Category Archives: Transport

Bridge across the Mersey

Saturday 8th November 2025, 12.15pm (day 5,189)

Silver Jubilee Bridge, 8/11/25

Before embarking on its final spread into its estuary, between Widnes (on the north bank) and Runcorn, the River Mersey narrows significantly. This convenient crossing point, known as the Runcorn Gap, has been exploited for hundreds of years, but it was only in 1961 that a proper road bridge was opened, and given the ‘Silver Jubilee’ name 15 years later. And, well, here it is, seen from the Widnes side. The second longest bridge I have walked across as part of my little walking project (after the Humber Bridge). Pedestrians take a rather exposed and vertiginous walkway that dangles off the main arch to the left, by the way.

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Cancelled

Monday 3rd November 2025, 10.25am (day 5,184)

Cancelled at Preston, 3/11/25

An early morning derailment at Shap, in Cumbria, meant the West Coast Main Line was completely closed. Fortunately we were heading south and not trying to get to Scotland, but I suspect this gentleman was one of the many people in Preston station this morning for whom that was the intended destination.

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Rush hour

Thursday 9th October 2025, 5.30pm (day 5,159)

Rush hour, 9/10/25

In the 20 years and 2 months I have been working in Manchester I have driven into work precisely six times. Three of those were in the first couple of months: of the three since, two were forced on me due to train strikes (and for those, I parked north of the centre and finished the journey by tram) and the other one was a Sunday morning. There are reasons for this. I’m not usually still in the area for full-on rush hour/Carmageddon but I was there this evening.

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Heading out

Monday 6th October 2025, 6.30pm (day 5,156)

Vapour trail, 6/10/25

If a plane is this high above Hebden it’s already well on its way to wherever it’s going. On the other hand, I haven’t been on a plane since April 13th, coming back from Ascension Island, and won’t be setting foot on one for the rest of the year unless something quite unexpected happening. I guess the carbon footprint is benefiting.

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Bikes and people

Thursday 2nd October 2025, 3.45pm (day 5,152)

Busy Oxford Road, 2/10/25

It seems to have happened slightly later than usual this year, though that’s just a quirk of the calendar, but today was the day I could no longer avoid going onto campus and being faced by a large number of people who were not in the vicinity two weeks ago. Yes, it’s the first week of teaching. So be it.

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Veterans on parade

Thursday 18th September 2025, 4.10pm (day 5,138)

Veterans, 18/9/25

Whatever event was going on in Hebden Bridge Town Hall this afternoon it involved a few dozen identically-dressed elderly gentlemen, weighed down with various medals. By no means all of them had their mobility scooters, but quite a few of them did. Well, good luck to them. I use the shot because I am reminded of the cover of the Dead Kennedy’s Frankenchrist album — it is not to mock.

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Rochdale station (unscheduled)

Tuesday 9th September 2025, 12 noon (day 5,129)

Rochdale station, 9/9/25

With the main rail line through Huddersfield closed this month — apparently it’s an ‘upgrade’ though that could mean anything — services are being routed along the Calder Valley line and adding further pressure to an already-creaking system. I was not supposed to have 20 minutes or so of hanging out at Rochdale station today, but here it is.

The tower over there has always impressed me — the building used to be a fire station, so presumably this is an observation tower, from the days before 999.

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T-shirt axiom

Saturday 30th August 2025, 11.30am (day 5,119)

T-shirt philosophy, 30/8/25

I’ll go with that. In fact I’d quite like this T-shirt, which is one reason I took a photograph of it. As seen on platform 17 of Leeds station this morning.

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Angry tractor

Wednesday 6th August 2025, 1.40pm (day 5,095)

Tell me you don’t see it. It even has a tongue.

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Anxiety at Annandale Water

Sunday 3rd August 2025, 12.05pm (day 5,092)

Dog in car, 3/8/25

Day two of the journey home, so a day spent largely behind the wheel. Only at the lunchtime stop, Annandale Water services (it’s been on before) was there the chance for photography. All motorway service stations are places of transience: if anyone stops for longer than 30 minutes, which is about what we managed, I would wonder why. So this little critter shouldn’t be too worried. I’m sure they’ll be back soon enough.

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