Shred`s UK trips.

WesternLancer said:

Glad they were of some interest! You fitted a lot in and I enjoyed reading about your strategy for an all night summer wait over between days of activity.

I managed to go and see the sleeper waiting to leave Glasgow as I was based a short walk away from Central station - and fitted that in after a late evening circle round the subway to see how it was with the new subway trains, and also a trip to the pub.

The section of HST route I didn't manage to fit in (but could have done with more focus) was the Edinburgh to Stirling leg of an Inverness - Edinburgh service (or vice versa) - so I'll have to try and fit in another visit whilst they are still operating - which might be for a fair time period given the delayed and slow roll out of the new trains on EMR midland main line which is what will facilitate the cascade of trains from EMR to replace the Scotrail HSTs, as you probably know.

Click to expand...

Great stuff, glad you enjoyed it, yes I managed to do everything I set out to do, it was a very enjoyable trip, Im just planning for an Irish trip now starting at the end of the month, I still need a few lines over there

Devon and Cornwall (Day 1). Wednesday 30th September 2026.

I had only been back from my Czech Republic trip for 7 days, before I was off again, but with my son this time. He had booked a week for us in a house in Bude, a place I took him to as a child back in the early 1990s, and each day we were to explore a different town driving down as far as Penzance and the Lizard, he was doing the driving. For my part I wanted to explore a few railways in the area and also check out what was left of the railways and remains of the Atlantic Coast Express routes. My son isn’t a rail enthusiast, but didn’t mind dropping me off at a few places while he went exploring further afield, so it worked out well for both of us.

I set off from Manchester, driving down to my son`s house in the Fens, a 3-hour drive for me, but because I was taking a few things with me, it was better than struggling on the train, although I’m not a great fan of long drives these days. On arriving in the region, I usually call in at the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford. The Danish tank locomotive, 656, was in the yard in steam under test and also one of the bookshops was open, so I spent an hour on site, before I continued to my sons.

Devon and Cornwall (Day 2). Thursday 1st October 2026.

I had only been back from my Czech Republic trip for 7 days, before I was off again, but with my son this time. He had booked a week for us in a house in Bude, a place I took him to as a child back in the early 1990s, and each day we were to explore a different town driving down as far as Penzance and the Lizard, he was doing the driving. For my part I wanted to explore a few railways in the area and also check out what was left of the railways and remains of the Atlantic Coast Express routes. My son isn’t a rail enthusiast, but didn’t mind dropping me off at a few places while he went exploring further afield, so it worked out well for both of us.

I had a free day at my son`s, so decided to drive over to Whittlesea on the Hereward line. The weather was glorious and I settled down on one of the level crossings in the area, which proved to be quite busy for the few hours I was there. Locomotives passing were 66749, 66020, 60026, and 66106. I later drove over the Railworld in Peterborough and was just in time to see a special coming off the Hereward Line at Peterborough East junction, with two-tone green liveried D1935 and Intercity liveried 47593 to the rear.

Finally, I visited Trains4you in Fengate, a great model railway shop, which appears to be much cheaper than the shops I use in my own area of North Manchester.

Devon and Cornwall, (Day 3). Saturday 3rd October 2026.

I had only been back from my Czech Republic trip for 7 days, before I was off again, but with my son this time. He had booked a week for us in a house in Bude, a place I took him to as a child back in the early 1990s, and each day we were to explore a different town driving down as far as Penzance and the Lizard, he was doing the driving. For my part I wanted to explore a few railways in the area and also check out what was left of the railways and remains of the Atlantic Coast Express routes. My son isn’t a rail enthusiast, but didn’t mind dropping me off at a few places while he went exploring further afield, so it worked out well for both of us.

On the Friday morning, we drove down to Bude from the Fens, a drive of just under 6 hours, my son was doing the driving all week though, as I had left my car at his house in the Fens. After doing some shopping for the week, we retired to our accommodation for the night, a beautiful house just a five-minute walk from the beach and town.

The next day however, we decided to spend exploring Bude. We took breakfast in the town, called at a few shops, took Layla, (my son`s dachshund), to the beach, visited the excellent museum, which had plenty of railwayana and a model of Bude railway station and one of the Bude Canal incline planes and sand sidings, and I also spent some time on the Bude Canal and sea lock, a fascinating piece of engineering.

We spent a full day around Bude, such a shame it’s no longer rail connected and it use to be one of the destinations of the Atlantic Coast Express.

Devon and Cornwall, (Day 4). Sunday 4th October 2026.

I had only been back from my Czech Republic trip for 7 days, before I was off again, but with my son this time. He had booked a week for us in a house in Bude, a place I took him to as a child back in the early 1990s, and each day we were to explore a different town driving down as far as Penzance and the Lizard, he was doing the driving. For my part I wanted to explore a few railways in the area and also check out what was left of the railways and remains of the Atlantic Coast Express routes. My son isn’t a rail enthusiast, but didn’t mind dropping me off at a few places while he went exploring further afield, so it worked out well for both of us.

Sunday morning and I had finally got to visit the Lynton and Barnstable Railway; it was the first time I had been up there since the preservationists opened this section of the railway again. I had read so much about the original railway over the years and did visit the region back in the 1980s, when I had a ride on the funicular and visited station house at Lynton, in fact the gentleman who owned the house at the time invited me into his house and garden, and shown me the section of track and petrol locomotive he had in his garden, he had kept a lot of it in its original format.

My son dropped me off at Woody Bay, but then made his way to see Lynmouth and had a ride on the funicular, it would have been nice to revisit the funicular, but my son was keen to see Lynmouth and didn’t want to hang around Woody Bay. He did pick me up a few hours later though and we drove further down the line and explored the station buildings at Blackmoor Gate, which is now a public house with added buildings.

We later drove to Chelfham to see the magnificent viaduct and renovated station site, and what an amazing job they have done. I believe this group intends to build the railway north towards Woody Bay, but its some time away yet I feel. The society at Chelfham however, had done a great job on the site, restoring the original station buildings and even installed a signalling system, and additionally laid a few yards of track with waggons. Nice to see so much history of the line being brought back to life, especially when you consider it was closed in 1935.

After a great day exploring the old Lynton and Barnstable Railway, my son drove us back to our holiday home in Bude, it had been an interesting and full day for both of us, and we slept well that night.

Devon and Cornwall, (Day 6). Bodmin and Wenford Railway. Tuesday 6th October 2026.

I had only been back from my Czech Republic trip for 7 days, before I was off again, but with my son this time. He had booked a week for us in a house in Bude, a place I took him to as a child back in the early 1990s, and each day we were to explore a different town driving down as far as Penzance and the Lizard, he was doing the driving. For my part I wanted to explore a few railways in the area and also check out what was left of the railways and remains of the Atlantic Coast Express routes. My son isn’t a rail enthusiast, but didn’t mind dropping me off at a few places while he went exploring further afield, so it worked out well for both of us.

My son was driving down to St Ives and Penzance, because he hadn’t been down there before. He dropped me off at the Bodmin Railway on the way past, it is based at Bodmin General. It had been a few years since I last visited this railway, and it is a line I enjoy visiting, mainly because of its history, it’s quite unique in that it goes in two directions from its terminus buildings at Bodmin General. One direction is to its main line connection at Bodmin Parkway, (formerly Bodmin Road), and the other direction is towards Boscarne Junction. The railway hopes to extend back to Wadebridge, but that would be a long way into the future.

It was a misty morning as I arrived, which added to the atmosphere, but the day later brightened up with sunny spells. I purchased a trip for both lines, great value at £23, first up to Boscarne Junction, the locomotive runs around her stock there and then returns to Bodmin General, the locomotive then moves the stock forward up the platform, so that it can switch over to the second track, it then filled up with water, attached itself to the front of the train and reversed the coaches back into the platforms, before setting off on the second line to Bodmin Parkway, where the Bodmin and Wenford Railway have a second depot which houses locomotives.

The steam locomotive which was in use for my trip was ex Great Western 4575 class, a development of Churchward`s 4500 class, known as a small Prairie, a 2-6-2T mixed traffic tank locomotive, beautifully restored. Other locomotives visible on site were Class 37142 class 47306, Rolls Royce Sentinel “Denise”, also parked up in the siding was ex Chilterns Railway bubble car class 121 55020 and I was told Peter Waterman`s class 5700, 4612, 0-6-0 PT Pannier tank was inside the depot at Bodmin Parkway, while various locomotive boilers were evident in the workshop area at Bodmin General.

My son returned to pick me up late afternoon, while despite not being a rail enthusiast, had actually drove to St Erth, parked his car up and took a train first into St Ives, and later to Penzance, he had an enjoyable day too, and we later drove back to our holiday home in Bude, it had been another great day out.

Devon and Cornwall, (Day 7). Wednesday 7th October 2026.

I had only been back from my Czech Republic trip for 7 days, before I was off again, but with my son this time. He had booked a week for us in a house in Bude, a place I took him to as a child back in the early 1990s, and each day we were to explore a different town driving down as far as Penzance and the Lizard, he was doing the driving. For my part I wanted to explore a few railways in the area and also check out what was left of the railways and remains of the Atlantic Coast Express routes. My son isn’t a rail enthusiast, but didn’t mind dropping me off at a few places while he went exploring further afield, so it worked out well for both of us.

After my day on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway, it was number one son`s turn to pick the itinerary for the days trip. He decided on Newquay followed by Padstow, good news for me of course because Newquay still has an active railway station and Padstow was the end of the line the infamous ACE, (Atlantic Coast Express).
We arrived into Newquay just after 09.00 and parked in a car park underneath the listed Trenance viaduct which leads to Newquay railway station, and we walked towards the sea front. Even though I had travelled on the Newquay branch in the past, I had never really visited the town and I must say its certainly worth a visit to this capital of surfing.

We walked up the hill and onto the high street and I was pleasantly surprised to find the railway station in the town centre, so couldn’t resist seeing it again, although it had been cut back considerably since my last visit. The platforms however have two lines going into them, but one line looked barely, it ever used, these days and no longer see class 50s run into the station, just two car GWR DMUs these days.

My son had researched a café for breakfast, being a solicitor, he can afford expensive places to eat, while me being a struggling pensioner, still eats mainly at Greggs and it was my turn to pay for breakfast, so that was the best part of £30 I won’t see again, but still, I guess it’s he’s inheritance I’m spending. We later explored the beach and checked out many of the shops, it’s a nice resort, with a good selection of retail outlets. It wasn’t particularly warm, but the main street seemed to be full of young men, stripped to the waist in bare feet and with surf boards tucked under their arms, oh to be young again.

After spending the morning in Newquay, it was time to drive up to Padstow and I had read that the old L&SWR railway station was still standing and owned by the council. We parked outside town at a park and ride, but walked the ten minutes down to the harbour. Strangely on the walk down the hill I saw a directional sign that said railway, 50 years a bit late for that, but on entering the main car park by the harbour, there was the station building and the car park is apparently still called the railway.

What a great job they have done in preserving the railway station, and it is a magnificent building with a museum inside. This was of course the end of the line for the Atlantic Coast Express and the only station on the entire route, that took passengers to a quayside. The last rail milepost is now located in the harbour. We took tea in a quayside café, his turn to pay, and later drove back to Bude, after another excellent day out.

Devon and Cornwall, (Day 8). Helston Railway, Cornwall. Thursday 8th October 2026.

I had only been back from my Czech Republic trip for 7 days, before I was off again, but with my son this time. He had booked a week for us in a house in Bude, a place I took him to as a child back in the early 1990s, and each day we were to explore a different town driving down as far as Penzance and the Lizard, he was doing the driving. For my part I wanted to explore a few railways in the area and also check out what was left of the railways and remains of the Atlantic Coast Express routes. My son isn’t a rail enthusiast, but didn’t mind dropping me off at a few places while he went exploring further afield, so it worked out well for both of us.
My son had planned to visit the Lizard, the farthest point south in Britain, fortunately for me you have to drive past the Helson Railway to get there. The Helston Railway is also the farthest preserved railway in Britain and I had never visited before, so new track for me.

We had an early start from Bude, as it was a few hours drive to get down there, and all went well until we got within a mile of the Helston Railway, when we unfortunately hit a rock at the side of the road and it took my son`s front tyre out. The country lanes are very tight down in Cornwall and apparently it happens a lot down there. We drove into a farm drive and the farmer was there to help us out, a lovely guy. I jacked the car up, took the wheel off and put the spare on, a temporary spare that didn’t allow you to exceed 50 mph. My son then drove into Helston where we found a tyre garage that had his size in stock, they put a new tyre on for us, conveniently there was also a Traditional Cornish Pasty shop on the road in, so my son treated me to what was probably the best Cornish Pasty I have ever eaten, far better that the rubbish they sell on railway stations and pass off as Cornish Pasties.

New tyre fitted and we were on our way again, back to the Helston Railway. The tyre cost me £115, while my son paid £10 for a pasty each, I’m not convinced I got the best deal there. I had missed the first two trains of the day as I arrive at the railway, because I did prat about trying to work out how get the plastic wheel nut covers off after the puncture, but I was in time for an afternoon service at 13.00, my son dropped me off and drove down to Lizards Point to explore.

I was quite impressed with the Helston Railway, who are located in an area of Prospidnick. It’s a nice little site with an old DMU class 103 50413, and coach which holds the ticket office and a buffet car, there is also a large shed containing a good selection of railway books and DVDs, so I spent a few quid there. The Railway have around a mile and a half of track, but are hoping to extend by the same distance again to get them back into Helston, or just outside as the station site at Helston has sadly been built over.

The platform at Prospidnick is not original, but they have built a halt which is the other side of a bridge from the ticket office. I caught the 13.00 to the present terminus at Truthall Halt, while there is another station in between at Trevarno. Traction was provided by an Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 Diesel Mechanical build 446 named “Kingswood”, which propelled a power car Bed-Pan DMU class 127 51616 named “Alf Benney”. Other locomotives on site included a Class 10 diesel shunter D3489 and a Ruston and Hornby shunter.

The actual line is very scenic and it would be nice to see it extend into Helston, although I suspect this may be some time away yet and like everything it’s all down to time and money, but I wish them all the best for the future and thank them for a very enjoyable visit. My son returned around 17.00 and we drove back to Bude for our final night of the holiday.

We left Bude on Friday morning, the drive back to his house in the Fens took around 6 hours, although I did manage to get him to divert from the M5 and take me around Burnham on Sea, once one end of the infamous Somerset and Dorset Railway, nothing appeared to be left of the railway station, but a small replica signal cabin has been erected as part of an arts exhibition at the side of the main road into the seaside town. It had been a great week exploring Devon and Cornwall and nice to spend some quality time with number one son of course.