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Great Western Coffee Shop > Sideshoots - associated subjects > Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions > 'The Flying Banana' GWR HST charity railtour, 1st June 2019
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Author Topic: 'The Flying Banana' GWR HST charity railtour, 1st June 2019  (Read 20169 times)
JayMac
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« on: May 31, 2019, 14:36:00 »
I've started this dedicated thread to document and report from the final, final full length HST▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) operated by GWR▸ (Great Western Railway), for charity railtour ticket holders only.

The railtour starts at Bristol Temple Meads and runs to Paddington on its first leg. From there its off to Carmarthen, via Oxford, Worcester and Hereford. Then back to Paddington via Newport and Gloucester. Finally it runs non stop from Paddington to Plymouth. Proceeds from the railtour are going to the Action For Children charity.

Here's Finn and I on our positioning move to Swindon today, Friday 31st May 2019, where we are staying overnight with bobm. Then it's up at 'oh my god' o'clock tomorrow morning to pick up the Flying Banana on its first leg from Bristol TM▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) to Paddington.

Travelling in style on an IET▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))!
« Last Edit: May 31, 2019, 15:02:00 by bignosemac » Logged
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broadgage
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« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2019, 19:21:22 »
Dogs are not allowed on seats.
If customers are obliged to sit on the floor, does the floor then become a seat ? Grin
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
JayMac
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« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2019, 19:36:36 »
Personal choice to sit there. Plenty of seats available.
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bobm
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« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2019, 20:02:38 »
He was being chivalrous. 
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2019, 22:27:07 »
Quote from: bignosemac on May 31, 2019, 19:36:36
Personal choice to sit there. Plenty of seats available.

Are you channelling Jeremy Corbyn? 🙂
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Western Pathfinder
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« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2019, 23:47:11 »
Good grief I hope not one of him is enough.
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grahame
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« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2019, 05:17:42 »
Enjoy the day, everyone ... whether you're on The Banana, watching it from a safe place or - in Monty Python's words - somewhere completely different.  Look forward to hearing how the day goes ... and of course on other wider topics as GWR▸ (Great Western Railway) land is not stopping for the one special (at least I hope not!!)
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bobm
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« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2019, 06:20:29 »
We are off!
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JayMac
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« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2019, 06:58:38 »
Returning the favour after being papped by bobm at Swindon.
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JayMac
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« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2019, 07:44:46 »
First leg from Swindon to Paddington now complete.

Now on our way to Carmarthen.



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bobm
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« Reply #10 on: June 01, 2019, 07:50:59 »
Not much time for pictures after gathering supplies, walking dogs and smoking cigarettes.

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JayMac
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« Reply #11 on: June 01, 2019, 08:39:08 »
Finn is getting lots of attention!



We've just met forum member WSW Frome.
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bobm
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« Reply #12 on: June 01, 2019, 14:03:25 »
Running slightly late after a points problem at Worcester and then losing our path into West Wales but still time to get a few photos at the famous barrow crossing at the end of the platform at Carmarthen.



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bobm
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« Reply #13 on: June 01, 2019, 14:12:16 »
...and as we start to head back east a change of outfit for the trip’s leading celebrity. 

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bobm
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« Reply #14 on: June 01, 2019, 14:55:53 »
Just in case you thought we only had one power car - here’s 43198 on the blocks at Swansea.



Always a worry at a terminal station!
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