Recent content by Bishopstone

I think this section of line has a temporary speed restriction in the Up direction. On my last few passages through the area we proceeded slowly from Lewes to Cooksbridge.

In the context of this thread - companies we expect to go bust - ceasing to provide breakfasts for £2.38 each, to non-residents, is unlikely to hasten their demise!

In 1995 - probably the summer timetable, as I’d just finished at university - the first train of the day from Exmouth ran through to Milford Haven. It was a 158, and I set a very early alarm to use it end-to-end, just for novelty value.

Doing a little Aldi shopping today was this V-suffix Triumph Dolomite in very good nick. I think the last Dollys were on W-regs, so this is a late one.

Are the rolls made by Polo?

Rover P6 3500, c.1970, was today’s seaside spot.

Continuing the van theme - an X-suffix Ford Transit camper conversion looking immaculate in beige, gracing Eastbourne esplanade.

I thought the scheme was for those stranded away from home - eg minors, or people who'd been robbed of (or lost) their return ticket/cards/cash etc - rather than those still at home, but lacking the means to buy a ticket. The friend's bank may be prepared to provide an overdraft, until pay...

Many - probably most - first class leisure travellers will have some form of railcard, so the actual price paid would be nearer £150. So long as the advertised catering service is delivered, Carlisle to London in nice surroundings, with a couple of alcoholic drinks, decent food and table...

I took the 8am bus from Eastbourne to Gatwick on a Monday, a couple of weeks ago. I estimate there were 30-35 fares/passes collected throughout, with little end-to-end traffic but a surprising (to me) amount of business generated from the more rural stops en route. A couple sat in front of me...

If first class still exists on Thameslink when the 700s become due for mid-life refresh, they should move it to one section in the middle of the train. But only after the rest of us have been provided with seat-back tables, sockets and WiFi.

4tph on the Gatwick Express means there will be a train at the platform for intending passengers to board, most minutes of each hour - the Up Brightons have a few minutes of dwell time at Gatwick, if running to schedule. I recall this was one of the selling points of GatEx when the concept was...

When I worked in the area (but not at the airport) I walked in from Balcombe Road, which has a footpath entrance to the airport estate. There are several walking routes from the station, via the south terminal complex, to Horley - one of which takes you through a tranquil park with a lake and...

Lovely 240 spot. The Torslanda was a run-out special with lots of goodies fitted, to clear the factory shelves. K-reg makes this a very late one.

When the Gold Card gave you the right to buy flat fare First Class upgrades after 10:00 and at the weekend - I recall the supplement was £3 - I had many ’conversations’ with guards who insisted there was no such product, because the apparent value of it made it an obvious scam. Lots wanted to...