Seven trains to Barrow

July 14

Today's trips went largely as planned but the change of trains at Moorfields (circled yellow) was wrong, the two platforms are at different levels so my idea of being able to run a train around the whole UK tour would fail here. Probably should have travelled via Chester and Runcorn.

Shrewsbury station is impressive (externally)

Most of the day went to plan or, at least, it started and ended that way.

A slick connection meant I was 15 minutes ahead of schedule, then more such changes lead me to being 45 minutes ahead.

I could have been an hour ahead but power lines between Glasgow and England failed leading to services stopping short, being cancelled or greatly delayed.

Because it happened when I was 45 minutes ahead, the delays lead to me catching my planned final train of the day to Barrow-in-Furness. If I had been running to time I would have missed it.

Holyhead service to Wrexham, on time

Wrexham General. This is a side platform for the trains to Bidston

Another standard Transport for Wales 2-coach

Hope the train stops?

In case the driver gets lost?

River Dee at Shotton

Later had the Dee on the left and Mersey on the right. Couldn't quite see either

Bidston station looked more important on paper than it is

A Merseyside train. 15min earlier than planned.

Good news, bad news. I'm on the 12.56 to Southport 45min earlier than planned BUT the change at Moorfields is not at the same level as I thought. i.e. you can't shunt a train from platform 3 to platform 2

I must avoid this next year/time.

This is the 14.36 to Bolton, or Notlob to fans of J Cleese & Co.'s parrot sketch.

It's open and flat going SE.

Often stopped at this wetland centre for 2 or three hours

At Bolton.

News is that the power lines are down between Glasgow and England so my train is cancelled and also the one 1hr earlier - I arrived in good time for that.

BUT there's a train in 40 minutes which will fit the bill.

I received this info from a very helpful customer information man who even offered to look after my suitcase if I wanted to go to the pub!

It takes one to know one, I suppose

Very busy because of cancellations.

We sat at one station for 10 minutes while the driver went back to speak to guard. Then we moved again

Preston is buzzing. Many trying to get to Glasgow.

Train on this platform (4) is a terminated Glasgow service with nowhere to go so is causing lots of platform changes, including my train to Barrow

Near chaos at Preston. I got a seat OK. Maybe get a better one later

River Lune at Lancaster

Oh!

Arnside

Grange-Over-Sands station

Approaching Kents Bank station

Approaching Ulverston.

We once found a great hotel here overlooking Morecambe Bay with a TV chef (sorry, can't remember his name). They offered real Buck's Fizz when checking in and checking out. I hated that because I was driving so had to reduce mine to orange juice.

Dalton station