snuk
Member
If anyone's interested I thought I'd post what I got up to on Friday.
Some of the times are a little sketchy as I didn't make notes but I think I travelled on 7 trains and stopped at 7 stations.
I regret that I didn't leave Nuneaton until lunchtime as my health dictates when I finally manage to leave the house.
I left Nuneaton on the 1302 London Midland 350 to London Euston arriving at Rugby about 1314. It was the first time I've travelled with LM and my first impressions were good. The train appeared very quiet and I managed to get a table seat which I've always liked because I need the space and legroom.
Between Nuneaton and Rugby I saw what appeared to be a/the Royal Train three times. Once slowly through Nuneaton and then stopped outside of Rugby and the finally slowly through Rugby.
Never been to anywhere in Rugby before including the station. Is there a cafe/restaurant there - didn't appear to be one like there is at Nuneaton as I really needed a drink and didn't have any change for the vending machine.
Decided to wait for a Pendolino which took just over half-an-hour as he was slightly delayed due to a "trespass incident". Asked the platform staff if WMDR was acceptable and I got an uncertain sounding "yes". Managed to get a backward facing airline seat - my first time on a Pendolino.
About 15 minutes later I decided to leave the train at Coventry as I needed a drink and naively thought I might get a forward facing or table seat on another Pendolino. I didn't know at the time but Rug-Cov would be my only seated Pendolino journey.
Stayed 10-15 minutes at Coventry just long enough to buy a drink. I was waiting on Platform 3 (I think) for the next northbound Pendolino and the announcer said please stand clear.....naturally I get as close as I can but just behind the line. I see what I thought at the time to be a Class 90 coming towards me followed by a rake of old InterCity coaches looking immaculate. I realised when I saw the rear DVT/loco called "Shropshire Lad" that I'd just seen my first "Wrexham & Shropshire". (I later found out that they are not allowed to call at Coventry).
Caught the next Pendolino intending to travel through to New Street but was standing so left the train at International to change to a local service. When I asked the platform staff at Coventry again if I could use the WMDR on the Pendolino she read it aloud and said "I can't see any reason why not". My sentiments exactly I thiought - why every other TOC accepts them and Virgin doesn't. I guess it's the same reason as to why all the Virgin routes recently changed with limited stops at places like Nuneaton and Northampton - to stop people using VT for local journeys to reduce overcrowding - but from my experience on Friday CrossCountry are just as much overcrowded but accept the WMDR no problem.
Also, why can Virgin stop regularly at places like Stafford and Warrington - how are they any different to Nuneaton - in every possible way as far as I can see they are pretty much the same.
15 minutes later joined a moderately busy London Midland 321? EMU for the 15-20 minute trip calling at several stations into New Street.
Spent about an hour around New Street - having a rather late lunch just after 3pm at Caffe Nero which I always enjoy.
Returned to the station and joined a busy CrossCountry Class 220/221 to Wolverhampton and beyond. (My first time on any 22x). Standing for 15 minutes or so to Wolverhampton (again another first).
A longer wait at Wolverhampton - saw Pendolino "Virgin Star" taking a considerable rest at Wolves - he was there all the time I was - about half-an-hour at least.
Picked up the very busy 1647 (I think) Virgin Class 221 Voyager from Wolves to Crewe taking about half-an-hour not even standing room only.
Arrived at Crewe about 1715. I knew that there was a direct LM 350 back to Nuneaton which is why I was heading towards Crewe. I quite like Crewe - only my second time there - I wasn't able to take much in the first time about 10 years ago. Saw a steam train in steam alongside the main platforms -couldn't really see the engine though.
Found out where the 1733 LM 350 to Euston was leaving from and he was there waiting. On leaving Crewe spotted Pendolino "101 Squadron" (I think) being dragged (I think that's what it is called) by a Class 57 also just outside the station saw a rake of old Virgin Mk3? coaches in the siding.
The journey back to Nuneaton took about 90 minutes and stopped at almost every station but the train was fairly quiet and I managed to get a table seat again. Arrived back in Nuneaton just after 7pm where my Dad very kindly picked me up so I didn't have to end the day on a bus !!
Probably the most enjoyable day I've had for a long time - despite having to stand a few times but I can live with that for but for no more than half-an-hour at a time and having to run about a bit a Crewe.
On the Pendolinos - I bet they are a lot more pleasant when they are quiet - if that ever happens??. I prefer admiring them from the outside, now.
I saw quite a few of them including - Virgin Venturer, Virgin Scot, Virgin Star, Virgin Stagecoach and "Heaven's Angels". I think I travelled on Virgin Stagecoach and Heaven's Angels - which was the one from Cov to Rugby.
The Virgin 221 I think was called "Auguste Pickard".
Interesting to note that my ticket wasn't checked much - I think most attention was paid to it on the gates at New Street. Virgin didn't check it once - only LM and CC did - and on the Crewe LM coming back she checked it twice.
For a few hours on Friday I completely forgot about my health problems which keep me off work and stuck in home.
I enjoyed myself so much I'm seriously considering doing it again on Monday - but a little concerned about the LM industrial action between Northampton and London but several sources say that north of Northampton LM will be fine.
If I do it again on Monday I'll definitely try harder to leave home much earlier and take a slightly different route.
I'm sorry to ramble on I just thought there might be a few people interested in reading how I got on.
Take care.
Kind regards,
Steve.
Some of the times are a little sketchy as I didn't make notes but I think I travelled on 7 trains and stopped at 7 stations.
I regret that I didn't leave Nuneaton until lunchtime as my health dictates when I finally manage to leave the house.
I left Nuneaton on the 1302 London Midland 350 to London Euston arriving at Rugby about 1314. It was the first time I've travelled with LM and my first impressions were good. The train appeared very quiet and I managed to get a table seat which I've always liked because I need the space and legroom.
Between Nuneaton and Rugby I saw what appeared to be a/the Royal Train three times. Once slowly through Nuneaton and then stopped outside of Rugby and the finally slowly through Rugby.
Never been to anywhere in Rugby before including the station. Is there a cafe/restaurant there - didn't appear to be one like there is at Nuneaton as I really needed a drink and didn't have any change for the vending machine.
Decided to wait for a Pendolino which took just over half-an-hour as he was slightly delayed due to a "trespass incident". Asked the platform staff if WMDR was acceptable and I got an uncertain sounding "yes". Managed to get a backward facing airline seat - my first time on a Pendolino.
About 15 minutes later I decided to leave the train at Coventry as I needed a drink and naively thought I might get a forward facing or table seat on another Pendolino. I didn't know at the time but Rug-Cov would be my only seated Pendolino journey.
Stayed 10-15 minutes at Coventry just long enough to buy a drink. I was waiting on Platform 3 (I think) for the next northbound Pendolino and the announcer said please stand clear.....naturally I get as close as I can but just behind the line. I see what I thought at the time to be a Class 90 coming towards me followed by a rake of old InterCity coaches looking immaculate. I realised when I saw the rear DVT/loco called "Shropshire Lad" that I'd just seen my first "Wrexham & Shropshire". (I later found out that they are not allowed to call at Coventry).
Caught the next Pendolino intending to travel through to New Street but was standing so left the train at International to change to a local service. When I asked the platform staff at Coventry again if I could use the WMDR on the Pendolino she read it aloud and said "I can't see any reason why not". My sentiments exactly I thiought - why every other TOC accepts them and Virgin doesn't. I guess it's the same reason as to why all the Virgin routes recently changed with limited stops at places like Nuneaton and Northampton - to stop people using VT for local journeys to reduce overcrowding - but from my experience on Friday CrossCountry are just as much overcrowded but accept the WMDR no problem.
Also, why can Virgin stop regularly at places like Stafford and Warrington - how are they any different to Nuneaton - in every possible way as far as I can see they are pretty much the same.
15 minutes later joined a moderately busy London Midland 321? EMU for the 15-20 minute trip calling at several stations into New Street.
Spent about an hour around New Street - having a rather late lunch just after 3pm at Caffe Nero which I always enjoy.
Returned to the station and joined a busy CrossCountry Class 220/221 to Wolverhampton and beyond. (My first time on any 22x). Standing for 15 minutes or so to Wolverhampton (again another first).
A longer wait at Wolverhampton - saw Pendolino "Virgin Star" taking a considerable rest at Wolves - he was there all the time I was - about half-an-hour at least.
Picked up the very busy 1647 (I think) Virgin Class 221 Voyager from Wolves to Crewe taking about half-an-hour not even standing room only.
Arrived at Crewe about 1715. I knew that there was a direct LM 350 back to Nuneaton which is why I was heading towards Crewe. I quite like Crewe - only my second time there - I wasn't able to take much in the first time about 10 years ago. Saw a steam train in steam alongside the main platforms -couldn't really see the engine though.
Found out where the 1733 LM 350 to Euston was leaving from and he was there waiting. On leaving Crewe spotted Pendolino "101 Squadron" (I think) being dragged (I think that's what it is called) by a Class 57 also just outside the station saw a rake of old Virgin Mk3? coaches in the siding.
The journey back to Nuneaton took about 90 minutes and stopped at almost every station but the train was fairly quiet and I managed to get a table seat again. Arrived back in Nuneaton just after 7pm where my Dad very kindly picked me up so I didn't have to end the day on a bus !!
Probably the most enjoyable day I've had for a long time - despite having to stand a few times but I can live with that for but for no more than half-an-hour at a time and having to run about a bit a Crewe.
On the Pendolinos - I bet they are a lot more pleasant when they are quiet - if that ever happens??. I prefer admiring them from the outside, now.
I saw quite a few of them including - Virgin Venturer, Virgin Scot, Virgin Star, Virgin Stagecoach and "Heaven's Angels". I think I travelled on Virgin Stagecoach and Heaven's Angels - which was the one from Cov to Rugby.
The Virgin 221 I think was called "Auguste Pickard".
Interesting to note that my ticket wasn't checked much - I think most attention was paid to it on the gates at New Street. Virgin didn't check it once - only LM and CC did - and on the Crewe LM coming back she checked it twice.
For a few hours on Friday I completely forgot about my health problems which keep me off work and stuck in home.
I enjoyed myself so much I'm seriously considering doing it again on Monday - but a little concerned about the LM industrial action between Northampton and London but several sources say that north of Northampton LM will be fine.
If I do it again on Monday I'll definitely try harder to leave home much earlier and take a slightly different route.
I'm sorry to ramble on I just thought there might be a few people interested in reading how I got on.
Take care.
Kind regards,
Steve.
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