Having heard about Mitch Tonks and Pullman Dining on First Great Western, decided to try it out on the 18.03 Paddington to Penzance, as far as Plymouth, so on Monday 8th April at 3,40 am i left for drive to Plymouth. was quiet and easy drive.
Parked up at Plymouth in good time for 05.43 to Penzance, Cross Country service, which was voyager 220 004, very lightly loaded, left on time, was early most of the way due to running in the sleeper path from Plymouth, was dark a lot of the way, bought my Plymouth to London super single ticket on train as the ticket machine at Plymouth would not let me buy one because was buying in peak time, and save queuing at Penzance ticket office, arrived bang on time, to find station with a lot of scaffolding due to major rebuilding going on, weather was overcast and windy and chilly, had a burger at cafe then caught 08.44 Penzance to London, with 430 087 and 430 042, unfortunately was running on one power car, which meant we ran late through Cornwall, arriving about 10 minutes late, and then at Plymouth we stopped for about 15 minutes to try and fix it, Modules were changed but to no avail, left 30 minutes late and lost more time over banks, so at Exeter St Davids left the train to catch train behind.
The train behind, 10.00 Penzance-Paddington, arrived few minutes late, then had an extra stop at Castle Cary due to missed connections, we arrived at London about 10 minutes late, then went to first class lounge, had a first class advance Paddington to Plymouth on 18.03, found lounge to be really good, comfortable leather seats, usual drinks and some cakes to try, had a slice and some orange juice and coffee, and just relaxed, 18.03 boarded 20 minutes before time, made my way to restaurant car, which was lightly loaded, then ordered Scallops, Fillet Steak and for dessert the Chocolate Nemesis, the Scallops were served with out delay, perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious, could have had more, then by Reading the Fillet Steak was served on a warm plate, well done as ordered, with Vegetables, again cooked to perfection, and absolutely delicious with very tasty mustardy sauce, devoured very happily over next 15 minutes, the dessert came which was very naughty and nice, the whole service was finished about passing Westbury, then had coffee and a mint, I cannot recommend the Pullman dining enough, great way to spend a journey, not cheap though, 3 courses cost me £43.00, but would not hesitate to do again when fancy a real blow out, train caught up with late running train about Frome, so ran about 5 minutes late, then an emergency tar on sea wall section near Dawlish, due to high tide and weather etc, so about 8 minutes late in to Plymouth, did not mind though as had a great journey, everyone should try the dining just once, i will again soon, drove home after a really good day out.
Parked up at Plymouth in good time for 05.43 to Penzance, Cross Country service, which was voyager 220 004, very lightly loaded, left on time, was early most of the way due to running in the sleeper path from Plymouth, was dark a lot of the way, bought my Plymouth to London super single ticket on train as the ticket machine at Plymouth would not let me buy one because was buying in peak time, and save queuing at Penzance ticket office, arrived bang on time, to find station with a lot of scaffolding due to major rebuilding going on, weather was overcast and windy and chilly, had a burger at cafe then caught 08.44 Penzance to London, with 430 087 and 430 042, unfortunately was running on one power car, which meant we ran late through Cornwall, arriving about 10 minutes late, and then at Plymouth we stopped for about 15 minutes to try and fix it, Modules were changed but to no avail, left 30 minutes late and lost more time over banks, so at Exeter St Davids left the train to catch train behind.
The train behind, 10.00 Penzance-Paddington, arrived few minutes late, then had an extra stop at Castle Cary due to missed connections, we arrived at London about 10 minutes late, then went to first class lounge, had a first class advance Paddington to Plymouth on 18.03, found lounge to be really good, comfortable leather seats, usual drinks and some cakes to try, had a slice and some orange juice and coffee, and just relaxed, 18.03 boarded 20 minutes before time, made my way to restaurant car, which was lightly loaded, then ordered Scallops, Fillet Steak and for dessert the Chocolate Nemesis, the Scallops were served with out delay, perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious, could have had more, then by Reading the Fillet Steak was served on a warm plate, well done as ordered, with Vegetables, again cooked to perfection, and absolutely delicious with very tasty mustardy sauce, devoured very happily over next 15 minutes, the dessert came which was very naughty and nice, the whole service was finished about passing Westbury, then had coffee and a mint, I cannot recommend the Pullman dining enough, great way to spend a journey, not cheap though, 3 courses cost me £43.00, but would not hesitate to do again when fancy a real blow out, train caught up with late running train about Frome, so ran about 5 minutes late, then an emergency tar on sea wall section near Dawlish, due to high tide and weather etc, so about 8 minutes late in to Plymouth, did not mind though as had a great journey, everyone should try the dining just once, i will again soon, drove home after a really good day out.