Thanks Yorkie. I presume you don't like the sleeper?
Oh, I loved it when the 37s were on (until June 2006)!
I don't think I could justify the expense any more. It's just not got the same appeal.
I'd recommend doing the Fort William sleeper if only for the staff! Theres something special about calling the request stop at Corrour to climb on the train in the middle of Rannoch Moor. Out of interest has anyone ever sucessfully booked a bargain berth on the west highland line?
Very special line. And yes, there are BBs on this route but very few and they get snapped up as soon as they go on sale.
I remember checking constantly for BBs on the penultimate week of 37s, which was also a bank holiday, and it paid off as I got 2 £19 BBs! When it came to the day we had a group of about 8 (?) of us, the train was completely wedged with people standing in the guards van. Most of us squeezed into the front vestibule until it got dark (around Hellensbrough I think!). The mistake was getting off at Preston; we really should have booked GNER £10 singles from London and stayed on. Getting off at Preston at 4am waiting for a 158 that isn't due 'til after 6am isn't nice.
Another memorable occasion was the Oban trip, when we had exclusive use of front vestibules as none of the other bashers had berths,
'Ginger Fly' tried to sneak up front but was kicked out by a steward and sent back to the rear