What Was Your Best Train Ride?

Question

Please denote train boarding and deboarding locations, best

geographic portion of ride if recalled, train portion favored, and travel season.

Answer 1

It has to be the Pines Express between Birmingham New Street and Bath Green Park, around 1960 when I was very small and the train in question was steam powered.

We didn't have a car in those days so every journey was by bus or train and for me the train was an adventure.

I still remember sitting with my family in the open saloon carriage, watching the clouds of steam from the engine and hearing it working up front, and the wires of the telegraph poles rising and falling as it was summer and they were slack. Also the 'clackety-clack' of the carriage wheels passing over the rail joints which is rarely heard today as almost all rail track is continuous welded.

Glimpses of the countryside which passed in a fleeting panorama as the train sped from one city centre to another.

Finally the sense of anticlimax as the train drew into the terminus at Bath Green Park, where it would reverse and continue for another 80 miles or so to Bournemouth, but for us the journey was over.

This latter, southern part of the route (known as the Somerset and Dorset line after the independent rail company which once operated it) was the best for scenery and also involved a tough climb over the Mendip Hills  which put the locomotives and their crews to the test, but we never got to travel on it.

Sadly, the line closed in 1966, although parts of it in the form of trackbed and buildings have been preserved, as well as a few of the locomotives that once worked the line. The terminus at Bath Green Park was saved from demolition by a supermarket chain, restored and now sees further use as a business/conference/exhibition centre.

Answer 2

going on a hide speed train

Answer 3

I cannot decide, but I would.

In NYC.

It was first day of S89 bus introduction.

My best train ride was on Hudson-Bergen Lightrail owned by New Jersey Transit.

It departed at Hoboken.

After I got off S89 bus at 34th St Bayonne Station, New Jersey Transit employee give us free one way ticket, then we validaded our ticket and got on Hudson-Bergen Lightrail.

It was very scenic route in New Jersey, with view of Hudson River Waterfront and Liberty State Park, well as recorded announce that said, "You must have validaded ticket to ride this train. Please have your valdiaded ticket ready fro inspection."

"Now entering Exchange Place. Exit at this station for connection to PATH train to Jersey City and New York Waterway."

This is train to Hoboken Terminal. Next stop is..."

I love the nice ride.