All Lines Rover planning

[Lukeo2311]

I am currently planning my standard Class ALR for the first week of January 2017. This is a basic outline of what I have planned so far. I am working around the Liverpool Loop Closure.

> Day 1 (3rd): Bromborough Rake - Chester - Birmingham New Street - Birmingham Moor Street - London Marylebone. (& possibly various London Branches)

> Day 2 (4th): Various branches around London (I want to photo the Moorgate 313s before they disappear!)

> Day 3 (5th): London Kings Cross - Inverness (Highland Chieftain) I plan to see if I can upgrade to First Class!!

> Day 4 (6th): Inverness - Euston Sleeper (already purchased single berth sleeper supplement)

> Day 5 (7th): St Pancras - Derby - Crewe - Chester - Bromborough Rake

 

[me123]

A few thoughts.

Bromborough to London won't take all day, and the Chieftain leaves at 12 noon. This will give you not far off 48h of time to go around London. You have plenty of time to fit in more than just London in that time. Might it be worth going further afield than just London branches (for example, London-Norwich-Cambridge-London, or St Pancras - South East on HS1 - London by conventional rails)?

As for Inverness, if you're not planning on exploring the city in the day (frankly not much will be happening anywhere in January unless you like sales) you will have just shy of 24 hours. Weather permitting, you should easily be able to go to Kyle and back, or even to Wick and back, and still have time for a curry before getting on the Sleeper.

 

[Iskra]

What are you doing with your other two days?

I'd recommend a run to Kyle and back as per the post above.

 

[Lukeo2311]

I was planning on HS1. I might do a run out to Kyle and back, hopefully get a shot of the train there! I might go out to York for the NRM (I've not been since I was very young!) on my last 2 days on the ALR.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

I take it you are an exile? Just a reminder, in case you had forgotten, that the days are rather short at the beginning of January and it gets worse the further north you go. Trips based on admiring the scenery need to take this into account!

 

[Lukeo2311]

I am aware of the short days (I grew up in Birkenhead on the Wirral, then moved down under in 2005 when I was 13). I am not one for scenery, just crossing off routes/stations, writing down the units I travel on to and from places I go and photographing as I go along!

 

[me123]

I take it you are an exile? Just a reminder, in case you had forgotten, that the days are rather short at the beginning of January and it gets worse the further north you go. Trips based on admiring the scenery need to take this into account!

This is very true, particularly as you go into the Highlands. Chances are your trip on the Chieftain and Sleeper will offer you no views whatsoever of the wonderful HML scenery. For that reason, I would highly suggest a trip to Kyle or Wick during the day so that you can enjoy at least some scenery - it's really quite lovely in winter (and spring, summer and autumn too).

 

[mrcheek]

I am aware of the short days (I grew up in Birkenhead on the Wirral, then moved down under in 2005 when I was 13). I am not one for scenery, just crossing off routes/stations, writing down the units I travel on to and from places I go and photographing as I go along!

I dont count a route as being crossed off if I cant see the scenery! I did the Cheiftain in March one time, and didnt see a thing north of Edinburgh. such a shame to miss out on some of the most spectacular scenery in britain!