2. Visit to The Lowry & Manchester Victoria-11.10.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 69. Trip to Manchester-10-13.10.19 > 2. Visit to The Lowry & Manchester Victoria-11.10.19

My wife and I took a trip out on Manchester's Metrolink to Media City for a visit to the excellent Lowry gallery. After returning to the city centre I went to Victoria station for an hour or so taking a run out to Eccles in order to gain access to the station! Things were a little bit tense around the city as this was the day that the frenzied, knife-wielding individual ran amok in the Arndale centre,

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Images 1-16 of 16 displayed.

3109, Piccadilly-Media City service (Piccadilly Gardens-Media City), Piccadilly Gardens
My wife and took Metrolink's 3109, seen here arriving at Piccadilly gardens stop, to its termination at Media City. The Metrolink trams are absolutely superb being regular, efficient and cheap. Notice the pigeon in full flight to the far right of this image!
Keywords: 3109 Piccadilly-Media City service Piccadilly Gardens

150122, stabled, Manchester Victoria station
150122 stands stabled on platform one at Manchester Victoria. I have no idea why it was sitting in this position all day (according to RTT). I find Manchester Victoria a station just too busy, frenetic and one that has a very dismal atmosphere with very dingy and dark platforms. The exceptions are platforms one (seen here) and platform two that are slightly away from the through platforms.
Keywords: 150122 Manchester Victoria station

158755, NT 15.48 Rochdale-Clitheroe (2N51, 1E), Manchester Victoria station
158755 has just arrived at the bi-directional platform four with the 15.48 Rochdale to Clitheroe with a crew change about to take place. On leaving Victoria it will head for Bolton and via the single-track Darwen route to Blackburn. From Blackburn, it will proceed toward Hellifield as far as its termination at Clitheroe. Notice the young person sitting on platform three. Just after I took this picture two members of the BTP came over and asked her to move and not to sit on the platform. Whilst it is not what you and I may do, I can't see a reason to ask her to move but perhaps in my nativity, perhaps I'm missing something?
Keywords: 158755 15.48 Rochdale-Clitheroe 2N51 Manchester Victoria station

185107, TP 13.55 Middlesborough-Manchester Airport (1P78, 6L), Manchester Victoria station
This picture illustrates why I do not like Manchester Victoria station a great deal. It's a dark and oppressive subterranean station being built underneath the huge Manchester Arena complex, the scene of the 2017 Ariana Grande concert bombing. In this busy view taken during the evening commuter period, 158107 is already running late as it pauses with the 13.55 Middlesborough to Manchester Airport service. There was much frenetic blowing of whistles in order to get the train boarded as quickly as possible, something that I dislike intensely and one that makes me deliberately slow down and take my time trying to be the last to causally board the train. Now, where's my application form for the 'awkward squad' gone!
Keywords: 185107 13.55 Middlesborough-Manchester Airport (1P78, 6L), Manchester Victoria station

142014 & 142060, NT 16.23 Manchester Victoria-Stalybridge (2Y90, RT), Manchester Victoria station
The clock is ticking for these thirty-year-old units, now in their final two months of operation...or are they? 142014 and 142060 waits at Manchester Victoria's platform two ready to work the 2Y90 16.23 to Stalybridge. This is a shuttle service to the Yorkshire town that operates regularly throughout the day, a journey that only takes fifteen minutes. I saw and photographed a Pacer at the other end of this shuttle service at the start of the year, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/25667636004/x142056-12-00-stalybridge-manchester
Keywords: 142014 142060 16.23 Manchester Victoria-Stalybridge 2Y90 Manchester Victoria station

185121, TP 14.03 Newcastle-Liverpool Lime Street (9M12, 5L), Manchester Victoria station
TransPennine Express' 185121 pauses at Manchester Victoria station with the 14.03 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street. I visited Victoria station expecting and hoping to get my first sighting of one of TPE's new loco-hauled sets. Their introduction was to lead to the withdrawal of these class 185 units that were only refurbished two year's ago. However, TPE now wants to retain fifteen units for its expanding operations, particularly if its bid to operate trains to Nottingham from Liverpool goes ahead.
Keywords: 185121 14.03 Newcastle-Liverpool Lime Street 9M12 Manchester Victoria station

143043, NT 16.37 Manchester Victoria-Wigan Wallgate (2F80, 2L), Manchester Victoria station
The driver has yet to take his seat in what will become the leading cab of 143043 at Manchester Victoria station. This Pacer will soon form the 16.37 to Wigan Wallgate, a seventeen-mile journey that takes just under an hour. These un-loved units have been part of the railways in the north-west for over thirty years now but things are about to change as complete withdrawal beckons in next two months.
Keywords: 143043 16.37 Manchester Victoria-Wigan Wallgate 2F80 Manchester Victoria station

150274, NT 16.14 Rochdale-Clitheroe (2N52, 9L), Manchester Victoria station
I am asking a lot of the camera deep inside the depths of Manchester Victoria station! 150274 pauses with the cross-Manchester 16.14 Rochdale to Clitheroe service. This two-car unit was not suitable for this particular working with the train absolutely packed as seen here with passengers queuing to board the train for their Friday night journey home.
Keywords: 150274 16.14 Rochdale-Clitheroe 2N52 Manchester Victoria station

319384, NT 17.02 Manchester Victoria-Liverpool Lime Street (2F27, 3L), Manchester Victoria station
Former Thameslink 319384 has just arrived at Manchester Victoria station having been stabled to the west of the station for some time. As the crew change ends, passengers, including myself, wait to board the train that will form the 17.02 to Liverpool Lime Street. I took this 2F27 service the short distance to Eccles, a four-mile journey taking just seven minutes.
Keywords: 319384 17.02 Manchester Victoria-Liverpool Lime Street 2F27 Manchester Victoria station

156429, NT 17.07 Manchester Victoria-Ellesmere Port (1D72, 2L), Eccles station
156429 passes through Eccles station forming the 17.07 Manchester Victoria to Ellesmere Port. As can be seen in this image, Eccles station platforms have recently been extended and resurfaced as part of a wider station improvement programme. The station has just two platforms of its original four. A loop line passes to the north of the station but it appeared to be rarely used.
Keywords: 156429 17.07 Manchester Victoria-Ellesmere Port 1D72 Eccles station

323231, NT 16.28 Liverpool Lime Street-Crewe (2A92, 1L), Eccles station
The direct route between Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe is just thirty-eight miles. However, Northern's 323231 will cover sixty-six miles as it is routed via Manchester Piccadilly and Wilmslow. The train is seen here slowing for its stop at Eccles station. Eccles station has basic facilities with the station ticket office, built in 2103, seen on the bridge directly above the train.
Keywords: 323231 16.28 Liverpool Lime Street-Crewe 2A92 Eccles station

175108, AW 17.15 Manchester Piccadilly-Chester (1D40, 2L), Eccles station
Still in its former operator's livery but devoid of any branding, 175108 passes through Eccles station with the 17.15 Manchester Piccadilly to Chester service. This station is a noisy location being directly adjacent to the M602 motorway that carries a lot of traffic in and out to the west of Manchester.
Keywords: 175108 17.15 Manchester Piccadilly-Chester 1D40 Eccles station

Notices, Eccles station
If ever there was a case of too many notices, this has to be it! The cluttered parapet wall by the steps that go down on to Eccles up platform is adorned with a variety of notices ignored by most people I should imagine. Freccles (Freinds of Eccles station) have a large notice to the left. They appear to have been doing excellent work promoting the station and campaigning for a better service. They have also done a superb job keeping the station looking smart with well maintained and stocked flower beds. The blue plaque commemorates that the station is one of Stephenson's stations on his fabled Chat Moss line where it all started in September 1830.
Keywords: Notices Eccles station

3118, Eccles-Ashton-under-Lyne working, Eccles station
Metrolink's 3118 waits to leave Eccles tram stop with a service to Ashton-under-Lyne. I took this tram as far as Piccadilly station. The large building to the left is a Morrisons supermarket that occupies the site of the former Eccles bus station.
Keywords: 3118 Eccles-Ashton-under-Lyne working Eccles station

Travelcard, zones 1 & 2
My Metrolink travel card for zones one and two. At £3.40 it was good value affording me unlimited off-peak travel within the specified zones. The trams are frequent, clean offer excellent value. More of the UK's urban areas need to take note and re-introduce trams in an effort to ease their chronic traffic congestion and pollution issues.
Keywords: Travelcard zones 1 & 2

Ticket, Manchester Victoria-Eccles
This is the very expensive platform ticket that I bought in order to get on to the platforms at Manchester Victoria station! Luckily, I was able to then use my Metrolink zones one and two travel card to return to the city from Eccles. Given the heightened security measure in place following on from the stabbings in the Arndale centre earlier in the morning, there was absolutely no way I was going to be permitted access through the gate line so I did not even bother to ask!
Keywords: Ticket Manchester Victoria-Eccles

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