Planning a UK trip

[Reini]

Hi!

I´m planning an UK trip at the end of august/beginning of septembre.

I´ve been in Exeter last year with my school, but didn´t have much time for the railway.

If it´s possible, I would like to take photos of a 37 and a 55. Are their any Diesel specials or special trains at that time you can recommand me?

Which places shall I visit too? Are there any lines with many freight, hauled by diesel locomotives?

It would be great if anybody of you can give me some advices, so I can make the best of about one week.

Thanks a lot!

EDIT: I forgot to say, that I´m an absolut diesel fan, steam locomotives don´t fascinate me as much like a big old diesel does...
Also i forgot an "n" in the title *beashamed*

 

[yorkie]

Hi!

I´m planning an UK trip at the end of august/beginning of septembre.

I´ve been in Exeter last year with my school, but didn´t have much time for the railway.

If it´s possible, I would like to take photos of a 37 and a 55. Are their any Diesel specials or special trains at that time you can recommand me?

Yes, Carlisle-Kilmarnock-Rannoch-Fort William, hauled by 40145 on 25 August.

Which places shall I visit too? Are there any lines with many freight, hauled by diesel locomotives?

It would be great if anybody of you can give me some advices, so I can make the best of about one week.

Thanks a lot!

EDIT: I forgot to say, that I´m an absolut diesel fan, steam locomotives don´t fascinate me as much like a big old diesel does...
Also i forgot an "n" in the title *beashamed*

If you'd been here last Summer, I'd have said go to Cardiff where you could have done a 37 to Rymney and a 50 to Fishguard, but it looks like Fishguard is not going to happen this Summer

There is very little diesel loco haulage now, but you may be able to get a 47 from Norwich to Great Yarmouth. It is well worth trying to get the last Valenta powered HSTs before they all go MTU.

I suggest you visit the NRM at York. Good excuse to get an HST along the ECML, if you're lucky you will get a Valenta.

 

[Reini]

Thank you very much!

I found this video on youtube and think, i will take the train!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fHF36zw4Wk

 

[Ascot]

Heritage Railways are the best for locos up and down. Us on the Severn have got a 50 this summer running the full 16 miles return so that's 32 miles in a few hours.

 

[merseytrains]

If you'd have said October, i'd of recommended you go to Llangollen because they have a 20, 2 37's, a 46 and a 47! Thats of course for their diesel gala!

 

[theblackwatch]

At the moment it's quite difficult to predict what will be happening on the railway so far ahead, particularly with regard to 'specials' and the like. As already mentioned, there is a trip with 40145 on August 25th, and in the diary on the Preserved Diesels website it lists Western D1015 as doing a Bristol-Kingswear trip on September 1st. Also on September 1st-3rd is the East Lancs Railway Diesel Gala, which normaly features around 15 locos in action, and will probably include a Class 55 Deltic, as 55022 is based there. I'd recommend attending this event for the sheer variety of diesels that are normally in use.

 

[Reini]

If you'd have said October, i'd of recommended you go to Llangollen because they have a 20, 2 37's, a 46 and a 47! Thats of course for their diesel gala!

Unfortunately, I have to start with my alternative service (instead of the military service) on 1st October...

@theblackwatch: At the moment, I only tried to find some railway programm after/before the Great Dorset Steam Fair (http://www.gdsf.co.uk) and it look like that I´ve found such a programm

Thanks a lot to everbody for the recommendations!!

 

[class 313]

I suggest you visit the NRM at York. Good excuse to get an HST along the ECML, if you're lucky you will get a Valenta.

Most of GNER hsts are still Valenta!

 

[Tom]

GNER now have 2 MTUs in service, and they are coming on stream reasonably quickly. I reckon they'll be all done by end of the year.

 

[theblackwatch]

Most of GNER hsts are still Valenta!

But the number of MTU power cars is forever on the increase - corrently 4 done, and another 3 in Brush, so by August/September, I would expect it to be into double figures.

 

[Donny Dave]

GNER now have 2 valentas in service, and they are coming on stream reasonably quickly. I reckon they'll be all done by end of the year.

I think you mean MTU's in service

 

[Tom]

Whoops... and hi Damon for your deleted post .

 

[Reini]

Today I have an new question: Is there a complete printed timetable of all companies available?
If yes, is there a possibility to order it via Internet?

Thanks a lot!

 

[yorkie]

Today I have an new question: Is there a complete printed timetable of all companies available?
If yes, is there a possibility to order it via Internet?

Thanks a lot!

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/3828.aspx (there are some better links out there, someone made a webpage that links to all the tables directly).

You can get a printed copy, (though not for long) but I can't find the details at the moment. It's very big so might cost a bit to send overseas.

 

[theblackwatch]

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/3828.aspx (there are some better links out there, someone made a webpage that links to all the tables directly).

You can get a printed copy, (though not for long) but I can't find the details at the moment. It's very big so might cost a bit to send overseas.

Plus (I think) the current printed timetable expires around May 19th, so is of little use for a visit in August/September. In addition, its worth noting the timetables in the link also expire at the same time, although in many cases there will be little or no alterations to the timetable after then.

 

[Reini]

OK...

I think I will plan the trip with internet timetable and buy the printed one as soon I arrive at London...

Thanks again!

 

[theblackwatch]

I think I will plan the trip with internet timetable and buy the printed one as soon I arrive at London...

Unfortunately, you won't be able to - as from this summer, no printed versions is being produced!

 

[Reini]

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: That´s my typical bad luck...

 

[yorkie]

This Summer is the last, so it will be covered (just!).

This is a good index: http://www.tonybrewer.plus.com/nrt.htm

 

[class 313]

52 Bedford, Luton, St.Albans and City of London - South London, Gatwick Airport and Brighton

That's all you need

And, or

61 Watford Junction - St. Albans

 

[Donny Dave]

I should have guessed, 319s....

Tom, you really need to get out more to sample different types of trains....

 

[Reini]

Hello again!

Much time has passed and now I'm in the final stage of planning the trip.

There are some more questions for you, hopefully with many answeres

1) Does anybody know any nice photospots on the Lonon underground network? (both, tube and surface lines)

2) same for DLR and tramlink

3) A photo spot near London Victoria to take some photos of the railtour on 29th August to Bath/Bristol (departing at 8:45).

4) Dawlish: We want to spent the 30th August (thursday) in and around Dawlish. I saw that there will be a Northern Belle tour to Totnes on that day, departing Birmingham at 7:00. Maybe, anybody has an idea when the train will be in Dawlish?
Some general advices for the Dawlish area? (sidelong glance to Liam )

5) Does anybody have some more detailed time for those railtours: Dalesman (26th august, Hellifield-Carlisle), Dartmouth Regatta (30th august, Birmingham-Totnes), The Dinner (30th august, London)?

6) A photo spot on the Sherness on sea branch, to take a photo of this train: http://www.shepherd-neame.co.uk/tour/train.html (bottom of the page)

I hope you don't mind because of all these annoying question!

If you like, I can show you my plan for my trip (from 24th august to 4th september).

Thanks a lot to theblackwatch who gave me already a wohle bunch of useful advices and thanks to everybody for any comments in advance!

 

[Tom]

For the Tube - if you're looking for the old creaky A60 trains that everyone loves, somewhere out in the Chilterns would probably do well. Croxley station itself is OK on the country-end of the London-bound platform.

There is a bridge south of Harrow-on-the-Hill though which can give quite good shots.

 

[Jord]

"If it´s possible, I would like to take photos of a 37 and a 55. Are their any Diesel specials or special trains at that time you can recommand me?"

I would say class 67 Bristol - Weymouth or class 31 Minehead - Bristol and for freight locations i like Rugby or Barnetby or Doncaster.

Hope this helps.

Jord

 

[devon_metro]

The 7.00 from Birmingham is likely to pass Dawlish at around 10/12 or an hour or so later.

http://therailwaycentre.com will have more info closer to the time.

 

[Pathfinder]

Grand Central will be using Paxman Valentas when they launch in september,thats if your still here mind !!!