conductor rail like the seven tunnel and crossrail have, or are they going to attempt to thread cables through it?
The issue with Mossley isn’t which side to add the structures, it’s how close the contact wire is to the houses. As for Standedge, I think they’ll drop the deck and put wires through but that’s my opinion and it might not be correct.
Looking forward to seeing this, but I will have to watch it a day later as the video resolution for premiers in Ireland is terrible. So it is better to wait a day or so.
After the termination of the ESR before Gorton. There were 'splashes' of clean ballast between the tracks at regular intervals. Marking carriage lengths or random coincidence?
Thanks for the info on why these decidedly non-express services are operated by TransPennine - I had always just assumed it was DFT being DAFT so good to know there is actually a sound reason behind it!
In the 4 track steam days clearances must have been absolutely minimal,, Scar Lane bridge at Longwood and for instance had 4 running lines and the yard headhunt underneath. I had a child's familiarity with the route until 1960, when my grandmother died.
It was a remarkable arrangement as you say James. The 185 has no trouble with the gradient but that line is steep and it was very busy with freight so it was an incredible struggle for trains going up and coming down. Have the loops and sidings required careful management of wagons or they’d be gone and they could kill if they did.
Good to hear from you Rob. The cats are still about. Bolt is nice as pie but that bloody split personality Felix will still take a chunk out of your leg for no good reason 😳 🐈⬛
I looked up the class 185 and read that they are diesel hydraulic, I wondered why when the train was running under the wires, then at 10:15 it became clear!, but I do see electrification is on its way.
Will this be BST 20:00 on the 5th October? I hope you do another MML something like from Sheffield to St Pancras in the not too distant future, like on a new Bi-mode train deisel to Market Harborough before switching to electric power to St Pancras, that would be a cool video to watch. Just an idea that is all. 👍
I believe we’ll still be on DST Kevin so yes, BST. Always open to suggestions but it all depends how amenable EMR are. It’s amazing how much the infrastructure has changed from some of the early videos.
Thanks for another interesting video Don. It's been many a long year since I drove a stopping train over the 'Wessy', so it was good to revisit. Not being overly accustomed to doing stoppers (on that route anyway), Slaithwaite on the Down road was always one of my 'bogey stations' - you know the sort, where you always find yourself braking too soon, even in good weather? I'm sure all drivers have them! Two more of mine (further east) were Deighton and South Milford, probably because they were new (or reinstated) stations that we hadn't 'grown up' with. Anyway, keep up the good work, and looking forward to whatever you bring out next.
In 2019, I had a trip through the canal tunnel. It took over 2 hours, and you could hear trains rumbling past. There are frequent cross passages to the 1894 railway tunnel and and to one of the disused railway tunnels. Apparently these are for evacuation purposes from the railway or the canal. Our passage through the canal tunnel shadowed by a can running through the closed railway tunnel. It was a really interesting trip
Yes, I’ve been part way through on the canal and of course we are trained on the effects of an emergency evacuation. The Canals and River Trust monitor movement through the tunnel. We do have access to the escape tunnel via certain of the adits connecting the tunnels.
to don coffey i enjoyed this video very much it looked like I was driving the train From paul chapman at London uk 🇬🇧 and sadly my dad died on August the 24th of this year 😢
So are all the Manchester - Huddersfield Class 2 services operated by TPE now? When I started as a RRNE Conductor in 1990 we signed from Romiley to Asbury's via Guide Bridge, as thats the way the Hoipe Valley stoppers were routed till the following years timetable change when we went back to via Bradbury. ( though we had to sign both routes) Awe also signed via Stockport as we had a couple of jobs that way ( a Cleethorpes Liverpool afternoon Express) which called at stockport to set down only. We were relived at Manchester Oxford Road where we picked up our back working from Liverpool to Cleethorpes via Stockport ( which also called at Hazel Grove if I remember correctly)
Most are Class 2s but some of the peak hour services are wrapped up with the Hull service which run as 1K**. Interestingly, that Liverpool/Cleethorpes service has recently been resurrected using Class 68/Mk5 sets via Stockport and Hazel Grove.
This stopper of yesteryear went something like Manchester Exchange Victoria Miles Platting Park Clayton Bridge Droylsden Ashton Charlestown Stalybridge Mossley Greenfield Saddleworth Diggle Marsden Slaithwaite Golcar Longwood & Milnsbridge Huddersfield. Must of took the best of 2 hours back then all stopping?! Times change, I guess..!
It did Harry. Some things change for the better and others are a step backwards. The railway was a pitiful state at the end of BR but it has enjoyed a resurgence. It would be nice to see those old stations reopened.
Thanks, Don, for your timely reply. Other than experience, is there a way of knowing when the back end of your train is clear of restrictions, platforms, etc.?
For speed restrictions, it’s just experience and knowing how quickly the train will increase speed. Combine that with route knowledge and everything clicks into place. It’s not as easy with longer trains so it’s tougher for Avanti or LNER. Freight trains have the train length indicator discussed in the videos.
Being someone who makes the occasional UA-cam video, I appreciate how time consuming it is. So I just want to say thanks for all the annotation work you put into these Don. They make these cab rides next level fabulous.
Much appreciated Andrew. Getting the footage comes with its own problems of cameras freezing and hanging then as you know, editing and researching takes a long time. I’m glad you appreciate the work involved.
Different perspective on a stopper train. Thanks for the new video
Yes, it’s all go on the stoppers.
20:07 - Mossley is such a unique sight, practically a station in a roofless tunnel thanks to the tall buildings and embankments to either side.
Thank you, Don, for another informative and beautiful video.
Thanks Ben. That sight will change significantly after electrification but at least we’ve got a record of it 👍
One of the best views through the drivers I have seen; never a dull moment, navy thanjsfir the hours you have invested into this project, thank you, Patrick Northamptonshire
My pleasure Patrick, I’m glad you liked it 👍
Another fantastic video Don. Amazing countryside, captioning and clarity. Thanks you very much.
Glad you liked it Colin 👍
Happiness is … crossing the country on a train on a beautiful sunny day. Thanks for this one. 🐨🇦🇺
Thanks Martin 👍
Don is truly the king of driver's eye view videos!! Thanks once again for a great educational production.
Thanks for the positive feedback Alan 👍
Recently discovered this channel and binge-watched them all! Being not from the UK (I'm from NL) the explanations are very welcome and I admire all the work that goes in these video's. I find them highly entertaining and educating. By now I kind of got to know the area around Manchester. Next time I'm going to visit my sister in Leeds, I also will visit several sites I was shown in these video's. Thank you very much indeed Don!
Cheers John. Let me know when you visit, if I can say hello at some stage, I will 👍
Another great video! I always enjoy a trip on this line and seeing the Huddersfield Narrow Canal from the train.
Amazing isn’t it Henry. I never grow tired of driving that route.
Great video, love the bits of information along the track.Always is a magnificent sight when the Pennines come into view! This takes me back when I lived in Huddersfield using this journey to get to work in Cheshire on a weekly basis 35 years ago.Forgot what an excellent trip it is.
It’s a super route Chas. We’ll go over again in the next video but express this time 👍
Very nice with showing progress from stop to stop with a brief look at the map. Would be nice to always be able to check progress on a map - even goods trains.
You mean a live map Bryan? I wouldn’t know where to start although I know some others do it. I usually add static maps at stations.
Excellent video.
Thanks Peter, much appreciated 👍
I’m so excited when you’ve posted up a video!! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication! So appreciated! Awesome vid 💯💯💯😃
Thanks Duaine. I’ve got more to come 👍
Look forward to this one. Hey Don, just fell in love. I have the Leeds line at the bottom of my garden. Just seen the Midland Pullman for the first time. Beautiful ❤
Yes, it’s superb rolling stock for sure 👍
Thanks for awakening childhood memories with your video.
I was born in Milnsbridge in 1946 and lived there for 18 years on Manchester Road, from 1957 to 1961 I attended Crow Lane Secondary school which was at the side of the railway embankment just after the end of the Milnsbridge viaduct, it can be seen briefly on the right on the return journey.
Being so close to a railway line there were a lot of train spotters in the school and if your classroom overlooked the railway and it was known a special train was going to pass the teacher let us go to the window the get the number.
Swimming lessons involved a trek to Longwood and a trolleybus to Huddersfield, for a change we would sometimes catch the train to Milnsbridge station, we also stood on Cuckoo Bridge near Paddock to get train numbers.
Oh Mike, I bet you saw some sights to behold, I can only imagine. Thanks for the excellent feedback 👍
@@doncoffey5820 Cheers, I forgot to say that at night you could always tell that there was a bad smog outside due to the percussion caps going off across the valley.
Love these videos... you help me to live out my childhood dream (which I still possess) to be a train driver 🥲
That’s exactly what I wanted to achieve. Before I went to the railway I was full of questions and my aim was to take you with me and fill in some of those blanks. Delighted you felt that 👍
Mr coffee, thank you, a video that contains, architecture, history and the best interview of a railway journey, I have seen. I like particularly the driver, ge should get an ambassador
Glad you liked the journey Patrick. You get to have a pseudo cab ride and listen to all the things I’d be telling you if you were with me.
Don, others have said it and I agree the extra work you put into these is appreciated. I will work on sharing more of my amateur videos on your Facebook page. Thanks, again from Australia. Her Majesty the Queen will be missed.
I’ll watch out for it Geoffrey 👍
Looking forward to this as always. Keep up the good work!
Hope it lives up to your expectations Andy. It’s a colourful and bright day.
As usual, beautiful country-side. Great video. Feel like I'm, there in person.
I feel like I’ve achieved something Francis 👍
Thank you for the video. Interesting to see Stalybridge Platform 3 being used in reverse direction, the new high intensity lights give better vision in the tunnels. Interesting fact about the Stanedge canal tunnel you have to pre-book to go through and are 'escorted' by canal trust staff with it being so tight as their is no towpath. Long before motors, barges had to have men lying on their backs walking them through the tunnel. I was surprised to learn they have four checkpoint landing stages where canal staff telephone control advising they're still on the move!
Thanks Bill. Because the tunnel only has 4 adits (passages) to the adjacent escape tunnel, I’ve done quite a bit of studying about the canal, it’s interesting isn’t it 👍
Very interesting video thank you again for showing more video’s
My pleasure Raymond, more soon.
Thank you for a fantastic viewing of this route. Really enjoyed everything.
My pleasure Alan, thank you 👍
These are awesome. Just got my dad into Train Simulator, so will forward him this channel too!
My work here is done! Thanks for the feedback, more soon.
Thanks once again, Don. The indications of closed stations is great. It may be of interest to know that the stopping train from Manchester Exchange (first stop Ashton Charlestown) to Huddersfield took an hour and twelve minutes in 1953.
Hi Paul. That’s interesting regarding the timing, I often wondered whether we’d improved on things because some of the old sceptics give the impression that it’s slower than it used to be. I find such comments questionable because the 185s don’t exactly push you back in the seat but you can really feel them pulling so it didn’t make sense.
Fantastic work Don, your videos are of such a high standard
Much appreciated Seamus 👍
Very enjoyable video. I used to travel this route when I was attending MRI.
Glad you liked it 👍
Don thank you so much a fabulous ride. Paul in Kent
Thanks Paul 👍
Another really good video. Thank you Don.
My pleasure Peter, thanks for following 👍
Wonderful video! Thank you very much!
Glad you liked it 👍
Another great video, thanks so much for taking the time and effort and of course the Drivers and rail companies for their participation too.
That one was filmed and driven by me John but I must thank my Standards Director for allowing it 👍
in the words of the song, " that used to be my playground" so many trips over that road, often going somewhere else, but many times, behind 40's, 45's and 47's on the old transpennines, sadly never had a Deltic, and, as of now yet to have a 68, BUT after all that time finally had the Diggle AND Marsden loops three years back with a pair of 37's up front... happier times, once again Don, many thanks for a great trip out.
I envy you Richard. I never really knew this route before transferring from Northern but have seen loads of evocative photos since.
Good Morning Don. Thanks for a really great video of one of my favourite routes. The service is a bit more frequent that it used to be. I once got stranded at Greenfield and had to take the bus back into Manchester! Think it was a class 110 that took me up the line. Much appreciated, thank you very much!
Hi David. Greenfield seems really popular now. I worked a service that stopped there at 18:22 this evening and what seemed like a veritable crowd got off.
I always think there's some weird-looking features around the tunnels as we leave Huddersfield. Where the Penistone line curves away; if you saw that on a model railway, you'd say it looked kind of fake - same at Paddock tunnel. I can't find much online about Paddock tunnel but it's got that look about it - might have some stories to tell.
Thanks for another few hours of great entertainment Don; it's a lovely journey, in either direction, but you see so much more from the front seat.😁👍
It was, yes.
That tunnel looks like a Blue Peter papier-mâché model in that cutting. It seem such a lot of effort wasted.
Thanking you Don, any chance of Huddersfield to Sheffield?
It was on the cards before Covid. I can make enquiries again now.
Great route taken, Don. There are no end of tunnels that make the video for great watching. The 185s are really up to it, and keep good time. As usual, Don, another pearler and extremely well described along the way. Many thanks, mate
Good to hear from you Frank. It’s is a cracking route and remarkable considering what it does. I’ll be on a faster service in the next video so we can make some comparisons.
The longevity of the Woodhead infrastructure is a reminder of how things should be done, none of the 'damage by winds' that the ECML has been subject to, perhaps this is why the GWR stuff looks horrible but is built to last? Great video again.
The Woodhead stuff is different because it was designed for 1500v dc so it has a much bigger contact wire. The GWR has Series 1 OLE which is designed for speeds up to 140mph. Apparently, conventional OLE becomes unreliable at such high speeds as the pantograph tends to bounce off it.
Lovely video from a lovely day. Mention of the Micklehurst Loop always reminds me of a junior school day trip to York in 1962/63. The only time we 'trained' Wigan Wallgate to York and back. On the way up the Tame Valley outward bound, we appeared to be racing another train across the valley. Rarely saw the train itself but the plumes of smoke and steam were the giveaway. Disappearing in tunnels, reappearing on embankments etc. We 'won' the race to Standedge.
Have a look through all the stuff on this website Alan, it is full of info on the loop. rogerfarnworth.com/2021/04/16/the-micklehurst-loop-part-4/
Absolutely 💯..a must watch. 👏
Thanks Malcolm.
Another great video - thank you! My late railway-mad dad would have loved these. I appreciate the time and effort it takes for you to film, produce and upload these videos - I know from the cycling videos on my own channel how long this takes!
Glad you enjoyed it Bev. Your dad sounds like somebody I would have liked chatting with. Send me a link to your channel pls.
Don’t bother - I’ve subscribed!
I get this train fairly often from Mossley to Huddersfield just for something to do. Get off at Huddersfield, go and get some cheesy chips, mooch about for a while and jump on the train back. Kills a few hours and gives me a change of scenery for not much money. Fascinating to get this different view of a familiar route.
Be sure to say hello if you see me Paul 👍
a great video Don going through a beautiful area of the countryside look forward to the next video
Coming Soon John.
Another excellent video Don, I really enjoy watching these, also the captions are very interesting.
Glad you like them Daryl 👍
Thank you Don for yet another excellent video. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Cheers Dave 👍
Great video as always Don. As a Canadian viewer originally from Lancashire I would love to see a MU stopper Preston via Burnley through to York.
It was arranged Steve but covid wrecked numerous plans. Fingers crossed we can arrange it again.
Great vid Don, cheers! Fantastic to see my local line from the drivers seat 👍
Is it you that does the videos, they’re very good 👍
My old man drives the 185s…And assuming I pass the course, I’ll be on the 66s. (Moving up from being a Ground staff).
Love watching these videos you do Don. They honestly give me a great insight into how it’s done. Keep them coming!
Hi James, I probably know your dad by sight but there’s quite a lot of us and names aren’t my strong point (it’s the age you know 😉). Good luck with the move, I’m sure you’ll make it 👍
Excellent video. So informative and entertaining.
Glad you liked it Steve 👍
Thanks Don great work and welcome back!
Thanks Simon. There’ll be a glut of new content now I’ve got my wings back. Coming soon 😉
Love the cab view videos Don.
Had the pleasure not long ago of chatting to the driver in the Knowsley waste train video at Southport station. I mentioned your UA-cam videos and he said he knew you. He was with another driver on route learning on a DB Cargo class 66 ready for the RHTT season. Both of them were great ambassadors for the railway, especially when a father walked up to them with his two boys and they took the time to chat with them.
Hi Neil. Lee told me he’d been talking to you. He’s a rally nice guy and very approachable if anyone sees him about.
Glad your back
Don another great journey 👍
Cheers James 👍
Thank you again Don for a very interesting video, I learn a lot about railway technology watching your vireos. On another subject I often wonder how DB get away running class 66 with EWS as a named company with NO DB in signage on the locomotive.
Interesting question Phillip. I know when I was at Northern and they re branded them, they had teams at every possible location to remove the old branding. I don’t know if freight franchises work differently or if DB still hold the EWS name in the legal jargon.
I was at Huddersfield Poly in the early 1980s and remember travelling from Stockport to Stalybridge and then onto Huddersfield. Superb scenery. ❤
It is Andrew. I’m very lucky to have that view from my office 😉👍
Great vlog... nice to see the Drivers view of Standedge Tunnel, as the only other view of I have seen, is the Standedge Canal Tunnel which took me 1.5 hours to get through. Once again great vlog...
Glad you found us. If you’re Foxes Afloat, I’ve seen your excellent videos too. I’ve been a little way through on the canal tour at the Marsden end which was interesting.
I do like the bits of railway operational information you include like what a signal means or why a particular thing is done the way it is. I often find these cab ride videos very relaxing. There's a large segment of the "ASMR" community on UA-cam who watch these for relaxation purposes too and it helps them to go to sleep. That's a good thing not a criticism LOL, I think it's kind of the same way people fall asleep on trains! Oh just thought it would be worth pointing out at 52:01 there appears to be a forgotten upper third that just says "Name". I'm curious as to what it was supposed to have said? 😃
Thanks for the feedback Keffa. I am quite capable of nodding off watching the videos but thankfully less so while driving! As for that stray captain, I haven’t got a clue what it’s there for, I sometimes shift something by dragging it along the timeline to get the timing right but it seems that one escaped despite me supposedly checking it. I’m glad to report that nothing of note is missing 🙄👍
Such a beautiful country on such a beautiful day. Yet the green sign at Slowitt shows how deep depression can be. Thanks for all you do to raise awareness and provide support, Don.
Thanks Chris. Everything but our stoppers hurtle through there at up to 85 mph and it is a hotspot unfortunately. Supporting the Samaritans is the basis of this channel and the beauty is, all the followers need to do is put up with the adverts. Thanks for your support.
Hi don-as always love your manchester videos..this is no exception..and is truelly excellent...lovely views and smooth riding...a cleethorpes to manchester would be a good one in the near future...thanks again...paul
Rest assured Paul, Cleethorpes is on the agenda. I just need to identify a willing partner.
Hello Don: While watching your very pleasant & well done vids, I notice quite a bit of discarded/disused railroad paraphernalia lying about. I can only imagine how many Millions of Dollars/Pounds of scrap metal (rails, plates, fittings, broken couplers, rail shavings, spikes, etc., etc.,) is lying along railroads throughout the US, UK and world!!!
Yes, it’s a fact that there is a lot of scrap but to get these odd pieces apparently costs a lot more than leaving it. They are better at clearing up than they used to be so with time, the railway is getting tidier.
Another great video and some good facts Don. Thank You
Cheers Mel 👍
Great video and I like your remarks and information!
Thanks Frits, much appreciated 👍
Another superlative video. Thanks, Don!
Thanks Steve 👍
Reminds me of when I play TSW or TSW2 as this exact route is on the transpennine (it’s the old class green & white trains though)
I’ve never seen it Nat but I know some of the sims are very realistic.
@@doncoffey5820 it’s 50-50 mr Coffey it’s cartoony but the scenarios are Awsome would love to work in rail but I’ve had some bad experience applying for jobs because of metal illness and learning difficulties
Another quality video Don. Thoroughly enjoyed that as usual. Mark
Thanks Mark, much appreciated 👍
Very enjoyable in all respects, thanks Don.😊😊😊
Much appreciated David.
Another highlight I’m sure - will have to watch later
It’s not until next week but fit it in when you can Chris 👍
Nice one Don. Actually makes me appreciate what a good job DTG did with their NTP route for Train Sim World, albeit earlier era and from Man Vic rather than Picc. I'll have to dust off the MetCam 101 for an all stations run later!
I don’t do the sims Vern. I suspect they use my footage on a lot of them so they will share similarities. It would be interesting to ride the 101 and see how it compares.
A great video, Don. Have hospitalized with Covid 19 for three months. A lot of catching up to do. Cheers buddy!
Sorry to hear it Martin and delighted the videos bring some relief. Get well soon buddy.
Brilliant, your best one yet - though I probably would say that as I'm from Huddersfield! It sounds like you're a big fan of the 185's and their power - I think they are probably the most suitable trains the Standedge route has ever seen... By comparison I always get the impression that the 802s are a bit under-powered when running in diesel mode.
I’m very fond of the 185s and they’re superb on the stoppers because they go well and they are very predictable when braking. Some of my colleagues are quite scathing about the 802s but one often leaves Huddersfield just ahead of the stopper and they look fairly spritely to me. They don’t give the impression of speed but they should know.
Thanks for sharing, shared.
Much appreciated Gary 👍
I didn't realise that the Pennines were an oblique rectangle. Thanks for the diagram
Limited software William. You should see what I use for the Trossachs!
Great video mate hope you're well. All the best, Will
All good Will. I keep watching your vids too
@@doncoffey5820 that's made my day mate thankyou, all the best
Great video as always Don. 👍👍
Cheers Matty, much appreciated 👍
As usual Don ,brilliant,,,
Much appreciated Kevin 👍
Thank you Don, excellent quality as always 👌
Thanks David, much appreciated 👍
Thanks Don, another excellent ride, keep them coming.
Much appreciated 👍
1:06:12 I reckon they'll just use the half gantry supported on the right hand side of view, there's quite a few places on the Manchester to Preston line where they've had to do that because of issues putting a post in on one specific side. I'm more interested in Standedge tunnel, is it gonna get an overhead conductor rail like the seven tunnel and crossrail have, or are they going to attempt to thread cables through it?
The issue with Mossley isn’t which side to add the structures, it’s how close the contact wire is to the houses. As for Standedge, I think they’ll drop the deck and put wires through but that’s my opinion and it might not be correct.
Looking forward to seeing this, but I will have to watch it a day later as the video resolution for premiers in Ireland is terrible. So it is better to wait a day or so.
I can only agree. They leave me crystal clear but UA-cam struggles with motion. As you say, they settle after a few days when they are fully buffered.
This should be good stuff as always Don!
I hope you like it Jarrod 👍
After the termination of the ESR before Gorton. There were 'splashes' of clean ballast between the tracks at regular intervals. Marking carriage lengths or random coincidence?
Just a coincidence Andrew. They tend to drop ballast like that just to keep the sleeper ends from walking.
Thanks for the info on why these decidedly non-express services are operated by TransPennine - I had always just assumed it was DFT being DAFT so good to know there is actually a sound reason behind it!
I must admit there are occasionally some abstract reasons for doing things but as you say, this one is sound 👍
In the 4 track steam days clearances must have been absolutely minimal,, Scar Lane bridge at Longwood and for instance had 4 running lines and the yard headhunt underneath. I had a child's familiarity with the route until 1960, when my grandmother died.
It was a remarkable arrangement as you say James. The 185 has no trouble with the gradient but that line is steep and it was very busy with freight so it was an incredible struggle for trains going up and coming down. Have the loops and sidings required careful management of wagons or they’d be gone and they could kill if they did.
Another so clear and informative video on an iconic line. PS, what was the ghost image of a crossover at Slaithwaite station?.
The sun was shining into the cab. It’s something reflecting back but not sure what!
Amazing livery on these trains
Yes, it looks superb on the newer types.
Thanks for another great video Don. No sign of Felix or Bolt at Huddersfield.
Good to hear from you Rob. The cats are still about. Bolt is nice as pie but that bloody split personality Felix will still take a chunk out of your leg for no good reason 😳 🐈⬛
I looked up the class 185 and read that they are diesel hydraulic, I wondered why when the train was running under the wires, then at 10:15 it became clear!, but I do see electrification is on its way.
Hi Françoise. Yes it is a diesel but diesel mechanical transmission. We are working towards electrification 👍
Will this be BST 20:00 on the 5th October?
I hope you do another MML something like from Sheffield to St Pancras in the not too distant future, like on a new Bi-mode train deisel to Market Harborough before switching to electric power to St Pancras, that would be a cool video to watch. Just an idea that is all. 👍
I believe we’ll still be on DST Kevin so yes, BST. Always open to suggestions but it all depends how amenable EMR are. It’s amazing how much the infrastructure has changed from some of the early videos.
Thanks for another interesting video Don. It's been many a long year since I drove a stopping train over the 'Wessy', so it was good to revisit. Not being overly accustomed to doing stoppers (on that route anyway), Slaithwaite on the Down road was always one of my 'bogey stations' - you know the sort, where you always find yourself braking too soon, even in good weather? I'm sure all drivers have them! Two more of mine (further east) were Deighton and South Milford, probably because they were new (or reinstated) stations that we hadn't 'grown up' with. Anyway, keep up the good work, and looking forward to whatever you bring out next.
Coming Soon!
Thanks again Don, all the best x
Thank you Richard 👍
In 2019, I had a trip through the canal tunnel. It took over 2 hours, and you could hear trains rumbling past. There are frequent cross passages to the 1894 railway tunnel and and to one of the disused railway tunnels. Apparently these are for evacuation purposes from the railway or the canal. Our passage through the canal tunnel shadowed by a can running through the closed railway tunnel. It was a really interesting trip
Yes, I’ve been part way through on the canal and of course we are trained on the effects of an emergency evacuation. The Canals and River Trust monitor movement through the tunnel. We do have access to the escape tunnel via certain of the adits connecting the tunnels.
That's a beautiful skew arch at 24:30 and another at 40:05
Watch out for the next video John. I name all the parts in the beautiful skew bridge at Greenfield 👍
love the content don
Much appreciated 👍
Thanks Don for the ride enjoyed the video 👍🏻🇨🇦🚂🥓TSM
Much appreciated Mike.
As always Don, another great video. As I have twin 32" monitors its great following the train on Google Earth
That sounds idyllic Andy. I hope UA-cam delivers the footage as clear as it received it 👍
to don coffey i enjoyed this video very much it looked like I was driving the train From paul chapman at London uk 🇬🇧
and sadly my dad died on August the 24th of this year 😢
Glad you liked it Paul and I’m very sad to hear about your dad mate.
So are all the Manchester - Huddersfield Class 2 services operated by TPE now? When I started as a RRNE Conductor in 1990 we signed from Romiley to Asbury's via Guide Bridge, as thats the way the Hoipe Valley stoppers were routed till the following years timetable change when we went back to via Bradbury. ( though we had to sign both routes) Awe also signed via Stockport as we had a couple of jobs that way ( a Cleethorpes Liverpool afternoon Express) which called at stockport to set down only. We were relived at Manchester Oxford Road where we picked up our back working from Liverpool to Cleethorpes via Stockport ( which also called at Hazel Grove if I remember correctly)
Most are Class 2s but some of the peak hour services are wrapped up with the Hull service which run as 1K**. Interestingly, that Liverpool/Cleethorpes service has recently been resurrected using Class 68/Mk5 sets via Stockport and Hazel Grove.
This stopper of yesteryear went something like
Manchester Exchange
Victoria
Miles Platting
Park
Clayton Bridge
Droylsden
Ashton Charlestown
Stalybridge
Mossley
Greenfield
Saddleworth
Diggle
Marsden
Slaithwaite
Golcar
Longwood & Milnsbridge
Huddersfield.
Must of took the best of 2 hours back then all stopping?!
Times change, I guess..!
It did Harry. Some things change for the better and others are a step backwards. The railway was a pitiful state at the end of BR but it has enjoyed a resurgence. It would be nice to see those old stations reopened.
This route passes below my house at 40:00. Annoyingly as its cut through the rock, i have all the noise and none of the spectacle!
You need a long drill and an endoscope 😉
The scenery reminds me of 'Last of the Summer Wine '
Quite rightly as some of it was filmed at Marsden and Holmirth where the bulk of it was filmed is literally in the next valley.
Thanks, Don, for your timely reply. Other than experience, is there a way of knowing when the back end of your train is clear of restrictions, platforms, etc.?
For speed restrictions, it’s just experience and knowing how quickly the train will increase speed. Combine that with route knowledge and everything clicks into place. It’s not as easy with longer trains so it’s tougher for Avanti or LNER. Freight trains have the train length indicator discussed in the videos.
Hi I love your videos, also do you ever see people waving at East Garforth / Garforth because it could be me
Yes I do and yes I think you are probably in the new Hull video.