Woke and checked out early - surprising the pleasant possibly-Russian receptionist who appeared to have been working all yesterday and also overnight but remained chirpy nonetheless. Couldn't repay her pleasantries as still largely unable to speak! Off to Darlington station by a much quicker and more direct route than I'd taken yesterday. Walked as fast as I could in the hope that I could kickstart myself and get rid of the grungy feeling which resulting from the ever-present cold and a sleepless night in a stuffy but otherwise comfortable hotel room. Arrived, coughing and spluttering under the grand trainshed and explored the quiet station a little. A few units waiting for Bishop Auckland and Saltburn, but few passengers so early on a Sunday. The guard of a Whitby-bound train asked me if I was "coming along for the ride?". Declined, and said I was for the London train. "But Whitby's a much nicer place!" he said as he flagged his train away laughing. The coffee shop opened and there was time for a quick breakfast before the 08:28 to Kings Cross drew quietly into the station.
Once on board, settled in for the run to Peterborough. Again, glad of the air-conditioning but disappointed not to be able to get a connection to the internet - a service which saved so much time and money on my last trips on GNER. Much of the country seemed to be enveloped in the murky but hot weather which I'd set out in, and a grey mist seemed to be descending as we headed south and east. It felt good to be actually using the Sunday part of a rover ticket for something, and this afternoon promised some of the more substantial sections of new track for the week. An early celebrity sighting of sorts too, as Alan Yentob joined the train at Doncaster, apparently on the way back to London after the International Indian Film Awards weekend. On arriving at Peterborough, a flurry of GBRf locomotives confused me sufficiently for me to miss the number of the Class 91 which had brought us down. A quick curse, and over the bridge to await the Central unit to Norwich. I'd half-dreaded this bit of the trip for ages, as there is something oddly dull about the two-hour stretch of flat nothingness which usually takes place in a jammed, overheating and grubby Central Trains unit which isn't nearly up to the job. Pleased to note instead a surprisingly lightly loaded former-Transpennine Class 158 in fairly good condition! Once past the initial part of journey, made intriguing by Iain Sinclair in 'Edge of the Orision' I settled back with headphones on, and caught up on some missed sleep.
Norwich Thorpe remains a pleasant station to wait at, with a fair amount going on. Time for coffee before the next Great Yarmouth train - which I'd taken care to ensure was going the 'long way around' via Reedham and a bit of new track on the way. Mission accomplished, I turned around with the unit and was surprised to find it going back the same way - which I'd clearly misread in my planning. Nothing lost however, and glad to deal with this bit of track at last, despite having seen nothing of Yarmouth since about 1978 by my reckoning! Arrived back at Norwich with about fifty minutes until the next Sheringham train. Decided to poke my head out of the station doors and saw my hotel just yards away. Wandered over and checked in, meaning I could carry much less luggage to Sheringham with me. Back to the station and onto another 156 for the semi-fast trip up the branch, not calling at some of the minor stops on a Sunday. Made good progress until North Walsham (which still sees some freight it seems) before the line is singled, and things chug along a little less quickly. A swift reversal at Cromer, which seemed fairly busy for a Sunday afternoon, and minutes later we were at our terminus. The sun had arrived out of the mist somewhere along the way, and in the short time we had I managed to pop my head out of the door to see a pleasant and rather busy little town - perhaps one to visit again sometime. Now though it was time to retrace my steps to Norwich and to find a quiet beer and some food.
A quick stroll around Norwich showed, quite frankly, its bad side. The immediate environs of the station are - in fairness like many other places - a mess of cheap takeaways and derelict shops. However a knot of places near the river crossing, such as the Compleat Angler seem fairly reputable and it was here I decided to take refreshment. Given tomorrow's early start I decided to turn in, and to hopefully wake up with a little more vocal ability!
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
