Wow what an honour that the amazing Techniquest should offer humble me advice on my route coverage. My trackmaps and timetables will be studied hard for the Valleys and West Wales. I do have a secret hankering to do the West Highland line as British Airways............. errrrr............ what is the best word to use......ah.....screwed up my attempted 4 years ago to use a Highland Rover Ticket to bash the West Highland with a flight delay from Heathrow, and I'd love to do South Clyde and down to Stranraer too.
If I do manage to pull off a journey back to the homeland and I can be coaxed away from my wonderful Cornwall and West Penwith, I'll do a posting here, but it'll be nothing like the standard of Techniquests postings here. I'll let you all know and look out for my London and South East Route Coverage Maps.
Sorry I never replied to this, must have missed it at the time. Easily done as it was back when my interest in the scene really took a dive (must remember to update my signature), but you sure put a smile on my face when I read that!
The Valleys is very difficult to do in one day, even with very early and late finishes. Harder still now Ebbw Vale is back in passenger use! Plus there's the fact it's quite a nice area for scenery so well worth spreading it over two days, better than going for desperate +1 connections or worse! West Wales is a bit easier these days with through trains from the North West and indeed Fishguard now has extra trains. Much easier than doing the lunchtime or midnight boat train, formerly the only way to do it!
Lots of interesting bits to do in the Glasgow area, also if memory serves correctly Paisley Canal is going EMU from December. Or at least that was the plan earlier in the year I think. Still got 314s running around too, epic win in my eyes! Nowt wrong with 318s and 320s either to me mind. Stranraer is a nice scenic line too, and memory tells me the climb away from Girvan going to Stranraer is quite steep so if you like 156 noise you're in for a treat!
Keen to see the London and South East maps, hopefully we'll be treated to them soon

You'll have my ego going through the roof
In other news, whilst it's not totally accurate in terms of layout (Sligo looks a long way from Ballina on my map, wasn't originally going to be but hey ho!), hopefully my Irish coverage map will prove to be useful for fellow IE/NIR bashers! Feel free to use, but please do credit me if you use it elsewhere. See the attached file: