53. A North British Extravaganza-24-28.07.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 53. A North British Extravaganza-24-28.07.19
For our annual 'big trip' away, Andy and I headed north to Scotland again. Part of the trip was to sample Caledonian Sleeper's new stock on the Lowland route to Edinburgh. Andy had unfinished business at Dundee so we hired a car from Waverley and travelled around the Fife Circle returning down to the Central Belt. Finally, we headed south again via the northeast coast to Newcastle where I had enjoyed some hardcore signal box action that had been on my 'to-do' list for a long time! It was a busy four days but resulted in some excellent station cops for Andy and some interesting observations.
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1. Journey to London for the sleeper-24.07.19 After meeting Andy at Costa outside Milton Keynes station we embarked on our mammoth and ambitious trip. The most notable feature was the weather, it was extremely hot in the south, indeed, the UK's hottest temperature was broken whilst we were away, but not where we were in Scotland! After arriving at Euston, Andy and I went to King's Cross for an hour or so before enjoying some dinner and returning to Euston for our sleeper trip north.
After meeting Andy at Costa outside Milton Keynes station we embarked on our mammoth and ambitious trip. The most notable feature was the weather, it was extremely hot in the south, indeed, the UK's hottest temperature was broken whilst we were away, but not where we were in Scotland! After arriving at Euston, Andy and I went to King's Cross for an hour or so before enjoying some dinner and returning to Euston for our sleeper trip north.
2. Fife to Perth-25.07.19 After an early morning arrival on the sleeper at Edinburgh Waverley, we collected our hire car, a rather naff Fiat Tipo; not one of Europcar's finest offerings! We then made for the delightful Fife coast via the Forth Bridge and up as far as the Tay Bridge. We then made for our hotel at Perth and had an evening out and back on two former GWR HSTs to Dundee followed by a superb curry. Whilst it was a nice day with lots of sun, it did not have the incredible and record breaking high temperatures as experienced by the south.
After an early morning arrival on the sleeper at Edinburgh Waverley, we collected our hire car, a rather naff Fiat Tipo; not one of Europcar's finest offerings! We then made for the delightful Fife coast via the Forth Bridge and up as far as the Tay Bridge. We then made for our hotel at Perth and had an evening out and back on two former GWR HSTs to Dundee followed by a superb curry. Whilst it was a nice day with lots of sun, it did not have the incredible and record breaking high temperatures as experienced by the south.
3. Perth to the central Belt-26.07.19 The weather started off fine enough in the morning but clouded up as the day progressed with the sun putting in a return appearance during the evening. An interesting day that saw us head southwest towards the central belt and then back east again towards Edinburgh. Our overnight stay was on the outskirts of Polmont with a really nice evening walk around Bo'ness. Plenty of stations for Andy, but only one preserved signal box for me!
The weather started off fine enough in the morning but clouded up as the day progressed with the sun putting in a return appearance during the evening. An interesting day that saw us head southwest towards the central belt and then back east again towards Edinburgh. Our overnight stay was on the outskirts of Polmont with a really nice evening walk around Bo'ness. Plenty of stations for Andy, but only one preserved signal box for me!
4. The north east coast from Edinburgh to Morpeth-27.07.19 The weather had well and truly broken on this day and the rain was, at times torrential! However, nothing stops Andy and me as we followed the coast from Edinburgh down to Morpeth. My two main purposes were to visit the Penmansheil memorial to pay my respects and to take some photographs where the ECML skirts to cliffs just north of Berwick. Both were achieved but it was a shame that the weather was so poor.
The weather had well and truly broken on this day and the rain was, at times torrential! However, nothing stops Andy and me as we followed the coast from Edinburgh down to Morpeth. My two main purposes were to visit the Penmansheil memorial to pay my respects and to take some photographs where the ECML skirts to cliffs just north of Berwick. Both were achieved but it was a shame that the weather was so poor.
5. Around the NE then home via Hatfield & Stainforth-28.07.19 Our final day dawned bright if a little chilly on the northeast coast having stayed at a Travelodge at Ashington. A very new and nice hotel but for the fire alarm erroneously (thankfully!) going off four times during the night! Next morning, after getting my fix of signal box action round Blyth, we headed south calling off at Shildon to find Flying Scotsman in steam. With the weather now returning to type, we headed from home stopping off at Hatfield and Stainforth for some Sunday afternoon freight action. The end of a great and very varied trip, thanks to Andy for the company!
Our final day dawned bright if a little chilly on the northeast coast having stayed at a Travelodge at Ashington. A very new and nice hotel but for the fire alarm erroneously (thankfully!) going off four times during the night! Next morning, after getting my fix of signal box action round Blyth, we headed south calling off at Shildon to find Flying Scotsman in steam. With the weather now returning to type, we headed from home stopping off at Hatfield and Stainforth for some Sunday afternoon freight action. The end of a great and very varied trip, thanks to Andy for the company!
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