NoMorePacers
Established Member
Heading to South Wales for a couple of days - it was initially planned in April and I've had to scrap heading there 4 times within that timeframe already, hopefully now will be fifth time lucky.
My grand UK trip if I was starting from where I live would be Caledonian Sleeper to Fort Bill, go Mallaig on the Jacobite, boat to Skye and go to Kyle of Localsch, then do the Far North line. Then could get to Aberdeen by going via Inverness or do some island hopping, going to Orkney, Shetland, boat to Aberdeen and then take the 0820 Aberdeen-Penzance train, which would have to be first class if I intend on being able to breathe. From Penzance I could either go to London on a Pullman dining carriage or the Riviera sleeper.I want to so that too, in June for the daylight.
What about Wales and Northern Ireland?My grand UK trip if I was starting from where I live would be Caledonian Sleeper to Fort Bill, go Mallaig on the Jacobite, boat to Skye and go to Kyle of Localsch, then do the Far North line. Then could get to Aberdeen by going via Inverness or do some island hopping, going to Orkney, Shetland, boat to Aberdeen and then take the 0820 Aberdeen-Penzance train, which would have to be first class if I intend on being able to breathe. From Penzance I could either go to London on a Pullman dining carriage or the Riviera sleeper.
Maybe if the Boris tunnel gets built!What about Wales and Northern Ireland?
Is that the Carnforth to York leg? Are they always 37s?A pair of 37s on the Scarborough Spa Express.
Usually.....but it varies. Last year it was a 47 on at least one occasion and on another it was a 33 and 37 in multiple.Is that the Carnforth to York leg? Are they always 37s?
Would love to have the 33 and 37 when I’m on it this yearUsually.....but it varies. Last year it was a 47 on at least one occasion and on another it was a 33 and 37 in multiple.
I require the line, and there is a good nature reserve at the coast.Southport? I think Lytham is better, unless there's a specific reason you want to go to Southport.
I had the pair of 33s a few years back.Usually.....but it varies. Last year it was a 47 on at least one occasion and on another it was a 33 and 37 in multiple.
While you're in the Manchester area you could do NCN Route 66 eastwards along the Calder Valley for some fantastic railway, canal and general industrial archaeology....as well as lots of interesting freight traffic along the parallel railway.I haven't read anyone else's posts on this thread yet, as I'm about to put the phone down to do other stuff. I've been going to post on this thread for a while, so before I dash off, here's a quick-fire list of things I want to do:
- Visit to Salisbury and the surrounding area to see an extremely important friend (as well as doing some sightseeing/cycling)
- Visit to Manchester for trains, trams and general sightseeing
- Bristol for positioning onto the Bristol to Bath cycle route
- Oxford for cycling purposes
- The Wirral for cycling purposes, as well as a bit of 507/508 action just for the fun. Probably head to West Kirby for that gelato cafe and continuing my coverage of the National Cycle Network. Route 89 heading south from memory
- Chester for sightseeing purposes and positioning on to NCN Route 5 heading east
- Lincolnshire for cycling purposes
- Norfolk for all the new trains and cycling purposes
- Essex for trains and cycling
- Kent for more 375s, 465s and 395s as well as cycling
- West Coastway for cycling and 313s
- Isle of Wight for cycling and eventually the 484s
- Land's End as I have never done the famous signpost and I'd like to change that
- Finding 170420 to get that in the (metaphorical) book at long last. Same for 168325 for that matter. Of course there's also the reformed 170s to do, and until lockdown started again I'd made good progress in getting the former /6s before they left WMR.
- Thames Valley Day Ranger to get my 387/1s finished off (plus a couple of leaps on HeX to do that) and hunt the 802s I need on GWR
- Oh, and how could I leave London off this list?! I'm very keen to go and hunt my last lot of S stock for example, as well as general sightseeing, making more progress with NCN Route 4 and of course hunting the many trains I still need there!
There's also 15 megatons of routes I'd like to do in Wales (NCN Route 5 along North Wales as a good example) and Scotland. Still need some 320s in Glasgow for example, and I've a long way to go on the 385s. I'd also like to get to try out the ScotRail HSTs!
While you're in the Manchester area you could do NCN Route 66 eastwards along the Calder Valley for some fantastic railway, canal and general industrial archaeology....as well as lots of interesting freight traffic along the parallel railway.
Better than a Tees Valley Day Ranger? Surely not!Highland rover - following a move my nearest station is in its area!
Get off at Goring & Streatley and ride the Ridgeway. Great views from the trail. Best attempted during a dry spell in mid summer. The Ridgeway crosses the former Didcot, Newbury & Southampton line using the railway overbridge at Churn.- Thames Valley Day Ranger to get my 387/1s finished off (plus a couple of leaps on HeX to do that) and hunt the 802s I need on GWR
Get off at Goring & Streatley and ride the Ridgeway. Great views from the trail. Best attempted during a dry spell in mid summer. The Ridgeway crosses the former Didcot, Newbury & Southampton line using the railway overbridge at Churn.
The Ridgeway is definitely more comfortable on a cross country MTB, although a tourer with off-road tyres would be fine on a dry day. Tourers are pretty tough machines.Ooh, I had forgot that one. Isn't it more suitable for mountain bikers than touring bikes?
The Ridgeway is definitely more comfortable on a cross country MTB, although a tourer with off-road tyres would be fine on a dry day. Tourers are pretty tough machines.
Another place worth riding round is Greenham Common Park (nearest station is Thatcham). Who wouldn't want to ride over a runway that's been used by B52s and SR-71s?
Just had a quick dabble on RTT for 14th April, and a Lancashire Day Ranger seems reasonable. Rochdale, Blackburn, Clitheroe, Langho, Whalley, Blackburn, Preston, Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester Victoria, Rochdale. 3 new shacks, first sampling of 397 and 802 units and a bit of scenery!
The Ridgeway is definitely more comfortable on a cross country MTB, although a tourer with off-road tyres would be fine on a dry day. Tourers are pretty tough machines.
Another place worth riding round is Greenham Common Park (nearest station is Thatcham). Who wouldn't want to ride over a runway that's been used by B52s and SR-71s?