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Great Western Coffee Shop
As at 2nd April 2025 23:14 BST
2.4.2025 - All running AOK
Recent Public Posts - [guest]
Re: On this day. South Australia's triple decker train experiment.
In "Railway History and related topics" [360114/30090/55]
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:35, 2nd April 2025
 
Saw this fascinating story on Facebook earlier today.

On the 1st of April, 1952, Adelaide’s railway network played host to one of the most ambitious and baffling experiments in public transport history—the triple-decker train. Conceived as a bold tourism initiative to showcase South Australia’s landscapes from an elevated perspective, these towering locomotives were designed to revolutionise rail travel and bring visitors flocking to the state.


Each train featured three stacked levels of passenger compartments, with the topmost deck offering panoramic windows for breathtaking views of the Adelaide Hills, the rolling Barossa vineyards, and the vast outback beyond. The middle level provided standard seating, while the lower level was reserved for dining cars and, in a questionable design choice, bicycle storage.
However, the reality of the triple-decker train was far less glamorous than intended. Almost immediately, problems arose. The sheer height of the carriages made them unstable on curves, leading to alarming swaying at high speeds. Station platforms had to be hastily modified to accommodate the additional boarding levels, causing chaos for commuters attempting to board the correct deck. The most infamous incident occurred when a top-level passenger, reaching for his morning newspaper, found himself in an unfortunate standoff with an overhead bridge near Blackwood.

Furthermore, tunnels proved to be an insurmountable challenge. Plans to lower the train tracks through the Adelaide Hills were briefly considered before engineers realised this would essentially require digging a second, deeper railway network—an idea even the most optimistic officials had to concede was impractical.

After just six months of service, the project was quietly abandoned, with the remaining triple-decker trains repurposed as static dining venues in country towns (one rumoured to still exist as a long-forgotten chicken coop in the Clare Valley). While it may not have succeeded, the experiment remains a fascinating and forgotten chapter in South Australia’s transport history.

I, too, still get the original image.

Re: Extreme Day Trips
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [360113/30054/5]
Posted by PrestburyRoad at 22:00, 2nd April 2025
 
I don't think I've NOT queued to get through the scanner - and if it looks to them as if you are in a hurry, you become a prime suspect for a full body search....not worth leaving it late, frankly.

I’ve flown 6 times since November, when I was deemed fit to fly after my illness of the last couple of years. My longest queue for security at Bristol has been 6 minutes. Last Tuesday it took longer to walk round all the barriers than get through the security check!

You've been lucky.  My experience in recent years is that the security check can be fast and can be very slow.  So I have to allow a long time for it because I don't want to miss my flight.  It's just one of the airport processes I have to undergo and over which I don't have control.  All of this adds to my jaundiced view of flying nowadays.

Re: Changes to the Highway Code
In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [360112/25290/50]
Posted by eightonedee at 21:57, 2nd April 2025
 
When I first visited the Republic of Ireland in 1974, I was told that driving tests had only "recently" been introduced, and before that all you needed was 10 shillings and a trip to the post office to get your licence. I've since looked it up - it was 1964 when tests were introduced. However, for years there was a chronic shortage of test centres, and in 1979 the government introduced a moratorium - if you had held two provisional licences, you got a full licence, no need for any further test!

Re: On this day. South Australia's triple decker train experiment.
In "Railway History and related topics" [360111/30090/55]
Posted by grahame at 21:56, 2nd April 2025
Already liked by Western Pathfinder
 
I suspect it's hit an image hosting limit.  Looks a bit like this:


Re: Extreme Day Trips
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [360110/30054/5]
Posted by LiskeardRich at 21:18, 2nd April 2025
 
I don't think I've NOT queued to get through the scanner - and if it looks to them as if you are in a hurry, you become a prime suspect for a full body search....not worth leaving it late, frankly.

I’ve flown 6 times since November, when I was deemed fit to fly after my illness of the last couple of years. My longest queue for security at Bristol has been 6 minutes. Last Tuesday it took longer to walk round all the barriers than get through the security check!

Re: On this day. South Australia's triple decker train experiment.
In "Railway History and related topics" [360109/30090/55]
Posted by ChrisB at 21:14, 2nd April 2025
 
I can still see all images
still - so I seem to be the lucky one! 

Re: Changes to the Highway Code
In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [360108/25290/50]
Posted by paul7575 at 21:11, 2nd April 2025
 
It’s quite a while since I remember seeing this, but I’m sure in my younger days the DVLA used to include leaflets in almost every tax reminder, that attempted to keep you updated on changes to the Highway Code etc.

A simple idea, but presumably abandoned on some sort of cost grounds? 

Re: On this day. South Australia's triple decker train experiment.
In "Railway History and related topics" [360107/30090/55]
Posted by GBM at 20:41, 2nd April 2025
 
I am not now seeing the images.  Instead there is a banner offering an upgrade to Premium.

No picture, just the offer to upgrade to Premium (as others have said)

Re: Changes to the Highway Code
In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [360106/25290/50]
Posted by broadgage at 20:15, 2nd April 2025
 
No licence was needed to drive a "coach and four" on the public road, so why should a new fangled horseless carriage be different ?

A horseless carriage should be simpler, no multiple reigns to become tangled, no concerns regarding other road users spooking the horses, no risk of a horse loosing a shoe.

Re: Changes to the Highway Code
In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [360105/25290/50]
Posted by PrestburyRoad at 19:52, 2nd April 2025
 
My late grandmother drove for years and had never passed a driving test ! She started driving a car before passing a test was required.
A driving licence was required, but this was simply purchased from a post office, no test required.

Ditto for my late father.  I remember his little red booklet that was the licence getting thicker and thicker as each year a new green slip was pasted in for each annual renewal.

Re: Changes to the Highway Code
In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [360104/25290/50]
Posted by broadgage at 19:46, 2nd April 2025
 
My late grandmother drove for years and had never passed a driving test ! She started driving a car before passing a test was required.
A driving licence was required, but this was simply purchased from a post office, no test required.


Re: Nottingham to Bristol TM open access service proposed
In "Across the West" [360103/30098/26]
Posted by ellendune at 19:32, 2nd April 2025
 
I doubt there's room for both. Hence GWR trying to get in first with BRI-MKC, I guess.

I doubt there is room on EWR for open access once it gets past Bletchley, if you look at all the planning that has gone into minimising the necessary works, there is only going to be room for the planned services.  That is before capacity on GWR is considered.   

Re: On this day. South Australia's triple decker train experiment.
In "Railway History and related topics" [360102/30090/55]
Posted by Clan Line at 19:29, 2nd April 2025
Already liked by ellendune
 
I am not now seeing the images.  Instead there is a banner offering an upgrade to Premium.

Likewise ...........

Re: On this day. South Australia's triple decker train experiment.
In "Railway History and related topics" [360101/30090/55]
Posted by ChrisB at 18:38, 2nd April 2025
 
I can still see all images

Re: On this day. South Australia's triple decker train experiment.
In "Railway History and related topics" [360100/30090/55]
Posted by eXPassenger at 18:26, 2nd April 2025
Already liked by ellendune
 
I am not now seeing the images.  Instead there is a banner offering an upgrade to Premium.
I saw and liked the Adelaide picture yesterday.

Re: Happy 185th birthday, Reading Station!
In "London to Reading" [360099/30097/7]
Posted by eXPassenger at 18:09, 2nd April 2025
 
Found it

Re: Nottingham to Bristol TM open access service proposed
In "Across the West" [360098/30098/26]
Posted by Mark A at 17:59, 2nd April 2025
 
Good evening all.

Just seen this on Rail magazines website.

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/2025/03/25/two-new-open-access-cross-country-routes-set-to-be-submitted-to-rail-regulator


8 Nottingham to Bristol TM services daily with 6 on sundays via east-west rail to Oxford then GWML to Bristol TM.  They also proposed a Liverpool to Cardiff airport service.  Both routes to.use class 221/222's

The only obstacle to that being a runaway success between Oxford / Leicester / Nottingham is that need to run via Bedford. Since it'll offer simple travel between its destinations it'd be good if it happened. Recalling Oxford - Nottingham proposals via Coventry though...

Mark

Re: Nottingham to Bristol TM open access service proposed
In "Across the West" [360097/30098/26]
Posted by ChrisB at 17:08, 2nd April 2025
 
Rail consultancy firm SLC is planning two new services: Nottingham-Bristol via Oxford and Liverpool-Cardiff via Hereford.

SLC is also behind the Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway (WSMR) plan linking Wrexham and London Euston, one of several applications currently awaiting Office of Rail and Road approval.

The first new application, under the Midland Central and Western Railway (MCWR) banner, is for a seven-year operation for eight Nottingham-Bristol services in each direction Monday-Saturday, with six on Sunday.

Trains would call at East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough, Leicester, Kettering, Market Harborough and Bedford on the Midland Main Line. The proposed route would then use the Marston Vale line, stopping at Stewartby, and then the new East West Rail route from Bletchley High Level station to reach Bicester Village, Oxford Parkway and Oxford. From there, the service would call at Swindon, Chippenham and Bath Spa, before terminating at Bristol Temple Meads.


Re: Nottingham to Bristol TM open access service proposed
In "Across the West" [360096/30098/26]
Posted by ChrisB at 16:58, 2nd April 2025
 
Oh god - yes, it is in my list to post here too.

Now, would you rather an IET from BRI to MKC or a vomiter from BRI to NOT?

I doubt there's room for both. Hence GWR trying to get in first with BRI-MKC, I guess.

Nottingham to Bristol TM open access service proposed
In "Across the West" [360095/30098/26]
Posted by anthony215 at 16:55, 2nd April 2025
Already liked by IndustryInsider
 
Good evening all.

Just seen this on Rail magazines website.

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/2025/03/25/two-new-open-access-cross-country-routes-set-to-be-submitted-to-rail-regulator


8 Nottingham to Bristol TM services daily with 6 on sundays via east-west rail to Oxford then GWML to Bristol TM.  They also proposed a Liverpool to Cardiff airport service.  Both routes to.use class 221/222's

Happy 185th birthday, Reading Station!
In "London to Reading" [360094/30097/7]
Posted by eightonedee at 16:29, 2nd April 2025
 
Picked up on the Berkshire local news section of the BBC News website-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1wdje7ve9wo

I'll leave you all to pick up one incorrect caption....

Re: Changes to the Highway Code
In "Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them" [360093/25290/50]
Posted by GBM at 15:24, 2nd April 2025
 
Professional drivers (bus and wagon) have to take a Certificate of Professional Development every five years.
Five day courses over the five years to ensure that certificate is valid and up to date.
No certificate (or invalid) means no professional job!
Generally at least one course covers road traffic signs and situations.

Re: It's not the train that's the problem...
In "TransWilts line" [360092/30083/18]
Posted by grahame at 14:32, 2nd April 2025
 
Have you not had the invite yet?

Stacey is on leave now I believe until middle of April.

Yes, and accepted 

Re: Shortage of Stock 2nd April 2025 ?
In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [360091/30096/10]
Posted by grahame at 14:30, 2nd April 2025
 
While it left Bristol 7 minutes late, arrival at Swindon was only a couple of minutes down on *that*... and, did it keep the IET's timings between Bath Spa and Chippenham?

Mark

Could almost stop at Corsham and keep a good schedule ....

Re: Shortage of Stock 2nd April 2025 ?
In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [360090/30096/10]
Posted by Mark A at 14:15, 2nd April 2025
 
Thanks for this. Looks as if, once at Swindon, it was there in good time to put people heading up the line into the 10 carriage service from Carmarthen too.

Mark

Re: Shortage of Stock 2nd April 2025 ?
In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [360089/30096/10]
Posted by IndustryInsider at 14:08, 2nd April 2025
 
An IET on diesel will only marginally outperform a Turbo…if it’s not an especially long section where the IET can stretch its legs up to its level track maximum speed of around 115mph.

Re: Shortage of Stock 2nd April 2025 ?
In "London to Swindon and Bristol" [360088/30096/10]
Posted by Mark A at 13:13, 2nd April 2025
 
While it left Bristol 7 minutes late, arrival at Swindon was only a couple of minutes down on *that*... and, did it keep the IET's timings between Bath Spa and Chippenham?

Mark

Re: [OTD] Senior Railcard launched 1st April 1975
In "Fare's Fair" [360087/30092/4]
Posted by froome at 10:54, 2nd April 2025
 
I was paid cash in hand, by the foreman down in the pub on a Friday afternoon, at one of my first jobs. Quite extraordinary now when I think back to it. And certainly remember £1 notes.

More on topic, I have a physical card, so renew it each year at the ticket office. I did have a 3 year card until you had to have that on a phone, and reverted back to an annual card. Happy to pay the extra for that to help keep the ticket office open.
I have a plastic 3 year senior card issued only last July, has that been changed since then? 

My mistake, having a senior moment. 

What changed was that ticket offices were stopped from issuing 3 year cards, and can now onlu issue annual ones.

Re: It's not the train that's the problem...
In "TransWilts line" [360086/30083/18]
Posted by ChrisB at 10:34, 2nd April 2025
 
Have you not had the invite yet?

Stacey is on leave now I believe until middle of April.

Re: Extreme Day Trips
In "Buses and other ways to travel" [360085/30054/5]
Posted by ChrisB at 10:31, 2nd April 2025
Already liked by PrestburyRoad, Timmer
 
I don't think I've NOT queued to get through the scanner - and if it looks to them as if you are in a hurry, you become a prime suspect for a full body search....not worth leaving it late, frankly.

 
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