Great Western Coffee Shop

Just a small observation by Smokey after a Loco and Coaches trip (23:45 ex Padd) into Penzance on Mazey day, (my first Mazey day for a few years).

Penzance was absolutely Buzzing with people on a lovely Sunny day, great weather, a great day, (happy memories of Penzance in the early 70's with a visit by D1015 Western Champion).

I was very Impressed by the Hanging Baskets along Penzance's platform 4, they are as good (if not better) than any other Hanging Baskets I've seen this year,
On my return trip, I looked out for Hanging baskets at other stations but they just didn't compare.

Anyone got a picture of these Baskets?  :)

Any Idea's who supplied them?

And the Worse part of the day, FGW putting on a 2 car train leaving Penzance at 19:06

Somebody please buy FGW control a 2015 diary, so that they can start to plan ahead and show some LEADERSHIP. ::)

The 'garden' at Swindon has been slightly spruced up with some new flowering plants but the ironwork for hanging baskets has not been used.

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/DSCF1422_zps75f179f9.jpg)
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/DSCF1424_zpsd5d042a0.jpg)
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/100_0952_zpse73f81c8.jpg)

... and I'm delighted.   I would say a little more than "slightly", or perhaps it's a case of a little goes a long way.

I'm not exactly sure what / how that has happened - though I could make an educated guess.  Good to see.  Also had an excellent / brief networking chat with someone at the First Stakeholder Conference at the end of last month (not a member of the FGW team, but rather from the town) talking about how larger stations such as Swindon could / should form a part of their community in a similar way to some smaller stations do.   

It's noticeable that there's a community amongst users of some stations / services - user groups, community rail partnerships, etc, and a big acknowledgement that this approach brings benefits far in excess of the relatively small sums invested - and yet this has to date been all about smaller lines / services / stations.  Perhaps there would be good reason / cause to extend from "Friends of Penmere" to "Friends of Paddington"

Our own / TransWilts CRP plans for specific projects at stations including Chippenham and Swindon were rushed towards a deadline that proved impractical for CRPs and for the TOC, and the linked funding tranche has not been lost by the deadline missed.  Much more to come on this story - that will be in a few weeks time, though, as current concentration is on leisure marketing ahead of the summer school holidays.   We're also planning more time resources shortly to do more things.

Did you notice the hanging baskets at Bodmin Parkway? We have 5 on the station and they are all home grown by staff at the station. Maybe not the best looking but at least they're ours!