FGW network railabout

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

In October, instead of doing an All-Line jolly (too expensive, not enough dosh saved!) I'm planning to do a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network wide railabout and my intention is to visit every terminal point on the FGW network map, travelling every line and to include a trip up and down every branch. I hope to get a picture at every terminal point and will include a bus trip to Okehampton and ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) to Pembroke Dock.

I'm doing this partly for my own enjoyment and partly as an opportunity to experience every part of the network and report back here on my findings.

I'm in the early stages of planning and I hope to be able to use just one 8 in 15 Freedom of the South West Rover and one 7 Day Thames Rover, with the odd add on ticket to cover peak travel and those parts of the network not covered by the two Rovers (Hereford, Gatwick, Brighton, West Wales etc.) The only really problematical trip will be Brighton. I'll be accompanied on my travels by Jess so all my journeys will be radiating out from my home station in Bristol and back within a day, although I may consider one or two overnight stops if timings are difficult. Just got to find the goggie friendly B&Bs!

I'm only guessing at the moment that this is possible to do over a three week period, and I've only just made a start on the draft plan, which I'll post here when I've completed it. I've got things like late night/weekend engineering to consider, avoiding other operators trains wherever possible and shoe-horning in a trip on the TransWilts. That last one will probably have to be at the weekend so may be a good starting point to work around!

Anyone who wishes to join me on parts of this undertaking is more than welcome.

This is probably going to be quite an undertaking so any suggestions will be appreciated. I'm not looking for anyone to draw up an entire plan, obviously. That's part of the fun for me!

bignosemac

[devon_metro]

Sounds like you need a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff ranger for ^5!!

[JayMac]

Yes, that would ideal financially, but I want to see the whole network from Joe Public's POV! Can't be wholly unbiased if I was staff. 

[Ollie]

Don't have to be staff, just need to be travelling with somebody who is and has the appropriate voucher to get the ^5 ticket.

Doesn't need to be FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff either, just First Group So if you know anyone...

[JayMac]

Got three weeks free in October Ollie? ^5 a day will probably be cheaper than the Rovers and handy for the bits of the network not covered by them!!

Just kidding. But like I said, anyone, staff or not, is welcome to tag along for parts of the railabout. You'll have to wait for my draft plan to be completed to see where I'll be and when.

[devon_metro]

Much of my coverage of FGw region is courtesy of said ticket! Gets my recommendation!!!

[Ollie]

Got three weeks free in October Ollie?

Got the last 2 weeks off, but not available for all of it..might be able to do a couple days.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I, too, can heartily recommend the benefits of a First Group staff ranger ticket! 

I'd be slightly wary about travelling with Ollie, though: he seems to get involved in 'trouble on trains'. Cough. Par. 

CfN. 

[JayMac]

Par??

Pray tell.....

[Chris from Nailsea]

Par is a lovely station in Cornwall, where Ollie and I spent a rather unexpected amount of time, on our own 'branch line bash', due to a missed connection.

I'll say no more, at this stage. 

[inspector_blakey]

I nearly ended up spending the night there after a slightly ill-advised trip to the local chippy when I only had a fourteen-minute connection and the first train was running a few minutes late. By some miracle we made it, but I still don't know how...

[bigdaz]

I shall be travelling in the last week of October - Wed and Thurs - my birthday present!  Will do Wed am BAW via BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) to PNZ and back on the sleeper - possibly may bump into you ??

[Mookiemoo]

Let me know what you plan - will be after my exams

I want to see Jess again

She's a nutter

[JayMac]

I've drafted the first part of my railabout, which was easier than I thought it would be. Had to forego Okehampton and Pembroke Dock - just not feasible. This first part is covered by the Freedom of the South West 8 in 15 Rover and I've manage to get every branch and terminal point covered by said Rover into 7 day trips over the 15 days allowed, leaving me 1 spare 'box' on the Rover for any foul-ups that I might incur. Just a couple of add on tickets to get me to Carmarthen, Brighton and a positioning move to Worcester.

The attached document contains the details. Feedback appreciated

Thames Valley, B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury), Cotwsolds and North Downs to follow....

Edit: Completed draft .doc is included in the next post

[JayMac]

The final draft of my mammouth undertaking is complete. The Thames Valley, Cotswolds etc bit was far more complex than the West bit, but I think I've got it sorted. The amount of miles I'm going to be covering is a little daunting - surprising how it all adds up! Everything crossed now for smooth passage and few fupp ups along the way. I've built a little redundancy into the Rovers and travel dates just in case. Would've been a little cheaper if the Rovers covered that bit of track between Swindon and Didcot!

Final draft is included in the .doc attachment. As I said before, anyone wishing to join me on parts of the railabout are more than welcome. Comments and observations on what I've drawn up (as well as any errors!) are also welcome.