All the GWR stations ?

[Ib5]

So I’m looking to travel through every GWR (The current TOC) station in the fastest time (circa 5 days) not a record or anything just for fun.

I can only use GWR services, so for example I can’t jump on a SWR train from Weymouth to Southampton or XC from Southampton to Reading etc.

I’m trying to figure out the best starting point to get the biggest band for buck in the first day.

Day one
I did think about Paddington (obvious choice) do the Thames Valley branches and Heathrow Airport.

Then Reading to do the Gatwick and Basingstoke. Then back to Paddington for the sleeper to Penzance.

Day 2
Cornish branches upto Exeter and then Exeter branches.

Day 3
Exeter to Cardiff onto Carmarthen, back to Bristol TM do the Severn Beach.

Day 4
Bristol to Portsmouth back to Westbury to Weymouth, Weymouth to Worcester.

Day 5 Worcester to Hereford back to Worcester down to Swindon via Gloucester.
Swindon to Parkway via Yate back to Worcester.

Day 6 Worcester to Paddington via Oxford and done?

Possible ????

 

[The exile]

Do you mean "stations operated by GWR" or "served by GWR"? If the former, you don't have to go beyond Warminster on the Portsmouth service - if the latter you'll have to add in the Chandler's Ford line as well and there's only about 1 tpd that goes that way.
Your Day 2 is going to have to be carefully timed to hit the Looe trains that actually go as far as Coombe Junction station platform (obviously they all reach the actual junction!) - they don't all.
Don't GWR still serve Banbury?

Day 4 - when you say "Weymouth to Worcester" - do you mean via Melksham?

You're running a big risk of being bowled by the Night Riviera running via Bristol rather than Newbury - I don't see the Berks and Hants in your schedule otherwise.

 

[John R]

By GWR station do you mean one that they operate, or one that they serve?

If the latter, do you have to include Pembroke Dock?

 

[Haywain]

I did think about Paddington (obvious choice) do the Thames Valley branches and Heathrow Airport.

GWR don't serve Heathrow Airport.

 

[Ib5]

Do you mean "stations operated by GWR" or "served by GWR"? If the former, you don't have to go beyond Warminster on the Portsmouth service - if the latter you'll have to add in the Chandler's Ford line as well and there's only about 1 tpd that goes that way.
Your Day 2 is going to have to be carefully timed to hit the Looe trains that actually go as far as Coombe Junction station platform (obviously they all reach the actual junction!) - they don't all.
Don't GWR still serve Banbury?

Day 4 - when you say "Weymouth to Worcester" - do you mean via Melksham?

You're running a big risk of being bowled by the Night Riviera running via Bristol rather than Newbury - I don't see the Berks and Hants in your schedule otherwise.

Stations they stop at, I did forget about Chandlers Ford and Melksham!

I see your point about the sleeper going via Bristol not the B&H, I’d need a Plymouth to London to cover that if the NR went via the long way round.

 

[Ib5]

GWR don't serve Heathrow Airport.

I was including Heathrow as a sub group of GWR for completeness.

 

[Ib5]

By GWR station do you mean one that they operate, or one that they serve?

If the latter, do you have to include Pembroke Dock?

If they call there then yes unfortunately.

 

[cjw714]

Don't forget you will also need to go out to Axminster which is somewhat challenging at the moment although the train sometimes seems to run back to Exeter in service which could make things easier.

Also, if you're allowed to use local buses there is a potentially convenient bus between Totnes and Paignton which has the bonus of some delightful views from the ridge between the two.

 

[vc99]

This is exciting. Can you keep us all updated with your efforts if you so this little adventure?

 

[Anonymous10]

Stations they stop at, I did forget about Chandlers Ford and Melksham!

I see your point about the sleeper going via Bristol not the B&H, I’d need a Plymouth to London to cover that if the NR went via the long way round.

Gwr also call at all stations to pembroke dock during the summer on Saturdays.

 

[stadler]

There are also five stations in Hampshire that all get an extremely limited GWR service.

Botley (1 per day)
Eastleigh (2 per day)
Hedge End (1 per day)
Portchester (1 per day)
Southampton Airport (2 per day)

So these will certainly require some careful planning to get a GWR train that calls at them.

Chandlers Ford does not have any booked GWR services and has never done so. GWR only call additionally at Chandlers Ford during engineering work. But it is not actually booked other than an occasional few times a year during engineering work. So i am not sure if you would include that as well.

 

[Kite159]

There are also five stations in Hampshire that all get an extremely limited GWR service.

Botley (1 per day)
Eastleigh (2 per day)
Hedge End (1 per day)
Portchester (1 per day)
Southampton Airport (2 per day)

So these will certainly require some careful planning to get a GWR train that calls at them.

Chandlers Ford does not have any booked GWR services and has never done so. GWR only call additionally at Chandlers Ford during engineering work. But it is not actually booked other than an occasional few times a year during engineering work. So i am not sure if you would include that as well.

Why did I think GWR had stopped calling at Botley & Hedge End on the daily service which goes via Eastleigh

 

[stadler]

Why did I think GWR had stopped calling at Botley & Hedge End on the daily service which goes via Eastleigh

I just checked the timetable and it seems like Botley and Hedge End is actually only once a week now. So it certainly still runs but not as frequent. I am certain that i remember the Botley and Hedge End calls being a daily service before. That must have changed at some point in the last few years.

These are the current GWR run Hampshire oddities:

Monday to Friday:
04:50 Fratton to Bristol Temple Meads 07:28 (Odd Calls: Portchester)

Monday to Friday:
21:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads 00:16 (Odd Calls: Eastleigh, Southampton Airport Parkway)

Saturday:
21:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Westbury 23:30 (Odd Calls: Eastleigh, Southampton Airport Parkway)

Sunday:
19:34 Bristol Temple Meads to Portsmouth Harbour 22:28 (Odd Calls: Southampton Airport Parkway, Eastleigh, Hedge End, Botley)

So you are now forced to travel on a Sunday if you want to get the Botley and Hedge End odd GWR calls.

It is strange how the timetable has nothing booked to travel via the Chandlers Ford route. I wonder how they keep up route knowledge. Maybe the engineering work diversions are frequent enough. Both yesterday and the day before (27th and 28th) had GWR calling at Chandlers Ford all day.

 

[The exile]

I just checked the timetable and it seems like Botley and Hedge End is actually only once a week now. So it certainly still runs but not as frequent. I am certain that i remember the Botley and Hedge End calls being a daily service before. That must have changed at some point in the last few years.

These are the current GWR run Hampshire oddities:

Monday to Friday:
04:50 Fratton to Bristol Temple Meads 07:28 (Odd Calls: Portchester)

Monday to Friday:
21:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads 00:16 (Odd Calls: Eastleigh, Southampton Airport Parkway)

Saturday:
21:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Westbury 23:30 (Odd Calls: Eastleigh, Southampton Airport Parkway)

Sunday:
19:34 Bristol Temple Meads to Portsmouth Harbour 22:28 (Odd Calls: Southampton Airport Parkway, Eastleigh, Hedge End, Botley)

So you are now forced to travel on a Sunday if you want to get the Botley and Hedge End odd GWR calls.

It is strange how the timetable has nothing booked to travel via the Chandlers Ford route. I wonder how they keep up route knowledge. Maybe the engineering work diversions are frequent enough. Both yesterday and the day before (27th and 28th) had GWR calling at Chandlers Ford all day.

Hadn’t realised that that odd late nighter no longer went via Chandler’s Ford (even if it never actually stopped there) but those other Hampshire odd stops between Eastleigh and Fareham / Southampton are going to make life very awkward. Portchester’s ok because the normal Pompeys pass through anyway (don’t think the OP stipulated that he has to stop at all the stations -merely pass through anyway- as otherwise the sleeper wouldn’t tick off the B&H.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Then Reading to do the Gatwick and Basingstoke. Then back to Paddington for the sleeper to Penzance.

Just to point out that the Night Riviera picks up at Reading, so you don't need to go back to Paddington.

 

[Anonymous10]

Just to point out that the Night Riviera picks up at Reading, so you don't need to go back to Paddington.

Unless you value a fuller nights sleep

 

[Kite159]

I wonder how they keep up route knowledge.

Probably by passing on SWR services. Similar to XC staff when they need to keep up route knowledge of via Laverstock

 

[Anonymous10]

Probably by passing on SWR services. Similar to XC staff when they need to keep up route knowledge of via Laverstock

Or route conducted?

 

[SteelWeelApeal]

Also Frome puts a spanner in the works…

 

[Haywain]

Also Frome puts a spanner in the works…

Why? The Weymouth - Bristol calls there.

 

[SteelWeelApeal]

Why? The Weymouth - Bristol calls there.

Oh of course. Was too focused on the berks and hants/sleeper discussion.

 

[Quincy]

Also dependant on if OP wants to stop at a station compared to passing, Pilning may also be difficult with its Twice a week service with both being on a eastbound Saturday service