Imber bus day

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I am informed that Imber Church had 2135 visitors on the day.

And other churches struggle for even a small audience ... what does Imber have?

I gave Imber a miss this year; glad to see it went well and didn't fancy the more difficult journey to get to a point on the 23A route.  Next year, perhaps, assuming there are trains available to Warminster on the chosen day.

[grahame]

The date is set for Imberbus 2024 !

The Imberbus Crew

We are pleased to announce that this year, we are planning to run the Imberbus service on

Saturday 17th August 2024

when several vintage former London Transport Routemaster buses (plus a few newer ones) will again provide a bus service from Warminster Station to Imber and other isolated locations on the Salisbury Plain between 10am and 6pm.

Once again our event will be a Car Free Day, with the only access to Imber on 17th August being on the buses operating the Imberbus service. These special arrangements successfully eliminated the severe traffic congestion that we experienced around Imber in 2019, but they do mean that there are some restrictions on what you can and cannot do when you get there, details of which will be confirmed during the summer.

[rogerw]

Just a reminder that this is 12 days away (17 August)

[grahame]

Just a reminder that this is 12 days away (17 August)

Now just ONE day away.  After last year's long ququququeuse at Warminster, I am planning to be there but will connecting into the bus at The Lavingtons. 

From Melksham to Devizes on the 272 bus (across the road from my home) connecting into the 3A or 3C in Devizes Market Place to Lavington, or the 2 which goes through to Salisbury and also calls at Gores Cross and Tilshead, both connecting points onto the 23A to Imber.

Remember that joining the bus away from Warminster you'll buy your ticket on the first bus from the conductor, £10 day ticket for as many journeys as you can manage, cash only.

[Mark A]

A day for which the participants particularly need Warminster's direct trains Bristol - Waterl***Thwack!!***

Mark

[grahame]

A day for which the participants particularly need Warminster's direct trains Bristol - Waterl***Thwack!!***

Mark

There are direct trains from Waterloo to Warminster tomorrow at 08:50 and 17:50 (regular services that run on toward Yeovil from Westbury and do not serve stations from Trowbridge to Bristol, and there is an extra "unadvertised express" at 09:55 too that starts back at Tonbridge.

Real Time Trains shows a return services from Warminster at 17:00 via Waterloo to Tonbridge, and services at 08:18 and 11:50 which join to other trains at Salisbury and then carry on to Waterloo. 

[Mark A]

Also, connections at Salisbury much improved, with fewer providing that 50 minute Salisbury experience.

Also... the Imber bus day has from time to time seen indifferent weather, but tomorrow's forecast is good.

Mark

[Mark A]

*snip* ...and there is an extra "unadvertised express" at 09:55 too that starts back at Tonbridge.

Tonbridge - Waterloo - Warminster. It's good to see the railways taking advantage of that little-used spur from Waterloo East and across the concourse.

Mark

[JayMac]

I shall be going. Driving to Wiltshire from Taunton.

I haven't yet decided where to park and travel from. Suggestions...

Who else from the forum is attending?

[grahame]

I shall be going. Driving to Wiltshire from Taunton.

I haven't yet decided where to park and travel from. Suggestions...

Who else from the forum is attending?

Chitterne (for parking)?

[infoman]

Was going to post in Portsmouth to Cardiff section although I can't find any posting about this improvement if it has I will say sorry in advance.

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Points west on Friday 16 August breakfast local news saying that Salisbury forecourt  area is under going improvement work
which started in July 2024 and lasting for one year.
Should be on again at 13:30pm and 18:30pm,the play again facility on local news is valid for 24 hours only.

[rogerw]

The "unadvertised express" is a fully booked charter using the preserved Hastings unit

[grahame]

The "unadvertised express" is a fully booked charter using the preserved Hastings unit

According to some of our members, then, that can't be a proper express - not long enough ... and with the power in the carriages.

4 + 2 half carriages of people is going to put a significant load on the buses - unless there's a White Horse option taken up by a lot of passengers of having a day in Westbury instead.

P.S. Love the Hastings units.  Not been on it, though, since the trip to Fawley Gates!

[ChrisB]

*snip* ...and there is an extra "unadvertised express" at 09:55 too that starts back at Tonbridge.

Tonbridge - Waterloo - Warminster. It's good to see the railways taking advantage of that little-used spur from Waterloo East and across the concourse.

Errr....Tonbridge - Guildford - Waterloo anyone?

[Mark A]

*snip* ...and there is an extra "unadvertised express" at 09:55 too that starts back at Tonbridge.

Tonbridge - Waterloo - Warminster. It's good to see the railways taking advantage of that little-used spur from Waterloo East and across the concourse.

Errr....Tonbridge - Guildford - Waterloo anyone?

That reminds me, on a journey from Kemble to Wye, I opted to travel via Reading - Redhill - Tonbridge. (This was ages ago).

This turned out to be a poor choice, as the Reading to Redhill train failed within a signalling section and far from anything that would allow the crew to communicate, somewhere near Ash Vale.

Further complicating things, the guard was wearing fragile-ish shoes with high heels, these weren't the best footwear for a hike along the line to put down detonators and also seek help and it was a long time before the train was rescued (I can't recall how).

With Tonbridge eventually reached, British Rail were in no way motived to stop a fast train there to get things moving for the delayed passengers, so it was a bit of a wait at Tonbridge (time to enjoy the sight and sound of a Hastings diesel threading the singular overbridge there) and then on a stopper to continue along the long Redhill to Ashford straight, calling at its series of stations, rather than on a fast which, between Tonbridge and Ashford, often seemed to do everything short of breaking the sound barrier.

My arrival was somewhat later than I intended.

Mark