Lost Rovers and Rangers

[ge-gn]

I recall using an Anglia Day Ranger as a child in the 1980s to travel to far flung places from Norfolk, such as Spalding, Hitchin, Audley End and Kings Lynn. Much loco hauled action was to be enjoyed around the region for the princely sum of five quid!

 

[Bishopstone]

Early in the privatisation era I was a season ticket holder on c2c, though only from Barking to Fenchurch Street. Annual season ticket holders were able to purchase a Prism Rail day rover for a trivial sum - £2 comes to mind, though it may have been £5. This gave unlimited weekend travel across c2c and West Anglia/Great Northern, in the era when both lines to Cambridge were under the same franchise. I made good use of it, though I suspect they sold very few, as booking offices tended to have sketchy knowledge of the issuing process and I had a few 'no such ticket, mate!' responses.

This was around the time that Prism also held the Valley Lines and Wales & West franchises, and I have a feeling the rover could also be used on these services, though I didn't avail myself because of the cost (and time) involved in 'bridging the gap' across to Bristol etc.

 

[Trackman]

Late 1980's there was a day ranger that covered at least Buxton, Chester, Liverpool, Southport, Wigan. I think Blackpool and hence Preston too.

Mid 80's I used an Area 21 for NW, went all those stations, not sure about Buxton though. It also went to Lancaster and Windermere branch. Excellent for 40 haulage.
Also used to get a Midlander Railtourer rover, this was good for 50s haulage from Brum.

There was a webpage with historical rovers and maps, but alas it has now gone (I think)

 

[david1212]

Back in 1976 you could get a Cambrian Coast evening rover for about 60p - shame there was a low service offer in those days , but you could just about get from Aberystwyth to Barmouth - bolt a quick pint - and get the train back.

Beautiful ride though on a Summer evening.........

This was still available ~10 years later .... but not at 60p!! We travelled 1986 and/or 1988 on a Sunday evening as the guest house served lunch rather than dinner. I can't recall but logically we did Minffordd or Porthmadog to either Pwllheli or Machynlleth. I doubt that the service allowed a circuit Minffordd / Porthmadog - Barmouth - Pwllheli - Minffordd / Porthmadog but possible we instead started at Barmouth then went to Pwllheli and back.


There was an Isle of Wight evening rover but discontinued before 2012.


The Devon Day Ranger still exists but the pricing relative to specific route fares has changed as back ~25 years ago and maybe less if you asked at Paignton booking office for an off-peak day return to Barnstaple you were sold the Devon Day Ranger.

Mid 80's I used an Area 21 for NW, went all those stations, not sure about Buxton though. It also went to Lancaster and Windermere branch. Excellent for 40 haulage.
.....

It is possible that we bought separate tickets from Buxton to the limit of the Ranger and that Blackpool was a specific ticket rather than done using the Ranger.

 

[Bevan Price]

There used to be a Red Rose Rambler day ticket, valid on trains & buses in Lancashire, including WCML as far south as Wigan North Western. Discontinued when some bus companies withdrew fron the scheme after privatisation / deregulation, circa 1986.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

My first (1972) was a runabout rover Area 3. It did Wigan to Carlisle and Annan and the S&C as far as Settle. Also Cumbrian Coast

 

[vic-rijrode]

I remember the Twin Rover issued by London Transport in the mid 60s which enabled you to travel on all red buses and all Underground services (except north of Rickmansworth). I believe that it cost 5/- round about 1964 or 65.

My mum used to pack me off on a Saturday with 10/- in my pocket, a duffel bag containing sandwiches, bag of crisps, small apple pie and a penguin biscuit (alas no longer chocolate). I caught the 322 from Hemel to Watford Junction then through the travelator to the Bakerloo '38 stock into the LU system (I don't think the Twin Rover was valid for the BR trains to Euston).

I disdained the red buses.

I had covered all the Underground lines (including Epping to Ongar and the Aldwych branch) by the time I was 15.

My girlfriend (then wife) and I also used the LT Golden Rover in the early 70s for green LT buses and the much missed Green Line to travel right around London on one day. But bus rovers don't count...

Now living in the NE of England, I have used virtually all the existing Rovers/Day Rangers to explore the Tyne Valley, S & C, Cumbrian Coast lines etc.

 

[Jan Mayen]

I remember the Twin Rover issued by London Transport in the mid 60s which enabled you to travel on all red buses and all Underground services (except north of Rickmansworth). I believe that it cost 5/- round about 1964 or 65.

My mum used to pack me off on a Saturday with 10/- in my pocket, a duffel bag containing sandwiches, bag of crisps, small apple pie and a penguin biscuit (alas no longer chocolate). I caught the 322 from Hemel to Watford Junction then through the travelator to the Bakerloo '38 stock into the LU system (I don't think the Twin Rover was valid for the BR trains to Euston).

I disdained the red buses.

I had covered all the Underground lines (including Epping to Ongar and the Aldwych branch) by the time I was 15.

My girlfriend (then wife) and I also used the LT Golden Rover in the early 70s for green LT buses and the much missed Green Line to travel right around London on one day. But bus rovers don't count...

Now living in the NE of England, I have used virtually all the existing Rovers/Day Rangers to explore the Tyne Valley, S & C, Cumbrian Coast lines etc.

What Travelator please? Did the Bakerloo trains depart from a differant part of the station?

 

[vic-rijrode]

What Travelator please? Did the Bakerloo trains depart from a differant part of the station?

Yes the DC trains did depart from what effectively was a separate set of Platforms (1-4) to Euston, Broad Street, Croxley Green & Rickmansworth on BR stock and Elephant & Castle on the Bakerloo.

The access to these platforms was via a separate staircase on the right hand side of the ticket hall (not the subway to the other platforms) going up past a ticket office which was very similar to the LT passimeters (not travelators, sorry - wrong terminology).

By the late 60s however, this separate entrance was removed (replaced by the Enquiries office) and access to these platforms was then through the subway up to Platform 6 (Down Fast line) and across via a walkway over the trackbed of platform 5 which had been removed. Platforms 5 & 6 were an island platform until then. Most of the trackbed of Platform 5 was built over in the 80s when Watford Junction was remodelled.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Yes the DC trains did depart from what effectively was a separate set of Platforms (1-4) to Euston, Broad Street, Croxley Green & Rickmansworth on BR stock and Elephant & Castle on the Bakerloo.

The access to these platforms was via a separate staircase on the right hand side of the ticket hall (not the subway to the other platforms) going up past a ticket office which was very similar to the LT passimeters (not travelators, sorry - wrong terminology).

By the late 60s however, this separate entrance was removed (replaced by the Enquiries office) and access to these platforms was then through the subway up to Platform 6 (Down Fast line) and across via a walkway over the trackbed of platform 5 which had been removed. Platforms 5 & 6 were an island platform until then. Most of the trackbed of Platform 5 was built over in the 80s when Watford Junction was remodelled.

Ah! Now I understand. Many thanks.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Probably not the best place to post this, but this came up on my YouTube list. It’s a musical tribute to the East Midlands Ranger.