Captioned! Leeds to Mirfield via Normanton

[@josephkarl2061]

From the outset, this new style of captioning taught me more than I had ever learned in the 30 odd years of being interested in British Railways. Really liking it! Keep up the great work.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, I may re-visit some of the early videos and re-caption them. They’ve evolved largely by following feedback - thanks.

[@josephkarl2061]

@@doncoffey5820 Great to hear! I'm in New Zealand and don't ever see myself going to these places in person, so all the detail you provide really makes a difference to journeys like these. Many thanks for the reply.

[@raymondfleming7349]

@@doncoffey5820 That would be great. The captions are really informative.

[@deejaystump]

Really enjoyed watching your clips in hospital makes me forget the pain ive got just the sound of the trains you drive even this with out the sound thank you from New Zealand

[@doncoffey5820]

So if I understand this right you are suffering just now. Whilst I enjoy doing these videos and charity benefits, little stories like this really make it all worthwhile. So Terence, thanks for the feedback, I’m glad the videos bring you some relief and a truly hope you feel better soon. Best wishes, Don.

[@martinmarsola6477]

A commanding view of the terrain. Amazing to take these video trips. Like being back in the UK again. Thanks for the video, Don. Cheers mate!

[@doncoffey5820]

That one has a largely dubbed soundtrack because my colleague who drove it thought it would be funny if she made lots of childish noises along the way. Not trusting her again Martin 😉

[@estar9d749]

Good trip down Memory Lane thanks Don! This route was my last ever run as a Manchester based driver prior to transferring to London Waterloo (EPS), back in the mid 90's. That was a Sunday diversion too, due to engineering works. I remember thinking when I got relieved at Oxford Rd that I wouldn't be seeing the Leeds area again but, fast forward a few years - I ended up 'on hire' driving our class 373s to provide GNER's 'White Rose' services between KX - York and KX - Leeds. Just goes to show that you never know what the future holds!

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad it took you back. I’d love some old footage of that route and of course it’s about to change beyond recognition. If you know the right managers to allow me to send out a camera with LNER, let me know. Take care.

[@plymptonpleb]

Thanks for another great video, Don. Lots to learn as always. The amount of straight track always surprises me...I am used to the winding tracks around the hills of Devon!

[@doncoffey5820]

Its those good old engineers Phil, the shortest distance between two points etc! However, like Devon, the railway over the Pennines does curve to follow the contours of the land while maintaining a steady gradient. I’ll hopefully get over the Calder Valley as soon as we get some decent daylight which is an eye opener and terrific scenery too. Bear with me!

[@silverstar1964]

A great video, thanks for sharing. I find the captions very informative as I am not familiar with the area; looking forward to more trips and learning more about Manchester's railways.

[@juomini]

The captions make your videos very informative. Looking forward to more. Thanks.

[@doncoffey5820]

Just subscribe, more to come!

[@thehermit407]

I grew up in Altofts and can remember the old wooden platform. More of a halt than a station. I never used it though as Normanton was slightly closer. Poor old Normanton Station, a tiny shadow of its former self. When I was about 9 or 10 in the early 70's all the sidings were still there either side of the bridge but not in use even then. The platform seemed enormously long. All the station buildings were still there including the footbridge entrance from the town but not well maintained at all. My friends and I used to sneak through a hole in the fence at the top of the bridge embankment to train spot hoping to see a "namer" Peak class pulling the express to/from York. Wierdly, Penyghent is preserved on Peak Rail of all places which I can see from my current home.

[@doncoffey5820]

There are some fantastic old photos of Normanton when it was a gigantic station.

[@317Dan]

Another fab cab ride there Don! I don't mind there not being any sound, as I can quite happily listen to music in the background instead.

[@grahamdunn7783]

I hear TV news at the same time !

[@alstokesveteranfilmmaker913]

@@grahamdunn7783 : I went to Classic FM for my enjoyable watch. Thanks Don - this used to be part of my London - Leeds journey back in the 1980s when I were freelancing 'oop t'north.' Thirty years on and I can't quite dislodge the West Yorkshire accent.

[@timdaugherty5921]

I really enjoy your posts!!! Keep them coming!

[@doncoffey5820]

Will do Tim. Thanks.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Brilliant video! I really enjoyed watching!

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks again Henry.

[@jimgraham6861]

I just love all your videos, a great Railway Fan!!!!

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Jim. A new one coming soon.

[@rogercrick9813]

Another great video with informative captions. Many thanks.

[@scottgibson7534]

Got so engrossed in this I earlier had my vehicle bonnet up trickle charging the battery off the mains. I had to go out as thought it was raining................ Doh . Great vid as always. 22.41 is the bridge I cross walking my dog.

[@doncoffey5820]

You should take your battery inside and put it by the telly while you watch the video Scott ;-)

[@davemaxwell7698]

Love these Don. Keep them coming

[@iantaf5559]

Thanks for another highly educational video, Don. I am surprised that the old Viaduct Line just before Leeds West Junction still remains albeit without track - thought that that would have been demolished long before now. I am also surprised that the old speed limit signs still predominate around Wakefield - you can barely see most of them. Network Rail might change them soon, perhaps... Have a good day, Don 👍🏼

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Ian. The viaduct and the route it used to take is still clearly visible on Google Earth. It looks in good condition - whether it will ever get used remains to be seen. Network Rail pop up with new speed boards every now and again but route knowledge tells us where to regulate the speed in many cases. The old yellow painted cut out signs blend beautifully into the background on these autumn days!

[@hamshackleton]

Not a question, but having watched many cab-rides, yours and others, I'm amazed at the vast tracts of land that Network rail holds, many with buildings or miles of disused rail on it, that have been untouched for so long that mature trees are growing in the four-foot, never mind the six!

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, it’s a shame to see but that is the case.

[@flipper1201]

Another fantastic video. I don't know if it's because I don't know the area (I'm a southern softie) but I'm genuinely amazed at the amount of route knowledge you need - and have on TPE.

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks. We are required to hold quite a high level of knowledge before they will even pass us out on the route but I’m very interested in railway history and architecture so that helps. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@penninetrains1398]

Excellent video as always. Many thanks for posting. Any chance of covering the diversionary route via the Calder Valley please?

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, but the only time I’ve been over in recent times was during darkness. You’ll have to be patient!

[@penninetrains1398]

@@doncoffey5820 Thanks Don...I'm very patient! I'm an early-retired ex Northern driver living in Hebden Bridge. Your videos are wonderful!

[@doncoffey5820]

They’ve just resignalled from Hebden Bridge to Greenland so you’ll find it interesting. Sit tight!

[@nutsnproud6932]

Thank you for the video and the captions.

[@gb5uq]

Closed captions that can be turned on or off may be an idea. Great video Don many thanks once again.

[@amtrakharry]

Again , very interesting !!! Thank you for sharing!!! :):):)

[@Mortimer50145]

I remember my grandpa parking on Storrs Hill looking down over Healey Mills marshalling yard, when I was a lad in the early 70s, when it was still in use and we could watch the shunting. It must have one of the widest separations of up and down lines (opposite sides of the yard). Is there anywhere that up and down tracks are further apart? I suppose some burrowing/flyover junctions. HM looks a lot wider spacing than Princes Risborough to Saunderton on the Chiltern line.

[@doncoffey5820]

I’m not an expert on locations out of Northern England but in answer to your question, I can’t immediately think of anywhere, I don’t know if anyone else can?

[@paulcolley5757]

Hello Don. I'm from Wakefield and have a lot of knowledge of the railways in this area. I know that normally trains routed towards Huddersfield would normally be handed to Horbury Jn from Wakefield Kirkgate on the up fast and therfore do not need to slow at HJ whilst trains routed for Barnsley would be sent on the up slow as they are going to have to slow for the 30MPH turnout anway. I was just curious as to why this didn't happen in this case. Look forward to your response, Paul

[@doncoffey5820]

It's a good question Paul. We’d have to ask the signallers for the actual explanation but possible reasons are, he already had a train on the Up Fast, maybe they were just complying with whatever working instruction they had been issued with, maybe they were just sending something over the route to work the equipment or maybe it was just an error. I have been on the Slow before but nearly always on the Fast. I once got sent down the Slow and got stopped at the signal. When I phoned the signaller, he couldn’t understand why I was stopped but he had inadvertently cleared the other signal on the Fast and I was at a red. We’re all human I suppose.

[@paulcolley5757]

Cheers Don. Loving the uploads by the way. What camera are you using, Go Pro?

[@shahedmc9656]

Thanks for the upload. About 20 years ago in the Methley Junction area I remember seeing a boarded up former signal box, a couple of blocked tunnel portals on the "right" and a disused viaduct branching away on the "left". Have all these been demolished, or covered from sight by the newer trees?

[@doncoffey5820]

You can see bits of it and we pass by the old bridge at Whitwood Junction. That was the old L&Y route to Pontefract.

[@mickboakes7023]

Hi Don Just watched Leeds to Mirfield. Another great video even without sound. It has set me wondering, with all your knowledge, are you in fact the driver in the film or have you been a driver. With your information on signaling etc it makes you appreciate, and gives an insight on just how responsible the modern driver has to be. All the best.

[@doncoffey5820]

I was driving most of the trains in the videos but not all - including that one. I’ve been driving for 15 years but some of my colleagues were for much longer. I was an assessor (authorised to assess instructors) but I’ve retired to plain old driving now - its lovely!

[@norfilmshetland]

Don, great video - a lot of work but the finished result makes for a most enjoyable watch! Appreciate the problem of getting all the info in the crawl - you can't fill the space with cutaways on a cab ride! Have you thought of doing slo mo rather than freeze frame? Might be slightly less disruptive. I know, every silly b***** can make 'helpful' suggestions till they try doing it themselves!!! Keep up the good work - on behalf of frustrated 'engine drivers' everywhere.

[@rotman1288]

As others have suggested, another very interesting production from you, greatly enhanced by your commentary. Interested in your comment at about 15.00, about the routine use of this diversionary route by the overnight service between York and MIA. Looking at the timings published in Table 188 of the European (ex Thos. Cook) Rail Timetable, these suggest that the diversion adds roughly 20 minutes to the journey time between Leeds and Huddersfield compared to daytime services using the direct route through Dewsbury but not calling there. Would that be about right in your experience?

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes. It definitely takes longer and if you add the route via Calder Valley, then possibly longer still. It does however provide a means of keeping the job running and from a selfish point of view, much more interest!

[@rogermarsh6684]

Interesting to see today's route and how it's been decimated. I took a lot of sound super 8 cine film around Wakefield Kirkgate in 1982 and it was one freight after another coming out of Healey Mills.

[@doncoffey5820]

I bet Roger! It would be good to do a then and now video.

[@paulwhitear4983]

Another informative cab ride. Do you have to learn the signal numbers on the route.

[@doncoffey5820]

No not really Paul. The drivers need to know the location and in complex areas, which signal takes them where. For example, I did a complete stand alone exam for Piccadilly Throat and as I assessed drivers I do know every signal number there. I don’t know them all at Leeds or York but I do know which signal and which indicator takes me to the next. Most drivers know the important or significant signal numbers.

[@TravelJackJourneys158]

I enjoyed watching your video

[@jasonnelles7820]

Can you do Middlesbrough, Scarborough and Newcastle at some point please?

[@doncoffey5820]

Those routes are actually off my patch but I might be able to twist somebody’s arm ;-)

[@peckelhaze6934]

The captions that are included with your videos take the enjoy-ability to that extra level. It is also helpful to our foreign cab ride enthusiasts as to how our trains operate and the rules.

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks. I’ll be covering signalling and signage which might also help to understand what you see and hear in these videos.

[@peckelhaze6934]

@@doncoffey5820 Excellent.

[@moparluvrsgagarage2898]

Don, a little late viewing this one but often wondered about the stone walls in some of your rail vids ?? were they constructed when the rails were laid or ??

[@doncoffey5820]

All I can say is that stone was the go to material for construction in those days It was widely used despite it not being easy to work with but they were intended to last. Those things made of stone are my favourite parts of the railway.

[@Sowerbylads]

Thanks for another great video. Presume the best chance for a daylight run on the calder valley route is when the upgrade work starts in the Huddersfield area?

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes I would agree. We do use it for engineering as in this case and we do use it during the much longer daylight hours of summer but I suspect like you, it will get used a lot during the next few years.

[@AntonyShannon]

As always Don an informative video with good captioning. I am curious and maybe you won't know the answer but I notice that the station located at the junction of the main Leeds - Huddersfield (via Dewsbury) and the Leeds - Huddersfield (via Normanton) (I think its Ravensthorpe) has platforms only on the Dewsbury side was there ever platforms on the Normanton side and if not why when they opened it didn't they put platforms on both sides to increase journey destinations?

[@doncoffey5820]

It's a good question Anthony. Maybe somebody knows the reason why but I’ve got a book with a very old map of the restructuring days and it shows exactly the same - Ravensthorpe was only ever on the Dewsbury line. Does anyone know different?

[@iainjames919]

@@doncoffey5820 I believe this is correct due to the way the railways were built by different companies. Ravensthorpe station was only on the LNWR line towards Dewsbury. The line to Wakefield was built by the Lancashire & Yorkshire (later the Manchester & Leeds Railway) who built a station at Thornhill about a mile away. There is a very good website covering the old railways of West Yorkshire at www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk.

[@aclarkson8348]

Brilliant! Thank you

[@stewartwilkinsonsnr]

Another good video 😁

[@jamesatkinson3037]

any vids on the Calder valley line?

[@jamesatkinson3037]

through and beyond Brighouse

[@doncoffey5820]

Not until I go through in the daylight.

[@deltic9721]

Hi Don, another great and informative video, hope you do not mind me asking a couple of questions No 1 how long does it take to learn a route, No2 do you know in advance where track maintenance gangs are working? and No3 do you have a favourite route

[@doncoffey5820]

1. Depends on the route. You get so many trips then a written exam and then a drive over the route both ways under examination. Short routes might be 5 trips (Piccadilly to Airport) and longer routes like Piccadilly to York 17 (might be more - its a long time since I did it!) trips and you can get 2 per day in. 2. Maintenance work is published weekly for your applicable routes. Drivers must carry a WON (weekly operating notice) with them at all times. However, loads of p’way (permanent way) engineers turn up all over the place on an ad hoc basis. 3. Don’t know really. I like certain parts of various routes. I never get tired of seeing the Pennines through the seasons and going down the Calder Valley is very scenic. The bank of the Humber and dropping into the Vale of York are other favourites. I’m just blown away by some of the engineering like the cutting into Lime St and daft things like stone retaining walls. I consider myself very lucky. Good questions Bill.

[@deltic9721]

@@doncoffey5820 yes it is beyond belief some of the victorian engineering especially when you consider it was all achieved using manual labour. Have to agree the trips through the Pennines the scenery is stunning. Thanks again Don look forward to more videos.

[@zydec2008]

can you a video about signal types and their uses. ?

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes Stephen. Its on the cards for doing and I will be starting work on it very soon.

[@oddities-whatnot]

These are great videos, makes me want to be a driver but at 49 im probably too old :(

[@doncoffey5820]

I can assure you are not. Go online and register on the careers page for train operators in your area. Forget Virgin and the other inter city operators as they tend to cherry pick qualified drivers. Look at the local stopping companies.

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Thanks for the video Don.

[@doncoffey5820]

More coming soon Richard. Regards.

[@stuartmenzies8358]

Hi don, great video’s but just wondering about Neville hill. Is it an East Midlands trains depot I only ask because I’m surprised how little the company run trains to Leeds.

[@doncoffey5820]

I’m not sure what you mean Stuart. There is a constant stream of Northern units running between, Leeds Station and Neville Hill TMD. We often get held for them.

[@doncoffey5820]

Just a thought, if you are referring to that little depot to Holgate, I think that is just for light repairs and refurbishments.

[@stuartmenzies8358]

Don Coffey many thanks don for the reply. I didn’t know if it was a specific TOC depot or anyone can use it for stabling, refuelling etc

[@stuartmenzies8358]

Also the last time I was in Leeds I went to headingley to watch the cricket, lovely little station and beautiful houses

[@flipper1201]

Stuart I think it's an LNER depot but where EMT's HSTs are maintained. I seem to remember EMT or it might even have been MML proposing more revenue earning trains to Leeds but it was canned by ORR.

[@mrbluesky2050]

so is there a protocol for using the train horn then at 'W' boards? having ridden many miles over the years, I've heard single tones, two-tones and some quite 'musical melodies' played out at whistle markers.

[@doncoffey5820]

The official action is one long blast on the low tone of the horn. If you hear anything different, it's probably an old hand or somebody who simply isn’t versed in the rules.

[@jamescardwell2602]

Great video keep it up! Do you happen do any routes through Bolton? I cannot find any cab rides through that area.

[@doncoffey5820]

No but I’m waiting to get the go ahead for one of my colleagues to film it.

[@ChuckCampbell]

Don this is great!

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Chuck.

[@philipalldred5038]

A very informative video to watch, I wish more people doing these blogs would spend a little more time doing the same as watching a video with NO information on it is a we bit boring.

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@gregt1187]

Thanks for these videos. Being the dork that I am, I watch the video and follow it on Google earth. Any chance you make one or two at night? There's 1 (that I know of) and yes, it's intriguing

[@doncoffey5820]

If I get one with a really good headlight (they vary quite considerably) I’ll try but the camera can’t handle low light and motion as you can see in some tunnel shots. Keep an eye open to see if I’ve been successful at getting one.

[@petrolhead9027]

A great vid but I do miss the sound

[@doncoffey5820]

Occasionally, there is too much discussion in the cab which would detract from the content of the video. Normally, I would just bin it and wait for a better day but it might be some time before I go over that route in the day.

[@Jackkane71]

@@doncoffey5820 I would prefer video with discussion in it. Almost like a commentary, even if it doesn't have anything to do with the subject of the video. Keeps people like me with ADHD from getting bored.

[@MrBlazeyb]

do the drivers wave to each other as they pass?

[@doncoffey5820]

Mostly they do yes. Some are too grumpy and some don’t if they are concentration on something else. A wave as far as I am concerned means all is well on the line you are about to pass over and all is well of what I can see with your train. I mentioned this to a really nice driver I used to work with and she said “oh no, when I wave it means HIYA!!!"

[@therealmtivatin5657]

Would you do a cleethorpes to Grimsby town

[@doncoffey5820]

Hmm, well its operated by Transpennine Express on Class 153s for Northern but I’m not sure I can get it. Maybe one day - keep watching.

[@therealmtivatin5657]

Okay thanks for replying and al be sure to keep watching

[@icextransport8490]

Has 185 130 got the remembrance day livery?

[@doncoffey5820]

It did have but has since been removed. TransPennine occasionally run a themed unit, the last being 185116 - the “Manchester Bee’s. The poppies on dark blue was really nice a couple of years back.

[@richardhancock2297]

Why is there no sound??

[@doncoffey5820]

It says in the notes Richard. There was too much conversation in the cab.

[@westyorkshirebusesfirstlee5776]

Don I love transpennieexpress trains they are more bouncy then overs

[@stephencrossley5417]

No sound

[@pingpongpung]

Disliked for no sound.