Chester to Piccadilly

It’s a fabulous day in summer 2020 and our traction is a Class 175. It runs out to Warrington then catches up with the Chat Moss Line at Earlestown. We then have a spookily quiet run through Manchester with hardly a soul in sight. For a little treat, we stay on the unit while it changes direction in Mayfield Loop. We get to learn about the Sutton Tunnel accident of 1851, why we join the WCML at 10mph and why the station at Warrington is called Bank Quay.

[@88jerryw88]

These are the best cab ride videos I have found. Lovely day too.

[@doncoffey5820]

I consider that an accolade Jeremy, much appreciated.

[@markphipps9964]

I'm always impressed by the amount of infrastructure over there, even in the countryside. In middle America we have grade (surface) crossings everywhere, in larger numbers than overpasses/underpasses. And so much of yours appear to have been built a century ago, or more. Good planning. I always enjoy your train rides, Don. From Missouri, thank you!

[@doncoffey5820]

Much appreciated Mark. Of course there are different rules here because the railway is responsible for the safety of others, even trespassers where you have the right to roam. It’s a pity you lost so much of the railway in the dawn of the car. We did too but not as much.

[@MiguelSucksAtUrbanism]

I love this videos. I love British railways and the british landscape, and seeing this calm videos, with the detaled explanation of what is happening is very nice. Best cab ride videos out there

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you like them Miguel. More coming soon 👍

[@davidsharp3110]

Another nice cab ride Don.

[@doncoffey5820]

Much appreciated David.

[@christianpatton1852]

What a wonderful train ride and very informative indeed. Some very beautiful countryside along the way and I just loved the Helsby Station so beautiful well kept and very charming.

[@doncoffey5820]

I agree Christian. It was a station I visited in my training days and it has that idyllic country station look about it.

[@cz7978]

The best trains videos I ever seen. Beautiful and very interesting explanations. Greetings from Italy

[@doncoffey5820]

Greetings to you CZ and thanks for the positive feedback 👍

[@JVerschueren]

Another excellent video, Don. The almost empty stations add an eerie quality to this period document. Thanks for sharing and preserving.

[@doncoffey5820]

It certainly was spooky but thankfully it’s recovered now.

[@philipalldred333]

Thank you Don once again another superb video to watch and learn, great to see our country side well done.

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you enjoyed it Phil. Good to see you my friend.

[@edwardramsden9591]

Great news - Thank you Don. I love your videos

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you like them! More soon Edward.

[@johntipper29]

Thanks Don. Watching your train journeys is great way to chill out in the evenings - and as ever, they are so informative.

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you like them John, more coming soon.

[@Melalmighty]

Another great video Don very informative as usual. Thank you for uploading it.

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you enjoyed it Mel.

[@Adullamite]

Great sunshine, great trip. Very good, thanks for this.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, it was a cracking day for sure 👍

[@robertjohnmottershead1165]

Once again Don a brilliant video thanks for all the effort that you put in these videos take care. Hope it's not to long before next one

[@doncoffey5820]

As you’ve seen, I’m on with it Robert 👍

[@markbutler5730]

I like these videos because you point out places of interest like other railways that branch of the line to other places even disused railways too. Keep them coming .

[@doncoffey5820]

Much appreciated Mark.

[@pk-yq1fx]

Excellent video Don. Thank you very much from us across the pond.

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks for joining so early, much appreciated.

[@jasperj1000]

Cracking video ! Many thanks !

[@doncoffey5820]

Much appreciated 👍

[@melvynnixon2374]

Yet another superb video. Absolutely the best with such clear line side commentary to complement the already excellent filming. Many thanks

[@doncoffey5820]

I consider that an accolade - much appreciated.

[@ianplowman2808]

Don Many Thanks excellent video as always.

[@doncoffey5820]

Much appreciated Ian 👍

[@brucewilliams8714]

Thankyou, Don, for yet another great video. This was a new route for me, continuing your informative journeys. Greetings from Australia.

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you enjoyed it Bruce. Got some interesting freight vids coming next.

[@followthetrawler]

Another fabulous video Don, thanks for sharing

[@doncoffey5820]

Much appreciated Stuart.

[@peterryan8472]

What a great video Don. Thank you so much. That 175 seems fabulously smooth and quick, quiet too.

[@doncoffey5820]

They’re nice units despite their age Peter. Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@ianr]

Excellent video again Don. Thanks to all involved.👍🙂

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you enjoyed it Ian 👍

[@alanduffell9191]

I really enjoy these videos Don, not least because they come without music or talking!! Great way to present these things, always a pleasure to watch.

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Alan. I think the original soundtrack from the cab is essential.

[@michaelritchie5303]

Great Birthday present for me Don. Thanks and regards as always.

[@doncoffey5820]

Happy birthday Michael 👍🥳

[@johndavidson3842]

Excellent, as always.

[@doncoffey5820]

Much appreciated John 👍

[@deathrider7]

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and look forward to your next one.

[@doncoffey5820]

I’ve started working on it 👍. Class 70 freight.

[@paulcooke4397]

Brilliant as always don..love them routes..can't wait for the new one end of the month...thankyou..p.cooke.

[@doncoffey5820]

Sorry Paul, I’m afraid it failed. I’m trying again for the same time on Thursday.

[@Karaokeking2023]

I love these cab train rides, I’d like to see a full west coast main line one from Glasgow to London and the same going back, could split the journey into 2 parts each way. Seen some of these on other channels that are in film movie versions but yours are perfectly smooth as if it’s live broadcast, hope there are more to come.

[@doncoffey5820]

There are more Nigel and I’m currently talking to Avanti and Lumo so you might get your wish.

[@mikew130]

Thanks for the video Don. Brought back many memories especially of Warrington Bank Quay where I spent many happy hours train spotting. We used to get the St. Helens flyer (Push Pull with an Ivat tank) as far as Earlestown. I also once had a tour of the Vulcan foundry as a school trip, this was in the 50's and Diesels were starting to be made there. I also used to have great times at Dallam Sheds when wagging school and often got the chance to drive a Black 5 around the coal hole. I left Warrington in 1959 to join the Navy, leaving London Road Station (Now Piccadilly) on 17th March 1959 for the journey South. I came back in the late 60's and worked in the local Power Stations finishing up at Fiddlers Ferry before emigrating from the UK to Rhodesia South Africa and finally Australia. So many thanks for the memories

[@doncoffey5820]

It sounds like you spent your school days in a similar way to me Mike. I don’t regret a minute of it!

[@mikew130]

@@doncoffey5820 Neither do I. I always regarded my time on the various engines coaling and lighting the boilers from cold as my apprenticeship for when I became a stoker in the Navy😀 I worked on boilers and turbines for the rest of my working life which only finished at 75. Cheers

[@blackfives]

Thank you Don, as usual a fantastic video full of history. Liverpool & Manchester have the lead in railways and infrastructure and world leaders in buildings and viaducts. My Vulcan faves are the early Ivatts, Class 20s, 37s, 40s and Stanier 5s, all the stuff I grew up with. I'm nearly 70 now but have so many great memories.

[@doncoffey5820]

Many thanks Rick. They turned out some real classics there. I’ve got a soft spot for the Class 50s. In my motor industry days I used to go to Ford Trucks at Langley and stayed at Pangbourne. 50s were the principal traction for loco hauled. Happy days. More videos soon Rick.

[@davidhelliwell6179]

Another excellent cab ride with great narrative. I look forward to seeing the return journey video in due course

[@doncoffey5820]

I might just have it in my collection of footage David 👍

[@philippenaluna2312]

You might like to know that Newton-le-Willows once was a 'Motorail' terminal, so there was more to the station layout than there is today. How do I know? A family holiday to Southport and the Lake District!! The starting point was Newton Abbot in Devon, the year was 1970!!

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes I’m aware of it Philip. You can just make out the tracks on the left after leaving the station.

[@CNR5154]

As others have said, another brilliant video, Don. Thoroughly annotated, wonderfully informative, and at the same time a very calming watch. As a North American, I smile whenever a working semaphore whizzes by. A great thanks to your driver mates for the recordings. Greetings from Canada 🇨🇦!

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you enjoyed it 5154. I’ve got a couple more from our friends in Wales which I’ll get round to soon.

[@warwickholden6332]

Thank you Don for your video. I especially enjoyed the last part coming through Patricroft and Eccles. Where I grew up! My dad worked for Gardner Diesels for many years until his retirement in the early 70's. I remember train spotting at the Patricroft yard from a huge long footbridge known locally as "four bridges". It went across the whole goods yard (enormous) and you got a good view of the steam locomotive sheds as well. The main locos in my day were Black 5's, Jubilee Class, and the occaisional Britannia pacific. The road bridge over Eccles station was wider in those days and the sight of a Britannia emerging from the "tunnel" over Eccles station in a massive cloud of smoke and steam is one I will never forget.

[@doncoffey5820]

I bet you saw some amazing sights Warwick. I served my time as a mechanic on Gardners and visited the works many times. I often look over to the abandoned site with sadness as I pass.

[@TrainTraction]

Another fantastic cab ride from you Don, really enjoyed that! Strange to see Man Picc being a ghost town haha. Brilliant video from you, and cheers as always for sharing! All the best, Jamie

[@doncoffey5820]

Glad you enjoyed it Jamie 👍

[@robotusch]

Another great video, thank you very much Don. I can relate to the whole empty stations feeling, as I worked as a city bus driver during the pandemic, and for the first week or so we ran to our full schedule, which meant a load of busses driving around with nobody but the drivers inside them. Thankfully sensible heads prevailed and a special schedule was quickly cobbled together.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes it was spooky wasn’t it. My company changed the schedule in the second wave when it was apparent it wouldn’t go away.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Another excellent video today. Always relax and watch your videos, Don. See you on the next. Cheers Don! 😊

[@doncoffey5820]

Coming soon Martin.

[@alanmolyneux5957]

Excellent video and a reminder of how the railway kept going during lockdown. Thanks for pointing out the triangle at Earlestown Station as a lot of people think Shipley in West Yorkshire is the only one.

[@doncoffey5820]

Oh yes, I didn’t realise it was considered the only one Alan. I suspect there are more but they may not be as compact.

[@peterstowell2976]

G'day Don from your Aussie Subscriber. I enjoyed this episode very much thankyou. As it happens I plan to catch the 13:44 from Piccadilly on 8th June to Chester on my way from Whitby to Wrexham on this very route. I am over in Britain for my annual Railway related visit (except of course for the two year Covid break). I will have just completed a visit to the NYMR and moving onto the Llangollen Railway next. I am originally from Derby and ex- BR before migrating to Oz. These days I am a volunteer Stationmaster on the Puffing Billy Railway and a retired Loco Driver here and on one of the ex-VR preserved lines in Victoria where I regularly drove either the Coal-fired or Oil-fired ex-VR Class J 2-8-0 (5'3" gauge) Locos built by Vulcan Foundry!! Keep up your good work Don, Cheers from Puf'n-Pete

[@doncoffey5820]

Let me know nearer the time Peter. If I can come and say hello I will do. You can get me on messenger too.

[@EuroScot2023]

Magnificent, as always, Don. Your videos set a benchmark for quality and information. Some of the ones from the European mainland come close but seldom do they surpass you. The weather for this one was superb. It did a first class job for the English Tourist Board!

[@sellier-bellot22]

How lovely the weather was indeed ! 🥸

[@doncoffey5820]

I consider that an accolade. Much appreciated 👍

[@karlwilliams8773]

What a relaxing route. What strikes me is how straight the lines are before and after the wcml. Stanier black 5s all day long. Cheers for another route Don

[@doncoffey5820]

Heyup Karl. I am shamefully bad at steam engines. I remember them just (born 1958) but I’m better at diesels. Still, they were part of Vulcan history 👍

[@doncoffey5820]

Heyup Karl. I am shamefully bad at steam engines. I remember them just (born 1958) but I’m better at diesels. Still, they were part of Vulcan history 👍

[@RMVlogsDinajpur]

Excellent caption

[@Johnny16781]

Welcome back Don Great to see you. Hope you are keeping well ? Keep up the great work .

[@doncoffey5820]

Thank you, I will Johnny.

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

Another most excellent video you've presented here Don. I've been along this line quite a number of times since dwelling in Wales. I did drive along this route when I was doing my traction training whilst I was a driver at Llandudno Junction, although under instruction, and terminating at Victoria at that time in 1990, and not Piccadilly. I can honestly say that there has been numerous changes since then, like the Vulcan Works disappearing at Earlestown, the huge Parkside colliery at Newton-Le-Willows, with it's associated MGR trains gone, and the masses of high rise buildings that have appeared at Salford and Manchester. I'm surprised that the small bridge at Helsby, from Mouldsworth to West Cheshire Junction is still in place. Whatever Don, thank you for this production, and keep well, mate.

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks as always for the positive feedback Frank. I won’t always be producing these videos but presumably they’ll stay as a legacy for future viewers and eventually they’ll record even more changes. It’s such a pity we can’t wind back and view the things you saw. I knew Parkside was important and busy and there was the cartic terminal and lots of industry edging into Manchester. Thanks again and keep those superb paintings coming.

[@keithtanner2806]

Deansgate station was formerly Knott Mill and Deansgate. The name is still visible in the faience above the entrance. Excellent, informative video. Thanks.

[@doncoffey5820]

It is Keith. It actually mentions it in the caption 👍

[@johnk2743]

What a joy to watch, so informative and therapeutic! Sad for the birds though...

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks John. I don’t know why but the birds seem to get really confused with the trains.

[@1973ts]

Great interview. Darren Jones is a really good speaker.

[@doncoffey5820]

Hmm, not sure your reply is to this video!

[@Habu2]

Great video......@54:55 the tinted glass building on the right my dad was a scaffolder on that when it was built which despite the modern look was around the early or mid 70's

[@doncoffey5820]

Interesting, thank you.

[@BenSeigal]

Thanks for the video. Even in Train Sim the 175 is a great responsive engine.

[@doncoffey5820]

I’ve never done the sim but the real 175s are smooth and quiet.

[@grumpyoldman47]

A journey I've made many times - sort of! I've only been to Oxford Road from the Chat Moss line once, all other trips being into Manchester Exchange as they were that long ago! I lived in Chester between 1954 and 1969, and as I had relatives in Lancaster trips to see them meant a change at Warrington Bank Quay; until the demise of steam, that often meant seeing a push-pull in the now fenced-off bay at the north end of the down island waiting to depart for St Helens. They always seemed to be worked by class 2 2-6-2Ts, but I can't remember if they were Ivatt ones or BR standards. Towards the end of that period, I travelled between Chester and Manchester at least once a week, and those trips were usually on Birmingham RC&W 3-car DMUs; consequently, I've seen much of this before! However, it was interesting to see how much has changed on the approach to Manchester; it was 4-tracks from somewhere near the M60 overbridge through to Exchange, there was Patricroft shed on the left, and a junction where the line from Kenyon Junction (seen earlier in the video) via Leigh and from Wigan joined. As well as being the home of Gardner (on the right), Patricroft was also the home of the steam loco builder Nasmyth Wilson, and that name could still be seen back then on a building on the left hand side of the railway. Back in steam days, the Crewe line from Chester always sounded more challenging than that to Warrington; Stanier or Standard 5s were the most common engines on passenger trains between North Wales and Manchester, but on summer Saturdays you could see all sorts. Moreover, it was not unusual to see unpainted Gresley Teak coaches on holiday trains from West Yorkshire as late as the 1960s. And at one time there was a Saturday South Wales - Manchester Exchange service which used this route, and that usually brought a Cardiff Canton Britannia into Chester; I think it was detached there and didn't go any further north I was surprised that the train didn't switch to the WCML at Acton Grange; that was the route I always took, and trains heading towards Chester usually took the easier ascent to the Manchester Ship Canal viaduct and crossed over there too. I can only remember taking the reverse of the route taken by the 175 into Warrington once, and the class 5 hauling it really struggled up the bank to cross over the canal The Vulcan Foundry had a large building - perhaps its main erecting shop - at right angles to the railway line, and it was not uncommon for the doors to be open and to be able to see something inside; the most interesting loco I remember seeing was one of the electrics built there for Poland in the early 1960s. There was also a LNWR/LMS/BR wagon works at Earlestown until about 1964 Thanks for bringing back many happy memories

[@doncoffey5820]

Well what can I say? Thank you so much for the comprehensive feedback. You’re a bit older than me so you must have seen some amazing sights. I was trawling through some of the footage I’ve got from Freightliner and there’s a couple you might want to watch out for featuring more of the WCML. There is Bootle Docks to Crewe via Earlestown and Bredbury to Folly Lane (Runcorn). Once again thank you and keep in touch 👍

[@db_gb]

Thank You for a very informative and knowledgeable video. Although I left England for Canada way back in 1979,being from Prescot,Lancashire ( now merseyside),It’s good too see my old stomping ground. ps, I eat drink and Sleep trains lol. Wishing you a Gr8 ( as in Britain) Day…Dave

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Noddy. I have got more soon and you might find a new one covering Bootle to Crewe of particular interest. Coming soon!

[@lauriecooper8194]

Brilliant route Don, I had no idea that this is a scheduled run. Must watch it again with the rail atlas.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes it was made nicer by the weather but it is lovely. Of course there is the Mid Cheshire Line in the collection too.

[@tomward3656]

Thank you Don superb as usual. My favourite vulcan locos are the class 37 or type 3s. Sadly the vulan site is now a housing estate. Thank you.

[@doncoffey5820]

It is Tom. I quite likes the 50s but I think the Deltics were more iconic.

[@user-uz6ny3dj3k]

So basically, that's a Transport for Wales journey that doesn't enter Wales! Great video... very informative.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, correct, that one is!

[@andrewmcilwraith1997]

Great video. Thanks for the turn around at Manchester. We rail idiots - eh, I mean buffs - really appreciate stuff like that!

[@doncoffey5820]

I know! I thought I’d be in trouble if you got to find out I had it and never bothered showing it ;-)

[@breeze1472]

What a beautiful journey

[@doncoffey5820]

Thank you, yes, the weather helps too.

[@John2Ward]

Top-notch video as always, and with some 'interesting' commentary mixed in with the technical stuff and place/station names. My fave loco from Vulcan was indeed the Deltic Class 55 - although Spock and T'Pol might not agree...

[@doncoffey5820]

Oh no, another earworm just planted John. I’m fond of the Deltics but for some reason, the ones that my brain immediately associate with Vulcan are the 50s. Probably something to do with my age and the amount of time I sat by the GWR observing them in a previous life in the motor industry.

[@1960imp]

Nice to see a little glimpse of "old" railway history in the form of an old BR cut-out metal speed limit sign (35) just after leaving Manchester Piccadilly.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, there’s still a few around Ian. When they get a bit of algae on them, they blend perfectly into the background.

[@BenSeigal]

"Vintage railway film - Work in progress -1951." This is something that you will be interested in. The woodhouse Tunnel in the 50s. Thanks

[@doncoffey5820]

I’ve seen it Carlo - excellent 👍

[@ramonwilliams5721]

Enjoyed your video Don, I feel for the steam enginemen with a heavy train of race goers going back to manchester going out of Chester.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, it was a harrowing story wasn’t it Ramon and in those days they only had gas and candlelight to perform the rescue.

[@Dreamweaver787]

Great train ride there sir, looking at the streets of Manchester without and cars and people is a strange site, and eerily reminds me of that time 3 years ago, when you look and think back what happened was terrible that they locked us in our homes and the poor children not attending school, lets hope they never try it again.

[@doncoffey5820]

I think a lot of lessons were learned but they were acting on the best information at the time.

[@raymondwhitehouse7206]

Very good video thank you for sharing it with us I have question do have videos of Kingsbury shunt of siding to oil depot or birch coppice thank you

[@doncoffey5820]

I’m afraid not Raymond. I get new footage all the time so keep your fingers crossed.

[@aleksandersmirnow2157]

I accidentally looked in the "KZbin recommendations" and was surprised myself: how have I not seen your channel before? I will fix the KZbin error by subscribing to your channel and your wonderful high-quality videos. Congratulations from Belarus.

[@doncoffey5820]

Welcome aboard Aleksander. Glad you found us, Don.

[@ChangesOneTim]

Another great video, thanks Don. The Chat Moss route would surely be good for 100mph, although I'm guessing that safety standards at the numerous user-worked level crossings prevents that unless they are either abolished or upgraded with warning lights.

[@doncoffey5820]

Not sure about that Tim. A lot of new regulations come in at 100mph that might require a vast amount of investment. They only recently raised it to 90 from 75.

[@jennythescouser]

Thank you Mr Coffey. Brilliant as always. I wonder if the good folk of Vucan Village get tired of people telling them to "Live long and posper" - LOL

[@doncoffey5820]

Haha, quite possibly Jenny.

[@reallyrekt3326]

Hi Don, another great video. Just wondering why trains going from Warrington Bank Quay to and from Chester don’t make the switch at Acton Grange junction to avoid the 10mph restriction at Warrington South Junction?

[@doncoffey5820]

I suspect it’s pathing. It just gives a bit more time to pass fast trains on the WCML.

[@malcolmelliott1876]

There is an 1896 built Vulcan steam engine still in operation in Sabah, Malaysia every other day on the North Borneo Railway. Lasted longer than the factory, as have many of Vulcans products.

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, it’s a shame Malcolm but I guess the demand didn’t justify the factory.

[@benGBRf]

Nice little cab ride Don. I'm used to watching your freight ones so that's a small one compared to them 😁

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes they are, I thought I’d give you a rest Ben!

[@benGBRf]

@@doncoffey5820 no don't Don. I need something to have on in the background during the long night shifts 😊

[@doncoffey5820]

New one on Friday you might like Ben.

[@roberthuron9160]

Back in the day,the LNWR considered 45 MPH,as a breathtaking speed,and that was for the expresses! When you have close to 2 centuries of transport,over the same route,the engineering and surveying of those lines,was so well laid out,that now,225 MPH standards are operational,it really boggles the mind! The only other lines,that I think would qualify would be the JNR/JR Shinkiasin lines,and the SNCF lines in France,but they are in many cases,purpose built! I'm omitting the North East Corridor in the US,as it only has a 150 MPH,speed limit,and that with the Acelas[TGV's transplanted],so there's a bit of an uphill climb for US roads! Note also,in steam days,both the NYC,and PRR,had stretches in the Mid-West,where they had 120 MPH speeds,so they could maintain schedules,if they had untoward delays,such as snow,wrecks,and other delays! Thanks for a showing an area,for which I'd only seen still photos of,and definitely not from the cab! Thanks from America,and much appreciated 🙏 😊 👍 😀!!

[@doncoffey5820]

Thanks Robert. Yes, we were lucky in that although we lost a lot in the 60’s, we still have a reasonable network. It has been upgraded over the years and with the exception of the forthcoming HS2 high speed line, it all utilises the original routes and many examples of the mid 19th Century infrastructure.

[@andrewholloway231]

Despite the lockdown, what an amazing cab ride. A lovely day as well. A dumb question, is there any part of the railway network that has just one line speed limit throughout?

[@doncoffey5820]

I doubt there would be any end to end Andrew. The railway is too complex.

[@geoffheslop3606]

Thanks for another extremely interesting and absorbing video. One small criticism, some of the captions disappear a little too quickly to read them fully! I am old after all! As someone mentioned previously, it's such a shame about the bird strikes! Overall though, a very good watch. Thank you😊

[@doncoffey5820]

Hi Geoff. Getting the captions right is a job on its own. I have to time them so you can look and see what I’m talking about. Sometimes the rendering does some funny things and alters them and then there are some who think they’re too slow and others too fast.

[@Harry-me1zq]

Once again a big thank-you. Without checking my history/Geography The Romans were superb in building straight roads and Chester a fort and Manchester there has to be a link ?

[@doncoffey5820]

You’d think so Harry but I think our friend Stephenson was the first to cross the Moss.

[@joeritchie7286]

37s are my fave diesels

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, iconic Joe 👍

[@TheNorfolkThunderbolt]

I’m here Don! Hi buddy!

[@doncoffey5820]

Good to see you Steven!

[@christophercoxakawolfie]

Looked like a really long train ride

[@johnsawyer1884]

Not often a train from Chester uses platform 3 at Bank Quay, exceptional times

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes it was unusual indeed. The moves in the Keyworker Express video have never been repeated in regular service again.

[@AndrewG1989]

I think that TfW might want to keep the Class 175 Coradia because they are still reliable train’s despite being replaced by the Class 197 Civity on some services in Wales.

[@doncoffey5820]

You might be right Andrew. If I get to find out I’ll report back.

[@geoffhurrell8478]

Great to see the lack of graffiti on the first part of this journey. Obviously no young budding 'artists' in Cheshire!

[@doncoffey5820]

There are Geoff, we must have just been lucky. More videos soon.

[@johnemsden735]

Don one question with very long platforms from days gone by when up to 12 coaches could be on a train why with just 2 coaches do the units stop towards the end of the platform passed were it looks the passengers get on the platform and not in the middle of the platform

[@doncoffey5820]

The footage can be deceptive John because of the wide angle lens but in most cases, stop boards are placed on the platforms indicating the recommended stopping point. It might for instance avoid a wheelchair ramp missing a footbridge or the train stopping over a magnet. It always ensures the back of the train is accommodated.

[@andybenstead7240]

Yes without doubt the Deltics

[@doncoffey5820]

Iconic weren’t they Andy.

[@Northwestexpress.]

you should try and do the wirral line of the merseyrail network

[@doncoffey5820]

I’m up for it. I did try to get in touch but it was during Covid and didn’t get anywhere. Maybe I’ll try again - see if we can get on a 777 eh 👍

[@OfficialRyanx]

Why is Warrington South Junction a blanket 10mph and not higher for non electric trains?

[@doncoffey5820]

Good question! Basically because they can only distinguish between train classes with the current signage and not traction classes. You could have split speeds between passenger and freight but not between diesel and electric. They might be able to when conventional signalling is replaced by in cab displays.

[@mustangj0hn]

So erie seeing everywhere deserted. Kinda post apocalyptic !

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, the city centre certainly at tea time was an eye opener.

[@zygmundzygmundowski]

Is this a Diesel engine?

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes Zygmund, it has diesel engines made by Cummins under the floors.

[@lifeisgood3386]

How come you can getaway with filming inside the cabs i was informed that no cameras are allowed it is strickley forbidden !!

[@doncoffey5820]

It is strictly forbidden without the proper authority. Rest assured everything is done with authority.

[@chrismccartney8668]

In first 10 minutes a distinct lack of stations or even signs of human habitation?

[@doncoffey5820]

Yes, that’s why I entitled the video ghost train! It was uncannily quiet during lockdown.

[@wolvolad25]

22 minutes in and I’m on the 8th un skippable ad thats just spoilt the whole thing, ill have to try and watch this another time its just a joke its a ads every few minutes just way to much

[@doncoffey5820]

I don’t put them in Google do. I also point out that these companies only share the footage if I fund raise with them. If you watch the premier they are ad free or you can subscribe for £11:99 month. Ads drive me nuts too.