Glasgow to Oban

[raveon]

Hi

I'm wanting to travel from Glasgow (Queen Street) to Oban on a Saturday in early April. The pdf timetable (http://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/files/WHL.web.pdf) on Scotrail's website shows a 1037, with SO (Saturdays Only) and A (From 27 March 2010) at head of the column. However, this train doesn't show up on the National Rail journey planner. Any ideas if it does run?

 

[yorkie]

If it doesn't show up on NRES I'd be cautious. Try booking a reservation on one of the booking sites, the Atos Origin ones (used by Southern, East Coast and others) will inform you before you pay for the ticket if a reservation was possible. If reservations are open then I'd say it will run.

There could be engineering works that were not finalised in the PDF timetable.

4 years ago there were engineering works on the Fort William line, and the sleeper (hauled by 37416) was diverted to Oban. Bookings never actually opened however if you had the right contacts it was possible to book. We got berths and therefore got front windows. Bashers who turned up on the day tried invading the sleeper car to obtain front windows, but were turfed out by the attendant. Brilliant! It was at fairly short notice I recall, and was still showing as going to Fort William on some journey planners.

 

[43167]

If it doesn't show up on NRES I'd be cautious. Try booking a reservation on one of the booking sites, the Atos Origin ones (used by Southern, East Coast and others) will inform you before you pay for the ticket if a reservation was possible. If reservations are open then I'd say it will run.

There could be engineering works that were not finalised in the PDF timetable.

4 years ago there were engineering works on the Fort William line, and the sleeper (hauled by 37416) was diverted to Oban. Bookings never actually opened however if you had the right contacts it was possible to book. We got berths and therefore got front windows. Bashers who turned up on the day tried invading the sleeper car to obtain front windows, but were turfed out by the attendant. Brilliant! It was at fairly short notice I recall, and was still showing as going to Fort William on some journey planners.

I was there for that one. didnt invade the sleeping coach. Think there was about 4-6 weeks notice. but long enough to book afew days holiday in scotland, with 2 nights in a B&B and 1 night edinburgh pubs. Think there was a couple of weeks it happen as I had 37406 the day I did it.

 

[yorkie]

I was there for that one. didnt invade the sleeping coach. Think there was about 4-6 weeks notice. but long enough to book afew days holiday in scotland, with 2 nights in a B&B and 1 night edinburgh pubs. Think there was a couple of weeks it happen as I had 37406 the day I did it.

If you only did it once then I wasn't on the same train as you. If you did it twice, I was! 'Gingerfly' was mentioned as trying to get a front window. I didn't witness it, but others on this forum did.

4-6 weeks notice yes but only to those 'in the know' if I recall, and berths never opened for booking except with a manager authorising it.

 

[EltonRoad]

To answer raveon's question, there are engineering works on the West Highland Line from 19th to 30th March. Go to JourneyCheck on the ScotRail web site.

Shame they're not diverting the Sleeper again this year, though it may be because Class 67s are too high RA west of Crianlarich (covered in another thread a while ago)?

Wonder why they didn't open it for bookings when it went to Oban in 06? Was it run just for staff, or similar?

 

[defitzi]

I was there for that one. didnt invade the sleeping coach. Think there was about 4-6 weeks notice. but long enough to book afew days holiday in scotland, with 2 nights in a B&B and 1 night edinburgh pubs. Think there was a couple of weeks it happen as I had 37406 the day I did it.

front window? on a sleeper? please explain also basher? wot?

 

[Deerfold]

Hi

I'm wanting to travel from Glasgow (Queen Street) to Oban on a Saturday in early April. The pdf timetable (http://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/files/WHL.web.pdf) on Scotrail's website shows a 1037, with SO (Saturdays Only) and A (From 27 March 2010) at head of the column. However, this train doesn't show up on the National Rail journey planner. Any ideas if it does run?

Oddly, though this does not show up in booking engines, the journey in the other direction with the same codes (1611 ex Glasgow) does show up (at least it is doing in the EC booking engine).

 

[defitzi]

please wot is "front window" on sleeping car -also wot is "bashers" pleeze
And while I'm on a similar thread, could/would someone please tell me what is a "split ticket"?

 

[142094]

A basher is a common term for someone who someone who bags different routes or trains, such as doing routes they have never done before or seeing how far they can get in a set amount of time, or behind the same class of motive power. There are probably many different definitions for it.

A split ticket in one sense is where if you were going from A to C, you could buy a ticket A to B and B to C which in some cases is cheaper than an A to C ticket itself.

 

[yorkie]

please wot is "front window" on sleeping car -also wot is "bashers" pleeze
And while I'm on a similar thread, could/would someone please tell me what is a "split ticket"?

Front window = the window nearest the locomotive. Being right behind a Class 37 on the west highland line on Rannoch moor, with no sign of human activity other than the line itself, and the incredible thrash, the sight of wild deer, nothing can compare with that! I always went in sleeping accomodation going north, but usually seated going south (sometimes staying the night in Edinburgh, once getting off at York, but usually off at Preston).

[youtube]_sNlevaa9sI[/youtube]

Very high chance of me and other members of this forum at the windows in some of those clips!

For more videos, search Youtube for 'West Highland Tractors'

View from the front here