Anyone planning 2016 yet?

[theblackwatch]

The first few months of next year are already taking shape. BLS tour in Jan, Czech tour or SWT Centenary event in Feb, a week in Switzerland in March, Irish railtour in April, tours in Slovakia/Czech and Croatian/Bosnia in June are all things on the horizon, tho I may not do them all. Apart from that, it's looking pretty quiet :P

 

[hassaanhc]

I'll still be doing monthly trips to London, of the 12-13 hour variety. Especially so now that the end of Stagecoach London's Trident fleet is nigh, what with the latest tender news suggesting most of the 300 or so remaining Tridents will be out of London by mid-2016. I'll be trying to catch as many as possible, given these have been around East London pretty much as long as I can remember. Lovely buses they are, Stagecoach have maintained them brilliantly.

Not the Plumstead 53-reg ones though! Bloody knackered things they've sent us here at Barking hate when one turns up on the 101.

It'll be a Monday if a Great Escape occurs again, of course I will announce my visit to the area when it is known.

Certainly a group bash sounds good!

I'd love a Great Escape, but mainly to clear the awkward branches:
St Albans Abbey
Marston Vale
Chase (and both routes to Walsall)
Stratford via both Whitlock's End and Dorridge
Shrewsbury
Worcester (both Shrub Hill and Foregate Street) to Hereford

As for elsewhere, I'd quite like to go on the Cumbrian Coast. Would rather do it in the summer, after my exams but before I move out of uni. Probably combined with a Cheshire Day Ranger the day before (really want some 319 thrash ) and stay overnight . Closer to home it is a Southern Daysave that needs doing, but once the Uckfield line is completely open again.

 

[Techniquest]

Oh yes, Europe needs visiting again, not been for quite a while! JakeF, Vilinus sounds interesting, where are you flying from? I've fancied doing Lithuania for a few years, which only came about after working with someone from there.

I've never done Spain at all, so I might have to pop over there next year!

 

[Kite159]

Not the Plumstead 53-reg ones though! Bloody knackered things they've sent us here at Barking hate when one turns up on the 101.



I'd love a Great Escape, but mainly to clear the awkward branches:
St Albans Abbey
Marston Vale
Chase (and both routes to Walsall)
Stratford via both Whitlock's End and Dorridge
Shrewsbury
Worcester (both Shrub Hill and Foregate Street) to Hereford

As for elsewhere, I'd quite like to go on the Cumbrian Coast. Would rather do it in the summer, after my exams but before I move out of uni. Probably combined with a Cheshire Day Ranger the day before (really want some 319 thrash ) and stay overnight . Closer to home it is a Southern Daysave that needs doing, but once the Uckfield line is completely open again.

Might I suggest a West Midlands Day Ranger, which should some of those lines?

-----

My first big trip of 2016 is booked, to Edinburgh on the 16th January, staying overnight and returning on the 17th January. Currently the idea is to do a Central Scotland Rover to try and clear the shacks on the North Berwick services & the Fife circle, with maybe a quick trip down the Borders Line.

 

[Merseysider]

Oh yes, Europe needs visiting again, not been for quite a while! JakeF, Vilinus sounds interesting, where are you flying from? I've fancied doing Lithuania for a few years, which only came about after working with someone from there.

I've never done Spain at all, so I might have to pop over there next year!

The great thing about Europe is there's always somewhere you haven't been yet! Flying from Frankfurt Hahn (which isn't really Frankfurt at all) and I'm not quite sure what to expect once I'm in Vilnius. Apparently most of the touristy places have a basic grasp of English which is just as well, as I can't speak a word of Lithuanian

Hope you enjoy America btw, I'd like to travel there sometime as well What sort of things have you got planned for New York?

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks, I plan to enjoy my first taste of America! Just sightseeing stuff planned for New York, as well as some minor Subway bashing no doubt.

I'm told Lithuania is a beautiful place, but gets very cold indeed in winter, so prepare for it and take warm clothing!

 

[fowler9]

Not been to Lithuania but went to Estonia in July and am going to Latvia in February. What I have seen so far of the Baltic states has been interesting. Off to Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia this weekend in that there Poland. A big plus point is how cheap the flights are, £37 return to Riga, accommodation about £32 for 2 nights.

 

[Segedunum]

Let me see, 2016...

-First thing of the year will be the HSTs via the Durham Coast, something that should be quite interesting!
-May 2016 i'm off for a 4 day bash on Deutsche Bahn in the North Rhine Westphalia...
-July 2016 it's a 14 day ALR, just saving up for that one now
-August 2016 i'm off to the Algarve so some rail related things to be had there, considering the introduction of a Rover for the area!

 

[FQ]

I went into major trip planning mode yesterday for my North West (which won't begin in the North West). Basically, the plan is to go from Leamington to Marylebone, cross over to the Cross, then a bargain fare on a VTEC tram to Newcastle via Sunderland, back to York on another bargain (1st class fare), spend the next day (a Sunday) with Grandparents then begin a North West Rover from Leeds on the Monday.

 

[Techniquest]

I'd have January all sorted by now, but the weather forecasts are putting me off committing to any Advances. I would like to start 2016 with more than just a West Midlands bash, but we'll see what happens.

It's fair to say I'm struggling with finishing this year's bashing plans as it is, Lord Kite managed to put a new idea in my head the other day and I'm thinking it's not a bad call. I'll discuss it better in my TPP Mode thread by tomorrow, I want to have it sorted asap so I can fully commit to 2016's Trip Planning Process!

 

[ValleyLines142]

I'm moving to Bristol permanently next year, so unfortunately trips will be somewhat limited due to rent and bill costs, etc.

I need to cover some London and SE routes, more of Scotland and also need to finish making moves in Manchester!

I also would love to go to Sheffield and Nottingham, as I've never been to both of them despite both being fairly sizeable cities and would love a ride on the trams!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Im at the making notes on phone, tablet and computer stage at the mo with the only definate things being to have a day or 2 in cumbria taking in the huge veriety of seasonal open top and tourist bus service using a Stagecoach Northwest Explorer ticket and do the branch to Windameer at the same time. If the 37s or similar continue on the Coast then a trip or 2 is guaranteed. Also want to make my 1st trip on Europian Rail services as posted on the trip planning bord. If (as is looking likely) I dont get Kyle done this year thats rather high on the list also.

 

[alexf380]

Having just discovered I can manage a day's bashing in Devon in under 48 hours (sleeper southbound, day out, sleeper northbound) this may change things....

 

[AndrewR232]

Considering Planning a trip to London in May 2016.

 

[postye]

Is anyone else already well into their planning for 2016, or is it just me? I already have one trip confirmed, which is New York in early March, and everything else is getting planned quite significantly already. Sure is a benefit of a lengthy commute by bus, there's time to do these things! So far the plans include:

- Preserved line scratching (the Welsh ones in particular, as well as some in Scotland)
- PSUL moves clearout (Hambleton West Curve is top of my list to do, followed by one in the Toton area)
- Scottish shack and MU clearout, so probably a Daytripper/Roundabout bash as well as a Central Scotland rover, the latter a priority
- Anglia shack and MU clearout
- Some light rail shack clearouts
- Kent Rover, for 395s mainly and the epic peak time at Sevenoaks for 375s
- At least two epic clearouts in London

No doubt more plans to come, but that lot should be achievable in a year. Unlike my list for 2015! No dates set for any of it of course, not really any holiday hours left to book until April. Details as always will be discussed in a separate thread nearer the time of each trip, which I must get set up soon...

Nothing yet confirmed for 2016, but I've started putting a wishlist together,

Line Coverage to get rid of some of the large areas of white in the atlas
- West Highland and Kyle/Wick lines
- SW Scotland lines to Stranraer/Dumfries
- Linconshire, East of Peterborough right up to Scunthorpe/Cleethorpes and Barton-Upon-Humber

Units etc.
- GC, not got any GC haulage at all
- EMT, my second worst TOC having only haulage on 6 units there
- FGW especially the 158's
- SWT 158/159's (Maybe a Freedom of Severn/Solent for these two)
- XC Voyagers

Mileage target - 15000

That should keep me busy during 2016

 

[Drsatan]

Nothing confirmed for next year, but, subject to leave from work being confirmed, I have tentative plans for the foll

1) Two weeks in the USA. I've always wanted to go there, and my provisional itinerary will include a few days in New York, followed by taking the Acela or Northeast Regional to Boston, spending a couple of days there, flying/taking the coach to Chicago, then on the California Zephyr to San Francisco. If it is confirmed, I can't wait to experience the New York Subway, ride on the PATH to NJ and even take a trip on Metro North upstream.

2)A week in Europe, ideally spent inter-railing around Germany

3)A weekend trip or two to the Continent. Destinations in mind include Gdansk, Riga, Prague, Rome, Barcelona and Bologna to name a couple. Basically, anywhere with lots of trams/metro trains

Domestically, I'm aiming to finish off Metrolink, having only covered the Altrincham branch and the Eccles branch up to MediaCity. I'm also mooting an East Midlands Day Rover, and a trip to Sheffield to ride round on the Supertram, as the Steel City is one city I've passed through by train, but never alighted there.

Also on the cards is a trip on GC, the only TOC I haven't travelled on yet.


....or, any UK-based bashing may go out of the window, as traction across the Channel seems much more interesting; a land of undiscovered(ish) wonders.

 

[33056]

....or, any UK-based bashing may go out of the window, as traction across the Channel seems much more interesting; a land of undiscovered(ish) wonders.

So you've caught the bug then
I've been looking for a cure for the last 15 to 20 years but haven't found one yet!

 

[fowler9]

Nothing confirmed for next year, but, subject to leave from work being confirmed, I have tentative plans for the foll

1) Two weeks in the USA. I've always wanted to go there, and my provisional itinerary will include a few days in New York, followed by taking the Acela or Northeast Regional to Boston, spending a couple of days there, flying/taking the coach to Chicago, then on the California Zephyr to San Francisco. If it is confirmed, I can't wait to experience the New York Subway, ride on the PATH to NJ and even take a trip on Metro North upstream.

2)A week in Europe, ideally spent inter-railing around Germany

3)A weekend trip or two to the Continent. Destinations in mind include Gdansk, Riga, Prague, Rome, Barcelona and Bologna to name a couple. Basically, anywhere with lots of trams/metro trains

Domestically, I'm aiming to finish off Metrolink, having only covered the Altrincham branch and the Eccles branch up to MediaCity. I'm also mooting an East Midlands Day Rover, and a trip to Sheffield to ride round on the Supertram, as the Steel City is one city I've passed through by train, but never alighted there.

Also on the cards is a trip on GC, the only TOC I haven't travelled on yet.


....or, any UK-based bashing may go out of the window, as traction across the Channel seems much more interesting; a land of undiscovered(ish) wonders.

Just been to Gdansk, lots of fun. Off to Riga in February. Been to Rome, Barcelona and Prague before. All good.