The Longest Train (Part 1)

On June 21st 2018 (the longest day of the year) we caught the 1V60 Cross Country service that starts in Abderdeen at 08.20 and heads for Penzance - It's the longest train on the longest day!
We chat to people along the way, bring your facts and figures from the 45 stops, as well as some 'CabCam' shots - including in this episode going across the Forth Bridge!
This is part one of a three-part video series. The rest to follow. Special thanks to the Rail Delivery Group for inviting us along!
Website: www.allthestati...
Follow us on Twitter @allthestations
ROUTE: Aberdeen - Stonehaven - Montrose - Dundee - Leuchars = Cupar - Ladybank - Markinch - Kirkaldy - Inverkeithing - Haymarket - Edinburgh Waverley - Dunbar - Berwick upon Tweed
RTT: www.realtimetra...

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Wow, what a journey. This train is definitely on my bucket list and for good reasons too! Just look how scenic the journey is! Love you guys and the UK!

[@mercifulzeus01]

Scenic that is until you hit Birmingham...

[@SamSitar]

G and V very entertaining as well.

[@AtlanteanAN69]

Rode this train June 21st, 2018 Edinburgh to Derby in First Class, a rather busy service.

[@ronclark9724]

This maybe a long journey in the UK, it isn't a long journey in the US or Canada. They should ride one of the transcontinentals of North America, whether Via from Toronto or Amtrak from Chicago. The Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide on any of the routes is specular.... I prefer the Colorado River valley west of Denver... Mount Shasta in Northern California on the Coast Starlight is just as wonderful...

[@ashrevlution3456]

I need to find myself a partner with the same passion as my hobby.

[@davidmiddleton2005]

word

[@EvanAviator]

Reekay Dee well you believed wrong

[@takem82.02]

ribena Oh-

[@JeSuisRene]

same...

[@hayyuroba1935]

I already have one

[@Nwyk]

They aren't joking when they say "cross country"

[@ThimgsGD]

"cross country" yep they cross the England/Scotland Border of course the operator is cross country

[@brayand8022]

@@ThimgsGD you think this is a coincidence?

[@demonishRBLX]

Yes true

[@mariusgosea5912]

Cross country? Why is it named like that when it does not include London

[@JoshLStuff]

​​@@mariusgosea5912because you can be "cross country" in the UK without London services

[@jayzo]

You need to upload the cab footage as a continuous video, a challenge to see who is dedicated to watch over 12 hours of footage.

[@grahamlive]

I second this proposal!! :)

[@zogworth]

People watched hours and hours of a podcast flag referendum. They'd watch this.

[@ericjamieson]

British Airways featured the legendary 9-hour video of Norway's Northlands line on their in-flight entertainment. No way they shouldn't feature something similar that was actually shot in Britain.

[@christopherbraiden6713]

Great idea!!😎🚃🚃🚃🚃🇬🇧

[@AndreiTupolev]

Vicki trying to take an interest in Modern Railways ... ^-^ "Where's the Pacers?"

[@musicgarryj]

In the '70s when I was a trainspotting youngster me and a mate got a day return from Newcastle upon Tyne to Bristol Temple Meads. We left at about 6 in the morning.....8 hours to Bristol, 45 minutes to look round the engine shed... then 8 hours return journey getting back at around 11 pm. Wonderful day out! :)

[@jonsmith8582]

Fabulous to see you both back on a train!

[@Drdee1]

Lovely to see you both back on a train

[@ChoobChoob]

13 Hours on Voyager and no Janeway??

[@alexwright4930]

The lack of Janeway is why everyone survived the voyage ;)

[@hitchrestsfm4493]

Taking a pacer for this journey...

[@geraiswaiya2347]

Rough....

[@charliemoir5591]

Nice video!! I think Viki would LOVE to come to Worcester for a Viki Explores video because there is a cathedral, a lovely Victorian waiting room at Worcester shrub hill, as you know, and the river is wonderful! I would come on a sunny day as it's not as nice wet and rainy. The bridge is wonderful and so is the viaduct going over the river! You can also get some lovely views on clear days at the very top of the cathedral! It's a wonderful city, the best.

[@ianmurray250]

Add in a visit to The Hive, the Guildhall and the sauce factory (Worcestershire Sauce)...

[@LisaMarli]

What fun. I just got done with part way across America, Emeryville (Oakland) to Denver and back. This is only about a third of the way across the country! First class is a sleeping roommette. Lovely lounge and dining car. It took us 1 1/2 days, each way. But we did go through the Sierras and the Rockies, so the scenery was gorgeous. It is one of the most beautiful railway trips in America. Happy Train Traveling.

[@valvlog4665]

The Scottish coast views are gorgeous. Luv the video totally.

[@lucasmaccloud]

You guys are awesome! That’s all I am able to express! Can’t wait for the next parts of this journey.

[@ciaranbird3373]

5:42 if you looked at the first shot of the train at the start of the video, you could see etchings of the old virgin triangle on the front

[@fgwHST43009]

Ciaran Bird most of CrossCountrys Voyagers have that mark on the front where the Virgin logo used to be.

[@ciaranbird3373]

Great Western HD wow nice. Thanks :)

[@unholyphish]

I've done it before with my dad last October. Rather cramped with the leg room, but well worth it! Goes through some of the most beautiful parts of the country (my dad made the mistake of sleeping between Edinburgh - Newcastle). Did it with an all line rover too. Not sure I'd recommend it myself in the slum class though.

[@neilburns8869]

No two ways about it, coming away from Aberdeen at that time on a Summer's morning by train, the view you get looking out on to the North Sea is just simply beautiful.🥰😊👍🙂

[@jamesbettell]

Always had a passing interest in trains and the railways, you two make it all so enjoyable that i find myself going deeper and deeper into the wormhole, keep it up.

[@oisin_smith]

Can't wait for all the stations in Ireland

[@tomdavies8318]

Driver cam for the whole thing please...

[@AndreiTupolev]

Oh absolutely. Aberdeen - Penzance cabride!

[@Albatross-365]

Check out the National Rail Facebook page. They did do it but it broke between Durham and Birmingham.

[@northwesttrainspotter3902]

Yeah there was a livestream on Facebook

[@josephford6015]

Tom Davies YES

[@philiplettley]

Don Coffey has been asked for cab view for this trip

[@dravendevere]

I hope that one day I'll be able to take the longest train voyage in Canada! Because I live on the East Coast, though, I'd need to take an 18-19 train trip to Montreal, then a 5 hour trip to Toronto, followed by the several day journey across Ontario, Manitoba, the prairies, and the Rocky/Pacific Coast mountain ranges. It costs a pretty penny, but it's well worth it!

[@maplady572]

Brilliant! Love the cab cam too! 👍

[@juvehearts]

fun fact about edinburgh waverley station is that is was the 2nd biggest station in the city. the first was princes street station ( now the western approach road and caledonian hotel) the former entrance to the car park is located just off the side street to the hotel. that might be one for you to look at for an episode.

[@dean1100110]

I wonder If you will ever upload the full CabCam video

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Nice to see you guys back!

[@BRUTUALTRUTH]

Great to see happy excited people x

[@lmlmd2714]

"We endured 13 1/2 hours on Voyager so you don't have to" - My spine and derriere thank you... I live quite near Penzance and want to take a holiday in the Scottish highlands next year. I think we'll fly.... Why on earth do they use a Voyager day-train for this? It'd get *far* more passengers as a sleeper. Run the usual XC pattern through Cornwall to Plymouth, then run non-stop to Edinburgh so people can get a decent sleep, then Dundee, and then the usual stops to Aberdeen. If they absolutely insist on running the route as a day train, at least use refurb HST sets with proper buffet / resturant car, luggage van etc.

[@Raaaahhhhbbbie]

“The face in the rock of the old man of Muchalls” is the most Scottish thing I’ve heard in quite some time

[@DevonPixie1991]

There is also one that goes north and I frequently caught that one from Exeter to Bristol. Part of me wanted to do the whole route!

[@emilyyouthwork3225]

My dad built the voyagers at bombardier back in the early 2000,s

[@carrma3831]

I live in Cupar and I’m sure I saw you guys passing through as i went through the station

[@oyst]

The whole day you did this (After I saw your FB-video), I was humming to "The Longest Time" by Billy Joel. Only difference I was humming "The Longest Train" instead. Aaaand now it's back :p

[@ukpete2006]

I did the same journey on the same type of train (in 1st) on 21/6/16 so will look forward to watching this (I've watched a few minutes so far). Thanks for making a decent recording of your journey (unlike me) :-)

[@theyoungersalvationistrsf7450]

Vicky visited Berwick castle and didn’t share the story! Berwick castle walls boarder the north of the station, so there was a castle (all be it dilapidated fairly thoroughly)!

[@seanclark6438]

Hello from Polegate a short way down the line from Berwick in Sussex

[@palermo8179]

Do Moscow-Vladivostok a 7 day trip ;)

[@pascalomathghamhna4883]

Beannachtaí duit Vicki. (That's Irish Gaelic, very similar to Scots Gaelic.) Absolutely loving these videos!!

[@kentcountryside10]

I love the video thanks for sharing.🚞 I want to be in one of your videos💗

[@stevehallam0850]

Top quality video as always. Great journey but only to be faced in first class on a Voyager!

[@londonbusexplorer]

Well, 1V60 (this service) now starts at Newcastle at 1234 with the 0820 being the CrossCountry service to Guildford, completely removing an Aberdeen to Penzance link, which means there is a new longest train, just need to find out what it is.

[@RWL2012]

londonbusexplorer you sure that wasn't a temporary service shortening...?

[@SingleStepStudios]

Is Neil a Houston Astros fan? (the hat)

[@neilhendry4390]

Single Step Entertainment. I am a new recruit to them. Just started watching major league baseball on tv. Go Astros!

[@diggsy3]

I had the same exact question...does MLB have a following in Scotland?

[@neilhendry4390]

aredee3 I wonder that too. My good friend's a Boston Red Sox Fan and was forever telling me to watch a ballgame. Their's bound to be as the NFL has a huge following in Britain

[@SingleStepStudios]

Big Tampa Bay Rays fan #raysup

[@Bnio]

I was about to recommend he join me and become a Seattle Mariners fan, but then he would be in for a lifetime of exciting disappointment.

[@transittoronto]

I love these videos, and I would definitely want to ride this train should I be lucky enough to visit the UK. And I know that North American rail can't compare to UK rail in terms of frequency and coverage. But. I still have to chuckle a little over so much being made over this being the longest train to ride in the UK at 13 hours, when just two months before, I rode in Business Class from Washington DC to Chicago for 24 hours on Amtrak's Cardinal. And, of course, there are the multiple-night trains in transcontinental service. But that's just the way it is. Canada and the US could really do with UK levels of train coverage and frequency...

[@qjtvaddict]

The Koch Brothers would lose money

[@CBeaumontHIGTFY]

The Saturday diagram rather interestingly also stops at Lostwithiel I believe. Is this route going to be scrapped soon in favour of bringing more trains to Guildford by Cross Country ?

[@MadnessIncVP]

-Is this service, still a thing? I've just checked, and LNER's App can't seem to find a 'direct' for Aberdeen, to Penzance. Some of the services are 'sold out', though.- Yep. It's still a thing.

[@explorebytrain448]

At least they have uploaded the first part of this video, now I can see how it turned. I was following on the day on Facebook and Twitter, as I was in work. I was typing away on my computer in work, as I was watching on my phone. Got all my work done that day. Also when are they planning to come to Ireland? Also I was thinking of doing this train route for my video series, What's The Best 1st Class.

[@ThisIsARubbishName]

I didn't think the UK was that big! 1245.65 KMs! That's a decent train journey!

[@thebestspork]

ThisIsARubbishName it's a rather circuitous route. You can leave Aberdeen later and change and catch this same train up.

[@KerbalRocketry]

real question; this is the Longest in terms of time, but what is the physically longest train (buffer to buffer) passenger service in the UK?

[@andison627]

As in coach length? Caledonian Sleeper would take that, 16 cars long plus the loco.

[@KerbalRocketry]

yep seems so, beaten only by the Eurostar if include international services.

[@fgwHST43009]

I would say Caledonian Sleeper.

[@andison627]

They use a mix of Mk2 and Mk3 stock, so it's a bit less. However CS are introducing their new Mk5 stock later which probably are all 23m long.

[@starlinguk]

Saimons the conductors are really fed up with "are we walking to Paris?" comments.

[@donsharpe5786]

If I had known you were doing it I would have welcomed you to Cornwall in my Cornish kilt

[@nixcails]

amazingly as some who often does a short commute on this train from Exeter SD to Newton Abbot despite the distance it covers it rarely seems to get more than 7 to 10 minutes late through the Midlands and has plenty of recovery time built in. sensible not being in what was "Virgin Economy" class though as make RyanAir look good.

[@northwesttrainspotter3902]

Bet this was good, certainly enjoyed watching

[@fgwHST43009]

Can you just upload the entire cab footage?

[@seraphina985]

It's quite possible that they don't own the rights to that, the cab footage is marked with the National Rail logo chances are they only have permission to release segments of it.

[@Rainbow-oh4jx]

Probably the nicest time I’ve had on KZbin

[@neilburns8869]

Of course Edinburgh is one of Geoff's favourite cities and Waverley is a favourite station.👍🤝👏🥰😊

[@UltraMaXAtAXX]

Neil wearing an Astros hat, dig!

[@jameslipscomb4916]

13 hours on a Voyager? I feel sorry for you both.

[@RichardWatt]

I'm originally from Aberdeen. Yeah, the station's a bit basic, not really much there. There's a piece of disused infrastructure to the north of the station if you followed the lines from platforms 6 and 7. You'd have had to go to the Union Street bridge and look into the Union Terrace Gardens to see it - it looks like the remains of an old turntable.

[@thebestspork]

Richard Watt the trinity Centre is built over the old North end of the station which had many extra platforms.

[@cameronamoils6915]

It's good to hear that theme tune again.

[@adzz18]

That's So Cool, I've Been On That Train Before Its Amazing

[@10reubenl]

Does this direct train still run? Can't find direct train tickets when I search

[@harveydee9115]

Unfortunately, this service seems to have been cut back to Guildford so what is the new longest train?

[@alistairryan3950]

Why didn't you start from Inverness services run through Aberdeen and onwards from Inverness would have been a bit longer haha

[@JBFlytography]

Ahh Obviously there's sirens in the background in Kirkcaldy!! I can say this as I live there haha!!

[@EdgyNumber1]

So how much is a peak-time, on the day, first class ticket between Aberdeen and Penzance anyway?? And Geoff, XCountry shut off the tilt mechanism or exchanged the bogeys for fixed type. Only Virgin WCML uses them now....

[@chrishewitt4220]

8.26 Astra Sports Tourer. I have one in Oz (Opel) they are rare as Opel only sold them here for a year. Mind you, I didn't get mine at 0% APR

[@johnmehaffey9953]

How did haymarket come up before Waverley when haymarket is south of Waverley and you where traveling north to south? just wondering as when I was working in Edinburgh I stayed close t haymarket and walked to Waverley and the old town many times

[@l0u1x30]

Me when u put fishguard on your intro 😍😍😍😍😍😂😂😂😂

[@golledgestravels326]

I did this trip earlier in 2018 as part of a mad quest - Portsmouth to London to Aberdeen (overnight sleeper) to Penzance to Paddington (overnight sleeper) to Portsmouth. Sadly, owing to a) flooding in west country, b) various signalling faults c) train staff being delayed, I wasn't able to make my 2 minute!!! connection in Penzance ( I had too much faith in the 13 hour train being on time)---had to change at Truro to ensure I got the Paddington train. So, although my quest failed I did receive 50% of my Aberdeen to Penzance fare back under the claim delay scheme as we were 55 minutes late. Every cloud as they say.

[@spikeymike2191]

My mad one was Inverness > Berney Arms. Sleeper INV > EUS, Anglia LIV > NRW with full english, then NRW > BYA. Not a lot of point in that one anymore, the restaurants have gone on Anglia, and the pub at Berney Arms is shut for good.

[@mikegillard7283]

Who knew. You were going to bag as many stations as you could in one day. Good film as always.

[@lcvideos1967]

does this even exist with no changes anymore being as on xc trains you have to change

[@qjtvaddict]

Aren't cross country trains usually express with other trains being local

[@davidpanton3192]

Glad I've never been on a train with that pair.

[@ttealeaf5]

Can I just ask, is it worth the journey or is it just a waste of time and it is better getting the LNER service to London then back to Cornwall. Thanks, and I love your vids :-)

[@jadencorner4476]

I think the class 220/221 used to run on the Brighton mainline

[@spikeymike2191]

they did for a while

[@masonsmainlineroblox]

I saw Vickie running off at 2:34

[@adriyanangelov7099]

penzance to london paddington

[@sambull4633]

What is that map you use for close ups of the network?

[@slugerama]

21st June is actually the shortest day of the year. I should know as I always bitch about my birthday being on the shortest day of the year. 😂

[@mrcorndog625]

How much did that all cost? Would it be cheaper by car or plane?

[@runerocker3]

I have done this train in 1st class (but on a Saturday so reduced first class service), and I was face to face with Nick Clegg around Derby due to a fatality on the MML between Derby and London.

[@AlternativeHistoryFootball]

If I'd have been face to face with Nick Clegg around Derby there would have been another fatality on the railways that day

[@Mainline421]

I actually did this whole journey last week. Anyone else mad enough to have done this?

[@duncansantan]

u r very decent amd very dignified!!!!! jeff!!

[@j.a.mccready9273]

for the avoidance of doubt, correct pronunciation of Gaelic is Gah-lic when referring to the Scottish language Gaelic, but if referring to the Irish language Gaelic, it is Gay-lick. hope this helps.

[@declanelsholtz9673]

Kirkcaldy not kirkaldy, great show

[@Gribbo9999]

Britain is a small but beautiful place.

[@frankmimnagh420]

great video guys :)

[@sharonlea6540]

Great video

[@mrjameshendry]

Dunbar has two platforms now

[@Professor_sckinnctn]

So dismissive of Leuchars! (I felt like I lived there when I was at uni)

[@bakedsodium6528]

Imagine a football game between Aberdeen and Penzance

[@pete9818]

Bit of a stretch to imagine that, Plymouth-Aberdeen is as far as my mind can go.

[@ch3rriee]

you went past my local station Derby

[@PatrickBurford1]

Question of the day though, is it all on time??

[@Luke_Miles_07]

Good Astro’s hat

[@MontytheHorse]

I'd love to do this journey, but no way I'd spend more than 15 minutes in a Verminous by choice. Shame it isn't an HST still doing the service. But enough of my moaning, great video. :-)

[@ya-boi-cblyth7448]

Spelt Kirkcaldy wrong

[@shaneruddock-pedallingtheg8114]

Do you have to pay for these huge journeys? Like wow that's expensive i hope its free or discounted. My kind of fun

[@ttealeaf5]

How was it on that voyager? 13 and a half hours on the 221 122 must’ve been a good achievement. Try London to Inverness, my favorite route They should use the hst for this route like if u agree

[@colinhallmitchell]

Pot kettle black, geoff looks too senior for vicki ! dont know how he pulled her ?

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

Brilliant

[@carlheadley9775]

What bridge was that the train went over before Haymarket station?

[@Nayson]

The Forth Bridge. Most famous bridge in Scotland, probably only second to Tower Bridge in terms of recognisability to most Brits. It's protected by World Heritage.

[@AileanMohr]

The Forth Bridge.

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

I _soooooo_ envy yous two! :)