Do “Through train” enthusiasts exist?

[CaptainHaddock]

There are a number of long distance trains that run to and from seemingly random stations; examples might include Manchester to Milford Haven, Gloucester to Weymouth and, more recently, Matlock to Cleethorpes.

I was wondering therefore is there a subset of rail enthusiasts who enjoy riding such trains the whole distance, simply because they’re there? I know there was a lot of interest in the former through Aberdeen to Penzance train because it was the longest unbroken journey you could make in the UK, but are there people who make travelling on through trains a major part of their hobby?

And a secondary question, what do you think is the most interesting long distance through train journey you can make on the UK rail network? *


* By which I mean quirky, "off the beaten tracks" routes where you might ask "Why would anyone want to travel from X to Y", rather than mainline trains such as London to Glasgow, Edinburgh or Penzance.?

 

[62484GlenLyon]

A couple of years ago I was travelling between Whitby and Middlesbrough on a through train to Carlisle. The conductor told me that he sees more people doing the entire through journey that one might expect. I didn't ask how many did the return trip throughout on the same day!

 

[gordonthemoron]

Indeed I do, which is why I’m doing Broken Hill to Sydney in June

 

[185143]

Kind of.

Wouldn't go out of my way to do one really, but I do find it satisfying when I do a long or random end to end journey.

I'm going to Torquay tomorrow, but I'm doing the XC service from Manchester right through to Paignton. Mainly to go to 'Spoons to kill time before I can check in to my hotel. But still.

I do want to do Birmingham International-Pwllheli on a 158. And I've fancied doing Manchester-Fishguard for a while too.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Kind of.

Wouldn't go out of my way to do one really, but I do find it satisfying when I do a long or random end to end journey.

I'm going to Torquay tomorrow, but I'm doing the XC service from Manchester right through to Paignton. Mainly to go to 'Spoons to kill time before I can check in to my hotel. But still.

I do want to do Birmingham International-Pwllheli on a 158. And I've fancied doing Manchester-Fishguard for a while too.

I'd quite like to do Holyhead to Cardiff but only if it's loco hauled, which I believe means I'd have to be up for the 05:27 which is a bit too early for me!

 

[D6130]

I'd quite like to do Holyhead to Cardiff but only if it's loco hauled, which I believe means I'd have to be up for the 05:27 which is a bit too early for me!

Better doing it in the other direction then....17 22 Cardiff - Holyhead - with dinner service in first class.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Better doing it in the other direction then....17 22 Cardiff - Holyhead - with dinner service in first class.

True but part of the appeal for me is the scenery so not much point doing it after dark!

 

[Llandudno]

Better doing it in the other direction then....17 22 Cardiff - Holyhead - with dinner service in first class.

Yes, but in the summer when it’s light until 2200!

 

[Tetchytyke]

I'd say so. People used to make a beeline for some of the weird and wonderful Wales & Borders services that used to run from Manchester to places like Penzance.

I don't judge. I once did Carlisle-Newcastle-Sunderland-Middlesbrough-York right through on a 142!

 

[The exile]

I wouldn’t go massively out of my way to do them but they do have a certain appeal. My record daytime run in the UK must be the southbound Highland Chieftain diverted via Aberdeen, while in Europe I have also enjoyed / endured Stockholm - Narvik and Zurich - Belgrade (both nearly 24 hours). Sadly, I think the Trans-Siberian is on hold for a good few years….

 

[xotGD]

I've done Manchester to Milford Haven throughout (and back) for work. I was not enthusiastic about it!

 

[185143]

I'd quite like to do Holyhead to Cardiff but only if it's loco hauled, which I believe means I'd have to be up for the 05:27 which is a bit too early for me!

Agreed, on both counts!

I've been meaning to do Liverpool-Norwich and Carlisle-Nottingham for years now.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Do we think Cleethorpes/Liverpool is the closest to a coast-to-coast service? You can see the sea from one end, and it's a short walk to the Mersey estuary at the other. Tricky to define "coast" precisely, but at least it's salt water!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Do we think Cleethorpes/Liverpool is the closest to a coast-to-coast service? You can see the sea from one end, and it's a short walk to the Mersey estuary at the other. Tricky to define "coast" precisely, but at least it's salt water!

Carlisle to Hartlepool might be another random coast-to-coast service. Wonder how many folk do that? Always good if you can get out of the station when you arrive at Hartlepool, mind you!

 

[A S Leib]

Do we think Cleethorpes/Liverpool is the closest to a coast-to-coast service? You can see the sea from one end, and it's a short walk to the Mersey estuary at the other. Tricky to define "coast" precisely, but at least it's salt water!

(Edinburgh –) Berwick – Dawlish (– Plymouth)?

You can – could, depending on daylight – see Morecambe Bay and the North Sea from the Aberdeen portion of the Highlander, but that's more of a coast to coast to inland service.

 

[NorthWestRover]

I've done Manchester to Milford Haven throughout (and back) for work. I was not enthusiastic about it!

Was it a 150?

 

[Kite159]

Carlisle to Hartlepool might be another random coast-to-coast service. Wonder how many folk do that? Always good if you can get out of the station when you arrive at Hartlepool, mind you!

Of all things I've heard about Carlisle, it being on or near the coast isn't one of them.

 

[Russel]

I guess so yeah.

I'm planning to do Matlock to Cleethorpes myself, but I'm waiting until the spring for the better weather and lighter nights.

 

[The Pelican]

I wouldn’t go massively out of my way to do them but they do have a certain appeal. My record daytime run in the UK must be the southbound Highland Chieftain diverted via Aberdeen, while in Europe I have also enjoyed / endured Stockholm - Narvik and Zurich - Belgrade (both nearly 24 hours). Sadly, I think the Trans-Siberian is on hold for a good few years….

The trans-siberian reminds me of the occasional "Siberijak" Berlin- Astana (Kazakhstan) or Novosibirsk trains which used to run until 2013. Similarly, through carriages have variously run from Moscow to Khujand, formerly Alexandria Eschatea, the place Alexander regarded as the furthest he reached, and also to Pyongyang in North Korea.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There are many enthusiasts, and a multitude of particular things one could focus on... So yes, there will almost certainly be people who will seek out some of these seemingly odd through services and ride the whole thing. I wouldn't say it's my particular area of interest but I did make a point of riding from Waterloo to Manchester Piccadilly on the old Wales & West service, and did the Wakefield to Selby "Grand Tour" from end-to-end too. A real completist would have done it in both directions of course!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Of all things I've heard about Carlisle, it being on or near the coast isn't one of them.

It's quite close, to be fair. Was probably thinking, though, of Port Carlisle.

 

[Davester50]

Am I right in remembering for a few years there were through trains from Aberdeen or Edinburgh to Kyle of Lochalsh without changing in Inverness?

 

[xotGD]

Was it a 150?

Thankfully not.

There used to be a Paddington to Edinburgh service back in the 80s. I remember a magazine article where the reporter did it throughout.

 

[Kite159]

Am I right in remembering for a few years there were through trains from Aberdeen or Edinburgh to Kyle of Lochalsh without changing in Inverness?

Not since 2014 at least, the only through train being a Kyle - Elgin service which reversed outside Inverness station after doing the Rose Street Curve

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Like many on here I wouldn't go out of my way to do them. But I have done Carlisle to Preston via the Cumbrian Coast in one go, and on another day South Shields to St James' via the entire North Tyneside loop on a through Tyne and Wear Metro working

 

[Express380]

I'd quite like to do Holyhead to Cardiff but only if it's loco hauled, which I believe means I'd have to be up for the 05:27 which is a bit too early for me!

Done it in 150s, smashing run!

 

[Waterlemon]

Do we think Cleethorpes/Liverpool is the closest to a coast-to-coast service? You can see the sea from one end, and it's a short walk to the Mersey estuary at the other. Tricky to define "coast" precisely, but at least it's salt water!

If going under the coast and one of the coasts not being in the UK counts id say Eurostar

 

[185143]

Do we think Cleethorpes/Liverpool is the closest to a coast-to-coast service? You can see the sea from one end, and it's a short walk to the Mersey estuary at the other. Tricky to define "coast" precisely, but at least it's salt water!

What about Penzance-St. Ives?

 

[Russel]

What about Penzance-St. Ives?

Or Shanklin to Ryde?

 

[zero]

Personally I don't care about individual services, but I am interested in riding the full length of routes, and if there is a 'strange' through service that goes where I want I will choose it in preference to faster or more sensible services.