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I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules,
completed my tour of the UK rail network
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules, completed
my tour of the UK rail network (except for Westhoughton). Read my
(long) account of my travels and my views on today's network in the
link below.
https://alrr25.birchanger.com
On 14/08/2025 09:55, Trolleybus wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules, completed
my tour of the UK rail network (except for Westhoughton). Read my
(long) account of my travels and my views on today's network in the
link below.
https://alrr25.birchanger.com
Congratulations on a wonderful achievement. I've starting reading the >account, and will no doubt find the reason for omitting the Westhoughton
line in due course.
Trolleybus wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules,
completed my tour of the UK rail network
YAvickipipeAICMu5
On Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:13:28 +0100, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk>
wrote:
Trolleybus wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules,
completed my tour of the UK rail network
YAvickipipeAICM-u5
What happened to her?
I think she was at the police museum at Covent Garden for a while,
then I thought I heard she was at a museum in MK.
On Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:53:42 +0100, Certes <Certes@example.org> wrote:
On 14/08/2025 09:55, Trolleybus wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules, completed
my tour of the UK rail network (except for Westhoughton). Read my
(long) account of my travels and my views on today's network in the
link below.
https://alrr25.birchanger.com
Congratulations on a wonderful achievement. I've starting reading the >>account, and will no doubt find the reason for omitting the Westhoughton >>line in due course.
Thankyou, but I don't really see it as an achievement, and I'm sure my
wife doesn't. Just a feeling that having done 90% without trying I
thought I might as well make it 100.
On Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:13:28 +0100, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk>
wrote:
Trolleybus wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules,
completed my tour of the UK rail network
YAvickipipeAICMu5
What happened to her? I think she was at the police museum at Covent
Garden for a while, then I thought I heard she was at a museum in MK.
I know her Norwegian Cheese SM account closed years ago.
In message <hart9k9t3sho4f7df3g3knkuvrmusdmprg@4ax.com>, at 09:20:18 on
Fri, 15 Aug 2025, Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> remarked:
On Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:13:28 +0100, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk>
wrote:
Trolleybus wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules,
completed my tour of the UK rail network
YAvickipipeAICM-u5
What happened to her? I think she was at the police museum at Covent
Garden for a while, then I thought I heard she was at a museum in MK.
That was Bletchley Park I expect. I'm working with the "other bit"
(National Museum of Computing, who split off a tad acrimoniously and is >chaired by one of my girlfriend's ex-colleagues and took her flying in
his Tiger Moth) at the moment on 1980's retro computers. Haven't
encountered Viki there, but I suppose I could ask around.
I know her Norwegian Cheese SM account closed years ago.
She has a Linked-in account "Head of Audiences and Programmes" Kings
College London.
AI tells me Marshall announced the end of their marriage on 21 April
2022.
On Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:12:34 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <hart9k9t3sho4f7df3g3knkuvrmusdmprg@4ax.com>, at 09:20:18 on >>Fri, 15 Aug 2025, Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> remarked:
On Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:13:28 +0100, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> >>>wrote:
Trolleybus wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules,
completed my tour of the UK rail network
YAvickipipeAICMu5
What happened to her? I think she was at the police museum at Covent >>>Garden for a while, then I thought I heard she was at a museum in MK.
That was Bletchley Park I expect. I'm working with the "other bit" >>(National Museum of Computing, who split off a tad acrimoniously and is >>chaired by one of my girlfriend's ex-colleagues and took her flying in
his Tiger Moth) at the moment on 1980's retro computers. Haven't >>encountered Viki there, but I suppose I could ask around.
I know her Norwegian Cheese SM account closed years ago.
She has a Linked-in account "Head of Audiences and Programmes" Kings >>College London.
You're misreading it. Her position is at Bletchley Park, and her
master's degree was from Kings.
AI tells me Marshall announced the end of their marriage on 21 April
2022.
That was the public announcement, but I think they actually separated earlier.
In message <v34u9k9huplgnhlh5tqfs3v9q2t8d53fu8@4ax.com>, at 11:52:45 on
Fri, 15 Aug 2025, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
On Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:12:34 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <hart9k9t3sho4f7df3g3knkuvrmusdmprg@4ax.com>, at 09:20:18 on >>>Fri, 15 Aug 2025, Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> remarked:
On Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:13:28 +0100, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> >>>>wrote:
Trolleybus wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules,
completed my tour of the UK rail network
YAvickipipeAICM-u5
What happened to her? I think she was at the police museum at Covent >>>>Garden for a while, then I thought I heard she was at a museum in MK.
That was Bletchley Park I expect. I'm working with the "other bit" >>>(National Museum of Computing, who split off a tad acrimoniously and is >>>chaired by one of my girlfriend's ex-colleagues and took her flying in >>>his Tiger Moth) at the moment on 1980's retro computers. Haven't >>>encountered Viki there, but I suppose I could ask around.
I know her Norwegian Cheese SM account closed years ago.
She has a Linked-in account "Head of Audiences and Programmes" Kings >>>College London.
You're misreading it. Her position is at Bletchley Park, and her
master's degree was from Kings.
OK, a bit confusing. Don't think I've ever seen a Linked-In page before >where the most prominent logo was the Uni attended. Next time I go there
(in the next few months) I'll ask to speak to her.
AI tells me Marshall announced the end of their marriage on 21 April >>>2022.
That was the public announcement, but I think they actually separated earlier.
He announced the end that day. He didn't announce when it had ended.
Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> wrote:
On Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:13:28 +0100, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk>
wrote:
Trolleybus wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules,
completed my tour of the UK rail network
YAvickipipeAICMu5
What happened to her?
She left the LT Museum in 2019, but still seems to have an interest in >community railways
I think she was at the police museum at Covent Garden for a while,
Yes, Bow Street Police Museum, from August 2020 to December 2023.
then I thought I heard she was at a museum in MK.
Yes, Head of Audiences and Programmes at Bletchley Park Trust since
December 2023.
On Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:18:11 +0100
Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> wibbled:
On Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:53:42 +0100, Certes <Certes@example.org> wrote:
On 14/08/2025 09:55, Trolleybus wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules, completed
my tour of the UK rail network (except for Westhoughton). Read my
(long) account of my travels and my views on today's network in the
link below.
https://alrr25.birchanger.com
Congratulations on a wonderful achievement. I've starting reading the >>>account, and will no doubt find the reason for omitting the Westhoughton >>>line in due course.
Thankyou, but I don't really see it as an achievement, and I'm sure my
wife doesn't. Just a feeling that having done 90% without trying I
thought I might as well make it 100.
Did you book places to stay beforehand or just wing it wherever you turned
up at the end of the day?
On Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:22:43 -0000 (UTC), boltar@galactica.caprica
wrote:
Thankyou, but I don't really see it as an achievement, and I'm sure my >>>wife doesn't. Just a feeling that having done 90% without trying I >>>thought I might as well make it 100.
Did you book places to stay beforehand or just wing it wherever you turned >>up at the end of the day?
On this occasion I booked. Mainly because my backpack isn't as large
as my old one, so I carry a small cabin case and leave it in my room
during the day, if possible.
I used to just find something on the day but it seems to me that since
COVID it's become both harder and more expensive to do it that way.
I was unvited on a holiday decades ago with some uni mates and their GFs. >They were going to head off in a hired car touring wales and just rock up at >some hotel each night hoping to find a room. Knowing how disorganised they were
I declined the invitation. They ended up sleeping in the car for 2 nights, >had a massive bust up and drove home.
In message <107po4h$1lmvv$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:56:17 on Sat, 16 Aug
2025, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
I was unvited on a holiday decades ago with some uni mates and their GFs.
They were going to head off in a hired car touring wales and just rock
up at
some hotel each night hoping to find a room. Knowing how disorganised
they were
I declined the invitation. They ended up sleeping in the car for 2
nights,
had a massive bust up and drove home.
I did a tour with some friends in perhaps 1975 (need to look up when the first edition of the CAMRA guide came out) to visit all six or seven remaining homebrew-pubs, before they were potentially consigned to history.
Hired a minibus, and we slept in that, in car-parks.
On 16/08/2025 12:23, Roland Perry wrote:
I did a tour with some friends in perhaps 1975 (need to look up when the
first edition of the CAMRA guide came out) to visit all six or seven
remaining homebrew-pubs, before they were potentially consigned to history. >>
Hired a minibus, and we slept in that, in car-parks.
Blue Anchor in Helston was one, visited it 1976.
Graeme Wall <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 16/08/2025 12:23, Roland Perry wrote:
I managed to get to the Old Swan Netherton when it was still under Doris >Pardoes ownership.I did a tour with some friends in perhaps 1975 (need to look up when the >>> first edition of the CAMRA guide came out) to visit all six or seven
remaining homebrew-pubs, before they were potentially consigned to history. >>>
Hired a minibus, and we slept in that, in car-parks.
Blue Anchor in Helston was one, visited it 1976.
Of course there has since been a revival in such premises where they brew
on site but the casualty rate is high.
An unusual brew I was able to sample was from the Southwick Brewery at the >back of the Golden Lion at that village of that name in Hampshire , the
plant was just left in place when the brewer retired in 1957 ,here he is 10 >years earlier. <https://youtu.be/azU6GEcMR3k?feature=shared>
Around the early 1980rCOs some members an industrial archaeology group based >at Southampton University decided to give the place a wash and brush up and >made a brew, Gales of Horndean nearby bottled it for them. I canrCOt recall >the exact details now but I believe group got a rollicking from HMRC for >not following procedure about the brewing and giving away the brew in
return for a donation for the bottle and label was deemed to be sailing too >close to the wind.
Fortunately it remained a rollicking but the exercise was not repeated.
GH
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules, completed
my tour of the UK rail network (except for Westhoughton). Read my
(long) account of my travels and my views on today's network in the
link below.
https://alrr25.birchanger.com
The other was a solo South of
Scotland Day Rover (or whatever itrCOs called - sorry, I canrCOt look it up at
the moment), and while that was valid until midnight I came home about 8 orCOclock because I was knackered!
Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules, completed
my tour of the UK rail network (except for Westhoughton). Read my
(long) account of my travels and my views on today's network in the
link below.
https://alrr25.birchanger.com
IrCOve just finished this - a most enjoyable account. IrCOve only done two railrover-y type things - one was the North Wales rover so we could do the loop from Chester and then down the Ffestiniog and return by Dovey Junction and Shrewsbury and that was very good. The other was a solo South of Scotland Day Rover. . .
Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
The other was a solo South of
Scotland Day Rover (or whatever itrCOs called - sorry, I canrCOt look it up at
the moment), and while that was valid until midnight I came home about 8
orCOclock because I was knackered!
Only Rover I ever did was when a school chum and I did a Western Rover
when circa 15.
Anxious not to waste its validity and get London where by Gran was to be used as a base we set off from Barnstaple the evening before its validity kicked in knowing we could get a late night/ early morning train out of Exeter after midnight rather than losing hours using the first service
from Barnstaple next morning. It was a pay train so we were fully prepared to purchase a single to Exeter but the staff were intrigued by why two 15 year olds were catching the last service of the day with no chance of
return , once we explained our mission they kindly let as travel for no
extra charge, I say they as the driver having seen our disappointment when
he lowered the blind of the 1st generation DMU as the saloon lights had to come on invited us into the cab for most of the journey, we had to leave shortly before Crediton in case some eyes were about.
GH
Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
The other was a solo South of
Scotland Day Rover (or whatever itrCOs called - sorry, I canrCOt look it up at
the moment), and while that was valid until midnight I came home about 8
orCOclock because I was knackered!
Only Rover I ever did was when a school chum and I did a Western Rover
when circa 15.
Anxious not to waste its validity and get London where by Gran was to be used as a base we set off from Barnstaple the evening before its validity kicked in knowing we could get a late night/ early morning train out of Exeter after midnight rather than losing hours using the first service
from Barnstaple next morning. It was a pay train so we were fully prepared to purchase a single to Exeter but the staff were intrigued by why two 15 year olds were catching the last service of the day with no chance of
return , once we explained our mission they kindly let as travel for no
extra charge, I say they as the driver having seen our disappointment when
he lowered the blind of the 1st generation DMU as the saloon lights had to come on invited us into the cab for most of the journey, we had to leave shortly before Crediton in case some eyes were about.
On 18/08/2025 14:19, Marland wrote:
Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
The other was a solo South of
Scotland Day Rover (or whatever itrCOs called - sorry, I canrCOt look it up at
the moment), and while that was valid until midnight I came home about 8 >>> orCOclock because I was knackered!
Only Rover I ever did was when a school chum and I did a Western Rover
when circa 15.
Did similar with a friend from school - a one week rover for E and NE regions. Were planning to kip in waiting rooms but told by a transport copper at York that that was not on. However, sleeping on a train was OK
so take that train to Kings Cross, swap platforms and you will be back
here in the morning.
Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules, completed
my tour of the UK rail network (except for Westhoughton). Read my
(long) account of my travels and my views on today's network in the
link below.
https://alrr25.birchanger.com
IAve just finished this - a most enjoyable account. IAve only done two >railrover-y type things - one was the North Wales rover so we could do the >loop from Chester and then down the Ffestiniog and return by Dovey Junction >and Shrewsbury and that was very good. The other was a solo South of >Scotland Day Rover (or whatever itAs called - sorry, I canAt look it up at >the moment), and while that was valid until midnight I came home about 8 >oAclock because I was knackered!
I hope your days out were of the more invigorating kind!
Sam--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
On Sat, 16 Aug 2025 10:30:30 +0100
Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> gabbled:
On Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:22:43 -0000 (UTC), boltar@galactica.caprica
wrote:
Thankyou, but I don't really see it as an achievement, and I'm sure my >>>>wife doesn't. Just a feeling that having done 90% without trying I >>>>thought I might as well make it 100.
Did you book places to stay beforehand or just wing it wherever you turned >>>up at the end of the day?
On this occasion I booked. Mainly because my backpack isn't as large
as my old one, so I carry a small cabin case and leave it in my room
during the day, if possible.
I used to just find something on the day but it seems to me that since >>COVID it's become both harder and more expensive to do it that way.
I was unvited on a holiday decades ago with some uni mates and their GFs. >They were going to head off in a hired car touring wales and just rock up at >some hotel each night hoping to find a room. Knowing how disorganised they were
I declined the invitation. They ended up sleeping in the car for 2 nights, >had a massive bust up and drove home.
Did similar with a friend from school - a one week rover for E and NE >regions. Were planning to kip in waiting rooms but told by a transport >copper at York that that was not on. However, sleeping on a train was OK
so take that train to Kings Cross, swap platforms and you will be back
here in the morning.
Did that for the week - I recall a gripper being asked by another
passenger on the night train north why he was not checking our tickets - >"Oh, they are regulars!"
Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules, completed
my tour of the UK rail network (except for Westhoughton). Read my
(long) account of my travels and my views on today's network in the
link below.
https://alrr25.birchanger.com
IAve just finished this - a most enjoyable account. IAve only done two
railrover-y type things - one was the North Wales rover so we could do the >> loop from Chester and then down the Ffestiniog and return by Dovey Junction >> and Shrewsbury and that was very good. The other was a solo South of
Scotland Day Rover. . .
And it doesnAt seem like that ticket exists any more - the current crop of >ScotRail rover tickets seem to be aimed at people doing multiday tours.
:-(
Sam--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
On Mon, 18 Aug 2025 14:57:27 +0100, ColinR
<rail@greystane.shetland.co.uk> wrote:
Did similar with a friend from school - a one week rover for E and NE >regions. Were planning to kip in waiting rooms but told by a transport >copper at York that that was not on. However, sleeping on a train was OK >so take that train to Kings Cross, swap platforms and you will be back >here in the morning.
Did that for the week - I recall a gripper being asked by another >passenger on the night train north why he was not checking our tickets - >"Oh, they are regulars!"
Used to visit my girlfriend at weekends. I was at Royal Holloway in
Egham, she in Barry. I'd get a late train on Sunday up from Cardiff to Reading then cross to the SR platform. The first train out would be
waiting there, (slam) doors unlocked, nice long upholstered seats in
the compartments and heating on.
On Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:32:01 -0000 (UTC), Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules, completed
my tour of the UK rail network (except for Westhoughton). Read my
(long) account of my travels and my views on today's network in the
link below.
https://alrr25.birchanger.com
I-Ave just finished this - a most enjoyable account. I-Ave only done two >>> railrover-y type things - one was the North Wales rover so we could do the >>> loop from Chester and then down the Ffestiniog and return by Dovey Junction >>> and Shrewsbury and that was very good. The other was a solo South of
Scotland Day Rover. . .
And it doesn-At seem like that ticket exists any more - the current crop of >> ScotRail rover tickets seem to be aimed at people doing multiday tours.
:-(
You're right, they are.
I did the Spirit of Scotland last year and thought it excellent value.
I could start early as it was during the no-peak-fares trial, although
the long-distance services and most of those outside the central belt
have no peak restriction anyway. You get all trains in Scotland
(except Jacobite and CS), services to Berwick and Carlisle, Glasgow
Subway, Edinburgh trams and some buses/coaches (Carlisle - Edinburgh,
Oban - Fort William - Inverness, Inverness - Ullapool and others) and
some discounts on attractions.
Pity you can no longer use the ferries, but they're not that
expensive.
On Mon, 18 Aug 2025 11:45:47 -0000 (UTC), Sam Wilson <ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules, completed
my tour of the UK rail network (except for Westhoughton). Read my
(long) account of my travels and my views on today's network in the
link below.
https://alrr25.birchanger.com
IrCOve just finished this - a most enjoyable account. IrCOve only done two >> railrover-y type things - one was the North Wales rover so we could do the >> loop from Chester and then down the Ffestiniog and return by Dovey Junction >> and Shrewsbury and that was very good. The other was a solo South of
Scotland Day Rover (or whatever itrCOs called - sorry, I canrCOt look it up at
the moment), and while that was valid until midnight I came home about 8
orCOclock because I was knackered!
The regional rangers and rovers (can I still call them that, JLR?) are excellent value but the morning peak ban means that some of the rarer services can't be used. But with Scotland withdrawing peak fares that
will become an England and Wales problem.
I hope your days out were of the more invigorating kind!
Thank you. I used to do very long days sometimes. I can still do early mornings but I now find that by 8 at the latest I've had enough.
Likewise after a week on the move.
On 19/08/2025 07:27, Trolleybus wrote:
On Mon, 18 Aug 2025 11:45:47 -0000 (UTC), Sam Wilson
<ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> wrote:
I have now, according to my very vague and arbitrary rules, completed
my tour of the UK rail network (except for Westhoughton). Read my
(long) account of my travels and my views on today's network in the
link below.
https://alrr25.birchanger.com
IAve just finished this - a most enjoyable account. IAve only done two
railrover-y type things - one was the North Wales rover so we could do the >>> loop from Chester and then down the Ffestiniog and return by Dovey Junction >>> and Shrewsbury and that was very good. The other was a solo South of
Scotland Day Rover (or whatever itAs called - sorry, I canAt look it up at >>> the moment), and while that was valid until midnight I came home about 8 >>> oAclock because I was knackered!
The regional rangers and rovers (can I still call them that, JLR?) are
excellent value but the morning peak ban means that some of the rarer
services can't be used. But with Scotland withdrawing peak fares that
will become an England and Wales problem.
Withdrawing peak fares will certainly reduce many prices but will the
rovers become valid early morning?
I hope your days out were of the more invigorating kind!
Thank you. I used to do very long days sometimes. I can still do early
mornings but I now find that by 8 at the latest I've had enough.
Likewise after a week on the move.
On Sat, 16 Aug 2025 10:56:17 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
wrote:
On Sat, 16 Aug 2025 10:30:30 +0100
Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> gabbled:
On Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:22:43 -0000 (UTC), boltar@galactica.caprica
wrote:
Thankyou, but I don't really see it as an achievement, and I'm sure my >>>>>wife doesn't. Just a feeling that having done 90% without trying I >>>>>thought I might as well make it 100.
Did you book places to stay beforehand or just wing it wherever you turned >>>>up at the end of the day?
On this occasion I booked. Mainly because my backpack isn't as large
as my old one, so I carry a small cabin case and leave it in my room >>>during the day, if possible.
I used to just find something on the day but it seems to me that since >>>COVID it's become both harder and more expensive to do it that way.
I was unvited on a holiday decades ago with some uni mates and their GFs. >>They were going to head off in a hired car touring wales and just rock up at >>some hotel each night hoping to find a room. Knowing how disorganised they >were
I declined the invitation. They ended up sleeping in the car for 2 nights, >>had a massive bust up and drove home.
Some people have no spirit of adventure!
