We often talk about what our favourite routes in TSW are, but what about our favourite routes in real life? Here are some of mine. I adore the WCML north of Preston, the scenery is fantastic as the route winds through the Lake District. Going up Shap especially is very enjoyable. I think it gets even better north of Carlisle, truly beautiful. I'd sell my kidney to see it in TSW. Wasn't Carlisle to Glasgow in TS Classic? I have memories of driving an IC Swallow liveried 390 when I was a kid. The West Highland line is also amazing. Probably the best scenery in the entire country. Most people cite the final stretch from Fort William to Mallaig as the best bit, but in my opinion the stretch across Rannoch moor is the highlight. I've never seen anything like it. Corrour station and the surrounding area is especially brilliant. Moving from scenery to nostalgia, I've always been fond of the GWML, but specifically from Didcot to Paddington. When I was little I enjoyed seeing the line quadruple and see more and more suburban stations, it built up the anticipation of getting into London.
Here is my favourite route: The Aberdeen-Dundee Line: Fantastic scenery along the route between Aberdeen and Stonehaven with some rural countryside between Stonehaven and Montrose mixed with the various golf courses around Carnoustie and Monifieth makes it a fantastic route to traverse (local bias obviously) I can't wait to see what everyone else's favourite route is
My favourites are: West Highland Line I love the section that is on a cliff edge going over loch awe! Not many people appreciate that bit enough and it's truly breathtaking! It feels almost as if you could lean to far on one side and the train would derail! It's an amazing experience! The section between fort William and mallaig is beautiful as well, I adore Glenfinnan Viaduct! Inverclyde line It's so coastal! I love the line from Port Glasgow to Wemyss Bay as it raises above the towns and you can see right out to see. You can even see some of the shipyards! It's really nice! Ayshire Coast It's my local line and it's very scenic! I love the trains on this line and it's a really good journey to do if you've got some time to kill and want to visit the seaside. Glasgow to Dundee Line Love it! Very high speed! Very scenic! Lots of hills! And I love ScotRail HST sets! Need I say more?
When I went over it, the moment was spoiled by the guard making a big deal out of it with an announcement, and playing what I assume was Harry Potter music over the speakers. It didn't help that I've never seen a Harry Potter film, and the 156 doesn't exactly have great speakers so it sounded awful and tinny. At least the view was incredible, marred only by the typical Scottish weather.
When I was in Glasgow last month I was planning on doing that line but just missed a train, so I ended up going to Gourock instead. The view on that branch was quite great too.
I have a soft spot for the Brunigbahn from Interlaken to Luzern. It's about 2 hours of stunning views only really spoilt by the final approach to Luzern (as part of doubling the line has been dropped into new tunnels as it wasn't possible to widen without a lot of demolition) - It passes 5 lakes and has some very steep gradients. It used Locomotives when I did it, but was upgraded a few years ago to some very nice looking Stadler EMUs with roof windows and a bistro car. (I can understand, some of the locos and coaches were from the 1940s) - Also Swiss Accessibility laws require level boarding on all trains in the near future, ramps don't cut it (doesn't have to be every door, but there has to be a low floor area). There is also a cab ride vid here, starting from the Luzern end, so first few mins are tunnels and industry!
Well for me it has to be the ECML, as it is a lovely line which I am very glad and happy to be able to take in and admire every day and I wouldn't change it for the world. A bit basic I suppose but, I mean come on what else could I have said! If I had to choose a specific section to be my favourite it would be from Darlington to Newcastle as the scenery there doesn't fail to amaze me, though it was a lot more fun with the HSTs!
For me, NEC Trenton to Boston is very busy around the major cities and as a matter of fact that's how I got the arrow III as my profile picture because in 2004 they were the Main Stays of NJT NEC line services. At that time ALP-46 4600-4629 and Comet Vs were new working alongside the 1996 batch of Comet IVs and ALP-44Ms. Australia NSW CityRail network due to it being mostly double-deckers my disliked train the V sets due to them having non-working ACs and standing room only around 15:00-18:00. On the other hand T sets built from 1987-1993 had comfortable seats around the doors.
Neither of those issues were unique to the V-set, all the ridgies (K, C, V) had the same issues - be thankful you weren't crammed in to an S-set or Tulloch sweat-box coming out of Wynyard at rush-hour in the middle of summer, they didn't even have air-con at all. Although from what you've described in the past, you're referring to one particular trip on a V-set where the air-con just happened to not be working, which is hardly a fair way to judge an entire class which has been in continuous operation for more than 50 years. I've never found the Tangara seats to be particularly comfortable, or any of the other modern sets (especially the A/B Waratah ironing boards) apart from the OSCAR/H-set, which befits their intercity capability. The V-sets weren't too bad apart from the vinyl getting sticky in summer and the arm-rest not allowing you to get comfortable enough for a nap on the 3 hour trip back home.
Favorite route IRL though not as impressive as others the Los Angeles Red Line (it's now called the B Line but it will always be the Red Line to me). I was homeless for many years in LA and I would get a month pass and spend hours riding back and forth to stay out of the elements. Quite a few train operators have given me something out of their lunch box to eat. The Red Line was a small bit of security in a otherwise sad time in my life.
I've only rode it a couple of times but the hope valley line is definitely one of my favourites. Between Sheffield and Hazel Grove the scenery is beautiful and a high speed limit of 90mph (except if you're in a 185 where you are restricted to 70 due to its weight). Another interesting thing about this line is that it still runs with semaphore signals for most of the way and is also fairly busy with a few express and commuter runs every hour. Also if you're in a tpe or emr service heading to Liverpool (although it isn't strictly part of the hvl) there is the fast and even busier WCML section heading up to manchester piccadily. Another route I love has to be the ECML. On the northern sections it is very scenic especially near berwick and around Durham which looks beautiful at sunset. The Southern sections aren't as scenic however is very full of trains and is 125mph for most of the way which I imagine can be boring for most drivers lol. Also overtaking 700s/717s on the slows is pretty fun.
Newport - Gloucester Line for me. Its just relaxing riding by the river severn, which gives some nice views. Another shout for me is the Gloucester-Bristol line , mostly as i lived right opposite it when growing up, so its quite sentimental for me
Of routes I’ve actually travelled on: UK Inverness to Wick/Thurso. Inverness to Kyle Of Lochalsh. Glasgow to Mallaig. Exeter to Paignton. Middlesbrough to Whitby. Europe: Oslo to Bergen. Trondheim to Bodo Narvik to Stockholm Gallivare to Ostersund (Inlandsbanen) Innsbruck to Kempten via Garmisch and Reutte. Rhine Valley. Clermont Ferrand to Nimes (Cevenol). Lille to Basel All the RhB routes. Furka Oberalp Montreuex Oberland Bernois. Gotthard and Lotschberg routes pre base tunnels. North America British Columbia Railway Prince George to North Vancouver. Vancouver to Calgary (CP route) Vancouver to Jasper (CN route). Algoma Central SSM to Canyon. Durango and Silverton RR.
Lol. They played the music as well for me but I could hear it fairly well! XD I thought it was quite funny and really made a great memory for us! If you ever get the chance you want to go on the Jacobite, the seats are amazing! I love window hanging at Glenfinnan as the train stops over the viaduct to let you do it and it's just really really nice!
Eugh.... Keep the potter stuff on the steam train please. That way everyone else can escape it. I understand the Jacobite operators have had a slap from ORR over the window hanging which meant no steam trains for a month.
Careful what you say, you might start a war on these forums XD Yea, I think that's very sad that they suspended the service but I understand it.
Thank you for the feedback to my post as a matter of fact I got a K set Wynyard to Granville and Circular Quay to Granville.
