All Line Rover - With a twist!

[Kite159]

Bare in mind a hotel in the Cornwall area on a Saturday during this time of year might be expensive

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Bare in mind a hotel in the Cornwall area on a Saturday during this time of year might be expensive

Better chance than finding one within 100 miles of the TdeF route!

 

[ASharpe]

Better chance than finding one within 100 miles of the TdeF route!

Just check and beds are still available for Euston to Carlisle for Friday night (arrive 0510), not sure how difficult it will be to get to Hawes from there, but Leeds or Skipton could be easy and scenic.

 

[Techniquest]

Planning is advancing. I was just about done until I learned about the tour de france specials in Northern land. This has thrown a spanner in the works. 57's in Cornwall or 47's in Yorkshire?

47s in Yorkshire, much rarer than 57s in Cornwall! [these days that is at least, obviously not rare at all way back when!]

I too would recommend doing the 1630 EUS-GLC, even if just from PRE. It's quite the novelty to go non-stop through Carlisle, the only reason I did that run on my last ALR. However I don't believe this would appeal to DarloRich, unless 90034 produced with the Pretendalino!

It shouldn't be too bad getting a berth on the NR, as the brats won't be out of school yet. Still, book while you can just in case!

Not long to go until your ALR, do enjoy and I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to see a trip report!

 

[DarloRich]

OK planning done, at least in rough. 7 day FC rover starting 29th June

So :

29th June: MK - Southern Land - Lymington Pier - Ferry to Yarmouth - Bus - Island Line - IOW steam railway (?) - Ryde - Ferry - Portsmouth - Southern land - FGW Sleeper -Cornwall - Penzance

30th June: Penzance (10:10) - Bristol - Cardiff - WAG - Holyhead (Overnight in hotel)

1st July: Holyhead - WAG – Shrewsbury - Llandudno Junc - Llandudno - Llan Junc - Bleaenau Ffestiniog- Ffestiniog Railway – Portmadoc – Bus Harlech – Machynlleth- Birmingham New Street – Euston – Sleeper to Inverness!)

2nd July Inverness – Aberdeen – Edinburgh – North Berwick - Edinburgh – Fife Circular – Glasgow Central (EC) –Lochwinnoch - BED!

3rd July Lochwinnoch – Edinburgh – Kings Cross – Marlyebone – Birmingham – Bicester North –Princes Risborough (bubble)- Aylesbury –Marlyebone- Home

4th July MK – Liverpool Street – Norwich – Great Yarmouth – Norwich – Lowestoft – Norwich-Liverpool Street- Leeds

5th July –Leeds - Northern extras – Leeds

6th July Northern extras – MK

I would appreciate any comments! The 6th is an extra day so would appreciate any suggestions for add on tickets

 

[Buttsy]

Would suggest a West Yorkshire Metrocard or a South Pennines Day Ranger for the 6th and avoid these lines on the 5th as far as possible.

I am assuming they are still available.

 

[FQ]

OK planning done, at least in rough. 7 day FC rover starting 29th June

So :

29th June: MK - Southern Land - Lymington Pier - Ferry to Yarmouth - Bus - Island Line - IOW steam railway (?) - Ryde - Ferry - Portsmouth - Southern land - FGW Sleeper -Cornwall - Penzance

30th June: Penzance (10:10) - Bristol - Cardiff - WAG - Holyhead (Overnight in hotel)

1st July: Holyhead - WAG – Shrewsbury - Llandudno Junc - Llandudno - Llan Junc - Bleaenau Ffestiniog- Ffestiniog Railway – Portmadoc – Bus Harlech – Machynlleth- Birmingham New Street – Euston – Sleeper to Inverness!)

2nd July Inverness – Aberdeen – Edinburgh – North Berwick - Edinburgh – Fife Circular – Glasgow Central (EC) –Lochwinnoch - BED!

3rd July Lochwinnoch – Edinburgh – Kings Cross – Marlyebone – Birmingham – Bicester North –Princes Risborough (bubble)- Aylesbury –Marlyebone- Home

4th July MK – Liverpool Street – Norwich – Great Yarmouth – Norwich – Lowestoft – Norwich-Liverpool Street- Leeds

5th July –Leeds - Northern extras – Leeds

6th July Northern extras – MK

I would appreciate any comments! The 6th is an extra day so would appreciate any suggestions for add on tickets

When doing the Bubble 121, they don't go from Bicester North. They only do Aylesbury-Princes Risborough. I guess you will do a 67 from London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street as doing a 168 is hell.
Hope you have a good time,
Fishquinn.
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Would suggest a West Yorkshire Metrocard or a South Pennines Day Ranger for the 6th and avoid these lines on the 5th as far as possible.

I am assuming they are still available.

The WYTPE metro card isn't valid to Skipton or Harrogate.

 

[Techniquest]

IOW steam railway (?)

It should be, but make sure it's running first! Personally I didn't think much of the line at all when I did it, the Island Line is far more entertaining and well worth making the trip for on its own. I need to return myself for 483002 and 008, hmm maybe I should look to do that this year...

Ferry

I must highly recommend the hovercraft from Esplanade, it's a much more thoroughly entertaining way to cross from the Isle of Wight than a ferry! You can get either the shuttle bus (extra ching, although I confess I can't remember how much it was in 2012) to Southsea station or walk it, which took me around 40 minutes IIRC. I also recall the walk takes you past two Wetherspoons, not far from each other either, if that sweetens the deal!

I would appreciate any comments! The 6th is an extra day so would appreciate any suggestions for add on tickets

As already suggested, a West Yorkshire Train Only Day Rover would probably cover quite a bit. I've not looked at any of the details for the TdF extras, not possible for me to get up there for them sadly, so that much someone else will surely know plenty on. South Pennines Day Ranger, that should cover at least some of the extras but again, not sure.

Finally for now at least, will you be taking advantage of the 442s while on Southern territory? After all they're an endangered species now with new trains due in either 2016 or 2018!

 

[DarloRich]

I am thinking again about the Wales & Scotland legs of the tour so would appreciate any ideas.

Is it with doing the suggested routing in Wales or should I just chug back towards Cardiff on the WAG? What will give me best value from the first class ticket?

In Scotland I wonder if it is more sensible to change my sleeper booking (if I can!) to the Aberdeen portion rather than the Inverness portion as this gives me better connections back south by EC. Alternately I could bail off the Inverness sleeper at Aviemore and catch the chieftain south.

I would also appreciate any suggestions for routings in Southern land to fill the day in before the Penzance sleeper.

 

[Kite159]

Just remember to wear fire proof underwear if you decide to travel on the 442s, they have a habit of catching fire

What is the WAG?

 

[FQ]

What is the WAG?

The class 67 from Holyhead-Cardiff and back.

 

[David Goddard]

We did one in 2012 and covered over five thousand miles in two weeks. The first part was branch ticking, where we covered all of Cornwall, Devon and Wales, whereas the second part was a gradual tour around the network principally on mainlines but with a good bit of criss-crossing on the last few days. Included the WAG which was great.

Presently mid way through planning another (just one week this time) and definitely going for mileage, hoping to hit 5000 in seven days this time, highlights being:
*Sleeper from Reading on day 1 (again) to get an early start in Cornwall
*XC, EC and GW HST runs from Paignton to Glasgow, Aberdeen to London, Newcastle to Plymouth and Plymouth to London
*Chiltern Mainline Silver
*TPX 350 from Manchester to Carlisle
*Maybe the WAG again
Also to fill in with scenic routes like S&C and Glasgow to Aberdeen

 

[DarloRich]

We did one in 2012 and covered over five thousand miles in two weeks. The first part was branch ticking, where we covered all of Cornwall, Devon and Wales, whereas the second part was a gradual tour around the network principally on mainlines but with a good bit of criss-crossing on the last few days. Included the WAG which was great.

Presently mid way through planning another (just one week this time) and definitely going for mileage, hoping to hit 5000 in seven days this time, highlights being:
*Sleeper from Reading on day 1 (again) to get an early start in Cornwall
*XC, EC and GW HST runs from Paignton to Glasgow, Aberdeen to London, Newcastle to Plymouth and Plymouth to London
*Chiltern Mainline Silver
*TPX 350 from Manchester to Carlisle
*Maybe the WAG again
Also to fill in with scenic routes like S&C and Glasgow to Aberdeen

It seems sensible to start the rover by boarding the FGW sleeper at Reading for maximum usage and I think I dropped a ball there! I will know for next time!

I am still unsure about the Wales section. I would appreciate any comments on options

I have decided to bail off the sleeper at Avimore and wait for the south bound EC. I have been to Inverness many moons ago so the sleeper was just a way of getting to Scotland and filling in time. Shame not to make it all the way mind! I really wanted the Fort William sleeper but I will save that for another time as it was booked solid.

 

[FQ]

I am still unsure about the Wales section. I would appreciate any comments on options

With the 10:10 from Penzance to Bristol there isn't one but there is a 10:00 to Paddington, but it avoids Bristol so non stop from Taunton to Reading. If you wanted to get out of Penzance on a HST then I think you should do the 10:00 FGW service from PNZ-RDG getting there at 14:52 and then transfer onto the 14:59 FGW service to Swindon getting there at 15:30 and then onto the 15:41 service to Cardiff Central getting there at 16:48. Then you only have about a half hour wait for the WAG. Hope this helps.

Fishquinn.

 

[Kite159]

The class 67 from Holyhead-Cardiff and back.

Ta

I might look into doing a 7-day First Class ALR next year

 

[DarloRich]

Detailed plan DAY 1:

0642 Milton Keynes - Euston 0744

tube (Northern Line)

0835 Waterloo - Brockenhurst 1017

1029 Brockenhurst - Lymington Pier 1039

1115 Lymington Pier (FERRY) Yarmouth 1150

1225 Yarmouth (BUS no7) Newport 1300

1310 Newport (BUS no9) Wooton 1320 (£10 day rover ticket)

1433 Wooton (IOW Steam railway) Smallbrook Junction 1502 (£12)

1515 Smallbrook Junction - Shanklin 1530

1538 Shanklin - Ryde Pier Head 1602

1647 Ryde Pier head (Ferry) Portsmouth Harbour 17:09

1744 Portsmouth Harbour - Hove 1854

1901 Hove - Brighton 1905

Brighton 1920 - Ashford 21:08

Ashford 21:13 - St Pancras 21:51

TUBE (Hammersmith & City/Circle)

Paddington - FGW Sleeper!


OR

Brighton 1920 - Hastings 2026

Hastings 2050 - Charing Cross 2234

TUBE (Bakerloo)

Paddington - FGW Sleeper!

(PHEW!)

Any comments/advice greatly accepted!
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DAY 2 – Monday 30th June

…… FGW Sleeper Penzance 0855

(IF earlier enough 0857 Penzance – St Ives 0919)

(St Ives 0922 – St Erth 0935)

1000 Penzance (St Erth 1010) – Taunton 1332

1351 Taunton – Bristol Parkway 1438

1509 Bristol Parkway – Cardiff Central 1550

1606 Cardiff Central – Cardiff Queen Street 1608

1612 Cardiff Queen Street - Cardiff Bay 1614

1616 Cardiff Bay – Cardiff Queen Street 1621

1634 Cardiff Queen Street – Cardiff Central 1641

1716 – Cardiff Central – Holyhead 2141

Hotel!
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DAY 3 – Tuesday 1st July

0533 Holyhead – Cardiff Central 0958.

1010 Cardiff Central – Barry Island 1038

1041 Barry Island – Barry 1045

1105 Barry - Bridgend 1137

1209 Bridgend – Swansea 1243

1328 Swansea – Cardiff 1422

1428 Cardiff Central – Penarth 1444

1447 Penarth – Cardiff Central 1501

1506 Cardiff Central – Radyr 1523

1534 Radyr – Coryton 1611

Coryton 1615 – Cardiff Central 1633

1725 Cardiff Central - Paddington 1931

Tube (Hammersmith & City /Circle) Euston Sqaure

Euston Sqaure – Walk – Euston

1st class lounge + Shower

2115 Scotrail Sleeper - Avimore!
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Day 4 Wednesday 2nd July

……Scotrail Sleeper – Aviemore 0743

0830 Aviemore – Darlington 1324

1405 Darlington – Edinburgh 1611

1708 Edinburgh – Edinburgh 1931

1943 Edinburgh – North Berwick 2016

2026 North Berwick – Edinburgh 2059

2114 Edinburgh – Glasgow Central 2228

2245 Glasgow Central – Johnstone 2259

Day 5 Thursday 3rd July

0636 Lochwinnoch – Glasgow Central 0707

0737 Glasgow Central – Euston 1210

WALK TO EUSTON SQUARE TUBE

E[] (Circle/Metropolitan/H&S then Bakerloo) Marylebone

1315 Marylebone – Birmingham Moor Street 1454

1555 Birmingham Moor Street – Bicester North 1653

1702 Bicester North – Princes Risborough 1719

1800 Princes Risborough - Aylesbury 1816

1824 Aylesbury –Aylesbury Vale Parkway 1830

1918 Aylesbury Vale Parkway - Marylebone 2033

TUBE Marylebone (Bakerloo then Circle/Metropolitan/H&S) E[]

2103 Euston – MKC 2133

TAXI!

Day 6 Friday 4th July

0703 Fenny Stratford - Bletchley 0708

0715 Bletchley – Euston 0804

WALK TO EUSTON SQUARE

TUBE TO LIVERPOOL STREET (H&S/Circle/Metropolitan)

1000 Liverpool Street – Norwich 1148

1236 Norwich – Great Yarmouth 1312

1317 Great Yarmouth – Norwich 1352

1455 Norwich – Lowestoft 1537

1548 Lowestoft – Norwich 1637

1657 Norwich – Peterborough 1824

1837 Peterborough – Leeds 2018

TAXI!

Day 7 Saturday 5th July

0812 Leeds – Scarborough 0927

0950 Scarborough - Leeds 1105

1201 Leeds – Harrogate 1235

1249 Harrogate – Leeds 1320

1436 Leeds – Harrogate 1509

1519 Harrogate – Leeds 1550

1612 Leeds – Malton 1703

1713 Malton – Leeds 1805

1823 Leeds – Harrogate 1857

1923 Harrogate – Leeds 1949

1959 Leeds – Harrogate 2023

2036 Harrogate – Leeds 2111
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Day 8 Sunday 6th July – BUY SOUTH PENNINE DAY RANGER

0829 Leeds – Hebden Bridge 0913

0948 Hebden Bridge – Leeds 1044

1109 Leeds – York 1139

1200 York – Manchester Piccadilly 1330

1400 Manchester Piccadilly – Sheffield 1505

1517 Sheffield – Derby 1602

1635 Derby – Birmingham New Street 1720

1806 Birmingham New Street – MKC 1858

TAXI!
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just a quick update with he promise of a proper report to come (i have kept notes for that very purpose) nearly ay the end of day 3 and heading north on the sleeper. plan has worked well.but i enjoyed wag so much i changed plans to do it some more!

voyager/meridian/pendo milage =Zero!

 

[crispy1978]

Day 7 Saturday 5th July

0812 Leeds – Scarborough 0927

0950 Scarborough - Leeds 1105

1201 Leeds – Harrogate 1235

1249 Harrogate – Leeds 1320

1436 Leeds – Harrogate 1509

1519 Harrogate – Leeds 1550

1612 Leeds – Malton 1703

1713 Malton – Leeds 1805

1823 Leeds – Harrogate 1857

1923 Harrogate – Leeds 1949

1959 Leeds – Harrogate 2023

2036 Harrogate – Leeds 2111

Out of interest, what's with the repeat Leeds-Harrogate section?

 

[DarloRich]

there are , i think, 2 sets of loco hauled trains and some hst running to surrogate at the weekend so trying to cover them all - please let me know if not as i will change plans

 

[FQ]

I am looking forward to the trip report and if you missed any trains. Hope you had a good time.

 

[DarloRich]

It went quite well really! There was some changes to the plan but i got 95% of what i wanted to do done! I missed the Chiltern bubble but as it is only a short distance from home i not to concerned. It turned into a bit of a loco hauled bonaza!

I will write up a report as soon as i can but i have loads of photos to process!

 

[Tim R-T-C]

It went quite well really! There was some changes to the plan but i got 95% of what i wanted to do done! I missed the Chiltern bubble but as it is only a short distance from home i not to concerned. It turned into a bit of a loco hauled bonaza!

I will write up a report as soon as i can but i have loads of photos to process!

It might take a while - I still haven't sorted out the photos from my not-an-ALR 6 day trip in March 2013!

 

[Techniquest]

I have a megaton of photos to sort out from several years, so I can understand that one!

Looking forward to the write-up too

 

[DarloRich]

I have a megaton of photos to sort out from several years, so I can understand that one!

Looking forward to the write-up too

Trying to get though the pictures but will write u pa report as i made copious notes! I did change one day as i couldn't face a day chuntering about on units in Wales

I am VERY pleased to announce that my Voyager mileage was..................... 0!

(Although i did get 2 Pendolinos )

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Funny thing is I did so much Voyager mileage on my trips I forever associate the class with my railtours now. Makes the trips more pleasant!

 

[Techniquest]

I am VERY pleased to announce that my Voyager mileage was..................... 0!

Congrats

Have you ever been on a Voyager though, just out of curiosity?

 

[DarloRich]

Congrats

Have you ever been on a Voyager though, just out of curiosity?

I use them loads - i just dislike them and didn't want to go on trains i use everyday.

 

[Techniquest]

I use them loads - i just dislike them and didn't want to go on trains i use everyday.

Ahhhh, fair shout

 

[DarloRich]

Day one pictures now done: https://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/sets/72157645601445865/
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Day 2 pics up: https://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/sets/72157645601445865/

 

[dfurn]

Looking at DarloRich's itinerary above I'm not too clear about what extras he's having to pay for. Is the Rover valid on the ferry to the Isle of Wight? Thought it was not. Also is it valid on HS1? I know it is valid on Southeastern but that might not convince all train staff. Interesting to note it's valid on London Overground also.

 

[DarloRich]

Looking at DarloRich's itinerary above I'm not too clear about what extras he's having to pay for. Is the Rover valid on the ferry to the Isle of Wight? Thought it was not. Also is it valid on HS1? I know it is valid on Southeastern but that might not convince all train staff. Interesting to note it's valid on London Overground also.

I paid for the IoW ferries. i got an online voucher code thing for foot passengers which made the return ticket very cheap
I paid for the bus on the IoW - i got a £10 day rover valid on all Southern Vectis services.
I paid extra for both sleeper berths.
I paid for one hotel. With some brain power i could have avoided that by getting of the WAG at Chester, going to Crewe and doing the sleeper form there.
No one checked my ticket on HS1 so i dont know if it was valid. I assumed it was, perhaps wrongly!

BTW - day 7 pictures now up (one more day to go ): https://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/sets/72157645601445865/