Recent content by Laurencew

Anybody know if the South Tynedale Railway is still steam?

To this day Northern's "Lakes Day Ranger" ticket includes the Windermere steamers.

For many years up to 2015, I used to arrange railtours on behalf of local railway societies from Hooton. Usually routed via Shrewsbury and the Marches line. The train was 11 coaches and the short intermediate stations were Bache and Gobowen. No problem with pick up, but set down was a different...

Barmouth on the Cambrian Coast definitely has a ticket machine on the southbound platform. Used it myself on a Sunday morning when the Tourist Information Office is closed. Issues credit card sized tickets.

I have vivid memories as a child of being stopped a long time in my Grandfather's car at a level crossing at Lyminster on what is now the Coastaway Line near Littlehampton. Possibly 1963 as it was well below freezing and snowing. On getting out to investigate I saw approaching a class C1 0-6-0...

Can I return to Chester? Certainly fits the descriptions "grubby" and "dilapidated". And completely unsuited to today's traffic patterns from both a pedestrian and railway operating point of view. Really apart from the splendid facade, the rest could be flattened and a modern station built on...

It's quite a distance for a 2nd generation DMU! Faulty a/c anyone?

Anyone remember the "Border Evening Rover", valid from Chester to Church Stretton (via Gobowen) for 50p. Great for a pub crawl. Late 70's or early 80's ??

You are absolutely correct Jonathan, my mistake.

Following my original post, I now see that the 20.06 Glasgow to Crewe has appeared on Real Time Trains for 27th February. Seems like problem solved.

For many years, pre pandemic, I have visiting the excellent Model Rail Scotland exhibition on a Sunday afternoon. There was always train south at about 20.00, allowing plenty of time for some Scottish hospitality before returning home. I notice the late train is missing from the schedules on...

Is first class still declassified on West Midlands Trains (LNW Railway)? I am referring specifically to Crewe - Euston. Thanks.

I have been on two of these some years ago (Sheffield and Liverpool??). I thoroughly enjoyed each meeting, not just for the fares information, but for the friendly welcome I received from the other members of this forum, some many decades younger than me. I would welcome some 'revision', so...

Aylesbury to Baker Street, Metropolitan Line at the time, now Chiltern Trains. Non corridor coaches, steam to Rickmansworth, Metro-Vic electric (eg Sarah Siddons) from there on. Vague memories of the dash to the toilets at Rickmansworth and being terrified at having to pass close by the engine...

I can report the Cambrian Lines are fully working, from personal experience. My small party wanted to sample the service on the Welsh Highland Railway (despite the dire weather predictions). Our original plan had been to do the 'circle' from Chester, out via North Wales Coast, return via...