Great Western Coffee Shop

Today I had to make a journey from Shirehampton to Cardiff. For personal reasons this journey was made at very short notice.
The SDR was excellent value at ^15.30. I was expecting to pay a great deal more for an open return that early. The 0715 from BRI to CDF was a novel experience. A HST from Temple Meads to Cardiff, so much more civilised than a 158. All on-train staff were throughly professional. The TM did a ticket check between BRI and Filton Abbey Wood. The girl in the buffet was wonderful. She gave me a free coffee when she accidentally spilled the first one, splashing me very minorly. Gateline staff at Cardiff gave me accurate directions to University Hospital Cardiff.
The return journey, a FGW CDF-PAD (I was travelling to Bristol Parkway) was heavily loaded with holiday makers, yet ATW despatch staff and the TM were very visible and a model of helpfulness to passengers who I guess were not regular travellers.
Finally on leaving the train at BPW, I helped an old lady off the train and she wanted to give me a tip! I don't even work for the railways!
Top marks all round to FGW and ATW.......the positive comment e-mails have been sent. Well done.

Spits drink on keyboard...  :D

....and I nearly spilled my coffee when the TM arrived in coach E and announced 'all tickets from Bath and Bristol' as we passed Dr Day's. I guess he was just manoevering to the correct part of the HST set for SDO at Filton, but to do a ticket check as well, that's dedication!

Before I started driving to Keynsham from Bath, to save money, I regularly used to get this service from Bath to Cardiff and 90% of the time there was a ticket check between Bristol and FAW.  I suppose this is because there's no barrier at FAW, so it's good to get a check in before there.

I did wonder about the reversal (spotter hat on!). When and where does the unit get reversed again for any subsequent PAD departures on its diagram?

1C01 from Bristol TM and 1L48 from Swansea are the only trains on FGW that are planned to be in reverse.  The HST is booked to turn at Kensal Green between the peaks before 1B59 at 16:45 ex Paddington to get ot back into correct formation.

Is that Kensal Green on the WCML near Willesden/Wembley area?  Do FGW operate a HST there?  Bit off their patch!!

I think I've worked out the reversal Rogang is referring to near Kensal Green. Set leaves PAD, reverses at Acton East Junction and travels to Mitre Bridge Junction via West London Junction. Reverses and travels to Willesden High Level Junction. Reverses and travels to Acton East Junction. Final reversal and back to Paddington. Am I right? And can the triangular junction at West Ealing Junction/Hanwell Junction not be used?

1L48 is turned by going round the greenford loop, Kensal Green is the name of the wash plant on the way onto Old Oak Common.  Also, in the interest of giving spotters infomation, 1L48 is booked into Padd Plt 9!

Or perhaps it allows the Paddington "gripper" to relocate himself from the buffet, to the TGS  ;)


no offence to any Paddington "grippers" reading intended

Touche, but in general, my point still stands ;)