John Luxton
Established Member
Reading comments about coach tours and heritage railways makes me think of an experience when I was in my early teens. I wanted to visit the Talyllyn railway in the early 70s. My father was reluctant to take me in the car as he had managed to get spectacularly lost on a trip to the Ffestiniog Railway when rather than follow the route I had plotted he said he knew the way to Porthmadog but that is another story.
Anyway, as there were to direct links from Liverpool by train I decided to book along with my grandmother what was advertised by a local coach tour operator as a "Talyllyn Railway Railtour".
Well what a disappointment it was.
We had an hour and a half refreshment break in Dolgellau, where it was still possible to see the remains of the station - the only compensation - then back on the coach for the remaining run to Tywyn.
Coach dropped us off at the Wharf. I expected the coach to park up and say give us several hours to go for the trip etc.
Oh no. "Ask for a single ticket to Dolgoch" said the driver and will be waiting in the car park to pick you up! The train was already busy when about 40 coach passengers had to be shoehorned in, it had also started to rain. I recall being sat somewhere in the middle of one of the original TR carriages with my grandmother who had decided to come, sat opposite. Saw nothing of the scenery, had to squeeze our way out at Dolgoch go back to the coach which then promptly drove off and headed to Bala for another lengthy refreshment break.
We never made it to Abergynolwyn! Nant Gwernol wasn't yet open.
What a miserable day out. Having been so used to being able to do "round trips" on visiting other heritage lines this was a total disappointment and I decided never to go on a coach to a heritage railway again!
Around 2.5 hours were wasted on refreshment breaks when if we had just had a quick toilet stop there would have been more than enough time to have just parked the coach at Tywyn and allowed everyone to do the round trip at a more leisurely pace.
Eight years ago I did a Round the British Isles Cruise which included a call at Holyhead. One of the shore options was a trip to the Ffestiniog Railway for £60! Yes, you have guessed it one way only Porthmadog to Blaenau.
As an FR member and regular visitor I have been used to seeing these one way coach trips and still reckon they are poor value and a poor experience. I am not blaming the railways but I just find coaches excursions to heritage railways a bad experience.
Anyway, as there were to direct links from Liverpool by train I decided to book along with my grandmother what was advertised by a local coach tour operator as a "Talyllyn Railway Railtour".
Well what a disappointment it was.
We had an hour and a half refreshment break in Dolgellau, where it was still possible to see the remains of the station - the only compensation - then back on the coach for the remaining run to Tywyn.
Coach dropped us off at the Wharf. I expected the coach to park up and say give us several hours to go for the trip etc.
Oh no. "Ask for a single ticket to Dolgoch" said the driver and will be waiting in the car park to pick you up! The train was already busy when about 40 coach passengers had to be shoehorned in, it had also started to rain. I recall being sat somewhere in the middle of one of the original TR carriages with my grandmother who had decided to come, sat opposite. Saw nothing of the scenery, had to squeeze our way out at Dolgoch go back to the coach which then promptly drove off and headed to Bala for another lengthy refreshment break.
We never made it to Abergynolwyn! Nant Gwernol wasn't yet open.
What a miserable day out. Having been so used to being able to do "round trips" on visiting other heritage lines this was a total disappointment and I decided never to go on a coach to a heritage railway again!
Around 2.5 hours were wasted on refreshment breaks when if we had just had a quick toilet stop there would have been more than enough time to have just parked the coach at Tywyn and allowed everyone to do the round trip at a more leisurely pace.
Eight years ago I did a Round the British Isles Cruise which included a call at Holyhead. One of the shore options was a trip to the Ffestiniog Railway for £60! Yes, you have guessed it one way only Porthmadog to Blaenau.
As an FR member and regular visitor I have been used to seeing these one way coach trips and still reckon they are poor value and a poor experience. I am not blaming the railways but I just find coaches excursions to heritage railways a bad experience.