Right then. So the above plan was followed but in a rearrangement.
Monday
A nice easy drive up the M6 followed by an as easy drive up the A7 stopping in Selkirk for a stretch of the legs and food in the Co Op there. I checked the train times for Stow here and would be in time a Stow with even time for a walk around the village and time to buy some water.
1503 Stow - Tweedbank
1530 Tweedbank - Stow
The train had a healthy load on in both directions.
Next a drive via Lauder and some minor B roads to tick off the North Berwick branch and time for fish and chips by the bracing coast. Yummy! Also Drem Eastbound waiting room is very warm without any sign of heating which is good.
1707 Drem - North Berwick
1828 North Berwick - Drem
I couldn't sit in my hotel room in Hamilton with the whole evening to myself without being productive so off I go a 15 minute drive down to Motherwell for yet another branch.
2118 Motherwell - Lanark
2153 Lanark - Motherwell
The train is light both ways naturally. I return to Hamilton and sleep in a comfy bed near the big council block.
Tuesday
After a continental breakfast (cereal) I know I have missed the 7am Oban train and return but I still can comfortably drive up the M74/M8/Erskine Bridge/A82 in enough time to stop and fully absorb Ardlui and it's environs and spot a yellow NR van possibly waiting for the two trains about to meet in 30 mins. I now drive on and am in a sleepy Crianlarich that slowly comes to life as the trains arrive with a full platform of passengers wanting to go in all both directions.
1015 Crianlarich - Oban
1211 Oban - Crianlarich
Commendation to the jovial and engaging trolley host on the way back who served me and detailed her life path from the West Midlands to the West Highlands.
I drive to Dalreoch in about one hour and use this as a base for two more branches to tick off. I realise as I left Dalreoch the train I left at Oban was coming round the corner!
1448 Dalreoch - Balloch
1507 Balloch - Dalreoch
1532 Dalreoch - Helensburgh Central
1546 Helensburgh Central - Dalreoch
My journey back to Glasgow coincided with the evening rush hour so I change plans and tick off two more western branches. Gourock is easily traversed so I get some petrol in a nearby Morrison's and drive the sluggish 50 minute journey along the coast to Ardrossan for the Largs branch. I should have parked at Largs instead but I arrive at Ardrossan with a very long wait till the next Largs branch service. I drive to Stevenston as I recall last time I was here, drunken louts impeded me getting a decent look and photo of the station.
1729 Greenock Central - Gourock
1743 Gourock - Greenock Central
1923 Stevenston - Largs
2016 Largs - Stevenston
This is my last train for the day so I drive back following the A71 to Strathaven and up over a large hill back to Hamilton via KFC tonight.
Wednesday
Google gives me directions to Newton which takes me past the Tunnocks factory in Uddingston. I stop but I'm not of fan of their products to be honest. I leave my car in Newton for several hours and do the following.
0902 Newton - Mount Florida
0930 Mount Florida - Kings Park
Brisk walk to Cathcart.
0947 Cathcart - Neilston
1028 Neilston - Williamwood
Brisk walk to Clarkston
1107 Clarkston - East Kilbride
1128 East Kilbride - Glasgow Central
1209 Glasgow Central - Milngavie
1238 Milngavie - Westerton
1259 Westerton - Dalmuir
1311 Dalmuir - Glasgow Queen Street
1413 Glasgow Central - Girvan via Kilmarnock
1553 Girvan - Ayr
1654 Ayr - Glasgow Central
1804 Glasgow Queen Street - Springburn
1826 Springburn - Bellgrove
I needed to get out of the constant track bashing and so recharged myself beside Barrowlands and relaxed on a bench near a park before finding Bridgeton.
2042 Bridgeton - Newton
I can't leave this little section of track unridden so I jump in the car and park up in front of someone's front room and walk off to Kings Park and 40 mins later return from the opposite direction. Magic of Scotrail! I also spot two foxes in an urban setting scavenging. We acknowledge each other's nocturnal activities.
2130 Kings Park - Langside
I return down the Motorway to Hamilton via McDonalds tonight.
Thursday
Another day, another infrequent track. This time it's Wishaw to Holytown which I cover in a figure of 8 to return me to my car.
0755 Wishaw - Rutherglen
0837 Rutherglen - Motherwell
0920 Motherwell - Wishaw
I drive the 30 minutes to Greenfaulds to be 5 minutes late for the train going over the track now. I wait 25 minutes watching a solo orange man tapping the track before another train came.
I did consider returning to Greenfaulds and parking inbetween Bridgeton and Bellgrove but my brain said no and so I would be returning to Greenfaulds in a couple of hours.
1026 Greenfaulds - Glasgow Queen Street
1108 Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh (A/B)
1307 Edinburgh - Dunbar
1343 Dunbar - Edinburgh
1427 Edinburgh - Glasgow Central (Shotts)
1626 Glasgow Queen Street - Greenfaulds
I feel impressed I have covered all my required track in such a quick amount of time. I will add costings later but that was also quite cheap which is another huge plus point. Finally the weather was perfect every day!
