A Day on the Trans Pennine Express 31/01/20

Friday 31/01/2020

With the Class 68 diesel's finally getting out in numbers on the Liverpool to Scarborough services (4 diagrams at present) I thought it was about time I sampled them - and of course drank some beer!
A work colleague sent me the info on which locos were working at about 0530 including the news that my last class 91 loco, 91121, was working into Leeds this morning.
I worked out a move to get me to Doncaster for the 91, however while on the bus into town I found out that Northern had now cancelled the train from Meadowhall to Doncaster, so I headed to Wakefield to have the 91 from there to Leeds. I did the free bus from Wakefield Kirkgate station to Wakefield Westgate station where I saw there was an 0754 to Doncaster which gave me a plus 6 minutes onto 91121. I decided that if the train was another 91 (not a new Azuma unit) then I would risk this move & when 91106 rolled in I boarded. I made it at Doncaster no problem & enjoyed 91121 back into Leeds.

195002 Barnsley - Wakefield Kirkgate 0720 Barnsley - Leeds 11m
Bus       Wakefield Kirkgate - Wakefield Westgate
91106   Wakefield Westgate - Doncaster  0741 Leeds - Kings X 20m
91121   Doncaster - Leeds 0633 Kings X - Leeds 30m

Time for a celebratory pint of Leeds Pale 3.8% (which I rated 3.75 on UnTappd) in the Wetherspoons on Leeds station then my first Class 68 of the day.

68031 Leeds - York 0754 Liverpool - Scarborough  26m

Still ten minutes until the York Tap on the station opened so 1/2 a pint of Doom Bar (which I rated 3.5 on UnTappd) in the Duke of York, also on the station, as it was a new pub for me. Then the short walk next door into the Tap where the choices are plentiful - I opted for a Fraoch Heather Ale 4.9% (which I rated 3.75 on UnTappd).
Fraoch Heather Ale
68023 at York

 68023 York - Lea Green 0934 Scarborough - Liverpool  91m

Time for lunch in another winner pub for me, the Bull and Dog just outside the station at Lea Green. I had a Chicken Caesar salad washed down by a pint of Charles Wells Bombardier 4.1% (which I rated 3.5 on UnTappd). No complaints - except for the weather as it was now bucketing down with rain, I had to stand in front of the ticket office for shelter until the train rolled into the platform.

68023 Lea Green - Garforth 1254 Liverpool - Scarborough 73m

A handy plus 12 minutes here for the train back
68025 at Garforth

 68025 Garforth - Stalybridge 1334 Scarborough - Liverpool  43m



Time for my main break of the day, I've never been drinking outside the station in Stalybridge.
First the Q Inn just under the railway bridge where I had a Hyde's Lowry 4.7% (which I rated 3.5 on UnTappd)
The Q Inn
The supposed next stop had no Real Ale so a few more steps to the White House where I received a friendly welcome & there were 6 beers to choose from - I tried a Stalybridge brewery Stalybridge Gold 3.6% (which I rated 4.0 on UnTappd) much to the amusement of the locals who said there's no gold in Stalybridge! A nice pint nonetheless. Back round to the station to the famous Stalybridge Buffet Bar where there may well have been a recent Salopian brewery tap takeover as many of their beers were on - I had a new beer for me Salopian Kalon 4.5% (which I rated 3.75 on UnTappd)
Stalybridge Buffet Bar (car park entrance)

 68019 Stalybridge - York 1554 Liverpool - Scarborough  61m

I was intending to go through to Malton to try the Brass Castle brewery Tap but the extra beer time in York won me over. I was very surprised to see a pump clip as I passed the Longboat (Table Table) so as it was a new pub I had Adnams Sloe Storm 4.0% (which I rated 3.0 on UnTappd) not in good nick but still ok.
Adnams Sloe Storm
Over the road to the Punch Bowl where (when I eventually manged to get served) the excellent Saltaire Triple Chocoholic 4.8% was my choice (which I rated 4.25 on UnTappd). Then back to the station to the Tap for a Totally Brewed Papa Jangles Voodoo Stout 4.5% (which I rated 3.75 on UnTappd)

68031  York - Leeds 1834 Scarborough - Manchester Victoria 26m
Unit     Leeds - Barnsley 2004 Leeds - Sheffield 25m

Just time for a nightcap in the Joseph Bramagh before my bus home of Brains The Rev.James original 4.5% (which I rated 4.0 on UnTappd) I still remember trying this the first day it was ever sold, at a beer festival in Swansea many years ago.
Overall a good day, it's great that in this day and age you can still get new diesels which are loud and enjoyable to travel behind. Perhaps I will try a few hostelries in Liverpool next time?

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