Gwml 28/10/16

[plastictaffy]

Ladies/Gents/Boys/Girls

I'm travelling to Taunton on the 28th with the eventual destination being Minehead for a stag weekend. I'm looking at getting the 1106 ex-Paddington, arriving Taunton 1258.

Is this normally a busy service?? Am I likely to get a seat?? Finally, does anyone have any idea of the headcode for it please??

Thanking you in advance.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Headcode is 1C79. It is a Friday, and Fridays are usually busier especially with it being the end of half term but as it starts at Paddington you should be fine, as well as it being at a quieter period of the day. Arrive there with plenty of time, check Real Time Trains for which platform it goes from (which is obviously subject to alteration), which is usually platform 2, and don't forget Coaches E and F are the unreserved coaches so you should easily get a seat if you follow the above. The inbound working is the 0728 from Swansea (1L34) which arrives at 1032

 

[plastictaffy]

Headcode is 1C79. It is a Friday, and Fridays are usually busier especially with it being the end of half term but as it starts at Paddington you should be fine, as well as it being at a quieter period of the day. Arrive there with plenty of time, check Real Time Trains for which platform it goes from (which is obviously subject to alteration), which is usually platform 2, and don't forget Coaches E and F are the unreserved coaches so you should easily get a seat if you follow the above. The inbound working is the 0728 from Swansea (1L34) which arrives at 1032

Fantastic, thankyou. I may use a bit of charm and have a chinwag with the guard (being one myself) and see if I can pinch one of the nice seats. I'm guessing it would be a Bristol Guard on it?? Is first class any good on GWR?

 

[Dhassell]

The 1106 goes via Berk and Hants so possibly not Bristol, Maybe Exeter or Paddington?

 

[plastictaffy]

Don't think I've ever done the B+H. I'm guessing low speed and very pretty? Under the Bristol line at Cogload Junction??

 

[221129]

Don't think I've ever done the B+H. I'm guessing low speed and very pretty? Under the Bristol line at Cogload Junction??

Yes under the Bristol line at Cogload, the route is High Speed excpept through the Westbury area and not exceptionally pretty in my opinion. most likely to be either an Exeter or Plymouth TM but I guess it could be a Bristol man.

 

[cossie4i]

Yes under the Bristol line at Cogload, the route is High Speed excpept through the Westbury area and not exceptionally pretty in my opinion. most likely to be either an Exeter or Plymouth TM but I guess it could be a Bristol man.

I think it's a very pretty route over the B&H, a lot nicer than via Swindon.
Max line speed after Reading is 110mph with lots of restrictions. 50mph over Fairwood junction then 25mph into Westbury itself.

 

[fgwrich]

I think it's a very pretty route over the B&H, a lot nicer than via Swindon.
Max line speed after Reading is 110mph with lots of restrictions. 50mph over Fairwood junction then 25mph into Westbury itself.

Unless it uses the Westbury avoider though. I find the B&H rather pretty, if you keep an eye out past Westbury, you'll notice one of the White Horses on the left hand side.

 

[davetheguard]

Unless it uses the Westbury avoider though. I find the B&H rather pretty, if you keep an eye out past Westbury, you'll notice one of the White Horses on the left hand side.

And before that, one at Pewsey on the right.

 

[cossie4i]

Unless it uses the Westbury avoider though. I find the B&H rather pretty, if you keep an eye out past Westbury, you'll notice one of the White Horses on the left hand side.

It is before Westbury on the left hand side going towards Taunton.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

And before that, one at Pewsey on the right.

It is after Pewsey on the right at Woodborough loops

 

[plastictaffy]

Unless it uses the Westbury avoider though. I find the B&H rather pretty, if you keep an eye out past Westbury, you'll notice one of the White Horses on the left hand side.

It's booked a Westbury stop.

 

[tiptoptaff]

If you haven't already, book a through ticket to Minehead with the connecting bus. Used to use it a lot and a few times during disruption having that through ticket meant they chucked me in a taxi to Minehead after the last bus had gone. A bit less than a separate bus ticket too from what I remember. Better than a £45 taxi certainly!!

 

[plastictaffy]

If you haven't already, book a through ticket to Minehead with the connecting bus. Used to use it a lot and a few times during disruption having that through ticket meant they chucked me in a taxi to Minehead after the last bus had gone. A bit less than a separate bus ticket too from what I remember. Better than a £45 taxi certainly!!

Thanks, but there's no need. One of the boys is coming up from Newquay and intending to hit Taunton around 1400. I get there 1258, so go into town for a trip down memory lane, (I worked at Butlins in Minehead for 18 months, so know Taunton reasonably well) a pint and a bit of lunch before he picks me up. It's all very much under control, fella!!!

 

[Techniquest]

Don't know if you've booked or not, but First Class is rather nice these days, feels posher than it used to! If it's not super expensive it'll be worth a look.

 

[dk1]

Don't know if you've booked or not, but First Class is rather nice these days, feels posher than it used to! If it's not super expensive it'll be worth a look.

Only trouble I find now is the reduction from 2.5 to 1.5 1st class vehicles. Seems to have lost a little of the spaciousness & privacy throughout the day.

 

[jimm]

Only trouble I find now is the reduction from 2.5 to 1.5 1st class vehicles. Seems to have lost a little of the spaciousness & privacy throughout the day.

Which might also be interpreted as emptiness...

 

[Techniquest]

First Class was no more than a quarter full on the 1432 London Paddington to Port Talbot Parkway on Saturday, and I think almost everyone was on Weekend First upgrades judging by how long it took the TM to get to everyone. I certainly saw no-one else get their tickets clipped, I was on an Advance First from Cambridge.

Just for the record, I don't rate First Class on 365s whatsoever. I'd probably rate Southern's First Class on 377/4s higher...

Either way, from one former Butlins lad to another, enjoy your journey thrashing along The Desert!

 

[221129]

First Class was no more than a quarter full on the 1432 London Paddington to Port Talbot Parkway on Saturday, and I think almost everyone was on Weekend First upgrades judging by how long it took the TM to get to everyone. I certainly saw no-one else get their tickets clipped, I was on an Advance First from Cambridge.

Just for the record, I don't rate First Class on 365s whatsoever. I'd probably rate Southern's First Class on 377/4s higher...

Either way, from one former Butlins lad to another, enjoy your journey thrashing along The Desert!

Thought the desert was the bit between Bridgwater and Nailsea?

 

[Techniquest]

Nope, has always been Reading to Taunton via Westbury, especially between Newbury and Taunton.

 

[plastictaffy]

Nope, has always been Reading to Taunton via Westbury, especially between Newbury and Taunton.

Otherwise known as the Somerset levels. For the record, before admin close the thread, I had a lovely ride both ways, with 1st class being done with a nod, a smile and a flash of my LM staff badge in with my ticket. Good job too, the train was rammed both ways.

Decent HST both ways - first class on GWR is really quite special - the leather reclining seats are quite fine.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Techniquest - where, when and what did you do for Butlins??

 

[Techniquest]

Glad you enjoyed your journey!

I was in the Pizza Hut there, and this was going back to summer 2004

 

[Sprinter153]

Fantastic, thankyou. I may use a bit of charm and have a chinwag with the guard (being one myself) and see if I can pinch one of the nice seats. I'm guessing it would be a Bristol Guard on it?? Is first class any good on GWR?

It's worked by a Plymouth TM and catering crew I believe.

 

[plastictaffy]

Glad you enjoyed your journey!

I was in the Pizza Hut there, and this was going back to summer 2004

I was bars/Chick n Kebab/Harry Ramsdens from June 2001-September 2002. I was stunned to see CNK had gone. When I was there, Pizza Hut was called Pinewood Studios.