1st game of the season.
A nice trip on the train, leaving Burscough Bridge at 07.43 hrs on Northern 769456 to Wigan Wallgate.
Then the 08.23 from Wigan North Western on Avanti Pendolino 390129. I was booked on the 08.37 but it was announced that there where delays on the line near Oxenholme because of sheep on the line. So jumped on the earlier train.
The 10.33 from Carlisle to Newcastle was interesting. A two coach 158 844 which was full by the tome it left Carlisle. I got surrounded by a group of youngish builders on the way to Newcastle to celebrate Mathew’s birthday, the dad of one of them. They were already celebrating with plenty of ale.
Metro out to Hebburn, getting there in plenty of time. Chips from Dillions chippy then a ten minute walk to the ground getting there just before 2. No club shop, no mug, but a nice programme.
A warm welcome from the turn style folks.
Tidy little ground, with a small club, but the Worthington smooth flow was nice at £3 a pint.
Hebburn had been promoted from the Northern Premier League last season, so this was their first game at this level of the pyramid.
Hebburn made the most of the occasion by beating Southport 3-1, we were not great!
Back into Newcastle on the metro then a earlier train than planned again, as the 18.04 to Carlisle was cancelled. Caught the 18.54 from Newcastle, this time another 158 787. Plenty of room on this one, the partying must still have been going on in Newcastle.
A nice run through the Tyne valley then back down the Lune gorge over Shap as the evening light faded on Trans Pennine, 387 005 as the 19.34 from Carlisle. By heck it rode a lot less comfortable than the 390 on the way up.
Back to Preston in time to catch 156 466 as the 21.10 from there to Burscough Junction, back on the boat for 22.00hrs.
Despite the result a nice day out on the trains…Just need SFC to get better.
Colin Wareing, aka Capt Col
Under the light and airy train shed at Carlisle station stands Trans Pennine Express train no 397 004. The train service it is working is the 08.13 train from Liverpool to Glasgow Central on a nice summer Saturday.
Calling here in Carlisle at 10.11 hrs
The date is 8.8.2026
Image Cw 9442 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
Hebburn Town F C are defending their goal against a Southport F C attack on Saturday the 8.8.2026 in the first game Hebburn have played in the National League North.
Hebburn had won promotion from the Northern Premier league at the end of last season, to the highest league they have played in in the English football pyramid.
They went on to make a winning start to life at this level winning this game 3-1.
Hebburn are the team in the yellow and black shirts while Southport are in their away kit of blue.
This scene is due to change in the next few years with the planned demolition of the tall block of flats behind the ground.
Image Cw 9447 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
Hebburn Town F C are defending their goal against a Southport F C attack as the linesman tries to keep up, on Saturday the 8.8.2026 in the first game Hebburn have played in the National League North.
Hebburn had won promotion from the Northern Premier league at the end of last season, to the highest league they have played in in the English football pyramid.
They went on to make a winning start to life at this level winning this game 3-1.
Hebburn are the team in the yellow and black shirts while Southport are in their away kit of blue.
This scene is due to change in the next few years with the planned demolition of the tall block of flats behind the ground.
Image Cw 9449 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
Northern train no 156 466 stands in the bay platform, 3c at the south end of Preston station waiting to work the 21.10 train service to Ormskirk on a warm summer Saturday evening.
The date is 8.8.2026
Image Cw 9446 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
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