Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Rides and Touring => Ride Reports => Topic started by: Peter on 20 February, 2015, 02:11:07 am
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Snow and Steam – A Railway Ride 7th February 2015
I often include a journey on the East Lancashire Railway in a local ride through the hills around Rochdale. I decided to extend this idea to include a trip on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
The ELR starts at Heywood, so I rode the six miles along a mixture of cycle-paths and main roads. The standard tank workhorse arrived, watered and ran round the train.
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/1.JPG)
It may be a toy railway but it's still dangerous
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/2.JPG)
Engineering, or art?
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/3.JPG)
Running repairs
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/4.JPG)
I put my bike in the van; proper space on a train – it'll never catch on
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/6.JPG)
The heating was on
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/5.JPG)
We click-clacked up the Irwell valley to Rawtenstall
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/7.JPG)
where I had a half of the local (to Swindon) Piston Broke and ate sandwiches in the coal-fired waiting room
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/8.JPG)
I'm glad I'm a vegetarian
Wonderful railwayana on the walls
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/9.JPG)
I had a Gold Flash once and my brother Trev a Bantam, though he quickly graduated to a Norton Dominator.
Climbed out of the valley, north past Dunnockshaw Reservoir.
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/10.JPG)
Crossed Burnley, then dragged through traffic jams to Colne; oddly no pictures of this section.
The two “different war” memorials on Earl Crag north of Keighley.
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/11.JPG)
After 30 mile trip, I arrived at Keighley with an hour to wait for the final train of the day
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/12.JPG)
Mooched about admiring iron-work
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/13.JPG)
Took excellent ground coffee from snack-bar and warmed toes in waiting room, where there were more great posters with relevance to Tees-siders like me.
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/14.JPG)
This turntable was moved from Hawes Junction, scene of a terrible disaster on the Settle-Carlisle line a century ago.
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/17.JPG)
The train arrived, pulled by a Standard 4-6-0.
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/15.JPG)
Looks homely enough here but it's a sweltering work-place
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/20.JPG)
At Oakworth there was a difference of opinion about which malt products were most suitable for whom.
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/22.JPG)
The sun was setting as we arrived at the terminus in Oxenhope but there was time for a picture of yet another north-eastern destination.
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/26.JPG)
I now had twenty-odd miles and two Tour de France climbs to do to get home and the bunting waved me on
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/27.JPG)
This is what the camera made of the sunset but it was better than this.
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/28.JPG)
I was pretty much speechless with wonder by now, not that there was anyone to listen.
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/31.JPG)
I flew down to Hebden Bridge by the light of my new dyno-wheel, built by John the Velomancer, then climbed Cragg Vale. About a third of the way up is the Robin Hood, full of cycling pictures. I once wrote a ghost story about it, so it was very satisfying to see the ectoplasm when I checked the pictures at home.
(http://www.zen177395.zen.co.uk/ELR-KWVR re-sized/32.JPG)
A three mile drop from Blackstone Edge brought me to Littleborough, whence I rounded Hollingworth Lake, with the sea-birds burbling in their “roost” on the icy water
Pretty much a perfect day with about sixty miles on the bike and maybe 15 on the railway. Christmas, whenever you need it.
I have even more ambitious plans along similar lines (ho, ho!) but I think this one has the makings of a group ride some day.
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Excellent! A grand day out!
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Grand stuff.
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That looks like a chilly day out Peter. Brilliant fun though, I have a growing enthusiasm for pedal and puff excursions. The NYM railway offers a cycling-one-way-train-back experience too. But other nice outings like catching the train to Alnmouth and cycling home, or riding to York and catching a train home.
Broadens horizons for a gentle day out.
Hope you are well.
Graeme.
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Now that's my idea of a good day on the bike!
When you're back to full strength we'll do something like that . . .
Take care.
luv'n'stuff
John
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what a lovely ride report. Thanks for posting it.
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Oh, how lovely. Great pictures as well Peter.
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Marvellous! I'm a big fan of incorporating steam trains in to bike rides. Last summer we travelled on the Severn Valley Railway on our way to Shrewsbury.
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Nice one Peter. :thumbsup:
As you said, it would make a very nice group ride.
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Thanks, all! Steve, I had a plan to incorporate the Embsay line, too but that's going to have to wait for a bit, now.
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Super atmospheric photos, love em.