Back in 1985 on a trip with a mate on an ALR, we caught the Sunday 'Wessex Scot' from Oxford to Edinburgh. On leaving Oxford we took a left up the Cotswold line to Worcester, then, rather than go up the Lickey, we were routed through Kidderminster and Stourbridge to get to Birmingham New Street.
On leaving New Street without a reversal, we went past Aston, which made me think of a Soho diversion, but soon Bescot was upon us, so automatically thought we'd head up to Wolverhampton, but no, Walsall next and the Cannock line to Rugeley (the only time I've done that line).
All went well until we pulled in at Wigan North Western, when we reversed out of there to Lostock Junction (no Lostock station in those days), when we proceed on to Preston. having spent so much time diverted, we were hoping for the 'big one' and be diverted through Blackburn and up the S&C, but it wasn't to be. WCML to Carstairs before the train split, fortunately still with the Edinburgh portion at the rear.
A wonderful start to our spotting trip north of the border.