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ALR coming up

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Jamieb87

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Evening,

Im going on a 1st class ALR in a couple of weeks and im trying to draw up some rough ideas for journeys to do - does anyone have any advice to help me get the best out of it? its an expensive trip and i'd like to get it right.

I'll be starting and returning every day from either Reading, Didcot or Oxford.

I'll obviously be throwing in the GC Hsts and the WSMR skips.

I may consider doing the sleepers if they are really worth it, sounds like a lot of hassle to me!

Interested to hear your experiences!

Cheers

Jamie
 
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yorkie

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When is it? Is it 1 week or 2 week?

Things not to miss if you're after haulage:-

Class 90s on Euston-Preston (Fridays only)
WSMR
Grand Central
Class 67s on Taunton-Cardiff stoppers
Class 67s on Fife circle stoppers
Class 57s on WAG Express

It's also worth doing the 90s on the Norwich run and HSTs on EMT (there is one Valenta remaining) as, though common for now, those lovely traditional Mk3 seats won't be around forever.

I still think a load of AP tickets plus £19 bargain berths is cheaper than an ALR if you have a rigid plan in advance, but the flexiblity of an ALR is great if going after haulage as there's nothing worse than being 'bowled' on an AP ticket.
 

Jamieb87

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Sorry, its just a 7 day. Starting 23rd of this month

Some good ideas there, its the flexibility that really lures me in with a ALR as opposed to the AP singles.

The fife circle 67s may be a bit tricky for me to do in a day, unless it connects nicely with the sleeper. As for berths i think i'd rather wing it in the seating.

Does the caledonian sleeper have 1st class seating?

Also does anybody know how much roughly i would use on an oyster card on my connections through london in a week?
 

me123

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There's no way you can get the Fife Circle in and get back to Reading. You should get back to London OK, though. Might be worthwhile to get the Sleeper down that night, which is included in the ticket (you need to pay a bit more for the Berth).

From what I've heard, WSMR are good so make sure you get that in! And Virgin First Class is supposed to come with free food, so again that's something to do. (You may want to reserve this).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The fife circle 67s may be a bit tricky for me to do in a day, unless it connects nicely with the sleeper. As for berths i think i'd rather wing it in the seating.

Does the caledonian sleeper have 1st class seating?

There's a long connection for the sleeper, so you could do some random stuff in Edinburgh if you want (return to Glasgow or something, out to Queen Street, back from Central or vice versa?). You can then catch the sleeper down to London, which leaves Edinburgh at 2340 (2315 on Sunday). IIRC, the Fife stock arrives at 19:02.
 
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Jamieb87

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Nice, do you have the timings for the 67s?

Also does anyone have any good ideas for a quick stop off for some grid action, to tint my spectacles a little. i fancy catching one as its been years and now seems like a good time. may aswell throw in in the ALR as its a rare chance to get out and about.
 

Jamieb87

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Excellent, thanks for that mate.

Whilst we're on a Scottish theme do the XC hsts make it up that far at any time of the day?

...im full of questions this evening.
 

kyrano

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Excellent, thanks for that mate.

Whilst we're on a Scottish theme do the XC hsts make it up that far at any time of the day?

...im full of questions this evening.

the sat xc diagrams






Dia 1.
1V19 06:00 LDS PLY
1S51 13:25 PLY EDW

Dia 2.

1V47 10:05 EDW PZN
5V47 21:54 PZN LNG

Dia 3.

N.Hill Spare

Dia 4.

2L41 05:33 EDW DUN
1V43 07:35 DUN PZN
2C80 21:32 PZN PLY
 

Jamieb87

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Ah thats good, i could get the up sleeper on friday then and keep busy in edinburgh till 10, for the 1V47 back to bristol or taunton and home from there, do the hsts only go that far north at the weekend?

Not up for that journey on a voyager.

So much to do, so little time!
 

mrcheek

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a few suggestions, from my past ALR, and from the one Ill be doing later this year.

Reading to Penzance. The coast at Dawlish is the most beautiful journey on the entire network, but the whole run to the end of line is all pretty good.

North Wales coast. Also good. But dont plan on doing anything in Holyhead. Its a dump. But you might try something like Reading-Birmingham-Shrewsbury, then the Cambrian line to Minfford, onto the Ffestiniog to Blaenau, than back along the North Wlaes coast and home via Crewe. Long day if you do it.

Kings Cross to Inverness on the 1200. Arrives in Inverness at 8.00, half an hour before the sleeper leaves for London again!

Settle to Carlisle is a journey everybody needs to do. Coming back via the Cumbrian coast if you have time. Or alternatively, come back on the Carlisle to Newcastle line.

Just try and be creative. If theres a place you want to go, try and go via a nice indirect route. Or come back an odd way. Zig-zagging across the Pennines for example.

I guess a lot of it depends what youre into. There seems to be a certain obsession with diesels here. Whilst I just try to avoid Voyagers as much as possible, and do as much as I can on 125s. But really I just like a nice journey, with some good scenery to look at (but even here, some like countryside, some like coastlines, and some just like to see factories and old rail depots!)
 
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kyrano

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not sure when you start your alr i start mine on a sunday ,do a 67 from wrexham to m/bone the euston inverness to Edin for the fife circle do it all the way getting back to edinburgh , work your way back to london or get back for the taunton cardiff 67s , then to paddington for the riveria to plymouth , at cardiff you can do the 57s ect get some big mileage from loco hauled ..






67s Cardiff - Tauntons
Mon-Fri comm 15th Dec
5D04 06-20 BTM-TNTN
2D04 07-28 TNTN-BPW
2Y10 09-13 BPW-WSM
5Y10 10-10 WSM-TNTN
2V14 11-02 TNTN-CDF
2C79 14-00 CDF-TNTN
2V24 16-13 TNTN-CDF
2C89 19-00 CDF-TNTN
5C89 21-23 TNTN-BTM
 
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Jamieb87

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not sure when you start your alr

I start mine on the 23rd.

Thanks for your ideas, certainly plenty to think about.

I assume FGW and FSR will be happy enough to give me seat reservations only on the sleepers without a berth if i give them a call? seeing as i have a valid ticket.

Im one for the coastlines and scenery myself, having done the trip to penzance before i would agree that it just has to be done. nothing against voyagers, but they seem to be all i ever use these days because of my location.
 

kyrano

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I start mine on the 23rd.

Thanks for your ideas, certainly plenty to think about.

I assume FGW and FSR will be happy enough to give me seat reservations only on the sleepers without a berth if i give them a call? seeing as i have a valid ticket.

Im one for the coastlines and scenery myself, having done the trip to penzance before i would agree that it just has to be done. nothing against voyagers, but they seem to be all i ever use these days because of my location.

your best off ringing up before you go on your alr with the timings ect , sometimes you can't stick to a plan as you might see a loco you require , on my last alr i booked a hotel in Chester to get washed and refreshed therefor i did the early 57/3 to Cardiff for the tauntons , fgw do have single cabins £30 padd to pz .
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
the sat xc diagrams






Dia 1.
1V19 06:00 LDS PLY
1S51 13:25 PLY EDW

Dia 2.

1V47 10:05 EDW PZN
5V47 21:54 PZN LNG

Dia 3.

N.Hill Spare

Dia 4.

2L41 05:33 EDW DUN
1V43 07:35 DUN PZN
2C80 21:32 PZN PLY

mon - fri







MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS
XC801 1V19 0600 LDS-PLY, 1S51 1221 PLY-GLC, 5S51 22+40 GLC-EC.
XC802 5V39 04+41 EC-DEE, 1V39 0632 DEE-PLY, 1E73 1721 PLY-LDS.
XC803 5V23 05+14 NL-YRK, 1V23 0632 YRK-PLY, 1S55 1321 PLY-EDB.
XC804 1V31 0608 EDB-PLY, 1E63 1521 PLY-LDS.
 

Techniquest

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FSR charge you on the phone for making sleeper reservations without buying a ticket at the same time, so do them at the station if you can.

Things I thoroughly recommend:

Settle and Carlisle. Only the West Highland Mainline comes close to beating it.

GWML beyond Plymouth. Some fantastic scenery and well worth making the trip.

North Wales Coast for the cracking scenery.

The Highland Chieftain (1200 Kings Cross to Inverness, arrive 2008) with a NXEC HST. The longest single HST journey in the country and before MTU'ing took place it was a journey to behold as you take in the Highland Mainline what with the Valentas making a lovely soundtrack to accompany the sights.

Of course, the Fife Circle 67s and FGW 67s are well worth making efforts for, as would getting the ATW 57 in. It's a bizarre experience to get on a loco hauled train with ATW again but quite fun.

You already plan to do it I see, but I cannot recommend highly enough the GC HSTs. Fantastic Valenta soundtrack to accompany the stunning Durham Coast and pure heaven for a HST basher. If you get the chance, getting EMT's 43089 in would be recommended too if you like your HSTs and Valentas.

Doing a sleeper train (particularly the Scottish ones) is one of the hobby's most enjoyable journeys, certainly an experience to try out. I always enjoy my sleeper train journeys, except my last one with 67009 from Edinburgh to Westerton when there was no heat in the middle of December! Otherwise though, I look forward to a sleeper trip. Although I'm rarely asleep on them!

Like you say elsewhere in the thread, there's just so much to do with so little time!
 

yorkie

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Does the caledonian sleeper have 1st class seating?
It has FC-style 1+3 reclining seating but that's actually standard class. I once asked if you can go in the lounge car (marked as 1st) with a 1st class ticket if you don't have a berth and was told "yes" but it's not really a suitable environment if you're on your own as there are no individual seats and, in any case, I don't think you can sit there all night! One thing I'd like to do if I got a FC ALR would be sit in the lounge car 'til Crewe and get off there for a Travelodge (£29 deals are available at the end of March/early April - this is cheaper than a berth) OK so it's pick up only but with an ALR you're valid anyway! As then you get to do the Trent Valley non-stop loco hauled in a nice environment.

Also does anybody know how much roughly i would use on an oyster card on my connections through london in a week?
Not sure but Thameslink is free, and if it is closed then the Northern line is free!

Also there is an easement that states that tickets that are valid for travel between Finsbury Pk & London terminals are also valid between Moorgate & King's Cross, so I think they should be valid there too. Moorgate is an easy walk from Liverpool St.

Euston-King's Cross/St Pancras - no walk required.

Paddington-Marylebone - no walk required.

I'd say Marylebone-Euston isn't too bad either.

But when you get to do a journey like Paddington-Liverpool St, you really have to take LU as the buses would take forever and it's too far to walk!

If doing Paddington-Victoria, consider walking as it's only 2 miles and a nice walk. The circle line is a very long way round and probably would take nearly 20 minutes so not saving a lot compared to walking. There aren't any direct tubes.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
North Wales Coast for the cracking scenery.
Yes definitely but the trip would need to be delayed slightly to take full advantage!!!

Clocks go forward on 29 March, so it will be light on the Coast on the 1617 Class 57 hauled service from Cardiff to Holyhead on the 30th of March (but not 27th March). A 3-course meal is free of charge to FC ticket holders on this service. You can get as far as Bangor before getting a connection back to Crewe (Virgin so FC is available) then sleeper or Travelodge. (A group of us are doing that plan in a few weeks' time!!)
 
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Jamieb87

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Evening all,

Ive been trying to draw up some plans today, though my below GCSE knowledge at this sort of thing is beginning to show.

Do you think its possible to get WSMR, WAG Express and FGW 67s done in one day? doesnt have to be that order.

If thats possible that would free up some other days to do some other things which would be useful seeing as i suddenly have rather alot to fit in!

Any help gratefully received! :)

Jamie
 

43034 The Black Horse

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Evening all,

Ive been trying to draw up some plans today, though my below GCSE knowledge at this sort of thing is beginning to show.

Do you think its possible to get WSMR, WAG Express and FGW 67s done in one day? doesnt have to be that order.

If thats possible that would free up some other days to do some other things which would be useful seeing as i suddenly have rather alot to fit in!

Any help gratefully received! :)

Jamie

Of Course. Do the Wag to Cardiff in the Morning. Go on a train and meet the 67s somewhere. Do those to somewhere get on a HST to Padd round to Marylebone for the 2003 service to Wrexham. Of course all depends how lond you want to spend on the 67s
 

kyrano

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it depends ,are you just after just one diagram from each service ?
 

Jamieb87

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Thanks for that mate, i forgot to mention that i am limited to leaving and returning to reading at 0700 and 2300 respectively, so im not sure i can get anywhere to do the WAG in time.

Kyrano: I dont mind to be honest buddy, just happy to get a decent ride on all of them
 

43034 The Black Horse

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One thing I can recommend doing is:

1V31 down to Cardiff in Morning
Day on 67s, right up until the last call
Down to Plymouth on a Voyager (I think there is also a FGW HST aswell)
Pick up the Up beds to London
For the 1st WSMR Service of the morning!

Gets the ATW 57s, FGW 57 & 67s and the WSMR 67s!:D:D
 

Jamieb87

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One thing I can recommend doing is:

1V31 down to Cardiff in Morning
Day on 67s, right up until the last call
Down to Plymouth on a Voyager (I think there is also a FGW HST aswell)
Pick up the Up beds to London
For the 1st WSMR Service of the morning!

Sounds like a good plan, i will see how it works out.

I have a nice easy day 1 planned out so far going:

Reading - Plymouth 0757 FGW

Plymouth - Derby 1221 XC (HST?)

Derby - London 1701 EMT

Across to Paddington and home. Of course this is only worth it if the XC HST shows up!

Am i right in thinking the 1701 EMT to london will be 222? or is it more of a lottery?
 

yorkie

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HST diagrams are here:

http://www.125group.org.uk/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=30 I suggest printing out the relevant pages and bring them on your ALR (or put them on your PDA/laptop).

If you want gen on 43089 sign up to hstgen.co.uk and also let people know which days you are on EMT and hopefully people will get you the gen.

There's also the option to continue to York and get the 1906 Grand Central! Guaranteed double Valentas.
 

martyn29

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HST diagrams are here:

http://www.125group.org.uk/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=30 I suggest printing out the relevant pages and bring them on your ALR (or put them on your PDA/laptop).

If you want gen on 43089 sign up to hstgen.co.uk and also let people know which days you are on EMT and hopefully people will get you the gen.

There's also the option to continue to York and get the 1906 Grand Central! Guaranteed double Valentas.
if Im at work i can help! pm me!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
43089 isnt out today....
 
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