I have a plan: Do the bits I missed

 Now I must return to the tracks to do the bits that went wrong because of Network Rail's problems or my own planning errors.

To this end I've bought a 7-day Rover and booked hotels in Carlisle, Newcastle and Doncaster.

Day 1 (Mon 22 Aug)

In this map, and all maps on this trip, the orange route is the part I had to miss while on the original tour and the purple route is my route to the start and from the end of the orange route.  The complexities of getting from home across London to the main trains are not shown here.

So on Day 1 I will take the train from Waterloo to Yeovil Junction and on to Exeter, then another from Exeter to Taunton continuing to Paddington and home.  There's food - a trolly - on the homeward leg. Total time home-home about 8.5hrs for the 364miles.

Day 2 (Tue 23 Aug)

 Train, with meal served at seat, from Euston to Liverpool then the correct way round the Mersey (not under it) via Chester and an evening train, with another meal served at seat, to Carlisle. Total time home-Carlisle 10.5hrs for 373miles.

There is a problem arising here.  Virgin Trains, now Avanti West Coast, will run a much reduced timetable from Sun 14 Aug.  I plan to use three of their trains, all are on the revised timetable but "not yet confirmed". All are Reservation Compulsory but booking has not yet opened.  I'll have to check this  at least once every day.

Day 3 (Wed 24 Aug)

 

Today from Carlisle to Kilmarnock to do the bit via Troon which had engineering works last time. Then to Newcastle via Carlisle.  The Glasgow Central to Carlisle train should have a meal served at the seat, but it's my third Avanti west Coast train running a reduced timetable and when Scotrail did that they had no food at all on any train.  Could be an enforced diet this trip! Total time Carlisle-Newcastle 8hrs for 297miles.

Day 4 (Thu 25 Aug)

 This should be exactly as originally planned for the circular tour as I had to scrap that completely in favour of just getting to Doncaster. Trains between Thornaby and Seamer should have food trollies. Total time Newcastle-Doncaster 8hrs for 224miles. 

Day 5 (Fri 26 Aug)

 Beginning of the bank holiday weekend, so could be busy. However I do have a seat reserved from Doncaster to Kings Cross..  My error on the original tour was changing at Highbury & Islington when I should have stayed on the train to Dalston Junction, so today I do the correct Highbury-Dalston-NewCross-Lewisham route.

That's the end of the "corrections" but I have two days left on my Rail Rover so...

Days 6 & 7 (Sat/Sun 27/28 Aug)

I'm going out to lunch!

  

I've discovered that due to engineering works, all my local trains are going not to Charing Cross but to Blackfriars all weekend.  So, since I've never taken an East Midlands train from St. Pancras, I'll do that on Saturday 27th and go to Sheffield where there appear to be several suitable pubs a few minutes from the station. Lunch and return by the same route home. Total 7.5hrs for 334miles plus an hour or two for lunch.

Sunday 28th I'll take a train to Cambridge and another to Kings Lynn.  Just opposite the station is a pub - looking suspiciously like it used to be the station - serving food.  Lunch and return home by the same route. Total 7.5hrs for 212miles plus an hour for lunch.

Let's see how all that pans out shall we?

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