Final Furlong Rail Tour - Saturday 28th March 2020

[whole diary]

[Ollie]

I've not seen this mentioned or on the calendar, so figured it's worth a share...

On Saturday 28th March 2020 GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will say goodbye to the two Class 150/0s by operating “The Final Furlong” Railtour. A limited number of tickets are available for this trip with all profits going to First Groups chosen charity, Action For Children. Tickets for this Railtour also include unlimited travel on GWR services on Saturday 28th March 2020. The provisional timings for the tour are below: 1Z47 public timings: Westbury depart: 10:30. Trowbridge pickup: 10:38. (3 minute dwell.) Bath Spa pickup: 10:58. (3 minute dwell.) (Then via Bath West reversal.) Swindon pickup: 11:50. (3 minute dwell.) (Then via Foxhall Curve.) Oxford arrive: 12:50. Passengers get off. 5Z47 arrives Oxford UCS 12+55, 5Z48 departs Oxford UCS 14+17. 1 hour 22 minute gap. 1Z48 public timings: Oxford depart: 14:23. (Then via Reading West Curve). Passengers re-join. Basingstoke arrive: 15:15. 1Z49 public timings: Basingstoke depart: 15:25. (Via Reading plt. 15 and Kennet Bridge Loop reversal.) Reading arrive: 16:15. 1Z50 public timings: Reading depart: 16:25. (Via Hawkeridge Curve.) Trowbridge set down: 17:30. (3 minute dwell.) Bath Spa set down: 18:00. (3 minute dwell.) (Then via Rhubarb Loop and Lawrence Hill reversal.) Bristol Temple Meads arrive: 18:35. The T&Cs need to be displayed at point of purchase, they also need to feature somewhere on the ticket: T&Cs: This is a charity charter and as such there will be NO railcard discounts and only tickets issued from this website along with supported photographic ID will be accepted on the entirety of this charter. Tickets for the charter do NOT qualify under any circumstances for GWRs Delay Repay scheme. The tickets for the charter train will also be valid for unlimited travel on scheduled GWR services all day on Saturday 28th March 2020. This is to ensure attendees can travel to and from the charter at no additional cost. A gentle reminder that any forms of antisocial behaviour and disregard for railway byelaws on GWR services or/and the Railway Network in general will not be tolerated. If individuals are found to have carried out such acts, they WILL NOT be permitted on-board The Final Furlong and WILL NOT receive a refund. It should also be made clear that any individuals caught may be subject to further criminal investigations and potential prosecution.

Adult tickets: https://www.gwrsouvenirs.co.uk/index.php/shop/gwr135-adult-16-final-furlong.html
Child tickets: https://www.gwrsouvenirs.co.uk/index.php/shop/gwr136-child-0-15-final-furlong-30-75.html

Edit to add - link to calendar - Grahame

[grahame]

I've not seen this mentioned or on the calendar, so figured it's worth a share...

On Saturday 28th March 2020 GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will say goodbye to the two Class 150/0s by operating “The Final Furlong” Railtour. ....

Thanks Ollie ...

Taking a step back, that means we're loosing 2 x 3 car units at the end of next month.  Are GWR putting in something to replace them at that date, or planning to run a smaller fleet (it feels like every train counts already!)?    Where are the 150/0s going?

[Ollie]

Sorry, don't know what's replacing them. According to Wikipedia the 150/0s are going to Northern.

[infoman]

Hope every one does not mind me sharing these thoughts with you.

Remember going back approx twenty years ago,it may have been longer.

An iconic plane was to make its last passenger journey,and it was a very small plane carrying approx less that 100 passengers.

Saw the "booking office"? said a large amount of passengers are use this flight,

suggest putting on a larger plane to cope with the numbers trying to book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good choice of weekend as well,as its International football break weekend

No Premiership or Championship football match's

[JayMac]

A whole day on a Class 150/0?

No thanks. I won't be dewy eyed and lamenting their leaving GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

[grahame]

Scene today



I've loved the occasional ride on these old girls - a bit of a treat when one or other has turned up (though I will admit never having a really long distance journey on one.

Sadly, can't join on 28th March ... board meeting in London.  Done three "final runs" in the past but not really my cup of tea. Prefer firsts.

[smokey]

Back in 2011, on 12th November, I turned up at Birmingham Snow Hill, with a fellow GWPF member, and had a long day out on a 5 car 150/0 + 150/1
We traveled on 150 106 as 150 001 filled up first and we were among the last to board
This was the London Midland Farewell to the 150s Railtour which included taking the 150s up to Bridnorth on the SVR. A good day out.

After a great day out I spent the night at the Great Western Hotel opposite Worcester Shrub Hill. (hotel now closed I understand).

On the Sunday morning due to cable theft the Worcester-Oxford line was shut so I took the next train to Birmingham to travel VT^▸ (Virgin Trains - former franchise (or, possibly, in a France context, Versement Transport - a payroll tax on employers to fund local transport) ) to London.

Was more than a bit surprised when 150 001 was the unit to Birmingham so I had my first ride on a class 150/0 after the Farewell Railtour!!

 PS I've never seen Snow at Snow hill

[ChrisB]

I guess no member has booked this yet?

They want £3.95 plus VAT^▸ (Value Added Tax) to send you a ticket! A first class stamp m& Benvelope? £1 at most....

Anyone able to get GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) see sense? This is a rip=off, and for charity.

[smokey]

£3.95 plus VAT^▸ (Value Added Tax)???

Very Very strange,

Train Tickets are one of the few things Free of VAT,

One other thing also free of VAT is Royal Mail Postage

Someone Taking the **** or worse possible is it fraud, just my thoughts on VAT

[WSW Frome]

Highly likely that a third-party agency is involved in servicing orders from the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) souvenirs website. As with many internet-type outfits, there is a charge for P&P etc. where this charge is fully subject to VAT^▸ (Value Added Tax) for provision of the whole "service."