The time had come to make that purchase of all purchases the most expensive ticket of them all the “All Line Rover 7 Day”. Much planning was required for this trip as we were going to go after many pieces of difficult track which were only used by a very small number of obscure trains. This required meticulous planning in order to travel on some pieces which only had one train a day travel over them. It was not possible to get to this track in a normal day out as many of the trains ran in the rush hour with limited stops and it was either not possible to get there early enough of home afterwards.

Sunday 23/10/88

We chose to start our Rover on the Sunday but did not make a great deal of use from it. The train service was not very good from Lancaster on a Sunday with no trains until mid afternoon. You could not get very far or get half way to somewhere and have to stay the night and continue the next morning. We elected to leave late on the Barrow to London overnight service so that we could be in London early and cover some lines only used in the morning rush hour.

Monday 24/10/88

The first was Stevenage to Watton at Stone via the easterly side of the junction. All the terminating trains at Stevenage used the other side of the junction in both directions to access the bay platform. This side of the junction was only used by a couple of trains. We had time to kill first so went for a run to Peterborough and back to Stevenage.

After covering that the next piece of line was Welwyn Garden City flyover this was only used by trains which started at Welwyn and terminated at Moorgate. After this was successfully negotiated it was back to Kings Cross and North to Doncaster. The next piece of track was Black Carr Jn to Bassacar Jn. This section was only used by one train a day between Doncaster and Lincoln which departed from the bay platform on the London side of the station. All the other trains went from the northbound platforms. It was Doncaster to Gainsborough Lea Road and back. We then continued back to London for the evening peak.

St Mary Cray junctions is a large collection of junctions in South London. The section between Chislehurst and St Mary Cray was only used by one train a day. It left Cannon St in the evening peak and was first stop Chatham. This was the train we were aiming for and caught. Rather than head back into London there were some Intercity trains that ran during this period to the South Coast via Kensington Olympia. We waited for one of these and this covered North Pole Jn to Old Oak Common. This line has since closed when the Eurostar depot was constructed. The trains now have to take an alternative route via Willesden. The Eurostar depot has also closed and relocated to North London following the transfer of services to St Pancras.

We went through to Reading and back to London via Basingstoke for a bit of Class 50 haulage. During this period the Waterloo and City Line was operated by BR rather than London Underground so this meant our All Line Rovers were valid, so we went for a ride to Bank. We then had time to kill before the sleeper to Penzance so a brief walk to the Cheshire Cheese pub just off Fleet St.

The pub was and still is a Samuel Smith’s house and had lots of fine Yorkshire beers. The pub dates back to the 17^th century and has seen little modernisation. At this time it had sawdust covered floors and was a very pleasant way to lose a few hours. In our case too many beers and too many hours. It was only when last orders were called we realised what time it was and we would not have enough time to get back on the bus to Paddington for the overnight train to Penzance. It was a quick drink up then flagged down a taxi in the middle of the road and fast trip across London just in time for the train.

We boarded the train and found an empty table in the front coach. Decided to have a lie down before leaving Paddington and get up to listen to the 50 as it departed. Failed and woke up arriving in St Austell.

Tuesday 25/10/88

Arrived in Penzance then retraced our tracks towards South Wales. Since my last visit some new lines had opened, the city line between Ninian Park and Radyr and Abercynon to Aberdare.

This was all successfully achieved so we headed home.

Wednesday 26/10/88

This was declared a day off to catch up on sleep.

Thursday 27/10/88

1923 stock between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde Pier Head 27/10/88