Seat 2A

Thanks to all of you who've read this trip report and special thanks to those of you who've taken time to comment on it. A lot of work goes into a report like this, be it writing it, proof reading it or installing all the pictures and code into it. Whether you're a regular reader who's enjoyed my reports in the past or a new reader who's only just discovered them, your positive responses validate the time invested in this report and are very, very much appreciated.

And now to answer some questions:

I love 'em both but I'd have to give a slight nod to CX, if only because they offer just a bit more variety, especially with their snack menu which always includes their excellent noodle soups. Honestly though, BA still offer more than enough to eat and I've generally always found their food to be quite good.

Thanks for these tips, Alan. I'll certainly keep them in mind when planning my next UK rail adventure.

I hope Mrs. SFO777's aversion to train travel will change someday. Amtrak's First Class is not opulent, but it is generally comfortable and affordable relative to other overnight First Class services around the world. Perhaps a shorter ride might be amenable? On the assumption you live in the Bay Area, how about a ride on the evening Coast Starlight up to say... Portland, OR. You could depart the Bay Area on Friday night, have a nice dinner on board, maybe a nightcap in the Pacific Parlour Car, then a comfortable sleep before awaking to a hot shower followed by coffee, juice and perhaps an order of Railroad French Toast while rolling through Southern Oregon. After breakfast, enjoy the scenery as you cross the Cascades and continue up the Willamette Valley, arriving Portland about 3:30pm on Saturday afternoon. Enjoy that evening and most of Sunday in Portland before catching a short flight back down to the Bay Area. The day trip down to LA or Santa Barbara is also quite nice.

I drive a bus seasonally in Alaska. My job requires no travel but between the occasional trip to Colorado (family, property, rental income) and clever use of mega mileage runs to accrue mileage I do pretty well for myself. I've been mileage running since 1988 and I'd like to think I'm pretty good at it as well as tenacious. I can and will spend three straight weeks flying mileage runs whereas for many people, one is enough. As well, I think nothing of saving money by spending many of my nights on airport floors.

Shosholoza Meyl's Premiere Classe trains are amongst the most affordable luxury trips on the planet. Have a great trip!

That would be pretty cool but I wouldn't have a clue how to go about it. For what it's worth, all of my reports are available here on FT at no cost.

LOL! It's true, though

I'm sure they will. Safe travels back from Mongolia.

Well, they looked modern. How about we settle for aerodynamic?

Colts_01

I enjoyed reading your report, thanks for putting in so much time and energy in writing such a detailed account of your travels.

meerustar

OH MY GOD.

I had flyertalk on my faves tab from last year and just popped on .. bored .. and found this thread.

AMAZING. Once I started to read I couldn't stop. I feel like I have travelled with you, first class, ate the food, drank the champagne, seen the sights, rode the trains etc etc. I haven't read any other travel logs like this and it is so informative, the reader certainly feels that they are with you.

Seriously, these should be published. I have a fear of flying, in fact I'd go as far as to say I hate it, but occasionally do as I'd never see some of the places I've been to, but now I feel like I want to book a flight. I actually want to travel.

Bedtime for little one in an hour, then I'm pouring myself a drink and settling down for part 2 ... and then I think I'll start on all your other reports you have linked to.

You have a real talent for writing, shame if it only gets as far as a forum. You MUST publish these.

Markieg

Comprehensive and compelling - thanks for your time and energy in putting this together.
One teeny possible correction, on page 1 you state heathrow express goes to Kings Cross, isn't it Paddington station?
http://www.heathrowexpress.com/journey

Also, sorry but I take a slight issue with "If you’re heading north out of London by train, Euston Station is where you’ll likely need to go". East coast mainline trains from London to Edinburgh run every 30minutes or so from Kings Cross so this has at least equal prominence imho. Sorry to be pedantic.

The quote about only 15 rail lines tickled me... That's a lot for a little country that'll apparently fit into the state of Texas...

ExGateAgt

I have had the pleasure of hanging out with Seat 2A at various airliner shows where he makes a bit of pocket money selling a few airliner postcards (of which he has quite a collection!). I have also hung out with him in an airport lounge or two sharing stories. I have quite a few stories, but not as many as he.

I really wish sometime my wife and I could share a flight together with Seat 2A, although, I really think for the long-haul, Elton really likes the experience to be solitary. I don't blame him a bit, and I respect this, as he can absorb the whole flight experience to the MAX without any distractions. I can understand this very well. No problems with that, often, when I get (rarely) in FC, I like to not have someone next to me chattering or boring conversation, etc.

Am I right Elton?

Seat 2A

Thanks, meerustar. When it comes to writing trip reports, a huge influence and inspiration for me was David P. Morgan, the old editor of Trains magazine as well as the short-lived Airliners International (1974). As I read his reports, I was transported aboard every one of those flights with him. I think if you truely enjoy your subject, it will show in your writing in a positive way. I'm glad to hear I'm still able to transmit some of the magic and wonder of flight.

As to publishing, I fear it's a pretty small market for this kind of stuff. Look at FlyerTalk here - only a fraction of the membership comes to Trip Reports and a much smaller fraction reads and enjoys my reports. For me, FT is a great place to post to an appreciative audience but honestly, I doubt anyone would pay even $400.00 to publish this report - less than a day's pay. So I suspect my writing "career" is pretty well limited to the Trip Report forum.

Markeig, I always welcome corrections, so thanks. BTW, I think the 15 rail lines was referring to the total platforms/lines that emanated from the Euston Station.

ExGateAgt - I'd love to travel in First Class with you and/or anyone else. It's great to share the experience and International First Class is one of life's best. The problem, of course, is that no one I know has enough money, mileage or time to accompany me in First Class and, aside from domestic First Class awards, I don't have enough mileage to spring for them.

As for travel, the same applies although I have often met friends enroute as well as travelled briefly (3 weeks or less) with some. We've always had a great time, though I do definitely appreciate the freedom I have as a solo traveler since I can occasionally be downright impulsive - Chile today, Africa tomorrow when I thought I was only going to Argentina!

Carfield

Thanks for another wonderful trip report!

I really enjoy it and the train rides sound good. I am definitely going to start looking into "rail travel" in the future!

Thanks,
Carfield

Swanhunter

Nice report. Seat2A, next time you are in the UK you really should give the Fort William sleeper a try. Waking with the West Highlands outside the window is delightful. Heading on from there to Mallaig is a treat. The Settle to Carlisle line is also well worth the trip even if the mountains are a little less impressive than Alaska.

thadocta

I'll vouch for that, Fort William is a wonderfully exquisite little town, and to wake up on the sleeper and then wander off to explore the town was one of the things I enjoyed when I did it back in 2002 (last time I did a UK Sleeper train).

Dave

vecta

Another engaging report there Seat 2A.

Engaging is the perfect adjective to describe your reports and writing style, once I start reading I literally can't stop.

On to part 2...

Seat 2A

Next time I'm in the UK I'll look forward to doing ALL of these runs. I've seen the pictures - the landscapes are as pretty as you'll find anywhere on the planet.

Scandinavian

Great trip report with some incredible photos! It almost took me two hours to read it and a couple of beers. I really like the long travel reports.

Believe it or not but the beer can be bought in Sweden at Systembolaget, the Swedish Alcohol Retail Monopoly.

I am impressed by the fact that BA’s Terraces Lounge at SFO do have Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, very nice!

What kind of beers do Cathay Pacific have onboard?

Regards,

Scandinavian

pacer142

Interesting you say this, as Euston by UK standards is a very large station! It has 17 platforms, by the way

London Victoria has 19, and I don't think they get much bigger than that. St Pancras, by contrast, has just 13 (15 if you count downstairs). Waterloo has 19 as well now, though I suppose it made 23 when it had the international station as well.

Neil

pacer142

I think it shows just how much of a timeless design the British Rail Mk3 coach is. They were built in the 1970s so are somewhere between 30 and 40 years old. The only giveaway, though, is the lack of automatic doors.

Neil

qbrain

All the sudden, I am craving some train travel

Nice report, starting part 2 now.