A Dickensian Gridmass!
21st November 2020
The Grassington Excursion
Pathfinder Tours
Saturday 2nd December 2000
A favourite tour of mine, 20 years ago myself and Alan took Pathfinder Tour's "The Grassington Excursion" to Skipton, the big attraction being haulage behind two different Class 56 "Grids". Originally planned for Class 33s, I think the change in motive power was a good one for me. A change in routing that took out the run up the WCML, however, did mean that I missed out on the Carnforth to Settle route, a line that still evades me today (2020). But never mind, a good day was in store, and the branch to Rylstone was needed. The Dickensian Fair at Grassington looked fun too.
Breakfast leg stretch at Derby - with 56058 glinting in the sun.
A stupid-o'clock start from Bristol Parkway (05.46) would have meant a start from home at something like 04.30, so a long day indeed! The tour began at Cardiff and was on time at Bristol, with a smart-looking 56058 on the front, resplendent in EWS maroon and gold. The train was made up of 13 coaches, only 3 of which were second class. The rest was made up of first class and dining cars, reflecting the majority clientele on the train today! We had an uneventful, but on-time, journey to Derby, where a 15 minute pathing stop allowed a bit of a leg-stretch in the early winter's morning sunshine, a feature of the day, at least there was no rain!
Looking north alongside the flanks of 56058 at Derby.
Passing Masborough Sidings Junction, with 66196, 66080 and 66176 stabled. 66196 has since been exported to Poland.
Rounding the curve at Calder Bridge Junction - and a bit of window hanging to admire 56058!
We were sent via Tapton Junction to Barrow Hill, Rotherham Normanton and Shipley, this apparently due to a fatality on our original route, a sad event for sure. Waiting for us at Skipton, at which we arrived nearly 15 minutes ahead of schedule, was Transrail-liveried 56127. I have a feeling this loco had been in store for a short while, reinstated just before the tour. This coupled onto the end of the train and led us around to the Rylstone branch, and some new trackage for me.
It's a beautifully scenic line, and thanks to the sunshine brought out hosts of photographers. I've not yet photographed freight trains on the branch myself but it's on my list to do! We arrived at the short platform at Rylstone at 12.56, almost a quarter of an hour ahead of schedule.
After an orderly, if not slightly cramped, exit from the train we were all decanted onto a fleet of waiting buses for the short drive to the North Yorkshire town of Grassington, where festivities were already in full flow. We had just over two and a half hours at the town, which was full of festive atmosphere and plenty of fun, food and beer available for everyone!
Alan's feeling peckish and hungry for chestnuts!
The crowds in Grassington town centre.
This was the 19th year of the Festival being held, taking place over 3 Saturdays in December, this being the first one. It's main purpose is to raise funds for local charities, and it seems that everyone local gets involved, donning period costume and getting into the theme of a Dickensian Christmas, You half-expected to see Tiny Tim and Scrooge to make an appearance! A drink at the Devonshire Hotel, food from the vendors and chestnuts from the chestnut seller (who else?) kept us amused, as did the various side-shows, before time was up for our long journey home.
Our train left Rylstone at 15.40 for the 9 mile return to Skipton, this time 56058 taking us back and 56127 tagging on the back, On arrival at Skipton 56058 was unhitched and left behind, something originally planned to happen at Sheffield, the Transrail "Grid" doing the honours back south. As it happened a bit of time was lost north of Sheffield due to a slow running Freightliner service ahead of us, with all kinds of subsequent delays and stops further hampering our passage south, and by the time we arrived at Worcester Shrub Hill at 22.10 we were nearly an hour behind schedule. We had to leave the train at Worcester as the train continued to South Wales via Hereford and Abergavenny, so we had the very dubious pleasure of a coach transfer to Bristol, all no doubt due to planned engineering work on the more direct route. But we did not care, having had a great time and day-full of "Grid" haulage.
On paper it was a deceptive tour and potentially not that appealing as the final destination would have been of more interest to the "normal" traveller rather than the hardened railtourer. But with some useful freight lines to scratch off, and two different Class 56 locomotives for each leg of the journey this was definitely a memorable and enjoyable day out. It must have left a good impression on me too, as a few years later I and my wife took our own journey north for a weekend in Grassington to enjoy the Dickensian Festival ourselves. And not one "Grid" in sight that time either!
Pathfinder Tours
Saturday 2nd December 2000
A favourite tour of mine, 20 years ago myself and Alan took Pathfinder Tour's "The Grassington Excursion" to Skipton, the big attraction being haulage behind two different Class 56 "Grids". Originally planned for Class 33s, I think the change in motive power was a good one for me. A change in routing that took out the run up the WCML, however, did mean that I missed out on the Carnforth to Settle route, a line that still evades me today (2020). But never mind, a good day was in store, and the branch to Rylstone was needed. The Dickensian Fair at Grassington looked fun too.
Breakfast leg stretch at Derby - with 56058 glinting in the sun.
A stupid-o'clock start from Bristol Parkway (05.46) would have meant a start from home at something like 04.30, so a long day indeed! The tour began at Cardiff and was on time at Bristol, with a smart-looking 56058 on the front, resplendent in EWS maroon and gold. The train was made up of 13 coaches, only 3 of which were second class. The rest was made up of first class and dining cars, reflecting the majority clientele on the train today! We had an uneventful, but on-time, journey to Derby, where a 15 minute pathing stop allowed a bit of a leg-stretch in the early winter's morning sunshine, a feature of the day, at least there was no rain!
Looking north alongside the flanks of 56058 at Derby.
Passing Masborough Sidings Junction, with 66196, 66080 and 66176 stabled. 66196 has since been exported to Poland.
Rounding the curve at Calder Bridge Junction - and a bit of window hanging to admire 56058!
We were sent via Tapton Junction to Barrow Hill, Rotherham Normanton and Shipley, this apparently due to a fatality on our original route, a sad event for sure. Waiting for us at Skipton, at which we arrived nearly 15 minutes ahead of schedule, was Transrail-liveried 56127. I have a feeling this loco had been in store for a short while, reinstated just before the tour. This coupled onto the end of the train and led us around to the Rylstone branch, and some new trackage for me.
It's a beautifully scenic line, and thanks to the sunshine brought out hosts of photographers. I've not yet photographed freight trains on the branch myself but it's on my list to do! We arrived at the short platform at Rylstone at 12.56, almost a quarter of an hour ahead of schedule.
After an orderly, if not slightly cramped, exit from the train we were all decanted onto a fleet of waiting buses for the short drive to the North Yorkshire town of Grassington, where festivities were already in full flow. We had just over two and a half hours at the town, which was full of festive atmosphere and plenty of fun, food and beer available for everyone!
Alan's feeling peckish and hungry for chestnuts!
The crowds in Grassington town centre.
This was the 19th year of the Festival being held, taking place over 3 Saturdays in December, this being the first one. It's main purpose is to raise funds for local charities, and it seems that everyone local gets involved, donning period costume and getting into the theme of a Dickensian Christmas, You half-expected to see Tiny Tim and Scrooge to make an appearance! A drink at the Devonshire Hotel, food from the vendors and chestnuts from the chestnut seller (who else?) kept us amused, as did the various side-shows, before time was up for our long journey home.
Our train left Rylstone at 15.40 for the 9 mile return to Skipton, this time 56058 taking us back and 56127 tagging on the back, On arrival at Skipton 56058 was unhitched and left behind, something originally planned to happen at Sheffield, the Transrail "Grid" doing the honours back south. As it happened a bit of time was lost north of Sheffield due to a slow running Freightliner service ahead of us, with all kinds of subsequent delays and stops further hampering our passage south, and by the time we arrived at Worcester Shrub Hill at 22.10 we were nearly an hour behind schedule. We had to leave the train at Worcester as the train continued to South Wales via Hereford and Abergavenny, so we had the very dubious pleasure of a coach transfer to Bristol, all no doubt due to planned engineering work on the more direct route. But we did not care, having had a great time and day-full of "Grid" haulage.
On paper it was a deceptive tour and potentially not that appealing as the final destination would have been of more interest to the "normal" traveller rather than the hardened railtourer. But with some useful freight lines to scratch off, and two different Class 56 locomotives for each leg of the journey this was definitely a memorable and enjoyable day out. It must have left a good impression on me too, as a few years later I and my wife took our own journey north for a weekend in Grassington to enjoy the Dickensian Festival ourselves. And not one "Grid" in sight that time either!