Great Western Coffee Shop

Is it worth it?

Have been tempted to go one of these weekends - but you know me, I'd do the full works for ^189

Just wondering if the food quality is worth it - and I don't mean that the food itself is worth ^189 but the whole full works experience

Did it last year (after 6 years of watching it steam through Nailsea every summer sunday), and the family thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't vouch for the food as we did it standard class. There appears to be quite a few alternatives running from Bristol over the next few weeks, including one to Plymouth departing Bristol an hour earlier on the 19th, and another the following saturday heading to the south west.

Google steam tours and you will find an excellent site that lists all main line steam tours, and which operator runs them if you want more info.

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/

Good place to start.

Ah well - doing it on the 19th - will report back - day off between final assignments and exam revision

Kingswear & Dartmouth is nice (bloody good fireworks display on regatta too)

Make sure you get seats on the left hand side for the coast between Exeter and Kingswear

I'm sure the food will be top notch, but I think it's time they cleaned and repainted the outside of their rake of carriages. They look really tatty when parked up at Temple Meads.

Enjoy your trip. Dartmouth is a lovely place to spend a few hours.

Sorry to be fussy...just about to shift this into "Other ways to travel" ;)

...but have fun! Never been on the Torbay Express itself, although did go on a railtour from Temple Meads down to Par some years ago (return via Pewsey and Reading...) and it's a superb journey. Looks like it's booked for 71000 Duke of Gloucester at the moment, but you might be unlucky and get some Great Western scrap metal instead.

Well its that tatty rake that (1) let me know it existed and (2) tempted me to spend ^175 for a day out with food (prices have dropped since last I looked - was ^189)

So don't knock it

Leaving Paignton stay on the left for the bay & beaches after passing through the tunnel try to get to the right hand side for the river Dart - it's absolutely lovely up there and steeped in history.

I see you have some time at Dartmouth - walk through the station straight on to the ferry for Dartmouth.
There's nothing to see on the Kingswear side that can't be seen better from the Dartmouth side apart from the station which has a huge platform and lots of old 'stuff' lying around.

Fish 'n chips from Brunel's Station which is now a cafe - then you have plenty of time to take the harbour cruise

 http://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/section.php/24/1/harbour_cruise (http://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/section.php/24/1/harbour_cruise)

You get to see the castle at the harbour mouth, the Naval college, lots of very expensive riverside property, Agatha Christie's estate, the Raleigh Estates, the Dimbleby brothers yacht, fabulous scenery, maybe Seals & Kingfishers.

The boats leave from the same pontoon that the ferry dropped you off at.

Any time left - at the pontoon you'll see an Elizabethan fronted restaurant (fake) walk around the 'back' of it to see the real thing - unfortunately recently damaged by a fire.   

I recommend a visit to the fudge shop, all freshly made in the shop.

Are there any nice walks in the area?  I'm not talking hikes etc just nice wanders to stretch the legs

To be honest, Mookiemoo, I think there's a fair bit of walking to be done, even in Dartmouth.

A walk to the castle, and perhaps up the cliff path from there, for some spectacular views of the Channel, combined with strolling around the harbour, should give you plenty of exercise and fresh sea air!

My personal recommendation for lunch in Dartmouth, by the way, would be the Dartmouth Apprentice (http://www.dartmouthapprentice.com/) - a worthy cause, and very good value.

Hope this helps!

CfN.  ;D

Agreed the castle is quite nice. Although there is plenty to see in Dartmouth.

Does it take the same route as the normal HSTs to that part of the world or does it go off track?  If its the same route, I know which side to be on at what point but if not, I'll have to pay more attention

This is an expensive version of my take a day out on trains to get away from the net jobby

Your train will follow the same route to Paignton as any normal scheduled service. In fact it has to from Taunton onwards - there is no other way!

From Paignton to Kingswear (for Dartmouth) you will be travelling on the privately owned Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company (http://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/) line.

Sorry next Q

Torbay express due in at 2040

I have boooked an advance on the 2100 to London

If the torbay is late - whats my chances of using the ticket?

Er..... nearly zilch.

Unless you get a really sympathetic Train Manager. (I believe such a thing exists!!!)

Chances of being ticket checked on the 2100 to London Paddington in First Class... Oh, sorry where is my camera, I see flying pigs ;D ::)

*Opens tin of worms and discreetly disappears*

I would say about 90%.  TM are on comission now you know  ;D

PS If you do miss the train bacause you first train is late just show you Torbay Express ticket to the TM.  Should not be  a problem.

Would most TMs really honour a connection from a railtour, super tm?

I'm a bit sceptical, but great customer service if they would.