The Poolie Bunker

Its now THJones. The one in Hartlepool now seems to have more books in it.
Anyone putting an Ian Allan book on their Crimbo list?

The old turntable concrete base is now visible from the fence opposite the Fishing tackle shop on Mainsforth Terrace. There is a gadgie in it with a spade who may be an archaeologist.
I have been told what looks like oil has been found so i wonder where that ends up?

It's about time that WH Smith and TH Jones started stocking more books, instead of 'froth' as Snowy described it. I have several books on my and the wife's Crimbo list - however they are all secured via Amazon UK - although I would prefer to browse and buy.

Yes i would like to avoid Amazon and browse/buy. Now and again i go to the Waterstones in Durham/Newcastle and Middlesbrough.
The Waterstones in Middlesbrough is the only shop in the town centre that does not have a security guard.
Probably because no one in Middlesbrough would steal a book!

Books v Phones… a lot of people can only cope with repeated short bursts of gossip…books must look like climbing Everest to a lot of people now.
Mobile phones are a good idea that got out of hand….only time I use mine is when I go out in the car in case I break down…after a lifetime of pagers, radio’s and mobile phones….I can’t stand the bloody things.

I agree entirely, a book takes you somewhere whereas a phone takes you nowhere (except where they want to take you).

Regarding the turntable at Mainsforth Terrace that’s been unearthed, driving past this morning with one of my dons he said what a pity it can’t be made into a park and the turntable a feature…but the little shoe boxes wiil no doubt be getting built.
Wonder what happened to the Odeon Frieze ….?

Keep watching antique shows it will eventually pop up on one.

Yes a small park on at least one would be a great idea.
The frieze was taken away.Who was the owner of the building at the time or is it a secret?

The only benefit of building the houses there so close to the track, would be the residents leaving their heating off for a while when the nuclear waste train from the power station passes on it’s way to Sellafield.. ..only joking in case anyone thinks it’s actually possible.

Great location for train spotters. I imagine when the houses are built the residents will all be given a complementary Ian Allan combined volume.

They’ll think he’s an ‘influencer’.

I seem to remember the council announcing something about industrial units being built on that area.

Jomast seem to control the site as there is a notice on a fence near the old level crossing.
I though it was houses but not sure?

When it comes to town planning they haven’t got a clue…?
Shops and flats proposal for the Odeon site, so much for a park idea.

It's been announced that the work on the shopping centre is going to start next year and be completed by December 2027. Only 6 years after the cash was allocated.

https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/p ... rd-5435008

The £13.8 million allocated in 2021/2 will get you a lot less now.

Who exactly are the three bodies involved…?

The project will be a collaboration between Hartlepool Borough Council (the council HBC), Hartlepool Development Corporation (HDC) = (Houchen) and the area's Town Deal Board (who the hell are they).

All Town Deal Board Members

Councillor Brenda Harrison
Darren Hankey
Denise McGuckin
Dr Martin Raby
Dr Maxine Craig
Gary Wright
Reshma Begum
Ros Adamson
Toni Rhodes

The Hartlepool Town Deal Board was set up in spring 2020 to help shape local investment priorities. It includes members from the private, public, and community sectors.

The Board leads the development and delivery of the Town Investment Plan, which helped secure government funding. The plan focuses on Hartlepool’s strengths, opportunities, and challenges.

It seems their train takes it’s time to build up a head of steam..

Big changes on the railway timetables starts and apparently there’ll be more services from Newcastle to London and more trains on the Boro to Newcastle line….BUT less services from Darlington…looks like a lot of people will be expected to converge on Newcastle to get a train to London…progress ?

The twats need a good stoking!

Hartlepool seems to have done ok out of it with extra trains. Will the trains run or will 1.they not exist 2. insufficient train crew 3. more trains getting serviced than expected?

These antiquated trains need replacing and more crew recruited as the people now own Northern.
"Power to the people" said Wolfy

Will Casey Jones be retired with the trains…?

the old rolling stock needs to stay. makes me feel at home when i come up to a match and see what resembles the line next to me. the keighley and worth valley preserved line.

Fewer services into the redeveloped Darlington St Houchen Station? Only in Britain would the authorities spend so much on increasing capacity, improving train and human access and then cut services, rendering the station into another Houchen White Elephant. Now for a new rail link to RAF Houchen-Corney International.

And here's an idea - how about a direct train from Middlesborer to Kings Cross? Oh, hold on......

Its only £130 million peanuts.

can never understand the big thing made out of an improved railway station that has a million or so spent on it yet services get worse. cannot see passengers are overbothered as the cost and frequancy is there main priorities.

Cleveland opened the then new bus station in 1984 and a suddenly coach services from Hartlepool reduced in number drastically.
We were advised not to worry as we could catch the same services at Cleveland’s new central bus station at the Boro….getting to a Hartlepool from the Boro late at night would be a barrel of laughs and not cheap.
Genius……

Fortunately the Boro station can’t do a direct service due some thing about the lines layout that’s why they have to go to Eaglsecliffe or Darlington.

The entire Hartlepool Station redevelopment, which included bringing a second platform (Platform 3) back into use, a new footbridge with lifts, and other upgrades, cost a total of £12 million, funded by the government, with Network Rail, Northern, and the local council collaborating on the project.

Most of the money is spent on consultations which never come to fruition, lower the rents make car parking free and businesses might locate to the town centre.

Just seen that the Tees-flex bus service is to cease with the money being used to subsidise fixed hourly services from Elwick/Dalton to the town.
I really cant remember seeing many passengers on those buses.

It was a gimmick…everything seems so transient, constant change.

Perhaps I've missed something but I seem to recall that there was a big hoo haa a few years back from Hooch when platform reconstruction was undertaken to enable the LNER Azuma's to provide a direct return service to London Kings X via York, ie not Darlo?

Doing up Stockton Station would have made more Teesside sense…the Boro line is a dead end…unless you include Saltburn

.......and Whitby!

I stand corrected there is a direct train to London from the Boro, not how frequently it operates.

I think its one a day and i think Boro needs a third platform to accommodate additional ones which Houchen says he is working on but it will be years in the future. Gimmick?

Fortunately the Boro station can’t do a direct service due some thing about the lines layout that’s why they have to go to Eaglsecliffe or Darlington.[/quote]

Perhaps I've missed something but I seem to recall that there was a big hoo haa a few years back from Hooch when platform reconstruction was undertaken to enable the LNER Azuma's to provide a direct return service to London Kings X via York, ie not Darlo?[/quote]

I stand corrected there is a direct train to London from the Boro, not how frequently it operates.[/quote]
I think its one a day and i think Boro needs a third platform to accommodate additional ones which Houchen says he is working on but it will be years in the future. Gimmick?[/quote]


Aye, it's one a day - the one south is early doors so OK but the return has a poor time - isn't the problem (other than Houchen Hot Air and lack of demand) to do with sidings for the trains to be cleaned/ provisioned/ got out of the way of TPE and Northern traffic, rather than a platform? Righto, I'll put my Ian Allan down and reach for my trusty Bradshaw....

I think Boros relevance to the north east is waning. Its a big industrial area but from the point of retail/culture its dead and anyone with disposable income lives away from the "town" centre and connections to London/Scotland/Manchester can be accessed via direct trains from Boro to Newcastle/Darlo/Thornaby.
Any attempt to create direct links from there is just political spin and to create it would not be justified on any cost/benefit calculation.
I think the tart up of Boros station cost £30+ million and i dont know what it offers extra in terms of services.

Perhaps I've missed something but I seem to recall that there was a big hoo haa a few years back from Hooch when platform reconstruction was undertaken to enable the LNER Azuma's to provide a direct return service to London Kings X via York, ie not Darlo?[/quote]

I stand corrected there is a direct train to London from the Boro, not how frequently it operates.[/quote]
I think its one a day and i think Boro needs a third platform to accommodate additional ones which Houchen says he is working on but it will be years in the future. Gimmick?[/quote]


Aye, it's one a day - the one south is early doors so OK but the return has a poor time - isn't the problem (other than Houchen Hot Air and lack of demand) to do with sidings for the trains to be cleaned/ provisioned/ got out of the way of TPE and Northern traffic, rather than a platform? Righto, I'll put my Ian Allan down and reach for my trusty Bradshaw....[/quote]

Thanks for the clarification gents, I just had a look on Google Earth and it does appear that space is at a premium around the Borer railway station in which to fit an Azuma carriage turnaround - ie cleaning/re-stocking - siding. There looks to be a bit of space adjacent to the Whitby line just after it leaves the station but as referenced above the cost will run into £m's, a few of which could surely have been spent here with a few less spent on the the Darlo White Elephant 2

just why in the north do they advertise say 3 extra trains a day to london but fail to mention direct services to other towns have been reduced. lets say there are more places i want to visit than sadiq,s stabbing empire and moaning about the prices they want there for everything.

The Boro was built on a boom in the 19th century…..the boom began to implode 20 years….