Great Western Coffee Shop

A shameless rip-off of a similar topic on another rail forum, but what era(s) or specific date(s) would you visit if you had a time machine? Keep your answers rail related.

I'll start you off with a cut-n-paste job of the reply I posted on another forum:

First off, back to the late 1950s early 1960s for a trip on the Pines Express along the Somerset & Dorset, hopefully meeting Ivo Peters along the way!

Then a mid to late 1960s trip on the Cornish Riviera Express (or Limited if you prefer) behind a Western. Hopefully D1015 Western Champion.

Finally, if the flux capacitor is up to it, back to Newton-le-Willows on 15th September 1830 to tell William Husskinson MP to get off on the other side!

Sounds mad, but 10 years back to travel on slam door Southern stock! Had no idea it was still around - all the slam door stuff in the Midlands went 20+ years ago.

Then back to before the Beeching cuts to travel on many now closed lines.

Hmm.  One of my choices would be 1958 (yes, before I was born!), and would be this particular journey: http://www.lanternfilms.ukphotographers.com/rountrip.htm

Do you know Chris, I'll have to check with my mum (as I'd be too young to remember the details, having been born in 1958) but I could well have actually done this. At various times in my younger years we lived in Wells, Wookey and Winscombe (goodness knows why we didn't move to Witham and complete the set!) and used the train all the time, visiting relations in Bristol, Yeovil Salisbury and W-S-M most weekends.

Would definitely be Wales pre pre Beeching

Pre war Brynmarw to Bleanavon. (One of the highest points on a railway?)

Heads of the Valley Abergavenny to Merthyr with an LNWR Coal Tank would have to be pre 1958. Plus connections to Abertillery and Rhymney

Tredegar (Sirhowy Valley) to Barry Island via Bird in Hand Jn and Walnut Tree viaduct and Wenvoe tunnel with a Super D.

Neath to Brecon and round to Hereford via Hay.

Pontypool Road to Neath

Port Talbot to Tonmawr then to Cymmer via South Wales Mineral railway to North Rhonda Colly. Probably have to be in a brake van as I don't think there regular passenger trains on these lines, except a miners service from Cymmer to North Rhondda.

Like bignosemac's idea of preventing Mr Husskinson being killed, would probaly have kept parliament off the railways back. Always thought it was bad move on Stephenson's part mowing down an MP.   

I'd load up my cameras and head back to the early 60s on former GWR stations and lines.  Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton LL, Birmingham SH, probably Stourbridge Jn, Bristol, S Wales area.  Take lots of photos of the signals as they were then.

I'd also go to Worcester SH in about 1967/8 before the layout got rationalised.  Hereford, too.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/devon/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8364000/8364338.stm

 Any of the station shown in the 1950's

back to about 1960 and do all of Cornwall and Devon, particularly the North Cornwall line!

I had thought from your username that you might be a bit more keen to go back to the 1979s/1980s when the 50s were in charge!

done that, got the memories!

I'd go back to 1950.

Do all the lines on Isle of Wight.

All the lines in Devon & Cornwall.

Somerset & Dorset line.
 
Great Central From Marylebone.

Anyone know where I can find Dr Who?