Great Western Coffee Shop

Why did 10:12 (10:51 Taplow)Padd Reading leave 4 late.

It's just sloppy working!

Please don't assume that without getting the facts first... If you do have the facts then post them so that your rant about a minor delay looks more justified

The previous working didn't arrive Paddington until 10:13 (not sure why), so there was a 4-minute late start, recovered to 2 minutes at Southall, then back to 4 minutes for some reason by Twyford.  Arrived Reading 3 minutes late.

Wasn't really a rant just an observation.

You say the arrival was of the stock was at 10:13 how late was that I make it at least 10 minutes.

Why after getting 2 minutes back at Southall did it drop 2 minutes between there and Twyford.

Also did it hold anything coming out of Reading getting into one of the terminal bays, 6 or 10?

However, still think it's sloppy working I reckon there's easily 2 minutes in the timetable between Southall and Reading.

Yes, 10 minutes late (formed off the 08:21 Oxford-Paddington).  Don't know why it made, then lost time - freight trains are often a problem though.  If not, perhaps a passenger caused the delay?  Perhaps a door was faulty?  Perhaps the train was slipping due to leaf fall?  Perhaps it was sloppy working?  Though I certainly wouldn't straight-away put it down to that!  Easily 2 minutes recovery time on that train between Southall and Reading, you're right.  There is between Twyford and Reading, but only if the signals stay green.  The same train arrived 4 minutes early today.

Airport Jcn can cause a problem as the Connect service has to cross over the DR so if the Padd Rdg locals are running late they can be held at Hayes for the on time Connect to cross

If a train is delayed in order to assist a passenger board who needs help like someone who is visually impaired or who needs a ramp... would you deem this as sloppy? ... not saying this is what happened but its one of many things that could have happened, and on some services with pathing constraints even departing 1 minute late can cause problems, however if the service became ten mins late i would expect an announcement to apoligise and explain the delay

10/11/11

15/21or 2 Padd Oxford arrived 2 mins:20 late Slough 3 mins:45 late departing

15:44 Slough Padd (fast) rolled in at around 15:44/5 didn't see it depart..

15:43 Slough Reading Stopper. Left 35 secs late left Taplow 20secs  late

Humm other than earlier signalling problems at reading (confined to 4a) I can't see a reason for the delays that has been posted, if no announcements have been made to explain delays this would be why

Re the HST Oxford could it be we didn't get much above 112. I timed  a couple of miles at 32 ses +.

However a lot of mile posts seem to be missing or they've disappeared into the vegitation. The Western was always odd with posts on the Up side is there a plan to standadise on the Down as other regions?

As an aside I've discovered that my mobile has a stop watch with lap times so if you press at each mile you get a list of times for comsequetative miles. It's one of the few skills I've retained having been taught at the BR Work Study School at the Grove. It was excellent training  I can still study work all day.

Mileposts from the Southall area to Reading, and also between Reading and Basingstoke are now on the 'Down' side of the formation using a new reflective blue diamond design.  The old mileposts on the 'Up' side weren't removed, but aren't replaced when they get damaged, so less and less of them are now visible.

Merely idle curiosity on my part, IndustryInsider, but how do those mileposts get 'damaged', if they're off to the side of the trackbed?  :-\

Mostly just wear and tear over time with trains thundering past over the years vibrating the foundations.  And if there's work to replace ballast, tamp ballast, or even install other trackside equipment nearby then that can be enough to get them removed or damaged.  Also, with no requirement to keep them visible, it doesn't take long for mother nature to wrap herself round them and make them invisible.

Travelling the WoEML today I noticed both old and new mileposts. In some locations a specific mileage was separated on the old and new posts by some distance....

Glad to hear they were mileposts anyway, BNM. I fear the creeping introduction of kilometres.

Can't see that happening, this is the railway industry we're talking about here!  Besides, you can get a kilometre reading from the overhead catenary posts when the GWML is electrified!

Ah, the Grove. I remember going there to fix the 'phones once or twice - the "posh" management training part in the main house, and the portacabins for the engineering training out in the woods.

Very different nowadays...