Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:00 JST Dominic Stucki

   in reply to

   That was it - Sunset at Almscliff Crag: Highly recommended! 🤩
   What was left was a walk back to the station at dusk.
   #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:01 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     A train, a train, my kingdom for a train!
     ...
     But nope, train delayed.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:02 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     The sun leaves, the moon takes over.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:03 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Ok, ok, I can already hear you: «You didn't go there for the landscape, did you?»
     Well actually, I did. But of course I speculated on something else. 😁 Voilà! One of the few London to Harrogate LNER services on Wharfedale Viaduct.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:04 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     What a fantastic find! Look at maps, my friends and you will find things. Time for a well earned cuppa! 🫖
     And now: Just wait until the sun touches the horizon.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:05 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     To the South-West: This! 😍
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:06 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     45 mins later, I made it to the top of the rock formation which sits on a hilltop, looking totally out of place here in this lovely, soft landscape. But the view is insane! To the North-East: An intense rainbow over the soft hills of Yorkshire. 🌈
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:07 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     It was a quiet weekday evening. A few tired commuters got off the train with me. I took the footpath out of town, across pasture and woodland. Nobody to be seen, except horses, hens and cows. The light was intense and there was something in the air telling me, that it would be a wonderful evening...
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:08 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Ok, now: Focus! I need to plan for the next few days!
     *opens OS maps app*
     Alright, just a quick look at the Leeds area out of curiosity before I start... Hey, what's this?! 👀
     ...
     Planning? What planning? An hour later, I found myself in a suburban village, ready for a walk.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:09 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     As the clouds came to stay and were still there after a long tea and cake break in a coffee house, I decided to move east. I needed a thicker pair of outdoor pants as it was freezing cold and a quiet evening to plan the next days. Off to Leeds, not without an unexpected photo opportunity from the platform end.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:10 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Luckily for the customers, even the notoriously old Northern fleet got some modern additions by CAF recently. All York–Blackpool services seem to be worked by the new class 195 trains. But the diagrams might've been be a bit unusual due to the closure of the Manchester-Rochdale section.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:11 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Too late. Clouds were blocking the sun behind me when I arrived, while there was a blue sky in the photo direction. Bad conditions for railway photos.
     I decided to wait and after nearly two hours, my patience paid off. A mixed Northern DMU train, consisting of a class 150 and 156, passed the village of Lydgate on the viaduct in a rare sunny spell.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:12 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Would've loved to stay longer in the town of Hebden Bridge, but according to the forecast, the sun wasn't going to stay out for long that day. Again a short hop to Todmorden (apparently pronounced Toddm'd'n), a quick leg on the bike and up a steep hill.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:13 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Good night! 🦆
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:14 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     And it gets even better: Heben Bridge is also home to the fantastic Vocation Brewery, including a Brew Pub in the centre. Totally obvious where to end this day. Cheers! 🍺
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:16 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Small town Britain! 🥰 Why is it, that so often, good photo spots are near to picturesque villages? 
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:17 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Blue hour along Rochdale canal.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:18 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     More impressions from Hebden Bridge station. Situated outside of town, at a calm spot on the opposite side of the canal and the river at the foot of a forested hill. This has some serious Transport Fever vibes here.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:19 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     A class 150 is finally taking me back from Todmorden to Hebden Bridge.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:20 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Evening stroll in the lovely area. Found an even better photo spot, which only works on summer evenings. Goes on the list for the next visits.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:21 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Ah, yes, in the Calder Valley near Todmorden, chasing the Northern BREL DMU. At the bottom of the picture, you can spot Rochdale Canal. Before the railway arrived, it transported up to 1m tons of goods a year across the Pennines.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:22 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     This thread is not dead! But as usual, it already lags behind. Not sure, this will get any better. Anyway, where were we? 
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:23 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Finally! 📷
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:24 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     From the popular series «No, I'm not a heritage railway station». Insanely beautiful! 😍
     But I've got no time to lose, as the weather seems to stay stable for the next few hours. On the next train and some stations back towards Manchester.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:25 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     A class 150 double consist, Northern's infamous old BREL diesel units, takes me on the 30 minutes journey to Hebden Bridge, which I've randomly chosen as my next stopover. And the railway station already indicates, that I might've had the nose for the right town...
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:26 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     The weather forecast predicted a sunny intermezzo in the north. And if MetOffice says so, you better believe it. Off to the North! With Metrolink, as the railway to Rochdale is closed for work. My bad planning resulted in a one hour wait in Rochdale. Luckily, this is the UK, where you can get tea to fill the time even at smaller stations. 🍵😊
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:27 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Morning from Manchester in a sunny spell, where a lack of sleep from the ferry, a slight hangover and rainy weather delayed the start of #BrelephantAndCastle. Already the third day on this tour and no proper photo yet - I start to get impatient. But breakfast first.

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:28 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Manchester's contrast between old and brand new will never be not fascinating for me. And to the person coming up with the idea of combining an Indian restaurant with a craft brewery: You've won the gastronomy game! 😋
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:29 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Given the weather, the day was spent exploring some new lines in the class 170 territories of the East Midlands.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:30 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     This is Stadler Flirt country. First to Ipswich with the Intercity version, then onwards to Cambridge with a bi-mode unit. Impeccable passenger information about the disruption!
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:31 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Off we go - finally on British trains! 🥰 Short detour via Manningtree to get a coffee from the station café. Due to OLE damage further towards London, this took more time than expected. I don't mind, as my only plan for today is meeting a friend for a beer on the other side of the Pennines.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:32 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     British rail experts: Any recommendation on a good journey planner app for android? The National Rail app doesn't work on my device.

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:33 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     On time at 06:30, disembarkation starts for the roughly 15 foot passengers. Correct but very annoying border control, asking a lot of questions. Why don't you have a ticket back? Why don't you know yet where exactly you'll spend the three weeks? No Sir, I'll not immigrate and exploit your social systems.
     Anyway. I'm out. Morning, Britain! 🇬🇧 👋
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:34 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Morning! As usual, the melody of «Don't worry, be happy» on the ship's loudspeaker wake me up at 05:30. Tea and croissant at the bar.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:35 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Arrival is early tomorrow, off to bed. Good night!
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:36 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     I prefer the silence of night crossings. Sitting in a lounge chair with a beer or coffee in the nearly empty café late at night, listening to the motor's distant humming while the ship slowly rolls from side to side in the waves. Perfect! 🥰
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:37 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Stena Line sails twice a day between Hoek van Holland and Harwich, both terminals are connected to the rail network. The ship offers shops, a basic restaurant and two bars. Time for a late dinner and a beer afterwards!
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:38 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     This was fährly obvious, wasn't it? (Sorry).
     The Stena Line ferry terminal is located in the old station building, just across the road from the metro station. I prefer the classic route via ferry over the Eurostar, even if it takes much longer. No queues, no crowds. Ten minutes after getting off the metro, I was in my cabin.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:39 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Another change in Rotterdam-Centraal, surrounded by trains in the fantastic NS yellow colours, for the short 5 mins hop with a Sprinter train to Schiedam-Centrum. Then Metro line B to Hoek van Holland Haven.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:40 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Arrival in Brussels. I could change at Brussel-Noord, but there is enough time to do the detour via Bruxelles-Midi, to get on the next train before the "crowds". Just a short change of platform and into the next classic train. The Dutch living room is not as cozy as the Belgian one.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:41 JST Dominic Stucki

     in reply to

     Through occasional showers and occasional spots of sun in a heavenly quiet train. A perfect train ride. 😊
     I really love this stretch of Line between Luxembourg and Namur.
     #BrelephantAndCastle

   • Embed this notice
     Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)'s status on Thursday, 19-Sep-2024 14:20:42 JST Dominic Stucki

     Through the beautiful quiet and empty landscapes of the Ardennes in the Belgian living room aka type i11 coach on the old main line. This train really lacks a bistro or at least a vending machine, it would be the perfect time for a coffee now!
     #BrelephantAndCastle