Train Lovers
The Great Railway Bazaar, by Paul Theroux
What joy: a train lover writing for train lovers Settling down with a Paul Theroux train book is like a long rail journey with a well-loved friend. You know what you’re in for, and it’s a treat in store. Theroux is great at evoking landscapes and people, and his own love for trains shines through. … Read more
Hyper-scenic delights in the Massif Central
There’s a subtle buzz when a train sets off on what I’d call a hyper-scenic route. It may well be a mere two-coach diesel, from a mundane city like Leeds or Clermont-Ferrand. But some of the passengers are different. They’ve got cameras, journals, route maps. Some are outdoors types with hiking gear or touring bikes. … Read more
The London Underground as a guide to happiness
It was in a lull in a long meeting recently that I realised that I was musing on the symbolic significance of the Northern Line. This is where, after twenty-one miles of tunnel, the Tube emerges into daylight: much as a travailing soul find illumination after the long darkness… This blog is intended to appeal … Read more
Why steam trains matter, and Dampfloks are AOK
Many men are searching for meaning, a sense that the events of their life matter and have a shape to them. I have hatched a belief that steam trains can help in this. If you’re aged late fifties or older, you’ll have grown up with steam trains in your childhood. I can recall many maturing … Read more
From Krakow to Rome: the Tyrolean Way
By train through the Brenner Pass, and lots more! Alan Heeks writes… I suspect that most British train lovers, like me, mostly travel across Europe to and from London – radiating out from the Eurostar. Belatedly I’m realising that I’ve missed out on some great rail journeys that run across these radial routes from England. … Read more
Perfection on rails: The VSOE British Pullman
The re-creation of the British Pullman is a classic British story of eccentric, visionary wealth allied to traditional craftsmanship. James Sherwood rescued carriages from weird locations and states of disarray. Bob Dunn, whose grandfather made marquetry for the original cars, was one of a host of dedicated restorers. Now, for a princely sum, you can … Read more
PARIS – MILAN: the slow-fast train
I go to Italy by train every couple of years, as one of my best friends lives in Liguria. It’s a great train destination, as there are so many options, most of them scenic. The fastest way by train is with the Paris – Venice Sleeper: this tips you out at Milan about 5am, which … Read more
Adventures around Dartmoor – with the Withered Arm
This blog is artfully designed to suit both general hikers or cyclists, and railway lovers. Just choose your section! For hikers and cyclists On summer weekends, you can do a great trip right around the edge of Dartmoor: the cycling/walking distance is around 24 miles, and the rest can be done by train. The key … Read more
Do Sleeper Trains Resemble their Country’s Leader??
Insights from Europe’s Sleeper Trains The Paris – Venice Treno Notte has advanced my insights into the special ways that so-called sleepers help me, and maybe other seekers for truth. The France – Italy sleepers are now run by an outfit called thello. As the name already suggests, this is a new private venture, and … Read more
Train Lovers: FACT! Virgin XC more reliable than DB Intercity Express!
I travel to Germany by train most years, and this year I finally realised that my major frustrations with Deutsche Bahn are not just bad luck, it really is bad. Online research quickly confirmed this: the average reliability of DB’s ICE (InterCity Express) trains has been around 75% for several years, whereas the recent figure … Read more
Train Lovers: What trains can teach us about relationships
Insights from a zugteilung in Hanover The special overnight trains which in English we hopefully call sleepers, are in Germany sensibly called Nachtzug, night trains. No false expectations there. In fact, I’ve used the Nachtzug many times, and they’re very comfortable. However, my recent German holiday involved getting onto the night train in Hamburg at … Read more
Train Lovers: Why steam trains matter, and Dampfloks are AOK
As I glide into my vintage years, I have come to realise that trains and railways are a great way to understand and interpret the apparent confusions of modern life. You will find some examples of this approach in my blog. I’m glad to be old enough to have main line steam as part of my … Read more
What trains can teach us about relationships Insights from a zugteilung in Hanover
The special overnight trains which in English we hopefully call sleepers, are in Germany sensibly called Nachtzug, night trains. No false expectations there. In fact, I’ve used the Nachtzug many times, and they’re very comfortable. However, my recent German holiday involved getting onto the night train in Hamburg at 00:31, and off in Cologne at … Read more