I've got a dilemma for 2015's trips...

[Techniquest]

No, before you ask or think it, I'm NOT giving up the railway again for any amount of time! It's killing me enough at the moment that I'm having to do so to afford trips bigger than a Network West Midlands Daytripper!

Anyway, I've been tossing and turning the idea over in my head for several days now, which hasn't been helped by my tight fisted-ness of recent times being a major boost to my savings account. Some of you may have noticed my incredible list of plans for 2015 that I posted some weeks ago in the "What are you planning for 2015?" thread, which can be found here http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=109826&highlight=plans+for+2015&page=3 and pasted below for convenience:

Merseyrail Saveaway
Greater Manchester Rail Ranger
Greater Manchester Wayfarer
Lancashire Day Ranger
South Pennines Day Ranger
South Yorkshire Day Travelmaster (or whatever it's actually called!)
Derbyshire Wayfarer
London Day Travelcard
Southern DaySave
Kent Rover
North West 4 in 8
East Midlands Day Ranger
East Midlands 3 in 7
Tyne and Tees Day Ranger
Tyne and Wear Metro day
Metrolink day
Glasgow Roundabout
SPT Daytripper
WMDR
NWM Daytripper
Central Scotland 3 in 7
Visit to Dublin (this is going to be a norm trip though, if I can work it out)
A return to Scandanavia for the Northern Lights
Anglia Day Plus
Anglia 3 in 7
Cheshire Day Ranger
Kennet Day Ranger
Thames Rover 3 in 7
Visit to Bristol (mostly for things like the 150/9s)
Devon Day Ranger
Ride Cornwall
Freedom of Severn and Solent 3 in 7

Of which I've only managed to do the NWM Daytripper so far, with a Kent Rover and then a Tyne and Tees Day Ranger, coupled with at least part of a day on the Tyne and Wear Metro coming soon. Which will knock out a few of the planned trips at least. And yes, I am getting to the point in a moment...

Anyway, that list is all fine and good, but what I'm really wanting to do now is one of these bad boys again (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/pr20780b0a0400020167ed620a7e504e.aspx), an ALR!

For years now I've been wanting to do the Golden Ticket trip, that is a 14 day First Class ALR. That's not going to happen any time soon, as that's quite some extreme ching and I'm not tight-fisted enough to save for it that quickly! £478 for a Standard Class ALR according to that link, and although it's quite hefty ching (I'd happily pay that in First Class, but a 7 day First Class ALR is £724!) I'm way more than tempted to do it. In just over 2 weeks my savings pot is likely to have got me to halfway to that £478 figure, which considering I only started saving about 3 weeks ago - cutting out alcohol and energy drinks has saved me a fortune! - will not be too bad at all! Mind you, that figure will now take longer to rise as it's short hours at work, but I'll definitely have the amount cleared by July or August. Quite, if I were to cancel the upcoming trip I'd save £192 in hotel/guest house accommodations, which combined with the other money I'm going to have in the savings would more or less have me with enough to get an ALR AND have it during the week off I've already got coming up!

It would, however, mean sacrificing my hard-earnt East Coast Rewards ticket I've booked a while back, plus £29 on the Advance to Gravesend, £19.50 on the fare back out of Faversham and the £28 on the Advance coming home from Newcastle. £76.50 in Advance fares chucked away, hmm I'm not so sure I like that idea. Unless I was to use the Advance to Gravesend, then start the ALR from there. It would still sacrifice the other tickets, and starting the ALR in Kent wouldn't make much difference to starting it at Hereford to be fair!

What I'm now going to ask each and everyone of you who's reading this is the following:

Which would you do, given the opportunity, an ALR or attack the long list of planned trips as detailed further up?

I'm torn between both options personally. On the one hand, an ALR unleashes a ridiculous amount of fun available (as I'm sure my 2011 and 2012 ALR trip reports have revealed! I think I might pop over to those shortly and read them again...), and I could then tackle a bit of every trip I've detailed above, even if it just meant spending several hours in each area before moving on to other places. On the other hand, I could use that £240 I'll have in just over 2 weeks to plan some smaller trips throughout the rest of Q1 2015, using the rest of the money I'll have later in the year for other trips.

Of course, a week of heaven uninterrupted...*drools like Homer Simpson at the idea*

Any thoughts ladies and gentlemen? I'm going to have a VERY serious think about this tonight, as if I was to cancel the accommodations I need to do so in the next few days!

 

[Kite159]

Keep the Kent & Tyne trip, but save up to see if you can do the ALR when the days are a bit longer, and weather a bit more warmer.

 

[Techniquest]

Keep the Kent & Tyne trip, but save up to see if you can do the ALR when the days are a bit longer, and weather a bit more warmer.

Not a bad shout, although I'm sure you can see how tempting it would be to do an ALR in a shade over 13 days since the money will be there, and the time off already granted!

Mind you, a good point you have raised though, longer and warmer days would be nicer to do an ALR. Plus it's pushing it now to get the relevant sleeper reservations anyway!

Of course, by doing it later this year and keeping this trip means I'd have much, much less need to visit Kent. Tyneside would have less need to get there on the ALR too. Hmm...

 

[87015]

I've never seen an ALR as value and certainly wouldn't now, but if you are going to do one may be much better waiting a while yet, should be one of the few years where bashing actually gets better (your loco preferences may vary of course)...

Sleeper goes from 90s to 92s (and, 67s to 47s/73s, but thats more arguable)
Cumbrian Coast DRS turns (37s?)
Chiltern 67s replaced with 68s

And as said, Summer is a much better time to be out and about, especially for evening leaping or long distance moves.

I'd point out the various European rovers available, but I don't think that would help you now would it

 

[47403]

Keep the Kent & Tyne trip, but save up to see if you can do the ALR when the days are a bit longer, and weather a bit more warmer.

For what my opinions counts for, I agree with kite, build up your points over the next few months and attack it that way, maybe get a H U G E flask, get it filled with hot water, carry your coffee milk and sugar, save you a fair bit of dosh too.

 

[Techniquest]

Sleeper goes from 90s to 92s (and, 67s to 47s/73s, but thats more arguable)
Cumbrian Coast DRS turns (37s?)
Chiltern 67s replaced with 68s

You know, I'd forgotten all about the Cally Insomny changes! I am actually then glad you reminded me as the opportunity to score a 92 or two on an ALR would be quite welcome! Also, which 47s are we talking about? I always assumed it was 73s north of Edinburgh on the sleepers, not aware of any plans to use 47s instead!

Cumbrian Coast 37s (well, hopefully, although I'll be just as happy with 20s!) are another thing I'd forgotten about somehow tonight!

The Chilterns are easy-ish for me to do, so they're not a big concern although obviously I'd want to get some of it in should the option come up!

I'd point out the various European rovers available, but I don't think that would help you now would it

I have done Europe on a few trips before, and I'm sure my Benelux Interrail trip report will reveal I had a good time. As much as I'd like to return, I also prioritise the UK railway scene above continental Europe!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

For what my opinions counts for, I agree with kite, build up your points over the next few months and attack it that way, maybe get a H U G E flask, get it filled with hot water, carry your coffee milk and sugar, save you a fair bit of dosh too.

Oh I already have a flask, received one as a Christmas present in 2014, and I had originally not intended to use it as it's huge and would take up most of the room in my backpack on a day-to-day basis. However I'm glad you've reminded me of it, as it could easily save me at least £12, maybe nearer £15 on my forthcoming trip, if not more!

 

[mrben253]

I'll echo everyone else's words and say save up and do the ALR in the summer with better weather/ longer daylight/ better traction and I think GBRF are using class 47's on the highland portions of the sleepers as their class 73's won't be all ready for use by the april switchover from first/dbs.

 

[Techniquest]

Glad you're all being more sensible than me! I guess it's down to being rather keen to get on a trip lately that's making me a bit crazy tonight!

Anyone with thoughts regarding doing the several smaller trips versus an ALR though?

 

[37038]

You know, I'd forgotten all about the Cally Insomny changes! I am actually then glad you reminded me as the opportunity to score a 92 or two on an ALR would be quite welcome! Also, which 47s are we talking about? I always assumed it was 73s north of Edinburgh on the sleepers, not aware of any plans to use 47s instead!

Cumbrian Coast 37s (well, hopefully, although I'll be just as happy with 20s!) are another thing I'd forgotten about somehow tonight!

The Chilterns are easy-ish for me to do, so they're not a big concern although obviously I'd want to get some of it in should the option come up!

GBRf have the following under overhaul at Brush:
92006 92014 92018 92020 92023 92033 (033 in Caley blue)

73/9s are so far behind that something is needed to fill in for a few months and, seeing as they've done so well on the sands out of Doncaster and gypsum out of Drax, 47s from HNRC & Riviera seemed ideal! The following will be ready (with those for later on bracketed):
(47703) (47715) (47769) 47812 47815 (47830) 47843 47847 47848

Two 37/4s out 5 days a week from May so shouldn't be hard to get. Carlisle - Barrow is confirmed and unconfirmed rumours of an extension to Preston (extra training required though so unlikely). A return to Barrow is 170mi anyway and potentially two rounders available a day! Think I might up sticks to Cumbria

68s will be around for years, no panic :roll:

 

[FQ]

I will say what everyone else has said, do an ALR when the days are longer in the summer. Don't cancel the upcoming trip though!

 

[noddy1878]

Easier to write here than in a tweet! I would stick with what you have already booked personally. I'm basing this on what would be a similar dilemma I would have if i did an ALR. I have never done one (and would love too) but wouldn't be good value for me now. If I needed plenty of route and would be getting plenty of winners yes but you are in the same position as me, you're going after units and stations. Smaller ranger/rover areas are better value when doing this.

And if you still have that need to do one, a summer one would be much more fun i would imagine.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Tech, I'm glad I'm not the only one who has the odd dilemma as to where to go, what to do and when!

For what its worth stick with your current plans - you've already invested enough cash and also time in planning those excursions. If you really want to do an ALR then wait until the weather improves so that you can at least rule out the chances of bad weather disrupting your plans. If you wait a while, you'll also have more time to plan your travels in order to maximise the use of what seems to be scarce cash resources.

Nevertheless, whatever you decide, we all will be looking forward to the eventual trip report!

 

[Techniquest]

Thank you all for the opinions, all have been gratefully received and welcomed. The points regarding money already invested as well as quite the bit of time also invested, are very true. It's also true about my main aim being to get stations and units in, that has been the primary goal for a long time. Of course there's still some PSUL stuff I need (Halton Curve, Point Pleasant, Newton East Connecting Line,the Metrolink one near MediaCity UK and that curve on the Sheffield Supertram I think,maybe missing one or two others) and obviously preserved/non-passenger track still remain to be done.

An ALR is great fun if you're after track noddy1878, the freedom you get on one is unreal. I would use mine more for mileage accumulation to be honest, and to do bits not covered much if at all on rangers/rovers. Long distance runs on the WCML, ECML and GWML are what I'd do a lot of on an ALR.

I will be keeping the currently booked trip as it is, then after that I have no idea what I'll do next. Keeping up the tight fisted-ness is not a bad shout though, at least for a while. All being well I should get some big trips underway soon, indeed I have some days off at the end of March so that'll probably be the best time to get my next big trip in. Looking at Anglia, Southern Daysaves, multiple days in London or even a North West Rover for that one, time will tell!

Thank you all again for your valuable insight!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You know, I'd forgotten all about the Cally Insomny changes! I am actually then glad you reminded me as the opportunity to score a 92 or two on an ALR would be quite welcome! Also, which 47s are we talking about? I always assumed it was 73s north of Edinburgh on the sleepers, not aware of any plans to use 47s instead!

Cumbrian Coast 37s (well, hopefully, although I'll be just as happy with 20s!) are another thing I'd forgotten about somehow tonight!

The Chilterns are easy-ish for me to do, so they're not a big concern although obviously I'd want to get some of it in should the option come up!

GBRf have the following under overhaul at Brush:
92006 92014 92018 92020 92023 92033 (033 in Caley blue)

73/9s are so far behind that something is needed to fill in for a few months and, seeing as they've done so well on the sands out of Doncaster and gypsum out of Drax, 47s from HNRC & Riviera seemed ideal! The following will be ready (with those for later on bracketed):
(47703) (47715) (47769) 47812 47815 (47830) 47843 47847 47848

Two 37/4s out 5 days a week from May so shouldn't be hard to get. Carlisle - Barrow is confirmed and unconfirmed rumours of an extension to Preston (extra training required though so unlikely). A return to Barrow is 170mi anyway and potentially two rounders available a day! Think I might up sticks to Cumbria

68s will be around for years, no panic :roll:

Thanks for the gen, I need some of those 47s (not got the NREA with me to check which ones) so that's not a bad thing!

Following the wise advice of you all, I've abandoned my plans for an ALR this year, although I was still toying with the idea earlier briefly! I'm now revising my finances for the rest of Q1 2015, and am in the early TPP stages for a big trip at the end of March when I've got a few days off work. Early indications suggest a FoSS coupled with a Devon Day Ranger and Ride Cornwall for that trip, although that's also competing with a few days in London, a few days in Anglia and a few days in West Yorkshire!

Obviously I have a while to firm up plans, check finances more thoroughly and research hotels. Details will of course be announced in the trip report thread nearer the time.

Bring on the next trip, only 13 days to go!

 

[IanD]

cutting out alcohol ... has saved me a fortune!

That's just a step too far.

 

[fowler9]

If I was you I'd try and force myself to save for the ALR, I am rubbish at saving myself though. Ha ha. Being biased I would say travel around Merseyside, ha ha. Get a few 319's in in the north west. Make sure you leave the station at Mossley Hill this time so you can see it is a nice area, ha ha.

I know your main focus is the UK but have you ever considered Poland? Flights are cheap, accommodation is cheap, food is cheap, drink is cheap, the trains are cheap and most importantly interesting or perhaps different. Like the ALR it would require a bit of saving up.

 

[Techniquest]

Not something I've considered doing to be honest! I am looking at going abroad this year, but to Iceland for the Northern Lights. That'll soak up a lot of the funds this year but I do have until September to save before booking it.

As for cutting out the booze, there are nights where I want some again, but I'm generally finding it wasn't a difficult thing to give up!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

We ought to have a forum whip around for your superlative trip reports - count me in for a tenner !

 

[Kristofferson]

superlative trip reports

I know the decision has been made now, but this is why you shouldn't do the ALR this year at the expense of other trips - we'd miss out on so many fun reports!

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks gents, that's put quite the smile on my face! My trip reports clearly generate a lot of interest (although I need to look up superlative, been almost 11 years since I used that word at uni!), maybe I should group them together and publish a book

Rest assured there's plenty of trip reports coming in 2015! I'm going to have a massive one to write from the epic 6 day adventure that starts in just 12 days and 5 hours!

 

[Zamracene749]

I'm sort of with Fowler9 on this one. Maybe not Poland, but use your cash to head over to Europe and sample the very last of the 'REAL' traditional trains. The last place in the world that you can safely experience loud diesels, howling electrics, half drop window stock, compartments and easy to use dirt cheap fares with friendly staff (usually) on regular fast workings. These will be history within a couple years after which you can then stay in the UK and notch up your mileage in soulless overcrowded dull aircon stock...

For example, Bavaria

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNKQ2cbNgjM

Czech Republic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co5NZp600Xo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJyZGfkSeYc

Romania

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t1GfkCHqz0

Poland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr3jZuWrRog

These aren't my videos, but they give a feel of type of rail travel that will be gone forever soon. PS if the last two look familiar, they are similar to our UK 47s or 83s

 

[Techniquest]

I shall examine these at some point, too busy to do so at the moment. In all fairness, I'm also interested in making the most of the last of the UK's proper trains, the "souless" stuff I'll get in too but as I've already said, the UK will always be my priority!

 

[NLC1072]

Im desperatly trying to get the Ffestiniog railway and the Weest highland railway done... in a day... from Essex...

Might offer a car pool later this year.

 

[33056]

> the UK will always be my priority!

That's what I used to say until about 20 years ago! Now I really struggle to get motivated enough to do much in the UK railway-wise.