Visit the Seven Railway Wonders

Iappreciate we have readers all over Britain, so no itinerary to visit the Seven Wonders can really be put together to suit you all without knowing a starting point.

After all, if you live in Mallaig a tour of the seven is going to be very different for you than for those living in Margate! And those living in the middle of England might find it easier to go out and back to some of them, rather than do a tour.

However, I’m going to suggest a sequence, with no bias, starting in Bristol. No doubt most readers can at least plug into it at some point.

1 Great Western Railway main line (London-Bristol)

This route is one of Brunel’s greatest achievements. The best parts are Temple Meads itself (pictured), the first 24 miles to Chippenham via Box Tunnel, and the Thames stretches from Didcot into Paddington at the eastern end. Having reached Paddington, use the Hammersmith & City Line to reach Euston Square for Euston and the Caledonian Sleeper to Fort William.

2 West Highland Railway Extension (Fort William-Mallaig)

The Sleeper is a wonderful experience. Ensure you’re up around 0700 to sample the West Highland scenery from your berth or the lounge car.

You then do a return trip on the Extension proper, to Mallaig. In summer you could use the steam train one way. On your return you’d then make your way to Edinburgh. You could use the special day coach attached to the ‘Up’ Sleeper for this, but as it arrives 0110 it’s better to stay overnight somewhere en route.

3 The Forth Bridge

You only need an 11-mile trip (four trains per hour) to North Queensferry (pictured) to cross the bridge. Then return to Edinburgh and make for Carlisle.

4 Ribblehead Viaduct

Those who’ve not crossed Ribblehead before would want to travel the whole Settle-Carlisle Line anyway. Ribblehead station (pictured) is 60 miles from Carlisle and worth a break to walk (around half a mile) to see the viaduct from below.

5 The Liverpool & Manchester Railway

At Leeds you can catch direct trains (twice-hourly) to Liverpool (pictured) via Manchester, Chat Moss and Rainhill. From Liverpool you can make your way to London Euston and walk down the road to St Pancras (a third of a mile).

6 St Pancras International Station

Indeed, this magnificent station is best seen from the Euston Road, although time spent looking round the various levels is worthwhile. Don’t miss the John Betjeman statue on the Eurostar level.

7 The Channel Tunnel

It’s from here that your train will depart to pass through the Channel Tunnel. In theory Calais is the shortest trip, but as the service is slender you might as well do a trip to at least Lille, if not Paris or Brussels.