52. An Anglo-Scottish adventure-24-27.07.18

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2018 > 52. An Anglo-Scottish adventure-24-27.07.18
For our annual 'big trip' this year Andy and I headed north. We both had business to complete in Scotland. Andy had done none of the stations south west of Glasgow. I had visited the area a couple of times, but had not undertaken a full survey of signal boxes since my 1984 Scottish Railrover so a re-visit was much needed. We travelled from Milton Keynes to Glasgow courtesy of Mr. Branson and had a day doing the northern Glaswegian suburban network. After the first of two nights in Ayr, we hired a nice but 'sensible' car (Kia Cee'd, VRN RV18XLL) and made full use of it covering all the lines on the south west peninsula as far as Stranraer. After staying a night in Barrow-in-Furness, we then headed home via the Southern Lakes as we both had a few gaps there. On the final day we travelled via the Southern Dales, the Aire Valley and across to Goole of all places! The weather was great, as was most of summer 2018, except for the final few hours on the way home when the hot weather broke with some spectacular thunderstorms!
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1. Journey there & Glasgow-24.07.18 After picking Andy up at an unhealthy hour, we got to Milton Keynes to catch the first train of the day to Scotland. A great journey on a Pendolino but arrival was a little late due to a diversion just south of Glasgow. At least Andy was pleased as he 'copped' some network! After dropping our kit at the amazing value left luggage facility at Buchanan bus station (that occupies the site of the old Buchanon railway station, closed in 1966) we undertook a very enjoyable and interesting tour of the northern suburban network. We bought one of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport's (SPT) fantastic value daytripper tickets. This allowed unlimited travel within SPT's network including trains, the underground and buses. This ticket has to be the best value out there and one not mentioned by Barry Doe in his recent railrover review in Rail magazine; but perhaps it's out of his remit? This ticket also covered our final trip of the day to Ayr and our base for the next two days. After a Pizza Hut meal in the evening, we prepared for the rigours that lay ahead!
After picking Andy up at an unhealthy hour, we got to Milton Keynes to catch the first train of the day to Scotland. A great journey on a Pendolino but arrival was a little late due to a diversion just south of Glasgow. At least Andy was pleased as he 'copped' some network! After dropping our kit at the amazing value left luggage facility at Buchanan bus station (that occupies the site of the old Buchanon railway station, closed in 1966) we undertook a very enjoyable and interesting tour of the northern suburban network. We bought one of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport's (SPT) fantastic value daytripper tickets. This allowed unlimited travel within SPT's network including trains, the underground and buses. This ticket has to be the best value out there and one not mentioned by Barry Doe in his recent railrover review in Rail magazine; but perhaps it's out of his remit? This ticket also covered our final trip of the day to Ayr and our base for the next two days. After a Pizza Hut meal in the evening, we prepared for the rigours that lay ahead!
2. Renfrewshire & North Ayrshire circular-25.07.18 After collecting our Kia Cee'd hire car, Andy and I undertook a pretty intensive tour of the lines of Renfrewshire and north Ayrshire. We consciously made the decision to not go too far into Glasgow. I managed to cop some signal boxes but I also enjoyed revisiting stations I went to in 1984 when undertaking my Scottish railrover. It is funny how the memory plays tricks with some places virtually the same as I remember them 35 years ago where as others were unrecognisable! For me, the highlight of the day was IBM station just outside of Greenock. It was tricky to get to as it is technically a 'closed' station used to serve the former employees of the vast IBM factory. The factory closed in 2016 and was in the final stages of demolition when we visited, the whole place was very eerie!
After collecting our Kia Cee'd hire car, Andy and I undertook a pretty intensive tour of the lines of Renfrewshire and north Ayrshire. We consciously made the decision to not go too far into Glasgow. I managed to cop some signal boxes but I also enjoyed revisiting stations I went to in 1984 when undertaking my Scottish railrover. It is funny how the memory plays tricks with some places virtually the same as I remember them 35 years ago where as others were unrecognisable! For me, the highlight of the day was IBM station just outside of Greenock. It was tricky to get to as it is technically a 'closed' station used to serve the former employees of the vast IBM factory. The factory closed in 2016 and was in the final stages of demolition when we visited, the whole place was very eerie!
3. To Stranraer & The Lakes-26.07.18 A day that involved a fair bit of driving. We covered the Stranraer Road from Ayr that goes through some amazingly remote countryside affording some spectacular scenery. We then headed south back to the southern Lakes taking the old A6 over Shap rather than the M6 due to its complete closure near Lancaster. An overnight stay at Barrow-in-Furness followed and a lovely curry just near to the station.
A day that involved a fair bit of driving. We covered the Stranraer Road from Ayr that goes through some amazingly remote countryside affording some spectacular scenery. We then headed south back to the southern Lakes taking the old A6 over Shap rather than the M6 due to its complete closure near Lancaster. An overnight stay at Barrow-in-Furness followed and a lovely curry just near to the station.
4. Journey home, via the Dales, West Yorkshire, & Goole-27.07.18 In interesting journey home via a circuitous route that took in the southern Dales, the Aire and Wharfe valleys to Bradford and then finally across to Goole and, of all places, Grove Road on the ECML! From there we drove south by my preferred route on the A1. If it's flowing, I find this a far more enjoyable drive than the M1. Arrival home in Roade was about 22.00.
In interesting journey home via a circuitous route that took in the southern Dales, the Aire and Wharfe valleys to Bradford and then finally across to Goole and, of all places, Grove Road on the ECML! From there we drove south by my preferred route on the A1. If it's flowing, I find this a far more enjoyable drive than the M1. Arrival home in Roade was about 22.00.
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