Has anyone got experience of travelling solo by train with baby and loads of luggage?

[nojopo]

how easy is it to travel by virgin train with a baby plus car seat plus pram plus suitcase on my own ? will be leaving and returning to euston - can you pre book porters if i get to the station by taxi ? will virgin help out with loading me on and off the train ?

Oooh Lordy!!

How old's the baby?

What do you absolutely need to take and what can you borrow when you get there?

I've travelled by train, but took minimal luggage and had a car seat and pushchair to borrow for DS2 from his lovely cousin when we got there. I just had DS2 in a sling - would that be an option?

I've done the plane a lot.
I never assume people will help (although they will if asked) so only ever take what I can handle alone.

3 months old and going to my parents - am loath to ask they to buy doubles of stuff that won;t get used much but need the car seat for my dad's car.

Is it carseat that goes with pram then?
I use a rucksack if travelling like this,then you can do it all no probs.

unfortunately not - will be sleeping in the carry cot bit of the pram but hey - i should carry that and put baby in the car seat on the base - good thinking why didn;t i think of that . forgot to say dodgy back too so no rucksack , ho hum , its going to be fun.

ive travelled on virgin trains with baby DS...guards always helpful (although ive never used Euston). I usually get to platform early if poss then ask the guard who is there (there is always at least one for blowing the whistle) for assistance, often they call for extra help. I have had guards carry buggy etc onto train for me and stack in the luggage rack even. For getting off...someone will usually help especially if you are blocking the door!! or again you can ask the guard to help.

I also get everything together for getting off ridicuously early so that at least i am ready. I park DS in the buggy in the corridor by exit whilst i gather together any bags.

Also get your mum to buy nappies, wipes etc so that you pack minimally. Also is it poss for your mum to borrow a car seat from anyone??

How old is your LO?? Now mine is over 6 mths i have bought a cheap stroller to leave at mums so i dont have to cart it up and down, just use sling.

well i manged by myself with a 12 month old (who couldnt stand or walk), a stage 1 car seat, a travel cot and 4 heavy bags (oh and a mackaren buggy.... into london waterloo

its do-able though not 'easy' or fun!

Use a rucksack definitely and buy nappies once you get there. It depends where you are going. Are you staying with family/friends, could you borrow a carseat at the other end. Sometimes the guards are not helpful so it would help if you could plan your journey with lifts. I would phone through first and find out, even if it takes a bit longer is worth it. I used to travel by train a lot when DS was small and it's doable but with planning

If you ring Virgin you can book porters to help you on and off the train...although mine didn't turn up at bristol and I relied on a nice dutch lady to help! I got a 3 year old and a 4mth old baby and clothes for a weeks holiday to and from somerset from brum. A real struggle but doable.Lots of kindness from strangers needed.

When going on train get on with pram facing forwards as normal, but when getting off do it backwards. Used to get the train all the time with a big silver cross and various buggies.

I would consider a back pack, perhaps car seat can fit under pram or be strapped on top of pram.

sorry someone already suggested a rucksack/ back back

baby in sling and use pram as luggage cart!

Oh that is a good idea, baby will be lighter than a huge rucksack, perhaps a big holdall in the pram then.