One way to spend a Sunday evening.

The hidden side of running a forum. 

There appears to be a very heavy server load at present - I am investigating and think I know why - sorry about any sluggishness or broken connections in the next hour or so.

The subway ladies loos are now reinstated, the gents loos are now shut for whatever works are being carried out.  The platform 10/12 ladies loos are now a temporary gents facility and the portaloos in the old engine shed still there for general use.
Not much notification about timescales or what's being done but here's a photo anyway.

Yes, but I can’t fathom out how to post it here from my phone.

So you’ll just have to take my word for it that Network Rail had the forest cut down earlier in the year. At least looking from the road bridge at Cranmore, there is currently no discernible impediment to a train passing.

Took a look yesterday when it was quiet to view the progress.  The main visual changes now centre around the access work being undertaken at the bottom of Station Road.  It's beginning to look a lot less like a bad day at The Somme with the bulk of the soil/mud excavation now seemingly completed and the installation of supporting structures being evident.

As usual, a few photos.

I was looking for an hostelry near Exeter St Davids station the other day, saw the building but did not realise it had a tap room.
Trying to find an open pub in the early afternoon was a great disappointment. The Jolly Porter and Great Western were closed (long term). Ended up at some bar near Central which served nitro keg stuff.

March 2024 - Swindon to Westbury 18,212 journeys, up 12.3% on March 2023 but still 17.9% below pre-covid levels.

There were a number of days plagued by cancellations due to staff, weather and a fatality this March; not had a chance to look at last year to see how much disruption there was then.

Admittedly, it's not a tavern car but I wasn't aware of this lineside taproom near Exeter St David's with it's own former goods platform.

https://www-devonlive-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.devonlive.com/whats-on/food-drink/hidden-exeter-drinking-spot-former-9262368.amp?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17149089944115&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.devonlive.com%2Fwhats-on%2Ffood-drink%2Fhidden-exeter-drinking-spot-former-9262368

Anyone intending to catch the 11:46 from Swindon was able to catch a service to Chippenham which departed at 11:56 and connected with the TransWilts service, cross platform of course.   

The train was due to leave Swindon at 11:31 but arrived 18 minutes late and then dwelled for another 10.    It arrived at Chippenham at 12:10 - but the Westbury service was held and followed it out towards Thingley Junction. 

Could probably only be done on a Sunday - weekday services wouldn't lend themselves to a train blocking the Up Main for 20 minutes.

11:46 Swindon to Weymouth due 14:01