DAY 13 - Welcome to The Ilkley Train!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

GLOVESTRAINS: I am
very happy now, because

I've heard the announcement

that I was wanting to hear
on the Outerspace Bugs!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Hey, everyone! GLovesTrains 'ere.

And welcome to "Exploring Yorkshire
and the Humber by Train"

day 13.

Today, I'm off to Kirkstall Forge,
Apperley Bridge,

Shipley, Baildon,

Guiseley, Menston,

Burley-in-Wharfedale,

Ben Rhydding and Ilkley.

(TRAIN NOISE)
I'm on the first train. It's 333003.

And I am very excited
with being on this Outerspace Bug

to hear the announcements again.

We're just sitting at Leeds
waiting to depart.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

All right, so I didn't actually
get to hear the announcements,

because they weren't
working on that train.

(WIND NOISE)
But I'm now at Kirkstall Forge.

And...because my train to Leeds
this morning was delayed,

I missed the first train by

just like ten seconds.

So, it did set me back

half an hour,
but I think

I'm just gonna be
half an hour behind

what I planned
for the rest of the day.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

There are a lot of
approaching train announcements here!

And I've just come to
stand in the shelter,

because it's actually really windy today.

So I will warn yous,
I'm gonna do my best

to block the wind from the camera.

I woke up this morning
and all I could hear

(ANNOUNCEMENT BEGINS)
was the wind, I was like...For frick's sake!

ANNOUNCEMENT: 'Platform 2...'
G: There's a lot of announcements. Honestly!

ANNOUNCEMENT: 'The approaching train
is not scheduled

'to stop at this station.'

(TRAIN NOISE)
(UPBEAT MUSIC)

G: Kirkstall Forge is run
by Northern Trains

and it's got two platforms.

It's also got lifts,
so you can cross the platform.

(WIND NOISE)
And you can't help but find yourself

staring at the building

across...just outside of platform 1.

I think it's offices, but...

Yeah, it's really nice to look at!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

About twenty announcements later,

the train did pass.

I'm just wondering what's down here.

I'm gonna go have a look.

It is kind of...raining
ever so slightly as well now!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Ah, okay! This path takes you to
the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

I'll see if I can get
a quick look at it!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

I'm getting on,
I thought it would be

(TRAIN NOISE)
another Class 333, but it's a 331.

It's 331112.

(TRAIN DOORS BEEP)
(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(WIND NOISE)
I'm at Apperley Bridge.

Not to be confused with
Appley Bridge in the North West.

Now, like Appley Bridge,

Apperley Bridge is a Northern-only station

and it's got two platforms.

But Apperley Bridge,

unlike Appley Bridge,

has staggered platforms.

I do love me some
staggered platforms!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

You get a really good view here

down the tracks.

Which is great to see
those approaching trains

on platform 2.

There's also some red benches

here at Apperley Bridge.

There's a really long shelter.

And a ramp

which I'm gonna go
have a little run up.

And...I'm not sure if there's

any ticket-buying facilities here.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Okay, I did not expect
that view from up here!

That is absolutely gorgeous.

(WIND NOISE)
There's also a huge car park!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

After quite a bit of looking,
I have found the ticket machine.

It is just at the top
as you're coming off the car park.

And...

(SINGS) ♫ When you're at
Apperley Bridge

♫ You put your knickers
on your head

♫ You put your
knickers on your head

♫ You put your knickers
on your head

♫ When you're at
Apperley Bridge

♫ You put your knickers
on your head

(WIND NOISE)
♫ And you shout ♫

(SHOUTS) Squishy boobies!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)
(TRAIN NOISE)

(WIND NOISE)
Wow! The further away from the station you walk,

the windier it gets!

You can walk from Apperley Bridge

to the River Aire

and the Leeds-Liverpool Canal again,

like at Kirkstall Forge.

But my train isn't too long off.

So I'm not gonna venture
all the way down there!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

It's not doing it!

I really just wanna hear

the "Welcome to the Bradford
Forster Square Train" announcement!

The announcements are
working on this train.

It's just not saying that one!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(ALARM SOUNDS)
Just got off 333007.

There is a very loud ringing
here at Shipley.

Not entirely sure
what that's coming from.

But...Shipley I do know is

one of them triangular stations.

So, I'm pretty much
gonna be spending

my just under
half an hour here, I think,

trying to figure out
the layout of this station.

I remember when
I was at Earlestown

and that was the first
triangular station I ever went to.

And I just spent
my whole time there as well

pretty much tryna figure out

(ALARM STOPS)
the layout of the sta...

Oh my days,
it's finally stopped!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

All right, that noise has started again!

(DISTANT ALARM SOUNDS)
Shipley is a staffed station.

It's got five platforms.

It's served by Northern Trains

and there is an LNER

limited service.

I'm just currently
on platform 3,

where...my next train

is gonna be coming in, actually.

(WIND NOISE)
But...yeah, this is the

platforms 3 and 4 section!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(WIND NOISE)
So, platform 5

is next to the booking office.

And I almost thought that
platform 5 would be down here.

But down here are
platforms 1 and 2.

I tell you what, it's easier
to find your way around Shipley

than it is Earlestown!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(TRAIN NOISE)
Just got off, it was 333007 again!

And I am very happy now,
because

I've heard the announcement

that I was wanting to hear
on the Outerspace Bugs!

I'm now at...

(BIRDSONG)
Where am I? Have I...

I know where I am,
I'm at Baildon!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Well, Baildon looks
a very pretty station!

And the sun has come out now.

We've got some bunting up
all along the platform.

And there is just one platform here.

Although it does look
as though there used to be

another one across there.

And it's run by Northern Trains.

I really do wanna see

(WIND NOISE)
what is up those steps there.

So I'll take a look as soon as
I've basically just walked

to the end of the platform and back!
(LAUGHS)

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Yeah, it is lovely here.

We've got our classic

post pickup point thingy.

We've got two shelters.

One more modern than the other.

(WIND NOISE)
I was wondering if there was any sort of

electrical information display.

But there is actually one here.

It just turns out
I completely walked past it!

Also, there is a station building

here on the platform.

But I don't think it's in...

It doesn't look like
it's in use anyway.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

There's a few of these
"Friends of Baildon Station" signs

around the station as well.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Yeah, there's not really much here.

So, I'ma just go and
sit in the station

until my next train.

This is the last, hopefully,

of my half-hour waits today.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

ANNOUNCEMENT:
'Welcome to the Ilkley Train.'

(TRAIN NOISE)
G: I'm on 333009.

I'm not sure if I've got time
to go to the toilet or not.

But I'm going to give it a try!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(TRAIN DOORS BEEP)

Irritatingly, there was
somebody in the toilet,

(WIND NOISE)
so I'll have to wait

until I'm on the next train to go.

But I am glad now
that I have, like,

fifteenish-minute waits

at the rest of the stations.

(TRAIN NOISE)
Because there are four trains per hour

down the Wharfedale Line

from Guiseley to Ilkley.

And you know me, I love
a bit of fast-paced action.

Right, I'm at Guiseley now.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(TRAIN NOISE)
So, at Guiseley we've got...

..a train coming in!

We've got a footbridge
to cross the platforms.

(WIND NOISE)
An indoors-y waiting shelter

and a newspaper stand.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Guiseley is operated
by Northern Trains

and it's got two platforms.

There's nothing I have written down

to go and have a look at
outside of the station.

And even if there was,
I probably wouldn't dare

because I've only got
ten minutes until the train!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(TRAIN NOISE)
Just got off Outerspace Bug 333014,

where I successfully had a wee.

(WIND NOISE)
And I'm now at Menston.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Menston seems to be one of
the busier stations along here.

A lot of people did just
get off the train!

As well as this waiting shelter I'm in,

there is an actual
waiting room down there.

There's ticket machines

and a ticket office.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

There is a postbox here

and then up these stairs,

(BIRDSONG)
it leads you to

either the footbridge
to cross the platform,

or...to frick knows where!
Probably houses.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(WIND NOISE)
Menston's got two platforms

and Northern Trains call here.

And it feels like
I've only just arrived,

yet I'm getting ready to leave!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(TRAIN NOISE)
I'm on 333011.

I'm glad to be on this
'cause I'm actually quite cold now.

The weather cannot
make up its mind today!

And the more I say
the word "Menston",

the more it kinda
sounds like "menstruation."

Just thought I'd add that in there!
(LAUGHS)

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

I'm at Burley-in-Wharfedale.

It's got two platforms

and it's run by Northern Trains.

(BIRDSONG)
It is an unstaffed station, and...

..I've got just ten minutes here.

So, I'm gonna very quickly
get my filming done!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(TRAIN NOISE)
At Burley-in-Wharfedale,

there are basic shelters.

There's a bike rack down on
the end of platform 2.

And it entertained me to see that

there was just
a single bike wheel in there!

There's the touch-in, touch-out

ticket things.

And information displays
showing you the train times.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

I am finding this line
a lovely one to ride down.

All the stations are
really close together.

And it is going by proper fast now!

And...I can see my train coming in.

It is...

..a sexy 331.

(TRAIN NOISE)
Is it the same 331 as before?

No, it's not! It's 331101.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(WIND NOISE)
I'm at Ben Rhydding.

There is a gorgeous view

as you look across
over platform 2.

The River Wharfe does run
nearby to here,

but I think I'm gonna
have a walk to that

at Ilkley instead.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(WIND NOISE)
Ben Rhydding's got two platforms,

Northern Trains,

a lot of wind at present time.

(LAUGHS)
It's got some fencing

along the sides
of the platforms.

A ticket machine
on both of the platforms.

And some squares

stuck on the platform edge.

Not too sure why they're there!
(LAUGHS)

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Just come in the shelter to

take cover from the wind,
basically.

And inside the shelter,
you've got

some high seats,
then some low seats

and then back to high seats again.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

I'm on the last train of the day.

I was kinda hoping it would be

another 333, but...

..oh well, we've got a sexy train.

(TRAIN NOISE)
It's 331109.

And these trains to Ilkley
are so quiet as well.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Ilkley is served
by Northern Trains.

It's got two platforms.

And it is a terminus.

It was absolutely freezing
at Ben Rhydding, but...

..somehow, even though
it was literally like

two minutes down the line,

it's a little bit warmer here!
(LAUGHS)

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

At Ilkley, we've got these

smallish waiting shelters
on the platform.

We've got some red benches.

A few information screens.

It is a staffed station as well.

And I did notice as
we were pulling in on the train,

there's actually an M&S.

Like, right there
next to the station.

And I've never seen that before!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

There is a ticket office there

as you come out of the station.

And I'm gonna go for that walk

to the River Wharfe now.

(TRAFFIC NOISE)
Think I'm walking

slightly in the wrong direction, maybe?

But yeah, I'll find it!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(TRAFFIC NOISE)
I'm just coming up to the river now.

And I tell you what, for a place
I've never heard of before,

Ilkley seems quite populated.

It also seems like
it would make

(WIND NOISE)
a great day out!

And...I think I'm gonna
go check out

that riverside park across there.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Well, I have thoroughly enjoyed

coming down
the Wharfedale Line today.

Despite the wind!

It's a line I've never
travelled down before.

And yeah, it's gone by pretty fast

towards the end especially.

But...the views out of the window
are spectacular!

Like, it's a really pretty line
to travel down.

Thank you very much
for watching, everyone!

Byesie byes!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

About twenty announcements later,
the did...

"The did?" The did...