Photos From the Rail Tour

50 Years Old and Still Awesome

We had to get up stupidly early on Saturday morning to catch a train to London in order to spend a day with the other female in Robbie's life, Royal Scots Grey. We were going to Edinburgh on a rail tour. It was refreshing to actually find a parking space at the station and miraculously for London Midland our train arrived on time and the journey was relatively uneventful. Euston was busy even at that hour on a Saturday morning, but we had time to choose some magazines and make the obligatory visit to the toilets. For once it was worth 30p in terms of cleanliness and facilities, but why can’t they choose paper dispensers that actually work, there is nothing more frustrating than being able to see that the toilet paper dispenser is full but having to battle to get it!

We arrived at Kings Cross in time to buy a much needed hot chocolate or in Robbie’s case coffee, before boarding the train. Robbie showed me to my seat and immediately abandoned me to go off and take photos of his beloved Royal Scots Grey. The train pulled away but there was still no sign of Robbie and for a few minutes I wondered if I would be making the journey without him. He finally turned up, he had been chatting to various mates on the train.

Tea and coffee was brought to our table, the waiter was absolutely gorgeous, and I realised that the trip may be more interesting than I had anticipated! I have to say that the tea was the worse I have ever tasted in my life, quite an achievement when you consider that Cross Country tea is unimaginably bad! Breakfast came and went, the waiter was considerably more interesting than the food, but Robbie happily tucked into all the food that I didn’t eat – except the porridge, that defied even his appetite! The combination of kippers and black pudding in close proximity almost reduced me to tears, the smell was too much to bear, but once the food had been cleared away I cheered up considerably. My good humour was in part due the two men across the aisle leaving the carriage for an extended period, one had a phone which alerted the whole coach to every incoming text and call and the desire to harm him had become overwhelming.

If breakfast was disappointing, lunch was tragic, even Robbie had to send food back uneaten and that is unheard of! I almost wished that we had got out at York and gone to the NRM or something, but at least I was able to look forward to getting to Edinburgh and finding a decent cup of tea and something to eat. The heating was on but it was incredibly cold for the whole journey, not helped by the catering staff needing to keep the door to the vestibule open most of the time. My feet were like blocks of ice, but Robbie was even colder than me. He kept himself busy looking out of the window collecting train numbers – so sad!! I had a book to keep me occupied and one of the passengers nearby was interesting to talk to. He was sitting next to a harmless but totally potty chap who was so obsessive about his specialist subjects (track bed issues and bogie design) that he made Robbie seem almost normal.

The costal views were nice as we travelled through Scotland, but the early start caught up with me and I found myself nodding off. When we arrived in Edinburgh Robbie (and everyone else) trotted off to the front of the train to take photographs of Royal Scots Grey. I was somewhat disconcerted to find a man playing the bagpipes next to the train, but we were in Scotland so I should be tolerant. When the piper finally finished playing there was loud cheering – I couldn’t help wondering if the people were cheering so enthusiastically because it had stopped! Robbie got his photos and we headed off to Café Nero for a long awaited cup of tea and something to eat. It was nice to meet some of Robbie’s friends and finally put faces to names.

When we headed back to the train I was right next to Royal Scots Grey when it was powered up. I can see why Robbie is so passionate about Deltics, it really is rather awesome! Robbie insists that RSG is a she, and considering ‘she’ is still going strong and looking amazing at 50 maybe he is right. I had high hopes of the evening meal on the return journey. After lunch they had asked us if we wanted soup (tomato and basel) or pate for starters. I don’t like basel and I don’t eat pate, so I had to forego the starter. We were told that the main course was steak and ale pie, this filled me with horror as I am tee total for religious reasons and I do not eat food cooked with alcohol. I was offered chicken as an alternative and I asked if it was just plain chicken and was assured it was. I was able to enjoy a bread roll while everyone ate their starter, then everyone was given a plate and served with very tempting looking steak and ale pie and their vegetables were served at the table. I sat there plate-less watching them eat, eventually a waiter came out and offered me a plate with a piece of chicken doused in some fancy tomato like sauce, I rejected it as I don’t like fancy sauces and strong tastes and I had specifically checked that it was just plain chicken. It was taken away and when everyone else had finished their main course I was presented with a piece of chicken on a plate with the vegetables already on my plate. The chicken was too pink for me to risk eating it so for my main course I had cabbage, I would have gladly eaten more cabbage but I was only given a tiny serving. We waited and waited for our afters, when it eventually came I was disappointed again. It was a brown songey thing smothered in the sickliest sweet caramel sauce with something that alleged it was cream around it. One taste was enough to make me gag, it was far too sweet and the so called cream was disgusting. So for my main meal I had a couple of mouthfuls of cabbage, a bread roll and one biscuit for cheese - thank goodness that I bought emergency supplies at M&S. I was longing for a cup of tea, but we had to wait until we were well past Durham before we finally got a drink.

So what were my highpoints of the day? I met some lovely people, I got to see Royal Scots Grey close up –it really is awesome, I saw the Emirates Stadium, that waiter really was very cute, in fact all the staff were friendly and helpful and they made the journey very enjoyable. There were only two low points, I was so cold and for me the food was a big disappointment, in fact it reduced me to tears! To be fair about the food Robbie enjoyed some of it especially the steak and ale pie. I would certainly go on a rail tour again, but next time I think I would choose the non-dining option. I have enormous respect for the staff, they work very hard to make sure that everyone has an enjoyable time.

Exciting News 19.12.07

Robbie managed to get home from work on time yesterday, I'm not sure if it was the lure of a roast dinner or perhaps he was just trying to keep me happy because he intends to be late again today. He rang me a couple of times from the train, but the signal is always bad and the phone kept cutting out. He started to say that he had something very exciting to tell me, then the phone went dead and I was left in suspense until he got home. Thankfully I didn't hold my breath, I had too much to do. Robbie finally turned up, chattering excitedly about the lovely buffet at the meeting he attended. I really hope he behaved himself, Robbie has a bit of reputation with buffets - they tend to vanish! He then provided a detailed account of the coffee making facilities which led him on to a comparison of the merits of half cafe and decaffeinated varieties. It hardly matters to me as I gave up coffee in 2003 and now I can't even stand the smell of it.

When I finally got him off the subject of food he remembered his so called 'exciting news'. He saw the Grand Central HST set passing Doncaster (on the UP) at 14.37. It was its first day in passenger use. It was fully formed (except that GC HST sets do not have TGS's) and ALSO both power cars STILL have their Paxman Valenta engines fitted (the roaring noisy ones...). I could hardly contain my excitement!! Robbie saw a 'fully formed' HST and he gets more excited about that he would about a 'fully formed' female. A few months ago I asked him what he would do if he was faced with saving either me or D9000 (his favourite deltic) from a fire; he went very quiet and then looking very serious he announced that he would try to rescue D9000 quickly so that he would have time to rescue me as well. Oh well, I guess there are not many women who could boast that they come second in their husband's affections to a train!!

He's Just A Sad Crank! 15.04.07

It was a bit of a shock when I woke up this morning to find Robbie looking at me. I had forgotten that he had been 'to have his ears lowered' yesterday and his frighteningly short hair takes a bit of getting used to. It is part of his 'grand plan' to disguise his thinning hair, but he will never admit it. We cuddled up to enjoy the last few minutes before the demands of the day forced us into action. I was just thinking how comfortable and secure it felt and how such moments are so fleeting, when Robbie spoiled everything. He was muttering to himself (or to his invisible friend) but clearly the warmth of the moment had been lost on him. He was planning his travel arrangements to go to see D9009 at a gala in Yorkshire next weekend! Oh well, at least it helps me to keep things in perspective, how foolish of me to forget for a moment that in Robbie's world I could never compete with a deltic. I wouldn't feel so bad if he was planning his getaway to see his favourite train, but this is just one that he quite likes, his favourite is still out of action. In a moment of frustration I suggested that the only way I was likely to get any attention from him would be if I had myself painted and tattooed with D9000. I was horrified to see his eyes light up at the prospect. He's just a sad crank! Oh well, if I am going to be abandoned next weekend I will have to find other things to keep me entertained - probably the ironing!