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Lee
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« on: March 24, 2008, 14:16:19 » |
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(posting on board a unrefurbished Mk3 HST▸ on NXEC▸ to Newcastle) How are things going so far, and will you keep us updated on your travels, swlines? |
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swlines
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« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2008, 14:22:12 » |
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I will do indeed. No-one is using the internet on this train that I can see so I've got a bloomin quick internet connection going at the moment! So far today I've had a ride on CrossCountry, Great Western, East Midlands Trains and now on National Express East Coast. Doing Hull Trains later. Mostly going fine at the moment, had a wait at Wakefield Westgate for about 10 minutes due to huge amounts of slack... same at Leeds!! Great Western was pretty impressive earlier - I do like the leather seats. Free The Times too, on a bank holiday. I am impressed!  East Midlands Trains were useless, nothing complimentary in first class  so I bailed out at Chesterfield to get a drink on XC▸  . As my posts are saying, I'm currently behind a Valenta (PC 43051 IIRC▸ ) on an unrefurbished set with WiFi. Free drinks and biscuits are available. It really shows the different levels of service that TOCs▸ provide on bank holidays. I'm writing bits up for day by day and I'll post each bits and bobs when I can. (posting on board a unrefurbished Mk3 HST▸ on NXEC▸ to Newcastle - running 17 minutes late approaching Darlington in about 4 minutes  ) |
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Lee
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« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2008, 14:26:18 » |
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Thanks swlines. The comparisons (good or bad) with FGW▸ will certainly be interesting. Have fun |
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swlines
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« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2008, 14:36:35 » |
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I must say that FGW▸ First class has really impressed me. Although there was no trolley service the seats were very nice and having a copy of The Times was quite good too. Of course, if they had wireless internet access, as well as perhaps a trolley service (there probably is one operating now, I was on the 0642 off Weston-super-Mare from Reading) they would be winning. Unfortunately the Valenta and unrefurbished (and mighty padded) seat on NXEC▸ has won so far. Not to mention the biccies!  Tomorrow (if Grand Central are running properly, if not I'll modify the plan) I will be going to Sunderland on their HST▸ set. Back to London then I will be on a Pendolino Primo service to Glasgow from London, diverted due to engineering works. Then onto a seated sleeper. Wednesday I'll be down west in Plymouth for about 10 minutes - then bashing a class 90 hauled set from London to Birmingham. (posting on board a unrefurbished Mk3 HST on NXEC to Newcastle - now 16 minutes late at Ferryhill South Jn) |
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swlines
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« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2008, 21:20:27 » |
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Nearly day over for me now - I'm on board 1A46 from Grantham to Kings Cross having had dinner on board 1H06 1850 Kings Cross to Hull. Free, and very nice! I'm happy. Now it's off to do District line bashing on 455s. ( TC‡ posting on board 1A46 just approaching Potters Bar at 100mph) |
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2008, 23:47:10 » |
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Erm ... thanks, Tom! Are you being sponsored to do this rather extensive bash, by any chance? |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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swlines
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« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2008, 00:18:16 » |
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No, I'm not being sponsored by First Group.... I'm making my thoughts clear. The dinner that Hull Trains provided was amazing. I'd ordered within 10 minutes of departure from the Cross. Food was served by Huntingdon. Fantastic food too. Marinaded chicken with new potatoes and peas - and a brown bread roll. Fantastic food. |
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swlines
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« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2008, 07:32:32 » |
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Update! Am sitting in Kings Cross first class lounge at the moment - free shortbread biscuits! I shall be sampling the NXEC▸ breakfast in a bit... |
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Lee
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« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2008, 08:42:11 » |
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I shall be sampling the NXEC▸ breakfast in a bit...
Will that be Full English, sir? |
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swlines
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« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2008, 08:49:00 » |
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Yes... and it is very lush!! (on a train to EDB departing Newcastle) Err I mean Peterborough --- Finished my brekkie now - full Great British breakfast as they call it. ^15.95 so not particular cheap, but that will keep me going until dinner which I will get for free - can you tell I've purposely made my plan around food?  It's only costing ^61 a day for a 14 day First Class All Line Rover. If anyone ever has a chance to do it, do it. It is well worth it - free drinks and food. I've brought about ^200 extra with me and so far over 2 days I've spent ^16.75 - and I'm not likely to spend any more today.... |
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« Last Edit: March 25, 2008, 09:43:16 by swlines »
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Conner
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« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2008, 10:12:51 » |
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Wow, that is one mega bash!
Just out of interest where are you sleeping!
Got anywhere paticuarly nice lined up to go to?
And I am very surprised you like FGW▸ first class so much. The service is good but I have found the Leather seats very uncomfortable ccompared to the old Green Ones.
This is fascinating stuff swlines, keep up the reports.
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devon_metro
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« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2008, 10:20:53 » |
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Yes... and it is very lush!! (on a train to EDB departing Newcastle) Err I mean Peterborough --- Finished my brekkie now - full Great British breakfast as they call it. ^15.95 so not particular cheap, but that will keep me going until dinner which I will get for free - can you tell I've purposely made my plan around food? It's only costing ^61 a day for a 14 day First Class All Line Rover. If anyone ever has a chance to do it, do it. It is well worth it - free drinks and food. I've brought about ^200 extra with me and so far over 2 days I've spent ^16.75 - and I'm not likely to spend any more today.... You know I could buy a Mac with that money |
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swlines
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« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2008, 17:10:08 » |
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I've got one D_M! qprrule, I'm mainly travelling on sleeper train services. Tonight I'm doing the sleeper service from Glasgow Central to London Euston in standard seated - tomorrow night I'm doing the London Euston to Inverness first class berth. At the moment I'm sitting in London Euston First class lounge waiting for the 1739 to Glasgow. |
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Mookiemoo
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« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2008, 23:38:58 » |
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Wow, that is one mega bash!
Just out of interest where are you sleeping!
Got anywhere paticuarly nice lined up to go to?
And I am very surprised you like FGW▸ first class so much. The service is good but I have found the Leather seats very uncomfortable ccompared to the old Green Ones.
This is fascinating stuff swlines, keep up the reports.
I am a convert Initially I hated the refurb seats BUT....... The fact that the arms now lift up means (1) I can sleep across 2 of a morning and (2) I can sit comfortably at a diagonal at the table of course this assumes normal loading Sitting in normal posture facing table is uncomfortable but you have ore degrees of freedom to configure your position now |
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Ditched former sig - now I need to think of something amusing - brain hurts -I'll steal from the master himself - Einstein:
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love"
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Mookiemoo
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« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2008, 23:39:42 » |
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I've got one D_M! qprrule, I'm mainly travelling on sleeper train services. Tonight I'm doing the sleeper service from Glasgow Central to London Euston in standard seated - tomorrow night I'm doing the London Euston to Inverness first class berth. At the moment I'm sitting in London Euston First class lounge waiting for the 1739 to Glasgow. Are you doing this for any proper reason or just for the hell of it By proper I mean - is there a purpose other than to sit on a train |
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Ditched former sig - now I need to think of something amusing - brain hurts -I'll steal from the master himself - Einstein:
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love"
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