Recent content by NormyFGW

The AVR are holding a weekend 'Beer Bash' this coming Fri, Sat + Sun, featuring diesel haulage using 08888, 08202, 31130 and Barclay 0-4-0DM WD70043 'Grumpy' sporting it's newly applied green livery. The event will feature 25 types of beer from the Hop Union Brewery (formerly the Great Western...

Around 2000/2001, I had worked a GW HST set from Paddington to Hereford one evening, and as we left ECS to return to Bristol, we ground to a halt at Abergavenny with a fault that would not allow the set to be driven by the leading power car. Plan A was to reverse direction of travel, head back...

Slightly OT, but have HSTs ever been used to haul anything other than Mk3s? Having worked a full HST set from Paddington to Hereford around 19 years ago, the set was due to run ECS back to SPM Depot via Bristol Temple Meads. This was a nightly diagram at the time, but on this particular night...

When I first started work with GWR many years ago, taxi dockets were issued locally by each station's supervisor or duty manager, and the system worked perfectly well most of the time. The next taxi on the rank would be offered the job, most would accept it, as even though payment might take a...

As said, this is indeed Mark 1 BSO 9208. Built BR Doncaster 1955 initially with 39 std class seats. Numbers carried were E9208 and DB977134. Was named 'Grace' in July 2000 and formed part of AVR's dining train formation.

Scenery wise, there are a number in Scotland that I always felt were memorable - if I had to pick one in particular, it would have to be Kyle of Lochalsh. I always remember my first trip to Crewe as a youngster, many years ago, and the sight of passing all the locomotives on the approach to...

142003 moved from Gascoigne Wood to Eastleigh depot on 13th April. Reason unknown I'm afraid.

When I was route learning to Paddington many years ago, I also asked where Dolphin Junction got its name from, and was assured by my 'trainer' that it was because when viewed from space via satellite, the line layout resembled the shape of a dolphin! I'm loathe to confess that being a newbie at...