Showing posts with label Stalybridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stalybridge. Show all posts

Monday, August 12, 2019

Farewell Pacer Railbus 142005

The first of Northern's Pacer Railbuses retired from service today.


Pacer Railbus 142005 at St Annes-on-the-Sea railway station last August. It's the first Northern Pacer to be retired from service
Pacer Railbus 142005 at St Annes-on-the-Sea station last August. It's the first Northern Pacer to be retired from service

They've been a 'popular' train up north for a fair few years and we quite often see - and hear - them squealing along the many lines in Greater Manchester.



Today the first of Northern's Pacer Railbuses retired from service, as 142005 made its final journey from Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge.


At the end of its run Northern stated that it had travelled 3 million miles in its 32 years of service!

The first Pacer Railbuses were introduced in 1984 and were designed as a short-term measure with a lifespan of twenty years. They've certainly been pushed beyond what they were originally intended for.

While I wouldn't necessarily want to travel on a Pacer Railbus on a long journey, nor would I much fancy using one for a daily rush-hour commute, there is something about them that makes them fun to travel on.

We saw Pacer Railbus 142005 a couple of times while on the Fylde coast last August
We saw Pacer Railbus 142005 a couple of times while on the Fylde coast last August

While modern trains may be sleeker and have more comfortable seating and air-con, there's a lot to be said for old diesel trains. Last week's large-scale power cuts showed that while new trains may be great when conditions are perfect, they were completely useless when the power went down.

Pacer Railbus 142005 connected to another old train - a Class 150 Sprinter
Pacer Railbus 142005 connected to another old train - a Class 150 Sprinter

When we arrived in Stockport in 2016 we noticed that, although there are a lot of train lines and connections aren't too bad, the rolling stock itself is very old. In fact as we moved north so did a load of ex-Thameslink Class 319s that we'd been commuting into London on since 2003!

Having lived most of my life down south I didn't realise quite how poor the train services can be up north in comparison. And that's saying something as a long-suffering commuter on the 'Bedpan line' from Luton to London.

Pacer Railbus 142005 arriving at St Annes-on-the-Sea station en route to Preston
Pacer Railbus 142005 arriving at St Annes-on-the-Sea station en route to Preston

Prior to a one-stop journey in April 2017 I had only ridden on one Pacer Railbus. That first Pacer train trip was only one-stop too, going from Paignton to Torquay on our South West Minigolfing Roadtrip in 2015.

Transport for Wales Pacer Railbuses at Barry Island railway station in May 2019
Transport for Wales are also withdrawing their Pacer Railbuses and have added public service announcements to the sides of the trains declaring it's "The start of a new journey"

On a recent trip to Carnforth we were lucky enough to see the first of the Pacer's replacements out on a test-run. While it was merely a brief encounter it was nice to see Class 195001 breeze through the station.


Related blog posts:
- Pacer Railbus
- Train Nerd
- Trains

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

The abandoned Crazy Golf course at Stamford Park in Stalybridge

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Stamford Park in Stalybridge.


Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

This year has flown by and we've made visits to 64 more courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. One of those courses was local to us and a real bonus to find.


Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

As we have been busy exploring our new local area since moving north in the summer of 2016 we've checked out local villages, towns and cities and also had a look at a number of parks in the area to see what we can visit. While looking at the Ashton-under-Lyne area we spotted what looked to be the outline of a minigolf course.

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

On the 4th February we finally made some time to visit Stalybridge to look for the Crazy Golf course there. We're glad we did.

The 9th hole of the abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge
The 9th hole of the abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge - it was a unique layout!

The abandoned Crazy Golf course became the 797th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We're now up to 859 course visits on our travels since September 2006.

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge
 
Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge


Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge

Following our trip to Stalybridge the next courses we visited were in Sweden.

Some of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour stats:

  • 859 courses visited overall
  • 821 in the British Isles
  • 64 visited in 2018
  • 33 played this year
  • 503 played overall since September 2006


Related blog posts:
- Stalybridge
- Abandoned
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Tuesday, March 06, 2018

Visiting two more 'small' pubs

Over the years we've visited quite a few small pubs, each with their own particular claims.

We've had a drink at the Smallest Pub on the Planet (it's in Cleethorpes) and Britain's Smallest Pub (in Southport). While in Blackpool we called in at The Mitre, which is that town's smallest boozer.

Bar Bach - Little Bar - in Caernarfon is the smallest bar in Wales

Recently we popped into Bar Bach in Caernarfon and The Q Inn in Stalybridge.

Bar Bach is the smallest bar in Wales. We've encountered the word 'bach' on our minigolf travels too as we've played a few Golff Bach Cwrs. Bach means 'little'.

Proof

When you get inside you find out that bar is actually split and sits across two addresses!

The second address is for the cafe there.

The Q Inn is the public house with the shortest name in the United Kingdom. As certified by the Guinness Book of Records in 1995. It was a nice pub and worth a look.
 
The Q Inn in Stalybridge
The Q Inn is quite large

The Q Inn in Stalybridge

Related blog posts:
- A visit to the Smallest Pub on the Planet
- The Lakeside Inn at Southport, Britain's Smallest Pub
- Blackpool's Smallest Pub - The Mitre
- The Corner Bar in Stockport Market
- Pubs
- Pub

Sunday, February 04, 2018

Crazy Golf at Stamford Park in Stalybridge

We finally made some time to visit Stalybridge to look for the Crazy Golf course there. We're glad we did.

The 9th hole of the abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge
The 9th hole of the abandoned Crazy Golf course in Stamford Park, Stalybridge - it was a unique layout!

The course became the 797th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the full blog post.

Krunchy Fried Chicken in Stalybridge

Finding another bootleg KFC!


We had a brilliant afternoon exploring Stalybridge in Tameside and it was marvellous to find another bootleg KFC in the town - this time it was a Krunchy Fried Chicken!

Krunchy Fried Chicken on Market Street in Stalybridge

Related blog posts:
- KFC
- Bootleg
- Tameside
- Kingtucky Fried Chicken in Manchester
- Another week and another KFC

The Tripe Shop in Stalybridge

A Tripe Advisor trip visit to Stalybridge.


We'd heard that the last remaining tripe shop could be found in Stalybridge, Tameside, so we had to have a look. Unfortunately as we visited on a Sunday the shop was closed.

The Tripe Shop in Stalybridge
The Tripe Marketing Board tells me that The Tripe & Sandwich Shop on Melbourne Street in Stalybridge is the country's last remaining Tripe Shop!

I am yet to try tripe.

Related blog posts:
- Tripe
- Stalybridge

Link:
- Tripe Advisor

Wednesday, February 08, 2017

Tripe in Stockport

A blog post about tripe and the Tripe Marketing Board.


Ever since I first spotted tripe on a butcher's stall at Wigan Market in 2012 I've been following the Tripe Marketing Board with interest. Although not enough interest to have actually given tripe a go. Yet. I'm fairly certain that cow's stomach is something of an acquired taste.

While shopping in Stockport's Produce Hall at the indoor market last weekend I spotted tripe for sale at Deli Delights. The first I've seen since moving to the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport last summer.

Thick seam tripe for sale at Deli Delights in Stockport Market!
Thick seam tripe - a deli delight!

The Tripe Marketing Board tell me that up until the 1960s you could find hundreds of tripe shops throughout Lancashire, with many of the shops run by United Cattle Products (UCP) and offering nose-to-tail food at the attached cafes and restaurants.

The country's last remaining Tripe Shop is in Stalybridge. I'll have to go there when I eventually get round to travelling on the once a week Parliamentary one-way rail service from Stockport to Stalybridge.

Back in December we were in Leeds and saw that there was a new Tripe Counter at Ramsdens Fishmongers at Leeds Kirkgate Market!

Tripe Counter at Ramsdens Fishmongers at Leeds Kirkgate Market

Tripe Counter at Ramsdens Fishmongers at Leeds Kirkgate Market
What a lot of tripe!

I've also seen tripe for sale in Bolton and Blackpool.

Tripe at Bolton Indoor Market
Tripe in Bolton

Tripe at Abingdon Street Market in Blackpool
Tripe in Blackpool

The Tripe Marketing Board are dedicated to educating the public about eating tripe as part of a healthy, balanced diet. The Tripe Marketing Board was an industry-wide response to the continuing post-war decline in tripe sales in the UK. This was due to the ending of rationing, increasing affluence and a widespread perception that it is not fit for human consumption.

Visit the Tripe Marketing Board website for more information about tripe. You can also use Tripe Adviser to locate sellers of the delicacy.

Links:
Tripe Marketing Board website
Tripe Marketing Board on Twitter
Tripe Marketing Board on Facebook
- Stockport Market

Related blog posts:
- Marketing
- Stockport
- Food