OK before I start, you are correct it was The Caledonian Highland sleeper.
I have been meaning to go on the Caledonian Sleeper for some time now and when I got an e-mail from Scotrail offering a third off the fare, that sealed it, £97.90 First Class with railcard, Euston to Fort William and plenty of daylight.
A perk was that it was last Monday when the train was going via the North London Line and East Coast mainline.
My journey started at Leicester, a First class Advance to St Pancras was only £17, a nice visit to the cooler EMT lounge and after water, OJ, newspapers and a couple of Apples for later it was time to board the HST.
Two glasses of complimenatry wine on the journey and an on time arrival.
A walk to Euston and I popped into the VT lounge for a couple of Heinekens, £3 each but again a break from the high temperatures.
Tonight the train was leaving at 1951, first stop Wembley Yard, it felt really strange being amongst car transporters and steel wagons for half an hour.
The lounge car was great, 4 leather 3 seater settees, good food and drink service and brilliant prices. I had a couple of Tennants as we wound our way through Camden to the ECML.
The atmosphere in the lounge car was great, all we needed was Hercule Poirot
Later I had Haggis Neeps and Tatties, very tasty at £5.40, a bottle of red wine at £9.75 and Cheeseboard for not very much. When I came to settle the bill it was only £21+ so I gave the staff £25, well worth a tip these staff were.
We were running a little early after Peterborough so we were held at Stoke Jct for a northbound express to pass, an on time arrival on the down through road at Doncaster, and then the wheels fell off, so I was told, as that was the last I knew until Dumbarton.
The food, wine and a Nytol had taken its toll, I was told the next morning that a Unit had become stuck in a Neutral section, later we were additionly delayed at Waverley.
The sleeper was very cool and although I expected to wake about 6am it was actually 08-05 and we were only at Dalreoch.
After the morning duties I made my way to the lounge car, which is put on the train at Edinburgh, there was a reserved table and my breakfast train on the table, it is pretty much like an airplane meal but it is improved by the wonderful Highland scenery.
The Class 66 is still under cover at Loch Treig between Corrour and Tulloch, it seemed closer to the line than when I passed earlier in the year, but it probably is not, I did manage a piccie.
We arrived in Fort William at 1137, this was after a 1951 departure, you can't get much better than that. Delay Repay handed out, filled in and collected.
I was hoping to have a ride on the morning Jacobite to Mallaig, I missed that so I got the 1215 coach to Inverness, I would be staying at the Highland Hotel for the evening before catching next mornings 0755 hours Highland Chieftain to Kings Cross.
I only booked this train 3 or 4 weeks before travelling but the fare was only £33.65 with railcard, First Class.
Virtually every seat on the train had a reserved ticket on it but 2 passengers who had a table for two didn't show, so I had their seat.
Hot drinks on departure, later toast and Orange Juice and I had the cooked breakfast, all served very well and this journey was probably to be my best on East Coast service wise.
I turned down the Hot food after Edinburgh and just had a Cider not Cidre but then I had both after Newcastle.
The train was on time at York but then we had a big delay because of signal problems between Doncaster and Retford and after a spirited run further south a 67 minutes late arrival at Kings Cross ensued, another delay/repay to send to Plymouth.
I had hedged my bets on the St Pancras-Leicester journey by booking Advance ticket at 1615 and 1715, so the 1715 it was, at least it would have been but the station was in chaos, there had been some PsHBTs earlier in the day and the stock and crews were out of sync.
I managed to bag a de-classified seat on a Meridian 1st Class and actually arrived back in Leicester only 10 minutes late.
So a great trip, made even better if I get £130 back on Delay/Repay.
I have been meaning to go on the Caledonian Sleeper for some time now and when I got an e-mail from Scotrail offering a third off the fare, that sealed it, £97.90 First Class with railcard, Euston to Fort William and plenty of daylight.
A perk was that it was last Monday when the train was going via the North London Line and East Coast mainline.
My journey started at Leicester, a First class Advance to St Pancras was only £17, a nice visit to the cooler EMT lounge and after water, OJ, newspapers and a couple of Apples for later it was time to board the HST.
Two glasses of complimenatry wine on the journey and an on time arrival.
A walk to Euston and I popped into the VT lounge for a couple of Heinekens, £3 each but again a break from the high temperatures.
Tonight the train was leaving at 1951, first stop Wembley Yard, it felt really strange being amongst car transporters and steel wagons for half an hour.
The lounge car was great, 4 leather 3 seater settees, good food and drink service and brilliant prices. I had a couple of Tennants as we wound our way through Camden to the ECML.
The atmosphere in the lounge car was great, all we needed was Hercule Poirot
Later I had Haggis Neeps and Tatties, very tasty at £5.40, a bottle of red wine at £9.75 and Cheeseboard for not very much. When I came to settle the bill it was only £21+ so I gave the staff £25, well worth a tip these staff were.
We were running a little early after Peterborough so we were held at Stoke Jct for a northbound express to pass, an on time arrival on the down through road at Doncaster, and then the wheels fell off, so I was told, as that was the last I knew until Dumbarton.
The food, wine and a Nytol had taken its toll, I was told the next morning that a Unit had become stuck in a Neutral section, later we were additionly delayed at Waverley.
The sleeper was very cool and although I expected to wake about 6am it was actually 08-05 and we were only at Dalreoch.
After the morning duties I made my way to the lounge car, which is put on the train at Edinburgh, there was a reserved table and my breakfast train on the table, it is pretty much like an airplane meal but it is improved by the wonderful Highland scenery.
The Class 66 is still under cover at Loch Treig between Corrour and Tulloch, it seemed closer to the line than when I passed earlier in the year, but it probably is not, I did manage a piccie.
We arrived in Fort William at 1137, this was after a 1951 departure, you can't get much better than that. Delay Repay handed out, filled in and collected.
I was hoping to have a ride on the morning Jacobite to Mallaig, I missed that so I got the 1215 coach to Inverness, I would be staying at the Highland Hotel for the evening before catching next mornings 0755 hours Highland Chieftain to Kings Cross.
I only booked this train 3 or 4 weeks before travelling but the fare was only £33.65 with railcard, First Class.
Virtually every seat on the train had a reserved ticket on it but 2 passengers who had a table for two didn't show, so I had their seat.
Hot drinks on departure, later toast and Orange Juice and I had the cooked breakfast, all served very well and this journey was probably to be my best on East Coast service wise.
I turned down the Hot food after Edinburgh and just had a Cider not Cidre
but then I had both after Newcastle.The train was on time at York but then we had a big delay because of signal problems between Doncaster and Retford and after a spirited run further south a 67 minutes late arrival at Kings Cross ensued, another delay/repay to send to Plymouth.
I had hedged my bets on the St Pancras-Leicester journey by booking Advance ticket at 1615 and 1715, so the 1715 it was, at least it would have been but the station was in chaos, there had been some PsHBTs earlier in the day and the stock and crews were out of sync.
I managed to bag a de-classified seat on a Meridian 1st Class and actually arrived back in Leicester only 10 minutes late.
So a great trip, made even better if I get £130 back on Delay/Repay.
