So... Here's how it went or didn't
28th December
2202 Derby - Birmingham New Street via Lichfield - CANCELLED due to shortage of driver manager
2309 Birmingham New Street - Derby via Coleshill Parkway - no idea
I managed to make Derby in 90 minutes down the M6 and A50 but smarter me should have checked the internet before I set off. This meant I was now left in Derby without any idea what to do for the next 7 hours. I bought my ticket in advance at Wigan and still have it, unused, so I'm not sure if I can get any money back. I paid by debit card.
I didn't stay in a hotel as I was hoping I'd be back to my car at about midnight and could shoot off 5 hours much easier than 7. So, I set off for Edwinstowe in Sherwood Forest as I assumed there would be a quiet, dark place to stop. It seems not as when I arrived the visitor centre car park was on lock down. Still, there was no one around so I had chance to have a little walk around. Without my big torch, I wasn't prepared to venture down the path to see Major Oak but it was tempting as it hadn't been raining.
I though I'd try for a proper snooze at nearby Newstead station but there was a group of youths there at about midnight which was disappointing. The freakiest thing about Newstead is by the primary school are bollards in the shape of children which if you drive into there at night, would be unsettling.
Like Mary and Joseph, my next attempt was at Trowell services where I get a good 2 hours in, then a latte to wake me up and am out within the grace period. It's now about 3 am and am still a little early so I drive into Nottingham via East Midlands Parkway and note it's eeriness at night. I make for The Forest Park and Ride Tram Stop in Nottingham in the centre of town and think this would have made a much better place to snooze with it being such a vast car park which seemed relatively peaceful.
I set off later by foot walking into town which gets me into Nottingham station for about 5.40am and then the rest of the day goes as...
29th December
0555 Nottingham - Lincoln (Stopping everywhere)
0705 Lincoln - Nottingham (The Fast London Service stopping only at Collingham, Newark Castle, Lowdham and Nottingham)
0955 Nottingham - Sleaford not via Grantham (about a third full all the way through)
1111 Sleaford - Grantham
I stop here for lunch and to see if there was anything related to Margaret Thatcher in the locality. I mistakenly believed there was a bronze statue of here here but no, just a plaque at her birthplace. There was a far more interesting sight in seeing Sir Isaac Newton's school.
1311 Grantham - Peterborough (EMT left first on to the slows for an eternity until the late running LNER overtook us)
1352 Peterborough - Nuneaton
1524 Nuneaton - Leicester
1603 Leicester - Nottingham
I decided to leave the Corby bit for another day.
I then took the tram from the station to The Forest. On my way home, I took a more direct route home via the A610, Ambergate, Cromford, the Via Gelia, A515, the A6004, Whaley Bridge, Disley, Rose Hill Marple and the M60. Managed to be back in about 2.5 hours.
It was a good day, just disappointed with the late night XC cancellation. I didn't opt to take the 2212 to Birmingham as that would be a very tight connection with the only train back.
Positives: Nottingham-Lincoln/Sleaford/Grantham/Leicester, Nuneaton-Peterborough done!
Negatives: The Lichfield and Coleshill Parkway XC Diversions remain elusive.
