I was able to spend a week
or so in England and Scotland in April, 2009. Flew into Healthrow, Heathrow
Express to Paddington, then Euston to Lime Street on a Pendo in first class (on
a pass). A few days in Southport and then on up to Edinbrugh via Bolton and
Lockerbie. A couple of days driving around with my friend Tim Wright for 'money
shots' and then back to Locerbie for a quick trip down to Penrith. Impressions:
Virgin first class continues to be a disappointment. Though the wi-fi worked,
the service was rather surly and food poor. The Trans Pennine first class was a
happy contrast, and the trains themselves seem more customer friendly and better
engineered. The train from Southport to Bolton was a, well, throwback to
ancient British Rail wheeze and dirt time. For photographers who may be
interested all these images were taken with an Olympus E-510 digital camera and
very light and small kit 14-42 (28-84mm in 35mm terms) and 40-150 (80-300)
lenses.
