WEEKEND EXCURSIONS AND DAY TRIPS PLANNED FOR 2019

Ariel view of York with the Minster clearly in view

A trip to visit the city of YORK is long overdue. Such a lovely place to stay, so much to see and do, even the train journey up will be a pleasure for me as it hold so many memories of trips with my father as a child. Yes I even manged to get completely lost in the Railway Museum until Dad found me in the Lost Property department ... well where else would you go if you were a six year old and lost.

MALLARD ON SHOW

Plenty to see and do not just the National Railway Museum although I fully expect to spend the whole day there, but also to sample the Roman history, walk the city walls, visit the famous Minster, York Castle and museum, the Viking Centre and if the weather is nice a cruise along the River Ouse. I believe there's plenty of "antique" shops in an area similar to Brighton's "Lanes" and could easily spend an day perusing them. Kings Cross to York is about 2 hours by LNER services towards Scotland and the aim would be to travel midweek and have a day or two to enjoy the sights. Was thinking it might be less busy midweek on a work day but I'm sure it's busy at anytime. Has been on the list of places to visit for a while now so appears as #1 pick and hopefully I won't get lost again this time (sorry Dad). 

SWANAGE HERITAGE RAILWAY
Another trip that is long overdue is a ride down to Swanage, while the heritage railway has now made a connection to the line close to Wareham they are still a little way off running a regular service onto the National Network. Not sure if there is room at Wareham for a separate platform similar to the arrangement at Alton (Mid Hants Railway) and Eridge (Spa Valley Railway) but at least it's a possible future option. 

CLASS 4 LEAVING CORFE CASTLE

The plan would be a long weekend with at least one full day to spend enjoying the railway, a visit to Corfe Castle station which is in the centre of the picturesque village and a short level walk to the village square. The Swanage Railway's free to enter museums - the goods shed museum, the cinema coach and exhibition coach - are located here too. Also planning at least a full day in Swanage itself where I will probably base myself and pray for a nice few sunny days by the sea. 

They were planning on running a heritage DMU service onto the main line but that was delayed last year so hopefully all being well we can see if this option is taken up in 2019. If so then they'll run a timetable probably during the weekend and I can have a ride down from London and pick up a connecting service. Link Wareham-Swanage Timetable.

MID HANTS RAILWAY - The Watercress Line
(Day out, easy to do via train from Feltham - Alton)

TEMPORARY CHANGE - There will be no Mid Hants Railway trains operating to or from Alton station from January 11th until the end of July 2019 due to work being carried out as part of a large highway improvement scheme. We will still be running trains from Alresford to Medstead.


So any trip will only be possible after this is all completed as I would be reliant on a train service into Alton to connect with the Heritage Line. So it's lucky I was checking this and have moved this one to the end of the queue for 2019. When the trains are back running the full length of the line into Alton I will be able to catch a South Western Railway service and meet the opening departure towards Alresford. Trains depart from Platform 3 though there are limited facilities at Alton but very useful connection for myself now I no longer drive.