Recent content by Essan

Good point - and as probably the only passenger with a ticket to there, they'd be looking out for you to disembark.

Sandwood Bay. Supposedly the "most beautiful beach in Britain". It's just a wide, flat, beach, backed by low sand dunes, with the sea miles away. Bit like Weston-super-Mare but without the ice cream vans. There are much more dramatic beaches (with less people on them) within a few miles...

I've used the Severn Valley Railway in that way - allows for a nice day out walking along the Severn and then back by train (or, vice versa). The fact I travelled behind a steam train in an old pullman coach was just an added bonus.

That was the first time I saw the aurora - a stunning overhead display where I was at the time, in the northern Highlands. However last night was the first time I have seen it down in south Worcestershire.

Yes, the afternoon service gets in to Mallaig at 3pm now, so must cross with the morning service at Arisaig.

I thought when they first started running a 2nd service - some years ago now - it was more of an evening run. May be mistaken, but I am sure it ran later than the 2nd run does (or should do) these days. It should be possible to do that using just one loco and coach set, with, say, a 5pm(ish)...

There's what GWR call an "evening fare day" ticket which is a cheap evening return available on the Cotswold line (code C1R) - it's about 2/3rd the price of a normal off peak return (or single!) - but can't actually find any info about it (other than it comes up as a option when you try and...

Bank transfers yes - and I'd be happy to see that become a more common method of payment. But not if you pay me by debit or credit card. Which also incur a bank charge!

People would book earlier if they knew when trains were going to run! Personally I'd rather pay a bit more and know that the services I book should be running, than risk them being cancelled due to strikes.

It used to be a not entirely uncommon occurrence for shops in England to refuse Bank of England £20 notes due to forgeries being in circulation. Perfectly legal. And even today some may refuse a £50. As for switching to all cashless - that's what the banks want so they can hold on to...

I do t think I have ever heard the term railway station used. Always been train station or just station. The place we go to catch the train...

I think the Jacobite does somerimes run with a diesel on the rear at times of high fire risk. Slightly OT but I remember in 1999 the Jacobite broke down in Lochailort - and a lot of the passengers descended on the pub for lunch.... Landlord was still hungover from the night before and none to...

Aye - and I am pretty sure the train in the films doesn't have "West Coast Railways" emblazoned in bright gold lettering on the side of the coaches, either!

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/04/scotlands-jacobite-steam-train-services-to-resume.html

Piece in the Press & Journal about the first running by LSL. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands-islands/6426186/francis-bourgeois-harry-potter-class-37/?fbclid=IwAR3LdUyMXEXV83IcILLp6AVzJPOrT39YJBDOBySrv5hCnM2WfAflxhnVlJY