In the part of Britain where we lived we were well served for days out by train. The BR Merrymaker trips were alive and well and operating from Carlisle even in 1989 even though they had disappeared from many other parts of the country. One trip that was a winning formula was the annual booze cruise to France. This was normally a 25 to 26 hour return trip from Carlisle to Boulogne. This was the third year the trip had run and also the third year we had joined the trip. This trip was generally a sell out so you had to book early and this year was no different.

The idea was very simple leave Carlisle making around midnight on the Friday night making stops to Lancaster and travel down to Folkestone Harbour in time for the ferry departure around 09:00. The timings were always generous on the way out to allow for any possible delays to ensure the ferry is not missed. On this particular day a complete train of First Class carriages was provided. Our group was quite a large turnout with nearly 20 people taking part in this event. What we normally did when we got to France was have lunch in a café practicing our schoolboy French then head to the hypermarket nearest the port, load the trolleys with beer and head back to the ship. Some of the group were not that interested in the beer so the duty free allowance was used by the others who did want to bring beer back for Christmas. We always made sure we were within the limit for the whole group.

Saturday 28 October 1989

This particular evening was quite windy with high winds forecast for the English Channel. As we headed south the wind continued to increase. Good progress is made and the train arrived in Folkestone a couple of hours before the departure of the ferry. As it came light we went out onto the platform to have a look at the view. The station at Folkestone Harbour extends along the sea wall protecting the harbour and you could walk along and look out to sea. The sea was more white than blue, this was not a good sign and the ferry was going to be bumpy if it sailed at all. This route was operated by two ferries MV Hengist and MV Horsa and on this morning it was the former. We check at the ferry desk, everything was in order and the ferry would be sailing as booked. Shortly before departure the 500 or so passengers from the train board the ferry.

The crossing was somewhat lively but not too bad but as the crossing progressed it got more windy and more lively. We arrived outside the port at Boulogne and the announcement comes across the tannoy the port is closed due to high winds and we will not be able to berth until the weather conditions improve. The ship and others circle the sea outside the harbour for a couple of hours waiting for the port to reopen. This was a very unpleasant experience as the ship tossed about in the high seas. Eventually the conditions improve enough for the port to reopen and this ship is safely berthed. By the time we have arrived there is only a couple of hours before we are due to catch the ferry back again so this is not going to leave us much time for lunch and hypermarket. There is another announcement and we are informed we are allowed another hour as the ship to take us home will be delayed anyway as it had been unable to leave Boulogne heading for Folkestone.

We head into town have lunch, have a trip round the hypermarket and return to the port with our baguettes, sandwich filling, Madeline cakes and trolley full of French beer.

On arrival back at the port it is a scene of total French chaos. The hall is full of passengers, including the 500 off the train and no ship. We eventually find out that the other ship we are due to return on has also been delayed on it’s previous journey between Boulogne and Folkestone. When the ship eventually arrives it is over 3 hours late and we have been left in the hall for this time. The BR staff accompanying the train were superb but they are unable to get any information except for the French shrug of the shoulders.

We finally depart Boulogne and head back towards Folkestone. The weather is still extremely windy and the crossing rather bumpy. It is at this point things go from bad to worse. There is then an announcement on the ship due to bad weather the ship will be diverted to Dover Western Dock. There is than a realisation that this boat is going to Dover and the train back home is in Folkestone. The BR staff go off to see the captain to use the ship to shore radio to arrange for the train to be moved. They sent the message but do not know if it is going to be acted on and if the train will be moved. We find out that the reason for the diversion to Dover is the ship we have come across on has collided with the harbour wall at Folkestone and closed the harbour.

The ship bounces it’s way back across the English Channel and we have a further delay waiting for a tug to help us berth as they are all at Eastern Docks helping other ships. We finally arrive in Dover at midnight and are very glad to see our train waiting for us. We leave just before 00:30 this is 20 minutes before we should have arrived back in Lancaster.

It is at this point that we realise there is another problem about to hit us. It is after midnight on a Saturday night and we have to travel from Kent to a few miles short of the Scottish border. The railway has started shutting down for engineering works and we wonder how far we are going get before we are not allowed to proceed any further.

We go a very long way round the routes south of London through Maidstone, Hither Green, Factory Jn, Clapham Jn (in a southbound direction), Putney, Kew and Acton Wells Jn. We have an engine change and continue to head north and reach Crewe at around 05:15 which is actually 06:15 as the clocks have gone back one hour during the night. The train has then to be diverted via Manchester as the line via Warrington has closed for engineering works.

We finally arrive back at just after 07:30 which is actually 08:30 and we were due in just before 01:00.

I walk into home and are asked the question “Where have you been?”

A very enjoyable day out despite the delays.

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