I certainly am, even if it isn't even in the same country!

I lived in Camborne for part of 1973-74, probably much has changed. It seems much has stayed the same though. Penzance is a nice train ride, though I am sure the bus has its charms, but the interesting bits include hills. From there, buses run to Lands End - you would need to check accessibility of the bus and the destination. From St Austell, I suggest a bus to Charlestown, only a couple of miles, and a lovely harbour. I got there to find two tall ships, and the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) packing up after filming Doctor Who. Also close to Snozzle is, of course, the Eden Project, which has won awards for its facilities for the disabled.

Rare good news indeed! Just the grammar to be referred to the Pedants' thread.

Having done what research I can since you posted, I believe you may be spot on (as per usual). I thought that St Philips was a separate station from that which was at the end of the line that ran to below Temple Meads, but I now understand that following extensive track remodelling by the Luftwaffe, that station was abandoned, and the terminus moved back to Midland Road. I understand that one wall of that station still remains. I must have a look for it.


That may need googling too! Although if anyone wants to buy a video camera and a few Video 8 mini cassettes, let me know.

A very long and slow way to get from Leeds to Manchester. Sounds great!

I hear Pep Guardiola may be available. Or Luis van Gaal...

Not quite read it yet, but I have visited the church. My daughter has by now stopped telling me "Dad, it's not Laura Dune!".

To quote Robert Louis Stevenson in El Dorado:


Many have said that the best way to see Severn Beach is in a rear view mirror. There is little by way of entertainment there, and there is a two-hour stop-over between trains as a rule. Don't let that put you off, though. The Severn Estuary is an important place for wildlife, so if that floats your boat, or if you marvel at bridges, then take the camera, and take your time.

The journey is the prize here, and has been described by Thomas Cook's as one of the most scenic in Britain. For your ^3.00 investment (yes, that's all it costs for Temple Meads to Severn Beach and back) you get a little look at urban Bristol from a different viewpoint, and if infrastructure interests you, there's some of that too. Just after Lawrence Hill are the points into what used to be Temple Meads low level station, later the waste transfer depot, now used for hiding goods wagons during the day. Stapleton Road has a muriel depicting the history of the station and the diversity of the area in which it stands, along with some evidence of Four Track, Soon! Just past there, at Narroways Junction, one turns off the main line onto the SVB line proper, passing through Montpelier tunnel into the eponymous station. Enjoy looking down onto the A38 Cheltenham Road as you cross the bridge, and into genteel Redland. A passing loop at Clifton Down means there is often another train waiting to go. You then go into the Clifton Down tunnel, emerging into the Avon Gorge. You can't quite see the suspension bridge behind you, but Leigh Woods on the opposite side of the river is a different scene every day.

At Sea Mills, after passing under the A4 Portway, the station is as pretty as it could be, supported by some of the local people. The bridge has a 5mph limit, not being in the best of order, but still tentatively crosses the River Trym. This was the site of an important Roman port, and though it looks little more than a ditch after a few hundred metres, the Trym was navigable as far as the middle of Westbury on Trym in the middle ages. A Roman road led from here to Thornbury then Gloucester - hurriedly tarmaced over to form Long Cross in Lawrence Weston. Between here and Shirehampton, the major feature is the Horseshoe Bend in the Avon. It was this that brought about the demise of Bristol as  the second biggest port in England. Ships grew too big to negotiate the bend, hence the building of Avonmouth and Portbury docks - and the railway line you are travelling along. Leaving Shirehampton, you have time to see the viaduct at Pill, on the opposite side of the Avon, serving Royal Portbury Dock and soon to carry trains to Portishead, before entering the maritime and industrial heartland that is Avonmouth. The first part of the trip out of there takes you through the big boys in the dock sidings - I have never been through there without there being at least one train waiting to fill up with coal at the end of the conveyor at St Andrews Road. This transports coal under the river from Portbury, so doubling the amount the dock can shift. After the goods line branches off right towards Henbury, Filton, and the main line, you have a couple of miles of scenic views of the River Severn before hitting Severn Beach itself. On the way, you may notice the large Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Seabank power station. It has been turning natural gas into 1.1GW of electricity for 15 years, and still looks modern. (On the way, you may have noticed some wind turbines. These generate large subsidies and, on the odd occasions when they turn, enough electric to make it worth turning Seabank down slightly).

Apart from that it's quite boring.

For my five, I would head for:
Fort William
Whalley (Lancs)
Penzance
Carlisle (from Settle or Leeds, obviously)
Snaefell - I had to have one electric service.

Never before noon! Although it's quarter past 6 in Kuala Lumpur.

Hurray!! (Signed: A Lawyer). We'll sue them for what's rightfully mine I mean yours!

I hope I know what I'm doing for part of my birthday. Afterwards, I might go on a train.

I for one believe and understand Southeastern's explanation. Like leaves on the line, it is a serious matter that sounds risible to the uninitiated. II is correct in his assessment of the potential risk, which certainly isn't funny. It may not happen every year - at this location, low rising sun is probably an issue for half an hour a day for about a week, until the sun moves a little further north, and then only on clear days.

BerkshireBuggy is right in saying this affects more than just trains. Suddenly losing sight of the way forward in any moving vehicle is alarming at least. My journey to work is presently done in the dark, but I know that in about 4 weeks, for a week or so, I shall round a bend into the rising sun, will realise that the windscreen is slightly misty, and won't be able to see a sodding thing. I had a similar experience when trying to land a plane once, on only my third solo session and my first trip away from the airfield. It was no comfort to hear an Airbus pilot on the radio complaining that he couldn't see the runway either, especially as he wouldn't be able to see little me in front of him.

So I won't be laughing at Southeastern's misfortune and explanation. Not very loudly, anyway.

Might join you!

I'll be home from holiday for this one.

Buy it cheap, pay for it twice, eh?