Techniquest
Veteran Member
I ended up clicking outside of the text box and hit Backspace on my last post...Just spent 30 minutes typing up lots of good advice too...:-x
Here we go with a much more brief lot of advice instead:
Avoid places like McDonalds for food. These provide only 'empty' calories, leaving you with less money and a further need to eat only a while later.
Stock up on plenty of drinks, especially on busy trains in summer. Use offers in supermarkets to your advantage. Avoid paying inflated prices on board whenever possible.
Think about following a train's diagram.
Consider allowing impluse to decide where you go for the day.
Make plans. Then make a back-up. Then even think about making a back-up for the other two plans. All to allow for failures, turning-backs and cancellations on the day.
Allow plenty of time for connections at major stations. Sounds obvious but a 1 minute connection at Bristol TM is not that likely to reap rewards. Platform 3 to platform 15 with luggage, running, at this station in particular is not recommended!
Try to cover the Heart of Wales if it is not already done. It's beautiful on a nice day. Same applies to the Pembroke Dock line.
If you're in Wales on overnight moves, try the following:
If in South Wales, go for the 2345 Swansea - Fishguard Harbour and 0150 return (plenty of time then for the 0400 HST and more than enough time for the 0436 Swansea - Shrewsbury via the HoW on arrival back at Swansea). Approximately 34 minutes to wander around, get snacks, pick up leaflets (for reading when bored/unable to sleep), make phone calls, get fresh air and get photos.
If in North Wales, get the penultimate train to Holyhead (check the timetable first!) then the 0150 Holyhead - Birmingham New Street back to Crewe (around 0400) or beyond. Plenty of time here for photos, snacks, fresh air, pick up leaflets and make phone calls.
Hope the above is of use to you both.
Kind regards,
Julian
Here we go with a much more brief lot of advice instead:
Avoid places like McDonalds for food. These provide only 'empty' calories, leaving you with less money and a further need to eat only a while later.
Stock up on plenty of drinks, especially on busy trains in summer. Use offers in supermarkets to your advantage. Avoid paying inflated prices on board whenever possible.
Think about following a train's diagram.
Consider allowing impluse to decide where you go for the day.
Make plans. Then make a back-up. Then even think about making a back-up for the other two plans. All to allow for failures, turning-backs and cancellations on the day.
Allow plenty of time for connections at major stations. Sounds obvious but a 1 minute connection at Bristol TM is not that likely to reap rewards. Platform 3 to platform 15 with luggage, running, at this station in particular is not recommended!
Try to cover the Heart of Wales if it is not already done. It's beautiful on a nice day. Same applies to the Pembroke Dock line.
If you're in Wales on overnight moves, try the following:
If in South Wales, go for the 2345 Swansea - Fishguard Harbour and 0150 return (plenty of time then for the 0400 HST and more than enough time for the 0436 Swansea - Shrewsbury via the HoW on arrival back at Swansea). Approximately 34 minutes to wander around, get snacks, pick up leaflets (for reading when bored/unable to sleep), make phone calls, get fresh air and get photos.
If in North Wales, get the penultimate train to Holyhead (check the timetable first!) then the 0150 Holyhead - Birmingham New Street back to Crewe (around 0400) or beyond. Plenty of time here for photos, snacks, fresh air, pick up leaflets and make phone calls.
Hope the above is of use to you both.
Kind regards,
Julian