The Devon Pullman

This was my birthday present from the Swan Whisperer.  We had to get up at silly o'clock to be at Victoria Station for 08:00, when the train left.  We've done worse!  The train was going to Exeter and back, out via Acton, Slough, Reading, Newbury, Taunton, etc (with a most extraordinary wiggle to get it from the SouthEastern lines to the Great Western ones out of Paddington!), and back via Crewkerne, Salisbury, Basingstoke, etc.  

As it was a Pullman train, the seating was very luxurious,

and even the loos were amazing! 

Brunch was served on the way out, including strawberry wine (I didn't have much of that, it wasn't very nice) a peach bellini (well, two peach bellinis), a couple of pastries (we needed blotting-paper by then), and, over the course of the journey, a plate of fruit with yoghurt, smoked salmon with a poached egg (I think a great many people would have preferred a Full English, but that was not offered),

and a rather peculiar choux bun stuffed with passion fruit.

all washed down with tea or coffee (I had coffee) and the aforementioned bellinis!

We arrived in Exeter at about 12:00, and had approximately 3 1/2 hours in the city before the return journey.  Of course, the train had just missed the half-hourly bus into town, but it came eventually and we got off to walk up the main shopping drag and then down to the river.  We decided not to visit the Cathedral, as we had done so with a professional guide (a friend) on our last visit. 

I wanted to see the mediaeval Exe Bridge and it was well worth seeing - and one could even walk across it, although it no longer spans a river,

Citymapper works here, so we were able to find a bus that took us back to the town centre and was almost due, so we didn't have to wait too long.  We decided to walk up towards the Central Station (not the main station in Exeter - that's St David's) and on the way stumbled across the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, RAMM for short, which is one of the Exeter must-sees, apparently.  And it is free, so we went in and thoroughly enjoyed the very eclectic collection there of artifacts from prehistory to the 20th century, and on the upper floors various stuffed animals, someone's collection of starfish and then a page of artifacts from around the world, including stuff from colonial-era Africa and so on.  Fascinating, but time was getting on, so we walked up to the Central Station to see if it was worth waiting for our train there (it wasn't), or even catching a train to St David's, but we have Freedom passes and a bus was due in a few minutes, so we caught it back to the station and then waited on the platform until our train came in.

This morning, our attendant had asked if it was true that simply nobody had any dietary needs - no vegans, vegetarians, gluten-frees, dairy-frees, etc.  We all agreed this was so - until we read the dinner menu.  The first course was scheduled to be baby beetroot, which I think almost the entire carriage said they didn't eat.  So we were offered heritage tomatoes as a substitute (and very good they were, too), except the people sitting opposite us didn't care for tomatoes, either.  Not sure what they had in the end!  Plus the pudding was scheduled to be rhubarb - no thank you!  I was offered a summer fruit jelly instead, which was very delicious indeed!

We started off with champagne, and our ticket included a bottle of wine, so we had ordered rosé, and I regret to say that despite two glasses of champagne, we managed to polish off the entire bottle between us!  Mind you, it was over about 5 hours, but even still!  There were a couple of nibbles waiting for us when we got back on the train, and they started serving our 5-course dinner about 4:30 or 5:00.  Started with the afore-mentioned heritage tomatoes, then courgette and green pea soup (one of my favourites - the trouble is, we don't usually drink soup in the summer when they are in season, so I seldom make it) followed by wonderful roast lamb and vegetables,

the cheeseboard, and the aforementioned rhubarb

or jelly.

And yes, it was as delicious as it looks! 

We got back into Victoria (after a wiggle after Clapham Junction to get to the SouthEastern lines) at our scheduled time of 20:37 and a quick trip down the Tube and we were home before 21:15 or thereabouts.

Although we did have a very great deal to drink, it's only once in awhile!  And the food, while delicious, was judiciously portion-controlled so we didn't feel bloated and stupid.  In fact, my only complaint was that I was cold - the temperature had dropped about 15 degrees since Friday's high of 32!  And all the windows were open on the train, which was lovely going down but really cold coming back.  Even the Swan Whisperer put on his jacket, and I wished for a cardigan rather than the light jacket that goes with my blue dress.... but London is a bit warmer than the countryside and we soon thawed out.  

All in all, a Grand Day Out!  Thank you, my beloved Swan Whisperer for a lovely day.

The Metro Marauder - Farewell to Class 455

 

The Class 455s are reaching the end of their natural lives, having entered service in the early 1980s, and transported commuters with greater or lesser efficiency ever since, under Network SouthEast, Connex, SouthCentral and now Southern.  South Western Railway is keeping them in service for a few more months, but today, being the final day before the summer timetable kicks in, is their last day of service under Southern.  And to celebrate, they organised a rail tour, in conjunction with the Branch Line Society . 

It was not an expensive tour, as these things go, but then, they offered no food, and the 455s really only offer rather upright seats, in a 3+2 configuration, with no amenities such as plug sockets, window blinds (we could have done with them at one stage), air-conditioning or even loos!  They did warn us not to drink too much and to be careful how much fluid we took in!  

The tour left Victoria Station at 09:02; we took care to be there in good time, so we could buy a cup of coffee and, if necessary, get rid of it before we went.  There was a huge queue to get through the gateline, so they basically only checked that we actually had tickets (electronic ones) and came through on the train once we were off to check the tickets and issue wrist bands, programmes for the day and souvenir tickets.

The trip was extremely convoluted, with endless changes of direction.  Here is the plan for the day on the back of the programme: 

We first went south from Victoria to Billingshurst, where we were able to get out and stretch our legs for a few minutes, and then, reversing direction, went up the mid-Sussex line to Three Bridges,

where we reversed direction yet again and went to Hove, and then to Brighton, where we had a long break and the Swan Whisperer and I walked down to look at the sea.

  We did take a bus back - it's uphill, and I'm not very good at hills - and then bought sandwiches to eat on the train which went back to Hove, then back to Brighton - this was because they had to be on a different platform at Brighton to get to what I think is the East Causeway line to Lewes.  At Lewes, we reversed again, and went fast to Charing Cross, where there was another pee-break.  Then it did the oddest wiggle from Charing Cross, back over to Clapham Junction, and then round again to Blackfriars, where we again had a 15-minute break.  I got out of the train, but there were seats on the platform, so it was just nice to sit in the fresh air for a bit.  

From Blackfriars, we went down one line to Sevenoaks, where we reversed again, and then back to Victoria.

There was a raffle in aid of Mind in Croydon, and an auction of collectibles.  The SW and I both bought raffle tickets, and, very extraordinary, we both won.  He won a bottle of Cava - Asda's best, but none the worse for that, but I won the 2nd prize which was an hour's simulator experience to "drive a 2000 tonne freight train hauled by a GTRf class 66 locomotive on GBRf's state of the art class 66 Simulator".  Sounds great - although it took ages for the raffle organiser to get the voucher and then the person he gave it to gave it to the wrong person and had to run after her to apologise!  However, I got it in the end, and no harm done.

We had both had more than enough of trains by the time we got back to Victoria, so we took the bus home, and I am very nearly asleep!  All the same, I'm glad we went.  It wasn't the most comfortable railtour, and very far from the luxurious one we are looking forward to as my birthday treat, but it was a grand day out!  And the raffle prizes were the icing on the cake.

In search of spring, 27 February 2022

What a lovely day! We didn't hurry out of bed, although the Swan Whisperer went for a short run - he has had an injury and this was his first run for a few weeks. After breakfast, he went on an explore, and then came back for coffee, during which he looked at the habitation door again, and appears to have fixed the lock, at any rate for the time being. It seems to have been a to matter of a spring that had got stuck, or something. 

At noon, it was time for church, and we logged on to the livestream from Brixton Hill; unlike other times, we could actually hear what was going on. Then a quick lunch, and then the main reason we hurried to get here - the Yellow Train!

This goes from Villefranche Vernet-les-Bains right up to La Carol Latour high in the Pyrenees. We only took it half way, though, as far as Font-Remeu. 

It was not the most comfortable of trains,

but certainly one of the most scenic, cutting through the mountains in tunnels and over bridges and viaducts and finally coming out on a wide plateau. The train stopped for several minutes at many of the stations, and and for half an hour at Fort-Romeu before starting its downward journey again. 

This train has been on my bucket list for awhile now, and I'm so glad we did it. Today was the last day of service for a couple of months as they are going to do track works, and it was also the last day of the winter fares - €5 per person each way (although nobody checked our return tickets; we could have got away without buying them!). 

Once back in the motor home, I got supper ready and then it was time for Bible Study (our church hosts a Zoom study each month). After that, supper, and now I am catching up and will then go and watch videos in bed! We don't think our leisure batteries would really like us to cast them to the TV when we don't have external electricity. 

There are (rather too many) more photos on Facebook. 

A Railtour to Durham

So we decided we would do the Northern Belle Christmas special trip, as his Christmas present to me.  Mine to him will be reviewed after Christmas!  Anyway, this trip was to Durham and back, with brunch on the way there and a massive dinner on the way back.  While in Durham, we had the opportunity to visit the various Christmas and everyday markets, and to attend a carol service a the Cathedral.

The train left at 08:18 from King's Cross, which meant that for the second time this week we had to get up at sparrowfart (the first time was to blag a free breakfast from Pret à Manger, to celebrate the opening of its Brixton branch) to get there in time.  In fact, we had time to grab a coffee from the local Prets, before boarding the train.  We hadn't booked a private table, but when we sat down, the Swan Whisperer said to the woman opposite, "I know you, don't I?" and she turned out to be an old friend from Ice Dance Club, who hasn't actually been to our club since the old rink closed, and has since had two hip replacements, so she isn't quite sure when or whether she will skate again.  It was lovely to see her, and to meet her son, who had treated her to the trip.

The brunch, I have to say, was slightly spoilt by the fact that the scrambled egg with smoked salmon was rather cold - it was very nice, but would have been nicer had it been hotter!  The coffee, too, was not nearly as nice as Prets, although later when I had another cup it had got nicer (since I no longer had the taste of Pret coffee in my mouth!).  But that was the only disappointment.  There was fresh fruit salad to start with, and various pastries to finish.

We arrived in Durham on time, and there were coaches arranged to drop us nearer the cathedral.  We hadn't been to Durham before, and found it quite a long pull up the hill to get there, but once we were there, it was lovely.  There was a craft market in a marquee, and the entry fee was covered by our train fares, so we went in, and, incidentally, found the perfect Christmas present for my father!  That was the only thing we bought, though.  Then it was time to go into the Cathedral for the "Carols for All" service, which was excellent, although some people complained about the quality of the community choirs who were singing.  Nothing wrong with them, only a little uncertain, not helped by the organist having failed to read his service sheet....  An excellent talk by one of the Canons, and an offer of a free copy of St Luke's Gospel (I declined, on the grounds that after 25 years as a preacher, I really thought I might just be familiar with it!).  We then had a look round the Cathedral (I'm sorry I didn't take photographs, but my phone's battery only just held out as it was, and I knew it wouldn't if I tried), and then it was time to queue for the farmers' Christmas market in the Cloisters, which was lovely.  We didn't buy anything, although I'd have liked some of the cheese, as going home in a hot train.... not a plan!  I also tasted - was it there, or in the craft market? - some non-alcoholic ginger wine, which would have been lovely but was far, far too sweet for my taste!

Anyway, after a long look round, we found some loos, and then wandered back through the Cathedral and out into the main drag, deciding to go the other side past the marquee, which was a mistake as it meant we missed the mulled wine stall!  The main market didn't seem very Christmassy, and I'm not sure whether or not it was meant to be a Christmas market.  There were some Christmas-market type stalls, but not all.  And the indoor market is obviously there all year round.  There was a super wool shop, and I was really rather tempted....  but resisted!

We then decided to wander back towards where the buses would pick us up, as it was getting dark and we were tired, but it was awkward as we knew that if we went into a café we would want something to eat, but we didn't want to eat as we knew we were getting a huge dinner.  Ended up in a pub - a bit early to drink, but half a pint of what proved to be a simply delicious lager for me, and of cider for the Swan Whisperer, and we were able to sit out, although the SW felt a bit cold.  I was toasty warm - had been rather too hot all day!

So then we got back on to the coach and had to wait awhile at the station for our train.  The waiting area was all very well, but the automatic doors didn't shut properly, and opened every time a car moved they would open, so the poor Swan Whisperer got very cold indeed, and even I was glad to move and get on the train.

Going home, I got to sit by the window - big deal, as there was nothing to see by then - and we were heading forwards, which I do marginally prefer.  The meal was lovely - first there was a glass of champagne and nibbles, and then the starter, which was a trio of fish.  I chose not to have that, as really it didn't sound very nice, so I got offered, and accepted, ham hock terrine, which was lovely.  Then there was celeriac soup, but I declined that, too, and, having tasted the Swan Whisperer's, was rather glad I had as it didn't taste of anything much at all except a vague hint of cooked celery.  The main course was a 3-bird roast with a bit of partridge on the top (I wouldn't have known that was what it was, to be honest!), brussels sprout purée, red cabbage, roast parsnip and fondant potato.  It was very good, but I was so sleepy by then (I had fallen asleep between courses) that I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have done had I been wide awake.  Then there was a cheeseboard, and then pudding - an individual Christmas pudding with brandy custard, which was OK, but not the nicest (I gave half of mine to the SW), but also a bit of chocolate mousse cake, which was lush, and a scoop of cherry sorbet, ditto!  Then tea or coffee, if you wanted it, which I didn't, and a mince pie (I gave mine to the SW).  Our fare apparently included £24 worth of drinks, so we each ordered a glass of wine - red for him, rosé for me - some fizzy water and a fruit drink for him.  This was possibly a mistake, as we then didn't have a bill at the end, and those who did were taking the opportunity to tip the stewards quite heavily. 

By the time all this had happened, we were nearly at King's Cross, and after a lovely day, I was very tired indeed!  We were home just before 10:45 pm, after a lovely and memorable day!

The Great Central Lament

Yesterday was my 64th birthday, and the Swan Whisperer gave me the present of a Railtour, called the Great Central Lament.  He even splashed out for First Class Dining, and I am very glad he did, as, unlike on the Railtour we went on last November, there weren't any stops where food could be had.

We had to be at Finsbury Park for 7:49 am, so got up at silly o'clock and were away by 7:00.  Finsbury Park is NOT a user-friendly station, nothing but steps, firstly up from the Victoria Line to street level, and then more steps up to the Network Rail platforms.  My poor knees - and I was certainly not the oldest and lamest person on the tour, by a long way.

The train came in on time and we found our seats - an old Pullman carriage (built in 1956, I was told later)  - at a beautifully-laid table.

I was hungry by then, having only a cup of tea inside me, but they took a long time to serve breakfast, which was orange juice, the choice of porridge or fresh fruit with  yoghurt and almond slivers, then a Full English or scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, and tea and coffee, plus various rolls and toast, including a chocolate twist that I accidentally took the last one of.... so I shared it with the Swan Whisperer, and then he got another one so shared it with me.  It was really rather good.  He had the porridge, although I told him he wouldn't like it as it was sweetened and had fruit in it, but he said it was actually quite nice.  I had the fruit.  And we both had the Full English, although I declined the bubble-and-squeak and baked beans that came round later.

We had hoped we had the full four seat bay to ourselves, but were joined at Stevenage by a very nice couple - it was her birthday treat, too - and they were very knowledgeable about railways and so on, which was nice.  The route we went was as follows:

I expect you can read it if you click on the image to enlarge it.  We went up the West Coast Main Line as far as Peterborough, and then all through the wilds of the old Great Central Line, including some Network Rail test track.  We stopped at the closed station of Ollerton to stretch our legs.

When we got back on the train, lunch was ready - a baked potato with coleslaw and cheese, and tea or coffee if you wanted it (which I didn't, at that stage). 

The train rolled on throughout the afternoon, sometimes running late, sometimes making up the time and having to wait for itself.  We knitted (my seatmate and I did; the menfolk didn't!), dozed, and enjoyed watching the beautiful English countryside, truly at its best at this time of year, roll by.  There were some interesting rail depots, too. 

Dinner was served quite early, and was a bit of a marathon.  The first course was a choice of prawn skewers (which the Swan Whisperer chose as he doesn't get prawns at home) or Crème du Barry soup, which is a posh name for cream of cauliflower soup, and very good it was, too.  This was followed by roast pork with all sorts of vegetables and apple sauce.  I know there was cod on offer, too, but I don't know what, if anything, they supplied for vegetarians; it is possible there were none on the tour, but I think you had to say when booking if this was what you wanted.  Anyway, I didn't want, so that was all right.  Then there was a choice of sweet or savoury - we all had the sweet, which was a delicious lemon tart with a fresh berry compote and cream, yummy, and, just as you thought you couldn't eat another mouthful, there was the cheeseboard!  I didn't have much cheese, but a token amount.  And they very kindly found me some lemon to have in my tea - I had had rather a lot of coffee with breakfast and didn't want any more that day - so that was nice, too.  And chocolates, which would have been nicer had they been chilled, but you can't have everything....

Meanwhile the train rolled on; the tables were cleared and people dozed or chatted.  Our new friends got out at Stevenage, so we had the table to ourselves for the last half hour and could get our things together ready to get out when we got back to Finsbury Park.  And down all those stairs, then straight on to a Victoria Line train and so home.

It really was a lovely day.  Quite apart from the pleasure of being on a train - always enjoyable - it was very luxurious, and the views from the train windows of the English countryside (and of Sheffield, if you like views of Sheffield!) were magnificent.  Most people would have liked a second leg-stretch before dinner, though, and were sorry there was no opportunity for one.  But it was a lovely day.  England really is beautiful on a summer's day.

The Regency Javelin Tour

A few weeks ago, I was looking at railtours, like you do, and found this one, which was not too expensive, involved a Javelin train (okay, not so romantic as a steam train), and was on a day when we had nothing else planned.  So the Swan Whisperer bought tickets, and this morning we got up very early and made our way to St Pancras via the Victoria Line.  The train was waiting for us on the platform - when we finally found Platform 12, we discovered we had come a very long way round, but we had been able to buy a coffee at Costa en route.

Our seats were in either the first or the last carriage, depending on which way we were going!  And there were several route reversals during the day.  They gave us a printed itinerary, so we knew where we were and whether we were in time or not.

It was a very grey and dreary November day, with very little colour about.  As always, perhaps the nicest part of the journey was the Mid-Sussex line, aka the Arun Valley Line, which runs through the water-meadows of the Arun valley, and passes Arundel Castle.

But it was fun going out on HS1, which we have only ever done on Eurostars (I did once go between Stratford International and St Pancras on a Javelin, because I could, but it only takes 2 minutes or so....).  We went down via Rochester and Strood to Tonbridge, and then along the line to Redhill, and thence to the Arun Valley Line once we reached Three Bridges.  Then at Littlehampton it reversed again to go along the West Coastway line, which I know like the back of my hand, so not as interesting as it might have been....  However, instead of running straight into Brighton, it went up the Clifton Curve to Preston Park, and then down into Brighton from there - not sure where.  Brighton was basically lunch time - I'd brought sandwiches, and then we went and got the Swan Whisperer a coffee - and after it we headed off to Hastings, via Eastbourne (where we reversed again, only I'd fallen asleep by then, and missed it).  I think these semaphore signals were at Hastings:

After Hastings, we headed back to - I was going to say Birmingham by way of Bethnal Green - but back to St Pancras via places like Sevenoaks, St Mary Cray, and then Rochester again to rejoin HS1 at Ebbsfleet.  It was dark by then, of course, so one couldn't see much, and I was a bit stiff after sitting all day, but we had had plenty of opportunities to get up and move around and stretch, so it wasn't as bad as it might have been!

All in all, a very enjoyable day, and on-train sales, raffle tickets (no joy, of course) and a silent auction which I didn't participate in raised about £2,500 for the Royal British Legion.

But would somebody please tell me why it is easy to find the King's Cross exit from the Victoria Line platforms, very close to it, but utterly impossible to find the Victoria Line platforms from the King's Cross entrance?????  There seems to be a wormhole that means whatever way you go you have to walk down endless claustrophobia-inducing tunnels with horrible lighting.....