Our third day would see a Lancashire Day Ranger in use. Like Monday it was a route coverage plan initially for me and then for Peter. An early start (not good for the now developing cough and headache!) saw us leave Leeds (winning 155342) at 0603 to get to Manchester via Hebdon bridge with plenty of time to get breakfast before the ranger kicked in. Again we did a few tram moves to get to Market street where we headed to Manchester and county for breakfast.
After breakfast we made our way back to Victoria and waited for the 0900 to Clitheroe. A winner in the form of 150133. Not the fastest of trips but needed to be done. We caught it straight back to Blackburn and in the interim wait for the train to Colne we headed to the Wetherspoons.
A dud 142037 carried us to Colne! Now here is where the plan changed and in hindsight for the better! The original plan had us wait for a long time at colne to get lunch at the Wetherspoons and perhaps another couple of cask marque pubs! But it was a long time to waste so we decided to catch the same train back! I said (and bearing in mind how I was not feeling well) I was going to try and make the pub, have a swift half and then run back for the train in 20 minutes! Peter also decided too try this!
There was snow still quite heavy on the ground and it was all up hill but some how we made it in less than 10 minutes! The quickest half pint ever followed by a run down the hill gave us 5 minutes before we left! I think it nearly killed us but we never have to worry about that spoons!
With the branch complete I have now almost completed the route on a Lancashire ranger. Only the annoying curve into Morecambe from Carnforth is left!
We stayed on the train to Preston and the plan would see us head to Blackpool. The plan changed though when I saw one of my final two 221s (221111) roll in heading north. We caught that to Lancaster and headed into town to do the spoons. I had already done one of them on a previous visit to the area but needed the other. After that we headed back to the station and decided to go to Morecambe. It was a winner in 156440 and Peter needed the branch and the spoons that we went too.
Then the opportunity arose to catch the train to Leeds from Morecambe that would traverse the annoying curve (winning 150274)! We decided to do it and bail at Carnforth! Brilliant! Then it went wrong!
The points were stuck and we headed back to Lancaster! Doh! We got off then. Gutted! Still got that bit to do! So now we made our way to Blackpool. But in reverse to the original plan. We went to Blackpool south via St Anne's. Here we headed off to get dinner in the Wetherspoons. It was then onwards to Blackpool south. From here another swift drink in the nearest Werherspoons before a tram to the tower! The Albert and the Lion was visited before the newest Wetherspoons in Blackpool (one i needed).
It was now back to the station! There was no plan but we were going to bail at Preston. But we both fell asleep and didn't wake up! Oh dear!
Luckily the train was heading to Victoria so we could bail there. We made kur way to Piccadilly and got a train to Leeds from there. I was feeling really rough now and all I wanted was my bed to honest.
All route I went for its now done! Only managed 6 winning trains but despite feeling a lot worse was a successful day. Another early start tomorrow was closing in but I had to just see it through!
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