General Chat

A number of years ago I travelled by train through Europe to Berlin (when the wall was in existence). It entailed travelling through many different countries including the eastern bloc and was absolutely fascinating. I have travelled through most of Europe by train and have always thoroughly enjoyed it because of the opportunity to experience so many conflicting vistas and cultures.

Rose, I'd say that Thomas et al were teacher's pets and Diesel was definitely misunderstood ;-)

The Hogwart's Express is one I would love to travel on :-D

In general I do like train journeys so long as I get a seat. I don't drive so rely on public transport but do enjoy longer train journeys were I get to read/listen to music or just zone out.

Cat, I'll meet you at platform '9 and 3 quarters' lol Oh I'd love to go on the Hogwart's Express! :-D

Thanks to all for your interesting replies, who remembers the machine on the station where you used to be able to punch your name on a little strip of metal to put on your luggage? I thought that was magic when I was little <3

Well if I ever find a job...or alternatively win the lottery :-D

What a lovely thread. I am quite sure I have done more and seen more than anyone else who has contributed to Rose's OE treat (joking, I assure you).

So many have been on lines or trips I would dearly have liked to have done. Allan in particular makes me so jealous. Yesterday he was telling us all about fresh prawns in WA, and salmon in Tasmania. Now it is fantastic train rides at bargain basement prices all across Australia

I am just so jealous, Allan :-P :-P :-P ;-) :-D :-D

thank goodness you aint got a teeshirt for train hopping John and someone has done somat you aint,,,,,,,, ;-) ;-)

Kay :-P :-P :-P I have never been on the OE - hard to believe, I know. But I have stood on the edge of Lancaster station, probably with little Allan, and had steam blow right up my first pair of long trousers. We were on our way to Lakeside station, followed by that lovely boat ride up Lake Windermere. Aaahh! Really in my anecdotage :-D It was so peaceful then, before that horrible Kaiser started his nonsense ;-)

We both LOVE trains!!

I took the train from Manchester to London several times back in steam train days.


Longer trips include ...............

To Kitzbuhel in Austria Christmas 1957/58, and return

A school trip in summer 1958 from Manchester to Lake Bled in Yugoslavia and then on to Ljubljana and other destinations in the same country. I remember being held up in Munich on that trip ....... the train we were to catch was held up in Hungary because of the Russian Invasion

From Manchester to Mallaig in 1959, then on the ferry to Raasay, and return to Manchester same way


Bloemfontein to Capetown overnight in 1975

Across Canada from Vancouver to Moncton, New Brunswick in 1972

Frankfurt to Berlin, then East Berlin to Leipzig and return in 1985. Followed by West Berlin to Dover and London

The Rocky Mountaineer between Christmas and New Year 2003

Through Europe from Frankfurt to Salzburg to Vienna, to Frankfurt to catch a plane to Manchester, in 2005.

Perth to Adelaide on The Indian Pacific, then Adelaide to Darwin on The Ghan in 2006


and now ..............

........ 8 trips since 2004 across Canada, from Vancouver to Halifax or Halifax to Vancouver.

Trips 9 and 10 will be over Christmas time.


The Canadian trip now take 6 days and 5 nights ............... with at least 4 star meals.



I thought the Rocky Mountaineer was way overpriced when we did it ... we paid a reduced rate, and I thought that was about right!

They have just indulged in union bashing ......... their employees were walking the line for over 12 months. Most tourists just crossed the line. The owner has close relations with the government, and was allowed to hire scab labour. The workers settled just last month, having gained nothing. In fact, most of them are now earning less money than they did before. Most locals will not take that trip

Unfortunately, it is the only train that takes the southern route from Vancouver to Banff and Calgary, and also only travels in the day time ........... you spend one night in a hotel in Kamloops. Thus it is very attractive to tourists.


The Canadian VIA Rail train takes the northern route from Vancouver to Jasper and then Edmonton, but travels through the night as it really is a service train.

It still uses the stainless steel cars first built in the 1950s ................... so it really is like going back in time!

......... and the food is really superb! We spent New Year on the train 2 years ago (and will be doing the same thing this year) .............. the meal on New Year's Eve was equal to anything you would get in a 5 star restaurant. And, it is all cooked to order in a little tiny galley kitchen!




always happy to ride a train!!




sylvia

John the OE is £400 each for a day trip across Uk country side,,,,,fab.

Sylvia No one wants to read your long list of what you have done. :-( :-(

No, actually we do. Just so jealous that you have done more than me - but to have done so much more is just plain greedy.

All I can offer in return is that my wife's taid (grandfather) went to Canada in 1897 aged 19 and spent a year as a navvy building your luxurious tracks through the Rockies. Without him, you'd been imprisoned on Vancouver Island.

Kay, £800 for two does not sound too bad, does it. I spent £300 on a meal for me and 'er indoors about 10 years ago!!! One thing we would both have loved to splash the cash on was a short trip on Concorde. :-D :-D

I have been on the OE...and wonderful it was too. The couple in our carriage were lovely company until the husband decided to tell us the ins and outs of his job, of which he was very proud. He worked in the London Sewers and believe me he left no T.... Unturned.....Just as we'll I didn't much fancy my lunch.......still, apart from that it we had a great time :-D

Oddly enough, Sylvia's post has just reminded me I have a postcard sitting on the table, an old one bought in an auction lot. It is of
" Canadian national Railways " Northern Type" locomotive( 4-8-4)...and there are three small children by it to show the scale...Massive! Possibly about 1930s.

Susan of the numbers - what a coincidence. Glad I was good company and you had a great time. :-D :-D

I use to love the smell of steam trains .went From our home town to st helens junction to visit my grandma & grandad in St helens, at the back of there house ,above the garden wall the trains went past .oh happy days .the waiting rooms were cold places .& the toilets were always closed.a lot of my relies worked on the railways .great grandad worked as a shunter .died in a freak ac on the tracks only a young man ,Barbra :-)

John, ther's nothing to be jealous about. When you live in a country that's larger than Europe and extends from the tropics in the north to cool areas in the south all types, and quality of produce is avaiable.

Mind you, most of the best produce is exported.

Just to make you a little more jealous, I live about a 90 minute car trip from the fabilous Margaret River Wine Area. A Gourmet's delight :-P

oooooooh


Allan


Now you have made ME jealous!!

Margaret River wines



only wish I could still drink wines, etc :-(

I like them, they don't like me ..... and let me know it :-(



Do you know Sandalford winery?

Yes I do Sylvia, if John doesn't mind me name dropping, it's one of the biggest in the area. There are frequent shows put on there in the open air with some quality artists.

Sandalford's also have a winery in the Swan Valley in Perth which does the same thing. A couple of years ago my OH and daughter went there to see Tom Jones...a fantastic show

Allan is quite correct ......................


............... when you live in a big country, there are options, there HAS to be options.



and for us .................. it is slightly cheaper to take the train trip, akin to a cruise but on land, across Canada than it is to take the Business Class plane trip, which is what I now have to do.

No more cramped up in Economy, back just won't take it ... especially on a flight that takes 7 - 8 hours.



I used another option when I went to New Zealand and Australia by myself in 2000 ................ I rode the long distance buses whenever I could, along with taking the occasional train.

I arrived in Auckland, NZ, took the bus to New Plymouth, then returned to Auckland.

Arrived in Melbourne, was met by relations who took me to Castlemaine. Plane to Brisbane some days later.

Took the long distance bus from Gympie in Queensland to Brisbane and then to Mudgie in northern NSW, then from Mudgie to Sydney and then to Melbourne. I took the local train from Melbourne to Bendigo.



It was all great fun

We bought a great red and an even better white there quite a few years ago from their Margaret River winery!


They used to send them to Canada, but I haven't seen them in the liquor stores for a lot of years.

Sylvia here in Oz the Ghan (From Adlaide to Darwin via Alice Springs) is a relatively new service, but the Indian-Pacific from Perth to Sydney has been operating since 1970.

The Ghan has a dedicated track but the Indian Pacific has to share a freight track. As the freight trains have priority on the track there are frequent stops to allow them through.

The costs of the Services are much more than the cost of a flight, but given that in the Gold Class all meals are provided and you have your own private cabin wit en-suite as well as the use of a lounge carriage it is a nice way to travel and see the country