Caledonian Sleeper on Radio 4

[tivoli]

Lives in a Landscape: The Longest commute in Britain, was broadcast yesterday, still available in Radio I-Player. Gives a view of the Highland Sleeper from regular users. Might be worth a listen.

 

[Johnuk123]

Thanks I'll have a listen, It's my favourite train by a country mile.

 

[Oliver]

This may work: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n6rb6

 

[marks87]

Listening to it now.

A bit of artistic licence - the sound of a 67 on leaving Euston

 

[eMeS]

I heard a little of it whilst in my car - was surprised to hear that people didn't lock their berth doors at night! Trusting to the point of irresponsibility! (In my opinion, of course.)

 

[Johnuk123]

Just listened to it and found it very interesting.

 

[ainsworth74]

Now I just want to do another sleeper trip Fantastic way to travel, if you've not done it I highly recommend it (specifically the Night Riviera). Good program, thanks for linking

Trusting to the point of irresponsibility! (In my opinion, of course.)

Not really, as the guy said on the program it really is a different world compared to other trains. I locked the door on my first trip, but I've not bothered after that, it just didn't seem necessary. The only thing is that I wish it was possible to lock the door when you're not in it. You could ask the attendant but I'd rather just have my own key.

 

[work-traveller]

After my first time i don't bother locking the door whether I'm in the cabin or not. I'm far more interested in dumping my bag on the bed and heading along to the lounge for a beer and a hot meal.

 

[Be3G]

A lovely documentary, thanks for posting. The sleeper to Fort William is something I'd always wanted to do, and finally went on a couple of months ago. The documentary reminds me how nice an experience it was (despite the lack of sleep).

 

[jon0844]

was surprised to hear that people didn't lock their berth doors at night! Trusting to the point of irresponsibility! (In my opinion, of course.)

Jimmy Saville* can't be on every train.

* If reading this thread in future years, replace with the name of the whoever the media is going after now.

 

[eMeS]

...The documentary reminds me how nice an experience it was (despite the lack of sleep).

Reminds me of when I used to travel to meetings in Scotland by sleeper - I always had difficulty sleeping well on the first night, but on the return journey I slept like a log.

 

[bkhtele]

Thanks for the post, just listened to the iplayer. Great train sounds lots of railway romance. Only done the lowland recently, must do the Inverness soon. Great scenery, the radio reminded me what a super journey it is. Waking up to those views is great & time in the lounge car Is unique.

 

[Johnuk123]

Thanks for the post, just listened to the iplayer. Great train sounds lots of railway romance. Only done the lowland recently, must do the Inverness soon. Great scenery, the radio reminded me what a super journey it is. Waking up to those views is great & time in the lounge car Is unique.

When you go to Inverness/Fortwilliam even in poor weather once your'e well into "proper" Scotland you feel compelled to look out of the window.
The winter scenery especially can be stunning.

Conversely when you're going south and are on the approaches to Euston all you have to look at is childish daubings on infrastructure and the rubbish in peoples backyards.

As soon as I get into Euston all I want to do is get over to Kings Cross so I can get out of London as rapidly as possible.

 

[IanXC]

was surprised to hear that people didn't lock their berth doors at night! Trusting to the point of irresponsibility! (In my opinion, of course.)

I locked my berth behind me when the train was standing in Aberdeen station once, the ScotRail sleeper host positively told me off for locking it! "You shouldn't do that unless we're at Euston!"

 

[Pugwash]

When you go to Inverness/Fortwilliam even in poor weather once your'e well into "proper" Scotland you feel compelled to look out of the window.
The winter scenery especially can be stunning.
.

Combined with a full 'scottish' breakfast it is a journey of wonder.

 

[MattRobinson]

The sleeper train is something I really want to do. Hopefully it won't be too long until I get the opportunity.

 

[DarloRich]

Very interesting - thanks for sharing that !

 

[Tibbs]

Combined with a full 'scottish' breakfast it is a journey of wonder.

Do you get Black Pudding and Square Sausage? I went to University in Scotland and really got used to getting Black Pudding as standard in cooked brekkies.

 

[Bill EWS]

The "Square Sauage" is called Lorne Sausage. Haven't used the sleeper in many years but did so many times over the 70's into the 80's when visiting Skye via Mallaig. It was always an enjoyable run. Never slept much in the down direction and only just slightly on the return. The scenery at first light both in Summer and in Winter was fantastic while enjoying breakfast and the evening light on return journies was also very memorable.

The earlier journies were from Kings Cross to Edinburgh and across to Glasgow QS where you had time to walk around sleeping Glasgow before the depature just after 5am. Next I would look forward to first light and the journey along the Clyde and the start of the Highland scenery from just after Craigandoran. Edinburgh and Glasgow were always busy with Parcels and luggage being exchanged on the platforms.

Later the journey started from Euston and the train split at Mossend. Once while travelling to Oban I got onto the wrong half at Euston and had to get off at Stirling, with quite a wait to get back to Glasgow QS and catch the next service for Oban. That was quite a long journey but made up for it by the weather being sharp and bright all the way to Oban, with many fantastic views. The section between Dalmaly and Connel being very nice, especially passing below Ben Cruachan with Loch Awe streaching southwards and westwards with the ruins of Castle Killhourne standing proudly by the loch side. Cruachan Hydro Station is over 2000 feet above the railway. The next grand view is over Loch Etive with the Ex Connel Railway Bridge still carrying road traffic northwards. The Ballachuilish Branch closed in the 60's and Connel Ferry station Junction is a mere shadow of it's old self. Oban remains hidden by the mountains until you have curved around Glen Crutten and you arrive facing northwards at sea level.

I will never forget the train running into Dalmally station and a Golden Eagle sitting fully in view on the railway fence just a few feet from the carriage window as we drew to a stop. I went for the camera but it decided it had enough and took off before I could get it. A fantastic sight and so close up.

There is so much great scenery on the way that you easily forget how slow the overall journey is. First there is the grand views over Loch Gair and Loch Long followed by Loch Lomond to Crianlarach. Then Horseshoe Curve high above Tyndrum where you seem to be really in the wilderness and Ben Doran dwarfs the trains, Over Rannoch Moor from Bridge Of Orchy and the lonely stations at Rannoch and Corrour. Next passing man-made Loch Treig, where the line was raised fifteen feet to allow for the flooding of the Glen when they built the Hydro Scheme. Next is Monessie gorge between Tulloch and Spean Bridge then the Nevis Range of mountains where you can see skiers high up on Aonach More before Ben Nevis takes over for the final run onto Fort William. Not to forget the spectacular Glen Roy where you can see the Parallel Roads, marks running down the rim of Glen Roy, left by millions of years of a melting glacier. All this well before you even start on the fantastic Mallaig section.

 

[Tibbs]

The "Square Sauage" is called Lorne Sausage.

I know that Lorne Sausage is its officual title, but I never met a Scot who actually called it that. It was always Square Sausage!

 

[marks87]

The name of the non-oval sausage a bit of a contentious topic.

In some places it's "lorne sausage", in others it's "square sausage" and in some parts of deepest darkest Inverclyde, I'm told they call it "slice" (one word...not even "sausage" after it).

 

[class303]

The name of the non-oval sausage a bit of a contentious topic.

In some places it's "lorne sausage", in others it's "square sausage" and in some parts of deepest darkest Inverclyde, I'm told they call it "slice" (one word...not even "sausage" after it).

oh yes. slice it is if you're a greenokian.

 

[marks87]

Sort of relevant - Norman Smith, the BBC's Chief Political Correspondent, has tweeted that he's taking the sleeper from Edinburgh to London tonight.

Good to see "Auntie" doing what it can to promote the service (Although I guess we should wait until his inevitable review in the morning )

 

[Liam]

The name of the non-oval sausage a bit of a contentious topic.

In some places it's "lorne sausage", in others it's "square sausage" and in some parts of deepest darkest Inverclyde, I'm told they call it "slice" (one word...not even "sausage" after it).

I have never heard it called Lorne Sausage, even though I know that's the correct name. I've always called it 'square'.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

I have never heard it called Lorne Sausage, even though I know that's the correct name. I've always called it 'square'.

I have most often heard it referred to (and several times seen it printed in shops and cafés) as "slice sausage" - without the "d".

Only posh people would call it Lorne sausage.

(And "squerr" would be reserved for communicating with non locals to explain the difference).

 

[nag67]

In some places it's "lorne sausage", in others it's "square sausage" and in some parts of deepest darkest Inverclyde, I'm told they call it "slice" (one word...not even "sausage" after it).

Over on the east coast (Montrose) with no clydeside connections we call it "slicey". It was only when I moved from home that I started to call it "square sausage".

Now that I am in Surrey, those that know about it recognise square rather than Lorne.

 

[matchmaker]

Over on the east coast (Montrose) with no clydeside connections we call it "slicey". It was only when I moved from home that I started to call it "square sausage".

Now that I am in Surrey, those that know about it recognise square rather than Lorne.

A former workmate, who used to work in catering, told me that if you'd ever seen it being made you'd never eat it again!

 

[The_Rail_WAy]

Jimmy Saville* can't be on every train.

* If reading this thread in future years, replace with the name of the whoever the media is going after now.

I found this post weird, tasteless, not funny and rather disturbing.

"Whoever the media is going after now" - you can't be serious surely?

 

[jon0844]

Wow, you found it disturbing, even though you're not sure it was serious? That's quite disturbing in itself!!