I was there on May 21 2018 when they swapped over timetables and "job action" - was originally going to take the direct Wigan NW to Airport, something I have done many times. However, it was cancelled so I hopped over to Wallgate to catch whatever was heading in to Manchester Victoria [via Bolton] the train was supposed to go on to Stalybridge but was cancelled to go no further than Victoria. At Victoria eventually got a train to the airport on the route covered here but that was cancelled at Piccadilly. We caught the next train down the same route as your video [I had only gone the other way in and out of the airport] and eventually arrived at the airport in time for my flight. [not everyone did] The usual 45 min direct journey from Wigan NW took almost 3 hours on this day !
Signalling up to Oxford Road from MCV now controlled by the Manchester Central signaller at the ROC, but I was quite upset when the old Manchester North Signalling centre was shut a few years back at Easter. Knew a couple of signallers in there, and would sometimes pop in during the evening for a chat and a brew when I was in the area. Never been to the ROC and would love to go. Thanks for another great clip, Don
Yes it was a nice little panel in there. My mate Malc Dewitt was in there at one time but he’s up at Peak Forest now. I produced the route learning maps for Northern some years ago and I took the opportunity to visit at that time.
Another great documentary, Don. Living in the West Midlands, I can only say that I wished that our tram system was as advanced as that in Manchester. Also impressive is the investment that can be seen in the city. Manchester is certainly a cranespotters delight at the moment!!! My wish list for 2019 is for a West Midlands driver to give us some cab rides as good as these.👍🏼
Wow. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this video. I'm originally from Rotherham but have lived in the US for donkey's years. I've used this train a few times on my visits home having come from Meadowhall to Manchester. The engineering puts the US railways to shame. Thank you so much and I look forward to doing this trip again soon :-)
Much appreciated. As soon as the British weather (which you will be very familiar with) plays ball, I’ll be filming that run from Cleethorpes to Manchester via Meadowhall so that should be just up your street.
@@doncoffey5820 That would be very much appreciated, I can't wait. I watched your Manchester to Sheffield one over the weekend end enjoyed it immensely. I'll watch them all eventually when I have the time . Thanks again :-)
This is the best cab video on TH-cam - totally informative and as an exile from the North West shows how Manchester/Salford is the UK's second city. As an old trainspotter I can appreciate the vast improvements west of Victoria station. The listed hotel at Oxford Road was the old Refuge Assurance building. From Piccadilly the heavier wire gantries from the early 60s show how the WCML has fewer wire problems than the ECML where I live now. Blow your nose anywhere near the track in Co Durham and there's a problem with the overheads. Notice the suburban stations - all with waiting passengers. An excellent upload - thank you.
I once did a presentation to 100 trainee driver applicants at the Refuge/Principal during which, I got the time to have a little look around. It’s just as interesting inside as it is out - a wonderful building. I appreciate your comments - thank you. There is still more around Manchester that we can cover. Keep an eye open for new titles. I was lucky enough to get the Sheffield via Hope Valley today which I’ll get edited as soon as I get chance. New Mills Central Station is where I spent my time as a budding enthusiast. I can remember it like it was yesterday when in fact it was 50 years ago.
@@doncoffey5820 I'll keep an eye out for the others. My enthusiasm began in 1962 - mainly Wigan, Bolton and Manchester, including all the old sheds. Was amazed to see the old staff platforms at Longsight. Best wishes.
Thank you SO much for filming this and putting this together! It gives me such joy to dig deeper into how this line is put together, having taken this train quite often when I lived in Manchester.
I've travelled quite extensively throughout the UK on the rails over the years, albeit it not around the Manchester Area though! So your Cab views are excellent ways to see these routes, & your captions are most informative. Many Thanks
Once again, Thank You, Sir, for a very informative and relaxing cab ride through your country. Your scrolling Information is wonderful and greatly appreciated. Ed from Pennsylvania.
I always enjoy Florida Edward. There is a railway close to where we stay - the one that goes through Kissimmee but the trains seem very infrequent. I also noticed last year, during a road trip to Key West, that the railway has long gone. That’s such a shame because I’m sure tourism would keep it busy these days.
Don, I've just watched this one for the first time more to reminisce - I retired in April - than as a route refresh. Very good running commentary as usual, particularly referencing the railhead conditions on the Styal line (one of the worst in leaf-fall season in my experience)
Hi Graeme. Hope it is going well and you are enjoying your time. I consider myself quite lucky signing that route as you say it is lovely. The Styal Line is beginning to show its colours again right now!!! All the best, keep in touch.
Great video Don. I used to live in Didsbury and used the Styal line in the 70's, then by AM4 and 8AM10s (as I knew them) to get into town and also do my trainspotting at Picc, Victoria, Reddish and Crewe, well before the Ordsal loop and the Airport spur were put in. Good to see it well used and so providing an effective (and efficient?) service for the public. It was good to have an up to date refresh, and the commentary helped identify the landmarks.
Another interesting and informative video. I try to get friends to watch these videos, to get them to see the hard work that the driver has to put in to get the train safely to its destination. Many people think that the driver just sits there doing very little and just follows the tracks, little do they know. Thanks.
I really enjoyed this. I don't get up to Manchester often so it was nice to see the views etc. Your comment about new and old buildings rings very true for me and seems to epitomize Manchester as a whole.
That's probably one of my favourite lines out of Piccadilly with an almost complete straight elevated line up to heald green with the A34 along side it. My second favourite is the line up to clitheroe.
was great to see the area i grew up in (longsight) from the tracks. used to spend years as a kid spotting with my dad at longsight depot, watching the old shunters zip around the yard. thanks for the video.
Lovely video. Seeing the caption for Burnage Stn reminded me of my Grandparents who lived there. Dad told me during WWII a large parachute bomb or mine landed near by. The railway embankment saved their house deflecting the blast upwards. away from the houses. They lived at Burnham Avenue now Burnham Drive.
Thanks Wayne. Occasionally a pilot gets it wrong and comes in a tad too low then all the signals go back to danger and all the electric trains grind to a halt! Luckily, no real emergencies so far.
I have travelled on that line many times over the years but this is the first time I have seen the drivers view. Great video and thanks for sharing 😁😁😁😁
Don, a million thanks for this video. I travel to Manchester from Huddersfield by car, but will have to come on the train to experience the journey. Your descriptions are very helpful and enjoyed this journey with you and the view from your cab. Kind Regards Stewart 😁
Really interesting video and the captions very informative. Working on the Infrastructure side of the railway, its interesting to see the driver / operations prospective. Hope you keep producing these video over the coming years, because there should be a many more infrastructure changes within the LNE territory as Transpennine Route Upgrade picks up moment.
very rare I will watch a whole video anymore. Im old and time isnt on my side. I watched the whole thing, and subbed. I cant wait to see what I find in your other videos. Thank you!!!
Great video Don, when I worked for a while in Piccadilly powerbox in the early 90s they were talking of building the Ordsall chord then, so it only took about 25yrs to get round to it! Really it should have happened in the late 80s when they built the Windsor link and started routing more of the traffic through Piccadilly. It used to be said that the corridor from Deansgate to Piccadilly was the most heavily used 2 track section in the UK, I don't know if that is still the case but it certainly is busy. It is is the Piccadilly signalmans nightmare to have something fail in that section. We used to joke in the signal box that Piccadilly is actually a 2 platform station with 12 bays ;-)
There is a four minute headway through there and it is often used to that extent. I was once waiting with a 156 for fitters attention at Oxford Rd and they need a block on Platform 3 to go down the side. Then all of a sudden, a Wigan driver abandoned his train on 3 and the relieving driver never turned up. Meanwhile, they had let a Container train out to Deansgate so he blocked the up and down lines. I got a message asking (read that as begging) me to go to Buxton on one engine which I did but in the meantime, the container train ran through Platform 1 in the Up direction because there was a train stuck in Platform 2 waiting to go to Bolton!
If they hadn't closed and/or built-over some of the potential freight diversion routes like Fairfield/Gorton to Trafford Park or Glazebrook-Altrincham (and then on via Stockport to Guide Bridge or Ashton Moss), some freight-traffic could have bypassed the Deansgate-Piccadilly bottleneck (that was supposed to have been four-tracked, somehow).g
Oh thats was a awesome ride ! thanks don coffey . only regret is i miss that " universal square" building lol it often catches my attention . im from india and i wish to visit those places , i love train rides coffey , esp night drives , it heaven trip . please night services too lolll :)
Another riveting insight to a driver’s responsibilities. Fascinating. Thank you again for posting. Locals seem to be well served by this transport with sooo many trains rushing in all directions. Must be very stressy for the signalling operators.
Interesting how close Deansgate and Oxford Road are, so that the starting signal at Deansgate controls entrance to Oxford Rd. And also interesting there's one signal halfway along the platform at Oxford Rd and another at the platform end.
Great cab ride again! There is an evening TPE service that is scheduled to stop at East Didsbury (I think it's ex-Middlesbrough) but I don't know about in the morning, you'll know more than me as you're the driver, and I was only station staff at York during the summer! (Although I'm returning over Christmas) Also, in reference to the Manchester International Depot, the Eurostar trains are actually '373's. Finally, I'd just like to say that your cab ride videos are some of the best on TH-cam! I was your 34th subscriber and I've watched every video in full since. Now you're at 2.5K subscribers, I just have to say really well done! You must be one of the fastest growing railway-related channels.
["Who the heck gave the thumbs down? a great video that took effort to produce, typing all the captions - some people are never satisfied - Thanks Don appreciate the effort to video and caption the your work."]
this was a very interesting video, i like the idea of the descrptions via the captains under the film. i have subscribed and will look out for more videos from you.XXXXX Thats five stars for this video, thank you Chris
Actually You met Metrolink tram line before arriving at the airport. The train tracks run above Metrolink just before East Didsbury station (few hundred meters away from the station there is a terminus stop for Metrolink's East Didsbury line)...
Mind-boggling that a city like Manchester in England has an airport that requires a 26-minute train ride at high speed in parts to get to it. I'm pretty certain Kingsford-Smith Airport in Sydney, Australia is a heck of a lot closer to our State Capital's centre.
If you were travelling from the city centre to the airport you it would make more sense to take the train from Piccadilly station instead of Victoria. That reduces the journey time by around 9 mins.
Hi Don, great video once again. It is a pity that the work to increase capacity west of Piccadilly was cancelled but I can't help but think what a nightmare it would be trying to provide extra running lines up to the chord given the very close proximity to some of the buildings either side of the line. It would call for much demolition of some fine old buildings.
Yes it would Peter. I think they never intended to four track the whole line but Platforms 15 and 16 at Piccadilly and the extensive remodelling at Oxford Road could vastly improve the situation.
:) Been there done that as a passenger from Oxford Road to Ely on the East Midlands from Liverpool. Once passed Piccadilly we head on to Stockport and then on to Sheffield and beyond. Had heard that they are/were thinking about upgrading the through lines at Piccadilly - Not sure where the space is going to come from as there are a lot of roads/buildings there.
They intended to add two platforms stood on legs over the road at Piccadilly. Those would become Platforms 15 and 16. However, the budget was pulled - at least for now.
@@doncoffey5820 Typical government interference, but Network Rail doesn't help with its perennial failures in getting rail projects built on time and to budget. NW electrification scheme delays are a case in point, having caused the timetabling chaos earlier this year. I had a ride out from Paddington the other week, and the size of the OHLE steelwork beggars belief - is it really necessary to have that much steel to hold up the wires, with all the extra costs that brings. No wonder the Department of Transport loves bi-mode trains!
just found this video and yes, this is how to do them. is it my imagination or is the OHP infrastructure much heaver and weightier on the Vic side than it is on the Picc side of the new curve and bridge and compare this to the size of every part of it on the ex Woodhead lines.
Excellent video.brought many happy memories of my time spent on the original work to electrify from style into MA.did they change the mast original lettering of MIA/??/??
At 5:10, I’m sorry it’s an old video but I’m just after an answer: I thought if u stopped at a station u had to have platform staff start a full dispatch routine?
No, it depends on the location and the volume of passengers. Stations like Piccadilly, Victoria, Liverpool and Leeds get dispatchers but at smaller stations the onboard conductor does the dispatch.
You haven't seen how busy Birmingham International gets during rush hour and an exhibition is on at the NEC, as well as the large volume of airline passengers. Those lines get a double whammy.
@@doncoffey5820 no, that's cool! it's just interesting to see how some stations get just really, really busy but not often for the obvious commuter usage such airports and stations that serve exhibition/arena stations. By the looks of things a lot of lines get plugged into Manchester airport, is this a new station?
Hi Don, from the British train videos that I watch on TH-cam I can see only two bad things about the British Rail. First is third rail used as a train power supply in London area, in the South and South East (If I am accurate enough). In my opinion the third rail might be a cheap in installation and maintenance, but it causes numerous deaths every year among people trying to cross the rails illegally, not to mention poor unaware animals. I think the third rail should never be used outside, only in the underground and at the railway lines that are well fenced off. The second unpleasant thing that drew my attention in the videos are piles of trash at some places along the tracks. Everything else looks great. Many thanks for excellent videos from the area where railways were born.
I don’t think there are as many deaths from electric shock as there are from being hit by a train so Network Rail concentrate on keeping trespassers out. As for the litter, well it’s the nature of the people that do it. They have no consideration or conscience.
Hi Don, again a pleasure to watch your video! I have even got my question already answered what the F and S at the signal boxes stand for - fast and slow. However, I am a bit puzzled about the U next to the orange signal when leaving Oxford Road Station (near the Principal). Cheers!
U stands for “Up” and D stands for “Down”. Up is generally towards London but there are exceptions. You can combine letters so US would be Up Slow and DF would be Down Fast. There are many others Jeannot but common ones are G for Goods, M for Main, R for Refuge, and in some cases, the letter stands for the route name. For instance, getting an S at Hull would take you on the Scarborough line.
For the passengers enjoyment, when are train companies going to install monitors so the passengers can see in realtime, the drivers' view whilst they are travelling? You tube is ok but not everyone uses the internet and it lags too.
The installed forward facing camera is so far only used for accidents and investigations. I’m not sure they’ve thought of piping it through to the saloon!
Yes, the higher speed is for Classes 1, 2, 5 and 0 and the lower speed is for everything else normally. Class 1 is Express passenger, Class 2 is Ordinary stopping passenger, Class 5 is Empty coaching stock and Class 0 is Light engine. However, there are some routes where Class 185s run at the lower speed due to the heavy axle weights and the higher speed is for “SP” sprinters or “MU” multiple units. There are other special speed limits for special types.
Good question. The train didn’t start at Victoria, it will have come from Scarborough or Newcastle and it passes long stretches without wires. It saves the customers changing trains. Our new Class 802s are bi-modal and should come into service in the next year or so.
I’m not opposed to it but I’d like to see the existing railway fixed too. If you have a question Joshua, try to not add it to somebody else’s comment or when I approve it, it disappears right down the list with the original and I sometimes lose them. ;-)
@@doncoffey5820 I thought the Diggle route was being electrified, or should I say the gaps, Guide Bridge to Whitehall Junction, and Neville Hill to Colton Junction?
What a fantastically informative video, well done. couple of comments; I have always found it annoying the way platforms are designed that you have maybe hundreds of people waiting to board the newly arrived train, in the way of maybe hundreds of people wanting to get off, especially at a terminus like the airport. I think I am right that at the mainline stations, Piccadilly, Lime Street, Euston etc, the boarding passengers are held behind the barrier until the platform has cleared. I also have a question for the technically minded. Why is there a third piece of rail inside the running rails on some curves and junctions. It is not a piece of spare rail or anything to do with the live electric rails. I have seen at a number of locations and on many videos. The piece often has curved ends.
They tend to hold customers back in London but up here it is a free for all. They have started to monitor Platform 14 at Piccadilly and they request customers to stand back. That rail you refer to is called a “check rail”. Its designed to stop the wheel flanges riding over the top of the rail on a tight radius and you sometimes find them on complex points arrangements for the same reason.
I enjoy your videos, enriched by your excellent rail-centric and general comments during the journey. I may be alone in this but please allow me to make this observation - I sometimes find it a bit difficult simultaneously to follow the scrolling captions and "admire the view." Perhaps static subtitles, as done for foreign-language films, might ease reading of the text while still following the video. Thank you for your efforts.
I understand what you mean F Ehrhardt, but what I do is hit the 'Space Bar' on my PC to pause the view and both admire the interesting views and also to read the captions fully. It's not a complaint but just a tip. I really appreciate Don's effort in sharing these views with us all. Cheers Don!
Interesting comment at the end about the loading of the train. As a driver, are you able to tell if the train is heavily or lightly loaded on multiple engined trains, or is the difference in performance negligible?
185s are built like tanks and are very powerful. The suspension and brakes automatically compensate for heavy loads so unless they are really full and standing you can’t really tell. I used to drive 15X’s and you could tell with them.
Perhaps a dumb question, but I'll ask away. Your country has what seems to be mostly dedicated passenger and freight lines. Was this the same during WWII or did the UK in general move trains as needed on whatever was available? I can only imagine the massive amounts of things needing transported, but people still needing to get to their jobs. Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.
It’s a good question Edward. What changed the railway dramatically was the advent of road transport, both in terms of road haulage and accessibility of personal transport (cars). In the UK this was really in the late 50s and early 60s when the road network was being developed and it became fashionable to own a motor car. Until then everything went by rail. I’ve got documents that came from the local station showing the vast array of items transported on what was a rural passenger line. The station master of the fully staffed station could order a goods or livestock van to be attached to the local stopping train and items such as coal, milk and newspapers were all brought to the most remote locations by rail. Now it’s not uncommon to see a car for every member of the family parked outside a house which has had a profound effect on passenger rail. As you suggest, freight is mainly restricted to bulk movements and that might dictate dedicated branch lines. Our passenger railway has rallied to some extent and that is ironically due to the success of the car. More and more people are avoiding rush hour traffic even if it means standing shoulder to shoulder on a packed train. The government takes a considerable amount of duty from private cars so there is no rush to mandate a proper integrated public transport system so for the time being, car is king. I suspect it’s the same in the US?
@@doncoffey5820 Thank you for your reply. I guess it depends on where you live. New York, Chicago, Wash DC, LA, etc have wonderful subways and trains, Others have expensive Bus routes, and where I happen to live, there is very very little public transportation. I would say you are very correct, the public transportation gets very crowded because of traffic jams, but I think the US probably lacks the track space to have such a wonderful set of country wide trains as you have. Thank you again for your speexy reply!
I prefer the subtitles Don! Very interesting as usual, my only quibble is that Oxford Road isn't Art Deco, built in the sixties from laminated timber to keep weight off the viaduct, did my dissertation on the laminated timber back in 1975....
This is how cab ride videos should be. Running information and signalling information very much appreciated.
I was there on May 21 2018 when they swapped over timetables and "job action" - was originally going to take the direct Wigan NW to Airport, something I have done many times. However, it was cancelled so I hopped over to Wallgate to catch whatever was heading in to Manchester Victoria [via Bolton] the train was supposed to go on to Stalybridge but was cancelled to go no further than Victoria. At Victoria eventually got a train to the airport on the route covered here but that was cancelled at Piccadilly. We caught the next train down the same route as your video [I had only gone the other way in and out of the airport] and eventually arrived at the airport in time for my flight. [not everyone did] The usual 45 min direct journey from Wigan NW took almost 3 hours on this day !
To be honest Ian, very little in the North West ran on time that day. Glad you made it on time though.
Signalling up to Oxford Road from MCV now controlled by the Manchester Central signaller at the ROC, but I was quite upset when the old Manchester North Signalling centre was shut a few years back at Easter. Knew a couple of signallers in there, and would sometimes pop in during the evening for a chat and a brew when I was in the area. Never been to the ROC and would love to go. Thanks for another great clip, Don
Yes it was a nice little panel in there. My mate Malc Dewitt was in there at one time but he’s up at Peak Forest now. I produced the route learning maps for Northern some years ago and I took the opportunity to visit at that time.
@@doncoffey5820 Nice one. They were always accommodating to route learners and trainee drivers; sadly missed.
I make it my business to spend time with the signallers Keith. I organise days on the simulator so they can have a go at our side.
Another great documentary, Don. Living in the West Midlands, I can only say that I wished that our tram system was as advanced as that in Manchester. Also impressive is the investment that can be seen in the city. Manchester is certainly a cranespotters delight at the moment!!! My wish list for 2019 is for a West Midlands driver to give us some cab rides as good as these.👍🏼
Wow. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this video. I'm originally from Rotherham but have lived in the US for donkey's years. I've used this train a few times on my visits home having come from Meadowhall to Manchester. The engineering puts the US railways to shame. Thank you so much and I look forward to doing this trip again soon :-)
Much appreciated. As soon as the British weather (which you will be very familiar with) plays ball, I’ll be filming that run from Cleethorpes to Manchester via Meadowhall so that should be just up your street.
@@doncoffey5820 That would be very much appreciated, I can't wait. I watched your Manchester to Sheffield one over the weekend end enjoyed it immensely. I'll watch them all eventually when I have the time . Thanks again :-)
Nice touch with the passenger disembarking at the end, I like the guy running for his plane, that's usually me!
Most interesting and very informative to a total stranger like myself. A captioning epic - your hard work was appreciated!
This is the best cab video on TH-cam - totally informative and as an exile from the North West shows how Manchester/Salford is the UK's second city.
As an old trainspotter I can appreciate the vast improvements west of Victoria station. The listed hotel at Oxford Road was the old Refuge Assurance building.
From Piccadilly the heavier wire gantries from the early 60s show how the WCML has fewer wire problems than the ECML where I live now. Blow your nose anywhere near the track in Co Durham and there's a problem with the overheads.
Notice the suburban stations - all with waiting passengers.
An excellent upload - thank you.
I once did a presentation to 100 trainee driver applicants at the Refuge/Principal during which, I got the time to have a little look around. It’s just as interesting inside as it is out - a wonderful building. I appreciate your comments - thank you. There is still more around Manchester that we can cover. Keep an eye open for new titles. I was lucky enough to get the Sheffield via Hope Valley today which I’ll get edited as soon as I get chance. New Mills Central Station is where I spent my time as a budding enthusiast. I can remember it like it was yesterday when in fact it was 50 years ago.
@@doncoffey5820 I'll keep an eye out for the others. My enthusiasm began in 1962 - mainly Wigan, Bolton and Manchester, including all the old sheds. Was amazed to see the old staff platforms at Longsight.
Best wishes.
Thank you SO much for filming this and putting this together! It gives me such joy to dig deeper into how this line is put together, having taken this train quite often when I lived in Manchester.
I've travelled quite extensively throughout the UK on the rails over the years, albeit it not around the Manchester Area though! So your Cab views are excellent ways to see these routes, & your captions are most informative. Many Thanks
Thanks for watching. More soon.
Once again, Thank You, Sir, for a very informative and relaxing cab ride through your country. Your scrolling Information is wonderful and greatly appreciated. Ed from Pennsylvania.
Thank you sir for the positive feedback. Currently I’m on vacation in Florida!
@@doncoffey5820 Wow, hope you have a Wonderful time here in the USA!
I always enjoy Florida Edward. There is a railway close to where we stay - the one that goes through Kissimmee but the trains seem very infrequent. I also noticed last year, during a road trip to Key West, that the railway has long gone. That’s such a shame because I’m sure tourism would keep it busy these days.
BTW, I’m back in the Uk now and working on the next video! However, that has to take a back seat from 3am tomorrow as I’m back driving trains.
Don, I've just watched this one for the first time more to reminisce - I retired in April - than as a route refresh. Very good running commentary as usual, particularly referencing the railhead conditions on the Styal line (one of the worst in leaf-fall season in my experience)
Hi Graeme. Hope it is going well and you are enjoying your time. I consider myself quite lucky signing that route as you say it is lovely. The Styal Line is beginning to show its colours again right now!!! All the best, keep in touch.
Great video Don. I used to live in Didsbury and used the Styal line in the 70's, then by AM4 and 8AM10s (as I knew them) to get into town and also do my trainspotting at Picc, Victoria, Reddish and Crewe, well before the Ordsal loop and the Airport spur were put in. Good to see it well used and so providing an effective (and efficient?) service for the public. It was good to have an up to date refresh, and the commentary helped identify the landmarks.
Glad you enjoyed it Chris. I’ve got the footage for the return journey somewhere but not had chance to edit it yet.
One of the best cab rides with great driver info.
Thank you
Another interesting and informative video. I try to get friends to watch these videos, to get them to see the hard work that the driver has to put in to get the train safely to its destination. Many people think that the driver just sits there doing very little and just follows the tracks, little do they know. Thanks.
I’d like to show you more but in the interests of security I’m afraid I can’t. I’m pleased you appreciate though.
I really enjoyed this. I don't get up to Manchester often so it was nice to see the views etc. Your comment about new and old buildings rings very true for me and seems to epitomize Manchester as a whole.
Thank you for another excellent 'travelogue.' I really appreciate the time you take to add the commentary.
Same! The subtitles are awesome. Enjoyed this enormously! Thank you.
That's probably one of my favourite lines out of Piccadilly with an almost complete straight elevated line up to heald green with the A34 along side it. My second favourite is the line up to clitheroe.
Excellent I love the subtitles very informative.
Fascinating video. I've used Platform 13 at Picadilly quite a few times and it is really interesting to see it from the driver's viewpoint.
was great to see the area i grew up in (longsight) from the tracks. used to spend years as a kid spotting with my dad at longsight depot, watching the old shunters zip around the yard. thanks for the video.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you Don, another great video, I love these captioned ones that you do, I've always been fascinated with Manchester rail infrastructure :-)
Wonderful, very informative, thank you for that. Hope to see more.
Very interesting and informative. Thanks for the time and effort you put into these videos.
Lovely video. Seeing the caption for Burnage Stn reminded me of my Grandparents who lived there. Dad told me during WWII a large parachute bomb or mine landed near by. The railway embankment saved their house deflecting the blast upwards. away from the houses. They lived at Burnham Avenue now Burnham Drive.
You'll be shocked of what burnage looks like today.
Brilliant Don! Interesting info on the trip wire at Manchester Airport.
Thanks Wayne. Occasionally a pilot gets it wrong and comes in a tad too low then all the signals go back to danger and all the electric trains grind to a halt! Luckily, no real emergencies so far.
I have travelled on that line many times over the years but this is the first time I have seen the drivers view. Great video and thanks for sharing 😁😁😁😁
Glad you enjoyed it Todd.
Don, a million thanks for this video. I travel to Manchester from Huddersfield by car, but will have to come on the train to experience the journey. Your descriptions are very helpful and enjoyed this journey with you and the view from your cab. Kind Regards Stewart 😁
You’re welcome and thanks for the kind words. Of course, I have to thank Transpennine Express for allowing me to record and share it with you.
Really interesting video and the captions very informative. Working on the Infrastructure side of the railway, its interesting to see the driver / operations prospective. Hope you keep producing these video over the coming years, because there should be a many more infrastructure changes within the LNE territory as Transpennine Route Upgrade picks up moment.
Yes, will document as much as possible.
very rare I will watch a whole video anymore. Im old and time isnt on my side. I watched the whole thing, and subbed. I cant wait to see what I find in your other videos.
Thank you!!!
Thank you Brett, that’s very kind. I’m working on the next one and there are many more planned.
A nice comfortable ride. Thank you Don! 🏴🙂👍🇺🇸
One of the ones I drove Martin, glad you liked it.
loved it Don; as always a bloody good video full of fascinating facts
Great video Don, when I worked for a while in Piccadilly powerbox in the early 90s they were talking of building the Ordsall chord then, so it only took about 25yrs to get round to it! Really it should have happened in the late 80s when they built the Windsor link and started routing more of the traffic through Piccadilly. It used to be said that the corridor from Deansgate to Piccadilly was the most heavily used 2 track section in the UK, I don't know if that is still the case but it certainly is busy. It is is the Piccadilly signalmans nightmare to have something fail in that section. We used to joke in the signal box that Piccadilly is actually a 2 platform station with 12 bays ;-)
There is a four minute headway through there and it is often used to that extent. I was once waiting with a 156 for fitters attention at Oxford Rd and they need a block on Platform 3 to go down the side. Then all of a sudden, a Wigan driver abandoned his train on 3 and the relieving driver never turned up. Meanwhile, they had let a Container train out to Deansgate so he blocked the up and down lines. I got a message asking (read that as begging) me to go to Buxton on one engine which I did but in the meantime, the container train ran through Platform 1 in the Up direction because there was a train stuck in Platform 2 waiting to go to Bolton!
If they hadn't closed and/or built-over some of the potential freight diversion routes like Fairfield/Gorton to Trafford Park or Glazebrook-Altrincham (and then on via Stockport to Guide Bridge or Ashton Moss), some freight-traffic could have bypassed the Deansgate-Piccadilly bottleneck (that was supposed to have been four-tracked, somehow).g
A brilliant video don! Thank you for uploading!
I do like Manchester's railways, there's just something about them that I love. It's like a replacement London.
i don't live anywhere near Manchester, but i know what you mean. has a very SouthWestern Railways kind of feel to it
another great video very informative excellent quality liked the camera left running at end.Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it Brian.
Excellent as always Don.
A very informative video with great information about Manchester
Oh thats was a awesome ride ! thanks don coffey . only regret is i miss that " universal square" building lol it often catches my attention . im from india and i wish to visit those places , i love train rides coffey , esp night drives , it heaven trip . please night services too lolll :)
There is one twilight service you might like but the camera is hopeless in total darkness. I’m glad you enjoy them.
@@doncoffey5820 Thank you :)
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing!
Brilliant video! Nice to have little urban ride though Manchester!
Thats an early one. I may well do that one again soon.
Seeing the pacers!
Superb and I like the sound!!!! Regards, Dana.
Another riveting insight to a driver’s responsibilities. Fascinating. Thank you again for posting. Locals seem to be well served by this transport with sooo many trains rushing in all directions. Must be very stressy for the signalling operators.
Hi and sorry for the very late reply. Yes, my home stomping ground and even after covid is very busy. Glad you liked it Derrick.
Superb work, thank you, most interesting & informative!
Definitely better with the captions. Thank you for the information on Manchester city.
No problem 👍, thanks for following the channel Kali.
thankyou don didnt know we could get it from victoria we always went to picci to catch it thinking that was the only way
Yes, its our core route now Lennie. They did all once go via Guide Bridge so you aren’t imagining things!
Another one of your fascinating informative films.
Glad you enjoyed it
Interesting how close Deansgate and Oxford Road are, so that the starting signal at Deansgate controls entrance to Oxford Rd. And also interesting there's one signal halfway along the platform at Oxford Rd and another at the platform end.
The signals at Oxford Rd allow them to hold a train back from the fouling point while another passes.
Great cab ride again! There is an evening TPE service that is scheduled to stop at East Didsbury (I think it's ex-Middlesbrough) but I don't know about in the morning, you'll know more than me as you're the driver, and I was only station staff at York during the summer! (Although I'm returning over Christmas) Also, in reference to the Manchester International Depot, the Eurostar trains are actually '373's. Finally, I'd just like to say that your cab ride videos are some of the best on TH-cam! I was your 34th subscriber and I've watched every video in full since. Now you're at 2.5K subscribers, I just have to say really well done! You must be one of the fastest growing railway-related channels.
I can’t even blame clumsy fingers Dan. I thought Eurostars were 393s! Thanks for the kind words.
You're very welcome.
Excellent! Thank you, Don.
Cheers Barry, much appreciated 👍
Great video - the captions are very useful.
["Who the heck gave the thumbs down? a great video that took effort to produce, typing all the captions - some people are never satisfied - Thanks Don appreciate the effort to video and caption the your work."]
I don’t know, maybe somebody stumbled upon it by accident! Thanks for the kind words.
this was a very interesting video, i like the idea of the descrptions via the captains under the film. i have subscribed and will look out for more videos from you.XXXXX Thats five stars for this video, thank you Chris
Excellent yet again, thank you.
Great ride, thanks Don.
Actually You met Metrolink tram line before arriving at the airport. The train tracks run above Metrolink just before East Didsbury station (few hundred meters away from the station there is a terminus stop for Metrolink's East Didsbury line)...
Yes, very close. I sometimes have a little look as I pass.
Not one for cab rides but these are excellent quality video and information, will watch more of your work.
Thanks Keith. From your tiny avatar, it looks like you drive too. Mainline or preserved?
@@doncoffey5820 Main line 21 years actual driving, Stratford, Tilbury, Maryleone, Waterloo, as well as other railway management jobs
Similar to me then Keith. I was a DTM at Northern for a while but back driving now where its nice and quiet!
Another great and informative video. Many thanks.
Another excellent video, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it BE. Good to hear from you.
Falling leaves on the tracks. Same problem for trains over here in the Netherlands 😁
You know when you’ve had a challenging slide when you stand up and peel the seat cover off because your buttocks are clenched so tight ;-)
Very nice run.
Great vid! Thanks from Australia
Mind-boggling that a city like Manchester in England has an airport that requires a 26-minute train ride at high speed in parts to get to it. I'm pretty certain Kingsford-Smith Airport in Sydney, Australia is a heck of a lot closer to our State Capital's centre.
Its a good point Neil but as you possibly know, that location has evolved from an airstrip years and years ago. Its got quite good links now.
If you were travelling from the city centre to the airport you it would make more sense to take the train from Piccadilly station instead of Victoria. That reduces the journey time by around 9 mins.
InterCity liveried GUV still sitting in the siding opposite Longsight, I just noticed.
Hi Don, great video once again. It is a pity that the work to increase capacity west of Piccadilly was cancelled but I can't help but think what a nightmare it would be trying to provide extra running lines up to the chord given the very close proximity to some of the buildings either side of the line. It would call for much demolition of some fine old buildings.
Yes it would Peter. I think they never intended to four track the whole line but Platforms 15 and 16 at Piccadilly and the extensive remodelling at Oxford Road could vastly improve the situation.
love it mate only thing that would make this 10 times better is if you could record it in panorama view now that would be cool
Its in 16:9. What is panorama view?
beautiful time of day to film. The golden hour ;)
Yes, my favourite time to be out driving too.
Excellent commentary. Just a few bits remain of Exchange.
Excellent and very informative
:) Been there done that as a passenger from Oxford Road to Ely on the East Midlands from Liverpool. Once passed Piccadilly we head on to Stockport and then on to Sheffield and beyond.
Had heard that they are/were thinking about upgrading the through lines at Piccadilly - Not sure where the space is going to come from as there are a lot of roads/buildings there.
They intended to add two platforms stood on legs over the road at Piccadilly. Those would become Platforms 15 and 16. However, the budget was pulled - at least for now.
@@doncoffey5820 Typical government interference, but Network Rail doesn't help with its perennial failures in getting rail projects built on time and to budget. NW electrification scheme delays are a case in point, having caused the timetabling chaos earlier this year. I had a ride out from Paddington the other week, and the size of the OHLE steelwork beggars belief - is it really necessary to have that much steel to hold up the wires, with all the extra costs that brings. No wonder the Department of Transport loves bi-mode trains!
just found this video and yes, this is how to do them. is it my imagination or is the OHP infrastructure much heaver and weightier on the Vic side than it is on the Picc side of the new curve and bridge and compare this to the size of every part of it on the ex Woodhead lines.
All the OLE around Vic is brand new so to the latest standard.
Very nice video , greetings from Greece
Greetings to you. Thanks for watching.
Wow ! That was very interesting !
Than you for sharing!!! :):):P)
15:45
Fun fact: Burnage is birthplace of the Gallagher brothers and where Oasis was founded
I didn’t know that 👍
Thank you for sharing
I’m lucky that the company allow it.
Great video Don
Rail class number of the train on the left at 12:20 ???
Its a question? Class 175.
@@doncoffey5820 I'm just asking because I have never come across that class before.
They belong to TfW. Nice units.
I wonder how many plane loads were on the train.
I dread to think. In normal times, they are very busy.
10:40 (and others) What are those standalone Xs & V part-tracks in between the main tracks?
The are new points and switches ready to be fitted to the adjacent tracks.
@@doncoffey5820 they're most likely old frogs for the points and crossovers.
Excellent video.brought many happy memories of my time spent on the original work to electrify from style into MA.did they change the mast original lettering of MIA/??/??
Not sure. If I remember, I’ll look next time.
@@doncoffey5820 thank you.Gordon Jenks was the pm for the original work from style into
MA.Good Guy + my boss Charlie Batty.
Very enjoyable video
At 5:10, I’m sorry it’s an old video but I’m just after an answer: I thought if u stopped at a station u had to have platform staff start a full dispatch routine?
No, it depends on the location and the volume of passengers. Stations like Piccadilly, Victoria, Liverpool and Leeds get dispatchers but at smaller stations the onboard conductor does the dispatch.
You haven't seen how busy Birmingham International gets during rush hour and an exhibition is on at the NEC, as well as the large volume of airline passengers. Those lines get a double whammy.
I wasn’t suggesting there aren’t busier places.
@@doncoffey5820 no, that's cool! it's just interesting to see how some stations get just really, really busy but not often for the obvious commuter usage such airports and stations that serve exhibition/arena stations.
By the looks of things a lot of lines get plugged into Manchester airport, is this a new station?
Very interesting thanks 👍🏻
Hi Don, from the British train videos that I watch on TH-cam I can see only two bad things about the British Rail. First is third rail used as a train power supply in London area, in the South and South East (If I am accurate enough). In my opinion the third rail might be a cheap in installation and maintenance, but it causes numerous deaths every year among people trying to cross the rails illegally, not to mention poor unaware animals. I think the third rail should never be used outside, only in the underground and at the railway lines that are well fenced off. The second unpleasant thing that drew my attention in the videos are piles of trash at some places along the tracks.
Everything else looks great. Many thanks for excellent videos from the area where railways were born.
I don’t think there are as many deaths from electric shock as there are from being hit by a train so Network Rail concentrate on keeping trespassers out. As for the litter, well it’s the nature of the people that do it. They have no consideration or conscience.
I notice the weather immediately improves when you leave Manchester
Hmm, there is actually a little bit of footage grafted on in that video which is probably what you have spotted.
Hi Don, again a pleasure to watch your video! I have even got my question already answered what the F and S at the signal boxes stand for - fast and slow. However, I am a bit puzzled about the U next to the orange signal when leaving Oxford Road Station (near the Principal). Cheers!
U stands for “Up” and D stands for “Down”. Up is generally towards London but there are exceptions. You can combine letters so US would be Up Slow and DF would be Down Fast. There are many others Jeannot but common ones are G for Goods, M for Main, R for Refuge, and in some cases, the letter stands for the route name. For instance, getting an S at Hull would take you on the Scarborough line.
For the passengers enjoyment, when are train companies going to install monitors so the passengers can see in realtime, the drivers' view whilst they are travelling? You tube is ok but not everyone uses the internet and it lags too.
The installed forward facing camera is so far only used for accidents and investigations. I’m not sure they’ve thought of piping it through to the saloon!
Nice ride ta
Don can you explain for me the speed sign 40/50 immediately after the heald green West Junction?
Yes, the higher speed is for Classes 1, 2, 5 and 0 and the lower speed is for everything else normally. Class 1 is Express passenger, Class 2 is Ordinary stopping passenger, Class 5 is Empty coaching stock and Class 0 is Light engine. However, there are some routes where Class 185s run at the lower speed due to the heavy axle weights and the higher speed is for “SP” sprinters or “MU” multiple units. There are other special speed limits for special types.
@@doncoffey5820 Thanks for that
This train sounds like a Transport for Wales Class 175. Where was that class 175 going to from Manchester Piccadilly
They go to Chester and Llandudno Jess. They also go to Cardiff in the southerly direction.
Any chance of a "through Rochdale" to ManVic or the other way?
Yes, eventually. We tend to use it as a diversion though so you’ll have to be patient! Keep watching ;-)
Why do they use Diesel trains when the whole line is electrified?
Good question. The train didn’t start at Victoria, it will have come from Scarborough or Newcastle and it passes long stretches without wires. It saves the customers changing trains. Our new Class 802s are bi-modal and should come into service in the next year or so.
I’m not opposed to it but I’d like to see the existing railway fixed too. If you have a question Joshua, try to not add it to somebody else’s comment or when I approve it, it disappears right down the list with the original and I sometimes lose them. ;-)
@@doncoffey5820 I thought the Diggle route was being electrified, or should I say the gaps, Guide Bridge to Whitehall Junction, and Neville Hill to Colton Junction?
What a fantastically informative video, well done. couple of comments; I have always found it annoying the way platforms are designed that you have maybe hundreds of people waiting to board the newly arrived train, in the way of maybe hundreds of people wanting to get off, especially at a terminus like the airport. I think I am right that at the mainline stations, Piccadilly, Lime Street, Euston etc, the boarding passengers are held behind the barrier until the platform has cleared. I also have a question for the technically minded. Why is there a third piece of rail inside the running rails on some curves and junctions. It is not a piece of spare rail or anything to do with the live electric rails. I have seen at a number of locations and on many videos. The piece often has curved ends.
They tend to hold customers back in London but up here it is a free for all. They have started to monitor Platform 14 at Piccadilly and they request customers to stand back. That rail you refer to is called a “check rail”. Its designed to stop the wheel flanges riding over the top of the rail on a tight radius and you sometimes find them on complex points arrangements for the same reason.
I enjoy your videos, enriched by your excellent rail-centric and general comments during the journey. I may be alone in this but please allow me to make this observation - I sometimes find it a bit difficult simultaneously to follow the scrolling captions and "admire the view." Perhaps static subtitles, as done for foreign-language films, might ease reading of the text while still following the video. Thank you for your efforts.
I take on board your comment and will do some experimenting.
I understand what you mean F Ehrhardt, but what I do is hit the 'Space Bar' on my PC to pause the view and both admire the interesting views and also to read the captions fully. It's not a complaint but just a tip. I really appreciate Don's effort in sharing these views with us all. Cheers Don!
Interesting comment at the end about the loading of the train. As a driver, are you able to tell if the train is heavily or lightly loaded on multiple engined trains, or is the difference in performance negligible?
185s are built like tanks and are very powerful. The suspension and brakes automatically compensate for heavy loads so unless they are really full and standing you can’t really tell. I used to drive 15X’s and you could tell with them.
Perhaps a dumb question, but I'll ask away. Your country has what seems to be mostly dedicated passenger and freight lines. Was this the same during WWII or did the UK in general move trains as needed on whatever was available? I can only imagine the massive amounts of things needing transported, but people still needing to get to their jobs. Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.
It’s a good question Edward. What changed the railway dramatically was the advent of road transport, both in terms of road haulage and accessibility of personal transport (cars). In the UK this was really in the late 50s and early 60s when the road network was being developed and it became fashionable to own a motor car. Until then everything went by rail. I’ve got documents that came from the local station showing the vast array of items transported on what was a rural passenger line. The station master of the fully staffed station could order a goods or livestock van to be attached to the local stopping train and items such as coal, milk and newspapers were all brought to the most remote locations by rail. Now it’s not uncommon to see a car for every member of the family parked outside a house which has had a profound effect on passenger rail. As you suggest, freight is mainly restricted to bulk movements and that might dictate dedicated branch lines. Our passenger railway has rallied to some extent and that is ironically due to the success of the car. More and more people are avoiding rush hour traffic even if it means standing shoulder to shoulder on a packed train. The government takes a considerable amount of duty from private cars so there is no rush to mandate a proper integrated public transport system so for the time being, car is king. I suspect it’s the same in the US?
@@doncoffey5820 Thank you for your reply. I guess it depends on where you live. New York, Chicago, Wash DC, LA, etc have wonderful subways and trains, Others have expensive Bus routes, and where I happen to live, there is very very little public transportation. I would say you are very correct, the public transportation gets very crowded because of traffic jams, but I think the US probably lacks the track space to have such a wonderful set of country wide trains as you have. Thank you again for your speexy reply!
I prefer the subtitles Don! Very interesting as usual, my only quibble is that Oxford Road isn't Art Deco, built in the sixties from laminated timber to keep weight off the viaduct, did my dissertation on the laminated timber back in 1975....
Thanks Allan. I believe I read it somewhere but of course, that relies on whoever wrote what I read getting it right. I can’t easily edit it now.