Things I resolved to learn more about a couple of hours ago: where Carstairs is and what exactly a points failure is. Turns out my impression of where Carstairs is was confused by a false assumption: I assumed we were past Edinburgh. We weren’t. Carstairs is south of Edinburgh. And that was why the train hadn’t reversed direction. But I jump ahead...
So, I made it on to the train, settled in for the night in my sleeping bag (turns out that was essential luggage – even now the seated car is pretty cold such that we’ve all been offered free tea and coffee) and actually got some good rest. Result! Most of the journey I was fairly oblivious of what was going on but was sure we’d had the usual “extended stop” in Edinburgh – from my sleeping bag cocoon I’d had a glance of the yellow lights of a station and we were stopped. I fell asleep again shortly. Now, usually at Edinburgh the train reverses direction (just the way the train tracks work – you go into Waverley from London in one direction and come out another to head on up to Aberdeen) and later in the journey (after the “Edinburgh” stop) I realised I was going the same way. Sleep-brain in action I put this down to a “new way of doing things” and thought nothing of it.
Turns out “Edinburgh” was probably Crewe or Preston – given which side the platform was on, I’d hazard a guess it was Crewe. So, again, sleep-brain in action when we’d been stopped for some time and I got up to ask one of the train crew where we were and she said Carstairs I got all confused and tried to work out where between Edinburgh & Aberdeen Carstairs was. I knew I knew the name...I just couldn’t place it between Edinburgh & Aberdeen. Because it’s not between Edinburgh & Aberdeen. Silly Tig-Tigs. It was when we pulled into the next big station and a big sign right outside my window proclaimed “Edinburgh Waverley” that I realised my mistake. Assumptions: the downfall of so many things. But at least I now know (roughly) where Carstairs is.
The points failure was at Carstairs (hence the 45-60 minute stoppage there) but once we got moving again I noticed a series of flashes of light illuminating the snow-filled fields next to the train. It was almost like lightning, but much more localised and a greenish-tinged light. Turns out it was being caused by large sparks (which at one point turned into a veritable cascade of orange sparks) from the contact between the train and the overhead wires. A little disconcerting, but we were moving which was a good start!
Next issue: we got into Waverley about 7am – which put us about 3 hours behind schedule. And given I had my first viewing of the flat at 9am, this was going to cause me problems. Even more so because it was a viewing with someone who only had a Hungarian mobile and I wasn’t convinced I was going to be able to make contact. So, in a fit of inspiration I decided to bite the bullet and pay for some internet while at Waverley (I’ve done this before). Turned the laptop on. Got the “available networks” up. And got logged on to the East Coast mainline free wireless. Hurrah! While all that was going on in the background I’d drafted a note to my 9am prospective tenant and searched by his name to find his email address – turns out since the last time I’d checked my emails he’d been in touch to inform me he already had accommodation...and was cancelling the appointment. So that *definitely* worked out perfectly!
The train is now on its merry way again – and the light is just coming into the sky so I’ll have the pleasure of watching the Scottish countryside go by on my way up to Aberdeen. The fact that this bit of railway line is one of my faves for gazing at the countryside is, of course, another bonus. It’s going to be a good day.
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