Out-of-the-way trains

[mister-sparky]

Deltic hauled from time to time. There used to be Intercity services from Margate & Dover Western Docks to detinations in the North & Scotland

used to be quite a shock standing on the platform at Tonbridge after school sometimes and hearing such exotic destinations over the tannoy

 

[OuterDistant]

I used to travel a lot between Manchester and Derby and I remember once seeing a XC service leaving Manchester with a destination of Derby, via Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

Does anyone know anything about this service? I never saw it again and can't find it now. I believe it left Piccadilly at about 4.30pm.

Should probably mention that this was about 4-5 years ago

I once turned up at Piccadilly (c. 2006) after imbibing several pints, saw that advertised on the boards and thought "great, that'll get me back to Blythe Bridge without having to change at Stoke". Fortunately, the railway knowledge kicked in soon after and avoided an embarrassing tour of the Midlands

 

[Bald Rick]

I used to travel a lot between Manchester and Derby and I remember once seeing a XC service leaving Manchester with a destination of Derby, via Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

Does anyone know anything about this service? I never saw it again and can't find it now. I believe it left Piccadilly at about 4.30pm.

Should probably mention that this was about 4-5 years ago

About 12 years ago, pre Voyagers, the first southbound XC train from Derby was effectively a stock positioning move. This had approx 15min at New Street before its next working to Piccadilly, and was advertised as a through service. Presumably this was the reverse working?

 

[MrPosh]

Central Trains used to run a Saturday morning service from Sleaford to Cardiff Central.

Cardiff being pretty much South West of Sleaford, the service began in a Northerly direction to Lincoln.

 

[150222]

Arriva Trains Northern used to run a Blackpool North to Scarbourough via York service. Also a Leeds to Glasgow Central via Carlisle service.

 

[dvboy]

Central Trains used to run a Saturday morning service from Sleaford to Cardiff Central.

Cardiff being pretty much South West of Sleaford, the service began in a Northerly direction to Lincoln.

Ahh i thought it was from Grimsby.

Long gone are the days when you could Lincoln-Birmingham direct as I used to. Now you change at least once at Nottingham or Leicester.

 

[Eagle]

I wasn't suggesting there is a shorter route, just that it is one of the more rounded ones!

So? It's a perfectly reasonable route, not odd in any way. And as I said it's a very necessary one.

 

[First class]

Bidston to Wrexham is fairly random IMO!

As I know it, Bidston is effectively the station and small retail park near Birkenhead.

2E89 Southport to Huddersfield is also a strange service.

 

[dk1]

I always planned to do the Middlesborough-Preston via Newcastle, Carlisle & the Cumbrian Coast. Hours & hours on a Nodding Donkey but never had the will power.

 

[Eagle]

Bidston to Wrexham is fairly random IMO!

Not at all, Bidston is where the line ends. It would be silly to terminate the trains anywhere else

 

[First class]

Not at all, Bidston is where the line ends. It would be silly to terminate the trains anywhere else

Doesn't the line continue to Liverpool/West Kirby?

 

[Eagle]

Doesn't the line continue to Liverpool/West Kirby?

Ah, but that's an electric line that Merseyrail are using fairly intensively :P

 

[Oracle]

There used to be one morning Portsmouth Harbour to Seaford service which I have been on.

 

[Smudger105e]

There used to be one morning Portsmouth Harbour to Seaford service which I have been on.

Via Brighton I assume?

 

[NSE]

There used to be one morning Portsmouth Harbour to Seaford service which I have been on.

I thought track layout at Brighton would mean that this isn't possible? Portsmouth trains can only use 1, 2 and half of 3? Seaford 7&8 maybe 6 too? I may be wrong but isn't it something like this?

 

[Eagle]

I thought track layout at Brighton would mean that this isn't possible? Portsmouth trains can only use 1, 2 and half of 3? Seaford 7&8 maybe 6 too? I may be wrong but isn't it something like this?

Could do it if the calling pattern was Hove, Preston Park, Brighton, London Road. (Would be odd though.)

 

[Requeststop]

Not at all, Bidston is where the line ends. It would be silly to terminate the trains anywhere else

The Wrexham service at one time continued to Birkenhead North. Another time the service started at New Brighton. If I recall correctly, the trains also ran from New Brighton to Chester via Heswall and Mollington.

 

[jha4ceb]

Does the early-morning Mansfield to Norwich still run? That would be a contender.

 

[34D]

Arriva Trains Northern used to run a Blackpool North to Scarbourough via York service. Also a Leeds to Glasgow Central via Carlisle service.

If electrification of NTP happens (and if Scarborough is left out, as per plan) then I understand that the blackpool-york may be extended through to Scarborough once more.

Seems quite logical really - places Halifax-Church Fenton inclusive always had a couple of direct services to Scarborough until very recently.