Great Western Railway: on-board catering, buffets, Travelling Chef, Pullman - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[chuffed]

On Monday October 2 I hope to be taking lunch on the 13-34 from Taunton as already noted.
Later the same day I expect to dine with my sister on the Golden Hind, the 18-03 from Paddington.

On Thursday October 12, sister and myself hope to lunch on the up Pullman leaving Taunton at 13-34.
Later the same day, I hope to take dinner on the 19-03 from Paddington, alighting at Taunton.

Will I have the honour of meeting any forum members on these now four trips ?

One can only assume you've got eight draws on the pools or six balls in the lottery .....! I hope that is worthy of my 800th post!

[broadgage]

I seldom travel to London these days, so might as well save up and do it in style !
 4 Pullman meals in two weeks is exceptional, and unlikely to be repeated for some years, if ever.

[TaplowGreen]

I seldom travel to London these days, so might as well save up and do it in style !
 4 Pullman meals in two weeks is exceptional, and unlikely to be repeated for some years, if ever.

Looking at your itinerary, particularly on Monday 2nd, I assume that you will cease eating on Thursday or Friday this week in order to free up sufficient space? 

[grahame]

On Monday October 2 I hope to be taking lunch on the 13-34 from Taunton as already noted.
Later the same day I expect to dine with my sister on the Golden Hind, the 18-03 from Paddington.

On Thursday October 12, sister and myself hope to lunch on the up Pullman leaving Taunton at 13-34.
Later the same day, I hope to take dinner on the 19-03 from Paddington, alighting at Taunton.

Will I have the honour of meeting any forum members on these now four trips ?

Meeting some of us should come with a health warning rather than being an honour ... however, I'm afraid you'll have neither from me as I'm booked for a Melksham meeting on 2nd and a Salford meeting on 12th.

I do need to catch up with you at some time though ...  and at some time I do need to try out Pullman dining so that I can discuss it with at least a bear minimum of experience!

[broadgage]

Just send me £100 and I will eat the meal on your behalf, and report accordingly
PURELY to save you the trouble of course. (at least 2 courses in fact, maybe 3)

[ChrisB]

I'm booked for .... a Salford meeting on 12th.

Might see you there.

[broadgage]

I took lunch yesterday on the 13-34 from Taunton, and very good it was esp the fillet steak. A terrible disaster occurred en-route, no port to be had  the usual supply had been put on board, but other customers had consumed the lot before I ordered. The train was late but only marginally.
The restaurant was full, I was glad that I had booked. Being able to book a dining seat on this train is a new policy I think, a most welcome change.
The return from London was less satisfactory, no hot food due to failure of electricity supply in the kitchen. The restaurant was only about half full, before the electrical blow up.

[IndustryInsider]

That's one area that SHOULD improve with the new trains, as the kitchens are all brand new and, let's face it, the current Mk III's regularly suffer equipment failures of one sort or another with regard to the kitchens, and on occasion the 'wrong sort of buffet' excuse has to be used!  Several such reports on here over the years corroborate that.

[broadgage]

Agree that the kitchen equipment SHOULD be more reliable than on 40 year old trains, and hopefully it will be.

However newer does not always mean more reliable, and I perceive a risk of initial unreliability for a year or so. And whilst Hitachi have a vested interest in proving that they can build reliable trains, I doubt that this extends to catering equipment.

[stuving]

Agree that the kitchen equipment SHOULD be more reliable than on 40 year old trains, and hopefully it will be.

However newer does not always mean more reliable, and I perceive a risk of initial unreliability for a year or so. And whilst Hitachi have a vested interest in proving that they can build reliable trains, I doubt that this extends to catering equipment.

Hitachi identified their supplier in this area as "Kugel (Germany)" - or Kugel Edelstahlverarbeitung, if you want to find it via Google (Kugel means "ball", so is not a helpful search term). You can jump to your own preconception on that.

[1st fan]

Agree that the kitchen equipment SHOULD be more reliable than on 40 year old trains, and hopefully it will be.

However newer does not always mean more reliable, and I perceive a risk of initial unreliability for a year or so. And whilst Hitachi have a vested interest in proving that they can build reliable trains, I doubt that this extends to catering equipment.

Hitachi identified their supplier in this area as "Kugel (Germany)" - or Kugel Edelstahlverarbeitung, if you want to find it via Google (Kugel means "ball", so is not a helpful search term). You can jump to your own preconception on that.

There is a picture of the new kitchen here https://www.blanco-professional.com/files/jpg15/html/Railway_Produkte_kombiniert/1004x0505.jpg only one I've found. Can't find any railway trolleys that keep things hot and cold and allow sales of things like beer, crisps, sandwiches etc.

[ChrisB]

Didn't I read somewhere that the trolley folks are being trained as I type & some trolleys may be out on test sometime quite soon?

[1st fan]

Didn't I read somewhere that the trolley folks are being trained as I type & some trolleys may be out on test sometime quite soon?

That will be interesting to see, I've heard of there being replenishment and power points for the trolleys. I did once see on the web a trolley with a coffee machine (as opposed to flasks) on it. That looked good but I haven't been able to find it since. 

[Timmer]

Didn't I read somewhere that the trolley folks are being trained as I type & some trolleys may be out on test sometime quite soon?

Need to get on with it with the first services due to start on the 16th of October.

[grahame]

Didn't I read somewhere that the trolley folks are being trained as I type & some trolleys may be out on test sometime quite soon?

Need to get on with it with the first services due to start on the 16th of October.

Not sure if this is a "normal" GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) trolley - but it looked a bit different to those I've seen when using Cross Country (which is where I see trolleys most often)