Cleethorpes, a true coastal station

Here's my hotel in Manchester:

View from my window

The tiny dark patch to the left of the 'M' of Malmaison in the station

Below, in the lighter patch beyond the bus on the right, someone is just walking into the station

WW1 remberence

It's under 10 mins from my hotel room to Manchester Piccadilly station then a full 10 mins walk to platform 13. It was packed.

This travolator was not working

Many standees in first-class

All first-class seats were reserved so I was happy I had reserved one although I  had to ask someone to vacate it. Many were standing as we left Manchester. Sheffield was a popular destination and changed to a favourite seat after departing. By the time we got to the penultimate stop, Grimsby Town, there were only three of us in the carriage. 

Train followed a canal for some distance

River Trent at Althorp

Many left at Grimsby Town

Sheffield

Grimsby chamber of commerce

Cleethorpes is a lovely little terminus. Not so little, the 3 platforms used to be 5 and if it wasn't for the fence you could probably step straight off platform 5 onto the beach. I stepped a couple of paces from the station to take a photo then straight onto the pub which is inside the station 

Station

Station and beach

No. 2 Pub, I should have gone to No. 1 Pub

Ordered a local pint, I was dead thirsty as no trolley on the train when passengers standing,  then asked about food - they don't do any. Strange, I was certain I'd seen photos of food here online. Finished my very nice, and strong, pint and returned on the very same train I'd arrived on.

Pub No.1, in this old station building, serves food

Every first-class seat bar two was reserved so I  chose the best and 10minutes later we were on our way. It soon filled up and for the final 30 minutes journey there were 3 standing in first-class. Still,  my journey had been fairly luxury as intended. 

Why is first-class so popular in these parts? Yesterday it was the XC train to Manchester, today both TP trains, let's see what tomorrow's Transport for Wales (AW) trains are like. It's Cardiff.