Holidays – Fr Paul Harrison' Blog.

On my way to Frankfurt.

On Sunday I began my long planned short break in Frankurt. Although my flight from Manchester was on Monday morning, I decided to go down the night before, to avoid a very long day. I booked a train from Workington to Manchester Airport. As I booked just 2 days ago I thought £21.20 standard class was a good deal.

I left from Workington on the 14.34 to Carlisle.

IMGP3914 — Getting ready to leave Workington.

Rather surprisingly I was the only passenger to board and the train was almost empty. The journey itself was uneventful until I got to Carlisle. Parked just outside the station was the A4 Pacific Union of South Africa.

Not the best photo as it was taken through a window on a moving train.

I then was supposed to get the 15.34 from Carlisle to Manchester Aiport. This was delayed by thirty minutes due to signalling problems near Carstairs. Despite it having 8 coaches, it was packed. It was just as well that I had a booked seat! Most people got off at either Preston or Manchester PIcadilly.

The next day (today) was my flight. I had booked business class! This meant a quick check in and access to a priority lounge. I availed myself on free coffee.

IMGP3923 — View from the priority lounge.

As far as I could make out the flight was fully booked. It was a pleasant journey although cloud obscured most of the view. I had a reasonable snack onboard. On the flight I managed to book a rail ticket to the stop close to my hotel. On landing I was expecting a wait for my luggage. Imagine my surprise when I suitcase was the first on the carousel and no other luggage in sight!

I then caught the train to Frankfurt. I had a bit of a difficulty finding the right platforms, but got there in the end. Once off the train I headed for my hotel. I went to the wrong way at first. However with a combination of Google maps and the hotel website I found my way to the hotel. I got the hotel just in time, it had started to rain!.

Day 2 – a trip to Scotland

My day began at Crewe and I was booked on the 9.09am service from Crewe to Edinburgh. Whilst waiting on platform 11 I saw that the rails had been made in Workington. A sad testament to a lost industry for the town. In days gone by, Workington was a world leader in the rail production. I am told the rails in Workington can be found all over the world. In the photo below, you should be able to make out the Workington stamp.

The journey to Edinburgh was largely uneventful apart from one thing: I was able to chat via facebook, to my brother who is in Kathmandu!. He was on a trekking holiday to Everest Base camp, sadly he did not get there as he got some kind of viral infection, and one cannot be ill at over 6000m. Still it passed some time.

On arrival in Edinburgh, I wanted to get to Glasgow Queen Street. I had to book a ticket, but nearly all the ticket machines were not working. Eventually I got a ticket and took the 13.00 to Queen St on the new 385 electric trains, they are fast if a little bumpy at times. Below is a photo of my train from Edinburgh.

The journey back to Crewe involved the 14.40 to Preston, then the 17.17 from Preston to Crewe. The latter was quite full even in first class. At Wigan we went to a different platform, overtook the train I had left at Preston and went on the slow line to Warrington. Not too sure what was going on. Anyway, another good train on the trains.

A windy 2 days

This will cover two days, namely the 19/20th September. On the Wednesday I was booked on the 11am from London St Pancras to Sheffield. The day began well. I got the front seat on the Docklands Light Railway

P1490053 — A view of the modern temples to money in the Docklands area of London.

I duly arrived at St Pancras station, I never to be amazed by the station, even if its more of a shopping mall in places.

I got on to my train to Sheffield a class 222. On this service I was asked to produce my senior rail card, which is in my missing or stolen wallet. I did manage to waffle my way out of it. I only got away with it as it was a single ticket. It was a close call especially as I could have been asked to pay the full fare.

My onward journey was onto York. Once again I was asked for my rail card. This time the conductor was satisfied with my online account details. As we approached York, I got a hint of the problems that lay ahead. The train, which was due to go to Newcastle, was terminated at York as trees had blocked the line in the Durham area. At York there was an air of chaos as it became obvious that nothing could go north of Darlington. I was expecting a long wait for my train back to London. However it was not as long as I feared. An additional train was put on, I was only delayed by about 15mins or so.

The next day I was due to travel to Edinburgh from London Kings Cross. The electric wires were still down in the Durham area. As a consequence there was only one train an hour to Edinburgh. My train the 11am was still running, but it was combined with the cancelled 10.30. The train was packed. Moreover, the reserved seating was all over the place. I was booked in coach M ( first class), but was told I would be in coach L. I got a seat, but first class was full and standing. We left 5 mins late, made addtional stops. As the train was so full we spent extra time in the station. We ended up 50 mins late in Edinburgh. The onboard staff were amazing given the difficulties they had to encounter. All made for an intersting two days.

London to Portsmouth an interesting day out!

My plan today was go to Portsmouth from London Waterloo and return to London Victoria. This would involve two new routes for me, namely Woking to Havant via Petersfield and Havant ( again!) to Three Bridges via Horsham and Arundel. I had booked my first class tickets well in advance.

The day began badly. I am at a Premier Inn on Docklands. When I arrived at Prince Regent station I discovered that the Docklands Light Railway was suspended due to a major signal fault. My first thought was to take a bus to Canning Town, the first bus was so full it could not take anymore passengers – also a queue was forming for the next one. I took a risk and got on a bus to Stratford hoping to get off at Plastow tube station. This paid off and I eventually arrived at Waterloo station using the District Line and Northern Line.

By the time I got to Waterloo I had missed my booked train. I went to see if I could use my ticket for another service. I was advised to board the 11am to Portsmouth and take it up with the train manager. I must admit I was not hopeful and I was prepared to pay for a new ticket or split the difference with my existing ticket. However, there was no ticket check! so all was well. When I arrived at Portsmouth, I discovered my train back to Victoria was going to start from Fratton, the next station on the line. I did manage a have a sandwich and a drink at the Canvas Cafe at Portsmouth Station, it was rather good. The journey back was uneventful, apart from getting a good view of Arundel Castle and Cathedral.

Sampling the new Class 800 trains

IMGP3621

As part of my holiday, I wanted to try the much vaunted Class 800 trains being introduced on the Great Western Railway. I was booked on the 11.30 from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads. It was not a good start as it was a five coach train instead of 10. What is more, I was booked in coach K, which was not part of the set. As it turned out, all seat reservations were cancelled. Thankfully the first class coach I sat in was half empty.

We left on time. It was soon apparent that it could accelerate very quickly. Apart from being held by a red signal close to Reading, the journey was fine. We changed from electric to diesel mode just short of Swindon. The wires were up almost to Chippenham, after that nothing.

The class 800 was nothing to get too excited about. Very functional is a phrase that comes to mind. I was surprised that it was bumpy ride once full speed was reached.

Wrong carriage and packed trains

IMGP3582 — My train to Birmingham from Preston.

I was booked on the above train. It is a Voyager and consisted of two five car trains joined together. It only has 2 first class carriages one for each set, however I managed to into the wrong carriage, which I didn’t realise at first. So I had a rather embarrassing conversation with someone who I thought was sat in my seat! However, there were plenty of empty seats in the carriage.

As we approached Crewe, we were informed that there was a fault in one of the train sets, and that it would be detached at Wolverhampton. When we got their it turned out it was the set I was in. So off I got. As may be imagined, the five car set was packed out. Thankfully I was only going as far as Birmingham. However, my short journey from Birmingham to Rugby on a pendolino was also very full.

Edinburgh day 2

After cutting short my first day due to a spot of stomach trouble, I spent a lot of time sleeping. Thankfully the symptoms passed off. Also my rover ticket was for 2 days, so I was able to complete my plans.

My first destination was North Berwick, the short branch line was mew for me. There is a useful short history here

After my stomach problems I would not be visiting these shops…

IMGP3571 — Part of the food hall at Edinburgh Waverley

My train consisted of 6 coaches which mean there was plenty of space. Like all modern electric traction they were fast and efficient.

IMGP3576 — My train from North Berwick back to Edinburgh

My second journey was from Edinburgh to Stirling via Falkirk Grahamston. The reason I mention Falkirk is that the branch from Polmont to Stirling was new to me . This line is being electrified. To my untrained eye is looks almost complete. Stirling is a large station with eight platforms, judging by the information screens only 3 are actually used.

IMGP3577 — My train from Stirling to Edinburgh.

The previous train to Edinburgh had been cancelled so this one filled up pretty quickly. These units have first class areas, that are not needed on this route, I found a seat there!

All in all a quiet but pleasant day and my stomach behaved itself!

September Holiday Preston to Edinburgh

Today I began my next series of rail journies. This was really just to get me from Preston to Edinburgh as indicated above. I was booked on the 11.53 from Preston to Edinburgh Waverley. Whilst waiting I saw one of the new – well old trains coming to our part of the world. This electric train is a hand me down from another company. Having said that they are in good order.

My train arrived and departed on time. I had booked a cheap first class advance ticket. So had a bacon roll and plenty of coffee. The journey itself was uneventful and the train actually arrived on time!

IMGP3555 — My train arriving in Preston.