05a: Long way round the Mersey

Tue 23 Aug

In addition to Orange and Purple, Green is the original UK Circular Tour route.

My favourite seat in the first-class lounge at Euston:

Can't see the departure boards from here but there is one in the lounge

My reserved seat is one of 4 on my left, but this is  available and better

Nobody turned up for the other 5 reserved seats in my section - see photo

We reached 100mph 5 minutes from Euston. 125mph soon after.

The food looks good and is good, especially with that wine! (All free)

This is my first time on a Pendolino train. Just went through a station at full tilt (in both senses) and I thought "why is the platform up there?"

You really don't realise it's tilting until you look outside. Drinks remain level in glasses.

The Mersey:

Liverpool Lime Street station:

Hamilton Square. This is where today's "corrections" trip starts

Lunch in a pub opposite Chester station:

Chester station, impressive on the outside.:

This Welsh train will cross the Mersey and take me to Liverpool South Parkway

At uni we constructed a funny address, actually a  combination of 3 of our number. It was: 

Fingles Farm, Turkey Tump, Frodsham, Wilts.

The Mersey again:

Liverpool South Parkway is large, modern well signposted station:

I go now to Moorfields, ground level platform, as I should have done in July. That'll end today's special journey. 

From there to Carlisle via Liverpool and Wigan. Another Mersey Rail train:

This is a Northern train. Slightly more comfortable than the Merseyrail:

Wigan has a smart new waiting room which, I am advised, is just about where the coach with my reserved seat, E34, will be:

 

My reserved seat is the aisle seat in the photo. I've taken an available Window Facing seat just like I asked for so why, when I booked, did they give me Aisle Back?

Nice evening.  No table service, short of staff, but first-class can help themselves from the shop in the next car. A sandwich and water for me. I won't be dining at the hotel.

In hotel now. My first Ibis.  Bar = reception. Room is fine. 

On the train I had a big problem with the map and speedometer phone apps. I think the windows must have had metal in them or on them because everything's working fine now. 

Eight trains today so an early night. Only five tomorrow.

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