Whilst there was a temptation to iether book on the direct Edinburgh>Euston or on the faster service from Glasgow I stuck with the usual transfer at Carlisle as it almost certainly avoids voyagers and definatly keeps us clear of the mid evening anti climax that would have been GLC and a slow trundle back East on Monday. 10 past 8 on Saturday Morning therefor saw us ready to go on the Manchester bound TPE, my first trip with them since franchise change in April and with a little more legroom both due to the Wife deciding to leav the dog at home this time, owing to the unsuitability of much of the Underground for the poor boy and also as it was rather busy on this service and whilst Im happy to stand the Mrs has foot troubles also so they put us in the almost empty First Class meaning our entire run today was in FC. Off pritty much on time with the Border City reached at 09:30. 16 minutes here and would normally have had a Ritazza coffee but not today as I hoped thered be plenty of said beverage going free aboard the 09:46 to London. Train arrived early giving us plenty of time to get on and settled. Half way to Penrith Bananna and an Itallian style breakfast cake, similar in texture and taist to a hot cross bun were delivered, v nice but if you dont like Saltanas etcthen you woant enjoy. tea and coffee followed 10 minutes later and these were followed by the grip, just too late to stop any freeloaders getting a snack 'lol' Thankfully none of those aboard that we know of and we settled down to doze and read as Cumbria gave way to Lankashire and so on. Crew change at Preston and a pack containing baked cheezy bites, mini chocky fingers and a filled roll which I hadnt eaten yet when I wrote this were delivered. Its a mark of how often I use slower stopping trains on this line that the novalty factor of being non stop Warrington London still hasnt warn off. Its a lot of fun. The roll turned out to be egg with a hint of mild cheez, yummy and the reappearance of the drinks trolley finished things off nicely. The journey continues prity much as before with Euston arrival being on time at 1308.
Off to the Underground where they are doing a great job of croud management during the escalater works. Euston has one of the smaller ticket halls of a busy Z1 hub and I can well see the need for measures such as the 1 way system at the cross to help people avoid it. No service at Euston Square wasnt helping matters iether and with all this it was some time til we were moving again on the Victoria Line towards Green Park where we changed to the jubilee 1 stop to Westminster. Here we exited towards the peer and bought our tickets which I think were good value for a 3 hour trip with Thames River Services to the Thames flood barrier, something thats been on my bucket list for many years. whilst aimed mainly at visiters it was nice to notice many locals using the service particularly on the return leg as a fast run along the river. Also pleasing was the Wifes reaction to hear Big Ben striking in real life after so many recordings. Departure was prompt at half 2 with live commantary provided humourously by one of the crew who informed us he was not a guide but mearly a crewmember, a nice touch and I think it made many appreciate it more. An hours run took us along with the outgoing tide to Greenwich with 1 picup stop at St Catherines. Many left the boat at Greenwich with some bording for the hours trip down and through the truly vital flood defences. I woant give you all a history lesson here but seriously this is worth it guys and recommended. The boat filled again at Greenwich for the trip to the City now running against the tide with both engines going hard and the boat handling the conditions very well. Westminster reached on time and onto a D Stock opperated service towards embankment for the Northern to Charing Cross. Before we did anything else we decided to go to Burger King, good idea we thought but what wasnt such a good one was to eat in as by the time we'd had a filling feed the tiredness had kicked in and our planned next move was scrapped in favour of repositioning to Victoria and then on by Southern to East Croydon where we were booked into the easy hotel. I dont know for sure but I think I may have just had my first 387 as dont think 377/6s go to Brighton do they? Once checked in we had a fight with the aircon (and lost, it was better the second night) and literally fell into bed after a long but fantastic day.
Day 2 saw us intentionally sleap in a bit but when we did wake we were too hot from the off partly due to the non working aircon and partly due to the sun which despite our blind being down was so hot it was coming through. Its nice to have it and we enjoyed it later when not indoors lol. Showered and out by 10:46 and off to the station where I bought a paper travelcard as the plan was to do our own thing for part of today and I was going further. A long cue and a couple of cansilations (due to a shortage of available traincrew) later and we were victoria bound once again on quite a busy service but nothing compared to the hundrads piling onto brighton services. At the tube ticket hall we split up, she bound for the natural history museum and me for family visiting. We joined forces again at Charing Cross at 18:55, she approaching from embankment on the Northern and myself from the Bakerloo. Up stairs to the booking office for 2 CDRs to Gravesend and onto the 19:22. Are yess, networker bashing, complete with working air vents, open hoppers and some suit talking crap into his phone all the way to Sidcup, excillent and a lot of fun as always. On time into the terminal platform at Gravesend and over the footbridge for the evenings main event, the 20:42 High Speed working to St Pancakes. Its been nearly a year since my last fix (I got addicted some years ago) and the Wife having listened to me and watched a youtube vidio wanted to try it. Usual slow trundle up to Ebsfleet where the grip sold us our upgrades and we departed bang on for our charge up HS1 which as ever didnt disappoint and Im glad to say the Mrs is now also hooked. At STP the 21:11 Thameslink service was 15 down which suited us as the next 2 were canx and despite everyone claiming this station is fit for the 21st century it will never be complete for me and doubtless many others with bags, children, wheelchairs or not much time till they find a way of including a direct lift from Southeasten to TL, for the unknowing thats top to bottom. More Electrostar Ironingboard action on the run through the core and Suburbia back to ECR, I suspect Ive just finished a few bits of track here as now done this once in both directions, maybe someone could advise? Having been too hot all day to eat we were both now hungry and happy to pay the chingy prices in whistlestop (still open at gone 22:00 and staffed by a fantastic pakistani chap) for a sarny and snacks which we ate in our hotelroom before once again falling gratefully into bed, tired after fantastic weather and lots of fun.
I woant be posting this all in a oner as may well need to pop back for any on the go advice during the trip and thanks to those here and elsewhere on the forum for all assistance so far with particular thanks to Techniquest for everything and to those who have replied to my Railcard Travelcard discount querie.