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Some years ago,
Rather more than a few really, we went to Berwick from Peterborough on the 'Boots' ticket armed with three children. We got on the train OK but soon found that the particular seats allocated had in fact been double booked so they had already been filled at Stevenage. The conductor was very nice and took us into the First Class seats so we travelled in comfort all the way North. When tickets were checked by an inspector out conductor had already explained the problem so we had a good journey. However before we reached Berwick everything ground to a halt and as far as the eye could see were high speed trains waiting patiently to be let loose again. It turned out that when the conductor came into the First Class compartment he told us that we were to be delayed because of a broken rail. Not wanting to miss the opportunity of something a bit different I asked if we could go and see the engines since having worked with diesel engines I was interested in different types. This unusual request was considered for a few moment before he agreed and all in our coach were invited into the inner sanctum with most sticking fingers into their ears. Later a pleasant day was spent in Berwick.
The return journey was just as interesting. This time we had seats just behind the people who we had been double booked with who were not pleased at being cramped up on their outward journey while we sat back in relative luxury. This time we had to change trains at Newcastle not that ours had any problems but because the one in front was losing time due to some footie supporters who were getting a bit out of hand and had caused stops to be made on the way down from Edinburgh for the more unruly to be evicted by burly Transport Policemen. After changing trains we did not have seats anymore so it was a case of sitting on one and defending our right to sit down. Before we had reached Newark the bar was dry and the sporting gentlemen were after the conductors blood so he locked himself in his office and by some means arrasnged for the train to be met at Newark by a squad of the heaviest that could be found. After the vans drove away bulging with the riotous assmbly we got going again but now had lost our path completely and the main line South was closed for maintainance work so we were diverted via Lincoln and arrived back in Peterborough some 4 houirs later than expected. For us it was a great journey as we each rode for 300 plus miles at a cost of less than a single ticket so two adults and three children eventually arrived back home tired, hungry but had a great experience from our magical mystery tour. We used those Boots ticket three more time with Edinburgh being the destination in easch case but never went First Class again apart from anther outing the Edinburgh on a MerryMaker excursion when we went for £15 each first class.
Those were the days.
John (G)
PS It may have been Doncaster we diverted and rejoined at Newark but it was 20 years ago and memories do get a bit confused.
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