going to England
- Thread starter nikos1
- Start date
The website of the NRM.http://www.nrm.org.uk/home/home.asp
I noticed no-one has mentioned DRS and their rather extensive Class 37 fleet. They mostly do Nuclear waste movements across the country but also you might catch them moving stoneblowers between Stowmarket/Docaster - Ashford International. Also a pair of these 37s are still used Top & Tail on the SERCO track testing train which runs all over the place most days (saw 37607 & 606 on it last Saturday full thrash through Broadstairs 
)
If you do get to visit the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway just keep an eye out on the nearby Nuclear unloading area at Dungeness where a Pair of 37s/20s or a combi of both runs once a week ... but beware of the British Transport Police!!
Jamie
)If you do get to visit the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway just keep an eye out on the nearby Nuclear unloading area at Dungeness where a Pair of 37s/20s or a combi of both runs once a week ... but beware of the British Transport Police!!
Jamie
clockwork_orange
New member
Steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig are operated by the West Coast Railway Company: www.wcrc.co.uk and click on the link for "The Jacobite", or go to www.steamtrain.info, for times, fares and so on. There's one roundtrip each day.
Currently they don't have a facility to book tickets on-line, only by phone. I suppose you could try emailing: jacobite<at>wcrc<dot>co<dot>uk to see if they can give you a reservation by another means.
Of course you still have to get to Fort Bill, that's a four-hour
train journey from Glasgow.
Currently they don't have a facility to book tickets on-line, only by phone. I suppose you could try emailing: jacobite<at>wcrc<dot>co<dot>uk to see if they can give you a reservation by another means.
Of course you still have to get to Fort Bill, that's a four-hour
train journey from Glasgow.Pity you aren't able to further than Edinburgh as there are some nice lines up here in Scotland. Some would be too far away. Can I also say that as a Glasgow man we have the largest suburban rail system outside London and much of it electrified. Anyway you should find some good rail roving whilst in the UK there is so much variety.
The clockwork Orange! There are many good preserved railways you can visit, so many that you probably won't visit them all! Anther thing to watch out for are model engineering societies, most run trains which you can ride behind and see models from many railways. Have fun in England!
CoolMatty
P.S Come up North as we invented the steam engine up here!
Most of our preserved railways have steam train driving courses if you wish to have a go at driving a steam train. I have been on one at the Nene Valley Railway in Peterborough, its quite an experience to remember. You get a certificate at the end to say you have done it. 
Some of our preserved railways have a direct link with the main railway NR network. For example, the Mid Hants Railway (a.k.a. The Watercress Line) at Alton, where you have the main railway line on platforms 1 and 2 and the Steam Railway on platform 3.
About our weather, the UK does have the odd reported tornado now and again. Last year, London had one and caused a bit of damage. There was also one in South Lincolnshire between Sleaford and Ruskington. But I can't remember exactly when though unfortunatly.
Have a good time in England won't you nikos1.
Some of our preserved railways have a direct link with the main railway NR network. For example, the Mid Hants Railway (a.k.a. The Watercress Line) at Alton, where you have the main railway line on platforms 1 and 2 and the Steam Railway on platform 3.
About our weather, the UK does have the odd reported tornado now and again. Last year, London had one and caused a bit of damage. There was also one in South Lincolnshire between Sleaford and Ruskington. But I can't remember exactly when though unfortunatly.
Have a good time in England won't you nikos1.
LieLestoSbrat
LRW and UKBL Team Member
And one near Bourne, and don't forget the big'un in Birmingham. Hmmmm seems like these Tornado's are following me around
. With the mainline links it can make travelling to alot of the preserved railways considerably easier when going by public transport. Some other railways are located very close to a mainline railway station, Nene Valley Railway at Peterborough and Great Central Railway at Loughborough are two examples that I can think of. Both those example can be accessed by a short 10min walk from the mainline station.Insulfrog, what loco did you get to drive on the NVR? Myself I wouldn't mind have a go on the controls of their standard 5, "City of Peterborough". If I was still living at my parents I would probably be volunteering on the line.
Rob
As a lifelong Glaswegian I have always been puzzled about the hype around the only subway in the UK outside London. I have never heard the term 'clockwork orange' as a general description of the circle! For years the authorities described it as the 'Underground' whilst many Glaswegians simply called it the Subway. Seems the transport bosses have caved in. Even on the suburban electrics when you approach Partick interchange station the announcement now says you can alight for the 'Subway' the 'Underground' terminology having been dropped!
Subway seemed more appropriate somehow.
Subway seemed more appropriate somehow.
I only know it as that because I went on a holiday to Scotland with Inside Track who said it's nickname was the Clockwork Orange. And the illusion was complete by the orange train.I've emembered it like that since...
CoolMatty
Hi, CoolMatty,
The Glasgow Subway is unique. It doesn't conform to the standard UK railway gauge either being slightly narrower. Originally trains accessed the twin tunnels by a crane that lifted them up and down to the aboveg round railyards" at Govan. However on modernisation this archaic thing was scrapped and now there are tunnels going up to the storage yards. Various attempts at bringing back trams here have failed but yet again there are those who want to extend the 6 mile or so circle east and northwest. Doubt if we will see any of this either. Although restrictive in area it is well used. Unfortunately the colour has been changed from the nice orange to a dull cream and brown! Someone didn't think orange was modern enough.
The Glasgow Subway is unique. It doesn't conform to the standard UK railway gauge either being slightly narrower. Originally trains accessed the twin tunnels by a crane that lifted them up and down to the aboveg round railyards" at Govan. However on modernisation this archaic thing was scrapped and now there are tunnels going up to the storage yards. Various attempts at bringing back trams here have failed but yet again there are those who want to extend the 6 mile or so circle east and northwest. Doubt if we will see any of this either. Although restrictive in area it is well used. Unfortunately the colour has been changed from the nice orange to a dull cream and brown! Someone didn't think orange was modern enough.
Isn't it on loan.
johnchisem
Mr Grumpy
hi Nikos! So you got plenty of replies then. Perhaps I can offer you some help too! I recommend that you contact Kingfisher Railtours www.kingfishertours.co.uk and get a copy of their 2007 timetable.
You will not be able to visit all the railway attractions that the UK has to offer, but I see that you wanted to have a ride on the Settle Carlisle line. The best value by far is Kingfishers Dalesman Train. You will travel in the same type of coach as used for the Harry Potter films, and probably be pulled by 48151 (which is available for Trainz). The trains are on Sundays in August (5th 12th 19th and 26th). The adult return fare is £39, which is good value as the steam loco works both ways. I think you really ought to travel this line in this way as steam locos are OK at 20mph on a preserved line, but are much better at full speed on the main line.
Should you manage a day on this train you will have a couple of hours in Carlisle where you will see Virgin Pendolino trains and other modern trains.
The only problem is that you would have to make your own way to join the train in Hellifield. (about 200 miles from Oxford) Maybe your parents would be willing to have a short break in a bed and breakfast somewhere in the Yorkshire Dales around Skipton. It's very nice country round there. Here is a photo of yesterdays train leaving the depot on its way to Hellifield.
I hope you can manage to travel on the Fort William to Mallaig trains as the line is beautiful and the locos make plenty of noise attacking the gradients on the line. (If you are unaware I am a volunteer loco support crew member for West Coast Railways which operates the trains- but I am not hyping up anything, just offering advice based on over 40 years experience)
Other highlights which I think you could try are a ride on an HST (high speed train), a true classic even if its a diesel! The National Railway Museum at York is worth a visit, and there is the historic city for parents. Of all the preservation sites nearer to Oxford, perhaps Didcot should be high priority. You will also be able to see plenty of modern service trains at the main line station there. There are plenty of other preservation sites and I don't think I've visited half of them in my life let alone a few weeks.
Depending on how much time and money are available perhaps you could spend a couple of hours at a station like Clapham Junction in South London, where trains are everywhere especially at rush hour, this could be combined with a look at the London Underground.
I'm sorry that I can not offer much advice on tickets and prices. The current system is very complicated, advance booking is much cheaper. Perhaps someone else could help you with this? Either on the forum or even the travel centre at Oxford Station.
Enjoy your visit and let us know what you get up to!
John
You will not be able to visit all the railway attractions that the UK has to offer, but I see that you wanted to have a ride on the Settle Carlisle line. The best value by far is Kingfishers Dalesman Train. You will travel in the same type of coach as used for the Harry Potter films, and probably be pulled by 48151 (which is available for Trainz). The trains are on Sundays in August (5th 12th 19th and 26th). The adult return fare is £39, which is good value as the steam loco works both ways. I think you really ought to travel this line in this way as steam locos are OK at 20mph on a preserved line, but are much better at full speed on the main line.
Should you manage a day on this train you will have a couple of hours in Carlisle where you will see Virgin Pendolino trains and other modern trains.
The only problem is that you would have to make your own way to join the train in Hellifield. (about 200 miles from Oxford) Maybe your parents would be willing to have a short break in a bed and breakfast somewhere in the Yorkshire Dales around Skipton. It's very nice country round there. Here is a photo of yesterdays train leaving the depot on its way to Hellifield.
I hope you can manage to travel on the Fort William to Mallaig trains as the line is beautiful and the locos make plenty of noise attacking the gradients on the line. (If you are unaware I am a volunteer loco support crew member for West Coast Railways which operates the trains- but I am not hyping up anything, just offering advice based on over 40 years experience)
Other highlights which I think you could try are a ride on an HST (high speed train), a true classic even if its a diesel! The National Railway Museum at York is worth a visit, and there is the historic city for parents. Of all the preservation sites nearer to Oxford, perhaps Didcot should be high priority. You will also be able to see plenty of modern service trains at the main line station there. There are plenty of other preservation sites and I don't think I've visited half of them in my life let alone a few weeks.
Depending on how much time and money are available perhaps you could spend a couple of hours at a station like Clapham Junction in South London, where trains are everywhere especially at rush hour, this could be combined with a look at the London Underground.
I'm sorry that I can not offer much advice on tickets and prices. The current system is very complicated, advance booking is much cheaper. Perhaps someone else could help you with this? Either on the forum or even the travel centre at Oxford Station.
Enjoy your visit and let us know what you get up to!
John
Spawn_of_Chaos97
Trainz for Everyone!
HWHAAAAAAT?! Britain still uses COAL-FIRED STEAMERS? NICE!
YAY!
ehm.
Yeah.
Cool pix man, cool pix.
YAY!
ehm.
Yeah.
Cool pix man, cool pix.
We don't use them all the time - these are used on preserved lines and also on steam charters, rather than on regular service trains. The only truly regular steam on the main line is the Scarborough Spa Express and the Fort William service - the rest is just the result of meticulous planning and enthusiasm several months in advance (I guess John could tell you more abouth this than me - I'm not sure of this year's timings).
Normally, we have electric and diesal services on the main network.
BidMod
PS - is that picture Carnforth? It would explain why the engine is tender first (running down to Carlisle forwards from Hellifield).
Normally, we have electric and diesal services on the main network.
BidMod
PS - is that picture Carnforth? It would explain why the engine is tender first (running down to Carlisle forwards from Hellifield).
Scarbourgh Spa services usually run in the summer and are organised by West Coast Railways and the NRM. I usually watch them go by as the line is near my house!
Matt
