General ALR trip advice please

[Techniquest]

Hi all,

I know it would seem that we have these threads every other week, but I don't see one around. I know I've contributed to this sort of thread before, but that was a long time ago and I can't find them.

As should be obvious from my signature text at this time, I'm doing an All Line Rover this summer. Current dates in the plan are from August 1st to August 7th, although that'll depend on work at the moment. Anyway, I started this thread with the intention of opening the floor to anyone with useful advice for an ALR trip. I know the restrictions already, so I'm happy with that. I mean advice on getting through the trip, based perhaps on experience.

The ALR is being done to get the last of my UK passenger network track (ie, the black lines in the Baker atlas) required done. As things stand, it should all be do-able, although I'll be very busy during the week! Hopefully it can all be done during the week, although it'll depend partly on what engineering blockades are on during the weekend of August 6th and 7th I think. Should be fine though.

Anyway, any advice from the forum membership?

Thanks in advice,

Techniquest

 

[Crossover]

One bit of advice I have seen (doesn't just apply to ALR either) is to not cram too much into a day on a recurring daily basis as you'll find yourself falling asleep during the day etc so get good rest each night

 

[Techniquest]

That's a good point, which I'll have to try and bear in mind. Falling asleep is something I plan to do a lot of on both the Scottish and FGW sleepers, or on the FGW HST moves back from Plymouth (on some nights, the plan for the night time is to do the FGW sleeper from Paddington to Plymouth and have something like 50 minutes before the 0553 Plymouth to Paddington, which gives me about 9 hours of doss time). For those moments when I cannot keep awake, Emerge will come into its own!

 

[rail-britain]

I tend to agree, sleep on the sleeper and take advantage of it
This is easy enough northbound on the Scottish sleepers, as little takes place after leaving Euston untlil you reach either Carstairs or Edinburgh

I tried to stay awake southbound until after leaving Edinburgh or Carstairs (as appropriate), as result this would lead to about 6 hours sleep
Also be quite specific for wake up calls
I asked for 06:00, but on one Saturday morning I woke at nearly 07:00 to find we had been sitting in Crewe and were already two hours late
Had I stayed on this sleeper it would have completely messed my trip for later in the day, between London LS and Great Yarmouth