Caledonian Sleeper

[MotCO]

The Fort William sleeper in particular is an amazing journey, with the chance to enjoy a nice meal in the lounge car in the evening out of Euston and the fantastic experience (and contrast) having breakfast as the sun rises over the West Highlands in the morning; the West Highland line is an incredible journey and the sleeper lounge cars offer much better scenic viewing (and no, I don’t work for CS and these are my own views as a regular traveller).

What is the best time of year to sample all the best views?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Sorry I should have said, cheapest with a double bed I like my sleep in a proper bed. I just don’t fancy it for £400+ (thats going all the way London to Fort Will) cheaper for me to fly and hire a car etc and hotel at that cost

If it's only one of you travelling, why would you need the double room? Try a "classic" instead for the lowest price with a bed, or a "Club" which is like a classic but is en suite.

 

[_toommm_]

What is the best time of year to sample all the best views?

Right about now. I went at the beginning of the month and it was just about light as we left Edinburgh.

Maybe late August/early September for some ambiance from colder mornings and a slightly later sunrise.

 

[TimboM]

Evening,

Can anyone advise me what loco is on 1S26 tonight please?

Many thanks!

Should be 92014

 

[Scotrail84]

No, they aren't. They are the same seats as 1st class in the ScotRail Turbostars.

No they're not, they are much bigger and wider than a turbo 1st class seat

 

[Scotrail84]

Should be 92014

Correct.

 

[Scotrail84]

What is the best time of year to sample all the best views?

Longest day is the 21st of June, anytime around now until the August I'd say.

 

[M7R]

Fair enough folks, thanks for the replies. I suspected that for the double room the cost is what it is. Will have a think might do the single room or seats, or may just wait a little while and treat my self for a birthday.

The Luton box van idea could catch on..... might be a little cheaper

 

[ajrm]

Nearly, it's similar to that, just with more similarities to the TGV Duplex first class seat regarding head cushions, armrests etc.

Not even close, I'm afraid.

Well you learn something new every day—in my defence, it's a long time since I was in the seated coach. I would add, though, that there are two different designs of first class seat in the ScotRail Turbostars (the manufacturer went bust inbetween batches), and the design which you didn't link to looks a lot more similar to the CS seats!

 

[pitdiver]

What is the best time of year to sample all the best views?

My wife and I went up last year during the third week of May. It was a fantastic trip, the weather unusually warm and sunny. So naturally the views were pretty good.

 

[route101]

My wife and I went up last year during the third week of May. It was a fantastic trip, the weather unusually warm and sunny. So naturally the views were pretty good.

This may has been a lot colder for sure up in Scotland . I done the seated down the WHL is late may

 

[side effect]

Just see the sleeper off at Inverness. Coach h out of action due to damaged door. Well that's what it read.

 

[MrEd]

What is the best time of year to sample all the best views?

I've used the northbound Fort William sleeper in all seasons and all kinds of weather, and can honestly say that it looks amazing at any time of year. The contrast between different seasons is incredible, and every season has a magic of its own in the West Highlands. Some of my all-time favourite journeys on the northbound Fort William sleeper have been in the autumn and winter; it's a very special experience wandering down to the lounge car to watch the winter sun rise over the hills above Crianlarich. Although daylight hours are short, the fact that the sleeper doesn't arrive at Fort William until 9.55 means that you get to experience the most spectacular part of the West Highland Line (the section across Rannoch Moor and along Loch Treig to Tulloch) in daylight at all times of the year. Perhaps the greatest pleasure of all was looking out of a Mk2 droplight and feeling the frosty Highland air as the train crossed Rannoch Moor, with wide views of distant snow-covered hills and deer bounding across the frosty expanses... Many days of the year, the hills will be covered in cloud, but the drama is still there. Here are some pics which I took from a very frosty journey last October, with some sunny spring pics from my last trip in April for comparison.

 

[kingqueen]

Just see the sleeper off at Inverness. Coach h out of action due to damaged door. Well that's what it read.

It was on the Fort William the night before last and I was on Coach G.
Coach H is out of service because it has no working electricity supply. All the lights are out, there were light sticks attached to every door and the ceiling. I'm assuming the signs on the doors were because the same power problem affected the central locking.

 

[_toommm_]

What is the best time of year to sample all the best views?

For reference, this was at the start of this month:

 

[BRX]

I've used the northbound Fort William sleeper in all seasons and all kinds of weather, and can honestly say that it looks amazing at any time of year. The contrast between different seasons is incredible, and every season has a magic of its own in the West Highlands. Some of my all-time favourite journeys on the northbound Fort William sleeper have been in the autumn and winter; it's a very special experience wandering down to the lounge car to watch the winter sun rise over the hills above Crianlarich. Although daylight hours are short, the fact that the sleeper doesn't arrive at Fort William until 9.55 means that you get to experience the most spectacular part of the West Highland Line (the section across Rannoch Moor and along Loch Treig to Tulloch) in daylight at all times of the year. Perhaps the greatest pleasure of all was looking out of a Mk2 droplight and feeling the frosty Highland air as the train crossed Rannoch Moor, with wide views of distant snow-covered hills and deer bounding across the frosty expanses... Many days of the year, the hills will be covered in cloud, but the drama is still there. Here are some pics which I took from a very frosty journey last October, with some sunny spring pics from my last trip in April for comparison. View attachment 63842 View attachment 63843 View attachment 63844 View attachment 63845 View attachment 63846 View attachment 63847 View attachment 63848

A perfect description of this very special journey. Including the bit about the droplight, a joy soon to be taken away from us which I'm more than a little bitter about. On what was (probably) my final trip on the old stock a couple of weeks ago, a beautiful early summer evening, crossing rannoch moor, as well as me there were several people at the droplights, either taking photos or just quietly enjoying the direct contact it allows with the sights, sounds and smells of the outside world as it rolls by. Not quite the same peering through glass.

 

[quantinghome]

My wife and I went up last year during the third week of May. It was a fantastic trip, the weather unusually warm and sunny. So naturally the views were pretty good.

I went on it years ago about the same time of year. I'd imagine the views are spectacular no matter what time of year you travel.

Nice boat BTW!

 

[nlogax]

Beautiful photos, @MrEd !

I first took the Fort William - London sleeper one July night best part of a decade ago. It was nothing short of magical. A long sun-drenched summer evening, deer across Rannoch Moor, finally losing the light as we trundled down Loch Long and towards Helensburgh. I did it on the cheap, didn't bother with a room, just a seat. If I managed even three hours of sleep for the entire trip it'd have been some achievement, but it was absolutely worth it. The experience felt a little dreamlike and I've been aching to do it again.

 

[BRX]

 

[MrEd]

For reference, this was at the start of this month:

View attachment 63862 View attachment 63863 View attachment 63864 View attachment 63865

Amazing pics! What a magical journey it is!

 

[MrEd]

A perfect description of this very special journey. Including the bit about the droplight, a joy soon to be taken away from us which I'm more than a little bitter about. On what was (probably) my final trip on the old stock a couple of weeks ago, a beautiful early summer evening, crossing rannoch moor, as well as me there were several people at the droplights, either taking photos or just quietly enjoying the direct contact it allows with the sights, sounds and smells of the outside world as it rolls by. Not quite the same peering through glass.

Will be very sad, too, when the opportunity to enjoy the fresh highland air from a Mk2 droplight is no more. That made the trip particularly magical, and gave you an amazing experience of the sounds and smells of the Scottish countryside which you couldn’t get in a car or on any other service train. Will definitely make the most of the experience when I go up in early July, in what will probably be the last week of Mk2/Mk3 operation. That said, I am looking forward to trying out the Mk5s and their new facilities later in the year, will have to see how good the Mk5 lounge cars are for scenic viewing (they look as though they should be quite good, as the windows are quite large and the seats line up properly with the windows).

 

[kingqueen]

Wednesday morning just gone.
The view from my bed was amazing.

 

[Essexman]

It was on the Fort William the night before last and I was on Coach G.
Coach H is out of service because it has no working electricity supply. All the lights are out, there were light sticks attached to every door and the ceiling. I'm assuming the signs on the doors were because the same power problem affected the central locking.

How are passengers being accommodated if one coach is out of use at a time of year when trains are often fully booked?

 

[kingqueen]

How are passengers being accommodated if one coach is out of use at a time of year when trains are often fully booked?

Must admit that did cross my mind too! I have no idea.

 

[Kendalian]

Northbound Carstairs-Edinburgh portion cancelled this morning according to Realtimetrains due to a "mishap" and Glasgow portion arrived 29 min late (how annoying for guests it wasn't 30 min!)

Anyone know what happened?

 

[pitdiver]

I went on it years ago about the same time of year. I'd imagine the views are spectacular no matter what time of year you travel.

Nice boat BTW!

Not my boat sadly, It's one we hire a couple of times a year from Hunters Yard who are based in Ludham, Norfolk

 

[_toommm_]

Northbound Carstairs-Edinburgh portion cancelled this morning according to Realtimetrains due to a "mishap" and Glasgow portion arrived 29 min late (how annoying for guests it wasn't 30 min!)

Anyone know what happened?

The cancellation code actually refers to coupler faults, so maybe a problem with the splitting?

 

[Highlandspring]

61 way jumper fault again.

 

[Chris999999]

61 way jumper fault again.

So if these 61 way connectors are unreliable when they are new and the weather is mild, what hope is there when there is snow or rain and the connectors have been subjected to wear and tear etc?

 

[mcmad]

Depends what the issues with them is. It could be that being new they are too tight to couple reliably and, with use, will 'wear in'.