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Race around the world with the Man in Seat 61

Posted by (Lake District, England) on

The Man in Seat 61 has been on a fact finding mission to Orkney this week, for a one night stay using the new sleeper service from Birmingham to Inverness.

He was meant to come back yesterday (Wednesday) but all ferries got cancelled due to severe weather, so had a second night in Kirkwall.
This morning the ferry left Stromness 7 1/2 hours late arriving at Scrabster at 1530, for the 1632 train to Inverness, for the sleeper.
Meanwhile, at around 1700 Caledonian Sleeper had notified Inverness passengers that the train was leaving 25 minutes early, diverted via Aberdeen as the Highland main line is closed by flooding.
That left a 7 minute connection at Inverness. At one stage the 1632 was running 9 late, but finally arrived 4 late leaving a 3 minute connection.
Nail biting stuff.
This change to the sleeper was never notified to National Rail or real time trains, who even now are showing booked route and timings.
Passengers for the sleeper from all stations north of Perth were bussed several hours early to Inverness to meet the train there. For some further south that would have been up to 4 hours earlier than they were expecting.

The perils of travelling in Scotland in winter.

FWIW I strongly believe Cal Sleeper would have held if required.

Posted by
1576 posts

I really enjoy following his travels. His website is so informative - even for armchair rail travellers like me!

Posted by
11104 posts

Eventually the sleeper arrived at Euston 15 minutes early, to its revised schedule (45 minutes behind the normal schedule), having been 58 minutes late passing Watford Junction, due to a very padded schedule.
Although not planned that way this was seen as a modern Jellicoe Express run- Orkney to London, if in far, far more comfort!
Very fitting as one of the main reasons for this visit was to visit the Royal Oak memorial at Scapa Flow.
The Jellicoe Express was the direct troop train which ran from London to Orkney in both WW1 and WW2. It was the longest distance train ever run in the UK.
There are a series of plaques at stations it stopped at for refreshments etc between London Euston and Thurso- Euston, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Hawick, Edinburgh Waverley, Inverkeithing, Perth, Kingussie, Aviemore, Inverness, Dingwall, Alness, Invergordon, Tain, Helmsdale, Forsinard and Thurso.
I have over time been privileged to have visited them all, some are but most aren't regarded as war memorials.
The Jellicoe Express was timed at 22 hours 20 minutes southbound, so that timing was comfortably beaten.

Posted by
11104 posts

I wouldn't be surprised if I did, although "know him" is a huge over statement.

There is a good chance he did continental rail ticketing sometimes for my trips going beyond the Low Countries at the former British Rail overseas ticket office at London Cannon Street station- which I could usually get to on my lunch break.
In truth we probably did similar training in continental (and domestic) rail ticketing and timetables before my life took a very different avenue, for better or worse- my own training being through Abta.
If it was a Netherlands trip then I probably used the then NS international ticket office near Trafalgar Square, where I could also book hotels. That's been gone a very long time now.

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