North West Round Robin

[crispy1978]

I'm having a think about this one in April.

Got a plan which works (left it at work - will add in the morning)

I don't need to do Leeds-Preston as I've done that numerous times.

Going to slip in a slight detour to Heysham Port as that's on my route.

Should tick off 25ish stations I think and should be a fairly relaxed day.

Think the general route is:

Scarborough-Leeds-Heysham-Lancaster-Carlisle-Shipley-Bradford Forster Square-Leeds-Scarborough (don't quote me on that though till I've confirmed!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The planned route is:

0748 Scarborough - Leeds 0904
1019 Leeds - Heysham Port 1253
1315 Heysham Port - Lancaster 1342
1455 Lancaster - Carlisle 1545
1618 Carlisle - Shipley 1848
1859 Shipley - Bradford Forster Square 1907
1931 Bradford Forster Square - Leeds 1954
2012 Leeds - Scarborough 2130

Got time in Leeds to get my ticket, and have a bite to eat - time in Lancaster for food/beverages, etc

I think it ticks 34 stations off my list - so will involve some new territory for me.

Can anyone see any holes in the plan?

 

[185143]

I'm having a think about this one in April.

Got a plan which works (left it at work - will add in the morning)

I don't need to do Leeds-Preston as I've done that numerous times.

Going to slip in a slight detour to Heysham Port as that's on my route.

Should tick off 25ish stations I think and should be a fairly relaxed day.

Think the general route is:

Scarborough-Leeds-Heysham-Lancaster-Carlisle-Shipley-Bradford Forster Square-Leeds-Scarborough (don't quote me on that though till I've confirmed!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The planned route is:

0748 Scarborough - Leeds 0904
1019 Leeds - Heysham Port 1253
1315 Heysham Port - Lancaster 1342
1455 Lancaster - Carlisle 1545
1618 Carlisle - Shipley 1848
1859 Shipley - Bradford Forster Square 1907
1931 Bradford Forster Square - Leeds 1954
2012 Leeds - Scarborough 2130

Got time in Leeds to get my ticket, and have a bite to eat - time in Lancaster for food/beverages, etc

I think it ticks 34 stations off my list - so will involve some new territory for me.

Can anyone see any holes in the plan?

Contingency plan if VT aren't behaving themselves?

Other than that, no and have a good one!
Id also take this opportunity to promote the North West and East Rovers.

 

[crispy1978]

Contingency plan if VT aren't behaving themselves?

Other than that, no and have a good one!
Id also take this opportunity to promote the North West and East Rovers.

Thanks. Will have a look at contingency plans!

The NE and NW look great but gotta be day trips really as the wife doesn't get my fascination!!

 

[adrock1976]

Thanks. Will have a look at contingency plans!

The NE and NW look great but gotta be day trips really as the wife doesn't get my fascination!!

Regarding if VT has a sick day, there is also the TP Glasgow/Edinburgh alternative along the Lancaster & Carlisle too.

My partner is the same with me too, regarding my fascination with railways and trains.

I have explained to her that as I'm an avid fan of Birmingham's finest Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Napalm Death, my fascination with railways and trains is metal isn't it?

In peace

Adam

 

[47403]

I have explained to her that as I'm an avid fan of Birmingham's finest Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Napalm Death, my fascination with railways and trains is metal isn't it?

Cheers

Adam

not so sure of Napalm Death but i certainly go along with Sabbath and Priest.
Have a good day, NW and NE rovers are good value.

 

[crispy1978]

The VT position I can monitor during the day and make a decision based on that.

Keeping my eye on pesky engineering works now. Majority of my travel is Northern so will have my eyes peeled to their website in the forthcoming weeks.

Still planning another one for later in the year - had my eyes on Lincolnshire but the services are too irregular.

 

[crispy1978]

Got this one penciled in for either 30/3, 31/3 or 1/4 - with a minor change to the original plan:

0738 Scarborough - Leeds 0904
1019 Leeds - Heysham Port 1300
1317 Heysham Port - Lancaster 1344
1455 Lancaster - Carlisle 1545
1618 Carlisle - Skipton 1823
1832 Skipton - Bradford Forster Square 1909
1931 Bradford Forster Square - Leeds 1954
2012 Leeds - Scarborough 2130

My contigencies are to avoid the Heysham bit if that service is delayed, and keep my eye on the WCML via RTT - if the train is delayed from Carlisle to Leeds, I can always skip the Bradford bit too.

I've checked the websites (TPE, NR and VT) and not come across any engineering works.

Can anyone see any holes in my plan that I have missed? Is there any one day which would be better than the other does anyone think?

Edit - realised some of the train times have changed slightly - will amend these in the morning! - now edited in green!

 

[Techniquest]

Why the +71 at Lancaster on the way up to Carlisle?

 

[crispy1978]

Why the +71 at Lancaster on the way up to Carlisle?

I thought that would a) would give me a buffer and b) chance to have a look at the town and grab some lunch.

Would there be a better place to break the journey in your opinion? Carlisle would be the other option I guess?

 

[Techniquest]

Didn't think of that

Lancaster centre is roughly 10 minutes walk each way, from what I recall from an ALR. Might be slightly less or slightly more, I would need to reference my trip report for that ALR! I do seem to recall the walk back to the station goes up a bit of a significant hill for a short distance, so worth remembering that in planning what time to head back to the station, you won't want to be rushing after all!

However, never fear as there is thankfully plenty of choices of eateries in Lancaster! Granted I only settled on McDonalds when I did the trip, first and only time I've ever done Lancaster centre, but I did see other places. I don't remember what they were as this was in summer 2012, so the memory's a little hazy

 

[crispy1978]

Didn't think of that

Lancaster centre is roughly 10 minutes walk each way, from what I recall from an ALR. Might be slightly less or slightly more, I would need to reference my trip report for that ALR! I do seem to recall the walk back to the station goes up a bit of a significant hill for a short distance, so worth remembering that in planning what time to head back to the station, you won't want to be rushing after all!

However, never fear as there is thankfully plenty of choices of eateries in Lancaster! Granted I only settled on McDonalds when I did the trip, first and only time I've ever done Lancaster centre, but I did see other places. I don't remember what they were as this was in summer 2012, so the memory's a little hazy

It's only really just to stretch the legs - so wasn't too fussed where I stopped but by the same token I wanted it to be somewhere roughly halfway, and lunch time generally.

I'll have a look at the map in more detail at Lancaster and see what it's like.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Will be doing this on Tuesday.

Have followed the route on RTT every day for the last 2 weeks and it's only failed once, and that was due to a late running VT from Lancaster to Carlisle, but I can use RTT on the day and follow that - plus I have other train options on that route.

Looking forward to it - the scenery should be good, and plenty of new stations to tick off too!

 

[Techniquest]

Hope it's a good time, weather forecast was looking OK for that area earlier, I've got strong winds to contend with on my way to work!

 

[yorkie]

Got time in Leeds to get my ticket....

Or you could get it at Scarborough. The Guard on your first train would probably be willing to issue it too.

As for this:

1859 Shipley - Bradford Forster Square 1907
1931 Bradford Forster Square - Leeds 1954
​

That's not enough time in Bradford to do much so you may want to maximise mileage instead:

1859 Shipley - Baildon 1856
1910 Baildon - Bradford Forster Square 1923
​

(or if your train is on time, go for the +4 at Guiseley, alighting at the rear of the train)

 

[30907]

Your trains at Bradford are normally the same unit. Might be worth going through to Shipley though if the Carlisle is delayed, P3 for other trains to BDQ.

At Lancaster, unless it's just food you're after, turn left on the footpath from the main station entrance and head for the Castle and Priory.

 

[crispy1978]

Hope it's a good time, weather forecast was looking OK for that area earlier, I've got strong winds to contend with on my way to work!

Thanks - looks wet potentially wet at times but apart from when out and about I'm not too bothered so long as it's not misty/foggy!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Or you could get it at Scarborough. The Guard on your first train would probably be willing to issue it too.

As for this:

1859 Shipley - Bradford Forster Square 1907
1931 Bradford Forster Square - Leeds 1954
​

That's not enough time in Bradford to do much so you may want to maximise mileage instead:

1859 Shipley - Baildon 1856
1910 Baildon - Bradford Forster Square 1923
​

(or if your train is on time, go for the +4 at Guiseley, alighting at the rear of the train)

I'd love to have got to Ilkley but can't see a way of doing it unfortunately - and I don't want to set off any earlier/later.

If anyone can see a way, please let me know

 

[Bevan Price]

If WCML misbehaves, you have a 18:14 Carlisle - Leeds (arr. 20:50), with connections available for Scarborough, although you might then need to omit Bradford.

 

[crispy1978]

Your trains at Bradford are normally the same unit. Might be worth going through to Shipley though if the Carlisle is delayed, P3 for other trains to BDQ.

At Lancaster, unless it's just food you're after, turn left on the footpath from the main station entrance and head for the Castle and Priory.

Yeah, straight through to Leeds would be a back-up plan if there are delays.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If WCML misbehaves, you have a 18:14 Carlisle - Leeds (arr. 20:50), with connections available for Scarborough, although you might then need to omit Bradford.

Thanks - I've seen that, would only use in an emergency if there were issues on the Lancaster-Carlisle section when we are onboard.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Unforeseen circumstances caused this to be postponed last night.