My little trip around the UK

[Tom]

... started off on Monday when I went to London to get about 150 FastTicket tickets () for various people as part of the FSR50 offer. Bargain. Ventured off to Ipswich where I met up with Nick W who was vegging around places, omega3 and siasiasia were also there vegging overnight apparently watching lesbian porn. Just thought you'd like to know.

On TUUUUUESDAY, I went to Cambridge via Bury St Edmunds on a nice little 153 bash which ran 20 minutes late due to me managing to break the door (). After arriving at Cambridge with a now very dodgy connection, a quick train ride over to London on a stopping Cambridge to London cleared two new lines for me. Meeting up with Memorex and going into the GNER First Class lounge (with a FDS London - Stevenage) awaiting a clagtastic 1400 Aberdeen, oh, with two Valenta's too. What luck, eh? Running right time all the way through to Dundee where we got off, we prepared for the Wednesday.

On the Wednesday, a rather silly plan was in action as I had come up with the idea of doing Oban on Thursday, but we'd already got Virgin FC to London in the afternoon, not to worry I said, and bought a few Saver returns to Oban . Anyway, over to Aberdeen, and thence to Inverness. A quick 170 dash over to Perth and thence to Glasgow brought us on board the 1646 Glasgow Central to London Euston. Having 2 meals on board (they're lush - not travelling GNER again, Virgin Pendolino's all the way as far as I'm concerned now!) and shed loads of drink. Oh, and a Simpsons DVD we arrived at Euston some 10 minutes early, where I (oh, and Memorex, better not be too selfish) met up with Nick W and omega3 again - ready for the sleeper to Glasgow for the next day's bashing. I'm reliably informed scarfs are very nice for, err... well, couldn't possibly comment!!

On ze Thursday, we arrive in Glasgow some 20 minutes early and walk over to Queen Street, ready for our MENTAL (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and HELLFIRE (!!!!!!!!!!!) bash to Oban. Much music was played on the PiePods and a few Simpsons were watched. Upon arrival at Oban, we found a bowling alley, which was shut. Damn. Ah, but not to worry, the trustworthy fish and chippie was around, while we waited for it to open, omega3 knocked on the door, "**** OFF!" was said. Nice, eh? After eating our lunch, we ventured back to Crianlarich and onward to Fort William, where the fish was once again hungry - and hence a quick Maccy D's bash, with FREE WI-FI!!!! MY LORDZZZZZZZ!!!!!! Having eaten our erm, late lunch / early dinner, we travelled back on the 1741 Glasgow - ready for our sleeper to take us back to the bustling suburbs of London. A 66 dragged it into the station, ya know. Nick took some alcohol, and ended up drunk, memorex went to bed and smelt like a skunk. Oh, sorry.... .

Arriving back in London, we nearly got taken away, back to Wembley depot where we could have stay. And now my poetry is getting on my nerves, I shall end it now before I am disturbed. Anyway, back in London. Memorex leaves us as I tell him that before 0730 you get off peak fares on Oyster, what bollocks that was . We do various bits and bobs around in London and we all return to Ipswich, only to go our different ways. Nick had a driving lesson and I was bored, so all our trespasses were scored (that sounds very illegal but it isn't, it's me just being odd and trying to rhyme as I'm being rather obsessive like that today).

Oh, and onto the Western on the Saturday. All I can say is MY LORDZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ and recite a simple phrase that Sprog recited "GET IN THERE MY SON!!!!"

I'll let someone else write the story for that.

 

[Coxster]

Your forum poetry isn't a mark on Ramel's. Infact it's dreadful (in non-railway terms)

 

[devon_metro]

Didn't even notice the rhyming till you mentioned it

 

[Jord]

Any pictures from your outing?

 

[Tom]

I didn't really take a camera with me - well I did, but didn't use it.

 

[Jord]

Why not? not even a single picture of a HST and the sleeper(s)

 

[djw1981]

How can you prefer a pendo over a GNER class 91/MkIV combo I hope it wasn't you lot that i heard a guard at Queen St moaning about last week - something about being in a train with loads of kids who weren't using haadphones of their 'consoles' as he called them.....and were disturbing the whole train. Given it was English half term, it would be highly unlikely....

 

[Tom]

Put it this way - the FC fare for the GNER HST was £48.75, the FC fare for the Pendo was £29.75 and we got far more in refreshments and supplies than the GNER train.

We used headphones when we were watching the Simpsons anyway. .

 

[Gizmogle]

Glasgow to Euston FC for £30?

 

[Daniel]

Yep.

 

[Craig]

That McDonalds in Fort William is a lovely place. Last time I was in there the girl who served me had a black eye and was missing some teeth :?

 

[djw1981]

You'd feel right at home then

 

[Gizmogle]

You'd feel right at home then

I'd keep on Craig's good side if I were you

And wow, I'm amazed at the £30 Pendo! I may do that sometime!

 

[djw1981]

As someone born and who grew up in Newcastle and now living in Glasgow, the allegation of pot and kettle with regards to my comments the state of the local populace would be appropriate.

 

[Craig]

I'd keep on Craig's good side if I were you

Why do you say that?

As someone born and who grew up in Newcastle and now living in Glasgow, the allegation of pot and kettle with regards to my comments the state of the local populace would be appropriate.

I don't know about you, but I can safely say that I have all of my teeth and have never worked for McDonalds

 

[Coxster]

I don't know about you, but I can safely say that I have all of my teeth and have never worked for McDonalds

No - just Burger King

 

[Craig]

I don't remember that, must have been back in my student days

 

[djw1981]

I was meaning perhaps the city centre mcdonalds fr a while poaying the lowest of any city centre shops and thus having people working tehre who were doing their 15hrs and claiming benefits because if they didn't work in McD they would lose benefits - same in most major cities, but I was making a poor joke and it flopped.....

 

[Coxster]

I was making a poor joke and it flopped.....

Anything remotely smart is lost on most of us here

 

[RJ]

Your forum poetry isn't a mark on Ramel's. Infact it's dreadful (in non-railway terms)

You're too kind

 

[AJP]

How did you break the 153 door LOL!

 

[class 313]

Proof that Cairns thought Dan stunk...

 

[Jordy]

I did that before by pressing the open button too many times....it hissed and refused to close!

 

[Coxster]

It's not Memmy that Tom is holding his nose at - he's just not really used to the smell of fresh air.

 

[Tom]

Shut it you!!!

 

[Craig]

I did that before by pressing the open button too many times....it hissed and refused to close!

You probably emptied the air reservoir and had to wait for the compressor to fill it up again.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Hi Tom,

I'm very happy that you are yet another member of Rail UK, who shares my opinion that the complimentary Virgin Pendolino First Class service is very good.

I've always thought this myself for many years, and have been ****ed off at the lack of proper service on GNER, hence my lack of using them when I could have.

Yorkie is a great fan of GNER, and, as I almost always say whenever anyone prefers VT over GNER, is brain-washed into thinking that GNER is the best ever provider of high quality FC items.

I chose to go for the expensive Hull Trains option last week between London and Hull. (Would've been Leeds or York if I went with GNER). Why?

Because I would've spent TOO much money in the GNER restaurant, which I've already sampled, but also wouldn't have been able to sit next to the rear PC.

Hull Trains is very expensive, but, like the majority of members on here, I feel that they are the very best restaurant provider.

 

[Techniquest]

Hi Tom,

I'm very happy that you are yet another member of Rail UK, who shares my opinion that the complimentary Virgin Pendolino First Class service is very good.

I've always thought this myself for many years, and have been ****ed off at the lack of proper service on GNER, hence my lack of using them when I could have.

Yorkie is a great fan of GNER, and, as I almost always say whenever anyone prefers VT over GNER, is brain-washed into thinking that GNER is the best ever provider of high quality FC items.

I chose to go for the expensive Hull Trains option last week between London and Hull. (Would've been Leeds or York if I went with GNER). Why?

Because I would've spent TOO much money in the GNER restaurant, which I've already sampled, but also wouldn't have been able to sit next to the rear PC.

Hull Trains is very expensive, but, like the majority of members on here, I feel that they are the very best restaurant provider.

I still reckon the FGW Pullman was one of the best restaurant provisions ever. Hull Trains I don't care for, GNER are too expensive and Virgin I've yet to try.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I'd really like to try a FGW Pullman restaurant service TBH, as they appear to be very good.

Like I say, GNER is just FAR too overpriced, especially for tickets, compared with other TOCs like VWC, and the GNER staff aren't the friendliest ever people i've seen.

MML Staff are very nice, and Hull Trains staff are both friendly and professional.

 

[Craig]

whenever anyone prefers VT over GNER, is brain-washed into thinking that GNER is the best ever provider of high quality FC items.

Surely it all depends on where you live and where you're going? The only long distance journeys I take by train at the moment is Newcastle - London. GNER are the primary operator on this route, so that's who I use. The quality of their service is fairly irrelevant if I want to take a direct train. I guess I could travel via Birmingham if I wanted to use Virgin, but I don't. FWIW I think GNER provide a fairly good service in general (a 'GNER lover' as Captain Stoat would say).