10/08/08
12:13 York St Austell
Woke up to the sounds of my dads Aprilia Falco engines roaring this morning, before he set off to Manchester Looks like he wont be finding out that Ive gone till later this evening Never mind ey!!!???
Arrived at Leeds City Station and boarded the Voyager bound for Glasgow, in some stupid of the platform at 9C, when it was departing southbound anyways Got a good view of the Voyager Cab and we soon left Leeds City Station for York, via Castleford.
On arrival in York, I soon thought to myself, what a complete waste of time that was. It wasnt a very scenic route, and the only thing I got out of it was the fact that I didnt think Castleford was a through station
Whipped out my phone to see who was online, and started talking to Conner, who informed me that Yesterdays HST went onwards to Manchester, so I would be having a Voyager this morning I then got told that the Voyager I was expecting was packed, with people being shoved on like they do in Japan. So, imagine how glad I was when the two AXC Powercars entered the station. I was later informed by the train manager, that the train had run ECS from Manchester to Edinburgh, and it was literally a quick set swap. Therefore, we didnt have coach E, many of the reservations were in the wrong place, and I realised that I had to traverse the Castleford route again.
Onwards we went though, and arrived at Leeds to an always packed platform, full of holiday makers travelling down south. At 12:55 we were then told that departure time had changed from 13:10, to 13:00. So everyone that wasnt travelling left the train which delayed us by a good few minutes anyways
Uneventful journey till we reached Birmingham New Street, where I noticed a Class 57 Thunderbird dragging a Pendolino on the route out towards Derby, and an EWS 66 bringing freight through the station which surprised me as I was under the influence that all freight was routed via the Camp Hill line Arrival at New Street was 14:55, with a depature time of 15:10. People jumped on the train for Manchester, Euston, Newquay, people were dropping babies I dont know how the Network Rail staff on the platform waiting to depart the train stifled their laughter really.
I decided to wait at the door before returning to my seat, as I had experienced HSTs going up the Lickey, and wanted to see them going down. Dismal not sure what I was expecting though really. Again, an uneventful journey to Cheltenham Spa, arrived a few minutes early, and by this time I had learnt the entire station list from York, to Penzance.
Onwards and upwards to the two Bristol Stations Parkway and Temple Meads. Why on earth the train stops at both of them I dont know, but stop we did, and at the latter, another 10 minutes early, where again I spent most of my time stood looking out of the window.
Now thinking that the arrival at Plymouth will be early as it has been at most other major stations, only a few more stations to stop at now, and another 150 minutes. Yay!!...
Train through the Tiverton Parkway, not much happened. One of those kids that knows EVERYTHING about trains got on, and is now attempting to talk to anyone wholl listen about trains Bless. The family on my table left also, to be picked up by granddad, and im now infuriated with my phone not letting me connect to MSN, and the fact that the buffet trolley hasnt come back down the train I NEED SUGAR!!!
Arrival into Exeter St Davids was rather quite funny Said kid, tried to get other passengers to alight with him, promising to get them good traction, many of the passengers just ignored him Until he pointed out that we were supposed to be on a Voyager for the trip, and that most of them that had seats would have been stood up for most of the journey. He then went on to talk about the HSt and the differences between Valentas and MTUs etc Dont think he realised no one was listening to him, so he soon started reciting the list of stations from Exeter St Davids Penzance. Again, no one cared, as they were all getting off the train at Exeter. Bless. Soon boring of his talk, I put my iPod back on, listening to Mamma Mia soundtrack, and HSM 1-3 too. Got my *cold* chocolate, as they had no bags, and werent allowed to serve it hot in case I dropped it on me whilst walking back to my seat or on someone else. First Class looks very nice I must say. Beginning to wish I had asked about the FC upgrade now Oh well whats so special about it?? Stuck up rich people, when Ive been sat on the table, talking to two kids and their grandma socialising. Thats what travel is all about in my mind, and is why I like it so much.
Coming upto the sea wall, I like the sea air, and the sea. So I think Ill stand at the window again more soon!!!
As usual loving the sea. Passing Dawlish and the little sea front funfair, reminded me how much I really do love being with people, and seeing people happy all the time. Sooner rather than later though, we passed the sea wall, and arrived into Newton Abbot, so I would just have to wait till tomorrow to see the sea again. If I had the time, effort and ability to - I would really one day like to talk the Sea Wall. Thinking though, as I do so much, what will happen when no if, its gotta be when the sea really does hammer the wall at Dawlish, and makes the track unstable and all that?? What will happen after that?? Are there other routes for trains to run on? Are there any plans to make a different route??
Arrival into Plymouth was again early, we were standing for a good ten minutes before departure. Crossing the border between England and Cornwall, we crossed the Brunel Bridge and quickly passed Saltash, getting into Cornwall. The rest of the journey was rather uneventful, again, until I arrived into St Austell. Which idiot designed the MK3s?? Because whoever did, seems to think that most people have long arms able to reach the door outside the window. And I wasnt the only one with troubles!! The grandma behind us couldnt do it either, and on departure from Liskeard, one of the other grandmas, couldnt shut the door properly, and the train was stop start, stop start on departure.
All in all, it was a good day the foretold Voyager did turn out to be a HST, I was wondering how on earth I was going to cope with a HST load of people on a single voyager including back at Leeds and Birmingham!!
12:13 York St Austell
Woke up to the sounds of my dads Aprilia Falco engines roaring this morning, before he set off to Manchester Looks like he wont be finding out that Ive gone till later this evening Never mind ey!!!???
Arrived at Leeds City Station and boarded the Voyager bound for Glasgow, in some stupid of the platform at 9C, when it was departing southbound anyways Got a good view of the Voyager Cab and we soon left Leeds City Station for York, via Castleford.
On arrival in York, I soon thought to myself, what a complete waste of time that was. It wasnt a very scenic route, and the only thing I got out of it was the fact that I didnt think Castleford was a through station
Whipped out my phone to see who was online, and started talking to Conner, who informed me that Yesterdays HST went onwards to Manchester, so I would be having a Voyager this morning I then got told that the Voyager I was expecting was packed, with people being shoved on like they do in Japan. So, imagine how glad I was when the two AXC Powercars entered the station. I was later informed by the train manager, that the train had run ECS from Manchester to Edinburgh, and it was literally a quick set swap. Therefore, we didnt have coach E, many of the reservations were in the wrong place, and I realised that I had to traverse the Castleford route again.
Onwards we went though, and arrived at Leeds to an always packed platform, full of holiday makers travelling down south. At 12:55 we were then told that departure time had changed from 13:10, to 13:00. So everyone that wasnt travelling left the train which delayed us by a good few minutes anyways
Uneventful journey till we reached Birmingham New Street, where I noticed a Class 57 Thunderbird dragging a Pendolino on the route out towards Derby, and an EWS 66 bringing freight through the station which surprised me as I was under the influence that all freight was routed via the Camp Hill line Arrival at New Street was 14:55, with a depature time of 15:10. People jumped on the train for Manchester, Euston, Newquay, people were dropping babies I dont know how the Network Rail staff on the platform waiting to depart the train stifled their laughter really.
I decided to wait at the door before returning to my seat, as I had experienced HSTs going up the Lickey, and wanted to see them going down. Dismal not sure what I was expecting though really. Again, an uneventful journey to Cheltenham Spa, arrived a few minutes early, and by this time I had learnt the entire station list from York, to Penzance.
Onwards and upwards to the two Bristol Stations Parkway and Temple Meads. Why on earth the train stops at both of them I dont know, but stop we did, and at the latter, another 10 minutes early, where again I spent most of my time stood looking out of the window.
Now thinking that the arrival at Plymouth will be early as it has been at most other major stations, only a few more stations to stop at now, and another 150 minutes. Yay!!...
Train through the Tiverton Parkway, not much happened. One of those kids that knows EVERYTHING about trains got on, and is now attempting to talk to anyone wholl listen about trains Bless. The family on my table left also, to be picked up by granddad, and im now infuriated with my phone not letting me connect to MSN, and the fact that the buffet trolley hasnt come back down the train I NEED SUGAR!!!
Arrival into Exeter St Davids was rather quite funny Said kid, tried to get other passengers to alight with him, promising to get them good traction, many of the passengers just ignored him Until he pointed out that we were supposed to be on a Voyager for the trip, and that most of them that had seats would have been stood up for most of the journey. He then went on to talk about the HSt and the differences between Valentas and MTUs etc Dont think he realised no one was listening to him, so he soon started reciting the list of stations from Exeter St Davids Penzance. Again, no one cared, as they were all getting off the train at Exeter. Bless. Soon boring of his talk, I put my iPod back on, listening to Mamma Mia soundtrack, and HSM 1-3 too. Got my *cold* chocolate, as they had no bags, and werent allowed to serve it hot in case I dropped it on me whilst walking back to my seat or on someone else. First Class looks very nice I must say. Beginning to wish I had asked about the FC upgrade now Oh well whats so special about it?? Stuck up rich people, when Ive been sat on the table, talking to two kids and their grandma socialising. Thats what travel is all about in my mind, and is why I like it so much.
Coming upto the sea wall, I like the sea air, and the sea. So I think Ill stand at the window again more soon!!!
As usual loving the sea. Passing Dawlish and the little sea front funfair, reminded me how much I really do love being with people, and seeing people happy all the time. Sooner rather than later though, we passed the sea wall, and arrived into Newton Abbot, so I would just have to wait till tomorrow to see the sea again. If I had the time, effort and ability to - I would really one day like to talk the Sea Wall. Thinking though, as I do so much, what will happen when no if, its gotta be when the sea really does hammer the wall at Dawlish, and makes the track unstable and all that?? What will happen after that?? Are there other routes for trains to run on? Are there any plans to make a different route??
Arrival into Plymouth was again early, we were standing for a good ten minutes before departure. Crossing the border between England and Cornwall, we crossed the Brunel Bridge and quickly passed Saltash, getting into Cornwall. The rest of the journey was rather uneventful, again, until I arrived into St Austell. Which idiot designed the MK3s?? Because whoever did, seems to think that most people have long arms able to reach the door outside the window. And I wasnt the only one with troubles!! The grandma behind us couldnt do it either, and on departure from Liskeard, one of the other grandmas, couldnt shut the door properly, and the train was stop start, stop start on departure.
All in all, it was a good day the foretold Voyager did turn out to be a HST, I was wondering how on earth I was going to cope with a HST load of people on a single voyager including back at Leeds and Birmingham!!
