Totally agree, did it this Tuesday picking up the 10:06 ex Preston from Lancaster (37402) then 11:38 ex Barrow (37423) to Ravenglass then the 15:33 from Ravenglass to Carlisle with 37402 again. Those window bars do make reaching the door handle a bit of a struggle, nearly got my arm wedged in one, don't know how Michelin Man would manage
but won't get the chance before October. I was quite surprised to find it is possible to get from London to Preston in time for the 1004 departure, but that requires a stupid-o-clock 0530 departure from Euston (leaving home about 100 minutes before that) otherwise the fares are astronomical. Instead I'm looking at staying overnight in a hotel in Wigan or Manchester after doing a Cheshire Day Ranger the day before, and then completing the full run to Carlisle before coming back to London.I'm also itching to go on them
The 0730 from London is train I took to Preston which is perfect connection onto the 1004I'm also itching to go on them
The 0530 costs £13.20, which is more like it, and the 0643 via Birmingham is £20.15, not too bad. However, they both mean waking up early and will only lead to me being very tired and falling asleep somewhere 
:P
I'm also itching to go on them
although when I've checked, that cheapest tier isn't usually available, at least the next one is £7.45 . Those along with "VTWC&Connections" are also available if you wish to travel via Carlisle, and will be my ticket starting from Whitehaven. Whether a further split is needed elsewhere on my way back to London depends on if I can get the cheapest £36.30 First Advance on either the 1449 (via Trent Valley) or 1510 (via Birmingham) from Carlisle. If not, splitting at Wolverhampton and using "Chiltern&Connections" onwards is cheaper (I really don't want to use Standard Class in a Pendolino).
