'The Flying Banana' GWR HST charity railtour, 1st June 2019

[whole diary]

[patch38]

I waved to Bob, BNM, Finn et al (was Al with you?) as you passed my house just now. Looked great. Next stop SWI^» (Swindon - next trains). Bye bye HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) 

[bobm]

Think Finn was changing outfits again at that point. 

[bobm]

Incident free journey back to Paddington via Lydney, Gloucester and Kemble.

For us that was the end of the road but for some hardy souls there was a non stop run to Plymouth to come.  A few taking the chance to enjoy a Saturday evening meal.



More to come later but an initial thank you to all those who made it possible both beforehand and on the day.

Over 400 people had a memorable trip and the charity Action for Children will benefit from the day of fundraising.

[Robin Summerhill]

Well I don't know how I missed you but miss you I did

Having decided late this morning to go up to Paddington to see the last one off, I was at Swindon at 1715. No sign of a dog or two people for whom I now have a general description

On I went to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) on the 1731 departure and arrived just as the Banana was disgorging its passengers. Noting "smoking cigarettes" in an earlier post I not only looked around the lawn, but also the two smoking areas (in the old main station approach and by the taxi rank). No sign of a Jack Russell on a lead there either.

I admitted defeat and came back to Chippenham on the 1900 Taunton after first getting a reasonably clear shot of the Banana leaving at 1859. Better luck next time perhaps? 

[bobm]

Ah - I may have confused you.   One walked the dog, one got supplies and one had a cigarette.

That said I believe you may have talked to the smoker at Paddington.

[Trowres]

If anyone was looking at Westbury White Horse, I was about a neck-length to the left. I nearly missed seeing the train as it was 4 minutes early at Heywood Road Jn. 

[JayMac]

I will echo bobm's words of thanks to all those who made the railtour possible, and who ensured the day went smoothly.

Finn was an undoubted star today. So many treats, petting, and photos taken of him.

A fuller report tomorrow. I've just got home to Templecombe having been up since 0445 this morning. Too tired to post more tonight.

Finn is dog tired too!

[RichardB]

I've just walked in the door having been on the final leg of the tour, Paddington to Plymouth.  We left at 18 59 (train horns sounded as we pulled out of Paddington) and arrived at 22 00, 3 mins early.  A very good run, the only hold up of any note was just after we came off the Westbury Avoiding line and found the 17 50 Waterloo - Yeovil Jn in front of us.  That meant a bit of slow running.

The highlight for me was roaring through Taunton.  We swept through the station.

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) do special trains and events brilliantly well and today was no exception.  Well done and thank you to all involved.  It was a very fine send off for GWR's full length HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train).

[Timmer]

Many thanks to bobm and bignosemac for all the pics and reports of the day all in aid of a good cause and giving those on board a great day out. Well done GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and all the staff involved in making it a success.

[IndustryInsider]

A fitting, high-profile, finale.

[Rhydgaled]

I've attached some views from the lineside on the westbound leg to Carmarthen. I had planned to move around the corner for the return working to capture the other power car leading but since 43002 wasn't joined by 43185 (Swallow livery) I changed my mind and started heading for home, instead capturing the return working at a station (got a reasonable shot of 43198 there, but mistimed the shutter for the 'going away' shot of 43002; hope the video I was recording with my other hand turns out better).

[Robin Summerhill]

Ah - I may have confused you.   One walked the dog, one got supplies and one had a cigarette.

That said I believe you may have talked to the smoker at Paddington.

I don't actually recall speaking to anybody at Paddington. One guy spoke to me, muttering something about wanting to find a place to lean in the main smoking area in the old approach road, then lit up and his immediate coughing suggested it wasn't doing him a lot of good...

Once again I was in contemplative mood. "Hmm, the farewell HST^▸ (High Speed Train) run from Paddington. I wonder if it'll be anything like the Farewell to Steam run with 7029 Clun Castle in November 1965, which has quite possibly put in as many appearances at Paddington since then as it did during its revenue-earning service..."

[broadgage]

A fitting, high-profile, finale.

Indeed, and as a result GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have gone up a bit in my estimation.

[IndustryInsider]

Just shows the influence of an MD that is a genuine rail enthusiast and an age where he grew up as the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) grew up.

[MarkHopwood]

“A genuine rail enthusiast” ..... and I thought I was still firmly in the closet?!

In reality I have hundreds of people in GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) who felt strongly they wanted to see off the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) in style. My only small contribution was empowering them to get on with making it happen.

I always regret the end of LHCS^▸ (Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock) in/out of Paddington on regular service trains in the day was never seen off properly.

Now to think of the 143 farewell ...