10a: To Doncaster, the scenic route

Thu 26 Aug

The whole of today's trip is "corrections" because of the July heatwave. Then I had to take a train to Leeds and on to Doncaster.

Newcastle has a first-class lounge too

The lounge is very busy. They don't check tickets here and I think everyone knows that!

This morning I had a momentary scare. I arrived in time for the 9.40 but went into the lounge instead. 15min later they said the 10.40 was delayed/cancelled. That was, thankfully, corrected to It's left Hexham on time.

Another Northern train. On time. To Thornaby

Goodbye to the Tyne

River Wear, North Sea just beyond. This is Sunderland

North Sea. Nothing to see

Stayed at the Norton Hotel on the Seaton Carew seafront (after sometime in Sedgefield) when I worked in the NE in 1999 and 2002.

On the way I looked for the large building I worked in with its huge carpark, it was next to an enormous Samsung factory which made TVs and monitors. Samsung have moved out as has the company I was contracted to..

To York. Still on time.

FYI The guy you can see was sitting to my left until someone claimed their reserved seat. When the ticket inspector came along there was a long conversation, then he appeared to buy a ticket!

These are the most uncomfortable first-class seats I've ever sat in. The most upright position is still reclining and the armrests are too low:

I have an hour here in York so I'll checkout the bar on the station. It's the Duke of York, naturally.

They've run out of fish so another all day breakfast. Much better than at the Ibis or the Hampton. Eggs were freshly fried, not anaemic scrambled, and I could easily stick my fork in the sausages and bacon: