Saturday 5th December 2015, 0634 York - Dundee VTEC on H.S.T. (I am a semi-regular traveller, making that return journey once every month or so).
There were diversions on the Tyne Valley line that month, and it was the first time I had experienced that route, and was looking forward to a "bit of a change".
However, that was the first day of the big storms of December. The first hour was uneventful, and we departed Newcastle without issue, passing the Metro Centre and headed West. The rain had been falling steadily throughout, and much of the night before - and continued to gather force, and looking from the window the Tyne broke it's banks, showing little regard for obstacles - small trees were being pulled from their roots, fences were toppling and no mercy was shown for anything in it's way. We got as far as Bardon Mill and the train ground to a halt - while the rain had slightly relented by this point, the flood waters were still cascading ever faster down the northern Pennine hills, and the track was close to flooding. Several personnel disembarked the train and met with signallers and we waited what seemed like an eternity (in reality just about an hour) before a cheer went up as the Train Manager announced we would proceed but at near enough walking pace until we had cleared the area which was at threat of going underwater (at a guess about a mile of track), and with a view on reviewing the situation at Carlisle - with reports that the Borders were now facing the onslaught of the weather (I'm sure many will remember the scenes of flooding on the news that week from Cumbria). There had been an initial announcement that we may have to return and terminate at Newcastle when the train first stopped - which would have meant northbound passengers would have faced a dilemma, as I believe the main line was closed between Morpeth and Alnmouth.
Despite being an early train, there were a couple of "Hen Parties" on board, who had got a little, shall we say, "lively" by this point, and the Buffet sold out of near enough anything worth having! However, it was all taken in reasonably good humour, and to be honest no one seemed to be that bothered by the ever-increasing volume levels of fellow passengers who had turned to the "party pop" once we headed onwards towards our destinations.
I eventually arrived at Dundee around about 2.45pm - two and a quarter hours late - with the original diversion it was just short of a six hour run (12.27 arrival), but this ended up being a journey of over eight hours - twice the usual length give or take a few minutes on the usual route. However, I was just pleased to have arrived, and utilised the "Delay / Repay" scheme. One thing I did learn from that trip was, being a "larger gentleman", nowadays I rarely book journeys in excess of an hour in standard class , choosing instead to book in advance and go first class - the extra legroom is invaluable! I had a rather nasty bout of cramp around about Moffat on that unusually long journey!
To be fair, we were the luckier passengers that day - had I selected a later train it is unlikely I would have got to my destination at all.