The Highland Chieftain

[ScottMathew]

I Am doing the complete journey from start to finish at the end of the month (London King's Cross to Inverness) and am really, really excited. I can't wait. Can't wait to get some really nice pictures of the Chieftain herself, unfortunately I will be alone so won't have anyone to take my picture next to the power car, which I would've loved.

Anyway, has anyone done the entire journey? I have a seat reserved, but will be spending a lot of time in between coaches taking pictures and videos with my mobile and with my head by the window - it has to be done whenever I am on a HST

So if any of you have done it, I'd love to hear how you found the trip and what you enjoyed best about it etc.

Cheers.

 

[eastwestdivide]

East side of the train for views of Durham cathedral, Angel of the North, Newcastle bridges (probably) and the coast round Berwick and further N.
Look out for the many LNER-era metal cutout signs by the lineside (e.g. http://www.flickr.com/photos/steam60163/sets/72157627831825869/)
I'm sure you can persuade someone to take a photo for you on departure.
Marathon trip - can we look forward to a write-up when you get back?

 

[asylumxl]

If there is time before the departure, you could always ask the driver politely if he would be willing to take the photo for you. You'd be surprised, majority of rail staff are delightful .

 

[mralexn]

Yes, I have done it many times, and it is an amazing journey to my personal favourite city! (:

I would recommend if you can treat yourself to travel in First Class, the staff that work the chieftain on the catering side will be Inverness Crew, (don't know about the driver and guard I believe its an Edinburgh guard from Edinburgh - Inverness who lodge in Inverness overnight at the Mercure Hotel (Would highly recommend that too.

As far as scenery goes certainly going through Durham is lovely, and so is going by the cliffs near Berwick and Dunbar, Once you leave Edinburgh you will go Via Falkirk to Perth, this route is nice, with a good few viaducts between Haymarket and Polmont, after that it is mainly grassy fields.

For my the scenery really gets amazing once you get North of Pitlochry (half about hour about Perth)
it becoming very mountainous, make sure you have your camera ready for a shot of Aviemore Station and then keep your camera out for the many amazing viaducts between Carrbridge and Inverness,

Do not worry about not having someone there with you to take a photo, just as a local when you get there, they are lovely enough people! (:

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Condor7]

Good for you, I hope you have a great trip, and please post some of your photos.

 

[A60K]

If there is time before the departure, you could always ask the driver politely if he would be willing to take the photo for you. You'd be surprised, majority of rail staff are delightful .

Yup, I'd second that - going back to when HSTs were introduced I did that, and also the driver gave me a pound note, asked me to take a photo of him posing by it, gave me his address for me to post a print of the picture to him (which I did!), then whisked me into the cab for a look around and rev the engine up! Times have changed unfortunately, but have great journey.

 

[Scotrail84]

Edinburgh guard, Newcastle driver who take the train up

 

[alholmes]

I've only done the full length one, over 20 years ago, from Inverness to Kings Cross. It was a Winter Sunday, and so was timetabled to run via Aberdeen, as well as a further diversion between Doncaster and Peterborough due to engineering works. The front power car also failed just after leaving Edinburgh, so we were running on reduced power for much of the journey.

I think we arrived in Kings Cross at about 11pm, after a 13-hour journey. I was surprised by how many people were doing the full journey... a lot of people in my carriage had boarded at Inverness.

 

[38Cto15E]

I am on the Cheiftain on Monday 15th April, this has to be one of the best, if not the best scheduled rail journey in the UK, especially in First Class (£67.90 for me with Railcard).
I think it now stops at Darlington and Berwick when a couple of years back I whizzed through these stations.
I have managed to get a very good rate at the ex BTC Station Hotel Inverness, now known as the Royal Highland, next night is The Lochalsh Hotel, again ex BTC, maybe a shadow of its former self but still in a great location.
Final night is a B&B in Mallaig, an early start with the 0603 to Glasgow Q St, then First Class back to Euston on Virgin on the 1240 from Central.
If you book a good 4 weeks ahead then train fares and hotel rates should be very reasonable, Michael Portillo has a lot to answer for, watching his programmes just sets me off.

 

[ScottMathew]

Hi thanks for responses; to "eastwestdivide" yes of course I can do a write-up. And I will look out for the old LNER-era signage, although I have seen some of these already on the ECML when going up to York or Leeds. Gus, I am booked into the Royal Highland. Will take a picture mralexn of Aviemore station. I was thinking of making a plan of taking pics of every station that the Chieftain calls at.
A60K interesting story! I will ask the driver if I am able to do so.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Hope you enjoy your trip, I have done almost the whole journey a couple of years ago, KX to Aviemore and was lucky enough to get a good deal in 1st class, which then included tea, coffee and fruit juice, if you wanted anything hot etc they steward/ess took you order and served it at your seat. Now of course they do include some food and drink in the coast of the 1st class ticket.The stewards, when we got on at Aviemore even stood by the doors and showed people to their seats, perhaps as lot of overseas people where getting on there.

I enjoyed it very much and was on the east side of the train in both directions as in my carriage the single seats were on that side which was good.

If you have a few days, in Inverness, try to go on the line to Thurso & Wick and to Kyle of Lochalsh

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Anyway, has anyone done the entire journey? I have a seat reserved, but will be spending a lot of time in between coaches taking pictures and videos with my mobile and with my head by the window - it has to be done whenever I am on a HST

I am doing this trip in First Class at the end of the month as well! I cant wait because I will be doing the full ECML as well as traversing some very nice, scenic line. Will try and get seats on the east side of the train as well, according to a few sources, as well as the second post, that is the best side of the train to sit on.

 

[ScottMathew]

Stevieboy, I am booked into Standard but if I had a bit more money at the time of booking then I would have went First Class. I have chose the Quiet Coach though (I always try to do this when booking online) - I couldn't do London to Inverness with the constant sound of people chatting and mobile phones going off etc. That would be hell.

I'd love to do the Thurso & Wick and Kyle of Lochalsh lines; I have looked into this before actually and it looks absolutely amazing. I would love to do both lines and am sure that one day I will. I'm sorry to say I am returning south of the border the following day on the 09.40 Chieftain service to London KX. Aviemore train station looks lovely - someone already advised me to take a photo of it ! Have looked on "Google Images" and it looks stunning. Do you know if the trolley service in Standard is worked throughout the entire journey? Otherwise I will bringing my own fruit juice and stuff to eat !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Does the Chieftain pass Drumochter (highest point on the National Rail network)?

 

[dcsprior]

Does the Chieftain pass Drumochter (highest point on the National Rail network)?

Yes it does

 

[amcluesent]

I couldn't do London to Inverness with the constant sound of people chatting and mobile phones going off etc

All I can say is prepare to be disappointed

 

[ScottMathew]

Nan, my seat is reserved in the Quiet Coach.

 

[Urban Gateline]

I've read so many (Good) comments about the Highland Chieftain that I've caved in and want to sample it for myself! Like ScottMathew I'm doing it from beginning to end and returning the next morning, never been to Inverness before!

Although I'm rail staff (TOCNE SWT) I chose to buy First Class Advances for both legs, works out at just over £100 using my 16-25 Railcard! I guess for the length of Journey, comfort and potential food and drink offerings it's not bad value at all! I could have used my PRIV to buy the SOR for about £86 in Standard Class, but figured for only £14 extra First Class is worth it!

Contemplating where to stay the night, and I settled with Premier Inn (Millburn Rd) at £65 for an Advance booking, not bad value for what is a reasonable hotel, as I'm somewhat stuck up when it comes to accomodation, just can't bring myself to stay in a Hostel roomshare with others!

As a side note, I'm planning to do the Highland lines on a separate trip up to Scotland, this trip has to be so short as I'm due back at work the day after I return!

ScottMathews, hope you have lots of fun! I may not window hang so much as I don't want to miss out on the food and drink I decided not to go for the Quiet coach because I might happen to want to listen to music!

But the seating system is a bit annoying with EC as you can't just view the seating plan and choose there from available ones, the way it works on "preferences" seems like a lucky dip! One way I'll be sitting backwards so hopefully that doesn't ruin the view too much

 

[Bedpan]

I've done the Chieftain a few times, in fact I've never been directly to Inverness from England any other way, although I've never been from Kings Cross, always joining at Peterborough after travelling from Stevenage. In the down direction its great cruising through the Highlands on a Summer's evening as the train is gradually emptying, and then coasting down the hill into Inverness, although I've found that the up train has started to become crowded by Perth/Stirling.

Equally good, and a journey that I think I'd make in preference, particularly on the return leg is to take the "old" route via Aberdeen - not mountainous but nice rolling countryside and stunning sea views from Aberdeen to Edinburgh and beyond, plus the Tay and Forth bridges.

 

[Bungle73]

Nan, my seat is reserved in the Quiet Coach.

He knows. He's just saying that people don't always respect the "Quiet Coach" rules. I've been on the HC myself a couple of years back and booked the Standard Class QC for exactly the reasons you described. I found myself sitting with a woman with a noisy toddler, who made a noise for the whole journey and who also proceeded to run up and down the aisle, sitting a row or two behind me. Luckily I was getting off at York (from London).

But the seating system is a bit annoying with EC as you can't just view the seating plan and choose there from available ones

Um, yes you can.

 

[Urban Gateline]

Um, yes you can.

I clicked on the logo to view it and just a blank window appears! (Using Firefox as a browser)

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Stevieboy, I am booked into Standard but if I had a bit more money at the time of booking then I would have went First Class. I have chose the Quiet Coach though (I always try to do this when booking online) - I couldn't do London to Inverness with the constant sound of people chatting and mobile phones going off etc. That would be hell.

I'd love to do the Thurso & Wick and Kyle of Lochalsh lines; I have looked into this before actually and it looks absolutely amazing. I would love to do both lines and am sure that one day I will. I'm sorry to say I am returning south of the border the following day on the 09.40 Chieftain service to London KX. Aviemore train station looks lovely - someone already advised me to take a photo of it ! Have looked on "Google Images" and it looks stunning. Do you know if the trolley service in Standard is worked throughout the entire journey? Otherwise I will bringing my own fruit juice and stuff to eat !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Does the Chieftain pass Drumochter (highest point on the National Rail network)?

There should be a trolly service coming through Standard class, if not you can always go to the buffet car, or do the cheaper option and bring your own food and drink, that's no doubt cheaper too. On the East side of Aviemore station, if you are lucky, you may see a steam train as the station is also used by the Spey Valley Railway.

Nan, I like "your" picture, I remember that lady very well in Coronation Street!

Someone was also saying about getting seat maps up on 1st class, I recently did a booking with them from York to Kx and was able to view the seat plan. Maybe the system was having a reset or something.

 

[Bungle73]

I clicked on the logo to view it and just a blank window appears! (Using Firefox as a browser)

Yeah, I just tried it and got the same. Obviously this is some kind of problem with the site. If this has been the case for a while then someone should notify EC about it, unless they already know.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ah, just seen on Twitter that they know about it and are attempting to fix it.

I tried IE and it was the same.

 

[matchmaker]

Yes it does

You mean Druimuachdar

 

[Crossover]

I've read so many (Good) comments about the Highland Chieftain that I've caved in and want to sample it for myself! Like ScottMathew I'm doing it from beginning to end and returning the next morning, never been to Inverness before!

Although I'm rail staff (TOCNE SWT) I chose to buy First Class Advances for both legs, works out at just over £100 using my 16-25 Railcard! I guess for the length of Journey, comfort and potential food and drink offerings it's not bad value at all! I could have used my PRIV to buy the SOR for about £86 in Standard Class, but figured for only £14 extra First Class is worth it!

Contemplating where to stay the night, and I settled with Premier Inn (Millburn Rd) at £65 for an Advance booking, not bad value for what is a reasonable hotel, as I'm somewhat stuck up when it comes to accomodation, just can't bring myself to stay in a Hostel roomshare with others!

As a side note, I'm planning to do the Highland lines on a separate trip up to Scotland, this trip has to be so short as I'm due back at work the day after I return!

ScottMathews, hope you have lots of fun! I may not window hang so much as I don't want to miss out on the food and drink I decided not to go for the Quiet coach because I might happen to want to listen to music!

But the seating system is a bit annoying with EC as you can't just view the seating plan and choose there from available ones, the way it works on "preferences" seems like a lucky dip! One way I'll be sitting backwards so hopefully that doesn't ruin the view too much

I'd say the extra £14 for FC advances is more than worth it! If you are doing it on a weekday, I'd imagine you would get more than that value in food and drink, and get much better seats in the bargain too.

The last time I did the Chieftain (and the first from Inverness), I stayed with a fellow forum member at the Premier Inn you refer to and I can't knock it - was pleasant

Not a bad walk from the station either, although sadly, there is a high wall along most of the line between the railway and road so you can't see much in that sense (though there are gaps in it)

 

[shinkansen1966]

I Am doing the complete journey from start to finish at the end of the month (London King's Cross to Inverness) and am really, really excited.

And so you should be. It's a terrific trip. Northbound, sit on the right facing the direction of travel. You'll have better views of the coast. And when you cross the Highlands look out for two summit posts between Perth and Inverness.

If you a find an unreserved better seat than your reserved one, then take it. I do almost everytime.

Recently made the trip myself. YouTube video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4tdLG6FmNA&list=UUmvWgfOkQ4Iwm20iQk9PgTA&index=1

Can't wait to get some really nice pictures of the Chieftain herself, unfortunately I will be alone so won't have anyone to take my picture next to the power car, which I would've loved.

Then ask some one to take your picture ! I do. Don't be shy. If you see the driver, ask him. You never know your luck.

 

[ScottMathew]

shinkansen1966 ; enjoyed your video, and the scenery at 2:56 was just amazing. How come you got a replacement bus from Perth?

 

[Urban Gateline]

I'd say the extra £14 for FC advances is more than worth it! If you are doing it on a weekday, I'd imagine you would get more than that value in food and drink, and get much better seats in the bargain too.

The last time I did the Chieftain (and the first from Inverness), I stayed with a fellow forum member at the Premier Inn you refer to and I can't knock it - was pleasant

Not a bad walk from the station either, although sadly, there is a high wall along most of the line between the railway and road so you can't see much in that sense (though there are gaps in it)

Thank you for the comments! Yes I'll be doing it on two weekdays, and I've never tried First Class in East Coast at all so I guess my expectations will be high

I think the best part of it is that the entire trips there and back will all be during daylight hours so the view should be nice and uninterrupted!

I also watched Shinkansen1966's video and it's a nice taster, doesn't give too much away which is just perfect!

 

[ScottMathew]

@ Urban Gateline ; When are you doing it? Did you say your doing KX to Inverness or the other way round?

 

[Urban Gateline]

@ Urban Gateline ; When are you doing it? Did you say your doing KX to Inverness or the other way round?

I'm doing it in Mid June on weekdays, doing it both ways, starting at 12:00 KGX to INV and then the next morning back on the 07:55 INV to KGX.

 

[ScottMathew]

Ah, I am doing it on the last Saturday of this month (KX to INV) and returning the next day on the Sunday 09:40 Chieftain back. I was looking at pictures of when the Chieftain used to belong to the GNER franchise - and she was absolutely beautiful
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
That's not to say that I don't like the livery of EC HSTs, because I do. But the GNER dark blue with the red stripe was gorgeous in my opinion, I think GNER's HSTs were the most stunning (although I think most people would say Virgin).